Guo Jia also suggested that he immediately send troops to Yangzhou to support Deng Ai and pacify Jiangdong.

So, Cao Zhi in Liangcheng immediately decided to lead a large army to conquer Jiangdong. But on the night of dispatching troops and generals, Liu Bei, who was in the rear army, received Cao Zhi's order to go to Yangzhou with him, that night, when Lu Mian, who was accompanying and surveillance, he accidentally attacked his troops and horses when he led his troops to escape and retreated to his old base Xiaopei.

After Cao Zhi heard that Lu Mian was killed, he was furious and ordered Yu Jin to pursue him. But he knew that Liu Bei, who was not Cao Zhi's opponent, ran away faster than the rabbit. He only packed up the things that could be taken away when Xiao Pei cleaned up the things he could take, so he led his troops to flee to Jizhou and defected to Yuan Shao.

Before Cao Zhi left his army, he was betrayed, resulting in the loss of troops and generals and the morale of the army fluctuated. But at this time, Cao Zhi was so easy to give up and be discouraged. In front of the soldiers of the three armies, he died for Liu Bei's rebellion and Lu Mian and his soldiers held a funeral in Liangdi, and sweared to the sky in front of the tombs of Lu Mian and others that he would kill Liu Bei with his own hands.

Then Cao Zhi issued a general order to Xu Du, recruiting generals such as Xu Chu, Zhao Yun, and forming a more powerful army to prepare to go south to Yangzhou and clear the rebellion.

Cao Zhi's army turned in Yanzhou and suddenly headed south, and the direction he could only go to was Jiujiang. At this time, Lujiang was already under Sun Ce's hands, so he could not go to Lujiang again and let Yuzhang go.

After Cao Zhi traveled day and night, he had just arrived in Shouchun in mid-April. At this time, Cao Zhi confirmed the news of Ni Heng's death and the group of gunpowder he asked to transport was intercepted by Sun Ce, and many warships equipped with stone catapults were seized by Sun Ce.

Cao Zhi set up a mourning hall for Ni Heng in Shouchun, and cried three times.

At this time, Jia Xu finally arrived at Cao Zhi and patiently comforted him. He burned the most proud work in front of Ni Heng's body in front of Ni Heng's spiritual position, and suggested that Cao Zhi order Ni Heng's body to be buried beside the Parrot Island to comfort his spirit in the sky.

When Cao Zhi led his army to Hefei, even worse news came: Sun Ce had completely pacified Yuzhang, was shrinking his troops and gathering in Lujiang, Yuzhang and Danyang counties obtained from the conquest, forming a powerful line of defense, ready to face Cao Zhi's army.

When Cao Zhi heard that Sun Ce had pacified Jiangnan and Jiangdong and achieved the historical mission of Jiangdong overlords in history, he had to sigh and said, "Can I really not be able to compete with this lord?"

Wang Lang, the former prefect of Kuaiji who was also summoned by Cao Zhi, also knew Kuaiji very well. At this time, Cao Zhi and his party couldn't help but sighed: "Ce is brave and has great ambitions. It's really difficult to pacify this time!" Wang Lang, who was determined to surrender and serve Sun Ce, finally came to Xudu a few days ago. When Wang Lang returned to the court, he happened to encounter Cao Zhi going south to conquer Jiangdong. Because he was the former prefect of Kuaiji, no one knew the local situation better than him, so he was appointed as a counselor by Cao Zhi, participating in the Sikong military affairs, and followed the army.

Wang Lang, who was helped by Cao Zhi, took in and reused his life, said such despicable words at this time, but Cao Zhi did not blame him because what he said was indeed true. Sun Ce was indeed at the peak of his life, momentum, and career.

Just when Cao Zhi thought that even though he knew that Sun Ce was not easy to fight, he still wanted to use his troops to attack directly, Jia Xu and Guo Jiasheng tacitly took action and shouted "Stop!"

"Where is the lord going?" After Jia Xu, wearing a mountain cap on his head, he reached out to stop Cao Zhifa from ordering the army to continue moving forward, he suddenly said inexplicably.

"Attacking Wancheng, first take back Lujiang and Yuzhang from Sun Ce!" Cao Zhi looked inexplicably at how Jia Xu, who has always been known for his resourcefulness, could have asked such an obvious question?

But Jia Xu just lowered his head and smiled. Before he could explain his meaning to Cao Zhi, he heard Guo Jia say, "Don't your lord think it's not the time?"

At this time, many civil and military officials and generals under Cao Zhi's tent were gathered. Deng Ai, who even escaped his life, led an official from Yangzhou and had arrived in Hefei. While Deng Ai apologized to Cao Zhi, he finally made Cao Zhi understand the causes and consequences of the incident.

But Guo Jia's words made everyone present a little confused. What does it mean to "is not the time?"

When everyone turned their doubtful eyes to the young military advisor, Guo Jia said without much silence: "Our army was defeated and lost half of Yangzhou... Well, the morale of the local soldiers in Yangzhou was sluggish. The lord's army rushed over for a long distance, most of which were soldiers who had just come down from the Xuzhou front before. I think my lord knows the fatigue. Even the new soldiers from Xudu, Yanzhou and other places have been on the road this month, and the fatigue level is self-evident. It is not easy for the lord to do this tired army without resting and rushing to fight. Although there is still a certain advantage in the current total strength of our army, has the lord ever thought about whether our army can win the Sun Ce with the current situation of our army, who is strong in morale and waiting for labor?"

After Guo Jia finished speaking, he looked at the table where Deng Ai was sitting wearing Jinxian Guan. When he talked about losing most of Yangzhou, Deng Ai was unlucky. Although Cao Zhi said that it was not the time for punishment. Cao Zhi was about to make trouble for Deng Ai after pacifying Sun Ce. However, Deng Ai, who had arrived at Hefei to meet with Cao Zhi before, held the tie wrapped around his left arm and knelt in the hall for half an hour, apologizing to Cao Zhi and telling the whole process of the evolution of the incident.

Before, Cao Zhi had been learning about the changes in Yangzhou through letters and intelligence, and of course he did not have any detailed analysis of Deng Ai's comprehensive analysis. Cao Zhi also needs to understand how this situation develops and some details for the rest of the matter.

Although everyone understands that in this matter, the leader Deng Ai cannot blame him for his lack of control and his poor rule. If Yangzhou was not in trouble, many things would have happened so by chance at the same time. The opportunities arising from these things were beneficial to Sun Ce who had been planning to rebel for a long time, or were just used for him. In addition, the handling of some local officials and military generals was improper, the matter would not have developed today. However, Cao Zhi clearly stated that he could not forgive Deng Ai's dereliction of duty, and now he was only given the opportunity to commit crimes and make meritorious service.

This kind of clear expression of reward and punishment cannot be made. The superiors will help you with these reasons and will not punish you. Doing so is obviously not unfair to those who have died, and they have nothing to do with it. They just die in an unknown way. Besides, if you want to convince the public well, the subordinates who are wrong must be punished. Even if this person is talented or your confidant.

Deng Ai, who knew this, did not explain or defend Cao Zhi's case, and even saved himself from the thrilling journey of breaking through Pengze for life, but just bowed his head to admit it.

Deng Ai was lucky in this breakthrough battle. As soon as Sun Ce learned that Deng Ai had broken through from Pengze, he mobilized Cheng Pu and others to capture Haihun and became the closest troops to Pengze, and quickly went to intercept Deng Ai, so he must capture Deng Ai alive. Zhang He led the defeated generals of Yuzhang, and fought bravely, but Sun Ce's reinforcements came too fast, almost as if they had not yet become famous in the world, the five tiger generals who had not yet become famous in the world. But fortunately, among the several reinforcements sent by Lu Su, part of the Yue Barbarian Army, who had the fastest running through mountains and rivers, appeared outside Pengze at this time.

With the combined forces of Zulang's reinforcements, they broke through Pengze. Then the cavalry of Taishici's army arrived in time, so they protected Deng Ai to retreat to Wuhu. However, after this battle, all the soldiers and horses broke through were killed or injured, Zhang He and Zao Fu were seriously injured, and are still recovering from the wounds in Wanling.

It can be said that the losses in the entire Yangzhou this time were huge, and Deng Ai was not disgusted or dissatisfied with Guo Jia's blunt statement. At this time, he smiled and shook his head with a smile, expressing that he didn't mind Guo Jia saying this.

When Guo Jia and Deng Ai understand each other, Jia Xu, who always likes to make suggestions at critical moments, interrupted everyone's silence and said to Cao Zhi: "Sun Ce's morale is strong and he is a victorious army. At this time, he must be in groups. It is unwise for the lord to attack again at this time! Besides..."

Jia Xu's words were very important, and he did not dodge just because Cao Zhi was the lord.

Cao Zhi also thought Jia Xu was right. He reflected on himself for a long time during this period. He believed that after winning Xuzhou, he relaxed himself and indulged in beauty. He did not pay enough attention to the situation in Yangzhou where he received some information, and finally achieved the fruit of today.

There is also Jia Xu's last "before" hint, and Cao Zhi is also very clear that he is implying that Cao Zhi and Sun Ce's new gunpowder and Cao's army's warships have all become important weapons of the enemy and at the same time become the biggest threat they will face.

The important reason for Cao Zhi's rise on this land of China is that he mastered two super weapons, gunpowder and catapult, so that he could emerge in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, where powerful people were full of powerful people. But now this unique advantage has undergone major changes. Now Sun Ce can easily possess Cao Zhi's two unique weapons overnight. Gunpowder was intercepted by his people on the way from Yuzhang to Danyang. The number was not the largest, but it was more than 500 kilograms. As long as it was assembled, it would be a bunch of lethal weapons with great lethality. The catapult was seized from Cao's ship. As long as the craftsmen were willing to study it, it would not be difficult to imitate it, and large-scale manufacturing would not be too far away.

These original advantages may now be fatal injuries to Cao Zhi and his army. Perhaps a large number of Cao army soldiers will die under the weapons they rely on for countless victories.

In the situation in Yangzhou, Cao Zhi thought he was responsible all the way, and the battle against Sun Ce was really full of uncertainties. It is hard to say whoever wins to death.
Chapter completed!