Chapter 93 is roughly the same as before

  A melee ensued, and Cao Cao escaped back to his main camp under the desperate protection of Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also managed to rescue the wounded Liu Bei with their superior martial arts skills. However, the over 300 cavalrymen they had brought out were mercilessly defeated by Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and the elite Imperial Guard, with only a dozen or so men escaping back to their main camp.

  If it weren't for Zhang Liao's dispatch of Sima Zhao and Zhao Cen to guard the camp gate, Lü Bu might have directly entered the front army's main camp.

  Facing the heavily guarded Yuan army camp, Lü Bu was not satisfied, but he also knew that a hard charge would result in too great a loss. He restrained himself and led the captured soldiers and over 200 horses back to the city with a triumphant air.

  Cao Cao got an arrow on his buttocks, and it hurt so much that he was grinding his teeth. When he returned to the camp, he lay down on the couch, took off his armor, and let the military doctor pull out the arrow and apply medicine. Only then did he send someone to invite Xun Yu to come. Xun Yu already knew the general situation, walked into the big tent, and was about to comfort Cao Cao a few words, but saw Cao Cao laughing on the couch. Seeing him coming in, Cao Cao waved his hand and laughed: "Wen Ruo, I have injuries on my body and cannot give you full courtesy, please forgive me. Alas, I suffered a loss today."

  Xun Yu was taken aback for a moment, but his heart inexplicably felt a sense of relief. He sat down beside him and sized up Cao Cao: "The general has great bearing."

  "Haha, winning or losing is a common thing in the military, no big deal." Cao Cao waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "Although this battle lost more than 300 cavalry, it also allowed me to see the ferocity of Han Sui's elite cavalry. Wen Ruo, Wang Kuai didn't lose unfairly."

  Xun Yu nodded in agreement with Cao Cao's opinion. He also had this understanding, but he was sitting safely in the big tent to get this conclusion, while Cao Cao just returned from a trip around Guimen Pass.

  "Even if our army is valiant, if we launch a strong attack on Xiangyang City, our losses will be astonishing." Cao Cao turned over and lay on his side on the couch, propping up his elbow with his hand, his eyes gleaming: "If the losses are too great, I fear that the allied army will fall into internal strife and disperse in discontent."

  Xun Yu let out a helpless sigh. What Cao Cao said, he had also thought of. The city walls of Xiangyang were solid, and if they were to launch a strong attack, the price that Yuan's army would pay would definitely be extremely heavy. The normal casualty rate for siege warfare was one to four, but considering the difference in combat effectiveness between the two armies, this ratio might double or even reach as high as one to ten.

  The Son of Heaven can bear the loss of 100,000 people, but Yuan Shao cannot bear the loss of 1 million people. The Yuan army was hastily gathered together, and the generals who commanded the army had different thoughts. From Yuan Shao on down, they were all on guard against each other. They could not achieve unity of mind and action among their troops, and a loss of over 10,000 might cause the army's morale to waver, let alone a loss of 100,000.

  In other words, it is unrealistic to attack Xiangyang strongly. Cao Cao was so eager to invite him, naturally hoping that he had a better way.

  Xun Yu pondered for a long time: "General, do not worry. I think the alliance leader will come to realize this point. Tian Feng and Gong Ji are both rare wise men and will not sit idly by in the face of a stalemate."

  Cao Cao said nothing more.

  ……

  Yuan Shao's face was calm, stroking a green jade scepter, without making a sound.

  Cao Cao and Liu Bei's losses seemed to have no impact on him.

  Guo Tu and Feng Ji sat on one side, silent and speechless.

  Tian Feng gesticulated with his hands and feet, his expression was fervent. He strongly advised Yuan Shao to abandon the plan of strong attack on Xiangyang and re-implement the tactics of dividing troops to launch a surprise attack. The Son of Heaven firmly defended Xiangyang, if he did not take the initiative to leave the city and fight with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao's majestic array would become an array of killing dragons, big but useless. If strong attacking Xiangyang, the loss would be astonishing. The Son of Heaven was not afraid, what was fearful were Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun. When the Yellow Turbans rioted all over the world, the imperial court sent three armies to attack, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were both the main generals of the army, after the Yellow Turbans were pacified, they had already become famous all over the world, now two people simultaneously garrisoned Xiangyang, who dared to say that he had the confidence to defeat them?

  Once the loss is too great and morale is low, the Allied Forces may collapse. By then, it will be the time for Lü Bu and others to lead the elite troops of Pingyang to pursue and defeat them.

  So, Tian Feng suggested giving up the direct battle and taking advantage of the absolute superiority in military strength to redeploy troops. One route crossed the river to attack Mengjin, while another went south through Xuanfang Pass, forcing the Emperor to divide his forces. If they could get Yuan Shu to send troops to attack Guangcheng Pass and prevent Lu Zhi from dividing his forces, that would be even better.

  Tian Feng spoke with foamy mouth corners, but Yuan Shao did not comment on it.

  Tian Feng was both anxious and angry, his words were somewhat unpleasant to hear, and the bamboo stick in his hand was waved somewhat urgently, as if he wanted to hit Yuan Shao with two sticks.

  Xun Can sat on one side, silent and speechless, with a dim gaze.

  ……

  "It's a good thing to boost morale, of course." Huangfu Song stroked his mustache and said calmly: "But this won't be of much help in defeating Yuan Shao, on the contrary, it will scare him off."

  Liu Bian nodded in agreement. Huangfu Song's words were reasonable, and even if Lü Bu and the others were strong, their role on the battlefield was limited after all. After all, although their martial arts were strong, they had not yet reached the point where knives and guns could not enter, and one or two stray arrows could take their lives. To rely on these people to break through Yuan Shao's large array was somewhat fanciful.

  He won't foolishly launch a city attack on Yuan Shao's large array, so he can only hope that Yuan Shao will come to attack the city, using the defender's advantage to heavily damage the Yuan army and increase the internal divisions of the allied forces, forcing them to fight each other and disintegrate. Lv Bu and others are showing off their might, perhaps making Yuan Shao realize the strength of Pingyuan's soldiers, which will make him know that it is difficult to retreat and give up attacking the city.

  "However, it's not that easy to make Yuan Shao split his troops," said Liu Biao, who had already discussed this with Huangfu Song and others for a long time, and also consulted Yang Xiu about the current situation. He roughly knew what was going on in his mind. "Our army excels at cavalry, splitting troops will give us opportunities to strike separately, which is more beneficial to us, Yuan Shao won't ignore this point."

  Liu Bian smiled and said, "Moreover, before the Battle of Mengjin, he was the one who divided the troops. Now that he has been allowed to return to his old ways of dividing troops, I think he may not be able to put down this face."

  "Yuan Shao may be concerned about saving face, but he's no fool, surely he can see the pros and cons of this situation?"

  "Perhaps he will eventually accept the suggestion of dividing his troops, but he will delay. Liu Bian clenched his fists and slowly released them: "Taifu, Zhu Qing, I want to temporarily entrust Xingyang to you, I want to lift the siege of Hedong first."

  Zhu Huan and Huangfu Song exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised. However, Huangfu Song quickly made a decision: "Your Majesty can rest assured that as long as Yuan Shao does not divide his troops, we will definitely be able to hold on to Xiangyang. If Yuan Shao divides his troops, please have Your Majesty immediately send reinforcements."

  Liu Bian smiled slightly, raising one finger: "One month, give me a month's time, and I can solve the White Wave Army of He Dong. And I can bet with both of you, bet that within a month, Yuan Shao will not divide his troops, the stake is 10,000 coins, who wants to join the bet?"

  Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun exchanged a glance, then stood up together: "Your subjects are willing to accompany Your Majesty in this gamble."

  First update, seeking recommendations and bookmarks!