My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 161 Let Cao Cao's nightmare repeat itself! Zhou Yu: Bring my head and ask Liu Bei to surrender!
Cao Cao hurriedly helped Cao Zhang up, and with trembling hands he gently touched his son's blind left eye. His face gradually became ferocious, and endless hatred and anger began to burn in his eyes.

"Big-eared thief, you killed my brother, killed my nephew, and injured my son so badly. I will make you repay this hatred tenfold!"

Cao Cao gnashed his teeth and cursed.

Then he suppressed his anger, helped Cao Zhang sit down, and comforted him:

"Ziwen, don't worry. I will avenge the loss of your eye!"

"Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and all the other thieves, I won't let any of them go!"

"The most important thing for you right now is to heal your wounds. Only by recovering quickly can you fight alongside your father and defeat that big-eared thief!"

After Cao Cao's consolation, Cao Zhang's anger and excitement finally subsided a little.

After comforting his son, Cao Cao looked at Cao Chun and the others, and his eyes had changed from loving to cold.

"Zihe, Wenyuan, Gongming, you are all outstanding generals of our time. How could you so easily fall for that big-eared thief's provocation and release him onto the north bank?"

Cao Cao glanced at everyone and asked sternly.

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang looked at each other, feeling aggrieved but unable to explain.

How to explain this?

Should we tell Cao Cao directly that it was you, the third uncle and nephew of the Cao family, who were so eager to win that they ignored our reminders and insisted on letting Liu Bei go ashore, trying to attack him when he was halfway across the river, and ended up being bullied by Liu Bei?

As a military general of a different surname, you are really ignorant of the ways of the world by suing the Cao family.

"I underestimated Liu Bei. I never expected him to be able to set up such a powerful formation. I am to blame for the defeat. I beg the Prime Minister to punish me!"

Fortunately, Cao Chun still had some sense of responsibility and took the initiative to step forward and take on everything.

When he saw his brother apologizing, the cold and blaming look on Cao Cao's face immediately faded away.

After a light sigh, Cao Cao waved his hand:
"Victory and defeat are common in the military. It's no big deal. I won't punish you."

"However, you lost this battle because you underestimated the enemy. I have always been clear about rewards and punishments, so I must punish you."

"How about this? I'll fine you half a year's salary and demote you by one rank!"

Cao Chun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly stood up to thank Cao Cao for his mercy.

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang looked at each other secretly.

Their Prime Minister Cao was indeed a protective son. When he heard that the crime was committed by Cao Chun, he raised the board high and then put it down gently.

Such a great defeat cost Cao Xiu his life and Cao Zhang an eye, but he was only fined half a year's salary and demoted by one rank. What's the difference between this and no punishment?
There's nothing I can do, since my last name is Cao...

Xu Huang and Zhang Liao could only sigh in their hearts.

"boom!"

Cao Cao slammed the table again, pointed to the south, and said sternly:
"Pass on my order, 200,000 troops will march south immediately and attack Ruxukou!"

"In this battle, I will kill Liu Bei and avenge the shame of our defeat in Jingzhou!"

After the order was given, more than 200,000 Cao troops marched south again in a mighty force.

The next day, Cao's army arrived at Ruxukou, only one step away from the Yangtze River.

Unfortunately, during these few days, Liu Jun's soldiers worked day and night and completed the construction of Ruxu Fort.

A towering fortress, with the Yangtze River in the south and the Rushu River in the west, has risen from the ground.

Liu Bei personally led more than 30,000 elite troops from land and sea, and had already been ready for battle in the fortress.

Cao Cao was eager to avenge his humiliation, so he led his army to the camp at Ruxu Fort, and 200,000 soldiers and horses immediately launched a fierce attack on Ruxu Fort.

The nightmare of repeatedly attacking Fancheng but failing to capture it soon happened again in Ruxuwu.

The Cao army attacked day and night, using every possible means, but after suffering countless casualties, it failed to shake Ruxu Fort in the slightest.

Cao Cao obviously overestimated himself and underestimated Liu Bei.

During the attack and defense of Fancheng, Huo Jun was able to block the fierce attack of his 150,000-strong army with only 5,000 soldiers of mediocre combat effectiveness.

Today, Liu Bei is personally stationed in Ruxu Fort, commanding 30,000 soldiers and horses on land and sea, all of whom are elite troops who have fought in hundreds of battles. He also has three generals of the Five Tiger level, Guan Yu, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun, leading the army. Behind him, there are also navy troops traveling freely between the two sides of the Yangtze River to transport military supplies and soldiers for support.

With such a "luxurious" configuration, how could Cao Cao possibly attack Ruxu Fort?

Before they knew it, a month had passed, and the initial vigor of Cao's army had been completely worn out, and their offensive had reached its end.

Cao Cao was forced to accept reality and could only order a halt to the fierce attack.

The two armies officially entered the confrontation phase at Ruxukou.

This meant that Liu's army had completely established a foothold on the north bank, blocking Cao Cao to the north of the Yangtze River, preventing him from deploying along both wings, threatening the Yangtze River food route, and even crossing the river to attack the rear.

The strategic goal had been achieved, so Liu Bei, at Xiao He's suggestion, left Guan Yu, Ding Fengwen and other generals to lead 20,000 naval and land troops to continue to defend Ruxu Fort, and left Fa Zheng to assist in military affairs.

Liu Bei led 10,000 troops across the river back to Moling to join the 40,000 troops besieging the city.

After all, the primary goal of this Eastern Expedition was to destroy the Sun family and take over Jiangdong.

Now that the threat from Cao Cao on the north bank has been temporarily lifted, the next focus will naturally be to capture Moling and take over the heart of Jiangdong.

At this time, Sun Shao and Zhou Yu, the main ministers, had led 10,000 remaining Jiangdong troops and held Moling City for nearly more than a month.

In the main camp west of the city, inside the central army tent.

The returning Liu Bei and Xiao He once again stood on the Moling sand table to discuss strategies to break the city.

"According to spies, Sun Quan has employed Lu Xun's strategy of appeasing the Shanyue people with land and official titles, and has lured a large number of them out of the mountains to join him."

"Sun Quan has selected the best and strongest men among them and is training a new army day and night. He currently has nearly 15,000 Shanyue soldiers under his command."

"According to Su's calculations, in about three months, Sun Quan will be able to train at least 20,000 to 30,000 new Shanyue troops!"

Lu Su read out the intelligence he had received earlier, then bowed solemnly:

"My lord, the Shanyue people are known for their bravery. If they were all employed by Sun Quan, they would surely help revive his army."

"If Sun Quan commands nearly 30,000 Shanyue troops and relies on Wu and Kuaiji commanderies to resist stubbornly, it will inevitably delay the lord's conquest of Jiangdong."

"Although Ruxu Fort has been defended, Cao Cao's 200,000-strong army is still there, and our northern front is still under heavy pressure." "Su believes that we must find a way to capture Moling as soon as possible and not delay until Sun Quan's army recovers!"

Lu Su's overall view is always on point, and his analysis hits the nail on the head.

"Zi Jing's words make sense. The capture of Moling cannot be delayed."

Liu Bei agreed with this, but added:

"But our army has already surrounded Moling, completely impenetrable. It has been a month since the siege began, and we have launched several assaults, but to no avail."

"With Zhou Yu leading the army and a brave general like Xu Sheng, it will be no easy task to quickly capture Moling."

After uttering this sigh, Liu Bei instinctively looked at Xiao He.

Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Gan Ning and other generals also looked at Xiao He spontaneously.

Apparently, everyone has developed a habit of asking Military Advisor Xiao for help whenever they are in doubt.

Anyway, our military advisor Xiao is a disciple of an immortal, so he can do anything...

"Bo Wen, do you have a good plan to quickly capture Moling?"

Liu Bei then asked what everyone was thinking.

Xiao He sighed secretly.

These things always come one after another. Figuring out the Queyue Formation has already killed a lot of brain cells. Now, just when I want to take a few days off, a new problem comes up.

It's really hard to be a military advisor...

"My Lord, please take your time and think about it..."

Although Xiao He complained in his heart, he still had to quickly enter the brain-burning state.

He stared at the sand table, sipping tea, his thoughts racing.

After a long time, his furrowed brows gradually relaxed and his eyes gradually became brighter.

"My lord, He suggests that we withdraw the eastern siege and open a path to Moling City!"

Xiao He pointed to the east of the sand table:
"My lord, your primary goal is to quickly capture Moling, and only then will you wipe out the likes of Sun Shao and Zhou Yu."

"If we surround Moling like an iron wall, leaving the defenders with no hope of escape, they will be more determined to hold on to their position."

"If we leave one side unencircled, it will give them hope of escaping, which will only make them feel lucky and no longer have the will to fight to the death!"

"The enemy has no intention of fighting to the death, so their combat effectiveness will certainly be greatly reduced, which will naturally benefit our army's siege!"

After hearing Xiao He's explanation, everyone in the tent's eyes lit up.

Gan Ning spoke first, "The military strategy says that a siege must leave a gap. My lord, this is what Military Advisor Bo Wen meant!"

Liu Bei seemed to understand something and nodded in agreement:

"A siege must leave a gap. This is a very good plan, Military Advisor. As long as we can quickly capture Moling, even if we let Sun Shao and Zhou Yu escape, it will be worth it."

Xiao He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then continued:

"Another purpose of opening a gap is to allow the military and civilians in the city to communicate with the outside world."

"First, we can inform the defenders in the city that Cao Cao is blocked at Ruxukou, letting them know that no one can save them."

"Secondly, you can have the defenders exchange letters with their families outside the city, letting them know how well the lord treats their families, making them understand that the lord is a benevolent and righteous ruler, and thus win their hearts."

After a pause, Xiao He continued:

"Besides this, I will have to trouble Zijing to write a letter to the soldiers and civilians of Moling, clearly stating that the Lord is fighting only to destroy Zhou Yu, and that any other soldiers and civilians who wish to surrender will be spared."

"Even if it's Sun Shao, as long as he's willing to open the city and surrender, my lord can spare his life and give him a life of wealth and honor."

"After these moves, I don't believe the Jiangdong soldiers and civilians in the city will continue to follow Zhou Yu and fight us to the death!"

After hearing this, both Liu Bei and Lu Su finally understood everything.

"Military Advisor Bo Wen's strategy of attacking the heart is truly brilliant."

"Especially the last part of the letter, which only blames Zhou Yu and not Sun Shao, and also contains the intention of sowing discord, is extremely clever!"

Lu Su was amazed and bowed to Liu Bei:

"If I can help my lord quickly capture Moling and free the people within the city from the scourge of war, I will do my duty and am willing to write this 'Letter to the Soldiers and Citizens of Moling'!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately issued an order to follow Xiao He's plan.

So within two days, Liu's army withdrew the siege on the east side of Moling, leaving a gap.

At the same time, Liu Bei summoned the civil servants in the army and rushed to produce thousands of copies of the "Letter to the Military and Civilians of Moling" overnight, which were then shot into Moling with powerful crossbows.

Once the gap was opened, Cao Cao was defeated at Ruxukou, and the news that his 200,000 troops were blocked quickly spread into the city.

Soon after, the defenders in the city received news from their families outside the city, claiming that Liu Bei had captured Danyang County, and no one was harmed wherever his troops passed, and no county or township in the county was affected by the war.

A few days later, thousands of manifestos fell from the sky and landed in Moling City.

After this series of psychological attacks, the people in Moling City were already in unrest, and the fighting spirit of the Jiangdong Army was being rapidly and silently eroded.

At nightfall, in the main hall of the provincial government.

"Lu Su, you actually helped that big-eared thief and used such despicable means to disrupt the morale of our army. How despicable~~"

Zhou Yu's face turned ashen, he tightly grasped the manifesto in his hand, and cursed with gritted teeth.

Sun Shao, who was in a higher position, had a face full of worry and said in a trembling voice:

"Uncle Gongjin, Liu Bei's tactics of attacking the hearts and minds of the people in our city have caused chaos among the soldiers and civilians. I'm afraid we can no longer defend Moling. We must find another way out."

When these words came out, Zhou Yu's heart was shocked, and his sensitive nerves seemed to be touched.

He glared at Sun Shao and asked coldly:
"My Lord, how do you plan to find another way out?"

"Do you intend to take my head, Zhou Yu, and surrender to that big-eared thief in exchange for a life of wealth and luxury?"

(End of this chapter)