Chapter 53: One Plan with Two Uses, Retreat and Defend Puyang!

  Cao Cao and Guo Jia consulted, then had Yu Jin, Li Dian, and Xiahou Yuan follow Guo Jia and Lü Bu with a portion of the army to ambush in a forest west of the city. Meanwhile, Cao Cao continued to utilize his numerical superiority to besiege Xiapi, hanging up a placard that read "No Battle", refusing to engage Lü Bu.

  "Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, you little kids, dare you fight me Lü Bu for another hundred rounds?"

  "You shameless little rascal, you used to be so bold and daring, but now you've become a cowardly bandit? You don't dare to fight me?"

  As for Cao's hanging of the war exempt sign, Lü Bu almost every three days came to Cao's camp to challenge him, but Cao completely ignored Lü Bu's provocations.

  "Lord Cao, Yide requests to go into battle!" Cao could endure it, but Zhang Fei couldn't bear it anymore and started shouting to go into battle.

  "Big brother, Yuan Shao is also asking for battle!" Lü Bu's scolding has some level to it, from insulting Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, to upgrading to insulting Cao Cao's ancestors. Xiahou Dun naturally can't just watch, after all they're still considered one family, right? Insulting Cao Cao's ancestors? That's the Xiahou family's business too!

  "Xuande, it's your turn!" Cao paid no attention to the two men's challenge and continued playing Go with Liu Bei.

  "Lord Cao!"

  "Big Brother!"

  No matter how they asked him to fight, Cao ignored them and focused on playing his game of Go.

  "Haha, Xuande, I won again!" Cao finally regained his confidence as a Three Kingdoms chess player here at Liu Dae's place and won against Liu Bei. It feels wonderful, unlike when he played against Rui'er, where he always lost!

  "Lord Cao, Yide requests to go into battle once more!"

  "Big brother, Yuan Rang is also asking for battle!" The two jokers are here again. Lü Bu's shouting and scolding outside the camp has annoyed them to death, but due to military orders, they can only stay inside the camp. Every time they think of Lü Bu's triumphant gaze and disdainful tone, they feel an itch in their hearts, wanting to tear Lü Bu into eight pieces!

  "Xuande, our army has been hanging a banner of surrender for several days now?"

  Liu Bei counted on his fingers and said: "Lord Cao, there are still seven days left, and it will be two months."

  Cao nodded and said: "You two go prepare, in seven days, our army will defeat Lü Bu!"

  "Is this true? The two asked Cao Gong (the elder brother)"

  "Of course, after seven days, our army will attack, you quickly go and prepare!"

  "Yes!" The two of them happily exited the grand tent after receiving their definite orders.

  Hot, hot, hot, it's really hot! Why did this summer arrive so late? What time is it now and it's still so hot? Without a personal fan by my side, I can only take matters into my own hands! Lü Rui and Guo Jia have been hiding in this forest for almost two months!

  These two months were the most difficult to get through, with many mosquitoes in the forest and the heat being unbearable. Not a few soldiers had diarrhea; if it weren't for Hua Tuo's prescription, they would have all been gone by now.

  Crack! Lv Rui killed another mosquito, this is the thousandth one. Lv Rui looked at the mosquito's corpse and said to Guo Jia: "Master? The thousandth mosquito has been killed, will Lü Bu really come to steal our military rations? Is it possible to ambush him here?"

  Guo Jia smiled and wiped the sweat from his outer garment, saying: "Rui'er, you have a thousand, but I already have fifteen hundred! Lü Bu? He will definitely come, because this is Lü Bu's only chance to defeat our army. If he misses this opportunity, it means that even if we fail to capture Xuzhou, Lü Bu will still not have the chance to defeat us!"

  "Alright!" Lü Bu nodded his head, now he could only believe in Guo Jia. The victory of Cao's army over Lü Bu's army was a historical fact, although the process was unclear, but the result was clear.

  Seeing Lv Rui's listless appearance, Guo Jia shook his head and said: "Rui'er? It seems that the days in Houye's mansion have made you too comfortable. You see, evil comes from not being content, in the future, Rui'er will follow Master to conquer east and west, suffer hardships, it is what you need!"

  "Ah, Master, what do you know? When I can lead the army, Cao Wei will be at a disadvantage. Sitting in a carriage and strategizing is the way of kings. Is this something a mere horseman should do?"

  "General? How did you know I wouldn't complain?" came Tian Wei's low voice, startling both Lü Rui and the other person.

  Dian Wei stretched out his own arms, which were full of mosquito bites and swelling, and seemed to have an allergic reaction, Dian Wei looked even more majestic!

  "What?" Guo Jia was stunned, this image of Dian Wei? Too ridiculous!

  "Evil has come? I thought mosquitoes liked this kind of refined and elegant scholar like me? Didn't expect that even for someone as evil as you, they wouldn't let go? Haha, it's too interesting! With a puffy face, thick and sensitive arms, and swollen legs, this is the legendary Dian Wei after being bitten by mosquitoes!"

  "General? Our army's food is insufficient, do you have a good plan?" Lü Bu anxiously asked Chen Gong. If there was no more grain and fodder, Lü Bu would only be able to retreat to Xiapi. Xiapi had just finished its autumn harvest, and there were military rations available.

  Chen Gong shook his head and said: "My lord, Gongtai is incompetent, gathering military rations is indeed not Gongtai's forte, please forgive him!"

  "Gongtai? I heard that Cao's army has a batch of grain and fodder to be transported to the front line. What if it were our army?" Lü Bu asked Chen Gong tentatively.

  "My lord, Cao Cao is cunning. He will surely send a large force to escort the grain supply. If our army attacks recklessly, I fear we may fall into his trap."

  "Gong Tai? If our army doesn't have military rations, how can we defeat Cao Cao? If this battle doesn't defeat Cao Cao, does our army still have the hope of advancing into the Central Plains and dominating the world? It will just be empty words! My mind is made up, Gong Tai only needs to assist me well!"

  Looking at Lü Bu's determined eyes, Chen Gong knew that Lü Bu's temper was acting up again. However, Lü Bu was not without reason. As a seasoned veteran of many battles, Lü Bu naturally had a deep understanding of the situation. If Lü Bu were to win, he could directly take control of the Central Plains. But if Lü Bu were to lose, Cao Cao could use Yan Province to rest and regroup before attacking Xuzhou again, whereas Lü Bu would not have another chance because Xuzhou was not his base.

  Chen Gong thought for a moment, he also wanted to win this war. This desire had always dominated him, sometimes surpassing his own rationality. Well, I, Chen Gong, will take a gamble. If we win, we can defeat Cao Cao in one stroke and march into the Central Plains!

  "His subordinate is willing to make a plan and defeat Cao!"

  "Alright, Gongtai, let's defeat Cao together and march into the Central Plains!" Seeing Chen Gong make up his mind, Lü Bu's fighting spirit was also stirred up. The numerous evasions of battle by Cao's army had already driven Lü Bu mad, and attacking Cao's army was now his only thought!

  "What about the public platform? Is there a good strategy?" Chen Gong had been thinking for several days about how to intercept Cao's army's grain and grass, as Cao's army's grain and grass transportation time was getting closer and closer, Lü Bu began to get anxious.

  "My lord, Gongtai has already found the best place to intercept the grain and fodder! It's right here!" Chen Gong pointed to a dense forest in the far west of the city.

  Lü Bu looked at the terrain and said, "Gongtai, this place is dense forest, I've been here before, the trees are lush and the terrain is relatively complex, it's not suitable for our army to ambush. If we cut off their food supply? I'm afraid there's only a head-on confrontation!"

  "Our lord is wise! This place is not suitable for an ambush, but it is a must-pass place for Cao's army to transport grain. Our army only needs to launch a full-scale attack and we can intercept the grain! Cao Mengde will not think that our army dares to be so bold!"

  "Oh?" Lü Bu looked at the map and said: "Gongtai, what if Cao has ambush troops here?"

  "Haha, my lord worries too much. Recently, our scouts have reported back that there are no signs of Cao's army moving in the direction of the dense forest. This dense forest stretches for a hundred miles and is not suitable for setting up defenses. If Cao's army were to set up defenses, they would certainly send out heavy troops. It's impossible for Cao's army to set up an ambush here!"

  Lü Bu smiled and said, "Gongtai's plan is indeed wonderful. Cao's bandit will surely be defeated this time. Leave General Gao Shun to lead the vanguard camp to defend the city, and have the rest of the soldiers follow me to attack and cut off Cao's army's grain supplies!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  On the day when Cao Jun's grain and grass arrived at Miling, Lü Bu sent someone to pretend to be himself in front of Cao Jun's formation, but this time he could no longer see the figures of Xiahou Dun and Zhang Fei, because the two had already received new tasks and were setting up ambushes outside Miling.

  At night, the newly arrived north wind blew through the forest, without moonlight, Lü Bu's army could only advance with torches, Cao's grain transport team was resting in a nearby forest.

  "My lord, we've discovered Cao's grain transport team!" reported the scout.

  "Alright, Gongtai, we'll launch a surprise attack and cut off Cao's army's supplies!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  "Brothers, follow me!" With Chen Gong's consent, Cao Xing led the army to charge forward. Cao Cao's grain transport team quickly collapsed under Lü Bu's strong attack.

  "My lord, I have not disgraced your orders! We've seized the grain and fodder!"

  "Alright, General Cao, hurry back to the city!" Having seized Cao's grain and fodder, Lü Bu and Chen Gong hastily led their troops in retreat.

  In a bend in the dense forest, Lü Rui looked into the distance and asked: "Master? It seems that Lü Bu has already seized our army's grain and fodder. But why hasn't he come yet?"

  "Rui'er, don't worry, this is the road back to Xiaopei after all. Lü Bu will definitely pass by here. At that time, a big fire can deal with Lü Bu's army!"

  Lü Bu nodded and said with a smile: "Nǎinǎi, I've prepared many good things for you!"

  "Adviser, Lü Bu's army has arrived!"

  "Alright, archers get ready with your rockets, just light the fuse and shoot immediately!"

  "Agreed!"

  "Gong Tai's plan was indeed brilliant, Cao Cao never expected our army to launch a full-scale attack and seize the grain, in less than a moment, the grain was already in our possession, returning to Xiaopei, I will definitely give Gong Tai credit for this achievement!"

  "Thank you, sir!" Lü Bu and Chen Gong were still happily praising each other, completely unaware of the danger approaching.

  "Huh? Why are there so many falling leaves in the sky? And water? Is it raining?"

  Chen Gong suddenly smelled a pungent smell of lamp oil, Chen Gong looked up and saw that there were oil barrels on the nearby trees, and the lamp oil was constantly dripping down!

  "We're done for, milord! We've been outmaneuvered! Retreat at once!"

  Chen Gong had not finished speaking, whoosh! Rockets flew in from all directions like bees, and with a loud explosion, Lü Bu's army formation became a sea of fire!

  "Oh no, I'm going to be burned to death!"

  "Hurry up and put out the fire!"

  "Lü Bu, you little rascal, don't try to run away! Zhang Fei and Zhang Yide are here!"

  "Cao Xing, I will avenge today's defeat with one arrow!"

  Haha, Lü Bu? Didn't think so, we've been lying in wait here for two months just to prepare this feast of fire and oil for you. Haha, how's that? The whole army is burned to a crisp, isn't it satisfying?!

  "What's going on? Are they coming up? Are they going to kill a few generals?"

  "Yes, Lord Hou!" Having received Lü Rui's order, Dian Wei also led three hundred men to charge forward.

  "Charge!" Lü Bu dragged Chen Gong along, leading his cavalry in a breakout towards Xiaopei!

  Gao Shun saw the distant firelight in Xiaopei and knew that Lü Bu was under attack, so he immediately led the ambush camp to rush towards the forest.

  Cao Cao set fire to Lü Bu's large army in Xiaopei, while Zhang Liao used the same strategy against Cao Ren in Shandong!

  "General Cao, Zhang Liao's grain transport team has arrived!"

  "Alright, order the soldiers to get ready!"

  "Brothers, follow me!" With a loud whistle of an arrow, Cao Ren led his troops in a charge.

  Zhang Liao fought against Cao Ren for dozens of rounds with his large sword and then retreated in defeat.

  "Inspect the military rations!"

  "General, the military rations are complete and intact!"

  "Alright, order General Zhu Ling to send someone to receive!"

  In a mountain valley in Shandong, Cao Ren had just intercepted Zhang Liao's military rations inside. Zhang Liao retreated to the northern mouth of the valley. This was the southern mouth of the valley guarded by Zhu Ling, which covered Cao Ren's retreat.

  "General Zhu, General Cao Ren has already intercepted Zhang Liao's grain supply and is now on his way here. Please dispatch troops to meet him!"

  "Alright, Deputy General, lead half of our troops to meet up with General Cao Ren!"

  "Promise!"

  Deputy general led people away soon after, a large number of Taishan bandits appeared near Hu Kou in the south!

  "General, the bandits from Mount Tai have arrived!"

  "What? Isn't Zang Ba in the Taishan military camp? How did he end up here? It's all over, General Cao Ren has fallen into a trap!"

  "Brothers, hold the mountain pass!"

  Cao Ren was retreating to the south gate of Hu Kou when rocks suddenly fell from the mountain. "Be careful!" The falling rocks crushed many Cao soldiers, and Cao Ren realized he had been outmaneuvered by Zhang Liao.

  "Steady formation, don't panic!"

  Whoosh! Two rockets, shot into the falling rocks, and instantly set them ablaze. "No! Zhang Liao has poured oil on the rocks!"

  "Abandon the grain and fodder, the whole army will follow me in a surprise attack, charging towards the northern mouth of the Hu Kou!" Cao Ren took the lead on horseback, making a breakthrough to the north mouth of the Hu Kou.

  "General Zhang indeed had a clever plan, and Cao Ren was defeated. However, Cao Ren unexpectedly did not retreat to the south, but instead retreated northward. What a pity! " Zang Ba angrily pounded on the grain cart beside him. Zhu Ling ran away, and so did Cao Ren.

  Zhang Liao smiled and said, "Cao Ren is a wise general in Cao's army. He has already fallen into our trap once, and the second time, he will definitely be more cautious. Our military strength is insufficient, and we launched a surprise attack on the southern side of Hu Kou. The northern side must be empty, and we can take advantage of this to launch a counterattack? Cao Zixiao is not simple!" Thinking of his encounter with Cao Ren at Hu Kou in the north earlier, Zhang Liao couldn't help but admire him for being so calm when facing the enemy, truly a great general!

  Just as Zhang Liao was about to pursue the victory, a letter arrived from Lü Bu: Xiao Pei has been defeated and the main army is almost completely annihilated. Wen Yuan quickly returned with his troops to rescue! Zhang Liao had no choice but to lead his men back to Xiapi to defend the last stronghold of Xuzhou with Lü Bu! (Three updates, thank you for the editor's recommendation and reader's update votes!)