Cao Cao led everyone back to the tent and asked the soldiers to bring his "old acquaintance" with them.
The person who was brought up was a middle-aged man with a helpless and downcast look, and his three followers.
"Oh! Isn't this Xu Ziyuan!" Cao Cao walked forward happily, but suddenly stopped after taking two steps.
He drew out the sword from his waist and shouted sternly: "Xu You, you Hebei invaded my Yanzhou without any reason, and Yuan Xi even tried to murder my general nephew. What are you doing here? Are you trying to persuade me to surrender!"
"Meng De, please don't do anything, just listen to me." Xu You quickly waved his hand and explained, "I'm not here to persuade you to surrender, but actually to join Meng De. I hope you will take me in because of our long-standing friendship." t .
"Hahaha! Why, the sun has come out in the west?" Cao Cao pointed at Xu You and looked back at everyone with a smile, as if he heard a big joke, and asked, "Ziyuan, did Cao hear you right? You are not in Yuan Stay here with Xi, what are you doing here with my weak army?"
"Oh, Meng De, I can't tell you how miserable I am." Xu You cried with a sad face, "Tian Feng Shenpei and others killed my nephew and took my family into custody. Hebei and I have an sworn hatred, so I’m here to help Meng De defeat the Jizhou Army and rescue my little one!”
"Haha, do you think I'm a three-year-old? You're clearly here to be a female servant!" Cao Cao said sternly.
"Mengde, listen to me!" Xu You quickly explained, telling what happened in Yecheng, and said: "After Benchu's death, Yuan Xi's trusted aide Tian Feng and others failed in their last mission to Guanzhong. Xu You A certain person is even more neglected. Not only has he not been promoted in the past two years, but his salary has been withheld. It is impossible to expect Yuan Xi to avenge me, so I can only come to Meng De to seek refuge with you!"
Cao Cao squinted his eyes and looked at Xu You intently, as if he was judging the truth or falsehood of Xu You's words.
"My lord, you can't believe it! Xu You is a veteran of two generations in Hebei, how could he take refuge with us!" Cao Ren stood up and said angrily: "This guy must be a spy sent by Yuan Xi. It would be better to kill him as soon as possible!"
Xu You spread his hands and said nonchalantly, "That's good! I'm the only one with no burden. The general wants to kill me without any complaints, but he can't avenge my nephew. This is really unacceptable."
Cheng Yu walked to Cao Cao and whispered a few words. After hearing this, Cao Cao's hands trembled slightly, and his eyes showed excitement as he said, "Come on, Ziyuan, with so many years of friendship, can I still not believe you?"
It turned out that the secret agent reported that there was chaos in the rear of Yuan Xi's army. The third son, Yuan Shang, sealed the four gates of Jizhou and sent troops to guard the Huanshui ferry, cutting off the return route of Yuan Xi's reinforcements. Chaos in the rear.
Yuan Shang issued an edict to Qingjiyou to merge with the four continents, and declared Yuan Xi guilty of several crimes, such as persecuting heroes in Hebei, disrespecting the king's orders, etc.
He also took out the emperor's edict and formally inherited the position of General Yehou. The soldiers who were ordered to go abroad will return to Jizhou immediately.
"Lord, I'm afraid there's a scam in this!" Cao Hong also said anxiously.
Cao Cao smiled. Explained, "Song Fan who was sent to Jizhou has sent back the news that Ziyuan was indeed persecuted by Tian Feng's judge, and Song Fan has instigated Yuan Shang's rebellion and helped him capture Yecheng!"
"Ah!" Everyone exclaimed, this is really great news. If used well, it may completely turn the tide of the battle!
"It's better now. There's a fire behind Yuan Xi. Let's see how long he can hold on!" Cao Hong said excitedly.
"Although Yecheng was captured by Yuan Shang, they still have a lot of food stored in Liyang and Baima. And Duke Cao is probably very short of food. Maybe Yuan Xi can bear it better than everyone else, and he can take it easy then. Return to the army and put down the rebellion. With Yuan Xi's talents, it is only a matter of time to put down Yuan Shang." Xu You said coldly from the side.
"Although it is a great happy event, as Ziyuan said, Yuan Xi is still in an invincible position." Cao Cao interrupted everyone's joy, "Although the journey is long, he may send troops from Qingzhou to collect food. And Jizhou All the troops were mobilized for him. Yuan Shang's troops are too few. Yuan Xi may be able to defeat Yuan Shang as soon as he returns to the army."
Everyone listened. He immediately calmed down and realized that Jizhou Jun's family was indeed rich. It is said that a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Even if such an accident occurs, it may severely damage the vitality, but it is unlikely to be fatal.
"Military strategists often say that the rapidity of the water is the same as the drifting rocks! The rapidity of the birds of prey is the destruction!" Xun You understood what Cao Cao meant and said: "The current situation between the two sides is that the enemy is strong and we are weak. , but strength is not static. Roushui can even take advantage of the situation to float rocks. Of course, our army can also create a dangerous situation and kill Yuan Xi with one blow!
"
"Gongda's words are exactly what I want. When birds of prey fight, they often have a short and dangerous rhythm, so they can be killed with one blow. As long as our army hits their joints, it may not be fatal!" Cao Cao said with a smile, thinking about it for many days. Knots dissolve instantly.
"Then what is this festival?" Cao Hong asked.
"Food and fodder!" Cao Cao, Xun You, and Cheng Yu said in unison, and looked at each other and smiled.
"Based on the previous situation, even if one or two batches of food and grass were intercepted by the Jizhou Army, the ability of Yuan Xi and others to lead the army would not cause much harm." Cheng Yu explained, "It is different now. Yecheng has cut off its food supply. If the Jizhou Army's grain garrison in Henan is short, there will be no need to replenish it. As long as our army continues to spread the news of the fall of Yecheng, the Jizhou Army will undoubtedly be in chaos."
"At that time, even if Yuan Xi could retain most of his strength, he would have no choice but to retreat to Hebei." Cao Cao said with bright eyes, "If our army can still seize the opportunity, it is not impossible to encircle and annihilate most of the Jizhou army!"
"Everyone, when Xu was in Yecheng, he was also organizing food and baggage errands. He knows very well about the Jizhou army's food garrison and transportation. Maybe I can help." Xu You stood up and said.
Cao Cao grabbed Xu You's hand and said enthusiastically: "Ziyuan, you are really sent by God to help me defeat the enemy!"
Xu You smiled awkwardly and said, "Actually, you all know that there are grain stores in places like Puyang and Baima, but they are cities and it is not easy to break through with unexpected troops. There is only one place where the Jizhou army is fatal!"
"Where?" Cao Cao asked anxiously.
"Wuchao!" Xu You said and asked Cao Cao to get the marching map and pointed it out to everyone: "Wuchao is between the white horses of Guandu. It is an important grain storage point for the Jizhou Army. There are only barracks and no city walls here. Relatively speaking, It is very easy to break through. As long as Meng De sends your elite cavalry and your elite troops to sneak attack, it will be very easy."
After a pause, Xu You said again: "According to my calculations, Baima's grain and grass will be transported to Wuchao in four days, and you also know Meng De, the general guarding Wuchao. Chunyu, who was Yuan Shao's party member in the capital in the past, Joan!"
"Chun Yuqiong is just a false name. If he is really transporting food and fodder, then our army has a great chance of winning." Cao Cao nodded and said, "It's just that our army must move quickly. Otherwise, if Yuan Xi returns to rescue, it will be difficult for our army to attack Wu." Nest.”
Xun You stared at Xu You closely and asked, "Mr. Xu, is this really the only food route for the Jizhou Army?"
Xu You's heart skipped a beat and he replied without changing his expression: "There is a small group of people on the other side of the river transporting grain from Qingzhou, but it's just too far and there is no naval force to intercept them."
"Why did Mr. Ziyuan not go out with the army, but was left behind?" Cheng Yu suddenly asked.
"Ah, I have already said this. The last mission to Guanzhong failed, and there is no place for Xu to speak in Jizhou. Nowadays, most of the civil servants in Hebei belong to the Qingzhou Party." Xu You explained.
"Okay, okay. Don't embarrass me anymore." Cao Cao said, but he secretly nodded to Cheng Yu.
In fact, Cao Cao doesn't completely believe Xu You, but at present, Cao Cao has no better way, so he is taking a gamble.
"In these three days, our army can publicize the events in Yecheng and make the Jizhou army panic." Cheng Yu suggested, "And besides raiding Wuchao's grain crops, I also have a plan to make the Jizhou army tired of defense."
Then, Cao Cao started a secret discussion with several counselors.
Guandu, Jizhou military camp.
A small group of cavalry ran to the Jizhou military camp with shields. Their mission was not to fight. It's not to lure the enemy to attack, but to ---- shout.
"Yecheng is occupied by Yuan Shang." "You have no way out." Yanzhou Qingqi shouted in unison, and fired arrows tied with cloth.
"Tick tock!" There was a rapid sound of horse hooves, the camp door opened, and a cavalry force of more than 200 people sprinted out.
Taishi Ci took the lead. Draw out the compound bow and shoot at Yanzhou Qingqi.
"Ah!" The sharp arrow passed through the gap in the shield, and a Qingqi fell down in response.
"Kill!" Other Jizhou cavalry fired arrows one after another.
Yanzhou Qingqi did not come for the fight, so they quickly turned their horses and ran back to the base camp.
Taishi Ci led more than 200 fine cavalry to pursue Cao Cao's camp.
Jizhou Jingqi lined up and shouted in unison: "Xuxian County has been conquered. Your children have all become prisoners!" "Chenliu has been conquered! If you want to survive, abandon your weapons and surrender!"
Jizhou Jingqi
The shouts came one after another, and even the Yanzhou soldiers in the camp could hear them clearly. Le Jin and Xiahou Dun were furious, and they immediately led more than 300 riders out of the camp.
Taishi Ci raised his spear and pointed it at Xiahou Dun and others without fear. They were all old rivals, and they just started fighting without answering.
"Fuck!" The two spears struck each other, and the fight was fierce.
"Yuan Rang, let me help you!" Le Jin shouted, clapped his horse and stepped forward to help.
Taishi Ci laughed loudly. Sweeping the gun. Bounced away the weapons of Xiahou Dun and Le Jin.
"Ziyi, let me help you!" More Jizhou cavalrymen ran behind them. The leader is Zhao Yun, the commander of the Xiaoqi Battalion.
"Dang!" Zhao Yun opened Le Jin's spear, and the four of them fought back and forth.
"You, Chen Liu, have been raped! Come out and surrender!" A large number of shouts also sounded from the other side of Cao's camp, but these shouts of surrender were very strange and awkward. It turned out to be the shouts of the Wuhuan cavalry in broken Chinese.
The soldiers in Cao's camp couldn't help but laugh, but the general didn't dare to laugh next to him.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou laughed loudly, and they ordered the Wuhuan cavalry to yell and curse.
"It's so abominable!" Cao Ren had already held back his anger, and then he led his cavalry soldiers out of the camp.
Cao Ren's cavalry were all fine cavalry, and Cao Ren was followed closely by his general Niu Jin. Yan Liang and Wen Chou rushed forward, fending off Cao Ren and Niu Jin respectively.
Wen Chou flicked Cao Ren's long sword away and said arrogantly: "Ask Lu Bu to fight, you guys are no match for Grandpa Wen!"
Cao Ren's face turned livid with anger, he slashed at Wen Chou with his sword, and shouted angrily, "I, Cao Ren, can kill you!"
Wen Chou swung his big iron spear and struck Cao Ren straight at him, "Cang! Cang! Cang!" After a few hard hits, Cao Ren's arm was numb from the shock. In terms of brute force alone, how could he be Wen Chou's opponent?
Niu Jin's side was even more dangerous. Yan Liang's long knife danced with snow-like blades, covering his entire front.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The rapid sound of the golden gong sounded from behind the Yanzhou camp. Cao Ren and others had to get rid of their opponents and then retreated to the camp.
Cao Ren's riding skills were superb, and he was able to get rid of Wen Chou with a few quick steps, but Niu Jin was unable to do so, and was tightly entangled by Yan Liang.
Niu Jin finally turned the horse's head. He realized that Yan Liang was chasing him, so he turned around and stabbed him with his halberd.
Yan Liang did not retreat but advanced. He caught up with the horse by grabbing the horse's belly. He blocked the tip of the halberd and stabbed Niu Jin's throat with the tip of the long knife.
"Ah!" Niu Jin rolled off his horse, and Wen Chou stepped forward to fire another shot.
The dead can no longer die. This Niu Jin is the one who was poisoned by Sima Yi with the Yin and Yang pot in history.
In the large tent of the Jizhou Army, all civil and military officials gathered here to discuss matters.
Wen Chou hurried over and said excitedly: "General, this trick is really effective. It makes the people of Yanzhou yell nonsense. Let's also go to Cao Ying to yell and scold. It's rude to come and not return!"
Yuan Xi looked at Wen Chou and smiled, and said, "When Cao Cao is at the end of his rope, he will inevitably use this trick to mess with the morale of our army, as long as our officers and soldiers are not deceived by it."
"Yes, yes!" Wen Chou replied.
"I guess Cao Cao will jump over the wall when he is at the end of his rope, and he may resort to some tricks. General Wen, General Yan, you two will lead the Wuhuan cavalry and be ready to attack at any time!" Yuan Xi ordered.
"Here!" Yan Liang and Wen Chou accepted the order with clasped fists.
"Zhang Liao, Taishi Ci, Zhao Yun, you also lead your cavalry on standby. Start feeding the horses today and build up the horse power." Yuan Xi ordered again.
"No." "No!"
Everyone realized that the war was coming, and after arranging some details, they all retreated and stood by, leaving only a few civil servants.
"My lord, you want to use the Wuhuan cavalry to hold back Cao Jun, and then send out our fine cavalry when both sides are tired?" Guo Tu asked tentatively.
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Didn't the Wuhuan people say that they are famous cavalry in the world? Let them try Cao Cao's water."
"But if this food road is cut off, the soldiers will probably be in commotion." Guo Tu said uneasily.
"It's only a few days. The army's food garrison should be able to sustain it." Yuan Xi waved his hand to indicate his decision.
Cui Yan saw that there were high-level civil servants all around, so he tried to say: "General, tell the truth, has something happened in Yecheng? If something big happens, you should discuss it with me and other important ministers. It's easy to make a decision."
Chen Lin and Cui Yan
When he broke into the account. He said excitedly: "Lord, return to Jizhou as soon as possible, otherwise something big will happen."
Cui Yan also advised: "Yes, the rear defense is unstable and the front cannot win the battle. My lord, please return to the army as soon as possible."
Chen Lin added: "Mr. Wen He, General Wen and others are here to guard the place. My lord, you should quickly return to the army, go to Cangting to raise the army, and go to Jizhou to quell the rebellion."
Yuan Xi placed a letter on the table and reassured them, "With Mr. Yuan Hao on guard, nothing can happen. This is the letter he just sent."
Cui Yan was a little anxious. Explained: "If there is really something wrong in Yecheng, you can send a general to order a partial army to come back for reinforcements."
Guo Jia waved his feather fan and said with a smile: "Why don't Mr. Cui believe it? Everything is under the control of the young master."
The full moon hangs in the sky, so it is reasonable to say that this is not a suitable time for a night attack, but the fighter plane waits for no one, and the march has to overcome various difficulties.
The two sides of Cao and Yuan basically used Honggou water as their boundary. Although there are infringements that cross the line from time to time. However, the Scout Rangers generally do not dare to cross the border easily at night. Even so, there are Jizhou military sentry cavalry within a radius of more than ten miles to the north. Therefore, Cao Cao's army had to go through a lot of troubles and adopt circuitous marching routes.
The gate of Cao's camp is open. The soldiers marched out one by one in an orderly manner. The hoofs of the war horses were wrapped in coarse cloth. Each soldier had a cross-shaped coin in his mouth. There was only a few sounds from the tens of thousands of troops. They were worthy of being the elite soldiers of the Yanzhou Army.
Generals Lu Bu, Gao Shun, Cao Chun, Le Jin, and Li Tong commanded the troops. Although Cao Cao did not attack personally, the standards were definitely high enough.
The originally half-day journey had to take nearly a day because of the circuitous route.
When they arrived at Wuchaoze, Le Jin and Li Tong continued to lead 3,000 men northward, leaving behind Lu Bu and Cao Chun's 7,000 elite cavalry and 1,000 elite infantry.
"Report, Marquis Wen, a grain transport team has arrived on the official road from Baima Mountain to this place, with as many as a thousand carriages!" the scout reported.
Cao Chun asked Lu Bu with his eyes, because this operation was led by Lu Bu. Although Cao Chun was dissatisfied, he knew Cao Cao's intention to win over Lu Bu, so he could try his best to cooperate.
"Zihe, I'll ride to rob the grain, and you lead two thousand riders and Gao Shun's trapped camp to attack the Wuchao camp!" Lu Bu ordered.
"General Lu, go ahead and leave Wuchao Camp to me," Cao Chun said.
Lu Bu clamped his horse's belly, taking Cao Xing, Cheng Lian, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and Hou's generals to set off.
