Although the interior of Xiangyang City was burned down by Zhuge Liang's fire, the city walls were almost undamaged.
For Nanjun and Hanshui, Xiangyang City has an incomparably important strategic position.
Therefore, Cao Cao cannot give up easily.
Xiangyang City is still used as an important stronghold for Cao Cao to attack Jingzhou.
After the follow-up army arrived in Xiangyang, Cao Jun, who had many laborers, began to repair Xiangyang City.
At the same time, Cao Cao was not idle.
He continued to send soldiers to attack everywhere, and continued to expand his control over Nanjun with Xiangyang as the center.
The cities of Fuguo, Bianxian, Yicheng, Zhenguo, Zhonglu and so on were all completely controlled by Cao Jun.
But new problems followed.
All cities, without exception, are all empty!
Just when Cao Cao was shocked, the soldiers reported the news again.
Liu Bei's army was stationed in Dangyang, and the garrison was extremely powerful.
After passing Dangyang, you can go directly to Jiangling!
Cao Cao and Guo Jia made their own judgments on Liu Beijun's intentions.
The results are roughly the same, but the details are completely different.
Cao Cao believed that Liu Bei had moved his soldiers and civilians near Xiangyang southward, preparing to rely on the important town of Dangyang for resistance.
If Dangyang fails, they can still rely on Jiangling, the important town in Nanjun on the north bank of the Yangtze River, to resist.
In short, Liu Bei made the worst plan.
A stalemate with Cao Cao in Nanjun!
Guo Jia believed that Liu Bei was leading all the troops and civilians of Nanjun to cross the Yangtze River south, preparing to rely on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River to avoid a head-on confrontation with his own side.
As for the desperate resistance of the Dangyang army, it was entirely to buy time for Liu Bei to immigrate.
The clearer the resistance, the more likely it is that migration is continuing.
It also directly proves that Liu Bei urgently needs time.
Cao Cao disagreed with this and believed that Liu Bei would not give up Nanjun easily.
The reason is also very simple. Nanjun is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River and is the only transit point between Jingnan and other states in the world.
Losing Nanjun meant that Liu Bei was completely blocked in Jingnan.
Furthermore, Nan County is full of important towns, so it is easy to throw it away, but if you want to get it back again, it will be extremely difficult!
Even if Liu Bei defended Jiangling City for less than a year and a half, Cao Cao would be of no avail.
If Jiangling City is occupied by Cao's army, Liu Bei can only rely on his dreams to get it back!
But Cao Cao's reasons could not convince Guo Jia at all.
In fact, it's not that he can't be persuaded, but that Guo Jia has no intention of listening at all.
The situation was so urgent that Guo Jia had no time to explain to Cao Cao.
Under Guo Jia's strong and urgent request, Cao Cao finally compromised.
In fact, Cao Cao also had some selfish motives.
It doesn't matter to him whether he attacks Yang Yang quickly or attacks Yang slowly.
After all, fight early, fight late, fight fast, fight slowly, you have to fight anyway.
Cao Cao agreed because he wanted Guo Jia to experience the feeling of making a mistake!
Since going south, Cao Cao has been frustrated many times.
In twenty years of control over the world, had Cao Cao ever experienced so many failures?
Now that he is the king of Wei, how can he not protect his face?
If Guo Jia guessed wrong, then Cao Cao would feel much more balanced.
As for the consequences of Guo Jia's wrong guess, it can be completely ignored!
At most, more than a thousand people would be lost compared to a slow attack.
When the army arrived to break through Dangyang and arrived at the heavily guarded Jiangling City, Guo Jia naturally understood.
Wei Wang Cao Cao's idea is the most correct.
Regarding Guo Jia's eagerness, Cao Cao immediately stated that he would completely listen to his plan.
Guo Jia was also unambiguous and asked Xiahou Dun, the defeated general Zhang He and Li Dian, who had been defeated many times before, and personally accompanied the army on the expedition.
Cao Cao agreed to all requests.
He also took the initiative to send Guo Jia 30,000 troops, including 5,000 cavalry for him to drive!
Xiahou Dun, Zhang He, and Li Dian thanked Guo Jia profusely, and their gratitude was completely beyond words.
They all vowed to Guo Jia that they would fight to the death!
After successive defeats, Xiahoudun and the others were labeled as humiliated, and they had long been looking forward to a big victory to turn things over.
It's a pity that no major battle has broken out recently, and generals like the three of them cannot conquer the surrounding counties and cities.
Guo Jia personally named three people to follow him in the attack. For the three of them, it was a timely help.
Xiahou Dun and Zhang He were both brave and first-class generals. Li Dian's martial arts was not as good as the first two, but he could still be regarded as both civil and military.
Guo Jia sent these three people here just to deal with the upcoming tough battle!
After leading his army to Dangyang, Guo Jia did not hesitate and directly ordered the entire army to attack.
Li Dian was responsible for holding down the position with cavalry to deal with changes that might occur at any time.
Xiahou Dun and Zhang He divided their troops into two groups and jointly attacked Dangyang.
With the general personally supervising the battle, the morale of Cao's army was greatly boosted, and all the soldiers moved forward bravely.
Only three hours after the war started, Cao Cao was told that Dangyang City, which was heavily defended, was declared defeated.
Guo Jia was not satisfied with the victory of Dangyang, so he handed over 20,000 infantry to Li Dian and asked him to lead the army forward.
Then Xiahou Dun and Zhang He led five thousand cavalry to take the lead.
Guo Jia's purpose is very clear. The people of Nanjun must be frantically transported on the bank of the Yangtze River.
He wanted to seize time at all costs and catch Liu Bei off guard.
Save Cao Cao's face loss since he sent troops!
Along the way, Liu Beijun's ambushes appeared one after another!
Empty cities, fire formations, traps, and even formations!
Guo Jia's marching speed was slowed down all the time.
Xiahou Dun and Zhang He were even completely intimidated and persuaded Guo Jia not to rush forward greedily for fear of being ambushed by Liu Bei's army again.
Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.
He had already completely seen through Liu Beijun's tricks.
These endless suspicious tactics made him more determined in what he thought!
Ignoring the opinions of Xiahou Dun and Zhang He, he kept urging the army to speed up and marched towards Jiangling desperately.
Cao Cao had already spoken before sending out troops. All actions taken by the army must be obeyed by Guo Jia's command.
In addition, Guo Jia was very benevolent to Xiahou Dun and Zhang He. Even if he was dissatisfied in every way, he could only act bravely.
According to Xiahou Dun's words.
No matter what, it was Guo Jia who saved them before! The worst he could do was fall into another ambush and let Cao Cao kill him!
Zhang He was probably true, but he was also a general in the army. How could he retreat in the face of battle?
Furthermore, Guo Jia's famous name was as loud as a thunder in Zhang He's ears.
He would never believe that Guo Jia made a mindless decision in a fit of enthusiasm.
At that moment, he also strengthened his belief and led the army to rush towards Jiangling.
Without too much explanation, Guo Jia felt very comforted by being able to gain the trust of the two generals.
In fact, it's not that Guo Jia doesn't want to explain, but he really doesn't want to delay anything.
Explanation means stopping the march!
Now they are racing against time!
Five thousand cavalry galloped all the way and finally arrived at Jiangling City before sunset.
In half a day, they actually traveled nearly two hundred miles!
