Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

The sky gradually brightened.

That night, Li Ji also remained awake.

This was an undeniable great victory, defeating a stronger Cao army with weaker forces.

From the preliminary battle results collected and compiled by Li Ji, almost everything indicated that this battle had broken the Cao army's backbone.

Cao Cao's original force was less than 50,000. Even with the 10,000 Yuan soldiers led by Zhu Ling, it could barely be considered 60,000.

However, Li Ji had already dealt with over 8,000 Cao army corpses just from the battlefield cleanup outside the dense forest, not counting those who perished in the forest fire and the losses from Zhang Fei's surprise cavalry attack.

Li Ji estimated that Cao Cao would be lucky to regroup 30,000 routed soldiers.

Of course, Li Ji's soldiers also suffered losses.

The number of wounded was not immediately available, but there were over 3,000 dead or severely wounded.

A casualty ratio of nearly one to ten was astonishing.

However, when Li Ji learned from Zhang Fei that Cao Cao had escaped, he couldn't help but frown, but he also understood that Zhang Fei had done his best.

The deaths of Dian Wei and a group of Cao generals were a consolation prize.

As for the Qinggang Sword that Zhang Fei handed over, Li Ji curiously drew it, facing the slowly rising sun, and a strong bloody smell spread from the scabbard.

Even Li Ji, whose sword appraisal skills were average, could immediately recognize the extraordinary nature of the Qinggang Sword, and blurted out, "A good sword."

Immediately, Li Ji took a cloth from Gu Wei's hand and carefully wiped the blood stains remaining on the Qinggang Sword.

After Li Ji finished wiping and returned the Qinggang Sword to its scabbard, he said.

"The sword is a good sword, but it's a waste for it to fall into my hands."

After a pause, Li Ji's eyes moved, and he handed the Qinggang Sword back to Zhang Fei, saying.

"This sword cuts iron like mud, and it is suitable for making meritorious deeds on the battlefield. It's a pity for it to be with me. I appreciate Yide's kindness, but since this Qinggang Sword is Yide's trophy, keep it and use it."

However, Zhang Fei repeatedly declined, saying.

"I'm used to the Zhangba Serpent Spear. When have you ever seen me use a sword?"

"Besides, I was only able to seize this Qinggang Sword because of the Governor's plans. I only used brute force and dare not take credit. This Qinggang Sword should belong to the Governor."

Li Ji persuaded Zhang Fei several times, but Zhang Fei repeatedly declined, urging Li Ji to accept it.

Even if Li Ji wanted to force the Qinggang Sword back into Zhang Fei's arms, Li Ji was no match for Zhang Fei in terms of strength. Instead, Zhang Fei forcibly tied the Qinggang Sword to Li Ji's waist in a few moves.

"You… you, Yide, this is going to be hard on this Qinggang Sword. What good is this sword to me?" Li Ji said angrily.

"Hehe he."

Zhang Fei smiled naively and said. "With the Governor's status, it is an honor for the Qinggang Sword to be the Governor's sword to command thousands of troops."

"Moreover, the Governor usually uses a common good sword in the army. If outsiders know, they might think that the Lord is mistreating the Governor, or that Yangzhou can't afford a good sword for the Governor to use."

After being persuaded by Zhang Fei, Li Ji no longer insisted and thanked Zhang Fei for his kindness.

In any case, Li Ji was quite happy that Zhang Fei always thought of him.

Immediately, after confirming that everything was settled after dawn, Li Ji personally wrote a battle report and sent it to Liu Bei, informing Liu Bei of the course and outcome of the battle.

This was not because Li Ji couldn't wait to ask Liu Bei for credit, but because after this battle, Cao Cao would no longer be able to catch up with the main force led by Liu Bei.

As a result, the pressure on Liu Bei would be greatly reduced, and he only needed to focus on how to break through the 30,000 Cao troops led by Cao Hong to Yishui.

Although Liu Bei's ability to command troops was far from comparable to Li Ji and Cao Cao, there were many fierce generals and famous strategists around him, and he also had a clear advantage in terms of strength.

Therefore, as long as Liu Bei did not suffer high pressure and stubbornly made foolish moves against advice, Li Ji had full confidence in Liu Bei to solve a mere Cao Hong.

However, just as the battle report written by Li Ji himself was sent out, the sentry who had been sent out sent back an urgent report.

What the sentry brought back was a letter, a secret letter that Cao Cao sent to Yuan Shu but was intercepted.

Out of caution, Li Ji ordered the accompanying physician to carefully check the letter for poison before slowly taking the letter and browsing it.

After reading it once, Li Ji frowned slightly and handed the letter to Zhang Fei, who was full of curiosity.

In order to avoid trouble, after receiving Li Ji's permission, Zhang Fei simply read out the contents of the letter.

In addition to some polite greetings and human relations, the main content of the letter was:

Stating that Cao Cao had cut off the food supply of Liu Bei's 100,000 troops, and the two sides were fiercely fighting in Donghai County. Cao Cao himself stated that he would desperately prevent Liu Bei from retreating back to Xiapi, and asked Yuan Shu to quickly send troops to attack Pengcheng.

After reading the contents of the letter, Zhang Fei immediately began to curse.

"This Cao thief is so shameless. He clearly wants to ask Yuan Shu for help, but he describes it as if our army is about to collapse."

Whenever discussing military strategies, Chen Dao would always change his usual taciturnity and talk eloquently.

"General Zhang, this is also a strategy. If Cao thief didn't say that, how could Yuan Shu speed up the dispatch of troops?"

After a pause, Chen Dao frowned slightly and said.

"However, if Yuan Shu really believes what Cao Cao said and speeds up the dispatch of troops directly to Pengcheng, it is unlikely that the soldiers under Lord Tao can defend Pengcheng."

Zhang Fei said disapprovingly. "Although that Yuan Shu is not a good person, he is also quite cunning and sly. How could he easily believe a letter from Cao Cao? Besides, Cao Cao has just suffered a crushing defeat, so Yuan Shu would not dare to send troops even more."

Chen Dao pondered for a moment and said. "Yuan Shu doesn't know about Cao Cao's crushing defeat, and on the contrary, Yuan Shu is probably about to receive the news that the Lord has led a large army north to Donghai County."

"When Cao Cao's letter is delivered to Yuan Shu, it is normal for Yuan Shu to believe what it says."

After being told by Chen Dao, Zhang Fei was at a loss for a while. After turning his head, he proposed a method, saying.

"Since this is the case, why don't we also send someone to send a letter to Yuan Shu, stating the crushing defeat of Cao thief, which will surely intimidate Yuan Shu for a while."

Chen Dao shook his head and said. "Does General Zhang think that Yuan Shu will believe the letter from an ally, or will he believe the letter from someone he considers a confidant?"

"Even if a letter is sent, I am afraid that Yuan Shu will interpret it as a divisive plan, trying to delay time, which will instead cause Yuan Shu to speed up the dispatch of troops."

Zhang Fei said dissatisfied. "This is not right, that is not appropriate, then tell me what method there is."

Chen Dao was speechless for a while, and turned to Li Ji's direction and said. "I will listen to the Governor."

(End of this chapter)