On May 21, the 16th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao, who was marching urgently, finally arrived in Pengcheng.
What awaits him in Pengcheng was the defeated Huainan army that had already retreated.
"Bang!"
Cao Cao punched the table, "It's hateful! I'm so slow, I'm still one step slower!"
"thump."
Xiahou Dun knelt directly on the ground and apologized, "I will be ashamed of the Prime Minister and ask the Prime Minister to punish him!"
"I am ashamed of the Prime Minister, please punish me."
Dong Zhao, Chen Jiao, Xun You and others knelt down and apologized.
"Your sins will be settled later. The most urgent task now is to find a way to regain Huainan and rescue Zhang Wenyuan and Li Mancheng."
Compared with Huainan's losses, what made Cao Cao even more anxious and heartbroken was the capture of Zhang Liao and Li Dian.
Sima Yi bowed, "Prime Minister, our army is marching thousands of miles in a hurry. It is already extremely tired at this moment. I'm afraid it will take some time to repair it."
Xun You also spoke, "Prime Minister, what Sima Zhongda said is reasonable. Our army is newly defeated, so it is not advisable to send troops immediately. Please think twice."
"Please think twice!"
Cao Cao brought a total of 200,000 troops, and with the defeated troops in Huainan, Cao's army had reached 260,000. At this moment, he could only continue to wait!
This is very unfavorable for Cao's army. The longer the time, the more Liu's control over Huainan will be!
Cao Cao said helplessly, "Oh, let the soldiers repair it first."
"The Prime Minister is wise."
On the city wall of Shouchun, Pang Tong, Zhou Yu and others were inspecting. Liu Jun on the top of the city, including Zhou Yu and Pang Tong, were all wearing white scarves. Shouchun City was already white.
After the news of Liu Biao's death was conveyed, this was the case in various parts of Jingchu. The government even ordered that no gatherings would be allowed to entertain and no weddings would be allowed within three months.
This is a rule since ancient times, and Liu Cong cannot object to it. If he interferes, the world will say that he is unfilial. And in this era, the most important thing is filial piety.
Pang Tong stopped and said, "Scouts reported that Cao's army has arrived in Pengcheng, Cao Cao has led his troops in person."
Turning around, Pang Tong asked Zhou Yu, "What do you think of Gongjin?"
Zhou Yu smiled and said, "With the Secretary of the Central Committee here, how dare Yu speak nonsense?"
"Although I am the Minister of the Central Secretariat, in the lord's decree, you are the commander-in-chief of Huainan. In the future, you must make your own decisions on the military operations and strategic policies of Huainan."
Zhou Yu bowed and replied, "The last general believes that Cao Cao will most likely withdraw his troops."
Pang Tong raised his eyebrows, "Oh? I hope to hear it carefully."
Zhou Yu continued, "The rainy season is coming soon, and with the terrain of Shouchun, it will be unfavorable to the siege army. Moreover, Cao's army is all from the northerners, and water wars cannot compete with our army. This is one of them."
"Shouchun is close to the Huai River, and our army can fully defend itself by relying on the Huai River. This is a dangerous place for heaven, and this is the second."
"Although Cao's army is strong, there are more than 200,000 troops. They are either defeated or tired soldiers advancing eastward. The soldiers no longer have the will to fight. This is the third one."
"Our army also has more than 210,000 troops, which is equivalent to the Cao army. It is also the garrison side. Unless the Cao army makes a strange plan, Huainan and others will not be able to attack. This is the fourth one."
"With these four theories, I think Cao's army will not attack Huainan."
Indeed, if Cao Cao knew that there were so many large armies in Huainan, he would probably not have attacked easily.
In the current situation in Huainan, the only advantage of Cao's army is the people's hearts, and the people in Huainan have not yet completely returned to the Liu family.
Another thing is that Liu Biao had just passed away, and Liu's morale that had just gained Huainan was extinguished.
Pang Tong smiled, "Lord, you are using your guardian Huainan. You are really using the right person. After Cao Cao retreats, I will lead the troops back to Xiangyang. I hope that Gongjin will live up to his high expectations in Huainan."
"The last general will definitely not let down the lord's high expectations." Zhou Yu's eyes were full of excitement.
Liu Cong decided to leave behind a 150,000 army in Huainan! Among these 150,000 troops, there are 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 Japanese troops!
Huainan is different from Wancheng. This land is too large, and many counties and counties need to be sent to guard the city.
Among them, Shouchun, Hefei and Lujiang are the most important. Liu Cong gave Zhou Yu so many troops that he could invade the Central Plains while guarding!
By then, Zhou Yu's army of more than 100,000 will go north from Huainan, and Liu Cong will send troops from Wancheng to north. The two fronts will make Cao Cao unable to take care of both the beginning and the end!
"What? There are more than 200,000 Liu's army in Huainan?"
Cao Cao looked at the secret spies at the school office in disbelief.
The man quickly replied, "The young man dared not deceive the Prime Minister. Liu Jun did have more than 200,000 people, but there were 100,000 of them, which were recently recruited and his combat effectiveness was not strong."
Cao Cao nodded and continued to ask, "How is Liu Jun's morale in Shouchun?"
"Liu Jun's morale is not very good."
Cao Cao frowned and was a little displeased, "Liu Jun just conquered Huainan, how could his morale be unrestrained?"
"I dare not finish the prime minister because Liu Biao died, so the Hefei area in Shouchun, including the entire Huainan and Jingchu, are all white banners."
"The Liu army did not celebrate the conquest of Huainan, but instead became a little lifeless because of Liu Biao's death."
Actually, it’s not the soldiers who blame us. We’re not fighting to live a good life?
As a result, not long after entering the city, the kilns were not allowed to visit, restaurants were not allowed to go, and night markets were not allowed to open. Even holidays were cancelled, and in the military camp, even laughing became a luxury.
Can morale be immortal under such strict requirements? But they dare not express any dissatisfaction. Out of love and loyalty to Liu Cong, despite the extraordinary difficulties, the soldiers endured these almost harsh requirements.
Cao Cao's eyes lit up, "Is Liu Biao dead?"
"Yes, on April 20th, Liu Biao will die."
"Go down."
"promise."
"Liu Biao is dead, can Gu take the opportunity to attack Jingchu again?" Looking around, Cao Cao had some expectations in his eyes.
Xun You frowned and said, "Prime Minister, I'm afraid it won't work. Putting aside the morale and combat effectiveness of the troops on both sides, the rainy season in Huainan is coming soon, and the environment is not conducive to our army."
Cao Cao was a little unwilling to accept it and looked at Jia Xu who was sleeping, "What do you think about Wenhe?"
"Prime Minister, it was Liu Cong who held the power of Jing Chu, not Liu Biao." Jia Xu only opened his eyes and said something.
Cao Cao sighed, Yes, after Liu Cong took charge of Jingchu, he became so powerful step by step.
Although Liu Biao was dead, it did not affect the stability of Jingchu today. As long as Liu Cong is still there, Jingchu will not be in turmoil. Not only will it not be in turmoil, but it will also become more impoverished!
In the past, when Liu Biao was alive, those who were loyal to Liu Cong would consider Liu Biao more or less. Now that Liu Biao is dead, they will only serve Liu Cong more loyally.
"Report, Prime Minister, Zhou Yu digs the river again. He threatens that if Cao's army comes, he will lead out of the Huai River again!"
Cao Cao smiled bitterly, "The lonely Huainan, I really can't take it back now."
Sima Yi went out to hand, "Prime Minister, now, Qingxu should be used as the frontier to consolidate the Central Plains."
In the Central Plains? Cao Cao didn’t say anything, he was thinking about Hebei in his heart!