Guo Jia's proposal was undeniably the safest.After all,Cao Cao had only five thousand elite troops at his disposal,and the newly enlisted three thousand soldiers were of little practical use as yet.

Cao Cao remained silent,lost in thought.Xun Yu,standing beside him,could sense his inner turmoil and spoke slowly,"Though Fengxiao's plan is prudent,it would place the people of Dongjun in a perilous state.My lord,you cherish the people as your own flesh and blood.How could you bear to witness such a calamity befall them?"

"Wenruo,your words echo my very thoughts,"Cao Cao sighed,clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed out of the window at the sky,his tone laced with helplessness."We might be safe within the city walls,but what of the people of Dongjun?"

"My lord's benevolence is truly praiseworthy!"Guo Jia said with a respectful salute,cupping his hands.After a moment's contemplation,he continued,"In fact,I have another stratagem that could vanquish the Heishan bandits."

"Oh?Fengxiao,do tell me quickly!"Cao Cao's spirits soared,and he urged with eagerness.

"We can take the offensive.Evade the main force of the Heishan bandits and assail their lair directly.This is the'Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao'tactic,"Guo Jia declared in a solemn tone.

Upon hearing these words,Cao Cao was on the verge of slapping the table in admiration.Indeed,the Heishan bandits boasted a hundred-thousand-strong force,advancing with great impetus.Whether it was to hold the city steadfastly or to engage them in a direct confrontation,neither option was favorable.However,circumventing their main army and targeting their lair to compel them to retreat was an ingenious plan indeed.

"Nevertheless,this plan is not without risks.If the Heishan bandits choose to disregard their lair and remain resolute in their attack on Dongjun,then we would be in a quandary,"Guo Jia pointed out the potential hazards with a measured tone.

Cao Cao,who had been brimming with excitement just moments ago,felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him,and his enthusiasm waned.Indeed,as Guo Jia had said,this plan entailed significant risks.If the Heishan bandits refused to turn back and persisted in their assault on Dongjun,he could scarcely afford the consequences of such a gamble.

Just as he was hesitating,an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.There was still Lin Yu!

With this thought,Cao Cao cleared his throat slightly and said,"Fengxiao,you and the others may take your leave for now.I need some time to consider this."

"Yes,my lord,"Guo Jia replied,showing no sign of discontent.

After all,he was merely Cao Cao's advisor,tasked with presenting strategies and analyzing their advantages and disadvantages.The ultimate decision on how to execute the plan rested with Cao Cao.

After Xun Yu and the others had departed,Cao Cao,without a moment's delay,hastened to Lin Yu's courtyard with Dian Wei in tow.

The autumn air was clear and crisp.

Lin Yu was languidly soaking up the sun.When Zhao Yun informed him of Cao Cao's impending arrival,he couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Was this his own residence or Cao Cao's?Why did it seem as though Cao Cao wanted to visit eight times a day?

Despite his grumbling,he still tidied himself up to welcome Cao Cao.

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"Greetings,Prefect!"Lin Yu saluted with a respectful cupping of his hands.

Cao Cao waved his hand impatiently and asked without preamble,"Sir,are you aware that the Heishan bandits are attacking Dongjun?"

"Oh,they're here already?"Lin Yu was slightly startled,though not overly so.

Even without the Huang family's involvement,the Heishan bandits would likely have attacked Dongjun around this time anyway.

"Yes,they number over a hundred thousand.Should we hold fast in Puyang County town?"Cao Cao inquired cautiously.

"Holding the county town is the most foolish strategy,"Lin Yu rejected the idea without hesitation.

Although the Heishan bandits had an army of a hundred thousand,a significant portion consisted of the old,the weak,the sick,and the disabled.

Moreover,if they could be subdued and incorporated,it would undoubtedly greatly augment Cao Cao's forces.

"Then,in your opinion,what should we do?"Cao Cao looked at Lin Yu with eager anticipation.

Lin Yu paced back and forth for a while before speaking slowly,"My view,Prefect,is that you lead the elite troops and charge straight towards the Heishan bandits'lair."

"When they receive word and hasten back to defend,you,Prefect,can set up an ambush and launch a surprise attack on them."

"By then,a great victory will surely be within our grasp!"

Cao Cao's eyes sparkled.He hadn't expected Lin Yu's plan to align so closely with Guo Jia's.

He ventured to ask,"What if the Heishan bandits disregard everything and continue their assault on Dongjun?"

Lin Yu pondered for a moment and then said in a solemn voice,"If the Prefect has faith in me,you can leave the defense of Puyang to me.I guarantee that the city will not fall before your army's return."

If this battle was lost,all of Cao Cao's foundations would crumble.

If they emerged victorious and incorporated the Heishan bandits,Cao Cao's strength would multiply several-fold.

It was precisely because of this that Lin Yu had no intention of shirking his responsibility but stepped forward bravely.

Furthermore,he was brimming with confidence.Armed with wisdom that surpassed the ancients,dealing with these mere mountain bandits was well within his control.

"Since Sir is so confident,how could I doubt you?"Seeing Lin Yu's self-assurance,Cao Cao felt a rush of heroic spirit within him.

He also knew deep down that if he could defeat and absorb the Heishan bandits,his power would be significantly enhanced.

This was a risk worth taking.

"However,I have two requests."

"Please,Sir,speak your mind."

"First,assign my second brother Dian Wei to me for me to command,"Lin Yu said."Second,announce to the outside world that the county town is being defended by my second brother Dian Wei."

"Very well!"Cao Cao agreed without a second thought.

...

The following day.

Cao Cao reconvened Xun Yu,Guo Jia,Xiahou Dun,and the others and announced his decision.

"Today,we shall mobilize our troops and prepare to launch a surprise attack on the Heishan bandits'lair."

Guo Jia and Xun Yu exchanged glances and couldn't help but ask,"What about Puyang County?"

"Have no fear,gentlemen.The defense of the city has been entrusted to General Dian Wei,"Cao Cao said with a smile.

"Ah?"Xun Yu,Guo Jia,and Xi Zhicai were all dumbfounded.

They had,of course,witnessed Cao Cao's personal guard captain Dian Wei in action and knew him to be a pure warrior.

To entrust such a crucial responsibility to what they considered a hot-headed man?It was unfathomable.

"Lord..."Guo Jia attempted to protest further,but seeing Cao Cao's confident smile,he said helplessly,"Fengxiao,please be at ease.I have my own considerations,"Cao Cao reassured.

Hearing this,Guo Jia reluctantly held his tongue.

With the issuance of Cao Cao's military orders,the Cao army sprang into action.

Except for the three thousand new recruits,nearly six thousand elite troops accompanied Cao Cao on the expedition.

Before setting off,Xun Yu led Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai to a secluded spot.

"I simply can't comprehend why the lord would entrust the defense of the city to Dian Wei,"Xun Yu said,his confusion evident.

If it had been Xiahou Dun,Xiahou Yuan,Li Dian,or Yue Jin,it would have been more understandable,as they were each capable of leading troops independently.

But Dian Wei...After all,he was just a brawny and somewhat impetuous man.

Otherwise,Cao Cao wouldn't have appointed him merely as a personal guard captain.

Xi Zhicai also shook his head,equally bewildered.

Only Guo Jia wore a pensive expression.

"Fengxiao,should you try to persuade the lord again?"Xun Yu asked.

"There's no need,"Guo Jia chuckled enigmatically."Don't we all understand this principle?Could the lord be unaware of it?"

The other two were taken aback.

"What do you mean by that?"

"On the surface,it appears that the lord has entrusted the city's defense to Dian Wei.But what if there are other covert arrangements?"Guo Jia said in a leisurely manner.