Just when the Battle of Tanxian ended and the situation in the Central Plains changed suddenly, Cao Cao's chief military advisor Guo Fengxiao died of illness in Xudu.

(Note: Guo Jia was born in 170 and died in 207.) He has always suffered from illness in history, and on the way back to Xudu due to Cao Cao's pacification of the north, he died of illness in Liucheng due to unsuitable water and soil and bad climate. Although I am not unaccustomed to the soil and water, and I am living well, I have lived for two more years, but I still can't escape the fate of being riddled with evil diseases and dying young. ）

Guo Jia's death made Cao Cao very sorry.

How many military policies are strategized are all because of Guo Jiacai's decision.

He is said to be a monarch and a good friend.

On the day of the funeral.

Cao Cao ordered hundreds of civil and military officials to go out of the funeral together and send Guo Jiahou to be buried in his hometown Yingchuan.

Sitting in front of Guo Jia's grave.

Cao Cao poured a bottle of hot wine, picked it up, and was a little dazed: "Qing Shiwu has more than ten cold and summer, fought in the Central Plains, and set the Guanxi, with outstanding meritorious achievements." If I didn't have help, how could I be where I am today? It's a pity, it's painful.... ”

Cao Cao spilled the wine in the bottle in front of the tombstone.

The civil ministers and military generals behind him are all like mourners.

There was silence for a long time...

Cao Cao picked up the wine bottle again and said, "Qing's talent is far better than Pifu Lu Bu." Just because God doesn't help me, help Erlu. Bong-hyo... You died too early, you should join hands with me to destroy Lu Bu and pacify the Central Plains. This is my life's wish, and it is your wish. ”

The civil and military forces behind Cao Cao all howled and cried.

Cao Cao finished drinking and sat in front of the grave in a daze.

Until sunset.

Xu Du's messenger came to report: "Lord Xun, Yuan Shao's envoy Xu Yu has arrived and is already waiting at the post house. ”

Xun Yu waved his hand at the messenger, walked up to Cao Cao's side, and said, "King Wei... If there is a spirit in the sky, the king of Wei will be blessed to calm the world and clear the world. King Wei should take care of his body. ”

"Yuan Shao was defeated?"

Cao Cao also heard the words of the envoy just now.

Xun Yu frowned and said, "The messenger didn't say anything about the battle in Xuzhou. ”

Cao Cao looked back at him and said, "Think about it again..." ”

Xun Yu paused, suddenly realized, and said, "King Wei is wise." Xu Yu must have come here to ask for help. Yuan Shao will only rush to ask us for help after the defeat. I think the battle of Xuzhou has a result. Fan Lihua won, Yuan Shao lost. ”

"Let's go, go back to Xudu..."

Cao Cao got up and patted the dirt on his buttocks.

The funeral procession returned to Xudu along Yingchuan Avenue.

Wei Wangfu.

Xu Yu will be seen.

Xu You and Cao Cao were childhood playmates and had a very good relationship. It's a pleasant greeting to meet.

Once seated.

Xu You said: "In the battle of Tanxian, although our army was defeated, Lu Bu's 200,000 Yangzhou army did not pick up any cheapness. His most elite cavalry was slain by me. Of the six counties and ninety-four counties of Xuzhou, only Xiapi is still holding on. Besieged by my 400,000 troops, it will not be long before it will fall. King Zhao sent me to tell King Wei that the time had come to eliminate Lü Bu. ”

Cao Cao's generals have long wanted to make contributions on the battlefield.

After listening to Xu You's words, they all became excited.

Cheng Yu glanced at Xu Yu and sneered, "Lord Xu is exaggerating, right?" As far as I know, the Yangzhou army that participated in the Battle of Tanxian was recruited by Lu Bu in the past two years, and it was not elite at all. ”

"Dare to ask Master Cheng, where is Lu Bu's elite?" Xu Yu asked rhetorically.

Cheng Yu did not answer.

Xu You said: "Lu Bu's elite are all in Yizhou. The danger of Yizhou is known to the world, and whether he can come back depends on his luck. At this moment, the counties of Yangzhou are only 100,000 defenders, and the King of Wei is at his fingertips. ”

"You say a good thing..."

Cao Cao knew that Lu Bu was powerful, so how could he easily send troops: "Yangzhou is the capital of Lu Bu. How many artillery pieces are in storage, none of us knows. Besides, Yangzhou does not have only 100,000 defenders. The day before yesterday, I received news that Lu Xun, the general of Eastern Wu, had led 50,000 Jingzhou troops north and stationed in Shouchun. ”

Xu Youdao; This shows that the officials who stayed in Yangzhou are weak-minded. They knew that there were 200,000 troops of General Cao Ren in Han, and they could threaten Jingzhou at any time, and they had to transfer troops from Jingzhou. It can be seen that Yangzhou is really empty. Could it be that King Wei can't even deal with the 50,000 Jingzhou troops of Huangkou Xiaoer Lu Xun now? ”

"Xu You, what did you say?!" Xu Chu came out of the queue and angrily reprimanded Xu You.

Cao Cao's eyes straightened and reassured Xu Chu.

Xu Yu's sophistry made Cao Cao a little tempted. As Xu You said, why did the officials who stayed in Yangzhou transfer 50,000 Jingzhou troops to the north to garrison Shouchun? It must be an unprecedented emptiness in Shouchun.

But on second thought...

Lu Bu's artillery is indeed powerful, God knows how many are in Shouchun City?

Cao Cao still didn't dare to send troops, and chuckled: "You are here just to let me contain the soldiers and horses in Yangzhou, or force the Yangzhou army that entered Xuzhou to come back after Yangzhou is in an emergency." In this way, Yuan Shao can rest assured that he can boldly capture Xuzhou. Yes and no? ”

"Yes!"

Xu You did not shy away from it: "Isn't this exactly what King Wei is looking forward to?" Only if we win, the king of Wei can win. ”

"Before I came to Xudu, I had already prepared a strategy for King Wei to win over Lu. If the King of Wei does not dislike it, he will listen to what he will say next, and see if he can occupy Yangzhou with the strength of the King of Wei. ”

"But it doesn't hurt for you to say that..."

Cao Cao's heart is also very chaotic now.

On the one hand, he wanted to go on a campaign, more than anyone else. However, Yangzhou's artillery is stronger than his Shenji battalion, and the Xiliang Iron Cavalry is even more helpless than Lu Bu's elite. In case of defeat, it is difficult to even protect yourself.

On the other hand, the war in Yizhou was no longer in Liu Bei's favor. Cao Ren wrote again that the road to Shu was difficult and he could not go to the Sword Pavilion. In other words, Liu Bei's survival can only depend on the will of heaven.

If Liu Bei perishes...

Hanzhong is in danger!

If Hanzhong is lost, Xiliang, Sili, and Yuzhou will all be threatened.

Guo Jia said it before he died. To help Liu Bei and hold Yizhou. Now it is impossible to defend Yizhou, but it is possible to mobilize heavy troops to hold Hanzhong. At the same time, seek the Central Plains.

"King Wei..."

Xun Yu gave Cao Cao a color and signaled Cao Cao not to listen to Xu You's nonsense.

Cao Cao didn't care, and gave a reassuring look.

Xu You took out a map, spread it on the ground, and said, "King Wei, please take a look." The enemy troops in Yangzhou are nothing more than Gao Shun's 50,000 frontier guards and Su Shouchun's 30,000 reserve soldiers, which are said to be recruits recruited by the Ministry of War, and there is no one to lead them for the time being. There are also 20,000 soldiers from the Lingyin Mansion in the city, who are responsible for standing guard and patrolling. Plus Lu Xun's 50,000 Jingzhou troops. It's only 150,000. ”

"The two states of Yanyu of the King of Wei can easily raise 200,000 soldiers and horses, and Luoyang has 100,000 volunteers. There are also extremely warlike tiger and leopard cavalry, tiger battalion, dragon battalion, Qingzhou soldiers... ”

"Wait, wait..."

Cao Cao interrupted Xu You's words: "I know everything you said. I know my strength better than you do. If you think that the victory over Lu Bu depends on the number of people, then there is no need to say it. ”