It is not a simple matter for thousands of people to break through, especially if there is still more than 300 miles of escape in the future, if you don't plan carefully, even if you rush out, it's useless, there is no food, people will starve to death, there is no forage, especially concentrate, the war horse will lose its physical strength or even die.

Cao Cao asked Xiahoudun to prepare the necessary grain and grass supplies, and asked Cao Ren to lead the descendants brought from Dongjun to reinforce Cao Hong. Outside the east gate and south gate is Shuishui, which is controlled by the Jingzhou Naval Division, and outside the west gate is the main force led by Sun Ce, and the direction of the breakthrough can only be the north gate. Originally, it was planned to retreat to the inner city, and in order to shrink the troops, I considered giving up the north gate, but now to break through, the north gate cannot be given up, and it must be held.

Cao Cao rushed to the west gate and saw Lou Gui turn around and look in the direction of the east gate of the inner city, his face pale. However, Cao Cao was surprised to see another person - Wen Ping. He was so surprised that he didn't bother to talk to Lou Gui, rushed to Wen Ping, and held his hand.

"Zhongye, is the injury healed?"

Wen Ping smiled, his face a little tired. He withdrew his hand quietly. "It's out of the way, thank you for your concern."

Cao Cao felt Wen Ping's indifference, sighed secretly, and patted Wen Ping's arm. "If I had known that Zhongye was fine, I wouldn't have to worry so much. I'll leave it to Zhongye here? ”

Wenpin was surprised. Cao Cao laughed, took the order flag in Lou Gui's hand, stuffed it into Wen Ping's hand, and pulled Lou Gui to the side. Lou Gui was unhappy, but he didn't dare to attack, so he had to follow Cao Cao down the city wall and outside the inner city gate. By this time, the dust that had been kicked up by the first boulder had gradually settled, revealing the broken courtyard walls and collapsed houses. Lou Gui's heart tightened, and his scalp was numb and crispy.

"Uncle Zi, this is one of the two stone bullets that just came in from outside the city. You should hear the sound at Simon, right? ”

Lou Gui was stunned, nodded again and again, but was speechless.

Cao Cao smiled bitterly: "Uncle Zi, I'm afraid Wancheng can't hold it, I want to break through as soon as possible." Are you going with me, or are you staying? If you come with me, take the time to go back and say goodbye to your family. If you want to stay, I will hand over the inner city to you, and it is meritorious to protect the hostages, and Yuan Highway should not embarrass you. ”

Lou Gui was shocked and inexplicable, staring at Cao Cao for a long time without saying a word. Yesterday, I said that I had to stick to the help, why did Cao Cao want to abandon the city and leave just after one day? He suddenly understood Cao Cao's intention in taking him to see the stone bullet, and quickly weighed the pros and cons. Not to mention whether Cao Cao's breakthrough can succeed, even if he succeeds, he can't give Yuan Shao a chance, rather than follow him to take risks, it is better to stay in Wancheng. With the merit of sacrificing the city, plus those hostages, Yuan Shu should not embarrass him, and maybe he will reward him again.

"My family is all here, and I can't keep them."

Cao Cao sighed and reluctantly took Lou Gui's hand. "I wanted to dominate the world with my uncle, the will of heaven made people, Sun Ce was fierce, and Wancheng was gained and lost. Uncle Zi, everyone has their own ambitions, so I won't force it. You can rest assured, in front of the alliance leader, I will bear it with all my might, and I will never affect Zibo and the sages of Wancheng. ”

Lou Gui was ashamed, and wanted to change his mind several times and follow Cao Cao, but the words came to his lips and swallowed back. Cao Cao was a friend who could be acquainted, but his strength was too weak to fulfill his wishes.

Cao Cao handed over the inner city to Lou Gui, quietly adjusted the city defenses, and the army brought ten days of dry food, assembled at the north gate, and prepared to break through.

The battle at the north gate suddenly became stalemate, and Chen Yu fought hard for a day, although he broke through the city gate, he failed to enter the city.

——

When night fell, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu switched guards and returned to the camp to rest.

Pang Tong had already arranged dinner, but Sun Ce didn't eat it immediately, he had to wait for Huang Chengyan's father and daughter to eat together. Although Jiangtai was taller than the city wall of Wancheng, it was too far away for him to see the situation in the city, and he didn't know the attack effect of the giant stone thrower, so he had to wait for Huang Chengyan to confirm it.

While waiting, Cai Yong came. Sun Ce was surprised, but he still got up to greet him. Cai Yong walked into the big tent, smelled the rice, and sniffed. "Excuse me, General."

Sun Ce laughed. "Sir, didn't you just step on the dots? You're welcome, sit down and have some food together later. As he spoke, he relegated Cai Yong to the throne on the left-hand side. Cai Yong was very satisfied, took a seat after a few modest sentences, stroked his beard, and said very seriously: "I heard Zhou Gongjin say that you have discussed the way of heaven with Lu Jining?" ”

Sun Ce raised his eyebrows slightly. "You were in Gongjin's camp just now?"

Cai Yong nodded. "I had nothing to do, and I heard that Zhou Gongjin was quite fluent in music, so I played the piano and discussed music with him, and adjusted the tune of "The Rise and Fall of the People's Suffering". At such a young age, he has such attainments, which is really lovely. ”

Sun Ce knew that Zhou Yu's musical attainments were high, and it would not be a problem to throw him eight streets. When I first heard "Hillside Sheep Tong Caring for the Ancients", Zhou Yu composed the song with just a few words. With his ability, it is not surprising to discuss music with Cai Yong. It's just that the big war is imminent, and Zhou Yu actually has such leisure and elegance, which is really beyond his expectations.

"What advice does that gentleman have?"

"You have a lot of respect for Zhang Pingzi, you must be talking about Hun Tian, right?"

Sun Ce frowned. To be honest, he has no interest in discussing this issue now, first, he is not energetic in talking about it, and he is not Cai Yong's opponent by quoting scriptures - even Pang Shanmin was abused by Cai Yong, and he is even worse. The second is that he really doesn't have time, now he is attacking the city, there may be an accident at any time, he didn't sleep for two days and one night, he didn't dare to rest, how could he be interested in sitting and talking about things.

"Sort of."

"Then do you know what the two other doctrines are besides the Heavenly Theory?"

Sun Ce suddenly thought of something. In addition to the armillary theory, the cosmic model of ancient Chinese astronomy also includes Xuanye theory and Gaitian theory, Gaitian theory comes from the "Zhou Ji Sutra", and Xuanye theory comes from Cai Yong himself. Compared with the Hun Tian Theory and the Gaitian Theory, the biggest feature of the Xuanye Theory is that the sun, moon and stars are not on the same celestial sphere, but suspended in the air, and there is no fixed celestial sphere, but infinite. To some extent, this is the most Taoist of the three doctrines, and the closest to later science.

However, the origin of Xuanye's theory has never been clear, even Cai Yong himself is even worse, and the content is even more brief, incalculable, and cannot be compared with the other two doctrines at all.

Sun Ce tilted his head and looked at Cai Yong for a long time. "Sir, since I talked about the Heavenly Dao, I would like to ask a question first, is it okay?"

Cai Yong nodded confidently.

The corners of Sun Ce's mouth provoked a wicked smile. "Sir, do you think the laws of the sun, moon and stars can be calculated?"

Cai Yong didn't think twice. "Of course you can, otherwise what's the use of the calendar?"

Sun Ce squinted at Cai Yong and smiled without saying a word. Cai Yong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood what Sun Ce meant, and immediately said: "Heaven and man are united, and the government decree is perverse, and the heavens will warn them, of course these are not calculable." ”