"What? Rencheng was captured?" Tao Qian was furious after hearing the report from the military attache in the hall. He slammed the chopsticks in his hand on the table, "Didn't Zhang Kai hold on for two days? You

Call him over to me, I want to ask him what is going on."

"My lord, Zhang Kai was captured by Cao Cao. His son escaped and sent the news. After General Zhang attacked Cao Cao's camp at night, he was plotted..."

"This waste! I shouldn't have let him guard Rencheng!" Tao Qian's old face was filled with anger, and the people on his left and right fell silent for a moment. Tao Qian sighed and asked the people on his left and right, "Yuan

Long, Boguang, do you have any countermeasures?"

The two people Tao Qian asked were Chen Deng, the captain of Diannong School, and Xiao Jian, the Prime Minister of Langya. These two people were the most trusted people by Tao Qian.

"Lord, now that we have lost the opportunity, we might as well retreat to Tancheng and fight a war of attrition with Cao Mengde." Chen Dengfuxu replied, "We in Xuzhou have abundant food and grass and sufficient soldiers. If Cao Mengde cannot attack Cao Mengde for a long time, he will naturally lose the food and grass."

It’s no use retreating.”

"Absolutely not. Rencheng is a strategic location leading to Yanzhou. If Rencheng is handed over to Cao Cao easily, wouldn't it mean that we have no one in Xuzhou?" Xiao Jian retorted sharply, "At this time, we should fight with Cao Cao.

If Cao Cao is facing a head-on confrontation, how can Cao Cao’s Yellow Turban soldiers confront our elite soldiers and generals in Xuzhou?"

"Bo Guang is right. I, Tao Gongzu, have never been afraid of Cao Cao, a eunuch. He always feels that I can't touch him if Yuan Benchu ​​is behind him." Tao Qian said angrily after receiving Xiao Jian's support,

"Bo Guang went to inform Cao Bao to gather his troops. We will march to Rencheng in an hour."

"Lord, we must not underestimate the enemy! Cao Mengde is implementing military policies in Yanzhou. Now is the time when the momentum is at its peak. How can we..." Chen Deng wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Tao Qian with a wave of his hand. He had no choice but to

Shut up.

"Yuan Long, just leave the frontline confrontation to Bo Guang and Cao Bao. You have to ensure that the military rations from Xiapi and Donghai are sent to Pengcheng without interruption. I want to settle things with Cao Cao there." Tao Qian is not in a hurry.

After speaking slowly, he picked up the chopsticks on the table and continued eating. Chen Deng and Xiao Jian looked at each other and left.

Xiao Jian and Chen Deng walked out of Tao Qian's official office one after another. Chen Deng stopped Xiao Jian who was walking in front of him after thinking again and again.

"Bo Guang! It would definitely be unfavorable to confront Cao Cao head-on at this time. Why are you admonishing my lord to send troops hastily?"

"Yuanlong, Yuanlong! You always think you are smart but you don't know what the lord wants? Now even an eunuch like Cao Cao can raise the banner to lead the affairs of a state. Now the world is in chaos. Cao Cao dares to lead

The soldiers invaded the country with the support of Yuan Shao. My lord has always been close to Yuan Shu, how could my lord possibly do what you said and do it slowly?" Xiao Jian explained to Chen Deng with disdain.

"Then don't we have to use the lives of Xuzhou soldiers to fill the vacancies in Rencheng? How many people will face the scene of wives and children being separated and families destroyed?" Chen Deng looked at Xiao Jian and asked angrily.

"In such troubled times, every family is short of money and food, but there is no shortage of human life." Xiao Jian said lightly, and Chen Deng saw contempt, ridicule and some indescribable strange emotions in Xiao Jian's eyes.
p>

"I have nothing to say to you." After Chen Deng said that, he turned and left. Xiao Jian looked at Chen Deng's back, imagining the scene after he helped Tao Qian defeat Cao Cao. One day, you, Chen Deng, will be respectful to me.

You will regret what you did today. Thinking of this, Xiao Jian looked at Chen Deng with an even colder look. He snorted coldly and walked quickly towards the military camp.

……

At this moment, Cao Cao was in high spirits, and the news of the great victory in Rencheng spread to the ears of every household in Yanzhou at an extremely fast speed. Cao Cao could already imagine what those nobles who did not support the military strategy were like at this time.

expression.

When Cao Cao thought of this, he looked at Xi Zhicai on the side. Cao Cao was very fond of this counselor who was born in poverty but was often clever. The victory in Rencheng was due to Xi Zhicai's idea.

"Zhicai, it's thanks to your strategy that we conquered Rencheng this time. Now we only need to wait for the food and grass from Yanzhou to continue advancing." Cao Cao praised.

"My lord, you are too flattering. If it weren't for Master Zihuan's military strategy, our soldiers would not be as tough as they are now. I would not have been able to stay in the deep mountains and forests for an hour." Xi Zhicai said modestly.

"This military strategy was jointly proposed by Yuan Rang and Wen Ruo. What does it have to do with Zihuan?" Cao Cao was shocked, but he still said calmly.

"This news may not be able to deceive those people now. Even a sociable person like me knows that Mr. Zihuan is the real founder of military strategy. Those nobles who have taken advantage of the situation may have already established relationships with all parties.

I heard about it." Xi Zhicai replied.

"It seems that I have no role in protecting Zihuan. Those people probably hate Zihuan even more than me." Cao Cao sighed.

"Master Zihuan is talented and intelligent, and has a benevolent heart. My lord will have to keep him by his side from now on. After all, it is necessary to be on guard against others," Xi Zhicai said.

"Zhicai's words make sense. There is nothing to worry about when Zihuan is with me now. The most important thing now is Xuzhou. Capturing Rencheng is only the first step to become invincible. There are still many follow-up matters.

I relied on Zhicai to advise me." Cao Cao said with a smile.

"Lord, don't worry, I, Xi Zhicai, will definitely do my best to fulfill your lord's ambition." Xi Zhicai said seriously.

"That old man Tao Qian will never avoid a battle. Yuan Rang has already set off with Le Jin and Li Dian. I don't know if they can rob food and grass." Cao Cao said hesitantly.

"Pengcheng is a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Tao Qian will definitely choose to gather his army there, and Pengcheng's backup must be in Xiapi and Donghai. As long as we control the lower reaches of Surabaya, Tao Qian will have absolutely no chance to fight back."

Xi Zhicai put forward his own suggestions.

"That's very good." Cao Cao nodded in response.

While Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai were talking, the soldiers outside the door reported the news that Tao Qian was leading his troops from Pengcheng to Rencheng. Cao Cao put on his armor and rushed towards the city.

"Brother, this old boy Tao Qian is not slow in his actions. They have already begun to camp outside the city." Cao Hong said in a low voice when he saw Cao Cao coming.

"How many troops have the enemy come?" Cao Cao asked hurriedly.

"At least there must be seven or eight thousand people, but judging from their fanfare, they should have reinforcements." Cao Hong said uneasily as he looked at the well-equipped Xuzhou Army outside the city.

"It seems that Tao Gongzu took out his own wealth." Cao Cao said with a contemptuous smile.

While the two were talking, shouts of kill had already been heard outside the city. Cao Cao did not expect that Xuzhou would launch an attack so hastily. Cao Cao did not know whether the commander outside the city was too reckless or had some unknown trump card.<

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The Xuzhou army outside the city stretched their bows and nocked arrows, and shot arrows towards the city tower as if they were free. Many Cao soldiers who were stationed on the city wall were killed by arrows before they had time to react, and countless others were injured.

"General Cao, we can prepare to send troops to attack the city." Xiao Jian said to the serious-looking Cao Bao beside him.

"Mr. Boguang, are we wasting arrows too much? Cao Cao has at least 10,000 defenders in Rencheng, and Shanyang has been sending reinforcements to Rencheng." Cao Bao knew that Xiao Jian was with Tao Qian.

He is a popular person and is quite talented, so his words are very polite.

"I'm afraid General Cao has never seen anyone fighting like me. He wasted so many arrows but couldn't make any difference to the situation." Xiao Jian said with a smile.

"That's not what I meant...it's just that I don't know why sir would do this." Cao Bao replied with some embarrassment.

"The reinforcements sent by the lord have begun to set up camp behind Ren City. What we want to do is not to destroy the city, but to slow down the pace of Cao Cao's reinforcements." Xiao Jian's joy was beyond words, and his words became more and more eager, "Wait until the lord's army is in Pengcheng

After the gathering is completed, Cao Cao's defeat is imminent. Therefore, it is necessary to waste some arrows to attract Cao Cao's attention."

"Sir, great idea." Cao Bao felt relieved after hearing Xiao Jian's plan.

Compared to Xiao Jian who was relaxed outside the city, Cao Cao inside the city was not so happy. Cao Cao had actually discovered the Xuzhou army moving towards the rear of Ren City, but he was unfortunately delayed by the siege troops commanded by Cao Bao and could not move at all.

Go out of the city to attack and kill.

"Why are you here?" Cao Cao found a small soldier among the soldiers guarding the city. When he looked closely, he turned out to be Cao Pi wearing protective gear and armor.

"Let me take a look..." Cao Pi was about to reply when Cao Cao pulled him to Cao Hong's side.

"Zilian, send him to Zhicai and send a few people to protect him." Cao Cao said and left without looking back.

"Uncle Zilian, I want to see if... I can be of any help." Cao Pi explained helplessly.

"We have 15,000 defenders in the city, so don't come and join in the fun. No matter how fierce the battle is, you won't need to defend the city." Cao Hong pulled Cao Pi away from the city wall quickly and ordered a few soldiers to protect Cao Pi.

After Cao Cao's temporary official office, he continued to participate in the defense of the city.

The Xuzhou army outside the city didn't care about the arrows and baggage at all, and Xiao Jian didn't care about the lives of the soldiers. Various siege weapons and soldiers who kept dying formed a powerful suppression on the defenders inside the city. Cao Cao wanted to defend the city.

It is very easy to enter the city, but it is extremely difficult to do other actions.

This desperate siege lasted until late at night. By the time the Xuzhou army attacking outside the city retreated, Cao Cao had already received news that the subsequent grain and grass supplies had been ambushed.

Cao Cao looked at the camp outside the city worriedly. He didn't know what other tricks the people commanding outside the city had. The moon hung high in the sky, which seemed particularly quiet, but when he lowered his head, he saw a miserable scene of purgatory on earth. Occasionally, a few people
Chapter completed!