Cao Cao sent troops again, divided into three groups, and approached Shouchun.
Fifty thousand soldiers led by Xiahou Dun brothers went to the city east of Shouchun to get food and grass.
Fifty thousand troops were led by Yu Jin along the way, attacking from the west to cut off Yuan Shu's escape route.
The last leg of the 200,000-strong army was led by Cao Cao himself and went directly to Shouchun Palace.
call
At this time, Yuan Shu realized it later and gave orders to Cao Cao all day long.
One moment he said that Cao Cao was a rebellious minister, and the other moment he made Cao Cao a general, a marquis, a prince, etc., and asked Cao Cao to withdraw his troops.
Anyone who came to issue Yuan Shu's imperial edict was killed by Cao Cao.
This caused Yuan Shu to send out a lot of messages, but no one dared to deliver them.
Although Yuan Shu also sent soldiers to resist Cao Cao, who dared to defend Cao Cao's 200,000-strong army?
Yuan Shu also had many soldiers, two to three hundred thousand, but there were two hundred thousand in Shouchun, which Yuan Shu personally controlled. The remaining one hundred thousand were divided among a dozen people, and no one dared to lead troops to resist rashly.
To put it bluntly, Yuan Shu's camp is divided into separate camps.
Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor, and all of his advisers, civil servants and generals were high-ranking officials.
Counselors rank among the three nobles and nine ministers, while generals rank among the generals.
Even the servants had the position of Taiyang's servant.
Moreover, in order to raise money, Yuan Shu's advisers directly sold their posts in name.
As long as you give too much money, the prince can seal it for you.
This also led to the fact that most of Yuan Shu's subordinates were incompetent.
He only thinks about his own interests and does not think about others.
Cao Cao pressed forward and advanced like a broken bamboo.
If it weren't for giving the soldiers time to rest, Cao Cao could have fought outside Shouchun Palace within three days.
…
Inside Shouchun Palace.
Yuan Shu was obsessed with wine, sex and wealth, and did not care about important matters.
He handed over the political power to his son, and his advisers assisted him in handling government affairs.
But Yuan Shu's son was even more desolate than Yuan Shu. He simply left everything to outsiders to enjoy himself.
After Yuan Shu became emperor, he experienced the happiness of a faint emperor and stopped going to court.
The puppet dynasty he established is now controlled by a group of advisers.
And those counselors knew that Cao Cao was about to attack and Shouchun could not hold on, so they had prepared a retreat.
It is not that there are no people who are loyal to Yuan Shu, but no matter how loyal they are, it is useless. They cannot see Yuan Shu, and they have no political or military power.
In the harem, Yuan Shu was lying on his lap, eating fruit and listening to the reports from his men.
"Your Majesty, Cao Cao has set up camp five miles away and will call soon." His subordinates quickly reported.
When Yuan Shu heard this, he stopped eating the fruit and sat up. He asked in horror: "What did you say?"
"Don't I have 300,000 soldiers to resist outside? Where are they?"
The subordinate replied: "They divided their troops into seven cities and completely avoided Cao Cao's attack."
When Yuan Shu heard this, he collapsed on the ground and felt dizzy.
"A bunch of idiots!"
He never expected that the generals under his command would be so stupid.
"Where is Ji Ling?" Yuan Shu asked again.
Ji Ling commanded 50,000 imperial troops to guard Shouchun Palace.
"General Ji Ling is still here, but there are only 10,000 Yulin troops left."
"What!" Yuan Shu was stunned.
"Who touched my imperial guard?!"
"Prince!"
"That treacherous son! Send me an order to summon the prince into the palace and have him hanged. In addition, I will recall all the generals to guard Shouchun Palace!"
"How capable is Cao Cao? I have an army of 300,000 and an army of 50,000. What can he do to fight me?"
Although Yuan Shu was furious, he still analyzed calmly.
As long as his soldiers come back, they can still guard Shouchun and resist Cao Cao's attack.
"Yes!" His subordinates immediately went down to deliver the order.
Cao Cao was not idle either. After he figured out Shouchun's situation, he directly sent a force of 50,000 light cavalry to charge Shouchun as quickly as possible.
In addition, Guo Jia was sent as an envoy to deceive Yuan Shu's eldest son.
He divided his troops into 50,000 troops each and went out, blocking the main army that could return to the Shouchun Palace along the way.
Cao Cao understood everything ahead of Yuan Shu.
"That fool Yuan Jiujiu might have been defeated if he had brought troops back before I sent out troops. But now, his defeat is certain!" Cao Cao said happily.
"Lord, don't be careless." Xun Yu reminded.
Hearing this, Cao Cao said: "Come here, pass on my order. Whoever breaks Shouchun Palace first will be rewarded with a reward of ten thousand taels, food for a thousand households, and a thousand households as marquises."
Following Cao Cao's order, 50,000 light cavalry attacked even faster.
In just two days, we arrived outside Shouchun Palace.
…
Inside Shouchun Palace.
Yuan Shu sat alone in the main hall, with only a dozen ministers below.
"Where are the people?" Yuan Shu was a little busy.
When he proclaimed himself emperor, there were five to six hundred people, but now there are only a dozen.
"Your Majesty, you have run away," one of them said.
Yuan Shu slumped down on the throne and asked, "Where are my soldiers?"
Ji Ling stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Here you are!"
"Your Majesty, the last general can lead his troops to help you escape!"
"Run away? Humph, I don't know how to run away. After being an eunuch, can he really kill me?" Yuan Shu said proudly.
"I am the Fourth Prince and the Third Duke, and I am His Majesty the Emperor. He dares to rebel!"
Everyone was muttering in their hearts, who is the rebel?
"Report! Your Majesty, 50,000 soldiers have arrived at Nancheng and are about to be surrounded!" The messenger hurried in.
"What, Cao Mengde dares!" Yuan Shu stood up excitedly, a little panicked.
He looked at Ji Ling and asked, "Ji Ling, how long can you keep guard?"
"If it's only 50,000, the general can defend it for a month. If it's 100,000, it can last for fifteen days at most. If it's 300,000 troops approaching the city, it can last for five days at most!" Ji Ling said, cupping his hands.
"Okay, come here, pass my order and send a distress signal to my cousin Yuan Benchu. I am willing to share the world with him!" Yuan Shu said quickly.
"yes!"
His men went to deliver the message.
Outside Shouchun Palace.
Ge Xuan looked in the direction of the fake palace. In his eyes, the yellow gas gradually dissipated.
In three days at most, Yuan Shu's energy will be exhausted and he can snatch the imperial seal.
outside the city.
Zhou Sheng sat on the tree trunk and looked in the direction of Shouchun Palace.
"Yuan Shu will flee within three days at most, and you will follow me to stop Ge Xuan and others." Zhou Sheng ordered.
The jade seal of the Chuan Dynasty fell into the hands of Cao Cao, so that Cao Cao could hold the emperor hostage and order the princes in the later stage.
Moreover, after taking over the Imperial Seal, Cao Cao will have more nobility, and his strategy and scheming will be improved to a higher level.
When the time comes to get the Emperor, Cao Cao will be the strongest in the entire Eastern Han Dynasty.
Now, everyone is waiting for when Yuan Shu will leave Shouchun Palace and completely ruin his own strength.
"Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu, your days are coming to an end." Zhou Sheng whispered, mingling with the army and preparing to break the city with them.