In mid-October, just after the frost, the weather suddenly turned cold.

Since Cao Cao's army raised the banner of righteousness to conquer Xuzhou, in just ten days, the entire Dongguan County in Xuzhou fell.

Cao Cao's army was divided into three groups and stationed in the four counties of Dongguan, Linqu, Mengyin and Dong'an.

The fall of the four counties caused panic throughout Xuzhou.

At that time, in Xuzhou City, Tao Qian, dragging his seriously ill body, forced himself to gather all the generals and subordinates in the county.

In the main hall, Tao Qian, who was holding himself up, raised his eyes and looked at the subordinates lying down quietly.

"Four counties have been captured by Cao Cao, what should we do now?!"

Tao Qian's voice was a little hoarse, far less loud than before, and there seemed to be an air of twilight in his voice.

On the left side under the chief, Chen Gui coughed lightly.

"Lord, for this plan, I will negotiate peace with Cao Jun!"

Chen Gui warned that more than ten days had passed, but in fact, it took only three days for Cao's army to capture the entire four counties of Xuzhou.

The entire four counties seemed to have been ready to surrender.

As if after a symbolic resistance, the four counties surrendered to Cao Cao one after another.

Such a fast speed caught the entire Xuzhou noble clan off guard!

The fall of the four counties was nothing to worry about. Cao Cao's army was approaching fiercely, and the fall of some towns was something that the Xuzhou nobles had long expected.

But!

After Cao Cao captured the four cities, he was not in a hurry to continue the attack, but seemed to be giving Xuzhou time to prepare.

This makes the Xuzhou nobles seem to have understood something.

Cao Cao wants to negotiate peace?

After Chen Gui and his son thought about it, they probably felt that this was the purpose of Cao Cao's move.

The other party did not want to offend the Xuzhou nobles, and the nobles did not want to offend Cao Cao. After all, although Cao Cao held great righteousness in this battle, Cao Song did not die after all.

Cao Cao's pretense of attacking Xuzhou this time is enough, and peace negotiation is acceptable to both parties.

The gentry, led by the Chen family and his son, began to encourage Tao Qian to negotiate peace.

At this moment, in the main hall, after hearing Chen Gui's advice, Tao Qian just glanced at Chen Gui and ignored him.

Who is Cao Cao?

Tigers and wolves!

He previously teamed up with Yuan Shu to invade Yanzhou, and now Cao Cao has occupied Dayi. With only four counties, he can satisfy the opponent's appetite.

Tao Qian doesn’t believe it!

As for why Cao Cao stayed in the four counties now, Tao Qian couldn't guess, but he felt that Cao Cao would never choose to negotiate peace so easily.

Tao Qian naturally understands what Chen Gui and Xuzhou think.

These nobles only consider their own interests, and Xuzhou in their eyes has never belonged to Tao Qian.

Tao Qian ignored Chen Gui and looked at Cao Bao beside him.

After the latter realized it, he stood up instantly.

"Your Majesty, my general is willing to ask for orders to fight against Cao's army!"

As Cao Bao stood up, Sun Guan, Zang Ba, and Yin Li stood up and asked for orders soon after.

It seems that Sun Guan, Zang Ba and others just defected to Tao Qian after the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

They are not local generals in Xuzhou and have nothing to do with Xuzhou's wealthy families. They are not like Cao Bao. They are Tao Qian's true confidants.

This time Tao Qian summoned the generals, and after Cao Bao understood Tao Qian's thoughts, he made his attitude clear.

What's left is Sun Guan and others' side.

Are you taking the position of Mu Tao Qian of Xuzhou, or the position of the wealthy family in Xuzhou?

Zang Ba and others don’t have many choices.

But, after all, they and Xuzhou's wealthy families are not the same people!

Tao Qianjing looked at Zang Ba and others: "I will never compromise with Cao Mengde!"

……

In Xuzhou City, Tao Qianyu and a group of Xuzhou generals were discussing how to respond to Cao Cao's attack.

On the other side, on Mengyin City, Cao Cao, wearing a dark cloak, and Xi Zhicai were quietly watching the situation in Mengyin City.

This time he conquered Xuzhou and conquered four cities in three days. Even Cao Cao himself did not expect such a speed.

And the reason for all this is just because before he conquered the four cities, Xi Zhi ordered his scouts to go deep into the city to spread news about Yanzhou and some of Yanzhou's policies.

Even Xi Zhicai didn't think of it, he just distributed some news.

The effect is so good.

The defenders of the four cities only put up a slight resistance, and Cao Jun entered the four counties naturally.

"Until today, I didn't know that the war could still be fought like this?"

Cao Cao felt a little emotional that Xi Yu's strategy made Cao's army's entry into the four counties extremely smooth.

Even in the past, the common people who saw the soldiers fighting in fear did not have much resistance to Cao Jun.

The people in the four counties are all waiting and watching, with expectation in their eyes.

We hope that Cao Jun can bring them a life like the people of Yanzhou.

"My Lord, all the emperors of the Han Dynasty governed the country with benevolence. The word benevolence has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of the Han Dynasty!"

"These people may not have much knowledge, but they also know what is good and what is bad!"

Xi Zhicai was quite emotional.

The ideas in Xi Yu's mind are always so unexpected, but the effect is really good.

The most important thing about the way of using troops is the way of people's hearts.

As a soldier, attacking the heart is the most important thing!

This attack on the hearts is not to attack the hearts of the princes, but to attack the hearts of the people of Xuzhou.

"I think Fengyi must have expected such a situation, so he said those words before leaving!"

Cao Cao smiled softly, and as he spoke, he couldn't help but think of what Xi Yu had told him before the army left.

If the capture goes smoothly, you might as well stay a little longer and implement Yanzhou's policies directly in the captured towns.

Transform the people of Xuzhou into Yanzhou.

For more than ten days now, Cao Ying's petty officials have been promoting Yanzhou's farm division policy in the four counties of Xuzhou.

Nowadays, the enthusiasm of the people all around praises Cao Jun's reputation.

Cao Cao felt something in his heart.

Even if these four counties are recaptured by Xuzhou in the future, the hearts of the people will probably be towards themselves.

At this time, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a little confused.

What exactly does he hope for?

It was the pride of wielding swords in all directions when he was young, or the ambition of the general who later conquered the west. Furthermore, when the Han Dynasty was in danger, he supported the general's ideals by supporting the building.

What he cared about at first was indeed the world of the Han Dynasty.

I just want to show off my abilities, be granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister, honor my ancestors, and protect my descendants.

But!

At this moment, Cao Cao's heart has changed somewhat.

After the four counties were captured, he could really see the smiles on the faces of the people in the four counties of Xuzhou, and the joy that seemed to welcome Master Wang.

What he really wants is to pacify the world and restore the Han Dynasty to its former glory!

But is this man in his prime really what the people of the world yearn for?

Cao Cao is a little confused!
Chapter completed!