My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

What brilliant plan did Bowen have?

Liu Bei's spirits lifted, and he looked at Xiao He with delighted eyes.

Xiao He turned his gaze northward and said calmly:
"This plan can hardly be called a brilliant one."

"After his failed raid on Yanjin, Cao Cao made no further moves, not even marching south to retake Neihuang City, but instead remained inactive."

"Therefore, I suspect that Cao Cao has actually lost confidence in lifting the siege of Liyang and wants Cao Ren to abandon the city and break out, in order to lose territory but save lives."

"However, our army has surrounded Liyang so tightly that not even a fly can get in. News from Liyang is cut off, and even if Cao Cao wants Cao Ren to break out, the order cannot get through."

"Why don't we open a gap in the wall and let Cao Cao's messenger into Liyang to deliver the order to break out of the siege to Cao Ren?"

"Since Cao Ren does not want to be trapped in the isolated city, and he has been ordered by the traitor Cao to break out, he will surely lead his entire army to abandon the city and break out. Then we can set up an ambush outside the breach and annihilate him in one fell swoop."

"In this way, Liyang can be taken without a fight, and Cao Ren can be captured!"

Xiao He revealed his plan.

In fact, this strategy was still based on his ability to understand people's hearts and his calculation of Cao Cao's changing mentality.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei suddenly realized his mistake and happily said:

"Very well, let's follow Bowen's plan and quickly open a breach in the encirclement to let that treacherous Cao Ren come and meet his death!"

After Liu Bei issued his order, that very night, the Chu army demolished the earthen wall north of the city, filled in the two moats, withdrew from the encirclement, and opened a gap a hundred paces wide.

Of course, this opening wasn't made for nothing.

As the breach was created, Liu Bei issued a series of edicts, ordering a large force to be deployed in an ambush outside the breach.

With the breach opened, the Wei messengers who had been lingering outside the siege finally saw a glimmer of hope for infiltrating Liyang City.

So they took advantage of the cover of night and "risked their lives" to rush towards Liyang City.

...

Liyang City, government hall.

"Why do you think that big-eared thief suddenly pushed down the north wall? What was his intention?"

Cao Ren, seated high on his throne, surveyed the assembled strategists and generals.

The generals, including Yue Jin, looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.

"General of the Flying Cavalry, I believe that Liu Bei has been besieging Liyang for so long without success that he has run out of options and has no choice but to open a breach."

"In this way, he can lure us into abandoning the city and breaking out, and then that big-eared thief can take Liyang without a fight!"

Cheng Wu revealed his guess.

This speculation was echoed by generals such as Yue Jin.

After all, the siege of the city by more than 300,000 Chu troops had lasted for almost six months.

What about cutting off food and firewood, what about water dragon cannons, what about divine thunder cannons, what about psychological warfare...

The Chu army has already used every possible strategy to win.

Unfortunately, Liyang City still stands strong.

After Cao Ren solved the "supplies" problem, they were no longer worried about supplies and could hold out for another three to five months without any problem.

In this situation, Liu Bei seemed to have no other way to capture Liyang except to hope that they would abandon the city and break out on their own initiative.

"General of the Flying Cavalry, since the Chu army has already opened a breach, why don't we take this opportunity to lead our troops to break through and save these 20,000 soldiers for the King?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Cheng Wu advised Cao Ren to break through the encirclement.

Cao Ren was startled and looked at Cheng Wu with surprise.

Just half a month ago, Cheng Wu had offered him a treacherous plan, willing to bear the infamy to help him defend Liyang City.

How come in the blink of an eye, he's started advising me to abandon the city and break out, just like Jia Kui?
Cheng Wu is not stupid.

If he could save his life and escape to heaven, why would he want to be trapped in Liyang City and wait to die?
It was simply because he had seen that Liyang was surrounded on all sides and the hope of breaking out was slim, and he also saw that Cao Ren was determined to defend Liyang, so he had no choice but to help Cao Ren come up with ideas.

The situation is different now.

The Chu army took the initiative to create a breach, greatly increasing their chances of breaking out. Naturally, he went with the flow and, as expected, chose to adjust his stance and began to strongly urge Cao Ren to break out.

After all, survival is the most important thing.

Cao Ren frowned and said sternly:
"I have already stated that the Emperor ordered me to defend Liyang to the death. Without the Emperor's decree, I will never—"

The words have not yet fallen.

A rider galloped in from outside the city, heading straight for the north gate, shouting:

"I am a messenger of the King of Wei, please let me into the city at once!"

The city walls trembled.

Cao Ren's expression changed drastically, and he quickly turned around to look at the scene with a look of surprise and delight.

Six months!

Li Yang was besieged for six months, as if isolated from the world, completely unaware of outside news.

Suddenly, someone claiming to be Cao Cao's messenger appeared before them, and Cao Ren and the others were naturally shocked and unable to adapt.

Behind the messenger, a troop of Chu cavalry was in pursuit, firing arrows in rapid succession.

Cao Ren quickly recognized that the messenger was one of Cao Cao's Tiger Guards.

Without a doubt, it must have been Cao Cao who sent a messenger to risk his life to rush in and deliver a message when the Chu army opened a breach, only to be pursued by the Chu army's patrol cavalry.

"Quickly, open the city gates and let him in! Archers, hold off the Chu invaders!"

Cao Ren didn't have time to think much before he hastily waved his hand and gave the order.

The archers on the city wall immediately drew their bows and shot at the pursuing Chu cavalry.

The remaining soldiers opened the city gates, lowered the drawbridge, and promptly allowed the messenger to enter the city.

Cao Ren couldn't wait for the messengers to come up the city wall, so he ran ahead of them to come down and greet them.

"This humble servant pays his respects to the General of the Flying Cavalry!"

The messenger, catching his breath, stepped forward and knelt on the ground.

Cao Ren quickly helped the messenger up, and looking at the familiar face, he felt an urge to burst into tears.

"Your Majesty... what decree has Your Majesty issued?"

Cao Ren could only take a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and asked. The messenger bowed and said solemnly:

"His Majesty has issued an edict stating that Liyang is no longer defensible and ordering the General of the Cavalry to lead the defending troops to abandon the city and break out!"

about.

Cheng Wu, Yue Jin, and other generals all breathed a sigh of relief.

Cao Ren's body trembled slightly, but he fell into a daze, his eyes glazed over.

After a long while, Cao Ren let out a long breath, as if his nerves, which had been tense for a long time, had finally relaxed at this moment.

"Since it is the King's decree, how can I disobey? Pass on my order: have the entire army prepare to abandon the city and break out at the opportune moment!"

Cao Ren glanced at the generals and waved his hand weakly.

Cheng Wu and the others were overjoyed, clearly not expecting Cao Ren to agree so readily.

No hesitation!
One second they heard Cao Cao's edict, and the next they announced the abandonment of the city and the breakout!

This is a stark contrast to his previous stubborn insistence; he was practically a different person.

Do you all think that I don't know that defending Liyang to the death is a dead end?

"As a subject of the Great Wei, I should obey the king's orders; this is my duty as a subject!"

"Now that the king has ordered me to abandon the city and break out of the siege, how can I disobey?"

Cao Ren explained his predicament, then solemnly and resolutely said:
"You should all hurry and prepare yourselves. You have done your utmost for the Great Wei. Now it is time for you to go home and reunite with your wives and children."

"I, Cao Ren, swear here and now that I will bring you home alive!"

Only then did everyone realize what was happening, and they were overjoyed, with cheers and shouts erupting everywhere.

The order to break out was quickly relayed, and the Wei soldiers were overjoyed, as if they had been granted a general amnesty.

...

Three days later, late at night.

The remaining 20,000 Wei soldiers have gradually assembled under the northern city wall of Liyang.

On the city floor.

Cao Ren stood with his sword at the ready, his deep eyes fixed on the north direction.

At first glance, it was pitch black.

There were no walls or Chu army camps there, and not a single light could be seen; it seemed that only a wide, unobstructed road to the north remained.

"General of the Flying Cavalry, the north seems unobstructed, but there may be Chu troops lying in ambush. Should we really break out from the north?"

Cheng Wu whispered a reminder from behind, dispelling Cao Ren's concerns.

Cao Ren clenched his fists.

He understood, of course, that Liu Bei wouldn't be so kind as to open a breach for him and let him and his 20,000 Wei troops escape.

There must be an ambush outside the breach.

Breaking out from the north would be extremely dangerous, with success or failure uncertain.

"Of course I know that there must be a trap set by the big-eared bandits in the north."

Cao Ren nodded slightly, but asked in return:
"But if we don't break out from the north, do we think we can get through unimpeded by breaking out from the southwest, east, or other sides?"

Cheng Wu was startled, and immediately understood the implication of Cao Ren's words, and fell silent.

Although there were Chu troops lying in ambush to the north, there was still a glimmer of hope.

The area was surrounded by walls and moats on the southwest, east, and west sides, as well as by the Chu army's encirclement and blockade, like an impregnable fortress, yet there was not a glimmer of hope in sight.

If I had to choose, I would naturally have to choose the one that seemed to offer a glimmer of hope.

This was a choice Cao Ren had no other option but to make.

As the two were talking, several beacon fires rose from the direction of the east gate.

Immediately afterward, Yue Jin rushed over, cupped his hands, and said:

"Reporting to the General, I have been ordered to light torches at the East Gate and drive all the surviving civilians out of the city!"

This was Cao Ren's last resort.

He drove the remaining civilians out of the city through the east gate, pretending that his army was about to break out through the east gate, in order to attract the attention of the Chu army and cover his breakout from the north.

Cao Ren naturally knew that this feint could only attract a limited number of Chu troops, a drop in the ocean compared to the 300,000 Chu soldiers.

I can only say that it is better than nothing.

Taking a deep breath, Cao Ren raised his longsword and shouted:

"Report my order: open the city gates, and the entire army will break out with me from the north!"

The generals accepted the order with great enthusiasm.

Cao Ren drew his sword and prepared to leave the city.

At this moment, Yue Jin said:
"General of the Flying Cavalry, Jia Kui is still lying in the camp. Are you really not taking him with you?"

Jia Kui refused, saying he was already starving and on the verge of death, and didn't even have the strength to get out of bed.

Cao Ren hesitated for a moment, then said coldly:

"Since he has chosen to preserve his integrity, then I will grant his wish. Whether he lives or dies is up to fate."

After saying this, Cao Ren said no more, took a few steps down from the city wall, and mounted his horse.

Le Jin sighed and had no choice but to follow them down the city wall.

After being closed for six months, the North Gate of Liyang was finally reopened, and the drawbridge slowly descended.

The generals and soldiers of Wei were all trembling with excitement, their hearts filled with both tension and exhilaration.

Cao Ren glanced back at Liyang City behind him, took a deep breath, and pointed his long sword forward:
"All troops, listen to my command! Break out to the north!"

"Follow me, fight your way out, and I, Cao Ren, will take you home!"

One man and one horse, leading the charge with a roar.

Twenty thousand Wei soldiers surged out of the city gates like a tidal wave, heading north towards the city. (End of Chapter)