Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1160 Trap
In Yijing City, Tian Feng could no longer hold back his temper and complained to Zhuge Liang who was still watching the military situation: "My lord, you are really patient. You haven't returned to Jizhou yet. After all, this is the front battlefield!"

Zhuge Liang said slowly: "Because the lord is very confident in Mr. Yuan Hao."

Tian Feng waved his hand and said, "Forget it. I think it's Kong Ming, don't worry. I'm too impatient and like to use strange strategies, but on the current battlefield in Jizhou, strange strategies are useless."

"Now, with Qinghe River in Wei County as the boundary, on the battle line of nearly a thousand miles, the total number of people deployed by Jin and Wei exceeds 200,000. The main forces of both sides in various directions add up to at least a dozen, not including the flank support."

"Every pass is full of fortifications and strongholds, and even cavalry can't easily penetrate. In this situation, fighting has become a pure consumption of resources. Unconventional strategies and risky tactics are completely useless. I can't think of a way to break the deadlock. On the contrary, Kong Ming's steady and cautious character can thrive."

Zhuge Liang said modestly: "I am just doing what I can do."

"At this point, the troops involved and the mobilization orders are already too complicated. Intervening might backfire. It would be more reasonable to leave it to the frontline commanders to decide for themselves."

Tian Feng looked at the hundreds of bamboo slips in the room and couldn't help but smile bitterly. All this information was delivered within one day, but the time ranged from three to five days ago. In other words, the situation on the battlefield might have already undergone major changes.

Even if he and Zhuge Liang predicted that there might be danger in certain places, they could only reply with warnings and let the leading generals contact the surrounding friendly forces to deal with the situation on their own. If they intervened too much, it might leave gaps in the battle line, making the situation worse.

In this situation, the goal of both sides has become not to seek merit but to avoid mistakes. All they have to do is to honestly defend the front line and wait for the other side to make a mistake.

Whoever loses patience first and makes more mistakes is more likely to fail, so even though Tian Feng is impatient, he can only suppress his impatience.

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang's words immediately made Tian Feng stunned, "But Liang feels that the time to launch a full-scale surprise attack will come soon."

Tian Feng was stunned. Should he launch a large-scale attack into the enemy's hinterland?

When the two sides are in a stalemate, take the initiative to attack the other side's camp and fortifications?

Not to mention how much loss will be incurred, if the attack fails, how to deal with Cao's counterattack?

Isn't Kong Ming a very steady and cautious person? Why did he suddenly become so radical?

Zhuge Liang saw Tian Feng's confusion and said, "It is impossible for both sides to maintain this balance of power by digging deep trenches and confronting each other."

"Judging from the difference in siege equipment between the two sides, Cao's army should be at the point where they can no longer hold out."

"I have inferred from the intelligence in the past few days that Cao's army has a tendency to retreat. If this is true, urgent reports from all over the country will be delivered tomorrow."

"But I also saw some not-so-good possibilities from this intelligence."

Tian Feng asked: "What is possible?"

Zhuge Liang replied: "Although Cao's army is at a disadvantage when confronting the lord's army, it can still hold out for at least five days. It would be unnatural to retreat at this point in time."

"Plus, Cao's army mostly retreated to low-lying terrain, which is not very favorable for retreat, so I suspect that Cao's army is using a trick to lure them in."

Tian Feng laughed and said, "I thought I was overthinking it, but it turns out Kong Ming also thinks so?"

"At first I was very hesitant, because retreating to low-lying terrain is tantamount to seeking death. Cao's army can only do this by attacking with water, but if they really do that, then Cao's army will not be able to escape, right?"

Zhuge Liang asked in return: "Why not?"

Tian Feng was stunned. "I can't tell the enemy from the enemy when attacking on flat ground. Cao's army has killed all its own soldiers. What can they do to defend Yecheng?"

Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice: "Sir, how do you think Cao's soldiers compare to yours?"

Tian Feng subconsciously said, "Of course they are not as good as the lord. The lord is taking the route of elite soldiers, with complete weapons and armor. It takes at least two or three years to train new soldiers, while the Cao army can go into battle after only a few months of training."

"The main force of Cao's army is still the private soldiers of Cao's generals. They are used for attacking strongholds. In normal times, ordinary soldiers are used to fill the line to preserve the main force."

"Although the lord's soldiers are strong, it is difficult to defeat an enemy several times their number who are focused on defense on a battlefield with tens of thousands of people. So although Cao's army is retreating, it has not been defeated."

"Attack with water at this time." His face suddenly changed. "So that's it. Cao Jun wants to exchange pieces with us?"

"As long as the flood is over, both sides will be back to the same level. Cao's army only needs to recruit soldiers locally, or even transfer troops from Jing and Yi, and they can assemble a similar team in a short time. In comparison, my lord, the losses are much greater!"

He grabbed the bamboo slips of military information, read through them, and shook his head, saying, "The ones behind are Cao's main force, the Qingzhou Army. They don't look like they're going to fight to the death."

Zhuge Liang said: "I'm afraid that what Cao Cao wants to abandon is the Qingzhou Army."

"Don't forget, Cao's army's digging of the Yellow River must have had a bad impact on the Qingzhou army. Many of his family members are in Qingzhou, and I'm afraid they are already dissatisfied."

"If we send the Qingzhou troops in now, it will solve the problem once and for all."

After listening to this, Tian Feng let out a long sigh and said, "What should we do now?"

"If we follow what Kong Ming said, a full-scale attack might stop the enemy from digging the river, but it is more likely to run into a flood head-on."

"Isn't it better to retreat temporarily?" "Even if Cao's army digs a river, it will only flood the low-lying areas, and then form a swamp. If the two sides are isolated, it will be a good opportunity to temporarily reorganize the army."

Zhuge Liang said, "Mr. Yuan Hao's approach is indeed more prudent."

"But Liang always feels that Cao Cao's real intention is not entirely to attack by water."

"After all, although the water attack is powerful, it is still relatively easy to detect. It is also possible that Cao Cao deliberately let us see this layer, but at the same time wanted to conceal the real purpose."

Tian Feng asked in confusion: "What's the real purpose?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "I can't guess it completely now."

"But for Cao Cao, it is more in his interest to confront us and buy more time."

"So I want to do the opposite. Before the water attack is launched, I will first raid Cao's defense line and expose Cao Cao's true intentions."

After listening to this, Tian Feng could not help but nod his head repeatedly, "Lord Kong Ming's idea is indeed a different approach."

"But there is also a possibility that Cao Cao is using the water attack as a pretext to lure us into a trap. If he has other plans, he can defeat our isolated troops one by one."

Zhuge Liang said solemnly: "So either do nothing, or launch them at the same time so that Cao Cao cannot deal with them at the same time."

"But this move is also quite risky. After all, it involves the mobilization of nearly 100,000 people. If there is any mistake, the situation will collapse."

"Cao Cao's strategy is brilliant. He created something out of nothing and took our initiative. If we don't deal with it properly, it may be delayed until next year. By then, reinforcements from Jing and Yi will arrive, and the number of deaths will be several times higher."

Tian Feng said, "Don't we still have Liu Biao in Jingzhou? He..."

Zhuge Liang said: "I observed the celestial phenomena at night and found that Liu Jingsheng will not live long."

"If he dies, Jingzhou will certainly surrender to Cao Cao. After all, Yizhou has been captured by Cao's army, and the western part of Jingzhou is already wide open. Given the temperament of the scholars in Jingzhou, they will definitely not resist to the end."

Tian Feng stared at the bamboo slips in front of him. "This full-scale attack originally required the Lord's approval, but now the Lord is in Shouchun, so it is obviously too late to inform him."

"Before the lord left, he gave you and me the power to make the decision. In other words, Kong Ming meant that you and I should take charge of this matter?"

Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice: "There is also Mr. Gong Yu, but he is now at the front line, so it is too late."

"This opportunity is fleeting. If Mr. Yuan Hao has any doubts, I will take the responsibility alone. If my guess is wrong, I will accept military punishment."

Tian Feng hesitated, "Taking the initiative to attack is like living towards death, but it may also lead to death."

"Kong Ming is still young, why is he taking such a risk?"

Zhuge Liang said, "Because the longer it drags on, the more people in Jizhou will die. If the stalemate continues, Cao Cao will sooner or later send all the people of Jizhou to the battlefield."

"If the lord were here, I believe he wouldn't want to get an empty Jizhou, right?"

"Mr. Yuan Hao should have thought of this, but as a Jizhou native, if he makes such a decision, he will probably be criticized for sending soldiers to their deaths for personal gain. So, it's better for Liang to take on this courage."

Tian Feng's frown finally relaxed, "Kong Ming knows what I'm thinking, but as a subordinate of the king, how can I retreat at this time?"

"Well, you and I will sign the military order together!"

Immediately, a series of military orders were issued from Yijing and sent to the front line of Weijun as quickly as possible. The order was very simple. On the morning of the third day after the order was issued, all the front-line troops of the Jin army would make every effort to break through the defense line of the Cao army, enter Weijun, and head straight for Yecheng!

Zhuge Liang's order was indeed very timely. After receiving the order, the generals under Yuan Xi immediately launched a surprise attack with all their strength. Before Cao's army could react, they had opened more than a dozen gaps in Cao's defense line and broke through Cao's border line.

After the Jin army rushed to the rear, they indeed discovered the Cao army that was digging a river nearby. Of course, they launched an attack without hesitation, killing the Cao army that was digging the river and forcing them to flee in all directions.

This situation occurred simultaneously along the hundreds of miles long defense line, completely thwarting Cao's army's plan to dig a river. They could only turn around and attack the invading Jin army while reporting to Yecheng.

When the urgent letter arrived in Yecheng, Xun You immediately became uneasy. He ran to Cao Cao's bedroom to inquire. As a result, Madam Bian came out and said to Xun You: "The king said, continue to dig the river and block their way back."

After Xun You listened, he pondered for a long time before he realized that Cao Cao's plan had changed from resisting the Jin army to catching a turtle in a jar!

Although releasing the water at this time would not drown the Jin army soldiers, it could block all the important traffic routes, making it impossible for the Jin army that broke through the defense line to retreat in time. The Cao army could then launch a sudden counterattack and engage in a decisive battle with them!
After thinking it through, Xun You lamented at Cao Cao's risk, because Cao Cao was using him as bait.

Because the target of the Jin army that rushed in was obviously Yecheng, as long as they captured Yecheng and killed Cao Cao, the mission would be accomplished.

The goal of Cao's army was to annihilate the Jin army. If these Jin troops were destroyed, they would lose all their main forces, and the four northern states would be in Cao Cao's pocket.

What the two sides are competing for now is speed. Whoever reaches the goal first will win the battle of Jizhou and then seize the world!
(End of this chapter)