In Shouchun City, Cao's army took turns day and night to defend the city, blocking Wu's attacks countless times.
However, Xiahou Dun was far away in Xuzhou and was unable to provide support. However, the Wu army outside the city continued to provide support. They lined up under the city with countless equipment, catapults, rams, etc. The morale of the Wu army was high.
Cao Ren, Cao Xiu, and Zang Ba led troops to attack the camp several times, but they were all defended by the Wu army. Cao Xiu attacked Zhou Yu's camp and was almost captured. Shouchun was in danger.
Seeing that more than half of the defenders had been lost and their morale was low, Cao Ren discussed countermeasures with his generals. If they did not find a way to retreat from the enemy, they would be trapped in the city by Zhou Yu.
Cao Xiu suddenly said: "When the Prime Minister left, he left a bag of tips and said that he would open it when the troops came to the city. Why not watch it?"
"Yes, I almost forgot about this!" Cao Ren slapped his forehead and hurriedly rummaged through the boxes and cabinets in search of tips.
When Cao Cao left Shouchun and left behind a bag of tips, everyone didn't take it seriously. With the Hefei defense line, how could the Wu army attack Shouchun?
Now Zhou Yu repeatedly used strange strategies to advance from Guangling and bypass Feishui. The Hefei camp was rendered ineffective and Cao's army was caught off guard.
Cao Ren found the bag of tips, opened it and looked at it, and sighed with emotion: "The prime minister knows foresight, he is really a man of God!"
Cao Xiu hurriedly asked: "What's the prime minister's clever plan?"
However, Cao Ren kept it secret and sent an order to make food tonight at five o'clock. Tomorrow, the generals would lead their troops and abandon the city, only to plant flags all over the city to show off.
Cao Xiu was shocked and said: "We have been defending for half a month, how can we give up easily? Huainan is lost, and the Central Plains is in danger!"
Zang Ba cupped his fists and said, "We are ordered to guard the Huaihe River. Losing Hefei is already a serious crime. If we give up Shouchun again, how can we have the face to meet the Prime Minister? I am willing to fight to the death!"
Zhu Ling and other generals also requested orders one after another, willing to defend Shouchun and wait for reinforcements. Everyone knew that once this place was abandoned, it would be difficult to get it back due to the natural dangers of the Huaihe River.
Cao Ren shook his brocade bag and said in a deep voice, "This is the Prime Minister's order. Who dares to disobey it?"
The generals were shocked. They didn't expect that Cao Cao's tip was to give up Shouchun. What kind of foretelling was this?
However, with this general order, everyone felt relieved that at least they would not be charged for abandoning the city, so they went to prepare separately.
Cao Ren left Cao Xiu and Niu Jin alone and ordered them to defend the rear.
Outside the city, Han Dang was inspecting the east gate when he suddenly found Cao Jun coming out of the north gate and hurriedly reported to Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu climbed up to the arrow tower to observe. From here, Shouchun City had a panoramic view. This was one of the reasons why Cao Ren was beaten and was unable to fight back.
Han Dangyan said: "A group of Cao's troops just walked out. The men and horses were carrying packages. Their whereabouts are very suspicious."
Zhou Yu's eyes were slightly gleaming, he looked at it for a moment, pointed at the city head and sneered: "A few days ago, Cao Ren was guarding the city, but he never saw so many flags on the city. Now it is covered with flags, but no one is patrolling. It must be Cao Ren who saw Shouchun guarding. If you can’t hold back, get ready to retreat!”
Han Dang was overjoyed and said: "In that case, we should take advantage of the victory to pursue him and kill him like shit!"
Zhou Yu laughed and said, "That's exactly what I mean!"
Liu Qi captured Hanzhong and attacked Yizhou, with no disadvantages. Zhou Yu felt dissatisfied when he heard the news. He had long wanted to capture Huainan and took advantage of the situation to capture the Central Plains next year. At this time, he was impatient.
Zhou Yu got off the archery tower and immediately sent an order to raise his tent. He ordered Han Dang and Huang Gai to each lead an army. Generals such as Chen Wu and Ding Feng would then respond and outflank Cao's army from Shouchun's east and west wings. Do not allow them to retreat completely.
As the war drums sounded, the Wu army marched out in two groups. Cao Jun was well prepared. Zang Ba at the east gate and Cao Ren at the west gate met the enemy, each leading troops to block the Wu army. Cao Jun from the north gate swarmed out and scrambled to retreat.
Cao Ren and Han Dang fought for more than ten times. When Chen Wu arrived from behind, he no longer wanted to fight and led his troops to withdraw directly from the city. Zang Ba at the east gate was even more defeated by Huang Gai and fled in defeat. Cao's army abandoned the city and fled.
Zhou Yu saw it clearly in front of the formation and laughed and said: "I have heard for a long time that Cao Zixiao is familiar with the art of war and is good at defending and using troops. When I see him today, it is nothing more than that."
At this time, all Cao's troops fled, and no one was seen on the city's garrison, so he ordered the entire army to pursue the enemy, and Cheng Pu led his troops forward to respond.
Zhou Yu ordered people to build a pontoon bridge, open the south gate, advance into the city to secure the people and fortify it, and prepare a banquet to celebrate the success of the generals.
As soon as the troops entered Wengcheng, they suddenly heard loud laughter coming from above: "My dear, Mr. Zhou, do you know the prime minister's clever plan?"
Zhou Yu was shocked. When he hurriedly raised his head, he saw countless Cao troops hiding behind the wall. Cao Xiu gave an order, and arrows poured down like a violent wind and rain.
"Quickly retreat!" Zhou Yu yelled and hurriedly reined in his horse and turned back.
"Don't leave, Lang Zhou!" Cao Xiu bent his bow and arrow, aiming specifically at Zhou Yu.
Three arrows flew out one after another. Zhou Yu was shot in the back and screamed miserably.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the soldiers rushed to protect themselves, rushed away from their own horses, and rushed out.
Zhu Ling and Niu Jin led the ambush troops in the city and rushed straight towards the chaotic Wu army. They killed many people and turned them upside down. Blood flowed into a river in the city gate road, and corpses were spread out on a floor.
Cao Xiu ordered people to close the city gate early and ordered his soldiers to pursue Zhou Yu. The Wu army protruded from the south gate. The defenders outside were in chaos, trampling on each other, and the Chinese army collapsed.
Cheng Pu was crossing the city to pursue Cao Ren. Suddenly he heard the sound of drums in the city. He knew that the situation was not good and hurriedly withdrew his troops to come back for reinforcements.
Cao Ren and Zang Ba retreated for a while. On the road ahead, Cao Jun who had left the city was ambushing on the roadside. They fought on both sides. Han Dang and Huang Gai could not resist. Wu soldiers were defeated again, and Cao Jun turned back to kill them.
Dong Xi risked his life to protect Zhou Yu. After Pan Zhang was cut off, the two returned to the camp. The rebels fled back. Cao Jun followed closely. Seeing Zhou Yu vomiting blood on his horse and unconscious, he did not dare to delay, so he had to abandon the camp and leave.
"Zhou Yu, please leave!"
"Capture Zhou Lang alive!"
Zhu Ling and Niu Jin led the elite troops in hot pursuit. Cao Jun's eyes flashed with golden light, like bloodthirsty wolves seeing a fat sheep. If Zhou Yu was captured and killed, he would be granted the title of a marquis and a general, and he would be rich and prosperous throughout his life.
Seeing that Zhou Yu was vomiting more and more blood, Pan Zhang became anxious and shouted: "Bring the governor nearby for treatment quickly, and I will cut off the queen!"
Dong Xi agreed, picked up Zhou Yu, and walked away from the path with only a dozen people. Pan Zhang gathered the remaining soldiers, formed a formation to defend against the enemy, and fought to the death with Cao Jun.
The two armies fought for a while, with fewer and fewer Wu troops. Pan Zhang suffered many wounds and gritted his teeth to fight to the death. At this moment, an army suddenly came flying from a distance and scattered the flanks of Cao Jun.
It turned out that it was Lü Meng's reinforcements who arrived. Seeing the loud killing sound here, they divided their troops to check. Seeing many Cao soldiers here, they rushed over to kill them.
One of the young generals at the front swept across with a spear, killing Cao's soldiers, and Zhu Ling recognized him as Ling Tong, who had entangled Zhang Liao in Xiaoyaojin earlier. Knowing that he was defeated, he saw reinforcements from Soochow arriving and persuaded Niu Jin to retreat.
Lü Meng didn't know what the enemy situation was in front of him, so he didn't dare to pursue him rashly. He was about to ask Pan Zhang about his military situation, but saw that he had fainted and hurriedly ordered people to treat him.
Cao's army retreated back, and when they met Cheng Pu's troops, they charged and fought for a while. However, Cao Ren and Zang Ba led troops from behind to attack. Cheng Pu did not dare to fight, so he collected the defeated army and then retreated. He only retreated ten miles away before he stabilized his position.
When Lu Meng saw that his troops were defeated, he asked in shock: "The Marquis of Wu learned that the governor was besieging Shouchun and was about to break the city. He ordered me to come to help in the battle. Why is he so embarrassed?"
Cheng Pu sighed and briefly explained Cao's plan. The generals shook their heads. Who would have thought that Cao Ren was so decisive that he even thought of a way to abandon the city to lure the enemy.
Huang Gai, Han Dang and other generals also led the defeated army to rendezvous. Only then did everyone realize that Zhou Yu was missing and hurriedly looked around.
