"Yes."

Zhang Jaw understood Yuan Xi's intentions, the two armies were fighting, and they needed to beware of the truth with the fake, in case Cao Cao sent someone to falsely pass on the order, the consequences would be unimaginable. A written order can prevent this from happening.

Yuan Xi nodded and continued: "The second target I chose is Rencheng in the northeast of Puyang, which is a fortified city and the main road to Qing and Xu. It can also be used as cover for the troops who are about to attack Jibei. Attract the main force of the enemy army and gather in Rencheng, while our strange soldiers will take Jibei and Mount Tai. ”

"It's a daunting task. I'm the manager. General Gao Ran is still stationed in Puyang, I will give you 150,000 troops, you have to hold Puyang for a month, is it difficult? ”

"So much?" Gao Ran was a little surprised: "Lord, the situation in Rencheng is more complicated, you will lead tens of thousands of soldiers and horses to go, isn't it too risky?" It is the junction of Qing, Xu, and Yan states, and Cao Cao can mobilize a large number of troops in a very short period of time. ”

"Do I need you to save me? I have behemoths, and I am not afraid of many enemies. On the contrary, I am worried that you will be stationed in Puyang for less than a month, and by then, we will have no basis. will be trapped and die in the Central Plains. Yuan Xi said.

Gao Ran patted his chest and said: "The last general is willing to make a military order, even if Cao Cao's main force all comes to Puyang, the last general can hold on for a month, if it can't be done, don't wait for the lord to deal with it, the last general will be beheaded in front of the army!" ”

"Good. I'm sure you can do it.... ”

Yuan Xi did not let Gao Ran establish a military order, first, he didn't want to put pressure on him, and second, the soldiers of Puyang were likely to be transferred away soon, and the military order was useless. Because these 150,000 troops cannot always be in Gao Ran's hands.

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

Next, Yuan Xi issued a specific combat mission.

Zhang Jaw led the 3,000 pioneer battalion (heavy armored iron cavalry) of the headquarters, as well as 20,000 light cavalry and 10,000 Jizhou light cavalry transferred from Youzhou, to the cage city east of Guandu by the designated route on two shifts tomorrow night.

Gao Ran led a main force of 150,000 and stationed in Puyang. At the head of Puyang City, the banners of all the generals must be planted, as well as the Titan Python, the Ancient Monitor Lizard, and the eleven mammoths, all of which stay in Puyang, and go to eat outside the city every half a day. Its purpose was to confuse Cao Cao and make Cao Cao mistakenly think that Yuan Xi was in Puyang and relax the vigilance in other places.

Yuan Xi also took Li Dian's wolf cavalry, Wen Chou's 2,000 guards, 20,000 elite foot soldiers, and 10,000 Bingzhou light cavalry to Rencheng northeast of Puyang on the second watch tomorrow night.

this day.

The open-jawed cavalry arrived at Cage City as soon as possible.

On the way to Cage City, he encountered more than 1,000 Cao troops, and he was resolutely eliminated. More than 1,000 people were chased for more than three miles, and several fled into the mountains, but they were still hunted down by the soldiers he sent to arrest them, and they were captured and beheaded.

Under the cage city.

Zhang Jaw was surprised to find that the topography of Cage City was very special. The outside of the city was full of mountains, and it was so lush that it was so dark in many places that it was impossible to see what was going on inside. The enemy army in Cage City is about 3,000, and they are ready to defend the city.

Zhang Jaw is not afraid of the army of the cage city, even if it is three times more, he is confident that he will conquer it, because the cage city is easy to attack and difficult to defend, and it is a short city. However, he was worried that there would be Cao Cao's ambush soldiers on the mountains outside the city.

Wang Men, the general of Youzhou who came with him, took the first step to propose: "Such a lush forest, even if tens of thousands of Cao troops are hidden, there will be no traces." Let's attack like this, is it really good? ”

"The lord has given the order, and we can only carry it out." Zhang Jaw's gaze never left the mountains outside the city for a moment. He was more worried than Wang Men that Cao Cao would hide his army in such a lush wood.

But on the other hand, Cao Cao didn't have the ability to predict the future, so how could he hide troops in such a place?

Just in case, he ordered the army to surround the cage city, but not to fight. First, send 2,000 soldiers up the mountain to search, and after making sure that there are no ambushes on the mountain, then attack the city.

"Report..."

The soldier who went to search returned: "General, there are no ambushes on the mountain. ”

"Have you searched carefully?"

"Yes. The mountains are densely wooded and there are no roads. There is no trace of anyone walking. We've searched for miles, and we haven't found anything out of the ordinary. ”

"Okay." He opened his jaw and said to the royal gate: "General Wang, you can attack the city..." ”

"There will be a suggestion at the end."

"Say."

Wang Men said: "This city is obviously short, the area is not large, our 30,000 troops entered, it seems a little crowded, if the enemy besieges the city and kills in, our cavalry will not be able to fight, and will become a live target for bows and arrows." It is better to divide 20,000 light horsemen, stationed outside, and use each other as horns with the cage city. In this way, even if there is an ambush on the mountain, we will not be afraid. There is more time to leave the city and destroy the enemy army in the field. ”

"Well said." Zhang Jaw was a little surprised and surprised, and said with a smile: "Yes.... General Wang, worthy of being a general who has led cavalry battles all year round, has rich experience. ”

The general teased that these were the basic essentials of cavalry warfare. At any time, the cavalry must not go to a narrow place, beware of being surrounded by enemy troops.... Halfway through the king's speech, he did not say any more.

He realized that there was something wrong with his words, didn't he clearly show that he was not as good as him, and he didn't even know the most basic essentials?

"You don't have to worry about it, I really didn't think of it." Zhang Jaw smiled slightly, and replied, "Just follow your strategy." You will lead 20,000 light cavalry and garrison it in the city, and I will lead the vanguard battalion and 10,000 light cavalry and garrison it outside the city. ”

"Yes."

The king's gate quickly went to give the order.

The cage city was quickly conquered, and the cavalry suffered more than a thousand casualties.

The casualties were somewhat large, mainly because there were no professional siege equipment, and the soldiers were not good at attacking fortifications, but the soldiers stationed in the cage city were prepared in advance, causing casualties to the siege soldiers.

After entering the city, the royal gate did not dare to be careless.

He ordered his own guards to conduct a comprehensive search along the streets of the city, mainly looking for fire oil! This thing is so powerful that if the enemy has an ambush here and ignites the fire oil, tens of thousands of cavalry will be wiped out.

After searching, there was no fire oil in the city, which made the royal gate breathe a sigh of relief.

With a vanguard battalion and 10,000 light cavalry, Zhang Jaw stationed on the flank of Cage City. The position of the garrison was on an official road, blocking the road. Prevent the enemy from besieging the cage city. In other words, the enemy can only fight Cage Castle by coming down from the mountain, and if it is from other places, only through the barracks of Zhang Jaw can he reach the bottom of Cage Castle.

The layout for the two has been perfect.

After camping, two topographic maps were drawn and sent to Yuan Xi.