Cao Shuo led the army out of Beihai and returned to Shouchun.

Tian Feng chased after him from behind.

"How? When will they leave? As soon as Tian Feng came up, Cao Shuo asked him.

"I should be leaving today." Tian Feng replied: "Gongzi is not here, and Yuan Gong is not here, there is no point for them to stay in Beihai." ”

"If I lead the army to leave, will Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang send troops to Beihai and take Qingzhou back from me?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Don't worry, Childe, it won't." Tian Feng said: "Who is in charge of Hebei, if there is no result for a day, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang will not easily use troops against Gongzi for a day." ”

"Actually, I don't worry too much about whether they need soldiers or not." Cao Shuo grinned: "In recent days, Yuan Zhi and I have been rectifying the defense, and the military village in Qingzhou has been completed. Even if Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang joined forces, it would be impossible to break through Beihai within a few months. As long as I am given time, I can lead the army to kill, and in the end, it is they who will suffer. ”

"That's what Childe said." Tian Feng responded.

The army left Beihai and walked for six or seven days, seeing that it was about to enter the territory of Mount Tai.

A field not far from the territory of Mount Tai.

The mountains in the distance are like giant giants holding hands in the night, bringing people an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Cao Shuo was looking at the mountains in the night, and Cai Ji walked over from behind.

When he came to his side, Cai Ji whispered: "Childe, Fu Gong sent someone from Donglai. ”

"Where's who's coming?" Cao Shuo asked.

"I'll bring him here." Cai Ji retreated.

After a while, he brought a messenger with him.

Seeing Cao Shuo, the messenger made a big salute and said, "Enlightened son, the frustrated prince has something important to report." ”

"Is there something wrong with Donglai?" From the messenger's expression, Cao Shuo saw that the matter would not be too small, and asked the messenger a question.

"Not far from Donglai, there is another island called Penglai." The messenger replied: "Fu Gong led people to Penglai, but found that the coastal affairs were not as Guo Zu said. ”

"How?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Guo Zu told Fu Gong that the pirate Guan Cheng was not his opponent at all." The messenger replied: "But on the way to Penglai, I learned that compared with Guo Zu and Guan Cheng, the difference in strength is not half a point. With Guo Zu, he has no power to exterminate Guan Cheng, although there are warships and weapons provided by Gongzi, if it really starts, Guo Zu also has the possibility of annihilation of the whole army. ”

"Guan Cheng is so strong?" Cao Shuo was stunned for a moment and glanced at Cai Ji beside him.

Cai Ji asked the messenger, "Is there any solid evidence for what you said?" ”

"The words all came out of the mouths of the soldiers that Guo Zu brought in the past." The messenger replied: "Fu Gong has also learned in detail that it is indeed Guo Zu who lied. ”

"What are you going to do?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Fu Gong is thinking, if it really can't be recruited, the only way is to force the attack." The messenger replied: "Once the offensive begins, in case our army fights unfavorably......"

"It's nothing if the battle is not good." Cao Shuo said: "No matter how strong the Guancheng forces are, it is impossible to land on the shore and conquer the city. If he had that ability, he would have done it a long time ago, and he wouldn't have to be at sea until now. ”

"What does Childe mean...... Beat? The messenger maintained a fist-hugging posture and peeked at Cao Shuo.

"Of course, it's better not to fight." Cao Shuo said: "If the navy is newly built, if the first battle is lost, it will not be so easy for me to build a navy in the next few decades." ”

The Courier didn't ask any more questions.

Cao Shuo said to him: "This matter is actually very easy to solve, Guo Zu and Guan Cheng have always fought separately, and they have nothing to do with each other. Now that Guo Zu is the commander of the navy, as long as he adds two words in front, he can do it. ”

"Dare to ask Childe, which two words to put in front?" The messenger asked.

"Bohai." Cao Shuo said: "Change Guo Zu's official title to the commander of the Bohai Navy, and if Guan Cheng is willing to serve, he will be given the commander of the East China Sea Navy." ”

The messenger looked up and looked at Cao Shuo in amazement.

Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Cao Shuo said: "You don't need to know too much, just go back and tell Fu Gong and do what I want." ”

The messenger retreated.

Watching him leave, Cao Shuo said to Cai Ji: "Let him go back alone to pass the order, if the transmission is wrong, it is likely to cause big trouble." You send a few more groups of people to Donglai one after another. Remember, tell these people to be sure to avoid Guo Zu's ears and eyes. ”

"Guo Zu has already joined the son, and he is still worried about what he is doing?" Cai Ji said: "Could it be that Cheng Gongzi suspects that he still has two hearts? ”

"I don't know if there are two hearts." Cao Shuo said: "The navy was newly built, and the officers and men who were originally subordinate to Guo Zu had little loyalty to me, and the officers and men I recruited earlier had almost no experience in naval warfare. Without three or five years of running-in, the Navy cannot be regarded as completely mine. The biggest attraction to Guo Zu is not only that he has an official title recognized by the imperial court, but also that he can log in anytime and anywhere, and no one can do anything to him. What attracted him more should be the use of the warships and equipment I provided, and it is possible to break through the Guancheng. ”

"Gongzi wanted to stabilize the coastal defense, but he didn't expect to be used by Guo Zu." Cai Ji said: "If he really succeeds, won't he make Gongzi a big laughing stock?" ”

"Therefore, the person who sent the letter should avoid Guo Zu's ears and eyes and spread the news to the Duke of Fu." Cao Shuo said: "When Duke Fu gets the news, he will naturally know what to do. ”

"I'll arrange it." Cai Ji replied: "Guo Zu will definitely not be allowed to intercept the news from it." ”

When Cao Shuo led his army back to Shouchun, Cao Cao had already returned to Xudu.

Thinking of the day when he entered Hebei, he attacked the city all the way, and saw that he was about to reach Yecheng, but the army's attack was hindered, Cao Cao was a little annoyed in his heart.

There is an oil lamp in the study.

Cao Cao sighed lightly and said to Guo Jia and Xun You who were sitting in front of him: "In the previous attack on Hebei, although our army occupied a lot of cities, Yecheng still did not fall. With the two of you, when will you be able to take Yecheng? ”

"Did Gong Cao get any news?" Guo Jia asked Cao Cao.

"What's the news?" Cao Cao asked rhetorically.

"The eldest son has also left Beihai and is on his way back to Shouchun with his army." Guo Jia said: "It can be seen that the eldest son also feels that it is impossible to take Hebei just this time." ”

"The hundred-legged insect dies but does not stiffen." Cao Cao said: "Hebei is not broken, it is always a heart disease in my heart. ”

"Cao Gong doesn't really have to mind." Xun You said on the side: "Hebei is not the original Hebei for a long time, and now Yuan Shao was sent to Shouchun by the eldest son, and Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang are busy competing for the inheritance of Hebei. When they consume each other about the same, Cao Gong will send troops again, and he will definitely succeed in one fell swoop. ”

(End of chapter)