In the middle of summer, a one-day battle suddenly broke out in Guandu that shook the world.

And rightfully so. After all, the intensity of the battle is far greater than one might think, and the impact of the outcome of the battle is destined to be sensitive and far-reaching...... The 30,000 core troops of the Central Plains Coalition Army were almost wiped out in one day, and the Hebei Iron Cavalry, the core of the Yan Army, was also reduced by nearly 5,000 people in one day; In addition, the Yan army failed to break through the Guandu camp, and the Central Plains coalition army almost completely lost the cavalry system.

The victory in the battle undoubtedly belonged to Yan Gong and his Hebei army, but the Central Plains coalition army and Cao Sikong did not collapse because of this.

"Gongsun Wenqi has always been like this, if you don't fight, you will have to fight a battle, and now our cavalry is lost, and the official crossing is extremely wide, they can't say that they will regroup their troops to attack within three or five days, so how should our army deal with it then?"

On the evening of the second day after the war, when both sides were still licking their wounds and the corpses on the battlefield had not yet been cleaned up, Cao Mengde suddenly summoned Liu Ye, Cao Ren, Huang Zhong, Sun Ce, Huang Gai and several other key generals in the battalion, plus Cao Ang, to discuss the situation together.

I saw that his color was as usual, his speech was smooth, but his tone was a little serious, if it weren't for the fact that his hair was burned in a large piece, and his eyes were bloodshot, it would hardly be obvious that this person had just experienced such a big defeat the day before, and the generals in the tent couldn't help but secretly admire.

However, Cao Cao's undiminished momentum is admirable, but he can't ease the situation one or two.

"Don't hide it from your father." Sun Bofu is a simple person, and he blurted out directly in the position. "It's not just Guandu, I hastily brought troops to help, Yingchuan is empty, if Cheng Pu leads troops out of Yuyuan Pass at this time, I'm afraid Yingchuan will be difficult to protect...... It must be known that there are many cards in the old land of Si Li, whether it is Cheng Pu or Zhong Xuan, they can all be based on the pass, and they can be attacked and defended. I waited, but I couldn't leave lightly. ”

"Yingchuan is the place of the heart, and it can't be guaranteed!" Cao Cao was equally crisp. "Since Zhu Junli has been found, you don't have to delay, you can return to Yingchuan immediately, and Zhu Junli will also be sent to the rear to recuperate in peace......" At this point, Cao Mengde paused slightly, but said solemnly. After returning to Yingchuan, you can abandon Yangcheng, Lunshi and other places, you only need to lead the whole army to hold Yangguan and Yangzhai. In this way, first, it can form a linkage with the camp here; Second, hoarding the main force there, backed by a strong city, can also prevent the Hebei cavalry from surviving and raiding. ”

Sun Ce was slightly stunned: "Reasonably, but what about the direction of Rushui?" Yingchuan and Sili have two main roads in the north and south, if the boy gathers all the soldiers and horses in the area of Yangzhai and Yangguan, he can naturally hold Yingchuan, but what if the Guanxi soldiers suddenly go out of Luhun Pass and take the south road of Rushui? ”

"I wrote a letter to Lu Bu and asked him to go out of Luyang, a native of Linyang, and watch the South Road." Cao Cao seems to have already had a draft.

Sun Ce bowed his head slowly: "That's okay, after all, the situation is like this, and it is also a helpless move to tear down the east wall and make up the west wall...... Nanyang soldiers and horses are still sufficient. ”

Liu Ye listened for a while, and probably understood Cao Cao's train of thought: "What does Cao Gong mean...... Still sticking to Guandu? ”

"Not bad." Cao Cao nodded. "Now, if you abandon Guandu, it means to let Gongsun Wenqi enter the hinterland of the Central Plains and defend the city...... But I thought it was just empty consumption! And if you can still raise the official to cross the right, you can still have a chance to win. ”

"But now our army has suddenly lost 30,000 main troops, including almost all the cavalry......," Liu Ye finally asked the key question. In a few days, the Hebei reinforcements arrived, and then Yan Gong would go south again, or storm Guandu, or send cavalry to attack the cities behind him, what should I do? Behind the cities, Yang Zhai in the direction of Yingchuan can rely on Sun Poyu to gather troops and Lu Wenhou to support, such as Chen Liu to the east and Wei to the southeast. ”

"To put it bluntly, it's a shortage of soldiers, right?" Cao Cao is opposite. "If Guandu adds another 20,000 soldiers here, he can hold on; If Chen Liu, Zhongmu, Wei Shi and other places behind him have enough troops like Yangzhai where Wu'er Bofu is stationed, what about the cavalry? At that time, their cavalry will be defeated under the fortified city, and they will have to prevent Guandu from cutting off the logistics of the cavalry at any time......"

Liu Ye completely woke up in his heart, and simply asked directly: "How many places is Cao Gong going to abandon?" ”

At this moment, the rest of the main generals in the tent, which was still a little foggy, shook one after another, and then woke up.

That's it...... The battle situation has reached this point, and the logic on the battlefield is already very clear, that is, the Central Plains Coalition Army was broken by Gongsun Xun through yesterday's battle! This gap is not only a geographical concept, it refers to the big colander of Guandu, but also a military concept, to put it bluntly, it is a sudden tension on the defense line!

So what to do?

You can only selectively shrink the defense line and gather troops!

However, there are also two ways to shrink the defensive line, one is to simply abandon the wide intersection of Guandu and retreat to the city grid behind him. The other way is to continue to defend Guandu, and to bear the hidden danger of cavalry around the rear caused by the wide intersection of Guandu, so in addition to increasing the number of troops in Guandu, it is necessary to increase the garrison in the three main cities behind Guandu...... However, in this case, it will inevitably be necessary to strategically give up a large number of cities and territories in the rest of the country.

The question is, how much do you have to give up to fill the gap?

"North of Bianshui, don't want it all." Cao Cao seemed to have made a decision. "Retreat east all the way to Liang Guobo County...... West of Bo County, north of Bianshui, northwest of Yingchuan Yangzhai, westernmost of Jiyin, a total of fifteen cities, and Pushui Daying, all of which were given to Gongsun Wenqi! What do you think?! ”

There was silence in the tent.

"Lord Yafu is so decisive!" After a long time, Sun Ce moved his ass a little in position, and slowly agreed, but he was the first to respond positively and ushered in Cao Cao's gaze.

I have to say that although Sun Bofu is young, he is particularly outstanding in the overall situation, and even has a better posture than Lu Bu and Liu Biao. It was so simple when he sent troops before, but at this time, he suddenly lost nearly a third of his troops, but he actually handled it calmly.

It is reminiscent of his father, the Jiangdong Tiger Sun Wentai, who has been dead for several years.

"Cao Gong is a true hero!" Since Sun Ce spoke up, Liu Ye had nothing to say for a while.

"In this way, the troops are indeed worry-free." Huang Zhong also spoke upright.

In other words, aside from the direct losses in yesterday's battle, it was just a strategic contraction, but it was actually a good thing for Liu Ye and Huang Zhong...... After all, giving up a large amount of land and cities and greatly withdrawing the defensive line is not only a matter of concentrating troops and continuing to maintain the overall situation, but also greatly relieving the pressure on Liu Bei and Liu Biao, because the latter two also undertake a large number of logistical tasks, can the supply line be shortened?

Moreover, from a strategic point of view, Gongsun Xun will inevitably lengthen the supply line and put troops in a large area in the enemy-occupied area that he has just occupied to maintain a strategic confrontation posture, which in turn will bring great logistical pressure to the Yan army.

Of course, Gongsun Xun must be willing to do this, because he is here to attack the Central Plains, no one believes in the argument of 'welcoming back the Son of Heaven', if you really want to welcome back the Son of Heaven, you can go directly out of Wuguan to fight Nanyang? Do you have to do this kind of thing in Cao Cao's heart?

So having said that, what is really difficult to accept but has to accept this measure is undoubtedly Cao Cao's camp itself, giving up fifteen cities in one go, plus taking the initiative to give up the six cities on the north bank of Pushui before, it can be said that Cao's army threw away about an entire county within a month of the start of the war, plus two hundred miles in depth!

Losing the depth of these two hundred miles, Cao Cao's territory, which was already flattened, inevitably reached a certain desperate situation...... Because south of Bianshui, there is Chen Liucheng, which is Suiyang, the base of Liang State, where Cao Cao started, if this line is lost again, Cao's army will be defeated in the real sense!

But at this moment, what else?

Cao Ren and Cao Ang were really silent, as if the battle situation was tense, and Cao Cao hadn't had time to discuss with them before.

I don't know how long later, Cao Ang pursed his lips for a long time, and even spoke before his uncle: "The kid thinks that my father's move is very appropriate!" ”

Cao Ren wanted to speak and stopped, but finally nodded heavily: "So far, it can only be like this!" Everything is at my brother's command! ”

As soon as this statement came out, the whole camp was completely unanimous.

Of course, it is a good thing that everyone is united, and Cao Cao's initiative to give up a large amount of territory to maintain the last possibility of the coalition army is of course a great decision. However, after all the staff expressed their positions, the tent fell silent again...... It was as if everyone remembered yesterday's defeat and losses, and then they were worried about the future war.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that yesterday's war was too shocking, how could we unite so easily today and make up our minds to give up so much territory?

"The Hebei army also suffered a lot of losses." After being quiet for a long time, Cao Mengde sighed slightly under the candlelight. "It's always hard to go on the offensive in a few days...... Take this opportunity, Zixiu, you continue to clean up the battlefield and bury the dead soldiers! Bo Fu, don't delay, go to Yang Zhai immediately; Zixiao, you and General Huang Hansheng go to preside over the front camp, and be sure to repair the burned front camp as much as possible; Ziyang, please immediately take a quick trip to the Punan camp, tell Lu Zijing my decision, and then don't stop for a moment, just retreat! ”

"Whoa!" Below Sun Ce, all the generals stood up and bowed their heads in unison.

"In this way, Cao Cao abandoned more than ten cities in Punan and Bianbei?" A few days later, in the small camp of Wuchao, after recuperating for a while, Gongsun Xun finally ushered in the reinforcements behind him and the information of Cao's army's new movements.

"Back to Your Highness, that's exactly the case." Guo Jia gave up. After Lou Sizhou discovered the movement of Punan, he was afraid that Cao Cao would clear the wilderness along the way, so he immediately crossed the river with the two generals Xu and Zhang before he had time to report...... According to the current forward report, north of Bianshui, Chenliu Banjun has been completely vacant, and the cities of injustice and boiled jujube in the west of Jiyin County have also been abandoned, and it was not until Bo County of Liang State that Cao Hong's banner was discovered until the east, and there should be heavy guards there. ”

"Lejin is in Puyang, Li Jin is in Lihu, Zhang Chao is in Juyang, Gao Gan is in Dingtao, and now Cao Hong is in Bo County, all of them are generals, heavy soldiers, and famous cities." Gongsun Xun sat in the seat thoughtfully. "This defense line backed by Onoze, Lei Ze, and Heze is still very stable, and it can hold Zibo (Lou Gui) to the west, and Yun Chang (Guan Yu) can be clamped down on the east......"

"Exactly." Guo Jia immediately agreed. "And according to the report of the sentinel cavalry, south of Bianshui, Cao Mengde also concentrated his army in Suiyang, Chenliu, Mengcheng and other places, rather than fortifying everywhere."

"This is natural, Bianshui is only twenty miles to the south, and there is Suishui, and the two rivers west of Suiyang flow almost parallelly, according to the art of war, this is a typical death place for cavalry, and we can't cross two big rivers in a row from that side to attack." Speaking of this, Gongsun Xun couldn't help laughing. "Actually, I had long thought that Cao Mengde would shrink the defensive line in order to concentrate his troops, but I never thought that he would be so simple, abandon so many cities in one go, and retreat so far."

"Basically everything that can be discarded is discarded." Guo Jia is right. But on the other hand, Cao Mengde has already abandoned and has no way to retreat! Guandu and Biansui Ershui are their last line of defense! ”

"Well said!" Gongsun Xun Huo Ran got up and paced back and forth in the tent with his hands in his hands. "I knew that Cao Mengde and Lu Zijing were not so easy to deal with, and since he had built such a big camp in Guandu, it seemed that he had a plan in his heart to win...... Then this kind of thing is expected. It's just a ...... of filial piety."

"The minister is here."

"Where do you think Cao Mengde's chances of victory are?" Gongsun Xun is inquiring about each other.

The minister thought that the so-called Cao Mengde's chance of victory did not exist, or that it had not yet appeared, and that he was nothing more than trying to hold on to each other, and then when both sides were extremely tired, they had to show their flaws...... Hope to catch the flaw before we do, and hit it with one blow! Guo Jia said in a deep voice. In other words, the so-called chances of victory must arise naturally in the midst of a stalemate! Otherwise, why do everything you have to maintain the Guandu camp? ”

"That's what Gongda said, too." Gongsun Xun stopped in the tent, solemn for a while, but he looked a little stunned. "Logically speaking, it can't be out of this category, but I always feel that he should have had a strategy against me before, or a vague idea...... Thinking about it, for more than ten years, it has been six or seven years since the two sides separated, Cao Mengde has always lived behind me and has been confronting me, I don't believe that he doesn't have some ideas, but I can't think of what he has in mind...... Wen and Da roughly agreed with my guess, but thought that he might as well press it! With the brilliant array, Cao Mengde himself was the first to show his flaws! ”

"The minister also thought that what the two military advisors said was extremely true." Guo Jia became more and more solemn. "Your Highness...... Up to now, our army is self-reliant, and the southern army is self-weak; Our army is self-prospering, and the southern army is self-declining; Our army is self-interested, and the southern army is self-obtuse; Our army is self-united, and the southern army is self-dispersed...... As long as our army does not make mistakes, then the southern army will inevitably show its flaws first, and instead of tangling with Cao Cao's 'strange strategy', it is better to manage our army's offensive with peace of mind! ”

"Well said!" Gongsun Xun's spirits lifted slightly, but he suddenly smiled. "That's how it should be...... However, Bong Hyo. ”

"The minister is here!" Guo Jia is still serious.

"Putting this matter aside for now, there's something I've always wanted to ask you."

"Your Highness, please."

"Why are you debauched and wanton in private, and you have only been in the public service for two years in Ye, and you have named Wen Yuan and Meng, known as the three evils of Yexia...... Why is it so serious to do official business? ”

"Minister......" Guo Jia held the long sword in his waist and was embarrassed for a while. It's probably because of the habit that Guan Zhendong has been getting along with for a long time and has developed in front of him. ”

"I see." Gongsun Xun sighed. "And no wonder...... ...... with you on a mission"

"Yes!"

"Cheng Demou (Cheng Pu), Lian Zijing (Zhao Zhao), has led Hedong, Hongnong, and some Guanxi soldiers here, and now Wuchao here has 70,000 troops, which is enough to use, I have made a decision, and immediately go south to Guandu, and Cao Cao to duel...... But you don't have to stay with me here, go to Qingzhou and see if you can help Yun Chang and Zhengnan open up the situation from the eastern front! Gongsun Xun commanded.

"Whoa!"

"Also, I didn't want to mobilize Yingzhou, but if there is a breakthrough on the Eastern Front at that time, I may let Cheng Zhongde (Cheng Yu) simply go to support you at that time!"

"Whoa!" Guo Jia bowed his head again.

In this way, Guo Jia did not mention it since he went to Qingzhou, Gongsun Xun received the support of Cheng Pu, Zhao Zhao and some Guanxi soldiers, and after riding and riding, he directly led an army of 70,000 to the south and came to the old land of Guandu again.

Up to this point, the Lou Gui-Xu Huang-Gao Shun-Zhangjaw group on Gongsun Xun's side, because the defense area was expanded and the battle line was lengthened, but it was unable to attack again, and could only confront the enemy along the line of Bianshui, Puyang, and Dingtao.

Correspondingly, the Central Plains Coalition Army has regrouped enough military forces around Guandu because of strategic contraction! Cao Cao personally led 60,000 troops to be stationed in Guandu, but his deputy Lu Su set up a base camp in Chen Liucheng behind him, and controlled the Bianshui defense line with 20,000 troops and guarded against the Hebei iron cavalry.

In other words, Cao's army forcibly gathered 100,000 troops in Guandu and a core hub area behind it through a strategic retreat, and finally regained the overall situation.

"How?"

In the middle of June, Gongsun Xun moved forward and watched the enemy base again, at this moment, the enemy camp seemed to be completely new, just like when he first came to Guandu, only a small number of blackened at the watchtower of the former camp and the dry gray-brown on the ground reminded of the battle a few days ago.

At this time, Gongsun Xun was on the side of the former, and there were also more Cheng Pu and the second general.

"The enemy base is strong!" In everyone's slightly tacit silence, Cheng Pu watched for a long time, and finally took the lead in speaking. "If you don't go out of the camp to face the battle, our army can only attack if you are afraid!"

"How to storm it?" Gongsun Xun frowned.

"The minister knows that the lord has always been sympathetic to the soldiers, and he does not want to attack the fortified with human lives." Cheng Pu hesitated slightly. "And if you spare human lives, why not move forward with the battalion, approaching layer by layer, battalion to battalion?!"

"Good!" Gongsun Xun slowly bowed his head.

—————I am the dividing line between the company and the battalion—————

"In June, two hundred miles north of Bianshui, Taizu made Xu Huang, Gao Shun, and Zhang Jaw, the governors of Sizhou Mu Lougui, and then merge them. Cao abandoned Bianbei, and there were few soldiers, so he had to have 60,000 soldiers in Guandu. Shi Taizu also gathered the children of Guanxi and Sanhe and the Hebei cavalry, and won 400,000 troops. Seeing that, although there are few soldiers, they are also divided into battalions and comparable. - "New Yanshu". Volume XXVII. The second of the family