Chapter 366

"Everyone, our army has dispatched a total of 160,000 troops this time, including 60,000 naval forces. We must capture the Central Plains in one fell swoop!"

The group cupped their fists in unison.

"Understood!"

Liu Bei nodded. "Our army's main line of attack this time is Xu Province. We will advance by both water and land along the Han Canal, utilizing Gaoyou Gaoyou Lake, Hongze Gaoyou Lake, and the Si River to reach Pengcheng and Xiapi in the heart of Xu Province directly!"

This was the result of long deliberations between Liu Bei, Guo Jia, Pang Tong, Xun You, and others.

There was no need to force an attack on the fortified city of Hefei.

As long as they seized control of Xu Province and the Huai River, and secured the grain routes around Guangling, the Cao Army in Hefei could keep guarding it as they pleased.

Liu Bei only ordered Li Feng, the Administrator of Lujiang, to keep a close watch on the Cao Army's movements, leaving a few thousand naval troops to monitor the Yangtze River. Since Cao Cao had no naval forces, he could not strike at Jiangdong.

"Upon reaching the Huai River, our army will split into two routes. Lu Xun will lead the naval forces west along the Huai River to attack Shouchun and Xiangxian, and rendezvous with Zhuge Zhang Liang at Xuxian. I will personally lead the main army to recover Xu Province and take Qing Province to the north!"

Lu Xun felt both moved and excited. With so many fierce generals, the lord had made him a commander of one of the routes—what an honor!

"My lord, this subordinate will certainly give my all!"

Early the next morning, with a thousand sails racing, Liu Bei led the main army to occupy Jiangdu north of the Yangtze, using it as the starting point for the Northern Expedition.

Guangling Commandery was shaken!

Xu Province was shaken!

The Central Plains were shaken!

In Ye City,

After Cao Cao consulted with everyone, considering that Liu Bei had aided Qing Province and Xu Province in the past, he held great prestige there and still owed the local gentry a significant amount of grain.

Everyone unanimously agreed that Liu Bei would abandon the attack on the fortified city of Hefei and drive straight into Xu Province!

Cao Cao ordered Zhong Yao, the current Inspector of Xu Province, to seal the city gates and adopt a scorched-earth policy!

He left Xun Yu, Cao Ang, Cao Hong, and others to guard Ye City and defend against the troops from Bing Province.

Xia Xia Houyuan was to guard Qing Province.

Xia Xia Hou Dun, Zhen Jiang Jiang Yiqu, and others were to lead troops to reinforce Xuxian!

He personally led the main army, taking Dian Wei, Xu Zhu, Wen Chou, as well as the fierce generals of the Cao family—Cao Chun, Cao Zhen, Xia Xia Houshang, and others—totaling 150,000 troops, to head to Xu Province for a decisive battle with Liu Bei!

In Xu Province, at Sheyang County, the seat of Guangling Commandery,

Members of the Chen family gathered to discuss how to face Liu Bei's army.

Chen Deng had already died by this time, and his younger brother Chen Ying was now the head of the family.

"Everyone, Lord Liu Xuande has raised an army of 300,000 and is coming to Xu Province. We cannot stop them; we should make plans early."

Chen Su, the son of Chen Deng, cupped his fists.

"Uncle, it was Liu Bei who revealed to Lu Bu that our Chen family had defected to Duke Wei. Duke Wei has treated our Chen family well; how can we surrender without a fight!"

The other Chen family members looked at him as if he were an idiot. The inheritance of the family was what mattered; if they acted like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, would the family even survive?

Chen Ying sighed.

"That was only a rumor. Lord Liu Xuande has extremely high prestige in Xu Province. If we don't defect, do you want us to end up like Zhou Yu and Huang Gai?"

Just then,

A soldier came to report.

"Head of the family, Lord Liu Xuande's envoy, Zhang Hong, is here to visit."

Zhang Hong was a famous scholar from Xu Province whose ancestral home was in Guangling, and he held great prestige in the area.

The 697 members of the Chen family hurried to welcome him. Zhang Hong brought Liu Bei's appointments, granting official titles to several members of the Chen family, and even naming Chen Ying a Pavilion Marquis.

The Chen family naturally opened the gates of Sheyang City to welcome Liu Bei into the city!

Guangling Commandery was thus pacified!

That evening, Liu Bei hosted a banquet for the gentry of Guangling Commandery. The next day, he left Lu Su to guard Sheyang City and secure the grain routes.

He continued to lead his troops north. Along the way, the gentry in places like Gaoyou, Anyi, and Huai'an surrendered city by city.

Liu Bei's advance was like splitting bamboo; his momentum was extremely fierce!

Lu Xun, Wen Pin, Xu Sheng, and others led troops west along the Huai River to take Shouchun and Xiangxian!

Liu Bei led the main army from the Huai River into the Si River, continuing to advance toward Pengcheng.

Zhong Yao, the Inspector of Xu Province, ordered Che Zhou, the Assistant Governor of Xu Province and defender of Xiapi, to keep the city gates tightly shut and defend strictly!

He himself held Pengcheng while waiting for reinforcements, and simultaneously ordered the Taishan bandits Zang Ba, Sun Guan, and others to lead troops to save Xu Province.

Liu Bei had already led his troops past Huaiyin by this time, moving very quickly!

He also realized the benefits of using ships to transport soldiers and supplies.

Zhang Fei's vanguard cavalry had already entered the territory of Pengcheng, with their spearhead pointing directly at Pengcheng, where Zhong Yao was stationed with 10,000 troops.

Cao Cao also arrived in the Yan Province area with his main army, ordering Zhong Yao to hold Pengcheng firmly, as he intended to use Pengcheng to fight a decisive battle against Liu Bei!

Upon learning that Cao Cao had personally led an army to reinforce Xu Province, and knowing that Zhong Yao was a man of superior strategy, Liu Bei feared that Pengcheng would be difficult to attack and that he might be taken advantage of by Cao Cao.

He immediately led his troops to march rapidly toward the northeast, surrounding Xiapi.

After resting the army for one day and building siege equipment, they began attacking Xiapi day and night!