Chapter 1043 Conspiracy and Gambling

Cao Cao stood upstairs looking at the enemy, and Yuan's army's position was faintly visible in the distance. What disturbed him was that Yuan Jun was not in a hurry to launch an attack, but slowly began to build a camp. These camps are very simple, but the layout is like fish scales, superimposed and connected by layers.

But these things made Cao Cao a little scared. Yuan Shaojun obviously changed his mind and planned to fight a protracted war. This is not good news. These fish scales are not strong enough, but they are easy to support each other. If they are repaired, they can cover the craftsmen to continue to build in a slightly forward place, which can be repaired under the enemy's nose in one breath. It will be like a grinding disc, slowly and powerfully smoothing the last drop of Cao Jun's blood and grain.

"It seems that the series of failures have finally made Yuan Shao learn to be smart." Cao Cao shook his head and walked down to look at the enemy's tower uneasily. Seeing this, Cheng Yu next to him was slightly unhappy and said, "Lord, Yuan Jun has lost his courage. As long as our army strictly defends the city and attacks the enemy, over time, Yuan Jun will inevitably collapse and flee!"

"Zhong De, you don't know that Yuan Shao is not exactly the indecisive and empty-mu guy in your eyes. If everything is the same as before, when the Yuan family is invincible, Yuan Shao may play tricks and make mistakes again and again. But now Yuan Shao has suffered losses in both the Ma family and us. The western line has completely fallen, and the eastern line has also shrinked and dare not act rashly. The 700,000 army has now been beaten to 400,000 in his hand. He will be like a rusty sword, fading away the dirty and rotten rust and showing the sharpness again!"

When Xun Yu heard this, he also nodded and responded: "In this war, if Yuan Shao only brings one strategist, our army will be defeated - but there are too many capable people under him, his voice is bigger and louder, and Yuan Shao is a face-loving person. Naturally, they will be immersed in vanity and play tricks, causing the nine-headed birds to fly one side and finally fall into the dust. Originally, I only hoped that Yuan Shao could show his biggest flaw and be hit by our army. Even if he repented again, he would not do anything more. But now the Ma family has pulled out Yuan Shao's shame early. As long as he is bold and resourceful, he can close his military heart and move slowly, and he will still have a chance of winning. The camp in front of him is the best proof that Yuan Shao put down his pride and luxury and tried his best to fight with our army.

"The biggest problem now is that Yuan Shao hid his weakness well, and there is nothing we can do." Jiang Ji followed the three people. Under the light of these three people, as if he had not been affected at all. He still said cynically, "Yuan Shao's biggest reliance at present is that he has sufficient troops and abundant grain. In terms of military strength, if you really fight with Yuan Shao, you may not see success for a year and a half. At present, the only movable thing is grain and grass. As long as Yuan Shao's grain and grass are burned, it will become the last straw to crush the camel..."

"Food and grass..." Cao Cao couldn't help showing some worry when he heard this word: Jizhou has been a bumper harvest for three consecutive years, and its savings are enough to support more than 700,000 troops to fight abroad - in contrast, Cao Cao's situation is much more difficult, and even the army is forced to go to the land to settle in the land, which makes Jizhou people laugh. Now, in order to fulfill the alliance with the Ma family, Cao Cao has to dispatch troops to help fight. This situation made Cao Cao, who started much lower than Yuan Shao, feel sad for a while.

Cao Jun's food and fodder will not be supported for two months.

Everyone present knows this situation. Although Cheng Yu is a main war faction, he can't help but regret at this time: "It's a pity that Xi Zhi was sent to Hedong by the Lord. If he is here, Jing'an Cao may bring some information."

"It's unlikely." Xun Yu shook his head and said, "Since Yuan Shao has changed his strategy and was burned by Ma Chao's grain warehouse in Wen County, he will naturally pay more attention to the protection of grain and grass. Moreover, Gao Lan's red eagle rider is not a vegetarian. If Yuan Shao deliberately protects, not to mention Jing An Cao, even the shadow of the Ma family, it is impossible to know Yuan Shao's place to store grain.

The problem was so difficult, and the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while. In particular, Cheng Yu and Xun Yu mentioned Hedong and Xi Zhicai. Everyone knows why Cao Cao's move is, but the problem is that the last card that balances Ma Chao is really frightening. At present, everyone has a tacit understanding to bypass this topic and return to the matter of Yuan Shao's military grain.

"Let's do this for the time being today. Order the troops to defend carefully." Cao Cao saw that the three of them were confused and knew that he could not think of any good strategy today, so he immediately made this decision.

However, when walking back to his bedroom, Cao Cao couldn't help asking Xun Yu, "How is Ma Chao's army now?"

"Isn't it good?" Xun Yu frowned and couldn't help saying a few good words of Ma Chao: "Ma Chao used his troops like a god. First, he retreated to the Yan Division, then took Jinyang thousands of miles away, then burned the Wen County camp, continuously chased Chunyu Qiong to Shanyang, and then directly destroyed the Yuan army on the western line. Now the soldiers have been divided into three ways, and they have taken the counties of Bingzhou. Wherever they go, they will surrender. If Bingzhou had not always been a mixed place of dragons and snakes, I'm afraid that at this time, Bingzhou would have been ruled by the Ma family. But..."

"However, even so, under such an offensive, Ma Chao will still be able to obtain the whole territory of the state in less than a month." Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu's stattering and couldn't help but complete Xun Yu's unspeaked words. Then he looked at the west and said reluctantly, "Hedong Wei family, I'm afraid that Cao's hard-won line will be completely cut off by the Ma family."

"Lord, according to the opinion of your subordinates, it's better to give up in Hedong." Xun Yu's warm and jade-like face showed a hesitant look for the first time and said, "The Ma family is now powerful. Since Ma Mengqi attacked Hanzhong, he has no longer killed the people harshly, but has collected the hearts of the people with the posture of Zhongzheng benevolence and virtue. Such a plan is undoubtedly the world. Once the story of Xi Zhicai in Hedong is revealed, what our army will face is the crazy and vicious revenge of the Ma family.

Speaking of this, Xun Yu paused for a moment, saw Cao Cao listen to his advice, and continued: "Now that Yuan Shu's side is dragged down by Sun Ce, we can't get out of the army. Sun Ce can't stand alone, and he will eventually stop with Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu has always been narrow-minded and eager to repay, and must have been hated by the Lord. There is also Jingzhou Liu Biao. Although he did not move at this moment, Yuan Shao was defeated, and Liu Biao said that he could not be passive and active to seek us. If Cao's family provokes the Ma family again this time, I'm afraid it will be besieged by the three parties, and it will be too late to regret.

Xun Yu's words are heartfelt and every sentence is conclusive. Although it is inevitable that there is a suspicion of attachment, ancient policymen have always needed this sense of crisis. After a few words, Cao Cao was also moved by his worries and couldn't help saying, "In this case, you sent a message to play talent and warn him to act cautiously and plan to move. If possible, turn that incident into a sharp blade buried in the belly of the Ma family, highlight the sharpness at the critical moment, and fall into the chaos of the Ma family..."

"So good." Xun Yu nodded and agreed. When he was about to leave, someone suddenly reported: "Lord, your majesty has a secret purpose to deliver it to you."

Cao Cao took over Liu Xie's secret letter, and his eyes were bright. He hurried to the tent before hanging the map. After searching for a while, he was shocked and said, "It turned out to be this place!"

Xun Yu didn't know what happened, but he didn't want to get involved with Cao Gong and His Majesty. But when he turned around and left, he was called by Cao Cao: "Wen Ruo, do you think this plan is feasible?" Xun Yu had no choice but to step forward and take the secret letter from Cao Cao's hand. His face couldn't help but change greatly: "Your Majesty's handwriting! ..."

"Is it too incredible?" Cao Cao opened his mouth.

"Exact." Xun Yu nodded and pondered for a moment, but then said, "Although your Majesty's plan seems dangerous, if you want to take it, you must give it first. Our army is trapped in Wei County and Yangping counties, and there will not be much progress. If the Lord is brave, you might as well let go of the bet!" At the end, Xun Yu's tone had become sonorous, and the gentle gentleman's demeanor was swept away, as if a gambler who met a wonderful bet and was eager to try!

"Bet?" Cao Cao smiled and suddenly emitted a trace of light in his eyes: "This is indeed a gamble, but why have I, Cao Mengde, been afraid of any gambling?"