Three Kingdoms: I, the eldest son of Cao, a loving father of a great man!

After receiving Cao Ang's order, the personal guards quickly dispersed and hid in the surrounding areas to ensure Cao Ang's safety.

Huang Zhong gave orders and the soldiers quietly sneaked into the darkness.

When Cai Mao saw that the Han army had stopped advancing, a smile appeared on his face. He knew that he had succeeded and Cao Ang was scared away by him.

"Everyone, it seems that our plan was successful." Cai Mao said proudly.

"That's great." Zhang Yun and Pang De clenched their fists excitedly.

As long as Cao Ang is timid, they can survive.

Cai Mao ordered the soldiers to open the city gates and sent someone to notify Xu Shu, the defender in the city.

When Cao Ang was resting his army, Cai Mao gave up the chance to launch a surprise attack. After all, he didn't dare to bet on whether Cao Ang had an ambush, because anything was possible.

Not long after, after receiving the news, Xu Shu immediately rushed to Cai Mao with a group of advisers.

Cai Mao told them his guess and finally said: "Cao Ang is now timid. I think they dare not attack Xiangyang."

Xu Shu frowned and said, "If the enemy doesn't attack, won't we be trapped to death in Xiangyang?"

"Lord Xu is worrying too much. Although Cao Ang's generals are powerful, they lack leadership. This time they did not succeed in attacking the city and suffered heavy losses.

I'm afraid there won't be another attack on the city in the short term." Cai Mao analyzed.

Xu Shu also felt that what Cai Mao said made sense. Cao Ang's goal was to occupy Xiangyang, not to destroy the entire Jingzhou.

If they attacked Xiangyang, even if they won, Cao Ang's strength would probably suffer great damage.

"In that case, our army is safe for the time being?" Xu Shu asked tentatively.

"Of course. Our army can gather its forces to defend the city of Xiangyang." Cai Mao nodded in agreement.

Xu Shu looked at Zhang Yun and Pang De again. Both of them advocated going to war. Xu Shu hoped that these two people could persuade Cai Mao.

Sure enough, Zhang Yun and Pang De stood up, and Zhang Yun said.

"Yuanzhi, the three of us are the pillars of Jingzhou. How can we just sit there and wait to die? Please allow us to go out of the city and kill the enemy."

Pang De echoed, "My lord, please allow us to go out of the city and fight."

Xu Shu didn't expect that the two of them would be willing to fight, but this was their choice and he could only follow it.

"Since you two dear ministers are willing to go to war, then I agree." Cao Ang said with relief.

Zhang Yun and Pang De were overjoyed. They had never expected Cao Ang to actually agree to their going to war. This was simply a godsend.

Cai Mao stopped him and said, "Prime Minister, this is not appropriate. Our army has just experienced a bloody battle and is exhausted. If we rush into battle rashly, I am afraid it will cause huge losses."

Cai Mao was still a little clever. He didn't want Zhang Yun and Pang De to go to battle, their mission was to delay Liu Jun's advance.

Once Zhang Yun and Pang De went out of the city to fight, they would not have enough troops to resist Cao Ang's offensive.

Cai Mao didn't want to let Zhang Yun and Pang De fight under such circumstances. If the losses were too great, it would be very disadvantageous to Cai Mao.

Cao Ang said calmly: "I know what you are thinking, but this is a war, no one will care about the physical condition of the soldiers.

I have made my decision. I order your entire army to attack without hesitation."

Cao Ang had finished speaking, and even if Cai Mao wanted to refute him, he was unable to do so.

"I obey your orders!" Zhang Yun and Pang De shouted loudly.

Xu Shu also said with satisfaction: "Then please follow me, my two beloved ministers. I will allocate food and grass for your use as soon as possible."

Cao Ang did this not only to embarrass Cai Mao, but also for some selfish reasons. Cao Ang hoped that Zhang Yun and Pang De could show off their talents.

"Thank you for your grace, my lord." Zhang Yun and Pang De followed Xu Shu with tears of gratitude.

Cao Ang did this for a purpose. He wanted to train these two generals and let them achieve great success in the next battle.

Cao Ang was very confident in his subordinates. He believed that any military general who was good at fighting would definitely be famous throughout the ages.

After Zhang Yun and Pang De left, Cai Mao asked with a gloomy face, "Military Advisor, what do you think?" Cai Mao did not want Zhang Yun and Pang De to participate in this battle. After all, it was his design.

But Cao Ang insisted on doing so, and he had no choice but to obey Cao Ang's orders.

Pang Tong sneered: "My lord, Cao Ang is forcing our army to attack."

"Oh? Why?" Cai Mao asked curiously.

"Cao Ang must know the lord's intention." Pang Tong explained.

Cai Mao narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you mean that Cao Ang did this on purpose?"

"We can't rule out this possibility." Pang Tong said, "Whether Cao Ang knows it or not, his intention is to get our army to fight."

"Then what should our army do?" Cai Mao asked hurriedly.

"My lord, in my humble opinion, it is better for us to hold our ground." Pang Tong advised.

"Hmph, Cao Ang is going too far!" Cai Mao snorted coldly.

Cai Mao was very depressed. Before Cao Ang's troops launched an attack, they retreated into the city and refused to come out. This clearly told Cao Ang that they were afraid.

Cai Mao was the governor of Jingzhou, how could he allow himself to be laughed at by the people of Jingzhou?

"Pass the order, all troops are ready to meet the enemy." Cai Mao ordered.

Pang Tong reminded: "My lord, Cao Ang has tens of thousands of elite soldiers. We have less than 10,000 soldiers now."

"He's just a few tens of thousands of cavalry. Am I not his match?" Cai Mao shouted angrily.

Cai Mao was naturally not afraid of Liu’s army, but his confidence came from Xiangyang City.

The defensive fortifications of Xiangyang City are very solid. As long as Liu’s army does not come out in full force, Xiangyang will be as stable as a rock.

Cai Mao now only hopes to hold out until Yuan Shao returns for help.

There is only salvation when Yuan Shao returns to help.

It was Cai Mao's idea that Zhang Yun and Pang De go out of the city to fight. Their mission is to defend Xiangyang City and they must hold on.

As for the life and death of other troops, Cai Mao didn't care at all, let alone go to rescue them.

All counties and prefectures in Jingzhou sent troops to Xiangyang to support Zhang Yun and Pang De.

Cao Ang was also not idle. He ordered Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and Xiahou Yuan to lead 30,000 troops each to assist Zhang Yun and Pang De in attacking the city.

As for Cao Cao, he was not as relaxed as Cao Ang.

Cao Cao already knew that Sun Ce had been captured, and he was filled with worry.

Sun Ce is Cao Cao's biological son. If anything goes wrong with Sun Ce, Cao Cao will lose all his face.

Cao Cao summoned Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia overnight to discuss countermeasures.

Guo Jia persuaded him earnestly, "Meng De, your nephew Bo Fu is the bravest among the three armies and has extraordinary wisdom.

Even if he was caught by Cao Ang, nothing serious would happen.

Our army should take advantage of the fact that Cao Ang's army has not yet recovered its morale and attack Xiangyang."

“Zhongzhi, that being said, Cao Ang is very cunning.

What if Cao Ang sets a trap and entices Bo Fu to fall into it? " Cao Cao said worriedly.

Guo Jia shook his head and said, "No."

“Has Zhongzhi forgotten Bofu’s abilities?

He once swept across Jiangdong, killing many civil and military officials in Jiangdong, and was feared by all. (End of this chapter)