When someone holds a knife to the neck, those who are not afraid of death regard death as home, and those who are afraid of death are naturally what others say. Chen Deng didn't want to die, and after returning to the city, Cao Pi took a sword to his neck, and immediately recruited everything.

The Chen family is now the only one who can get his hands on Chen Deng, Chen Si is old, and he may kick his legs and burp one day, and Chen Deng's son is still in infancy. The promise given by Liu Xie is that Chen Deng is alive and that the Chen family is rich and noble, and once Chen Deng hangs up, the promise will naturally be invalid.

According to the truth, he can live, as for whether Liu Xie's side will suffer losses because of this, it is not in Chen Deng's consideration, when he was locked up, he even thought about the words when he saw Liu Xie again, and said that he was locked up by Cao Pi when he returned to Pengcheng, and he would not admit it if he came to a red mouth and white teeth, and Liu Xie estimated that he would not be able to take him.

Not to mention Chen Deng's consideration of how to shirk the responsibility, just talk about Cao Pi, who got Chen Deng's confession. To tell the truth, when Chen Deng personally admitted to offering a plan for Liu Xie to break the city, Cao Pi really wanted to stab this bastard who wanted to be left and right with a sword. But at the moment, there is really no time to worry about Chen Deng, and if Chen Deng's life is kept, maybe it will come in handy in the future, so Cao Pi held back the anger in his heart and ordered someone to lock Chen Deng up.

Since Chen Deng said that the Han army had adopted the strategy he offered, there were two choices in front of Cao Pi, either to drink the Han army disguised as Yuan Jun who came to defraud the city on the spot, or to make the plan and let the Han army who came to defraud the city suffer a loss. Cao Pi, who was undecided, ordered people to find Xiahou Shang, Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen. These three people are the second generation of Cao who also performed well after Cao Ang, Xiahou Heng, Xu Ding and other Cao second generations, and now they are Cao Pi's right-hand men.

"Ziheng, what else is there to hesitate about, of course it is to plan and defeat the Han army for a while." After listening to Cao Pi's story, Cao Xiu said to Cao Pi without hesitation.

"Why?" Cao Piyan asked succinctly.

"What other reason? We need a win right now. ”

As soon as Cao Xiu's words fell, the other three all understood what Cao Xiu meant. Since the defeat of Cao Cao, the concept of the invincibility of the Han army has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the officers and soldiers of Xuzhou.

Regardless of the size of the victory, Cao Pi needed to break the myth of the Han army's invincibility, in order to boost the morale of his soldiers and give them the courage to fight the Han army, otherwise they would go to the battlefield like this, and the Han army might surrender and disarm as soon as they were frightened.

This battle will not be fought!

In order to achieve this small victory, Cao Pi and others can be said to have taken out twelve points of spirit, and there is nothing to hide, if they are still defeated by the Han army who came to defraud the city after preparation, Cao Pi is going to surrender to the Han army.

……

"What? Here it comes? The next day, Cao Pi was leading people to check whether there were any omissions in the preparations, when he heard that Xiahou Shang, who was on duty in the northern city today, sent someone to inform him that there was a Yuan army outside the city who claimed to be a subordinate of the recruit, and was ordered to rush to support.

Cao Pi was shocked and then angry after getting the news, he didn't expect the Han army to move so quickly, if he hadn't made up his mind yesterday, he would definitely be underprepared today. But then Cao Pi became angry, this is taking himself as a fool! Linzi is not a day and a night away from Pengcheng, and Chen Dengcai's strategy the day before yesterday arrived today.

After learning that the "Yuan army" outside the city numbered more than 3,000 people, Cao Pi couldn't help sneering in his heart, and instructed the soldiers who came to report the news: "Go and reply to your general quickly, let him act according to the plan and fight quickly." ”

In Chen Deng's explanation, the Han army will plan in two steps, first send people into the city, and then suddenly attack the city gate or a corner of the city during the siege, and now these 3,000 people should be the elite of the Han army. The countermeasure discussed by Cao Pi and Cao Xiu and others was to send people to prepare more bows and crossbows near the city gate, and after the Han army entered the city, they would snipe with all their might, leaving no one alive.

The words are divided into two ends......

At this time, it was indeed the people who were waiting outside the city, but the people who were waiting for help did not send troops after accepting Cao Pi's request for help, but taking into account the overall situation and sending troops privately. There was neither Cao Pi's invitation nor Yuan Xi's instruction. It is precisely because of this that the envoy Wu Zhen sent by Cao Pi did not encounter the recruitment, and the Han army sent by Liu Xie to ambush also passed by the Han army because of the time difference.

The recruitment meeting is here, completely considering the overall situation, if the four alliances sit back and watch one being wiped out by the imperial court, it will have a big impact on the remaining three, and this is also what the recruitment does not want to see. As one of the four court pillars, not only can the martial arts convince the public, but also in the overall situation, it is also not inferior to others. He knew very well that Cao Pi could not hold Pengcheng with only 10,000 people, rather than waiting for Yuan Xi's approval to send troops, it was better to cut first and then play, Linzi was far away from Pengcheng in the future, and he really had to wait until Yuan Xi nodded before sending troops, and the daylily was cold.

The city gate finally opened slowly, and he didn't think there was any problem, if he opened the door as soon as he arrived at the city, he would be suspicious, thinking that the Han army had taken Pengcheng, which was waiting for him to lead people to throw himself into the net. But the defenders of the city delayed for a while, and then opened the door to let themselves in, and during this time they must have been trying to find a way to verify their identity.

With a wave of his hand, he led three thousand elites into the city, and the three thousand people around him were the elites who were carefully selected. The reason why he was in such a hurry and only brought these few people to Pengcheng was to stabilize the hearts of the people first, and after these 3,000 people, there were still 50,000 people who could arrive in two or three days.

Leading the team through the city gate hole, entering the city is still a little puzzled, he led his troops to come to reinforcements, how Cao Pi, who was guarding the city, didn't even show his face, as a landlord, how could he not even understand the number of courtesies. I don't ask you to kneel down, so I'm going to welcome you. was slandering Cao Pi's rudeness in his heart, when he suddenly heard a loud noise behind him, and he couldn't help but be shocked, and a sense of foreboding arose.

Before he could shout loudly, a cold arrow passed through his throat, and directly shot the bad pull off the horse. Cao Zhen, who succeeded in one blow, put down his bow and arrow and shouted coldly: "Release the arrow!" Not a single one to stay! ”

Cao Xiu and Xiahou Shang, who had been preparing for a long time, immediately led their subordinates to appear from their hiding places, firing a salvo of bows and crossbows in their hands, and shooting arrows like water towards Yuan Jun, who was stunned by the attack. Three thousand elites, almost didn't even have time to react was shot over by half, and Yuan Jun, who reacted, also wanted to run at this time and had nowhere to run, the jack gate in the city gate behind him had been put down, and the vitality had been broken, and looking at the posture of the ambush soldiers, they didn't intend to stay alive.

When everything finally settled, the soldiers of the Cao army cheered for victory, but Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, and Xiahou Shang, who were the leading generals, had a somewhat ugly face at this time. The three of them heard the scolding of Yuan Jun before he died, although they didn't believe it very much, but they couldn't help but think of a question in their hearts, what if those people scolded it was true?

The reinforcements that I was looking forward to were finally brought to life, and before they could be used, they called themselves and others to destroy them, and this oolong seems to be a little unacceptable!

In order to make himself feel at ease, Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Xiahou Shang immediately led people to clean up the battlefield and look for survivors who were lucky not to die. The three of them had already made up their minds, if no survivors were found, then this group of Yuan Jun would be Han Jun. But if there are really people who are lucky enough not to die, and it is confirmed that this Yuan army of 3,000 people is the real Yuan army...... It would be more appropriate to treat it as a Han army that came to deceive the city.

With mixed feelings, the three of them searched back and forth among the corpses, and their efforts paid off, and finally they found a survivor who had not yet died, but had died for a long time. And from the mouth of this survivor, Cao Xiu and the three of them also heard the truth they didn't want to hear.

It's really Yuan Jun! And he also led the team in person. The person who was killed by Cao Zhen with an arrow at the beginning of the attack was the one who led the recruitment.

This news was like a bolt from the blue for Cao Xiu and the three of them, and it accurately slashed on the top of the three of them. Listening to the cheers of the soldiers around them, cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of the three of them at the same time.

What to do!?

……

Originally, Cao Pi was still full of joy, but when he heard the return of Cao Xiu and the others, he suddenly felt like being poured a basin of cold water with ice in his arms.

It was an accident! But the question is who believes? It doesn't matter if others don't believe it, the key is whether Yuan Xi believes it or not, his attitude will directly determine whether Pengcheng can hold it, and Cao Pi is more worried that once the news leaks, it will directly affect the life safety of Cheng Yu, who is lobbying Yuan Xi.

"Does anyone still know about this?" Cao Pi asked in a low voice.

"The one who is lucky not to die has ordered someone to send him on the road, and at the moment, except for you and me, no one else knows, and the soldiers still think that it is the Han army that has defeated this time." Xiahou Shang replied when he heard this.

Cao Pi nodded, "Well done, this matter will be stopped, and it will be announced to the outside world that it is the defeat of the Han army." ”

"Ziheng, but the 50,000 Yuan army that will arrive in two or three days, how are you going to deal with it?" Cao Xiu opened his mouth and asked Cao Pidao.

Cao Pi felt a little headache, two or three days later, the main force of the recruit would rush to Pengcheng, and then he would ask for his own commander, what to give to others?

"Or else...... Let's not admit that we have been to Pengcheng? Cao Zhen proposed at this time.

"Zidan, do you believe this? Before Zhao Zhao came here, he must have explained his own deployment, and today 3,000 people entered the city, many people have seen that as long as the number of people is on the same side, how can the 50,000 Yuan army believe that Zhao has not been to Pengcheng. Xiahou Shang shook his head and said.

“…… So what do you say? Admitting to killing by mistake? The 50,000 Yuan troops may turn around and help the Han army deal with us and avenge their master. Cao Zhen saw that Xiahou Shang opposed his idea, so he asked rhetorically.

"I haven't thought of a solution yet, but your method is really unreliable." Xiahou Shang still shook his head and replied.

"At least I've figured out a way to do it better than you can't think of it."

"It's also a bad way to come up with it, and it's better not to have this kind of method."

"You ......"

"Shut up! When is it? Still thinking about fighting in the nest! Cao Pi angrily scolded the two.

Cao Pi's anger, Xiahou Shang and Cao Zhen stopped, and Cao Xiu on the side hurriedly made a peacemaker and said: "Boren, Zidan, you two don't say a word, it's important to find a way to get through the difficulties in front of you now." ”

"If you want to say that Chen Deng should be blamed for this, if he didn't say that the Han army would pretend to be Yuan Jun to defraud the city, this would not have happened." Cao Zhen muttered.

Cao Pi's real headache is how to give Hebei Yuan Xi a reasonable explanation, hearing Cao Zhen's muttering, Cao Pi's mind flashed, ah, if you want to appease Yuan Xi now, the most important thing is to have a scapegoat, but if this scapegoat is Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen or Xiahou Shang, Cao Pi is reluctant.

But Chen Deng is no problem, this wall grass! Anyway, he has been playing the idea of flocking left and right, exchanging his head for Yuan Xi's understanding, and Cao Pi is not distressed at all. Moreover, the Chen family in Xuzhou is thin, and it is not difficult to cut the grass and eradicate the roots.

Chen Deng didn't understand the reason until he died, he was imagining the future in the small courtyard where he was under house arrest, and Cao Pi brought someone to find him.

"Why is my lord here today?" Chen Deng asked in surprise.

"Without him, I'm here to lend you something."

“…… Why did the lord kill Chen Deng? As soon as he saw the expressions of Cao Pi and the people around him, Chen Deng felt that the situation was not good, but Chen Deng, who didn't want to be a fool, still wanted to ask for an understanding.

But how did Cao Pi answer him? Because he mistakenly killed the real leader of the troops to relieve the siege, he needs your Chen Deng's head to dissipate Yuan Xi's anger. That's the case, but Cao Pi can't say it. So Cao Pi didn't speak, just waved his hand, and immediately someone stepped forward and grabbed Chen Deng.

As if he didn't dare to look at Chen Deng's eyes that were not blinding, Cao Pi ordered: "Put his head into a brocade box and send someone to Cheng Yu." ”

The rest is simple, at least Cao Pi thinks that all he can do is wait, no matter whether Yuan Xixiang believes his explanation or not, anyway, he needs to believe it first. But just when Cao Pi was stepping up the consolidation of the city defense and waiting for news from Yuan Xi in Hebei, Lu Su, who was in charge of sitting in the rear, sent someone to deliver bad news at this time.

After discovering that Shouchun was difficult to overcome, Jiangdong Sun Ce turned the spearhead and took advantage of the emptiness of Xuzhou to send troops to occupy Guangling County in Xuzhou, and also called it a beautiful name to help defend it.

"I've never seen anyone so brazen!" Cao Pi was furious, pointing at the sky and scolding the earth, if Sun Ce was close at this time, Cao Pi would be able to eat Sun Ce raw without condiments. It's shameless! How can you be like this? Fall into the well, ah, this is!

Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen and others, who got the news, also scolded and expressed the anger in their hearts. However, anger turned into anger, and after calming down, everyone couldn't help but start worrying about the family. Since Sun Ce treacherously attacked Xuzhou, he would definitely not be satisfied with just one Guangling County, taking advantage of Cao's inability to resist, he would definitely eat as much as he could, and he would never leave it for the Han army to share.

“…… Ziheng ...... Let's go down. Xiahou Shang suddenly opened his mouth and proposed to Cao Pi.

Xiahou Shang said that the surrender, Cao Pi knew in his heart, if it was usual, he would definitely refuse, but now, he had to think carefully. This is no longer the time to take care of his own face, if Jiangdong is allowed to rob Xuzhou, it will be difficult to save the family members who remain in Xuzhou.

Cao Pi doesn't want to be a loner, not to mention that in addition to his Cao Pi's family, the families of the generals in the army will all fall into the hands of Jiangdong, for the safety of his own family, Cao Pi does not dare to try how loyal the generals will be to him. Cao Pi seems to have had no other way but to surrender.

However, the surrender mentioned by Xiahou Shang was not to persuade Cao Pi to lead the people to surrender to Jiangdong, but to refer to the Han army outside the city. Only by clinging to the strong can we have a greater chance of preserving ourselves. Judging from the current situation, no matter from which point of view, it is the imperial court that has the advantage. Moreover, it is more acceptable to surrender to an enemy who has always been a friend than to surrender an ally who is taking advantage of the fire.

Xiahou Shang, Cao Xiu, and Cao Zhen all looked at Cao Pi nervously, waiting for Cao Pi's final decision. To be honest, the three of them have long lost the mind to resist the imperial court to the end, especially after accidentally killing the reinforcements, the three of them feel a little desperate for their respective futures. Especially Cao Zhen, the trick is to die under his arrows. Although Cao Pi used Chen Deng's head to plead guilt to Yuan Xi, in case Yuan Xi didn't understand his hatred, Cao Zhen was very worried that Cao Pi's next target would be his own head.

Although Cao Pi is the main one, Cao Zhen has not yet reached the point of sacrificing his head in order to solve Cao Pi's problems. What's more, in Cao Zhen's opinion, Cao Pi's chances of victory are really not great, even if his head can be exchanged for Yuan Xi's understanding and reinforcements, he may not be able to resist the army of the imperial court. In that case, wouldn't he die in vain?

“…… Who of you would like to send an envoy to the Han camp? Just when the three of them were about to lose their patience, Cao Pi finally said what the three of them wanted to hear.

"I'll go." Xiahou Shangmao then recommended himself.

“…… Okay, then Boren will work hard. ”

In fact, it doesn't matter who goes, anyway, it's surrender, it's nothing more than informing Liu Xie of the Han camp. But what Xiahou didn't expect was that it was not easy to surrender in these years, the key was to make people believe that they really surrendered, rather than planning to surrender.

"Surrender? Don't you want to fight me to the end? Why did you suddenly change your mind? Looking at Xiahou Shang, who came to see him alone, Liu Xie asked in confusion.

Xiahou was still helpless, so he had to tell Liu Xie about the Jiangdong allies taking advantage of the fire to rob and rob Guangling County, and Liu Xie was furious after hearing this, and strongly condemned Sun Ce's immoral behavior of cutting off Hu halfway. However, Liu Xie did not believe that Cao Pi really wanted to surrender because of this incident. Of course, it is not okay to refuse, since Cao Pi sent Xiahou Shang to ask for surrender, whether it is true or not, Liu Xie has to try to accept it, so he put forward his own request to Xiahou Shang, "Since you plan to surrender...... Then you go back and tell Cao Pi that tomorrow let him open the four gates, and the defenders in the city will lay down their weapons and go out of the city one after another to surrender their weapons to our army. ”

What Xiahou Shang was most afraid of was that Liu Xie ordered someone to drive him out of the camp directly, and when he heard Liu Xie's conditions, he didn't hesitate at all, and promised to come down, lest he would be slow to answer Liu Xie to change his mind.