Xu You's words made Yuan Shao's originally determined mind begin to waver.
indeed.
If we can end this war quickly in advance and destroy Jiangdong before it resumes production, then the world will be ours.
Yuan Shao looked at Xu You and was ready to agree.
But Xun Chen said again: "Ming Gong, I am too anxious to eat hot tofu. Taking Jiangdong is inevitable."
"Today, instead of playing it safe and steady, we are rushing forward."
"Once something goes wrong, it will be more harmful to us."
"Moreover, compared to us, Jiangdong is obviously the one who is anxious to decide the outcome."
"Because they don't have enough food to support them for too long."
"If we listen to Xu Ziyuan's words, wouldn't that be exploiting weaknesses and avoiding strengths? This is what fools do!"
Xu You sneered and said: "Xun Youruo, if you are timid, just say you are timid. Why do you have to say it so grandly?"
Holding a fist towards Yuan Shao, Xu You said: "If this fails, then everything will be mine!"
"Furthermore, my lord, we were planning to attack Shouchun Jiangdong once tentatively to estimate the number of Shouchun Jiangdong's soldiers and their strength."
"Then my lord led his army to feign an attack late tonight and provided cover for General Zhang He and I to sneak attack Cai. How can we question it?"
"Since ancient times, there is no absolute certainty in achieving great things."
"Like Xun Youruo, who always strives for stability step by step and looks through history. How many people are there?"
"Moreover, Jiangdong now occupies the three states of Xuzhou, Jingzhou and Yangzhou."
"Qingzhou Zang Ba also maintains a subordinate relationship with them."
"Their territory is no smaller than ours."
"If we delay it for too long and let the other side have a chance to breathe, it will only make us more uncomfortable in the future."
"In fact, it is very likely that we will miss the opportunity to unify the world."
Xun Chen said to Xu You with a gloomy face: "That's nonsense! Xu Ziyuan, you are deliberately being against me!"
"In the current situation, you are encouraging Mr. Ming to take risks even though you have great advantages. What are your intentions?"
"Or, you are really doing things for Jiangdong by accepting Jiangdong's benefits!"
Xu You laughed loudly and said sarcastically: "Yes, I am working for Jiang Dong!"
Pointing at Yuan Shao, Xu You said: "My lord and I grew up together. Isn't our relationship stronger than a subordinate like you?"
"You don't think that you, a subordinate, are really worthy of letting me go against you, do you?"
"When have we ever been on the same page?"
"Are you alone worthy of me, Xu You?"
When Yuan Shao saw Xu You and Xun Chen quarreling with each other, he felt that one was bigger than the other. He raised his hand to stop them and said, "Stop arguing!"
Looking at Xu You, Yuan Shao scolded: "Xu Ziyuan, you have gone too far. Youruo and the others are definitely not as simple as subordinates. He is the mastermind I value."
Then he looked at Xun Chen and said, "Youruo, you are the same. Although Ziyuan has many shortcomings, he will not act as a spy for Jiangdong."
"Don't say that Lu Yi, Marquis of Wu in Jiangdong, is just Cao Cao's son-in-law."
"Even if Cao Cao himself contacts him, I believe that Ziyuan will not betray me."
Xu You and Xun Chen both had cold faces.
Yuan Shao breathed out secretly, looked at Zhang He and said, "General Zhang, what do you say?"
Zhang He glanced at Yuan Shao, his lord.
He had always looked down upon himself, and his thoughts were on Yan Liang and Wen Chou, who had already died in battle.
According to his true intentions, he indeed agreed more with Xun Chen's protracted war.
However, first of all, I am from Jizhou, and Xun Chen and others are from the Yuzhou faction, so I can never help him gain prestige.
Secondly, if I can make a great contribution this time, then this time it will be a fatal blow to Jiangdong.
My own merits can always surpass Yan Liang and Wen Chou!
Lord, he won't be thinking about Yan Liang and Wen Chou anymore, right?
Thinking of this, Zhang He stood up, glanced at Xu You and said, "My lord, I agree with Military Master Xu's proposal."
"Anyway, we have to tentatively attack Shouchun."
"In that case, it's better to treat it as a feint tonight."
"Commander Xu and I led five thousand cavalry and detoured to the east gate of Caicheng to make a surprise attack."
"Moreover, I lead five thousand cavalry, and my advance and retreat speed is far inferior to that of the Jiangdong people."
"In case of failure, we will have time to retreat."
"And Xiacai is surrounded by water on both sides. It is impossible for Jiangdong to set up cavalry here."
"Not to mention, they don't have many cavalry."
"Who doesn't know that Jiangdong is better at water fighting?"
"Calculate this way, if we succeed, we can destroy Jiangdong's granary, and Jiangdong will be defeated."
"If we fail, we can withdraw safely without much loss."
"We can also estimate the number of Shouchun Jiangdong soldiers and their true strength through feint attacks."
“Achieve multiple things with one stone.”
"Why not?"
Guo Tu's expression changed drastically.
Thinking this way, it seems to be a good thing.
But how could the Lord agree to this?
If that's the case, wouldn't the credit be taken away by Xu You and the Jizhou faction?
After much difficulty, Tian Feng of the Jizhou faction committed suicide, and Jushou resigned and went into seclusion.
If the Jizhou faction is allowed to rise again, will the Yuzhou faction still be around in the future?
Guo Tu stood up quickly and said loudly: "No! It sounds nice now, but what if we fail? Now we only have 10,000 cavalry, and Liu Bei has left. These 5,000 cavalry cannot be used in a short time and need to be arranged. A suitable leader should also give them time to adapt.”
"If General Zhang He's five thousand cavalry fails again this time, then our Hebei cavalry advantage will no longer exist!"
"Lord, think twice!"
Yuan Shao: "."
This seems to make sense!
He brought 10,000 cavalry with him. As Liu Bei left, in a short period of time, only Zhang He's 5,000 cavalry were available.
If something happens——
Xu You said with determination: "It is absolutely impossible for anything to happen! If something happens, I, Xu You, will take the responsibility and I am willing to sacrifice my head!"
Seeing Xu You's attitude, Zhang He gritted his teeth and expressed his position: "Lord, if I can't succeed and can't bring back these five thousand cavalry, I will leave them at my disposal. I can issue a military order!"
Guo Tu looked anxious and quickly looked at Xun Chen, asking Xun Chen to speak.
Yuan Shao slapped the table with his right hand to stop Xun Chen from standing up and said: "Since Ziyuan and General Zhang are willing to issue a military order, then I will believe it once!"
"Somebody come!"
"Military order!"
Looking at Xu You and Zhang He, Yuan Shao said solemnly: "If you can really capture Cai this time and burn down the Jiangdong granary, I will reward you heavily!"
Xu You and Zhang He both clasped their fists and said, "Here!"
Xu You looked at Xun Chen, Guo Tu and others proudly and provocatively.
Guo Tu was so angry that his lips were trembling.
What should I do?
If they really made a contribution, then Xu You and the Jizhou faction would ride on him in the future, which would be even more abominable!
Xu Youke is more disgusting than Tian Feng and Jushou.
Although Tian Feng and Jushu are enemies, they don't act like villains getting their way.
This Xu You, because he is Yuan Gong's childhood friend, is very arrogant.
He doesn't take anyone seriously at all.
If he has achieved such great success, it is simply unimaginable how he can continue to stay in the future!
But at this moment, he could only hold back his uneasiness and anger.
Xu You and Zhang He signed the military order, and Yuan Shao immediately asked all generals and counselors to act according to Xu You's plan: from now on, rectify the officers and soldiers.
Gao Lan led 10,000 archers and infantry in boats, sailed up the Huaihe River, and attacked the north and west gates of Caicheng.
They don't seek victory, but only seek to use a strong momentum to attract the main force of Cai Jiangdong's defenders.
And he personally led 90,000 archers and infantry to launch the first exploratory attack on the Shouchun garrison late tonight to estimate the number and strength of the opponent's soldiers.
Xu You and Zhang He led five thousand cavalry, detoured through Dangshan Mountain, and went straight to the east gate of Caicheng.
Because the attack was late at night, the signal was changed to the light of fire.
With the fire burning, Gao Lan and the army led by Yuan Shao attacked together.
Xu You and Zhang He decided on their own when to attack the city after watching the fire.
After the order was given, everyone took action immediately.
Although Xun Chen, Guo Tu and others were unwilling to give in, they could not do much now that the army was about to move.
They could only secretly pray that Xu You would not succeed today.
Lu Yi, who was in the commander's tent in Shouchun City, quickly received information that Yuan Shao's army camp was reorganizing the soldiers. Judging from the posture, they would attack the city tonight.
Lu Yi immediately summoned all civil and military officials to confirm the various defensive steps that had been arranged before.
However, Jia Xu and Tai Shici were not included in this defense.
The two of them had already gone to Xia Cai during this time.
Lu Yi gave the order to go, and all the civil and military officials immediately left and quickly entered their posts.
The soldiers who were originally taking turns quickly gathered on the city walls and under the city.
Time passed bit by bit.
Night falls.
Outside Shouchun City, Yuan Shao's army gathered outside the city in a mighty manner.
There are no 10,000 cavalry this time!
There were only nine phalanxes of archers.
However, even these nine square formations of archers made all Jiangdong soldiers on the city wall serious.
Lu Yi personally guarded the city wall.
It's late at night.
Behind Yuan Shao's nine square formations, fire suddenly shot into the sky.
At the same time, in the direction of Xia Cai, the fire also burned half of the sky red.
The Jiangdong soldiers on the city wall looked in the direction of Xia Cai with some uneasiness.
However, Yuan Shao didn't give them time to think about this.
As the fire started, solemn horns sounded outside the city.
The nerves of all the Jiangdong defenders were tense instantly.
Scoops and roars came and went.
The first phalanx of Yuan Shao's army rushed forward instantly.
Tens of thousands of soldiers rushed to the moat carrying ladders and put the ladders on the moat.
The second phalanx surged.
The shield soldiers took the lead, rushed across the moat, and formed a shield wall on the other side of the moat.
Catapults and arrow towers were pushed across the moat.
Behind the catapults and arrow towers, the soldiers of the third phalanx and the fourth phalanx roared and rushed across the moat and ran towards the city wall.
On the city wall, Chen Gong stood next to Lu Yi, his eyes fixed on Yuan Shao's army.
The moment the catapult and arrow tower crossed the moat, Chen Gong roared at the ordering soldiers behind him: "Thunderbolt Chariot!"
The ordering soldiers roared in unison: "Thunderbolt chariot attack!"
In the city, beside the Thunderbolt Chariot, the generals were sprinting back and forth, roaring continuously.
Thirty Thunderbolt Chariots all mounted huge rocks on wooden frames and threw them out of the city!
Amidst the flames, huge boulders cut through the sky, crossed the city wall, and fell between the catapults and arrow towers.
(End of chapter)
