Xudu, Sikong House.

Cao Cao was having dinner in the house, and there were only two people in the huge hall besides him.

Guo Jia and Xu Chu are the most trusted Yiwen and Wushu around Cao Cao.

Since Dian Wei died in Wancheng, Xu Chu replaced him as Cao Cao's security captain, whether he was traveling or in the house, Xu Chu would follow Cao Cao every step of the way to protect Cao Cao's safety, twelve hours a day, Xu Chu's free time every day, generally not more than two hours.

As for Guo Jia...... Well, this prodigal son is purely here to eat.

Guo Jia has been in the Qinglou all the year round, and the monthly money is not enough for him to spend, and he owes Cao Cao and Xun Yu a lot of debts in private.

As the saying goes, it is easy to go from thrift to luxury, and it is difficult to go from luxury to thrift, where can Guo Jia get used to eating the clear soup at home? Therefore, every once in a while, he will go to other people's houses with a hippie smile to eat, and his name is 'fighting local tyrants', and his thick skin is rare in the world.

Cao Cao and Guo Jia are also masters and friends, and since he was in a high position, only Guo Jia can communicate with him as easily as a friend.

Cao Cao cherished this friendship very much, although he himself was quite frugal, but every time Guo Jia came, he would always let the kitchen prepare wine and meat, and he himself could borrow a rare luxury.

However, in recent days, Cao Cao has always been unpleasant to eat, and he has no appetite for anything.

Guo Jia gnawed off a piece of sheep bone with relish, looked up and saw that Cao Cao had not moved his chopsticks for a long time, he couldn't help but be stunned, and asked, "Lord, do you have something on your mind?" ”

Cao Cao came back to his senses and scolded with a smile: "Do you think everyone is as heartless as you? ”

How shrewd is Guo Jia? guessed the crux of the problem at once: "But it's because of Jinfan?" ”

Cao Cao restrained his smile. He nodded solemnly and said, "Wang Chong is going to send troops earlier than we expected, presumably to prepare to pacify Jiangdong and Jingzhou before we recover the north." ”

"If the lord thinks in a different direction, his heart should feel much better!" met Cao Cao's puzzled gaze. Guo Jia smiled and said, "Why is Wang Chong so eager to send troops?" Still feeling the pressure from us? ”

Cao Cao smiled bitterly: "Having said that, if Wang Chong pacifies the south first, he is afraid that he will not sit idly by and watch us easily attack Hebei!" ”

Guo Jia said with relief: "Sending troops before us does not mean that it will end earlier than us, Jingzhou is difficult to take, on the contrary, the situation in Hebei is very favorable to us!" ”

Cao Cao shook his head and sighed: "Right now, our army is short of food and grass. If you want to send a large army to attack Hebei, you will have to wait at least after the autumn harvest, but by then. Jinfan may have already taken the four counties of Jiangdong and Jingnan! ”

Guo Jia asked: "Lord, if only 30,000 troops are sent, how long can our army's food and grass be supported?" ”

Cao Cao replied: "I have to consult Wen Ruo for the specific number, but it is only 30,000." I think it shouldn't be a problem to hold on for two or three months. ”

"Enough!"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up: "Could it be that Fengxiao already has an idea?" ”

Guo Jia said with a smile: "The Yuan brothers have been in the same room for nearly two months. Yuan Tan was defeated by Yuan Shang, the army was defeated out of the plain, retreated to Nanpi to defend it, Youzhou Yuan Xi did not help each other on the surface, but in fact secretly helped Yuan Shang, in other words, Yuan Tan is now desperate, the whole world. Those who have the ability to help him get out of trouble have no one else except the lord! ”

Cao Cao said thoughtfully: "What does Fengxiao mean. Yuan Tan will send someone to ask me for help in a few days? ”

Guo Jia said firmly: "If he is not willing to be destroyed by Yuan Shang, then he will definitely come!" ”

"Did Feng Xiao suggest that I join forces with Yuan Tan to attack Yuan Shang?"

Guo Jia nodded and said: "Yes, it is best to defeat Yuan Shang in one fell swoop and break through Yecheng, if not, at least you have to contain the Jizhou army on the side and fight for more respite for Yuan Tan!" ”

Cao Cao was puzzled: "But what good do we have in doing this?" ”

Guo Jia smiled meaningfully: "Of course it is...... Qingzhou! ”

Cao Cao frowned and said, "But Yuan Tan may not be willing to give it, right?" ”

"If he wants us to help, he has no choice!" Guo Jia chuckled, "And even if Yuan Tan really refuses to cede it, won't the lord take it himself?" ”

"This ...... That's not right! Stretching out his hand and rubbing his temples, Cao Cao was confused by Guo Jia's words, "Fengxiao, do you want me to attack Yuan Shang or Yuan Tan?" ”

Guo Jia explained: "Lord, in fact, the key to the problem is not who to attack, but how we can take Qingzhou and unify the south of the river first!" ”

"I see!" Cao Cao took a deep breath, "Feng Xiao is saying that if Yuan Tan is willing to take the initiative to give up Qingzhou, then we will help him deal with Yuan Shang, otherwise, we will attack Yuan Tan first?" ”

"That's right!"

Cao Cao said worriedly: "But if we send troops to Qingzhou, aren't we forcing the two brothers to join forces?" ”

Guo Jia said: "That's true, at this time, the lord has two choices, first, defend according to the river, and take advantage of the Yuan brothers to cross the river to attack them halfway, or you can win a big victory; Second, it is a plan to attack the east and west, leaving an army to introduce the other party into Qingzhou, and the lord will lead the main force to cross the river from Puyang to Yecheng without knowing it, if you can break through Yecheng in one fell swoop, and obtain the grain and grass in the city, our army will no longer have to worry about the future! ”

Cao Cao couldn't help but fall into deep thought when he heard this, Guo Jia's two strategies were very good, but the risks were not small.

The former may not be able to defeat the Yuan brothers when they are at a disadvantage in numbers; As for the latter, Yecheng City has thick walls, and there are 10,000 troops stationed in the trial and allocation rate, and it may not be able to break through Yecheng in a short time, and when the Yuan brothers lead the army back to help, all they can do is to return to Puyang.

Cao Cao was a little undecided, and asked Guo Jiadao: "Fengxiao, if you see it, how should I choose?" ”

Guo Jia said with a smile: "Lord, there is no need to think so far-reaching for the time being, what if Yuan Tan is willing to take the initiative to give up Qingzhou?" ”

Cao Cao reacted and laughed self-deprecatingly: "That's what I said, it seems that I was forced to faint by Jinfan's movements!" ”

Guo Jia laughed and said: "If the lord is really worried that Jin Fan's movements are too fast, in fact, it's okay to secretly cause them some trouble!" ”

"Forget it!" Cao Cao hurriedly waved his hand and said, "It's not suitable for us to tear our faces with Jinfan for the time being, besides, Wang Chong's kid has too few eyes, Jiangdong can't last too long under his attack, once he frees his hand, he doesn't know how to retaliate against us!" ”

Cao Cao is now quite a bit bitten by a snake and afraid of the well rope for ten years.

Every time he thinks back to the incident two years ago, Cao Cao has always regretted why he provoked this madman inexplicably in the first place?

Two years ago, Wang Chong had just pacified Huainan, internal instability, Cao Cao saw that there was an opportunity, so he sent a full favor to secretly incite the Huainan family to rebel, as a result, Wang Chong in revenge for himself, actually did not play cards according to common sense, and went directly to Nanyang alone to say that Zhang Xiu had surrendered, if in the battle of Guandu last year, he could have Zhang Xiu's 20,000 troops to help, they would not be so hard to defend. (To be continued.) )