Chapter 147

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan quickly let their soldiers finish their lunch.

Using "wolfing down" to describe their eating style is not an exaggeration.

However.

Just as the soldiers put down their rice bowls, another round of messengers ran over and reported:

"Report!"

"That scoundrel Hua Xiong is less than ten miles away from here!"

"Bang!"

As soon as these words came out, Cao Cao looked at Xi Zhicai with a bit of resentment.

However, he also knew that this couldn’t be blamed on Xi Zhicai.

It was really because Gu Yi and Hua Xiong opposite were too treacherous!

Seeing this, Cheng Yu on the side quickly said:

"My Lord, don’t worry, Hua Xiong is still ten miles away from here."

"The soldiers can pick up their weapons and fight him at any time!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao nodded slightly.

Subsequently, he looked at Gongsun Zan.

The two quickly issued instructions, ordering their soldiers to be in their respective positions, preparing to fight Hua Xiong.

However.

Just as Hua Xiong was less than five miles away from the camp of the Cao army and the Gongsun Zan army, he suddenly ordered his soldiers to stand by.

At this moment, the distance between the two sides was already very close.

Hua Xiong and Cao Cao/Gongsun Zan could even see each other’s positions in the formation.

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan, who were almost driven crazy, could hardly suppress the urge to kill Hua Xiong at this moment!

Seeing Hua Xiong stop suddenly, a flash of anger flashed in their eyes.

"What kind of tricks is this dog thief Hua Xiong playing?"

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan were full of doubts.

"My Lord, this Hua Xiong stopping here suddenly must have another plan."

"However, he has been delaying the attack; could it be that there are other troops that haven’t arrived yet?"

Xi Zhicai and Cheng Yu analyzed.

Hearing this, Cao Cao frowned.

The next moment.

A rapid sound of horse hooves came from behind!

"Mengde, something terrible has happened!"

The person speaking was covered in blood; it was Xiahou Dun, who was responsible for guarding the rear of the camp.

Although the blood on him wasn’t necessarily his own, it was enough to show how tragic the battle had just been.

"Yuanrang, what’s going on?"

"Didn’t I ask you to be responsible for guarding the grain and grass?"

"Why did you suddenly come here?"

Cao Cao’s words carried a reprimand for Xiahou Dun, but his body was very honest.

He quickly came to Xiahou Dun’s side.

He reached out and touched Xiahou Dun’s body.

He discovered that the blood covering Xiahou Dun’s body did not come from Xiahou Dun’s body, but from other people’s blood.

Cao Cao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Among the generals of the Cao camp, Cao Cao’s love for Xiahou Dun far exceeded anyone else.

This matter is also deeply reflected in history.

No matter how many battles Xiahou Dun lost, Cao Cao never reprimanded him, but constantly promoted him and gave him raises.

After Cao Cao became the King of Wei, he even rode in the same carriage as Xiahou Dun, coming and going together.

Besides that.

After Cao Cao passed away, Xiahou Dun cried until he fainted, and followed him shortly after.

It can be seen from this.

The friendship between the two far exceeded that of ordinary people.

At this moment, Xiahou Dun said anxiously:

"Mengde, an elite infantry unit of the Dong Zhuo army suddenly appeared from somewhere and is fiercely attacking our grain storage area!"

"The combat effectiveness of that elite infantry unit is simply too fierce; Zihe is probably unable to hold out." (Cao Chun, courtesy name Zihe)

The grain storage area is roughly forty miles away from the marching camp of Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan.

The reason for placing the grain there was precisely to stay away from the flames of war on the front line.

After all.

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan themselves were not sure if they could defeat the Sishui Pass defenders.

In case the situation was not good.

The two could retreat from the front line in time.

Not letting the grain stored in the rear suffer losses.

However, grain is of great importance.

Whether it was Cao Cao or Gongsun Zan, they chose to place their most trusted confidant generals to guard it.

Cao Cao chose Xiahou Dun and Cao Chun.

Gongsun Zan chose Dan Jing and Tian Kai.

He thought the location of the grain storage area was hidden enough.

But he didn’t expect that it would still suffer an attack from the Dong Zhuo army!

"No, where exactly did the enemy pop out from?"

Compared to the loss, what gave Cao Cao a headache was.

He had no idea why the Dong Zhuo army suddenly appeared at the grain storage area!

Fortunately, Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai on the side reacted quickly.

They quickly asked Xiahou Dun:

"General Yuanrang, does that army really not have a single cavalryman, and are they all elite infantry?"

"Yes."

"But their combat effectiveness is far superior to other armies."

"Our army is really hard to resist."

Thinking of the heavy losses his soldiers suffered to cover his breakout, Xiahou Dun almost felt like crying.

In fact, looking at the Guandong area.

The combat effectiveness of the Cao army is not weak.

Not long ago, when attacking Xuzhou, they once rubbed the Xuzhou troops under Tao Qian—except for the Danyang elite troops—on the ground.

If they were against the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry or the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, it would be understandable to lose.

After all, there is an insurmountable gap between cavalry and infantry.

Before the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was born, the Cao army did not have an established elite cavalry.

However, the army that attacked the grain storage area of the Cao army and the Gongsun Zan army was actually just the infantry of the Dong Zhuo army!

This is very terrifying!

Infantry cannot compare to cavalry in terms of marching speed or individual combat effectiveness.

"My Lord... that army is probably the Trapping Battalion that climbed over the Qinling Mountains to raid Hanzhong before!"

Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai said in unison.

They had studied the wars commanded by Gu Yi quite thoroughly.

Although the Trapping Battalion is just an elite infantry unit, it is extremely good at climbing mountains.

Their commander, Gao Shun, even led the Trapping Battalion to conquer Zhuyang Pass, the gateway to Hanzhong.

There are also some continuous small mountains near Sishui Pass and Hulao Pass.

But under normal circumstances, these small mountains are not enough for a large-scale army to climb over.

But if this elite army is the Trapping Battalion, then that is another matter.

"The... Trapping Battalion?"

A flash of worry flashed in Cao Cao’s pupils.

Gongsun Zan was full of confusion.

Before Gu Yi pacified Hanzhong, the Trapping Battalion didn’t have any famous battles at all.

When the first coalition crusaded against Dong Zhuo, the Guandong warlords didn’t have any direct confrontation with the Trapping Battalion.

In such a situation.

The Guandong warlords didn’t know much about the specific intelligence of the Trapping Battalion.

"No wonder that scoundrel Hua Xiong deliberately stayed here."

"I’m afraid... he just wanted to wait until our army received the news that the grain storage area was attacked by the Trapping Battalion before taking the next step."

Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai had this terrible thought in their hearts.

The situation is clear now.

If Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan let the grain storage area be attacked by the Trapping Battalion.

Then, with the troops in the hands of Cao Chun, Dan Jing, Tian Kai, and others, they would definitely be unable to resist the fierce attack of the Trapping Battalion.

By then, all the grain of the Cao army and the Gongsun Zan army would be burned to ashes.

What would the two armies eat and use?

Therefore.

The choice left to Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan.

Is only to retreat immediately and lead the main army back to rescue the grain storage area.