"Well, let's talk about it in town."

While Cao Cao signaled to guide the way, he turned around and instructed Xiahou Yuan: "Miaocai, you lead a thousand horsemen to Yexian County, first explore the reality of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and remember not to recklessly engage with them." ”

"Yui."

Xiahou Yuan said, hugged his fists and led the order.

In several counties north of Nanyang, Guan Yu implemented Liu Ye's strategy of plundering the people, and adopted the twelve-character policy of 'reconnaissance first, then attack, multiple frequencies, and saving strength'.

Originally, it was fried slowly on low heat, which would not attract Xu Du's attention.

At this time, it was not in Liu Bei's interests to provoke Cao Cao to attack, but when Guan Yu carried out the raiding operation, it was the season when the wheat was ripe and harvested, and many young people were taken away in the wheat fields.

The three counties of Bowang, Pheasant County, and Duyang County have lost their main labor force to harvest wheat, and when the season is over, it will rot in the fields.

Guan Yu thought that the new people needed food to settle down, and Liu Biao was unlikely to increase the supply of military supplies, so he mobilized the garrison of Wancheng to protect the harvest and bring all the wheat of the captive people back to Wancheng.

Thousands of troops are active, and the leaders are still 10,000 enemies like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and the defenders of the three counties do not dare to go out of the city to stop them, so they can only give early warning to Ye County and Li County in the rear.

Xun Yu was worried that Yingchuan would be affected, so he asked Yu Ban to lead troops to be stationed in Kunyang to watch.

Guan Yu learned that Yu Ban had arrived in Kunyang, and knew that he had overdone it this time, but the matter had been done and could not be reversed, so he sent many teams of scouts to the vicinity of Ye County and Li County to monitor.

In fact, when Xiahou Yuan went to inquire about intelligence, it was already past the grain harvest season, and the main forces of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had already retreated to Wancheng and Xi'e, and only a small number of scouts were scattered outside.

When Xiahou Yuan led the cavalry into the Yexian area, the scouts of Wancheng decisively withdrew to the rear, and Cao's army pursued until Bowang did not stop.

Guan Yu mistakenly thought that he had stimulated Cao Jun, and while he was actively preparing for battle in Wancheng, he sent people to Xiangyang to ask Liu Ye for advice, while Xiahou Yuan returned to Kunyang with relevant information.

Knowing that Guan Yu did not attack Bowang and other cities, only hundreds of scouts wandered around Yexian, Yu Ban, who was stationed in Kunyang, felt a burning face.

Yu Ban only brought 3,000 soldiers and horses this time, mainly to monitor whether Guan Yu would invade Yingchuan, so he did not go deep into Nanyang to investigate carefully, so that Guan Yu's main force returned to the city is not known.

At that time, Cao Cao led the main force outside, Xun Yu did not dare to rashly start a war with Guan Yu, and even had plans to give up the counties of Nanyang.

Last year, Cao Cao went north to Cangting, and Sun Quan led the army to attack Shouchun, and the two-front battle put huge pressure on logistics.

Xun Yu would rather be passive in the face of Guan Yu than have another two-front battle.

Cao Cao understood Yu Ban's distress, and did not blame him for his inability to investigate, but looked at Xiahou Yuan and asked: "So Guan Yu worked hard to mobilize the people, just to cut the wheat in those counties?" ”

Xiahou Yuan replied: "The last general has asked a few county guards, and he has personally seen a lot of wheat fields, and the result seems to be like this, don't forget that he has taken away a lot of people."

"I've been fighting for more than ten years, and I've never seen anything like leading soldiers to cut grain, is there a problem with the grain and grass in Wancheng?" Cao Cao half-squinted his eyes and muttered to himself.

Xiahou Yuan clenched his fists and asked: "Lord, if Wancheng is really short of grain and grass, should we take the opportunity to fight over?" At this time, Liu Bei and Liu Ye were not there, maybe they would easily take the city just like before Guandu fought Xuzhou. ”

Cao Cao glanced at Xiahou Yuan, and then showed a bitter face.

"This time, that time. Liu Bei was isolated at that time, and Yuan Benchu did not send troops in time to contain it, so he was able to pacify Xuzhou in one go, and now Liu Bei belongs to the sojourn in Wancheng, if we really fight over, Liu Biao will not be indifferent. ”

"That Us"

Seeing that Xiahou Yuan wanted to speak and stopped, Cao Cao lightly knocked on the table and said in a deep voice: "Since Guan Yunchang is just kidnapping people to cut wheat, we don't need to pay attention to him for the time being, and leave more scouts to monitor his movements, or clean up and return to Xudu as soon as possible." ”

"Huh? We've just arrived. Xiahou Yuan showed a puzzled expression.

Cao Cao reminded Xiahou Yuan: "At this stage, our enemy is Yuan Shao, and people like Sun Quan and Liu Bei who jump off the beam should endure it, otherwise they will be able to take Hebei in what year and month?" What's more, once the troops are mobilized, they will need money and food, and the pressure on Wen Ruo's side is not small. ”

Xiahou Yuan bowed his head: "I feel that Liu Bei is stronger than Sun Quan, the last general is worried that Liu Bei is big, Guan Yu is the governor of the northern part of Nanyang, if we ignore it, Bowang counties may fall"

"Miaocai's worries, why don't I know? So you can't let Liu Bei stop, you have to use a plan."

Halfway through Cao Cao's words, he suddenly got up and ordered the generals: "Everyone rest all night and return to Xudu tomorrow, and you will also withdraw Wen Ze." ”

"Yui."

Xiahou Yuan looked at everyone's backs and continued to ask: "The lord is leaving so soon?" And there is no garrison left at all? Aren't you worried about Guan Yu's comeback? ”

Cao Cao sneered with a weak eye: "If Yun Chang really dares to do this, why should I let him have a few cities?" Liu Bei's soldiers and horses are only more than 10,000, as long as the troops are divided to defend but passive, and then lead a large army to attack him, then a battle can be decided. ”

"I see." Xiahou Yuan suddenly realized.

Cao Cao reminded: "Now take advantage of the crisp autumn weather, train your soldiers well, wait until the spring is warm next year, and then continue to attack Yuan Shao, I have other ways to deal with Liu Bei." ”

"Oh." Xiahou Yuan nodded.

Cao Cao's so-called other method was to use Guo Jia and Jia Xu's tactics to let Liu Bei help Liu Biao to conquer the Quartet, so that he would be exhausted and unable to grow.

Now it seems that the situation is not ideal, so Cao Cao plans to add another fire and keep Guan Yu in Wancheng busy.

Back in Xudu, Cao Cao sent people to Xiangyang to see Cai Mao, and at the same time summoned Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Jia Xu and other strategists, intending to find something to do for Liu Biao and Liu Bei.

Only by stabilizing the two major forces of Jingzhou and Jiangdong at the same time can Cao Cao have no worries to fight a decisive battle with Yuan Shao.

After listening to Cao Cao's introduction of the situation in Nanyang, Guo Jia saw that Xun Yu had not expressed his opinion, so he gave up his hand to speak first.

"Whether it is Guan Yu's lack of food, or deliberately plundering the people to expand, it shows that Liu Bei's ambitions are not only Wancheng, and the ordinary thieves in Jingzhou are afraid that it will be difficult to restrain his hands and feet, why didn't Ming Gong repair Cai Deqi and let him suggest that Liu Biao attack Jiangdong? As long as Jingzhou and Jiangdong fight, our rear will be stable. ”

"Two or three years ago, Sun Ce defeated Huang Zu, not only lost his troops but also lost thousands of warships, and now it has only been such a short time, Huang Zu should not have recovered, Liu Jingsheng is afraid that he will not agree to go east." Cao Cao stroked his beard and hesitated.

Guo Jia replied with a smile: "It's true that Huang Zu lost his troops and lost his ships, but didn't Sun Quan also lose his troops and lose a lot of warships on the Huainan battlefield this year?" Therefore, Jingzhou is not only not a disadvantage, but even has some advantages compared with it. ”

Cao Cao tried to ask: "Could it be that Feng Xiao is talking about Liu Bei?" ”

"Liu Bei is only the internal cause of Jingzhou, or the external cause of Jiangdong." Guo Jia stroked his beard with confidence on his face.

(End of chapter)