During the Battle of Nanyang, his reputation had plummeted due to the dried meat rations incident. If Shouchun was flooded again, it would definitely arouse public outrage.
What's more, the situation is different now. He is the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, and he is planning to ascend to Wei Gong and join Jiuxi. How can he convince the public if he does such a thing?
Seeing Cao Cao's hesitation, Sima Yi wondered in his heart. In the past, the hero who killed people without batting an eyelid and frequently massacred cities, why was he so hesitant today?
Then he advised: "Lu Su is building a new city in Hefei and digging waterways in order to connect the Huaihe River and Feishui River. This must be Jiangdong's attempt to take advantage of the navy to protect Huainan and wait for an opportunity to enter the Central Plains. If you retreat at this time, not only will your previous efforts be wasted, but you will also be waiting for an opportunity." If its waterways are unblocked, the Central Plains will be in danger!"
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed to a slit, and after a long while he sighed: "It's a very important matter, let me think about it."
Sima Yi had no choice but to withdraw from the tent, looking up at the dark sky, his mood seemed gloomy. Did he guess Cao Cao's thoughts wrongly this time?
Since Cao Cao transferred him to join the military, Sima Yi decided to make a change. He changed his past style of elegant scholars and learned from Cao Cao's decisive killing, cruelty and deceit, in order to gain his appreciation.
Seeing that Cao Cao's health was deteriorating, Cao Pi was about to take power. If he didn't take this opportunity to show off, how could he be reused and how could he display his ambitions?
But little did he know that what Sima Yi was experiencing at this time was exactly when Cao Cao was in high spirits.
But today, Cao Cao, who is an extremely respected minister and has established a great empire, is no longer the willful hero, but a founder who is ready to pave the way for future generations.
Early the next morning, the army was ready to break camp. Cao Cao was still undecided and was about to discuss with Xun You. Suddenly, he came on horseback in the rain and delivered an urgent report.
Cao Cao opened it and looked at it, and said angrily: "Xianbei dog thief, how dare you bully me?"
Cao Chun asked, "Ke Bi Neng has always been on good terms with the Prime Minister. What happened?"
Cao Cao said in a deep voice: "Youzhou is reporting urgently. Xianbei in eastern Liaoning have united with Gongsun Kang to rebel and are attacking western Liaoning. They want to unite with Xianbei in central China to invade Youzhou."
Cao Chun was shocked and said: "Ke Bineng is a great chanyu of Xianbei. He has been favored by the prime minister many times. Why don't you show restraint?"
Cao Cao sighed: "Previously, we had no choice but to borrow troops from Xianbei, and our troops were all gone. Those people came to the Central Plains to grab credit. Most of them were close relatives of various ministries. This incident aroused public outrage, and Kebi Neng could not suppress it."
At the beginning, Cao Cao borrowed troops and promised to Xianbei that after breaking the city in the Central Plains, he would first let them loot and get rewards. All tribes rushed to send troops, and this matter even caused a duel between tribes.
The Xianbei people treated the war as a child's play, thinking they were going to the Central Plains to grab supplies. However, if a battle was needed, they were plotted by Liu He and Zhou Yu, and the entire cavalry army was wiped out. Only 300 remnants of the 20,000 Xianbei cavalry returned to the tribe.
After Kebineng reunified Xianbei, he lived in Shengle City and divided it into three tribes. The western Xianbei tribe was dominated by the Tuoba tribe, the central Qifu tribe was north of Youzhou, and the eastern Xianbei tribe was dominated by old Xianbei tribes such as Murong and Yuwen tribe.
Although the three tribes respected Ke Bi as the great chanyu, they actually acted independently and did not fully obey orders. Now that their relatives were killed in the Central Plains, they were all furious and raised armies one after another.
Cao Chun frowned and cursed: "Barbarians are like jackals, coming for profit. Once there is no profit, they will turn against each other and even turn against their masters. We should not have anything to do with them long ago."
Cao Cao sighed and ordered, "Call Yuan Rang and Zi Lian."
Soon Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong arrived at the tent. Cao Cao informed him of the war in the north and said: "I want to personally conquer Xianbei. Zi Lian will go with me, and the troops in Huainan will be led by Yuan Rang."
Xiahou Dun was shocked and said: "Xianbei invades the border, and Yan Rou is guarding the border, which is enough to deal with it. Why does the prime minister need to personally conquer it?"
Cao Hong also said: "The Prime Minister has been feeling unwell recently. It would be better to go back to Xuchang to recuperate. There is nothing to fear from Xianbei. If you are worried, I will eventually lead the troops north."
Cao Cao said with emotion: "This matter happened because of me, and I must solve it myself! Even if I have to fight in the south and the north all my life, even if I implicate many people and be framed, it is just for the sake of the great Han Dynasty. I am not afraid of other people's comments. But if because of If I invite foreigners to enter the country and harm the people, I will be a traitor and will be infamy for thousands of years, which is not what I want!"
Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and Cao Chun tried to persuade Cao Cao that Cao Cao's current health was not suitable for an expedition. If anything happened, it would be dangerous.
"You don't need to say anything. I am going to the north for the expedition. I will be accompanied and protected by my filial piety, so there is no need to worry!"
Cao Cao walked to the door of the tent with his hands behind his back. Seeing the rain outside, he said slowly: "I, Cao Mengden, would rather be a 'Han traitor' than a 'Traitor'!"
These people knew Cao Cao best and knew that he had made up his mind, so they stopped trying to persuade him. Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong and Cao Hong to prepare immediately and go to Xuchang to arrange government affairs, and then rushed to Youzhou immediately.
Xiahou Dun asked: "How should we arrange the retreat?"
Cao Cao said: "I have already discussed this matter with Sima Yi. Zhongda will come later and you can make your own decisions!"
"Yes!" Xiahou Dun accepted the order with his fists clasped.
Cao Cao put on his clothes and hat, and patted Xiahou Dun on the shoulder before going out: "Zixiao was injured by Zhou Yu, so the affairs of Huainan are entrusted to you. I have to rely on you to avenge Zixiao!"
"Don't worry, Prime Minister, I will definitely do my best to avenge Zi Xiao!" Xiahou Dun bowed, Cao Cao had already walked away quickly, and the group disappeared in the rain and mist.
Xiahou Dun was stunned there until a gust of cold wind blew in, and then he came to his senses and ordered people to invite Sima Yi and Xun You to come to discuss the matter.
After a while, only Sima Yi came alone, and Xun You was transferred away by Cao Cao, and they rushed to Xuchang together.
Before Xiahou Dun could speak, Sima Yi asked: "What military information will the Prime Minister give before leaving?"
Xiahou Dun frowned and said, "The Prime Minister only said that he has discussed it with you, but he doesn't know what decision to make?"
Sima Yi was startled, lowered his head to think for a moment, and immediately understood Cao Cao's intention. He clasped his fists and said, "I have a strategy for taking the city, which is enough to defeat 200,000 elite soldiers. Please make a decision, general."
Xiahou Dun was shocked, widened his eyes and asked, "What's the plan?"
Sima Yi smiled and said: "Now we have learned from the past. Does the general still remember the time when Xia Pi defeated Lu Bu?"
"Destroy Lu Bu?" Xiahou Dun frowned slightly, then suddenly put his palms in his hands and laughed: "Wonderful, what a brilliant plan...hisss-"
Suddenly, he felt something was wrong, and hesitantly said: "Xiapi was only by the river at that time. There was not much danger in besieging the city and releasing water. The Huai River is not comparable to the Surabaya River. Once it is dug out, it may be difficult to control. I am afraid that the entire Shouchun River will be destroyed." The territory will turn into a vast ocean, and how many innocent people will be killed?"
Sima Yi sneered and said: "The Wu army is tired now. If we don't take advantage of the situation to seize the city, won't the lives of those fallen soldiers be in vain? If we come back in the future, many more troops will be lost. Aren't the lives of the soldiers in our camp not just human lives?"
"This..." Xiahou Dun frowned and took a few steps back and forth in the tent. Suddenly he remembered Cao Cao's last instructions before leaving. He suddenly stopped and gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, I will leave this matter to you. Three Do it later."
"Yes!" Sima Yi accepted the order with his fists clasped, shaking his head secretly as he left the tent. This Cao family matter is really difficult to handle.
There was no one in the big tent, and only the sound of raindrops hitting the tent could be heard. Xiahoudun stood for a long time before taking a deep breath: "Zixiao, leave your revenge to me!"
