Someone asked how to resist if Liu Bei came to Zhongli and the defenders were insufficient.

Sima Yi said: "Zhongli left a thousand soldiers and horses, even if Liu Xuande sent troops to attack, it would not be a problem to defend for a month or two. Once Pang Shiyuan led his army back to Huainan, Liu Xuande no longer had any advantage. ”

"In this way, if Liu Bei wants to start a war, he has to fight quickly." A partial general said: "No wonder he plans to bypass Zhongli and go straight to Shouchun." ”

"Although Shouchun doesn't have many soldiers and horses, it is not something that Liu Bei can easily attack." Sima Yi said: "You must know who guards Shouchun. ”

"That's what General Sima said." A partial general said: "The Dragon Pattern Cavalry, the Flying Bear Battalion, and the Broken Camp are all in Shouchun. We don't know what the broken camp is, but which one is better, the Dragon Rider or the Flying Bear Battalion? Not to mention the old and weak soldiers that Liu Bei temporarily recruited, even if we let us attack the city, I'm afraid we won't be able to take it. ”

"Since Shouchun won't be lost, and Zhongli won't be able to take it down for a while, what are we worried about?" Sima Yi said: "When sending troops to Xuzhou, the only ones to watch out for are Guan Yu and Zhang Fei beside Liu Xuande. ”

"When does the general plan to send troops?" Someone asked.

Sima Yi said: "Send troops tonight. ”

"Tonight?" Everyone was stunned, looking at each other one by one, they were still a little confused, Sima Yi actually said that he would go on the expedition.

Standing up, Sima Yi said: "Let's go back and prepare, this is not very far from Pengcheng, and you can't walk for a few days at night." Since Cao Gong conquered Pengcheng, it has become an empty city, and there are not many defenders. We want to take it there, so that in the future, when the army enters Xuzhou, we can cooperate with the army and defeat Liu Xuande in one fell swoop! ”

"Tell me to go down and bring more dry food." Sima Yi then instructed: "When marching to Pengcheng, our army marches at night, and must not make fires to make food. ”

Sima Yi said to one of them, "General Huang, you stay in Zhongli. Remember to gather all the soldiers at the head of the city every day, put on the posture that the army is still in the city, and don't let Liu Xuande's scouts see the clues. ”

Everyone responded with their fists clasped and retreated.

Sima Yi instructed his personal guard: "Send someone to Shouchun, report to Gongzi, and say that I plan to march to Xiapi!" ”

"Didn't the general say ......" The guard was stunned for a moment and asked Sima Yi.

"Childe understands what I mean." Sima Yi said: "Just let the person who went to report say so." ”

The guards retreated.

Zhongli is not very far from Shouchun.

It's only a day's journey.

Sima Yi led his army to set off that night, and Cao Shuo got the news at noon the next day.

Pang Tong was still on the way back, Chen Gong stayed in Lujiang, and Cao Shuo was the only one by his side.

Mi Heng has some talents, but he has more ideas than anyone else to let him do something weird.

If he is allowed to march and set up the formation, the gap between him and Pang Tong and others is still very far, and he is not even as good as Guo Xin and Jia Pei in Cao Shuo's back house.

In the study.

Guo Xin and Jia Pei sat opposite Cao Shuo.

Cao Shuo asked them, "How is the Fire Dance these days?" ”

"Husband, Jun is in Shouchun every day, and the new fire dance camp has not been built yet, why do you still ask us how to do it?" Before Guo Xin could speak, Jia Pei had already spoken.

"Although I am in Shouchun every day, I have to do one thing after another." Cao Shuo said: "How can you stare at the Fire Dance Camp every day? ”

"Mrs. Guo and I are just military advisors." Jia Pei pursed his lips and said, "If you want to ask about Fire Dance, you still have to find Lady Wang and Lady Light Dance." ”

"They should know each other better, but aren't they there?" Cao Shuo waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it, I'll still ask them about the matter over there." There's a very important matter right now, and I need you two to help me come up with an idea. ”

The expression on Cao Shuo's face was rarely serious, and Jia Pei didn't dare to mess around with him anymore.

Guo Xin asked, "Husband, is there any movement over there in Xuzhou?" ”

"Sima Zhongda got the news that Liu Xuande plans to bypass Zhongli and use troops against Shouchun." Cao Shuo said: "He asked people to come to report, saying that he planned to lead troops into Xiapi. ”

"What does the husband think Sima Zhongda's news means?" Guo Xin asked.

"I once told him that if Liu Bei has plans to attack Huainan, our army will attack him one step ahead." Cao Shuo said: "Huainan is devastated today, and it can't withstand months of war. ”

Jia Pei smiled slightly: "The husband's plan is right, but it is difficult to do. ”

"How?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Sima Zhongda led the army into Xuzhou, and he will definitely not attack Xiapi." Jia Pei said: "Don't say that Liu Xuande has more soldiers and horses than him, just say that the two sides will fight a decisive battle under the attack." The enemy's back is Xuzhou, whether it is grain, grass or soldiers and horses, it is endless. General Sima is alone, what are the chances of winning? If I were him, I wouldn't do that. ”

"What do you mean......" Cao Shuo asked.

"All he wants is to take advantage of Liu Bei's mind to be in Shouchun, make a surprise attack, and take a certain city around." Jia Pei said: "Pang Shiyuan's war in Lujiang has ended, and he will return to Huainan in a short time. Once the army returned to Shouchun, Liu Bei had no chance of winning. What General Sima wants is to advance as a defense, once Fujun leads the army into Xuzhou, he will definitely be able to break Liu Xuande! ”

"That's what I think, too." Guo Xin said: "I heard that Liu Xuande recruited some old and weak soldiers in Xuzhou, and there is a world of difference between military strength and husband. Fujun not only has elite soldiers under his command, but also the Cao family behind him, and Liu Xuande has no chance of winning at all. ”

"You two mean, we've won this battle?" Cao Shuo asked.

"There is no suspense in defeating Liu Bei." Guo Xin said: "What Fujun is thinking about should be how to defeat Liu Bei, and how to simply take Xuzhou into his hands." ”

"When I didn't want Xuzhou, my father once asked why the relatively wealthy Xuzhou didn't want it, but was tossed by Yuan Shu to the devastated Huainan." Cao Shuo said: "I told my father that Huainan occupies a favorable geographical position, and as long as I hold here, I can suppress Liu Biao in Jingzhou and Sun Ce in Jiangdong." The only thing he didn't tell him was that once Xuzhou was robbed by thieves, troops from Huainan would be the first to recapture it. ”

"What's more, Xudu's moderation of Xuzhou is much more troublesome than Huainan's moderation of Xuzhou." Cao Shuo continued: "Anyway, it's the Cao family's territory, give me Xuzhou, and my father should not be reluctant." ”

"I heard that Liu Bei sent someone to Jingzhou." Guo Xin said: "Jingzhou Liu Biao has always coveted the Central Plains, and once he and Liu Bei unite, it will be extremely unfavorable to his husband. ”

(End of chapter)