As we all know, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry under Cao Cao were the most elite cavalry in history and were commanded by Cao Chun. Because they fought as bravely as tigers and leopards, they were named the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
At this time, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had just been formed and had not had much training time to be called the best elite cavalry in the world. Therefore, Cao Cao ordered Cao Chun to bring most of the main force of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to the west this time.
On the battlefield on the front line, in Puyang City, only a small force of one thousand cavalry was left to help protect the city.
At this time, in Puyang City, the person in charge of political affairs was Cao Cao's mastermind Xun Yu, while the people in charge of military affairs were three generals of the Xiahou clan.
These three people are all Xiahou Dun's clan brothers, Xia Houjie, Xiahou Lian and Xia Houen (Xia Houen and Xiahou Lian are the same person in history, so let's make some adjustments here).
In Puyang City, in addition to the branch of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, there are also thousands of infantry guarding the city. Although the number is not very large, there is still no problem in guarding the city.
On this day, Xun Yu was reporting state affairs to Liu Xie at his temporary residence in Puyang. He suddenly saw an official from Puyang and came in in a panic to report to the emperor and Xun Yu that the soldiers and horses of the pottery merchants were rushing toward Puyang.
Coming, the flags covered the sun, and the speed was extremely fast. Although its momentum was not large, its momentum was quite fierce, and it was expected that there would be at least several thousand elite soldiers.
"Xu... Xuzhou Army" Xun Yu, who was reporting to the emperor, widened his eyes and looked at the officer in surprise, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Emperor Liu Xie didn't understand the specific reason, and he was only thirteen years old and didn't understand military affairs at all.
"Xun Qing, isn't Cao Qing sending troops this time to attack Xuzhou? Why didn't Xuzhou fall? Instead, the other party's soldiers and horses forced them to Puyang?"
Xun Yu recovered from his initial surprise, sighed, and secretly sighed in his heart.
As Cao Cao's confidant, Xun Yu naturally knew Cao Cao's real purpose of conquering Xuzhou, but he really didn't expect that with Cao Cao's resourcefulness and layout, he accidentally let the pottery merchant take advantage of the loophole.
This omission is not a big one. It seems that this Prince of Peace is more troublesome than the rumors say.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Although I don't know why the Xuzhou Army sent troops to Puyang, there are still thousands of soldiers and horses in the city, and Xia Houlian and other three generals are stationed in the city. It is enough to hold on, and your Majesty can sit back and relax."
After hearing this, Liu Xie felt relieved. He had finally settled down. He really didn't want to live a homeless life anymore.
"Xun Qing, although there are soldiers and generals in the city, there are only a few thousand people in the city. If the Xuzhou army becomes too heavy, the city will be in danger. There are still many nobles in the city, so why not ask them to become monks and servants to help them?
It may be possible to replenish the manpower of the city defenders."
"No!"
Before Liu Xie could finish speaking, Xun Yu immediately stopped him.
When Liu Xie heard this, he was very unhappy.
What do you mean? You interrupted me before I could finish my sentence! Is this the attitude of a courtier? What's wrong with my plan? Is it so useless?
Seeing Liu Xie's unconvinced look, Xun Yu couldn't help but feel helpless in his heart.
The emperor did not know the purpose of Cao Cao's expedition.
The main people Cao Cao is dealing with this time are the Yanzhou nobles. Now the nobles in Puyang City are under the close surveillance of their own soldiers. As soon as the western front takes action, Xun Yu will represent Cao Cao in cleaning up the nobles in Puyang City.
Since the ultimate goal is to clean up them, how can we get them to help defend the city?
But Xun Yu could not say this to the emperor.
He just gave a long salute to the emperor helplessly and apologized: "Your Majesty, forgive me. I overstepped my bounds. I am just a servant in the palace of the nobles in the city. I am just a caretaker on weekdays. How can I kill the enemy in battle?"
A bad move will easily affect our own morale. I have thousands of soldiers and horses to protect the city, so your Majesty does not need to worry too much."
Xun Yu was extremely respectful and polite to the emperor. However, no matter how precocious Liu Xie was, he was still only thirteen years old. In later generations, he had just graduated from elementary school and was promoted to the first grade of junior high school. He was an innocent kid with no concept of right and wrong.
The little kid raised his head arrogantly and ran to the back room with a twist, leaving Xun Yu with a big figure behind him.
After Liu Xie entered the inner room, Xun Yu immediately asked the attendant: "How many Xuzhou troops are marching towards Puyang City?"
The attendant cautiously replied: "At least there should be no less than five thousand people."
"No less than five thousand..." Xun Yu stroked his beard and said calmly for a while: "Fortunately, if there are only five thousand people, the number of soldiers in the city is enough to cope with it. Send an order to Xia Houlian to make him governor
Soldiers and horses, guard the city carefully and don't let Tao's army take advantage of it! As long as we hold on until Mr. Cao comes back in peace and order, even the little thief of the Tao family will not be able to escape from our grasp."
The attendant swallowed softly and said in a low voice: "Attendant, I'm afraid this matter is not that simple."
Xun Yu frowned and said: "What do you mean?"
His attendant cautiously said to Xun Yu: "Although the Xuzhou army is coming towards Puyang, according to their current marching direction, it seems that they are not coming towards the city. Their goal... seems to be to colonize the east of Puyang."
of wheat fields.”
"Wheat field!" Xun Yu shivered all over and almost fainted from shock.
The attendant was startled when he saw him swaying slightly, and hurriedly ran over and stretched out his hand to help him.
Xun Yu composed himself, and then suddenly said angrily: "Needless to say, such a vicious plan must have been planned by Guo Fengxiao for the pottery merchant!"
Since Cao Cao collected millions of troops from Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, Bao Xin, Liu Dai and other princes as well as some Xiliang soldiers and generals, he has no shortage of troops, population, combat power, fierce generals, counselors, etc., but there is only one shortcoming.
The legs have always been difficult to deal with.
That's his food problem.
The capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty was Luoyang, located at the junction of the two major strategic areas in the north, Guanzhong and Guandong.
Since the Yellow Turban Uprising, the Central Plains region has entered a period of great melee.
Yanzhou, which is located in the middle of the world, was most affected by the crossing of troops and horses from the southeast, northwest and northwest. For example, this is the time when everything sprouts in spring and crops begin to grow. However, the Yanzhou area was affected by the crossing of tens of thousands of troops and horses from the north and south.
Or the melee led to population loss and large areas of land becoming desolate. People and horses trampled the areas where the army passed, and the crops were basically destroyed. This year's harvest was lost.
Therefore, at the beginning of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Yanzhou's agricultural production was severely reduced. The land was deserted and reclamation was lagging behind. Especially the year before last, Sima Ju led millions of Yellow Turbans southward, and the place they passed was like a locust crossing the border. It would be as tragic as it was.
Tragic.
Whoever is in power here will be unable to do anything.
Based on these objective factors, Cao Cao's combat power in history was among the best among the princes, but he spent half his life worrying about food and grass.
Now Cao Cao has Zao Zhi to offer advice and cultivate military and civilian settlements in Yanzhou. The food and grass problem in Yanzhou has just been alleviated.
But even with the farming system, Cao Cao's grain and grass dispatching was still very tight.
At present, Cao Cao is marching westward to the Xiliang generals, and all the logistical supplies are handed over to Xun Yu. The wheat fields waiting to be harvested in the east of Puyang are the most important supplies for Cao Cao's army on the western front. Once that wheat field is lost, Cao Cao's elite soldiers on the western front will
horse, there is a risk of total collapse.
Xun Yu suddenly became nervous.
Xuzhou Army's skill was so good that he had to lead his troops out of Puyang City and give up the advantage of the city to compete with them for the wheat fields!