Cao's army was around Yecheng and surrounded the various cities of Yecheng, while Yuan's army was compressed on the whole line and did not counterattack Cao's army.

For a while, Cao Jun was also difficult to achieve.

In the blink of an eye, two or three months have passed, and Yecheng is like an iron bucket, with Cao Cao's little strength, it is not enough to break through.

In Pingyang City, in the official mansion where Cao Cao temporarily stayed, Cao Cao and Guo Jia sat facing each other, and on the low table between them, there was a game of chess that had not yet been played.

"Every time I play against Fengxiao, I can't afford to deal with it!" Looking at the endgame on the table, Cao Cao smiled and said to Guo Jia: "Now that Yuan Shao has gathered his soldiers and horses, and our army lives in Pingyang, it has been a few months without achievements, in order to serve filial piety, what should I do?" ”

"Cao Gong!" Clenched his fists and arched towards Cao Cao, Guo Jia said to him: "Now that winter is about to begin, the subordinates have a plan to retreat!" ”

"What does it mean to retreat as advance?" Looking up at Guo Jia, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Cao Cao's mouth.

When Xu Yu offered his plan, although Guo Jia was speechless, Cao Cao had a private discussion with Guo Jia, Guo Jia had already told Cao Cao, Yuan Shao's army was newly recruited, and although the defense of the cities around Yecheng was a little lax, if it was Cao's army strength, when it was all taken, the army's combat strength had been reduced by seventy-seven eighty-eight.

It was because of this conversation that Cao Cao, after capturing Pingyang, only occasionally ordered his soldiers and horses to carry out small-scale attacks on the surrounding cities, so that Yuan Shao thought that Cao's army had not given up on capturing the surrounding areas of Yecheng.

Under Cao Cao's questioning, Guo Jia put down his hands and said with an indifferent smile: "The water in Hebei is already muddy now, why doesn't Ming Gong return to Xudu and fight again next year?" ”

"Return to Xudu?" Looking at Guo Jia, Cao Cao's brows furrowed slightly and said: "It is not easy for our army to capture Pingyang......"

"Cao Gong!" As soon as Cao Cao's words came out, Guo Jia interrupted him and said, "Does Cao Gong want Pingyang or Yecheng?" ”

Stunned by Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao frowned slightly and said, "Why did Feng Xiao ask this?" ”

"Pingyang is just a small city, if you lose it, you can take it again!" Picking up his fists and arching towards Cao Cao, Guo Jia said to him: "If Yecheng is captured, Cao Gong will occupy Hebei from now on, which is more important, Cao Gong should weigh it!" ”

"But Yecheng City is high and deep, and our army is eager to take it!" Raising his hand and brushing his beard, Cao Cao said with a solemn face: "Even if our army withdraws, the strength of Yecheng has not changed, and the city is still easy to defend and difficult to attack, how can you take it at will?" ”

"If our army withdraws, the Yuan army will definitely attack Xudu when the soldiers and horses are gathered!" Smiling slightly, Guo Jia slowly shook his head and said: "At that time, Ming Gong only needs to send troops and attack him in the middle of the road, once Yuan Shao's army is defeated, he will definitely retreat to Yecheng." At that time, Yecheng was in chaos, and the Ming Duke could surround Yecheng and say that Yuan Shao was dead. Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were already fighting for Yuan Shao's family business, and if they knew that their father was dead, they would definitely fight. At that time, even if Yuan Shao was not dead, he would be angry to death! ”

After listening to Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao first coldened, then raised his face and laughed, and said to him: "Fengxiao, Fengxiao, with you, why worry about Hebei!" ”

"Someone!" After praising Guo Jia, Cao Cao turned his head and shouted outside the house.

A guard guarding the outside of the house stepped inside, clenched his fists and bowed down to wait for Cao Cao's orders.

Turning his head to look at the guard, Cao Cao said to him: "Pass the order, the army is ready, evacuate Pingyang in three days, and return to Xudu!" ”

"No!" Clenching his fists, the guard answered and turned to leave.

After the guards left, Guo Jia also stood up, clasped his fists and bowed to Cao Cao and said, "If Gong Cao has nothing else to do, the subordinates will retire first!" ”

Nodding to Guo Jia, Cao Cao didn't say anything, just watched him leave the room.

After Guo Jia left, Cao Cao had been looking down and pondering the endgame on the low table.

Just when he was thinking hard and meditating, not knowing how to crack Guo Jiana's winning chess move, a voice came from outside the door: "Cao Gong, someone has something to say!" ”

Hearing someone talking outside the door, Cao Cao raised his head and looked towards the door.

What appeared in front of him was Xu You, who had already entered the house with half of his body.

Xu You clenched his fists and bowed slightly, waiting for Cao Cao to invite him into the house.

Seeing Xu You, Cao Cao suddenly felt a little unpleasant in his heart.

Although Xu You came to serve during the Battle of Guandu and informed him of the location of Yuan Jun's grain, he was always a little proud afterwards, and he got along very unhappily with Cao Cao's staff and generals.

Cao Cao has long been a little tired of Xu You, but it is not good to drive him away, so as not to be said by the world that he cannot tolerate talents.

"What's the matter with Ziyuan?" Although he was very unhappy when he saw Xu You, Cao Cao still asked him with a smile on his face.

"Cao Gong!" Cao Cao didn't let him enter the house, but Xu You stepped into the room, clasped his fists and said to Cao Cao: "I just heard that Duke Cao ordered the army to return to Xu Capital, but is there such a thing?" ”

He didn't beckon Xu Yu to enter, but he had already stepped in, and Cao Cao was suddenly a little unhappy in his heart.

But he is not an ordinary person after all, although he is unhappy, he still has a smile on his face, and said to Xu You: "Ziyuan has something to say, just sit down and say!" ”

"Thank you Cao Gong!" Bowing to Cao Cao, Xu You walked quickly to the place where Guo Jia was sitting just now and knelt down.

As soon as he sat down, he found that Cao Cao was holding a sunspot in his hand, as if he was thinking about a way to solve the chess game.

Glancing at the chess game, Xu You grinned and said to Cao Cao: "Isn't Cao Gong studying the endgame?" ”

"Ziyuan is really discerning!" Cao Cao didn't intend to respond to the question Xu You just asked, seeing that he took the initiative to bring the topic to the endgame, he hurriedly said: "I'm really thinking about how to solve this game!" But this endgame is nearing the end, and a certain has tried his best, but he can't solve it! ”

"This game is easy to break!" Cao Cao said that he had tried his best to solve the endgame, but Xu You grinned, took out a black spot from the chess box on the side, and dropped it on the chessboard, then looked up at Cao Cao and said with a smile: "Cao Gong, can you crack it like this?" ”

Looking down at the chessboard, Cao Cao was stunned, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said to Xu You: "Ziyuan is proficient in chess, in this way, he can really turn evil into good fortune and come back to life!" ”

"It's a trivial matter to break a chess game!" Looking at Cao Cao, Xu You pursed his lips and said to him with a little contempt in his tone: "I don't know who gave Cao Gong an idea to withdraw the army!" ”

Xu You once again mentioned the imminent withdrawal of Cao's army from Pingyang, Cao Cao hurriedly smiled and said: "No one gave a certain idea, it was a certain thought, if the army is stationed in Pingyang, it will be difficult to collect grain in Hebei, and now it is approaching winter, why not withdraw the army and return to Xudu, and wait for the next year to fight again!" ”

If it is someone else, the point of view is different from Cao Cao, he will definitely be a little more tactful to persuade him, although Xun Yu and Cao Cao often quarrel, but Xun Yu's relationship with him is extraordinary after all.

Especially Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia were both recommended by Xun Yu, Xun Yu quarreled with Cao Cao, and Cao Cao would let him go.

After all, Xu You's original staff under Yuan Shao killed his family because of the trial, and Cao Cao didn't trust him very much.

But Xu You was a little arrogant, and when he heard Cao Cao say that it was his own idea, he frowned and said to Cao Cao: "Cao Gong! The army is stationed in Pingyang, although it is difficult to transport grain and grass, but after all, it is close to Yecheng, and in the spring of the next year, Cao Gong only needs to send troops to smash Yecheng, if the army retreats to Xudu, then Yuan Shao will resurrect from the ashes, and then recruit the army to fight a decisive battle with Cao Gong, what should Cao Gong do? ”

The strategy of withdrawing the troops and returning to Xudu was offered by Guo Jia.

In Cao Cao's mind, Guo Jiaxian's strategy has never been lost, and he also has great trust in Guo Jia.

Xu You stood up at this time and opposed Guo Jiaxian's plan face to face, and Cao Cao was suddenly a little unhappy in his heart.

After a deep sigh, Cao Cao said to Xu You: "Ziyuan, don't say it again, this matter has already been decided." The army withdrew to Xudu, one was that the grain and grass were difficult to transport, and the other was that the soldiers were homesick. A certain withdrew this year, and waited to fight with Yuan Shao again next year, with Ziyuan and others to assist, what else is there to worry about? ”

Although it was a negation of Xu Yu's mention, when Cao Cao spoke, he praised him very highly.

He and Cao Cao looked at each other, and after a long while, Xu You sighed, stood up and clasped his fists and said to him: "That's it, since Cao Gong has made a decision, it is useless to say anything." Retire! ”

Sitting behind the low table, Cao Cao didn't get up, but just hugged his fists and gave Xu You a salute back.

Retreating from Cao Cao's room, Xu You just went out, and the attendants who followed him hurriedly greeted him.

Seeing the attendants, Xu You frowned and waved his hand at them.

Following Xu Yu and walking all the way to the entrance of the outer courtyard, a waiter who saw that his face was not good, asked him in a low voice: "Mr. saw Cao Gong, his face was not good, but Cao Gong did not accept Mr.'s words?" ”

Xu You didn't plan to tell the attendant what he thought in his heart, but when the attendant asked, he remembered the scene when Cao Cao saw him just now, and suddenly felt bored in his heart, and said to the attendant: "Cao Gong is really unwise, the army retreats to Xu Capital, Yuan Shao can recuperate, and it is still difficult to determine who will be in the hands of the world at that time!" ”

When he said this, Xu You felt a burst of refreshment in his heart, but he didn't notice that not far from him, an attendant waiting for Cao Cao was bowing down towards him.

Seeing Xu Yu lead the attendants away, Cao Cao's attendants hurriedly entered the inner courtyard and walked quickly towards Cao Cao's residence.

When he arrived at the door of Cao Cao's residence, the attendant bowed down with his fists and said to Cao Cao in the house with some trepidation: "Qi Cao Gong, the villain has something to report!" ”

After Xu You left, Cao Cao, who was concentrating on studying the key to solving the endgame, heard the attendant outside the door say that there was something important to report, and he said without raising his head: "Go inside and talk!" ”