After asking carefully, Sun Ce found out that not only the giant stone thrower with the tip rod was broken, but also the three giant stone throwers all had problems to varying degrees. The biggest problem was that there were cracks in the tip rod.

Sun Ce regretted it too much. The responsibility for this matter was not others, but himself. Even if he did not study mechanical and had little understanding of the mechanical properties of the materials, he also knew that such a large tip rod could no longer bear it by natural wood, and it would be almost a matter of time before breaking.

There is a common sense in mechanics. It is usually no problem to reduce the proportion, but the magnification ratio should be cautious. The biggest problem is often in the strength of the material. Giant stone casters seem to have only doubled, but the danger may be increased by four or five times or even more. The tip rods bear the greatest strength because they cannot be spliced ​​materials, so they can only use native wood. There are not many tree rods that are five or six meters tall, and there is no room for selection. It would be strange if there is no problem.

Fortunately, except for Huang Yueying, everyone else had no problems. They were just a little scared, which was a blessing in disgrace.

"These stone throwers are stopped."

"How can that work?" Huang Yueying was anxious. "I haven't broken Wancheng yet."

"No need to fight, Cao Cao has already run away." Sun Ce frowned and looked at Zhou Yu beside him. "Didn't you tell them?"

Zhou Yu shook his head. "I have received the news, but Cai Degui just entered the city for negotiations. At this time, we cannot stop the attack. Maintaining pressure will be beneficial to the negotiations. But... I didn't expect such an accident to happen."

"Don't blame yourself, it has nothing to do with you." Sun Ce waved his hand. "Let me do this, let's change the pole and put these three stone throwing machines on the top to show it, so that people in the city can see it. You can send someone to intercept Cai Degui and let him be prepared."

"I've arranged it."

Seeing that Zhou Yu had made the arrangements, Sun Ce had nothing to explain. Huang Chengyan also rushed over and took over the command of the baggage battalion to appease the craftsmen's emotions. Sun Ce carried Huang Yueying back to his tent and placed it on his marching couch. Huang Yueying was too tired and fell asleep as soon as he lay on the bed. Looking at Huang Yueying's little face that had lost weight, Sun Ce sighed secretly. For this war, I don't know how many people have put in their efforts, only Yuan Shu, the two-man, only wanted to beat Cao Cao and embarrass Zong Shilin.

Sun Cegang complained a few times, and the sound of rapid footsteps sounded outside. Yuan Shu pushed the tent in and was about to speak, but when he saw Huang Yueying on the couch, he immediately covered his mouth with his hands, stared at Huang Yueying with his big eyes, and pointed at Huang Yueying. His mouth was wide open, but his voice was very small.

"A Chu is okay?"

Sun Ce stood up and shook his head. "The arm is broken, everything else is fine."

"That's good, that's good." Yuan Shu rubbed his hands, approached the couch, looked at Huang Yueying carefully, and then tiptoed back, signaling Sun Ce to talk to him. Sun Ce covered the quilt and followed Yuan Shu out of the tent. Yuan Shu breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at the eastern horizon with white fish belly, and a moment of divination came out.

"Bo Fu, Cai Degui has entered the city. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be able to persuade the surrender to succeed. If Wancheng loses it again, you will be the first contribution."

Sun Ce was about to say a few modesty words, Yuan Shu raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder and patted it gently. "Bo Fu, don't be nervous. Although I have no knowledge, I know who is trustworthy and who is not trustworthy. You don't need to take what those people say to you, I can tell the right and wrong."

Sun Ce blinked and then understood what Yuan Shu meant. He and Zhou Yu were appreciated and trusted by Yuan Shu when they first arrived. It would be strange if no one was talking behind their backs. If nothing unexpected happened, Chen Yu should be one of them.

"In theory, you should be asked to go to Wancheng to take a look, divide the spoils, and rest for two days. However, the war is urgent, so don't waste time, take a day off, and rush to Wuguan tomorrow. I will keep your spoils for you, and I will never treat you badly."

Sun Ce's heart tightened and looked at Yuan Shu's side face. Yuan Shu felt his gaze, and the corners of his eyes jumped inadvertently, then he showed a faint smile again, and turned to face Sun Ce's gaze. Sun Ce smiled. Yuan Shu was a playboy but could not act, and his micro expression had betrayed his heart. The original plan was that he and Zhou Yu rushed to Wuguan together. Now Yuan Shu never mentioned Zhou Yu, and then he thought of the arrangement of Qin Mu to his command just now, and the meaning of this was very clear.

Some people suggested that Yuan Shu suppress his military power and separate him from Zhou Yu, and Yuan Shu accepted the suggestion.

"Here! I'll set out early tomorrow morning."

Yuan Shu pressed Sun Ce's shoulder and wanted to say something, but he didn't say it after all. He just sighed, showed a hint of embarrassing smile, and turned around and left. He lowered his head and walked very quickly, as if he was escaping something. Sun Ce was still a little angry at first, but when he saw his guilty look, he couldn't help but want to laugh, and felt a little relieved in his heart.

This guy is not a material for playing politics after all.

Back at the tent, Sun Ce untied his heavy and cold armor, brought a marching couch in, covered him with a quilt, lying in with his clothes, and fell asleep as soon as he dripped his head into a pillow.

——

On Zishan, Cao Cao sat on a huge rock and looked at the rolling mountains in the east in a stunning way.

Xi Zhicai held his hands and stood beside him. Cao Ren led more than a hundred guards to hide in the woods behind him. They were all tired, but no one complained. They leaned against the tree and brought dry food and light wine into their mouths, while silently looking at Cao Cao who had been sitting in the middle of the night like a stone statue.

"General, let's go, Yuan Shu probably won't come. If he wanted to chase him, he would have arrived long ago."

Cao Cao didn't move. After a while, just as Xi Zhicai was about to persuade him again, Cao Cao suddenly stood up and slapped the dust on his butt and said, "Zhicai, do you know whose tomb is under the hill to the east?"

Xi Zhicai thought for a while. "Did the general say Zhang Pingzi?"

"That's right. We were not defeated by Yuan Gonglu this time, nor were we defeated by Sun Bofu. We were defeated by those stone throwers. If it weren't for the powerful of the stone throwers, we could at least hold on for a few more months to support the leader in defeating Gongsun Zan and stabilizing Jizhou."

Xi Zhicai's eyes flashed, but he didn't say anything.

"I was negligent." Cao Cao sighed softly. "Cai Degui said that Sun Bofu praised Zhang Pingzi, but did not like scholars but loved craftsmen. I should have thought of this. The He family manor was destroyed in an instant, and I should have thought of this, but I was neglected. Once, it could be said to be an accident, twice in a row. I was defeated naturally. It was not the fault of heaven, but the fault of the battle."

Xi Zhicai wanted to speak but stopped, but his eyes became brighter. "General, he would not blame the sky, he would not blame others, he would not vent his anger. Even if he was defeated for a moment, he would finally make a comeback. General, let's go."

Cao Cao turned around and was about to go down the mountain when he suddenly stopped again and turned to look south.
Chapter completed!