Although Cao Cao has enough food and grass, but because of the heavy killing, it has caused the dissatisfaction of Yanzhou celebrities, and in February, Cao thieves dispersed, when the child led the troops north to intercept Cao Cao, and he should avenge Xuzhou! ”

After Tao Qian finished reading the letter, he handed the letter to the potter, and the potter handed the letter to the people to check it, and everyone was silent after reading the letter. Tao Qian waved his hand to let everyone disperse, and the pottery merchant settled Tao Qian and walked out.

Saying that Liu Bei returned to the south gate, Zhang Fei underestimated dissatisfiedly: "The eldest brother is merciful, why don't the eldest brother accept the thorn history." Our brothers also have a foothold, and the Kuangfu Han family will be just around the corner in the future! ”

Liu Bei sighed: "Third brother, don't be so reckless in the future." I don't want to take Xuzhou in my heart, but at this time, I don't want to take Xuzhou! ”

"Why does Big Brother say that?"

Guan Yu asked puzzled, they came to save Xuzhou originally to make a reputation, they went south and north to take refuge in so many people, and they were not reused, and they almost had a chance today, Guan Yu also felt that it was a pity to give up.

Liu Bei tightened the cloak on his body, some snowflakes had already fallen on the cloak, and he didn't know when the snow began to fall again.

"Cao Cao will not give up if he does not take Xuzhou here, and he said that he will not leave any chickens and dogs in slaughter, if we take Xuzhou, it is the way to seek death. What's more, the wealthy families in the Assassin Mansion are all opposed to my entry into Xuzhou, and they also want to seize the power of Tao Ergongzi. ”

Above the south gate, the soldiers shivered with cold, but after seeing Liu Bei's arrival, they hurriedly stood up one by one. Liu Bei inspected it, and then led the three brothers to retreat.

At the end of January 194, when the heavy snow stopped, it was not suitable to attack the city and seize the land, but Cao Cao divided into two ways to attack Pi and Wuyuan.

Cao Cao seemed unwilling to fight Tao Ying head-on, but only sent Cao Chundu's cavalry to be stationed outside Wuyuan City to contain Tao Ying's soldiers and horses, and led his troops to attack Xia Picheng.

Tao Ying counted the days day by day, and it was getting closer and closer to Cao Cao's retreat, but the letters asking for help from Xiapi were sent one after another, which made Tao Ying a little devastated.

Tao Ying had the heart to save Xiapi, but Cao Chun didn't know how many people were blocked on the way to Xiapi. Xu Sheng wanted to ask for orders to attack Cao Chun's cavalry as the vanguard, but Tao Ying knew that he was definitely not Cao Chun's opponent.

So Wu Yuan's side still stood still, and this side suffered from the Pi guards. After the weather cleared, the water of the Xiapi moat froze, and Cao Jun crossed the moat directly along the ice.

After crossing the first guard line, the arrows rained down the city, and soon there were mountains of corpses piled up outside the city. Cao Cao had nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses to capture Pi, and there were nearly 10,000 defenders in Pi, and the two sides began to be anxious again for a while.

When night approached, the north wind howled, and the cold outside the city seemed to freeze through people's internal organs. Cao Cao ordered people to knock on the basin and shouted under the city: "Attack Xiapi, no chickens and dogs will be left!" ”

Every night, someone roared that it was a night, and the soldiers and horses of Xuzhou did not dare to go out of the city to meet the battle, and Cao Cao could not break through Xiapi. In this way, the two sides agreed to stalemate outside Xiapi until February, and the weather gradually warmed up, and it seemed that the signs of spring could already be seen in the melting water of the river.

In this long, icy winter, Cao Cao's army froze to death no less than 1,000 frostbitten soldiers stationed outside, and more than 100 frostbitten soldiers were killed.

The only lucky ones were Wuyuan Tao Ying's soldiers and horses, they did not take the initiative to attack Cao Chun, and the soldiers began to set up a fire on the city wall every evening, and more than a dozen soldiers roasted around the fire for a night.

The ice and snow gradually melted, and February soon came, and Cao Cao's army fought with Tao Qian's army and horses in Xiapi City for nearly a month, but did not lay a single corner of Xiapi.

Counting the time, it was almost time for Cao Cao to withdraw from the army, Tao Ying hurriedly repaired a book and asked Xu Sheng to take it to Xiapi in person. At the same time, Tao Ying also ordered Wu Dun to go to Pengcheng, and asked Pengcheng to leave 3,000 soldiers and horses, and the rest were brought to Wuyuan. For a time, a vigorous troop mobilization campaign began.

Tao Ying's long-awaited counteroffensive began, and a person's fame sometimes only takes one war!

It is said that when Xu Sheng disguised himself and rushed all the way to Xiapi, at this time, there had been Cao Jun guarding outside Xiapi City for a long time, but Cao Jun had the idea of retreating and did not come to attack the city for many days.

With the seal letter, Xu Sheng entered Xiapi City, and at this moment Tao Qian was lying on the hospital bed and dying of old age. Don't drive Mi Zhu and others to meet Xu Sheng, Xu Sheng sent Tao Ying's secret letter and hurriedly resigned to return to Fangwuyuan.

After Xu Sheng left, Mi Zhu sent the letter to Tao Mansion, Tao Qian in the Tao Qian hall, Tao Qian was lying on the couch, and a few stoves were placed next to him, and as soon as he entered the house, a burst of heating hit.

Everyone in the house is here, don't drive Sun Qian, the eldest son potter, and the Liu brothers. Tao Qian asked about today's battle, and Cao Bao replied: "The Cao soldiers are attacking very fiercely, and the arrows in Xiapi City are almost running out, if the Cao army attacks the city again, I am afraid it will be difficult to stop!" ”

Tao Qian coughed a few times and picked up the seal ribbon beside him and wanted to hand it to Liu Bei, Liu Bei saw this and hurriedly resigned: "Tao Thorn History, how can I, Liu Xuande, dare to be the position of Thorn History?" Tao Thorn Shi Mo wants to mention this matter again! ”

This time, Liu Bei's refusal was not as fierce as before, and several officials in the hall also said: "General Liu should not refuse, this is also a good intention of the lord, not to mention that General Liu's kindness is all over the world, and the people are eager for it!" ”

Liu Bei has a lot of personal charm, and after only staying in Xiapi City for less than a month, many people admired his talent, and someone began to speak for him.

The potter next to him didn't seem to be willing to give up the big place in Xuzhou, he wanted to take the position, but he was afraid that others would say him, so the potter hurriedly persuaded: "Father is slow, now Cao Bing has not retreated, not to mention that the second brother is far away in Wuyuan, the second brother has always had great ambitions, how can he not misunderstand General Liu at that time!" At that time, if the second brother meets General Liu's saber soldiers, won't it make the princes laugh? At that time, I am afraid that General Liu's reputation will also be ruined, it is better to wait for Cao Bing to retire, the second brother will return from Wuyuan, and his father will hand over this Xuzhou to General Liu, so that the second brother can be convinced! ”

After the potter finished speaking, Cao Hong and the others all shouted in unison: "Lord, what the eldest prince said is extremely true, think twice about the lord!" ”

Liu Bei saw that there were still more than half of the people who opposed him, and he hurriedly excused himself: "The eldest prince is benevolent and righteous, and the people have a lot of support, and this heavenly blessing is also in Xuzhou!" If the history of Tao Thorn is trustworthy, he is willing to promote the eldest prince as the history of Xuzhou Thorn! ”

Liu Bei said a word, and quickly relieved himself, and the potter looked at Liu Bei with a face full of gratitude.

Rather than not getting Xuzhou, sometimes it is better to settle for the second. For example, the potter is honest and easy to control, if he can mix with a lonely henchman, is he still far away from ruling Xuzhou?

Just when everyone was discussing the ownership of Xuzhou, Mi Zhu outside the door sighed and walked over and said, "Lord Qi, the second prince sent Xiaoguan County to order Xu Sheng to send a secret letter. ”

Hearing that Tao Ying had the heart to send it again, Tao Qian hurriedly cheered up and wanted to read the letter, but his body always seemed to keep calling, and he didn't move for a long time. Tao Qian sighed and waved his hand to signal Mi Zhu to listen to him.

As soon as they heard that the second son had written again, everyone pricked up their ears and listened carefully. Mi Zhu also took out a piece of paper from the bamboo tube and read it.

"My father is on top, and my son Tao should be the head. Recently, the Cao thief offensive has been decreasing, and as expected, the Cao army will withdraw in the next few days. Father also ordered the soldiers to pay attention to their whereabouts, and if Cao Cao left, he should order General Liu to send troops to attack him. If General Liu is defeated, his father should order Zhao Yun, the junior general of Gongsun Zhan's department, to lead his troops to continue the pursuit. ”

After Mi Zhu finished reading, even Liu Bei was a little surprised, not to mention others, Cao Bao asked with a confused face: "Who is Zhao Yun that the second prince said?" ”