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

"You high-ranking official, he's courting death!"

After a moment, Cao Cao said angrily.

"Gao Gan, is he the one causing trouble?"

Seeing that it was a senior official who was messing with Boss Cao's mood, Cao Zhi couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Given the current strength of both sides, how dare Gao Gan provoke Cao Cao?

Seeing Cao Zhi's puzzled expression.

Cao Cao then handed the note to Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi took the note.

Written on the small piece of paper was this: "High-ranking officials have been active in the Taihang Mountains recently. The exact reason is unknown. Initial investigations indicate that the high-ranking officials have at least 50,000 cavalry!"

Taihang Mountain is the boundary mountain between Jizhou and Bingzhou.

The area west of Taihang Mountains belongs to Bingzhou; the area east of Taihang Mountains belongs to Jizhou.

On the Jizhou side, there is a vast plain.

If a high-ranking official leads an army of 50,000 troops.

The counties and prefectures in western Jizhou will surely fall at the first opportunity.

Because the enemy was cavalry, Jizhou was unable to stop them at all.

This is exactly why Cao Cao is angry!!

But even so, Cao Cao shouldn't be so angry.

Although Gao Gan has 50,000 cavalrymen.

In today's Han Dynasty, no matter where it is placed, it is a force that cannot be underestimated.

But compared with the current Cao Cao, it is still not good enough.

Since defeating Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu.

Cao Cao had become the most powerful vassal in the entire Han Dynasty.

The five states under his command, namely Silizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou and Jizhou, could provide Cao Cao with a steady supply of troops, money and food.

It doesn't make sense that Cao Cao would be afraid of a small high-ranking official.

Just 50,000 cavalrymen, just send troops to destroy them!

And with the combat effectiveness of Cao's army.

Thirty thousand troops are enough to destroy Gao Gan’s fifty thousand troops!

……

"No, if I can think of this, there's no reason why Cao Cao and Guo Jia can't think of it. Boss Cao is so worried, there must be other reasons!"

Cao Cao and Guo Jia both looked solemn at this moment.

Cao Zhi knew that he must have missed important information.

"Oh right, the main forces of Youzhou and Jizhou are now guarding Youzhou. Boss Cao doesn't have any extra troops to guard against high-ranking officials!"

Suddenly, an idea flashed in Cao Zhi's mind.

I finally understood why Cao Cao was angry.

As for Cao Cao and Guo Jia.

The two people paid attention to Cao Zhi's expression throughout the whole process.

At this moment, seeing the look of sudden enlightenment on Cao Zhi's face.

They knew that Cao Zhi had thought of the key to the problem!

"Fourth Young Master, although Sikong won the Battle of Guandu, he has now taken over Jizhou and has become the greatest vassal of the Han Dynasty.

But war is always full of casualties. During the Battle of Guandu, Sikong only had 50,000 troops. After entering Jizhou, Sikong already had a full 150,000 troops..."

“But of these 150,000 soldiers, 120,000 soldiers will be stationed south of the Yellow River alone.

To the west of Sili Prefecture, we need to station troops to guard against Ma Teng of Xiliang; to the south of Yu Prefecture, we need to station troops to guard against Liu Biao of Jing Prefecture; in the areas of Xu Prefecture and Yan Prefecture, we need to station troops to guard against Yuan Tan of Qing Prefecture; in addition, we need to station a force in Hefei to guard against the Sun clan of Jiangdong who may move north at any time; and in addition, we need to keep 20,000 troops permanently stationed near Xudu to prevent scoundrels from causing trouble for the court!

"Thus, although 150,000 troops may seem like a lot, they are actually stretched thin!"

“In Jizhou, because Sikong previously promised the people to live in peace with them, we cannot recruit soldiers for the time being.

Among the 30,000 soldiers currently in hand, 10,000 soldiers need to be stationed in Yecheng for a long time.

Of the remaining 20,000 soldiers, 15,000 were stationed at the border between Jizhou and Youzhou to guard against the brothers Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan who might move south at any time. They could not move at all!

The last 5,000 men also need to be stationed at strategic locations. Currently, there are only 2,000 infantrymen stationed at the border with Bingzhou..."

After obtaining Cao Cao's consent.

Guo Jia then told Cao Zhi all about the Cao family group's current military deployment.

Of course, the 150,000 soldiers that Gao Gan mentioned.

They are trained warriors who have seen blood.

Not the one in Zhang Yan's hand.

Just a bunch of grey animals brought here to make up the numbers, without any fighting power at all.

In Cao Cao's view.

That kind of gray beast with no fighting ability.

It's a pure waste of food.

When Liu Bei first started his army, he recruited 500 local militiamen and was able to defeat and kill 50,000 Yellow Turban soldiers.

The difference in their combat effectiveness is obvious!

……

As for Cao Zhi, after hearing what Guo Jia said.

For the first time, I felt the meaning of the saying “One who doesn’t manage the household does not know how expensive firewood and rice are.”

"Originally, Sikong was planning to rest for two years, wait until there was enough food, then recruit soldiers from the states under his jurisdiction, and then recapture the other three states with overwhelming force. But now that Gao Gan has done this, it has completely disrupted Sikong's plan!"

"Besides that, the most important point is, where did Gao Gan get so many cavalrymen?"

"After the Battle of Guandu, the secret agents of the School History Office have been spying on Bingzhou's military strength.

Three years ago, Gao Gan had only 5,000 cavalrymen; last year, he had 20,000 cavalrymen; and now, he has 50,000 cavalrymen. Fourth Young Master, do you know what this means?

"Are high-ranking officials colluding with the Xiongnu?"

Cao Zhi asked tentatively.

"Indeed, and he must be colluding with the Xiongnu royal court, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to produce so many war horses!"

Guo Jia said in a deep voice.

"Hun?"

Cao Zhi murmured in a low voice.

In his memory.

Weren’t the Xiongnu very weak during the Eastern Han Dynasty?

Gongsun Zan's several thousand white horse volunteers could roam the grasslands as if they were in an empty land.

From what Guo Jia said, it seems that the Huns are very powerful.

Seeing that Cao Zhi was still puzzled, Guo Jia patiently explained, "Fourth Master, the Xiongnu are no match for the Han border troops, but when facing ordinary people, they are a nightmare.

Over the years, due to the continuous wars in the Central Plains, the Xiongnu have repeatedly crossed the Great Wall and entered the Han area to plunder people, money and food!

“The reason why the Xiongnu couldn’t defeat the border troops before was because the border troops were so brave.

The impact of weapons was also important, along with the Huns plundering a large number of people.

By then, there will be Han people who will help them farm and alleviate their food crisis; there will be Han people who will help them smelt iron and make up for their lack of weapons.

Therefore, over the years, the gap between the Han army and the Xiongnu has been gradually narrowing!"

"One high-ranking official is not a threat. What's scary is when they ally with the Xiongnu. They'll use their cavalry's powerful mobility to harass us constantly!"

"Add to that the brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, who have a strong relationship with the Wuhuan in the three counties. If the two grassland cavalry units join forces, they will definitely be a formidable enemy..."

Seeing Guo Jia speak so seriously.

Cao Zhi also felt the pressure at this moment.

"No, the history books record that after Cao Cao's army entered Jizhou, it took another four years to recapture the other three provinces. Logically speaking, if the original Cao Cao could do it, there's no reason why the current Cao Cao couldn't do it!"

Cao Zhi thought to himself.

"Fourth Young Master, the soldiers can defend the city, but what about the common people? Facing the grassland cavalry, ordinary people have no power to fight back!"

“Also, I’m worried that Gao Gan and the brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, in order to gain the support of the Xiongnu and Wuhuan cavalry, will tacitly allow them to plunder.

If they do so, the people of Youzhou and Bingzhou will face catastrophic disaster!"

Guo Jia said with a worried look on his face.

Speaking of this, Guo Jia looked sad.

It was as if he had already seen the end of the people in the two states.

As for Cao Zhi, he finally understood the seriousness of the matter at this time.

"If all else fails, I will dispatch troops from the Central Plains. The Xiongnu and Wuhuan were originally slaves of the Han Dynasty. If I allow them to wreak havoc on the two states, what will the history books say about me, Cao Cao?"

Cao Cao said angrily at this time.

Cao Cao could lose, but he couldn't lose in such a humiliating way!

Seeing Cao Cao's angry face.

At this moment, Cao Zhi's brain was also working at high speed.

I hope to find a suitable solution from history to save the millions of people in Bingzhou and Youzhou.

Just at this moment, the system's voice sounded in Cao Zhi's ears.

"Ding, the system has detected that the host is facing a choice and now offers the following three options..."