In the fourth year of Jian'an in the Han Dynasty, in November of the winter, Cao Cao ordered his 50,000 troops to set out from Huainan and Xudu to attack Nanyang County under Liu He. Before leaving, he gave a speech on the oath, requiring his soldiers to take Nanyang at all costs.

"As long as we take Nanyang, we can completely ensure the safety of Xu Du, cut off the connection between Liu He's son and Chang'an, and even trap this child to death in Nanjun! And as long as Liu He's son dies, his strength will collapse. At that time, I will use the emperor to command the princes to seize Yongliang, Sili, Youbing Qingji and other states in the name of the emperor. Who else in the world can stop my rise?"

Cao Cao was furious in his heart. He had fought a battle of Guandu with fewer victory and more. In that battle, he defeated Yuan Shao, annexed many of Yuan Shao's troops, and seized the part south of the river in Qingzhou, and took advantage of the situation to occupy many counties and counties in Xuzhou and Yangzhou. The key to that battle was to kill Yuan Shao's generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou in the Battle of White Horse. This time, Wancheng, the capital of Nanyang County, which he led his army to attack, would also become another white horse, laying the foundation for his great victory.

Cao Cao set out from Huainan. He had a total of 30,000 troops under his command. These 30,000 troops were all elite troops in the army, including some generals under his command, such as Cao Cao's escort Dian Wei, Cao Xiu, general Cao Xiu, general who was known as the Cao family's Thousand Mile Horse, general Xiahou En, general Cao Chun and Cao Hong, commanders of the elite tiger and leopard cavalry under Cao Cao, as well as Lu Kuang, brothers Lu Xiang, brothers Zhong Jin and Zhongshen, etc., who defected to him after the Battle of Guandu.

Xu Du's journey was led by Cao Ren, and the generals under his command, including Li Dian, Le Jin, Shi Huan, Niu Jin and others, believed that this time it could be said that all the elites were coming out. In addition to Xiahou Yuanzheng leading his army to guard Yanzhou and Xiahou Dunzheng leading his army to guard Yuzhou, all the generals under his command were dispatched, and they acted desperately and decided to take Nanyang at all costs.

The two armies made rapid progress and soon arrived at the city of Wancheng one after another. However, it is unimaginable that although the 50,000 troops were almost in a mad attack on Wancheng, the two armies attacked day and night for a day and lost thousands of troops, but they still could not capture Wancheng.

"This damn Zhang Xiu actually built Wancheng so strong. What's even more hateful is that although there are not many soldiers in the city, it seems that at most only 10,000 people, they have the help of the people in the city. Tens of thousands of people went up to the city to assist in the defense regardless of their lives. This is why I have been unable to capture Wancheng for a long time."

Cao Cao was very angry and said gritting his teeth.

At this time, Cao Hong said, "Lord, don't worry. When Hong attacked the city today, he found that the southeast corner of the city wall was loose. Lord, just give me a military horse, and I can attack the city from here in the middle of the night."

Cao Cao's eyes lit up when he heard this and he asked, "Take it serious?"

"Of course it's true. After observation, Hong found that the city wall was an old city wall. After our impact, it was indeed a little loose. It only takes a little force to break through."

"Haha, okay, since that's the case, then we will act at night. Zi Lian, I will give you five thousand soldiers and horses. Then you will attack the enemy's northwest corner wall." Cao Cao smiled proudly when he heard this.

"Ah? West, northwest corner? Lord, we found that the loose place was the southeast corner before." Cao Hong thought that Cao Cao had heard it wrong, so he quickly corrected it.

But Cao Cao said, "It is for you to attack the northwest corner, Zi Lian, don't you know? The way of military strategy is to be virtual, and the real one is virtual. If I ask you to attack the northwest corner, the enemy will think that we are attacking the northwest corner, so we will dispatch the main force to defend this place. In this way, the southeast corner will be empty. In this case, I personally lead the army to attack the southeast corner and will surely break Wancheng."

"So that's it. The lord is really a clever plan." Cao Hong woke up as if he had a dream when he heard Cao Cao's words. He said to Cao Cao in admiration: "The last general will take the order! Haha, with the lord's clever plan, I believe that I can easily break Wancheng today."

"It's fine for Zhang Xiu, but Jia Xu is not an ordinary person. His words caused chaos in the world and caused the rebellion between Li Ju and Guo Si. Therefore, the official is afraid that he can see through your plan." Cheng Yu, who was standing beside him, said with some concern when he saw this.

However, Cao Cao laughed and said, "No matter how powerful Jia Xu is, Li Jue and Guo Si are still wiped out in the end? Don't worry, even wise men, their wisdom is limited. Zi Lian found that the city wall was loose, but it does not mean that Jia Xu could find it. If he couldn't find it, he would definitely not know my trick. You just wait to enter Wancheng tonight."

That night, Cao Hong led 5,000 troops to attack the northwest corner of Wancheng. Zhang Xiu was very anxious when he heard the news and immediately decided to wear his clothes to the northwest corner to defend the enemy.

But Jia Xu smiled and asked, "Where is the general going?"

"Why do you have to ask clearly? Of course, you have to go to the northwest corner to defend the enemy. Hu Cheer said it very clearly just now. The enemy is attacking crazy, and it will be too late if you don't go." Zhang Xiu took the gun and stepped on his horse, said hurriedly, and was about to leave.

However, Jia Xu continued to laugh and said, "This time the general was wrong. Although Cao Cao attacked the northwest corner in terms of performance, his main army was not here. The central army was just a flaw. Xu knew that the city wall was loose in the southeast corner of Wancheng, so he predicted that Cao Cao would definitely lead his army to attack there. Therefore, I advise the general to lead the crowd to support it, otherwise once the city is broken, we will not be able to send it to the lord."

"But once the Cao thief breaks through from the northwest corner, how should I send the lord?" This was the first time Zhang Xiu encountered a strong enemy attack after stationed in Nanyang, so he was a little nervous and asked back after Jia Xu finished speaking.

But Jia Xu said solemnly: "If there is really a problem, Xu apologizes to his lord alone! General, you must not lose your opportunity. Once Cao Cao breaks through the city wall, with the thousands of limited troops in the city, we cannot defend Wancheng at all. Once Wancheng is lost, the entire Jingzhou will probably not be owned by the lord."

Zhang Xiu thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I will trust you once."

Then he said to Hu Cheer beside him: "Hu Cheer, immediately mobilize the army to the southeast corner to defend the enemy. However, in order to ensure the safety of the northwest corner, you need to lead a thousand soldiers to defend. The opponent has several times or even dozens of times of the force. I wonder if you dare to go?"

"Haha, brother, you don't know me. The lord master has raised me for so many years. Not only has he taught me martial arts, but he also cares about my meals and makes me an official. How can I not repay him well? Not to mention that he is just a few people, even if it is 100,000 or 200,000, Hu Cheer will still be ignored. Don't worry, I will take a thousand brothers and have fun with them."
Chapter completed!