On the official road by the Jishui River, Wei Yan led only two thousand cavalry from Le'an to Western Jinan. As soon as he occupied Linji City in Le'an County, he received the news that Zang Ba was surrounded by Cao Cao's army.
Without thinking, he immediately mobilized two thousand cavalry to support him.
From Linji City to Jinan City, Wei Yan took Guo Ying, Chen Shi and two thousand cavalry to the west along the Jishui River. After running for a long time, they gradually approached Jinan City.
Wei Yan galloped up his horse and rushed to the front. When he saw a scout galloping across from him in the distance, he slowed down. When he saw the scout, he directly ordered his men to stop and asked loudly: "What's going on ahead?"
The scout reported back: "General, Cao Cao's army has surrounded the city of Jinan. There are camps at all four gates, and earth walls have been built to block the moat."
Wei Yan asked hurriedly: "Is there anything suspicious?"
The scout thought for a while and replied: "There is nothing suspicious. It's just that the Wei army besieged the city but did not attack the city. It seems they are waiting for something?"
After Wei Yan heard this, he thought about it in his mind, and added the information he had gathered along the way, and thought: "Cao Cao besieged but refused to attack. Whenever someone came to support, he deliberately put them into the city, and then encircled them again."
The situation is such that all those who come to support will be surrounded and killed in the city. I, Wei Wenchang, will not be fooled by you. Once you enter the city, it will be difficult to break out. It is better to stay on the outside.
of ease.”
Seeing that Wei Yan was lost in thought, Guo Ying said in unison: "General, this place is less than thirty miles away from Jinan City. If our army sneaks up on Cao Cao's back, it will definitely cause chaos. General Zang will definitely attack him if he sees him in the city."
If we lead troops out to meet him, our army will attack from inside and outside, and we will definitely make Cao Cao defeated and return."
After Chen Shi heard this, he also felt that this method was feasible, so he raised his hands and said: "General, Colonel Guo is absolutely right. Please give the order, general."
Wei Yan shook his head and said slowly: "No! I have met Cao Cao. This man is very deep in the city. He will definitely not expose his weaknesses easily. He besieged and refused to attack. He was just using Jinan City as bait. I want to
Lure the lord to come here to help Jinan. Moreover, the lord once said that Cao Cao has his own uniqueness in using troops, and I want to observe it again."
"General, General Zang is surrounded. If our army still delays, I'm afraid General Zang will..." Seeing that Wei Yan was not using his strategy, Guo Ying said hurriedly.
Wei Yan said: "Don't worry, Zang Ba will be fine for the time being. If Cao Cao really wanted Jinan City, he would have led his troops to attack the city long ago. With the eliteness of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and Qingzhou soldiers he led, as long as
Attacking day and night, we will be able to capture the city of Jinan within a day. But he did not do this, but chose to stay where he was, which shows that his goal is not Jinan or Zang Ba, but the Lord."
Chen Shi and Guo Ying stopped talking and just waited there quietly.
Wei Yan immediately said: "Disperse the whole army, form a team of 500 people, and go for a walk outside the four gates of Jinan City. If the enemy takes the initiative to attack, lead the soldiers to retreat quickly. If the enemy waits quietly,
If our army goes to attack, they will circle around the city gate and then follow my orders."
Chen Shi and Guo Ying were confused. They didn't know why Wei Yan did this, but they didn't say anything and could only obey the order.
Wei Yan did not have enough generals, so he temporarily selected a military commander and asked him to temporarily serve as a captain. He led 500 cavalry and dispersed with him, Chen Shi, and Guo Ying toward the four city gates.
…
Cao Cao was sitting in the tent. There was a teapot and four teacups on the table in front of him. He placed the teapot in the middle and the four teacups in four different directions: east, west, north, south, and took them from elsewhere.
He picked up a spoon and placed it in the east direction, and began to close his eyes and meditate, but he was constantly thinking about things in his mind.
At this time, a general wearing heavy armor and a bronze helmet walked in. The general had a smooth complexion and a smile on his resolute face. He was strong and tall. As soon as he entered the tent, he shouted happily
Said: "Lord, here we come... Wei Yan is here!"
Cao Cao's closed eyes suddenly opened, and two rays of light shot out from his eyes. He glanced at the general and asked, "Zilian, how many troops and horses does Wei Yan bring?"
The general whom Cao Cao called Zi Lian was none other than Cao Hong. He was Cao Cao's clan brother and Cao Ren's younger brother. When Cao Cao raised his army, he followed Cao Cao with Cao Ren. He won Cao Cao's trust and was also a member of Cao Cao's account.
General. He walked directly in front of Cao Cao, cupped his fists and said: "My lord, Wei Yan only leads two thousand cavalry. My subordinates are willing to ask for orders to kill him to boost the morale of our army."
Cao Cao said: "You can't kill a chicken with a bull's knife. I have handed over this matter to Li Dian and Yue Jin. Instead of killing Wei Yan, it is better to let Wei Yan enter the city. There should be very little food and grass left in Jinan City.
If two thousand more people come, they will starve to death in the city in a short time without our army taking action."
After hearing this, Cao Hong gave a thumbs up and complimented: "My lord is very resourceful and my subordinates admire him."
Cao Cao smiled and said: "Zi Lian, you can't always fight and kill. If you have time, you should also learn from Zi Xiao and study the art of war. As a general, if you don't know how to use troops, you will just rush and kill."
If so, what's the difference between that and a common man?"
When Cao Hong heard Cao Cao's preaching, he nodded impatiently and said hurriedly: "Yeah, I understand. What my lord taught me is that if I have time, I will definitely read the military manual."
When Cao Cao heard Cao Hong's answer, he sighed and said slowly: "What I am most worried about is you and Miaocai. You don't know the art of war, you only know how to charge fearlessly. How can you become the only one in our Wei army in the future?"
General Miaocai is an impatient person. Five hundred in three days and one thousand in six days. Although he often makes unexpected moves, if he blindly advances blindly, he will definitely suffer losses. After the trip to Qingzhou is over, the two of you will temporarily
Give up military power and cultivate yourself at home."
When Cao Hong heard this, he felt very unhappy and immediately said: "My lord, if you want to deprive me of my military power, you can, but please remove all the generals' military power as well. My lord is both wise and brave, and is unparalleled in the world, but not everyone may be like my lord.
There are countless people like me, my lord, why don’t you depose them all and then command all the soldiers and horses yourself to fight?”
Cao Cao heard Cao Hong's angry words and said with a smile: "Zilian, don't be offended, I am doing this for your own good. Don't forget, you saved my life. If you hadn't taken your seat in Aocang,
If you dismount and give it to me, I would have died in Li Ru's hands. No matter how brave you are, you are just one person. Can you kill a thousand people? The so-called art of military use is to teach you how to win with a small number.
If there are many, use the weak to defeat the strong. We have 20,000 troops and Zhao's 50,000 troops. If Yuan Tan knows how to use troops like me, our army will definitely be annihilated. How can he be defeated by our army?"
After Cao Hong heard what Cao Cao said, he clasped his fists and said, "My subordinates have been taught. I will learn the art of war."
"Well, go ahead and guard the camp tightly. No movement is allowed without my order. In addition, we will send scouts to closely monitor Wei Yan's every move."
"No! I'm resigning!" Cao Hong left the tent angrily.
Cao Cao looked at Cao Hong's leaving figure, shook his head, sighed softly, and said slowly: "I hope you can listen to it. In the future, you will understand that what I say is definitely enough for you."
It will last a lifetime.”
"Lord -" Another general came in from outside the tent. The general had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a square face and a long beard. His burly figure looked very majestic when he walked. "Wei Yan's men were suddenly divided into four teams.
A team of five hundred people galloped to four different city gates in the east, south, west and north respectively, and were very close to our army. They were just running on the outside, but they were attacking simultaneously. Li Dian and Le Jin didn't know
Please tell me what to do, Lord!"
Cao Cao glanced at the teapot, teacup and spoon placed in front of him, then took three more spoons and placed them in three different positions. He raised his head, glanced at the general who walked in, and asked:
"What's Wen Ze's opinion?"
This man's surname was Yu Jin, Wenze, a native of Juping County, Taishan County. He first followed Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin to conquer the Yellow Turbans. After Bao Xin died in the battle, he joined Cao Cao along with Bao Xin's old troops and was appointed by Cao Cao as a military officer.
Sima. Later, when he followed Cao Cao in the Qingzhou Yellow Turban campaign, he made many meritorious deeds and was soon promoted to general by Cao Cao. He was one of the few generals with a foreign surname in Cao Cao's account. He was in charge of Cao Cao's account together with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren and Cao Hong.
The lower five troops and horses show that Cao Cao attaches great importance to them.
During the crusade against Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao led half of his troops to make an alliance in Chenliu and stayed in Jin. Xi Zhicai guarded Yanzhou. This shows that Cao Cao also trusted him very much.
When Yu Jin heard Cao Cao asking him about his plan, he took another look at the teapot, teacup and spoon placed in front of Cao Cao, and immediately understood. He took a few steps forward, cupped his hands and said, "Wei Yan divided his troops into four, and showed off his power in front of the soldiers.
, just want to test our army and want to know our army's intentions. I think that I can send out four soldiers and horses together, pretend to attack and kill, drive away Wei Yan's soldiers and horses, and then wait and see what happens, and then make the final decision.
.”
Cao Cao smiled and said: "Wen Ze has the same idea as me. You can go and pass on the order. You, Li Dian, Le Jin, and Cao Hong will each lead a thousand soldiers to hunt down Wei Yan's men. Since you want to do it, you must do it realistically and be foolproof."
.”
Yu Jin cupped his fists and said, "I understand, I will go and pass the order right now."
After finishing his words, Yu Jin turned around and left the tent.
Cao Cao turned to Xu Chu who was standing behind him and said, "Didn't you want to kill Wei Yan last time in Changyi?"
Xu Chu clenched his fists, his face lit up with joy, and asked: "Master, can I kill him this time?"
Cao Cao smiled and said: "Go and try his skills. If he can reach Cao Hong's level, then keep him."
Xu Chu chuckled and said eagerly: "No, I understand."