Wandering the Heavens

Chapter 406 New 3 Kingdoms 46

Xiahou Dun was slapped to death in the first battle, and Cao Cao's situation was not much better.

Yan Liang, who was responsible for resisting Cao Cao on the Yellow River defense line, was a pure general. He led 50,000 troops to fight against 200,000 Cao troops with his back to the Yellow River. The leader of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Cao Chun, died in the battle, and most of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry that Cao Cao had painstakingly organized was also destroyed.

Inside the military tent, the generals were at a loss as to what to do.

Cao Cao looked at his advisers with a gloomy face and said, "Everyone, tell us how to defeat Yan Liang and his 50,000-man army."

Everyone, including Sima Yi who was standing at the front, refused to step forward. If I had an idea, I should have told you long ago. Why would I wait until now?

"My lord, I have a plan!" Xu You stood up with a smile.

More than a decade ago, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao fought each other in the Battle of Guandu. Xu You did not brag about his achievements, so he is still alive and well. However, Cao Cao focused his main attention on the south, and he was ignored for many years because he was no longer useful. Cao Cao did not even take him with him when he went to Jingzhou.

Now that the war in Hebei has been restarted, Xu You's useless card is useful again.

"Tell me about it." Cao Cao said with some anticipation.

"Yuan Shao has three sons. Yuan Tan is aloof, while Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi are close. But now each of them is in power and has a rift with each other. My lord can send people into Yecheng to spread rumors. Say that Yan Liang is colluding with Wen Chou under Yuan Xi's command, and wants to help Yuan Xi unify Hebei and restore Yuan Shao's former glory. In this way, Yuan Shang will certainly be suspicious of Yan Liang, and within a few months, our army will win without a fight!" Xu You said, stroking his beard and shaking his head after bowing.

"Zhongda, what do you think?" Cao Cao looked at Sima Yi.

"My lord, when Qin and Zhao fought in Changping in the past, both countries came up with different strategies. Finally, King Zhaoxiang of Qin sent people to Handan of Zhao to spread rumors, ordering King Zhao to remove the veteran general Lian Po and replace him with Zhao Kuo. Qin also secretly replaced him with Bai Qi from the Wu'an Army. Zhao Kuo, unaware of the change of commander of the Qin army, led his army to break through the defense line, and was eventually ambushed and killed. 400,000 Zhao troops surrendered. Ziyuan's strategy is similar to the strategy of the Qin envoy back then." Sima Yi stood up and said with a bow.

"Well, a strategy of sowing discord. Good, good, good, Zi Yang." After hearing Sima Yi's explanation, Cao Cao slapped the table and laughed.

"My lord." Liu Ye stood up and bowed in response.

"Send the people to Ziyuan. Ziyuan, whether I can eat in Yecheng next month depends on you." Cao Cao picked up the pottery bowl on the table, which was filled with unknown contents, took a big sip, and then gave the order.

"promise."

The two men bowed and left the tent to arrange their work.

While waiting for the separation plan to develop, Cao Cao arranged for his troops to continue fighting with Yuan's army in order to confuse Yan Liang.

Since ancient times, traitors have been the most hateful. Cao Cao asked the Imperial Household Affairs Office headed by Liu Ye to cooperate with Xu You to do things because although Xu You had been away from Yuan Shao's camp for many years, he knew the nature of Yuan Shao's three sons very well. Without the supervision of their biological father over the years, their weaknesses would only become more fatal.

Xu You's connections in Yecheng were saved from the struggle among the three Yuans, so they soon came in handy. When Cao Cao was about to lose his patience, Wen Chou abandoned the city and defense line on the south bank one night and led his troops across the river.

The cunning Cao Cao launched a surprise attack when half of Yuan's troops had crossed the river, causing heavy casualties to Yuan's troops on the shore.

Yan Liang, who had already taken the ferry to the river, saw the army on the shore being slaughtered by Cao's army. He was powerless to save the situation, and thought of the sadness of being suspected by Yuan Shang. He was so depressed that he stood by the side of the boat, drew his sword, slit his throat, and his body fell into the Yellow River. The heavy armor on his body sank him to the bottom of the river, and his personal soldiers were unable to rescue him.

After annihilating Yuan's army on the south bank of the Yellow River, Cao Cao's army crossed the river. Without a commander, Yuan's army was in disarray and could not organize an effective resistance. After landing, Cao's army rushed straight to Yecheng as if there was no one in the land.

"Zhongda."

Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back outside the gate of Yecheng, out of reach of arrows, looking at the tall city wall built during the heyday of the Yuan family.

"My lord." Sima Yi knelt all the way behind Cao Cao.

"I'm hungry." Cao Cao said softly.

When Sima Yi heard this, he quickly got up and ran away. It was now time for the army to have breakfast, and Cao Cao was obviously going to have breakfast here.

"My lord." Cao Hong and Yu Jin stepped forward and called softly.

"Zi Lian, Wen Ze, what's the matter?" Cao Cao didn't know what these two guys were here for.

"My lord, Yecheng is empty now. Why do we attack and take the city immediately?" Cao Hong was a little anxious.

"After we capture Yecheng, we will move everyone here. We can't let it be destroyed because of the war. Besides, Yuan Shang is still the son of Benchu. I am the elder and Yuan Shang is my nephew, Cao Cao. How can an uncle use weapons against his nephew in this world?" Cao Cao pretended to sigh.

"My lord is kind and righteous." The two men had no choice but to bow.

Yuan had been managing Yecheng for many years. Even if the troops were insufficient, Cao's army would suffer heavy casualties, which was not conducive to Cao Cao's subsequent strategy. In addition, Xu County was too close to Xuzhou and Zhang Xiu in Wancheng, which was very unsafe.

Therefore, after conquering Ye City, Cao Cao had to move the Cao family's ruling center here, so he had to keep Ye City intact to the greatest extent possible.

As they were talking, Sima Yi and a group of people came up behind Cao Cao, carrying all kinds of things. Regardless of Cao Hong and Yu Jin, they started to be busy. In a moment, they set up the tent and arranged the tables and seats.

"My lord, please take a seat." Sima Yi knelt beside Cao Cao again to ask for instructions.

"Ah."

Cao Cao turned around, took off his shoes, walked into the tent, and sat down in front of the table. Sima Yi followed him in, kneeling down, took the bowl of mouthwash from the cook, lowered his head and raised it to Cao Cao's mouth...

When Cao Hong and Yu Jin saw Sima Yi's appearance, they wished they could chop him to death with their swords.

"Zi Lian, Wen Ze, go down and do your own things." Cao Cao said loudly after spitting out his mouthwash.

The two had no choice but to bow and leave.

"Are you afraid of them?" After seeing the people walking away, Cao Cao asked Sima Yi who was kneeling in front of him.

"I am not afraid." Sima Yi presented a silk handkerchief with both hands to wipe his mouth.

"Why aren't you afraid?" Cao Cao casually picked up the handkerchief, wiped his mouth casually and threw it aside.

"Because I am loyal to my lord." Sima Yi said as he took the food from the cook and placed it on the table.

"Hmph, before Lu Bu killed Dong Zhuo, he also kept saying that he was loyal to Dong Zhuo. How do I know whether what you said is true or false?" Cao Cao picked up the porridge and took a big sip and swallowed it before he started to mock.

"If Yuan Shang does not open the city and surrender, I am willing to lead my troops to attack the city without even a piece of armor." Sima Yi knocked his head directly on the carpet.

"You are so talented, isn't it a waste to lead the troops into charge?" Cao Cao took another sip of porridge.

"I have died for my lord, and it is a worthy death." Sima Yi bowed even lower.

"Cough cough cough..."

Cao Cao didn't say anything but coughed several times, and the whole table was covered with his saliva and food residues.