Outside Pengcheng, Cao's army camp.
"Is Tao Qian a turtle? He's scorched the earth around Pengcheng. He's determined not to fight us head-on!" Xiahou Yuan's brow was tightly furrowed.
"Hmph!" Cao Hong also let out a cold snort. "Tao Qian might as well not call himself Tao Xuzhou, but Tao Turtle. He's raising the white flag and hiding like a coward!"
Their continuous complaints clearly showed that Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong were quite disdainful of Tao Qian's avoidance of battle.
However, disdain was one thing… scorched earth was indeed one of the few effective strategies for the Danyang soldiers to deal with Cao's army.
The Chief Military Advisor Xi Zhicai and the strategist Xun You exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.
"My Lord," Xi Zhicai said loudly. "Although the Danyang soldiers are not skilled in open field battles, they are excellent at defending cities. Pengcheng's walls are high and the moat is wide. Our army has not gained any advantage in the previous sieges!"
"Indeed!" Xun You nodded. "I fear that attacking Xuzhou will drag on and turn into a protracted war..."
"Two advisors..." Cao Hong interjected. "Didn't we bypass Dongguan before and directly attack Langya Commandery and Donghai Commandery with great success? Why can't we bypass Pengcheng this time and directly attack Tao Qian's stronghold, Xiapi City? That would decide Xuzhou in one battle!"
Cao Hong's idea was straightforward, but it was rather wishful thinking.
The previous great victory was due to a surprise attack. Now, if they tried the same tactic, Tao Qian and the Danyang soldiers would be prepared, and it would not be a surprise attack, but a lone army deep in enemy territory, facing enemies from both front and back!
Xi Zhicai waved his hand, "If General Zi Lian can think of it, Tao Qian can most likely think of it too… this move might not work anymore."
"Then what should we do? We can't just keep this up, can we? These hundreds of thousands of troops, with such a long supply line, the daily expenses are astronomical!" Cao Hong, always blunt, spoke whatever came to his mind.
Of course, only he cared so much about the loss of money and supplies. After all, he was a stingy and meticulous person, and even a tiny bit more expenditure of money and grain made his heart ache!
At this moment, Cao Cao remained silent. His rapid march was aimed at a swift victory. If it turned into a protracted war, it would be disadvantageous for Cao's army.
Moreover, Pengcheng was well-stocked with grain and provisions, and if they decided to play the turtle, delaying for a year or a half was not a problem at all.
Such a stalemate was disadvantageous to Cao Cao!
Hmm…
Cao Cao suddenly noticed that one person seemed to be missing from the grand tent. Where was Cao Ren? His cousin Cao Ren? As the vanguard general, why was he not attending such an important military conference?
"Where is Zi Xiao? Why don't I see Zi Xiao?"
Speaking of Cao Ren, Cao Hong immediately explained, "That… Zi Xiao went to Langya Commandery today, seemingly to find a family with the surname 'Zhuge'. When he left this morning, I was curious and asked a few questions…"
"He said Young Master Lu Yu asked him to do it, to invite this family to Yanzhou. Even if the entire family couldn't be invited, at least one twelve-year-old boy named Zhuge Liang had to be invited! Young Master Lu Yu has mentioned this Zhuge Liang to Zi Xiao many times."
The Zhuge clan? Zhuge Liang?
Cao Cao's brow furrowed as he began to ponder this statement carefully.
As far as he remembered, his father had mentioned the Zhuge clan once last year. Because of Yin Lin's guidance, the Zhuge clan of Langya Commandery had leaped from an ordinary clan, surpassing the Mi and Lu clans, to become the wealthiest merchant family in Xuzhou.
Beyond that, Cao Cao had no impression of the Zhuge clan… or even any Zhuge Liang.
However, since it was something "Yu'er" specifically asked Zi Xiao to do, it must have its reasons. Forget it, let Zi Xiao go and find them.
It was just a family in Langya Commandery. "Inviting" them to Yanzhou, wouldn't that be easy?
As for the name "Zhuge Liang," Cao Cao silently remembered it.
However, he had no idea that what he remembered this time was his fated lifelong rival!
"Alright, let's not talk about Zi Xiao. Now, facing Pengcheng with its scorched earth policy, everyone, tell me, do you have any other good strategies?"
Cao Cao shifted the topic back.
Throughout the first half of the night, the grand tent was abuzz with discussion!
…
…
In Langya Commandery, a cavalry troop of a hundred men was galloping along the official road.
The rider at the forefront was clad in silver-white armor, his red cape fluttering in the wind, exuding a heroic spirit. He was Cao Ren, whose mission was to go to the Zhuge family's estate to "invite" someone!
Speaking of which, the Zhuge family was the wealthiest in Xuzhou, so finding them was not difficult. After a little inquiry along the way, they found their estate. It was a mountain villa in the countryside, not small in scale.
As soon as they reached the village entrance, they could see the magnificent buildings within the villa from afar. In addition, the hundreds of acres of cultivated land behind the villa were also particularly conspicuous.
"The Zhuge family seems quite prosperous!" Cao Ren reined in his horse and pointed his whip towards the Zhuge family's estate.
"General, I understand..." Deputy General Niu Jin nodded and prepared to arrange personnel.
During this time, Niu Jin had followed Cao Ren to dig up many noble tombs. Whenever Cao Ren pointed his whip and said, "This tomb looks quite prosperous..."
Niu Jin would immediately understand…
The meaning was clear: Brothers, get ready, we're cleaning this place out.
Therefore, Cao Ren's style of tomb raiding was significantly different from that of Cheng Yu, who served Lu Yu. Cao Ren's style was more heroic, like the "Xie Ling Li Shi" in novels. No matter who it was, no matter if the candles were extinguished or not, they would directly take everything. Whoever they were, if they had the ability, they could resurrect and bite them!
In short, the entire process of tomb raiding could be summed up in four words: no martial virtue!
After all, with more and more tomb raids, Cao Ren increasingly realized that it was nothing… it was as simple as eating, sleeping, farting, and drinking water. Moreover, what was martial virtue worth? What were rules worth? What was moved out of the tomb was their own.
Therefore…
When Cao Ren pointed his whip at the Zhuge mansion at this moment, Niu Jin assumed he was going to raze the Zhuge mansion. This was something he was very familiar with!
"You few… prepare the carriage..."
"Uh… cough cough…"
Seemingly realizing that Niu Jin had misunderstood, Cao Ren quickly reminded him.
"No need for that. Do not startle them. Young Master Lu mentioned inviting the Zhuge clan back to Yanzhou. Do not use force unless absolutely necessary… Also, do not move the money and valuables from the Zhuge mansion. Our 'Xie Ling' legion only moves from the graves of the dead, not from the houses of the living! This is our bottom line!"
"Uh… Yes!" Niu Jin cupped his hands.
Although his hands still itched, it was fine… it wasn't as if they couldn't afford to miss this one household.
"Da da da…"
The sound of horse hooves echoed again, and Cao Ren and his hundred cavalrymen rode towards the Zhuge mansion.
…
Inside the Zhuge mansion at this time, all the clan members were gathered in the main hall, a scene of utter panic.
…
…