Chapter 352 Why didn't he play by the rules? Cao thief, if you don't surrender today, I will turn you into ashes in the blink of an eye!

Hongnong County, west of Shan County.

Above the road, dust and fog rolled, covering the sky and concealing everything.

The "Qin" flag fluttered in the morning light, leading the 100,000 Qin troops, rushing towards Shan County in a mighty force.

On a small hill.

Cao Cao immediately held his sword and looked down at the road. His Qin soldiers were passing by the road in front of the slope like a long dragon.

"Guan Yu has no more than 30,000 soldiers and horses. In my opinion, he will choose to stay in Shan County and not leave."

"Shan County is the seat of Hongnong County. The city walls are high and thick, and it is truly a strong city."

"Although our army has 100,000 soldiers and horses, we may not be able to defeat them quickly if we attack them by force."

"I think we can make use of our superiority in numbers, surround Shan County with twice as many troops, and use 40,000 troops to bypass Shan County and head straight for Minchi and Luoyang."

"If we can capture Minchi, Guan Yu and his 30,000 troops will be cut off from Luoyang, and their army will be in chaos."

Cheng Yu held the map in front of Cao Cao and gave him instructions on how to break the city.

"Guan Yu is the most famous general of the Pseudo-Chu State. He must not be underestimated. Even with twice the number of troops, I'm afraid we won't be able to surround him."

"What if he sends his troops out of the city and robs me of my food supply route to capture Mincheng?"

Guo Jia did not dare to look down on Guan Yu and shook his head to express his opposition.

After Cheng Yu paused for a moment, he continued:

"If that's the case, then we can use the food as bait to lure them out of the city to rob the food, and then take advantage of the situation to ambush and kill their army?"

Guo Jia's eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly:
"This is a brilliant plan. Xiao Fang is in Liyang assisting Liu Bei. Pang Tong alone may not be able to see through this plan."

"Your Majesty, if this plan succeeds, we can quickly capture Shan County!"

After listening to the analysis and suggestions of the two counselors, Cao Cao gradually had an idea in his mind, and a domineering and murderous intent gradually ignited in his eyes.

"My eldest son Cao Ang was killed by Guan Yu's son Guan Ping. I will always remember this hatred in my heart."

"Today I will use your plan. If we can surround and kill Guan Yu and his son in Shan County, we can save the pseudo-Wei and avenge my Ang'er. It can be said to be the best of both worlds."

"Pass on my command and follow your plan—"

Cao Cao raised his whip and was about to give an order.

Yu Jin rode his horse up the hill, dismounted, and bowed:
"Your Majesty, my scouts have reported that Guan Yu has led 30,000 soldiers to Shan County to form a battle array. I wonder what he is planning to do?"

Cao Cao's raised whip was suspended in the air, and the flame of revenge in his eyes suddenly turned into surprise.

Guo Jia, Cheng Yu and other counselors all had a change of expression and looked shocked.

Guan Yu doesn't play by the rules!
The enemy is strong and we are weak. According to normal practice, Guan Yu should have defended Shan County and not fought.

Why did Guan Yu line up his troops with his back to the city, looking like he was ready to fight to the death?
This is not in line with the art of war!

"Guan Yu... is he really lining up his troops with his back to the city?"

Cao Cao put down his whip and asked with a questioning look on his face.

"Your Majesty, Guan Yu is indeed in battle formation behind the city."

"The scouts reported that the Chu army had about 30,000 soldiers and horses leaving the city, which should be their full strength."

Cao Cao frowned and looked at Guo Jia and other advisers with surprise and confusion, seeking an explanation.

Guo Jia could not help but become alert and said in a deep voice:

"Guan Yu is the most famous general of the Pseudo-Chu State. He has been in battle for many years. How could he not know the art of war?"

"This move is too abnormal. I am afraid it is a fraud!"

The words "It's a trap" made Cao Cao feel a chill down his spine and he couldn't help but become alert.

After all, in all these years of fighting with Liu Bei, he had more defeats than victories... no, it should be said that he had never won a single victory.

He was more or less traumatized by the beating.

When the army was approaching Shan County, Guan Yu suddenly did something unusual and caused such a stir. How could this not make Cao Cao nervous?

"Guan Yu's behavior is indeed unusual, and there may be some deceit in it."

"But as long as Xiao Fang is not in Shan County, we don't need to be too nervous even if he has other tricks up his sleeve."

"Your Majesty, why don't we go to Shan County first and see for ourselves the strength of the enemy army."

Cheng Yu said so comfortingly.

The four words "Xiao Fang is not here" made Cao Cao's tense nerves relax a little.

Cao Cao looked back at his group of advisers.

Guo Jia, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Jia Xu...

Pick any one of them out at random, and look around the world, they are all top strategists.

With such a luxurious group of advisers, who in the world can stop him?

Except Xiao Fang.

But the fact is that Xiao Fang is far away in Liyang, not in Shan County...

Since Xiao Fang is not here, what is there to be afraid of?

"Zhongde's words make sense. Xiao Fang is not here, so I have nothing to fear!"

Cao Cao's face immediately lit up with pride, and he pointed his whip eastward:
"Pass on my order. The army continues to advance and heads straight to Shan County."

"I want to see what kind of cunning Guan Yu is!"

The confidence of the Qin people was rekindled.

One hundred thousand Qin soldiers continued to march towards Shan County.

noon.

One hundred thousand Qin troops approached Shan County, with hundreds of military formations large and small, advancing to the west gate of Shan County with overwhelming force.

More than a hundred steps away, Cao Cao immediately held his sword and looked into the distance.

As expected, as the scouts had said, the 30,000 Chu troops lined up behind the city, their momentum as strong as iron.

Under the big flag with the word "Guan" in front of the formation, there was a general sitting on Red Hare, holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand, with a red face and beautiful beard, and he exuded a domineering aura in his elegant demeanor.

It was none other than the most famous general of the State of Chu, the former general Guan Yu.

"This Guan Yu, he really has his battle array behind the city walls, what on earth does he want to do?"

Cao Cao frowned again, with deep confusion and suspicion on his face.

Cao Hong beside him was furious, holding up his sword and shouting:

"My king, no matter why he is arrayed behind the city walls, if he dares to come out to fight, isn't that exactly what we want?"

"My 100,000-man army will charge over right now and wipe out the 30,000 Chu troops in one fell swoop. Shan County will be captured in the blink of an eye!"

"I will kill Guan Yu and his son with my own hands to avenge Zixiu!"

Cao Hong angrily challenged him to a fight.

Generals Le Jin, Cao Chun, Xiahou Yuan and others all challenged each other without hesitation.

The more the generals called for a fight, the calmer Cao Cao became. He looked at Guan Yu from afar, with more suspicion than hatred in his eyes.

"Guan Yu's move is too suspicious. Have the scouts tried to spy on him? Are there any ambushes outside the city?"

Guo Jia also felt something was wrong and shouted at Yu Jin and others.

Yu Jin shook his head and said with a firm look:

"We have already explored the area within a ten-mile radius of Shan County. Apart from a small group of Chu scouts, we have not found any traces of enemy ambushes."

Cao Cao was suspicious to begin with, and after hearing Yu Jin's words, his suspicion grew even stronger.

"To use a small number of troops to fight against a large number of enemies and line up behind the city is against common sense and extremely suspicious."

"There are no ambushes near Shan County, which is even more suspicious."

"Guan Yu, what on earth are you playing at..."

Cao Cao's thoughts raced as he racked his brains to find the flaw, but he dared not order an attack.

at this time.

The 30,000 Chu army soldiers lined up in battle array were all sweating in their palms.

Faced with the aggressive 100,000-strong Qin army, they couldn't understand where their General Guan got the confidence to lead them to line up their troops with their backs to the city and fight against the Qin army.

The nerves of every soldier were stretched to the limit, ready to fight against the three times larger Qin army that was about to break through the formation and attack.

They were ready to fight to the death.

However, as time went by, the nervousness in their hearts was gradually replaced by suspicion.

The Qin army was coming with great force, but why didn't they launch an attack for a long time?
What evil is Cao Cao planning?
"Father, it is just as Prime Minister Xiao said in his secret plan. Cao Cao is always suspicious. Seeing that I am arrayed behind the city, he dare not attack easily."

Guan Ping pointed his sword at the Qin army formation, with a look of surprise and a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

"The Prime Minister's ability to forge ahead and understand people's hearts is truly unrivaled in ancient and modern times..."

Guan Yu had a beautiful beard and was amazed by it.

Then he opened his half-closed eyes, urged his Red Hare to charge forward, and pointed his Azure Dragon Sabre at the Qin army:
"Chu's former general Guan Yu is here!"

"Cao thief, what are you waiting for? Come and fight!"

"Today I will send you to the underworld to reunite with your son Cao Ang and his son!"

The domineering and contemptuous challenge echoed under the sky like thunder.

The 100,000 Qin soldiers were all shocked to the point that their scalps went numb and their faces turned pale.

Cao Cao's face suddenly changed and he became furious in an instant, his face distorted with anger.

Your son killed my son back then, and now you are so arrogant that you want to kill me and send me to be reunited with my son in the afterlife?

This is more than just arrogance, it is a great humiliation and contempt for me in front of my soldiers!
"Guan Yu, you bastard, how dare you be so arrogant? I will kill you today..."

Cao Cao was filled with rage, drew his sword, and was about to order a war.

"My king, you must not fall for Guan Yu's provocation!"

Guo Jia hurriedly rode forward, stopped Cao Cao, and said anxiously:

"Guan Yu's formation behind the city was already suspicious, and now he is openly provoking and despising the king. It is clear that he wants to provoke the king to launch a hasty attack."

"Although I can't think of any trick Guan Yu has, there must be something fishy going on. Please stay calm, Your Majesty!"

Guo Jia's exhortation was like a bucket of cold water poured on Cao Cao's head, instantly extinguishing most of the anger that was rushing to his head.

Cao Cao immediately calmed down, raised the sword high, and then put it down again.

"My lord, didn't Cheng Zhongde say that if Xiao Fang is not here, we don't have to fear any tricks Guan Yu may come up with!"

"This thief is so arrogant and disrespectful to the king. How can we allow him to humiliate us?"

"My king, give the order to attack!"

Cao Hong's face was ferocious, and he roared in excitement and anger.

The words "Xiao Fang is not here" were like a shot of adrenaline to Cao Cao, causing his confidence to surge suddenly.

"Zi Lian's words make sense. If that country bumpkin is not here, I have nothing to fear!"

Cao Cao's anger flared up again, he raised his sword again and said sternly:
"Pass on my order, all troops advance——"

Before the word "attack" was uttered, the Chu army's formation suddenly changed.

The Chu army was seen advancing like a wave. A scholar in a green shirt and a hemp scarf on his head was sitting in a four-wheeled carriage, waving a feather fan in his hand. He was surrounded by a group of tiger guards and slowly marched out of the battle.

The scholar pointed his feather fan at a distance and sneered:
"Cao Mengde, I have laid a net here, and you can't escape now."

"If you know your destiny, come and surrender quickly. My Lord is merciful and will spare your life!"

"If you don't surrender, I will destroy you and this army of 100,000 in the blink of an eye!"

(End of this chapter)