Cao Wen withdrew outside the iron city wall with something wrong, and then directly attacked ten miles before resting, and then buried the dead soldiers, and after calculating, a total of 280 people died.

That's not a lot for an army of 40,000 people, it should be said that it's very little. But if you look at the entire history of fighting the Tatar army, the number of losses is quite large. Not the most, of course.

In any case, Cao Wen was already very fortunate that his army was able to successfully withdraw from the rain of arrows that covered the sky. If the army under his command becomes panicked, the consequences will be unimaginable. Fortunately, his Cointreau training is not only to train offense, but also to retreat and defend. I put this retreat skill to good use today.

The situation is not bad.

Cao Wen's lieutenant asked, "General, what should we do next?" ”

Cao Wen thought for a while and said, "Withdraw to Cuiping County and follow General Wu Qing's orders." ”

The lieutenant nodded, sighed, and said, "Hey! That's all it can be now. ”

Cao Wen said: "Let's go, rush back to Cuiping County in the evening." ”

The lieutenant immediately went to give orders. Then, the 40,000-strong Han army retreated towards Cuiping County in the southwest.

The morale of the soldiers was not very high, and although there was not much damage, it was a defeat. It's always hard to lose a battle.

Although the marching speed of the soldiers was still the same as before, looking at their expressions, they were all cold. And General Cao Wen's face was helpless and frustrated. This time to attack Zhangzhou City, he made a guarantee in front of Emperor Liu Yong. But he lived up to Emperor Liu Yong's trust in him.

Cao Wen felt that he had no face to see Emperor Liu Yong again. But this side can't be avoided. He believes that although he has no face, he must at least bear the guilt of Jing Pleading.

Cao Wen walked all the way, thought all the way, and felt that he was wrong to say big things. However, as a general on the battlefield, you have to never give up. You can't say that you can't win a battle before every expedition, or that you may not be able to win a battle! This will demoralize the soldiers.

But no matter what, Cao Wen did fail this time. There is no doubt about that.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for your trust!" Cao Wen couldn't help but muttered sadly.

happened to be heard by the adjutant general next to him, and the adjutant general said to Cao Wen: "General, it's not your fault. ”

Cao Wen said, "Why not? It was I who led the army to attack Zhangzhou City, but now I have not attacked it, and I have returned. Isn't that my responsibility as a general? ”

The lieutenant general said: "General, having said that, the fact that the Tatar army has an iron city gate and an iron city wall is also in front of you, isn't it?" If the general had seen His Majesty, he would have told His Majesty everything that had happened today, and the general would have thought that His Majesty would not blame the General too much. ”

Cao Wen said: "Even if Your Majesty doesn't blame me, I feel ashamed of Your Majesty's trust in me. ”

The lieutenant general continued: "General, don't blame yourself too much, at least we have successfully broken through the first wall. And also annihilated the Tatar army of at least more than a thousand people. In total, our army died less than three hundred people. In this way, we still have more or less taken advantage. ”

Cao Wen said: "Having said that, you must know that after today's battle, we failed to win. Then next time you fight, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult for you. ”

Hearing Cao Wen's worries, the room also frowned deeply, nodded and said, "The general's worries are also very reasonable. However, at this point, we can only think of a better way. ”

Cao Wen nodded and said, "Well, you're right. ”

The lieutenant general said, "So there is no need for the general to feel too guilty about this failure." Victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers. How can there be a victorious general? I'm right, General. ”

Cao Wen listened to this general's sincere persuasion, so he smiled, nodded and said, "Well, you're right. If Your Majesty gives me another chance, I must take Zhang Zhoucheng down. ”

"That's right, this is the general of the last general!" The lieutenant said with a smile.

"Haha, okay, General Ben's mood is much better, go back and show General Wu Qing first, and then your majesty." Cao Wen laughed.

The two of them immediately untied their hearts, and urged the soldiers to speed up their pace, for it was about to get dark.

At this time, the door of the iron city wall of Zhangzhou City, which was opened by the artillery of the Han army, had been sealed. Pig iron plates are also added to it.

Moreover, the work was completed under the personal watchful eye of the two Tatar army guards, without the slightest sloppiness. And these two defenders don't dare to be sloppy in the slightest.

After the construction of the iron city wall, another Tatar army guard asked the craftsmen to repair the pit outside the city gate that had been blasted by the Han artillery.

After completing these two projects, these two guards can be regarded as truly relieved.

It's time to start the celebration of drinking wine and eating meat. And in the afternoon, reinforcements arrived. At this time, there is a general, and it will be a lot more lively when he drinks wine.

This Tatar army guard boasted at the wine table about how he defeated the Han army today, and of course, this was also to praise his partner's other Tatar army guard.

And the other Tatar army guard accepted it with a smile, after all, he really made a meritorious service today. If it weren't for his command, it would have been impossible for the Han army to attack the city today, and in that case, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The three of them ate and drank for most of the night, and the next day, the general who brought reinforcements had to go back to restore his life. It's all sleeping.

Wu Qing didn't sleep, he was still studying countermeasures with Gao Tang Cao Wen.

Gao Tang said: "General, the last general still thinks that this matter should be reported to His Majesty. ”

Cao Wen also said: "Yes, General, we can't come up with a strategy to break the enemy. ”

Wu Qing nodded and said, "It seems that yes, in this way, early tomorrow morning, we don't have to rush back to Pingliangzhou City early tomorrow morning, and make your majesty." ”

Gao Tang and Cao Wen glanced at each other and nodded.

Wu Qing said, "Okay, since that's the case, let's sleep for two hours first, and then set off." ”

"Yes, General."

Cao Wen and Gao Tang said to Wu Qing at the same time.

All three went to rest.

Liu Yong had already laid down in the city of Pingliangzhou. Su Erniang pillowed in the crook of his arm, looking very happy. Liu Yong sighed.

"Your Majesty, why are you sighing?" Su Erniang asked.

Liu Yong said: "I think Cao Wen still can't break through that Zhangzhou City this time. ”