After listening to Chen Gong's words, Yuan Shu also nodded. This plan is feasible.
Based on my own expectations, Yuan Shao would not be able to give up his home base, otherwise even if he captured half of Yangzhou, it would be a loss for him.
After all, even if a territory without foundation is larger than Nanyang, it is not as good as Nanyang. Moreover, Nanyang has a large population, and the population of a county is more than that of some states.
"promise."
Now that you have determined the path you want to take next, there is nothing to hesitate about, just execute it directly.
The army diverted, avoiding Yuan Shao's march route, and began to advance towards Suixian County.
Yuan Shao's army went south along the Peishui River and was about to reach Anlu.
"Ziyuan, where do you think Yuan Gongli is now?
Where is Cao Mengde and why can’t he be seen?”
Yuan Shao looked at Xu You beside him, his eyes also filled with depression. It was strange that there was no sign of fighting after walking for such a long time.
"My lord, Cao Cao may have rushed back to Xiling, while Yuan Shu may have retreated."
Xu You thought for a moment and gave a scenario that he thought was most likely to occur.
"Well, this is the best. As long as we can join forces with Cao Mengde, Yuan Shu will be finished. He won't go to Anlu and will go directly to Xiling."
Yuan Shao nodded to Xu You. If this was really the case, then Yuan Shu would be doomed.
"promise."
Yuan Shao's army did not choose to go to Anlu, but went directly east to Xiling.
"who?"
Seeing several cavalrymen running towards him, Yuan Shao's cavalry immediately went out to intercept them.
"But General Yuan Benchu's troops?"
The cavalry surrounded by Yuan Shao's cavalry directly asked the cavalry in front of them.
"Yes, who are you?"
After hearing the words from the other side, Yuan Shao's cavalry also had doubts.
"I am a scout for Lord Cao Cao. I have something important to ask to see General Yuan Benchu."
Cao Cao's cavalry was overjoyed when they heard the affirmative answer from the other side. Judging from their current situation, they probably had no contact with Yuan Shu's troops.
"Cao Mengde's scout?
Do you have proof?"
The cavalrymen were also stunned when they heard that the other party was Cao Cao's scout Yuan Shao.
"I have a personal letter from my lord."
Cao Cao's scout took the letter directly from his chest and handed it over.
"Hold on."
After receiving the letter from the other party's scout, the cavalry team left here directly and ran towards the main army formation.
"Lord, Cao Mengde's people are here. This is a letter for you."
Soon Cao Cao's letter was delivered to Yuan Shao's account.
"A letter from Cao Mengde's people?
Bring it to me for a look."
Upon hearing that it was Cao Cao's letter, Yuan Shao immediately asked someone to present it to him.
After Yuan Shao read the letter, he placed it directly on the desk.
"Lord, what's wrong with Cao Mengde?"
Xu You looked at Yuan Shao and wondered why Cao Cao was writing the letter now.
"Cao Mengde's letter reminded me to be on guard against Yuan Shu's robbery, saying that Yuan Shu might be ambushing on the road now. Why didn't we find any trace of Yuan Shu?"
Yuan Shao looked at Xu You with a doubt in his eyes. Yuan Shu robbed and killed him on the road. Why didn't I notice it?
"Lord, this matter is big or small. If Yuan Shu really wants to rob and kill us, but we don't find any trace of the enemy, either he didn't find us, or he didn't even think of robbing us, or he
It has now retreated."
Xu You thought for a moment and gave Yuan Shao these answers.
"Well, these are not problems. We have an army of 100,000. If Yuan Shu really wants to attack us, let him do it. As long as he is not defeated in one fell swoop, we can unite with Cao Cao to surround and kill him."
Yuan Shao nodded, he was still very confident in himself. A hundred thousand troops could not be killed by just killing them, so he actually hoped that Yuan Shu would come over, so that he would have a chance to join forces with Cao Cao to capture Yuan Shu.
"Well, I'm afraid that Yuan Shu won't come to us, but will go north to attack Nanyang instead."
Although Yuan Shao had a good idea here, Yuan Shu was not an ordinary person. How could he not see that an army of 100,000 people was not easy to defeat? If he was entangled, it would be his dilemma.
"Sneak attack on Nanyang?
Impossible?"
Hearing Xu You's words, Yuan Shao was also stunned. Would Yuan Shu abandon this place to attack Nanyang?
"Yuan Shu can't be found here. He is very likely to directly attack Nanyang. That is our key place. If we are really attacked, we can only abandon here and go north to support. If Yuan Shu attacks us halfway, it will be very difficult.
It might catch us off guard."
Xu You nodded, this possibility is very high.
"So what do we do now?"
Xu You's analysis completely made Yuan Shao uneasy. Nanyang was his foundation and must not be damaged. If Yuan Shu really wanted to sneak attack on his lair, it would be over.
"I don't know now. After all, Yuan Shu's whereabouts cannot be grasped at all. Now it is our turn to advance or retreat. If we return to Suixian County and Yuan Shu does not go north, then Cao Cao will fall into Yuan Shu's attack. If we continue to Xiling
, but Yuan Shu goes north to Nanyang, and we are doomed."
Not being able to find Yuan Shu's whereabouts was their biggest pain point, because without the enemy's whereabouts they couldn't formulate a corresponding battle plan based on Yuan Shu's position. Now everything relied on guesswork, which was very distressing.
"have no idea?
Then what do I need you for?"
Hearing Xu You say that he didn't know, Yuan Shao's brain immediately went crazy. What's the use of you?
"Lord, calm down."
Seeing Yuan Shao angry, Xu You also felt bitter, "I'm just a counselor, not a god."
If you ask me to make suggestions without intelligence, it's fine if I get it right, but if I get it wrong, it's all my responsibility.
"Since you don't know what to do, stop moving forward immediately and return the army to Nanyang. I don't care about Jiangxia."
Looking at Xu You in front of him, Yuan Shao was also angry. If he lost his hometown in Nanyang during the battle in Jiangxia, he would be in trouble with his grandma's family.
"Lord, if we return to Nanyang now, Jiangxia will be doomed, and the situation in Jingzhou will definitely be beyond our control."
Hearing Yuan Shao's words, Xu You was stunned. Just now, you are about to run away. That's not to give up Cao Cao. When Lao Cao is defeated, it will be our turn next.
The good situation in Jingzhou is gone.
Not only that, Yuan Shu also entered the field in Yuzhou. They could only defend passively. This meant that they had invested so much grain, grass, soldiers and horses, but in the end they had nothing to gain, and they suffered a huge loss.
"Then what do you think we should do now?
It’s neither retreat nor advance. Could it be that we are wasting our time here?”
Yuan Shao was in a daze. You didn't talk about the strategy. You said you should go back and you refuted it. So what should you do?
"Lord, the first thing to do now is to disperse the cavalry. As long as we can find traces of Yuan Shu, we will take the initiative on the battlefield. Then the army will temporarily stop going to Xiling and go to Anlu to rest and be ready to return to Suixian at any time.
.”
Xu You thought for a moment, and the first important thing now was to find Yuan Shu's traces. Only in this way could they formulate the next battle plan.
"This is the only way."
Yuan Shao couldn't help but let out a long sigh and decided to follow Xu You's words. At the same time, the 10,000 cavalry were divided into 200 small teams and spread out to search for Yuan Shu's traces.
As time went by, Yuan Shu's army got closer and closer to Suixian County, Yuan Shao's cavalry finally came over, and they finally fought together with Ma Chao's cavalry.
