Three Kingdoms: I help Liu Bei grow thousands of miles

Chapter 161 Cao Cao: Driving
Lu Su left Jiangling for Jianye. Sun Quan had already deployed defenses along the Yangtze River. After reporting the frontline situation, he hurried to Xinye.

After Cao Cao's army arrived at Qiao for half a day, Cheng Yu led [-] troops and headed south under his own banner, while he himself led the main force to secretly turn westward to Runan, and reached Wancheng ten days later.

Wancheng is the only way to go south to Xinye, and Zhou Yu sent many sentries in this area.

As soon as Cao Jun arrived in Wancheng, Xinye soon received the news.

From the moment Cao Cao left Xudu, Zhou Yu was preparing for this defensive battle. The long-term siege of Xiangyang made Jiangdong soldiers depressed and exhausted.

Zhou Yu raised his account in the Xinye County Government, and Han Dang, Lu Meng, Ling Tong and other generals were all eager to try, but Lu Su, who had just returned to Xinye, looked worried.

"Cao Cao's main force came to Xinye, and Hefei must be very empty. Zijing just returned from Jianye, so I can tell you about the situation there." Zhou Yu said after looking around at the crowd.

Lu Su nodded, "My lord is deploying defenses along the Yangtze River. He said that if Cao Cao attacks Xinye, he will send troops to Hefei. The governor can quickly send someone to inform."

"Ziming, send people to Jiangdong and Jiangling respectively," Zhou Yu ordered.

"Wei." Lu Meng cupped his fists and stepped aside.

"Xinye City is not as strong as Xiangyang, and the terrain is relatively flat. Cao Cao's force is comparable to ours this time. It is not easy to defend this place. We have to find a way to drag him into a water battle," Zhou Yu said.

"Governor, we must stop Cao Cao in Xinye, so as to buy time for our lord to win Hefei." Lu Su reminded.

"I Jiangdong is dominated by naval forces. If I give up my own advantages and fight Cao Cao on land in Xinye, this is what a reckless person did." Zhou Yu looked at the deputy governor Cheng Pu while speaking.

Cheng Pu was a veteran during Sun Jian's period. His qualifications can be regarded as the most in Jiangdong at this time. Before the Battle of Chibi, he competed with Zhou Yu for the position of coach. Because Zhou Yu's prestige in the army is higher, he can only be subdued as the deputy commander-in-chief. .

"What's Gongjin's plan?" Cheng Pu frowned.

"I would like to ask Cheng Gong to lead [-] riders to guard Xinye for help. I will personally lead the navy to intercept Cao Ren in Xiangfan." Zhou Yu said.

"Reinforcement? Gong Jin also said that Xinye County is small and the city is not as strong as Xiangyang. I don't know how long the old man can defend. Also, are the reinforcements from Jiangdong or Liu Bei?" Cheng Pu asked.

Zhou Yu glanced at Lu Su, then smiled and said: "Zijing has made an agreement with Liu Xuande that if Cao Cao comes to attack, he will immediately send troops to support him. Guan Yunchang's Jingzhou navy is in Jiangxia. It can be reached in a few days along the Han River. Guan Yunchang This person is quite capable, and he is quite familiar with the Xinye area, so he will be able to defend Cao Cao with Cheng Gong."

"Guan Yunchang will be fine if he comes, but if Liu Xuande doesn't send reinforcements." Cheng Pu was still worried.

Lu Su quickly said: "Don't doubt Cheng Gong, Liu Shijun is a man of integrity and promise. He once promised me that if Cao Cao goes south, he will let Guan Yunchang and Zhang Yide send troops from Jiangxia and Jiangling respectively. It doesn’t matter if the main force stays here, even if we lose Xinye in the end, the master can win Hefei.”

Cheng Pu also knew the importance of Hefei. Taking Hefei would allow him to enter the Central Plains by water, and the Jiangdong navy would be able to take advantage of it.

"Then follow Gongjin's arrangement." Cheng Pu nodded.

After only two days of rest in Wancheng, Cao Cao asked Wenpin to take the Wancheng garrison to Xinye. The soldiers he brought this time were all strong and strong. After the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao understood that elite soldiers are more useful. He was indeed complacent at the time.

During the Battle of Chibi, the sick soldiers in the north gradually became uncontrollable. The more people Cao Cao led, the more cumbersome it became. In the end, each battalion was infected with the epidemic, and Cao Cao's elite also suffered heavy losses in that battle.

In February, the spring breeze was like scissors, and the warm sun still couldn't withstand the cold weather. The soldiers in the north were used to this kind of fighting.

Cao Cao was cautious in using his troops. When he marched south, he found that Zhou Yu didn't send troops to stop him, not even a decent ambush.

Did this give up?
If Zhou Yu was an incompetent person, it would be reasonable, but he was the commander who defeated Cao Cao in Chibi, which made the suspicious Cao Cao unclear about the situation.

Tens of thousands of troops set up camp two miles north of Xinye, and Cao Cao and Xia Houyuan went to call for battle at Xinye City in person.

"Son Zhou Yu, the prime minister's heavenly soldiers have arrived. Those who descend will not be killed, or they will be smashed to pieces if they are late." Xia Houyuan shouted loudly towards the city.

Zhou Yu left Cheng Pu, Han Dang and other veterans to guard Xinye, while he, Lu Su, Lu Meng and others had retreated to the warships in Danshui.

This group of veterans followed Sun Jian to fight in the north and south. Last year, they were the attacking side of Xiangyang, but in a blink of an eye they became the defenders. Seeing Xia Houyuan yelling and scolding, Han Dang was eager to fight, but was stopped by the old and steady Cheng Pu.

Cheng Pu stood at the head of the city, stroking his white beard with his hand, and responded coldly: "What prime minister? Where is he?"

Xia Houyuan didn't know what Cheng Pu meant. This fellow followed Sun Jian and met Cao Cao when he was begging for Dong. Although everyone has grown old for so many years, they shouldn't know each other. Why do they ask now knowingly?

"This is Prime Minister Cao of the great Han Dynasty. Demou hasn't surrendered yet?" Xia Houyuan introduced Cao Cao, who was wearing a brocade robe and riding a yellow horse.

Cheng Pu looked Cao Cao up and down, and said with disdain: "It was dark and hot in Wulin that night, and I didn't have time to appreciate Prime Minister Cao's demeanor. Now the sky is clear and the old man can see clearly. It's really short."

"Old man, I think you are tired of work." Xia Houyuan pointed at Cheng Pu and said angrily.

"Who are you talking about?" Cheng Pu continued to mock.

"Piff said"

Xia Houyuan swallowed his saliva without saying a word. Cao Cao hated people mocking his height the most. He took the words and asked, "Where is Zhou Yu hiding? Don't you dare come out to see me?"

"Hmph, the governor is preparing firewood, so I can protect Cao thief from the cold at night." Cheng Pu answered wisely.

"Hahaha, Jiangdong's children turned out to be rats. Miaocai, let's go back and catch these rats tomorrow." Although Cheng Pu said it unintentionally, after Cao Cao was burned by Chibi, his expression changed a little.

"Cao thief, don't go." Han Dang drew his bow and set an arrow, aiming directly at Cao Cao.

Xia Houyuan is also good at using arrows, and he instinctively felt that the opponent might be about to attack. After Han Dang shot the feathered arrow, he immediately raised his cloak backwards, and the cloak just wrapped around the flying arrows.

"It really is an insidious rat." Xia Houyuan spat a ball of saliva.

"Drive" Cao Cao didn't speak, carefully urged to sit down on the horse, and left this thrilling place.

After returning to the camp, Cao Cao was still sweating on his back, and his servants brought hot soup to calm his shock.

The position where the two were standing just now was not within the range of the arrow's attack, but Han Dang's physical strength was extraordinary, and the bow and arrow he shot had exceeded the normal range.

Xun You, Liu Ye and other advisers accompanying the army, and generals accompanying the army such as Yu Jin and Zhang Yun, they were in two columns of the big tent and did not speak.

At this time, Xia Houyuan, who succeeded Shi Huan who died of illness last year, asked: "Prime Minister, Zhou Yu avoided seeing him, is there any conspiracy?"

Cao Cao shook his head and said nothing. He was still waiting for the news from scouts everywhere. As a commander, he had to pay attention to the overall situation, and a small detail could change the situation of the battle.

At this moment, the scout outside the tent came to report: "Prime Minister, Zhou Yu has been found."

(End of this chapter)