Boom!
With another loud bang, the stone suddenly fell down and collapsed a part of the city wall. In an instant, the garrison on the city wall felt shaken again.
At this moment, they were already mentally and physically exhausted.
He wasn't human…
They attacked every day and repeatedly shouted to kill. However, they never really charged. However, every time they shouted, it was as if they were really going to fight to the death.
And this catapult was extremely powerful.
Compared to the previous ones that used the rings to carry weight, it looked much more solid.
In the city, the commoners were also sitting paralyzed on the ground, with nowhere to go.
Inside the houses, on the streets, and in the dilapidated old houses, many places were crowded with people, sticking close to each other for warmth.
Winter had arrived, and the people were hungry and cold. Therefore, some people who could not eat contracted the disease. Not long after, it directly evolved into a small-scale epidemic.
However, Yuan Shu's way of handling it was also very interesting.
He used the excuse that the illness of the people would affect the Imperial Palace and pushed all the people to the outer city. Therefore, the outer city was now filled with people everywhere.
In the Imperial Palace, he could maintain peace and quiet. He could even sing and dance, play music and compose poems.
Every day, he was intoxicated by the beauties in the harem and indulged in money.
For a moment, he didn't care about the lives of his people.
Once the Winterwind Disease started to appear, the soldiers would immediately drag it to kill and burn it without hesitation.
As a result, the outer city was now like a living hell. The people were suffering, and the soldiers were becoming more and more ruthless.
And under such circumstances, the amount of food... was getting lesser and lesser. Hunger was coming, and human instinct was slowly approaching the bottom line...
It was even about to exceed the bottom line.
When the people in the city heard the sound of the heavy object smashing down the city wall, they also looked up in confusion.
"Again."
"When…will this day end…"
The few of them sat in the ruins. This place could not be called a house, but a collapsed building.
He could not help but sigh and worry.
"The dukes outside the city are taking turns to shout and kill day and night. Sooner or later, the city will be breached.”
"I heard that Cao Gong, who attacked Shouchun, was a benevolent person. After he attacked Xuzhou, he did not commit any crimes against the people. He did not plunder.”
"Come on, there are no good officials in the world. They are all plundered in different ways.”
" Sigh, our Zhong family's Son of Heaven…"
"He only knows how to lock himself up in the palace and let the soldiers work for him at the front line. In the end, he hides and enjoys himself…"
" It's too cold. If this continues, we'll all freeze to death. Let's think of a way to escape…"
"How? The family business was here. Where else could they go?”
The commoners chatted with each other. Outside, there were soldiers guarding. There were soldiers holding spears and halberds in every area, watching over them like cattle and sheep.
The area they could move about in was less than ten miles per day.
If this continued, he would collapse.
"Sigh, I only hope that the city falls sooner.”
"Hehehe…I hope so too. If the city falls earlier, everything will be fine.”
" Hurry up and break the city, kill this laughable Zhong Family's Son of Heaven…"
……
Shouchun was deathly silent.
But in reality, the Cao camp was slowly changing after this disciple had consumed a lot of energy and morale.
Other than Xu Zhen's Snow Dragon Riders, who would still carry out orders to kill and attack every day.
The rest of the soldiers seemed to have begun to disobey.
The complaints were also growing.
At this time, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had no choice but to watch the show.
"Aiya, that kid said that he would definitely break through Shouchun when the new year comes. In the end, he thought of such a method. He attacked but didn't attack and retreated but didn't retreat. He's simply extremely stupid. I already don't know what he wants to do.”
In the tent, Zhang Fei sat in front of the charcoal fire, his hands placed close to the fire to roast.
He had just returned from outside the camp and shouted for two hours. Naturally, he still gave the same order. He only shouted to kill and did not charge into the city.
Therefore, he was also indignant now, and his face was filled with anger.
If it wasn't for his big brother's constant reminders that he had no choice but to disobey Xu Zhen's military orders, he would have gone on strike long ago.
" Yes," Guan Yu raised his chin and stroked his long beard, placing it on his left arm. He narrowed his eyes and said proudly,""We are wasting money and food in vain. It seems that we are besieging the city but not attacking. It is better to retreat early and attack again next year.”
Liu Bei's face was dark as he stared at the flames of the charcoal fire. He sat on the futon without looking at them.
He couldn't wash it.
It had been more than a month, and it had been like this day and night. No matter how cultured a person was, their patience would have run out.
Moreover, since ancient times, no one had ever fought like this. They only shouted to kill and used siege chariots and catapults to continuously destroy the city walls.
However, there were people repairing the city wall every night.
Therefore, double the effort and half the effort, when can you smash a hole?
From the looks of it, Xu Zhen really couldn't break the city, but he used this to strengthen the morale of the three armies. When he returned to Xuchang, he only said that his plan had failed.
This way, Cao Cao's prestige would not be damaged and the soldiers of the three armies would not be sacrificed too much.
Xu Zhen took the blame for Cao Cao.
He likes to plan and make decisions.
However…
Thinking of this, Liu Bei felt even more upset and worried.
You actually…sigh…for him…
"Anyway, I don't care! There are still seven days of rations left in the army. After seven days, we'll go and ask for rations. If there's no rations…I'll beat that kid up!”
"Nonsense."
Liu Bei rolled his eyes.
It felt good to torture the military counselor for a while, but I was heartbroken to chase after the military counselor. I still don't understand this logic. I'm already thinking about it until my heart is broken.
"Let's wait a little longer…I keep feeling that Bowen isn't that simple.”
Liu Bei said calmly, his tone low and gentle.
……
At this moment, in Cao Cao's tent.
Cheng Yu was writing something, while Cao Cao was draped in a cloak, resting his chin on his hand as he dozed off.
Xia Hou, Cao Hong, Li Dian, and Xu Huang entered the tent one after another. Cheng Yu immediately made a gesture to keep quiet.
The four generals stopped in their tracks, not daring to make too much noise.
At this moment, he suddenly heard Cao Cao's voice," Tell me, what is it?"”
"Do you want to say that attacking and not attacking is a waste of energy?”
"That's right, Meng De. There isn't much food left in the army.”
Xiahou Dun revealed a bitter expression. He would not blame Xu Zhen.
After all, Xu Zhen had almost saved his life back then and allowed him to display his might, beating up the so-called Flying General Lu Bu until he fled like a rat.
However, the rations were constantly being consumed. The soldiers were anxious, and so were the generals.
"The sword seals are all in Bowen's hands. He can even drive me.”
Cao Cao's eyes were half-opened, and he looked domineering. He stared at Xiahou Dun with a certain light in his eyes.
"Listen, we will retreat when we run out of money and food.”
"Before that happens, everyone should hold on tight to this string.”
" This..." Xiahou Dun wanted to say something more, but when he saw Cao Cao's expression, he could only swallow his words.
" Here." The four generals cupped their fists and came out of the military tent.
In this world of ice and snow, a chill assaulted them. The four of them let out a long sigh.
It was unbearable!
Instead of waiting like this, they might as well start a war! Killing until the sky turned dark was better than holding it in like this!
"In a few more days, we still have a month's worth of rations. If we run out of rations, we'll retreat.”
Xiahou Dun said firmly.
The other three generals had nothing to say.
Xiahou Dun trusted Cao Cao.
Cao Cao trusted Xu Zhen.
That was all.
Moreover, they were strict with their troops and would not mutiny. At least for now, the soldiers were still loyal to their generals.
The situation was not critical.
……
In the tent, Cao Cao laughed softly.
"My lord, uh…what are you laughing at?"
Cheng Yu put down his pen and asked suspiciously.
"The battle between these two armies is a competition of patience.”
"Especially in a big city like Shouchun. Whoever loses patience first will lose.”
"I've already understood Bowen's plan….. this battle, we might have a fifty percent chance.”
"Yes, what strategy…" Cheng Yu was stunned and asked curiously.
"Continue to exhaust the enemy's patience and make the defenders on the city panic. Then, when the rations run out, we can fight with our backs to the wall. This battle will be easier than any previous charge.”
"Intentions are nothing more than that. Attacking the enemy with patience might work.”
Cao Cao sighed.
He couldn't think of a better way.
Although Xu Zhen's method was still a stupid method.
It was also the most effective plan at the moment.
"I see…"
Cheng Yu nodded with a look of realization.
In fact, he had also guessed that this was the case. It was just that he was used to it and subconsciously praised Cao Cao in this manner.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, a soldier suddenly ran into the tent, his expression changing drastically.
"Lord, bad news! Advisor Jun, Advisor Jun had collected thirty thousand dan of grain and was going to use the catapults to scatter it into the city!”
" What?!"
Cao Cao suddenly stood up, his face full of shock." What is he doing!?"!!! Stop him immediately!"
" My lord…the sword seal is in his hands…even you can drive it…"
Cheng Yu reminded Cao Cao, causing him to collapse on the cushion in a daze. The situation became extremely awkward.
Cheng Yu looked at Cao Cao guiltily, remembering that he had just said that he understood Xu Zhen's plan…
This, this immediately…
How mean.
"How could he do such a thing? Could it be that Bowen collapsed first?”
Cao Cao asked in confusion.
Cheng Yu shook his head blankly. How would I know about this?
"Let's go take a look…"
Cao Cao stood up, his expression extremely ugly.
When he had just arrived at the camp, the army had gone out with catapults, crossbow bolts, and throwing devices.
He sent bags of rice and fodder into the city from three different directions.
Xu Huang, Li Dian, and Cao Hong had already surrounded him.
"Why? Why?"
"Why did you! This is my army's money and rations!"
"Why?"
"What are you doing!"
"Bowen! What the hell are you doing!"
Xu Zhen spread out his hands and smiled helplessly." Just, just do it here and there…"
"Bowen!" Cao Cao shouted and walked over quickly! With a face full of shock, he looked at the rice grains and straw falling from the distance.
It was as if a rain of gold and silver had fallen from the sky.
"What are you doing!"
Cao Cao shouted anxiously.
At the same time, Liu Bei rushed over from the north camp. The three brothers were all dumbfounded.
"Sikong! Why was this so? Why did the rice grains, horses, and fodder all scatter into Shouchun? Isn't this aiding the enemy?"
"Using my rations to scatter the enemy's camp!! Never seen before!"
"Cao Gong, even if you want to retreat, you can't retreat like this!”
Zhang Fei suddenly became sarcastic.
At this moment, Xu Zhen swept his gaze across everyone and said,""Our camp still has enough rations to retreat from Yangzhou and return to Xuzhou and Yanzhou.”
"Then…"
Cao Cao's face was full of anger. This was too terrifying. All his rations were gone. It was no different from fighting with their backs to the wall.
If he failed, how could he climb up the city?
If they retreated, it would be extremely difficult for the enemy to chase after them. It was likely that half of the army would not be able to return to Yanzhou.
Was I wrong?
Cao Cao's heart was filled with questions.
He even wanted to put a few question marks on Xu Zhen's head.
However, Xu Zhen swept his gaze across the city wall. No matter how the soldiers beside him questioned him, he did not say a word.
They could only wait for Zhao Zilong to return with his troops.
"General!"
Zhao Yun cupped her fists on the white horse." I led my troops around and didn't encounter any arrows.”
" Alright." Xu Zhen nodded.
He turned to Cao Cao and said,"Now, I have a 30% chance of success."”
Cao Cao frowned, but he still had a smile on his face.
He was already puzzled in his heart.
Where did 30% come from?
"30%?"
Liu Bei asked suspiciously.
"Where did 30% come from…"
A night passed.
The scattered grains of rice outside the city were also looted. The number of soldiers on the city walls gradually decreased, and the soldiers on the city gates clearly looked much better.
Standing on a high vantage point, Xu Zhen, Cao Cao, and the others looked into the city from the watchtower. They could see with their own eyes that more than ten carriages were frantically collecting food in the outer city.
"Aiya, this white grain can be stored in a dozen carriages! We've really suffered a huge loss!"
Cheng Yu cried out in pain.
The other generals were speechless.
Zhang Fei was so angry that he laughed." You are even more ridiculous than before! In the past, you couldn't even calculate this and that, yet you still want to command us!”
"Now, you've fattened up the enemy. Oh, you want to…fill them to death and then take Shouchun, right? Good plan."
"Looks like I, Zhang Fei, can also be ranked on the Heaven Ranking of Counselors. At the very least, I'll be ranked second from the bottom.”
"General!"
In the distance, Zhao Zilong returned to the camp and cupped his fists under the watchtower." The city is dead silent!”
Nothing happened.
What to do…
All the generals kept sighing, and their morale seemed to be even lower.
Xu Zhen placed his hands on the railing of the watchtower and made a "six" gesture to Cao Cao.
"Sixty percent."
"Bah, bragging!"
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes at him.
Liu Bei was deeply suspicious.
At this moment, only Cao Cao seemed to have calmed down and his expression relaxed.
This time, he seemed to really understand what Xu Zhen was up to.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。