When Jia Xu left Jingyang County and retreated to Chang'an, Yuan Shao sent to inform Cao Cao's soldiers that they had arrived outside Hangu Pass and reported the news of Yuan Shao's retreat to Cao Cao.

Compared with the news of Yuan Shao's defeat and retreat, Yuan Shao's soldiers conveyed it faster.

After Cao Cao got the news, he was angry in his heart.

Xu Chu was guarding outside Cao Cao's tent and heard the clatter of the book falling to the ground, and the sonorous sound of the sword coming out of its sheath. Then there was silence in the tent, and there was no more sound. About half an hour later, Cao Cao's slightly hoarse voice came, saying, "Zhong Kang, invite Xi Zhicai, Cao Ren, and Xiahou Yuan to the camp tent to discuss!" ”

"No!"

Xu Chu replied and immediately went to carry out the order.

After a short time, Xi Zhicai was the first to come to Cao Cao's camp, followed by Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan.

These three people are the most strategic people under Cao Cao.

Cao Cao summoned the three of them over, obviously having something important to discuss. After Xi Zhicai sat down, he arched his hand and asked, "My lord, I heard from the soldiers in the army that Yuan Shao sent an envoy over, I don't know what news he brought?" Could it be that Yuan Shao had already defeated Li Ru and Jia Xu and sent troops to attack Chang'an. ”

Previously, Yuan Shao had always won battles, while Li Ru and Jia Xu had always lost battles, so Xi Zhicai had this question.

And the news of Yuan Shao's defeat has not yet come, so Xi Zhicai and others don't know.

Cao Cao sighed and said, "Zhicai, if Yuan Shao really won the battle, it would be good. I'd rather let him take the first step and enter Chang'an first! ”

When Xi Zhicai heard this, his face immediately changed.

Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren secretly said that it was not good, knowing that the situation had changed, otherwise Cao Cao would not be in such a tone.

Cao Ren hurriedly asked, "Lord, could it be that Yuan Shao was defeated?" ”

When he asked, he looked cautious, and there was a look of disbelief on his face. After Yuan Shao raised troops and entered Guanzhong, he was invincible, there were no soldiers who could stop Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao has always been a victorious general, and he has never lost a battle, so it is impossible to be so vulnerable!

"Alas!"

Cao Cao sighed and said, "Yuan Shao has withdrawn!" ”

"Ah???h

Xi Zhicai, Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan exclaimed at the same time, the news of Yuan Shao's withdrawal was more terrifying than Yuan Shao's defeat, because he could continue to fight after losing the battle, and the repeated battles that people often said were extremely powerful realms. However, Yuan Shao won consecutive battles, and now he only failed once, and then withdrew his troops and returned to Jizhou, which is unbelievable.

"Ahem! Cough! ”

Xi Zhicai clutched his heaving chest and coughed softly.

After a while, Xi Zhicai calmed down his excitement, but a flush rose on his face. Xi Zhicai didn't care about the physical pain, and asked directly: "Lord, what the hell is going on?" Yuan Shao only suffered a defeat, and he would not suddenly withdraw his troops, which was too sudden and strange. ”

Cao Cao looked dejected and told everything over again.

After hearing this, the three of them were silent.

The 40,000 army was beaten to the point that only more than 7,000 soldiers remained, and only more than 3,000 people had combat effectiveness, which only Yuan Shao could do such a thing.

Gongsun Chan was also ready to move, which gave Yuan Shao an excuse to return to Jizhou.

In fact, Cao Cao understood that Gongsun Zhan's imminent move was an excuse for Yuan Shao to return to Jizhou, because when Yuan Shao left Jizhou, he had already left the trial and frustration to stay in Jizhou to deal with sudden events. Yuan Shao had already made preparations, and he was not afraid of Gongsun Zhan's attack at all, but Gongsun Zhan had a little movement, and he immediately returned to Jizhou, which was just an excuse.

Cao Cao sighed and said, "Now that Yuan Shao has retreated, what can he do?" ”

Cao Ren's eyes flickered, and he fell into deep thought.

After a long time, Cao Ren said: "My lord, our Yanzhou borders Qingzhou and Jizhou. After Yuan Shao led the troops to withdraw, it became a situation of sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight, if we attacked Wang Can and did not succeed, Yuan Shao waved his troops south to attack Yanzhou, wouldn't we have become Yuan Shao's fish in the palm of his hand? ”

Cao Ren's worry was that he was afraid that Yuan Shao would watch from the wall and then attack Yanzhou.

Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Yuan Shao will not attack us, at least not for the time being." After he returned to Jizhou, on the one hand, he would recuperate, and on the other hand, he would definitely seize the time to attack Gongsun Zan and pacify the troubles in the north. When Yuan Shao is relieved of his worries, he will wave his troops to the south to attack Yanzhou or Guanzhong. ”

Xiahou Yuan said: "The lord's words are reasonable, and there is no danger in Yanzhou for the time being. ”

After a pause, Xiahou Yuan said: "Despite this, we have been blocked from Hangu Pass, and we can only look at Hangu Pass and sigh, what should we do?" ”

Xi Zhicai looked at Cao Cao and said, "Lord, although Yuan Shao was defeated, there are still Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and Xiliang Ma Teng also raised troops?" Is the lord going to retreat and return to Yanzhou? ”

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and said: "Wang Can occupies Yizhou and takes Guanzhong, and he is already the strongest prince in the world. Now even Yuan Shao can't resist Wang Can's edge, if he can't defeat Wang Can this time, after Wang Can relaxes, he will definitely chase the Central Plains and start sweeping the world, which is very unfavorable to us and must be stopped. Now that the princes from all walks of life are crusading against Wang Can, it is the last chance to contain Wang Can, and it should not be missed. ”

The tone is unequivocal and unquestionable.

After finishing speaking, Cao Cao looked at Xi Zhicai and asked, "Zhicai, do you have any way to break the Hangu Pass?" ”

When Xi Zhicai heard this, he shook his head.

It's not that he didn't use various methods to attack Hangu Pass, but Guo Jia and Xun You, who could defend the pass, were top strategists. The two of them cooperated enough to see through Cao Jun's strategy, whether it was taking the initiative to fight or luring the enemy into battle, or trying to copy the path to enter the back of Hangu Pass, but they were still seen through and did not make progress.

Various methods have been tried, but no results have been achieved.

Xun You and Guo Jia, plus Zhao Yun, Huang Xu, Yan Yan, and Pei Yuanshao, were enough to block Cao Cao's army.

Moreover, Hangu Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is a veritable natural hazard. The last time Cao Cao raised troops to welcome the emperor, the generals guarding the pass were greedy for merit, so they were ambushed by Cao Cao, and then opened the Hangu Pass. However, Guo Jia and Xun You were different, the two ordered the generals under their command to pursue, and they did not intend to defeat Cao Cao at all, as long as Cao Cao was blocked from the pass, the task was completed.

Zhao Yun's cavalry did not take the initiative to attack, but stayed on the tower of Hangu Guancheng.

Rows of pikemen were stationed on the towers, making it difficult for Cao Cao's army to rush to the towers.

Hangu Pass was in front of Cao Cao, like a high mountain, which could not be crossed. Cao Cao failed continuously, and he was a little discouraged in his heart, but Cao Cao still suppressed the thoughts in his heart and said: "I want to storm Hangu Pass, what do you think?" ”

Xi Zhicai also wanted to conquer Hangu Pass, but there was nothing he could do.

He opened his mouth to speak, but when he reached his mouth, he swallowed it back.

Xiahou Yuan said: "Lord, we have lured Zhao Yun to attack countless times, but we have not succeeded. Do you want to pretend to be invincible this time and lure the enemy to stop and attack? ”

Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Storm Hangu Pass!" ”

When Cao Ren heard this, his heart also sank.

Hangu Pass is the gateway to the east of Chang'an, not a simple pass, and it has to be said that it is quite a difficult thing to forcibly capture Hangu Pass first.

PS: Two of the four watches