Three Caos fighting for a bride? Zhen Ji, I, Cao Zhi, will take her!

Seeing Cao Pi nodded.

Sima Lang immediately announced the punishment for Zang Ba.

That is, he will be beaten with fifty military sticks as a warning to others!

Seeing that the army had not yet settled down, Cao Pi ordered the general to be punished.

Although no one said anything on the surface, they couldn't help but blame Cao Pi for his blind command.

But even so, no soldier stood up to speak for Zang Ba.

The soldiers were simply worried about accidentally angering Cao Pi.

This prompted Cao Pi to change everyone's existing meals.

Human suffering is not shared.

Zang Ba was punished for no reason, and everyone knew that Zang Ba felt wronged.

But I just know it.

Let everyone sacrifice their own interests to speak for Zang Ba.

Few people can do it.

Therefore, after Sima Lang announced the punishment for Zang Ba.

Everyone just muttered a few words and stopped talking.

……

Seeing that Sima Lang was so obviously targeting Zang Ba.

Li Dian could no longer make the decision.

Just when he was about to speak for Zang Ba.

But he was stopped by Xu Huang.

"The mistake just now was made by all three of us. The reason why the Second Young Master only attacked Xuan Gao (Zang Ba, courtesy name Xuan Gao) is simply because he was so embarrassed by his recent defeat that he needed someone to take the blame!"

"The punishment will be either Xuan Gao or you and me!"

Xu Huang said calmly.

Seeing Xu Huang say this.

Li Dian was stunned immediately.

Although he was still dissatisfied at the moment.

But Xu Huang's analysis just now made him understand one thing.

That was Cao Pi's punishment this time, which was more performance than reality.

Thinking that Zang Ba had only lost face, his life was not in danger.

Li Dian stopped immediately.

As for Zang Ba, after hearing Xu Huang's analysis, he was no longer worried.

Instead, he cooperated very well and accepted the punishment.

……

Xu Huang's guess seemed correct.

But in fact it is totally wrong.

Because he only analyzed Cao Pi but not Sima Lang.

Under the supervision of Sima Lang.

The soldiers carrying out the execution did not dare to be negligent in the slightest.

Each blow of the stick landed firmly on Zang Ba's back.

Ten soldiers struck Zang Ba's back with sticks, leaving it bloody and mangled.

Twenty troops went down to the tent, and Zang Ba exhaled more than he inhaled;

When the thirty troops arrived at the tent, Zang Ba had already fainted!

That's when.

Only then did Xu Huang realize Sima Lang's sinister intentions.

Just when he was about to disregard military orders and rescue Zang Ba.

But one person got there first.

This person is Sima Lang.

Seeing Sima Lang take the initiative to plead for Zang Ba.

At this moment, almost everyone at the scene was stunned.

It was you who hit him, and it was you who begged for mercy?

So you are deliberately teasing us?

Regarding the confusion on everyone's faces.

Sima Lang ignored it at this moment.

Instead, he walked up to Cao Pi and loudly pleaded for Zang Ba.

Seeing Sima Lang pleading for mercy, Cao Pi naturally didn't say anything.

In this way, Zang Ba's remaining twenty military sticks were temporarily recorded.

But Zang Ba was seriously injured.

His original position was replaced by a member of the Sima family.

And this is Sima Lang’s real purpose.

That is, by punishing Zang Ba, he could secure positions for his own family members.

Logically speaking, this is a simple plan.

Anyone with a little bit of intelligence can figure it out.

But Sima Lang grasped the timing very well.

In addition, it was Cao Pi who took the initiative to propose letting a member of the Sima family replace Zang Ba's position.

Therefore, at this time, everyone not only did not notice Sima Lang's little thoughts.

On the contrary, it was because Sima Lang had just pleaded for Zang Ba.

At this time, whether it was Cao Pi or Xu Huang and others.

They all regarded Sima Lang as one of their own.

Of course, Sima Lang's little tricks could not be hidden from Xun You's eyes.

But Xun You saw through it at this moment but did not say anything.

Like an outsider, watching the show quietly from the sidelines.

……

Linzi.

When the news of the defeat of the cavalry in the front reached Linzi, Yuan Tan was furious.

He looked at Xin Ping angrily and asked:

"This is the strategy you mentioned. My Qingzhou doesn't have many defenders to begin with. I only have 5,000 cavalry, and I gave you 3,000 of them. But in one encounter, you've already caused me to lose nearly 2,000 men. Xin Zhongzhi, if you don't give me an explanation today, I'll make you pay!"

Out of anger, Yuan Tan grabbed Xin Ping by the collar and lifted him up.

Seeing Yuan Tan lose his composure like this.

Xin Ping was also speechless.

Fortunately, things had already happened as he expected.

So he quickly explained:

"My lord, don't worry too much. Everything will be under control soon!"

"Under control???"

Yuan Tan put Xin Ping down and stared at him with burning eyes.

"My lord, my strategy this time is to use cavalry to attract the enemy's attention, but the actual purpose is to seize their food and supplies!"

"The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry are the elite of the elite. Without the best food and fodder, their fighting power is nothing to be feared!"

"Also, Cao Pi brought 20,000 infantrymen from Xuzhou this time. The daily consumption of these soldiers is a huge number. Without food, they won't last for more than a few days!"

"What a joke! If there's no food, won't they just eat what's available?"

Yuan Tan asked back.

Although the 20,000-strong army requires a lot of food every day, Qingzhou has many plains and arable land.

If you really want to take food from the people, you can still get it!

"But what if my original intention was to allow them to rob the people?"

Xin Ping asked back.

"This……"

Hearing Xin Ping say this, Yuan Tan was a little confused.

"Although Qingzhou has many plains and arable land, due to years of war, the people have little surplus food. If Cao Pi's army clashes with the people, there will inevitably be casualties..."

"At this time, we should send people out to spread the news of what Cao Pi's army did in Qingzhou throughout the world. Then Cao Cao will definitely call Cao Pi back to save his face and to give an explanation to the world!"

"Once Cao Pi leaves, the crisis in Qingzhou will be resolved!"

Xin Ping told his entire plan in one breath.

Yuan Tan was delighted to hear Xin Ping's convincing words.

But he always felt something was wrong.

And at this moment, Guo Tu raised questions.

"Zhongzhi's plan is sound, but have you forgotten that when Cao Cao sent troops to Xuzhou to avenge his father, he slaughtered countless people, hundreds of thousands of whom died under his butcher knife?"

"So if you want to use righteousness to force Cao Pi to retreat, it's nothing but a fool's dream!"

"If you ask me, after Cao Cao learns of this news, he won't be angry. Instead, he will praise Cao Pi!"

After saying these words.

Guo Tu put his hands behind his back and pretended to be profound.

I felt so proud.

As for Yuan Tan, he finally understood where the feeling of unease in his heart came from.

So he waved his hand and said:

"That's right. Cao Cao even killed hundreds of thousands of people in Xuzhou. Why would he care about Cao Pi's evil deeds in Qingzhou? Zhongzhi, your method..."

"Things are different now. In the past, Cao Cao massacred people in Xuzhou because his territory was small and Xuzhou was in the hands of Tao Qian. He massacred people in Xuzhou so that when he attacked Xuzhou in the future, there wouldn't be many people to resist!"

"But now, Cao Cao has become the greatest overlord in the northern part of the Han Dynasty. In his eyes, Qingzhou is his own possession. Given this, he naturally won't let Cao Pi slaughter the people under his rule and ruin his reputation..."

Xin Ping explained.

"I understand. Then everything will be according to your plan, sir!"

Yuan Tan bowed deeply to Xin Ping.

He saw Yuan Tan punching and kicking him one second, and then being respectful to him the next.

Instead of feeling that he was valued, Xin Ping thought Yuan Tan was schizophrenic.

"With the younger generation being like this, it's no wonder that the Yuan family's foundation was taken away by Cao Cao!"

Looking at Yuan Tan in front of him, Xin Ping couldn't help but sigh.

However, despite this, Yuan Tan is still his lord.

So Yuan Tan spoke up again to fill in the gaps in the plan.

For example, he ordered the governors of the cities along Cao Pi's route to stay indoors and not go out.

This makes it impossible for them to obtain food in the city, forcing them to turn to the countryside.

He asked his younger brother Xin Pi to take people to Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Jizhou to spread the news that Cao Pi slaughtered the people in order to raise food for the army.

So as to force Cao Cao to die as soon as possible.

Yuan Tan obeyed these orders without hesitation.

Because he also saw the feasibility of Xin Ping's plan.

Yuan Tan and Xin Ping are now living in harmony as ruler and subject.

But Guo Tu was furious at this moment.

Thinking of how Xin Ping had hidden his secrets in front of Yuan Tan and deliberately embarrassed him twice, Guo Tu became furious.

"You want to use public opinion to force Cao Pi to retreat? But if Cao Pi knew about your plan, would you still be able to carry it out?"

Guo Tu sneered in his heart.

At the same time, a bold idea quickly took shape in Guo Tu's mind.