After learning that Cao Jun's grain and grass had been transported to Bowang City, Liu Qi began to divide his troops and prepare for Cao Jun's final counterattack.
At this time, Tan Ma came to report again. Cao Cao divided his troops into 50,000 troops and went to attack Xinye and Anzhong.
Liu Qi wondered: "Cao's camp has run out of food and grass, how can he still have enough energy to attack the city?"
Xu Shu frowned and said: "Even if we plunder the surrounding people, it will be difficult to save hundreds of thousands of troops. There must be fraud among them."
Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, pondered for a moment and then said: "No matter what, Cao's army is at the end of its crossbow. If we fight to the death, we will seize food for the city and cut off my return. We will never allow him to succeed."
Liu Qi said: "We sent troops from Wancheng. We were afraid that Cao's army would be ambushed along the way. We needed to mobilize troops from Rangxian and Fancheng, so we sent Zilong and Gan Ning there. In a day or two, Cao's army learned that Bowang's grain and grass had been burned, and they would definitely attack." It’s chaos and they won’t last long.”
Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "Rescuing troops is like putting out fire. When Cao Jun goes there, it will be a last-ditch battle. The sad soldiers will win, so we must be more careful."
Liu Qi immediately went to mobilize his troops, and Zhuge Liang said to Xu Shu: "Immediately send someone to find out where the food and grass for Cao's army comes from. I hope the people of Nanyang can escape."
Xu Shu thought that Cao's army was burning, killing and looting everywhere, and the people were in danger. It was too much to worry at this time.
Before dawn, a fast horse flew into Cao's camp and handed the urgent report from Bowang City to Cao Chun.
Cao Chun did not dare to neglect and came to see Cao Cao, but was stopped by Xu Chu. The two quarreled, which woke Cao Cao up.
Cao Chun entered the tent. A moment later, he heard a loud shout inside, and Cao Cao vomited blood and passed out.
Xu Chu chased after him with a knife in hand, glaring at Cao Chun with murderous intent. Cao Chun was furious and roared: "Send the doctor quickly!"
After hearing the news, all the generals in Cao's camp came and waited outside the tent. Cao Chun only allowed Cheng Yu to enter, and saw that Cao Cao had his eyes closed tightly and his face was pale.
The doctor was busy for a long time and said: "The Prime Minister has been working hard all day long, and the anxiety has attacked his heart, causing him to coma, and he needs to rest for a while..."
"Just rest for a while!" Cao Chun cursed loudly and yelled: "Go and cook some medicine."
The doctor left in embarrassment. Cheng Yu looked at the secret letter that fell on the ground, his face was as heavy as water, and he immediately ordered Cao Chun: "Immediately raise the account!"
Cao Chun was startled, knowing that it was urgent to stabilize the morale of the army at this time, and ordered Cao Xiu to summon all the generals to the central army. Cheng Yu attended on behalf of Cao Cao, saying that he had a headache, and he and Cao Xiu were temporarily in charge of the military.
Zhang He said: "There are rumors in the camp just now that the grain and grass in the rear have been lost and the soldiers have changed. I am afraid that it will be difficult to stabilize the morale of the army unless the prime minister personally comes forward."
Cheng Yu's hand holding his beard shook slightly, pulled off a few strands of his beard, waved his hand and said with a smile: "This is Liu Qi's rumor. The food and grass will arrive at noon. All generals will guard their camps carefully to prevent Jingzhou soldiers from taking advantage of the situation to attack."
The generals were doubtful, so they returned to their camps to appease the soldiers.
Cao Chun paused and said: "The army has no jokes, and the military advisor is so perfunctory. If no food and grass arrive at noon, what should we do?"
Cheng Yu twisted his beard and said, "I have my own countermeasures. The most important thing right now is to stabilize the morale of the army."
When Cao Xiu heard that the food and grass had been burned, he was shocked and said in a trembling voice: "It is better to retreat immediately."
Cheng Yu shook his head and said: "For half a month, Liu Qi has been holding back his troops and recuperating his strength. He must be waiting for news from Bowang City. Now that he knows that the food and grass have been burned, he must have secretly organized his troops. If he retreats rashly, he will be defeated like a mountain. It will be a big deal." That’s it.”
Cao Xiu was praised by Cao Cao as a thousand-mile horse of the Cao family. At this time, he was also in chaos: "What should we do?"
Cheng Yu said: "I have ordered people to reply to Bowang City. There will be movement at noon. At this time, the troops will not move. Liu Qi does not know the truth and will not dare to send troops easily. I hope the prime minister can wake up early."
Early in the morning, the atmosphere in Cao's camp was strange. Everyone was watching with their necks hungrily. As the sun went up, some soldiers couldn't help but become restless, like an undercurrent.
At this moment, dust was flying in the direction of Bowang Slope, blocking out the sky and the sun, and a large group of carriages and horses came meandering towards them. It was a grain transport team.
Cattle, horses, mules and donkeys, as well as civilian vehicles, walked through the fields under the gaze of everyone, and cheers erupted in each camp, like young birds and beasts waiting to be fed.
The grain truck went straight to the Chinese army camp, and Cao Jun went out to greet it. Half an hour later, the sound of slaughtering pigs and sheep could be heard in the camp. Soon, fresh meat was distributed to each camp, and blood dripped along the way.
In the evening, the aroma of meat spread throughout the camp. The extremely hungry Cao Jun fought for dinner. After eating and drinking, he returned to the camp and lay down. Only then did he remember that he had only eaten meat and soup and had forgotten to ask for rice and flatbreads.
No one noticed that out of the massive grain transport team, only a thousand thin and old people left alone. The accompanying cattle, mules and other livestock were all missing, and even most of the people transporting grain disappeared.
In the central military tent, Cao Cao's face was bloodless when he woke up. Under the dim light, he looked as gloomy as a ghost.
Although Cheng Yu stabilized the morale of the army in time, he killed tens of thousands of civilians. If the news spread, what would it be like?
In the extremely depressing silence, Cao Cao asked in a hoarse voice: "What should we do now?"
Cheng Yu said: "After the third watch, the prime minister will retreat first. I and the generals will send troops to cross the Baihe River and attack Wancheng in a hurry."
Cao Cao glanced at Cheng Yu and suddenly became a little afraid of this man. He sighed softly and said, "Thanks to Zhongde for stabilizing the morale of the army, otherwise I, Cao Mengde, will be ruined."
Cheng Yu remained calm, cupped his fists and said, "It is my duty to be loyal to my lord. As long as I can protect my lord, any price is worth it."
"Washing water, drinking water again..."
Cao Cao looked up at the sky and murmured: "Both Zixiu and Dian Wei are buried here. I hope those lonely and resentful ghosts will not make trouble for them."
Cheng Yu smiled and said: "The eldest son is protected by the guards. How dare the evil spirits get close to him?"
Cao Cao rubbed his head, which was in pain like needles. Not only were stars in his eyes, but he also became black in waves, as if he was about to faint.
He ordered Cao Chun to hand over his sword to Cheng Yu and said: "Everything in the army will be managed by Lao Zhongde. The Qingzhou Army... will try to preserve it as much as possible."
"Prime Minister, please relax, I know the importance of this." Cheng Yu accepted the order with his fists clasped and retreated with Cao Xiu.
Xu Chu went to prepare the carriage and horses. Cao Cao sat there for a moment and smiled bitterly: "In the past, Yuan Shao was arrogant and did not listen to good advice. He was burned by a certain Wuchao who burned the food and grass and the whole army was defeated. Now I underestimate the enemy and rush forward and do not listen to Xun Yu's words." , in an attempt to fight for life and death, who knew that Bowang City was tricked into burning food, could it be God’s will?”
Cao Chun advised: "How can Yuan Shao compare with the Prime Minister? Now the north has been leveled and the Central Plains is stable. We only need to wait for the autumn grain harvest to reorganize our troops and go to the south of the Yangtze River. The advantage is still with me."
After a while, Xu Chu came to report: "The carriage and horses are ready, Prime Minister, hurry up and leave."
"Liu Qi will definitely notice it when riding in the car," Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Get the last set of Five Stone Powder, take it and then ride on the road."
Cao Chun knew that the situation was urgent, so he quickly took out the medicinal powder and fed it to Cao Cao. When everyone left the tent, they were greeted by a gust of fishy wind. The two brothers couldn't help but feel nauseous, so they got on their horses and hurriedly left the camp.
When everyone was about to reach Bowangpo, they saw torches like long dragons along the river in the distance, and the shouts of killing shook the sky. Cheng Yu had dispatched troops to surprise Baihe.
After Zhu Ma watched for a while, Cao Cao suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed.
Cao Chun asked in confusion: "Why is the Prime Minister laughing?"
