After Cao Cao read Ma Chao's report, he smiled and said to the generals: "Good news! Meng Qi captured the domestic city an hour ago, and annihilated all the 10,000 defenders of the domestic city! ”

The generals couldn't help but look happy, but this look was very light, and it was no wonder that such a victory did not seem to be a great victory for them.

Cao Cao pondered: "There are less than 20,000 Wusun troops from the domestic city to the front line of the tooth pass!" It's better to capture the domestic city in the east in one go, and then seize the tooth pass! ”

As soon as he thought of this, Cao Cao immediately ordered: "Chuan ordered Meng Qi to leave 5,000 people in the inner city to defend and guard the prisoners, and he immediately led the other 40,000 soldiers to the east of Luer City, and after capturing Luer City, continue to go south, waiting for the opportunity to seize the tooth pass!" ”

As soon as the herald made a promise, he went down to deliver the order.

"Wait, tell the quartermaster to allocate twenty ballistas and give them to Meng Qi!"

"No!" The herald replied and retreated.

"Your Majesty, can't we be idle?" The veteran Huang Zhong asked impatiently, and the generals echoed one after another.

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Don't worry! Wait! Let the soldiers rest and rest! ”

The generals looked at each other, not knowing why. However, Cao Cao did not mean to explain.

"Is there any news from the Northern Protectorate?" Cao Cao asked.

Xu Chu replied: "I was about to report to Your Majesty!" According to reliable intelligence, the main force of the Jin army, which was supposed to be transferred to the fortress, has already moved to the west, and the target should be Hua Thornzim. ”

Cao Cao nodded and thought: "It seems that it is as Wenruo and Gongtai expected." There will be nothing wrong with the North! But don't take it lightly! ”

Cao Cao raised his head and ordered, "Tell Wen Ruo." In any case, we must be on strict guard and not give the enemy any chance to take advantage of it! ”

After Ma Chao received Cao Cao's order, he immediately made arrangements. Leaving 4,000 soldiers to defend the inner city. Of course, all the wounded soldiers were also left behind, and he immediately marched with 40,000 soldiers of the Seventh Legion to the east to the city of Luer.

Ma Chao was very excited, he had not fought for more than two years, and he had a refreshing feeling of returning to the mountains and forests.

The 40,000 horses marched quickly, and it took only three days to reach the foot of Luer City.

The 40,000 army lined up outside the west gate, and Ma Chao immediately stood at the front of the military formation, straddling the war horse and carrying a spear, arrogant and terrifying.

At this time. I saw the figures on the head of Luer City shaking, but it didn't look like they were actively preparing for war, but like a group of rabbits who were alarmed.

Just as Ma Chao was about to give the order to attack the city, the gate of Luer City was opened. Immediately, I saw a middle-aged official in a blessed state holding a square box and leading a group of officials and thousands of old and weak soldiers to come out.

Ma Chao laughed, pointed at the other party with Fang Tian's halberd, and said loudly: "This official in Luer City is also interesting!" ”

The blessed middle-aged official, accompanied by several entourages, came to Ma Chao's war horse tremblingly, and was about to speak when he saw a cold light flashing in Ma Chao's tiger eyes.

The middle-aged official was shocked, knelt down involuntarily, held the wooden box high and said urgently: "Luer City Taishou Asutai meets the **** general!" ”

Several entourages behind the middle-aged official couldn't help but kneel down as well, looking very scared.

Ma Chao pointed at the wooden box in Asutai's hand with his blade. Knowingly asked, "What is this?" ”

Asutai hurriedly replied, "This is the official seal of Luer City!" The sinner will first dedicate it to the general! ”

Ma Chao smiled and said to the soldiers beside him: "Take it!" Send it back to Your Majesty immediately! ”

The pro-soldier made a promise, jumped off the warhorse, and took the wooden box from the other party's hand. Retreated.

Seeing that the other party had accepted the official seal, Asutai couldn't help but feel relieved and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. With a flattering face, he clenched his fists and asked, "General, please enter the city!" ”

Ma Chao laughed. Pointing his spear at the city gate, he ordered: "Lead the way!" ”

Asutai promised. Immediately stood up, ready to go up to lead Ma Chao's war horse, but this war horse can actually be touched by anyone, the war horse neighed angrily, raised his feet and gasped towards Asutai, Asutai was taken aback, and rolled on the spot at the last moment, narrowly avoiding ~ robbery.

Unexpectedly, this chubby middle-aged official is not bad, in ancient times, leading a horse was something that a subordinate servant did, and he wanted to lead a horse for Ma Chao, in fact, he had the meaning of patting the horse.

Ma Chao calmed the angry war horse and shouted at Asutai: "Bastard! Who let you lead the horse! ”

Asutai got up from the ground, depressed, and didn't know how to answer. It's really a horse's fart slapped on the horse's leg.

"Lead the way!"

Asutai hurriedly agreed, and then honestly led the way in front.

Ma Chao led an army of 40,000 people to slowly enter the city under the kneeling of the Wusun soldiers and civilians on both sides, and the mood of the Wusun soldiers and civilians was very complicated, both uneasy and sad, and of course, many people were thinking about how to offer loyalty to the new ruler.

After Ma Chao captured Luer City, he left 5,000 men to defend, and he led 35,000 soldiers straight south to Yaguan.

At the same time, the elite of the 40,000 Fifth Army led by Gan Ning and the combined army of 20,000 Pishan marched towards Qule, and because of the King of Pishan and the entire royal family, the envoys of the Great Wei side succeeded in bringing the more than 20,000 Pishan troops scattered from the Western Night King City into obedience.

70,000 allied troops arrived at the foot of the city of Qule and lined up in battle.

"General, give the order!" Adjutant General Sun Jiang asked for instructions in a hurry.

Gan Ning picked his ears for a long time and said, "Don't worry! Anyway, I can't run away! Send someone over to see how the king is talking with our messengers. ”

Sun Jiang promised and immediately sent the forward battalion commander Li Tie.

This Li Tie was originally only the commander of the cavalry battalion of the forward battalion, but because of his first contribution to the battle of Pishan Wangdu not long ago, he was promoted to the commander of the forward battalion. Although the commander of the forward battalion and the commander of the cavalry of the forward battalion are both called commanders, the former is obviously one level higher than the latter, and the commander of the forward battalion is second only to the corps commander and deputy corps commander in the Wei army, and can be called a general.

The corps commander is a famous general like Ma Teng and Zhang Liao, and the deputy corps commander is generally their deputy general, but because the structure of the Wei army is very special, the corps commander and deputy corps commander are often only a nominal position.

The legions led by famous generals when they go out on expeditions are often not the legions under their own names, and it is these little-known figures who really have the right to lead troops in peacetime.

Cao Cao also did this to prevent the empire from being overpowered by a certain general.

After receiving the order, Li Tie rode his horse to the city gate of Qule, and the soldiers on the city gate couldn't help but get nervous when they saw this scene.

"Is it war or peace? Where is my Great Wei envoy? Li Tie raised his voice and asked, but there was silence on the city gate, and no one answered. Something seems to be wrong. (To be continued.) )