Spoiler History: Starting from the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 684 Prime Minister, Times Have Changed

"I have nothing to worry about."

Liu Bei turned around and explained with a smile:
"I'm just a little curious. I wonder if Meng De's headache has recurred."

Kong Ming smiled, closed the military newspaper he had already read on the table, put it away neatly, then stood up and clearly marked the battlefield changes mentioned in the battle reports on the map.

"Since Yide has already captured Jiaxian, Xiangcheng, and Fanchang, I think he has probably run into Yu Jin's troops by now."

"If Linying wants to continue its retreat northward, it must cross the river. Now Shi Yuan has led his troops to support it. I think Yu Jin will surrender in just two days."

Nodding, Liu Bei suddenly felt a little excited:

"I just hope Meng De won't be frightened in the next two days."

With Kong Ming around, all kinds of military equipment were smoothly integrated into the army. Coupled with Kong Ming's organization of various departments, it is no wonder that later generations had a disapproving attitude when they first talked about the Battle of Hanzhong, which was led by "Liu Bei" for half a year.

Natural barriers are no longer to be feared, fortified cities cannot be relied upon, and the entire rhythm of the war is completely different from the past.

The preparations before the war were well organized, and once the war started, the offensive was like thunder from all directions. Only twelve days had passed since the agreed time for the war to start, and Cao's enemy was already doomed.

While the two were talking, war reports arrived.

After opening it and taking a look, Kong Ming's face lit up:

"Shi Yuan reported back, saying that Linying had been recovered and Yu Jin had surrendered."

Even two years ago, Liu Bei felt that he would be so excited that he could not sleep at night after hearing that the "Five Elite Generals" were captured. However, at this moment, he just nodded and took note, then asked:
"Where's Cao Xiu?"

"Cao Xiu fought to the death and refused to surrender. Later, Yide personally entered the battle and knocked him unconscious and captured him alive."

Liu Bei nodded and breathed a sigh of relief:

"That's good."

Although Cao Cao was most likely reluctant to admit it, after hearing Kong Ming's explanation, he knew that the general situation was now set and he really didn't want any twists and turns to occur under such circumstances, including the situation where two generals were defeated at the same time, one fighting to the death while the other surrendered, which would eventually leave the surrendered general with a grudge.

"In that case, tomorrow...?"

Liu Bei looked like he was asking for advice, and Kong Ming nodded:
"Tomorrow, then."

In Cao's camp on the other side of the river, everyone knows that Prime Minister Cao's temper has become increasingly worse.

Although they did not know the battle situation in all directions, the soldiers all had eyes and could see that the military advisors all had serious expressions, that the prime minister had not smiled since the emperor's uncle arrived on the other side of the river, and that the messengers who came from other places all had panicked expressions.

Ever since the emperor's uncle set up camp on the other side of the river, the prime minister began to order the construction of fortifications and worked non-stop every day. In contrast, the emperor's uncle's military camp did not have any fortifications at all. It was still the same as it was at the beginning. It was obvious who was afraid of whom.

Even two days ago, there were already sporadic deserters who had appeared, some swimming across the river, some quietly escaping to the north.

It was not until the army finally issued an order of mutual responsibility and supervision that the trend was temporarily stopped.

But for ordinary soldiers, there is only one thing that is a pity:

Couldn’t that crossbow arrow be more accurate a few days ago?

After falling asleep with this regret, the Cao army's front-line soldiers were awakened by the noise from the other side of the river early the next morning.

The river was not wide, and the noisy noise soon became uniform, so the content of the shouting was clearly conveyed:

"General Zuo has ordered that Cao's camp be bombarded in two quarters of an hour!"

"If you don't want to die in vain, you must retreat six hundred steps from the river!"

Cao Cao, who was also awakened by the noise, sneered:
"Attacking from a distance of 600 steps, does Liu Da'er really think that the Marquis of Huaiyin will come to the mortal world to help him after ascending to heaven?"

"This must be a deceptive attack to confuse the crowd!"

"Pass the order, anyone who retreats will be killed!"

"I will personally go and defend the battlefield with the warriors!"

Dong Zhao was shocked:

"Your Excellency, you can't do that!"

The battle reports that have been sent in over the past few days clearly show that the enemy's methods of breaking through the strong city are similar:
After strong crossbows were used to suppress the enemy, strong soldiers would come to the city to work. Usually within two moments, the city gates would be blown away with a loud bang, and some city walls that were not strong enough or thick enough would collapse on the spot.

The only strange thing was that when Guangcheng Pass was breached, there were no strong crossbows or strong soldiers approaching the city. Dong Zhao, who was in charge of the craftsmen of the Shaofu, knew something about this, so he couldn't help but wonder if Liu Bei had a way to throw the thing that blasted the city gate hundreds of steps away. If so, I'm afraid that what Liu Bei shouted at this time might not be a lie, so Dong Zhao tried his best to dissuade him at this moment.

"Kimihito."

Cao Cao drew out his sword and wiped it gently, his face very determined:

"Do I have any way out now?"

"Liu Bei is not a complacent person like Sun Quan."

At this point, Cao Cao also revealed his true feelings, but his breathing was inevitably a little unstable when he talked about Sun Quan.

For Cao Cao, he almost didn't want to think about the alliance between Cao and Sun.

He fought hard in northern Jing, but he still fulfilled his promise and sent elite cavalry to assist.

What happened to Lu Meng? He took over Jiangling and Jiangxia to the south, not allowing Cao Jun to get involved at all. In the end, he was buried under the city of Jiangling.

If the 100,000 troops from Jiangdong at that time could have marched north to block Guan Yu's retreat... forget it, it's not Cao Cao's style to calculate before a battle.

After calming down, Cao Cao held his sword and said:

"There is no room for maneuver now. If we fight, we will live. If we stay calm, we will die. It is nothing more than this."

He, Cao Cao, has always had the courage to fight to the death!

It was because of this courage that Zixiu died in Wancheng; Zihuan lost this courage in Wancheng, which led to such a bad situation!
In the current situation, if we move forward bravely and defeat them, we can survive; if we retreat to Xu Du and try to survive while waiting for the enemy troops to surround us, we will surely die.

I just hope... Liu Bei's current move is just a threat.

Following Cao Cao's order, the atmosphere at the front of Cao's army became so heavy that it seemed as if there were real dark clouds.

Looking forward, we can see the busy army of the emperor's uncle on the other side of the river, with iron barrels of unknown purpose being pushed forward.

Looking back at the generals who had already drawn their swords, they all had cold expressions and were looking at the back of their necks with ill intent.

The army had no means of keeping track of time, so this period seemed particularly difficult, but they soon realized that the two quarters of an hour was up.

Because a roaring sound like the roar of ghosts in the underworld was heard.

Cao Cao raised the sword in his hand in a daze, but as far as he could see, the enemy did not cross the river. Instead, the fortifications he had spent so much effort to build in the past few days were in a mess, as if they had been slapped by an immortal. The soldiers were running around in a daze, not understanding what was going on.

Cao Cao was also at a loss. He put on his armor, wiped his sword, and prepared himself for a bloody battle.

But from beginning to end, there was not a single enemy soldier within two hundred steps who could swing a sword.

The fortifications were destroyed, and the soldiers who were forced by him not to retreat were blown away. His personal guards were also affected. One of them had his lower body completely disappeared, but he was still alive and was reaching out his hands to him.

Confused, Cao Cao subconsciously grabbed the old soldier from Chenliu and put his ear close to him.

"Prime Minister, please go back to Chenliu and call the brothers..."

Before he could finish his words, his hand dropped.

The other side of the river was shouting in unison again. At this distance, he could hear it clearly even before the shouting became uniform:
"After the next bombardment forty breaths, those who do not wish to die should retreat immediately!"

This time was not long enough for him to organize his personal soldiers to force a crossing of the river.

But it was not short, enough for the confused soldiers to wake up and swing their swords at the commander-in-chief behind them.

Amid the noisy commotion, the personal soldiers began to drag Cao Cao back by force. After all, everyone could see that there was no point in staying here.

Moreover, some of the chaotic soldiers who were eager to survive had already noticed this place and began to swing their swords at the prime minister like moths to a flame.

The retreat was slowed down, and so forty breaths of time passed in a flash. With a roar, the sound of swords clashing suddenly disappeared.

A powerful force came from not far behind him, and then Cao Cao felt himself flying. After falling to the ground and rolling twice, he fainted uncontrollably.

When he woke up again, the sunlight had become extremely dazzling, and a black face suddenly occupied his entire field of vision.

A thick finger was raised in front of him, and then shook. Cao Cao's eyes subconsciously followed the movement of the finger, and he was instantly sprayed with spit in the face:

"Brother, this Cao dog is not dead, he is still alive!"

(End of this chapter)