Zhuge Liang said: "The battle of Baqiu made Cai Mao and Zhang Yun's naval army suffer heavy losses, and they will definitely be reprimanded by Cao Cao." They still have tens of thousands of sailors, and they are cautious, they can't be defeated in just a few days, maybe there is something else. ”

Although Zhuge Liang is smart, he is not a god, how could he guess the movements of Hebei.

Zhao Yun, who came to report the news, said cautiously: "The last general thinks that Cao Cao is treacherous, he is likely to pretend to retreat, but in fact he is lured, our army cannot attack, and it is the best policy to hold Linxiang steadily." ”

"That's what Zilong said." Liu Bei responded: "From now on, you must guard the city, and no one is allowed to go out of the city to fight without my order." ”

"No."

Zhao Yun responded, but was distressed: "My lord, the other generals are easy to say." Only Yun Chang and Yide, they want to know that Cao Cao is defeated and retreated, so they don't chase it immediately. ”

"I'll tell them. You go get busy. ”

"No."

Zhao Yun returned to the city tower.

His fears were soon fulfilled.

Zhang Fei learned of Cao Cao's retreat and led 5,000 elites to chase and kill. Guan Yu was afraid that he would make a mistake, so he also led his troops and horses to chase after him. Ten miles to the north, the two encountered an ambush by Guo Jia, suffered more than half of the casualties, and returned in embarrassment.

Liu Bei trembled angrily...

Thinking that Cao's army was under the city, it took more than half a month to attack and suffer less than 5,000 casualties, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei lost more than 7,000 elites when they made such a fuss, which is really infuriating.

Zhuge Liang exercised his power as a military advisor and wanted to punish Guan Zhang.

However, Liu Bei took into account the brotherhood and blocked it.

The matter was settled, but the defeat of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei raised Cao Cao's confidence again. He thought in his heart, Liu Bei's troops were no longer supported, if he concentrated all his forces and stormed Linxiang, would he win?

Thinking of Zhuge Liang's clever calculation, he once used more than 1,000 suspicious soldiers to destroy more than 70,000 of his left and right vanguards.

Cao Cao still dispelled the idea of continuing to attack Linxiang.

According to the original plan, he led the army to slowly retreat to Baqiu. He also ordered Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to hold Baqiu and Wulin Harbor, and sent people to Sun Quan's camp to spread the news, saying that Liu Bei had been defeated in Linxiang and was already poor.

The Jiangdong naval army entered Neijiang in order to occupy Baqiu and Lingling, and by the way, recover Jiangxia.

Now that he is intercepted by Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, it will be difficult to win in a short period of time. Liu Beijun, on the other hand, was defeated in Linxiang. The most important thing is that Zhuge Liang did not believe in his words, and did not hand over Lingling and Baqiu to them safely.

I heard that Cao Cao had led his army back to Baqiu.

The Jiangdong Army did not hesitate to withdraw.

this day.

Yuan Tan sent someone to see Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was received in Jiangling Mansion.

"Who's next?" Cao Cao sat on the top seat, squinting slightly.

Guo Jia, Xun You, and Cheng Yu also sat aside.

"Engage in Xin Commentary."

The Confucian scholar standing in front of Cao Cao saluted neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Please send troops to join forces with my lord to fight against Yuan. My lord said that he was willing to send 50,000 troops to help the prime minister and counterattack Puyang. Xin Ping said.

Cao Cao suddenly opened his eyes: "Is this true?" ”

"In front of the prime minister, how dare you talk nonsense?" Xin Ping said: "I believe that the prime minister has received the report that the troops of various states and counties in Hebei are all assembled in Chaowei County. It is not denied that Yuan Xi may attack Qingzhou, but it is more likely to attack Xuchang and Xuzhou, after all, Puyang has been lost, and there are 100,000 troops in Gaoran, so the prime minister is not worried? ”

After Cao Cao withdrew from Jingnan, he did have the intention of counterattacking Puyang.

It's just that I'm worried about provoking a big war, so I'm a little hesitant.

Now Xin's words have given him some confidence.

"Please tell Yuan Tan that I will immediately lead the army back to Xuchang, and then play the Son of Heaven and issue a document to discuss the thief..." Cao Cao said.

"The prime minister is wise."

Xin Ping received Cao Cao's affirmative answer and was overjoyed.

Wait until he's gone.

Cheng Yu said: "It is natural for the prime minister to counterattack Puyang, but there is no need to issue a document." ”

"Why?"

"The release of the document is tantamount to declaring war on Yuan Xi. Originally, Yuan Xi was not going to use troops against us, but after seeing the text, he would also make every effort to prepare for the battle. In this way, our decisive battle with Yuan Xi will be advanced. Cheng Yu sighed: "After the Battle of Chang'an, our Shenji Battalion has suffered some losses, and it is still resting in Xuchang. The half of Jingzhou that has just been captured also needs to be governed by officials, and strive to expand the army in the shortest possible time.... ”

Cheng Yu said a lot.

Guo Jia also said: "It is really not good to start a war with Yuan Xi at this time. ”

"Then according to what you say, don't publish the text, and go directly to Puyang?" Cao Cao asked.

"Yes, this can also surprise Gao Ran, make Gao Ran unprepared, and it will be easier for our army to win." Cheng Yu said.

"It's better not to attack Puyang..." Guo Jia did not support the expedition to Puyang, and arched his hand: "Puyang has a garrison of 100,000 troops, which is not so easy to capture. Is the prime minister sure that he will defeat him in one day? If not, a day later, the enemy's reinforcements will arrive,"

"Ugh...."

Cao Cao got up and took two steps and sighed repeatedly.

Puyang is too important to him.

Without Puyang, there would be no Yellow River moat.

Yuan Xi's army can enter Yanzhou at any time and easily reach Xuchang or Xuzhou. It's scary to think about, maybe one day, I wake up in the middle of the night and find that I have become a prisoner.

"I probably understand what you mean, you are asking me to outwit Puyang. Gather strength for a big war? ”

"Yes, Prime Minister, now Yuan Xi's intentions are not clear, we must not act rashly." Guo Jia always thought that Yuan Xi would not lead his army into the Central Plains at this time and gather troops in Wei County, which was just a normal training camp.

According to the detailed report, the same is true.

But when he really gave up attacking Jingnan and returned to the Central Plains, Guo Jia was inexplicably worried. Will Yuan Xi attack the west and destroy the country on a false path? First paralyze Cao Jun under the guise of intensive training, and then hit with all his strength?

"Fengxiao, Yuan Tan is willing to help, isn't it a pity that we don't take the opportunity to counterattack Puyang?" Cheng Yu said.

"Zhongde, Yuan Tan is already a pawn in our hands, he is not only worried about Yuan Xi, but also about the prime minister. No matter when we attack Puyang, he will help, so why care about this time? ”

...........

Guo Jia and Cheng Yu argued.

Cao Cao was also thinking repeatedly.

In the end, he was noncommittal: "Go back to Xuchang first, and then discuss whether to attack Puyang." Gongda and Gongming, you will lead 50,000 troops to garrison Xiangyang and Jiangling to prevent Liu Bei and Sun Quan from jointly attacking. There are also Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, urging them to build warships, train sailors, and the necessary supplies, Jingzhou Mansion must not be in short supply. ”

"Yes..."

Xu Huang and Xun You, who were recruited, replied.

Mid-February.

The garrisons from all over Hebei were assembled in Wei County.

The training camp is about to begin.

Yuan Xi drew up a training plan and summoned the generals to discuss.

"Give each of them one." Yuan Xi took out a stack of papers.