Sima Yi said: "This strategy is also a way to defeat the enemy. Although it is a safe strategy to defend, it is also a way to wait for death. What if Zhou Yu is here?"
Xiahou Dun frowned and said, "If Zhou Lang were here, he would not hold out like this. He would definitely try to send out troops to attack as defense. But now the whole of Dongwu is determined to defend, what can we do?"
"That's right!" Sima Yi said with a smile, "Rats hide in their holes. If you scare them, some will flee or fight back. I think there must be someone in the city who wants to fight. We just need to launch a fierce attack and they will send out their troops."
Xiahou Dun stroked his chin and said, "Hiss—it seems to be true."
Xun You suddenly realized, "What Zhongda said is absolutely right. We all thought Shouchun was strong and refused to attack it with all our strength. The Wu army relied on the city and was content with it. Now is the time to meet the challenge head-on and let the enemy know that we are determined to take the city. After a while, they will surely change their minds, and then the city can be taken!"
Cao Hong patted Xiahou Dun on the shoulder and laughed, "I have long said that Zhongda is cunning... He has many clever schemes. Take a look—"
Sima Yi said modestly: "It's not that I am more skilled than you, it's just that an outsider can see things more clearly. The Prime Minister and the others know that Shouchun is strong, so it's only natural that you don't want to waste your troops."
Upon hearing this, all the generals nodded and thought to themselves that it was indeed true. It was not that we were not as good as this little brat, but that we simply did not want to attack Shouchun by force.
Xun You stroked his beard and looked at Sima Yi, and sighed: After Fengxiao, the Prime Minister has gained another genius.
Sima Yi had a long-term vision. Apart from other things, he just broke away from the convention and did the opposite, which few people could do.
Many things seem simple and easy to understand, but those who are involved are often confused. Those who can detach themselves from the matter can often control the overall situation and make plans.
The next day, news came from Cao's army that Cao Cao was seriously ill and unable to take charge of military affairs. He was recuperating in Pengcheng and ordered Xiahou Dun to lead the army to attack Shouchun.
Xiahou Dun led his troops straight to Shouchun, set up a large camp, and ordered Cao Hong, Zang Ba, and Cao Xiu to attack Shouchun from three directions, leaving only the south gate for the Wu army to retreat.
Shouchun, which had been peaceful for half a month, was once again filled with cries of fighting. The Wu army had not rested for long and when they saw Cao's army coming aggressively, they hurriedly prepared themselves and lost many soldiers at the beginning.
Since the Battle of Guandu, Cao's army's siege equipment has been greatly enhanced. The siege towers can be as high as five meters. The soldiers are like in the clouds, overlooking the city and keeping all movements under their control.
After Liu Ye and several others modified the catapult, it not only had a stronger range, but could also throw out five or six huge stones at a time. Once launched, it made a terrifying sound like thunder, so it was renamed the Thunderbolt Chariot.
Other equipment such as battering rams, ladders, etc. are also available, and powerful bows and crossbows are neatly arranged, which also poses a great threat to the defenders.
For three consecutive days, Cao's army attacked like a tide, filling up the moat and killing their way to the city. Le Jin personally led the troops to attack the city. Some people had already climbed to the top of the city wall, and the morale of Cao's army was high.
The setting sun was as red as blood, reflecting the mountains of corpses outside Shouchun City. The scene was horrifying.
After Cao's army retreated, Cheng Pu summoned all the generals to discuss the matter. Although the defenders had the advantage, Cao's army was powerful and the offensive was unstoppable, and all the generals were exhausted.
When Zhou Yu went back to recuperate, everyone thought that Cheng Pu would take over as the governor. However, Zhou Yu recommended Lu Su as the governor of Huainan, which puzzled everyone.
After Lu Su arrived, he first conveyed Sun Quan's orders. Zhou Yu saw that Shouchun City was strong and was sure that Cao's army would not attack by force, so he ordered the entire army to train and raise soldiers, to pacify the people and store grain, and to consolidate the Huainan defense line.
He then ordered Cheng Pu to continue to be in charge of the troops and guard against Cao Cao, while he went to Hefei to supervise the construction of waterways. Once the Huaihe River, Feishui River and Chaohu Lake waterways were opened and Huainan had sufficient troops and food, they would be able to fight against Cao's army.
Cheng Pu frowned and said, "Cao's army is attacking so fiercely, it seems that they are determined to take Shouchun. The two commanders have predicted that it is wrong. What should we do?"
Dong Xi sighed, "If this continues, even if Shouchun is a dirt mountain, it will be razed to the ground by Cao's army. I'm afraid we won't be able to open up the waterway."
Lü Meng said, "Shouchun is strong, with sufficient food and equipment. There are 20,000 soldiers in the city, enough to defend it for half a year. The rainy season is coming soon, and Cao's army will retreat soon."
Huang Gai was furious and said, "Cao's army is so aggressive, it is obvious that they are taking advantage of the fact that we have no one in Jiangdong. Tomorrow I will go out of the city to fight the enemy."
Lü Fan also said, "The Marquis of Wu and the Grand Commander have both issued orders that we should not go out to fight. Cao's sudden and fierce attack may indicate some other trick."
Huang Gai laughed and said, "Haven't you heard that a general may not obey orders from his sovereign when he is away from home? Although Lu Zijing is intelligent, he does not understand the art of war and can only talk about it on paper. Whether to fight or not depends on the situation of the army ahead."
Dong Xi also said: "If we listen to what these scholars say, we would have already handed over Jiangdong to Cao Cao during the Battle of Ruxu. If we want to expand the territory and protect the land, we still need to fight bloody battles."
Lü Meng and Lu Su were very close friends, and they privately called each other brothers. Lü Meng hurriedly said, "The governor of Lu is not like Zhang Zibu. Although he cannot lead troops, his ability is no less than that of the Grand Governor. Otherwise, how could he take over the important post of Governor of Huainan?"
Cheng Pu's eyes were slightly cold as he glanced at Lu Meng, thinking that the younger generation in Jiangdong no longer took old ministers like us seriously.
In the past, he did not obey Zhou Yu, but after several battles, he listened to Zhou Yu's words. Now that Zhou Yu is injured and retired, he actually says that Lu Su's talent is not inferior to Zhou Yu. Am I ranked below Lu Su
But he was an old minister of Jiangdong after all, highly respected and virtuous. Although he was unhappy, he would not argue with the young junior. He twirled his beard, frowned and said nothing.
The generals immediately started arguing. Huang Gai and others advocated fighting. The Cao army was arrogant. If they did not fight back when they were attacked, the men of Jiangdong would be laughed at.
Only Lu Meng and Lu Fan advocated defense. Although Cao's army's offensive was fierce, it would not last long. Their losses were even more serious, and they would retreat sooner or later.
Cheng Pu was unable to make a decision, so he ordered his generals to retreat and rest. He went to the city wall alone to inspect the situation. He saw that the Cao army camp outside the city was connected around Shouchun, with torches lit, making it as bright as day.
Cheng Ziyan said, "Now the generals are arguing and it is difficult for father to make a decision. Why don't you send someone to ask the governor of Lu and let him make the decision?"
Cheng Pu held the wall with his hands and said coldly: "Lu Zijing entrusted me with the military affairs. If I ask him now, I am really not as good as Lu Su!"
Cheng Zi was stunned, realizing that his old father had the highest seniority in the army, second only to Zhou Yu, and was no longer willing to show weakness to Lu Su.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "In my opinion, if Cao Cao personally led the troops to attack the city, he might have other tricks. But I heard that Cao Cao had a headache and is still recuperating in Pengcheng. Xiahou Dun is just a warrior, so he is not to be feared."
"Hmm?" Cheng Pu paused for a moment, as if the fog had suddenly cleared, and smiled as he twirled his beard, "My son has made considerable progress in his military training over the past few years!"
Cheng Zi was, after all, the second generation of a general, and he was proud and arrogant. He clasped his fists and said, "I have been taught by my father since I was young, and I have read military books thoroughly. I often take the Grand Commander as my role model. Although I am still far from being as good as him, am I not as good as Lu Meng, a humble warrior?"
Cheng Pu laughed, then immediately scolded: "Although my father has made great contributions in Jiangdong, he never takes advantage of his seniority, let alone..."
Cheng Zi looked at the smile on his old father's face and clasped his fists, saying, "Father is a man of high moral character, kind and generous. He is respected by everyone in Jiangdong. I am not even a fraction of him."
"Between you and me, there is no need to flatter each other like that!" Cheng Pu waved his hands and scolded with a smile, and ordered: "Send Generals Chen Wu, Ding Feng, and Dong Xi to come and listen to my orders."