When Liu Bei retreated, he once again sent Sun Qian to ask Zhang Yi for reinforcements, even if Xiahou Yuan occupied Shen County, Zhang Yi was still able to send reinforcements from Lujiang. But when Sun Qian arrived in the territory of Lujiang, he found that Lujiang was too guarded by Di Qing and had already led his army to Yangquan and Anfeng.

These two countries are next to Runan, and as long as they advance a few dozen miles, they will enter the territory of Runan. If you want to support Liu Bei, it's easy!

Sun Qian hurriedly saw Di Qing first and said to him: "Di Envoy Jun, Cao Cao's army has reached Runan. My lord has retreated, and he is only a hundred miles away from the envoy, and I also ask the envoy to send troops to help my lord repel Cao Cao. ”

Di Qing Haosheng comforted Sun Qian: "Sir, don't be impatient, my lord expected that Cao Cao was going to attack Runan, so he ordered my troops to be here." However, this is not the time to send troops, although our army has arrived, but the grain and grass have not yet been delivered. Although Cao Cao arrived, he would definitely not launch an attack immediately, Xuande Gong still had thousands of soldiers, and under the defense of the city, March and May should be safe! Moreover, Cao Cao's grain and grass are scarce, so he must first cut the grain of Runan to replenish military supplies. In this way, the advantage of one is the opportunity to defeat Xuande Gong. Only wait for one or two months, the autumn grain is cut, and the grain of the Lujiang River can be used only for me and Xuande Gong for a year. ”

"Cao Cao can't attack for a long time, and Yuan Shao in the north will definitely notice it and send troops to attack Cao Cao. Cao Cao has been away from Cangting for a long time, once Yuan Shao moves in the north, Cao Cao will inevitably retreat! Mr. should go back and warn Xuan Degong that he must calm down. To guard against Cao Cao's sneak attack, as long as he holds on for a few months, Cao Cao can retreat without a fight! ”

Sun Qian was shocked, but Di Qing took out another letter written by Zhang Yi and handed it to Sun Gan. Only then did Sun Qian return to Runan and hand over the letter to Liu Bei.

Di Qing said those words naturally not by himself, but relayed a lot of Zhang Yi's words,

It's August now, and Cao Cao chose this time in order to quickly eliminate Liu Bei. Even if he can't eliminate Liu Bei, he can still snatch the grain of Runan, weaken Liu Bei, and increase his own strength. Without Zhang Yi's help, even if Cao Cao couldn't eliminate Liu Bei, he could guarantee that Liu Bei would not pose a threat to him within a year or two. In this way, he has time to defeat Yuan Shao first, and then clean up Liu Bei.

Of course, Cao Cao also guarded against Zhang Yi, first Chen Deng went to Wu County to make trouble, and then Xiahou Yuan guarded Shen County. However, there are really not many means he can use against Zhang Yi, so he can only defend like this, and then fight the time difference, and defeat Liu Bei before Zhang Yi can react.

You must know that it will take at least more than a month from giving the order, to assembling the soldiers, and transporting grain and grass to Runan, which gives Cao Cao time.

However, what Cao Cao didn't expect was that Zhang Yi already knew his plan in advance, so he asked Di Qing to lead his troops to Yangquan and Anfeng first to support Liu Bei. However, it is not to directly send troops over to fight, but to prepare two sets of plans.

One plan was to prepare for a long-term garrison and let Cao Cao automatically withdraw his troops. This is better, because it may not take Zhang Yi to lose a single soldier to save Liu Bei. Losing too many soldiers for Liu Bei made Zhang Yi feel that it was not very worthwhile, and this was also his opponent in the future.

Another plan is that if Liu Bei really can't hold it, then he will let Di Qing rescue Liu Bei. If Liu Bei can still gain a foothold in Runan, continue to support him, if not, it is best to get Liu Bei to Shouchun, put him under house arrest, and go with Sun Quan as his companion! In this way, when you capture Jingzhou, there will be a lot less obstacles.

Zhang Yi himself was not idle, and personally led his troops to Huaishui and entered Xia Cai County.

Wang Jian led his subordinates to greet Zhang Yi, and Zhang Yi met Zhu Wu, Xu Sheng, and Xue Rengui! Zhang Yi then hosted a banquet at Wang Jian's mansion and entertained his subordinates, and he also brought Liu Ye, Wei Wentong, Zhu Zhi, and Lu Meng this time.

During the banquet, Wang Jian said: "Since then, the lord has gone to Shen County, and he can bring down Cai 1,000 soldiers, and the commander Xue Li is extraordinary, and he can help the lord defeat Xiahou Yuan!" ”

When Zhang Yi heard this, he looked at Xue Rengui and asked hypocritically, "Xue Duwei and his skills?" ”

Xue Li knew that his opportunity to perform had arrived, and immediately arched his hand and said: "Etiquette is a good strategy, a little good at bows and arrows, and few courages." ”

Xue Rengui said very modestly, but Zhang Yi knew his ability, so he got up and said: "I am also a little good at bows and arrows, so it is better for Xue Duwei to try it with me." ”

Xue Li's face was difficult, and Zhang Yi said: "Don't be embarrassed, if you lose, I won't blame, if you win, you will enjoy a glass of wine!" ”

Seeing that Zhang Yi said lightly, Xue Li no longer made trouble, and winning was just a glass of wine. It's a reward, it's just a joke. This is a good time to get closer to the lord, and of course Xue Li will not miss it.

Zhang Yi asked people to set up a few targets, and they competed with Xue Rengui in front of the hall. Zhang Yi asked Xue Rengui to shoot first, Xue Rengui hit the bull's-eye with an arrow, and Zhang Yi also shot an arrow and also hit the bull's-eye. After shooting a few arrows in turn, the two were tied.

Zhang Yi handed the bow to the waiter, laughed and said: "Even if it is a tie this time, Xue Duwei will go to Shen County with me to make more meritorious contributions, with your ability, Duwei's official position is too small!" ”

Xue Rengui immediately gave up his hand, "Thank you for your love!" ”

"All the people drink this cup!"

The next day, Zhang Yi took 5,000 people to Shen County, set up camp on the Huaishui side of Shen County, 50 miles away, and set up a water village, so that Wang Jian would hand over the Huaishui Water Army to Zhu Wu, and let Zhu Wu take the Huaishui Water Army into the Water Village, echoing with himself.

After Cao Cao was trapped by Liu Bei, he also sent people to investigate the movement in the direction of the Lujiang River, and soon discovered that Di Qing was gathering soldiers in the two countries, hoarding grain and grass, and immediately asked Cao Ren to garrison on the border of Runan to prevent Di Qing from rescuing Liu Bei.

Di Qing couldn't help but laugh when he saw Cao Cao's movements, Cao Cao divided his troops again, so there would be a lot less troops to attack Liu Bei.

Cao Cao also felt a hint of crisis, and he divided the troops in Shen County and the two countries, and there were probably more than 10,000 people. There were only more than 20,000 people left besieging Liu Bei, which was only about three times that of Liu Bei, and it had become impossible to quickly eliminate Liu Bei.

So Cao Cao asked the strategists Guo Jia and Xun You he brought, "In today's situation, what strategy can quickly defeat Liu Bei?" ”

Guo Jiayan said: "You can use a divisive strategy, Liu Bei has raised troops in Runan for many years, and the people will definitely be unbearable." ”

Cao Cao thought for a moment, "I'm afraid that Liu Bei will invite a good name, and the people will coax him!" ”

Guo Jia said: "Just for a try, if you succeed, you will be given by God, and if you don't succeed, there will be no damage." ”

Xun You said: "You can contact the powerful families in the city, promise a lot of profits, or you can succeed!" ”

Cao Cao nodded and began to prepare.