Liu Bi gained momentum, and then withdrew from Cao Ren's sight.

Seeing this, Cao Ren led the horse back to the battle with a dark face, and clenched his fists to relay Liu Bi's words to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao did not answer after hearing this, but sat on the head of the horse and looked at the city, only to see the autumn wind blowing the flag and shaking, but there were no soldiers watching.

Did he really fall for Liu Bei's scheme?

Cao Cao, who has always liked to calculate others, was as uncomfortable as eating a fly at this time.

Seeing this, Cao Ren reminded in a low voice: "Lord? ”

"Don't be provoked by Liu Pi, maybe it's Liu Bei's plan, this person has no place to stay, at this time, there are soldiers who will not easily abandon the city, and if they don't leave sooner or later, they will not leave until now?" Cao Cao's expression was indifferent.

He met Liu Bei in Luoyang in his early years, and later Liu Bei accompanied him back to his hometown to recruit soldiers, and Cao Cao had a deep understanding of his temperament.

How could a person who was born as a mat weaver and a person who had experienced hard times easily give up the city he had built?

This is like a street vendor in the downtown area, who finally grabs a position with a large flow of people, and will never easily give up to his big peers, and he will quarrel a few words or fight a lot.

Others saw that Boss Cao's tone was firm, even though many people saw that there was something abnormal in the city, but no one was willing to touch the mold to admonish.

Cao Cao added: "You also said that Liu Bei has 30,000 soldiers and horses? It's just a bluff, if he really has that kind of military strength, wouldn't Li Tong be unaware? Immediately order the whole army to attack the city, first take the peace and then make plans. ”

"Yui." Cao Ren took the order and left.

Not long after the army moved, the scouts patrolling the city in front suddenly came to report that dozens of horsemen had fled from the south gate of Pingyu.

Cao Cao's expression was strange after hearing this, he looked up in astonishment to observe the front army attacking the city, only to see the soldiers pushing the ladders, rushing cars and other things to the north gate of the city, but there was not even a defender on the head of the city to stop it.

Could it be that what Liu Pi said is true? Liu Bei really abandoned the city and fled?

Guo Jia hurriedly reminded him: "Duke Ming, if there is Liu Pi among these dozens of horses, then Liu Bei will definitely not be in Pingyu, and he should chase people as soon as possible, or he can find Liu Bei's whereabouts according to the map." ”

"Yes, yes."

Cao Cao bowed slightly, and then instructed Shi Lian: "Gong Liu, immediately send an order to Zixiao, let him send elite cavalry to chase the enemy, and be sure not to let the thieves escape." ”

"Yui." Shi Jian clenched his fists and left.

Cao Cao immediately led his horse forward, only to see that the former soldiers were climbing the ladder, and there was not a single defender in the city.

Although he didn't want to believe it in his heart, it was obvious that Pingyu Empty City was already in the city.

In a few moments, the city gate was opened.

Cao Cao walked into Pingyu, only to see that the streets were empty, and he couldn't find anyone to ask.

It turned out that before Liu Bei left, Liu Ye had asked people to publicize in the city, saying that Cao Cao's tens of thousands of troops were coming, and he might follow the example of Xuzhou to slaughter the city, and advised the people to escape from danger.

No one dared to bet on Cao Cao's mercy, so they packed their bags and fled for their lives, and most of them went south along the river, heading downstream to Xincai and other big cities.

Cao Cao led tens of thousands of troops, and he couldn't stop and wait in Pingyu Empty City, so he continued to drive after breaking the city.

At this time, Liu Bei's main force had not appeared, and Cao's army could not pursue without purpose, so Cao Cao prepared to march to the south of Pingyu according to Liu Pi's words.

The mastermind Xun You felt that this trip was inappropriate, so he immediately stepped forward and said: "Ming Gong, Liu Pi's words cannot be fully believed, if he deliberately lures the army to the south, but Liu Bei's main force is hiding elsewhere, isn't it a plan to fall into his tired army?" The army should be temporarily ordered to be stationed in Pingyu, and when all parties find out their whereabouts, they should have a clear target, and it is not too late to march into the army. ”

Cao Cao shook his head lightly: "Although Gongda's concerns are thorough, although Liu Bei's soldiers are not 30,000, more than 10,000 rabbles are always there, and according to the information provided by Li Wenda, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have all returned to Liu Bei's side, if he really flees south as Liu Pi said, Zihe's more than 1,000 tigers and leopards can resist?" ”

"If Liu Pi cheats, then"

Xun You's face was solemn, and he didn't continue to say it because Cao Cao was worried and reasonable.

Cao Cao is not a reckless person, and he is also very entangled in his heart at this time.

Catching a glimpse of Guo Jia's calm demeanor beside him, Cao Cao turned his head and asked, "Feng Xiao seems to have a high opinion?" ”

Guo Jia bowed his hand and said: "Liu Bei was defeated by the Ming Gong, at this time he heard the wind and fled, and he has made progress compared to the past, since Runan can't stay, he can only go west to Jingzhou to vote for Liu Biao, or go to Huainan to unite or defect to Sun Quan, there is no other place to go;

The west has to pass through the Li Tai defense area, and it is not easy to easily cross Tongbai Mountain, and to the south is to cross the Huaishui all the way, I will also choose to flee to Huainan, combined with Liu Pi's words just now, Liu Bei is likely to use a virtual and real plan, Ming Gong can lead an army to the south to pursue, leaving an army in Pingyu to wait for news from the west, so it is all right. ”

"The words of filial piety are very much in line with my heart."

Cao Cao nodded in affirmation, and then instructed Xun You: "Liu Bei marched with 10,000 people, it is impossible to hide and hide all the time, I will leave 10,000 elite soldiers in Pingyu, commanded by you and Zilian (Cao Hong), and then leave Zhang He to listen, you are always ready to reinforce Li Wenda, or intercept Liu Bei's escape in the opposite direction." ”

"Yui." Xun Yu should give up.

Cao Cao then waved his army south, and when he reached the halfway point, he received a report from the scout, saying that the smoke and dust in the direction of Xincai downstream seemed to be traces of the movement of the army.

Needless to say? It must be Liu Bei.

Cao Cao did not doubt that he had him, so he ordered the army to march lightly, intending to use cavalry to stumble the opponent first, and then the main force of infantry to follow up and encircle and annihilate.

Although the idea is beautiful, the reality is cruel.

Cao Ren pursued Liu Pi to the vicinity of Xincai, only to find that in addition to the dozens of cavalry he was pursuing, the rest were homeless people with their families.

Liu Pi was the only clue, and Cao Ren sent someone to report to Cao Cao while leading the cavalry to continue the pursuit.

Cao Cao did not get angry when he received the information, but joked to Guo Jia with a smile: "This is not Liu Bei's style of using soldiers, he must have a master around him to assist, fortunately, Fengxiao and Gongda can anticipate the enemy first, and things become interesting." ”

"Liu Bei really wants to go to Jingzhou? How could he break through Mrs. Lee's defensive line? Guo Jia had to talk to himself, his face full of disbelief.

Cao Cao sneered: "Before Liu Bei's main force was discovered, everything was still unknown, anyway, Pingyu left 10,000 elite soldiers, we continued to advance to Xincai to rest, the soldiers marched for two days, and they had to stop." ”

Guo Jia nodded and agreed: "Liu Bei can also use the people as a cover, his main force has already run to the front, as long as he can cross the Huaishui before us, and then escape to the mountains in the north of the Lujiang River, it will not be easy to chase."

"Fengxiao rest assured, although Zihe (Cao Chun)'s tiger and leopard ride is small, it may not be able to stop Liu Bei, but it shouldn't be a big problem to help us delay some time."

Until now, Cao Cao still believes that Liu Bei fled to Huainan.

Because any normal person would not choose to flee from the western part of Runan, as long as Li Tong held the Tongbai Mountain and several key roads connecting Jingzhou, Liu Bei's troops would not be able to break through at all.

The so-called clever plan is to turn decay into magic.

Everyone thought that the west was difficult, but Liu Ye deliberately let Liu Bei go west.

(End of chapter)