Three hours passed, Sun Qian did not return for a long time, and everyone sat quietly in the hall all night.

Tao Qian was a little worried, and the rest of the people present were also worried, and everyone was secretly speculating whether Sun Qian had been killed by Cao Cao!

In the hall, everyone stayed up all night, and they were a little sleepy, and the whole hall was lifeless.

In normal times, Zang Ba, who had been sitting there for a long time, let out a sneer, first broke the silence in the hall, and said loudly: "If Cao Cao's tens of thousands of troops can be persuaded to retreat with just one letter, then what do we soldiers who have been born and died do?" ”

At this moment, a soldier walked in from outside the hall, clenched his fists and said, "Envoy Qiqi, don't drive Mi Zhu to ask for a meeting outside." ”

"Mi Zhu? Isn't he in Tancheng, why did he come here? Let him in! Tao Qian said.

"Whoa!"

After a while, Mi Zhu walked in in from outside in a panic, and as soon as he entered the hall, he hurriedly bowed to Tao Qian and said, "Meet Tao Envoy." ”

"No courtesy. Zizhong, you came from Tancheng, and you looked flustered, could it be that something happened to Tancheng? Tao Qian asked.

Mi Zhu said: "Don't worry, Tao Envoy Jun, Tancheng is safe and sound, I came here to deliver news to Tao Envoy Jun." Zhang Yan, the general of the cavalry, had already led a large army into the hinterland of Yanzhou, not only annihilating the 30,000 Cao troops stationed in Gaoping County, but also capturing Cao Ren, beheading Lejin, and surrendering Yu Ban ......"

As soon as these words came out, Tao Qian's sad face suddenly smiled, and he hurriedly asked, "Zizhong, what you said is all true?" ”

"It's true. Not only that, Zhang Yan was divided into four routes, and successively captured Changyi, Kangfu, Juye, and Rencheng, and now Zhang Yan took Yu Ban to Juancheng together. Cao Cao's family is in Juancheng, I believe that it will not be long before Zhang Yan will conquer Juancheng and capture Cao Cao's family, and then we will have the capital to blackmail Cao Cao. Mi Zhu said with a smile.

Tao Qian heard that Zhang Yan had achieved such gratifying results, Le's mouth couldn't close, and then he remembered what Chen Deng had said to him, and hurriedly said: "Yuanlong, what you said was true, Zhang Yan really adopted the strategy of encircling Wei to save Zhao." Before, the government was angry, and it was quite cold to you, and the words were mixed with sarcasm, and the house is here to accompany you! ”

As he spoke, Tao Qian bowed respectfully to Chen Dengbi.

Although Chen Deng was also a little angry before, he saw that Tao Qian had changed his opinion of him, and apologized to him in front of everyone, which had already given him enough face. He hurriedly returned a salute to Tao Qian, and hurriedly said: "With the situation at that time, it is normal for Tao to be so angry, and it is normal for anyone to be angry. ”

Suddenly, Chen Deng turned his face to look at Mi Zhu, and hurriedly asked, "Lord Mi, the Cao army surrounded the city impenetrable, how did you come in from outside the city?" ”

Mi Zhu said: "I came from Tancheng in the starry night, and when the sky was just dawning, I saw that there was no movement in the Cao army camp, so I rode my horse and galloped wildly, and came directly to the city, and there was no Cao soldier on the way. ”

Chen Deng suddenly realized: "Cao Jun has been heavily defended for the past few days, how can he easily let people in?" Could it be ...... Cao's army has already retreated? ”

"It must be my eldest brother's letter that played a role, then Cao Cao was afraid of my eldest brother's prestige, and he didn't dare to attack the city again, maybe he withdrew his troops overnight!" Zhang Fei suddenly shouted.

Liu Bei said: "Third brother can't talk nonsense, Cao Cao's prestige is far greater than mine, I am a county order, what prestige can I have?" I guess that Cao Cao must have also learned the news of General Zhang's attack on Yanzhou, and he didn't even have time to pull out the camp, so he retreated overnight. ”

Tao Qian said: "What the hell is going on, let's go to the city tower and take a look!" Ladies and gentlemen, please come with me to the castle tower to see what is going on. ”

As soon as the words fell, Tao Qian got up and walked out, and everyone in the hall followed behind Tao Qian. The group left the Taishou Mansion and soon came to the city tower.

The Xuzhou soldiers on the city tower did not sleep a peaceful sleep for three consecutive days and three nights, and saw that the Cao army did not move last night, and these soldiers all fell asleep on the city tower.

After Tao Qian and others climbed the city tower, they looked out of the city and saw Cao Jun's camp standing in the morning mist, and the camp was full of flags, but they didn't see a single figure.

"Tao Envoy Jun, looking at this situation, it seems that the Cao army has withdrawn, otherwise, why does the Cao army camp look so depressed? Why don't you send a team of people to find out? Chen Deng said.

Tao Qian nodded and shouted, "Where is Cao Bao!" ”

"The last general!" Cao Bao hurriedly squeezed out of the crowd, stood on Tao Qian's side, and responded with a fist.

"Quickly take 200 cavalry and go to Cao's camp to see what is going on!"

"Whoa!"

Cao Bao got down from the city tower, gathered two hundred Danyang soldiers, rode horses, ordered the city gate to be opened, and went to the Cao army camp.

The group cautiously approached the Cao army camp, and Cao Bao shouted a few more times, but no one answered in the camp. So, Cao Bao magnified his courage, rushed into the camp with the cavalry, and searched around the camp, where there were any Cao soldiers, it was just an empty village.

Suddenly, a Danyang soldier heard some subtle sounds, followed the sound, and found Sun Qian in a camp tent.

At this time, Sun Qian was tied up with five flowers, his mouth was still stuffed, and the whole person was curled up on the ground, and there was a letter beside him.

The Danyang soldiers quickly untied Sun Gan, Sun Gan took the letter, walked out of the camp, and returned to Kaiyang City with Cao Bao to meet Tao Qian.

Tao Qian was slightly relieved to learn that Sun Qian had returned with Cao Bao safe and sound.

Sun Qian entered the city, and when he saw Tao Qian, he immediately presented a letter and said: "Cao Cao has quietly withdrawn last night, and when he left, he left this letter to Tao Envoy, please take a look at Tao Envoy!" ”

Tao Qian opened the letter and read it, Cao Cao wrote in the letter that it was because of Liu Bei that he had withdrawn from the army, but he did not say a word about Zhang Yan's capture of all parts of Yanzhou.

Sun Qian said again: "Tao Envoy Jun, last night I saw Xiahou Yuan tell Cao Cao that something had happened in Yanzhou, Zhang Yan led the army to annihilate Cao Ren's army, and also killed Le Jin, surrendered Yu Ban, and captured Cao Ren alive. In addition, the Dongjun under Cao Cao's account guarded Chen Palace, and Chen Liutai guarded Zhang Miao, secretly united to welcome Lu Bu as the pastor of Yanzhou, and raided all parts of Yanzhou. At present, Cao Cao only has Juancheng, Fanxian, and Dong'e counties still under control. Although Cao Cao had withdrawn his troops last night, he hurried overnight, and the soldiers were a little tired, so he would definitely not go too far, so it was better to lead the army to pursue Cao's army, and maybe there would be some gains! ”

After Tao Qian heard this, he nodded again and again, and hurriedly said: "Zang Ba, gather all the cavalry and immediately pursue Cao Cao!" ”

Chen Deng hurriedly suggested: "Tao Envoy Jun, Cao Cao is like a god with soldiers, although he retreated in a hurry, but he will inevitably take precautions, as the so-called poor Kou Mo chases, not to mention that our army is also exhausted, it is not appropriate to chase again, it is better to let Cao Cao go." ”

Tao Qian said: "Cao Cao heard that Yanzhou was lost and had already retreated overnight, how could he have thought that we would still pursue it?" This is a godsend, if we don't take advantage of this time to attack Cao Jun and recover our losses, when will it be? Zang Ba, immediately gather all the cavalry, led by you, and go to pursue Cao Cao! ”

"Tao Envoy Jun, the last general thought that what Captain Chen said was that Cao Cao had always been treacherous with his troops, and his army retreated, and he would definitely leave a broken army to ensure the safe return of the army to Yanzhou, if our army led the army to chase at this time, I was afraid that it would be ambushed by the Cao army, and the gains would really outweigh the losses at that time." Zang Ba hugged his fists.

Tao Qian saw that Zang Ba refused to go, and he was also furious in his heart, and glared at Zang Ba viciously.

At this time, Cao Bao volunteered: "Tao Yuanjun, since Zang Duwei is unwilling to go, then let me go!" ”

"That's all there is to it." Tao Qian said.

Cao Bao then turned to Liu Bei, Kong Rong, and Tian Kai and said: "Cao Cao is based on Yanzhou, and now that Yanzhou is lost, Cao Cao is tired of running for his life, and he will definitely go back in a hurry." He is now like a lost dog, how can he set up an ambush on the road? I don't know if I can go with me to pursue Cao Cao, and I don't want to take any of the Cao army's baggage that I plundered, and I will share it with all the princes, I don't know what the princes will do? ”

Tian Kai and Liu Bei saw that it was profitable, so they nodded one after another, although Kong Rong also wanted to get a piece of the pie, but there was no cavalry in his hands, Tai Shici also came to help, and he couldn't be counted as his subordinates, so he had to give up.

So, Tian Kai led his subordinates 500 cavalry, Liu Bei led Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and other more than 100 cavalry, together with Cao Bao led 2,000 cavalry composed of Danyang soldiers, bid farewell to Tao Qian, and pursued Cao Cao mightily.

Chen Deng shook his head helplessly, sighed lightly, and said, "Whether they can come back alive is still unknown......

Tao Qian heard Chen Deng's words so dejected, brushed his sleeves away, and sat in the hall with Kong Rong, Tai Shici, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian and others, waiting for the good news.

An hour later, the "good news" finally came, Cao Bao, Liu Bei, and Tian Kai went to pursue Cao Cao, but encountered an ambush halfway, Cao Bao was beheaded by the general of the Cao army, Xiahou Yuan, Tian Kai and Liu Bei were injured, if it weren't for the desperate protection of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, I was afraid that the end would be the same as Cao Bao.

More than 2,000 cavalry went in a mighty way, but only a dozen cavalry returned, which can be described as heavy losses.

Tao Qian regretted it at this time, it was strange, he didn't listen to Chen Deng's advice at the beginning, so that there was such a big defeat, Cao Bao brought the elite of Xuzhou soldiers, and the whole army was wiped out in the first battle, so how could Tao Qian not feel heartache?

In the hall of the Taishou Mansion, Liu Bei and Tian Kai came back in a gloomy manner, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were also depressed, Tao Qian hurriedly found someone to treat Liu Bei and Tian Kai's injuries, and arranged a guest room, so that everyone could stay for the time being, and never mention the pursuit of Cao Cao again.

At the same time, Zhang Yan led Yu Ban and more than 2,000 cavalry, and after a day's long journey, finally entered the territory of Juancheng.

When they were about to arrive in Juancheng, Zhang Yan, Yu Ban and others suddenly saw a majestic army and horses coming from the northwest, and looked from afar, but saw the flag fluttering in the team, and it was a big flag with the word "Lu".

Zhang Yan frowned and guessed, "Could it be Lu Bu's army?" ”