Chapter 642

"Gentlemen, our army is sending out a total of one hundred and sixty thousand troops this time, including sixty thousand naval troops. We must take the Central Plains in one fell swoop!"

Everyone cupped their hands together,

"Understood!"

Liu Bei nodded, "Our army's main attack route this time is Xuzhou. Following the Han Canal, we will advance by land and water. Utilizing Gaoyou Lake, Hongze Lake, and the Si River, our army can reach the heart of Xuzhou—Peng Cheng and Xiapi—directly!"

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

Hefei is a fortified city; there is no need to attack it by force.

As long as we take control of Xuzhou and the Huaihe and secure the grain route around Guangling, the Cao Army in Hefei can guard it as well as they like.

Liu Bei only had Lujiang Administrator Li Feng closely monitor the Cao Army's movements, leaving a few thousand naval troops to watch the Yangtze. Cao Cao has no naval troops and cannot reach Jiangdong.

"Upon reaching the Huaihe, our army will split into two routes. Lu Xun will lead the naval forces west along the Huaihe to attack Shouchun and Xiangxian, meeting Zhuge Liang at Xu County. I will personally lead the main army to recover Xuzhou and take Qingzhou in the north!"

Lu Xun felt both moved and excited. With so many fierce generals, for his lord to make him a commander of one route—what an honor!

"My lord, your subordinate will certainly give his all!"

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

Guangling Commandery was shaken!

Xuzhou was shaken!

The Central Plains were shaken!

Outside Yecheng,

After Cao Cao discussed it with everyone, considering that Liu Bei had aided Qingzhou and Xuzhou in the past and held great prestige there, and still owed the local gentry quite a bit of grain,

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

Cao Cao ordered the Xuzhou Inspector at the time, Zhong Yao, to seal the city and clear the fields!

He left Xun Yu, Cao Ang, Cao Hong, and others to guard Outside Yecheng to defend against the Bingzhou troops.

Xia Houyuan guarded Qingzhou.

Xia Hou Dun, Jiang Yiqu, and others led troops to aid Xu County!

He personally led the main army, taking Dian Wei, Xu Zhu, Wen Chou, and the fierce generals of the Cao family—Cao Chun, Cao Zhen, Xia Hou Shang, and others—totaling one hundred and fifty thousand troops, to head to Xuzhou for a decisive battle with Liu Bei!

Xuzhou, Guangling Commandery seat, Sheyang County,

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

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

"Gentlemen, Lord Xuande has raised an army of three hundred thousand and is coming to Xuzhou. This is not something we can block; we should make plans early."

Chen Deng's son, Chen Su, cupped his hands,

"Uncle, the matter of our Chen family defecting to the Duke of Wei was leaked to Lu Bu by Liu Bei. The Duke of 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 is the key; if one acts like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, will the family still exist?

Chen Ying sighed,

"That was just a rumor. Lord Xuande's prestige in Xuzhou is extremely high. If we don't defect, do you want us to end up like Zhou Yu and Huang Gai?"

Just at this moment,

A soldier came to report,

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

Zhang Hong is a famous scholar of Xuzhou; his ancestral home is in Guangling, and he has great prestige here.

The Chen family members 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 to secure the grain route.

He continued to lead the army north. Along the way, the gentry of Gaoyou, Anyi, Huaian, and other places surrendered city by city.

Liu Bei was unstoppable along the way, his momentum extremely fierce!

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

Liu Bei led the main army from the Huaihe into the Si River, continuing to advance toward Peng Cheng.

Xuzhou Inspector Zhong Yao ordered the Xiapi garrison commander and Xuzhou Assistant Che Zhou to seal the city gates and defend strictly!

He himself held Peng Cheng waiting for reinforcements, while ordering the Taishan bandits Zang Ba, Sun Guan, and others to lead troops to rescue Xuzhou.

Liu Bei had already passed Huaiyin by this time, moving very fast!

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

Zhang Fei's vanguard cavalry had already entered the territory of Peng Cheng, their spearheads pointed directly at Peng Cheng, which Zhong Yao was guarding with ten thousand troops.

Cao Cao also led the main army to the Yanzhou area, ordering Zhong Yao to hold Peng Cheng; he wanted to use Peng Cheng to fight a decisive battle with Liu Bei!

Liu Bei learned that Cao Cao had personally led the main army to reinforce Xuzhou, and knowing that Zhong Yao was a man of great strategy, he feared Peng Cheng would be difficult to attack and that Cao Cao would take advantage of it.

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

The army rested for one day, built siege equipment, and began attacking Xiapi day and night!