Guo Jia was obviously a man willing to pay more. His words were like the whisper of a devil, ringing faintly in Cao Cao's ears: "Weapons, food, and even the war horses that the general needs most, my lord is willing to open a trade market, and the only condition is that the general cannot expand his power to the north."

Originally, Cao Cao disagreed with Guo Jia's words, thinking that Guo Jia could not offer any conditions that would appeal to him.

However, when weapons, food, and even extremely precious war horses were placed in front of Cao Cao as bargaining chips, his thoughts became confused.

His will was shaken.

Cao Cao's breathing became heavy, and he stared at Guo Jia with burning eyes: "To offer such a condition, is Wang Yuanxu too confident, or is he so arrogant that he doesn't take me, Cao Mengde, seriously?"

It has to be said that Cao Cao was extremely tempted by Guo Jia's conditions.

But Cao Cao was a shrewd man. He was well versed in the art of negotiation. Even if he had already made a decision in his mind, he would sometimes pretend to be in a difficult position so that he could bargain and gain more benefits for himself.

Life is a scam. Whoever has better tricks can deceive the other party and gain a greater advantage.

Xu Zijiang's Yuedan commentary said that Cao Cao was a treacherous hero in troubled times. There is no doubt that he saw the "treachery" and "cunningness" in his thinking.

In the first half of his life, Cao Cao relied on his treachery and cunning to be successful in everything he did.

It’s a pity that Cao Cao chose the wrong opponent this time.

Guo Jia was not misled by Cao Cao's attitude, but smiled and said, "Don't speak in secret in front of others. There are only you and me here, so why should General Fenwu pretend to be so?"

Obviously, Guo Jia had seen through Cao Cao's thoughts and knew what he was thinking, so he spoke bluntly: "Our army is strong and invincible. If you dare to provoke us, my lord will be furious and abandon all opponents and march south to wipe you out. I wonder how many of your so-called allies will be willing to stand up and help you?"

"Are you threatening me?"

Cao Cao's eyes became sharp, and a hint of anger appeared on his resolute face.

"Threat? Wrong, just a small reminder."

Guo Jia knew that Cao Cao was a strong-willed man. If he was pushed into a corner, he would fight to the death. Therefore, Guo Jia did not threaten him too much. He just made a few jokes and returned to the topic: "General Fenwu, you are an excellent hunter and will carefully choose your prey. Now your army is trapped in southern Henan. If you choose to clash with our army, unless you win a great victory, how can you gain anything?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao fell into deep thought. His development had indeed reached a bottleneck.

First of all, the territories near Xu County are basically already owned by someone else. If you want to continue expanding, you will have to come into conflict with the surrounding forces.

Fighting with Wang Jingjun is undoubtedly the first option to avoid.

In Cao Cao's deduction, even the best case scenario was to force Wang Jing to retreat and maintain the status quo.

Once Wang Jing was angered, others would have room to buffer, but he would be the first to bear the brunt. Xu County was located in the central part of Yuzhou, with flat land and no strategic location to defend. The consequences of falling out with the Northern Army were simply unimaginable.

Wang Jing only needs to send troops from Chenliu and march south, and he can reach Xu County within a month. By then, the enemy will be at the gates of the city, and Cao Cao will have no idea how to resist.

But when Cao Cao thought about how he could have taken Yanzhou and entered the Central Plains, he became furious: "Humph, who gave me the opportunity to be trapped in southern Henan? Now you want me to help you, which is too much to ask."

Guo Jia laughed: "General Fenwu, my lord is invincible, why would he need your help? Right now, I am pointing out a clear path for you, helping you to capture cities and expand your territory."

"Marquis Qi has a good plan. He instigated me to attack the surrounding princes, so that we can lose our footing and kill each other, so that the Northern Army can calmly swallow Yanzhou?"

Cao Cao's expression was grim. He now understood Wang Jing's strategic intention. He also understood that Guo Jia came to see him today in order to instigate him to send troops and engage in "internal strife" with other princes.

However, seeing through the plot does not mean that one will be able to counter it.

Cao Cao is now trapped in a corner, surrounded by other forces: Wang Jing in the north, Liu Biao in the south, Yuan Shu in the west, and Tao Qian in the east.

If you want to expand your territory, you can only attack others.

Wang Jing is the strongest force that he cannot defeat no matter what, so the remaining choices are self-evident.

Guo Jia knew this for sure, so he was neither impatient nor impatient, and was too lazy to offer more conditions to Cao Cao. He said calmly: "General Fenwu, Xu County is surrounded by enemies, how easy is it to defend? Should we march north to fight for an unpredictable victory or march south and east to win an easy victory? The general is a smart man, and he will make a smart choice."

Although it was a choice, Cao Cao knew that he had no choice at all.

"If I agree to your terms, when can the things I need be delivered?"

Cao Cao had already made a decision. Between friends and interests, after a difficult decision, he chose interests very decisively.

Although Zhang Miao was a good brother of Cao Cao, for the sake of the overall situation, he had to let his good brother down.

Guo Jia was not surprised at all when he heard Cao Cao's reply: "They can be delivered at any time, but I would like to inform you that the supplies and horses will not be delivered immediately, but will be delivered in three installments."

"Instalments?"

Cao Cao frowned upon hearing this, obviously unable to accept this mode of redemption: "Can't you just pay it off in one lump sum? Don't you believe in my character, Cao Mengde?"

"Does the General really want me to answer?"

When Cao Cao talked about his character, he was directly mocked by Guo Jia.

After all, talking about credibility with a treacherous man is truly a sign of mental illness.

The two discussed for a while, or should I say argued for a while, before finally determining the delivery quantity and date of supplies and war horses.

Cao Cao wanted to arm his troops and increase his strength as quickly as possible so that he could find opportunities to launch attacks on surrounding forces.

But Guo Jia was also on guard against Cao Cao, fearing that Cao Cao would take the benefits but do nothing, and even more worried that Cao Cao would take Wang Jing's aid and turn around to attack northern Henan.

After finishing the discussion of the important matters, the moonlight was bright, and Guo Jia stood up to say goodbye.

However, Cao Cao was somewhat reluctant to let go. A wise man like Guo Jia was rare in the world. Even if he was sent by a hostile force, it would be very beneficial to hear some valuable advice from him occasionally during their discussions.

Guo Jia, on the other hand, was in a relatively calm mood and rejected Cao Cao's request to stay: "It is late at night now, which is the best cover for me to leave quietly. By the way, Jia reminds the general that once the cracks begin to appear, it will be difficult to mend them. There are some things that the general should make a decision on early."

After leaving such a nonsensical sentence, Guo Jia stood up and said goodbye.

It was Cao Cao who knelt on the cushion and remained speechless for a long time because of Guo Jia's words.

In the following few days, Cao Cao met with Zhang Miao frequently, but he never mentioned sending reinforcements. This made Zhang Miao very worried, and he had no choice but to find Chen Gong, who was also a famous scholar in Yanzhou.

"Gongtai, when I first arrived, Meng De promised me to send troops to attack Wang Yuanxu. But now, several days have passed, and Meng De has not made any move. Do you think the reinforcements will come or not?"

Zhang Miao's words were very aggrieved, and Chen Gong couldn't bear it, so he went to Cao Cao to ask about this matter: "Meng De, Wang Yuanxu has led his troops to Wenyang. If we don't send troops to rescue them, I'm afraid it will be too late to save them."

It is obvious that Chen Gong is the person who truly cares about the safety of Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao, and he is even more concerned about the situation in Yanzhou.

Without Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao's control over the Northern Army, it would be extremely difficult to recover Yanzhou.

Cao Cao knew that he could not hide the truth from Chen Gong, so he could only tell the truth: "Gongtai, going to war with Wang Yuanxu is not worth the loss. It is better to take Xinye and Runan first and expand the territory."

However, Chen Gong refused to agree: "Meng De, Wang Jing is tyrannical and unjust. People of insight should fight against him together! How can we cooperate with the enemy for our own selfish interests and attack other allies instead?"

"Allies? Are they worthy of it?"

Cao Cao was quite disdainful of this. He felt extremely tired from being with a bunch of stupid teammates.

Seeing Cao Cao's attitude change so quickly, Chen Gong pondered for a moment, then said with a stern face: "Meng De, have you met the special envoy sent by Marquis Qi in private?"

Cao Cao did not answer, but his answer was self-evident.

Chen Gong immediately said angrily: "Meng De, you are confused! Right now, the strength of the Northern Army is scattered and the internal strength is the most empty. If we send troops under such circumstances, Wang Yuanxu will be in a dilemma. By then, he will be in disarray and unable to take care of himself. Then our army can take advantage of the situation to march north and successfully recover Yanzhou!"

Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Gongtai, Wang Jing's army is so powerful that it is invincible. If I send troops, can I be sure of victory? If I cannot win, not only will I waste food and fodder, but if I lose the battle, can I still keep Xu County?"

Obviously, in Cao Cao's view, the so-called recovery of Yanzhou was a losing business. Not to mention that the probability of success was very low, even if it was finally accomplished, what would it matter?
The Northern Army retreated to Hulao Pass and only needed to recuperate for a year or two before they could fight their way out again.

And at that time, I will still be the first to bear the brunt!

Consuming his own military strength to create opportunities for other princes to rise, sacrificing the self for the sake of the greater good, the evil Cao Cao would not even consider for a moment at this time.

Now he only wants to go south to open up a new situation, preferably as far away from the Northern Army as possible. Whoever wants to be the watchdog can do so.

However, Chen Gong was born in Yanzhou, and he always put the interests of his family first in his heart. Therefore, he was very determined to take back Yanzhou: "Meng De, we can join forces with Yuan Gonglu and Tao Gongzu to encircle Yanzhou together. We can even send people to contact Huangfu Yizhen who is far away in Chang'an and force his troops to Tongguan. Facing attacks from all directions, even if Wang Yuanxu really has three heads and six arms, how can he defend it?"

"Or do you, Mengde, intend to betray your oath and covenant and attack other allies?"

Chen Gong stared at Cao Cao's eyes, which made Cao Cao feel guilty and he didn't dare to look at Chen Gong at all.

The two had huge differences in strategic direction.

Cao Cao wanted to expand his territory from other places, but Chen Gong always wanted to take back northern Henan, take back Chen Yanzhou, and cut off Wang Jing's power.

By then, the eastern part of Yanzhou would become an enclave, blocking the Northern Army's continued expansion and locking Wang Jing in Hulao Pass, preventing him from continuing to promote the new policy and endangering the interests of the aristocratic families and powerful families.

Both of them were extremely stubborn. Once they made a decision, nothing could change it, so in the end, neither of them could convince the other.

Chen Gong left Cao Cao's residence and immediately met Zhang Miao after returning: "Meng Zhuo, I'm sorry, I couldn't convince Meng De to send troops."

"Ah? What should I do?"

Zhang Miao was anxious. Cao Cao refused to send troops. The remaining Yuan Shu and Tao Qian, as well as Kong Rong who was far away in the North Sea, were even more unreliable.

At least Cao Cao's army is still somewhat capable of fighting, and it is close to Chenliu, so it can come to his rescue quickly.

However, his plan was thwarted by Guo Jia. He came all the way to Cao Cao, but it was a wasted trip and he returned empty-handed.

Zhang Miao came with hope, but left with disappointment.

After Zhang Miao left, Chen Gong's heart began to be filled with gloom, and an unhealable rift developed between him and Cao Cao.

The relationship between the two was no longer close, and Chen Gong even had a gloomy face every day, making it difficult for Cao Cao to guess Chen Gong's true thoughts.

Outside Wenyang City, at the border between Taishan County and Lu State.

Originally a small county town with a population of only tens of thousands, it was now home to a large army with flags flying, including the Shenwu Army that Wang Jing had just formed and led personally.

The total force is nearly 30,000, with strong soldiers and horses, coming in a mighty force with the force of a mountain!

Among them, there were 8,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. The military morale soared to the sky, as if it had turned into a giant black sword that could be raised above or lowered, with the heroic spirit to pacify the world.

The 3,000 Shenwu Army, led by Wang Jing himself, were the vanguard and were full of vigor. They arrived three miles outside Wenyang City, surveyed the battlefield from a distance at the city walls, and were about to start their first battle after the formation of the army.

On the high hills, the autumn breeze blows and the coolness is felt.

Next to Wang Jing stood the military advisor Xun You, who was also explaining the topographical features of Wenyang to Wang Jing: "My lord, Wenyang was originally under the jurisdiction of the State of Lu, but is now occupied by Liu Yi, a subordinate of Zhang Miao. There is the Cao River to the south and the Zhuo River to the north, so it is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It will probably take at least five days to capture it."

"Five days?"

Wang Jing pondered in silence, this time was a bit too long.

But when it comes to siege, if you are impatient, there will be heavy casualties, and there is also the risk of failure, so you must not be impatient.

If you want to capture a strong city like Wenyang, you have to bring in the giant stone cannon to directly smash the city gates and break into the city.

“When will the stone cannon arrive?”

"My lord, it will take three days."

Wang Jing was somewhat helpless. The transportation of the equipment was highly dependent on the road system. Moreover, many structural components were very sophisticated and therefore difficult to produce using local materials. There was also not enough time.

Xun You then suggested to Wang Jing: "My lord, attacking the city is inferior to conquering the heart. Before launching an offensive, perhaps we can first persuade them to surrender."

"Are you sure?"

If it were possible to avoid attacking the city, Wang Jing would be willing to save the trouble.

Xun You smiled confidently and replied, "My lord, don't worry. Liu Yi is not a stubborn person. He was stationed in Chenliu and witnessed the power of the giant stone cannon. He should know that Wenyang cannot be defended by relying solely on the city walls and the formations in the city. As long as I go and explain the pros and cons, I will make him open the city and surrender."

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you, Gongda."

Wang Jing immediately followed the advice and sent Xun You to persuade Liu Yi to surrender in front of the two armies.

At the same time, Wang Jing was also very worried about Xun You's safety, so he specifically ordered Taishi Ci, "Ziyi, the safety of the military advisor is now in your hands."

"I obey my orders!"

Taishi Ci was respectful and immediately stood behind Xun You, acting as his personal bodyguard.

The two men rode their horses and came to the city gate.

Xun You wanted to go further, but Taishi Ci stopped him and said, "Master, no, if you go any further, you will be within the range of the archers on the city wall."

With Taishi Ci's reminder, Xun You reined in his horse and stopped, then urged his power of thought and began to send a message to the city over a thousand miles: "Liu Zixiang, do you dare to leave the city for a chat?"

At the gate of Wenyang City, Liu Yi looked down with a serious expression and found that the person coming was not Wang Jing, but Xun You. Apart from a young general wearing silver-based armor with red edges, there were only a dozen knights accompanying him as guards.

Liu Yi did not want to lose his prestige. A mere strategist dared to come and see him. If he did not go out, he was afraid that the morale of the army would drop again.

With dozens of personal guards, Liu Yi rode out of the city to meet with Xun You.

"Brother Zixiang, it's been a long time since we last met. You are still as charming as ever."

As soon as they met, Xun You greeted him with a smile.

Liu Yi sighed: "In terms of style, I am only a defeated general, how can I compare to Gongda?"

In troubled times, most military generals like to achieve great things and become famous throughout the world.

However, Liu Yi was an outlier among the military generals. Although he was dressed in military uniform, he was actually an indecisive Confucian scholar. Even though he was skilled in martial arts, he hated the blood and sword the most.

Long before he was selected as a filial and incorrupt official, Liu Yi, who came from a wealthy family, often helped others without asking for anything in return, and his reputation for virtue spread far and wide.

If such a person of high moral character governs a county or a village, he will surely bring benefits to the people. However, in troubled times, morality can often only be engraved on a person's epitaph.

Although Xun You respected Liu Yi, he would not let him off the hook when the two armies were at war: "Brother Zixiang, as long as you are willing to surrender, it will be easy to stop the war."

"This……"

Liu Yi still had loyalty in his heart, so for a moment, he could not make up his mind and wanted to plead: "Gongda, my master has no intention of opposing Marquis Qi. He occupied Taishan and Jibei counties just to have a place to stay and is willing to respect Marquis Qi's rule. Can't such a humble attitude bring a trace of peace?"

Xun You's face straightened, and he retorted to Liu Yi: "Brother Zixiang, when Chenliu City was captured, you all tied yourselves up in front of the battle line. Did my lord kill you?"

Liu Yi opened his mouth, but in the end he could only answer, "No."

Xun You then asked, "Has my lord ever troubled or persecuted Zhang Mengzhuo and Zhang Menggao?"

Liu Yi was dejected and could only answer: "No." (End of this chapter)