Guan Yu led his troops to attack Shouchun, and launched many sieges in a row to no avail.

Later, there were two sieges of the city, and the Xuzhou army also climbed the city wall.

Every time the Xuzhou army successfully landed in the city, there would be a fire dance lying dormant nearby immediately rushed up and slashed them on the city.

A few days after the Xuzhou army attacked Shouchun.

Cao Shuo, who had already crossed the river, sat on the bank of the abandoned Yellow River, looking across the river.

He had already ordered Sima Yi, who was stationed in Pengcheng, to refrain from acting rashly and to wait for Liu Bei's next move.

"Childe!" Mi Heng came to Cao Shuo's side and said to him: "There is news from Shouchun that Guan Yu led an army of 10,000 to besiege the city and has been attacking it for several days. ”

"What about the casualties of the defenders?" Cao Shuo asked.

"There were less than a hundred casualties." Mi Heng said: "Thanks to the Fire Dance Defense, otherwise Guan Yu might have broken through the city. ”

"I know that with the fire dance, the enemy can't do anything." Cao Shuo said: "What we have to wait for now is what Liu Xuande will do next." ”

"We have been waiting for several days, and Liu Bei has never moved." Mi Heng said: "Will he ......?"

"You don't think he's coming?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Hard to say!" Mi Heng said: "Liu Bei is a deceitful person, although he doesn't have much ability, he is not a reckless person. Childe has been stationed here for a few days, and he has not moved yet, so maybe he has seen through our army's plan. ”

"Do you really think there's such a thing?" Cao Shuo asked.

Mi Heng nodded and said, "I think it should be like this." If it were me, Pengcheng's soldiers and horses would not move, and Gongzi would be stationed in the Waste Yellow River, so I could see some clues. ”

"Are we doing it too deliberately?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Exactly." Mi Heng said: "If you really want to start a war in the waste of the Yellow River, at least bring Liu Bei over." ”

Cao Shuo stood up and said to Mi Heng: "Pass my order, and the army will immediately move to Xiapi." ”

Mi Heng asked, "What about Peng Cheng?" ”

"Order Sima Yi and Lu Bu to lead their army to join our army in Xiapi." Cao Shuo said: "Pengcheng only needs to leave some soldiers and horses to guard. ”

"I'll give the order." The balance has been answered.

It didn't take long for the army to set off on Xiapi.

The day after Cao Shuo set off with his troops, he went down to Picheng.

Liu Bei sat in the study.

Mi Zhu stood in front of him.

"Cao Zirong really raised troops and came down." Mi Zhu said: "Is the imperial uncle planning to meet the enemy, or stay in Xiapi?" ”

"It doesn't seem to work out." Liu Bei said: "If you meet the enemy, our army is not his opponent, and if you are trapped in Xiapi, I don't know if there will be foreign aid." ”

"Did the people who went to Qingzhou come back?" Liu Bei asked Mi Zhu.

"Not yet." Mi Zhu replied: "It's time to come back!" ”

"Looks like we can't wait!" Liu Bei sighed: "If Zang Ba and the others don't come to fight against me, it will already be regarded as my creation." ”

"Pass the order, let Yide be the vanguard, and lead an army of 5,000 to block Cao Zirong." Liu Bei said: "I personally led 20,000 soldiers and horses to respond. ”

"What should I do with Xiapi?" Mi Zhu asked.

"You and Mi Fang are guarding." Liu Bei said: "Leave 10,000 of you, but don't throw Xiapi to me, otherwise we will really become lost dogs." ”

"Uncle Huang rest assured!" Mi Zhu said: "Even if I die, I will definitely guard Xiapi." ”

The waste Yellow River is not very far from Xiapi.

When Liu Bei got the news, Cao Shuo was less than a hundred miles away from Xiapi.

During the march, Mi Heng asked Cao Shuo, "Childe, do you want to wait here for Zhongda and General Lu?" ”

"What are they waiting for?" Cao Shuo said: "A short distance further on, you should be able to meet Liu Bei's soldiers and horses." ”

"There are not many people in our army, and the chances of winning when we meet Liu Bei are not great." Mi Heng said: "Pengcheng is not very far from here, at most wait a day, Zhongda and they will be able to arrive." ”

"You also said that you just have to wait a day." Cao Shuo said: "Could it be that our army can't even resist Liu Bei for a day?" ”

Mi Heng didn't say anything more.

With the soldiers and horses led by Cao Shuo, let alone resisting for a day, it is difficult to say who will win and who will lose when fighting with the Xuzhou army.

Once Sima Yi and Lu Bu arrived, the battle situation would be clear.

Walking forward with the soldiers and horses, Cao Shuo saw a fast horse galloping over.

On horseback is the scout who walks in front of him to find the way.

Coming to Cao Shuo, the scout reined in his horse and said, "Qi Yu Gongzi, Zhang Fei is leading 5,000 soldiers and is coming here to kill." Liu Bei led 20,000 troops and followed him less than ten miles. ”

"Liu Bei is using Zhang Fei as a pioneer." Cao Shuo smiled slightly, and said to Zhao Yun: "Zilong, you take the Flying Bear Battalion to take the first step, and let Zhang Fei know that the soldiers of our army can really be ten with one!" ”

"Order!" Zhao Yun gave up his hand, greeted the Flying Bear Battalion, and rode his horse forward.

Cao Shuo shouted to the army: "Soldiers, speed up the march, and the front is Xiapi." When you enter Xiapi City, I will give you two more days off. ”

The two-day holiday undoubtedly told the soldiers that when they entered the city, they could do anything except kill.

There was a burst of jubilant cheers from the soldiers, and their morale was a little higher than when they were marching.

Zhao Yun led the Flying Bear Battalion all the way, and soon left Cao Shuo and the army behind.

Zhu Ao asked, "General Zhao, do you want to wait for Gongzi?" ”

"What are you waiting for Childe to do?" Zhao Yun said: "Zhang Fei only brought 5,000 people, as long as we move quickly, we will definitely be able to repel them before Liu Bei arrives." ”

"If they fail to repel it, the soldiers will be surrounded by enemy troops." Zhu Ao said: "It's better for the general to be cautious!" ”

"With me, where else can there be enemies who can't be repelled?" Zhao Yun said: "Just follow me!" ”

Zhao Yun insisted on speeding up, and Zhu Ao didn't say much, so he had to follow closely behind him.

At this time, Cao Shuo was also urging the soldiers to speed up.

"I think General Zhao seems to be going deep alone." Chen Zhi said to him: "In case the Flying Bear Camp is surrounded, our army fails to arrive in time, and the consequences are unimaginable. ”

"All they want is for them to go deep alone." Cao Shuo said: "With the five thousand enemy troops brought by Zhang Fei, it is impossible to be the opponent of General Zhao. Liu Xuande arrived, if he didn't send troops to rescue, Zhang Fei would definitely lose again. If he orders a full-scale attack, our army's chance will come! ”

As soon as Cao Shuo said this, Chen Zhi didn't want to ask again, followed behind him, and accelerated his speed to advance in the direction of Xia Pi.

At the same time, Zhang Fei led 5,000 Xuzhou troops and was rushing over.

As he was walking, the captain beside Zhang Fei pointed forward: "General, there is a team of men and horses in front." ”

When the lieutenant pointed ahead, Zhang Fei had already seen a detachment of men and horses coming towards him.

From the smoke and dust that rolled up, he could tell that the number of men and horses was not very large, only six or seven hundred at most.