The beard is wet and the hair is wet.

There were several fierce battles between Cao's and Sun's armies, but neither side gained much advantage.

Later, Cao Cao personally suppressed the army and ordered all the troops to launch a strong attack on Ruxu Fort.

However, the fierce fighting lasted for a long time, due to the strong strength of Uburg and Lü Meng's good overall planning.

Ruxu Wu is also as solid as a rock this time!

Faced with such a battle situation, Cao's army on the offensive side gradually became more tense.

They originally thought that the expedition against Wu would be easier than the expedition against Hanzhong.

However, they did not expect that the Wu people, who had their backs to the northern defense line of the Yangtze River, were actually very brave.

The offensive was contained one after another.

The battle situation gradually became stalemate.

In the camp, the soldiers of Cao's army who had been fighting for a long time slowly returned to the camp with their tired bodies.

In the big tent, after returning on the first day of the new year, Prime Minister Cao Cao quickly took off his fiery red shirt and ran to the main seat to sit down.

The rest of the civil and military people did not slack off at all, and each took his position on both sides.

As soon as Cao Cao Fang sat down, his eyes drifted across the faces of the people around him, and then he slowly regained his composure and said calmly: "It seems that Ruxukou, as an important town of the Wu people in the north of the Yangtze River, has extraordinary defense!"

"It is indeed difficult to break through this place by force."

As for the words, everyone on the left and right sides listened quietly with their ears raised, and no one thought to say anything.

Immediately afterwards, Cao Cao seemed to pause again while speaking, and then his tone changed, and he said in a sharp tone: "Especially the enemy general guarding the city, if you look at him in his true colors, he is a very knowledgeable person!"

"The various defensive arrangements he made today are all the key to holding on to our strong offensive."

The words fell out one by one.

The expression on Cao Cao's face suddenly dimmed.

Probably because of this, he found that the expedition against Wu might not be as easy as imagined.

After several battles with the enemy, he failed to gain an advantage.

He even felt that it might be difficult to achieve the strategic goals set before the war this time.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Liao strode out on one side with his head held high, and responded with raised hands: "I would like to inform the Prime Minister that the general will be stationed in Hefei for a long time to guard against the Sun family in Jiangdong."

"After many days of spying, it is learned that the leader of the Wu army guarding Ruxu this time is Sun Quan's trusted general Lu Meng."

"It is said that this man was originally just a warrior. He joined Sun Ce with his brother-in-law, crossed the river south, and conquered the counties east of the Yangtze River."

"But after Sun Quan succeeded to the throne, he encouraged this person to learn from him. Now, Lü Meng has become an important general of the Sun family, with all the skills, skills, and military strategies."

Zhang Liao had been stationed in Hefei for a long time and knew a lot about military affairs.

Following his narration, everyone in the tent finally understood his story.

Then, he hesitated for a moment, and then he mustered up his courage again and said: "This time Sun Quan has given him full authority to take charge of the war in Ruxu. I'm afraid it will be difficult for our army to make decisive progress."

After saying this, Zhang Liao's expression suddenly became a little uneasy.

He had long heard that as his lord Cao Cao got older over the past few years, he became more suspicious and even moodier at times.

He would kill with his sword at every turn.

Now, at this critical opportunity, he speaks out his unfavorable words.

But he is worried about being implicated.

The next second, he glanced slightly at Cao Cao's face, which seemed to have not changed at all.

My mind gradually calmed down.

As soon as this statement came out.

Cao Cao knew Zhang Liao's intentions and had no intention of expressing his anger.

After hearing this, he just looked at everyone and asked: "What Wen Yuan said is actually the problem our army is facing now."

"It's difficult to attack by force. I wonder if you guys have any countermeasures?"

This sentence was slowly spoken, and the expression on Cao Cao's face couldn't help but drop a few points.

With the situation developing like this, Cao Jun was already in a dilemma.

advance, unable to break through the enemy's important town of Fukou in Jiangbei.

Retreating will not achieve the planned plan to revitalize the morale of the entire army.

But after thinking hard to no avail, he still looked at everyone present for help.

The words fell slowly.

Jiang Jifang on one side slowly raised his hands and responded: "Prime Minister, after these days of confrontation, it can be seen that the Ruxu Defense Line built with the back of the river can be said to have allowed the Wu people to occupy the right time and place."

“In several confrontations, we never fell behind.”

"And this year's strong attack, we can also find that Ruxu Wu not only built an extremely strong fort, but also had sufficient defensive materials in the fort."

"Strong bows and powerful crossbows are also available, and as General Zhang just said, Lu Meng's military strategy is of great importance, and it is extremely difficult to break through Ruxu, the Wu people's last line of defense in Jiangbei."

After speaking out, he also analyzed the objective facts that existed today. After hearing the words, Cao Cao's expression unconsciously showed a dignified look.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Ji's tone gradually stopped, his face seemed to be a little more serious than before, and he said in a deep voice: "Besides, according to the military situation in recent days, the disease caused by the previous epidemic around Hefei has spread to the army."

"This situation has not calmed down yet."

"With the recent outbreak of war and the increase in wounded soldiers, the epidemic seems to be getting worse."

"If we continue to fight, I am afraid that the situation will become increasingly unfavorable to our army."

After a while, the words were settled.

He has already said this, but his intention has already been revealed.

Although he did not directly advise Prime Minister Cao Cao to withdraw his troops and return north.

But the words were already responded so euphemistically.

How could someone as smart as Cao Cao be unable to hear the hidden meanings between his ministers?

However, at this moment, his face was tense, his fists were clenched, and he had not yet made a decision to call off the troops and call a truce.

This was his second expedition southward from Hefei to the Sun family in Jiangdong.

If he returned without success again, he didn't know if he would have the chance to kill Wu with his own hands in the future.

Cao Cao, who was already over sixty years old, was thinking deeply in his heart at this time. Naturally, his state of mind was very different from the previous battle at Chibi.

At that time, even though he was defeated in Chibi, he still had an optimistic attitude.

They just need to retreat to the north to recuperate, recharge their batteries, and then return with troops to wipe out the forces of Sun and Liu in one fell swoop, realize their dream of regaining the south of the Yangtze River, and reunify all states and counties in the world.

But now that he is getting old, he deeply feels that his body is no longer what it used to be. He doesn't know how many more years he has left in his life before his final days are approaching and he will reach the end of his life.

He was deeply afraid that this would be his last major southern expedition in his life.

If this effort is in vain, I may be resented in the future.

During this moment, Jiang Ji seemed to have been watching the changing expressions on Cao Cao's face, and there was a look of hesitation on his face.

He breathed a long sigh of relief, then raised his hands and said loudly: "Prime Minister, I think that if our army continues to attack Ruxuwu, apart from losing soldiers, we may not be able to break through, and the gain will not be worth the loss!"

"But there is another way, maybe you can try it."

As soon as these words came out, Cao Cao's face suddenly moved slightly, as if a glimmer of light suddenly emerged from despair, and then he immediately asked back: "Zitong, do you have any good ideas?"

"In fact, it's not a good idea."

"Ji means why not send the naval warships that have been practicing near Juchao recently to the river to seek a battle with the Wu people?"

"If we can make a breakthrough in water warfare and threaten the enemy's water strongholds in the waters flanking Ruxu, we may be able to take the opportunity to threaten the hinterland of Jiangdong."

Jiang Ji responded slightly.

But when he said this, his tone was obviously very low, and he obviously had no confidence at all.

A head-on confrontation with the Wu navy.

I am afraid that not only Jiang Ji, but also the iron-blooded warriors around him would not have this confidence.

In a fierce battle with the Wu people, their greatest advantage was naturally their cavalry.

As long as they go ashore and fight fiercely, with the Wu army's infantry fighting, they are not in vain.

But the shipbuilding industry in the land of Jiangdong is extremely skilled and prosperous.

The people of Wu are most proud of their navy.

Now Jiang Ji proposed to send naval troops to attack the water strongholds on the river and confront the enemy navy head-on.

As soon as these words came out.

The expressions of the generals standing on both sides slowly darkened unconsciously.
To be continued...