Yang Hong came to Yuan Shao and saluted him with clasped fists.
"Yang Hong, thank you for your hard work."
Seeing Yang Hong greeting him, Yuan Shao also sighed, and finally escaped back.
Along the way, he had to sleep in the open air, run for his life, and have to be wary of Yuan Shu's soldiers and horses that might appear at any time every day. He had not slept a single sound sleep, and now he finally returned to his old nest.
"My lord, it's the hard work that's been done to you. It's your fault."
Yang Hong bent down and clasped his fists again.
"Okay, have Yuan Shu's troops been spotted in the direction of Suixian?"
Although he returned to Zhangling safely, Yuan Shu's threat was still real, so he directly asked about the situation in Suixian County.
"Yuan Shu's soldiers and horses have not been found in Suixian County for the time being. I have arranged for General Liu Xun to lead 40,000 soldiers and horses as reinforcements. My lord, there is no need to worry."
Yang Hong quickly told him his arrangement.
"Well, then you can make arrangements."
Yuan Shao was relieved when he heard that Yang Hong had made arrangements and that Suixian was fine for the time being.
"My lord, now we should order Liu Xun from Suixian County. Once Cao Cao arrives, he must not open the door. He must be stopped outside Suixian County. At the same time, we should arrange for General Sun Jian to lead his army to Suixian County after a short rest."
Just when Yuan Shao felt at ease, Xu You beside him suddenly spoke.
"What's wrong?
Cao Cao is our ally no matter what, if his return to Nanyang can help us strengthen our strength, why should we keep him out?"
After hearing Xu You's words, Yuan Shao frowned slightly, not understanding what he meant.
"Lord, if we return to Nanyang without compromising our strength and safety, it would be okay to let Cao Cao lead his army into Nanyang. However, we lost our troops and generals at the foot of Xiangyang City, and encountered an ambush of hundreds of thousands of troops at Stone Mountain. Only a mere 30,000 people are left.
Cao Cao has an army of 70,000 to 80,000 people. If he leads his troops into Nanyang, his strength will exceed ours. I'm afraid we won't be able to suppress him by then.
Once he becomes malicious, I'm afraid that Nanyang will be taken over by him and we will be doomed, so we absolutely cannot let Cao Cao enter Nanyang."
Xu You directly expressed his worries. He had suffered heavy losses, but Cao Cao had a strong army and strong horses. If such a person entered Nanyang, it would inevitably lead to a situation where the guest was strong and the host was weak. If Cao Cao launched an attack, Nanyang would be in danger.
"My Lord, what Ziyuan said is right. Cao Cao is a very human being. If such a situation really happens, Nanyang will be in danger."
After hearing what Xu You said, Yang Hong also agreed with him.
"Well, let's do what Xu You said. After Sun Jian rested for a day, he led his troops to Suixian County to prevent Cao Cao from entering Nanyang."
After hearing what the two said, Yuan Shao also frowned. What the two said was impossible. Once Cao Cao really led his army into Nanyang, he would definitely overturn his rule in Nanyang. This was something he would never allow to happen.
"promise."
Yang Hong and Xu You looked at each other and clasped their fists at Yuan Shao.
"Let's go to town, I'm tired."
After saying this, Yuan Shao led everyone directly into Zhangling, and after the army rested for a day, Sun Jian led an army of 20,000 and rushed directly to the county.
After experiencing the decisive battle with Cao Cao, Yuan Shu's army went directly south to Xiling, where Jiangxia was governed. Seeing the incoming army, the Xiling defenders did not hesitate to open the city and surrender. After all, they only had 5,000 people. Although there were still many surrendered soldiers, those people simply
It's useless for taking pictures.
As the heavy gate of Xiling opened, the key place in Jiangxia changed hands several times and finally fell into the hands of Yuan Shu.
After Yuan Shu captured Xiling, Cao Cao ran wildly for several days and finally arrived outside Suixian County.
"who?"
Seeing the soldiers and horses appearing under the city, Sun Jian and Liu Xun stood on the city wall, a little confused.
There are only about 30,000 soldiers in this army. They are dusty and covered with blood. It can be seen that they have experienced a bloody battle.
"Brother Wentai, I am Cao Mengde, please open the door."
Cao Cao lined up and rode his horse to the bottom of the city wall.
"Cao Mengde?
How did you become like this?"
Looking at the miserable soldiers and horses, Sun Jian couldn't help but frown.
"It's hard to explain in words. I heard that Brother Benchu was ambushed by Yuan Shu at Stone Mountain. I rushed with my troops in a hurry. However, I happened to encounter Yuan Shu's army on the way. I was defeated in a decisive battle between the two sides. I could only take these with me.
The remnants of the army came north to join Brother Benchu."
Cao Cao, on the other hand, had a resigned look on his face and directly told his experience.
"Were you also defeated by Yuan Shu?"
When Sun Jian heard Cao Cao's words, he also hesitated. He did not expect that such a cunning person as Cao Cao would be caught and beaten by Yuan Shu. He originally thought that he would avoid Yuan Shu's attack and come to Nanyang.
"Hey, there's nothing we can do."
Cao Cao also shook his head. He didn't want to start a war with Yuan Shu, but he had no choice. If he didn't fight, he might really be trapped and die in Jiangxia.
"Mengde, I will take you into the city right now, but there are now 60,000 troops stationed in Suixian County, and there is really no room for that many soldiers and horses. How about you let the troops rest outside the city for the time being?"
Although Cao Cao only has about 30,000 troops, if he only has the front troops and he is allowed to lead the army into the city rashly, and there are ambushes outside, Suixian will be in danger.
"Uh, okay, then Brother Wentai will open the city gate."
After hearing Sun Jian's words, Cao Cao also knew that Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu's guesses had become true. Yuan Shao had begun to be wary of him. Even though Nanyang was so empty, there was still an army of 60,000 in Suixian County. These were for
Guard yourself.
"Okay, open the city gate."
After hearing what Cao Cao said, Sun Jian also nodded. Even if he opened the door with these soldiers and horses in front of him, it didn't matter. With an army of 30,000, he was not afraid of Cao Cao's mischief.
"Lord, do you want it?"
Cao Ren glanced at the Suixian city gate that slowly opened, and a gleam flashed in his eyes.
"No, we are here just to use the land to recuperate. It is not appropriate to move around now. You lead your troops to rest outside the city. Zhicai and Cao Hong and Li Dian will follow me into the city."
Cao Cao shook his head. The reason why he asked Yuan Shu for a decisive battle was to enter Nanyang safely. If he acted now, he would lose money.
"promise."
Cao Ren nodded when he heard Cao Cao's words, then turned around and commanded the army to camp outside Suixian County.
"Let's go."
Looking at the completely open door, Cao Cao pinched the horse's belly and slowly entered Suixian County with Cao Hong, Li Dian and Xi Zhicai.
After Cao Cao entered, the heavy door slowly closed again.
"Zitai, I'm here to receive Cao Mengde. Send someone to Zhangling immediately to inform Governor Yuan of his situation and see what to do next."
Seeing Cao Cao entering the city, Sun Jian spoke directly to Liu Xun beside him.
"OK."
Liu Xun nodded to Sun Jian, and then arranged for people to go to Zhangling to report the news about Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was warmly entertained by Sun Jian in Suixian County, and the garrison outside the city was also supported by grain and grass sent by Sun Jian. Three days later, the scouts worked hard and finally arrived at Zhangling.
"You said that Cao Cao was captured by Yuan Shu in order to rescue me. He suffered heavy losses in a battle and now retreated outside Suixian with 30,000 remnants of his army?"
