Yuan Shao said angrily: "What else do you want to say?"

Seeing that Yuan Shao was already furious, Xu You still bit the bullet and suggested: "Lord, if you really want to send troops south at this time, you must not divide the troops like this! Chenliu City is already an empty city, and the main force of the Cao army is not in Chenliu! Why should our army disperse its troops for these cities that are within reach? Since the lord decides to go south, why not go out and head straight to Xu County, Yingchuan. As long as Xu County is a moment, the rest of the Cao army will not be worrying. The lord can take advantage of the advantages of our army's power! If we divide the troops and attack Chenliu, wouldn't it give Cao Cao a chance to breathe? There is time to arrange troops and arrange formations? There is time to build a fortress?"

Xu You was very happy, but his tone was quick, and there was a bit of blame and complaining. Yuan Shao was so upset that he shouted: "Enough, I am using troops, how can you Xu Ziyuan guess? This matter is settled! No need to discuss it again!"

"well!"

Xu You closed his eyes in pain and said to himself that Yuan Shao was really stupid. Chenliu counties were originally the things in Yuan Jun's pocket, and he could take them anytime, but Yuan Shao gave up the best attack time.

The reason is just for these things. They seem to be vast but actually like a useless city! In Xu You's opinion, as long as he can defeat the main force of the Cao army, where can he go to the Central Plains? But Yuan Shao just couldn't see through this point. Moreover, Yuan Shao was already angry at this time and could no longer listen to it. Xu You's suggestion made Xu You both painful and helpless.

Yuan's army was crowded with people and powerful. With Yuan Shao's order, land north of Chenliu was captured in just a few days, including Junyi, Xiaohuang, Donghun and other places.

After the first two victories, Xiahou Yuan lost again and again. In the end, due to insufficient troops and exhausted soldiers, he retreated into Chenliu City sadly. The two sides rose and fell, which was full of charm and made many tricks, which made people stunned.

However, Chenliu City, where Li Dian, was in charge of Cao's camp, blocked Yuan's footsteps from continuing to move south.

The two generals Gao Lan and Zhu Ling attacked for several consecutive days but failed to break through Chenliu City guarded by Li Dian. Because they lost a lot of troops, the two generals had to temporarily suspend the intensity of the attack and wait for the arrival of Yuan Shao's army.

However, just when Yuan Shao led his army to Fengqiu, he received news that Cao Cao had led his troops north to Zhongmu.

Without saying a word, Yuan Shao first divided 20,000 troops to go south, allowing Gao Lan and Zhu Ling to continue to attack Chenliu City, while he himself led the remaining 60,000 troops to move westward and prepare for a decisive battle with Cao's army.

On this day, in Zhongmu County, Cao Ying Zheng's tent.

Cao Cao said bitterly: "Now, Gao Lan and Zhu Ling are leading their troops to attack Chenliu City, and Yuan Shao is also leading his troops to advance west with tens of thousands of troops, preparing to fight with me. Our army... is in a worrying situation! I wonder if you have any good plans to defeat the enemy?"

As they were talking, everyone looked at Liu Ye with their eyes. Obviously, Liu Ye had already sat down steadily as the number one strategist in Cao's camp.

After hearing Cao Cao's words, Liu Ye's expression became particularly heavy. He analyzed: "Everyone, Yuan Shao has many soldiers, but the lord has few soldiers. The Yellow River has a thousand miles of complicated tributaries and can be crossed in many places. If you divide your troops to guard it, you will be unable to defend it. Not only will it be difficult to stop the Yuan army from moving south, but we ourselves, the already disadvantaged forces, have become more dispersed. Now that the Yuan army has crossed the Yellow River, our army must concentrate its forces, guard key passes, focus on defense, wait for work, and take action later."

Cheng Yu nodded in agreement and said, "At first, our army used clever tricks, which slightly dampened the Yuan army's aura. However, Yuan army is a giant and facing the enemy head-on is unwise. Why... Yuan Shao has begun to be cautious, and our army can only confront it head-on. However, field battles are not good for our army. According to the lower opinions, we can only find a key point, build a camp, and not be able to stand there. Wait for the opportunity to let Yuan army reveal its flaws before making a decision!"

Cao Cao nodded and asked, "Who knows where our army should build camps and resist Yuan's army?"

After Cheng Yu and Liu Ye looked at each other, Cheng Yu laughed and said, "I have a good plan, so I won't show off my skills!"

Liu Ye obviously had a long time to be confident and did not politely at the moment, and replied directly: "While Yuan Shao ordered Gao Lan and the two generals Zhu Ling to attack Chenliu City, they led their troops westward. Their intention was obvious, that was to go through two-pronged approaches, so that our army could not take care of each other. However, all this depends on whether Chenliu City can be broken, or whether the lord can be broken along the way. According to the following point of view, General Li Dian was very wise, with a gentle personality, an elder style, and a well-versed way of leading troops. With him stationed in Chenliu City, he would be foolproof. Gao Lan and Zhu Ling were not afraid of it."

A trace of surprise flashed in Cao Cao's eyes and said with a smile: "It seems that if you want to defeat Yuan Shao, it depends on the general's journey! Please tell me quickly, I have already been so itchy!"

"Ha ha...."

"Yes! Ziyang, please tell me it!"

"With Zi Yang's plan, why worry about Yuan Benchu's army!"

Cao Cao's words immediately resonated with others, and Xiahou Dun and others laughed.

Liu Ye smiled gently and replied: "There are three rivers in Zhongmu, Junyi, Yangwu, and Fengqiu counties. Fengqiu, north of Junyi, the Pu River and Ji River, and the Bian River to the south. Next to the Bian River is Honggou. When the Chu and Han Dynasty fought, this was used as the boundary. Why don't the lord follow the example of the overlord and build camps in Guandu upstream of Honggu to resist the Yuan army!"

Xiahou Dun frowned and said, "Guandu belongs to the Sili territory. If our army enters rashly, it may arouse suspicion from the Yang family army. A few years ago, Yuan Shao's son, Yuan Tan, sent a cavalry to enter Bingzhou. He happened to be caught by a Yang family army team patrolling at that time. The 100-man team of the Yang family army dared to fight with more than a thousand Yuan soldiers at that time. It can be seen that if our army enters Sili, it will inevitably arouse the disgust of the Yang family army. At that time, if more than 100,000 Yang family troops stationed in Luoyang City go south, our army will be in danger!"

Liu Ye laughed and said, "General Xiahou doesn't have to worry. If Yang Fan was willing to get into evil with our army, they would have taken action long ago, instead of... Waiting until now, it is also a great opportunity for our army to join forces with Yang Fan! Why don't you send an envoy to Jinyang and lobby Yang Fan, and say that our army will hold Yuan Shao's main force and let him attack You and Jizhou by himself!"

Cao Cao laughed and scolded: "Liu Ziyang, Liu Ziyang, you are really amazing! Even Yang Bowen's idea can be guessed. I will send someone to Jinyang to lobby Yang Fan, but before that, you should talk about why our army wants to go to Guandu? Why do you have to fight Yuan Shao in Guandu?"

Liu Ye took out a map from his arms and pointed at it and analyzed: "Lord, please see, Guandu is located in the upper reaches of Honggou, bordering the Bian River, Honggou Canal is connected to Hulao, Gong and Luo Pass, and goes east to Huaisi. It is the barrier to the east. It is the key to Yuan Shao's capture of Xu County and the place we must compete with Yuan Shao. In addition, Guandu is close to Xu County, and the logistics supply is more convenient than Yuan's army. If the lord is not in his hands, wouldn't it be a pity? This is also our army's only chance to defeat Yuan Shao. Yang Piqi fought south and north for many years and had never lost his life. It can be seen that Yang Piqi's vision is naturally unique. If he does not want to get involved in the Central Plains, he will want our army to hold Yuan Shao. Guandu is the key to this battle. If he says, Yang Piqi will give up his troops so that our army can resist Yuan Shao so that he can make profits from it!"

Cao Cao smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that I have been used by blog posts?"

Liu Ye also smiled bitterly, and then replied with a serious expression: "The strength is not as strong as others, so you can only be humble. This is also a helpless move. In this battle, the lord only needs to defeat Yuan Shao, and a war will break out between Yang Fan and Yuan Shao. This is inevitable. Moreover, when Yang Fan and Yuan Shao compete for the northern overlord, our army...the only chance to breathe. Now, our army is walking on the edge of a cliff. If you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss and never have a chance to stand out!"

Cao Cao's expression gradually became heavier, and he nodded and responded: "Zi Yang said it well. I will send it to Huang Zhong from Luoyang and Yang Fan from Jinyang respectively. Then, the army immediately set off, settled in Guandu, built a camp, and waited for Yuan's army!"

At this time of life and death, the generals also solemnly agreed.

A few days later, Cao Cao and his 20,000 troops rushed to Guandu, and along the Bian River, they began to build camps. The arrangement of these camps was also quite particular. They were a large formation built by Liu Ye based on the method of the Bagua and the Two-Yiyi.

At this moment, Yuan Shao also led his army to the north bank of the Bian River.

Perhaps it was because of the wings of Yang Fan, the little butterfly, that Cao Cao is now more powerful than in history. If you see the open-minded people here, it is not difficult to see that although Yuan Shao's troops are large in number, they are also showing a declining trend. From the fact that Gao Lan led the crowd to attack Chenliu City, one or two, tens of thousands, and there are also war generals like Gao Lan and Zhu Ling, they cannot capture Chenliu City, and only 5,000 people are guarding Chenliu City. This shows that the phenomenon of not working hard has already spread in the Yuan army.

On this day, Yuan Shao came to the bank of the Bianshui River and planned to invite Cao Cao to say something.

Cao Cao was not outdone. Under Xiahou Dun's escort, he came to the meeting with only more than a hundred cavalry.

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were friends when they were young. When they were young, they also served as officials in the same dynasty. They participated in the quelling of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the princes to fight against Dong. Now, one man lies in the tiger's lie in You and the two states of Ji, and is powerful and it is hard for ordinary people to stop him. One man tramples the land in the dragon and the earth, which is powerful all over the world, and is even one of the few heroes in the world.

However, driven by fate and temptation of interests, the two had to go to an opposite side, which... is the norm in troubled times.

Looking at his former friend, Cao Cao's expression was complicated, but his unyielding heroic heart allowed him to avoid the embarrassment now. He laughed and said, "Brother Benchu, when Bowen got married and parted with him, I missed him very much, but I didn't know... Now it's life and death, and it's really... Things are impermanent!"
Chapter completed!