When Zhang Yi led his army westward, Cao Ren also woke up, he ate a little food, and began to check Zhang Liao's military camp. Zhang Liao's military camp was located four or five miles east of Gushi, and it was a more suitable place to block Zhang Yi. However, this camp was too simple to stop Zhang Yi's attack. Zhang Liao and himself combined, it is only 3,000 people, how can they stop Zhang Yi's army?

Cao Ren found Zhang Liao, "Wenyuan, this place is not suitable for a long time, we will leave and evacuate immediately." Once Zhang Yi catches up, if we want to evacuate again, I'm afraid it won't be easy. ”

Zhang Liao asked, "Can't you stay here?" ”

Cao Ren said: "This camp is too simple to defend against Zhang Yi. ”

When Zhang Liao saw Cao Ren say this, he didn't ask to stay behind, "I'll let the soldiers prepare to retreat!" ”

Zhang Liao and Cao Ren each organized their own soldiers and withdrew to the west again.

Cao Cao also received Zhang Liao's military report in the early morning, and after reading it, he couldn't help but sigh: "Liu Bei will not die this day!" He looked at the map, as if he had thought of something, called Xun You and asked: "Cao Ren's army is defeated, if you set up another camp near Gushi, can you resist my capture of Gushi?" ”

Xun You shook his head: "This matter is not easy!" General Zixiao has been through a hundred battles and is known for his stubbornness, but he was still defeated by Zhang Yi, which shows the victory of Zhang Yi's troops. Our army also had some time to attack Gushi, and Zhang Yi belonged to the Yi army, and our army was in a disadvantageous position. According to the opinion, the lord should take a safe plan, withdraw to Pingyu, give up the south of Huaishui, and stick to the north bank of Huaishui. Then return to defeat Yuan Shao, the best policy. As long as Yuan Shao is defeated, the lord can dominate the north, and he only needs to recuperate for three years, and he will have the resources to level the world. ”

Cao Cao had some concerns, "I'm worried that Zhang Yi will become bigger!" ”

Although Zhang Yi has become a trend, Yangzhou is vast and sparsely populated, and it is not a land of kings. The wealth accumulated in the north in three years may not be able to be gathered in Yangzhou in 30 years. Moreover, Zhang Yi's background is not high, and the lord only needs to ask for a few edicts to weaken Zhang Yi. ”

Cao Cao took a deep breath and said, "I'm just unwilling!" Zhang Yi Xiaoer, kill my general, but I can't do anything! ”

Xun You said with a smile: "The lord of this matter can be summoned to discuss filial piety, and it is not the director!" ”

Cao Cao also smiled, Xun You is a benevolent elder, and calculating people are indeed not very good at it.

At noon, Di Qing came to the outside of Gushi City, chose a high ground, and began to build a camp. Zhang Yi also arrived in the evening and stationed in Di Qing's camp.

Cao Cao's siege camp also retreated, and Zhang Yi suddenly found that he seemed to have come for nothing. Of course, he didn't come in vain, if he didn't come, Cao Cao would definitely not retreat.

Cao Cao withdrew, and Zhang Yi planned to withdraw his troops. However, Zhu Zhi said: "The lord went to Runan once, how could he see Liu Bei." Liu Bei is more unwilling to live under people for a long time, and when the lord sees him, he can also calm his heart. ”

Zhang Yi was also worried, and he said to Zhu Zhi: "I know that Liu Bei will not live under people for a long time, so I want to trap him in Runan." The first is to block Cao Cao for me, and the second is not to affect my strategy against Jingzhou. Before I pacify Jingzhou, I don't want Liu Bei to appear in Jingzhou. ”

When Zhu Zhi heard this, he also felt that it was difficult, it might be easy to trap the beast, but it was very difficult to trap a hero like Liu Bei.

However, what Zhu Zhi said was also right, when he arrived in Runan, it was indeed inappropriate not to see Liu Bei. However, he is not ready to enter the city, he must not have the heart of harming people, and he must not have the heart of guarding against people, the city is Liu Bei's territory, who knows what Liu Bei thinks? What if you give yourself a feast!

Di Qing had already collected the movements of the surrounding Cao soldiers, and the Cao soldiers seemed to have retreated. "Lord, it seems that Cao Jun has really retreated, should we pursue it for a while?"

Zhang Yi waved his hand: "Cao Cao is cunning, how can he not guard against the pursuers?" Besides, I only sent troops to rescue Liu Bei this time, and now that Liu Bei has come out, don't make any extraneous branches. ”

"I just think it's a pity!" Di Qing said with some regret: "If you let go of such an opportunity to attack Cao Cao, I don't know if there will be a chance in the future." ”

"There's a chance! Not bad this time! I also want to hide my strength in front of Liu Bei. If Liu Bei is scared away, the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Di Qing said with some incomprehension: "Why does the lord value Liu Bei so much? ”

Zhang Yi put down the military book in his hand and said to Di Qing: "Liu Bei, Xiaoxiong also!" is a character who can stir up the storm everywhere. I'm not afraid of the current Liu Bei, now Liu Bei is trapped in Runan, sandwiched between me and Cao Cao, and it is difficult to make a difference. What I'm afraid of is that he jumped out of the gap between me and Cao Cao, and Liu Bei at that time was the tiger returning to the mountains and forests, and the dragon returning to the sea! If you want to clean him up again, it will be difficult. ”

Only then did Di Qing know why Zhang Yi helped Liu Bei so much, this was creating a cage for Liu Bei!

Cao Cao's army retreated, deliberately leaving some belongings on a small road, and then ambushed troops on both sides. The person in charge of the ambush was Zhang Liao, which was some compensation from Cao Cao to Zhang Liao. Previously, Zhang Liao rushed to Cao Ren's aid, but the result was fruitless, which made Cao Cao feel more sorry, so he handed over this ambush that might have merit to him.

This trick, Cao Cao used when he killed Wen Chou, and it was indeed a more useful strategy. As long as you can't control your own soldiers, then you will definitely fall for it. Guo Jia said when he first offered the plan that as long as Zhang Yi sent troops to pursue, it was very likely that he would fall into the scheme, and if he was lucky, he could kill one or two of Zhang Yi's generals.

However, Guo Jia also said that whether Zhang Yi pursues or not is the key to this strategy.

Zhang Yi chose not to pursue, and this strategy failed. Zhang Liao waited for a long time, and then sent a horse to investigate, and found that Zhang Yi had not sent chasing soldiers at all. Obviously, this strategy failed, and Zhang Liao could only regretfully withdraw his troops, and he had to pack up those belongings and take them away.

Xue Li also appeared near Cao Cao's army when Cao Cao retreated, but it was a pity that Cao Cao was too defensive and had no chance to take advantage of it, so Xue Li could only pick his partial division to attack. When Cao Cao retreated, he ordered the people of Si County, Fubo County, Yuanlu County, Yiyang County, Xinxi County and other places to move to the north.

Zhang Yi learned of Xue Li's merits and praised Xue Li, with the people of these five counties, Liu Bei had the possibility of making a comeback and continued to stay in Runan. Without these people, Liu Bei would not be able to raise too many soldiers at all, and it would be almost impossible to stay in Runan! He was really afraid that Liu Bei would go to Jingzhou, you must know that Runan is next to Jingzhou, Yiyang County is next to Jiangxia County, and Langling County is next to Fuyang County of Nanyang County.