Because of their own interests, all parties began preparations for war.

Since Red Cliff, Cao Cao, Sun Quan, and Liu Bei have greatly increased their strength, and for the time being no one can defeat the other alone.

Therefore, each family tried to seize the other side's border counties, weaken the other side, and strengthen themselves.

The three families each have their own agenda during the war.

In particular, Liu Bei followed the Longzhong strategy planned by Zhuge Liang and attempted to capture Hanzhong, Fangling, Shangyong, Xicheng and Jingzhou Nanyang counties first.

Achieve complete crossing of the two states of Jing and Yi, and connect the entire force together to remove the obstacles in the future going north to Wan and Luo, and west to Qinchuan.

Nowadays, the fighting between the three parties around the border county is becoming more and more intense.

Liu Bei had already led his army into Yangping Pass and sent out ten elite troops to attack Zhang He who was stationed at Guangshi day and night in an attempt to uproot Yangping Pass and the stronghold outside this pass.

As long as the three brothers occupy this stronghold, they can form a rivalry with Zhang Wei and in turn suppress Cao Cao.

Cao Cao had to carefully guard against Liu Bei's direction.

However, Zhang He led his soldiers to fight hard on the front line in person, and with a large number of reinforcements behind him, Liu Bei was unable to conquer Guangshi Pass in a short time.

At Yangping Pass, Cao Cao was still under pressure and sent people to continue to attack Zhang Wei.

This battle was a battle against a mountain fortress, and it was also a battle far away from the rear. The dilemma Cao Cao faced was self-evident.

The ecological environment here is simply good, with elk and other animals mostly plentiful. Cao Jun was occasionally able to shoot large numbers of prey for ivory sacrifice and to improve his food.

Zhang Liao did have experience in attacking the mountain fortress in Tianzhu Mountain, but unfortunately he was gone.

At that time, Yu Jin was only transporting grain and grass to Zhang Liao. Now he was helpless when encountering Yangping Pass. He could only use his majesty in the army and coldly ordered his soldiers to attack forcefully and not to retreat.

Zhu Ling complained about the expense of soldiers' lives in attacking Yangping Pass. He believed that it was a waste of lives and it was impossible to conquer it unless Zhang Lu surrendered.

Moreover, the enemy's retreat has been cut off, and the supply of food and grass cannot be sustained for a long time. This war is not suitable for a long time.

Yang Xiu's strategy had lost most of its effect, and Liu Bei led his army to attack again eagerly.

If Zhang Wei sends a force from Yangping Pass to counterattack, our morale will be greatly reduced.

If another grain road is discovered by Guan Ping again, the consequences for the 100,000-strong army will be disastrous!

Zhu Ling requested to withdraw his troops.

The generals were also hesitant, fearing that Yangping Pass would not be captured.

But the Prime Minister didn't speak, and everyone was holding on.

Zhu Ling's behavior made Cao Cao very unhappy, even though Zhu Ling made a contribution in the attack on Hanzhong.

Based on this, Boss Cao has decided to deprive Zhu Ling of his military power. In order to prevent a mutiny, he ordered Yu Jin to go and take over the power.

Because Yu Jin held the army strictly, he was famous for his strict military rule over his subordinates.

Even though it was difficult for Yu Jin to win the support of his subordinates, he was highly regarded by Boss Cao.

So Boss Cao sent Yu Jin to Zhu Ling's camp with his own order to ask Zhu Ling to hand over his military power.

Yu Jin only led a few dozen cavalry, and with Boss Cao's order, he announced in public that Zhu Ling should hand over his military power, which was to be implemented immediately.

From now on, he, General Huwei, will become the commander-in-chief of this army.

When Zhu Ling and his subordinates saw Yu Jin coming to deprive him of his military power, no one dared to move, and everyone was subdued. Everyone was afraid that Yu Jin would kill him to scare the monkeys.

As for riots, that would not be dared at all.

At home, his wife and parents are still far behind, and Cao Jun's military law is very strict on deserters.

Most of the time, if he ran away, his family would be buried with him.

After Zhu Ling was seized of military power, Cao Cao once again expressed to all his soldiers his determination to capture Hanzhong.

Cao Cao even sent the Central Guard Zhao Yan to mobilize troops from Guanzhong to support him in order to strengthen his combat power.

Since then, discussions on the topic of military sergeants wanting to retire have decreased a lot.

This time he was proclaimed Duke. When Hanzhong was captured, Cao Cao went back and prepared to proclaim himself King.

Now that the stalemate was deadlocked, he wanted to withdraw his troops, but he was afraid of being laughed at by Liu Bei.

Liu Bei, a big-eared thief, dared to challenge himself as soon as he got Yizhou. If he left, wouldn't Hanzhong become Liu Bei's?

This result is absolutely unacceptable to Cao Cao.

After suppressing the remarks of a senior general like Zhu Ling, Cao Cao was eating in the Chinese army tent and felt a little depressed for a while.

How could Hanzhong not be conquered at such a high price?

As for what Zhu Ling said, unless Zhang Lu surrendered, Yang Song took the money. Why hasn't the latest situation been reported?

Cao Cao remembered that Yang Song wrote back and said that Zhang Lu, his master, wanted to submit to the emperor, but Yan Pu was opposed to his work.

Someone on the side commented that if the army arrived and surrendered under the pressure of today's situation, the merits would be small.

It is better to rely on Yangping Pass to resist for a while and then surrender, and you will gain more credit.

Cao Cao also believed Yang Song's statement.

During the Battle of Chibi, when I forced Sun Quan from Jiangdong to surrender, I despised him very much.

Resist for a while?

Cao Cao shook his head, looked at the chicken soup in the bowl, and had to persist.

At this moment, Xiahou De entered the tent and asked about the slogan for tonight.

Boss Cao muttered casually: "It's worthless, it's worthless."

When Xiahou De led the troops, he spread the slogan that it was useless.

After the Lord Bo Yangxiu heard the useless slogan, he asked the soldiers accompanying him to help him pack his luggage and prepare to return, so as not to be pursued by the enemy. In his haste, he missed something.

Xiahou De was surprised when he heard this and hurried to the camp to ask Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu raised his eyebrows and said slightly proudly: "With tonight's slogan, I know that the Prime Minister will withdraw his troops and return to Yecheng soon."

"How did the public know?"

Xiahou De was very puzzled. He knew the slogan "weak ribs" for the first time.

Apart from this, the Prime Minister said nothing else.

"Weak ribs are nothing to eat, so it is a pity to abandon them. Now we are blocked at Yangping Pass, unable to win, and if we retreat, we may be laughed at by Liu Bei. There is no use here, so it is better to return early."

The Prime Minister will definitely return to the court in a few days, so I packed up and saluted first to avoid being confused before leaving and being taken advantage of by the enemy."

It is almost universally recognized that Yang Xiu is smarter than ordinary people.

I have guessed the Prime Minister's thoughts several times before, and everyone knows these things.

Xiahou De praised: "Gongzhen is just a roundworm in the Prime Minister's belly, and he has received a lesson."

Yang Xiu slightly arched his hands with a proud smile on his face.

After Xiahou De returned, he also packed his luggage. When someone else asked, he replied with Yang Xiu's words, and everyone began to pack their luggage and prepare to leave.

Cao Pi was shocked when he heard the news.

Could it be that Yang Xiu has guessed again.

He didn't care about sleeping at night, so he hurriedly went to find Sima Yi, lifted his quilt and woke him up.

Sima Yi sat up and rubbed his eyes, thinking carefully for a while.

"Don't worry, Mr. Pi, Yang Xiu's death has come."

As soon as Sima Yi finished speaking, Cao Pi was startled. Yang Xiu had clearly guessed what his father was thinking.

How could his father kill him?

"This is impossible!"

"Master Pi can go to the Prime Minister's place on his own and tell the truth about the matter, and then Yang Xiu will die here."

After Sima Yi finished speaking, he lay down on the couch again, covered himself with the quilt, and ignored Cao Pi.

Anyway, the move has been made. As for whether to do it or not, that is Cao Pi's business.

Cao Pi was stunned on the spot, not knowing how to make a decision for a moment.

It is recognized that Yang Xiu is smart, since Sima Zhongda said that tonight is the day of Yang Xiu's death.

Do you want to do it yourself?

Cao Pi knew that his father would often test him and Brother Zhi. Brother Zhi was helped by Yang Xiu many times, guessing his father's thoughts and passing his father's test.

Brother Zhi's image is getting better and better in his father's heart, if Yang Xiu keeps helping Brother Zhi.

Will you still have a chance in the future?

Cao Pi clenched his fists, hearing Sima Yi's snoring in his ears, and strode out of the tent.

The snoring in the tent suddenly stopped, Sima Yi opened his eyes and smiled silently.

A cowardly person cannot become emperor!
To be continued...