Chapter 229: Surprising Attack on Sour Jujubes (Part 1) (Irregular updates)

ps: I made a mistake with the titles of the previous chapters, it should have been the Battle of Qingzhou. If it needs to be corrected, please ask the editor. But I'm too lazy to change it now, so let's just read it like this, it won't really affect anything.

pps: Thank you readers for comforting me these past few days, thank you for your concern.

ppps: A fan reminded me that Guo Tu was captured by Guo Jia in the battle of Huzi. I actually forgot about it. The chapter is locked and cannot be changed, so I will change the adviser Yuan Tan appointed to Xun Chen in the previous text. I'm truly sorry. Reply: It's okay, mistakes happen. Thank you for acknowledging the correction.

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The news of Jinan Guo being captured has reached Yuan Jun (Yuan Shao's army), and naturally, Cao Jun (Cao Cao's army) would have known even earlier, especially about General Jiang Yiqu leading a 20,000-strong army to depart.

At the current frontline of Guandu, Cao Jun has around 83,000 troops, while Yuan Jun has around 96,000 troops, making the difference in numbers relatively small, almost equal in strength. Yuan Shao is actively mobilizing troops in his rear, but this is ultimately limited and requires more time.

If at this moment, the Cao army launches a massive attack, they indeed have the potential to defeat the enemy. However, neither Cao Cao nor Guo Jia, Xizhi and others are willing to do so.

How many people would die if the war is really fought like this? It would be like throwing soldiers into a meat grinder, which is absolutely unacceptable. Let's not even talk about whether or not they can defeat Yuan Shao, but the Cao army would suffer significant casualties. Who knows if someone would provoke them in the future. Moreover, regardless of who wins, both sides will have to work together in the future. If there are too many casualties, it may lead to resentment and internal strife. Translated:

Military generals like Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and others naturally do not care about such matters. In their view, even if the two sides fight fiercely on the battlefield, if they were to work together in the future, any grievances would dissipate like smoke. Men don't hold grudges that much, it's all a matter of sharing a drink.

However, the strategists do not think so. Regardless of whether they hold grudges, the losses in this battle absolutely cannot be significant.

If victorious, this battle will be the one where Cao Cao claims the world.

With the addition of three provinces in Hebei and four provinces in Central Plains, seven out of thirteen provinces will be under his control. The majority of the world will already be in his hands, and a peaceful world is just within reach. If fortunate enough, this generation may live to witness the day when the world is unified.

"We must find Yuan Jun's grain depot! This was the plan we originally set! If we lose, I'll take the responsibility!"

Guo Jia ended the discussion forcefully.

This shows Guo Jia's prestige and connections within the army, as well as his ability to interfere with Cao Cao's decisions. Initially hesitant, Cao Cao also made the final decision and ordered Man Chong to gather troops from other provinces and spare no expense in investigating the location of Yuan Jun's grain depot on the south bank of the Yellow River.

Within three days, more than two thousand Mingjingwei were called from various states, and Wang Tu, the pacifier of Yanzhou, and Wu Zhouqin, the pacifier of Yuzhou, arrived in person. Man Chong sent them to various places south of the Yellow River, imposing strict investigations. If any discoveries are made, the information should be sent back using two carrier pigeons simultaneously, and the individuals should personally report the situation in the official camp at Guandu. This is also to prevent the situation where if the Mingjingwei discovers the location of the granary but gets caught and cannot transmit the information back.

In the next few days, there were several encounters between Mingjingtang and Fengmanlou in the realm of espionage and counterespionage. Although Mingjingtang had a well-established foundation, they were still the investigating party, while Fengmanlou only needed to focus on defense. As a result, Mingjingtang was temporarily unable to determine the location of Yuan's military granary.

Guo Jia once mentioned the place called Wuchao to Man Chong.

Wuchao is an easily defensible location, with cliffs and steep cliffs in the rear, and a valley in front. As long as soldiers are stationed on both sides of the valley in advance, even if there are only a few thousand troops, tens of thousands of troops will not be able to break through in a short time.

However, after sacrificing the lives of over three hundred Mingjing Wei, the result of their investigation that cost them their lives was just a mere five words: Wuchao is not a grain depot.

Full of frustration, Man Chong pounded his fist on the map in front of him. He had never felt so anxious before.

Since joining the Ming Mirror Hall, he has never experienced such a situation, thanks to his extraordinary talent and the advice and guidance given by Guo Jia, as well as the profound advantages of the Ming Mirror Hall. For a person who is accustomed to controlling the rhythm, it is undoubtedly painful when they suddenly cannot find the rhythm on the spy battlefield.

"What exactly did I overlook!"

Man Chong stared at the map in front of him, the candles on the table were almost burned out, and the mirror guard beside him had already prepared new candles, ready to replace them.

On the ground, there were already over a dozen candles that had burned down to just a flicker.

"Commander, Wang Tu (Wu Zhou) has returned after completing the investigation."

The voices of Wang Tu, the pacifier of Yanzhou, and Wu Zhou, the pacifier of Yuzhou, could be heard from outside the tent, sounding somewhat weak and exhausted.

"Charge!"

Man Chong was busy and distressed, and didn't even notice the weakness and fatigue in the voices of the two people. His gaze remained fixed on the map.

"Hey! Be careful, you two provincial governors!"

Hearing this, Man Chong raised his head and saw the two of them being supported by several personal guards, covered in bloodstains and wounds.

"Ze Zhi (Wang Tuzhi), Bo Ye (Wu Zhou Tuzhi), why did you both get such serious injuries? Quickly bring two Hu couches to help the two Military Commissioners sit down!"

After Wang Tu and Wu Zhou sat down, they both looked at Man Chong with a wry smile. Wang Tu spoke up and said, "Commander, it's my and Bo Ye's carelessness. We intended to go deep into the enemy's territory to investigate Yanjin. I invited Bo Ye to accompany me. Little did we know, we fell into the ambush set by Fengmanlou."

Wu Zhou sighed and shook his head. "It's no wonder, no one could have imagined that their defenses would be so tight. Two hundred archers and crossbowmen from the Yuan army, five thousand infantry soldiers, and five hundred covert guards from the Fengmanlou, who could have expected such strong defenses in Yanjin?"

"How is it possible? Why would Yanjing be so prepared? Yanjing does not have such strategic significance, and it is absolutely impossible for grain warehouses to be stocked in Yanjing!"

Man Chong stared at the map closely, making a decision that left everyone astonished.

Tomorrow evening, the boss personally goes to Yanjing to investigate! Boye, with my command token, order 150 Ming Mirror Guards from Yizhou, Liangzhou, Xuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou to come up! Zhi, you are cautious, and the southern bank of the Yellow River is already within your responsibilities. When I'm not here, you are in complete command."

"Commander, absolutely not!" Wu Zhou quickly dissuaded.

Man Chong is the Commander of the Mingjing Hall. If something happens to him, the entire Mingjing Hall could descend into complete chaos.

"The son of a wealthy family should not sit idle! Consider carefully before giving orders! I will go to Yanjin again once my injuries have healed somewhat! You must not personally endanger yourself!"

Ming Chong's gaze was firm, with a hint of determination. "It will take several more days for you all to recover, and I do not have the patience for that. I must go to Yanjin personally! Otherwise, I will not be at ease! There is no need for further discussion, each of you should act according to the orders! If I am unable to return, then let Guo Jiuxiu take over as the commander of Ming Mirror Hall, as he is the true founder!"

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