Han Xiang

Chapter 452 Cao Ren Attacks Wan and Tries Kong Ming

"Well, according to Xiao Xiao's words, it makes sense."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, and suddenly changed the subject to Xun You: "Except for Huainan and Jiangxia, I haven't heard from Liu Bei for a long time. Is there any news from Wen Ruo? Zhang He was ordered to go to Wancheng to find out the truth, but there was no news at all. ?”

"Ah this."

Xun You stammered and raised his hand to wipe his sweat. He received Xun Yu's letter before Shi Huan returned to camp, and was hesitating whether to report to Cao Cao.

Seeing Xun You's expression, Cao Cao frowned to confirm with him.

"Gongda?"

"Reporting to Duke Ming, Mr. Xun Ling has indeed sent a letter, but I haven't had time to read it yet."

Xun You wiped his sweat again in embarrassment, then took out the letter and submitted it to Cao Cao's case.

Cao Cao instinctively had a bad premonition, and immediately opened the letter for inspection in front of everyone, and his expression quickly became ugly.

Xia Houyuan guessed curiously: "My lord, is there something wrong?"

"It's all right"

Cao Cao's expression was serious, and he paused for a moment and said: "I asked Zhang Yun to test the reality of Wancheng, but he was not only defeated by Zhao Yun, but also Bowang and Duyang were captured by Shiren, Yuan Chen and others."

"Shi Ren, Yuan Chen?"

Xia Houyuan was taken aback, and said in disbelief: "These native chickens and tile dogs can also capture the city?"

Cao Cao frowned and replied: "Don't say that you don't believe it, it's hard for me to believe it, but this matter has been verified by Yuan Rang, and Mr. Xun Ling thinks that there are experts in Wancheng."

Xia Houyuan was quite speechless: "A tall man? How tall can he be? Except for Zhao Yun in Wancheng, can the rest of the guards in Wancheng be counted as people?"

"Could it be Zhuge Liang?" Cao Hong gave his opinion: "Isn't he Liu Bei's new military adviser? Maybe he went to Wancheng secretly."

Xia Houyuan shook his head straightly: "Wouldn't the military advisor accompany Liu Bei? Can he still let him take over Wancheng directly? It doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it."

Xun You interrupted Xia Houyuan and reminded: "Miaocai forgot that Liu Ziyang went to Wudang? There are people around Liu Bei who have made suggestions. If Liu Bei worships Zhuge Liang's military adviser, he will be as important as Emperor Gao worships Han Xin, and he may directly take over the defense of Wancheng."

Xia Houyuan frowned and responded: "Gongda's words are serious, then Zhuge Liang is just weak. If he really has the ability of Han Xin, why doesn't Liu Biao use it himself? But give it to Liu Bei? Anyway, I don't believe it."

"I'm just analyzing"

Xun You shook his head slightly. He only raised one possibility, and he didn't approve of Zhuge Liang in his heart. After all, what can he do in his early twenties?
"The discussions between the gentlemen were really intense."

Cao Cao glanced around gratifiedly, and said meaningfully: "This year is really interesting. Zhang Wenyuan defeated Mei Cheng and Tai Shici. Sun Quan, Zhou Yu and Huang Zu had a great time fighting. Liu Bei made people take my two cities, but Zhang Yun We don’t even know who our opponent is, which makes us quite incompetent.”

Xia Houyuan followed closely and advised: "My lord, it happens that the army is idle now, why don't you move to Jingzhou?"

"Attack Jingzhou? The time is not right." Cao Cao shook his head and replied, "According to the information sent by Hebei Xizuo, Yuan Shao has been standing still for the past two years, just waiting for me to attack Jingzhou so that he can cross the river and take advantage of the fire. This guy is pretending to be dying." but I don't believe it"

"Then we..." Xia Houyuan hesitated to speak.

Cao Cao smiled slightly: "Yuan Shao is waiting for me to attack Jingzhou. As his old friend, I should fulfill his wish. After all, people are dying."

"Ah? You know it, my lord."

Cao Hong swallowed. He remembered Cao Cao's character and knew that the other party would not behave like this for no reason, so he stopped talking midway.

"Zixiao, you lead your troops first, go to Ye County and bring Zhang Xi with you, and take back the lost city. Villager Zhuge is said to be mysterious, help me test his ability."

As expected, Cao Cao had his own ideas.

When Cao Ren heard the order, he immediately got up and clasped his fists, and asked, "If Zhuge Liang's name is not worthy of his name, will it be enough for the general to take back Bowang and Duyang?"

"Not worthy of the name?" Cao Cao smiled sinisterly: "Then blame Liu Bei for entrusting someone who is not a person, just take Wancheng directly for me, and let the big-eared thief have nothing."

"Wei." Cao Ren cupped his fists and left.

Cao Cao then stood up and said to the crowd: "Everyone also go to prepare separately, and then each lead a battalion of soldiers and horses, and go to Nanyang with me."

"only"

"No, my lord, a battalion?"

"Huh? Each general will only bring one battalion?"

There were whispers in the army tent, there were only seven or eight generals in the tent at that time, if each general only led a battalion of troops, the total would be less than [-] people.

With such a small number of soldiers, how can Liu Bei have nothing?
Cao Cao explained with a smile: "The main forces of the various ministries are still stationed at Guandu, Zilian and Gongda are still staying here, and the rest must go to Nanyang with full momentum."

"But why?"

As soon as Xia Houyuan's questioning words came out, he heard Guo Jia's hearty laughter: "Duke Ming deliberately sent troops to Nanyang, and did he do it for Yuan Shao to see?"

"Fengxiao is easy to understand."

Cao Cao pointed at Guo Jia and smiled, and said: "Our ship was damaged a lot in Huainan. Now that Yuan Benchu ​​is setting up defenses on the north bank, he must have lost a lot when crossing the river head-on. He wants to see me attack Jingzhou so much. Why don't we use the plan to make friends. As long as Hebei soldiers and horses are lured to cross the river, the soldiers at Guandu will be useful."

"Duke Ming uses troops like this, why worry about Yuan Shao's immortality?"

Guo Jia nodded in agreement: "You can let all the ministries go into battle lightly, and then return to Guandu faster. Minggong will not only go to Nanyang with great fanfare, but Gongda and their lords who are staying in Guandu also need to cooperate accordingly."

Xun You had to respond: "I will cooperate with General Zilian to pretend to be a bluff, so that Hebei's fine officers will mistakenly believe that we are guilty."

"What Er Qing said fits my heart very well."

Cao Cao was overjoyed when he heard the words, and thought that Yuan Shao would have such a harmonious staff atmosphere, how could he be severely frustrated by himself in Guandu?

The Guandu camp immediately moved, and Cao Cao led thousands of people waving flags, which looked like an army of tens of thousands of people from a distance. They passed by Xudu without entering, and went straight to Kunyang, southwest of Yingchuan.

When the news was sent back to Xudu, the officials in the city were surprised.

At that time, many people advised Xun Yu that it was inappropriate to attack Jingzhou.

Xun Yu said that Cao Cao was determined to take advantage of the enemy's attack on both sides of Jingzhou, defeat Liu Biao, and then turn around and attack Hebei.

Hidden secrets of Xu Du, officials close to Yuan Shao, and sentry sent by Yuan Shao to Guandu sent 'good' news to Yecheng one after another.

Cao Cao wanted to go to Kunyang to exchange for Xiahou Dun. His cavalry was not as fast as Cao Ren's pure cavalry, so the two sides were separated by a few days of marching.

In mid-August, as soon as Cao Cao arrived in Kunyang, he received Cao Ren's battle report.

Liu Bei's people abandoned Bowang and Duyang, and now the two counties have been lost and regained.

Cao Cao was overjoyed after hearing the report, pointed at Xia Houyuan and said to everyone: "It seems that Miaocai is right. Except for Zhao Yun who can see Wancheng, the rest are native chickens and tile dogs."

Guo Jia sighed: "It's a pity that Duke Ming wants to go to Hebei, otherwise we can go to Xiangyang while Liu Bei's main force is not in Wancheng."

"It's okay, sooner or later"

Cao Cao stroked his beard confidently.

While everyone was complimenting, Cao Ren's messenger arrived outside the door again.

"Could it be that General Zixiao has broken Wancheng?"

"It's not surprising, Zixiao once defeated Liu Bei on his own, and Zhao Yun is nothing to worry about."

Guo Jia's bold conjecture shocked everyone, and Cao Cao actually affirmed his idea.

(End of this chapter)