"Hahaha." Yuan Xi opened his mouth and said with a smile: "Generals, this time there is no actual combat training. The troops transferred from various states and counties are all veterans, and their combat effectiveness is strong enough, but they have no experience in joint operations. Just let them form a tacit understanding. ”

"The lord is wise."

"My lord, there is one more thing." Tian Feng said: "A few days ago, God made it clear that the captains of various armies should lead their troops and horses to cultivate in various counties. Now they all have to gather in the territory of Wei County, how to cultivate? Spring ploughing is about to begin. ”

"I forgot about it."

Yuan Xi frowned slightly.

Most of the young and strong people in Hebei prefectures and counties joined the army, leaving the fields barren and uncultivated. Although he said that he did not have food, but the people had no food, and the national strength was not shocked, it was not a way after all.

"Farming is important, and training is equally important, and you must have both. In this case, I will make some changes to my previous decision. The county commanders of each county lead the county soldiers and help the local people to farm. If there is not enough manpower, you can borrow it from the county guards, assassins, and governors, and the local army will be evenly distributed. Which county has the best political performance, the official is promoted to three levels. ”

"That's very good." Tian Feng responded happily.

Wen Chou received a report from a soldier, walked up to Yuan Xi, and whispered a few words.

Yuan Xi looked up to the sky and smiled: "You share one thing with you. After Cao Cao surrendered Liu Biao's Jingzhou army, he gathered an army of 300,000 to march south, intending to eliminate Liu Bei and unify Jingzhou. But who would have thought that as soon as he arrived in Lingling County and Baqiu, he suffered heavy losses. Sixty or seventy thousand troops were lost. ”

"Huh?!"

All the civil and military generals opened their mouths wide.

With Liu Bei's tens of thousands of recruits, can he defeat Cao Cao?

"Lord, is this battle report fake?" Jaw asked.

"There will be no fakes. You may be a little surprised, but I take it for granted. Because Liu Bei worshipped a new military advisor named Zhuge Liang, this person has the ability to penetrate the heavens and the earth, and it is not surprising that he can defeat Cao Jun. Yuan Xi said.

From this point of view, Liu Bei is also a big help. Why didn't the lord send an envoy to repair, thinking that he would come to foreign aid in the future? Frustrated suggested.

"Don't rush yet. Let's take a look at the battle of Jingnan and what the result was. Although Cao Cao was defeated for a while, he still had more than 200,000 soldiers and horses, and his strength was far stronger than Liu Bei. Even with Zhuge Liang's help, he may not be able to win. If he guards Jingnan, we will send an envoy to repair it, and if he can't hold it, then there is no need to bother. Yuan Xi got up and waved his hand: "Let's disperse, let's go back and have a good rest, and after the garrisons from all over the country arrive, we will discuss the matter of training." ”

"No."

Regarding the war in Jingnan, Yuan Xi did not have much interest. One is that the distance is too far and the whip is beyond reach, and the second is Liu Bei, Yuan Xi doesn't like it very much. It's just that Cao Cao was a little surprised because of his new defeat. But in Yuan Xi's opinion, Cao Cao will still win in the end, after all, Cao Cao also has a strategist Guo Jia under his command, and he has more than 200,000 troops, how can he not win.

With the order issued by the Military Administration Office, the garrisons of various states and counties were assembled in Chaowei County.

The transfer of soldiers and horses was originally a very common thing, but it brought pressure to Cao Cao in the Central Plains and Yuan Tan in Qingzhou. Let's talk about Cao Cao first, he has lost Puyang, and 100,000 Hebei troops have advanced into the Central Plains. He was worried that Yuan Xi would attack Xuzhou and perhaps Chang.

And what about Yuan Tan?

was originally afraid of Yuan Xi, and he had already cowered in Qingzhou and didn't dare to come out. It happened that Cao Cao's main force was not in the Central Plains, and Yuan Xi gathered troops again, if it was to attack Cao Cao, it would be fine, but if he wanted to attack Qingzhou, how should he deal with it? It was impossible to even ask Cao Cao for help.

Yuan Tan panicked

Cao Cao received an urgent report, and he couldn't calm down. His army of more than 200,000 is under the city of southern Hunan to meet Liu Bei. It is too far away from the Central Plains, and it is too late to return to the army now.

"Go and ask Guo Jia." Cao Cao ordered his own guards.

"No."

The guards ran to it.

Soon.

Guo Jia came in a few steps and walked into Cao Cao's tent: "What is the prime minister's call?" ”

"This is an urgent report from Xuchang, you can take a look first." Cao Cao handed Guo Jia a crumpled piece of paper.

Guo Jia looked at it and said: "The minister thinks that Yuan Xi will not attack the Central Plains at this time, and the prime minister does not have to worry." ”

"Why?" Cao Cao said: "My main forces are all in Jingxiang, and it is impossible to transfer back in a short period of time." Yuan Xi gathered troops and horses, entered the Central Plains, and directly captured Xuchang and Xuzhou, this is the best time. ”

Guo Jia smiled and said: "What the prime minister said is very right. But Yuan Xi didn't think so. He united with Ma Chao in Xiliang, Ma Chao had just pacified Xiliang and urgently needed to rest, at least for half a year, it was not suitable to send troops. If Yuan Xi wants to attack the Central Plains, he must have the support of Ma Chao, right? This is one of them. Second, the minister still thinks that Yuan Xi's next target is Yuan Tan, and he clearly knows that Yuan Tan only has less than 100,000 troops and can win a battle, while the prime minister sits on the four major states of the Central Plains, plus Si Li'an and Luoyang, and Jingzhou, which we have just conquered. In this way, the prime minister's strength is not weaker than Yuan Xi, and it is almost impossible for him to win by sneak attack. In other words, even if his sneak attack was successful, he would only get one of the states, but he would have to face the attack of Yuan Tan and the prime minister, which would be unfavorable to the overall situation. ”

"That being said, I'm still worried." Cao Cao did not agree with Guo Jia's remarks. Regardless of whether Yuan Xi wants to advance into the Central Plains or not, the question is, if Yuan Xi leads the army to Xuchang, can he resist it? If you can't, you have to find a way to do it.

"The war in Jingnan is stalemate, and it won't end for a while. Sun Quan's navy marched into Neijiang again, causing us to suffer from the enemy on our backs. I think it's better to return to Xiangyang first, and then make plans. ”

"The prime minister is not ready to recover Jingnan?" Guo Jia asked.

"I want to think about it, I dream about it. But it's too risky, in case Yuan Xi leads the army to Xuchang, how should we deal with it? Retreat to Xiangyang first, you can deal with Sun Liu, and you can rush to help Xuchang in time. Cao Cao rarely insisted on his own ideas, and usually listened to Guo Jia, but this time he didn't.

Guo Jia was also not sure about the movements of the Hebei army, so he had to say: "It is not easy for the army to go on the expedition, and please be cautious." ”

"I've thought twice, you don't have to persuade you. The soldiers who went to give the order to attack the city retreated to the camp and stood by. Early tomorrow morning, return to Baqiu with me, prepare to meet Sun Quan's army, and then retreat to Jiangling. ”

"No."

Guo Jia turned to leave.

Under the city of Linxiang, the siege is in full swing.

After Guo Jia gave the order, all the soldiers retreated.

Zhao Yun, who was stationed in the city, was very puzzled when he saw Cao's army withdrawing, and went to the county guard to report: "Lord, Cao Cao has withdrawn his army." ”

"It's not even noon, why did you withdraw?" Liu Bei thought for a moment and said: "Could it be that Sun Quan's army defeated Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, and Cao Cao was afraid that the grain road would be cut off, so he wanted to return to meet Sun Quan?" Still is. ”

He looked at Zhuge Liang.