Before this, Yang Rui had already found out through his secret investigation that Cao Cao's main force had Swallow County, Kao City, Jiyang, and Jiwu as the main cities for defense. They would then form a defensive line. This was slightly different from Cao Cao's initial arrangement.
Yuanju County was very close to Jiyang County. The two counties were separated by a tributary of the Ji River. However, the tributary wasn't particularly wide, and there were all sorts of ferries going back and forth. Normally, the garrison in Jiyang would be able to reinforce Yuanju County within four to six hours.
However, ever since Yang Rui started deploying his forces against Cao Cao, he had sent many warships and some Bi 'an to patrol the river. Should a battle break out, the water traffic between Jiyang and Yuanju Counties could be cut off at any time.
However, there were other land routes between the two counties. If they took some detours, they could still communicate with each other. However, doing so would take twice as long.
Yang Rui's ships were only scouting the tributary. They didn't make any actual moves. Due to the presence of the Imperial Guard, they couldn't do anything. It wasn't until the Imperial Guard of the six prefectures was done that Yang Rui's small warships began to move. They cleared out Cao Cao's forces on the river and took the opportunity to seal off the river.
In other words, Yuanju County was isolated and helpless for the time being. Cao Cao wouldn't be able to take care of it with conventional means.
In comparison, Yang Rui's forces, be it Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Gao Shun, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Guan Hai, Dian Wei, Yu Jin, or the five hundred thousand elite soldiers, including all the Sixth and Seventh Grades, were almost unstoppable before the defenders of Yuanju County.
First, Zhao Yun and Yu Jin led 45000 Sixth Grade heavy cavalry and 15000 Sixth Grade heavy cavalry. They moved from the north and south, bypassing Yuanju County and heading straight for the shore of the tributary of the Ji River. Once they cleared out the enemy forces along the way, Yuanju County would truly become an isolated city.
According to the secret investigation, there were about fifty to sixty thousand soldiers in Yuanju City. This was probably because Yuanju City was at the forefront of Cao Cao's forces and needed to be heavily fortified.
At this moment, Yang Rui's troops could be said to be ten times more than the defending army. There was a saying in the Art of War that one could besiege a city with three times the number of the enemy. Sun Tzu's Art of War also stated in detail that ten times the number of the enemy was enough to besiege a city, five times the number of the enemy was enough to attack, and ten times the number of the enemy was enough to divide the enemy.
It could be said that Yang Rui had 100% confidence in taking down Yuanju County. Furthermore, Yang Rui did not need to follow the military strategy to besiege the city for a long time. The 100 heavy trebuchets were not just for show.
As the distance was not far, Zhao Yun and Yu Jin had already arrived at the tributary of the Ji River at around five in the afternoon. They had roughly cleared out the enemy forces. Before the sky turned dark, Yang Rui's main army had already arrived at Yuanju County.
"Hurry and inform General Liu that my old friend, King of the East Sea, Blazing Sun, is here. Ask him if he is willing to accept the attack of the trebuchets or accept my sincerity. If there is still no answer in fifteen minutes, I will attack the city. "
Yang Rui stopped and shouted at the defenders on the walls after arriving at the east gate of Yuanju County. With Yang Rui's current level of power, his voice could travel a very wide range. Almost all the defenders on the east gate and the nearby walls could hear him clearly.
Previously, the confidential investigation had not only grasped the approximate number of defenders in Yuanju County, but also the information of the commander of Cao Cao's troops. The one who led the troops into Yuanju County was a general surnamed Liu.
However, he did not know the specific identity of this general, Cao Cao. According to Yang Rui's subjective screening, among the more powerful subordinates of Cao Cao, there were Liu Ye, Liu Yan, and a few others surnamed Liu.
Although he was not sure which general it was, Yang Rui first went forward to scare the other party to confuse them. Perhaps it could also play a role in driving a wedge between them.
"Who are you? Why are you pretending to be my old friend? Why are you pretending to be King of the East Sea, Blazing Sun?
Although I have never met the King of the East Sea, I know his character. He will not attack Yuanju County for no reason. "
In a short moment, the figure of a general appeared on the eastern city gate tower of Yuan Ju County. He also shouted loudly at Yang Rui's troops below the city.
This man was tall and thin, with a clean face and no beard. He was dressed in military uniform. From a distance, he had the majesty of a military general and the demeanor of a scholarly general. For a moment, Yang Rui and the others did not know his specific type.
Judging from the situation of his shouting, this person's strength might not be at the level of Yang Rui, but he was definitely above the level of a famous historical general. Both the attackers and the defenders on the east side of Yuanju County heard his words clearly.
As the general placed at the forefront by Cao Cao, this person was obviously not so easy to deal with. With just a few words, he changed the context created by Yang Rui's words. He not only cleared the relationship with Yang Rui, but also set a trap for Yang Rui. As a result, Yang Rui, as the attacker, seemed to be unworthy of his usual image.
Yang Rui, Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, and the others around him nodded and approved of the performance of General Liu on the city wall. However, in this situation, even if he was eloquent, he could not change the outcome of failure.
"Release!"
Yang Rui abruptly gestured to the people behind him and shouted loudly to pass down the order to attack.
From Cao Cao's performance, this person should be surnamed Liu. At the same time, he did not seem to have any intention of compromising, so Yang Rui directly gave the order to attack.
This order was given to the hundreds of heavy trebuchets that had been set up behind him. One of the important reasons why Yang Rui went forward to talk to the defenders was to buy time for these trebuchets to assemble.
At this time, the defending general of Yuanju County was within the attack range of the trebuchets. It seemed like the scene of Cao Ren being knocked out and finally capturing Niu Jin was going to repeat itself. Of course, Yang Rui would not let go of such an opportunity so easily.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh …"
"…"
The hundreds of heavy trebuchets fired at the same time, releasing huge stones that whistled in the direction of the east gate of Yuanju County. In the next moment, the entire east gate tower would be "drowned", including Cao Cao's generals!
However, at this moment, General Cao Cao, who was on the city gate tower, suddenly retreated and directly jumped from the city wall into Yuanju County, narrowly avoiding the core area covered by the rain of stones.
Perhaps because of what happened to Cao Cao and Niu Jin, General Cao Cao's troops might have been somewhat prepared when facing Yang Rui's heavy trebuchets. That was why the general was able to dodge so narrowly.
As for whether or not he was affected by the falling stones, there was no way to know.
Although the defending general of Yuanju County had temporarily avoided the disaster, in the situation where the generals, troops, equipment, and information were not equal, the defending general of Yuanju County was not as lucky as his general.
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