Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Currently, on both sides of the Boundary Bridge, Yuan Shao has stationed 80,000 troops, while Cao Cao has 50,000.

The troop strength seems not to differ greatly, but the gap in combat power between the two sides is far more than just a notch.

Yuan Shao's stationed troops are mostly elite soldiers and fierce generals who have confronted Gongsun Zan at the Boundary Bridge for a year and experienced the previous Battle of the Boundary Bridge.

Among them, the combat power of the Vanguard Death Squad is self-evident.

Even the Great Halberd Warriors, who were not fully trained originally, have exerted combat power far superior to ordinary elites in Zhang He's hands after Yuan Shao handed them over to Zhang He, who had come to join him.

In addition, after Yuan Shao initially gained control of some of Bing Province's horse farms, he also appointed Yan Liang and Wen Chou as generals and quickly expanded his cavalry to a number of over ten thousand.

In comparison, even if Cao Cao mobilized all his forces, he inevitably had to divide his troops after initially occupying the three commanderies in the southern part of Ji Province.

As a result, Cao Cao's troops stationed at the Boundary Bridge to confront Yuan Shao numbered only fifty thousand.

Moreover, compared to Yuan's army, Cao Cao's soldiers had a considerable and obvious gap in combat power, equipment, and morale.

It was only because Cao Cao squeezed Qing Province dry and plundered some armories of Ji Province and Xu Province that he narrowed the gap in equipment between the two sides to some extent.

In this situation, how long can Cao Cao forcibly resist if Yuan Shao launches a fierce attack at all costs?

Once the Boundary Bridge is breached, Yuan Shao will be able to cut off the connection between Bohai Commandery and the outside world, and even take the opportunity to continue his southward march, directly cutting off Cao Cao's retreat back to Qing Province.

This is also why, after being attacked in the rear by Cao Cao, Yuan Shao was greatly enraged, but he never regarded Cao Cao as an opponent of equal standing.

The gap in troop strength between the two sides was too obvious, so obvious that Yuan Shao completely did not think Cao Cao had any chance of stopping him.

"What's the plan?" Cao Cao asked urgently.

Xu You replied.

"Yuan Shao's troop strength is strong, but his governed territory is unstable, and he has been in constant warfare, resulting in a severe shortage of food and grass. We only need to attack and burn Yuan Shao's stored food and supplies, and Yuan's army will collapse within three days."

"I wonder where Yuan Shao is hoarding his food and supplies?" Cao Cao asked further.

Xu You circled his finger in front of him and replied. "Coincidentally, that location must be familiar to you, my lord, it is Boluojin."

"Boluojin?!"

Cao Cao couldn't help but stand up abruptly, his face flushed slightly.

How could Cao Cao not know this location?

During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Li Zikun's strange plan was to have Liu Bei attack Boluojin, coordinating with Lu Zhi from afar, forcibly trapping Zhang Jiao within it, forcing Zhang Jiao to burn himself to death.

And Cao Cao quickly understood the reason why Yuan Shao would hoard grain at Boluojin.

Boluojin is located on the west side of the Zhang River. Even if Cao Cao sends a surprise force across the Qing River, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven to sneak to Boluojin without being noticed.

On the contrary, Boluojin is not far from Julu City and the Boundary Bridge, with an official road connecting it to Julu, making it relatively easy to transport grain from various places to Boluojin.

Moreover, after transporting the grain across the Zhang River from Boluojin, it is also quite convenient to send it to Yuan Shao's main camp at the Boundary Bridge.

Therefore, Boluojin is undoubtedly a good place to hoard grain for Yuan Shao today, ensuring the convenience of transportation and greatly guaranteeing the safety of food and supplies.

However, after careful consideration, Cao Cao's expression could not help but dim slightly, and he shook his head.

"Ziyuan, although this plan is good, Boluojin is located on the west side of the Zhang River, how easy is it to launch a surprise attack on Boluojin?"

Not to mention that Cao Cao does not have many warhorses in his hands now, even if he had cavalry, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven to cross the Qing River and Zhang River and launch a surprise attack on Boluojin.

Xu You slowly took out an object from his sleeve and placed it in front of Cao Cao, saying.

"Please take a look at this, my lord."

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, then picked it up and looked at it, but it was a warrant stamped with Yuan Shao's seal, allowing the holder to transport grain to the Boluojin granary.

While Cao Cao couldn't help but show a look of ecstasy, Xu You asked.

"I give this item to you, my lord, I wonder if you have more confidence?"

Cao Cao looked at this warrant that determined the life and death of the two armies and said.

"With this warrant to help, why worry about not succeeding?"

Immediately, Cao Cao, who couldn't wait, gave Xu You a large number of promises and rewards on the spot, stabilized Xu You, and convened a military meeting overnight.

He ordered Xiahou Yuan to be the commander and Zhu Ling to be the deputy, and immediately selected three thousand elites to bypass the Boundary Bridge, enter Julu Commandery, in order to launch a surprise attack on Boluojin.

This warrant is undoubtedly the best pass.

The importance of the location of Boluojin was already told to the world by Li Ji that year.

Blocking Boluojin would mean that the troops in Guangzong and the Boundary Bridge east of the Zhang River would have no way to retreat.

That night, Xiahou Yuan and Zhu Ling each selected troops and picked confidant elites, and left Cao Cao's camp under the cover of night.

Watching Xiahou Yuan, who led the army away, Cao Cao seemed to have a calm expression, but he also understood that victory or defeat would be determined by this one move.

Xiahou Yuan bypassed the Boundary Bridge to enter Julu Commandery and arrive at Boluojin, even if it was a rapid march, it would take about three days.

And even if Xiahou Yuan successfully burned or controlled Boluojin, Yuan's army would still have at least three to five days of food and supplies.

Six to eight days!

That is to say, even if everything goes smoothly, Cao Cao must hold on for at least six days to withstand Yuan's fierce attack or counterattack.

"Liu Da'er rose because of Boluojin, and I may not be able to do the same."

"Eight days, just need to hold on for eight days, and the great cause can be accomplished."

Cao Cao was full of excitement and did not feel worried, but instead had a heart of fighting to the death.

After truly coming into contact with them, the elite of Yuan Shao's troops was even more powerful than Cao Cao had imagined, giving Cao Cao a vague feeling of facing the military households and soldiers under Liu Bei.

If he didn't take risks, Cao Cao felt that the possibility of dragging it out until winter was almost zero.

The next day.

Yuan's army was indeed exactly the same as Xu You said, compared to the previous reserved attacks, Yuan Shao began to launch a fierce attack on Cao Cao at all costs.

The Great Halberd Warriors led by Zhang He and the Vanguard Death Squad led by Qu Yi were mobilized to the front army by Yuan Shao, and soon caused huge casualties to Cao Cao's army.

The two armies fought until sunset, and Cao Cao's army, which suffered heavier casualties than the attacking side, barely repelled Yuan's army.

The second day.

Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Chunyu Qiong and other brave generals, under Yuan Shao's orders, each led their troops to increase their fierce attacks on Cao Cao's army.

Cao Cao, who had previously lost Dian Wei in pain, now had Xiahou Dun as the strongest warrior under his command.

But no matter how hard Xiahou Dun fought in a bloody battle, he was unable to do everything.

The rampage of one Yuan general after another caused the casualties of Cao Cao's army to continue to increase, and many mid-level Cao army generals were constantly killed.

In the end, Cao Cao personally went into battle to boost morale, and only then barely resisted.

The third day.

Yuan Shao, who had completely seen through Cao Cao's true strength, felt that he already had the victory in his grasp, and continued to order the elite soldiers and fierce generals under his command to press on.

He intended to rely on absolute elites to forcibly break through Cao Cao's defense line.

This method was unusually crude, regardless of casualties, which would lead to Yuan's army suffering equally heavy casualties.

But, it was also unusually effective.

With the Vanguard Death Squad and the Great Halberd Warriors as the spearhead, and Yan Liang, Wen Chou and other brave generals personally going into battle to disrupt the formation, it was unusually difficult for Cao Cao to resist.

However, this time, Yuan's army's attack only lasted for half a day, and then quickly retreated like a tide.

Watching this scene, Cao Cao, even though he had not yet received a message from Xiahou Yuan, understood that the only possible reason for Yuan Shao's sudden retreat was that something had happened to Boluojin.

My plan, is accomplished! (End of this chapter)