When the Jin army built a high mountain of earth and prepared to shoot down the Wei army from a high position, Cao Cao ordered a trebuchet to be brought in.
After Cao Cao's vigorous development, the trebuchet has also made great progress. Although it is not as exaggerated as Zhang Xiu, it is definitely more than enough to deal with the mountains in front of him.
Standing on the arrow tower, Cao Cao was surrounded by the Wei army's advisers and generals, looking at the mountains of earth piled up by the Jin army opposite. In the Wei army's stronghold, thirty trebuchets were hidden in the walls of the distribution camp, facing the ladder on the earth mountain, ready to go.
Looking at the earth mountain in front of him, and then at the trebuchet in the stronghold, Cao Cao showed a confident smile on his face: "Yuan Shao wanted to build the earth mountain and shoot down our army, but he didn't know that our army had a trebuchet to deal with it, so he was in vain." Military strength.”
Guo Jiadao said: "Your Majesty, when the Jin army's archers shoot arrows, the fire and stones in the camp will be fired, and the cannon stones will fly into the air. If they hit them upwards, they can break this mountain."
Not long after, the archers of the Jin army climbed up the earth mountain and prepared to draw their bows and arrows.
Seeing this, Cao Cao waved his hand:
"put!"
Suddenly, flint roared up and hit the mountain of earth on the opposite side. The Jin army had never seen such a battle before. There was nowhere to hide, and the mountains were very fragile. The flints were thrown away, and the mountains of earth were easily smashed open like tofu. The Jin army suffered numerous casualties.
Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed.
From May to the end of June, the armies of both sides faced off in the north and south of Bianqu. Cao Cao relied on the power of the trebuchet to repel the Jin army's attack, but he was unable to defeat the Jin army's stronghold. As the delay continued, Cao Cao ran out of food and grass.
So he sent a letter to Xuchang to teach Xun Yu how to manage food and grass, and went to the army to provide relief at night.
Unexpectedly, he was caught by Yuan Shao's detective horse after traveling less than thirty miles. When he was about to be sent to Yuan Shao's camp, he met Xu You, a counselor. Xu You was overjoyed when he saw Cao Cao's letter urging him to supply food, and hurried to the camp.
At this time, Yuan Shao was worried about Cao Jun and drank to relieve his worries.
Xu You came in and saw that Yuan Shao was half drunk. He walked in slowly and saluted Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shao's eyes smelled of alcohol: "Ziyuan, what can I do?"
Xu You glanced at the empty wine jar on the table and frowned: "Your Majesty, Cao Cao has stationed troops at Guandu and has been at war with me for a long time. Xuchang must be empty. If he divides his army and goes south to attack Xuchang, Cao Wei can capture it. "
Yuan Shao waved his hands drunkenly: "Cao Aman has grown up with me since childhood. Don't you know that he has many tricks, how can you be unprepared?"
Xu You said: "Now that Cao's camp has run out of food and grass, we can take this opportunity to attack from two directions."
Yuan Shao frowned and looked at Xu You: "How did you know about Cao Ying?"
Xu You took out Cao Cao's letter urging him to send food supplies: "Your Majesty, Cao Cao's army has run out of food. I am writing this letter to instruct Xun Yu to prepare provisions in Xudu and send them to Guandu. This is a God-given opportunity. Please make your decision."
Yuan Shao looked at Xu You with an uneasy brow, and then turned his attention to the letter. If it is really Cao Cao's notes, is Cao Cao really out of food?
At this time, an envoy came from Yecheng and delivered a book of records.
The book later talks about Xu You's evil deeds when he was in Jizhou, collecting people's property and harming the people.
When Xu You heard this, his expression changed drastically.
Yuan Shao was a little suspicious at first, but when he saw this letter, he was furious: "You are a bad guy, how can you give me advice in front of me? I know that you have an old relationship with Cao Cao, and you are holding Cao Cao's confidant today. Could it be that you are receiving money from him?" Can’t you do the fine work for him?”
Xu You hurriedly said: "Yuan Tu is harming me! Yuan Tu is harming me! Your Majesty!"
Yuan Shao's eyes widened: "You are a rich and beautiful man, why don't you back down? You are not allowed to see me in the future."
Xu You walked out of the tent in a daze.
Seeing that Yuan Shao did not listen to his loyal advice and got drunk during the battle between the two armies, he thought: "Yuan Shao is not a wise master. The Duke of Wei is wise and martial, and we have an old relationship with me. Why not join him?"
After making up his mind, he went to Cao Ying.
Cao Cao was overjoyed when he learned that Xu You from Nanyang had come to surrender. He immediately welcomed him into the tent and gave him a banquet. The two chatted freely. Finally, Cao Cao asked tentatively: "Zi Yuan was originally under Benchu's tent, why did you come to surrender to me now?"
Xu You's face was angry: "Yuan Shao is a confused lord. He doesn't listen to what he says and doesn't obey. Sooner or later he will be captured by Duke Wei."
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and saw that Xu You was not cheating. He thought for a moment and asked, "Since Ziyuan came to join him because of his old friend, is he willing to teach me how to defeat Jin?"
Before coming, Xu You seemed to have prepared a countermeasure and said, "Someone has a plan. In just three days, Jin's 300,000-strong army will be destroyed without a fight!"
Cao Cao was overjoyed: "I'd like to hear the details."
Xu You said: "The ancients have a saying: before the soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first. It can be seen that food and grass are an important matter for military strategists, but Yuan Shao regarded it as child's play and ordered Chunyu Qiong to defend Wuchao, which is an important place for food and grass. Chunyu Qiong was addicted to alcohol as much as his life. The public selected thousands of elite soldiers, pretending to be Jiang Qi to protect the grain, and took the opportunity to burn the grain and grass. In less than three days, the Jin army would be defeated."
Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately ordered five thousand elite troops to march to Wuchao.
The sky gradually darkened.
Cao Cao was wearing armor and pacing in the military tent, thinking carefully about tonight's surprise attack on Wuchao. Xu You was originally an important counselor in Yuan Shao's account. He easily turned against Yuan and defected to Cao, so he had to think carefully. If he was ambushed in Wuchao, the consequences would be disastrous.
The setting sun slanted down, shining in from the entrance of the military tent.
Cao Cao squinted his eyes and looked at the setting sun in the west, still undecided.
Not long after, Xu Chu came over and said: "Your Majesty, according to your instructions, Xu You has been accommodated. He is surrounded by our spies. If there is any situation, we can kill him quickly."
Cao Cao nodded.
Based on his understanding of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao was 80% sure that what Xu You said was true, but the remaining 20% were uncertain variables. The army's food and grass have been exhausted, and Xuchang's food and grass cannot be delivered in a short period of time. If he cannot defeat Jin quickly, he will be the one who fails and is captured.
The setting sun has completely disappeared on the mountain top.
A flash of light flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, and he ordered: "Order Xun You, Cao Zhang, Cao Hong and Xu You to guard the stronghold. Xia Houchun and Xia Houyuan will lead an army to lie on the left, and Cao Ren and Li Dian will lead an army to lie on the right to prepare for enemy attack. Order. Xu Chu and Che Zhou will follow me to Wuchao."
"Here!"
The generals have their orders.
So, Cao Cao led 5,000 elite soldiers, put on Jin army uniforms, carried the Jin army flag, and the soldiers all carried grass and trees, quietly crossed the Bian Canal and headed towards Wuchao.
That night, the sky was filled with stars.
After an hour of trekking, the army horses finally arrived near Wuchao. Cao Cao stood high and looked out, and saw that in Wuchao Dazhai, the surrounding fire was like daylight, illuminating the surrounding areas. Through the firelight, he could vaguely see the granary protruding from the high ground.
In the military stronghold, Jin soldiers were stationed at ten steps and were heavily guarded.
Seeing this scene, Cao Cao's doubts were relieved. The land is rich in food and grass. Even if Chun Yuqiong is addicted to alcohol, he still knows the importance of food and grass, so he must be more careful. If Wuchao looks loose when he comes tonight, there must be a scam.
Chunyu Qiong is also a veteran on the battlefield, so it is naturally impossible for him to relax his supplies.
Feeling relieved, Cao Cao waved his hand, led his army and horses, and walked swaggering towards Wuchao Dazhai.
Arriving in front of the stronghold, the soldiers guarding the stronghold shouted and asked, "Where are the troops and horses?"
Xu Chu replied: "Jiang Qi was ordered to go to Wuchao to protect food."
Seeing that it was his own soldier and his own flag, the commander of the village army waved his hand and opened the gate of the village.
It wasn't until the gate of the village was opened that Cao Cao felt relieved.
