Jia Xu didn't know the truth outside the city. The fighting outside the city was so fierce right now that he didn't have time to send someone to find out what happened.
Now he had to face two choices.
One is to open the city immediately and send troops to help Cao Cao; the other is to wait and see what happens and wait for everything to settle.
If you choose the former, and if the person who attacked Cao Cao is Zhang Xiu, then you will be stopping Zhang Xiu.
If you choose this way, you will completely fall to Cao Cao, and there will be no way back.
It would be safest to watch the tiger fight from the top of the city. After that, as long as the two sides decide the winner, he would show his kindness to the winner and loser, and he would be able to save his life.
But if this is the case, Jia Xu will face a problem. Who is the force that attacked Cao Cao outside the city?
If it was really Zhang Xiu, it showed that Zhang Xiu didn't trust him, so he launched such a large-scale raid on Cao Cao without telling himself that if he didn't express his position, would Zhang Xiu liquidate himself afterwards?
But if it were a force other than Zhang Xiu, then the matter would be worth pondering.
Jia Xu is actually a very cautious person, and he is very good at taking advantage of the other person's heart based on his personality.
When he was caught by bandits in Liangzhou when he was young, he lied that he was a member of Duan Ying's tribe. If he was killed, Duan Ying would avenge him. On the contrary, if the bandits let him go, he would be rewarded heavily.
Naturally, the sporadic bandits did not dare to offend Duan Ying, one of the Three Mings of Xiliang, so they let Jia Xu go. All of Jia Xu's companions were killed, but Jia Xu survived. They took advantage of the bandits' fear of danger and greed for money. psychology.
Afterwards, the emperor's motorcade was welcomed to Anyi. Jia Xu left Li Jue and Guo Si and went to Duan Xuan. However, he found that Duan Xuan didn't like him and felt uneasy. So Jia Xu secretly left and went to Zhang Xiu without taking him with him. family.
Others were puzzled and asked Jia Xu why. Jia Xu replied that Zhang Xiu needed him more than Duan Xuan, and Duan Xuan would treat his family well for the sake of reputation, so there was no need to worry. The development afterwards would be as Jia Xu thought. That way.
Therefore, Jia Xu's way of life is to seek the greatest benefit while preserving himself. This is due to his character, and it is precisely this that has allowed him to reach his current position.
Therefore, facing the intelligence of the war outside the city, Jia Xu thought about it again and again, and decided to send out spies while closing the city gate tightly and waiting to see what would happen.
Because at this time, he could not judge who the situation would turn to, and as a person who always stands on the side of the winner, Jia Xu decided to wait until the last moment to place his bet.
In the small courtyard, Zhuge Liang looked at the fire on the horizon, stood up suddenly, and said: "Cao Cao's horoscope is very bad, but there is still a glimmer of hope that cannot be cut off, which means that this raid is not going well."
"As the chief of the city, Jia Xu will definitely not be able to wait and see. In this way, Cao Cao's chance of survival will be greatly increased."
"I decided to make one last effort to persuade him to open the city and send troops to help kill Cao Cao!"
Huang Yueying sighed, "This seems difficult."
Zhuge Liang said solemnly: "I have to give it a try."
"If Cao Cao wins tonight, he will achieve great success and there will be no one in the world who can control him."
"I don't know who will beat him tonight, Zhang Xiu or anyone else, we can't let him die here like this."
Huang Yueying asked curiously: "Husband, do you think that the forces that attack Cao Jun tonight may be in danger of collapse?"
Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "The stars are dim and the black light is lingering on them. There should be variables."
It was the first time that Huang Yueying saw Zhuge Liang's application so solemnly, so she said: "I'd better accompany my husband."
Zhuge Liang thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "That's fine, the city is in chaos, but we are safer together."
Outside the city, Cao Cao was desperately leading his troops to break out of the encirclement, but it was more like fleeing than a breakout. Now his soldiers were so panic-stricken that they all ran away. They only regretted that their father had lost two legs.
The ambush soldiers on both sides kept firing arrows, which knocked Cao Cao's soldiers off their backs. In such a dark night, Cao Cao could not command even with his abilities, so he could only order the soldiers to follow them around. He rode a horse, followed by Cao Ang and Cao Anmin, and fled all the way.
While everyone was walking, they heard a trumpet sound in front of them, and an army came out of the diagonal stab. The leading general shouted: "Thief Cao, take your orders!"
Cao Ang looked through the firelight and found that he recognized his face, and whispered: "Father, this is Lu Bu's general Zhang Liao!"
Cao Cao was startled and then remembered that Lu Bu was led into the city and killed in an ambush. Most of his generals were killed. Zhang Liao was the only one who was rescued by the Youzhou army. In all likelihood, he surrendered to the fierce tiger.
However, the other party appears here. Does this mean that it is the Youzhou Army who attacked me this time?
If this is really the case, all he has to do is turn around and flee to Wancheng. As long as he escapes into the city, he will be able to defend the city until Cao Jun and Zhang Xiu return. At that time, he will be able to defeat the incoming Youzhou army and save Wancheng. !
As soon as Cao Cao had this idea, he immediately rejected it because he didn't dare to take the risk!
What he fears most is that if the Youzhou Army and Zhang Xiu join forces and he enters Wancheng, won't he fall into a trap?
Although Jia Xu was secretly on good terms with Cao Cao in Wancheng, at this critical moment of life and death, Cao Cao did not dare to completely trust him. After all, Jia Xu was capricious, and no one knew what he was really thinking!
Cao Cao didn't know that it was Guo Jia's plan that caused the current situation. The purpose was to make Cao Cao and Wancheng suspicious of each other, because no one on either side dared to take risks!
At this time, Cao Cao had already made up his mind and said to Cao Ang: "Let the soldiers break out of the encirclement with all their strength and go straight to Xu County!"
After Cao Ang heard this, he immediately ordered his soldiers to attack. Zhang Liao sneered when he saw this. He waved his crescent halberd and attacked Cao's army like a windmill. Wherever he went, Cao's army screamed and trembled in fear.
When Cao Cao saw this, he knew that he had no generals on his side and could not stop Zhang Liao at all. He gritted his teeth immediately, ignored the soldiers, and fled crazily with a hundred cavalry in his side.
Zhang Liao saw a cavalry troop escaping, but among them was a dwarf. Guessing that it was Cao Cao, Zhang Liao immediately rushed out of the enemy formation and headed straight for Cao Cao.
When Cao Cao saw this, he was immediately frightened and tried his best to urge his horse Jueying to run wildly. Zhang Liao saw this and ordered the accompanying cavalry to fire arrows. Suddenly dozens of arrows were fired at Cao Cao's horse.
Seeing this, Cao Ang quickly ordered his soldiers to block Cao Cao's surroundings. Some people were hit by arrows and fell off their horses. Seeing this, Zhang Liao bent his bow and nocked an arrow, and shot an arrow, hitting Cao Cao's horse in the butt.
Jueying screamed and stood up, almost knocking Cao Cao off. Cao Cao was in a state of embarrassment. Seeing that Jueying was unable to move, he was about to open his mouth to change his horse, when he saw Cao Anmin rushing out with his horse and escaping into the woods. went.
Cao Cao almost wanted to curse, but he saw Cao Ang running towards him, pulling Cao Cao onto his horse, and the two of them galloped together.
But Zhang Liao's cavalry was chasing after him. Seeing that he was about to be overtaken, Cao Ang gritted his teeth and said, "Father, let's go first. I have my own way to escape!"
After saying that, he jumped off the horse and rolled into the long grass beside the road.
Cao Cao heard a muffled grunt in the grass and then no sound. He hesitated for a moment, then heard the rumble of the horse's hooves behind him, so he had no choice but to shake the reins and run away in a hurry.
Seeing that there were fewer and fewer people around him, Cao Cao became more and more panicked, because he realized that the opposite side had already fallen to the north, and the road to Yingchuan he wanted to escape to had been blocked!
Cao Cao quickly turned his horse's head and headed east. After escaping for an unknown amount of time, the sound of horse hooves behind him got closer and closer. Just as Cao Cao was lamenting that his life was at stake, another cavalry army rushed out of the diagonal stab.
Cao Cao was completely desperate now. He was about to dismount and wait for death when he heard the leading general shout: "Ming Gong, why are you here?"
When Cao Cao saw it, it turned out to be Cao Chunhe's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!
He immediately burst into tears of joy, stepped forward to hold Cao Chun's arm, and cried out in tears: "Zihe, Zihe, you are here. I was attacked by the Youzhou army, but why are you here?"
After hearing this, Cao Chun gritted his teeth and said, "Sure enough, there is something wrong with Zhang Xiu!"
"I'm afraid this guy is not colluding with the Youzhou Army!"
"Yu Jin and I attacked Xinye. Zhang Xiu dealt with the situation several times, which resulted in Xinye being unable to attack. After discussion, the two of us felt that this matter was strange, so we simply returned to the army to repair it."
"I vaguely felt something was wrong, so I marched overnight with Yu Jin and came back before Zhang Xiu. Unexpectedly, I met Duke Ming!"
"Ming Gong, please wait a moment, I will kill all the pursuers!"
After hearing this, Cao Cao felt a little relieved, but he still nodded and said: "Zihe, be careful. Opposite you is General Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, so don't be careless."
After hearing this, Cao Chun was filled with fighting spirit, "The one Zixiao let go last time?"
"Watch if I make him come back this time!"
While Zhang Liao was pursuing, he saw a cavalry force rushing out from the front. More than a dozen of his cavalry were caught off guard and were stabbed off their horses by the opponent. He quickly ordered his soldiers to retreat and form a formation.
He wondered why there was an ambush on the opposite side?
Logically speaking, shouldn’t it?
When the general on the opposite side came out and provoked: "Which one is Zhang Liao?"
"I am Cao Chun, the commander of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Come forward quickly to lead him to death!"
Zhang Liao realized that this was the return of Cao's army from attacking Xinye. Why didn't Liu Bei entangle him?
Now that the matter has come to this, Zhang Liao also stepped out of the formation and shouted: "Cao Chun, you and Cao Cao will die here today!"
"Watch me avenge Wen Hou!"
Cao Chun laughed loudly and rushed forward with his gun drawn: "Try it if you have the guts!"
The two generals rushed forward at the same time and fought together.
At the same moment, Xu Huang, who was standing between Wancheng and Cao Jun's camp, received a piece of news that made him quite uneasy.
Twenty miles to the south, an infantry army was advancing rapidly, and the flag was the word "Yu"!
Xu Huang immediately realized that it was Cao Jun's infantry general who was back!
The problem before him now is that while blocking the road, he divided his troops to surround Dian Wei, and he no longer had the strength to deal with Jin's infantry!
At the moment, all he can hope for is that Zhang Liao, who is chasing Cao Cao, returns as soon as possible and blocks the enemy with him!
Xu Huang looked back at the dark Wancheng in the distance. This was also a variable.
Wancheng's attitude is still unclear. For the Youzhou Army, even if it stands still, the pressure will be great, not to mention that it can go out of the city at any time to help Cao Jun. By then, the Youzhou Army will not only be unable to defeat Cao Jun, but may also suffer a disastrous defeat!
After Yuan Xi received Xu Huang's message, he frowned and said nothing. Lu Lingqi said from the side: "The situation is not good."
Yuan Xi nodded and said: "Yes, this is my most dangerous battle. Now it seems that luck is not on my side."
(End of chapter)
