After the rain, the sky clears and the sun shines brightly, and the training of the Jingzhou Army is in full swing.

There is no need to send troops during this period, just wait for Cao's army to be exhausted and collapse, beat the drowned dog hard, and recharge all the energy to wait for a thunderous strike.

On the contrary, Cao Jun, who was hungry and unscrupulous, looted everywhere in the past few days. All the people's food and seeds were taken away, and there were even massacres of villages. No humans and animals were left behind, which was a terrible tragedy.

Zhuge Liang was not happy when he heard the report, and sighed: "Cao Cao has always been strict in running the army. If he indulges his troops and commits violence like this, it must be that the army is short of food. It can be a big deal, but it only hurts those innocent people."

Liu Qi said helplessly: "Really, if it prospers, the people will suffer; if it dies, the people will suffer!"

Zhuge Liang remembered Liu Qi's previous poem in Longzhong and said: "Now the world is in chaos. The princes are fighting for power, each for their own interests. The only one who can do what the people want is the general!"

Liu Qi smiled bitterly and said: "I have inherited the ambition of my uncle, and I should treat others with kindness. The ancients said: The benevolent are invincible, and those who win the hearts of the people will win the world, so I should put the people first."

Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "Cao Cao is cunning and cruel. His generals are wise in their military strategy. They put the people first, inherit the ambition of Yan Han, eliminate cruelty and violence for the country, and all the people return to their hearts. Why worry about the Han Dynasty not flourishing?"

After getting along with each other for this period of time, although they still haven't reached the level where they eat at the same table and sleep on the same couch like Liu Bei, where they feel like a fish in water and like glue, the two of them have basically formed a tacit understanding.

Liu Qi came from a later generation, and subconsciously cared about people's livelihood. He treated soldiers and soldiers equally and had an indifferent concept of hierarchy. In Zhuge Liang's view, he cared about the people and treated the virtuous and corporal. He was a rare wise king.

While they were discussing the matter of governing the people, they suddenly came to report that Cao Cao's 20,000 troops retreated and returned to Bowang City.

Liu Qi stood up and took a deep breath: "Cao's army must have food and fodder coming, and the decisive battle is finally coming."

However, Zhuge Liang looked worried and said: "Cao Cao is a great hero in the world, far from being comparable to Yuan Shao. He is also cruel and kills innocent people indiscriminately. After the plan is completed, he needs to beware of taking risks and fighting with trapped beasts."

Liu Qi nodded and said: "With Cao's thief's nature, he is not willing to just wait for death. He will definitely struggle to the death."

Reluctance to retreat in vain is Cao Cao's last stubbornness!

…

In Cao's camp, Cao Cao's condition improved after two days. He had fever, cough and headache, and he was very haggard.

Although the grain and grass had been shipped from Xuchang, it was only enough for half a month. Xun Yu sent someone to send a secret message, and Soochow secretly strengthened its troops in the Ruxu area, and it was very possible to make a surprise attack on Lujiang and Hefei.

After reading the letter, Cao Cao's face became more and more gloomy. He sent out half a million troops. He thought it would be easy to take Jingzhou, but unexpectedly he was trapped in Nanyang and was in a dilemma.

After Yuan Shao was eliminated, Hebei was conquered, and Liu Bei was killed again, Cao Cao thought he was invincible, and even Sun Quan did not take him seriously.

Unexpectedly, Liu Qi appeared out of thin air. At this time, all the eyes of the world were focused on Nanyang, which made it impossible for him to step down.

Competing with bears and tigers, being invincible, and being defeated by dogs and dolphins, wouldn't it make a generous family laugh?

If Liu Bei had been defending Nanyang, Cao Cao would have retreated after the heavy rain, but he hesitated at this time.

The more you think about it, the angrier it becomes. The more you think about it, the more you take a step back.

Cheng Yu and Xun You were invited to come and discuss: "Wen Ruo has sent a letter saying that there is insufficient food and grass and the soldiers are tired. Sun Quan also covets Huainan and asks me to withdraw my troops. What do you think?"

Xun You said: "The strength of the three armies has been lost and the weapons are incomplete. It may not be beneficial to fight again. It is better to return to Xudu temporarily. We should use a strategy against the two Yuan. Once they retreat, Sun and Liu will definitely fight. The prime minister will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and take the opportunity to rest and recuperate."

As for the troops and horses, it is not too late to attack Jingzhou again when the troops are well-prepared."

Cheng Yu said, "If we retreat and Liu Qi takes advantage of the situation, it will cause great trouble in the future. Moreover, if Nanyang is completely lost, it will endanger Xudu. After we retreat, we will discuss the matter of moving the capital. Where is the majesty of the prime minister?"

The move to the capital also touched on Cao Cao's pain point, nodding and saying: "Zhongde's words are very much in line with my wishes. One bite from a snake is enough to kill the enemy. How can we just retreat?"

Xun You frowned and said: "But now there is no food in the army. We only rely on looting from everywhere. We can only garrison troops to survive. How to use the troops?"

Cheng Yu stroked his beard and said, "I have my own plans for the food and grass matter. Why don't we first ask Wen Ruo to return to Bowang to arrange for the withdrawal of troops, and then we can retreat calmly after the prime minister has severely injured Liu Qi."

Cao Cao was not willing to retreat, so he nodded and said: "If we retreat rashly, Liu Qi will definitely take advantage of the situation to pursue him. Wen Ruo and Cao Hong will retreat with the remaining troops and go to meet them."

Xun You took a deep look at Cheng Yu, followed the order without saying anything.

After drinking gruel for two days, Cao Cao suddenly felt hungry, so he ordered someone to bring him food, and he and Cheng Yu ate while discussing.

Seeing that there was only a piece of meat in his bowl, Cao Cao guessed that the other soldiers were probably eating porridge to survive, and sighed: "Without enough food and weak soldiers, how can we fight?"

Cheng Yu said: "All the nearby villages have been robbed of food, but the daily consumption of hundreds of thousands of people is huge, which can be said to be a drop in the bucket. If we can reduce the number of troops, we can wait for the food and grass to be transported and compete with Liu Qi."

Cao Cao asked: "Is it enough for Cao Hong to take away tens of thousands of remaining soldiers?"

Cheng Yu shook his head and said: "There are only fifty thousand soldiers and horses in Wancheng. The prime minister only leaves one hundred thousand elite soldiers, which is enough to capture Wancheng. In this way, we can deal with Jingzhou and protect Xudu."

"One hundred thousand?" Cao Cao frowned and said, "But before the food and grass arrive, how can the rest of the troops retreat?"

Not only the advancing troops need to eat, but the retreating troops also need to eat. Without food and grass, they cannot move even half a step.

Cheng Yu said: "This time when we go south, most of the soldiers and horses are from Hebei. The Yuan family's old troops have never returned. There have been many complaints in the army recently, all because of the Northern Army. If they stay, they will be a big trouble. Why not use them to deal with Liu Qi?"

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly, held up his chopsticks and pondered for a moment, then said: "But the soldiers are now hungry and tired, how can they be willing to fight?"

Cheng Yu tugged at his thick beard and said slowly: "Prime Minister, do you still remember that during the battle with Lu Bu, there was a shortage of military rations and there was a locust plague. It was someone who provided three days of food and defeated Lu Bu?"

"You mean..." Cao Cao's hand shook slightly. Looking at the piece of meat in the bowl that he couldn't bear to eat, he suddenly lost all appetite. He even felt nauseous when he put down his chopsticks.

Cheng Yu smiled and said, "This is beef. Prime Minister, you can eat it with confidence."

Cao Cao patted his chest, pushed the bowl aside, and asked, "What is Zhongde's countermeasure?"

Cheng Yu said: "The previous surprise attack on Anzhong and Xinye failed. I expected that the defenders had already relaxed their vigilance. Why not send out a large army to attack again? Divide all the equipment in the camp between the two armies and send an order to break the city. The only way to gain access is to capture the city.

The soldiers will fight to the death for their food and grass, and if they can break the city, the situation can be reversed."

Cao Cao closed his eyes and asked after a while: "When will the food and grass be ready?"

Cheng Yu replied: "Most of them have been prepared. If the prime minister wants to use them, they will be ready tonight."

"Hurry and get ready!" Cao Cao waved his hand, and Cheng Yu took the order and came out.

Neither of them discussed the consequences of not being able to break the city. If they don't succeed, they will be ruined.

Cao Cao sat in silence for a while, then summoned Cao Chun and ordered: "Immediately send someone to spread rumors among the Hebei army, saying that the first batch of emergency food and grass has arrived. I sympathize with the fatigue of the Northern army coming from afar, and give priority to dividing the food and meat."
Chapter completed!