Hearing that something was going on in Yecheng, he sent the news back.
Cao Cao took it, opened it, and said in a deep voice: "Yuan Shao has gathered his troops in Liyang. He has also gathered grain and grass from all over the north to Liyang. He has also prepared a large number of ferries. The trend of crossing the river to the south is unstoppable!"
Hearing this, Xun Yu and the others were a little worried.
Before the fight, they were full of confidence and believed that it was not impossible to destroy Yuan Shao after even Yuan Shu was destroyed.
But when a fight is about to begin, it is still unavoidable. They will inevitably feel nervous and worry that they will not be able to fight and that their efforts over the years will be completely in vain.
"How about crossing it?"
Cao Cao asked.
"Then we can also assemble an army and prepare to fight."
Chen Zhou said calmly: "Yuan Shao is very tyrannical, but he is not invincible. After we came back from Huainan, we have prepared so much, and it is time to put it to use."
Cheng Yu said: "That's right! Especially the weapons you made for Du Zhi."
Chen Zhou said: "My lord is worried that Yuan Shao is so powerful that his attack on the situation will shake the morale of our army. How about finding a time in these two days to review the entire army and use our latest weapons to boost the morale of the army?"
The number of weapons created in the factory is increasing.
Gao Shun was trapped in the camp, and the entire army was equipped with such weapons.
Cao Ang's five thousand personal soldiers are also equipped with the same equipment as the trapped camp. They not only have steel swords but also thick armor. They are fully prepared for both offense and defense.
The extra weapons were also equipped to some of the Tiger Army and Long Xiang Army.
The current Longxiang Army has long been taken over by Cao Cao, and like Huben, has become his elite soldier.
Fighting against Yuan Shao is definitely stressful.
This can easily lead to a lack of morale among the troops. They really need to cheer up and give the soldiers below some confidence that they will win, so that this battle will be easier to fight.
"Then tomorrow!"
Cao Cao adopted Chen Zhou's suggestion and said: "Mr. Mao, please gather the food and grass in our army as soon as possible. Xia Houjie, you continue to arrange people, keep an eye on Yecheng, and keep an eye on Yuan Shao's movements. When do you think we can fight?"
Chen Zhou said: "The three armies have not moved, and the grain and grass have gone first. Yuan Shao's army went south and crossed the Yellow River. If the grain and grass have not been moved, the soldiers will not move first. If we find Yuan Shao transporting grain across the river, we can take action and rob him of the grain first. .”
Guo Jia said: "This is good. If we can rob Yuan Shao's food and use it as our army ration, that would be the best. If not, burning it with fire will make Yuan Shao feel distressed for a long time."
Not only Guo Jia, but other counselors all agreed and believed that this move was feasible.
"Follow the arrangements made by Watanabe."
Cao Cao said loudly.
The plan to prepare for Yuan Shao was quickly arranged.
In addition, taking into account Chen Zhou's plan to open a second battlefield that he mentioned many times, he also asked people to keep an eye on the south of Xu Du to prevent unexpected changes.
Chen Zhou said that Yangzhou and Jingzhou can be completely ignored.
Just keep an eye on Runan.
Cao Cao could unconditionally trust that all suggestions made by Chen Zhou would be implemented according to plan.
——
In Xudu City.
Fu Wan received a letter from Liu Bei.
After Dong Cheng and others were all dead, other ministers no longer dared to participate in any anti-Cao actions. Fuwan wanted to rebel against Cao, but except for Sima Fanghui's support, he was basically helpless.
In desperation, Fu Wan could only quietly come to Sima's house with the letter, meet with Sima Fang, and deliver the letter.
The content of the letter is actually very simple.
It mainly writes about Liu Bei's preparations for a sneak attack on Runan, a surprise attack from the south of Yingchuan, and a fight back to Xudu. Yuan Shao is preparing to cross the river and go south to face Cao Cao's army head-on. He hopes that the officials in the city will lead the emperor to resist within Xudu.
Cooperate inside and outside to defeat Cao Cao.
"What do Jiangong think?"
Fu Wan asked.
After reading Liu Bei's letter, Sima Fang thought for a long time and said, "It is imperative that Uncle Liu and Yuan Shao join forces to fight back Xudu, but I can't judge the specifics."
Fu Wan analyzed: "Yuan Shao is powerful and controls the four northern states. Hebei's soldiers are brave and good at fighting. It should not be difficult to defeat Cao Cao."
Sima Fang nodded in agreement: "It is indeed not difficult, but Fu Guozhang needs to be more careful. Cao Cao is not weak now. In addition, without Cao Cao, Yuan Shao will be almost the same as Cao Cao, unless we can get rid of being controlled and regain the dominance." right."
Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are actually the same thing.
After Fu finished listening to Sima Fang's words, he was silent for a moment and asked, "What does Jiangong think it should be?"
"Find a way to prevent Yuan Shao from seizing power after Yuan Shao comes to Xudu, but it is difficult to do so!"
Sima Fang paced back and forth, and after thinking for a while, he said: "I suggest that you first contact Liu Huangshu and Yuan Shao secretly to find out their true and false ideas before considering other things, otherwise it will easily be detrimental to us."
"I see."
Fu Wan thought carefully and nodded: "Thank you very much for your advice, Duke Jiang. Even if you let Yuan Shao come to Xudu, I will never let him become the second Cao Cao."
After a brief discussion, they went back.
He was quiet when he came, and he was also quiet when he went back, not wanting others to know what he was doing.
After Fu Wan left, brothers Sima Lang and Sima Yi came out of the back hall and heard the conversation just now.
"What do you think about this?"
Sima Fang asked them.
Sima Lang thought for a long time and said: "Yuan Shao's army is pressing down on the border with great momentum. I'm afraid Cao Cao will be lost this time."
He believed that preparations should be made for Yuan Shao to replace Cao Cao.
Their Sima family's plans need to be changed.
Sima Yi did not think so and objected: "I think the winner of this battle is Cao Cao. According to my understanding, Cao Cao has been preparing for the battle with Yuan Shao since he came back from defeating Yuan Shu, and seems to be confident that he will win. , maybe it can create a miracle.”
He guessed that Chen Zhou was there.
This miracle may have been created by Chen Zhou, and Cao Jun's various preparations were also Chen Zhou's plan.
"impossible."
Sima Lang said: "Yuan Shao is powerful, has many troops, and has enough food and grass. He can defeat Cao Cao in any attack. I heard that Cao Cao has accepted a lot of refugees this year, and the food and grass consumption must be huge. When the time comes, he will not even have enough food and grass. How can he fight with Yuan Shao?" beat?"
Sima Yi said confidently: "Forage is very important to the march, but it is not the only decisive condition for victory. Once a fight starts, anything is possible. Cao Cao's possibility of victory does not necessarily depend on the amount of food and grass."
"alright."
Sima Fang interrupted their argument and said: "The outcome of this battle can only be known after the fight. No one can judge now."
"Father said so."
They both said in unison.
It is indeed too early to tell who will win and who will lose.
However, Sima Lang believed that Cao Cao would definitely be defeated and Yuan Shao would win. There was no doubt that most onlookers had similar thoughts to Sima Lang.
However, Sima Yi had different ideas. Cao Cao had been prepared to fight Yuan Shao early in the morning. With this confidence and determination, he would not necessarily lose.
Who loses in the end really depends on the result.
"Our Sima family can also try to contact Yuan Shao and Uncle Liu."
Sima Fang added: "As for what will happen to them, we have to adapt accordingly and prepare as soon as possible."
