Lu Su left Jiangling and went to Jianye. Sun Quan had already deployed defenses along the Yangtze River. After reporting on the situation on the front line, he hurried to Xinye.

After Cao Cao's army arrived at Qiao and rested for half a day, Cheng Yu led three thousand troops southward under his own banner. He led the main force to secretly turn west to Runan, and arrived at Wancheng ten days later.

Wancheng is the only way to go south to Xinye, and Zhou Yu sent many sentries in this area.

As soon as Cao Jun arrived at Wancheng, Xinye quickly received the news.

From the moment Cao Cao left Xudu, Zhou Yu was preparing for this defensive battle. The long siege of Xiangyang made the Jiangdong soldiers depressed and exhausted.

Zhou Yu discussed matters at the government office in Xinye County. Han Dang, Lu Meng, Ling Tong and other generals were all eager to try, but Lu Su, who had just returned to Xinye not long ago, looked worried.

"Cao Cao's main force has come to Xinye. Hefei must be very empty. Zijing has just returned from Jianye, so he can tell everyone about the situation there." Zhou Yu said after looking around at the crowd.

Lu Su nodded, "My lord has deployed defenses along the Yangtze River. He said that if Cao Cao attacks Xinye, he will send troops to Hefei. The governor can send someone to inform him immediately."

"Ziming, send people to Jiangdong and Jiangling respectively," Zhou Yu ordered.

"Wei." Lu Meng clasped his fists and stepped aside.

"Xinye City is not as strong as Xiangyang, and the terrain is relatively flat. Cao Cao's troops this time are comparable to ours. It will not be easy to defend this place. We have to find a way to drag him into a water battle..." Zhou Yu said.

"Grand Governor, we must hold Cao Cao off in Xinye so that we can buy time for our lord to take Hefei." Lu Su reminded.

"We in Jiangdong are dominated by naval forces. If we give up our own advantages and fight Cao Cao on land in Xinye, this will be a reckless act..." Zhou Yu looked at the deputy governor Cheng Pu as he spoke.

Cheng Pu was a veteran of Sun Jian's period. His qualifications were considered to be the most in Jiangdong at that time. Before the Battle of Chibi, he competed with Zhou Yu for the position of commander. Since Zhou Yu had a higher prestige in the army, he could only take the position of deputy governor in command of the infantry and cavalry.

.

"What's Gong Jin's clever plan?" Cheng Pu frowned.

"I would like to ask Duke Cheng to lead 20,000 infantry and cavalry to guard Xinye and wait for reinforcements. I will personally lead the navy to intercept Cao Ren in Xiangfan." Zhou Yu said.

"Reinforcements? Gong Jin also said that Xinye County is small and the city is not as strong as Xiangyang. I don't know how long it can hold. Also, are the reinforcements from Jiangdong or Liu Bei?" Cheng Pu asked.

Zhou Yu glanced at Lu Su, then smiled and said: "Zijing has made an agreement with Liu Xuande that if Cao Cao invades, he will immediately send troops to support him. Guan Yunchang's Jingzhou navy is in Jiangxia. It can be reached in a few days along the Han River. Guan Yunchang

This person has some abilities and is quite familiar with the Xinye area, so he and Cheng Gong will definitely be able to resist Cao Cao."

"If Chang Guan Yunchang comes, everything will be fine. If Liu Xuande doesn't send reinforcements..." Cheng Pu was still worried.

Lu Su quickly said: "Mr. Cheng, don't doubt it. Liu Shijun is a man of integrity and promises. He has personally promised me that if Cao Cao goes south, he will ask Guan Yunchang and Zhang Yide to send troops from Jiangxia and Jiangling respectively. We only need to send Cao Cao's army to the south."

The main force stays here, even if we lose Xinye in the end, it doesn't matter. If the lord can capture Hefei, it will be a victory."

Cheng Pu also knew the importance of Hefei. If he captured Hefei, he could march into the Central Plains by water, and Jiangdong's navy would be able to take advantage of it.

"Then follow Gong Jin's plan." Cheng Pu nodded.

Cao Cao only rested for two days in Wancheng, and then asked Wenpin to take the Wancheng garrison to the new wilderness. The soldiers brought this time were all strong and healthy people. After experiencing the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao understood that elite soldiers are more useful.

He was indeed a little complacent at the time.

During the Battle of Chibi, the sick soldiers in the north gradually became uncontrollable. The more people Cao Cao brought, the more burdensome he became. In the end, all the battalions were infected with the disease one after another, and Cao Cao's elite also suffered heavy losses in that battle.

The spring breeze in February is like scissors, and the warm sun still cannot withstand the cold weather. The soldiers in the north have become accustomed to this kind of battle.

Cao Cao was cautious in using his troops. When he marched south, he found that Zhou Yu did not send troops to stop him, not even a decent ambush.

Are you giving up now?

It would be understandable if Zhou Yu was incompetent, but he defeated Cao Cao's commander in Chibi, which made the suspicious Cao Cao confused about the situation.

Tens of thousands of troops set up camp two miles north of Xinye. Cao Cao and Xia Houyuan went to Xinye City in person to call for formation.

"My son Zhou Yu, the Prime Minister's heavenly troops have arrived. If you don't kill anyone who surrenders, your body will be shattered into pieces if you wait too long." Xia Houyuan shouted to the city.

Zhou Yu left Cheng Pu, Han Dang and other veteran generals to guard Xinye, while he, Lu Su, Lu Meng and others had already withdrawn to the warships in Danshui.

This group of veterans followed Sun Jian in the north and south. Last year, they were on the attacking side of Xiangyang. In the blink of an eye, they became the defending side. When Han Dang saw Xia Houyuan yelling and yelling, he was eager to fight, but was stopped by the old and steady Cheng Pu.

Cheng Pu stood at the top of the city, stroking his white beard and responded coldly: "What Prime Minister? Where is he?"

Xia Houyuan didn't know what Cheng Pu meant. This guy had met Cao Cao when he followed Sun Jian to challenge Dong. Although everyone has grown old over the years, they shouldn't have known each other, so why are they asking questions now knowing that?

"This is Prime Minister Cao of the Han Dynasty. Why don't you open the city and surrender?" Xia Houyuan introduced, pointing to Cao Cao who was wearing a brocade robe and riding a yellow horse.

Cheng Pu looked Cao Cao up and down, and said disdainfully: "It was dark and hot that night in Wulin, so I didn't have time to appreciate Prime Minister Cao's style. Now the sky is clear and clear, I can see clearly, it's really short..."

"Old man, I think you are tired of living." Xia Houyuan pointed at Cheng Pu and said angrily.

"Who are you talking about?" Cheng Pu continued to taunt.

"The common man said..."

Xia Houyuan said nothing and swallowed his saliva. Cao Cao hated others mocking his height. He took the message and asked: "Where is Zhou Yu hiding? Don't you dare to come out to see me?"

"Huh, the Governor is preparing firewood to keep Cao Cao out of the cold in the evening." Cheng Pu replied wisely.

"Hahaha, Jiangdong's son turned out to be a rat. Miaocai, let's go back and catch these rats tomorrow." Although Cheng Pu said it unintentionally, Cao Cao's expression changed slightly after being burned at the Red Cliff.

"Thief Cao, please leave." Han Dang drew his bow and arrow, and aimed an arrow at Cao Cao.

Xia Houyuan was also good at using arrows, and he instinctively felt that the opponent might be about to sneak attack. After Han Dang shot the arrow, he immediately raised his cloak back, and the cloak just wrapped the flying arrow.

"You are really a sinister rat." Xia Houyuan spat out a ball of saliva.

"Drive..." Cao Cao said nothing and carefully urged his horse to sit down and leave this thrilling place.

After returning to the camp, Cao Cao was still sweating coldly on his back, so his servants brought him hot soup to soothe his shock.

The position where the two of them were standing just now was not within the attack range of the arrows, but Han Dang was extremely strong and the arrows he fired exceeded the normal range.

Xun You, Liu Ye and other counselors accompanying the army, as well as Yu Jin, Zhang He and other generals accompanying the army, were divided into two columns of the main tent and did not speak.

At this time, Xia Houyuan, who replaced Shi Huan who died of illness last year, asked: "Prime Minister, is there any conspiracy behind Zhou Yu's avoidance?"

Cao Cao shook his head and said nothing. He was still waiting for news from the scouts in various places. As a commander, he must pay attention to the overall situation. A small detail can change the situation of the battle.
Chapter completed!