Cao's army defeated Yuan Tan's Qingzhou army, Yuan Tan's army retreated to Lanling, Donghai County, and Yuan Shang also retreated to Kaiyang, Langxi County, to defend it.

Cao Cao led the army back to the city and was rewarded. "Now that the danger of Xuzhou has been resolved, the two must retreat into the distance, what do they discuss?" Cao Cao asked.

Xun Yu said: "Now that Yuan Tan is the most damaged, and Yuan Shang will not send troops to rescue him, we can attack Yuan Tan first, and then attack Yuan Shang, and regain the lost territory." ”

Cao Cao listened, "What Wen Ruo said is reasonable, but I have limited time, so we can't fight for a long time, so we must fight quickly." ”

Shi Yue said: "You can also let Le Jin come back from Xiao Pei, now that the enemy has retreated, there is no need to defend, and the emperor's uncle and general Yun Chang can also return from Xiapi, we can attack Yuan Tan together, Yuan Tan must be difficult to defend." ”

Cao Cao was very satisfied when he heard it, "Just what General Yan said, let Le Jin come back." Then he looked at Liu Bei, "Uncle Huang still needs Uncle Huang's help at this time!" ”

Liu Bei said: "This is a matter of duty, I will let Yun Chang come back first, and then we will send troops together." ”

In Lanling County, Yuan Tan could only go here first to hold on, and then go back to Qingzhou with the book, so that more soldiers could come to support. Gao Ran said to Yuan Tan: "Son, if Cao Cao's army comes to attack us, it will be difficult to hold here, and it won't last long." ”

Yuan Tan said: "I have already gone back with the book, guard it first, and wait for the army to come." ”

Gao Ran said: "I learned that there was no major damage to the third prince's army, and the prince and the book were on him, so that he could come to support us, and then the Cao army could not attack it, and it could not be consumed, so it would retreat first, and we would hold it." ”

When Yuan Tan heard this, he was quite displeased, and asked me to borrow troops from him for support. It's not that I don't have soldiers, it's just that the soldiers haven't arrived, so I don't give him a joke when I look for him, "No need, I'll wait for me to hold it." ”

Gao Ran's persuasion was useless, Yuan Tan had already made up his mind, so he had to give up.

When Le Jin learned of Cao Cao's letter, he immediately led the army back to converge, and Guan Yu on the other side did the same.

Cao Jun found out that Yuan Tanjun was in Lanling County, so he led his troops away, and Cao Cao asked Che Zhou and Wang Zhong to stay in Xuzhou.

Along the way, everyone walked quickly, and Cao Cao only wanted to regain the lost territory before the end of this winter.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei rode at the front, and Cao Cao said to Liu Bei: "Now that Yuan Shao is powerful, leading the troops of the four states, everyone in the world wants to attach Yuan Shao and go to him." Yuan Shao ordered Chen Lin to slander me, saying that I wanted to usurp the throne, so I sent troops to ask for it in the name of justice. I thought that Uncle Huang also wanted to abandon me and leave, but I didn't expect Uncle Huang to stick to this. ”

Liu Bei said: "Yuan Shao has ulterior motives, and the prime minister knows about his virtues, so he will definitely not listen to his rumors." When the prime minister accepted his unjustified words, Xuande was deeply saddened. ”

Cao Cao laughed: "Uncle Huang is really sensible. ”

Not long after, the spies came to report, and Lanling was not far ahead.

Cao Cao ordered everyone to settle down and discuss again.

In Lanling, Yuan Tan was still a little panicked when he learned that Cao Cao had arrived, after all, Qingzhou's reinforcements had not yet arrived. Gao Ran came to see Yuan Tan, "Childe." Cao Cao's army ended here. At this time, it was too late to save the third son of the book. ”

"No need, we will hold on to this place, there are generals here, I don't believe they can attack, reinforcements are already on the way." Yuan Tan said resolutely.

Gao Ran is really helpless, you go to guard.

The next day, Cao Cao led the army under the city, and people shouted for Yuan Tan to come out and surrender.

Yuan Tan was on the city and shouted: "Cao thief, when you have the ability, you will attack, don't say more!" ”

Yuan Tan's army held on to the city and did not go to war, the city here is an ordinary city, not a high city, a solid stone, a deep ravine, just by relying on the soldiers to attack can rush to the city wall.

Under the command of Gao Lan, Yuan Jun released arrows and fell stones, but he still barely held on.

The first time he attacked the city, Cao Cao just tried to see how well the enemy could defend the city, and now he tried it, but that's it.

The next day, he ordered Liu Bei and his own people to attack the west gate, Le Jin and Lu Zhao and others to attack the south gate, Shi Yue to attack the north gate, and Cao Cao himself led a large army to attack the east gate and besiege everywhere. Before Cao Cao saw that the main gate could not be attacked, it was originally defended by Gao Lan's command, so it was difficult to attack, and it was not difficult to break this city.

Cao's army came from all sides, Gao Ran could not command the four sides alone, and the other three sides were guarded by other generals, who were inexperienced and would definitely make mistakes. However, Cao Jun's attack today was unsuccessful. and retreated. However, Gao Ran knew that it was a matter of time before he was breached, so he immediately went to Yuan Tan and said: "Gongzi Caojun will break through here sooner or later, I'd better be ready to escape first." ”

Yuan Tan also knew the situation when he saw it today, "This city is still small, and it has to be a place, so it is not easy to defend it for a long time." The city is besieged on all sides, and it will not be easy to leave when the time comes. "Moreover, if I retreat at this time and retreat to the city behind Xianfu's army, they will definitely attack Xianfu first, Xianfu can't hold it, and it can also greatly consume Cao's troops, and it's better to hold it, when I arrive Qingzhou reinforcements, I will counterattack back.

"What the general said is very true, there is no need to defend this place anymore, inform everyone, I will withdraw my troops and leave here." Yuan Tan said.

Tonight everyone packed up and left the next morning.

In Cao's army village, the news of Yuan Tan's withdrawal and departure came.

Cao Cao was a little surprised and ran away so quickly. Gather all the people to take counsel, and see if there will be deceit in the city.

Xun Yu said: "Will this be done, Yuan Tan must have learned that it was difficult to defend through yesterday's battle, so in order to protect his strength, he left here first." ”

Cao Cao said, I have already left, naturally it is the best, I will wait for the first city, and then I am planning.

Cao's army entered the city without hindrance, rested for a few days, and planned to set off to attack Yuan Shang. At this time, Yuan Tanjun had already settled in the city after leaving Yuan Shang.

Cao Cao said: "I plan to attack Yuan Shang's army, but Yuan Shang is in Kaiyang City, this city is difficult to attack, unlike here, and Yuan Shang's military strength has not suffered a big loss, and Zhang He is strategic, if we take it, it's okay, if we can't capture it, we have to retreat back first." They are still a scourge here, and Yuan Tan's army must have sent reinforcements to come, and when the two armies attack each other, they will not be able to recover the lost territory. ”

When everyone heard this, it was indeed very serious, if they could not be driven away in this winter, after the spring, Yuan Shao's army would be divided and captured, and it would be even more difficult to deal with the enemy here. What they were most afraid of was that they would lead troops from Xuzhou to attack Xudu. At that time, the internal and external defense will definitely be defeated.

Shi Yue thought for a while, "Let's attack Yuan Tan later, take a detour, Mo Li Yuan Shang, and drive Yuan Tan out of Xuzhou first." ”

Xun Yu said: "This trip is too obvious, even if the two are not in harmony, but they have been targeting Yuan Tan, and it will be unfavorable to Yuan Shang to take back all the nearby places at that time, and the other party will still send troops to help." Yuan Shang still has to fight, and he can't avoid it all the time. ”

Jia Xu smiled and said: "I think the general's plan is very good, so I will attack Yuan Tan." ”

Cao Cao didn't know what he meant, "If Yuan Shang sends troops to help, it means that the two are united, which is to promote the two to join forces to fight, which is not even more unfavorable to us." ”

Shi Yue heard them say this, as if this was the case. Where's my nonsense? Jia Xu said it quickly!

Jia Xu said: "If you don't know General Pan Feng's plan, I will tell everyone that Yuan Tan is weak at this time, so he has been attacking him, and he will definitely become more and more difficult to defend, and he will retreat again and again until Qingzhou reinforcements arrive." But at that time, Yuan Shang was weak and defended Ducheng to this point. Zhang He knew the harm and would persuade Yuan Shang, and finally lead the army to help Yuan Tan. ”

"Kaiyang City is difficult to attack, we will not attack, we will divide into three armies, one army to attack Yuan Tan, one army in the road Zhang He crossed, ambush soldiers sneak attack, choose to face the frontal battle. There was also an army outside Kaiyang City to cut off its rear road and prevent Zhang He's army from returning to the city. At that time, the two armies will attack Kaiyang City again, and one army will withdraw here, beware of Zhang He's army coming back to attack us. Without Zhang He's army in Kaiyang, it must not be attacked. When the time comes, Yuan Shang can't defend it, and he will abandon the city and flee from it! ”

When everyone heard this, they thought that this plan was very good, and they all cast appreciative glances at Shi Yue.

Shi Yue chuckled in his heart, did I think so? I don't know.