After receiving Yuan Xi's order and getting ready, he and Sun Li went to Jizhou to transport grain. Yuan Xi and the generals came to see him off, and Yuan Xi gave the judge a bag and told him to act in secret, and then open it to watch after transporting the grain. Although the trial was curious, he didn't ask too much, nodded, and said uneasily: "Young General take care, we are not afraid that Cao Cao will attack our army in the open, but we must also beware of Cao Cao digging tunnels and sneaking attacks." Yuan Xi thanked the review for the reminder and said that he would definitely pay attention to it, and he would stick to it until the trial came back.

Guandu Cao's army camp, Cao Cao saw that the rumors did not gain much, and Yuan Shao did not send someone to ask Yuan Xi to take the initiative to fight, let alone the news that he was back in charge of the Chinese army, and asked the strategists: "I don't know what else you have planned?" The generals didn't come up with a particularly good method, and there wasn't much food and grass in the army, so Cao Cao thought it would be better to retire from the army for the time being.

Xun You immediately advised: "Prime Minister, retreat at this time, and all your previous achievements will be wasted." Not to mention whether Yuan Xi will attack the hinterland of our Central Plains, if Yuan Jun is given a breather and morale recovers, our army will be in big trouble. ”

Guo Jia also disapproved of withdrawing from the army, and also advised: "Since the Yuan army is unwilling to fight with our army, we can continue to urge the war, send people to send women's clothes to humiliate Yuan Xi, and secretly dig tunnels to attack his grain route." ”

Cao Cao saw that everyone did not approve of the withdrawal of the army, and he also thought of the harm, and felt that Guo Jia's plan was good, so he ordered the soldiers to take turns to urge the battle, and secretly ordered the soldiers to dig tunnels. It's a pity that Yuan Xi is determined not to fight with him, and has been hanging up the war-free card, as for Cao Cao digging tunnels to sneak attack the grain road behind him, but unfortunately Yuan Xi was recognized halfway, and he lost hundreds of soldiers in vain. Yuan Xi remembered that Zhang Yan should have already started activities in the Central Plains, and he also sent spies to investigate, what is the situation, if Cao Cao can't hold on, he will also prepare for battle.

A war that cannot be one-sided is a grinding character, and whoever can't hold on first will lose. Yuan Xi also couldn't stand this boring war, but he had to persevere, secretly thinking that he had this kind of emotion, and his subordinates had this kind of emotion, so he gathered his soldiers and started a wonderful speech: On protracted war.

Generals, everyone has worked hard, although we did not engage the Cao army, but the defense is even more tiring, we don't know how the Cao army will attack us, but we must face all possible possibilities. The cunning Cao army is already at the end of the crossbow, and there is no way to take us head-on, so he wants to dig tunnels to raid our army's grain road, but unfortunately we successfully defended it. You must have doubts, will the Cao army retreat if we don't do anything? I have already sent the Montenegrin army into the hinterland of the Central Plains, General Zhang Yan will not let us down, if they can't do it, I also deployed 30,000 troops in the Tiger Pass, Jia Xu joined the army several times to defeat Cao Cao, we will definitely be able to seize the opportunity, once Cao Cao withdraws, it is our opportunity. So, instead of doing nothing, we wait. This is a protracted war, deciding who will rule the north, my strategy is, the enemy advances and I retreat, the enemy is stationed and disturbs, the enemy is tired and I fight, the enemy retreats and I chase, now we are in the second stage, I believe it will soon be the third stage, and in the fourth stage, Cao Cao is powerless.

Yuan Xi freely published a copycat version of the protracted war, and everyone listened to this chicken soup for the soul, and felt that it was very reasonable, and their hearts were also determined, it turned out that the young general had already made arrangements. At this moment, his subordinates said that Cao Cao had an envoy asking to see him. Yuan Xi ordered him to come in, and the messenger said to Yuan Xi: "I am on the order of the prime minister, and I specially sent a box of clothes to decorate, and asked the young general to smile." ”

Yuan Xi thought it was funny, and the person who sent the clothes seemed to think of something, so he didn't open the box, and sneered: "If Gong Cao wants to negotiate peace, you can send some gold, silver and jewelry." As for women's clothing and jewelry, I am rich in Hebei, but I can give it to Cao Gong, after all, Cao Gong likes other people's women, and should also love the clothes passed down by women. ”

The messenger was dumbfounded when he heard it, Yuan Xi didn't see the box, but he knew the contents of the box, and he was even more clever, occupying Cao Cao's handle and ridiculing, but it was irrefutable. However, the messenger was also a simple character, and after only a while, his expression was the same, and he said modestly to Yuan Xi: "The young general really lives up to his name, Yang Xiu admires it, but the general only shows the benefits of his tongue, but he doesn't dare to fight with the prime minister's real sword and real gun, showing the young hero, it's hard to be convincing!" ”

Everyone is curious, this Yang Xiu is also a little talented, and when Yuan Xi guessed the purpose, he could still be in danger and ridicule each other with words to induce Yuan Xi to fight. Yuan Xi was determined not to fight, and replied: "Yang Xiu, yes, you are a smart person, you will honestly complete the task of the prime minister." Let me give you a piece of advice: young people don't be so showy, sooner or later, one day, Cao Gong will be unhappy, and you will fall to the ground. ”

Yang Xiu didn't care, Yuan Xi didn't want to go to war so he made excuses, and he couldn't show that he was a mediocre talent, but he said politely to Yuan Xi: "The words of the young general, Xiu keep it in mind." I will definitely be able to tell the Prime Minister as it is. After Yang Xiu finished speaking, he returned to Cao Ying with his clothes.

After Yang Xiu left, the generals admired Yuan Xi's unpredictable prophet and taught Yang Xiu a lesson by the way. Yuan Xi said: "Do you think what I told Yang Xiu just now was a joke? If he did, he would indeed die at the hands of Cao Cao. The generals nodded yes, only Sima Yi was the most careful, this was to remind himself, fortunately he did not follow Cao Cao at the beginning, and praised Yuan Xi: "Cao Cao is called a traitor, showing benevolence, his heart is dark, Yang Xiu is arrogant, and he will not be tolerated by Cao Cao in the future." The major general is upright, humble and open-minded, makes the best use of things, makes the best use of his talents, and truly understands the master. Being able to serve the major general is the most correct choice for Zhongda. With Sima Yi's explanation and guidance, everyone also praised Yuan Xi and showed their loyalty.

Let's say that Yang Xiu returned to the army and said to Cao Cao: "Yang Xiu was entrusted by the prime minister, not only failed to provoke Yuan Xi, but was ridiculed by him. Cao Cao comforted Yang Xiu and asked him to tell the details of the story, and suddenly the generals looked embarrassed, Cao Cao was even more angry, and almost revealed the case in front of him, and the generals persuaded him.

After Cao Cao calmed down, he sighed and said: "Yuan Benchu, the fourth and third dukes, is vain, I didn't expect his son to be so demonic, and he didn't know the prophet. Our army is short of food and grass, and there is Montenegro in the hinterland of our Central Plains, I intend to go back to Xuchang to rest and recuperate, and then fight again next year. ”

At this time, the guards outside the tent came to report that a messenger from Xuchang had arrived and was waiting outside. Cao Cao hurriedly ordered messengers to come in and learn about the situation in Xuchang. When the envoy came in, it was actually the third son, Cao Zhi, who saluted to the generals and said: "Generals, Xun Lingjun is worried when he sees that the Yuan army cannot hold out, and the war is anxious. I specially asked for an order to personally escort grain and grass to the front line to contribute, and Xun Lingjun also asked me to bring a letter to the prime minister, please take a look. ”