After Chinese New Year's Eve, Cao Cao immediately sent Cao Hong with 3,000 troops and horses into Xu County.

Since Cao Cao regarded Xu County as the key place for Cao's future strategy, it was natural that someone should stand in front.

At this time, the surrounding area of Xu County was barren, almost uninhabited, only a few remnants of the yellow turban survived here, and Cao Hong could easily sweep it away.

Among the princes at this time, Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang in the north, Yuan Shu and Liu Biao in the south, all stared at those densely populated important cities, and no one looked down on the East Henan Plain, which was ten rooms and nine empty.

However, it was easy for Cao Cao to get this territory, and it would take a lot of effort to put down roots here.

This land is fertile for thousands of miles, and there must be people to cultivate it, so that you can really own this land.

With such a vast land, it is far from enough to recruit displaced people, so the next step is to move people here on a large scale.

And as Xi Zhicai said, if you want to move the people, you must rush before the spring ploughing, so that you can stay up until the autumn harvest, and you can be self-sufficient in grain.

If you miss the spring ploughing, it will take another year to wait.

Since Cao Cao had made up his mind to relocate the people of Pengcheng County, there would only be one month left for Cao Cao to take Pengcheng.

Therefore, after Chinese New Year's Eve, when the people of Yanzhou were still immersed in the festivities and waiting for the next important festival, Shangyuan Festival, Cao Cao had already quietly reorganized the soldiers and horses to prepare for the attack on Pengcheng.

In the study room of the Assassin's Mansion, there were only two brothers Cao Cao and Cao Ren.

"Big brother, who can be the general of Dongguan, we still need to make arrangements as soon as possible." Cao Ren said.

Cao Cao frowned and bowed slightly: "I've been thinking about this matter for the past few days, it is said that Ang'er is the most suitable candidate, but the answer a few days ago was correct......

At this point, he suddenly stopped.

According to Xi Zhicai's plan, since he wanted to use Dongguan County as bait to lure Pengcheng County to send troops, he always had to create the illusion that Dongguan's defense was empty and the defenders were incompetent.

Otherwise, if a brave general like Xiahou Yuan continues to lead 5,000 defenders to defend there, Pengcheng will not dare to attack no matter what.

Xi Zhicai planned to send a young and unknown general to garrison the city with only 2,000 defenders to lure the enemy, and let Xiahou Yuan lead 3,000 troops and horses to ambush outside the city.

Waiting for the enemy to attack, the defenders defended the city, and Xiahou Yuan led people to harass from behind.

Anyway, I don't want to win, I just want to be able to drag the enemy army under the city for ten days and a half months, so as to win time for the capture of Pengcheng.

Moreover, Xi Zhicai once suggested that it is better to be a son to guard the city, which can increase the attractiveness.

Cao Cao once thought that his eldest son, Cao Ang, was naturally the most suitable candidate.

But leading a small number of military horses as bait, after all, is an adventure, he wants to train Cao Ang, but putting Cao Ang in danger is not what he wants to see.

What's more, the answer was correct a few days ago, and Xi Zhicai seems to have a personal relationship with Cao Pi.

Who knows if this is a plan by Xi Zhicai to kill two birds with one stone for Cao Pi, wanting to take the opportunity to get rid of Cao Ang?

Therefore, Cao Cao called Cao Ren alone today to discuss.

At this time, this brother is the only one who can participate in this matter with him.

"Big brother, since we suspect that the drama sacrificial wine is selfish, is his whole plan still credible?" Cao Ren's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"Naturally credible," Cao Cao affirmed: "No matter what he thinks, at least it will not be wrong to strengthen my Cao family's heart, but I don't dare to say whether he will take the opportunity to mix other private goods." ”

Cao Cao differed from other princes in that he was tolerant of people and could tolerate the selfishness of his subordinates.

Just like after the battle of Guandu, he burned all the letters that he captured his officials who collaborated with the enemy.

In fact, everyone has selfishness, they all have such and such problems, as a party of the princes, if you hold on, then who will give you your life?

Who can guarantee that all of his men are moral role models?

A good monarch should ignore the selfish motives of his subordinates and only take the useful parts of his abilities.

Therefore, Cao Cao will not completely deny his plan because Xi Zhicai is suspected of having a personal relationship with Cao Pi.

In any case, this plan is the best choice for the Cao clan to consider both the enemy and the enemy.

At this time, Cao Ren didn't have much to say, the eldest brother wanted to train his son, but he didn't want to put his son in a dangerous place, how dare he persuade him to be a brother?

If he persuades Cao Ang to go to the town, if something goes wrong, will he be able to bear it?

But if you don't take any risks, how can you train talents?

At this time, an attendant suddenly came to report: "The two sons have come to say goodbye." ”

"Let them in," Cao Cao rubbed his temples.

Cao Ang and Cao Pi came in at the same time, clasped their fists and said in unison, "Say hello to my father." ”

Cao Cao nodded slightly, waved his hand, and motioned for the two to sit down.

The two looked at the atmosphere was rather dull, and Cao Pi suddenly grew up and said: "Father, this expedition, my son also wants to serve in front of the army and kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions." ”

Cao Cao said absentmindedly: "It's good if you have this heart, but there are no eyes on the battlefield, and you are not skilled in bowing and horses, so you should stay at home honestly." ”

"Father, when it comes to archery and horses, although the son is not as good as the eldest brother and the fourth brother, it is better than an ordinary soldier, seeing that the father and brother are all fighting on the battlefield of the Cao family, how can the son feel at ease at home?"

"Do you really have that heart?" Cao Cao looked up at Cao Pi: "If you are given 2,000 troops and horses to guard a county, in the face of tens of thousands of enemy troops, do you dare?" ”

"Why don't you dare?" Cao Pi was ecstatic, he knew the complete plan.

If you guard a county, it must be Dongguan County.

Since Dongguan County is a decoy, there will never be only 2,000 lone troops guarding it, and there must be reinforcements outside.

Although it may seem dangerous, it is actually extremely safe.

If you want to fish, you can't lose the bait.

The key is to be able to defend this city, which is a great achievement.

His eldest brother had been fighting with his father for several years, and now he only had 3,000 troops and horses, and if he had started with 2,000, it would not be far from his eldest brother.

In fact, under Liu Ping's explanation, Cao Ang already knew about it, and when he heard his father mention it, he also guessed his father's intentions.

"Father, I am the elder brother, how can I let my younger brother take risks? I'll go to this town guarding the city. ”

"Or I'll go," Cao Pi insisted: "The eldest brother is brave, follow his father to protect his father, and the younger brother is also more at ease, as for guarding the city, he only needs to climb to the top of the city and command it himself, and he does not need to fight the enemy head-on, which is suitable for the younger brother to go." ”

"Although the second brother is all-round in civil and military affairs, he has never commanded the army, and the foolish brother has followed his father to fight for many years......"

"Okay, don't fight," Cao Cao smiled and waved his hand: "Your brother has such thoughts, and I am very pleased for my father."

Let Ang'er go this time, Pi'er wants to make meritorious contributions, and there will be opportunities in the future. ”

Cao Cao had already figured it out, the defenders looked like two thousand, but in fact they were five thousand.

Pengcheng County only has a total of 20,000 garrisons, and at most 10,000 troops and horses will be sent to attack, which is not a difficult task to complete.

If you don't dare to let your eldest son do this, how can you trust him to do it in the future?