The Wu army's offensive was fierce, and the defenders suffered increasing losses in the past few days. Cao Xiu's navy was defeated in consecutive battles, and was no match for the Jiangdong navy, and was forced to the territory of Xiapi.
If things continue like this, the entire situation will be unfavorable to Cao's army. Now that the Central Plains is facing enemies on all sides, the soldiers will be stretched thin and have no backup, as if they are in a deadlock.
When he was depressed, Wang Ji suddenly sent someone to report. He first used suspicious soldiers to lure the enemy deep, and then set up an ambush in a dangerous place. He wiped out 20,000 Lujiang Wu troops and won a complete victory.
Cao Ren couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw Wang Ji's good management, and praised: "This Wang Ji is indeed a general. Thanks to Zhongda's recommendation, you also have a share of the credit."
However, Sima Yi couldn't be happy and frowned: "Lu Su and Lu Xun are both Jiangdong heroes. How could they fall into such a simple plan so easily?"
Cao Ren said with a smile: "A wise man is bound to make mistakes if he thinks too much. What's more, they are all in the army and have not been to the front line in person. How can they predict the war? Zhongda has always been very resourceful, so why does he become suspicious at this time?"
Sima Yi said: "Sun Quan took charge of Jiangdong by himself, promoted talents and appointed capable people, and was good at knowing people and governing the country. This appointment of people is unclear, which is really not what he did!"
Cao Ren didn't take it seriously, but comforted Sima Yi: "Although you are very wise, as the saying goes: cleverness is misled by cleverness. Wang Ji has won a great victory and successfully blocked the Lujiang army. Sun Quan was unable to fight alone in Shouchun, and someone fell Let’s see how long he can attack.”
Then the news of the victory was spread throughout the city, boosting morale, appeasing people's hearts, and asking the soldiers and civilians to unite to defend the city and defend Shouchun. The morale of Cao's army also greatly increased.
It rained heavily that day, and the Wu army was unable to attack the city. They were finally able to rest temporarily. Suddenly, Zang Ba, the general in charge of Xiapi, sent someone to report. Unable to be oppressed by the Wu army, many Huainan people crossed Huaibei and poured into the territory.
"Sun Quan is unpopular and will destroy himself!" Cao Ren was overjoyed when he heard the news and ordered various places to resettle the people nearby to win over the people.
Sima Yi was coming to report the money and food, and he still had three months to go. He made preparations early, but Cao Ren smiled and said: "The Wu army is at the end of its war effort. Sun Quan will retreat soon. Three months is enough!"
Sima Yi was surprised and said: "Why does the governor make such a conclusion?"
Cao Ren then told what Zang Ba had reported and said with a sneer: "Bi Yan'er actually imitated Sun Ce and resorted to violence, which greatly lost the hearts of the people. It's a pity that he doesn't have the ability of a small overlord to be undefeated?"
Sima Yi's expression changed slightly, he thought for a moment and exclaimed: "Not good!"
Cao Ren said doubtfully: "The people came to surrender, which shows what the people want. Why should the military advisor make such a fuss?"
Sima Yi said: "I think there is something fishy about this matter. The governor must not treat it like ordinary people, otherwise Xuzhou will not be protected!"
Cao Ren was startled, and suddenly lost all sleep, and asked anxiously: "Why did Zhongda make such a guess?"
Sima Yi replied: "The governor should know that the previous battle in Shouchun was to avoid future troubles. We had no choice but to dig up the Huai River and flood Shouchun. The people in Huainan have a grudge against Cao's army, so how can they be willing to move north in a large scale?"
Cao Ren said: "Sun Quan conscripted troops and imposed taxes without authorization in Huainan. The people were dissatisfied and naturally fled. What's wrong with that?"
Sima Yi said: "Regardless of what the people's sentiments are, Jiangdong's troops are well-prepared. If Sun Quan insists on attacking the city, he can mobilize troops from Jiangnan, Yuzhang and other places. Why bother to recruit the people by force? This move is not only useless in attacking the city, but also counterproductive. How can it be so unclear to arouse the resentment of the people and lose the hearts of the people? What's more, the soldiers and horses in Lujiang are tantamount to throwing themselves into a trap. There are so many people in Jiangdong, why is there no one to advise? I don't understand the meaning."
"Oh?" Cao Ren frowned, "Zhongda means, Wu Jun will sneak into Xuzhou among the people?"
"Exactly!" Sima Yi nodded slowly and said, "I was just wondering when Wang Ji reported victory, but now I know that Sun Quan insists on moving troops to deceive others and underestimate our army's intentions. It is actually a plan to attack the east and attack the west."
"What a blue-eyed boy!" Cao Ren suddenly woke up, slammed his fist on the table, and gritted his teeth and said: "From Sun Ce to Sun Quan, Jiangdong has been a serious problem for our army. Now that it has become a threat, what should we do?"
Sima Yi said: "Sun Quan saw that Shouchun was difficult to attack, so he sent his elite troops northward. He must contact Zhou Yu through Donghai County, and with the help of the naval force, Soochow could control the land and sea to the east, from Wu to Hebei. If it is under its control, the consequences will be endless!"
"Hiss—" Cao Ren took a breath of air and said anxiously: "Now Shouchun is in danger, and Xuzhou has no troops to mobilize. What should we do?"
Sima Yi paused for a moment, clasped his fists and said: "I am not talented, but I am willing to go to Xuzhou. If General Zang Ba helps me, I will make this Wu army never come back."
Cao Ren hesitated and said, "If Zhong Dara goes, no one will be able to share my worries!"
After getting along with him for more than a year, Cao Ren discovered that Sima Yi was not only a Confucian scholar, but also proficient in military strategy and military intelligence. If he had not seen through Sun Quan's plans many times in this battle against the Wu army, Shouchun would have been lost.
Now that the city is already short of manpower, Sima Yi, his right-hand man, has left, leaving him alone and feeling helpless.
Sima Yi said: "The Wu army rushed to attack Shouchun just to cover this unexpected force. If the soldiers and horses in this way are wiped out, Sun Quan will have nothing to do and will retreat."
Cao Ren thought for a moment and asked, "How sure is Zhongda?"
Sima Yi knew that Cao Ren was worried, so he clasped his fists and said: "In an emergency, I still have a plan to ensure that Sun Quan will be defeated and will not be able to go north again within three years."
Cao Ren was overjoyed and grabbed Sima Yi's arm: "Since the military advisor has such a clever plan, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Sima Yi coughed lightly, broke away from Cao Ren's iron-capped hands, rubbed his arms and sighed: "This strategy is too vicious and harmful to the peace of the world. The prime minister did not dare to use it lightly before. Today it rains heavily. Isn't it God's will?"
"You mean..." Cao Ren's expression changed slightly: "Dig the Huaihe River again?"
"That's right!" Sima Yi looked indifferent and nodded: "Now the Wu army is besieging the city, and the navy is pressing forward step by step. Xuzhou is in a hurry. The only way to defeat Sun Quan is to defeat the other two armies."
"This..." Cao Ren frowned. He didn't expect that he would encounter such a difficult problem this time during Shouchun. He pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there any other good strategy?"
Sima Yi shook his head and said: "It is better to draw fuel from the bottom of the cauldron than to stop it from boiling! If Shouchun is lost, Xuzhou will not be protected, and the Central Plains may no longer be owned by the country. The hearts of Huainan have long since disappeared. Whether it is flooded or not, the people all hate the prime minister. Please ask the governor to save him." !”
Cao Ren secretly gritted his teeth, but then said: "The water flooded Shouchun, isn't it self-inflicted? If we repeat the same trick, I'm afraid the Wu army is already prepared."
Sima Yi said: "It was self-inflicted. Sun Quan never expected that we would dare to be so decisive. We could first pile up sandbags of earth and rocks in the four city gates to block the passages and flood the Wu army first. The food and grass in the city would be enough to sustain the flood until the flood recedes, thus avoiding future troubles." .”
"Water and fire are ruthless!" Cao Ren sighed softly and finally nodded: "What the military advisor said is true. To take the overall situation into consideration, we have to take this strategy."
Then the general ordered Sima Yi to leave the city at night and go to Xiapi to join Zang Ba to deal with the Wu army that had sneaked into Xuzhou. He secretly sent Chang Diao to lead 3,000 reserves, disguised as common people, and went to the upper reaches of the Huai River in batches to dig river channels and flood Shouchun. .
