Cao Pi was not a fool, so he naturally heard the underlying meaning of Jia Xu's words.
Once the situation in Jingzhou collapses and threatens Cao Wei, there is no guarantee that Yang Ling will use Cao Cao's last words to force himself to abdicate!
Thinking of this, Cao Pi immediately broke into a cold sweat.
His face was gloomy and uncertain, and after a moment, he let out a long breath,
"Thank you, Mr. Wenhe, for reminding me, I know!"
When Jia Xu saw this, he said nothing more and resigned.
…
Jiangxia County.
The wilderness a hundred miles away from Fankou.
Cao's army, led by Sima Yi, was hiding here like a bereaved dog.
Just after luckily saving a life from the valley, before Cao Jun could take a breath, the Sun and Liu coalition launched an attack!
Cao's army, which had just suffered a major defeat and had no food and grass, was demoralized. Where could it be the opponent of Sun and Liu's coalition forces?
Cao's army was completely defeated. Sima Yi took the remaining Cao's army and escaped into the mountains and forests.
"Second brother, please have something to eat..."
Sima Fu said and handed over a wooden bowl filled with wild vegetables and batter.
As early as two days ago, Cao Jun had run out of food and grass.
The soldiers had to hunt in the mountains and forests for food.
Just how many prey can be found in the barren mountains to fill the stomachs of tens of thousands of Cao's troops?
Coupled with the heavy rain in the past few days, Cao Jun's soldiers were hungry and cold!
"You go ahead and eat it, I can't eat it for my brother."
Sima Yi waved his hand, feeling quite heavy.
Even if Cao's army had sufficient food and grass, it would be of no use.
Jiangxia County is not big, so the Sun and Liu coalition forces will be able to find them in a few days.
What awaits them then is surrender or death in battle!
Thinking of this, Sima Yi felt even more regretful.
If I had known this, I shouldn't have listened to Cao Pi's blind orders in the first place!
It's good this time. Even if I join tens of thousands of Cao's troops, I'm afraid that Jingzhou, which was finally won, will change hands again!
Just when Sima Yi sighed, Yu Jin walked over through the jungle with a happy face.
"General Zhengnan, someone from Jiangling is here!"
Sima Yi was stunned for a moment, almost thinking that he heard wrongly.
He was trapped in Jiangxia County. The navy in Jiangdong must have blocked the Yangtze River. How did Jiangling send people here?
Just when Sima Yi was wondering if it was Zhuge Liang's trick, he saw Cao Ren's son Cao Tai walking forward in a hurry.
"I've seen General Zhengnan!"
After seeing Cao Tai, Sima Yi was completely relieved and said excitedly,
"Why are you here, Master? Could it be that General Wei's reinforcements have arrived?"
"General Zhengnan misunderstood."
Cao Tai smiled bitterly and said,
"It's just me and two soldiers..."
"ah?"
Sima Yi was taken aback.
After learning that Sima Yi was defeated and trapped, Cao Ren and Xiahou Shang immediately launched a rescue operation.
It's just that Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu and others set up a dragnet. How could Sima Yi escape easily?
The old, weak, sick and disabled under Xiahou Shang were no match for Zhou Yu. They were defeated one after another, and eventually even Changsha County was lost.
As for Cao Ren, he commanded Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to lead the navy, intending to meet Sima Yi through the waterway.
But without the fierce fire oil, the navy with only two people was no match for the Jiangdong Navy.
They were defeated by the navy led by Huang Gai and returned home. They hid in Xiakou stronghold and were no longer able to fight!
Seeing that neither water nor land could support Sima Yi, and Cao Pi's edict was extremely urgent, Cao Ren had no choice but to send Cao Tai.
Let him take a small boat with two soldiers and risk his life to pass through Jiangdong's defense line while the storm was coming in the middle of the night. Only then did he land in Jiangxia and find Sima Yi's group!
"My father said that if you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood. I hope General Zhengnan can put down his arrogance..."
Cao Tai said cautiously.
Although he didn't explain what he meant, Sima Yi understood what he meant.
Cao Ren hoped that he and Cao Tai would leave in a small boat.
Sima Yi remained silent, his mood extremely complicated.
If he abandoned the remaining troops and fled back to Jiangling alone, his life would be saved, but how would the world view him?
"I understand! Master, please go down and rest first."
Sima Yi waved his hand.
Cao Tai knew that he needed time to think, so he left without saying anything.
"Second brother, what General Wei said is right. The most important thing is to keep the green hills without worrying about having no firewood. Saving our lives is the most important thing."
Sima Fu advised.
Hearing this, Sima Yi couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Third brother is right. Compared with fame, life is the most important thing."
"But if I want to escape, are you and third brother willing to stay?"
According to Cao Tai, the boat he was riding in could only carry five people at most.
Sima Yi, Yu Jin, Xu Huang, Le Jin, and Zhang He combined were already overstretched. Even the two soldiers brought by Cao Tai had to stay, let alone Sima Fu and Sima Kui.
Moreover, Sima Fu and Sima Kui must stay and give an explanation to Cao's soldiers and the court!
"We all listen to my second brother!"
Sima Fu and Sima Kui said in unison.
Sima Yi looked at his two younger brothers and sighed,
"Tell the soldiers that I, Sima Yi, am sorry for them and asked them to surrender without worrying about their families at the rear."
"Liu Bei has a kind personality and will definitely not embarrass them."
Sima Fu and Sima Fu nodded heavily.
…
Early the next morning.
Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were discussing political affairs when they saw Zhang Fei walking in happily.
"Brother, military advisor, Cao Jun just sent an envoy to deliver a letter, saying that he is willing to surrender!"
Liu Bei took the letter and read it carefully. His face suddenly lit up with joy.
"This is a happy event!"
He said and handed the letter to Zhuge Liang.
But Zhuge Liang frowned after reading it.
"Strange, why is it the chief bookkeeper Sima Fu who signed the signature?"
As soon as these words came out, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei were slightly startled.
According to common sense, if they really want to surrender, even if it is not Sima Yi who writes the letter, it should be Yu Jin, Zhang He and other generals, and it will not be Sima Fu who is the chief secretary.
"Is it possible that Sima Yi has already escaped?"
Zhuge Liang frowned and speculated.
Sure enough, when Cao Jun walked out of the dense forest, put down his armor and surrendered, Liu Bei and the others did not find Sima Yi and Yu Jin.
After some questioning, they also learned that Sima Yi quietly left in a small boat.
What's even more annoying is that before Sima Yi left, he ordered the Lingyue Repeating Crossbow, Three-Eyed Gun and other sophisticated ordnance to be blown up with black powder.
"This bastard Sima Yi is really too cunning!"
Zhang Fei was so angry that he stamped his feet.
Ordnance such as the Lingyue Repeating Crossbow and the Three-Eyed Gun were extremely powerful, and Cao Jun had strict control over them.
The coalition forces originally planned to capture some and study them, but unexpectedly Sima Yi destroyed them directly!
"Forget it, it's just ordnance, it's not worth mentioning!"
Zhuge Liang comforted him.
Although they did not obtain Cao's army's sophisticated ordnance, they captured a large number of elite soldiers.
More importantly, after the Battle of Chibi, the Sun-Liu coalition, which was originally out of breath, was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
