Chapter 79 You have Xiao Fang, I have Feng Xiao! Zhang Fei: You want me to sit at the kids' table?
Xuchang, Sikong Mansion.

The news that Liu Biao had suffered two crushing defeats at the hands of Liu Bei and had retreated to Xinye had spread widely in the city of Xuchang.

At this moment in the mansion, all the counselors and generals of the Cao family were in shock and discussing what was going on.

"How could Liu Biao, with only one state's troops, be defeated so badly by Liu Bei, who only had one county?"

"How did Liu Bei become so amazing overnight?"

"Or is it that it's not Liu Bei who is so great, but Liu Biao who is just a name for nothing and too incompetent?"

Cao Ren's series of questions clearly showed that he was full of doubts about the battle situation in Nanyang.

"It is true that Liu Biao has a reputation for nothing, but it is also true that Liu Bei is a great military commander."

Cao Cao raised the secret report in his hand to Cao Ren and others:
"Look at what is said in this secret report. In both the battles of Rang County and Yuyang, Liu Bei won by using extraordinary strategies and defeating the larger force with a smaller one."

"How many people in the world can match this kind of military tactics? I'm afraid even I would be a little bit afraid of it."

Cao Ren and others hurriedly took the secret report from Cao Cao and watched it carefully.

Voices of surprise and admiration arose again.

"Liu Bei's ability to command troops is truly remarkable."

"But according to the news sent back by our company, Liu Bei's series of brilliant plans and tactics were most likely the work of Xiao Fang!"

Guo Jia interrupted the discussion and presented another secret report.

Cao Cao's eyes moved, and he quickly took it and took a closer look.

After a while.

A complex expression appeared on Cao Cao's face, showing both admiration and fear.

"If this is true, then Xiao Jinglue's wisdom is truly unpredictable, like the reincarnation of Zhang Liang!"

"It is amazing that Liu Bei has such a rare talent to assist him. If he is allowed to grow stronger over time, he may become a serious threat to me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's faces changed slightly.

The atmosphere in the mansion suddenly became solemn.

"Cough cough."

Xun Yu, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke and sighed:
"The plan that Yu proposed earlier, of two tigers competing for food, was originally intended to make the two Lius fight each other, with both sides suffering losses."

"I didn't expect that Yu still underestimated Xiao Fang. This person disrupted Yu's plan with his own strength. This was indeed a miscalculation on Yu's part."

Xun Yu frankly admitted his fault, and then changed the subject:
"Liu Biao has been defeated repeatedly and has been seriously injured. He has switched from offense to defense."

"As long as Liu Bei can capture Xinye, he will be able to drive Liu Biao back to the south of the Han River, and the whole of Nanyang will belong to him."

"By then, his foundation will be solid and he will have grown strong. It will be very difficult for us to defeat him."

"Yu believes that Sikong must change his strategy and send troops to Nanyang immediately to kill Liu Bei before he can capture Xinye!"

Cao Cao's heart trembled, and a chill immediately passed through his back.

After a moment of hesitation, murderous intent flashed in Cao Cao's eyes.

"What Wen Ruo said is very true. The more I look at him, the more I feel that Liu Bei has some of Emperor Gaozu's style. If I let him gain a foothold under my nose, I will not be able to sleep or eat well!"

"We can't wait any longer. I will mobilize my entire army and take Nanyang!"

Cao Cao was finally going to take action, and all the generals obeyed his orders in awe.

At this time.

Guo Jia, however, took the lead and said,
"If Sikong marches south in large numbers, Liu Bei will definitely mobilize his entire army to march north to Ye County to stop them after hearing the news."

"If they hold their ground and don't fight, our army will be blocked at the gates of Ye County. If a fierce battle is formed, won't it delay our expedition to the east against Lu Bu and our defeat of Yuan Shu in the south?"

"Jia thinks that Sikong can first send a general to lead 5,000 elite soldiers to the south and take a small road to attack Ye County."

"Ye County has only 3,000 soldiers and the defending general Liu Pi is mediocre. If we can catch him by surprise, we will surely be able to capture Ye County in one fell swoop!"

"If Ye County is captured, the gates of Nanyang will be wide open. Sikong can mobilize all his troops and march south to reach Wancheng."

"Then the Minister of Works can lead the main force to besiege Wancheng, and then divide the troops to cut off Liu Bei's rescue troops from the north. Wancheng can be captured and Nanyang can be conquered!"

Guo Jia looked determined and confident, and offered a plan with great enthusiasm.

Cao Cao's eyes sparkled, and he clapped his hands and praised:
"Okay, okay, this is a great idea, Fengxiao!"

"Zixiao, listen to my orders. I order you to lead 5,000 elite soldiers immediately and march south quickly according to Fengxiao's plan!"

"Within three days, you must capture Ye County!"

Cao Ren jumped up and accepted the order. After watching Cao Ren go away, Cao Cao came to the map hanging on the wall.

He put one hand behind his back and stroked his thin beard with the other hand. His eyes fell on the word "Ye County" and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

"Liu Bei, you have Xiao Fang, and I also have Feng Xiao."

"There is no way I will let you gain a foothold under my nose!"

"Your invincibility in Nanyang should end here..."

...

Three days later, Ye County.

"General Zhang, we have spotted a large group of Cao's troops on the eastern path. There are about 5,000 of them, heading towards Ye County."

The scout rushed into the hall and half-knelt before it to report.

Zhang Fei, who was drinking with Liu Pi, suddenly became excited. He threw down his wine glass, jumped up, and rushed towards the map on the wall in a few steps.

Liu Pi also looked excited and rushed over.

"East, Cao's army is indeed coming from the east."

"Military Advisor Jinglue said that Cao Cao would attack with a light army, and that in order to conceal their whereabouts, Cao's army would not take the northern highway, but would sneak along the eastern path and attack the east gate of Ye County!"

"He was right about everything, not even a step off!"

Zhang Fei pointed his finger at the east of Ye County and exclaimed in admiration.

Liu Pi also showed respect, so he smiled and said:
"Since the military advisor had anticipated this and sent General Yide here, we have a combined force of 8,000. We only need to hold our ground and not fight, which is enough to keep Ye County intact."

Zhang Fei suddenly remembered that Xiao Fang had given him a secret bag before he left. If he really discovered that Cao's army was about to launch a surprise attack, he should open the bag and act according to the plan.

Zhang Fei immediately took out the brocade bag from his arms and couldn't wait to open it and take a closer look.

"Cao Cao is bullying us because we are weak. We cannot just defend Ye County. We must hurt Cao Cao so that he dare not attack again. When the battle comes, Yide, can you..."

Zhang Fei's eyes gradually showed murderous intent, and he nodded heavily:

"The military advisor is right. We must give Cao a hard time and make him dare not look down on my brother again!"

Zhang Fei was eager to fight and was full of confidence, but Liu Pi's face changed.

From what Zhang Fei said, it seems that he wants to take the initiative to engage in a head-on confrontation with Cao's army.

"The military advisor wants us to fight Cao's army. There is a reason for this, and I dare not question it."

"It's just that I've heard that Cao Cao has always been a master at using troops, and the troops under his command are all top-notch elite troops in the world. General Yide, are we sure we don't want to avoid the enemy's attack and want to engage in a head-on confrontation?"

Liu Pi showed some fear towards Cao Cao in his words.

It is no wonder that when Cao Cao subdued a million Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, it caused a great shock among the Yellow Turban armies all over the world.

Last year, Cao Cao launched an attack on Rubei, and Liu Pi and other Yellow Turbans from Runan all suffered losses at his hands.

Therefore, people like Liu Pi, who came from the Yellow Turban Army, more or less had some "fear of Cao".

"Cao is not a thief with three heads and six arms, why are you afraid of him? Besides, it's not Cao Cao himself who is coming this time."

"I have eight thousand against five thousand. I have the advantage. What's more, I have the military advisor's brilliant plan!"

"If I still don't dare to fight this battle, I will just sit at the table with the kids from now on!"

Zhang Fei waved his hand in an extremely domineering manner, with an expression of fierce confidence on his face.

Liu Pi's figure shuddered, and the worry on his face immediately turned into shame. He quickly bowed:

"General Yide taught me that I am no longer a member of the Yellow Turban Army, but a general under the lord. How can I be afraid of Cao Cao anymore?"

"Military Advisor Jinglue has always been a man of great foresight. General Yide already has his own brilliant plan, so why should we worry about the future?"

"The general wants to fight, Pi swears to chase him to the death!"

Zhang Fei was satisfied, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a proud smile:
"Good, good, good, this is more like my brother's general."

"Let's follow the military advisor's plan. You go quickly..."

Zhang Fei then whispered and told Xiao Fang's secret plan.

As Liu Pi listened, his eyes widened and he took a deep breath:

"General Yide, the military advisor's plan is really risky...risky. Do we really want to follow it?"

(End of this chapter)