Cao Mao knew perfectly well that Sima Shi was going to move against Guanqiu Jian.
But he had not expected Sima Shi to act so quickly.
Cao Mao had originally thought Sima Shi would probably wait until the first month to issue the order, then end the fighting within half a year.
Although Cao Mao had made many preparations, he still felt somewhat uneasy.
Guanqiu Jian was a formidable commander, but could he win against Sima Shi's all-out encirclement?
He now faced five armies: Sima Shi, Deng Ai, Zhuge Dan, Wang Ji, and Hu Zun, along with Wang Chang, who would support the various armies and cut off his retreat.
His disadvantage in troop strength went without saying; the most important disadvantage was his grain supply.
The elite Huainan troops under Guanqiu Jian had little fighting spirit because their families were in the north, but there was a solution to that: he could recruit local soldiers to bolster his fighting strength.
But how could he solve the grain problem? However capable Guanqiu Jian was, he could not conjure grain out of thin air.
Besides, men like Deng Ai, Wang Ji, and Hu Zun were by no means easy opponents.
Tearing through the defensive lines of Deng Ai and the others in a short time would be anything but easy!
If he failed to win after prolonged fighting, Guanqiu Jian's entire front would collapse.
Of course, Sima Shi would not feel much better than he did. He had plenty of concerns of his own.
Guanqiu Jian's reputation as a great general was not mere boasting; he had earned it through real battles.
According to the peninsula's classic history, the Samguk Sagi, powerful dynasties including Goguryeo and Buyeo, along with the Eight Southern Island Kingdoms, including Mahan and Jinhan, had fought fiercely