The Three Kingdoms: Rise to Power Starting with Intercepting Liu Bei

After everyone left the governor's mansion, Xun Yu grabbed Guo Jia outside the hall, preparing to ask him why he had stopped him in the hall.

"Fengxiao, what exactly did you mean just now? Our lord acted so impulsively, launching an attack on Xuzhou without even investigating the truth of the matter. Not only did you not stop him, but you also wouldn't let me advise him?"

Xun Yu spoke urgently, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Hahaha!" Guo Jia laughed out loud when he saw that Xun Yu had stopped him for this matter. He stroked his beard and then gave his opinion:

"Wenruo, we've been by our lord's side for so long, don't you understand his thoughts? Besides avenging his father, our lord is also eyeing Xuzhou!"

He paused and continued, "The world is in chaos now, and various warlords are vying for territory. Yuan Shao has occupied the rich Ji Province, Yuan Shu has occupied Huainan, and Yan Province is devastated after the Yellow Turban Army's rampant looting, with no chance of development whatsoever."

"Our lord has long coveted Xuzhou. Advising him at this time would only cause him trouble, wouldn't it?"

"Can I not stop you?" Guo Jia smiled slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

"Sigh..." Xun Yu sighed softly after listening, "Fengxiao, you're so shrewd. I really have a lot to learn from you!"

"Alright, we're all friends now, let's go!"

After Guo Jia patted Xun Yu on the shoulder, the two left the Governor's Office of Yanzhou and returned home to prepare for the expedition. As members of Cao Cao's strategist group, they were also going to offer advice to their lord.

···········

As dusk falls, the lush valley is gently shrouded in a thin layer of golden gauze.

The afterglow of the setting sun slowly slid down from the mountaintop, dyeing the sky a magnificent orange-red, like an overturned palette, painting the horizon with rich and vibrant colors.

This place is only about two hundred miles away from Tancheng, Xuzhou. Qin Xuan's five hundred Great Snow Dragon Cavalry are stationed here. The warhorses neigh softly, and the soldiers are busy in silence and order. More than a hundred tents are arranged in an orderly manner like a chessboard.

In the very center of the large military tent, Qin Xuan was discussing something with Liu Bowen, Xue Rengui, and Li Jing.

Xue Rengui, the temporary commander of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, relayed the latest news to everyone: "My lord, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry scouts have reported that Cao Cao of Yanzhou has dispatched 30,000 troops to attack Xuzhou, and they are currently approaching Taishan County!"

"In Xuzhou, Tao Qian has sent envoys to Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and others to request reinforcements, and has intensified the defenses of the city, ready to fight Cao Cao's army at any time."

"Really?" Qin Xuan showed no surprise at all, as if he had known all along, and even Liu Bowen's face was full of joy.

"That's right!"

Xue Rengui nodded heavily and added, "My lord, when are we to set out? The brothers have been resting for several days and are getting impatient."

As military commanders, the battlefield is their paradise for rampage, and now that they have finally caught an opportunity, they will naturally not let it go.

Qin Xuan slapped his thigh: "Alright, tell the brothers to wait a few more days, keep a close eye on both sides' movements, and once Cao Cao's army has been besieging Xuzhou for a long time without success, we'll launch a surprise attack on their rear!"

"Pharmacist, this battle depends on your command!"

"promise!

············

Several days later, Cao's army swept through Tancheng and surrounded it completely.

In the Cao army camp beneath the city of Xuzhou, every soldier was dressed in mourning clothes, their expressions filled with grief and indignation.

"Thump~ thump thump!"

"Roar~ Roar roar!"

The dull sound of war drums, mingled with the roars of Cao Cao's soldiers, struck the hearts of everyone atop the city walls of Xuzhou like muffled thunder.

Cao Cao, dressed in mourning clothes, rode his Zhaohuang Feidian horse and, accompanied by Cao Ren and others, arrived at the city gate not far away.

"I am Cao Cao of Yan Province, and Tao Qian of Xu Province, come forward to answer!"

Cao Cao looked at the Xuzhou officials on the city wall and shouted with grief and indignation, "My father has suffered a great calamity for no reason. I must demand an explanation!"

At this moment, Tao Qian, dressed in plain clothes, looked at Cao Cao's army outside the city and listened to Cao Cao's shouts. His old legs trembled, and if his son hadn't helped him up in time, he probably wouldn't have been able to stand up.

"Quickly, help your father out of the city and explain things to Cao Cao!" Tao Qian said to his son after thinking for a moment.

"Father, Cao Cao looks menacing, what do you think?" Tao Ying earnestly advised from the side.

In his view, things have come to this point, and the two sides are irreconcilably at odds, so there is no need for explanation.

"Heh, I have to seize every chance, I can't let the people of Xuzhou suffer such a calamity!" Tao Qian shook his head and retorted, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, has there been any news from the men I sent out? Has Yuan Shao and his men made any moves?"

"No!" Upon hearing this, Tao Ying lowered his head like a wilted eggplant.

"Sigh, let's take Cao Song's coffin and leave the city!" Tao Qian slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, looking utterly desolate.

Upon arriving at the city walls, Tao Qian solemnly bowed to Cao Cao, presented him with the coffin, and then recounted the whole story.

"Mengde, you personally led a large army to attack, and I, Tao Qian, know I am no match for you. But the death of your father, Cao Song, was entirely an accident!"

"When Old Master Cao passed through Xuzhou, I originally intended to treat him well and make your acquaintance in the process."

"Before leaving, he also gave away valuable gifts and sent his subordinate Zhang Kai to escort him. Who knew that this guy would not change his ways and killed Old Master Cao on the way."

"To atone for my mistake, I have ordered all the people of Xuzhou to observe mourning for Old Master Cao. I hope you, Mengde, can be understanding!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao, seated on his horse, immediately put his hand to his forehead, squinted at the soldiers on the city wall, and then gritted his teeth as he spoke his true thoughts:

"Tao Qian, do you think I'll let you off the hook just because of this?"

"dream!"

"The hatred for the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable."

As Cao Cao spoke, he held up two fingers: "Two days. In two days, my army will surely crush Xuzhou. At that time, everyone in the city who has not observed mourning for my father will be executed!"

"You'd better wash your necks clean and wait!"

Before Tao Qian could react, Cao Cao finished speaking and rode back to his army formation, ordering an attack on the city.

Half an hour later, all of Cao Cao's siege equipment was in place, waiting for the commander's order to begin the attack on Xuzhou.

"Cao Ren, it's almost time!"

Upon hearing Cao Cao's order, Cao Ren drew his sword, pointed it at Tancheng, and shouted with all his might:

"Attack! Release!"

After he finished speaking, Cao Cao's catapults continuously hurled large stones weighing dozens of kilograms at Xuzhou, followed by a hail of arrows.

A large number of soldiers, under the cover of shield bearers, launched a fierce attack on Tancheng.

Faced with Cao Cao's fierce and overwhelming attack, Tao Qian ordered his soldiers to fight to the death. In his view, Cao Cao would have to put in a lot of effort to take Xuzhou.

To say that Xuzhou was captured in two days is simply bragging.

By then, reinforcements would have arrived long ago, and the siege of Xuzhou would be lifted. If Yuan Shao were to personally lead his main force, we might be able to coordinate with him from within and without to annihilate Cao Cao's army in one fell swoop.