Can I get to the other side?

"Is that so?"

After hearing Sima Yi's careful analysis, Lu Bu was shocked, and his originally fiery desire to cross the river was extinguished.

Because if the situation is really like what Sima Yi said, then his hasty crossing of the river will definitely cause heavy casualties to the army.

The consequences are simply unimaginable!

Sima Yi smiled and said: "No one is perfect. Duke Wen is unparalleled in leading troops in battle. It is normal for him not to be good at strategy, not to mention that he is facing a cunning opponent like Cao Cao."

"But with me here this time, Cao Cao's tricks won't work. Don't worry, Mr. Wen."

Immediately afterwards, Sima Yi said to Wei Yue: "General Wei, we must send more scouts to cross the river for investigation and expand the search area."

"If the enemy wants to cross the border and attack us, there will definitely be no less than 5,000 soldiers and horses. Even if they are hidden separately, there will definitely be traces exposed."

"So we must carefully search the villages, mountains, caves, and caravans on the other side of the Yellow River. Don't ignore any place!"

No matter how well the enemy hides, as long as the search intensity is increased, clues will be found.

He doesn't believe that the enemy can use invisibility!

Wei Yue heard this and turned his eyes to Lu Bu. After seeing Lu Bu nodding, he clasped his fists and said, "No!"

…

According to Sima Yi's instructions, a large number of scouts were sent out and began to conduct a blanket search across the river and the surrounding areas.

The search area also expanded to more than ten miles.

Since more manpower was sent out this time, the scouts searched more carefully than before, including the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

But after several days, I still found nothing.

Inside the Chinese army camp.

Wei Yue reported to Lu Bu: "General, the scouts we sent have searched all the mountains, forests and villages within fifteen miles of the other side of the river."

"No traces of military activity were found in the mountains. There were only a few old, young, women and children in the surrounding villages. Even the caravans we occasionally encountered came from Jizhou, and the number was only about a hundred people. They were all innocent. Common people.”

The search results this time were exactly the same as last time.

No trace of the ambush was found.

After Lu Bu heard this, he turned his gaze to Sima Yi, who looked dull, frowned and asked: "Strategy advisor, are you really sure that the enemy has an ambush?"

"Did they abandon White Horse Ferry?"

Sima Yi kept saying that the enemy had an ambush, but so many scouts were sent out that they didn't even see the shadow of the ambush.

Sima Yi also had some self-doubt at this time.

Crossing the river is an excellent opportunity for an army to attack. Even generals who are not familiar with military affairs know how to ambush and attack. How could there be no ambush?

This is totally against common sense!

Even if they want to abandon the White Horse Ferry, there will still be thousands of troops stationed to consume their troops while they are crossing the river. What is going on?

Could it be...

An idea emerged in Sima Yi's mind, but he quickly killed it. This idea was too outrageous. He shook his head and said to Lu Bu: "Mr. Wen, I think it's better to investigate again."

"There is no need!" This time Lu Bu did not agree to Sima Yi anymore. At this time, his patience had been exhausted, and he said with a sullen face: "Seven days have passed since the army arrived at Baima Ferry, and Zhang Liao and his men are about to arrive in Xuzhou. Yes, we are still being wasted at this ferry.”

"If we can't find the ambush troops, why don't we cross the river? Then we might as well not fight this battle!"

"Send my order to cross the river immediately!"

By keeping his troops stationary until now, he has given Sima Yi enough face. It would be fine if he really found traces of the enemy, but he didn't even see Mao and still let him wait here?

Seeing that Lu Bu really lost his temper, although Sima Yi was full of worries, he couldn't continue to dissuade him.

After all, he couldn't find a suitable reason to persuade.

After Lu Bu's order was issued, the Han troops stationed along the Yellow River broke out of their camps and the army began to cross the Yellow River.

Sima Yi followed Lu Bu by boat across the river.

While crossing the river, he felt uneasy all the time, and kept looking around the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the mountains and forests on the other side.

When he arrived in the middle of the Yellow River by boat, his heart was in his throat, extremely worried that an ambush would suddenly appear from nowhere and launch a surprise attack on them.

But this never happened.

The army successfully crossed the Yellow River without any obstruction or attack, and everything was uneventful.

"Really... there wasn't any ambush?"

When Sima Yi stepped on the solid ground, he couldn't help but look back at the Yellow River behind him, feeling a little unreal in his heart.

How could it go so smoothly?

This shouldn't be the case!

Lu Bu patted Sima Yi heavily on the shoulder and said, "Commander, you are too suspicious. If we had crossed the river earlier, we would have been here long ago. Why did we delay for so long?"

Sima Yi opened his mouth, speechless.

Because facts speak louder than words.

Lu Bu did not dwell on this matter any longer. He held the reins and ordered vigorously: "Let's set off and target the East County Administrative Office!"

Dongjun is an important place in Yanzhou.

Cao Cao once served as the prefect of Dongjun on the recommendation of Yuan Shao. It is not an exaggeration to say that this place is the place where Cao Cao made his fortune. Its importance is self-evident.

Dongjun is their first target after crossing the Baima Ferry. By capturing Dongjun, they will have a foothold in Yanzhou and their logistics can be guaranteed.

Only then can we plot the entire territory of Yanzhou!

After the army was assembled, under the leadership of Lu Bu, they marched directly to Puyang, the seat of Dongjun.

The White Horse Ferry was not far from Puyang. The army arrived outside Puyang City in less than two days of march, and strangely did not encounter any obstruction from Cao's army along the way.

"Finally here!"

Looking at Puyang City not far away, Lu Bu couldn't hide the excitement on his face, and he was about to order the army to attack.

"Mr. Wen, please wait!"

Seeing this, Sima Yi quickly stopped him.

Before Lu Bu could say anything, he was blocked back. He felt extremely aggrieved. He looked at Sima Yi with an annoyed look on his face, gritted his teeth and said, "What's wrong?!"

Feeling the cannibalistic look in Lu Bu's eyes, Sima Yi felt a chill running down his spine, but he still said bravely, "Mr. Wen, I don't think we should attack the city recklessly."

"You will understand if you look carefully at Puyang City."

Lu Bu and a group of generals looked in the direction of Sima Yi's finger and saw that the gate of Puyang City was wide open. There were no defenders on the wall, and even the flags hanging on the city walls were removed.

It seems like an empty city.

Sima Yi said solemnly: "Dongjun is a major fortress, and Puyang, as the seat of Dongjun, is even more important."

"We were not attacked when we crossed the river this time, which shows that they concentrated their troops in Dongjun, and they probably hid their troops in Puyang."

"At this time, the city gate on the opposite side is wide open, and there must be an ambush inside. It must be to lure our army closer, and then suddenly send troops to launch an attack!"

Weird, really weird.

In Puyang City, which is the seat of Dongjun, no defenders were seen on the city walls, and all the city gates were opened, which showed that there was a scam.

After all, it’s impossible for the enemy to abandon Puyang City, right?

"Is there another ambush?"

Hearing this familiar set of rhetoric, Lu Bu felt as if his head was as big as a bucket. His ears were almost ringing out from hearing the word "ambush" these days!

Why are there ambushes everywhere?

Lu Bu said impatiently: "That's it! The bandits must have fled after hearing my general's reputation. There is an ambush!"

"No matter how many ambushes he has inside, when my army rushes into the city and attacks the city wall, we can capture Puyang City in an instant!"

"You smart people just have too many thoughts!"

Lu Bu was too lazy to break up with Sima Yi, otherwise he wouldn't know that he would have to spend a few days outside Puyang City before continuing to give orders.

Sima Yi's expression changed drastically, he grabbed Lu Bu's hand and said eagerly: "You can't do that, Mr. Wen! If you attack rashly, you will definitely fall into the enemy's trap!"

"Believe me, there must be a bomb buried in it!"

Lu Bu said angrily: "I believed you twice when we were at the White Horse Ferry. I searched for an ambush for seven whole days, but I couldn't even find a shadow!"

"This is a siege of a city, not a march. Don't tell me what to do!"

"I am the commander-in-chief of the armed forces!"

Lu Bu didn't have the same good temper with Sima Yi as he did with Chen Gong. In other words, Chen Gong had a bigger temper than him, so he didn't dare to be aggressive in front of Chen Gong.

But Sima Yi is different. He calls the military advisor to give him face. If he doesn't give him face, it means nothing!

If I can’t cure Chen Gong, I can’t cure you?

Sima Yi begged bitterly: "Mr. Wen, trust me one more time, just once! Marching and fighting are not a piece of cake!"

"I understand. The reason why the enemy did not set up an ambush at Baima Ferry is to make Mr. Wen relax your vigilance and think that they will not resist. In fact, the real killer move is here!"

"If you enter the city rashly, you will fall into a trap!"

Sima Yi was almost dying of anxiety. If Lu Bu launched an attack and suffered a disastrous defeat because he did not listen to his advice, the consequences would be unbearable for him.

The emperor will not blame him because he has fulfilled his duty of admonishment, but it is inevitable to be disappointed with him.

Then all the goodwill he had accumulated in the emperor's heart would be lost.

Lu Bu will not be affected in any way.

Who is the most powerful general in the world, a relative of the emperor, and deeply trusted by the emperor? It doesn't matter if he loses the battle.

So even if he knew that Lu Bu was angry, he still had to persuade him. What he was betting on was that Lu Bu was loyal to the emperor and would not kill him because of it.

"you--"

Lu Bu was so angry that he couldn't speak. The veins on his forehead were throbbing. He had the urge to crush Sima Yi to death, but he finally suppressed it.

Then he called Gao Shun over and said with a tigerish face: "Send someone to grab a tongue and ask what's going on in the city!"

"promise!"

Gao Shun took the order and retreated.

Not long after, he came back with a gray-haired old man: "General, the people are here!"

When the old man saw so many imposing soldiers in front of him, his face turned pale with fear, and he knelt down and kowtowed.

"Master, have mercy on me! Master, have mercy on me!"

Lu Bu glanced at the old man, frowned at Gao Shun and said, "Why did you bring the old man here? Don't you know how to bring someone younger here to ask?"

Gao Shun said with a look of embarrassment: "General, I took a look around the surrounding villages. There are only old and weak people, not young and strong."

"This old man is the head of a nearby village called Huangniu. He has some knowledge, so I brought him back."

Sima Yi didn't care so much. He immediately stepped forward to help the village chief up and said in as kind a tone as possible:

"Don't panic, old man. We are the imperial army. We are sent south by the emperor's orders to attack Cao Cao. The person in front of you is Wen Gong Lu Fengxian."

"We don't mean any harm, I just want to ask my father-in-law something. If I can answer truthfully, I will be rewarded generously."

Upon hearing that it was the imperial army, the village chief subconsciously looked up at the flying flags in the army, and then at Lu Bu, with a look of shock on his face.

"It turns out that Master Wang is here!"

After reacting, the village chief seemed extremely excited, and then he knelt down to Lu Bu again, crying bitterly: "Please Lord Wen make the decision for the common people!"

This voice made everyone confused.

They came here to ask questions, not to avenge the people. Moreover, they were marching and fighting, so what's the point?

However, as an army of the imperial court, it also represents the majesty of the imperial court. At this time, the people openly redressed their grievances, and Lu Bu couldn't help but ignore them.

"What grievances do you have?"

Hearing Lu Bu's question, the village chief cried even harder, wiping his tears and said: "It's all that evil traitor Cao Cao!"

Um?

Hearing Cao Cao's name, everyone cheered up again. Lu Bu looked at his father-in-law with bright eyes and asked, "What evil deed did Cao Cao do? Please tell me in detail!"

The village chief cried and said: "Half a month ago, Cao's thieves sent troops to plunder every village, taking away all the young men, women and children."

"There are hundreds of households in our Huangniu Village, but now we are the only ones left with some dying old men. God damn Cao Cao!"

"Please ask Mr. Wen to make the decision for us!"

The village chief cried heartbreakingly and was extremely pitiful.

Sima Yi was startled and then asked: "Does my father know where Cao's army is? How many soldiers and horses of Cao's troops are stationed in Puyang City?"

What he is most concerned about is still this issue.

How many ambushes are there in Puyang City?

"Puyang City?"

The village chief paused when he heard the cry, and then said blankly: "Cao Cao's soldiers and horses have all gone south and retreated. There are no defenders in Puyang City."

There was silence.

Only the howling of the wind.

Sima Yi froze on the spot, his eyes widened, and asked in disbelief: "There are no defenders in the city? Not one?!"

His tone rose unconsciously.

The village chief nodded and said, "Yes, Master. Cao Cao's troops withdrew more than ten days ago, leaving no one behind."

Sima Yi fell silent.

"snort!"

Lu Bu glanced at Sima Yi coldly, then raised his Fang Tianhua halberd and ordered boldly: "Listen to my order, the entire army enters the city!"

He knew he shouldn't listen to Sima Yi.

You can definitely go straight into the city!

The army left in a mighty manner, leaving only Sima Yi alone standing there in despair, feeling dejected.

"How could it be? How could there be no enemy troops..."

"How could Thief Cao abandon Dongjun?"

"Once Dongjun is lost, Yanzhou will face our Han Heavenly Army. How could he abandon Dongjun and retreat?"

"Is it really that I am too suspicious? Or is it that my intelligence is too low to see through Cao's thief's tricks, and I am not suitable for marching and fighting at all?"

Sima Yi stood messy in the wind.

He had deep doubts about his abilities.

——

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