It is said that Liu Bei's army slowly withdrew from Xiapi City according to Zhao Chen's arrangements.
Zhao Chen secretly ordered Sun Shao: "Mr. Changxu has a special status. You can stay quietly in Xiapi City. After my lord leads the army out of the city, go to Hou Cheng and Song Xian. Tell them that Liu Xuande will attack Cao Ying tonight. Two Tigers The fight will inevitably lead to losses for both sides. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture Cao Cao and Liu Bei at the same time. These two people are eager for success and profit, and they are at the end of Lu Bu's group. If there is an opportunity, they will definitely encourage Lu Bu to send troops. After that, Ruqie Don’t linger, go to the south gate quickly and someone will be there to help you.”
Then he called Shi A: "Take my letter. When Lu Bu leaves the city, stop Zhang Liao and Gao Shun and give the letter to them. These two people will understand after reading the letter. After the matter is completed, quickly Go to the South Gate to pick up Mr. Changxu, and be sure to protect him. General Huang Gongfu will attack the city from the South Gate, and will work with General Huang at that time."
Shi A took the order and left.
After arranging everything, Zhao Chen rode out of the city.
Liu Bei led his army ten miles westward, crossed the intersection of Surabaya River and Yishui River, and set up camp on the south bank of Surabaya River.
The camp is built along the water, with endless plains to the south and can be evacuated at any time. Twenty miles northwest past Surabaya to the north is Cao Cao's camp.
The presence of Surabaya just gave Liu Bei's army a buffer.
This is also an important reason why Zhao Chen chose this place.
The news that Liu Bei's army was driven out of Xiapi City by Chen Gong and camped on the south bank of Surabaya soon spread to Cao Cao's camp.
Cao Cao clapped his hands and applauded: "As expected, as Feng Xiao said, Chen Gong was cautious and drove Liu Bei's army out of Xiapi City."
The strategy worked. Guo Jia was full of confidence and suggested: "My lord, Liu Bei's army has just left the city and has not yet established a stable footing. It is suitable for a surprise attack."
Cao Cao raised his eyebrows, thinking a little.
"What Feng Xiao said is that we will attack Liu Bei's camp tonight."
So Cao Cao arranged for Cao Ren to lead 30,000 men to guard the camp, and personally lead an army of 40,000, with Xia Houyuan as the vanguard, to raid Liu Bei's camp at midnight tonight.
In Xiapi City, Sun Shao followed Zhao Chen's arrangement and found Hou Cheng and Song Xian, lobbying: "I know that these two generals are brave, but it is a pity that not only are they useless under General Lu's tent, but they are also controlled by Gao Shun in every way. Zhang Liao, their colleague in Bingzhou, is also above the two. Their friend General Wei Xuwei was also killed by Cao Jun. Now I have a plan that can restore the glory of the two generals and avenge their friend General Wei."
Hou Cheng and Song Xian were persuaded by Sun Shao and hurriedly asked: "What's the plan?"
General Sun Shao truthfully told the news that Liu Bei's army was preparing to attack Cao Jun tonight, and suggested that the two of them contact Lu Bu quickly, wait for the two armies to fight for a long time, then send out troops to finish, and then Cao Cao can be defeated.
The two of them thanked Sun Shao and hurried to find Lu Bu.
When Lu Bu learned of the news, he came to Chen Gong to discuss it.
Chen Gong thought for a long time and replied: "General, you can just wait and see what happens. If Liu Bei wins, the general will send out all his troops to attack Cao Cao and reap the benefits, and prevent Liu Bei's army from getting bigger. If Cao Cao wins, general Defend the city in case of any eventuality.”
Lu Bu followed his plan.
That night, Zhao Chen arranged the tasks of various generals.
Zhang Fei was ordered to lead five thousand troops, sneak around Surabaya from the east at night, and wait ten miles north of Cao's camp.
"Cao's army is defeated and will definitely go north. Yide must not let it go and drive Cao's army east."
Zhang Fei took the order.
He also ordered Guan Yu to lead five thousand troops, bypass Surabaya from the west, and ambush ten miles west of Cao's camp. When he saw a fire breaking out in the east, he immediately led his troops towards Cao's camp to cover up and kill them, and drove Cao's army to the northeast.
He also ordered Tai Shici to lead three thousand cavalry and sneak quietly to the south of Cao's camp. When the southeast wind picked up, he led his troops into Cao's camp and set fire to it.
"General Ziyi must not be reluctant to fight. He only needs to set fire to the camp and attack with the force. Cao's army is powerful and the losses to the hard enemy will be too great, so it is not advisable."
Taishi Ci clasped his fists and replied: "Don't worry, Mr. Houde, Cao Cao suffered defeat in the first two battles, and now he will suffer defeat for the third time."
At this time, Taishi Ci, after many cooperative operations, had gradually regarded himself as a general under Liu Bei's account.
This is the effect Zhao Chen wants.
Zhao Chen also ordered Huang Gai to lead five thousand troops and sneak back eastward to the south gate of Xiapi City. After Lu Bu's army left, he could take the opportunity to capture Pi City.
The four generals each took their orders and left.
Zhao Chen finally said to Liu Bei: "My lord, the remaining two thousand troops will be led by my lord to go north together and still ambush at Geyi Mountain. Cao's army will be defeated in this battle and can only flee to the east. By then Lu Bu's army will leave the city to harvest. Our army took advantage of the chaos and took down Pi with General Huang Gai."
With a smile on his face, Liu Bei said: "It's true that you can predict the outcome before the war starts. Camp planning is based on things hundreds of miles away. With the talents of military advisors, it is difficult to have an opponent in the Central Plains."
Zhao Chen smiled and said: "My lord, you are rewarded. If we can successfully capture Xiapi City, our army will be able to gain a foothold in Xuzhou in advance, and future plans can be implemented in advance."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
At night, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, making it darker than before.
Taishi Ci led an army of five thousand men and quietly reached outside Cao's camp. Looking from afar, Cao Ying was busy preparing.
"Sure enough, the military advisor predicted that Cao Jun will attack the camp tonight."
He ordered the soldiers to wait quietly.
As soon as Hai hour passed, the southeast wind suddenly picked up, making the big paper rustle.
Taishi Ci realized that the time mentioned by Zhao Chen had come, and immediately ordered his men to show their spears, light torches, and set up rockets.
With an order, two thousand rockets were fired together, and followed the southeast wind and fell into Cao Jun's camp.
Cao Jun's camp instantly burst into flames. Before Cao Jun could react, Taishi Ci led five thousand soldiers and rushed into Cao Jun's camp.
Cao's army was killed in a hurry, trampling on each other, and was killed by Taishi Ci's army before they even picked up their weapons.
Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun hurriedly led their troops to fight, but Taishi Ci did not dare to stay long. He brandished his spear, stabbed left and right, bypassed the two men, and cut a bloody path.
They fought all the way to the middle camp of Cao's army. Cao Cao led Xia Houyuan to resist and surrounded Taishi Ci's army.
Facing Cao Cao's army, which was several times his own, Taishi Ci showed no fear at all and charged Cao Cao with his spear.
Cao Cao was shocked and retreated repeatedly.
Xia Houyuan on the side did not care about the injury on his shoulder and responded with a gun.
After three rounds of fighting between the two, Xia Houyuan became a little exhausted. Thanks to Yu Jin, he arrived in time and rescued him.
Cao Cao shouted: "Tai Shi Ci, why are you here?"
Taishi Ci pointed at the young civil servant next to Cao Cao and said with a smile: "You must be Guo Jia. My Mr. Houde values you very much. Unfortunately, you are far less resourceful than Mr. Houde. If you want to attack at night, you have been killed by Mr. Houde." I've seen through it. Today Ci will take your heads."
"What a loud tone!" How could Xia Houyuan allow Taishi Ci to be arrogant and command the army to force Taishi Ci.
When the two armies were facing each other, a green-robed general came from the west, and he was Guan Yu.
The resistance that Cao Jun finally organized was torn apart when Guan Yu attacked him.
Guan Yu and Tai Shi Ci joined forces, and ten thousand men rushed and killed Cao's army without hesitation. Cao's army was unable to fight back. Corpses were everywhere wherever they went, as if they were bulldozing earth.
Cao's army was scorched by the fire and faced the southeast wind. The dust was flying and he could not open his eyes at all. He could not judge how many men and horses Guan Yu and Taishi Ci had. He could only feel that soldiers were constantly falling around him.
Cao Cao had no choice but to lead his army and retreat to the north where there was no obstacle.
