Han Xiang

Chapter 629: Snake hits Zhuge Liang seven inches

Man Chong was in charge of the judiciary in his early years. He enforced the law strictly and was good at interrogation. After Guandu, he slowly led the army.

He had heard about higher-level political struggles but did not understand them enough, so he was unable to understand Cao Cao's thoughts.

Cao Ren may be able to help defeat Long Xiang, but if violent civil strife breaks out in Xudu, only Cao Cao can control the situation.

Jia Xu served as Taizhong doctor in the dynasty. He was well aware of the struggle between the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Han Dynasty, and had a profound insight into human nature, so he was able to guide Cao Cao to make choices.

Cao Cao saw Man Chong's astonished expression and knew that Man Chong was worried that Cao Ren could not stop Guan Yu, so he waved his hands indifferently and said with relief:

"After this period of fighting, everyone has figured out Guan Yu's military habits. Before, Xu Yuanzhi and Liu Ziyang gave him advice, but now they are far away from Xiangyang. Xia Houmiao is staring at them now. Guan Yu has no right-hand man, how can he be the same as before? "

"Guan Yu is both wise and brave, so he doesn't have Xu Shu and Liu Ye to plot, and it is more difficult to deal with him."

Before Man Chong finished speaking, Cao Cao interrupted again:

"I think Boning is quite capable of strategizing. With you staying in Fancheng to help Zi Xiao, are you still afraid of Guan Yunchang who has broken his wings?"

"I am the last general to go and invite General Zixiao."

With Cao Cao's words in front of him, Man Chong had to listen to Cao Ren's advice.

He thought that although there was no naval force yet, he still had a superior force, and with Liu Cong to contain him in the south, he was very confident in holding on to his current territory, not to mention defeating Guan Yu and retaking Xiangyang.

As long as the current situation can be maintained, it won't be too late for Cao Cao to come back and reap the fruits of victory after he resolves Long Xiang's troubles.

Watching Man Chong take the reassurance and walk out of the lobby solemnly.

Jia Xu stroked his beard, nodded and praised: "The Prime Minister has a keen eye for pearls, and Man Boning is calm and experienced. With him staying in Fancheng to assist, General Zixiao will be able to live up to his high expectations."

"not enough"

Cao Cao shook his head when he heard this, "You also stay."

"what?"

Jia Xu responded by pretending to be stupid, but when he saw Cao Cao's serious expression, he thought that the prime minister was not joking, so he immediately added:

"It will take at least two months to build a sufficient warship. During this time, we should only be able to confront Guan Yu. I'm afraid it will be redundant for me to stay here, so I'd better serve the Prime Minister."

"Although Man Boning is talented, he is not as intelligent as Qing. Gongda is in Luoyang to help his son Lian, and it is reasonable for you to stay in Fancheng to help his son Xiao. As for the sneak attack on the little thief Long Xiang, the truth has not been taken into account."

Cao Cao clenched his claws into fists as he spoke, and his sharp eyes shone with cold light.

How dare Jia Xu persist after hearing this?He quickly bowed and bowed to come down.

Long Xiang used scheming tactics against Linxiang, and Bao Buqi used some damaging moves against Xu Du.

Jia Xu wanted to follow him back to Xudu just because he was worried that his family would be in danger. If he went back early, he could deal with it earlier.

At the beginning of May, Cao Cao ordered [-] troops and horses to return to Xudu.

Except for Cao Chun's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and general Zhang Liao's troops, the rest were all surrendered pawns recruited in Hebei.

Cao Cao left all his elite troops to Cao Ren, and even Li Tong, who was sending reinforcements and grain supplies from Runan, was stationed in the lower reaches of the Jishui River to continue to provide supplies to Fancheng.

Long Xiang is making trouble in the Central Plains, and the military supplies transported from Hebei and Henan will definitely be greatly affected.

Cao Cao was worried about the risk of running out of food on the front line of Fancheng, and felt that the temporary food road in Runan could not be removed.

However, the Cao family's navy suffered a disastrous defeat and lost the right to control water. Li Changzhong was stationed in Jingzhou to protect the food supply.

After settling in properly, Cao Cao returned north with peace of mind.

When the army marched near Ye County, the tiger and leopard cavalry who were clearing the way ahead brought two pieces of news, one good and one bad.The good news came from Luoyang. Cao Hong firmly defended Hangu Pass, Le Jin and Xun You blocked the mouth of the Yellow River. Liu Bei's army had nowhere to go and could not move forward during this period.

The terrain from Tongguan to Luoyang has the Qinling Mountains stretching eastwards to the south, and the Wangwu Mountain to the north of the Yellow River.

If the water and land routes are heavily guarded, it will be extremely difficult to break through head-on.

Of course, actual war is no better than playing games, and even if the terrain is dangerous, it cannot be completely physically isolated.

There are small roads between the mountains and ridges that can go around the pass, but it is difficult to cross the mountains to carry supplies.

At this time, Cao Cao's power was at its peak. If Liu Bei had people follow Deng Ai's example and sneak into Yinping, bypassing Han Valley and Hulao Pass, Luoyang, Xudu, and Yecheng, there would be no point in taking a detour.

Cao Hong guarded the pass, preventing Liu Bei from advancing, and thought he was proud to report his victory to Cao Cao.

However, Zhuge Liang saw that he could not break through from the front, so he proposed a plan and Liu Bei led his troops to continue the feint attack. He took Zhao Yun and Pang De back to Tongguan, then quietly crossed the river from Pubanjin and went straight to Anyi, the seat of Hedong County.

Zhongtiao Mountain in the south of Hedong County overlaps with Wangwu Mountain. To the south of Zhongtiao Mountain and to the north of the Yellow River, there are three small counties of Hebei, Dayang and Dongyuan. They surrendered when Liu Bei occupied Hongnong.

The plain area north of Zhongtiao Mountain, east of Luliang Mountain, and west of Taiyue Mountain is the core area of ​​Hedong.

Zhuge Liang rode back and shot him, catching the prefect Du Ji off guard and leaving him isolated and helpless in the prefecture.

Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong to stick to Luoyang, and put his superior troops in Jingzhou, hoping that Liu Bei would either fight to the death at the pass, or trek thousands of miles back to the pass and then out of Wuguan to support him.

But he didn't expect Guan Yu to fight so tenaciously, and Zhuge Liang used a trick to hit the snake seven inches.

Zhuge Liang knew the relationship between Du Ji and Xun Yu and others. He knew that if Cao Cao did not send troops to support Hedong County, the foreign political forces attached to the Yingchuan gentry might abandon Cao Cao and join Liu Bei's arms.

Du Ji was originally from Jingzhao. Now that Liu Bei has captured Liangzhou and stood firm in Guanzhong, he is likely to surrender in despair. Therefore, even though taking Hedong has no direct bearing on Luoyang, it will play a great strategic role in weakening Cao Cao's strength.

Zhuge Liang's move also had a confusing effect, that is, Liu Bei's army would use Hedong as a springboard to attack Bingzhou and Hebei. However, as long as Cao Cao could not capture Tongguan, he would have to send troops from the south back to Hebei to defend.

When there is military mobilization, there is consumption. This is Zhuge Liang's conspiracy to trade Jingzhou for Hebei. It will depend on what Cao Cao chooses.

Cao Hong blindly reported victory and celebrated, but the news brought by Cao Zhen, the captain of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, was that Cheng Yu was killed in Linying and his body was not found.

Cao Cao was originally just sad, but when he heard that the county magistrate could not find the murderer, he instantly became furious.

He forcibly broke the riding crop in his hand and shouted angrily:

"The Linying people brutally killed Zhongde, and then they wanted to escape intact? This is to deceive me. Cao Cao has no temper. When he kills Longxiang, he will kill Linying and bury Zhongde, leaving no chicken or dog behind!"

Zhang Liao, Zhu Ling and other generals accompanying the army looked at each other and said to themselves that Linying is your own territory, Prime Minister.

The massacre of the city for Cheng Yu was feared to be despised by the world, but Cao Cao was so angry that no one dared to come out to dissuade him.

At the critical moment, Cao Zhen stood up.

"Father, Tai Shici was responsible for executing the poisonous plan used by Long Xiang. Otherwise, General Cheng would not have died at all. It was Long Xiang and Tai Shici who had to be buried. How could the people of Linying be so innocent?"

"Huh? What Zidan said makes sense."

Cao Cao was very fond of his adopted son, and he was so angry that he was persuaded to regain his senses.

"Where are Long Xiang and Tai Shi Ci now?"

"Taishi Ci is guarding Linying, Longxiang should be in Xudu"

"Then what are you waiting for? Immediately order the entire army to stop resting and rush to Linying and Xudu immediately. I'm going to chop up the two thieves!"

(End of this chapter)