Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 310 Seeing the empty city again, Sima Yi was dumbfounded: Is it because my intelligence is too low and I am not suitable for marching and fighting?

"Is that so?"

After hearing Sima Yi's careful analysis, Lu Bu was shocked, and his original enthusiasm to cross the river was extinguished.

Because if the situation was really as Sima Yi said, then his army would suffer heavy casualties if he rashly crossed the river.

The consequences are simply unimaginable!
Sima Yi smiled and said, "No one is perfect. Lord Wen is unrivaled in leading troops in battle. It is normal for him to be not good at strategy, especially when he is facing a cunning opponent like Cao."

"But now that I am here, Cao's tricks will not work. Lord Wen, don't worry."

Then, Sima Yi said to Wei Yue: "General Wei, we must send more scouts to cross the river and expand the search area."

"The enemy wants to attack us halfway across the river. There must be no less than 5,000 soldiers and horses. Even if they are separated and hidden, they will definitely be exposed."

"So we must carefully search the villages, forests, caves, and caravans on the other side of the Yellow River. Don't overlook any place!"

No matter how well the enemy hides, as long as we increase the search intensity, we will be able to find clues.

He just didn't believe that the enemy could become invisible!

Upon hearing this, Wei Yue cast his gaze towards Lu Bu. After seeing Lu Bu nod, he clasped his fists and said, "Yes!"

……

According to Sima Yi's instructions, a large number of scouts were sent out to conduct a carpet search of the other side of the river and the surrounding areas.

The search area was expanded to more than ten miles.

Since more people were sent out this time, the scouts searched more thoroughly than before, including investigating the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

But after a few days, there was still nothing to be found.

Inside the Chinese army camp.

Wei Yue reported to Lu Bu: "General, the scouts we sent out have searched the mountains, forests and villages within a radius of 15 miles on the other side of the river."

"We didn't find any signs of military activity in the mountains. There were only a few elderly, children, women and children in the surrounding villages. Even the occasional merchant caravans we encountered came from Jizhou, and there were only about a hundred people, all of whom were civilians with clean identities."

The search results this time are exactly the same as last time.

No trace of the ambush was found.

After listening to this, Lu Bu cast his gaze towards Sima Yi, who looked dazed, and asked with a frown, "Military Advisor, are you sure the enemy has an ambush?"

"Will they abandon the White Horse Ferry?"

Sima Yi kept saying that the enemy had an ambush, but no matter how many scouts he sent out, he didn't even see the shadow of the ambush.

Sima Yi also had some self-doubt at this time.

The army crossing the river is an excellent opportunity for attack. Even a general who is not familiar with military affairs knows how to attack by ambush. How could there be no ambush?
This is totally against common sense!
Even if they were to give up the Baima Ferry, they would at least station a few thousand soldiers there to consume their manpower while they were crossing the river. What was going on?

Could it be...

An idea came to Sima Yi's mind, but he quickly extinguished it. This idea was too outrageous. He shook his head and said to Lu Bu: "Mr. Wen, I think we should investigate further."

"That's not necessary!" This time, Lu Bu did not agree to Sima Yi's request. His patience had been exhausted. He said with a sullen face, "It has been seven days since the army arrived at the Baima Ferry. Zhang Liao is about to arrive in Xuzhou, and we are still wasting time at this ferry."

"If we can't find the ambush, will we just not cross the river? Then we might as well not fight this battle!"

"Pass my order to cross the river immediately!"

He has been giving Sima Yi enough face by keeping his troops in place until now. If he had really discovered any trace of the enemy, it would be fine, but why is he letting him wait here when he hasn't even seen a hair?

Seeing that Lu Bu was really angry, although Sima Yi was full of worries, he couldn't continue to dissuade him.

After all, he couldn't find a suitable reason to persuade him.

After Lu Bu's order was issued, the Han troops stationed along the Yellow River broke camp one after another and the army began to cross the Yellow River.

Sima Yi followed Lu Bu across the river on a boat.

While crossing the river, he felt uneasy all the time, and his eyes kept scanning the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the mountains and forests on the opposite bank.

By the time they reached the center of the Yellow River by boat, his heart was in his throat, and he was extremely worried that an ambush would suddenly appear from somewhere and launch a surprise attack on them.

But that never happened.

The army crossed the Yellow River smoothly without encountering any obstruction or attack, and everything was safe and sound.

"Really... there aren't any ambushes?"

When Sima Yi stepped on solid ground, he couldn't help but look back at the Yellow River behind him, feeling a little unreal.

How could it be so smooth?
This shouldn't be!
Lu Bu patted Sima Yi's shoulder heavily and said, "Military Advisor, you are too suspicious. If we had crossed the river earlier, we would have come here a long time ago. Why delay so long?"

Sima Yi opened his mouth, speechless.

Because facts speak louder than words.

Lu Bu did not dwell on this matter any longer. He held the reins and gave the order with high spirits: "Move out, target the capital of Dongjun!"

Dongjun is an important place in Yanzhou.

Cao Cao once served as the prefect of Dongjun on the recommendation of Yuan Shao. It is no exaggeration to say that this place was where Cao Cao made his fortune. Its importance is self-evident.

Dongjun was their first target after crossing the Baima Ferry. By taking Dongjun, they would have a foothold in Yanzhou and their logistics would be guaranteed.

Only then can we plan to take over the entire Yanzhou!
After the army was assembled, it then, led by Lu Bu, marched straight to Puyang, the capital of Dongjun.

Baima Ferry was not far from Puyang, and the army arrived outside Puyang City in less than two days of marching, and strangely did not encounter any obstruction from Cao's army along the way.

"finally reached!"

Looking at Puyang City not far away, Lu Bu could not hide his excitement on his face, and he immediately ordered the army to launch an attack.

"Wait a minute, Lord Wen!"

Seeing this, Sima Yi quickly spoke up to stop it.

Before Lu Bu could finish his words, he was blocked back. He felt extremely aggrieved and looked at Sima Yi with an annoyed face. He gritted his teeth and said, "What's wrong again?!"

Feeling Lü Bu's murderous gaze, Sima Yi felt a chill on his spine, but he still said, "Duke Wen, I think we shouldn't attack the city rashly."

"You will understand if you look closely at Puyang City."

Lu Bu and his generals looked in the direction of Sima Yi's finger and saw that the gate of Puyang City was wide open, there were no defenders on the city wall, and even the flags had been taken down.

It seems like an empty city.

Sima Yi said solemnly: "Dongjun is a major fortress, and Puyang, as the seat of Dongjun, is even more important."

"We were not attacked when we crossed the river this time, which means they concentrated their forces in Dongjun, and they are likely hiding their troops in Puyang."

"The city gate opposite is wide open right now. There must be an ambush there. It must be to lure our army closer and then launch a sudden attack!"

Weird, really weird.

In Puyang City, the seat of Dongjun, there were no defenders on the city walls and all the city gates were open, which clearly showed that there was a trick.

After all, it is impossible for the enemy to abandon Puyang City, right?

"Another ambush?"

Hearing this familiar rhetoric, Lu Bu felt a headache as big as a bucket. His ears were almost callused from hearing the word "ambush" in recent days!

Why are there ambushes everywhere?

Lu Bu said impatiently: "That's enough! The enemy army must have heard of my reputation and fled in panic. There is no ambush!" "Even if there are more ambushes in his army, once my army rushes into the city and attacks the city wall, we can capture Puyang City in an instant!"

"You smart people just think too much!"

Lu Bu was too lazy to argue with Sima Yi any further, otherwise he would have to stay outside Puyang City for a few days, so he had to continue giving orders.

Sima Yi's face changed drastically. He grabbed Lu Bu's hand tightly and said anxiously, "You can't do that, Lord Wen! A rash attack will definitely fall into the enemy's trap!"

"Believe me, there must be a bomb buried in it!"

Lu Bu angrily said: "I trusted you twice at Baima Ferry. I searched for the ambush for seven days but couldn't find even a shadow of it!"

"This is a siege, not a march. Don't tell me what to do!"

"I am the commander-in-chief of the three armies!"

Lu Bu was not as good-tempered towards Sima Yi as he was towards Chen Gong, or rather, Chen Gong's temper was worse than his, so he did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Chen Gong.

But Sima Yi was different. He called him military advisor out of respect. If he didn’t give face, he would be nothing!
If I can’t cure Chen Gong, can I not cure you?

Sima Yi begged: "Lord Wen, please trust me again, just once! Marching and fighting are not to be taken lightly!"

"I understand now. The reason why the enemy didn't set up an ambush at Baima Ferry is to make you, Lord Wen, relax your vigilance and think that they won't resist. In fact, the real killer move is here!"

"If you enter the city rashly, you will fall into a trap!"

Sima Yi was almost dying of anxiety. If Lu Bu launched an attack and suffered a disastrous defeat because he did not listen to his advice, the consequences would be something he could not bear.

The emperor would not blame him because he had fulfilled his duty to give advice, but it was inevitable that he would be disappointed in him.

Then all the goodwill he had painstakingly accumulated in the emperor's heart would be lost.

But Lu Bu will not be affected in any way.

He is the most powerful general in the world and a royal relative, deeply trusted by the emperor. What's the big deal about losing a battle?

Therefore, even though he knew that Lu Bu was angry, he still had to persuade him. He was betting that Lu Bu was loyal to the emperor and would not kill him for this.

"you--"

Lu Bu was so angry that he couldn't speak, veins on his forehead were throbbing, and he had the urge to strangle Sima Yi to death, but he finally suppressed it.

Then he called Gao Shun over and said fiercely, "Send someone to catch a tongue and ask what's going on in the city!"

"promise!"

Gao Shun took the order and retreated.

Not long after, he came back with a white-haired old man: "General, the person is here!"

When the old man saw so many imposing soldiers in front of him, he was so frightened that his face turned pale and he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"General, please spare my life! General, please spare my life!"

Lu Bu glanced at the old man, frowned at Gao Shun and said, "Why did you capture this old man? Why don't you capture someone younger and ask him?"

Gao Shun said with an embarrassed look on his face: "General, I looked around the surrounding villages and found only the old and weak, no young and strong people."

"This old man is the chief of a nearby village called Huangniu Village. He has some knowledge, so I brought him back."

Sima Yi didn't care about that. He immediately stepped forward to help the village chief up and said in a kind tone:
"Don't panic, old man. We are the imperial army. We are under the order of the emperor to march south to attack Cao Cao. The one in front of you is Duke Wen, Lü Fengxian."

"We have no ill intentions, but we have something to ask you. If you can answer truthfully, you will be rewarded handsomely."

Upon hearing that it was the imperial army, the village chief subconsciously looked up at the flags flying in the army, then looked at Lu Bu, with a look of shock on his face.

"It turns out that it is the royal master who has arrived!"

After realizing what was happening, the village chief was extremely excited. He then knelt down before Lu Bu again, weeping and saying, "Please, Lord Wen, help me!"

This shout stunned everyone.

They called people here to interrogate them, not to seek justice for the people. Besides, they are on the march and fighting now, what are they doing?

However, as the army of the imperial court, they also represented the majesty of the imperial court. At this time, the people were openly seeking justice, and Lu Bu could not ignore it.

"What grievances do you have?"

Hearing Lü Bu's question, the village chief cried even harder, wiping away tears and saying, "It's all because of that evil traitor Cao Cao!"

Ok?
Hearing Cao Cao's name, everyone perked up again. Lu Bu looked at the old man with a sharp gaze and asked, "What evil things did Cao the thief do? Tell me in detail, old man!"

The village chief cried and said, "Half a month ago, Cao sent soldiers to plunder every village, taking away all the young men, women and children."

"There were hundreds of families in Huangniu Village, but now only a few of us old men are left. The damn thief Cao is simply committing a crime!"

"Please ask Lord Wen to make the decision for us!"

The village chief cried heartbreakingly and looked extremely pitiful.

Sima Yi was startled, and then asked: "Then do you know where Cao's army is? How many of Cao's soldiers are stationed in Puyang City?"

This is still the issue that he is most concerned about.

There are so many ambushes in Puyang city.

"Puyang City?"

The village chief paused for a moment after hearing this, and then said blankly: "Cao's troops have all retreated southwards, and there are no defenders in Puyang City."

There was silence.

Only the wind howled.

Sima Yi froze in place, his eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief: "There are no defenders in the city? Not even one?!"

His tone unconsciously rose.

The village chief nodded and said, "Yes, sir. Cao's troops withdrew more than ten days ago. Not a single one was left behind."

Sima Yi was silent.

"Humph!"

Lu Bu glanced at Sima Yi coldly, then raised the Fang Tian Hua Ji in his hand and ordered: "Follow my command, the whole army enters the city!"

He knew he shouldn't have listened to Sima Yi.

It’s definitely a good idea to go straight into the city!
The army left in a mighty manner, leaving Sima Yi standing there alone, dejected and sad.

"How could that be? How could there be no enemy troops..."

"Why would Cao give up Dongjun?"

"Once Dongjun is lost, Yanzhou will face our Han army. How could he abandon Dongjun and retreat?"

"Am I really too suspicious? Or am I too stupid to see through Cao's schemes and not suitable for marching and fighting?"

Sima Yi stood disheveled in the wind.

He began to have deep doubts about his abilities.

-

(PS: The Han Dynasty is declining, and we urgently need your monthly tickets to revive the Han Dynasty. Those who offer monthly tickets will be crowned kings!)
(End of this chapter)