After Cao Cao set up camp and retreated, Liu Bei immediately entered Qilu City, and Mi Fang, who had stayed behind in Xia Qiu, also came with a thousand soldiers.
There are now 20,000 soldiers and horses in the city. Although Cao Cao has defeated Zhang Liao and Le Jin and lost 7,000 soldiers, he still has more than 30,000 soldiers. In addition, Cao Ren still has 10,000 soldiers guarding Pengcheng.
outside.
Liu Bei was more hesitant on the issue of whether to pursue or not.
It is already known that Jingzhou will not send troops to attack Xudu, and it is not known whether Jizhou will send troops. If Liu Biao and Yuan Shao do not send troops, then there is no point in pursuing them by themselves.
"Lord, we can pursue." Li Jia said, "We can pursue Pengcheng first. If Jizhou sends troops, we can continue to pursue. If Jizhou does not send troops, we can expel Cao Cao from Xuzhou. However, Cao Cao is very good at using troops, so we cannot pursue him.
Don't fight if you are too hasty."
"If you don't fight, why pursue him?" Zhang Fei disagreed with Li Jia's statement, "Cao Cao is good at using soldiers, am I not good at fighting?"
Li Jia did not want to offend Zhang Fei, so he hurriedly said: "General Zhang is naturally good at fighting, but if Jizhou does not send troops to attack Xu, Cao Cao will retreat leisurely and must be on guard. I am afraid that he will set up an ambush to wait for the pursuers. If
If you strike rashly, you might be ambushed."
Zhuge Liang immediately said: "Yes, chasing him is just to delay his retreat. Unless it is confirmed that Jizhou will send troops, my lord can order General Guan to lead the troops from Hefei to Xudu and block Cao Cao's path. In this way, we can chase after him."
If we attack from both front and back, we will definitely win."
"Humph, you are just cowards and afraid of death." Zhang Fei sneered.
Li Jia and Zhuge Liang just smiled and stopped answering.
Liu Bei thought for a moment, nodded and said: "As Gong Liang said, regardless of whether Jizhou sends troops or not, we should chase to Pengcheng. Which of you is willing to be the front army?"
"I." Zhang Fei responded quickly, "Brother, I am willing to serve as a frontline soldier, hehe."
"No, this time I am chasing the enemy but not attacking. If you are too hasty and rely on force, you may be ambushed by the enemy." Liu Bei waved his hand and refused.
"Zang Ba is willing to serve as a former soldier."
"Li Jia is willing to be a former soldier."
"Cao Cheng is willing to be a former soldier."
Even Cao Cheng was willing to lead his troops to pursue him.
Liu Bei has already spoken, saying that this time he is just chasing but not attacking. Cao Cheng knows that he is definitely no match for Cao Cao, but now he is just following people, and he is definitely qualified.
Although this is only a small contribution, a small contribution is also a contribution and cannot be missed.
As for Chen Dao and Gao Shun, they believed that they were not qualified to command the army independently, so they did not speak out.
When Zhang Fei saw so many people coming out to fight with him, he quickly shouted: "Hey, don't fight with me. Brother, I promise not to fight with the enemy, so just let me be the frontline soldier!"
Liu Bei knew Zhang Fei's character very well, so he could only listen to his promise and not take it seriously.
If he pursues too hastily and sees enemy soldiers in front, it would be strange if he does not lead his troops and rush forward.
Liu Bei looked at Zang Ba, Li Jia and others again, and had an idea in his mind, and said: "Yi De, Gongliang, each of you will bring three thousand soldiers and horses together as the front army, Yi De, remember, if you see the enemy, don't attack quickly.
, it must be discussed with Gongliang before it can be implemented."
Zhang Fei is brave and Li Jia is resourceful. Liu Bei believes that the two of them are the best partners.
In fact, it's not that you can't fight when you're chasing the enemy. You just have to wait for the opportunity to strike, and you have to look for it before striking. After all, the person you want to chase is Cao Cao, and he is a man who is very good at using soldiers.
Although Liu Bei thinks Li Jiazhi is not as smart as Mr. Wen An, he is also good at using strategies. If he thinks he can fight, then there should be no problem.
When Zhang Fei heard that Liu Bei agreed to let him chase him, he didn't care even though Li Jia was with him. He laughed and said: "Brother, don't worry. I will discuss it with Gong Liang if there is anything. Hehehehe..."
Li Jia promised, and Zhang Fei prepared their own troops and horses, and went out of the city to pursue him.
After sending Zhang Fei and Li Jia away, Liu Bei planned to lead a large army to follow them tomorrow. Because Zhang Fei and Li Jia's troops did not have much food and grass, they had to bring food and grass to support them.
“I don’t know how my husband is doing in Jizhou!”
What Liu Bei is most anxiously waiting for now is the news from Jizhou. If Yuan Shao is willing to send troops, maybe Cao Cao can really be destroyed this time.
At this time, a soldier rushed in and reported: "General, there are hundreds of people outside the city, all carrying weapons. They say they came from Jingzhou to surrender to the general."
Liu Bei was overjoyed and asked anxiously: "Has Gan Ning arrived?"
"The person who came here claimed to be Gan Ning and Gan Xingba. He said that he was asked by the military advisor Zhonglang to surrender to the general."
"Hahaha... they finally arrived, I went to greet them alone."
Liu Bei laughed and stood up, and hurriedly led everyone out of the city to greet him.
"Mr. Wen'an said that Xing Ba was coming, and I was looking forward to it day and night. Today, Xing Ba finally arrived, hahaha..."
When Liu Bei went out of the city and saw Gan Ning, he stepped forward and grabbed Gan Ning's hands, beaming with joy.
"Gan Ning pays homage to the lord!"
Gan Ning knelt down and saluted Liu Bei, followed by eight hundred children and guests behind him.
"Please get up quickly," Liu Bei quickly helped Gan Ning up, with a smile on his face, "I have heard of Xingba for a long time, and I am lucky to see you today!"
"Ning has heard about my lord's reputation for benevolence and has long admired him. He wants to come and surrender, but he is afraid that he will refuse. Fortunately, Mr. Wen'an comes to visit and persuades Ning to come and surrender. It is also a blessing for Ning to meet my lord today!"
The two of them each said nice things, and Zang Ba, Zhuge Liang and others next to them congratulated them one after another.
Entering the city, Liu Bei felt that Gan Ning had a bandit spirit that was stronger than Zang Ba's, but he also felt his courage. Judging from his words and deeds, he was suitable for charging into battle and a master who was not afraid of death.
Liu Bei temporarily appointed Gan Ning as the commander-in-chief of another department, and he would be promoted after he has made meritorious service.
That night, Liu Bei held a banquet in honor of Gan Ning, to welcome him and wash away his dust.
Looking at the generals in the hall, Liu Bei looked very happy. The only pity was that Mr. Wen An was not here at the moment.
Xu Chu, Zang Ba, Gao Shun, Gan Ning, as well as Tai Shi Ci and Lu Su who stayed in Jiujiang. It can be said that if it weren't for Zhou Wen'an, Liu Bei might not have had these people.
If it weren't for Zhou Wen'an, perhaps Xuzhou would have been captured by Lu Bu. If it weren't for Zhou Wen'an, he wouldn't have been able to capture Jiujiang.
Now that he has so many powerful generals to assist him, as long as he really destroys Cao Cao this time and then captures Yangzhou, it will be just around the corner to bring peace to the world.
Mr. Wen'an's contribution is unparalleled!
Liu Bei felt quite emotional, and thought of the previous rumors that Zhou Wen'an had stayed in Jizhou to assist Yuan Shao.
Of course Liu Bei would not believe this, but he was also afraid that if such a man who knew the situation really chose Yuan Shao, it would be difficult for him to develop in the future.
"My lord, what are you thinking about so lost in thought?"
Zhuge Liang couldn't help but ask when he saw Liu Bei sitting quietly in a daze.
"I'm just thinking, if sir were here today, he would definitely get drunk."
As Liu Bei spoke, he raised his glass and drank with the generals.
Before the banquet was over and the sun was about to set, suddenly a soldier rushed to report: "General, Zhou Zhonglang will send people back from Jizhou."
Liu Bei stood up immediately and said hurriedly: "Quick, let him come in."
