After the rain, the sky was sunny and the sun was shining, and the training of the Jingzhou army was in full swing.

During this time, there is no need to send troops, just wait for Cao's army to be exhausted and dispersed, beat the water dogs, and wait for the thunderous blow.

On the contrary, the hungry Cao army looted everywhere for several days, and all the food and seeds of the people were robbed, and there was even a situation of slaughtering the village, leaving no people and animals, and it was miserable.

Zhuge Liang was not happy when he heard the report, and sighed: "Cao Cao has always been strict in governing the army, and if he is so violent, it must be a shortage of food in the army, and it can be a big deal, but it only suffers those innocent people." ”

Liu Qi said helplessly: "It's really exciting, and the people are suffering; Death, the people suffer! ”

Zhuge Liang remembered that Liu Qi had left a poem in Longzhong before, and said: "Fang is in chaos today, the princes are fighting for power, each for their own interests, and those who can think for the people everywhere are the only ones who have one ear!" ”

Liu Qi smiled bitterly: "A certain successor to the emperor's uncle's ambition, he should treat people with benevolence and virtue, the ancients said: the benevolent are invincible, those who win the hearts of the people win the world, and they should put the people first." ”

Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "Cao Cao is cunning and cruel, the general is clear and martial, puts the people first, inherits the ambition of the Yan Han, removes the cruelty for the country, and returns to the hearts of all the people, why worry about the Han family?" ”

After getting along during this time, although it has not reached the level of eating at the same table and sleeping together like Liu Bei, like a fish in water and glue, the two have basically been able to form a tacit understanding.

And Liu Qi came from later generations, subconsciously cared about the people's livelihood, treated the soldiers and soldiers equally, and the indifferent hierarchical concept was in Zhuge Liang's view, caring for the people, and being a virtuous corporal, it was really a rare Ming Jun.

While discussing the matter of governing the people, he suddenly visited Malay to report that 20,000 Cao troops retreated and returned to Bowang City.

Liu Qi stood up and let out a sigh of relief: "It must be that Cao's army is about to arrive, and the decisive battle is finally coming." ”

Zhuge Liang looked worried, and said: "Cao Cao is the hero of the world, far from being comparable to Yuan Shao, and he is brutal and kills innocents indiscriminately. ”

Liu Qi nodded and said: "With Cao Thief's temperament, how can he be willing to wait for death, he will definitely die and struggle." ”

refuses to withdraw in vain, which is Cao Cao's last stubbornness!

……

In Cao Yingzhong, Cao Cao's condition improved after two days, with fever, cough and headache, and the whole person was haggard.

Although the grain and grass have been transported out of Xuchang, but only enough for half a month, Xun Yu sent someone to send a secret letter, and the Eastern Wu secretly strengthened the army in the area of Xu, and it is very likely to attack Lujiang and Hefei.

Cao Cao read the letter, his face became more and more gloomy, and he sent 500,000 troops before and after, thinking that it would be easy to take Jingzhou, but who knew that he was trapped in Nanyang, and he was in a dilemma.

Eliminated Yuan Shao and conquered Hebei, Liu Bei was killed again, Cao Cao thought he was invincible in the world, even Sun Quan did not take it seriously.

Who knew that there was a Liu Qi out of thin air, and at this time, all eyes of the world were focused on Nanyang, which made him unable to get off the stage.

Competing with bears and tigers, attacking everything, and defeating the dogs and dolphins, isn't it a family of laughter and generosity?

If Liu Bei had guarded Nanyang, Cao Cao would have withdrawn after the heavy rain, but he hesitated at this time.

The more I think about it for a while, the more angry I get, and the more I think about it when I take a step back, the more I lose!

Cheng Yu and Xun Yu were invited to discuss and discussed: "Wen Ruo sent a letter, saying that the grain and grass were insufficient, the soldiers were tired, and Sun Quan coveted Huainan and asked me to withdraw from the army, what do you think?" ”

Xun You said: "The three armies have lost their spirit, the weapons are incomplete, and it may not be advantageous to fight again, so it is better to return to Xudu temporarily." When the two Yuan tactics are used, once the army is withdrawn, Sun Liu will definitely fight, the prime minister sits on the mountain and watches the tiger fight, take the opportunity to rest the people, wait for the soldiers to have enough food, and then try Jingzhou is not too late. ”

Cheng Yu said: "If you withdraw from the army, Liu Qi will take advantage of the situation to rise, and it will be a big disaster in the future." And Nanyang is lost, endangering the capital, after the withdrawal of the army, the matter of moving the capital will be discussed, where is the majesty of the prime minister? ”

Qiandu also talked about Cao Cao's sore spot, nodded and said: "Zhongde's words are very much in line with my wishes, a snake bites, and it is still three points into the wood, how can you withdraw from the army?" ”

Xun You frowned and said: "But at the moment, there is no food in the army, and only relying on the looting from everywhere, you can only barely garrison the army to survive, how to use the troops?" ”

Cheng Yu stroked his beard and said: "I have my own plan for the matter of grain and grass, it is better to ask Wen Ruo to return to Bowang first, arrange the withdrawal of troops, and then retreat calmly when the prime minister hits Liu Qi hard." ”

Cao Cao was unwilling to retreat, nodded and said: "If you retreat rashly, Liu Qi will definitely take advantage of the situation to chase and kill, Wen Ruo and Cao Hong lead the remnants of the army to retreat and go to respond." ”

Xun Yu glanced at Cheng Yu deeply, didn't say much, and came out.

After drinking gruel for two days, Cao Cao suddenly felt hungry in his abdomen, ordered someone to bring food, and discussed with Cheng Yu while eating.

Cao Cao saw that there was only a piece of meat in his bowl, so he guessed that the other soldiers were probably drinking porridge to survive, and sighed: "I can't eat, and the soldiers are weak, how can I fight?" ”

Cheng Yu said: "The grain in the nearby villages has been robbed, but hundreds of thousands of people consume a lot of money every day, which can be described as a drop in the bucket. ”

Cao Cao asked, "Is it enough for Cao Hong to take away tens of thousands of remnants?" ”

Cheng Yu shook his head and said: "Wancheng has only 50,000 soldiers and horses, and the prime minister only has 100,000 elite soldiers, which is enough to capture Wancheng, so he can deal with Jingzhou and protect Xudu." ”

"One hundred thousand?" Cao Cao frowned and said, "But before the grain and grass arrive, how can the rest of the men and horses retreat?" ”

Not only do the soldiers have to eat, but they also have to eat when they retreat, and they can't move even half a step without food and grass.

Cheng Yu said: "This time to the south, most of the soldiers and horses are soldiers of Hebei, the old department of the Yuan family has not returned to the heart, there have been many complaints in the army recently, all from the northern army, and it will be a big trouble to stay, why not use it to deal with Liu Qi?" ”

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly, he held his chopsticks and muttered for a moment, and said: "But now the soldiers are short of food, sleepy and tired, how can they be willing to fight?" ”

Cheng Yu pulled his thick beard and said slowly: "Prime Minister can you still remember that when Lu Bu was fighting, there was a shortage of military food, and there was a locust plague. ”

"You mean......" Cao Cao's hand shook slightly, looking at the piece of meat in the bowl that he was reluctant to eat, he suddenly lost his appetite, and he even felt a little nauseous when he put down his chopsticks.

Cheng Yu said with a smile: "This is beef, the prime minister can eat it with confidence." ”

Cao Cao patted his chest, pushed the bowl aside, and asked, "What is Zhongde's countermeasure?" ”

Cheng Yu said: "The previous surprise attack on Anzhong and Xinye was unsuccessful, and I expect that the defenders have already relaxed their vigilance, so why not send a large army to attack them again?" Distribute all the equipment in the camp to the two armies, and send an order to break the city, only by taking the city, can you get its food and grass, the soldiers will fight to the death, if you can break the city, you can turn the situation around. ”

Cao Cao closed his eyes and asked after a while, "When will the grain and grass be ready?" ”

Cheng Yu replied: "Most of it has been prepared, if the prime minister wants to use it, it can be prepared tonight." ”

"Hurry up and prepare!" Cao Cao waved his hand, and Cheng Yu took the order.

Neither of them discussed the result of not being able to break the city, and if they didn't succeed, they would become benevolent.

Cao Cao sat silently for a while, summoned Cao Chun, and instructed: "Immediately send people to the Hebei army to spread rumors, just say that the first batch of emergency grain and grass has arrived, I sympathize with the fatigue of the northern army, give priority to the distribution of grain and meat to them, and must not make a noise to the outside." ”