Chapter 418 The Situation Is Stable

Xia Houyuan's expression brightened, "Has Yuqing's letter arrived?" Back then, Xia Houyuan and Liu Ye cooperated with each other to fight into the granary of the Bocai Department of Changshe, defeating the enemy in the first battle, and their friendship was quite deep.

But Cao Cao's face was happy, and then suddenly changed.

Is there a letter from Yuqing? Why is it at this juncture, isn't it?

Cao Cao thought of this, his face sank, and he said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, read it."

"No." The tall Cheng Yu took a step forward, took the letter, and frowned after a quick glance.

"Why, is it possible that the chariot general wants to stop Cao from entering the army?" Cao Cao said in a bad tone.

Cheng Yunian said: "Brother Meng De personally informed me, and younger brother Yuqing is also very saddened to hear about the death of the old grandpa. However, the art of war will not lead to anger. How can we send troops to attack Xuzhou?"

"Zhang Kai was interested in seeing the money. It wasn't Tao's governor who wanted to murder the old lady. Now that Meng De has captured Langya County, someone has persuaded the emperor to put Langya County under the rule of Qingzhou, and ordered Tao Qian to donate food and grass. Wanshi and Brother Meng De, Meng De It is not easy for brother De to support a million yellow scarf thieves in Qingzhou. Moreover, the old grandpa Cao can be posthumously named Taifu. If brother Mengde thinks of the friendship between you and me, he should withdraw his troops, remember it."

In this letter, Liu Ye did not directly use the big hat of the court, but instead focused on the personal relationship between himself and Cao Cao: Brother Meng De, it is understandable that the old man died, but Zhang Kai did it. You can't find Tao Qian if you have a grievance and a debtor, but your father is dead, I can also understand, ceding Langya County, giving you ten thousand stones of grain and grass, and giving Cao Song a posthumous gift, you will get land and wealth, and your father will also It was chased down, are you satisfied?

After reading the letter, Cao Cao's face softened a little: "It seems that although Yuqing was named General of Chariots and Cavalry, she still has some old feelings."

Xia Houyuan's footsteps stopped, and he asked suspiciously: "My lord, should our army retreat or...?"

Cao Cao shook his head: "There's no need to retreat, you'll have to reorganize your troops in seconds, and rush to Xiapi immediately!"

Xia Houyuan looked a little embarrassed, but nodded firmly: "Yuan understands."

When Xia Houyuan walked out of the camp gate, Cheng Yu said: "My lord, the attack on Xuzhou is an established matter, but from now on, I'm afraid I will inevitably spoil my friendship with Liu Cheqi."

Cao Cao waved his hand: "It's okay, how can there be friendship in the struggle for hegemony? Back then, Chong Er was exiled in Chu State, and was treated favorably by King Chu Cheng. He said that he would repay King Chu Cheng. In fact, it is to show the enemy weakness and break the Chu army, so it can be seen that if the struggle for world hegemony is based on personal interests, it is only a way to defeat oneself."

Xi Zhicai nodded, and said seriously: "That's right, the most important thing right now is to attack Xuzhou! Once the two prefectures of Qingzhou and Xuzhou are occupied, the north will be handed over to Yuan Shao, and our army will quickly pacify the Central Plains. With the momentum, even if Liu Ye is strong Qin, he may not be unable to fight!"

Cao Cao nodded, with a complex expression on his face: "Yuqing, General Cheqi"

Although Cao Cao received a letter from Liu Ye, he was determined to attack Xuzhou.

Xia Houyuan, a lieutenant of the Dian Army, led five thousand elite soldiers and quietly left the camp in the dark, unknowingly far away from Shan County, but Cao Bao didn't know it. After all, 5,000 people suddenly disappeared from the camp of 50,000 troops, and it was basically difficult to tell them apart.

After Xia Houyuan left Shan County, he immediately displayed his furious marching style, leading 5,000 elite soldiers galloping all the way south, crossing Siwu City, and entering Xiapi County from Donghai County.

Xia Houyuan led his army to pass through hidden places on purpose, and the defenders of Xuzhou were all guarding the city and did not go out to fight in the city, so no one found Xia Houyuan's whereabouts along the way.

At noon on the second day, Xiahouyuan's 5,000 elite soldiers suddenly appeared at the foot of Xiapi City like magic soldiers descending from the sky.

"Siege!"

Under Xia Houyuan's order, the 5,000-strong army cut down the trees around the city to make ladders, and suppressed the Xiapi defenders at the top of the city with heavy rain of arrows from the archers.

Although there were tens of thousands of defenders in Xiapi City, firstly, Xuzhou had been at ease for a long time, and secondly, the appearance of Xiahouyuan's army was unexpected, so they were shocked, and Cao Jun suddenly attacked the city.

At the critical moment, Tao Qian personally put on his clothes and went into battle near the city to supervise the battle. When the defenders of Xiapi saw Tao Qian appearing in person, their morale was immediately boosted, and they drove Xiahouyuan's army down from the city in one go.

However, this battle made Tao Qian break out in a cold sweat. On the second day, Tao Qian went to the city to watch in person, but Xia Houyuan ordered 5,000 soldiers to log and camp overnight.

"Tao Shijun, it seems that Cao Cao is besieging Shan County on the surface, but in fact he is personally leading elite troops to attack Xiapi. Should we ask General Cao Bao to lead Danyang elite troops back to help?" Mi Fang asked eagerly.

Tao Qian frowned: "However, how do we know which route Cao Cao is the main force in? What if Cao Cao attacked Xiapi just to contain our army, and actually deployed heavy troops in Shan County and Qu County, in case Cao Bao returned? Aid, isn't Donghai County handed over to others?"

Mi Fang persuaded: "Yesterday, Cao Jun's offensive was fierce. Tao Shijun must have seen it too. The enemy's long-distance attack was already a tired army, but they were still able to attack the top of the city. It shows that Cao Jun's main force is elite. The main force must have reached the city."

"Xiapi is where the county government of Xuzhou is located. If there is a loss in Xiapi, the hearts of Xuzhou people will fluctuate." Mi Fang sighed, "Besides, Cao Bao's family is still in Xiapi city. If he knows that Cao's army is besieging Xiapi, he may come here uninvited. Why don't Tao Shijun personally write a letter asking General Cao to come back."

Tao Qian frowned and thought for a while, then sighed: "Okay, since that's the case, let Cao Bao come back, but Zhao Yu must be ordered to defend Donghai County to the death."

"By the way, Zifang, go to Yuan Shu's army again. Don't go to Runan County this time, go directly to Xiao County. General Zhang Xun, please send troops quickly. I am willing to add three thousand shi for food and grass!"

Mi Fang nodded: "Fang understands."

Because Xiahouyuan besieged Xiapi, Tao Qian didn't know the enemy's situation, so he had to order people to send letters to Shan County.

After Xia Houyuan led his army to shoot and kill several messengers, he deliberately released several of them.

The messenger Tao Qian sent from Xiapi City ran day and night, and arrived in Shan County within two days, and delivered the letter written by Tao Qian himself to Cao Bao.

Cao Bao was taken aback when he saw the letter, not only because Cao Jun suddenly attacked Xiapi, Cao Bao's property and family members were all in Xiapi, and if something went wrong, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Prefect Zhao, guard the city well, you must hurry back to Xiapi!"

After instructing Zhao Yu, the governor of Donghai County, Cao Bao led 20,000 Danyang soldiers and hurried south.