Pengcheng, Cao Cao's official residence.

"Lord, we can't go on like this anymore."

Cheng Yu said in a condensed voice: "General Cao Hong sent an urgent report from Xiapi that the 25,000 cadres of the 25,000 troops in the north and Shangpi have returned to Lingbi, and according to the news transmitted back by Xizuo, most of the 30,000 troops of Sun Ce's attack on Lingbi are ordinary people, and they have retreated to Huainan. ”

Xun You also said: "Zhao Yun, the general under Luo Zheng, has led an army of 30,000 to forcibly capture Qingni Yikou and enter the Lujiang River, I heard that Sun Ce has gone to Hefei to meet Zhao Yun, our army can not count on Sun Ce, and can only try to save himself." ”

Cao Cao rubbed his eyebrows and said, "But Gao Shun insists on not fighting, what can he do?" ”

Everyone sighed, and there was nothing they could do.

Cheng Yu thought for a while, and then said: "Xuzhou has no danger to defend, and our army is far less than Luo Zheng's troops. In this case, it is better to abandon it and try to preserve its strength. ”

"Huh?"

Cao Cao's eyes froze, and he frowned and thought.

Xun You, Liu Ye and others also frowned, thinking about the pros and cons.

Giving up Xuzhou is undoubtedly a very difficult choice.

Even if he is as powerful as Cao Cao, it is difficult to make a decision for a while.

Xuzhou is Cao Cao's last base, if even Xuzhou is lost, it will be difficult to turn over.

After all, it is no longer the situation of the princes' operas back then, and there is no one who can get away with it until now, no matter how eloquent Cao is and how eloquent he is, it is difficult to turn over again when he reaches someone else's territory.

But what Cheng Yu said is right, if he continues to sit in the lonely city, he will indeed be broken by Luo Zheng.

At that time, not only will Xuzhou be lost, but tens of thousands of troops will not be able to keep it.

Cao Cao was Cao Cao after all, and he quickly made a decision, and asked in a deep voice: "Where can our army go?" ”

"Huainan!"

Cheng Yu didn't think about it, so he proposed to build yì.

"Huainan?"

Cao Cao chattered and muttered: "Luo Zheng personally conquered Xuzhou this time, I am afraid that the target is not only Xuzhou, but also to drive Sun Ce back to Jiangdong, even if our army goes to Huainan, it may not be able to block Luo Zheng's more than 100,000 troops." ”

Cheng Yu said: "The lord also said that Luo Zheng's target is probably not only Xuzhou, but also Huainan. Although Sun Ce is young, he is also strategic, and he may not be able to understand the overall situation. The lord only needs to say that Sun Ce will join forces with our army, and there are also 100,000 soldiers and horses, which may not be able to block Luo Zheng's more than 100,000 troops, this is the last resort. ”

Xun You, Liu Ye and the others thought for a while, and slowly nodded, agreeing that this was not a solution.

At present, except for going to Huainan, there is indeed no third way to go.

Cao Cao pondered for a while, and soon made up his mind, and said categorically: "Good, according to Zhongde's opinion." ”

Cheng Yu hurriedly said: "We still need to contact Sun Ce as soon as possible to form an alliance." ”

Cao Cao looked at Liu Ye and said, "Just go to Huainan by Ziyang, discuss the alliance with Sun Ce, and ask Sun Ce to cede Huainan and Lujiang counties to our army no matter what, as the foundation." ”

"Yes!"

Liu Ye didn't hesitate, he asked for a handwritten letter at the moment, and got up to leave.

Cao Cao frowned and thought for a while, and then replied: "Quickly punish the fast horse to send the order to Yuanrang, Kaiyang does not have to be defended, you can try to retreat to Xiapi or Huainan as much as possible, and go south to Huainan with the lone army." The 8,000-strong army can be abandoned, and the yuan must not be lost. ”

"Yes!"

The commander on duty had already answered the order loudly and quickly got up.

Cheng Yu said: "Lord, if you go quickly, you will have a long night and many dreams." ”

Cao Cao said 'um' and said, "I'll leave today." ”

Early the next morning, Gao Shun camped.

"General, Mr. Fazheng, Cao Jun has run away."

Gao Shun and Fa Zheng were discussing the military, and suddenly a small colonel rushed in.

"Cao Jun ran away?"

Gao Shun's face sank, "Have you seen clearly, Pengcheng is Cao Cao's lair, how could Cao Jun run?" ”

Fa Zheng's eyes froze, and thoughts quickly turned in his head.

The little colonel hurriedly said: "It's true, general, Cao's army has all left the city and gone south." ”

Gao Shun thought for a while, then got up and said, "Let's go, go and see!" ”

Fa Zheng also hurriedly got up, and the two of them got out of the military tent, rode on their horses and rushed out of the barracks.

When I arrived at the north gate of Pengcheng, I saw that the city gate was open, and the gentry of the scholars were fleeing.

went around the city, and the four gates were like this, obviously Cao Jun had already run away.

Fa Zheng asked the scout colonel, "When did Cao Jun run away?" ”

The scout colonel scratched his head and hesitated: "Last night, a thousand cavalry of the Cao army rushed out and pursued our army scouts, and the villain reported it as usual, and the general said that you don't need to pay attention to it, just guard the big camp." ”

Gao Shun nodded, in the middle of the night, even if Cao Jun had anything abnormal, he would only wait and see what happened.

Besides, Cao Cao was already treacherous, so he couldn't deal with it carelessly, so as not to fall for Cao Jun's treacherous schemes.

Fa Zheng said: "That's no problem, the Cao army drove away our army scouts, and they must abandon the city and flee." ”

Gao Shun said in a deep voice: "How could Cao Cao give up Xuzhou, could it be that there is some trick that can't be done?" ”

Fa Zheng turned a few thoughts, and had already guessed eight or nine, and explained: "Cao Cao is eloquent and strategic, and there are many wise and resourceful people under his command, so he must have seen the plan of our army, and when the lord captures Langya County to the south, Xuzhou will be lost sooner or later." If Cao Cao continues to hold on to our army in Pengcheng, not only will Xuzhou be lost, but it will also be difficult to protect the tens of thousands of troops under his command. Anyway, Xuzhou will be lost, it is better to preserve the strength first, and then get the place where Xuzhou will rise. ”

Gao Shun suddenly said: "I see! ”

Fa Zheng said regretfully: "It's a pity that I only understood it below, otherwise I would have to prepare early, and no matter what, I couldn't let Cao Cao's 30,000 army escape like this." However, Cao Jun left for no more than two hours, and even if he pursued, it was still too late. The general must try to hold back the main force of Cao's army and not let it escape. ”

Gao Shun immediately shouted: "Someone! ”

The adjutant urged the horse forward and arched his hand: "What does the general command?" ”

Gao Shun said: "Quickly reprimanded the scout to find out the whereabouts of Cao Jun, and report immediately!" ”

"Order!"

The adjutant agreed, and immediately gave the order to go.

Fa Zheng said again: "You can first order the army to enter Pengcheng to prevent Cao Cao from cheating." ”

Gao Shun also had this intention, and immediately sent an order to transfer two battalions of soldiers and horses to Pengcheng, as for the main force of the army, it was still stationed outside the city, which was the safest way, and could not put all the eggs in one basket.

After all, Pengcheng is Cao Cao's lair, and he can't be guarded against.

After the two battalions of soldiers and horses arrived, they immediately blocked the fleeing gentry back to the city, and then immediately took control of the four gates and barracks of Pengcheng, and drove everyone home, and they were not allowed to come out and move around without permission. R1152