Xu Huang suddenly felt enlightened and instantly understood Cao Cao’s meaning.

At this moment, he finally understood Cao Cao’s intention.

This move was clearly intended to deliberately highlight the special courtesy shown to him in order to win over people’s hearts.

There was no way. The only general available in the city was Xu Huang.

He is the only person Cao Cao can rely on, and must be treated well and won over.

This carefully planned plan really made Xu Huang sigh.

After three rounds of drinking, Cao Cao’s smile gradually faded and his expression turned solemn.

“What Mr. Xu said is absolutely right.” Cao Cao spoke slowly, “Although Chengdu City has stored food and grass, if the siege lasts for four or five months, the food will definitely run out and the aid will be gone.”

“When the food and grass are cut off, won’t Chengdu be in danger?”

“I think we should come up with a good plan as soon as possible.”

Cao Cao said solemnly.

Xu Huang sighed, “Your Majesty is wise. I have understood the key to this. However, we are now isolated from the outside world and our food supply route is cut off. I am afraid that this food and grass dilemma will be difficult to resolve.”

After saying that, he shook his head and sighed.

Cao Cao’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice and said:

“The existing grain reserves are insufficient to feed the entire city’s population.

But if it is only for soldiers, it may still be able to hold up.”

Xu Huang’s eyebrows twitched slightly when he heard this, but he was unable to comprehend the mystery.

He shook his head again, confused.

There were some things that Cao Cao found difficult to say, so he could only hint to Xu Huang to speak for him.

However, Xu Huang didn’t understand for a long time.

In desperation, Cao Cao had to speak frankly:

“Mr. Xu, you know that many people in the city have savings.

I think if we can collect all the food stored by the people, it should be able to support the soldiers for seven or eight months.”

At this point Cao Cao no longer beat around the bush and stated his true intention directly.

Forcibly collecting grain from the people to support military needs was Cao Cao’s strategy to break the impasse!

When these words came out, Xu Huang was shocked:

“If we collect all the food stored by the people, the soldiers will be well fed, but how will the people survive?

Are we just going to watch them starve to death?

They are all citizens of the Qin Dynasty!”

Xu Huang emphasized: “Your Majesty, all the people in this city are citizens of the Qin Empire.”

Seeing that Cao Cao wanted to sacrifice the people, he couldn’t help but speak out to persuade him.

“How can I bear to see my people starve to death?”

Cao Cao looked bitter:

“But if we don’t do this, the soldiers of the three armies will be out of food. Without food, Chengdu will surely fall.

If Chengdu is lost, all the people in the city will also be doomed.”

After a moment of silence, Cao Cao continued:
“Collecting grain may cause the death of some people, but not collecting grain will kill all the people in the city.”

After saying this, his face was full of helplessness.

Xu Huang was deeply shocked and finally understood Cao Cao’s difficulties.

He bowed and reminded:
“Your Majesty, please think twice. Such actions will be cursed for eternity!”

Cao Cao stood up suddenly and said sternly:

“For the sake of this country, I am willing to bear this infamy!”

Looking at Cao Cao’s resolute expression, Xu Huang’s eyes were filled with admiration.

He took a deep breath and bowed to the ground:

“Your Majesty is kind and gracious, and I shall serve you. I am willing to go and collect grain!”

Cao Cao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew very well that most of the soldiers in the city were from Shu. Now that they were asked to rob their neighbors’ stored food, they would inevitably feel resistance.

This could only be done by a person of high moral character and prestige, and Xu Huang was a famous general of the time, so who else could it be?

Seeing Xu Huang agreed, Cao Cao felt relieved.

That night, the city of Chengdu became a purgatory.

Xu Huang led his troops to search for food and fodder everywhere, and executed anyone who resisted.

The people never expected that Cao Cao would be so cruel and ruthless as to plunder all their food supplies.

There was resistance at first, but what was met with was a ruthless blade.

A few days later, Xu Huang squeezed 200,000 hu of grain from the people, which was equivalent to looting all the grain reserves in the city.

At this point, Xu Huang had turned into a devil in the eyes of the people!
But he only wanted to repay Cao Cao’s kindness, even if he was criticized by thousands of people.

After receiving the grain, Cao’s army was temporarily relieved of its famine and its morale was slightly boosted. However, the common people were in dire straits. Finally, the hungry people took the risk of leaving the city and joining the Han army.

The soldiers guarding the city turned a blind eye and let them leave.

In just seven days, thousands of people had fled.

When the news came, Cao Cao was furious.

In his view, the people’s escape was tantamount to betrayal, and such behavior could not be tolerated.

He would rather let the people starve to death than allow them to surrender to Liu Bei.

So Cao Cao immediately issued a strict order:
All gates were tightly locked, and the people were forbidden to escape;
A reward of half a gold coin will be offered to anyone who captures a fugitive;

Anyone who releases the weapon privately will be punished by military law!
The captured soldiers will be charged with treason and their entire clans will be exterminated!
Under the bloody suppression, thousands of civilians were massacred.

The Qin soldiers dared not slack off anymore and started strict inspections.

…

Liu Bei saw all of Cao Cao’s atrocities.

In the Han camp, in the imperial tent, Liu Bei was heartbroken:
“Cao Cao is willing to put the people to death in order to raise food for the army. These are all his people!”

“Cao Cao has become so mad that he doesn’t even care about being insulted.”

Pang Tong was also indignant, gritting his teeth and saying: “If we delay any further, I’m afraid the people will all be starved to death by Cao thieves.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Xiao Fang.

At this moment, only he can quickly capture Chengdu and save the people from danger.

“Your Majesty, I have a plan.”

Xiao Fang said calmly: “If it works, we can capture this city in no time.”

Hope rekindled in Liu Bei’s eyes: “Tell me quickly!”

Xiao Fang then told the story.

Everyone was amazed when they heard this.

“Your Majesty, what do you think of this plan?” Xiao Fang asked with a smile.

Liu Bei clapped his hands and exclaimed: “Brilliant! This is a brilliant plan!”

All the ministers praised it.

“Just follow this plan!”

Liu Bei made a prompt decision: “We will take the city today!”

He then ordered Deng Ai to act according to the plan.

Over the next few days, the Han army’s offensive became more fierce, pretending to break into the city.

At the same time, the war of public opinion was launched in full swing.

Liu Bei ordered Pang Tong to write a manifesto and throw it into the city using a catapult.

The article announced Cao Cao’s crimes to the world, used the issue of grain collection to incite public anger, and called on the people to rebel against Cao and return to Han.

Liu Bei even promised a generous reward:
Anyone who kills Cao Cao will be rewarded with 10,000 gold coins!

The manifesto flew into the city like snowflakes, and every citizen had a copy.

The people, who were already full of resentment, became even more furious after this incitement.

The manifesto was soon presented to Cao Cao.

Faced with Liu Bei’s actions, Cao Cao was powerless to fight back and could only vent his anger on the people.

So he issued a strict order to confiscate all the manifestos, and anyone who hid them would be killed without mercy!

Under the bloody suppression, although the people were forced to hand over the manifesto, they were still resentful.

While Cao Cao was brutally suppressing his people, Liu Bei was personally distributing porridge to the fleeing civilians in the Han army camp.

This move not only demonstrated Liu Bei’s benevolence, but also provided an opportunity to inquire from the people about the actual situation in the city.

The people are grateful for the emperor’s grace, so they naturally speak out everything they know.

From the people, Liu Bei learned the shocking inside story:

Cao Cao actually imitated the old deeds of Yanzhou and secretly committed cannibalism!
Every late night, Xu Huang would lead people to kidnap the elderly, the weak, women and children.

It is rumored that the captives were all killed and pickled as jerky.

It was obvious that Cao Cao had prepared for a long siege and would use human flesh to satisfy hunger when food and grass were exhausted.

“How dare Cao do such a thing that is intolerable to heaven!”

Liu Bei was so angry that his hair stood on end.

“His Majesty!”

Xiao Fangjinyan was also full of indignation, and said with a folded hand:
“Cao Cao has lost the support of the people. Your Majesty, please attack the city tomorrow!”

Liu Bei jumped up, raised his arm and shouted:

“Pass on my order, attack the city with all your strength tomorrow morning!

Kill Cao the thief! “(End of this chapter)