Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 110: Attacking the city is inferior to attacking the heart. Tao Qian is going to suffer a lot.

Although Lü You was defeated, Tao Qian was not forced to retreat to Pengcheng.

Instead, he lined up his troops on the field north of Pengcheng, intending to fight Cao Cao there.

Having long been confined to the secluded paradise of Xuzhou, Tao Qian's military experience and command of a large army had long since faded. Furthermore, he didn't truly understand Cao Cao. It's unclear where he got the confidence to choose a decisive battle with Cao Cao in the open.

Cao Cao did not waste time talking to Tao Qian.
He immediately ordered Cao Ren and Cao Ang to be the vanguard, and Yu Jin commanded 30,000 garrison soldiers as the central army to advance steadily.

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led 4,000 cavalry, and Cao Chun led 3,000 cavalry, encircling the enemy from both sides.

On the other hand, Xuzhou was composed entirely of infantry. Although there were elite Danyang soldiers, those soldiers basically relied on their personal bravery. In front of the Cao army's central army, which had good cooperation, they seemed to be restrained and unable to display their strength at all.

Because the soldiers in the center of Cao's army would not fight head-on with the soldiers of Tao's army, but would advance in formations.

There are dedicated people responsible for defense and offense, and they are only responsible for their own tasks. It is simple, efficient and terrifying!
Tao Qian had never seen soldiers as disciplined, obedient and well-coordinated as Cao's army, and was completely stunned.

Not only Tao Qian, but even Cao's army was shocked.

If those 30,000 soldiers stationed in the fields had not been equipped with ordinary equipment and were not under the command of Yu Jin, they would have even thought that they were the Qingzhou army led by Cao Yan.

But on second thought, hasn't Yu Jin been "learning" under Cao Yan all the time? And he does have some of the flavor of those soldiers trained by Cao Yan.

Cao Cao was in high spirits when he saw his own soldiers crushing Tao Qian's army. "Yu Jin has the potential to be a famous general! I never thought Zi'an would misjudge him! Tsk tsk tsk!"

At this moment, Yu Jin was also enjoying the feeling of commanding the army.

When he was under Cao Yan, he followed Professor Cao Yan's method and conducted a series of boring training for the soldiers, such as formation, standing, and marching.

Although he knew that these could enhance the soldiers' obedience and discipline, he once secretly doubted whether doing so would really be useful.

Now, when he really went to the battlefield, he found that it was these seemingly insignificant trainings that allowed him to command the soldiers so smoothly, just like commanding his own limbs.

Yu Jin suddenly understood. "So, Zhonglang wasn't suppressing me, but cultivating me! The training method he taught me was actually able to train such a powerful military formation. I actually misunderstood Zhonglang... I... I'm simply not a human being!"

At this moment, Yu Jin felt extremely guilty. He planned to go to Cao Yan's house as soon as he returned and apologize to him as a disciple.

During the time when Yu Jin was distracted, Cao's cavalry had already pierced through Tao Qian's army.

Cao Ang's upgraded Yuanyang Army also cooperated with Cao Ren to tear open a gap from the front.

Yu Jin immediately gave the order for the entire army to attack and launched a general assault on Tao Qian's army.

The army was defeated like a mountain.

Tao Qian's army of nearly 100,000 was defeated head-on by Cao Cao's 50,000 soldiers.

Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of people around him to protect him, he was able to escape from danger.

Tao Qian led the remaining troops to retreat eastward, and did not stop until they reached Tancheng, 150 miles away.

At this point, Pengcheng State was completely handed over to Cao Cao. Tao Qian suffered a great defeat and was filled with anger and resentment. He seemed to have suffered a serious illness and suddenly looked more than ten years older.

The Xuzhou army suffered an extremely devastating defeat, with more than 10,000 casualties in one battle.

Blood flowed like a river in the fields and ditches, and corpses were scattered everywhere. Many people and corpses fell into the Sishui River, causing the river to dry up.

The battle flag on the top of Pengcheng City has been replaced with the flag of Cao's army.

When Cao Cao entered the city, he saw that the people stayed indoors and refused to come out, so he ordered his soldiers to divide the grain stored by Tao Qian into ten portions, put a small green cloth flag in each portion with the word "Cao" written on it, and then distribute it to the people.

Cao Ang, following behind Cao Cao, could not help but sigh at this, "My uncle once taught me that the people's hearts are like water; it can carry a boat but can also capsize it. I'm very pleased that my father can now do the same."

"Pa!" Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately raised his hand and slapped Cao Ang on the back of the head.

"Ouch!" Cao Ang rubbed the back of his head and looked at Lao Cao aggrievedly, not knowing what he had said wrong.

"Am I your father, or is your Sixth Uncle your father? You're following his lead in everything, and you're even using his words to educate me." Jealousy drives people crazy, and that's what Old Cao was saying at this moment...

Cao Ang then realized where he was wrong and quickly apologized, "Father, please calm down... It's mainly because what my uncle said was too much." "I don't know how Zi'an is doing now." Cao Cao changed the subject and began to worry.

As they were talking, a soldier came to report: "General Xiahou sent someone to deliver news that they have passed through Hua County and are heading towards Langya Jiqiu."

Cao Cao received the intelligence and then ordered, "Warn Yuan Rang and Miao Cai not to harm the civilians. If they encounter a large enemy force, simply delay it and do not engage head-on."

"Yes!" The messenger ran away.

Cao Cao divided his troops into two groups. Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Chun led all 7,000 cavalrymen to attack the laxly defended Langya County in the north.

Their goal was not to occupy the counties, but to disrupt Tao Qian's rear and delay the possible arrival of Yuan and reinforcements from Qingzhou.

Cao Cao himself led the main force and advanced eastward along the road from Pengcheng to Fuyang.

At the same time, he also left a small garrison to keep an eye on Yuan Shu in the south.

At the beginning, the people of Xuzhou were full of fear about the arrival of Cao's army. After all, war meant death and displacement.

But as time went on, they found that Cao's army was not as scary as they had imagined. They even opened their warehouses to distribute food and helped those who were left homeless by the war.

At the same time, Cao's army posted notices everywhere, explaining the reasons for the attack on Xuzhou.

They even apologized, saying that they felt really bad for accidentally injuring the people of Xuzhou. As long as anyone was willing to go to Taishan County, they could ask the prefect Zhuge Xuan for five acres of good farmland as compensation.

If you are willing to join the army, you can also get five acres of fertile land and a small courtyard.

If you have a special skill, you can go to Yanzhou Workshop to earn high salary.

If you only have physical strength, you can also go to Fenggao or Juancheng to participate in construction, and you can also earn generous wages and let your family live a good life.

The people of Xuzhou were skeptical about other propaganda.

But there are still many people who know about the Zhuge family.

When they heard that Zhuge Xuan had gone to Taishan County to be the prefect, what was there to be embarrassed about?

Gradually, the attitude of the people of Xuzhou towards Cao Cao changed, and more and more people ran to Taishan County to seek other ways of making a living.

On the official road, a white-haired old man sighed: "Cao's army is truly a benevolent and righteous army!"

"Yes, we thought that when Cao's army came, we would all die. We didn't expect that General Cao would not only not kill us, but also help us." A young man next to him echoed.

"Look, there's a post station set up by Cao's army ahead!"

The people quickened their pace and rushed towards the post station.

Cao's army set up post stations along the way to provide food for the people heading north to Taishan County.

The clerk in charge of the post station shouted, "Don't worry, folks! Line up! According to the rules, each person will receive one dou of millet, and then continue north!"

“Only when you arrive in Yanzhou will you realize that what you lived before was not life, but a struggle for survival!

When you arrive in Yanzhou, you will find that eating meat is such a common thing, and that fabrics come in so many colors and patterns!
When you arrive in Yanzhou, you will find that living and working in peace and contentment is not just talk! "

There was cheering in the crowd, as they were all deeply attracted by the bright future described by the Cao army official.

Cao's army's psychological warfare went smoothly.

In just half a month, more than 10,000 people from Xuzhou went north to Mount Tai in search of a "settled and prosperous" life.

In troubled times, human life is worthless.

What the people desire is nothing more than peace.

(End of this chapter)