After noon, Cao Hong took away all the disabled soldiers in the camp in the name of picking up food trucks and escorting the wounded, causing a commotion.
Everyone was stationed in the wild and only ate one meal a day. They were so hungry that they waited for food and grass. Some people wanted to leave first. Many people began to pretend to be sick. After Cao Hong killed several people, they finally calmed down. .
Cao Cao's camp was roughly divided into three groups. Cao Xiu led the Qingzhou Army and was stationed in the Bowangpo area. Cao Cao's headquarters was in the middle. Xu Huang led the Hebei Army in the south, forming a defensive position against Wancheng from north to south.
After dark, there was a sudden commotion in the South Camp. As news spread that Cao Cao gave priority to the South Camp and favored soldiers, the most restless Hebei Army was extremely excited.
They had just been incorporated, and they were already uneasy. They suffered setbacks one after another, starved and suffered. There were complaints in the camp, thinking that Cao's army was showing favoritism, and there were even desertions.
But when the smell of dry food and meat spread in the camp, all the soldiers were grateful to Cao Cao. Each of them held a big bowl and looked at the bowl full of meat, with tears streaming down his face.
Not to mention coming to Nanyang, even when I was in the Central Plains, I had never eaten such a sumptuous meal.
Orders were passed down to each camp to eat and drink without limit tonight. Cao Jun, who had been hungry for several days, wolfed down the food, and the whole camp was filled with the sound of popping.
Just when he was sweating profusely from eating and praising the prime minister's virtues, Cao Cao came to inspect in person. He walked around the whole camp, and the soldiers saluted one after another. They were extremely moved.
After going around in a circle, Cao Cao summoned officers and soldiers above the general level to prepare wine and hold a banquet in the central military tent.
Cao Cao raised his glass and said: "Since the Southern Expedition, I have won many great victories. However, God did not help me. A heavy rain destroyed the food and grass, which made you all suffer. Cao is here to apologize to all the soldiers in the camp!"
This was a cordial greeting from the Prime Minister. The generals were so excited that they raised their glasses one after another without even saying they dared.
After drinking a glass of wine, Cao Cao said with emotion: "Although the grain and grass arrived today, the road is far and slippery, and the quantity is very small. I will reward the Nanying with all the grain and grass as a request from you."
Everyone was stunned. They didn't expect that Cao Cao would leave all the food and grass to them. They were grateful but also very confused.
Cao Cao said: "This batch of food and grass is only enough for you for three days. You will send out troops tomorrow to attack Xinye and Anzhong. We must capture the two cities before we can raise food from various places in Nanyang and take advantage of the opportunity to capture Jingzhou in one fell swoop." .”
Xu Huang cupped his fists and said, "We are willing to serve the Prime Minister, even if we die."
Cao Cao said: "It will take two days for the army's food and grass to arrive. The remaining two battalions are still starving and waiting. I will organize our troops to confront Liu Qi and help you win the battle."
The generals were very touched by their respect and trust in Cao Cao. Now was the time for them to make a meritorious service. They all clasped their fists and were willing to die in service.
Cao Cao raised his third glass of wine and said loudly: "I heard that the people of Yan and Zhao are generous and good at fighting. The life of the three armies this time depends entirely on you. Please!"
One sentence made everyone's blood boil, and they all knelt on the ground. Some people cried at that time.
After Cao Cao finished drinking, he appeased the generals and asked them to organize their troops and horses. The whole army would provide their belongings to help them break the city and perform meritorious service.
Everyone left with tears in their eyes. Cao Cao called Xu Huang and Yue Jin to the tent alone and ordered: "After the fifth watch, you two will each lead 50,000 troops to capture the city. If you do not break the city within three days, we will kill them all!" "
The second general had been dissatisfied when he had been humiliated during the previous attack on the city. This time he heard that there were 50,000 troops, and his confidence was greatly increased, and he accepted the order happily.
After everything was arranged, Cao Cao returned to the central army, barely walked out of the south camp, and then squatted on the roadside and vomited wildly.
Cao Chun was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Is it possible that the prime minister has not recovered from the cold?"
Cao Cao took a deep breath and shook his head after a while, "No, the smell of meat in the camp just now was so strong that it made my stomach churn."
Cao Chun gently stroked Cao Cao's back and said with a smile: "I haven't seen meat in many days, so I should be happy to smell the smell of meat."
Cao Cao watched the guards in the distance and whispered: "Zihe doesn't know something. Eighty percent of the meat eaten by the Northern Army tonight is... human flesh."
"What?" Cao Chun was shocked. After being stunned for a moment, he ran to the side of the road and vomited.
Just now when he was rewarding the soldiers, Cao Cao strictly ordered the soldiers not to share their supplies. Cao Chun secretly asked Xu Huang to bite a few pieces of fat meat, and he still has endless aftertaste.
Cao Cao looked at the dark night sky and shook his head helplessly. Back then, Lu Bu made a surprise attack on Yanzhou, and when the two armies were fighting, they encountered a locust plague. The entire army was about to collapse. Fortunately, Cheng Yu raided the county and provided timely supplies of food and grass, and they were able to tide over the difficulties.
Later, I found out that Cheng Yu mixed the food with human breasts, which made Cao Cao sick for several years and unable to eat minced meat for several months.
This time the army was in crisis again. Cao Cao had no choice but to use Cheng Yu's plan. He cooked beef and mutton first, and then cooked human meat in broth, using the smell of mutton to cover up other smells. In addition, the soldiers had been starving for many days and could not tell the difference at all.
But as an insider, Cao Cao's stomach churned when he smelled the aroma of meat all over the camp. He almost couldn't help but vomit it out in the camp just now, but he didn't expect that this kid Cao Chun would actually steal it.
After Cao Chun vomited for a while, the two brothers looked at each other and smiled bitterly. They could only swallow this bitter pill in their stomachs and could not tell anyone about it.
When they returned to the camp, they saw Cheng Yu setting up a banquet and waiting there. There was a plate of meat on the table. The two of them ran outside the tent and retched.
Cheng Yu smiled and said, "Prime Minister, don't worry too much. This is cooked beef. I killed a calf just today, just for the Prime Minister."
Cao Cao held his nose and entered the tent, waved his hand and said: "Take it out and don't let me see any meat for half a month."
Cheng Yu waved his hand and motioned to remove the meat plate, leaving only a plate of cold dishes, and said with emotion: "The Prime Minister is a hero of the world and has killed countless people. Why should he care about just a few..."
"Don't mention this matter again!" Cao Cao pointed at Cheng Yu and said solemnly: "Don't mention it again!"
Cheng Yu shook his head and laughed, thinking that Cao Cao had killed many people in his life. He slaughtered Xuzhou and Yecheng without blinking an eye. How could he be so out of character for just human flesh?
In fact, when cooked into dried meat, it is no different from beef and mutton. Especially for women and babies, the meat is more tender.
Unconsciously licking his lips, he poured wine for Cao Cao to calm his shock and asked: "How is the morale of the Hebei army?"
Cao Cao took a swig of wine, exhaled a breath, nodded and said: "The military morale is available, but there are still tens of thousands of Northern troops. What can we do?"
Cheng Yu Fusu said: "Tens of thousands of troops are attacking the city. Liu Qi will definitely divide his troops to rescue. We will wait for the grain and grass to arrive tomorrow and the soldiers will rest for a day. Then the prime minister will forcefully cross the Baihe River and take Wancheng directly."
Cao Cao tightened his grip on the wine glass, understanding that Cheng Yu was planning to use the tens of thousands of people as the vanguard to forcefully cross the river.
Nanyang has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. To the west, you can pass through Wuguan to enter Guanzhong, to the north, you can go to Luyang to drive Luoyang, if you advance, you can look at Jingxiang, and if you retreat, you can protect Xudu.
This is why Cao Cao did not hesitate to lose troops and generals, and conquered Zhangxiu twice. If Liu Qi was allowed to gain a foothold, not only would all previous efforts be wasted, but Cao Cao's army would also be in a passive position.
As long as they reach Wancheng, the grain and grass transported can last 100,000 elite soldiers for two months, which is enough to deal with Liu Qi. Even if Nanyang is not taken, Wancheng must be conquered.
