The end of the year is coming soon, and every household in Guangling City is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, looking happy and peaceful.

Cao Ang originally planned to wait until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month before returning to Pengcheng, but his plan changed. On the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, just as the Chinese New Year was about to come, urgent news came from Shouchun that Yuan Shu's army invaded Shouchun and Yangzhou governor Chen Wen died.

Cao Ang waited for many days, and Chen Wen finally died.

The seat of Yangzhou was originally in Liyang, but later Chen Wen personally resisted in Shouchun in order to resist Yuan Shu's march south. But how could Chen Wen, a mere Chen Wen, defeat the powerful Yuan Shu.

In addition, Yuan Shao had too much time to take care of himself in Jizhou, and Zhou Xin was in Danyang under the control of Wu Jing and Sun Bi. Chen Wen gradually fell into a disadvantage in the battle for Huainan.

Chen Wen was besieged in Shouchun for several months. During this period, he asked Cao Ang, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao and others for help several times, but in vain. At the end of the year, Shouchun City, which had been besieged for a long time, was defeated, and Chen Wen was also killed by Yuan Shu's army who broke the city.

When Cao Ang heard the news of Chen Wen's death in Guangling, he was instantly shocked.

What a good death.

If Chen Wen is not dead, how can Cao Ang have any reason to take control of Yangzhou?

Chen Wen, the governor of Yangzhou, was appointed before the Han Dynasty was divided, so it was more legal. This was incomparable to Cao Cao who later ruled Yanzhou and Liu Bei who ruled Xuzhou.

Therefore, the Yanzhou family expelled Cao Cao, and the Xuzhou family expelled Liu Bei. They could give a grand and convincing reason. After all, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and even Lu Bu were not in the right position. But if the Yangzhou family expelled Chen Wen, it was a rebellion.

This is why Cao Ang has been plotting Huainan, but he refused to move until Chen Wen died.

The existence of Chen Wen blocked Yuan Shu's way, but it also blocked Cao Ang's way.

After receiving the news of Chen Wen's death, Cao Ang discussed sending troops with Guo Jia. When things developed to this point, war was only a matter of time.

Guo Jia believed that he could take advantage of Chen Wenxin's death and Yuan Shu's army's unstable foothold to immediately send troops to the west, and they would be able to capture all of Huainan.

But Cao Ang wanted to wait a little longer.

This time, Cao Ang and Guo Jia had a rare disagreement.

Usually the two of them agree on the same opinion, but Cao Ang was a little surprised when they saw the difference. However, Cao Ang did not intend to change his mind, so he said: "Fengxiao, please tell me your opinion first."

"I think it is a good opportunity to send troops to Huainan at this time. Yuan Shao in the north is not able to interfere in Yangzhou affairs for the time being, and Yuan Shu's main force is also involved in Liu Biao. As for Yanzhou and Guanzhong, they are all in trouble. Our army can send troops without interference for up to half a year.

, we can capture Huainan. By then, with the navy, we can cross the Huaihe River, and even if Yuan Shu makes a comeback, there will be no worries."

Cao Ang listened and did not judge right or wrong.

In fact, Guo Jia's inference is not wrong. If Cao Ang didn't understand history, he would probably send troops at this time.

But who would have thought that the mighty Yuan Shu, who appeared to be the strongest on the surface, was actually vulnerable. He first lost Nanyang County, then suffered a complete defeat in Yanzhou, and even Chen Yu, the governor of Yangzhou he appointed, betrayed him.

If Cao Cao hadn't been deeply involved in the war with Xuzhou and the civil strife in Yanzhou, Yuan Shu would have been overthrown early.

Yuan Shu took advantage of the war between Yanzhou and Xuzhou to retake Huainan, stabilized the interior of Yuzhou, and then regained control of the situation.

But Cao Ang couldn't give the other party a chance to readjust.

"Fengxiao, I am not afraid of Yuan Shu, and I have never been worried about this battle, I am just a little worried. After our army captures Huainan, what if Yuan Shu, who cannot stand, surrenders to Yuan Shao to the north?

If the two Yuans become one family, the difficulty of the future war with Yuan Shao will probably increase exponentially."

Guo Jia was stunned after hearing this.

"Yuan Jiujiu is powerful and has the support of the Yuzhou family. He just lost Huainan, so why would he surrender to Yuan Shao?"

"What if?"

Guo Jia felt that Cao Ang was worrying too much.

Yuan Shu almost occupies most of Yuzhou except Pei and Lu, and has more than 100,000 troops. At this time, Cao Ang did not have the ability to annex Yuan Shu. Therefore, even if Huainan was defeated, it would only be a heavy blow to Yuan Shu.

Seeing that Guo Jia still didn't believe it, Cao Ang said somewhat formally: "Fengxiao, just follow the plan of Yuan Jiujiu's defeat. If I couldn't defeat Yuan Jiujiu, I wouldn't be so entangled here."

Seeing that Cao Ang had reached this point, Guo Jia had no choice but to change his mind and reconsider the battle situation.

As Cao Ang worried, if Yuan Shu suffered too much losses, lost his capital, and was besieged by Cao Ang, Liu Biao, Cao Cao and others, he might really surrender to Yuan Shao.

No matter how fierce the fight between the two is, they are brothers after all.

Thinking of this, Guo Jia also said with some seriousness: "If this is really the case, we must not let Yuan Shu surrender to Yuan Shao, even if he kills Yuan Shu."

Cao Ang nodded.

"The reason why I don't want to send troops now is that I hope to put Yuan Shu into Huainan. When the time comes, the navy will cross the Huaihe River, attack from both inside and outside, and destroy or even kill him."

Only then did Guo Jia fully understand Cao Ang's intentions.

It has to be said that Cao Ang was very courageous. He opened the door to fight the robbers and closed the door to beat the dog. But if he was accidentally kicked by Yuan Shu and his stomach was broken, it would be like a chicken flying egg.

But Cao Ang's courage is also impressive.

Guo Jia hesitated again and again, and then asked: "Does the Lord intend to go to Yuzhou this time?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet. If we capture Yuzhou, our front lines from east to west, north and south will be stretched too long. Once Liu Biao, Yuan Shao and others join forces to attack me, we will have difficulty coordinating our efforts.

And I’m not ready yet how to deal with the rich and powerful families in Yuzhou.”

"Then don't want Yuzhou!"

Guo Jia said categorically: "Since our lord intends to destroy Yuan Shu in this battle, rather than capture Yuzhou, we can definitely unite with Liu Biao and invite the three counties of Yingchuan, Chen and Runan to attack Yuan Shu together.

The Lord will introduce Yuan Shu into Huainan, and Liu Biao will attack him. When the time comes, the morale of Yuan Shu's army will be in chaos, and Yuan Shu will be destroyed with twice the result with half the effort."

"Give Yuzhou to Liu Biao? That will destroy the wolf Yuan Shu and attract the evil tiger Liu Biao."

Guo Jiadao: "It is true that Liu Biao was an evil tiger in Jingzhou, but when he arrived in Yuzhou, he could only be a sick tiger.

There are three benefits to handing over Yuzhou to Liu Biao. First, there are many aristocratic families in Yuzhou and they are powerful. Liu Biao's idea of ​​​​conquering Yuzhou with Jingzhou is absolutely a fool's dream, and the internal turmoil alone will make him dizzy.

Secondly, the navy in Jingzhou is strong. If our army attempts to plot against Jingzhou in the future, a fierce naval battle will inevitably break out and we will have to spend our troops on an expedition, which will be disadvantageous to me. However, Liu Biao has entered Yuzhou and we will fight in the future, and our Xuzhou cavalry will exert its power.

It is absolutely possible to drain Liu Biao's blood in Yuzhou.

Thirdly, if Liu Biao takes Yuzhou, it will be difficult for him to be driven by Yuan Shao. And even if Yuan Shu escapes from Huainan and returns to Runan, Liu Biao is the one who wants Yuan Shu to die the most."

After hearing this, Cao Ang clapped his hands and laughed.

Cao Ang was not worried that Liu Biao would reject the alliance's request.
Chapter completed!