Cao Bao led the infantry to successfully occupy Guangling City, and completely incorporated the 10,000 Danyang soldiers left by Xu Sheng and the 3,000 infantry abandoned by Liu Bei, which was much stronger, and he was very happy in his heart; However, Tao Qian gave him the order to incorporate Liu Bei's cavalry, which made him very difficult.

The number of his cavalry was less than that of Liu Bei's cavalry, and his combat effectiveness was even more incomparable, so he did not dare to fight a decisive battle with him.

Let Sun Jian lead the cavalry to pursue Liu Bei, this is Cao Bao's strategy.

Sun Jian did not doubt him, and after receiving Cao Bao's order, he led the cavalry to pursue Liu Bei, and his wife and brother Wu Jinghe led the infantry to stay in the barracks.

After Cao Bao took full control of Guangling City, he sent people to invite Wu Jing, Sun He and others to the city to discuss the matter of supporting Sun Jian.

Wu Jing Laocheng was serious, afraid of fraud, and did not dare to leave the barracks without permission, ruining Sun Jian's major affairs, and wanted Sun He to enter the city alone; Sun He was a little reckless and wanted to enter the city to divide the spoils, but he was afraid that his strength would be lonely and he would not be able to convince Cao Bao, so he suggested that Wu Jing enter the city with him.

Historically, Sun He was easily assassinated by the governor of Danyang County and the county magistrate because of his recklessness and carelessness.

Sun He believes that Yangzhou and Xuzhou are now allies, they are guest troops to assist Xuzhou in the battle, and Sun Jian also led Xuzhou's cavalry to fight outside, 6,000 cavalry against Liu Bei's 4,000 cavalry, must send infantry to carry baggage support; More importantly, at the moment of the great enemy, Cao Bao will never play tricks.

Under Sun He's persuasion, Wu Jing relaxed his vigilance, and the two entered the Taishou Mansion of Guangling City together.

Cao Bao had already made arrangements, and after the two and the guards entered the Taishou Mansion, they were separated and surrounded; Facing Cao Bao, who had been prepared, Wu Jing and Sun He had to be captured.

Subsequently, Cao Bao sent an army of 30,000 to surround Sun Jian's military camp outside the city, and escorted Wu Jing and Sun He outside the Yuanmen, and ordered the officers and soldiers in the camp to abandon their weapons and surrender, otherwise there would be no mercy; He also promised that if he laid down his arms and surrendered, he would never harm their lives, and he would let them return to Yangzhou afterwards.

17,000 infantry, seeing that the commander was not there, the adjutant general was captured, and the military camp was surrounded by twice the number of troops, no one commanded, the difficulty of breaking through was too great, and the Danyang soldiers fought bravely, ruthlessly, and had a reputation, they were by no means opponents, so they had to lay down their arms and surrender.

Cao Bao was overjoyed in his heart, things were going too well, and he would be able to force Sun Jian to give up the spoils of war he had obtained, Liu Bei's captured cavalry belonged to Xuzhou, if so, he would easily complete Tao Qian's order; Subsequently, all the prisoners of war were taken back to the city and guarded strictly.

In order to control Sun Jian's cavalry, Cao Bao ordered his cousin Lieutenant Cao Hong and Lieutenant Zhang Min to each bring the officers and soldiers of the headquarters and 5,000 Danyang soldiers, a total of 15,000 people, carrying baggage, to support, and bring his orders to the cavalry captain Lu You to beware of Sun Jian.

Sun Jian didn't know what was happening in the barracks, and he was still carefully planning the encirclement or forcing Liu Bei to surrender.

After more than a day of pursuit, Liu Bei led the cavalry into the jurisdiction of the Xia Pi Kingdom, and the distance from the Huai River was getting closer and closer, and Liu Bei was even more anxious.

Fortunately, Liu Bei usually loves soldiers like sons and treats the cavalry soldiers he finally formed, which makes the cavalry loyal to Liu Bei and willing to die for Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was very pleased, and he couldn't bear to give up these cavalry.

Xu Sheng and Jian Yong were both in a dull mood and unwilling, and suggested several times that Liu Bei return to the army to fight Sun Resolutely.

Liu Bei had a lot of contact with Sun Jian when he was in Liangzhou, and he had a fear of Sun Jian, who was brave in battle, and his troops were not superior, if it was a decisive battle, it was likely that the whole army would be annihilated, even if he was lucky to win, he would suffer heavy losses, and the gains outweighed the losses, so Liu Bei rejected Xu Sheng and Jian Yong's suggestions on the grounds that he was unwilling to suffer casualties among officers and soldiers; He also sent Xu Sheng to lead a thousand cavalry to Xuyi County, Xiapi State, along the river to collect ferries or build pontoon bridges to prepare for the troops to cross the river.

Xu Sheng had no choice but to take the first step.

Sun Jian had served as a county magistrate in many counties of Xiapi for many years, and was very familiar with the terrain of Xiapi and the water conditions of the Huai River, and was full of confidence in encircling and annihilating Liu Bei and his cavalry.

It is now the rainy season, the river is surging, the pontoon bridges on the Huai River have been dismantled, if you rely on ferries, it is difficult for Liu Bei to collect so many boats in a short time, it is difficult to transport all the cavalry across the river, otherwise you can only give up the war horses and only transport the soldiers across the Huai River; The cavalry lost their horses, their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced, and the marching speed was slow, he could lead the cavalry across the Huai River and easily annihilate them all, I believe that Liu Bei would not make such a stupid choice.

Sun Jian divided the cavalry into multiple units, each time he discharged five hundred cavalry to keep an eye on Liu Bei's army, and the other cavalry slowly hurried behind, maintaining their physical strength, and being ready to support at any time, every two hours, he replaced the five hundred cavalry in front of them, so that they could rest and maintain their combat effectiveness.

The situation is very critical, Jian Yong suggested: "Lord, Yong is willing to meet Sun Jian and let us go, otherwise we will fight with our backs, and they will also suffer heavy losses, I believe that Sun Jian will not be stupid enough to fight for his life for Xuzhou, and we have already given up Guangling County, why should they force each other to die?" ”

Liu Bei smiled bitterly: "Xianhe, what you think is too simple, Sun Wentai has taken a fancy to our cavalry, not for Xuzhou, otherwise, we would have fought a decisive battle a long time ago." ”

Jian Yong pondered for a while, and then suggested: "Lord, why don't you go and negotiate peace with Sun Jian, let us leave safely, and we will leave him with a thousand cavalry, it is better than annihilating the whole army!" They could easily get a thousand cavalry without paying any casualties, and they would have agreed. ”

Liu Bei shook his head and vetoed: "Xianhe, now that Sun Wentai has regarded us as a bag, how can a thousand cavalry satisfy his appetite?" ”

Jian Yong insisted: "My lord, if we fight to the death, they will also suffer heavy losses, and the newly formed cavalry in Yangzhou and Xuzhou is the opponent of our Liangzhou cavalry?" I believe that Sun Jian will make the right choice. ”

Liu Bei thought carefully for a while, and said bitterly: "Okay, then it's troublesome Xianhe, if Sun Wentai doesn't agree, you can send him 2,000 cavalry, and we will leave 2,000 cavalry, which is enough for self-protection!" ”

"Yes, my lord!" Jian Yongying immediately went out to meet Sun Jian.

Sun Jian had been familiar with Jian Yong for a long time, and he was not surprised by Jian Yong's arrival.

Jian Yong explained his intentions, but Sun Jian directly vetoed it, a thousand cavalry is not worth his efforts to mobilize the crowd so much; Jian Yong had no choice but to offer to give 2,000 cavalry as a thank you gift, otherwise, he would be ruined and doomed.

Seeing that Jian Yong's attitude was so resolute, Sun Jian thought to himself that it would be a very cost-effective deal to get two thousand sound cavalry without fighting, so he pretended to be reluctant to agree to this suggestion.

Subsequently, the two discussed some details to ensure that Liu Bei could lead 2,000 cavalry to leave safely, and Sun Jian could get 2,000 intact cavalry.

Xuzhou Lieutenant Lu You was opposed to Sun Jian's decision, but Cao Bao designated Sun Jian as the main general, and he could only obey.

After Jian Yong left, Sun Jian explained his reasons to Lu You, to receive Liu Bei's 2,000 cavalry after the two families were divided equally, this move can greatly weaken Liu Bei's strength, if Lu You is willing to continue the pursuit, he can lead troops to pursue, he is a general in Yangzhou, it is inconvenient to cross the Huai River, deep into Xuzhou, otherwise it is easy to cause misunderstanding.

Lu You is not stupid, he really wants to destroy Liu Bei alone and incorporate the exploits of 2,000 cavalry, but he only has 3,000 cavalry, and his combat effectiveness is far worse than Liu Bei's Liangzhou soldiers.