After Sun Quan filled the encirclement, he concentrated his troops and horses to attack Hefei with all his might, Zhang Liao rose up to meet it, Sun Quan did not relent, regardless of casualties, and attacked for half a month. Zhang Liao personally inspected and repaired the defenses every day.

Half a month later, Zhang Liao was on patrol, and his corporal pointed to the distance and said, "General, you see that there seems to be a fire in the distance."

Zhang Liao stared at it, and sure enough, the Jiangdong camp in the distance was on fire.

Zhang Liao turned his head to the deputy general and said: "Go and come, the whole army is on alert, no one can move lightly without my order, and those who violate the order will be beheaded."

The adjutant general hurriedly received the order. Zhang Liao's face was solemn and he looked into the distance. The fire grew bigger and bigger, and began to spread.

Faintly, the soldiers and horses of Jiangdong rushed to the firelight. Zhang Liao watched quietly, but his heart was spinning rapidly, thinking about what might happen and what to do.

The adjutant general said cautiously beside him: "General, do we send someone to listen to the news?"

Zhang Liao glanced at the deputy general, and stood under the fire for a long time before saying, "Send a fine person."

The adjutant agreed. Zhang Liao continued to look into the distance, and suddenly felt a chill. The wind is blowing. The fire in the distance became bigger and bigger, and began to spread to the near places, and then, the camp in the south of the city and Jiangdong caught fire, and the fire burned to the sky.

A pair of cavalry shouted to kill the man and rushed into the camp, and the sharp-eyed Cao Jun at the head of the city whispered: "It seems to be our cavalry."

Then the surrounding Cao Bing muttered. The commander of the army reprimanded: "What are you muttering, don't you want a head?" Cao Bing hurriedly stopped.

Zhang Liao actually saw it, without any expression, and had already thought about several situations in his heart. The sound of fighting in the distance drifted in the wind. The lieutenant general was a little impatient and showed anxiety.

Zhang Liao didn't have an order, and they couldn't say anything. A few scouts came back, and the scouts sent to report to the report: "General, the little one is ordered to inquire about the news." In the distance, our reinforcements arrived and took advantage of the situation to set fire, and now the attacked Koto Army resisted in disarray. ”

Zhang Liao asked, "How can you be sure that they are reinforcements?"

Tanma said: "The small one is more than fifty steps away from the battlefield and sees the killing with his own eyes."

Zhang Liao said: "This can't prove anything!"

As soon as Zhang Liao's words fell, a voice sounded in the city: "I am the deputy general under Cao Zhen, and I have come to report and tell General Zhang that reinforcements have arrived."

Zhang Liao walked into the city and said, "How do you get close to the camp in Jiangdong?"

Come to the human: "The king of Wei played a clever plan, deceived the death and suspected the Jiangdong thieves to attack, General Zang Ba retreated, lured the enemy deeper, and then intercepted the follow-up soldiers and horses led by Han Dang and Sun Quan, Jiangdong lost half of them, and his courage was lost. Taking advantage of the discouragement of the Jiangdong Army, the whole army attacked.

Tonight, the wind is rising, and the fire attack is just right. I won't say more to the general, the details will be after Jiangdong rolls back, Zang Ba, General Cao Zhen will naturally say that he knows with the general. The last general is just to report the news, and the hearts of the people of Hefei will be goodbye. Then he turned his horse and left.

Zhang Liao then said: "Only these words?"

The man said, "The general just asked me to let me know." Say goodbye.

Zhang Liao thought about it, and the adjutant general next to him said, "General, we have to go out of the city to help in the war."

Zhang Liao was silent for a while and said: "I haven't seen any of Zang Ba, Cao Zhen, or Cao Hong, so I can't be sure of the authenticity. ”

The adjutant general said: "But all the camps in Jiangdong were burned, how could it be fake." What's more, maybe the three generals won't be able to pull away. It is not wise for us to miss the war. ”

Zhang Liao said: "There can be no accidents in Hefei. If you can't hold on, no one will be allowed to fight! "The adjutant general had no choice but to make a promise.

The Jiangdong barracks at the south, west, and north gates were all on fire, and only the Jiangdong barracks at the east gate were not on fire.

Cao Jun, who was stationed at the east gate, looked at the other three gates and the light was like dawn, but there was no movement on his side, and he was disappointed and not lively.

A few voices came, and Cao Jun of the East Gate heard it clearly: "There seems to be a voice under the city." ”

The defender said, "Really? Come on, throw a few torches down. ”

Cao Jun was about to throw torches, and there were people in the city: "Don't panic, the brothers in the city are your own people." After that, two torches were lit under the city, and the generals on the city took a closer look, and more than ten riders under the city looked like their own people from the armor.

There were more than ten people lying on the ground, judging from the armor of the Jiangdong Army, and the cavalry under the city said: "Brothers in the city, we were ordered to attack the Jiangdong Army, this Jiangdong Army of more than 100 people escaped, we chased and killed all the way, but I didn't expect to chase to the city, it's ridiculous that these Jiangdong Army can't even tell the direction." ”

General Cao Junbei said: "I see, I have worked hard for you brothers. ”

The cavalry under the city extinguished the fire and said: "Since the fleeing Jiangdong Army has been annihilated, we will return to the battlefield to kill the enemy." ”

The general said: "May you kill more thieves and make contributions!" ”

The city fell silent again, and the general was excited when he saw the reinforcements coming, and he didn't think much about it, but when he calmed down, he suddenly thought: chasing and killing the thief army, why is the sound of horses' hooves so weak, so that what he heard in front of him was a little unreal, and only a few people heard the faint movement. A galloping horse will never be so quiet. It's not good to scream secretly, it's careless.

Just as he was about to send someone to check, there was a crackling sound, and the general looked down at the city and was shocked, and a cloud ladder came up, and the general was about to shout, and looked up to see a little light, and then an arrow hit the forehead, killing him on the spot.

The Cao army didn't have time to panic, the arrows under the city shot up, and there were a lot of people in the middle of the Cao army who were not prepared, and the soldiers and horses under the city began to step on the ladder to enter the city.

The Cao army was all trained by Zhang Liao, although the command was a little inferior, the lieutenants and lieutenants also began to block the soldiers and horses under the city from entering the city.

The bravery of the soldiers and horses who climbed the city was unexpected, and a big man led by him held a big knife and took the lead in killing the head of the city and shouted: "Zhou Tai is here, who dares to fight me." "With that, the big knife flew and cut down dozens of people.

Received the Jiangdong army under the city to enter the city.

The other two generals, Zhu Ran and Sun Huan, also opened the gap and successfully climbed to the top of the city, and the three of them took the lead and killed the city together, opening the city gate before Zhang Liao came.

Sun Quan thought hard about the plan to break Hefei to no avail, so he had to think of withdrawing the army, since he wanted to withdraw the army, these camps standing outside the city would be burned down, thinking of this. Sun Quan had a flash of inspiration.

At present, there are only two roads, one is to withdraw the army, and the other is to capture Hefei, and the Cao army is likely to come. The time was too short, why didn't he take advantage of the news inside and outside Hefei, burn down the camp and pretend to be attacked by Cao's reinforcements, and lure Zhang Liao out of the city. Even if you don't go out of the city, as long as you attract Zhang Liao's attention, you can quietly approach Hefei City and attack the city at close range.

Even if he doesn't win, then take advantage of the situation to retreat, the person who sent the news just now is actually to confirm which gate Zhang Liao is in, it can be said that this is Sun Quan's last fight.

Zhou Tai and the others naturally knew it, so they took the risk of taking the city as the pioneer in person, taking great risks and desperately breaking the city.

Zhou Tai is like a mad tiger all the way to slash and kill Cao Jun, and he was hit by two knives in his body without realizing it, and then he jumped directly from the city to approach the city gate.

Zhou Tai desperately approached the city gate, Zhu Ran and Sun Huan led troops to block Cao's army, Zhou Tai used all his strength, and opened the city gate with seven or eight soldiers, Zhang Liao came to the city gate was only thirty or forty steps away, only one line away.

Outside the city, the tiger soldiers who were already waiting for some anxious cars swarmed into the city, Zhang Liao saw that the rescue was a step late, and he didn't feel the anger in his chest, and shouted with a big knife: "Drive them out of Hefei." ”

Cao Jun shouted to meet the Jiangdong Army, and the two armies fought at the city gate.

Sun Quan, who was waiting for news outside the city, received the news that the city gate had been taken and said with great joy: "This calculation is not in vain, and the three armies are ordered to attack the city with all their strength in all directions, and after dawn, I will enter the city to reward the children of Jiangdong." ”

After receiving the news, the Jiangdong soldiers and horses who were acting outside the south, north and west gates were greatly boosted, carrying the ladder and rushing to Hefei from all sides under the light of the fire.

The fall of the East Gate led to half of the soldiers and horses in Hefei being pinned, and the remaining three gates appeared to be insufficient.

Sun Quan personally rushed to the east gate, lined up in formation, beat drums and cheered, and the generals Xu Sheng, Song Qian and others shouted: "My lord is behind him, why don't I work hard?" ”

When the Jiangdong army heard the noise of marching, Zhang Liao quickly felt that the soldiers and horses under his command were showing some signs of slackness, after all, everyone would be afraid of the shouts of killing in all directions.

Zhang Liao's big knife made it non-stop, one knife after another, just a hard cut to the Jiangdong Army, how could the Jiangdong Army go forward and succeed, fighting to the death without retreating, Zhang Liao could not reverse the decline even if he was brave and relied on his own strength.

When Zhou Tai, Sun Huan, and Zhu Ran fought against Zhang Liao, Zhang Liao couldn't resist and was forced to retreat, the so-called defeat was like a mountain, the Jiangdong army entered the city, Zhang Liao was defeated all the way, collected the remnants, and killed from the north gate.

Sun Quan entered Hefei and ascended to the head of Hefei City, Sun Quan didn't know whether to be happy or sad, Han Dang's battle death and 40,000 casualties in exchange for victory, it is not an exaggeration to call it a tragic victory.

Two days later, Sun Quan received the news of the arrival of Cao's army, and secretly lamented that Cao Cao's cunning in using troops was unguardable, but fortunately he took Hefei.

Sun Quan left Sun Huan and Zhu Ran to guard Hefei, and led troops to be stationed in Lujiang, thinking that they were horns and observing the next move of Cao's army.

Cao Cao returned to Xuchang, and he had his own good man to regulate Cao Cao's body, whether he was intentional or unintentional, he had come to visit Cao Cao.

Cao Cao received the news of the fall of Hefei and Zhang Liao's guilty form, Cao Cao was upset when he saw it, and his subordinates reported that someone had come to visit, Cao Cao was tired, and ordered that except for a few cronies, the rest would not be seen.

Cao Cao summoned Cao Pi, the prince who was waiting beside him, and said, "Pi'er, come here." Cao Pi agreed.

Cao Cao said: "Pi'er, look at this." ”

The fall of Hefei and Zhang Liao's petition form were handed over to Cao Pi. After Cao Pi looked at it, Cao Cao asked, "What should I do, tell me." Don't shirk. ”

Cao Pi responded: "Father, Hefei has fallen, General Zhang Liao is guilty of losing his land, but Hefei is cut off inside and outside, and it is not easy for General Zhang Liao to delay the siege of Jiangdong ten times and his troops for several months.

On the contrary, the rescue soldiers and horses did not open up the contact with Hefei in time, and it was difficult to escape the blame, and the soldiers and horses were scattered in battle, which delayed the military aircraft.

Therefore, Erchen thought that Zhang Liao should be encouraged, Zang Ba and Cao Zhen should be held accountable, and Cao Hong should also be jointly and severally responsible. Thinking of killing 20,000 enemies, killing Han Dang is also a great achievement, and thinking of war merits, he should be punished lightly. ”

Cao Cao nodded slightly and said, "It's with me." He ordered Zhang Liao to be demoted to the general of Zhengdong and sent envoys to comfort him. Zang Ba and Cao Zhen were each demoted by two levels, and Cao Hong was demoted by one level. Send emissaries to accountability. Qingzhou soldiers and horses, all who retreated without permission, and all those who held official positions above the rank of army commander were beheaded. Cao Pi wrote it down and sent someone to pass the order.

After arranging. Cao Cao said: "Pi'er, let me ask you, Liu Bei is based on Liangyi Erzhou, and Sun Quan occupies Hefei. What do you think! ”

Cao Pi arched his hand and said: "Yizhou is the country of abundance, the land is rich, and it can be called a granary. The people of Liangzhou are fierce and the war horses are abundant. Liu Bei occupies two places, which is really a big trouble for our henchmen, and it is even more suspicious of Liu Bei's eloquence, and it is not easy to plan for Zhang Zhiyong and Zhuge Pangtong's plan. ”

Cao Cao nodded slightly and said, "Yes, do you have a way to deal with it?" ”

Cao Pi said: "Although Liu Bei is a little tricky, but the child thinks about it, and it is a little shallow. Yizhou is dangerous, it is not easy to get in, and it is difficult to get out!

We contain several places such as the sloping valley, and select capable generals to guard the passes such as Chencang and Sanguan, which is equivalent to cutting off the road of Liu Bei's expansion, and it is not worrying that the land of Jingzhou is guarded by Nanyang, so we are first undefeated.

Wait for the right time, and then conquer. The land of Liangzhou, located in the mixed place of Qiang and Di, there are dozens or even hundreds of tribes, these tribes are profitable, very good at fighting, and make friends, you can use it for me, and the Xianbei tribe outside the plug can also lure them to make them constantly harass.

In order to take precautions, Liu Bei must invest a large number of manpower and material resources. These tribes were by no means Liu Bei's opponents, and the main thing was to use them to consume Liu Bei.

can find an opportunity, send troops to attack Liangzhou first, cut off Liu Bei's Liangzhou wings, these Liu Bei trapped in Yizhou, but another grandson. ”

Cao Cao quietly looked at Cao Pi, who was happy, and Cao Pi was just about to say that when he saw Cao Cao staring at him, he said carefully: "Father, what did the child say wrong?" ”

Cao Cao said: "Pi'er, let me ask you, how do you buy these tribes? ”

Cao Pi said carefully: "Bribe with gold and silver, and the title is allowed." ”

Cao Cao said: "Pi'er, your idea is good, your plan can be implemented." But you have to remember that your title is false, Liu Bei can give it to you, you want to befriend them, Liu Bei also wants to.

So don't pin your hopes for victory! Use your soldiers and horses to give Liu Bei a heavy blow! Okay, what about Sun Quan? ”

Cao Pi said: "Sun Quan's office, Hefei was seized by them, but it became a burden on Jiangdong, and the geography of Shouchun and Xuzhou will make it difficult for Jiangdong to move an inch."

Therefore, Sun Quan should be promoted by war, and when he bribed various troops to attack Liu Bei, he should attack Sun Quan with all his might. Contained Sun Quan in Jiangdong, Jiangdong was repeatedly attacked, and there was no hope of advancing northward, so the only way to seek peace was to seek peace.

At that time, he was forced to take Jingzhou together, and in order to expand Sun Quan, he could only plot Jingzhou. I don't know what the child said that the father is satisfied. ”

Cao Cao hummed and said, "Pi'er is right. However, there are a few points to correct for the father. Let's talk about Liangzhou first, as I said just now, what you said about using troops in Liangzhou to cut off Liu Bei's wings is very appropriate, but if you expect the Qiang turmoil to consume Liu Bei's people's strength, don't expect too much.

First, Liu Bei has Ma Chao, and Ma Chao is very authoritative in Qiang.

Second, what Liangzhou means to Liu Bei Liu Bei is also very clear. Liu Bei will not be incompetent when stationed there.

Third, the outer tribes are repetitive people, and you should beware of them repeatedly. So if you rely on these people alone, it will be bad. It is very likely that Liu Bei will take advantage of us to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and quickly cut off those uncooperative tribal forces.

We should be secretly buying the tribes. Externally, he sent troops to fight with Liu Bei, pinned down Liu Bei's main force, and Qiang Di and others as the internal strength to break the deadlock.

The odds of winning in this way will be very great, and the bribed clan must first feel that you have suppressed Liu Bei, and your power is greater than Liu Bei, and they will respond to you when they see that it is profitable! Pi'er, don't think about taking the most benefits, that's impossible. If you want to send troops with empty mouths and white fangs, they may not dare to send troops, and they may even doubt us! ”

Cao Pi agreed: "What my father said is true! ”

Cao Cao said: "I know you want to kill two birds with one stone and pacify the Liangzhou and Qiang tribes. You can't be in a hurry, Liu Bei is honest, and he doesn't worry about these tribes not surrendering. ”

After a pause, he continued: "Liu Bei is not a good stubble, Liangzhou and Longyou can't let him occupy it for too long, otherwise it will be difficult to shake."

Originally, I was going to take back Nanyang and recapture Xiangfan in the south, and then immediately use troops to Longyou, but I turned out to be sick. Providence is so hateful! ”

Cao Pi hurriedly said: "Father is just a minor illness, just rest for a while." ”

Cao Cao said: "I know my body better than anyone else. Now, I regret killing Hua Tuo a little, in terms of medical skills, it is rare in the world, maybe he has a way. Not to mention that it's useless.

Pi'er, your uncle Xiahou Yuan guarded Guanzhong and used soldiers in Longshang, he is very familiar with geography. I instructed him to teach him the strategy of planning Pinglong Right Dingliangzhou. You can listen to his plan. Be sure to gather forces, seize the fighters, and strike down, otherwise Liangzhou and Longyou will be difficult to recover! ”

Cao Pi nodded. Cao Cao continued: "I didn't want to leave this problem to you, but now I can't help it! ”

Cao Pi was moved in his heart and praised: "Father." ”

Cao Cao couldn't help but smile when he saw Cao Pi's appearance: "Why do you need to be such a child." As I said earlier, how are you going to adjust your strategy towards Sun Quan? ”

Cao Pi thought for a while and said, "Just now my father said Liu Bei. The child thought about it, just now he said that he would continue to attack Sun Quan and force Sun Quan and Liu Bei to turn against each other, although this is a good idea, but now the key is Liangzhou.

If Liu Bei did not occupy Liangzhou and Longyou but based on Youzhou, then we only need to take advantage of the Xika Valley, Nanyang in the middle, and Hefei in the east, so as to wait for work and recuperate.

Liu Bei and Sun Quan will not sit back and wait, they will continue to attack us, we only need to repel them, in the long run, they will continue to use troops but cannot win, and they will lose people's and financial resources.

Liu Bei and Sun Quan couldn't take advantage of us, one side was beaten and the other side was fine, and the two would be suspicious of each other, so that they would meet each other and attack each other. ”

Cao Cao nodded and said: "Yes, this plan was successful when I persuaded Sun Quan to sneak attack Jingzhou, but because I didn't try my best to get married to Sun Quan in this battle of Nanyang, the two of them united again, which is also my failure." Go on. ”

Cao Pi said again: "Now that my father is a little bit, the child finds that the situation is different, after Liu Bei benefits to Liangzhou and Liangzhou, the next target will be Guanzhong, and we will suffer if we connive at Liu Bei."

As long as Liangzhou and Longyou are taken, it is equivalent to cutting off Liu Bei's way out, so as to induce Sun and Liu to fight, otherwise, Liu Bei will attack the key and Sun Quan will attack Shouchun, and the situation will be a little bad.

Now for Sun Quan, he only needs to garrison 10,000 cavalry and Shouchun for the time being, Sun Quan can't take advantage, but he must not let Liu Bei do Liangzhou.

Liu Bei's time to occupy Liangzhou is still shallow, Qiang Di has not returned to his heart, the people's hearts are still scattered, and the troops and horses stationed in Tun are scattered. These are all things that Liu Bei can't solve in a short period of time, so it is the best policy to focus on attacking Liu Bei with a thunderous blow first. ”

Cao Cao smiled: "Well said, my son is also an extraordinary person!" ”

Cao Pi didn't even dare to say it, laughed for a while, Cao Cao restrained his smile, stared at Cao Pi with stern eyes, and said: "Pi'er, you remember, if you don't recapture Liangzhou, you will be your King of Wei honestly, don't think about it, understand?" ”

Cao Pi hurriedly agreed: "The child obeys his father's words. ”

Cao Cao said: "You must remember, don't let false fame stand in the way. ”

Waving his hand, Cao Cao said, "I'm tired, you can step down." Cao Pi served Cao Cao and left the room after lying down.

A few days later, Cao Cao summoned Chen Qun, Dong Zhao, Liu Ye, Jia Xu, Jiang Ji, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, etc., to entrust the future, so that Cao Pi inherited his title. After the instruction, Cao Cao, a generation of heroes, passed away.

After Cao Cao's death, everyone supported Cao Pi to succeed to the throne of Wei according to his will, and after Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, the officials hung their filial piety, and the coffin rested on the palace. Officials from all over the country came to offer their condolences.

The news of Cao Cao's death reached Nanzheng, Hanzhong, and Liu Bei was silent for a long time after hearing the news: "Leave so soon." Was it Cao Cao who talked to me in front of the battle more than a month ago? ”

Pang Tong, Zhang Fei, Wei Yan and others looked at each other and didn't know why Liu Bei was like this, but Liu Bei had a feeling of how fragile his life was, and he had also entered the year of the sixtieth year, and I am afraid that he would soon come to the time when the lights were dry.

Looking around, seeing that everyone was staring at him, Liu Bei said: "Cao Mengde is gone, our henchmen are gone, and it is God who helps me." ”

Zhang Fei immediately agreed: "What the eldest brother said is exact, we should celebrate." ”

Liu Bei said: "I want to go to Xiangyang to see the second brother!" ”

Zhang Fei said: "Then I'll go too!" ”

Liu Bei said: "Naturally! Liu Bei took Zhang Fei, Chen Dao, Pang De and others to Xiangyang along the river.