If one were to use a plant to describe Cao Cao's current complexion, the only species that could describe it was the 'Wrapped Eggplant'.
It’s so irritating!
Cao Cao dared to use his own life as a guarantee! This little thief, the pottery merchant, must have done it on purpose.
The damn Yangtze River Bridge? What a fuss!
He took a deep breath and was about to reprimand Sun Qian when he saw Cheng Yu striding up to Cao Cao's desk, taking the picture and looking at it carefully.
Cheng Yu was an upright man. He always regarded himself as an elder. He always spoke and acted according to his own preferences. He was never afraid of Cao Cao. He often opposed Cao Cao on weekdays. He could always make Cao Cao so angry that he had a toothache. This old man has no tricks, it can be said that he is extremely letting himself go.
Coincidentally, today, Cheng Yu's behavior was somewhat unrestrained again.
He took the drawing of the "Second Bridge" from Cao Cao's desk, looked at it carefully for a while, then suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed: "Wonderful! Excellent! Incredible craftsmanship! It is truly a unique work in the world." This bridge is incredible! If it can be built, it will greatly benefit people’s livelihood!”
Xun Yu, Xun You, Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu and others also came up to watch after hearing this.
Although everyone is a scribe, they are also very skilled in skills. After seeing the design drawings of these two bridges, they immediately saw the majestic technology and solid form of these two bridges. They are indeed the best of the long bridges in the world.
Everyone praised Cao Cao's face, which only made Cao Cao's face darker and darker.
Can you people have some discernment? Didn't you see that Cao was about to scold Sun Qian just now? How can I open my mouth now that you are talking?
"Sikong, these two bridges are great." Xi Zhicai smiled and said to Cao Cao: "The skills of these two bridges can be called the best in the world. With this blueprint, if it is implemented in the future, it will definitely benefit the people. Sikong How did you know that the potter had the drawings of the Second Bridge?"
Cao Cao's expression changed three times in an instant.
"What Cao wants is not these two bridges..."
Xi Zhicai obviously did not fully understand Cao Cao's meaning. He turned to look at Sun Qian seriously and said: "Sikong doesn't want these two bridges!... Later, ask your Taifu to bring the drawings of the Yangtze River Bridge!"
Sun Quan hurriedly bowed and said: "Definitely, definitely."
Cao Cao's teeth were chattering a little: "It's really not these two bridges..."
The problem is that Cao Cao's voice can no longer reach the ears of everyone. The counselors present kept saying that Cao Cao was wise, mighty, and loved his people like a son. He even knew that the pottery merchant had such a miraculous thing in his hand. He was simply a god. A god among men, an overlord among overlords.
Facing the compliments from everyone, Cao Cao was embarrassed to open his mouth again.
If he tells his counselors now that the so-called second bridge refers to two women, I wonder if these counselors will overturn the table and cause an explosion on the spot?
Cao Cao let out a long sigh and swallowed the broken tooth into his stomach.
"Go back and tell your Tao Taifu that Cao will send troops in the near future... thank him for the Zhaozhou Bridge and Marco Polo Bridge on my behalf!"
…
Soon after Sun Qian returned to Pengcheng from Xuchang, Cao Cao's troops went straight out of Yuzhou and were displayed at the border of Yanzhou. At the same time, the main force of the pottery merchants also began to move northward, displaying towards Langya Kingdom and surrounding territories in the north. They started to join hands to fight against Yuan Shao in the north.
At this time, Yuan Shao was in Yecheng and started his actions.
After Yuan Tan returned to Yecheng, Yuan Shao took away all his military power without even meeting him, making him shut up and think about his mistakes.
Yuan Tan felt aggrieved and wanted to tell Yuan Shao about the pain of being captured and how Yuan Shang had treated him, but Yuan Shao did not see him at all.
As a result, the resentment in Yuan Tan's heart became more and more serious.
Afterwards, Yuan Shao began to mobilize troops and horses from various states and counties in Hebei, and ordered them to gather in Jizhou, mobilize troops and generals, and prepare to go south to attack Xuzhou first, then defeat Yanzhou, and level the Central Plains.
While Yuan Shao was mobilizing his troops, the Henan scouts reported to Yuan Shao the actions of the pottery merchants and Cao Cao.
Yuan Shao laughed loudly after hearing this, without any trace of panic: "Cao A'hao, this guy is really promising, and he actually colluded with Tao to deal with me? Haha, but he is right to do this, otherwise after I kill the Tao thief, the next one will
That’s him.”
The reason why Yuan Shao did not panic at all when he heard that Cao Cao and Tao Shang were acting at the same time was simply because he had Liu Biao from the south as an ally.
Tao Shang and Cao Cao moved their main troops to the north, which proved that their defense in the south was empty. In this way, Liu Biao's success rate in going north would be greater.
Based on this, Yuan Shao believed that the outcome of the two sides had already been decided before the battle started.
It is imperative to unify the Central Plains this time.
But it's a pity that things are changing. It didn't take long for the news from the south to shock Yuan Shao, who had not yet sent out troops, and couldn't close his mouth.
Great changes occurred in southern Jingzhou.
Zhang Xian, the governor of Changsha, rebelled against Liu Biao with Changsha County and neighboring Guiyang, Lingling, and Wuling counties as the center, setting off a huge anti-Liu wave in southern Jingzhou.
When Liu Biao found out, he did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly sent troops to various places to prepare for the attack on Zhang Xian.
Just when Liu Biao was mobilizing his army in Xiangyang and preparing to go south, Lu Bu from Jiujiang and Sun Ce from Lujiang also raised troops at the same time to attack Jiangxia County westward. Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, was in danger at the same time.
Major changes occurred to the south and east of Liu Biao. Jingzhou entered a critical period of comprehensively quelling internal and external troubles and had no time to worry about it.
Not to mention going north to help Yuan, whether Liu Biao can preserve the entire territory of Jingzhou is now a question.
Yuan Shao's plan to attack the Central Plains from the north to the south has completely failed.
After listening to the scout's report, Yuan Shao's face turned red with anger, and the tendons on his forehead were exposed.
There was such a huge change in Liu Biao's rear. If it was a coincidence, even Yuan Shao would not believe it even if he killed him.
The facts are before our eyes, it's either the pottery merchant or Cao Cao's conspiracy.
These two bastards!
Yuan Shao couldn't bear it anymore.
In March of the third year of Xingping, Yuan Shao began to take action.
Yuan Shao first gathered 300,000 people and 30,000 horses in Hebei, and was still gathering soldiers and generals. At the same time, he also sent people to contact the Wuhuan cavalry, asking them to join the expedition.
Yuan Shao's troops divided their forces, taking Liyang as the first station of the front line, and marched south to the north bank of the Yellow River, exerting pressure on the two major princes in the south, Cao Cao and the Tao Shang.
At that time, both Cao Cao and Tao Shang had 200,000 soldiers and horses, but they needed to guard the rear and the western and southern borders, including the fact that Tao Shang needed to leave behind soldiers who needed to deter Shanyue, so the two men could mobilize as many troops as they could.
, all around 100,000.
The pottery merchants took Xu Sheng, who was guarding the Langya Kingdom, as the vanguard, with Li Tong, Zang Ba, and Sun Guan as their lieutenants. They went north from the Langya Kingdom and first adopted an active raiding strategy. The Xuzhou generals entered Qingzhou from Langya and raided Qidi, Beihai, and Dong'an in turn.
Wait for the ground to contain Yuan Shao's troop movements on the right wing.
Cao Cao also led his troops northward to attack Liyang.
Cao Cao ordered Yu Jin to lead 2,000 infantry and cavalry men to garrison the Yanjin Ferry on the south bank of the Yellow River, and assist Liu Yan, the prefect of Dongjun who was guarding Baima, to form a tripartite force, which could ensure the speed of Yuan's army crossing the river.
At the same time, Cao Cao built fortifications in the Guandu area to prevent Yuan Shao from attacking from the front.
After receiving the order, Zhong Yao sent an envoy to go west immediately to win over the warlords in Liangzhou to stabilize his flank.
Cao and Tao cooperated closely, concentrated their troops, guarded key passes, set up key defenses, and waited for work in order to strike later.
There are many places to cross the thousands-mile Yellow River, but Cao Cao and Tao Shang are not stupid. They understand that they have fewer soldiers and Yuan Shao has more. If they want to defeat Yuan Shao in one go, they must expect that Yuan Shao will have a major change, but the chance of this happening is extremely low.
Therefore, the two adopted a strategy of focusing on guarding key areas, only guarding the barriers of Xuchang and Pengcheng, while ensuring that logistical supplies were not lost.
Under this situation, Yuan Shao made two strategies. One was to continue recruiting troops and horses in Hebei to increase the number of troops and put pressure on the south. The other was to send Chen Lin to write a proclamation to denounce Cao Cao.
Together with the pottery merchant, they hope to have an overwhelming advantage in terms of political effect.
Chen Lin has excellent literary talent. As one of the "Seven Sons of Jian'an" in history, her writing style is naturally good.
His slogan tied the pottery merchant and Cao Cao together to curse each other.
Chen Lin said that these two people were like Zhao Gao of Qin State, Lu Lu, and Lu Chan in the period of Empress Lu. They were dictatorial and domineering. People all over the country now feel cold towards Cao and Tao.
He also insulted Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, and Tao Shang's father, Tao Qian.
They say that Cao Song is a beggar adopted by Cao Teng, and that Tao Qian is a real villain who admires his reputation on the outside but is not upright on the inside.
Cao Cao had a headache at the time, and he broke out in a cold sweat after reading Chen Lin's article, and was deeply moved by Chen Lin's talent.
The pottery merchant was not as fond of talent as Cao Cao.
He thought Chen Lin, a bastard, was a bit arrogant. She could curse a few times and then she didn't know her last name.
It is said that the originator of swearing is now under the command of a pottery merchant.
The pottery merchant decided to let Mi Heng go out and scold Chen Lin!