Xia Cheng and his group were still on their way to Xu Prefecture. At this moment, the battle in Xu Prefecture had already intensified.
At this moment, Cao Cao's 100,000 strong army had already advanced forward and entered Pengcheng Country in Xu Prefecture. They had even successfully blocked Tao Qian.
Strictly speaking, this was actually the second time Cao Cao had sent troops to attack Xu Prefecture.
When Cao Cao first attacked Xuzhou, it was because Que Xuan of Xiapi had gathered thousands of people and called himself the Son of Heaven.
At that time, Tao Qian first pretended to support Que Xuan and raised an army with him to take control of Hua and Fei counties. Then, they invaded Rencheng County.
After that, Tao Qian sent people to kill Que Xuan in the name of killing the rebels. He ate Que Xuan's troops and at the same time, he cleared his name.
He wanted to use this opportunity to expand his territory, but the problem was that Taishan Prefecture and Rencheng Prefecture were both under Yanzhou, and Yanzhou was Cao Cao's territory.
At that time, Cao Cao had just taken over Yanzhou Prefecture, so how could he just sit back and do nothing?
In fact, before the invasion, Tao Qian and Cao Cao were already enemies.
Because Cao Cao was Yuan Shao's underling.
Tao Qian was Gongsun Zan's underling.
And the two leaders, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, were enemies.
Cao Cao and Tao Qian had also fought alongside Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, so they were also enemies.
However, before this, Cao Cao and Tao Qian did not have any direct conflict over territory.
In the end, Tao Qian's actions made it so that even if the uncle could tolerate it, the aunt could not.
Cao Cao's army counterattacked.
The territory that Tao Qian had just obtained was beaten out again. Cao Cao's army even counterattacked, taking over ten cities and pressing them to Peng City, not daring to show their faces again.
Therefore, from this perspective, it was hard to say whether Cao Cao's father's death was a result of his subordinates rebelling for profit, or if he was deliberately killed by someone else.
This time, Cao Cao, who had come in anger, would not be like the last time.
So he ordered Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and Yu Jin to lead 20,000 troops to attack Xuzhou first.
Xiahou Dun's army marched westward and captured countless counties under Xuzhou. Wherever they passed, they refused to accept surrender.
At that time, the prefect of Jiujiang, Bian Rang, had a good relationship with Tao Qian. When he heard that Xuzhou was in trouble, he personally led 5,000 troops to rescue it.
When Cao Cao heard this, he was furious and sent Xiahou Dun to kill him on the road.
Chen Gong, who was doing business in East County, had a good relationship with Tao Qian. When he learned that Cao Cao wanted to take revenge on Tao Qian, he reluctantly came to see Cao Cao.
Cao Cao knew that the other party was here to intercede for Tao Qian. He didn't want to see him, but he couldn't erase their old relationship, so he had to let him in.
As soon as they met, Cao Cao said sarcastically,""You left without saying goodbye that day. How can you come and see me today?”
Chen Gong didn't answer. He tried to persuade him,"How can you seek revenge on Tao Qian without distinguishing right from wrong?"”
"He was originally a benevolent person, not a person who forgets righteousness for profit. The one who killed your father was Zhang Kai. Besides, what does the people of Xuzhou have to do with you? But you kill everyone you see, dig up graves you see, and commit many unjust acts that will lead to your own death!”
Cao Cao said angrily,"You left me last time and came to see me again today. You talked so much, but I didn't listen. What can you do to me?"”
Chen Gong ran out angrily. I also don't have the face to see Tao Qian."
So he went to Chenliu and joined Zhang Miao.
Then, Cao Cao's army continued to charge towards Xu Prefecture.
Wherever the Cao army passed by, they were brutally massacred.
Wherever they passed, they slaughtered civilians, burned cities, destroyed fields, and committed all kinds of crimes.
When Tao Qian heard of Cao Cao's revenge in Xuzhou, he looked up to the sky and cried bitterly." I have sinned against Heaven and caused the people of Xuzhou to suffer such a great disaster!”the officials were urgently gathered together to discuss.
His general Cao Bao said," Since Cao's soldiers have arrived, how can we just wait for death? I'm willing to help you break it."
Tao Qian had to lead his troops out to meet Cao Cao. He looked at Cao Cao's army from afar as if it was covered with frost and snow. The middle army raised two white flags and wrote the words "Revenge" on them.
The army was in formation. Cao Cao galloped out of the formation, dressed in white, whipped and cursed.
Tao Qian also stepped out of the gate and bowed." Since I offended you last time, I've been afraid every day. I wanted to make friends with you, so I asked Zhang Kai to escort me. I didn't expect that the thief's heart wouldn't change, resulting in such a thing. It's really not because of Tao Qian. I hope you will understand."
Cao Cao hated Tao Qian and wanted to use this opportunity to take down Xu Prefecture. How could he listen to Tao Qian's words? With a wave of his hand, he surrounded the city and attacked.
Whether it was the massacre, the siege, or the killing of reinforcements, they were all to increase the pressure on the civil and military officials in Xu Prefecture.
Cao Cao threatened his soldiers, directly causing them to collapse from fear, and then achieving the effect of using his superior soldiers to attack.
Reality proved that the deterrence of massacring cities was still quite great. Cao Cao and the others had only massacred the first few small cities. Later on, they threatened to slaughter all those who dared to resist.
Following that, all the defenders of Xu Prefecture fled.
Which general would dare to take the risk of "destroying the city and leaving no one alive" to resist?
If nothing unexpected happened, he might really be able to take down Xu Prefecture in one fell swoop.
Of course, there were no ifs.
An accident soon came.
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