South of Xu County, Yingshui Dutou.
Dozens of warships under the banner of merchant ships were already anchored at the ferry.
Cao Cao's elite soldiers were boarding the ship under the cover of the night.
"Virtuous son-in-law, I hope that your plan can help me take down Shouchun!”
Cao Cao stood on the bridge with his hands behind his back and looked at his soldiers.
The sound of horse hooves rang out as a person dashed over. It was the servant that Cao Jie had sent over as a dowry.
"Sikong, miss has a letter for Sikong.”
The servant dismounted and presented a letter.
Cao Cao took it and frowned,""This child Li Heng, why did he suddenly want to go to Xiacai without warning?”
Su Yi left in a hurry, so Cao Jie did not have time to personally report to him. Before he left, he could only send his servant to report to Cao Cao.
"Father, why did brother-in-law go to Lower Cai? Doesn't he know that we're going to send troops to attack Cai?”
Cao Ang was confused.
He was one of the few people who knew Su Yi's identity other than Dian Wei.
"Who knows? Your brother-in-law has always been unpredictable.”
Cao Cao sighed helplessly and tapped his forehead with his finger.
After pondering for a while.
"Ang 'er, we'll attack and take down Empress Cai. You don't have to do anything. You just need to lead a team to find your sister and protect her."”
"Father, I still want to go into battle and kill the enemies in this southern expedition to make contributions to father!”
Cao Ang was filled with battle intent, but he was somewhat unwilling.
"Foolish!"
Cao Cao glared at him." Your brother-in-law is smarter than Zhang Liang. He alone can fight against millions of soldiers. It's a great credit for you to protect him!"”
Cao Ang was suddenly woken up by the shout and hurriedly cupped his hands."Son is muddle-headed. Father is right. Father, don't worry. Son won't let brother-in-law lose a single hair!”
Cao Cao was satisfied.
All the soldiers boarded the ships and Cao Cao gave the order. The army followed the Ying River and headed towards Huainan.
…
Take Cai City.
This city was located at the entrance of the Ying River into the Huai River, it was the western gate of Shouchun.
Half of Yuan Shu's troops were in Xuyi to confront Lu Bu, while the other half were in Hefei to resist Sun Ce's attack.
Because Cao Cao had not made any moves, Yuan Shu thought that Cao Cao wanted to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. He did not intend to personally go down and use troops against him.
Therefore, there were only 2,000 soldiers in Xiacai City.
However, it wasn't that Yuan Shu didn't pay attention to Cao Cao. The one who ordered the city guards was his Crown Prince Yuan Yao.
On this day, the sun was setting in the west.
On the north gate, Yuan Yao stood with his hands behind his back, his face dark.
"How hateful! I don't know what methods Cao Aman used to lure Sun Ce and Lu Bu into betraying my father.”
Yuan Yao gritted his teeth, but his eyes were filled with confusion.
"Rumor has it that Cao Cao received the help of a mysterious hermit. This person is very intelligent and is comparable to Zhang Liang Zai Sheng.”
"I guess that Cao Cao must have used this person to trick Sun Ce and Lu Bu into betraying His Majesty!”
Situ Yanghong guessed.
"Hermit?"
Yuan Yao sucked in a breath of cold air." No wonder Zhang Xiu was so easily destroyed by Cao Cao. Liu Biao's 40,000-strong army was also defeated in a strange way. Could it be that this hermit is a strange person who offered a plan for Cao Aman?!"”
"Most likely."
Yang Hong nodded slightly." Xun Yu may be resourceful, but not to such an extent. Other than that mysterious man, I can't think of anyone else who has such resourcefulness!"”
Yuan Yao shivered and said worriedly,""If that's the case, how can we be a match for Cao Aman if he leads his army to attack Huainan?”
"Your Highness, you don't have to worry too much.”
"Cao Cao wants to use Sun Ce and Lu Bu to exhaust our soldiers so that he can take advantage of the situation.”
"However, Sun Ce and Lu Bu are not foolish. The Crown Prince did not see them because he wanted to confront our army and did not attack with all his might.”
"As long as we drag this out until Yuan Shao unifies Hebei and leads his army south, Cao Aman won't have the time to deal with us.”
Yang Hong smiled and comforted her.
Yuan Yao heaved a sigh of relief and a mocking expression appeared on his face."What Yang Situ said makes sense. Even if that thief Cao had the help of some extraordinary person, I don't believe that that person is so extraordinary that he can do anything!”
The two of them looked at each other and smiled.
Suddenly.
"Reporting to the Crown Prince," the soldier shouted,"there seems to be a troop approaching from the northwest!"”
Yuan Yao was shocked and hurriedly raised his head to take a look.
A gust of wild dust was sweeping over.
On the official road north of the city, thousands of cavalry were charging towards the north gate of Xiacai.
"The flag of the Cao Army! It's the Cao Army!"
Yang Hong was the first to recognize it and shouted in a trembling voice.
"Yang Situ, didn't you say that Cao Cao wanted to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight?" Yuan Yao's expression changed in horror."Why did his troops suddenly appear in Xiacai?" he cried out in alarm.”
"This, this…"
Yang Hong's eyes were filled with shock and confusion, unable to explain.
Yuan Yao came back to his senses, drew his sword and shouted,""Quick, close the city gates and let the entire army enter the city for battle!”
A warning gong sounded.
Below the city gate tower, Yuan Zhou's soldiers rushed forward, wanting to close the city gate.
It was too late.
Cao Cao's tiger and leopard cavalry arrived too quickly. Before Yuan Jun could pull up the drawbridge, they had already rushed to the city gate.
Xiahou Yuan took the lead and charged into the city gates, killing the Yuan soldiers who were closing the gates.
Yuan Jun was frightened and retreated, not daring to go forward.
The Cao army that followed behind was like a flood, pouring into the city gate and rolling over the panic-stricken Yuan Army.
In an instant.
The Yuan army was killed and scattered.
The army was defeated like a landslide!
Cao Cao's cavalry opened up a path, and the infantry followed closely behind to charge into the city and start a massacre.
Xiacai City had become a hell for Yuan Jun's army.
As the sun set, the sounds of killing gradually died down.
On the four gates of Xiacai, Cao's banner was already flying.
Cao Cao ascended the tower and looked south. The rolling Huai River was close at hand.
By crossing the river, his army would be able to approach Shouchun City.
"Li Heng's deduction was correct. That traitor Yuan Shu was indeed completely defenseless against me!”
Cao Cao stroked his long beard and sighed.
At this moment.
Xiahou Yuan climbed up the city wall and pressed the two captives down in front of Cao Cao.
"Sikong, these two thieves are Yuan Yao and Yang Hong. One is Yuan Shu's eldest son, and the other is his trusted advisor.”
He actually captured Yuan Shu's eldest son alive!
Cao Cao's eyes lit up as he shouted,""Traitor Yuan Yao, do you know your crimes?"
"My father, Yuan Shu, was bewitched by a traitor and insisted on arrogating the throne. I have tried many times to dissuade him.”
Facing death, Yuan Yao's will collapsed and he chose to beg for mercy without hesitation.
The Cao soldiers all looked down on him.
Cao Cao sneered,"Yuan Shu, that embroidered pillow, the son he gave birth to is indeed an idiot. Like father, like son!"”
Yuan Yao didn't dare to make a sound after being mocked.
"Men!"
Killing intent flashed in Cao Cao's eyes as he waved his hand and shouted,""Behead this traitor and hang his head on the city wall to intimidate the Huainan rebels!”
The Tiger Guards swarmed forward and dragged Yuan Yao away.
" Lord Cao, please spare me, please spare me, I am willing to surrender to Lord Cao..."
Yuan Yao howled, but he was dragged away mercilessly.
Cao Cao turned to Yang Hong and said coldly,"Traitor Yang Hong, what else do you have to say before you die?”
Yang Hong's face was filled with despair.
He was Yuan Shu's trusted advisor. Many of Yuan Shu's subordinates had tried to dissuade him from becoming emperor, but he was the only one who supported him.
With his heinous crimes, even if he begged for mercy, Cao Cao would never let him live.
Yang Hong raised his head and said bitterly,"The winner takes all. Hong has nothing to say. I just want to ask Sikong Cao, was your surprise attack on Xiacai suggested by that strange hermit?”
Cao Cao did not answer.
This meant that he had tacitly agreed.
Yang Hong cupped his hands and said," Before Sikong Cao kills me, please tell me who this extraordinary person is so that I can die in peace."”
Cao Cao said coldly," A traitor like you doesn't deserve to know his name. Men, drag him down and behead him!"”
The Tiger Guards stepped forward and dragged Yang Hong away.
" Cao Cao, Cao Aman, please tell me who that strange person is, who is he…"
A despairing cry echoed across the city wall.
Cao Cao looked to the south and raised his horse whip,""Pass down my order. The army will immediately cross the Huai River to the south and surround Shouchun to give Yuan Shu a surprise!”
[PS: 1,000 more flowers to 15,000. Please give me one. I am extremely grateful.]
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]