Xu Chang

There are a few wisps of green smoke lingering in the study of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and the fragrance of the sandalwood chimes is refreshing.

Next to the huge desk, there was a comfortable soft couch. Cao Cao was wearing a thin quilt, leaning on the couch half-sitting and half-lying, reading the silk book in his hand with a serious expression.

The eldest son Cao Pi and five important officials, including Xun Yu, Xun You, Dong Zhao, Chen Qun, and Zhong Yao, knelt on the ground and sat on both sides of the left and right rows.

"What do you think about Liangzhou?" Cao Cao slowly raised his head and asked Xun Yu and others, "

Although Liangzhou and Xuchang are far apart, this does not affect Cao Cao's understanding of the progress of the Liangzhou Incident, but it is just a slight delay in time.

Jia Xu, who was in charge of intelligence collection and analysis, has already laid a very complete detailed network of works from all over the world.

That is, in Jing, Yang and Jiaozhou, because Liu Beifang's network was also complete, it became extremely difficult for Caofang to suffer two fatal blows in a row, and then lurk and collect intelligence.

In addition to this, Cao Cao can get some news here as long as it is a slightly more important matter.

In the past four or five days, more than a dozen fast horses have entered Xuchang almost every day, nearly half of which are related to the incident in Liangzhou.

"From a strategic position, Wuwei and Jincheng can be said to be the forefront and back of Liangzhou, which is extremely important. It is no exaggeration to say that if you lose these two counties, Liangzhou has already lost half of it.

"Zhong Yao had served as the Chief of Chang'an for a long time and was most familiar with the situation in Liangzhou. Previously, when he saw the latest news about Wuwei falling into Ma Dai's hands, he had a premonition that Han Sui was in a bad situation.

"Before Han Sui went south that day, he concentrated his main military forces in Jincheng and the two counties of Wuwei." Xun Yu gently stroked his chin and said slowly, "From the situation we have learned, it took Ma Dai to seize Jincheng and Wuwei counties to do so.

To be honest, it's actually less than ten days.

I don’t know how Ma Dai did it, but from this, it is roughly certain that most of the military power Han Sui used to stay in Xiliang has either been destroyed or was incorporated by Ma Dai.”

Although Xun Yu's words sound quite leaps and bounds, Cao Cao, Xun You and others could understand what he meant - he could win the two most important counties in Liangzhou in such a short time. It is definitely impossible to gradually capture one city and one place.

The only reasonable explanation is that Ma Dai used some strange tricks, either annihilated all the troops in one fell swoop or surrendered most of the garrisons of the two counties. If this is the case, it would be reasonable for Ma Dai to sweep Jincheng and Wuwei within a few days.

"Ma Dai is a brave man. Does he have the ability to design strange strategies?" Cao Pi thought for a while and said in a little confused.

"Ma Dai may not have, but there may not be such people around him!" Xun You replied. "The land of Jing, Xiang, is in many famous scholars, among which there are many far-scheming people. It is not difficult for Zhang Fei to find one, and it is not difficult for them to plan the masters of Ma Dai!"

"Wuwei's fall has happened nearly half a month ago. I don't know how many places Ma Dai has seized?" Chen Qun frowned and said, "It's a bad thing. Before Han Sui rushed back, the overall situation of Xiliang had already been decided."

"If this is true, Han Sui's time will be like sending a sheep like a tiger's mouth?" Cao Pi said in shock.

"It's sending the 'fox' into the tiger's mouth!" Cao Cao, who sat up slightly, cut off his son's words with a smile, "The famous Nine Curves of the Yellow River must be considered an old fox, how can it be compared to a lamb?"

"Haha..." Xun Yu and others laughed together, and the slightly dull atmosphere in the room was immediately relieved.

After a moment, Cao Cao curled his smile and said to Xun Yu: "Wenruo, which side do you think of?"

"Although the more detailed information has not been known, in Yu's opinion..." Xun Yu said with little optimism, "Han Sui's situation is very bad!"

"Mr. Xun, what do you mean?" Cao Pi, who was working hard to gain knowledge, asked humbly.

"The so-called causes of success or failure are nothing more than the time, place and people. In terms of time..." Xun Yu analyzed slowly, "Except for the advantage of the place, Han and horses are equal. The other two. Han Sui is at a disadvantage."

After a pause, Xun Yu continued: "More importantly, Han Sui knew very little about Ma Dai's exact situation, and because the situation he was facing was too passive, it is difficult to predict whether Han Jiuqu could maintain a calm mind in despair.

If he is eager to achieve success and use his troops rashly, it is equivalent to fighting a battle that will definitely be defeated without knowing the enemy or knowing himself.

If you know yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles; if you don’t know your enemy and you will know yourself, you will win and lose; if you don’t know your enemy and you will not know yourself, you will be defeated in every battle!"

After listening to Xun Yu's detailed analysis, the rest of the people couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

"Is there a turning point?" Cao Pi said carefully.

"Difficult!" Xun You shook his head, "Using the current situation, our army is simply unable to support Han Sui. It is difficult to reverse the situation with Han Sui alone, without any unexpected changes.

Moreover, before hitting a wall, Han Sui would definitely not give up on Xiliang. After hitting a wall, it is unknown how much strength he can retain.

"If Liangzhou is obtained by Ma Dai, then there will be no peace in Yong and Hanzhong will be even more attacked!" Zhong Yao frowned and said in a deep thought, "Prime Minister, instead of scattering troops in the Hanzhong enclave, it is better to gather strength to defend Yong and."

"Yuan Chang means...abandon Hanzhong?" Chen Qun said in surprise.

"That's right!" After hesitating, Zhong Yao nodded and said, "Although the position in Hanzhong is important, it is based on the fact that our army has sufficient strength and should use this as a stronghold to fully advance to attack Jing and Yang.

However, the situation is completely different now. Xuzhou, Nanyang, Runan, Beihai and Donglai counties have fallen one after another. The situation on the battlefield of Yan and Qing has not yet improved. In addition, people are uneasy and food and grass are scarce..."

When Zhong Yao kept mentioning the difficulties faced by Cao Fang, Cao Cao's face gradually turned from sunny to dark, and even seemed a little hesitant.

Zhong Yao also knew that what he said was a bit bad for Cao Cao, but he still gritted his teeth and said: "In Yao's foolish opinion, in the next few years, our army must rest and recuperate and stick to the existing prefectures and counties. He may not be able to fight south in a short period of time.

If this is the case, Hanzhong, which is an isolated land, is actually not that important to our army. The transfer of the elite troops in Xiahou's conquest to the west may have a greater effect."

"It may be like this now, but will it never go south in the future?" Cao Pi was still young after all, and couldn't help but refute.

"If you want to use it in the future, you will take it in the future." Zhong Yao replied slowly without anger, "The land is dead, but people live. If you keep the green mountains, are you still afraid of no firewood?"

After saying that, Zhong Yao calmed down his voice and waited for Cao Cao's reaction. He was even mentally prepared to be punished. After all, the previous words were indeed a bit "sensational".

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao not only did not burst out of anger, but instead showed a contemplative expression and his expression gradually slowed down.

Xun Yu and Xun You's uncle and nephew exchanged their eyes, and then nodded gently.

"If you give up Hanzhong, you will not only lose a Hanzhong. Even Xichuan is equivalent to giving it to Liu Bei..." Cao Cao seemed to be talking to himself, and seemed to be answering Zhong Yao.

"Prime Minister, this may not be..." Xun You said, "Even if Xichuan does not belong to the Prime Minister, Liu Bei will find it difficult to swallow it in one bite. The Shu people are conservative and have always been xenophobic. Not to mention Liu Xi, even Zhang Ren and others may not tolerate Liu Bei's entry into Sichuan.

The road to Shu is difficult. If there is no internal response, it is difficult to attack from the outside alone. As long as you put in more time, Liu Bei will be unable to easily defeat Xichuan.

As for Hanzhong, we can also use this to set up a plan to compete for food for two tigers..."

"Zhang Lu?" Cao Cao reacted immediately and asked with his eyebrows raised.

"That's right!" Xun You said with a smile, "No matter how good the relationship between Zhang Lu and Liu Bei is, they may not be willing to be subordinate to Liu Bei as a minister.

If the two fight, although Zhang Lu cannot be Liu Bei's opponent, he has been in Hanzhong for more than ten years and will definitely cause some storms."

"Gongda also agrees with giving up Hanzhong?" Cao Cao looked at Xun You and said.

"No matter what Yuan Chang said before, he could exchange Hanzhong for the opportunity to recuperate and recuperate. You thought it was worth it!" Xun You said affirmatively.

"Retracting the military strength will be beneficial to our army!" Xun Yu also nodded.

Cao Cao was about to say something, but suddenly heard the Prime Minister Bo Yang Xiu report outside the room: "Prime Minister, Liang County emergency war report!"

"Dazu, come in!"

Yang Xiu, who was elegant and thin, stepped into the room, saluted Cao Cao, and handed a war report.

"Prime Minister, what's wrong with Liang County?" Seeing Cao Cao's face slightly dark, Xun Yu asked in surprise.

"Long Kang is lost!" Cao Cao asked Yang Xiu to hand the military report to Xun Yu, and said in a deep voice, "The Jingzhou army did not know what method it used to collapse Long Kang's city wall. Zi Lian couldn't resist it and had led his army to retreat to Qi County."

"What?"

"According to the proposal of Yuan Chang and Hanzhong as the condition, we will discuss peace and ceasefire with Liu Bei!" Cao Cao said with a resolute expression.

…………………………………………………………

After leaving Xi County, Han Sui's army took only a day and a half to Linwei County, the easternmost frontier of Hanyang County. Unexpectedly, there was no obstacle in Linwei.

The defenders seemed to retreat without fighting, and even left a small amount of food and grass in the city, which could barely be used by Han Sui's army for one day.

Just evacuate, but there are still food and grass left. Faced with this strange situation, Han Sui not only did not feel relieved, but instead felt a trace of cold air hovering in his heart.
Chapter completed!