In December, the weather was very cold, and the ditch froze.

Xutai, the Han army Dazhai.

In the big tent, a sand table was placed in the big tent, and Lu Xun stared at Zhongli on the sand table, stopping and thinking.

"General!"

Jiang Ji lifted the curtain and said: "Zhongli has built a heavy tower on the city to block Cao Xiu's siege, and our army does not need to send troops to land!" ”

"What's going on?"

Lu Xun raised his head and asked happily, "Why did Zhongli City suddenly build a heavy building, didn't Cao Xiu stop it?" ”

Jiang Ji said with a smile: "According to the scout, the day before yesterday, because Zhong left the city and wanted to surrender, Cao Xiu ordered to stop the siege. Unexpectedly, this matter was false, Cao Xiu or out of anger raised troops to attack the city, from noon to late at night, the sergeants were exhausted, and they had to withdraw the army! ”

"Yesterday, Zhongli frustrated the thief army with a number of heavy buildings, although the heavy buildings were broken by stone bullets, but they were repaired later. At present, the law of earth and mountains has been broken by Xu Sheng. Presumably, the day before yesterday, it was Xu Sheng's method of deception, deceived Cao Xiu, and then looked for an opportunity to renovate the building. ”

"Color!"

Lu Xun sighed in surprise and said with a smile: "When Xun left Beijing, the great Sima Yan Xu Wenxiang was enough to keep Zhongli, and Xun believed in it because of his bravery. Unexpectedly, Xu Wenxiang was actually resourceful and able to deceive Cao Xiu, and then guard Zhongli. ”

Lu Xun was stationed on the platform, and he had been staring at the battle in Zhongli and Xiapi City. In particular, the situation in Zhongli City made him very concerned. For example, when Cao Xiu was building the earth mountain, Lu Xun secretly shouted that it was not good.

Although it is time-consuming and labor-intensive to break the city by civil engineering methods such as tunnels, earth mountains, and flooding, in general, once the earth and wood methods are sacrificed to break the city, ordinary cities can be broken. In particular, he took advantage of the limitations of the city to build a mountain outside the city, so as to condescend and control air supremacy.

If you want to crack the earth and mountain law, the only way to do it is to reverse the earth mountain, that is, to build a high city on top of the city and grab air supremacy with it.

When Cao Xiu sacrificed to the Tushan Breaking City Law, Lu Xun was ready to send troops to counterattack. I never thought that Xu Sheng played a trick to surrender, not only to confuse Cao Xiu, but also to make Lu Xun prepare in vain.

"General, do you want to send troops to Zhongli today?" Jiang Ji asked.

"No need!"

Lu Xun looked at Zhongli on the sand table and said with a smile: "Since General Xu can keep the bell and leave the city, our army should stand still and wait for changes!" ”

As he spoke, Lu Xun remembered something and said, "Now Da Sima has sent a letter to let our army pay attention to the movements of the Wei army." ”

"What do you mean?"

Lu Xun smiled and said, "Da Sima is afraid that the Wei army will not be able to leave for a long time, and then he has the idea of withdrawing. ”

"Hmm!"

Jiang Ji bowed slightly, and said: "Da Sima's worries are not unreasonable, if the Wei army can't break through Zhongli City, the soldiers and horses will suffer heavy losses, and the southern expedition will take a long time, I am afraid that Cao Pi will have the idea of withdrawing." ”

"Once Cao Pi withdraws his army, Da Sima wants to annihilate his army and encircle Shouchun, I am afraid it will be difficult to succeed!"

The purpose of this battle was that Huo Jun communicated well with Lu Xun and Jiang Ji, hoping to kill and injure the Wei army as much as possible, rather than simply forcing Cao Wei back.

Lu Xun paced slightly and asked, "Zitong, have you found out why the Wei army was abnormal a few days ago?" ”

Jiang Ji pondered for a while and said: "According to the scouts, it seems that Cao Ren, the general of Wei, died of a sudden illness, and then the Huainan military was handed over to Cao Xiu. ”

The news of Cao Renzhong's death with a crossbow gun was blocked by the Wei army and was not allowed to be spread outside. After all, if you let your subordinates know that Cao Ren was shot to death, then they won't be laughed to death. In order to ensure the morale of the sergeants, Cao Pi told outsiders that Cao Ren died of a sudden illness, rather than being shot to death by the Han army with a strong crossbow.

"Sudden illness?"

Lu Xun showed playfulness and said, "I'm afraid it's too much of a coincidence!" ”

"In the past, although Cao Ren was old, his majesty still existed. When he led the troops to supervise the siege of the city, he suddenly died of a vicious disease, which is really strange! Jiang Ji agreed: "But I don't know if Cao Ren died because of the middle arrow!" ”

Lu Xun propped his hand on the sand table and said: "Cao Ren has been on the battlefield for a long time, and he is a famous general in the north. Death now should be beneficial to our army. Cao Xiu and his people, although they have a strategy, but they have little experience in military affairs, and they have a strong temperament, so they are not strong enemies. ”

"Can the Huainan Wei army grain village be poked out?" Lu Xun asked.

"Yes!"

Jiang Ji pointed to Shaoyangzhou on the sand table and said: "The Wei army will store grain in Shaoyangzhou and be guarded by the army, but the number of grain and grass in the Shaoyangzhou water village is not much, and it is only for the Huainan Wei soldiers. The Wei army stationed a large amount of military rations in Huaibei, transported them by boat to Shaoyangzhou, and then sent them to Huainan. ”

"Good!"

Lu Xun understood it and said: "Today, Lao Zitong drew a map of the distribution of the Wei army, sent it to Wuhan, and handed it over to Da Sima to cook. Then send scouts to investigate the movements of the Wei army, and if there is any change, report it quickly! ”

"No!"

——

Needless to say, Lu Xun did not move, and waited to see the changes in Cao Wei's army.

At this time, Xu Sheng deceived and surrendered, and the news of Cao Xiu's defeat made Cao Pi fall into anger.

"Bang!"

Cao Pi slammed Xu Sheng's seal to the ground, as if throwing away this seal would make him feel comfortable.

"Wen Lie is incompetent, lost the opportunity and humiliated the country!"

Cao Pi pointed in the direction of Huainan and scolded: "Xu Sheng deceived him with a small ribbon, is it a shame?" ”

"Tushan is near the city, almost going down to the city, but now he has been tricked by Xu Sheng, and he is a Chinese general in vain!"

"It doesn't matter if you play it, because of the anger of the troops, they attacked Zhongli day and night, causing heavy losses to the soldiers!"

"I missed the opportunity to break Zhongli today, and I don't know how long it will take to get off Zhongli again."

Cao Pi coughed angrily a few times and said: "It's coming to spring, and even Zhongli hasn't broken through yet, so how can it sweep Jianghuai!" ”

"Your Majesty is angry!"

Sun Zi offered honey water and said, "At this point, Your Majesty must not be angry. ”

"Can't drink it!"

"Zhao Wenwu to the big tent!"

"No!"

After a while, Wenwu went to the big tent under the summons and waited for Cao Pi's orders.

Cao Pi looked at the civil and military forces in the tent, and asked angrily: "Now that you have missed the opportunity to break the city, do you have a high opinion?" ”

Seeing that Cao Pi was still angry, everyone looked at each other and didn't dare to speak out.

As if seeing everyone's thoughts, Cao Pi eased his emotions and said: "The monarch and the ministers discuss military affairs, and I will not blame any words!" ”

With these words, everyone reacted.

"Your Majesty, judging from the current situation, it is better to lead the troops to retreat!"

Liu Ye pondered for a while and said: "Then lead the troops to Xia Pi, combine the strength of the two armies to break Xia Pi, and then enter and plunder the counties of the East China Sea." ”

"And then?" Cao Pi asked.

"Winning the two counties of Pi and Donghai, although it is not enough for His Majesty's work, it is the best policy at the moment."

Liu Ye lowered his head and said: "Huo Jun is in Wuhan, and if Lu Xun is sent out, he must have other plans." It is not easy to break Zhongli today, how to talk about breaking Lu Xun, and then take Huaiyin. ”

Although Liu Ye didn't know what Huo Jun was planning, he could vaguely feel that Huo Jun's target was them. Therefore, it is better to abandon Zhongli and turn to the two counties of Xiapi and Donghai in Huaibei. Although it is a shame to withdraw from Zhongli today, it is better than being defeated by the enemy.

Cao Pi was reluctant and said: "There are no less than 10,000 dead and wounded sergeants before and after. If the army is withdrawn from Zhongli, will it not be in vain to lose the sergeants? ”

"Your Majesty, dare to ask General Wenlie what he thinks?" Wei Zhen asked.

Cao Pi snorted coldly and said, "Cao Yangzhou is sparse, and he told himself what happened before and after, and then asked for a grace time. ”

"What strategy does General Wenlie want to use to break the enemy?" Wei Zhen asked.

Cao Pi stroked his beard and said: "Wen Lie later wanted to reuse the method of earth and mountain, from the mound to the wall to think that the gentle slope, the sergeant climbed the gentle slope and entered the city tower to fight with the thief army. According to Cao Yangzhou, more than half of the soldiers in Zhongli City were killed and wounded, and the reason why Xu Sheng resorted to deception was exhaustion and fatigue. ”

Wei Zhen heard that Cao Pi still had the idea of fighting again, and said: "Your Majesty, General Wenlie has the idea of breaking the city, Your Majesty might as well allow him to spend half a month." If you can't break Zhongli, send someone who knows the strength of the army to cross the Huai, check the truth of Zhongli from the city, and then report it back to Your Majesty, and then discuss whether to fight again! ”

"It has been many months since our army marched south in July. Zhongli Cheng is strong and brave, and the soldiers have not fought for a long time, and the soldiers are tired. At the turn of winter and spring, I am afraid of hurting agriculture; 100,000 people, a thousand dollars a day. His Majesty is well aware of the pros and cons, and uses troops cautiously. ”

At the beginning of the southern expedition, not only Cao Pi, but also Cao Wei's ministers were quite optimistic. However, besieging Zhongli for several months made them all a little numb.

The general Cao Ren was shot to death by the Han army's crossbow because of supervising the battle; Now Cao Xiuzhong Xu Sheng deceived and surrendered, and missed the opportunity to break the city. As the time came to spring, they gradually realized that Zhongli City might not be able to fight.

"Hmm!"

Cao Pi bowed slightly, and said with satisfaction: "Wei Qing's words are reasonable, Zhongli is only a little close to breaking today, how can he give up easily." It is advisable to let Cao Yangzhou lead his troops to surround Zhongli, and then limit it to the date. ”

"Your Majesty, if you want to take Zhongli again now, it is better to choose him as the main general, and Cao Yangzhou as the auxiliary, in order to break the city as soon as possible." Bao Xun suggested.

"No!"

Wei Zhen bowed his hand to Cao Pi and said, "Your Majesty, although Cao Yangzhou has made mistakes today, he has been around Zhongli for a long time, and he is familiar with the thief Xu Sheng's method of using soldiers. Today, it is not possible to lightly elect someone else as a general, which may be detrimental to the military. ”

Bao Xun was slightly dissatisfied and said: "Your Majesty, although Cao Yangzhou has a strategy, since the war with the water thieves, there have been many mistakes in the use of troops. In today's middle school, Xu Sheng's treacherous plan should be used as a warning to our army, and it is advisable to replace the general, and then let Cao Yangzhou be the deputy. ”

Cao Pi pondered his beard and thought deeply, he did have the idea of replacing the chief general of Huainan.

The reason why he replaced Cao Ren with Cao Xiu was that Cao Xiu was a clan, and Cao Xiu had a very good relationship with him. Therefore, he wanted to cultivate Cao Xiu, or brush Cao Xiu's military exploits. Today, Cao Xiu missed the opportunity to break the city, which has made him disappointed.

But as Wei Zhen said, easily replacing generals will inevitably delay time, and may not be as good as Cao Xiu. If the general is replaced, except for the hussar general Cao Hong, there will be no other generals to appoint. However, the hussar general Cao Hong, because of the loan in his early years, Cao Pi felt a little disgusted.

After hesitating for a long time, Cao Pi decided to give Cao Xiu another chance, and said: "And first, as Wei Qing said, give Cao Yangzhou half a month to break the city." Half a month later, if Zhongli City is not broken, Wei Qing will cross the Huai to the army, understand the situation in Zhongli, and then decide. ”

Saying that, Cao Pi looked at Sun Zi and said, "Let Cao Yangzhou not live up to my hope!" ”

"No!"

(End of chapter)