This situation aroused Cao Cao's vigilance, and he quickly wrote a letter to Xun Yu in Xuchang, requesting that grain and grass be transported as soon as possible to meet his urgent need. In order to deceive others, the messenger set out at night, preparing to return to Xuchang by nightfall. After walking less than thirty miles, he was caught by Yuan Jun's patrolmen, tied up with a rope and sent to Xu You.
Xu You was a classmate of Cao Cao when he was a child. The two had a good relationship, but at this time he happened to be one of Yuan Shao's counselors. He walked up to the messenger, squinted his eyes and smiled. The messenger felt scared, and he was about to send the messenger. The letter was handed in.
So Xu You read the content and found that it was Cao Cao's letter urging Xuchang to transport grain and grass. This news was very important. He immediately took the letter to Yuan Shao and said: "Cao Cao's large troops are stationed in Guandu and are at a stalemate with us. It has been a while. Xuchang must be empty at this time. If we dedicate part of our army to attack Xuchang, then Xuchang can be defeated and Cao Cao can be captured by us. Moreover, my news is that Cao Jun has no food and grass now. We If we divide the attack into two, then great things can be accomplished.”
Yuan Shao took the letter from Xu You and said, "I know Cao Cao well. He is very cunning and cunning, and has many tricks. I think this letter is a plan to seduce us."
Xu You became a little anxious and said: "This is a good opportunity. If we attack in two directions, we will definitely be counterattacked."
The two were having a conversation when someone suddenly reported that an envoy was coming from Yecheng, so they submitted a letter from the judge. The book first explained some details of transporting grain and grass, and then said that when Xu You was in Jizhou, he often received information from the people. property, and allowed his son and nephew to evade taxes and take some money and food for themselves. I have locked up his nephew.
After Yuan Shao read it, he was very angry and threw the letter in front of Xu You. Remembering that Xu You and Cao Cao were classmates, he became even more angry and said angrily: "You shameless common man! Why do you have the nerve to come in front of me?" Let me give you advice! You and Cao Cao were classmates. You must have received financial bribes from Cao Cao and worked as a spy for Cao Cao. Come and deceive me. You should have been beheaded immediately, but I think you have some merit, so I will put your head first. Above your neck, get out of here now and don’t come back to see me again!”
Xu You slowly walked out of Yuan Shao's camp, looked up to the sky and sighed, saying: "Loyalty is offensive to my ears, you are not qualified to let me plan! My nephew has been framed by Shen Pei, what face do I have to go back to Jizhou?" Those people!" After saying that, he drew his sword and prepared to kill himself.
When the soldiers on the left and right saw it, they immediately came up to stop them and persuaded them: "Why don't you want to live? Yuan Shao is unwilling to listen to the blunt words of his loyal ministers, and he will definitely be captured by Cao Cao in the future. Since you and Cao Cao are classmates, why don't you abandon the dark side and join the bright side now?" ?”
These two sentences woke Xu You up, so Xu You immediately packed some things and walked towards Guandu.
Xu You sneaked out of Yuan Shao's camp at night and walked on the official road very calmly. Later, he was captured by Cao Jun who was ambushing on the road. He said to the sergeant: "I am a former friend of Prime Minister Cao. You hurry up and follow me." He reported that it was Xu You from Nanyang who came to see him."
The sergeant did not dare to be careless and quickly reported the news to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was just about to take off his clothes and go to bed. Hearing that Xu You from Nanyang had come to seek refuge, he was very happy. He did not bother to put on his shoes or tidy up his clothes, so he came out to meet him. Xu You, clapped his hands together, took Xu You's hand and entered the camp, then asked Xu You to do it, and even went to salute Xu You himself.
Xu You stood up in a hurry, helped Cao Cao up, and said, "You are the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, and I am just an ordinary citizen. Why are you so humble in front of me?"
Cao Cao replied: "You are my former good friend, how dare you use official positions to distinguish between superior and inferior?"
Xu You sighed: "I can't choose my own lord. I have been working for Yuan Shao, but he didn't listen to what I said, and he didn't try any of my strategies. Now he has rejected it, so I came to you, hoping to be taken in."
Cao Cao nodded and said: "Xu You, if you are willing to come and help me, things will be easier to handle! I hope you can give me some guidance on how to defeat Yuan Shao."
Xu You said: "I gave Yuan Shao a strategy, asking him to detach a part of the light cavalry, take advantage of Xuchang's emptiness to attack directly, and then attack together, then Cao's army will be defeated without attacking."
Cao Cao was very surprised and said: "If Yuan Shao uses your strategy, then I will definitely fail."
Xu You asked: "How much food and grass do you have in your army now?"
Cao Cao took out his finger and said: "It can last for another year, there is no problem."
Xu You smiled and said, "I'm afraid there aren't that many."
Cao Cao smiled and said: "Not a year, more than half a year."
After hearing this, Xu You shook off his sleeves, stood up, walked slowly to the camp, and said: "I came to you sincerely, but you deceived me again and again. Is this what I want to see?" Of?"
Cao Cao came out to persuade him to stay and said: "Please don't be angry. I told you what happened. In fact, the food and grass in our army can only support us for three months."
Xu You burst out laughing and said, "No wonder everyone says you, Cao Cao, are a traitor. When we meet you today, it turns out that's true."
Cao Cao also laughed a few times and said, "Haven't you heard that a soldier never tires of deceit?" Then he looked around, secretly leaning into Xu You's ear and said, "The army actually only has one month's supply of food and grass."
Xu You said: "Don't lie to me, your army has already finished the food and grass!"
Cao Cao was very surprised after hearing this and said, "How did you know?"
Xu You then took out the letter written by Cao Cao to Xun Yu, handed it to Cao Cao, and asked, "Whose note is this? Don't I know?"
Cao Cao was surprised: "How did you get this?"
So Xu You told the details of how he got the letter. Cao Cao took his hand and looked very pitiful and said: "Since you are here for our previous friendship, please save me!"
Xu You said: "Ming Gong used a lone army to fight against a powerful enemy like Yuan Jun instead of seeking a quick solution to the battle. This is asking for death. I have a plan that can defeat Yuan Shao's million-strong army in less than three days. The attack is self-defeating, I wonder if you are willing to listen?"
Cao Cao was very happy and asked, "I wonder what the plan is?"
Xu You said: "The food and grass for Yuan Shao's army are all stored in Wuchao. Now it is led by a man named Chun Yuqiong. This man is a drunkard. You can choose some elite soldiers and generals who lie and pretend to be Yuan family's generals to come for reinforcements." Protect the grain and grass, and secretly burn the grain at night, then Yuan Shao's team will definitely be in chaos in less than three days."
Cao Cao was very happy after hearing this, treated Xu You well, and then left him in the camp.
On the second day, Cao Cao personally led five thousand elite troops and prepared to go to Wuchao.
Zhang Liao tried to stop him and said, "How could Yuan Shao not be prepared for the place where he was hoarding grain and grass? The prime minister cannot go there easily. This may be Xu You's plan."
