Chapter 426

Cao's army attacked the city for three consecutive days, and the army suffered nearly 5,000 casualties, and the shortcomings of the Qingzhou army were gradually exposed.

Qingzhou soldiers were originally selected by Cao Cao from the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Army. When fighting against the wind, their morale is high, but once they fight against the wind, their morale is low. Therefore, in the battle of Pingchang that day, Gongsun Zan took advantage of the shortcoming that Qingzhou soldiers were not durable in fighting, and held on to Pingchang City for several days. When the morale of the Yellow Turbans was low, he suddenly went out to fight. Therefore, the Yellow Turbans were defeated and Cao Cao took advantage of it.

The Qingzhou soldiers were built on the basis of the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Bandits. They were able to entangle with Danyang's elite soldiers by virtue of their ferocity in field battles, but after a few days of siege, their morale was low.

"Hmph!" Cao Cao returned to the barracks angrily with a Gehu halberd in his hand, and stuck the Gehu halberd on the ground, his anger still lingering.

"My lord, what's the matter with you? Are you worried about the situation of the war?" Seeing Cao Cao's angry face, Cheng Yu comforted him, "Since ancient times, all siege battles have lasted for years. The battle between Qin and Zhao Changping lasted for three years. Wang Jian destroyed Chu. The battle took more than a year, and our army has captured several counties in the north of Xuzhou in less than a month, and besieged Xiapi for three days, so there is no need to worry."

Cao Cao sighed: "Zhongde, these generals all know that it's not that this general has no confidence, it's just that the soldiers in Qingzhou are not durable enough to fight for a long time, and the morale of many battalion generals is low now, I'm afraid it is." Cao Cao's face darkened when he said this.

Cheng Yu frowned: "So that's the case, did the lord go out to patrol the camp just now?"

"Hmph! There was a group of Qingzhou soldiers who wanted to escape, but they were executed on the spot." Cao Cao said murderously, "It's just that the Qingzhou soldiers are impatient to fight hard. In the future, our army will definitely have more problems than besieging Xiapi. It is not impossible to besiege the city for many years, but it is only three days to be so impatient, how is that?"

Cheng Yu smiled bitterly and said, "My lord, these things are things that need to be considered in the future. What needs to be considered now is how to break through Xiapi City."

"Alas, Qingzhou soldiers are impatient to fight hard, and their morale is no longer as high as before. What is hateful is that Liu Xuande brought Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and the Pingyuan Army to help in the battle, otherwise Xiapi would have been defeated long ago!"

Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table and suddenly said, "By the way, where did Zhicai go? Why isn't he here?"

Cheng Yu shook his head: "Zhicai took dozens of Qingzhou soldiers around to check the situation in the mountains and rivers during the day."

Cao Cao laughed: "Zhicai is really too cautious. Yuan Shu watched from the sidelines. Our army and Tao Qian couldn't tell the difference. Zhang Xun's 10,000-strong army would never be dispatched. Chen Gui and Chen Deng's father and son were on guard. Hu Zhigou, besides Liu Xuande, who else will send troops to rescue Xiapi?"

"My lord!"

A shout came from outside the barracks, and Cheng Yu said with a smile, "My lord, Zhicai is back."

When Cao Cao saw Xi Zhicai walk in, he sighed and said, "Zhicai, Qingzhou soldiers are impatient to fight hard, and they have started defecting today, do you have any plan?"

Xi Zhicai's face was full of excitement, and he said confidently: "My lord, there is no need to worry, I already have a plan to defeat the enemy in my heart!"

Cao Cao and Cheng Yu were shocked and looked at each other. Then Cao Cao asked: "Zhicai, plan to make an appointment?"

Xi Zhicai was not in a hurry, walked slowly to the side of the map, and then said: "As the saying goes, soldiers have no constant momentum, and water has no constant shape. Qingzhou soldiers can't fight for a long time, and it is very difficult for our army to break through Xiapi City. And Mr. Wen Ruo, who was stationed in Qingzhou a few days ago, has sent me a letter, saying that the military rations can last up to one month."

Cao Cao nodded and said sadly, "Yes, if Xiapi City cannot be captured within a month, then our army will have to retreat."

Cheng Yu said curiously: "Zhicai, don't be a fool, tell me what kind of plan you have."

Xi Zhicai smiled slightly, and slowly separated his two fingers, pointing at the Si River and Yi River around Xiapi City respectively.

Seeing Xi Zhicai's actions, Cao Cao and Cheng Yu suddenly realized.

"Zhicai, what do you mean?"

"Water and fire are ruthless!" Xi Zhicai said seriously: "Xiapi City is the capital of Xuzhou. The city is strong. As long as there are enough troops stationed there, it will be difficult for ten times as many troops to break through. But as long as the Sihe River can be temporarily blocked There are also two rivers, the Yi River, and when the dikes are suddenly dug ten days later, and they attack Xiapi City with a force of water attack, they will surely be successful!"

"At that time, Xiapi City will be submerged, and the enemy army will be greatly reduced, and they will have to fight our army out of the city. Our army is several times larger than the Xuzhou army, and we will surely win!"

"It's a clever plan, it's really a clever plan, so it will be effortless." Cao Cao nodded happily with a look of appreciation.

Cheng Yu, on the other hand, sighed quite a bit. Originally, he thought that his plan of "human body" could be regarded as vicious, but he never expected that the usually gentle and refined Xi Zhicai could come up with such a vicious plan.

You must know that the water attack strategy can not only drown the defenders in Xiapi City, but also the tens of thousands of residents in Xiapi City will also die. As the saying goes, one general will be successful and ten thousand bones will be wiped out. Only Xi Zhi can succeed in this strategy. , Xiapi City will be devastated.

Cao Cao decided: "Send the order! Let Cao Ren and Cao Hong immediately lead 10,000 troops to block the Yi River and the Si River, and execute it immediately."

"In addition, let Yuan Rang and Miao Cai continue to oversee the siege of the city for the past few days, but it doesn't have to be too violent, just put on a show."

"promise!"

Cao Cao adopted Xi Zhicai's strategy. Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren and Cao Hong to lead 10,000 soldiers and horses to dig a dam to block the Si River and the Yi River. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Although Xiahoudun and Xiahouyuan were still in charge of attacking the city, their offensive was far less violent than the previous few days.

"Brother, what's going on with Cao's army? In the past few days, when they attacked the city, they often used the firepower of archers to suppress it, but the infantry took a long time to attack the city, and retreated in less than half an hour every time they attacked the city." Zhang Fei was a little confused. He scratched his head strangely.

Guan Yu explained: "This is also normal. After all, Qingzhou soldiers were born as Yellow Turban bandits. Yellow Turban bandits have always been like this, and they can't bear to fight hard."

Liu Bei nodded calmly: "Yes, Yide, the Yellow Turban Bandit has always been like this. We have fought against the Yellow Turban Bandit many times. Don't you know the behavior of the Yellow Turban Bandit?"

Zhao Yun suddenly said: "Although this is the case, I have heard that Cao Cao is a man of great talent and strategy. He has gathered a group of resourceful men from Yingchuan under his command. Cao Jun's style of work has changed a lot in the past few days. I'm afraid."

Zhang Fei patted Zhao Yun on the shoulder: "That's right, Zilong, I also think there is something wrong with Cao Jun."

"Soldiers come to block them, and water comes to cover them." Guan Yu said.