Chapter 393: Taking Advantage of the Situation

Zhao Yun carefully brushed the hair of the warhorse in front of him with a brush, and then he and his personal guards draped a layer of fine linen on the horse, followed by a layer of special iron armor.

The horse was a little restless, with hot air coming out of its nose, and it was digging the soil with its kicks. Its head swayed from side to side. Zhao Yun reached out and took hold of the bridle, and the warhorse gradually calmed down.

In tomorrow's battle, Zhao Yun will not only be assigned to the side army, but his task will be to block the enemy's retreat route.

And no one helped him.

Although Cao Cao and the Baibo Army came up with a strategy to lure the enemy into the city, Ju Su privately doubted the success rate of this strategy.

Li Jue and Guo Si are not stupid, how could they enter the city so foolishly?

But things had come to this, Ju Su had no choice but to remind Zhao Yun to be careful in everything. There were precedents of stabbing allies in the back on the battlefield, not to mention that the temptation he faced was to monopolize the emperor.

In the past year since the emperor's convoy left Chang'an, how much blood and gore has occurred in the fight for control of the emperor?

In another place in the city, Yang Feng, Han Xian and Hu Cai of the Baibo Army gathered together to discuss how to deal with the Liangzhou Army.

Yang Feng's face was gloomy. "This strategy of luring the enemy is too weird. We must be careful tomorrow."

"I suspect Cao Cao and Lu Bu want to take advantage of this opportunity to harm us."

Han Xian listened and said disapprovingly: "They are the front and center troops, and we are in the rear. What danger is there?"

"At worst, we can just close the city gates and let them fight outside the city."

"Don't they just want to kill Li Jue and Guo Si and make a great contribution?"

"Let them work hard. We have already occupied the positions of generals in all four directions. Even if they fail to achieve any success in this battle, it will not affect us."

Hu Cai smiled and said, "General, this is a brilliant plan. As long as we control the emperor, no matter what strategies they use, they will be useless."

"It's a pity that Li Le didn't have the brains to resist the Southern Xiongnu, which caused us to lose a great help."

Han Xian still felt uneasy and said, "It's better to be cautious. If nothing else, there is at least Dong Cheng's power in the city, so we are not the only one in power."

Han Xian's eyes flashed, "Why don't we just take advantage of Cao Cao and Lu Bu leaving the city and kill Dong Cheng with our troops?"

Hu Cai immediately praised: "This is a great plan!"

He turned to Yang Feng and said, "General, do it!"

Yang Feng thought for a while, shook his head and said, "Not good, this will give Cao Cao and Lu Bu an excuse."

"If we let them catch this excuse, they will definitely join forces to deal with us."

Han Xian listened, thought for a moment, and said, "How about this?"

"When we lure the enemy into the city, we can let some of the Xiliang troops in, and then close the city gates, forcing them to attack the emperor's carriage."

"We should take this opportunity to send someone to fish in troubled waters and kill Dong Cheng!"

"Just blame it on the Liangzhou Army afterwards!"

"As for the Cao army and Lu Bu's army outside the city, let them fight to the death with the Liangzhou army!"

Yang Feng listened and nodded, saying, "This plan is feasible!"

The three of them had made their plan. Before they parted, Yang Feng specifically warned them, "My general Xu Huang, like Li Le, can't think straight. Don't tell him about this. I will transfer him away from the emperor to avoid any bad consequences."

After listening to this, Han Xian and Hu Cai nodded and left.

At night, everyone was present at Cao Cao's tent in the city.

The counselor was Xun You, the generals were Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, the cavalry were Cao Hong and Cao Chun, and the infantry were Le Jin and Yu Jin.

Everyone is full of fighting spirit, because after tomorrow, Cao's army will remove all obstacles and become the largest force around the emperor!

Xun You said slowly: "Tomorrow's battle, I will trouble you generals."

"I'm going over the plan."

"The plan to lead the army into the city is just a cover. It doesn't matter whether Li Jue and Guo Si are fooled or not."

"Our ultimate goal is to defeat the Liangzhou army, let them know that it is impossible to do so, and retreat back to Liangzhou."

"Whether we beat them or not is not important."

"For this purpose, the infantry must withstand the attack of the Liangzhou army and create opportunities for the cavalry to attack Li Jue and Guo Si's main camp."

Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Le Jin and Yu Jin heard this and clasped their fists at the same time and said, "Understood!"

Xun You continued: "On the other hand, our real target is the Baibo Army in the city!"

"The Baibo Army has evil intentions and wants to lure the Liangzhou Army into the city and take the opportunity to eliminate Dong Cheng's forces."

"What the two generals stationed in the city have to do is to control the situation and deal with the Baibo Army. If they cannot kill them, they must at least hold them back."

Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan heard this and clasped their fists and said, "Understood!"

Xun You said: "Once the front army has defeated the Liangzhou army, we will immediately turn back to the city and wipe out the Baibo army in one fell swoop, leaving no one alive!"

"Then quickly bring the emperor's carriage back to Xu County!"

"Of course, there may be many forces obstructing us along the way, but as long as we can welcome the emperor to Xu County, it will be worth it no matter how many people we have!"

After hearing this, all the generals clasped their fists and said, "We will die for you, sir!"

Cao Ren said, "I am a little worried. Lü Bu and the Youzhou coalition will definitely not sit idly by and watch us. If they lead their troops to attack us, won't we be attacked from both sides?"

Xun You nodded and said, "It is indeed possible."

"So he has been placed in the central army outside the city in advance."

"When the two sides are at war, he will definitely be unable to bear it and go find someone to fight. By the time he reacts, the situation in the city will have been decided."

Xiahou Yuan said: "And Zhao Yun..."

Xun You said decisively: "It has been arranged. Let Cao Hong keep an eye on him. If he dares to return to the city, he must be stopped."

Cao Hong listened, nodded and smiled, "That's great. I want to see who is more powerful between me and him!"

Cao Cao spoke for the first time: "You are not as good as him."

"What a pity. If he were at my service, things would go much more smoothly this time."

Xun You shook his head and said, "I have come into contact with him quite a few times these days, but he is very loyal to Xiong Hu and it is difficult to persuade him."

"Since you cannot be used by me, you are my enemy. You do not need to hold back when necessary."

Cao Cao sighed and said, "This is a last resort. He is a very brave man. We should not kill him unless it is absolutely necessary."

"If possible, it would be best to capture him alive and use him for my own benefit!"

Everyone looked at each other and said in unison: "Understand!"

After the generals left, Xun You became a little worried and said to Cao Cao, "Mingsir, although we have enough backup plans to deal with unexpected situations, I cannot fully predict how the other side will attack."

"I'm afraid we have to think ahead about what the worst-case scenario is."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed, "Gongda, tell me, what is the worst case scenario?"

Xun You said without hesitation: "Killing the emperor is the worst case scenario."

Cao Cao was shocked and slammed the table, "I didn't expect this!"

"That Yuan family kid, considering his viciousness, could really do it!"

"No wonder he made friends with Liu He in advance. I'm afraid he had already made various plans. At this age, he is already so shrewd!"

"We have to be on guard against this kid."

"Gongda's reminder is good. I will ask Zixiao to be extra careful and protect the emperor, so as to avoid failure."

He turned to Cao Ang and asked, "Can you do this?"

After hearing this, Cao Ang hesitated for a long time before he said with shame: "The emperor is the ruler of the world. I really can't do it."

Cao Cao listened without making any comment, and said, "In that case, you all should leave. Just be careful tomorrow."

When Xun You walked out of the tent, he saw a fat black boy chewing maltose, squatting at the door and mumbling, "Isn't it just killing a person? Who cares if he is the emperor or the emperor? If I stab him with a knife, he will die anyway, right?"

After Xun You heard this, a strange look flashed in his eyes. He naturally recognized that this was Cao Cao's son Cao Pi. He had been suspicious and violent since childhood, which made everyone afraid to approach him.

He paused, turned and left, thinking it was interesting.

In Huayin City, Jia Xu packed his bags and left the city quietly.

Duan Wei led his troops to Anyi, but did not take Jia Xu with him, but instead asked him to stay in Huayin.

However, Jia Xu smelled something unusual. He left Li Jue and Guo Si and went to Duan Wei. Although Duan Wei treated him with courtesy, he was lukewarm towards Jia Xu.

In the Liangzhou army, Jia Xu had a very high prestige, and everyone, including Li Jue and Guo Si, treated him with great respect.

But Duan Wei was an outlier, and Jia Xu could sometimes even see a hint of disgust in him.

Jia Xu understood that he had made a wrong judgment this time and that joining Duan Wei was not a good choice.

So taking advantage of the opportunity when Duan Wei led his troops out of the city, he decided to leave and join Zhang Xiu!

Jia Xu didn't even bring his family with him. In his opinion, Duan Wei was a man who loved fame and would naturally not do anything to harm other people's families. This was what was called a gentleman who deceived others with his own methods.

Jia Xu did this because he saw clearly that if he left the Liangzhou Army, he would lose his backing and he had to find another one.

He could no longer turn back. He had done all these things. Countless people in the world wanted him dead, including the emperor.

If he did not join the forces of the princes, but ran away to farm somewhere in an attempt to live a peaceful life, I am afraid that someone would come to take revenge on him in a few days!

After much deliberation, Jia Xu finally chose Zhang Xiu. The other party was in difficult times, and going to him for help would be like providing timely assistance. Zhang Xiu would definitely treat him with courtesy.

Jia Xu rode on his horse and looked back at Huayin for the last time. He thought to himself, I just want to survive, why is it so difficult?

In the early morning of the next day, the west gate of Anyi was suddenly opened, and the troops of Li Jue and Guo Si, who were ambushed nearby, launched a charge towards the city gate!

Hundreds of cavalrymen in front rushed into the city, riding their horses and killing. The people in the city cried and shouted. The prefect Wang Yi arrived with his troops and wanted to close the city gates, but they were instantly dispersed by the Xiliang cavalry.

He shouted, "There is a rebellion! Where are the defenders?"

A full quarter of an hour later, Cao Cao's army finally arrived and blocked the city gate, but the city was already full of people waiting and shouting.

At a horn sound, Cao's army gathered its soldiers and counterattacked outside the city, and countless cavalry and infantry rushed out.

Cao Cao said to Xun You, "It would be better if we start the battle in advance. Thank you for staying in the city, sir. Leave the outside of the city to me!"

Xun You hurriedly said, "I wish you a great victory!"

Cao Cao waved his hand and led all the generals of Caoying out of the city.

Ju Su heard the horn sounding from the top of the city wall at the north gate, and said to Zhao Yun who was on his horse, "General, be careful. This is not what we expected. I'm afraid something unexpected has happened."

Zhao Yun said calmly: "It doesn't matter, as long as Li Jue and Guo Si are killed, the unrest will subside!"

Under the planning of several parties with different intentions, the situation in Anyi was heading towards an unknown direction. These forces, with ulterior motives, brought Anyi City into unpredictable chaos.