We agreed that you, a weak strategist, would fight against three heroes by yourself?

On the tenth day of April, Cao Cao led an army of 150,000 people, with Li Dian as the vanguard, and arrived at the lower village of Huishui.

At that time, the news about Cao Cao leading an army of 500,000 men to go on an expedition was spread throughout the Han Dynasty through newspapers and magazines.

After the princes from all walks of life heard the news, their situations varied.

In Yecheng at that time.

Yuan Shao couldn't help but feel a trace of displeasure on his face when he saw the news that Cao Cao was leading an army of 500,000 troops.

An army of five hundred thousand!

This Cao Ah Man is really good at it. Unknowingly, even Yuan Shao himself was a little frightened!

At present, he only occupies three continents. Although he has an army of 500,000, Yuan Shao can recruit him at will.

However, Yuan Shao never regarded Cao Cao as an opponent comparable to him.

Now there are business transactions in Yecheng and Xuchang.

In the Yecheng Yamen Office, although Yuan Shao had some displeasure on his face, he still did not make any statement after all.

"My lord, Cao Cao is now on the rise. I will make preparations early in the morning!"

Seeing Yuan Shao's gloomy face.

Jushou, who was sitting below, immediately gave an admonishment.

As soon as these words were spoken, Guo Tu, who usually stood up to refute immediately, did not stand up this time.

Things have priorities!

Then it was said that Yuan Shao's counselors were targeting each other.

However, Guo Tu is not a fool.

Now the situation in the world is becoming more and more clear.

In the Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are now dominant in the north.

Although the two are allies on the surface, the relationship between the two is also fragile and pitiful.

Everyone in the world knows it.

There must be a battle between Yuan and Cao.

Whoever wins will be the one who decides the entire northern territory of this big man.

And occupying the entire northern territory of the Han Dynasty is equivalent to occupying half of the world of the Han Dynasty.

At that time, it is still unclear who will dominate the Central Plains!

Perhaps, a change of dynasty will not be far away.

"My lord, this time Cao Cao went west to conquer, but he never asked the lord, so he didn't take the lord seriously at all!"

Guo Tu spoke.

Today's Yuan Shao is still a general of the Han Dynasty, and Cao Cao is just Sikong!

According to common sense, even if it is necessary to help the court to fight against rebellion, it is the general who should lead the army to fight against it.

When will it be Sikong's turn to lead his troops into battle?

"Humph, Cao A has deceived me too much!"

Yuan Shao shouted angrily!

He immediately decided to let Yan Liang lead his troops to make Cao Cao suffer.

"My lord, no!"

"This time my lord better conquer the entire Bingzhou first. When the four states are in his hands, it won't be too late to deal with Cao Cao!"

At this moment Tian Feng suddenly stood up and made a speech.

Yuan Shao couldn't stand Cao Cao's flamboyant behavior, but Tian Feng could see it clearly.

Cao Cao's expedition this time was in the name of the Han Dynasty.

If Yuan Shao attacks Cao Cao rashly, it will be detrimental to the justice of the world.

As Tian Feng spoke in detail, Yuan Shao hesitated.

In Yecheng, there was no immediate discussion on whether to take advantage of Cao Cao's westward march to teach him a lesson.

Hanoi on the other side.

Inside Zhang Yang's mansion at this moment.

Lu Bu and Zhang Yang were sitting opposite each other, drinking wine. There was also a Han newspaper from Xuchang placed on the table.

"Brother, this time Cao Mengde is marching westward with an army of 500,000 people. I am very scared!"

Zhang Yang, the prefect of Hanoi, was a little frightened!

Cao Cao is currently advancing westward, although he has no motivation to march to Hanoi.

But for this, his mood is really not very good.

Originally, he just wanted to refuse to defend Hanoi and remain a small prince in peace.

But the current situation in the world no longer allows him to think like this.

After all, the territory of Hanoi was between Yuan Cao and Yuan Cao.

Before Lu Bu fled to Bingzhou, he had been helping him from the beginning. This allowed Lu Bu to operate safely in Bingzhou after returning to Bingzhou.

Now, the emperor has formally merged the state with Yuan Shao to rule it.

This time Lu Bu was in Bingzhou, and he often had conflicts with Yuan Shao.

In addition, he has been helping me, so I am still relatively stable.

But, Cao Cao moved westward!

Once the entire Sili area in Guanzhong is really occupied.

Then in the next step, he will really become the person sandwiched between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

The situation at that time.

No matter how much Zhang Yang thought, he couldn't think of any other way out.

"Hmph! Cao Mengde, nothing more!"

Lu Bu in front of him snorted coldly, but Cao Cao was not taken seriously by him.

When he first attacked Yanzhou, if he hadn't met that guy, Cao Cao would be where he is today.

Perhaps, he should be the one occupying the two states.

Lu Bu was angry and took another sip from the wine cup in his hand.

Seeing Lu Bu like this, Zhang Yang raised his head and glanced at him.

He stretched out his hand to stop Lu Bu from pouring wine into his mouth.

"Brother, I have noticed that my brother looks quite haggard in recent days. Why is he looking like this?"

"Brother, now, he is no longer the world-famous Wen Hou in my memory!"

Seeing how decadent Lu Bu looked now, Zhang Yang felt somewhat helpless.

When Lu Bu first stayed in Hanoi, he was wary of him.

But when Lu Bu fled to Bingzhou, he had to help him.

Now the two are supporting each other, but the state of Lu Bu in front of him makes Zhang Yang feel helpless.

Since Yanzhou fled to Bingzhou, Lu Bu no longer seems to be the warm prince who once shocked the princes in Guanzhong.

Seeing Zhang Yang holding his arm, Lu Bu ignored it and raised his arm to drink.

I exerted some force on my hand, but the situation I imagined to open up did not appear.

Zhang Yang seemed to be a little surprised, but it soon became clear in his eyes.

Although the Lu Bu in front of him was still the same person.

However, his body and mind were haggard, and all his energy and spirit had long since dispersed.

"I!"

"What's wrong with me?"

Lu Bu was a little shocked. As soon as he exerted his strength, Zhang Yang pressed down on his arm, and he subconsciously found it difficult to lift it up.

After regaining his composure, he secretly used his strength to push Zhang Yang away.

"Brother!"

Zhang Yang shouted and invited Lu Bu over this time, intending to discuss how to deal with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao together.

Who would have thought that after Lu Bu came over, he just kept drinking without any comments.

Perhaps, he shouldn't place his hopes on the other party.

"Is there a mirror?"

After being stunned for a while, Lu Bu came to his senses and suddenly asked Zhang Yang.

The latter paused and called for someone to bring a bronze mirror.

Lu Bu raised his eyes and looked into the mirror.

The figure reflected in front of him was a bit strange, as if he didn't recognize it at all.

The sunken eye sockets were a little black, and there was no trace of the past on his body.

Lu Bu was a little shocked!

who is this?

it's me?

How could I be so haggard!

Subconsciously, Lu Bu instinctively wanted to pick up the wine cup and take a sip into his mouth.

It was just that Zhang Yang sighed beside him.

Hearing the sound, Lu Bu paused.

He looked at the wine cup in his hand again.

"Ah, wine!"

"Damn it, how could I become like this!"

"Brother!" Zhang Yang shook his head.

You should know how you became like this!

Yuan Shao was busy ruling the Three Continents, and the pressure on Lu Bu in the past two years was not too strong after all.

Even later, Yuan Shao only made progress slowly.

Lu Bu also seemed to have given up, and the land of Bingzhou began to gradually shrink from then on.

Now, half of it has fallen into Yuan Shao's hands.

But Lu Bu seemed to be used to it.

"Brother, do you still remember your old ambitions?"

Zhang Yang asked.

Lu Bu responded in his mind, as if he had said it to someone.

Nowadays, we are living in troubled times. As a man, how can we not have great ambitions?

If you want to be a prince, you must be the strongest prince, just like the overlord of Western Chu in the late Qin Dynasty.

After regaining his composure, Lu Bu paused and glanced at the wine cup in his hand.

About a while.

The wine cup in his hand was suddenly smashed to the ground by Lu Bu.

Zhang Yang next to him was a little surprised!

At this moment, Lu Bu stood up again.

"It's just a defeat, but I still miss you as a brother!"

"In the past two years, I have been indulging in drinking and sex. I never thought that I would be so hurt by drinking and sex!"

"Starting today, I will quit drinking for my brother!"

These words were loud and powerful, and Zhang Yang showed a hint of joy.

This was the then world-famous Wenhou Lu Bu.

As long as Lu Bu can regain his confidence and have Lu Bu's help, it might not be impossible to have a game with Cao Cao.

…

Huainan, Shouchun.

"cut!"

"That boy Cao A'hao is quite impressive!"

"Who does he think he is when he is attacking Buchen?"

Regarding the news in the Han Dynasty newspapers, Yuan Shu just glanced at it and put it aside casually.

Today, Yuan Shu has Sun Ce under his command and has been fighting abroad.

Except for Jingzhou, most of the entire south has been controlled by him.

A quarter of the world has fallen into his hands, Yuan Shu. If that concubine's territory is included, the Yuan family will own most of the Han world.

Since this year, some people under Yuan Shu have warned that the great man's destiny has become weak.

The prophecies made back then were already somewhat proven.

Some people say that the destiny of the Han Dynasty has been tilted towards the Yuan family.

Yuan Shu was extremely excited when he heard this.

If it falls on the Yuan family, it must come true on him.

As for Zhuzi in the north, Yuan Shu didn't take him into consideration at all.

Now Yuan Shu is planning in his heart when to replace this big man in the world.

So what if Cao Cao goes westward?

Yuan Shu doesn't care!

He believed that once he ascended to that supreme position, the entire world would surely surrender before his Yuan family.

Even Cao Cao would kneel down in front of him someday.

…

Yuan Shu had sweet dreams and secretly planned to replace the Han Dynasty.

Next to Liu Biao of Jingzhou on the other side.

At this time, I had already received a letter from Wancheng.

The news of Cao Cao's westward march is now known to everyone, and Liu Biao naturally knows it too.

In the name of the emperor.

It was just Cao Cao's method of coercing the emperor to control the princes. What was the difference between him and Dong Zhuo back then?

Nowadays, the princes of the world have not raised troops to attack each other. It is nothing more than that the situation in the world today is completely different from that of then!

At the time, the eighteen princes were all nominally appointed as governors of a county, and some were not even governors.

But now, among the princes in the world, which one is not a prince who affects a continent?

The interests have changed!

After receiving the news from Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao intends to raise troops to help Zhang Xiu. After all, Jingzhou and Zhang Xiu are still one.

He regards the other party as a barrier to the north, and naturally cannot ignore it.

It's just that this matter in Jingzhou is not something that he can decide alone.

Due to the constraints of the aristocratic family below, the matter was delayed for several days.

Liu Biao was so angry that his teeth itched, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, these aristocratic families only have their own interests in mind.

After all, Wancheng is Wancheng, and Jingzhou is Jingzhou. Cao Cao is only moving westward this time, and he did not explicitly say that he will attack Jingzhou.

Since it won't harm their interests.

These aristocratic families had no intention of helping Zhang Xiu.

After all, wars in this era are fought with real swords and guns. Those who fight are the family's own people, and those who lose are the family's own.

Even if he wins, how much can he hurt Cao Cao?

I also want to turn against Cao Cao for no reason!

This is of no benefit to the family.

As for losing, Wancheng will also lose, even if Cao Cao is eyeing Jingzhou by then.

At that time, families like them still had choices.

…

When Cao Cao camped on the banks of the Feishui River, most of the princes in the world did not react much.

"Ming Gong, I see that Wancheng's armaments are lax!"

"In this battle, the enemy seems to have no intention of fighting!"

Inside the camp, Xun You smiled at Cao Cao.

Setting up camp today, Xun You raised his eyes and looked in the direction of Wancheng. He only saw that the gate of the other side was closed, and there were no business travelers coming or going around the city.

And there were only slightly lax soldiers on the city wall.

Looking at this posture, he knew that Zhang Xiu might have already wanted to surrender.

However, the other party is still making a decision in his mind as to how to surrender.

After Xun You finished speaking, Cheng Yu beside him also nodded.

Today's situation is not complicated. It can be understood with a clear eye.

Cao Cao naturally understood.

Therefore, he was not in a hurry. This time he had already sent an envoy to inform Zhang Xiu that Kaicheng should surrender.

What the Art of War says.

Subduing the enemy's troops without fighting is the best strategy!

It would be the best thing to win without fighting.

In war, there will eventually be losses.

"This time the envoy has entered Wancheng, I will wait for Zhang Xiu to descend from the city!"

…

Cao Cao was not in a hurry, but Zhang Xiu, who was in Wancheng, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

He had already asked Jia Xu for his opinion before.

The other party's intention is very clear. For the current plan, the only way is to surrender.

There is no other better option.

Zhang Xiu was a little hesitant and couldn't make up his mind after returning to his house.

However, it was not until Cao Cao came to the city with 150,000 troops that Zhang Xiu realized that he had no other choice now.

The letter of request for help to Liu Biao was already several days old.

As for Jingzhou, there has never been a clear trend of sending troops to help.

Zhang Xiu naturally understood that under such circumstances, Jingzhou seemed to have completely given up on him.

He had no other choice but to surrender.

Now that the envoy sent by Cao Cao has entered Wancheng, Zhang Xiu entertained him politely.

There is not much time left for him.

"Mr. Wenhe, I know that Wancheng has no other choice now!"

Zhang Xiu's face looked a little ugly, and he paused before continuing.

"But if we surrender to Cao Cao like this, Cao Cao won't take us seriously at all in this situation!"

"The situation in the future is still unknown!"

After all, surrendering is okay, but what kind of treatment Cao Cao will give him after surrendering is what Zhang Xiu wants to know right now.

Just like this, he surrendered the city, and he couldn't even imagine what kind of good treatment Cao Cao could give him.

I'm afraid that after he goes to Xuchang, he can be assigned a casual position, and that's it.

If this were the case, wouldn't it be frustrating?

In this case, it would be better to fight Cao Cao in Kaicheng. Even if he loses in the end and becomes a prisoner, he will still feel convinced.

Zhang Xiu felt a little unwilling after all.

After hearing his words, Jia Xu raised his eyes and glanced at Zhang Xiu.

The boy in front of him treated him like an elder, and he wanted to get some benefits for Zhang Xiumou.

Even in surrender, the difference is huge.

Active and passive treatment is naturally different.

It is also different to refuse to take risks.

Now there is no natural danger in Wancheng, so it cannot be said that he surrendered despite the danger.

Even when the opponent approaches the city, they seem to have only one option: passive surrender.

However, if you think about it in another direction, it is actually much simpler.

If you want to get good treatment, as long as Zhang Xiu shows his abilities, Cao Cao will naturally not ignore him.

If you surrender under such circumstances, the treatment given by Cao Cao will naturally not be bad.

Jia Xu looked at Zhang Xiu and then gave some advice.

"General, surrender is necessary, but you can also change it in another way!"

"The general only needs to show his abilities this time and let the people of the world see him. I think Cao Cao will not ignore the general. At that time, if the general surrenders again, Cao Cao will definitely give the general a heavy responsibility!"

Jia Xu gave instructions casually and his words were direct and clear.

Zhang Xiu was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that there was such a choice.

"Oh, please also ask Mr. Wenhe to teach me!"

…

On that day, after Zhang Xiu invited Cao Cao's envoy to the main hall of Wancheng Yamen, he told the envoy bluntly.

Yan said that he had admired Duke Cao for a long time and had never been disobedient to the imperial court.

When Cao Gong arrived, he originally wanted to surrender with his troops and horses in the city.

However, all the soldiers and horses under his command were uncle Zhang Ji's soldiers and horses before. Although he had the right to lead, he still had to give an explanation to these subordinates.

This time, we can surrender the city.

But he wanted to take this opportunity to fight with the generals under Cao Gong, which could be regarded as an explanation to the soldiers and horses under his command.

In the final analysis, if you want me, Zhang Xiu, to surrender, it's fine, but you, Cao Cao, should also show some direct expression.

He even didn't mind showing off his abilities in front of Cao Cao.

On that day, the envoy brought Zhang Xiu's original words back.

The people in Cao's army's large tent.

After hearing Zhang Xiu's request, Cao Cao was not too surprised.

It is normal for the other party to surrender and negotiate.

If he surrendered without asking for anything, Cao Cao would be a little worried.

After learning about Zhang Xiu's request, Cao Cao couldn't help but raise his eyes and glance at Xun You and Cheng Yu beside him.

"What do you two gentlemen think?"