I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

The news of the defeat at Yanxian and the military intelligence from Wancheng arrived at Cao Cao's camp at Guandu almost simultaneously.

A deathly silence fell over Cao Cao's military tent.

Zhang Xiu knelt before Cao Cao, his face pale, his lips trembling as he pleaded, "Prime Minister, Wancheng has fallen, this humble general... this humble general has no heart to remain here."

"I beg Your Excellency's permission...to allow this humble general to return to Wancheng first, defeat Liu Biao, and then rush to our aid!"

Cao Cao squinted at Zhang Xiu, then suddenly stood up.

"Prime Minister, you must not!" Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Liu Ye, and others around Cao Cao thought he was going to agree and almost unanimously dissuaded him.

Cao Cao paused for a moment, glanced at his advisors, ignored them and Zhang Xiu, and walked straight to Jia Xu.

"Why is Wenhe silent?" Cao Cao asked, staring at Jia Xu.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister," Jia Xu replied respectfully, his face expressionless.

"In my opinion, it was not Liu Biao who launched the sneak attack on Gualijin," Jia Xu said calmly.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Cao Cao realized that Jia Xu's judgment was the same as his own, so he asked, "Why? Wenhe believes that if it is not Liu Biao, then who else could it be?"

Jia Xu kept his head slightly lowered, his eyes not looking at Cao Cao: "In my opinion, it might be Liu Bei."

"Huh? Liu Bei?" "How could it be Liu Bei?" As soon as Jia Xu said this, the military officers started to discuss it.

"Are you saying that Liu Bei bypassed Yan County from Runan and secretly crossed Wancheng?" Cao Cao pressed.

"Exactly." Jia Xu remained expressionless.

Actually, he wasn't very confident in making this judgment; it was just a simple process of elimination.

Having spent so much time with Liu Biao, he didn't believe Liu Biao had the courage and boldness to launch a surprise attack on Wancheng at this critical juncture.

He also didn't believe that the disorganized generals of Jingzhou could have successfully launched a surprise attack on Gualijin within an hour.

If Liu Biao is ruled out, then it can only be Liu Bei.

"Gentlemen, generals, have you all understood?" Cao Cao suddenly shouted.

"Jia Wenhe means that we've all been tricked by that big-eared scoundrel!"

The sparse chatter that had been taking place in the tent stopped when Cao Cao shouted.

"In this light, General Cao Ren's words are true. Liu Bei's actions in Yan County were merely a bluff, while he actually divided his forces to attack Wancheng. The timing does seem to match up." Guo Jia finished speaking and sighed.

"What good plan do you have, Fengxiao?" Cao Cao asked Guo Jia.

"Report! Xun Yu of Xudu has learned of the attack on Wancheng and has sent a letter!" The messenger interrupted Guo Jia, who was about to speak.

Cao Cao hurriedly snatched the letter and began to read it.

"To Your Excellency: "

The stalemate at Guandu is a pivotal moment for the entire nation. We must concentrate all our forces to crush Yuan Shao, and not divert troops to relieve Wancheng, lest we jeopardize the overall situation. Xuchang is safe with Yu in command; there is no chance of its fall.

We should immediately send a letter to Zang Ba of Qingzhou, ordering him to send troops to harass Jizhou. Yuan Shao is inherently suspicious; upon hearing of the fire in his rear, he will surely divide his forces to return. With his forces divided and ours focused, we will surely defeat Shao.

Yu Jinshi

"Good! Good!" Cao Cao laughed loudly, "Mr. Wenruo's words are exactly what I want to hear!" After saying that, he handed the letter to Guo Jia and the others.

Guo Jia smiled slightly and said, "My lord, I believe that this method can also be used to defeat Liu Bei."

"Oh? Fengxiao, speak quickly!"

"Sun Ce of Jiangdong has just died. The Prime Minister, following Zhang Hong's advice, appointed his younger brother Sun Quan as a general. Now is the time to wage war. Your Excellency can use the Emperor's edict to order Jiangdong to raise troops and launch a remote attack on Runan, so as to show their loyalty and obedience."

"If Liu Bei knew this, the troops in Wancheng could have retreated. At that time, he could have sent a general with elite troops to guard Yan County and quietly observe the battle between Jiangdong and Liu Bei."

"Our army can, as Mr. Wenruo suggested, concentrate all its strength to destroy Yuan Shao."

Guo Jia stroked his small mustache and slowly explained his plan.

After listening, Cao Cao squinted and asked, "Fengxiao's plan is feasible, but what if Jiangdong doesn't respond?"

Guo Jia said, "Sun Ce has a trusted lieutenant named Zhou Yu, courtesy name Gongjin. He is a man of great ambition. Before his death, Sun Ce once told Sun Quan, 'If you have any questions about foreign affairs, ask Zhou Yu.'"

"My lord, you might as well send an envoy and agree that after the matter is accomplished, he will be appointed as the governor of Huainan, and he will persuade Sun Quan to send troops. Sun Quan will surely follow his advice."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Good, very good, we will do as Fengxiao says."

"Prime Minister, General Cao Ren has been ambushed by Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei and is wounded. Should we recall him first?" Liu Ye reminded Cao Cao from the side, as no arrangements had been made for Runan yet.

"Yes, pass on my order: Li Dian and Yue Jin shall lead their four thousand troops to retreat and defend Yan County, and Cao Ren shall bring back the remaining troops."

Cao Cao reluctantly accepted the fact that he had underestimated Liu Bei, and said dejectedly, "Liu Bei was utterly defeated by me in Xuzhou, and his army was almost completely wiped out."

"Why did they achieve consecutive victories against Cao Ren upon arriving in Runan, and even devise a brilliant plan to secretly cross Wancheng? Could it be that they had a master strategist assisting them?"

"Zhongde!" Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu.

"exist!"

"Go to Runan and deliver my military order. Also, find out who is behind the secret crossing of Wancheng."

"Yes."

Cao Cao really couldn't understand how his little brother Liu Bei, who had always just been good at fighting, could suddenly be so good at strategy, especially such a high-level strategy with a strategic vision.

A few days later, Zhou Yu rushed to Wu County to meet Sun Quan.

"Gongjin, where do you come from?" Upon hearing that Zhou Yu had rushed over overnight, the young Sun Quan, with his blue eyes and purple beard, hurriedly went out to greet him, followed closely by Zhang Zhao, Lu Su, Zhuge Jin, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and others.

Zhou Yu, with a serious expression, asked, "Is there an imperial edict from Xuchang?"

Zhang Zhao asked in confusion, "The messenger only arrived this morning and is waiting for the lord's reply at the post station. How did Gongjin know?"

Zhou Yu lowered his voice and said, "Cao Cao sent a secret envoy, offering me the position of Governor of Huainan, instructing me to persuade our lord to send troops!"

"Such a thing has happened!" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this.

Sun Quan took Zhou Yu's hand and said, "Let's go to the mansion and talk in detail!"

Back at his residence, Sun Quan frowned and looked at everyone, saying, "You are all pillars of Jiangdong. Please feel free to speak your minds about the matter of sending troops."

Zhou Yu stood up first, pacing back and forth as he said, "Cao Cao is currently facing Yuan Shao's army attacking Guandu in front and Liu Bei's elite troops besieging Wancheng behind. He has forged the emperor's edict to order Jiangdong to fight, simply to use me to relieve his worries."

Lu Su nodded and said, "Gongjin's words are very true."

Zhang Zhao looked at Zhou Yu and said, "Now that Jiangdong has just been pacified, if we start another war, I'm afraid the people will be uneasy. But, how should we explain this to Cao Cheng?"

Zhou Yu looked at Zhang Zhao and asked, "Zibu, do you mean... it's not advisable to send troops this time?"

Zhang Zhao nodded and said, "That's right."

Zhou Yu then looked at the generals who had remained silent and asked, "Gentlemen, what is your opinion?"

Cheng Pu replied, "I also believe that it is unnecessary to risk the lives of my Jiangdong men to help Cao Cao out of this predicament."

Seeing that Zhuge Jin, Huang Gai, and Lu Su had not expressed their opinions, Zhou Yu glanced at them and asked, "Do you gentlemen also share this view?"

The rest of the group nodded.

"But what if we are only pretending to obey Cao Cao, and in reality using this opportunity to take a detour to attack Guo and head straight for Xuchang?" Zhou Yu said, his eyes shining.

"Liu Bei was merely a weaver of mats and a seller of shoes. The Runan he occupied was a tiny place, and his army numbered no more than ten thousand. Yet he was still able to take advantage of the situation and advance directly to Wancheng."

"Our Jiangdong army is well-trained and well-supplied, yet we stand idly by at this time. Wouldn't that be a pity?"

After Zhou Yu finished speaking, he looked around at everyone present with a sly smile.

"Huh?...This..."

Now everyone understood. In their surprise, they immediately realized that Sun Ce had indeed been plotting a surprise attack on Xuchang before his death, aiming to seize control of the Central Plains.

Zhou Yu actually wanted to take this opportunity to complete Sun Ce's unfinished plan!