Guo Jia replied: "What the minister wants to say is that the overall situation has been decided. Yuan Xi is not allowed to merge states, and he will not withdraw his troops. No matter how much we hit Liyang, we won't be able to eat half cheap. Because the prime minister doesn't want to fight Yuan Xi now, right? If you defeat Liyang, will you be able to hold it? ”

"yes. The minister thought that he should withdraw his troops, gathered his troops in Nanyang, and then made an appointment with Sun Quan to flank Liu Biao and occupy Jingzhou as soon as possible. Cheng Yu said.

Cao Cao sat down slowly, silent for a long time...

He also knew that Liyang was not easy to attack, and it didn't make much sense. But watching Yuan Xi capture and unify Hebei, Cao Cao was still unwilling and wanted to do something.

"Instead of making trouble for Yuan Xi, it is better to strengthen our own strength. The minister agreed with Mr. Cheng's words and immediately attacked Liu Biao. Xun You smiled: "Now is a good time." Marten has signed a non-aggression pact with us, and he will not invade the south. Yuan Tan went to attack the plains, and Yuan Xi fought in Bingzhou, let alone attack. We just happened to concentrate all the main forces and attack Liu Biao. Liu Biao will die! ”

"After we collect Jingxiang County, we will have a sufficient population, which will be more conducive to our future war with Yuan Xi..."

"Prime Minister, what do you think?" Cheng Yu asked.

"Ahem..."

After thinking about it, Cao Cao said: "Jingzhou is not so easy to capture. Zhou Yu has been thinking about it for a long time, can you let us attack it? What's more, the Jingzhou Sailor is stronger than ours. Liu Biao has 300,000 troops, which is more than my troops. ”

Cheng Yu said: "The prime minister doesn't have to worry. Liu Biao is already old, and he is just a defender of the city. Many of his 300,000 troops have never been on the battlefield. The biggest battle we have ever fought was the last time we attacked his Nanyang and captured 70,000 of his foot soldiers. As for the Jingzhou sailors, they are all east of Jiangling, and we can't meet them for the time being. All we need to do is capture his capital, Xiangyang. That's the hinterland of Jingzhou. Whoever gets him is equivalent to getting Jingzhou. The remaining small counties, it is not too late to slowly conquer them. ”

"Fengxiao, what do you think of Liu Biao's Jingzhou Army, how is the combat power?" Cao Cao asked Guo Jia.

Guo Jia smiled bitterly: "The prime minister knows it, so why torture him?" Jingzhou foot cavalry, most of the new pawns, used to defend against Zhou Yu. According to our careful investigation, the Jingzhou army stationed in Xiangyang and the west of Xiangyang ate and gambled all day long, neglected training, and compared with our war cavalry, one on the ground and the other in the sky. If the lord raises up an army, he will win! ”

"Okay...."

Cao Cao said: "Liyang has Yu Ban and Le stationed in the garrison, we can't conquer it for a while, and the most important thing is that... It doesn't make any sense. Since that's the case, don't waste time here. Taking advantage of Liu Biao's thought that we were attacking Jizhou and Jingzhou was fine, he quickly mobilized all the cavalry and chariots and took Xiangyang directly. The infantry army followed. Strive to end the Jingzhou war within two months. ”

Cao Cao is worthy of being a military master, and in an instant he came up with a clever plan to attack Jingzhou. Moreover, he also cleverly took advantage of the current situation to paralyze Liu Biao's carelessness.

"Do you need to inform Sun Quan?" Xun Yu asked.

"No need. The last time we attacked Nanyang, we didn't keep the agreement and made Zhou Yu fight bloody in Jiangxia County, and he must have a grudge against me. Instead of looking forward to the Jiangdong Army, it is better to rely on ourselves. Cao Cao said.

"What the prime minister said is extremely true. In fact... Zhou Yu doesn't make a move, which has a greater effect than a shot. Because Liu Biao would always be wary of Zhou Yu, he did not dare to transfer all his troops back to Xiangyang. Guo Jiadao.

"Hmm."

Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia and said secretly in his heart: "It is worthy of being the first strategist under my command, and he broke my mind with one word." ”

"Everyone, whether you can conquer Jingzhou depends on this battle..." Cao Cao got up and said, "Without further ado, we will start the army tonight." Xu Huang and Zhang Liao each led 10,000 iron cavalry as the vanguard of the attack on Xiangyang. Cao Chun and Xiahou Ba led the tiger and leopard cavalry and the Longxiang battalion chariot to follow up, and took advantage of Liu Biao's okay to capture Xiangyang! ”

"Tomorrow at noon, Cao Hong and Xu Chu will lead 50,000 infantry troops through Xuzhou, through Yangzhou, and directly attack Xiling. Attract the garrison to the east of Liu Biao. ”

"Xiahoudun and Xiahouyuan, lead 30,000 Qingzhou troops, pass through Yuzhou, cover and respond to Xu Huang and Zhang Liao's troops."

"Xiahoude, Xiahoushang, and Mr. Xun Yu stayed in Puyang. I'll give you 20,000 elites. We must always pay attention to the naval armies of Hebei and Liyang, and beware of the enemy army attacking our Puyang. ”

"Five days later, I will personally lead my troops to Jingzhou. In this battle, I will destroy Liu Biao! ”

"Victory! Win! All the civil and military officers were boiling with blood and shouted in unison.

However, Cao Cao didn't know that what he said just now was listened to by the two bats on the top of the big tent. In its own unique way, the bat sent the message to the Aeolian pterodactyl.

The wind god pterosaur spread its wings and flew to Bingzhou to report to Yuan Xi.

"Cao Cao wants to attack Jingzhou?" Yuan Xi went back to Yecheng yesterday, took Guo Tu here, and ordered him to go to the senior cadres to persuade the senior cadres. As soon as he returned to the camp for half a day, the Fengshen Pterodactyl passed the news.

Yuan Xi raised his head and looked at Li Dian on the right: "General Li, do you think Cao Cao can capture Jingzhou?" ”

"The lord forgives the sin, and the general has to say that Cao Cao is very strategic. Jingzhou Liu Biao is by no means his opponent. The last time he attacked Nanyang, it was evident. Liu Biao's garrison, with little room for resistance, all surrendered. This time he poured out his nest, how could Liu Biao protect himself? Li Dian replied.

"You're right..."

Yuan Xi said with some concern: "Before Cao Cao, although the army was strong, there was no food and grass, so it could not fight for a long time. Now that Nanyang County has been obtained, it has received a lot of supplements. If he captures Xiangyang again, then he will not worry about food in the future. What's even more terrifying is that Jingzhou is the belly of the world, with a rich population and can raise 500,000 soldiers. It's a huge threat to us. ”

"That's what the lord said." Li Dian frowned and said, "But we are attacking Bingzhou now, and we can't contain him?" ”

"That's why I called you." Yuan Xi said: "The overall situation of the war in Bingzhou has been decided, and there is no need for too many troops. You quickly send someone to tell Yan Liang and order him to return to Hedong County, mobilize an army of 50,000, and make a surprise attack on Chang'an. In addition, I will personally repair a book and send it to Ma Teng in Xiliang, asking him to fight Cao Cao together. After Ma Tengnai Fubo, he was thinking about serving the court all the time, and he would inevitably respond to me, pour up the Xiliang Iron Horse, and help Yan Liang. In this way, Chang'an is in danger, Tongguan is in danger, how dare Cao Cao fight Xiangyang again? ”

"The lord is wise."

Li Dian got up and said, "The last general will send someone to go..." ”

....................

After Li Dian left, Yuan Xi regretted a little in his heart, he used to contact Ma Teng from time to time, but now he is temporarily cramming, and he doesn't know if he can invite Ma Teng. If he doesn't go, then Cao Cao's attack on Xiangyang will be a certainty.

"I hope Ma Teng will sincerely serve the court and help the Han family." Yuan Xi thought in his heart.

Only in this way can Ma Teng be able to send troops.