Compared with the success of Xu Du, the Tiger Prison Pass is a fierce battle here. Cao Ren really lived up to his reputation, although his temperament was a little stubborn, but he did have real talent and learning, and the beheading operation failed in him. Cao Ren suffered more than ten wounds on his body, and he was still running around the city, fighting bravely, which greatly boosted the morale of the Cao army, so that although the Han army was prepared in advance, it still failed to make contributions, and the tiger prison was still in the hands of Cao Jun.

"Quick, go and inform Mr. Cheng Yu that the Han army has sent troops." Cao Ren asked people to bandage their wounds while instructing his subordinates.

"General, let's rest for a while, there is a general at the head of the city, and it will not give the Han army a chance." The deputy general Niu Jin persuaded Cao Rendao. Before Cao Ren arrived, thanks to Niu Jin's fight to the death, this bought time for Cao Jun. Niu Jin is also a fierce general, and he has a straightforward temperament, and he is obedient to Cao Ren, and he is deeply loved by Cao Ren.

"No, since the Han army has sent troops, it must not give up easily, so it's better to be careful. Niu Jin, you quickly take a team of people to help Chen Jiao, but anyone who is not at home at this time will be regarded as a spy of the Han army, and they will not be forgiven. Cao Ren shook his head and instructed Niu Jindao.

"The last will obey." Niu Jin agreed, took more than 200 people down the pass, and went straight to Chen Jiao, a staff member who had previously sat in the left-behind mansion for Cao Ren, to listen to the dispatch. Chen Jiao's original surname was Liu, and later changed his surname to Chen, a person from Guangling, who knew Chen Deng, who guarded Guangling County, avoided Jiangdong in his early years, and then Xuzhou was obtained by Cao Cao, returned to Guangling, and was recommended by Chen Deng, and Cao Cao sent troops to Hebei, lest Cao Ren was just too easy to break, so he ordered Chen Jiao to serve as an assistant to Changshi.

Cao Ren was assassinated before, and it was Chen Jiao who found out that something was wrong and warned Cao Ren, which made the assassination fall short. After Cao Ren exterminated the assassins, he also listened to Chen Jiao's reminder, so he rushed to Guanshang with his injuries to preside over the overall situation, while Chen Jiao stayed in the left-behind mansion to give orders on Cao Ren's behalf.

Cao Ren is just stubborn, but he will also show enough respect for those who are really capable, and Chen Jiao at this time has obviously won Cao Ren's respect.

……

The west side of Tiger Prison Pass

The defeat in the first battle made Xu Huang of the Relief Army a little depressed, and Sima Yi, who served as the military advisor of the Relief Army, was also depressed. As one of the aces of the Han army, the Xie Fu Army always clashed with the Huns and Xianbei on weekdays, and was arrogant, but he didn't want to be taught a lesson by Cao Jun in the Tiger Prison Pass.

Xu Huang originally wanted to organize troops to storm the Tiger Pass, but was stopped by Sima Yi and persuaded Xu Huang not to be impatient. Xu Huang and Sima Yi had been working together for a while, and they still trusted Sima Yi's ability, so they suppressed their anger and ordered a temporary withdrawal of the army. When he returned to the camp, Xu Huang immediately found Sima Yi and asked for advice.

"General don't worry, it won't be long before the scouts sent by Yi to explore the road will send back the news." Sima Yi persuaded Xu Huangdao.

"Zhongda, then you have to hurry, I don't want to be called Wen Yuan and righteous and shameful in the future."

"The general is too worried, Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren are not so unkind."

"Alas~ This time I sent troops, the lord rarely ordered me to relieve my troubles, I wanted to get off to a good start, but I didn't want to ......" Xu Huang sighed and said.

Xu Huang's mood at this time, Sima Yi can understand. As one of the regular armies established in the early days of the Han army, the Xie Fu Army has always had no great achievements that can be done, and the battles with the Xiongnu and Xianbei in the past can only be regarded as a small fight. Although no one said anything behind his back, Xu Huang still felt a little sorry for the lord to name this team.

Now I finally got a good opportunity to make a contribution, but I didn't want to encounter difficulties at the beginning. Sima Yi was also a little puzzled, the arrangement in advance was already thorough, why didn't it work? Did his own people make a mistake in the middle, or was Cao Ren's life so big that he was aware of it in advance?

Before the scouts sent out to investigate returned to the camp, there were not many things that Xu Huang and Sima Yi needed to worry about. Even if the scout's report didn't satisfy Xu Huang and Sima Yi, it was nothing. If you are terrivable, you will attack, although the loss of doing so will be greater than the loss of outwitting, but Xu Huang or Sima Yi are still quite confident in the combat effectiveness of the Relief Army.

Xu Huang and Sima Yi, who didn't have much psychological pressure, listened to the scout's report, and couldn't help but admire their master's wisdom in his heart. This Cao Ren really deserves to be a general who is good at defense, and the scout reported that all the mountain trails that could lead to the Tiger Prison Pass before were found to be guarded by Cao Jun.

"Storm it, it just so happens that there are siege engines brought from Luoyang in the army." Xu Huang said to Sima Yi in a deep voice.

Sima Yi nodded when he heard this, did not speak, and agreed with Xu Huang's opinion.

Cao Ren kept watch at the head of the city all night, and when he was sleepy, he found a corner cat, and after this night of busyness, the Tiger Prison Pass was basically stable, and all the residents stayed at home honestly, until early in the morning, Niu Jin, who had completed the task, took people back to the pass to replace Cao Ren, and persuaded Cao Ren to go back to rest again.

"General, you just listen to the advice of the last general, go back to sleep, and come back when you are in good spirits. If you have any accidents, this tiger prison will be even more untenable. The general can rest assured that as long as the Han army comes to attack, the last general will definitely order someone to inform the general immediately. ”

"Shut up, and don't expect me to get better." Cao Ren glared at Niu Jin, "You don't need to send someone to inform you, the Han army has already arrived." ”

Hearing Cao Ren's words, Niu Jin hurriedly looked outside the pass, and sure enough, he saw the Han army gradually approaching. Looking at the ladders and catapults in the Han army's array, Niu Jin couldn't help but gasp, and couldn't help but say, "Where did the Han army get these things?" ”

Cao Ren knew that Niu Jin was wondering how the Han army had come up with so many siege engines overnight. After all, when the Han army attacked the city yesterday, except for a dozen cloud ladders, nothing else was seen. However, Cao Ren knew that many of these siege equipment were estimated to be trophies of the Han army. At the beginning, Yuan Shao withdrew his troops and left a lot of good things, but the siege equipment was not easy to transport, so it could only be lost to the Han army. After obtaining these things, the Han army did not destroy them, but concentrated them in Luoyang, and also sent skilled craftsmen to modify them, and I don't know how these siege equipment differed from what they knew before.

Since Liu Xie's reuse of craftsmen, the princes of the world seem to have woken up overnight and realized the role of skilled craftsmen. Over the years, although Cao Cao has repeatedly ordered to recruit skilled craftsmen under his rule for his use, the results have not been obvious. But Cao Cao's signboard is not big enough, far less than the banner of the orthodoxy of the imperial court played by Liu Xie, and Liu Xie grabbed a start, so most of the first-class skilled craftsmen are working for the imperial court, and Cao Cao and other princes can only pick up some fish that slip through the net. In other words, Liu Xie can create, while Cao Cao can only imitate, and the difference between this is self-evident.

For example, the effective range of a catapult is assumed to be 400 paces, but after the transformation of the craftsmen under Liu Xie's command, the effective range of the catapult can be increased to 600 steps, and the difference of 200 steps in the middle is enough to play a vital role.

"Niu Jin, quickly prepare a group of people who dare to die, go out of the customs and burn those catapults." Cao Ren immediately made a decision and ordered Niu Jindao beside him.

Niu Jin didn't hesitate at all, and immediately took the order. It's just that before he could lead his troops out of the pass, the attack of the Han army began. Two hundred catapults fired at the same time, and dozens of pounds of stone balls roared towards the Tiger Prison.

Cao Ren hurriedly raised his shield to dodge, and heard the screams of the Cao army who had no time to dodge, Cao Ren was just about to ask someone to urge Niu Jin to quickly take people out of the pass to destroy those catapults, but suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly secretly probed to observe the movements of the Han army under the pass.

Generally speaking, at the same time as the catapult attack, the besieging troops will also carry the ladder and start the siege, but this time the Han army seems to be too quiet. When Cao Ren saw that the Han army under the pass did not take the opportunity to attack the city, he hurriedly ordered left and right: "Quick, go and tell Niu Jin to postpone leaving the pass." ”

Two people went in response, one of them pointed his back, and before he could go far, he called a stone ball to hit the back of the head, and the whole person didn't even scream and screamed, and the other person was so frightened that his legs were weak, and he even rolled and crawled "flying" down the pass. Cao Ren looked left and right, and found that all the soldiers and soldiers of Cao had a frightened look on their faces.

The Han army's catapult attacked for several rounds and then stopped attacking, and Niu Jin, who was about to fight in Xiaguan before, also ran to Cao Ren's side at this time, "General, why did you order me to postpone my exit?" ”

"See for yourself." Cao Ren did not answer Niu Jin directly, but pointed to the Han army under the pass. Niu Jin looked at Guanxia when he heard this, Rao was bold, and he couldn't help but feel afraid when he saw the men and horses arranged by the Han army near the catapult. The Han army's protection of the catapult can be said to be very tight, with three layers inside and three layers outside, and a cavalry on the left and right waiting for them. Although Niu Jin selected a thousand death squads, Niu Jin believed that if he really brought people out of the customs, it is estimated that none of them would come back alive.

"General, why didn't the Han army attack just now?" Niu Jin found a question and asked Cao Rendao puzzled.

“…… I don't know. Cao Ren replied angrily, his eyes staring at the Han army's catapult, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Although they prayed in their hearts that they were mistaken, the Han army launched another catapult attack on Tiger Prison Pass after stopping the attack for about a cup of tea. As in the previous round, after more than a dozen rounds of catapult attacks, the Han army stopped the attack again and did not send troops to attack the fortifications.

"General, what is the Han army doing here? Do you want to defeat us by throwing a burst of stones? Niu Jin asked puzzled.

Cao Ren shook his head and replied, "They want to use this to weaken the morale of our army. Niu Jin, you are here to pay attention to the movements of the Han army, remember my orders, and do not go to war. ”

"Yes, the last will obey."

After explaining Niu Jin, Cao Ren hurriedly went down to the city to find Chen Jiao to ask for a plan, Chen Jiao had already learned about the Han army's attack on the key problems, and was about to order someone to invite Cao Ren.

"Ji Bi, Han Jun's move is very insidious." Cao Ren couldn't help but sigh after seeing Chen Jiao.

Chen Jiao nodded in agreement: "What the general said is good, the Han army's move is indeed insidious, and what is more troublesome is that in the face of the Han army's plan, we can't think of a way to crack it for the time being." ”

“…… No way? Cao Ren asked with some disappointment.

"General, since the Han army has made this plan, it must be guarded against, and if you go to war at this time, I am afraid that it will fall into the hands of the Han army." Chen Jiao sighed and explained to Cao Ren.

"I'm just afraid that if the Han army does this, it won't take a few days for no one to dare to go to the city to wait for the enemy."

"I'm afraid that the Han army is also planning to do this, general, in order to reduce casualties, it is better to temporarily withdraw the soldiers at the head of the city to the pass to hide, leaving only a few people to be responsible for monitoring, once the Han army attacks the city, the soldiers who withdraw to the pass will immediately go to the city to defend." Chen Jiao made a suggestion to Cao Ren. Cao Ren thought about it, and before there was no way to solve the catapult in the hands of the Han army outside the city, Chen Jiao's method seemed to be the only feasible way.

Chen Jiao's method saved many people, but it also made Cao Jun's morale continue to decline. There is always a need to keep people when it is closed, but who is willing to stay. In order to decide who to keep, it became popular in the army to draw life and death lots, and those who were drawn would have to go to the customs. And the Han army outside the city didn't seem to be in a hurry at all, and they didn't do anything else except throw stones every day.

In just two days, the morale of the defenders of the Tiger Prison Pass was low, and the soldiers under the pass still developed the habit of walking with a cat's waist even though they knew that the Han army's stone throwing could not easily hit them.

In order to guard against the Han army, Cao Ren ordered the hoarding of grain and grass after taking office, so at this time, there was enough grain and grass in the Tiger Prison Pass to support two years. Cao Ren thought that his preparations were sufficient, and he was not afraid of the siege of the Han army, but he didn't want those damn Han troops to change their paths, throwing stone balls all day long, and sending people to attack but not once.

Morale was being exhausted little by little, and Cao Ren was anxious. In order to get rid of the current predicament, Cao Ren even took Niu Jin to attack the Han army once at night, trying to burn the Han army's catapult, but brought out more than 3,000 people, and only less than 100 people came back.

"Ji Bi, is there any news of reinforcements?" Cao Ren asked Chen Jiaodao, who came in to report the news to him. Chen Jiao knew that his arrogant general was really forcing the Han army to be anxious this time, otherwise he wouldn't have asked this without saying anything as soon as he entered the door.

Chen Jiao shook his head, "General, not yet." ”

"Oh, what about morale in the army?" Cao Ren let out a disappointed sigh and asked again.

"There is no room for optimism, General, we must find some way to boost morale."

"Ji Bi, will Ji An's out?"

“…… Reward the whole army. ”

It is the principle of fairness in the army, and if there is no merit for killing the enemy, how can you be rewarded. But Cao Ren also knew why Chen Jiao suggested to him at this time to reward the whole army. The stone balls that fell from the top of his head from time to time every day had tormented Cao Jun to the point of nervous breakdown, so much so that many Cao soldiers would get nervous when they heard the slightest disturbance.

"I didn't expect that Xu Huang to come up with such a lack of moral idea?" Cao Ren cursed hatefully.

……

"Ah sneeze~" closed the Han army camp, and Xu Huang, the commander of the Annoying Army, was eating, and suddenly sneezed loudly. Seeing this, Sima Yi, who was eating together, hurriedly asked with concern: "General, isn't it cold?" ”

Xu Huang glanced at Sima Yi when he heard this, and said angrily: "Thank you Zhongda for your concern, I guess I have been scolded for this generation." ”

Sima Yi smiled when he heard this, and took a chopstick dish for Xu Huang and said with a smile: "General, isn't this a good idea?" Last night, I ambushed the Cao army who came to attack at night, and you praised me afterwards. ”

“…… The idea is good, but it's a little bit bad. Zhong Da, when do you think we can fight Cao Jun with real swords? ”

"No hurry, no hurry, at least two more days. In my estimation, Cao Ren must be having a headache to boost the morale of the army now, maybe he will still bleed, let's send troops at this time to help Cao Ren, it is better to continue to spend two more days, and when Cao Ren finally came up with the method does not work, this tiger prison can be taken in one go. Sima Yi said with a smile.

Seeing Sima Yi like this, Xu Huang didn't say anything more. With Xu Huang's personality, he doesn't like to play with conspiracies and tricks, and he is Xu Huang's favorite to put on a position, and the real knife and real gun are Xu Huang's favorite. It's just that the march is fighting, and there are not many opportunities to be able to be above board. If you want to win without paying too much price, you must use the power of intrigue and intrigue. Xu Huang hoped that more of his subordinates could end the war alive, instead of sacrificing his subordinates in exchange for his own military merits, so he agreed to Sima Yi's suggestion: "Consume its essence and weaken its momentum, but you can go down with one drum." ”

The art of war is cloudy, and the battle of siege is the best for attacking the heart. Now Sima Yi is attacking the defender Cao Jun's military heart, once Cao Jun's soldiers have no fighting heart, it will be much easier to take the Tiger Prison Pass than to attack it.

……

The imperial court sent troops through the Central Plains, the news spread quickly, Cao Cao raised his vigilance against the Chang'an court in advance, and when the Tiger Prison Pass was attacked, the scouts of the Cao army also quickly sent the news to Cao Cao's tent.

Cao Cao was a little panicked, he discussed with Guo Jia and others, and everyone agreed that the Liu Association chose to do it after Yuan Cao divided the victory and defeat, but he didn't expect the Liu Association to attack at this time.

Whether to make peace with Yuan Xi and lead his troops to return to reinforcements or to attack Yuan Xi regardless of the initiative, this question does not seem to be difficult to choose. Cao Cao wanted to get Hebei, but he didn't want to lose his roots. After receiving the news that Cao Ren sent back from the Tiger Prison Pass, Cao Cao immediately made a decision, made peace with Yuan Xi, and led his troops to come to the rescue.

But Cao Cao wanted to leave at this time, but Yuan Xi didn't necessarily agree. If Yuan Xi had made up his mind, he might have let Cao Cao lead his army away. But Tian Feng, who was beside Yuan Xi, was scheming, and rejected Cao Cao's proposal brought by the envoy of the Cao army to strike the two families.

"Teacher, why don't you agree?" After sending Cao Jun's envoy, Yuan Xi asked Tian Fengdao in confusion.

"Lord, Cao Cao is now powerful, if he doesn't take the opportunity to weaken, it is difficult to guarantee that this person will not hit Hebei again."

"But this time the imperial court sent troops, according to what the teacher said before, the imperial court and Cao Cao are two tigers fighting, isn't it already possible to weaken Cao Cao with the help of the imperial court?" Yuan Xi still asked with some confusion.

Hearing this, Tian Feng patiently explained: "If you don't give enough benefits to the imperial court, I'm afraid that these two tigers may not really fight each other." Lord, don't let Cao Cao lose Yan and Henan, how to make Cao Cao make up his mind to fight with the imperial court? ”

"Then what should I do in Hebei?" Yuan Xi understood now and asked again.

"Take this good opportunity to rectify internal affairs and not give others a chance to divide and divide." Tian Feng replied without hesitation.