Two days later, outside Ye City.
"General, take care." Xu Huang and the others said.
"General, take care.”
Cao Zheng said loudly.
"General, take care."
The soldiers shouted in unison.
Because Liu Bei had recently obtained a military advisor called Xu Shu, with Xu Shu's help, Liu Bei recruited a group of refugees and reorganized them into an army. His strength had also recovered somewhat.
In addition, the main force of Cao Cao's army was fighting in Hebei, so Liu Bei seized the opportunity to persuade Liu Biao to join forces with him. Taking advantage of the weakness, he captured Xuchang and rescued the emperor, Liu Xie.
"Military advisor, our army is winning consecutive battles. In my opinion, in a few more days, our army will be able to reach Xuchang City and rescue the emperor.”Zhang Fei and the others said proudly.
"My lord, although our army has won consecutive battles, the main force of Cao Cao's army will soon return to help. Therefore, we have to end this quickly.”Xu Shu said humbly to Liu Bei.
"Yes, I wonder if you have any ideas?”Liu Bei hurriedly asked.
"My lord, our opponent Cao Ren doesn't have enough troops and can only defend passively. Our army has been unable to take down Lu Yang for a long time, so please give the order to send a troop to bypass Lu Yang and attack Xuchang.”
"Cao Ren doesn't know the truth, so he will definitely go out to help.”
"At that time, our army will be able to take down the city. As long as Lu Yang is taken down, Nanyang County will belong to you, my lord.”Xu Shu advised.
"Alright, let's do that." Liu Bei said excitedly,"Second brother, you will lead 20,000 troops to bypass the Cao army's Luyang defense line and go straight to Xuchang."”Liu Bei ordered Guan Yu.
"Yes, sir."
On the other side, in Xuchang City, Cao Cao was very anxious about the battle in Luyang. He could only hope that Cao Ren could hold on a little longer so that Cao Zheng could return to help.
"Prime Minister." When Xiahou Dun heard that Cao Cao had summoned him, he hurried over.
"Yuan Rang, how's the battle going?" Cao Cao hurriedly asked.
"Prime Minister, don't worry. Zixiao is in charge of the front line of Luyang.”
"Moreover, I have already mobilized the prefecture soldiers from Si Li, Yanzhou, Xu Zhou, and other places to come and support. Now, we just have to wait for Ziyi to lead the main force to come and support us in time.”Xiahou Dun consoled.
"Good, good. As long as Zixiao can hold on for another three days, Ziyi's army will definitely arrive.”
"Yuan Rang, immediately gather the soldiers and go to the armory to retrieve the weapons. We have to prepare for both scenarios.”
Cao Cao ordered.
"Yes." Xiahou Dun accepted the order and retreated.
Lu Yang frontline.
"Reporting, reporting to the general, the scouts have reported that an army of 20,000 people has secretly bypassed Luyang and headed towards Xuchang.”The messenger hurried over to report.
"What?" Hearing this, Cao Ren was shocked.
"Right now, Xuchang is empty. Once this army attacks Xuchang, everything will be over. Send my order, immediately gather the soldiers and follow me to intercept the enemy from the small road. We must not let them succeed.”Cao Ren quickly ordered.
"Yes."
An hour later, Cao Ren opened the city gate and led his troops out of the city. This scene was seen by Liu Bei's spies, so they hurriedly went to report to Liu Bei.
After Liu Bei learned of this, he split his troops into two teams. One team would attack the city with him, while the other team would attack Cao Ren's troops with Guan Yu.
"Speed up." Cao Ren ordered.
When Cao Ren left the small path, he bumped into Guan Yu's 20,000 soldiers.
"Cao Ren, you bastard, give me your life." Ever since Guan Yu had witnessed Liu Bei's two wives being captured by Cao Zheng in Xu Prefecture, he had always felt guilty towards Liu Bei.
Therefore, Guan Yu was filled with hatred towards the Cao Corporation and hated Cao Zheng even more.
"We've been tricked. Retreat quickly." Cao Ren shouted to retreat.
However, it was already too late. Guan Yu took the lead and charged forward. He was invincible as he headed straight for Cao Ren.
On the other side, Luyang City had fallen into Liu Bei's hands. The entire Nanyang County had fallen into Liu Bei's hands.
"Big brother, Lu Yang has fallen, quickly retreat.”Cao Hong hurried over and said.
"Soldiers, retreat! Retreat in the direction of Xudu.”After Cao Ren gave the order, he led his troops out of the encirclement with Cao Hong and retreated to Xuchang.
In Xuchang City, a scout hurriedly ran into the Prime Minister's residence.
"Prime Minister, General Cao Ren fell into Liu Bei's trap and Luyang fell. Liu Bei rested in Luyang for a day before heading towards Xuchang.”
"It's the will of the heavens!"
"Beat the drums and gather the generals for a meeting in the main hall." Cao Cao ordered.
"Yes."
"Greetings, Prime Minister."
After everyone arrived at the hall, they bowed to Cao Cao.
"Everyone, time is of the essence, so I won't waste any more time. I'll tell you what you need to do.”Cao Cao said calmly.
"Prime Minister, please instruct us. We will obey your orders.”Everyone shouted in unison.
"Alright, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, listen up.”
"I'm here."
"I order the two of you to lead 5,000 troops to guard the east gate of Xuchang.”
"Yes."
"Li Dianle, listen up."
"I'm here."
"The two of you will lead five thousand soldiers and guard the west gate of Xuchang.”
"Yes."
"Cao Chun, Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, listen up."
"I'm here."
"You will lead the tiger leopard cavalry and set up camp outside the city. You will form a corner with Xuchang City and harass the enemy.”
"Yes."
"Dian Wei, listen up."
"I'm here."
"Send 1,000 Tiger Guards to guard the Prime Minister's residence. 1,000 of them will follow me to supervise the battle. The remaining 8,000 soldiers would be used as reserves in case of any accidents.”
"Yes."
Two days later, Cao Ren and Cao Hong's remaining troops arrived at almost the same time as Liu Bei's army.
Liu Bei saw that although Xuchang City was very empty, the Cao army was well-equipped and prepared to defend the city. He felt that it was a pity.
"Second brother, third brother, order the army to surround Xuchang City. Today, we will rest for a day. Tomorrow, we will attack the city and kill him.”
"Yes, big brother."
At this moment, Liu Bei hated Xu Chang to the core, especially the Cao family. Back then, he was first tricked by Cao Zheng and then forcefully chased out of Xu Prefecture by Cao Zheng. His two wives were even captured by Cao Zheng and given to Cao Cao.
He was well aware of Cao Cao's fetishes. If his wife fell into Cao Cao's hands, what good ending could she have?
Originally, Liu Bei thought that he would never have the chance to take revenge in his life. He did not expect that the Cao army's main force was far away in Hebei, Xuchang was empty, and he had tens of thousands of troops in his hands. There was no reason for him to lose. Therefore, Liu Bei was really enjoying himself now.
Just like what Liu Bei had said before, wives were like clothes. As long as he had the emperor in his hands and killed Cao Cao, he would be able to control the imperial court. Then, he would be the one who held the emperor in power to command the vassals. Compared to this, what was a wife?
Unfortunately, Cao Cao had already moved all the soldiers outside the city into Xuchang, as well as the people and food supplies around Xuchang. He had used the policy of fortifying the walls and clearing the fields.
As Liu Bei did not find enough food near Xuchang, he had no choice but to temporarily withdraw his troops to Changshe.
Changshe was an important town in Yingchuan, and it was also the disaster area of the Yellow Turban riots back then.
In the first year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turban Army and hundreds of thousands of government troops fought here, and the flames of war raged everywhere.
At that time, the Yellow Turban side was led by the three brothers Zhang Jiao, as well as generals Bo Cai, Guan Hai, and Han Zhong. The official army was led by North Zhonglang General Lu Zhi, Left Zhonglang General Huangfu Song, and Right Zhonglang General Zhu Jun. In addition, there was also the local rebel army led by Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian.
The two sides confronted each other for more than two months. By midsummer, the Yellow Turban army lacked tactical knowledge, and their weakness of camping on grass was exposed. The government troops used fire attacks to break through the camp, and the entire army fled.
On the way, they were stopped by Cao Cao's reinforcements and suffered heavy losses.
After that, the government troops, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Jian, and the other righteous soldiers chased after them. The Yellow Turban army suffered heavy casualties and was greatly weakened. From then on, the Yellow Turban army in Yingchuan, Jingzhou, and other places could no longer stir up trouble.
The Battle of Changshe was an important battle to wipe out the Yellow Turban, and it was also Cao Cao's first battle. Although more than ten years had passed, the people of Changshe still had lingering fears when they thought of that battle.
The bandits passed like a comb, and the soldiers passed like a rice-comb. War was too terrifying for ordinary people.
After Cao Cao moved the capital to Xu County, Changshe also benefited from it. The small county in the past jumped into the capital region, and it was convenient to have Xu City as its back.
They had thought that this was the hinterland of Cao Cao under the Emperor's feet and that there would not be any more wars. Who knew that Liu Bei would suddenly lead his troops to attack?
Regardless of whether Liu Bei was truly benevolent or not, the people would suffer when war broke out.
Therefore, when the people of Changshe heard that there was going to be a war, their faces turned pale in fear and they immediately abandoned their homes and businesses to escape.
The soldiers were even more ruthless than the bandits. If they were blocked by them, not to mention their wealth, they might even lose their lives. Therefore, it was better to escape quickly. As for where to escape to, they did not know. They had to run first.
It was almost dusk, and the sun was setting in the west. The sunset covered half of the sky. The official road fifty miles northwest of the county was filled with fleeing civilians.
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