Although Tongguan was not taken, according to this situation, it will not take a few days.

As soon as Tongguan is broken, then Chang'an will be like an egg with a broken eggshell, which will be eaten by the Xiliang army.

The prosperity of Chang'an is in the territory of Xiliang, but it has been rumored for a long time, and now there is this opportunity, of course, they are excited, and restlessness rises in their hearts.

Seeing that Ma Chao said that everyone was moved, Han Sui smiled and said: "What Ma Zhou Mu said is not unreasonable, so I have to work together and take Tongguan as soon as possible." ”

Ma Chao said: "Yes, yes, we must take it as soon as possible, otherwise I am afraid that Zhong Xuan will invite reinforcements to arrive, and tomorrow we will increase the intensity of the attack and break through the Tong Pass in one fell swoop." ”

Han Sui agreed: "Okay, let's have a good time today, and fight to the death with Cao Jun tomorrow to take Tongguan as soon as possible." ”

As soon as the two sang and harmonized, the rest of the small generals naturally couldn't speak, but they also had nothing to say, after all, Quan Xiaoxiao was small.

Everyone in the tent began to drink heavily, and the atmosphere was pleasant for a while, but in order to attack the city tomorrow, they still tried to control the drink, and after a few hours, they returned to their tents.

Early the next morning, the Xiliang army assembled early, and the intensity of the attack was also much heavier.

Cao's army was originally limited in strength, and after struggling to hold on for three hours, he had to put his reserves into the defense of the city.

As soon as the reserve team came out, the situation was temporarily stabilized, but unexpectedly, at this time, Ma Chao personally led the army and joined the siege.

Ma Chao was as brave as ever, and took the lead in rushing to Tongguan, although Cao Hong led the army to resist in time, but still let him occupy a corner.

Under the leadership of Ma Chao, the Xiliang army continued to come up from the corner and began to enter into a hand-to-hand battle with the Cao army.

The Cao army was not many in number, and one less was killed in battle, while the Xiliang army was large in number and slowly began to occupy most of the Guanlou.

The situation was endangered, Zhong Xuan thought for a long time, and let the echelon that was ready to be replaced tomorrow go to the city tower in advance to stabilize the situation temporarily.

The two sides did not give an inch in Tongguan, and the fallen corpses almost covered the road, but no one retreated.

The battlefield entered a frantic battle, and in the eyes of the soldiers on both sides, there was nothing else at this time, only killing and killing.

After a day of hard fighting, the Cao army finally held Tongguan, but the price to pay is also extremely heavy, the number of people who can fight, there are less than 2,000, in this case, Tongguan will be lost tomorrow.

On Tongguan, Cao Hong and Zhong Xuan sat on the ground, their faces showing tiredness, and they rested for a long time before they opened their mouths to communicate.

Zhong Xuan said helplessly: "Zilian, let's go, Tongguan can't be defended, and the Xiliang army will take it if it attacks casually tomorrow." ”

"Ugh." Cao Hong sighed and said: "I knew that I wouldn't go out to chase and kill Ma Chao at the beginning, so how could I go to see the prime minister?" ”

Zhong Xuan thought for a while and said: "Zilian don't worry, when the time comes, you will bear it together, and presumably the prime minister will not punish him more." ”

Cao Hong said gratefully: "How can this be done, Lord Zhong is not at fault in this battle, how can he carry this black cauldron." ”

Zhong Miao smiled and said: "What's the matter, don't worry, if you and I bear it together, the prime minister will definitely not be severely punished." ”

Cao Hong didn't want to die, but he was afraid that Tongguan would be lost and Cao Cao would be executed if he went back.

Now that Zhong Xuan is willing to bear it together, Cao Hong is naturally moved, and after a little prevarication, he agrees to retreat.

After the discussion, the two stood up, gathered the soldiers and horses, divided into a part, and Zhong Xuan led the wounded soldiers to leave first.

The rest followed Cao Hong and set traps in Tongguan, preparing to assassinate some Xiliang troops.

Just as Cao Hong was about to settle, a sudden sound of horses' hooves sounded, which stopped them for a while.

No, the sound of horses' hooves came from inside the pass, not outside the pass, could it be that reinforcements are coming.

Cao Hong felt a hint of joy in his heart, and just as he was about to send someone to investigate, he heard a familiar voice sound.

"General Cao Hong, Xu Chu is ordered by the prime minister to come to support!"

Hearing this voice, Cao Hong was stunned, and hurriedly rushed down to meet him.

However, when Cao Hong saw the incoming reinforcements clearly, his face darkened.

Behind Xu Chu, there are only 1,000 cavalry, although it is a tiger and leopard cavalry, but in the face of more than ten times the Xiliang army, it will definitely not have much effect.

Cao Hong asked without giving up: "Xu Chu, did the prime minister send this little soldier?" ”

Xu Chu replied: "Not only that, General Xia Houyuan led 10,000 soldiers and horses in his headquarters, which should arrive in a day." ”

It turned out that as soon as Cao Cao got the news of the Xiliang army's attack, he sent Xu Chu and Xia Houdun to lead the army to help, just to ensure that Tongguan was worry-free.

Halfway through, Xu Chu Xia Houdun learned that Tongguan was in danger, so he immediately divided his troops and asked Xu Chu to lead the tiger and leopard cavalry to support first to avoid the fall of Tongguan.

Hearing that there were still reinforcements, Cao Hong recovered a trace of blood, looked at Xu Chu and said: "You are really like a divine soldier when you arrive, otherwise Tongguan will be lost, and you will not be able to explain to the prime minister." ”

"Oh, by the way, when General Xu came, you could see Lord Zhong?"

Xu Chu replied: "I saw it, he led the wounded soldiers to a safe place, and he will come back." ”

Cao Hong nodded and said: "This is the best, General Xu has worked hard all the way, it is better to take a break for a while, tomorrow the Xiliang Army will definitely attack." ”

Xu Chu said disapprovingly: "It's okay, I heard that Ma Chao is a rare fierce general, I don't know if it's true." ”

Cao Hong said with a hint of fear on his face: "Ma Chao is really brave, under him, I'm afraid he won't be able to pass fifty rounds." ”

"Fifty rounds?" Xu Chu muttered and said, "If this is the case, Xu Mou will have a good fight with him." ”

Xu Chu still has some understanding of Cao Hong's force, since even he can't hold out for fifty rounds under Ma Chao's hands, then he shouldn't be very sure that he can definitely win Ma Chao.

However, Xu Chu is naturally belligerent, especially an opponent who is almost the same as himself, and it is rare to have this opportunity now, so he will naturally not let it go.

However, Cao Hong has already suffered a big loss of taking the initiative to go out of the customs, and naturally he will not agree with Xu Chu's approach at the moment, after all, there are not many reinforcements.

In case of a big defeat, I am afraid that the reinforcements will arrive, and I am afraid that they will also face the dilemma of losing the position.

Cao Hong said anxiously: "General Xu, it is important to hold Tongguan at the moment, in case of failure in the battle, I am afraid that I will lose soldiers and horses in vain." ”

Xu Chu waved his hand and said: "General Cao, don't worry, Xu will lead the tiger and leopard to fight, and he will never lose a person, Ma Chao wants to take a certain one, but he doesn't have the ability yet." ”

Xu Chu is Cao Cao's personal guard general, although he is an outsider, but his relationship with Cao Cao is very close, and he may be higher than Cao's generals.

Seeing that Xu Chu didn't listen to persuasion, Cao Hong didn't say much, because he knew in his heart that Xu Chu's armed forces were the first person in Cao's army, which was recognized.

(End of chapter)