Nanyang was besieged, and Cao Pi discussed with his ministers that he couldn't decide whether Guan Yu was bluffing or really attacking the city.

Sima Yi suggested: "Your Majesty, today is New Year's Day, and the people and many soldiers have gone home to reunite.

Before the reality of the Nanyang City thief army could not be determined, the minister did not recommend sending a large army. Your Majesty, why don't you follow Zhang Xi's plan to save Hefei back then and try it! ”

Cao Pi said: "Zhong Da is saying that he sent thousands of soldiers and horses to bluff, pretending to aid Nanyang, so that the thief army can get the news." If the thief army gets the news and takes the opportunity to retreat, it is pretending to be a gesture, but in fact it does not want to fight at all. If you don't go and attack our army, you just want to take Nanyang. ”

Sima Yi said: "Yes, in addition, Guan Yu's life tactics are mostly to besiege and defend the city, and build a strong fortress defense on the periphery, and whether there is a fortress or not can also reflect Guan Yu's purpose."

This will not cause the people and soldiers to be uneasy, wait for the New Year's Day to gather troops, Nanyang City is determined to be real, whether it is a war or waiting, and then it is not too late to make the next decision, the minister is worried that Xiahou will not be able to hold on? ”

Cao Pi said: "Xiahou Shang knows what he is capable of, and with reinforcements outside, the morale of the soldiers in the city is enough, and there is nothing to do about it with the thieves in the fortified city!"

General Che Cavalry (Cao Ren), you sent Ren Fu, the captain of the Tun Cavalry, and Duan Zhao, the captain of the infantry, to lead 5,000 soldiers and horses, with more flags, horses, drums, etc., and falsely claimed to be 50,000, and went south to support Xiahou Shang! Cao Ren promised.

Cao Pi instructed: "Tell the two of them that they are not allowed to fight hard, and that the main thing is to test the reality of the thief army, and it is a great achievement to test the truth and the truth." ”

Cao Ren said: "Your Majesty rest assured, the minister understands!" ”

Cao Pi thought for a while and said: "After today, today is New Year's Day, and the way of using soldiers is not fake, but the morale of the troops on New Year's Day is too bad."

Let Ren Fu and them act tomorrow, and they must go down with great fanfare, so that the counties along the way will know that they were lured south by Guan Yu.

In order to give people the illusion of emptiness in the Central Plains, it is easy for ill-intentioned people to think that the opportunity has come, and we will take the opportunity to eliminate the unstable factors and lay the foundation for the conquest in a few months. ”

Jiang Ji dissuaded: "Your Majesty must not expand the rumors, there are only dozens of thieves who have always taken the lead in the turmoil, and the rest are mostly the people who do their duty, these thieves are taking advantage of the people's ignorance, using rumors to cause panic, and taking the opportunity to cause trouble, but now Your Majesty wants to let the rumors go, which is too unwise."

Stable places should select capable ministers and officials, so that the people can have enough food and clothing, and live in peace in the county. Your Majesty's Dai Han is obedient and upright, why should you be afraid of disobedience? ”

Cao Pi said: "I know what Zitong said, but just in case." After all, the Han Dynasty has a 400-year foundation, and there is a lesson from Wang Mang's past.

When the first emperor (Cao Cao), Dong Cheng, Wei Huang, and Wei Wei tried to make trouble, and Tian Yin, Hou Yin, and Sun Wolf rebelled one after another, and they colluded with Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

I have a world to dominate the world, and the heart of the four seas is leveled, if I am stumped by Xiaoxiao, wouldn't it be a pity to fall short? ”

Jiang Ji said: "How can Wang Mang be compared to His Majesty? What's more, a few thieves can strengthen the armies, select capable officials, and bravely garrison the school to deal with it. ”

Cao Pi exhaled and said, "Okay, since Zitong thinks that the rumors are not conducive to stabilizing the people, I will temporarily dismiss this discussion." Ren Fu and they went to Nanyang, and when they sent troops, they tried not to affect the counties along the way. ”

Turning his head, Cao Pi said to Xiahoudun: "General, tonight I want to feast the ministers, many generals and ministers are in the main hall, and Luoyang City cannot afford accidents." The general must do a good job of city defense, both inside and outside! ”

Xiahoudun said: "Your Majesty, the minister has already arranged it." Cao Zhen is the main person on duty, Sun Li is the deputy, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Nan, Cao Zun, and Xiahou Wei are each based on one door, and Xu Chu is in charge of the palace. The minister also sent many people wearing miscellaneous clothes to blend in with the crowd to ensure that Luoyang City was safe and sound. ”

Cao Pi stroked his palms and said: "The general has done a good job, with the children of my clan guarding him, I am very at ease!" ”

Xiahoudun said: "Thank you, Your Majesty! ”

Cao Pi asked again: "Have you sent out the reward money, cattle, sheep, cloth, etc. for the three armies?" ”

Xiahoudun responded: "It has been given to the soldiers in the name of Your Majesty, and the soldiers are grateful for Your Majesty's kindness!" ”

Cao Pi said with satisfaction: "Okay, the morale must be sufficient, and you are ready to do a big job!" ”

At that time, the Luoyang city gate had long been closed, and Xiahou Ba of the south gate was patrolling the city, when suddenly a sergeant came to report: "Captain, the city is down, claiming to have escaped from Liang County!" ”

Xiahou Ba was stunned and said, "Liang County, go and take a look!" ”

Xiahou Ba came to the city, and there were indeed more than 30 people under the city. The sergeant next to him reported: "These people said that Liangxian and Luyang received a sneak attack from the thief army, and they just opened the city gate and didn't know where the cavalry came from to enter the city like a gust of wind, and the city fell in a blink of an eye." The thieves had no banners, but they were well-armed, with sturdy horses and several thousand men. ”

Xiahou Ba pointed and said, "Put down the rope, pull a few, and ask separately." "The men are commanded.

Xiahou Ba interrogated and learned about the matter. Xiahou Ba said to the lieutenant general: "Pull the rest of the people up." Be careful to search their bodies and keep them under close guard, and do not let them in. The adjutant promised.

Xiahou Ba brought two of them, the military Sima and the main Bo, to see Cao Zhen.

Cao Zhen was shocked to get the news, silent, and his eyes rolled around.

Xiahou Ba hurriedly said: "General, take them to see Your Majesty, a cavalry of this size will not be a thief, it must be Guan Yu's soldiers and horses." ”

Cao Zhen said: "Zhongquan, I know this. The key is who will tell Your Majesty now that Your Majesty's banquet has begun for half an hour, and we can't publicize this matter in public, because your and my identities are not suitable to appear at the banquet, which will make the courtiers mistakenly think that something has happened. ”

In the main hall, the cups are staggered, the dancing girls are dancing, and the bell is ringing. Cao Pi and Xiahou were taking a wine bottle to persuade them to drink.

One person walked up to Cao Ren and pretended to fill the wine, and whispered: "General, General Cao Zhen is in the side hall!" ”

Cao Ren's hand that was about to take the wine stopped, and he fixed his eyes on Xu Yi, the son of Xu Chu, who was guarding the palace with his father tonight.

Cao Ren nodded, Xu Yi silently withdrew from the rest of the ministers to add wine, Cao Ren got up to leave, and Xu Yi led Cao Ren to see Cao Zhen.

Xu Chu was loyal to his duties, but Cao Zhen couldn't enter the palace, so he asked to see Cao Ren or Xiahoudun, so Xu Chu asked his son to go and report the news.

As soon as Cao Ren saw Cao Zhen walking quickly, he held Cao Zhen's hand with one hand and said, "Something happened, say it quickly!" ”

Cao Zhen hurriedly said: "Liang County and Luyang met Kou, and the remnants of the soldiers came to report that they were cavalry, and it was very likely that they were sent by Guan Yu!" ”

Cao Ren glanced at the surroundings that were emptied by Xu Chu, and said with a relaxed heart: "Zidan, this matter is very important, you first send scouts to Liangxian and Luyang to listen to the news, and send people to the surrounding Xincheng, Luhun, and Yangcheng to remind them to be on guard, and the same is true for the surrounding passes." I will find an opportunity to show your majesty before making a decision. ”

Cao Zhen turned around, and Cao Ren shouted: "Zidan, tell the soldiers defending the city that they are not allowed to open the city gate tonight." ”

Cao Zhense said: "The last general understands!" ”

Cao Ren settled down, nodded at Xu Chu, who was like an iron tower out of the hall, and returned to his seat.

It happened that Cao Pi saw it, and Cao Pi walked up to Cao Ren and said: "In the past few decades, thanks to my uncle's hard work from the first emperor, my little nephew is very ashamed to sit and enjoy it, come to my uncle to drink two more cups, and my nephew respects you!" ”

Cao Ren covered others with his sleeves, called out His Majesty, and stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, dismiss the banquet!" ”

Cao Pi was taken aback, looked at Cao Ren's eyes, and understood that there was something, but the banquet had already started, and he couldn't give up halfway.

It was late at night, and Xiahoudun and the others had already returned drunk. Cao Ren, Chen Qun, Jiang Ji, Sima Yi and others were all hinted in advance that they were not drunk.

Cao Pi rubbed the bridge of his nose, and his subordinates sent sobering soup, even if Cao Pi deliberately drank less, he would have to drink a lot of this scene.

After listening to what Cao Ren said, Cao Zhen immediately brought the county army Sima and the main Bo to come, and after everyone listened, a chill rose behind Cao Pi, and his judgment seemed to have gone wrong, and he didn't know where to start.

Everyone was silent for a long time, and Cao Pi said: "General Che Cai, tomorrow you will personally lead 30,000 soldiers and horses out of Tuntaigu to find out the exact news of Liang County." Give an order to Xu Huang of Xuchang and ask him to send troops to Xiangcheng to find out the exact news.

Runan Taishou Manpet and Jiangxia Taishou Wenpin sent soldiers and horses to feint to attack Jingzhou to test the truth. The armies secretly prepared for war in case there was a change. ”

Chen Qun asked, "Your Majesty, do Ren Fu and Duan Zhao still want to send troops south to test the reality of the Nanyang thieves?" ”

Cao Pi said: "Send, but send 2,000 cavalry as the vanguard, 5,000 soldiers and horses to 10,000, don't intersperse the short-distance march, instead march along the county seat, the marching speed should also be slow, and the general of the cavalry will order to go down!" Cao Ren promised.

Cao Pi stood up and said: "Now I don't know whether Guan Yu sent cavalry to harass or the army came, it is difficult to distinguish between the true and the false under Nanyang City, I underestimate Guan Yu and Liu Bei."

But one thing is certain, I will not allow the thieves to retreat. All the states and counties are ready for battle, and as soon as the news is confirmed, the offensive will begin immediately! With that, he slammed into the table. The people stood up and promised.

Outside Lu Hun City, Pang De and Guan Ping observed Lu Hun City in a hidden place. Guan Ping looked at the obviously increased guards in the city, and couldn't help but say: "It's only been two days before New Year's Day, and the Cao thief hasn't relaxed his vigilance, and his vigilance is very strict!" ”

Pang De said: "It seems that Cao Thief has gotten the news, not surprisingly, Liang County is so close to Luoyang, we are one step slower, and Lu Hun has obviously strengthened his vigilance." There are too many horses in front of the city gate, and we can't rush! ”

Guan Ping said: "The number of Cao thief scouts has increased significantly, and we have shot several people. If we wait any longer, I'm afraid we won't be able to hide our figures, Sun Wolf doesn't know what happened, and he didn't even have a messenger! ”

Pang De said: "Lu Hun was originally ordered by the county to send Zhang Gufa to serve the conscription, and the people were panicked, and Sun Wolf and others were forced to kill the county master and went south to the prince. After so many years, no matter how stupid the Cao thief is, it should be improved, it is too difficult for Sun Wolf to gather the people to start again, if he is not forced to do it, who is willing to commit the crime of killing the head or leave his hometown. ”

Guan Ping said: "That's right! ”

Pang De continued: "General Gan will be there in a few hours, and we will wait with General Gan, tomorrow morning we will take advantage of the opening of Luhun City to try to surprise separately, see if we can take it in one fell swoop, it is really impossible to besiege the city and storm it or find a way!" ”

Pang De then selected hundreds of capable cavalry to pretend to be ordinary people, and secretly controlled the large and small paths of Luhun and Luoyang.

At dusk, Gan Ning's 20,000 soldiers and horses arrived, and Pang De explained the situation.

Gan Ning immediately said: "I hunted a large number of scouts along the way, and it is difficult to say whether there are any fish that have slipped through the net, and the fact that the scouts have not returned has already explained the situation."

Lu Hun is too close to Luoyang, since he wants to attack the city overnight, Cao Jun doesn't know the reality of our army's strength, and he can still fight a quick battle. After a long delay, Cao Jun reacted, and it would be troublesome if our army had a foothold! ”

Everyone has decided to build a simple ladder overnight, and prepare for the siege of the city on the fourth watch. The ambushed Han army captured Cao's messenger and came to report it.

Gan Ning looked at the search for the letter and said: "Can't delay, attack the city overnight!" ”

Pang De and Guan Ping took the letter and read that the letter stated: Guan Yu's army went north with all its might, and Luyang and Liangxian were lost along the way, and Lu Hun was asked to be on strict guard, and soldiers and horses would come to support tomorrow!

Gan Ning was neatly draped, handed over the iron chain left and right, and Gan Ning wrapped his arm and said: "Tan Zhi led the cavalry to the north of Luhun to monitor in case the Cao army reinforced." I will attack the south gate, and Ling Ming will attack the west gate. This siege machine only has a ladder, which is unsatisfactory, but if you don't fight, it makes people unwilling, do him a fight! ”

Pang De and Guan Ping didn't talk nonsense and prepared separately.