Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 629 Cao Ang Seeks Aid

Yu Province, Runan Commandery.

"Excellent! Excellent!!"

Upon learning that Liu Bei had led his troops into Xu Province, and even that plague god Li Ji had followed, Yuan Shu was so excited he nearly danced for joy.

"Cao Mengde has done well! He's practically sacrificing himself for others, a truly righteous act!"

What does it mean to be a good brother? This is what it means to be a good brother!

Yuan Shu was so moved he almost shed tears.

Originally, Yuan Shu had been plotting how to seize Yan Province and felt immense pressure, fearing that a misstep would lead to losing Yu Province even if he managed to take Yan Province.

Therefore, even with Yuan Shao's support, Yuan Shu considered borrowing troops from Cao Cao to alleviate the pressure.

To Yuan Shu's surprise, Cao Cao agreed to lend troops without hesitation, calling him 'brother' at every turn.

Although Cao Cao, due to Cao Song's murder, turned his anger into a full-scale attack on Xu Province with all the forces of Qing Province, Yuan Shu could understand Cao Cao's feelings.

Yuan Shu even went so far as to station troops in Pei to threaten the western side of Xu Province, cheering Cao Cao on.

Cao Cao's performance was even more commendable to Yuan Shu, as he repeatedly defeated the Xu Province army and captured Langya and Donghai commanderies with unstoppable momentum.

Following that, Cao Cao even carried out a large-scale massacre in Donghai Commandery, incurring the wrath of gods and men, causing Liu Bei to lead an army of 100,000 into Xu Province in anger.

For Yuan Shu, this was undoubtedly a great thing.

Although heavy troops were still stationed along the Shouchun City line, those forces were more than enough to defend, but not enough to actively attack Runan Commandery.

In this way, Yuan Shu, who had originally felt like a thorn in his side due to being constrained by Liu Bei in Runan Commandery, gained the strategic initiative.

Now, whether Yuan Shu advanced west into Xu Province or north to take Yan Province, he did not have to worry about Yangzhou threatening his rear.

In Yuan Shu's view, Cao Cao had ruined his reputation but greatly alleviated his predicament.

‘The false brother is Yuan Benchu, but true loyalty must be seen in Cao Mengde!’

Yuan Shu sighed with emotion.

As Liu Bei led his troops into Xu Province, Yuan Shu was somewhat uncertain whether to advance west into Xu Province or north to take Yan Province, and his subordinates also argued their own points.

The strategists, led by Yan Xiang, advocated taking Yan Province to the north and establishing contact with Yuan Shao as the priority.

The strategists, led by Yang Hong, supported advancing west into Xu Province, joining Cao Cao to take Xu Province and resist Liu Bei.

The two sides held their own opinions, and Yuan Shu was hesitant when Cao Ang came to visit Yuan Shu as an envoy.

Yuan Shu interacted with Cao Cao as equals, and now regarded Cao Cao as a brother. He immediately sent people to warmly entertain Cao Ang, and received Cao Ang with great ceremony.

However, the first thing Cao Ang did upon entering the State Preceptor's mansion and seeing Yuan Shu was to kneel down with a "thump" and say,

"Please, Uncle, quickly send troops to help my father!"

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shu quickly got up and personally helped Cao Ang up, asking with concern, "What is this, virtuous nephew? Quickly rise."

Cao Ang cried out with a sorrowful expression.

"My grandfather was killed by treacherous men. My father is willing to use all the troops of Qing Province to avenge my grandfather. That old thief Tao Qian should have a bit of shame and offer his neck for execution."

"However, the old thief Tao Qian repeatedly uses the people of Xu Province to block my father's advance, wanting my father to be wary of harming the innocent, unable to make any progress, causing my father to reluctantly open fire."

"But that Imperial Uncle Liu took the opportunity to enter Xu Province to attack my father. My father knows that his strength is difficult to compare with Imperial Uncle Liu, but he is unwilling to see the old thief Tao Qian escape by luck…"

"Therefore, looking at the great Han, only Uncle can help my father. Otherwise, with Imperial Uncle Liu's help, the old thief Tao Qian will probably only be able to retreat and return to Qing Province."

This series of words caused Yuan Shu to frown deeply.

Cao Cao is preparing to retreat?

This will not do!

Yuan Shu is still counting on Cao Cao to contain Liu Bei and consume Liu Bei's forces. Once Cao Cao chooses to retreat, wouldn't all previous efforts be wasted, and the predicament faced by Yu Province would return to the starting point?

Yan Xiang, who was on the side, couldn't help but get up and angrily reprimand him.

"Bold child, how dare you coerce my lord into sending troops with such remarks? Cao Cao is wantonly massacring and plundering in Xu Province, incurring the wrath of gods and men. Now he still wants to use my lord's troops to relieve the siege, it's ridiculous."

Cao Ang did not answer Yan Xiang, but instead played the emotional card with Yuan Shu, saying.

"Uncle, do you still remember the agreement you made with my father in Luoyang back then?"

Hearing this, Yuan Shu remembered the conversation he had with Cao Cao outside the palace gate when they were both squeezed out by Chen Gong.

"Uncle, do you still remember my father's promise to lend troops without hesitation?" Cao Ang asked again.

This sentence undoubtedly hit Yuan Shu's sore spot.

Yuan Shu's moral standards are not high, but he is quite loyal.

Although Yuan Shu has not yet decided whether Yu Province should advance west or take the north, he still promised on the spot.

"Mengde and I are brothers, and now that Mengde is in deep trouble, I will naturally help him. Like this…"

Yuan Shu pondered for a moment and said.

"I have 50,000 elite soldiers stationed in Pei. I will send a general to lead 40,000 troops into Xu Province immediately to assist Mengde, how about that?"

As soon as Yuan Shu said this, Yan Xiang wanted to stop him, but he also knew that Yuan Shu's character was the most loyal.

Because Cao Cao had previously promised to lend 30,000 troops, even if he did not fulfill it, Yuan Shu still chose to send 40,000 troops as assistance out of loyalty.

However, Cao Ang's goal was not these 40,000 elite soldiers.

Cao Cao knew that if he wanted to compete with Liu Bei, Yuan Shu had to come down and join the game.

Otherwise, even if Liu Bei stubbornly defended, relying on the foundation of Yangzhou, it would be enough to force Cao Cao to retreat.

Immediately, Cao Ang saw that Yuan Shu had shown a tendency to loosen his mouth, and said again.

"Please also send a large army to help, if you can defeat Imperial Uncle Liu, my father only wants the head of the old thief Tao Qian, and Pengcheng, Xiapi, and Guangling commanderies can all belong to Uncle."

As soon as this was said, Yuan Shu was instantly moved.

Using Cao Cao's strength to resist Liu Bei's attack on Xu Province, and the final benefits all belong to him, this kind of good thing is not common.

Just as Yuan Shu was about to agree, Yan Xiang quickly came out to interrupt Yuan Shu's pre-action, and said loudly.

"Why doesn't my lord ask Young Master Ang to go down and rest first, so that we can discuss a suitable method to assist General Cao as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Yuan Shu immediately sent someone to invite Cao Ang down to rest, and then discussed with the assembled staff.

It's just that these staff members also held their own opinions, and continued to argue fiercely without giving in to each other in two factions.

Among them, taking Yan Province to the north was a strategy that had been jointly decided with Yuan Shao before, and it was a rehash of old tunes.

And advancing west into Xu Province, under the analysis of Yang Hong and others, the benefits can also be said to be obvious.

Tao Qian has been repeatedly defeated and is half dead; Cao Cao's troops are in full swing.

Once Yuan Shu chooses to send troops to attack Xu Province, not only will he be able to use Cao Cao's strength to attack Liu Bei, but he may also be able to share Xu Province with Cao Cao and completely block Liu Bei's path to the Central Plains.

Once Liu Bei's momentum is broken, then the subsequent Yan Province will only be in the Yuan family's pocket.