On the fifth day after Xuchang was captured by the Han army, a 5,000-man Cao cavalry crossed the Yellow River from Baimajin, Dongjun and drove towards Xuzhou. This team was the most elite Hu Ben Guard of Cao's army. It was Cao Cao's escort army. Now the command has reached Cao Pi. At this time, Cao Pi was in the team and he rushed to Xuzhou to carry out the final war mobilization.

In the wide carriage, Cao Pi looked at the fields on both sides with a gloomy face. Although curious farmers kept standing up and looking at the army in the farmlands on both sides, Cao Pi had no idea of ​​inspecting the fields. His mind had long been disturbed by the severe situation.

The current situation is indeed very serious. The fall of Xudu caused an uproar in the court and the people of Yedu, and panic in Yedu. However, if it was just that people were unstable, Cao Pi was not very worried. The key is that the joint effect caused by the fall of Xudu caused several important counties and counties in western Yuzhou surrendered one after another, and the Han army seized half of the Central Plains in one fell swoop.

The severe situation in the Central Plains made Cao Pi unable to sit still and went to Xuzhou to supervise the battle. The Cao army deployed 150,000 troops on Xuzhou and the eastern front line of Yuzhou. This was half of the Cao army. If Cao army was defeated again, it would not only be the issue of the change of ownership in the Central Plains, but also the Cao Wei would be out of the situation.

At this time, after noon, a guard leader urged him to come forward and suggested: "Criminal, can you stop and take a break?"

Cao Pi looked at the sky and asked again: "How far is it from Puyang?"

"About thirty miles!"

Cao Pi nodded, "Then let's rest on the spot for half an hour."

The team stopped, and the soldiers led their horses to the river in front of them to drink water. They also took out dry food and drank water and swallowed it. A guard presented a marching lunch to Cao Pi. Cao Pi's lunch was also very simple, with a few soft cakes, a plate of mutton sauce and a pot of clean water.

Cao Pi rolled mutton with soft cakes, and while eating, he looked at the map on the table. He pondered for a moment and said to the guards: "Go and invite the military advisor to come!"

Not long after, Cheng Yu was invited into Cao Pi's carriage. He knelt down and bowed, "See the prince!"

"Military advisor, please sit down!"

Cao Pi asked Cheng Yu to sit down and asked him to bring another lunch. Cheng Yu saw the worry in Cao Pi's eyes and smiled and said, "The prince has lost a lot these days!"

"Hey! The pressure is too great. When Xu Du was lost, I felt so nervous. Even Chenliu County surrendered to the Han army. I am really worried about whether Cao Ren can win the Battle of the Central Plains."

Cheng Yu's smile disappeared, and he pondered for a moment: "Xu Du's defeat lies in insufficient strategic estimates. He did not expect that the Han army's real intention to attack Luoyang led to the dispersion of Xudu's troops. If we could realize the real purpose of the Han army, we would give up Kunyang and Xiangcheng. Thirty thousand troops defended Xudu to the death, then Xudu would not be easily captured. Therefore, strategy determines tactics. Inadequate strategy leads to the failure of military deployment. We must learn from Xudu's lessons, fight steadily, and do not care about the gains and losses of one city and one county. I believe that there will still be hope for the battle in Xuzhou."

Cheng Yu's frankness gave Cao Pi a glimmer of hope, and he asked again: "What does the military advisor think of the key to the Battle of Xuzhou?"

At this time, Cao Pi had no intention of having lunch again. He asked the Shutong to remove the plate, spread the map on the table, and looked at Cheng Yu with anticipation. In fact, Cheng Yu was also considering this matter along the way.

He pointed to the Huaihe line and said slowly: "To understand where the key battle situation is, we must understand the deployment of the Han army. As far as we know, the Han army deployed 80,000 troops on the Huaihe line, and these 80,000 troops will inevitably go north. There is also the Han army in Xudu. Liu Jing sent 100,000 troops to Xudu. I think it would never be as simple as taking Xudu. Liu Jing's next step will be to advance eastward, first enter Chen County, and then join the 80,000 troops on the Huaihe line. This convergence point is Qiao County, so fighting for Qiao County will be the first step in the Central Plains war."

Cheng Yu's analysis made Cao Pi deeply agree, "I also think Qiao County will be the focus of the Han army's attack. The key is how should we deal with it?"

Cheng Yu smiled and said, "Weichen has a suggestion, which may not be very impressive, but we have to say it."

"Judging the advisor just speaks frankly!"

"If the prince appointed Cao Ren as the chief general of this battle in the Central Plains, he should let him arrange troops. With Cao Ren's experience, I believe he can see through the Han army's intentions. If the prince is not worried about Cao Ren, then the prince will be in charge like Liu Jing, and let Cao Ren be the deputy general. In this way, he can leave the door without leaving the people below at a loss."

Cheng Yu's suggestion made Cao Pi think quietly. Of course, he knew what Cheng Yu meant and let him let go. Cao Ren was responsible for the Battle of the Central Plains. However, this battle was too important, and both sides invested great forces. If Cao Ren was given full responsibility, how could Cao Pi feel at ease? Otherwise, what would he do to Xuzhou?

After a while, Cao Pi sighed and said, "I believe that Liu Jing came to the Central Plains to take command because he was worried about Zhao Yun or Huang Zhong. This battle is crucial to both the Han Dynasty and the Cao Wei Dynasty. I cannot throw it to Cao Ren. Besides, Cao Ren may not be able to command it not only the army of Xuzhou, but also the Qingzhou army and Youzhou army. This kind of coordinated combat must be unifiedly commanded by me."

Cheng Yu didn't say anything else. As he expected, Cao Pi, like his father Cao Cao, could not hand over the military power of the 150,000 army to the generals below. Even Cao Ren, he did not believe it and must be in his own hands.

Cheng Yu did not persuade him anymore, so he proposed his first countermeasure, "Since the prince was going to take over the command, the minister proposed to withdraw the Huaibei army and concentrate his troops to defend Qiao County. The army was scattered and it was easy to be defeated by the Han army. Shouchun had 80,000 Han troops and a powerful navy. More importantly, Liu Jing led the main Han army to come from the west. If the Huaibei army did not retreat, it would be surrounded and wiped out by the Han army."

Cao Pi realized, "What the military advisor said is very true. I will order the ban to withdraw from Qiao County to the north!"

"Why don't Your Highness let Yu Yinjun withdraw back to Xuzhou?" Cheng Yu asked in confusion.

Cao Pi took a report from Cao Ren and sighed: "The main reason is that the army of Xuzhou did not have time to arrive at Qiao County. Niu Jin had only 20,000 troops in Qiao County. Once the Han army rushed to Qiao County first, Qiao County may not be protected. Qiao County is the root of the Cao family. If Qiao County is lost, I cannot explain it to my father."

Cheng Yu was still a little worried. The distance from Huaibei to Qiao County was not close, so he didn't know where the main force of the Han army had reached now? Unfortunately, Yu Jin's army would be intercepted by the Han army, and Yu Jin's situation would be dangerous.

However, Cheng Yu knew that the situation in Qiao County was not good, so he did not persuade him again. After all, things on the battlefield changed rapidly, so he could only consider it from the general direction and not lose the big picture because of the small.

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After capturing Xuchang, the Han army rested for five days, and at the same time reorganized the 30,000 surrendered Cao army into the Han army, making the Han army's strength reach 120,000. Liu Jing appointed Wu Yi as the governor of the rear army and led 20,000 troops to guard Xuchang. He personally led a 100,000 army to advance eastward.

At the same time, Liu Jing ordered Zhang Ren to lead 30,000 Yizhou troops and ordered Meng Da to lead 20,000 Hanzhong troops to Xuchang. In this way, the number of troops invested by the Han army in the Central Plains Battle reached 250,000, far exceeding the 150,000 troops of the Cao army. Liu Jing knew very well the impact of the Central Plains Battle on the entire situation, and he was bound to win this battle.

As Cheng Yu judged, the first battle of the Han army was to compete for Qiao County. Yingchuan County and Qiao County were separated by Chen County and Runan County. Runan County mainly bordered the southern part of Qiao County, while Chen County was directly connected with Qiao County. Liu Jing led 100,000 Han troops to enter Runan County, but directly entered Chen County and headed towards Qiao County.

The Han army's marching speed was not fast, and the 100,000 troops had to ensure logistics transportation, so the Han army almost marched while establishing support lines. In the evening of that day, the main force of the Han army arrived in Chen County.

Chen County is also the capital of Chen County. It is a large county. Although the city is large, it is not a strategic location and the city walls are not tall and strong enough. This disappointed Liu Jing a little. He originally considered making Chen County a major food and grass logistics site for the Han army in the Central Plains battle, but the low and dilapidated city walls in front of him gave up this idea.

The Han army set up a large camp outside Chen County, and large tents rose up one after another. The soldiers were burying the pots, which was extremely lively. In the central army's tent, Liu Jingzheng and Pang Tong, Zhao Yun, Wenpin and other advisers discussed the plan to station troops. They unanimously agreed that Kuxian could be considered. Kuxian was only fifty miles away from Qiao County, which was the most ideal logistics location.

At this moment, a guard reported at the door of the tent: "Report to Your Highness, Prime Minister Sima is here!"

Liu Jing was overjoyed. Before he set out from Xuchang, he sent a pigeon message to Sima Yi to come. He thought he would not arrive tomorrow, but he didn't expect that it would be here today. Liu Jing immediately ordered: "Please ask the Prime Minister to make an inquest!"

Soon, Sima Yi quickly walked into the big tent. Sima Yi came from Shouchun. Among the orders of several prime ministers to go to the front line, he was responsible for the front line of Shouchun. Not long after arriving in Shouchun, he received an order from Liu Jing to come to Chen County to meet him.

"See Your Highness!" Sima Yi bowed to Liu Jing.

Liu Jing waved his hand and smiled, "Please be as easy as possible."

Sima Yi greeted everyone again, and then said to Liu Jing: "Your Highness, I received news from the scout when I went north that Yu Jin's army had given up the defense on the Huaibei front line and was rushing towards Qiao County."

This unexpected news made Liu Jing pay special attention to it. He immediately looked for the retreat route of the imperial army on the sand table. If the Huaibei army retreated north, there were generally two routes. One was west of Wo Water. The main force of Cao's army would go north from Xiacai County along the canal water, and the other was east of Wo Water. First go to Yicheng County, and then go north from Yicheng County.

These two routes are very long to Qiaojundu, and the nearest western route is also 600 miles. This made Liu Jing suddenly see the fighter plane. He pondered for a moment and asked Sima Yi again: "Which line does Cao's army retreat from?"

Sima Yi understood Liu Jing's meaning and smiled and said, "I also paid special attention to this matter. Although I do not know the retreat route of Cao's army for the time being, I have calculated that the main force of Cao's army is Xiacai County. If I rush to Yicheng to retreat north, it will be at least 200 miles away. Cao's army retreated in a hurry this time. I believe that Cao's army will withdraw from the army on both sides, Yicheng Cao's army will go to the east line, and Cai Cao's army will go to the west line."

Everyone in the tent immediately understood Liu Jing's intentions, and everyone was excited. Pang Tong smiled and said, "No matter whether they go on the east or the west, as long as they go back to Qiao County, they have to pass through Chengfu County. They can ask General Wei Yan to intercept Cao's army and buy time for our main force."

Liu Jing looked at the sand table again. Chen County was less than 300 miles away from Chengfu County. As long as the army was fast, it could completely intercept the Cao army retreating north. He not only wanted to intercept the Cao army retreating north on the western front, but even if Cao army walked on the eastern front, he would also intercept it. Liu Jing immediately made an order and ordered: "Transfer to Chengfu County and order Wei Yan to intercept the Yu Jin army retreating north. He is not allowed to let them enter Qiao County."

Liu Jing immediately ordered, "So ordered the Eagle Strike Army to find the retreat route of Cao's army, the army stopped stationing, and the front and central troops gathered immediately."

At this time, Pang De stood up and saluted and said, "I am willing to lead the cavalry first, please allow your highness!"

Liu Jing happily agreed, "The cavalry attacked immediately!"
Chapter completed!