In the fifth year of Jian'an, early March.

After Yuan Shao learned that the Jingzhou plan failed and Wen Chou was killed, instead of listening to Ju Shou's advice to reorganize his troops and fight again later, he instead forced Chu Feng to fight decisively.

As a result, Yuan Jun's entire army was miserable.

They had to face the towering Xiapi City, so many corpses were piled under the city and blood pooled into a river. This also made the city guard general Lu Meng almost think that Yuan Shao was crazy.

In order to defeat Chu Feng head-on, he ordered Yuan Tan from Qingzhou and Yuan Shang from Jizhou to each dispatch 10,000 troops and horses, and ordered Yuan Xi from Youzhou and Bingzhou officials to each dispatch 5,000 cavalry to support the front line.

As for the 10,000 infantrymen who escaped under Wen Chou, Yuan Shao ordered them to rush to Xuzhou at full speed. Since Jingzhou failed, Xuzhou must push him in.

For a time, including Yuan Shao's own 50,000 troops and horses, plus the 40,000 infantry and cavalry mobilized, Yuan Shao's frontal force was close to 100,000.

There is also Chunyu Qiong in the middle with 30,000 troops.

The number of troops and horses had an absolute advantage, but these deployments seemed to Ju Shou to be too hasty. He tried to dissuade him many times but was rejected by Yuan Shao.

Go his own way and seek a decisive battle.

In this regard, Jushu can only hope that he can successfully win Xiapi, otherwise if he loses, several states in the Central Plains that have spent millions of military rations to purchase may have to be surrendered.

When the time comes, it will probably be even more difficult to compete with Chu Feng.

The only good thing is that Chu Feng's Jingzhou soldiers and horses won't be able to get through in a short time, so they don't dare to come over.

————

Shouchun, inside the general's mansion.

Chu Feng looked at the people in the hall and couldn't help but chuckle a little. He handed the document down and said, "Yuan Benchu ​​is anxious. He has mobilized troops from Qingyou and Jizhou."

"It seems that he wants to give up Xuzhou before me, or fight to the death with him in Xuzhou!"

"My lord, I would like to be the vanguard." Wei Yan clasped his fists and stepped out, eager to try. This man's warlike mood is indeed one of the best.

"Haha, don't worry!" Chu Feng waved his hand: "Chun Yuqiong did not retreat, but instead sent more scouts to continue southward, exactly as expected,"

"Since Yuan Shao has mobilized troops and horses, I will capture Chunyu Qiong, and then I will save the states and counties under his command that are still capable of resisting, and I will severely damage him in one fell swoop."

Chu Feng spoke with confidence.

"My lord, Yuan Shao is eager for a battle, and our army may not need to accept the challenge. Even if our army captures Chunyu Qiong, the number of troops and horses on the front line will only be half that of Yuan's army, so it is better to defend and repair."

Jia Xu stroked his beard and suggested.

The difference is twice that of taking the initiative to fight Yuan Shao, which may not be good news.

"There is no need to delay. I have been to Xiapi once. It is surrounded by water on three sides and the terrain is low-lying. Any wise man in Yuan Shao's army knows how to store water and flood the city."

"Unless Xiapi is abandoned, if Xiapi is lost, Xuzhou will be completely lost, so Xiapi cannot be let go. We must fight quickly here and strive to confront Yuan Shao before the summer rainy season."

Chu Feng waved his hand. He went to Xiapi to rescue Lu Bu and saw the situation in Xiapi once before. Although the city has high walls and thick walls and relies on the water system, the water system on three sides is also a double-edged sword.

He was still aware that Lu Bu was flooded and even defeated and killed.

Seeing Chu Feng's insistence, Jia Xu didn't say much. Wei Yan, who was standing next to him, said loudly: "My lord, Chun Yuqiong's soldiers and horses are just a bunch of wine bags and rice bags, and they dare to continue the attack."

"The last general is calling for battle. We only need three thousand cavalry to crush Yuan's army and take Chunyu Qiong's head to offer to the lord." Wei Yan spoke excitedly again, a little eager to try.

"Wen He, is there any good strategy for defeating Chunyu Qiong?" Chu Feng looked at Jia Xu and asked.

"My lord, Chunyu Qiong is a brave man who has no strategy. Now that the rear army has been massacred, we still march forward to see what we can see. Since he has ventured into the lord, we can invite him to fight."

"With such a warrior's character, he will definitely not miss the opportunity for a fair duel! With the military power of the Central Army, it will be easy to kill this loser!"

Jia Xu stroked his beard, chuckled and said, he really has no interest in people like Chun Yuqiong, he has no wisdom at all, just the simplest and crudest ones will do.

"Just a fair duel?" Chu Feng looked at Jia Xu suspiciously.

"Of course not. My lord, you can lead the central army in front, and send another general to lead the cavalry around the rear, leading the front to fight. The cavalry from the rear will rush out, and the enemy army will collapse without a fight."

Jia Xu stroked his beard, but Chu Feng still understood him.

How could I pursue a direct decisive battle?

"Haha, it's simple and crude, but this is enough for Chun Yuqiong to eat a pot!" Chu Feng laughed heartily. He was still thinking of various calculations before, but after listening to Jia Xu's words,

He suddenly realized that he had just fallen into a misunderstanding. In fact, it was not difficult to defeat such an idiot.

"Wei Yan listens to the order, and I will ask you to lead two thousand cavalry to detour behind it. When our army fights head-on, rush into the army formation and disrupt the morale of the army." Chu Feng looked at Wei Yan and said.

"Promise, I will ensure that the mission is completed!"

Wei Yan laughed heartily, he was extremely eager for military success.

"Zhang Xiu, you are leading the five hundred cavalrymen in the direction of the enemy's retreat. If Chun Yuqiong escapes, he will be killed immediately, regardless of life or death!"

Chu Feng looked at Zhang Xiu again.

"General, take your orders!" Zhang Xiu nodded.

After Zhang Xiu had finished talking to Chu Feng last time, he became much less utilitarian. Just as Chu Feng said, these generals are not as tired as you, a relative, so why bother fighting with the generals.

"Xu Chu, rectify the Tiger Guard. Tomorrow I will lead them to drink blood and kill the enemy." Chu Feng looked at Xu Chu and said in a deep voice.

"Promise!" Xu Chu nodded immediately, with a smile on his fierce face.

"Okay, hurry up and reorganize the army. The Central Army has assembled north of the Huaihe River. All 20,000 Central Army troops have gone out to fight. It's time for these new recruits to go through the fire of war."

Chu Feng opened his mouth and gave instructions again.

"No!" All the generals responded in unison.

Watching everyone retreat, Jia Xu finally stayed here and said in deep thought: "My lord, since we have decided to fight Yuan Shao in Xuzhou, we will definitely not be able to rely on the three generals Lu Meng, Tai Shi Ci, and Zhang Liao to have enough troops!"

"There are still 20,000 people in the Central Army!" Chu Feng added.

"My lord, this battle is about the fate of the country. No one can guarantee whether the 10,000 Central Army can shoulder this important task except during military training. Therefore, I believe that the Central Army only has the elite."

Jia Xu looked solemn, he just wanted to remind Chu Feng

It is possible to train troops to fight against Chunyu Qiong, but Yuan Shao will soon gather a hundred thousand troops. If he loses then, he will be defeated like a mountain, and he cannot count on new troops.

"What do you think?" Chu Feng asked.

"The Lord will lead the Central Army of 10,000 people, and Lu Su will lead his own army. Hefei will be guarded by the remaining Central Army, which can be handed over to Qiao Rui for command. In addition, Huang Zhong's 10,000 people can be brought to guard the city."

"As for Zhao Yun's 5,000 cavalry, which have been recruited, they may not be strong enough in combat, but with the lord's stirrups, horseshoes, saddles and other assistance, it is feasible to complete the tactical interlude."

"That is to say, in the North-South War, the lord needs to call at least two cavalry regiments from Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao, Lu Meng, Tai Shici, and Lu Su, including the lord's Central Army, a total of 40,000 people as the main force."

"Huang Zhong's troops will be used to guard the city, and Gan Ning's troops, in addition to staying in the Yangtze River Basin, can assist the army of 10,000 people in advancing. With a total of 70,000 people, we have an absolute chance of victory."

Jia Xu calculated and spoke loudly.

Mainly from Jia Xu's point of view, there is no need to wait any longer for these soldiers and horses. You must know that this battle is related to the fate of the country and the pattern of the world. If Chu Feng wins, the Central Plains will be at your fingertips.

Yuan Shaosheng will go one step further and occupy Xuzhou, completely constricting Chu Feng along the Yangtze River.

Therefore, we must go all out in the Civil War.

Chu Feng thought for a moment and nodded. Indeed, the North-South War must go all out. The strongest must be mobilized to fight against it, otherwise no one can afford to lose.

"Wen He's words make sense!" Chu Feng nodded.

"My lord, you can first order Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun and other troops to take a boat division to Xuzhou to complete the strategic deployment, and also transport grain, grass, ordnance, etc. in advance."

"After the victory here, my lord will reorganize his army and move north, and shift part of the Central Army to defend the Lusu Army. In this way, the strongest troops will be mobilized to fight."

Jia Xu planned carefully.

Although Jia Xu knew how powerful the Central Army was, he also knew that the Central Army was an elite force created by Chu Feng. The other legions may have good generals.

However, their army is far from the Central Army. Even the strongest Lu Su army is far inferior to the Central Army. In this battle, the burden still has to be on the shoulders of the Central Army.

"Well, just make arrangements according to what you see!" Chu Feng agreed.

"No!" Jia Xu clasped his fists and looked solemn.

————

Two days later, we were thirty miles away from the north bank of the Huaihe River.

The Chu army had already set up a camp and was waiting for Chunyu Qiong's arrival.

During these days, although Chunyu Qiong was stupid, he was also extremely cautious and slowly moved closer. Especially at night, he would send countless scouts to prevent the Chu army from sneak attacks.

As a result, they finally set up camp dozens of miles away.

Before he could take the initiative to attack, Chu Feng took the initiative and led the central army to march forward in a mighty manner. They stopped fifteen miles away from Chunyu Qiong's camp and at the same time sent people to call for formation.

But Chunyu was in Qiongjun stronghold,

The scouts in the hall told that the Chu army had already arrived outside the stronghold, which made Chunyu Qiong confused. He was pacing back and forth, asking his subordinates for their opinions.

"They are all mute? The Chu army has already arrived, isn't there any good strategy?" Chunyu Qiong was angry at all the generals, mainly because he was worried that the Chu army was cheating.

"This..." Everyone lowered their heads and did not dare to say anything.

"General, someone from the Chu army is here. They are just outside the stronghold. They say that he is here on Chu Feng's orders and invites the general to fight to the death with his lord." A tooth general came over quickly.

"A fight to the death?" Chunyu Qiong was alert.

"Hmph, who is afraid of whom? Come on, follow me to the village head and have a look!" Chunyu Qiong was angry in her heart because she wanted to fight Chu Feng to the death, especially since he was not good at conspiracy.
To be continued...