"Looking up to Prime Minister Tianwei, the minister won by luck." Sima Yi followed Cao Cao into the account.

"Zhongda, please take a seat."

"Prime Minister Xie."

In order to welcome Sima Yi, Cao Cao also set up several small banquets to celebrate Sima Yi's elimination of Yuan Xi's big snake. And in the eyes of Cao Jun's civil and military officers, there is no dissatisfaction, and they all admire Sima Yi very much.

"Please be seated." Cao Cao waved his hand to signal the rest of the civil and military.

"No..."

After everyone was seated, Cao Cao said straight to the point: "Don't hide it from everyone, we have no surplus food, and from the day after tomorrow, we will kill horses to satisfy hunger..." ”

As soon as the news was revealed, all the civil and military officers exchanged their heads.

"Why didn't the prime minister say earlier, the last time we were in Longxi, we should retreat to Chang'an." Zhang Liao said.

"The situation of the last battle is unclear, so it is not appropriate to make a decision." Cao Cao said: "Don't hide it from everyone, until yesterday... I still have no decision to withdraw to Chang'an, or fight to the death with the Xiliang army. It wasn't until Zhongda sent the news that Yuan Xi's giant beast was burned to death by a fire, that I made up my mind to fight this battle. ”

"Without food, there is no way out. If we don't win this battle, we... There is no place to die. Xun Yu said.

"That's right, so I ask that before the war begins, all your generals are gathered together to discuss a foolproof plan." Cao Cao motioned to Jia Xu: "Wenhe, tell everyone about your battle plan." ”

"No."

Jia Xu got up and walked to the map and said, "Ma Chao's Xiliang Army is pieced together by many different races, and it is not elite. But a few days ago... They captured three thousand of our chariots, which was a threat to our field cavalry. In terms of numbers, they are three times worse than us. However, in terms of field combat capabilities, it is stronger than ours. ”

"In the face of the threat of food shortage, we have no way out, but to unite and fight to the death against the enemy to break the current crisis. But I personally don't approve of fighting with Ma Chao in the plains, I tend to attack the fortification.... ”

Speaking of this, Jia Xu pointed to a location on the map: "From our military camp to Ji County, it is only five miles, there are no obstacles in the middle, and there are no enemy sentry horses and checkpoints. If we march at night and do not light torches, we can reach the enemy's city in an instant without being detected by the enemy. I suggest that after nightfall, 40,000 heavy troops should be mobilized to surround the county town of Ji with lightning speed, focusing on attacking Nancheng. Cavalry was used to form a blockade on the periphery, cut off the official road in the north, and then mobilize 10,000 elites from the northern battalion to attack the northern city.... ”

"Such a north-south attack can achieve several strategic objectives. First, to prevent the enemy from moving towards our camp and forming an encirclement of our army. Second, the suburbs of Nancheng and the suburbs of Beicheng are both plains, and our troops rushed up to completely occupy there, not giving the cavalry and chariots of the Xiliang Army a chance to rush and kill. Third, we can use the formation to implement the division tactic, break each one, and eat away at the enemy's living force. Of course, the most important reason is to block the official road in the north, so that the Xiliang army can not retreat to Longxi, and completely block them here, so that there is a chance to completely annihilate the Xiliang army. ”

..........

After Jia Xu finished speaking, he arched his hand towards Cao Cao and said: "Prime Minister, this battle should be sooner rather than later, and I am afraid that there will be changes later." In order to create an absolutely favorable situation, after dark, an attack was to be launched. If the Xiliang army comes out first and attacks our camp, then we will have no advantage. Especially Zhongda's military camp, once they besiege it, and then control the plain between the two battalions with chariots, then we won't even have a chance to fight back. ”

"Zhongda, what do you think?" Cao Cao asked Sima Yi.

"The minister completely agrees with Wenhe's war strategy." Sima Yi has reached a consensus with Jia Xu, and of course he will not oppose Jia Xu.

Xun You and Zhang Liao also had no better strategy, and they all remained silent.

"Okay." Cao Cao said: "I will immediately send people to keep an eye on Ji County, as long as there is any change in the Xiliang army, I will immediately transfer troops to surround it." And let the battalions prepare for battle, and after nightfall, march to Ji County. ”

"The prime minister is wise...."

Zhong Wenwu replied.

From this moment on, the generals of Yuan Xi, Ma Chao and Cao Cao all raised their vigilance.

It's getting night.

The sky and the earth were pitch black, and there was not even moonlight.

I have to say that Cao Cao's luck is good. Such weather is most suitable for sneak attack warfare, as long as torches are not lit, it is difficult for the Xiliang army to find out their whereabouts.

As soon as night came, Cao Cao ordered the whole army to attack.

He personally led 40,000 infantry troops to the southern city of Ji County at night, and surrounded the regiments of Ji County with superior forces and swift speed. Mainly block the official roads in the south, north, east, and west.

Ma Chao and Yuan Xi's battle plan was to prepare to attack Sima Yi's camp again at the third watch. Because Sima Yi is not easy to deal with, he is afraid of being ambushed if he goes early. But who would have thought that just after nightfall, Cao's army would be killed, or they would pour out of the nest and block all the roads in and out. In desperation, Yuan Xi could only let Zhang Heng and Yang Qiu guard the city.

Call Ma Chao to the government office.

"Meng Qi, now the situation has changed, and we must make adjustments." Yuan Xidao.

"What does the lord mean?"

Yuan Xi said: "There are too many Cao troops, and they are blocking the city gate, and our cavalry can't rush out at all." This was obviously deliberately done by Cao Cao, who wanted to rely on the number of troops to attack the fortified positions and consume the Xiliang army. Avoid fighting you in the field. ”

"Sima Yi in the north, blocking the official road of our army's northward advance, if we don't fight well in Ji County and lose too many soldiers, we may never be able to get out. I advise you to immediately organize your forces and break through to the north. Directly attack Sima Yi's camp. Just according to your previous plan, let's implement it in advance. ”

"Okay...."

Ma Chao also realized that the situation was unfavorable to him, and had no choice but to give up the opportunity to have a life-and-death duel with Cao Cao.

According to Yuan Xi's suggestion, all the cavalry in the city was concentrated and marched towards the northern city.

In order to reduce casualties, a thousand chariots were used as the vanguard, breaking the Cao army's military formation, and then letting the cavalry make up for it, detouring to both sides to expand the range of movement of the cavalry.

"Brothers, kill..." Ma Chao and Ma Yunlu were together, as the main force to break through, and killed towards Sima Yi's camp.

Yuan Xi followed in the sky with a bow and arrows in his hands, and when he saw them in danger, he released arrows to support.

..........

Outside the South Castle.

After Cao's army set up a position, Zhang Liao personally transferred troops to attack the city, and soon entered the city.

Sima Yi said: "The Xiliang army doesn't seem to be prepared to defend the city. Did they all break through to the north? ”

"It must be. Just now, the troops from the north came to report that Ma Chao's cavalry and chariots were attacking extremely fiercely, and the more than 20,000 elites we had deployed there did not stop them. It can be seen that Ma Chao used all his troops. Xun Yu said.

"So... Ma Chao wants to break through? ”

For the first time since the attack on Xiliang, Cao Cao was unusually excited.