Since Cao Ren was captured, Cao Hong, the second-ranking general of the Cao family, was ordered to take over the defense of Nanyang. Cao Cao deployed more than 40,000 troops in Nanyang.
A few days ago, Cao Hong received a secret order from Cao Cao, ordering him to lead all his troops southward and immediately launch a sudden attack on Fancheng.
After receiving the order, Cao Cao personally led more than 30,000 infantry and cavalry and rushed to Xinye on a starry night. Together with Wenpin's 10,000 soldiers and horses, the 40,000-strong army immediately launched an attack on Fancheng.
However, Cao Jun¡¯s movements had long been anticipated by Jingzhou.
As early as Liu Feng pretended to accept the Han Emperor's order and pretended to send troops to Sichuan, he secretly ordered Wei Yan, the general of Zhenbei, to garrison Fancheng and quietly increased the number of soldiers in Fancheng to more than 10,000.
When Cao Hong's seemingly powerful infantry and cavalry army launched an attack on Fancheng that morning, Wei Yan had been waiting for him here for several days with itchy hands.
After the Battle of Xiangfan last year, in order to ensure the safety of Fancheng, the barrier to Xiangyang north of the Han River, Liu Feng mobilized a large number of civilians to reinforce and heighten the walls of Fancheng, greatly improving its city defense level.
After Wei Yan stationed in Fancheng, he quickly mobilized all armies to complete the defense, and was fully prepared with arrows, kerosene, wood, rolling stones and other city defense equipment.
With such sufficient preparations, the outcome of the battle can be imagined.
That day, Cao Jun attacked Fancheng from morning to evening. Several rounds of fierce attacks cost about 2,000 casualties, but they failed to shake Fancheng at all.
Facing the unfavorable outcome of the strong attack, Cao Hong had no choice but to order a halt to the attack, and tens of thousands of troops set up camp more than ten miles north of Fancheng.
At the same time that Cao Hong's army was defeated, the 50,000-strong army commanded by Yu Jin and Xu Huang had also turned from Luoyang to Nanyang. The forward cavalry marched three hundred miles a day and entered Yancheng northwest of Fancheng.
At the same time, Cao Cao's 100,000-strong main force, which was originally going to pass through Luoyang and enter Guanzhong to attack Hanzhong in the south, also suddenly changed its marching direction and rushed towards Jingzhou.
Within ten days, nearly 200,000 Cao troops attacked Jingzhou.
In Xiangyang City, in the Prefectural Shepherd's Mansion, Liu Feng stared at the latest information from various places, but there was a look of hesitation on his face.
"Sir, I always feel that Cao Cao's use of troops this time seems a bit strange." Liu Feng said, touching his chin.
Pang Tong slanted his lips and said with a smile: "I wonder what my lord thinks is strange?"
"Sir, please take a look."
Liu Feng pointed at the map and said: "Nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses led by Cao Hong, Xu Huang and other generals have gathered in the Xinye area to launch an attack on Xiangfan. Cao Cao's 100,000 soldiers and horses have also entered Wan. City. On the surface, it seems that Cao Cao really wanted to overthrow the country and devour me, Jingxiang, in one fell swoop."
"Well, at least that's what it seems." Pang Tong nodded slightly.
Under the surface, there are often more terrifying conspiracies hidden deep inside.
Liu Feng continued: "However, the intelligence from Guanzhong is that Xiahou Yuan is leading 30,000 troops to attack Hanzhong from Xiegu, and Zhangzhao's 20,000 troops are attacking Yangpingguan from Wudu, and these two routes The soldiers and horses all engaged in a fierce battle with Liu Bei's army."
There was a hint of pride in Pang Tong's smile. It seemed that he had anticipated Liu Feng's doubts.
"If Cao Cao decided to attack Jingzhou first, he should be on the defensive in Hanzhong. But now, Cao Cao is uncharacteristically launching a two-front attack in Jingzhou and Hanzhong at the same time. This is obviously against the law of war. My lord, this is what you are wondering about. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Pang Tong's words hit Liu Feng's heart.
Since Cao Cao has the strength of two thirds of the world, he certainly has the strength to fight two wars at the same time.
However, judging from Cao Cao's military tactics in the past, this person has always concentrated superior forces to ensure the victory of a war.
Fighting two wars at the same time is not in line with his style of military use.
Vaguely, Liu Feng felt that things were not as simple as he imagined. There must be someone behind Cao Cao giving him advice.
"Sir, since we have doubts, in your opinion, should we send troops from Yizhou to Chu to support." Liu Feng hesitated about his previous plan.
Pang Tong pondered for a moment, stroking his beard and said: "Judging from the current situation, the pressure on Xiangfan has not yet reached the point where it can no longer bear it. Besides, there is also war in Hanzhong. Maybe there will be an opportunity for us. The soldiers of Yizhou Well, I think there is no need to rush to Jingzhou for the time being."
"Well, what you said makes sense, sir."
Liu Feng agreed with Pang Tong's suggestion and immediately wrote a letter and sent it to Yizhou, ordering Zhang Ren, Yan Yan and other generals to temporarily stay in Yizhou and wait for subsequent orders.
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Wancheng.
In the big tent, the atmosphere was unusually solemn.
Cao Cao looked around at the young faces in front of the tent, with a hint of expectation in his stern eyes.
The two generals in front of the account are Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.
Both of them are outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Cao family. Currently, Cao Zhen is serving as a partial general, while Cao Xiu is serving as a captain of cavalry. Both of them serve in the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Although they are young, they are already rising stars who have been tested in battles and have rich experience.
"Zidan, Wen Lie, this time the burden will be placed on your shoulders. You are all the sons of my Cao family. It's time to let go and let you show your talents."
Cao Cao¡¯s generous words of encouragement made the two young generals excited.
Cao Xiu, who has a fiery nature, immediately held up his hands and said: "Prime Minister, don't worry, Zidan and I will never disgrace the reputation of our Cao family."
"Okay, okay, bring the wine."
Cao Cao was in high spirits and brought some good wine. Cao Cao personally drank it for them and said with emotion: "Come, I'll give you this glass of wine and wish you success immediately."
The three men named Cao, old and young, drank the wine in one gulp.
"Prime Minister, take care, I'll set off soon."
After bidding farewell to Cao Cao, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu strode out of their tent. At night, they led 30,000 vanguard cavalry and left Wancheng to the west, traveling under the stars at night.
One day later, the remaining 70,000 troops led by Cao Cao quietly set out from Wan County, heading south to Xiangyang under the banner of going south to the west of Nanyang.
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Hanzhong, Nanzheng.
In General Zuo¡¯s mansion, Liu Bei¡¯s gloomy face hinted at some anxiety.
It¡¯s no wonder that he captured Hanzhong without any blood and quickly appeased the hearts of nearly 300,000 people in Hanzhong. After the disaster, Liu Bei felt like God had blessed him. Even he couldn¡¯t believe that he had miraculously captured such a A strategically important place.
According to the Longzhong strategy formulated by Zhuge Liang, the original grand plan was to cross Jingyi, then seize Guanlong to the north, and then march eastward to the Central Plains.
The fall of Jingzhou and the missed Yizhou originally pushed Liu Bei to a dead end, but the unexpected acquisition of Hanzhong once again gave Liu Bei hope.
Just when Liu Bei was high-spirited and prepared to take advantage of Ma Chao's reputation to connect the Qiang and Hu Ran to Guanlong, Cao Cao unexpectedly took action first.
Previously, Cao Cao declared with great fanfare that he wanted troops to enter Guanzhong and attack Hanzhong on a large scale.
At that time, Zhuge Liang and Fazheng speculated that Cao Cao probably wanted to use the attack on Hanzhong as a pretext, and suddenly turned back south halfway and attacked Xiangfan instead.
Intelligence from Jingzhou showed that Zhuge's guess was completely correct. Cao Cao came to Jingzhou with an army of 200,000 troops, and the momentum was extremely huge.
However, what depressed Liu Bei was that while Cao Cao was attacking Liu Feng, he did not forget to summon his old rival.
Xia Houyuan, who went south from Xiegu Road, and Zhang Jha's troops who arrived from Chencang Road, with an army of 50,000, formed a pincer attack on the Yangpingguan line. The situation in the west of Hanzhong was quite tense.
Liu Bei's troops and horses, including the original army and the surrendered Zhang Lu army, had a total strength of only more than 60,000.
Among them, in order to guard against the Yizhou Army south of Hanzhong, Liu Bei had to deploy more than 20,000 troops on the front lines of Jiameng and Langzhong.
This means that Liu Bei has only 40,000 mobile troops at his disposal, while his opponents have 50,000.
Fortunately, Liu Bei was fighting at home after all, so there was no problem in supplying food and grass. Coupled with the danger of the Qinling Mountains as a support, it is not difficult to withstand Cao Jun's attack.
It¡¯s just that Cao Cao¡¯s main force is gathered in Jingzhou. This is such a rare opportunity. But now, Liu Bei, who originally planned to take the opportunity to capture Guanlong, had to struggle with the enemy in the rugged terrain of Qin Jun, watching the opportunity pass by little by little.
"Military advisor, tell me what happened to Cao Cao this time. Why did he attack Hanzhong like this when he was clearly planning to devour Jingzhou? This is really against common sense."
Liu Bei also saw some clues. At this time, Fazheng was at Yangping Pass, working with Wu Yi, Li Yan, Ma Chao and others to resist Cao Jun's attack. Liu Bei had no choice but to consult Zhuge Liang for his opinion.
Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan slightly, with a suspicious look on his face, "Cao Cao's use of troops is indeed a bit unusual, but"
Before he finished speaking, Sun Qian hurried in and said solemnly: "My lord, something bad is going on. An urgent report came from Huanghuang County. The three eastern counties found signs of a large number of Cao troops stationed. It seems that they have the intention to attack Hanzhong westward."
Cao Jun appeared in Dongsancounty
Hearing Sun Qian¡¯s retribution, not only Liu Bei but also Zhuge Liang¡¯s expressions changed.
The three eastern counties are the three counties east of Hanzhong, Xicheng, Shangyong and Fangling. The terrain of these three counties is rugged, surrounded by mountains, surrounded by dangerous fortresses, and the Han River runs through them.
Because the three counties are geographically separated, they have little contact with Hanzhong in the west or Jingzhou in the east.
Among these three counties, the powerful Shen brothers of Shangyong and Xicheng have thousands of tribes and dependent people. They are the largest local powerful in the area. They are divided internally and have surrendered to Zhang Lu, Liu Biao and Cao Cao externally.
Nominally, the three eastern counties were loyal to the Han court, but in fact, they were semi-separated territories.
"Cao Cao's army is originally in Wancheng, and Wancheng is very close to the three eastern counties. Could it be"
Liu Bei's expression changed as he murmured to himself.
Zhuge Liang sneered and said: "My lord is right. It seems that Cao Cao's real target is not Liu Feng, but my lord. He wants to surprise Hanzhong from the three eastern counties."