Chapter 240 Cao Cao is making progress step by step, and Yuan Shao’s decline is highlighted
Author: Tough Bronze
Chapter 240 Cao Cao is making progress step by step, and Yuan Shao’s decline is highlighted
Cao Cao looked at everyone and smiled, "Haha... Let's talk about it for a moment, how good it is to be righteous. Do you have any good ideas?"
Gao Shun shook his head and said: "My lord, there is nothing you can do. He just asked the lord to decide the strategy personally when the time comes. He said that only you know how to expand the benefits of this news, thus affecting the outcome of the entire battle of Guandu."
"I know?!"
Cao Cao was a little shocked, and then he thought about it carefully. After getting rid of all the bad emotions in his heart, his thoughts gradually became clear.
Cao Cao thought about it and realized that Yuan Shao must have known about Zhu Ling. This meant that the Liyang garrison must have received orders from Yuan Shao, so they built a defense line in the small town to defend it.
If this is the case, Cao Cao only needs to defeat Yuan Shao, and the soldiers and horses in Yuan Shao's camp will be confused.
Indeed.
After thinking about it, Cao Cao's eyes suddenly lit up and he said to Cheng Yu, "Immediately send Zhu Ling's head and this letter to Liyang so that Yuan Shao can see it with his own eyes."
"At the same time, you immediately sent people to spread the news, especially among the refugees near Liyang, to spread rumors."
"Here!"
…
In the next few days, people in Liyang City knew about this matter, and everyone was shocked by it.
At the same time, after eight hundred miles of expedited travel, they arrived directly from Wei County to Yecheng, and Zhu Ling's head and letters were also delivered to Yuan Shao.
When Yuan Shao received the box containing Zhu Ling's head, it was so unbearable that he burst into tears!
"Zhu Ling, you lost your life for me in this matter, but why did it happen like this? Could it be that Cao Cao, the thief, has been guarding you, which is why you ended up like this?"
"Cao Mengde is a man who seems to be trustworthy when employing people, but secretly he is on guard against everyone. He will not truly trust anyone, and may even deceive himself.
Cao Cao used the strategy of employing people without suspicion and distrusting people with suspicion. At that time, the two of them were separated by the Yellow River. They were brothers, one went north and the other went south.
Yanzhou returned to Cao Cao, while Jizhou and Youzhou returned to Yuan Shao.
At that time, the relationship between the two was very good, and they helped each other. Yuan Shao often received news about Cao Cao's territory deployment, but he never thought that it was just a cover-up, as Cao Cao was a fickle person.
On the surface, those polite and virtuous corporals, who only use their talents, are all superficial.
Zhu Ling was killed this time. He was killed by Cao Cao after making the slightest move. This is the best proof that Cao Cao has no faith at all.
Cao Cao actually asked someone to deliver the letter to Yuan Shao, which made Yuan Shao very unhappy.
"It's over, there's no hope!"
Yuan Shao suddenly shouted loudly and overturned the table in front of him.
In this war, from the beginning of the year to now, Yuan Shao always felt that he was being led by others a lot of the time, and it was really unbearable for him.
"Hit me, hit me hard!"
Cao Cao was very angry and said to his second son Yuan Xi who was next to him.
Yuan Xi was originally in Youzhou. Recently, in order to support the southern battlefield, he not only brought 80,000 troops and horses, but also brought about 400,000 grain and grass.
"Since Cao Mengde won't make it easy for me, how can I make it easy for him? Now I can't hold on any longer! Pass my order, go south to Liyang, and fight to the death with Cao Mengde!"
Yuan Shao suddenly said in a deep voice.
Seeing that Yuan Shao was so angry, Tian Feng and Ben wanted to remonstrate, but it was useless. They looked at each other for a while, and after a long time, no one said anything.
From then on, the areas near Yecheng were constantly preparing military supplies every day, uniting forces, gathering troops and horses, and then headed south to support Liyang.
In this way, within a short period of time, Yuan Shao managed to recruit an army of 200,000. Together with the hundreds of thousands of defenders in Liyang, Yuan Shao now had an army of 300,000 and could once again fight to the death with Cao Cao.
If he wins this time, Yuan Shao can go south to Dongjun and then invade Yanzhou, directly threatening the land of Xuchang!
If Cao Cao can't resist, it will be a complete failure!
But if Yuan Shao loses to Cao Cao again in this battle, as far as Yuan Shao is concerned, he will be at the end of his rope with no way out.
…
Three days later, Yuan Shao was in high spirits and was preparing to raise his troops south to fight Cao Cao again. Now that Cao Cao had led his troops to attack Liyang for several months, his army was already exhausted. Yuan Shao firmly believed that he was just waiting for work this time, and he would definitely be able to defeat Cao Cao.
If he is defeated by Cao Cao again this time, Yuan Shao will die on his own to apologize.
Yuan Shao was planning now, but he ignored that Xi Yu in Leling County was waiting for Yuan Shao to go south.
This night, after dinner, Xi Yu, Guo Jia, Zhao Yun, and Huang Zhong were playing mahjong leisurely. Xi Yu was the one who taught the other three people to play mahjong, but tonight he kept losing to these three people.
, which made him very ashamed.
Just when Xi Yu was extremely depressed, his soldiers reported to Xi Yu's camp that Yuan Shao was about to go south to Liyang.
Hearing the news, Xi Yu suddenly became excited.
"What good news!"
Xi Yu patted the document and said to Zhao Yun: "Okay, that's it for tonight's mahjong. Zilong, you and Han Sheng go to the military camp immediately and lead the black and white cavalry from Leling to the Bohai Sea and the Hejian."
"When I got there, I immediately ordered people to spread rumors: Yuan Shao was very shameless. After the assassination was discovered, he became so angry that he actually wanted to lead his troops to the south to die!"
"At the same time, all the nobles in Jizhou are notified that as long as they take the initiative to hand over letters to me, Xiyu, before the war, I promise to protect their original interests and status in the future, and ensure that the poor scholars and ordinary people will never seize the opportunity.
Take advantage of them!"
"Here!"
Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong stood up immediately, but Huang Zhong added, "My lord, I have exactly the same color and seven pairs of dragons. You are going to let me go!"
"Old Huang, there's going to be a war now. How can you be so despondent with things? How can you be like this? It's really too much!"
Xi Yu suddenly said in a deep voice, "Give me an order. From today on, playing mahjong in the army is prohibited. Everyone should seize the time to complete various trainings immediately!"
"Ah, sir, you...are going too far!" Huang Zhong said with some dissatisfaction.
At this moment, he was in disbelief. If Xi Yu had fired this cannon at him, he would have earned at least twenty gold. But with just such a word from Xi Yu, the twenty gold would be completely gone?!
"Haha, General Huang, it's just a pair of dragons and seven pairs, it doesn't matter. If you kill a few more people on the battlefield, you can easily get back this little money." Dian Wei, who was eating big cakes next to him, smiled at Huang.
Zhong said.
"What's wrong with this? I clearly won this one!"
"Nonsense!" Xi Yu walked outside, "I haven't finished this fight yet, how did you win?"
"Wait until this war is over, and we will continue fighting when we come back!"
"Sir, you put it lightly. I'll fight you when you come back. When have I... ever been so wronged..."
Now Huang Zhong is considered old, and he has a son to raise at home. After several years of training, his son is now in particularly good health. His archery, swordsmanship, and even equestrian skills are now about to catch up with Huang Zhong's.
However, his son has not actually been on the battlefield yet and is still in Xuchang.
Huang Zhong had already planned to recruit his son after the northern war was over.
As a result, Huang Zhong is sometimes like an old money geek. He always thinks that more money in his hands is more secure.
After all, nowadays, the magic weapons of the Institute of Engineering and Craftsmen require a lot of money to buy. Even if they don't buy the finished products, they at least need to buy the raw materials to make these objects.
Xi Yu was very happy and walked in front, and immediately sent someone to go out and get the news about Yuan Shao.
From the day they entered Leling County, each step-by-step strategy could finally be implemented. As Cao Cao said at the beginning, the best plan for Xi Yu is to leave capital for the competition between Qinghe faction and Yingchuan faction, and
It also left room for the rest of the noble clans to surrender.
…
Just when Yuan Shao's 200,000 troops arrived in Liyang, there was huge turmoil in the rear of Jizhou.
People from the gentry class sent letters and tablets to Leling County one after another, expressing their willingness to surrender.
The territory of Qinghe, which is closest to Leling County, is also among them. All the noble families in Qinghe, large and small, sent letters expressing their willingness to make peace. This move made Yuan Shao's clan members clearly feel how eager these noble families were to surrender.
If this move is allowed to continue as it is, the entire Jizhou will soon be completely destroyed in a short period of time.
Such an unfavorable thing made Yuan Tan and Ju Yi in Pingyang immediately restless.
Nowadays, Pingyang City is filled with piles of official slips and various military intelligence reports, all of which are placed on Yuan Tan's papers.
At this moment, Yuan Tan's face was livid, and he was sitting in front of the papers. After several battles with Zhao Zilong these days, the hostility in young Yuan Tan's body was finally gone.
Over the past few days, Yuan Tan has restrained his temper a lot.
After several battles with Zhao Yun, Yuan Tan's most capable generals were all killed by Zhao Yun within a few rounds. This frightened them into not having the courage to fight.
Several sneak attacks were planned, but they all failed and suffered heavy losses. Such a difficult battle made Yuan Tan and his troops feel like they were being led around by others, and they also suffered heavy losses after stealing camps several times.
From the beginning of the war, Yuan Tan never fully grasped the initiative.
After all, under the teasing of Xi Yu and Zhao Zilong, Yuan Tan was in fear and uneasiness every day, and he even had to endure the blame and abuse from his father, Yuan Shao, who was at the rear.
"Ju Yi!"
At this moment, Yuan Tan said in a deep voice.
"Tonight, you and I will go out with our troops and fight with Xi Yu!"
"We will take advantage of the victory and attack directly to Leling County and occupy both sides of the Yellow River Jishui. In this way, we can block the land to and from Qingzhou and make Xiyu homeless in Jizhou."
Hearing this, Ju Yi's face was very gloomy, he shook his head and said, "You... your idea is too simple. Now in the entire Yellow River line, we have never won a victory. Now, the morale of the army is very weak, and we have nothing."
The solution.”
"But looking back at Cao Cao and Xi Yu's army, they are following them step by step and attacking step by step. On the surface, Cao Cao has not made any achievements in Liyang in the past few months, but in fact, it is because of Cao Cao's presence that Liyang has doubled.
Feeling pressure.”
"In this way, Youzhou's soldiers and horses will be unable to move at all within a few months, so we have fallen into passivity. According to General Yi, the best way now is to wait for problems in Cao Cao's rear before we attack."
"Why are there problems in Cao Cao's rear, and how long do we have to wait? Is it possible that my words are of no use to you now?" Yuan Tan was very unhappy, and his cheeks twitched a few times.
Ju Yi was stunned for a moment, feeling a little bitter in his heart.
Your words... Why does it work?! When does it work?!
I have followed your father for many years and supported him as the shepherd of Jizhou, allowing him to have the prestige he has today. With such achievements, few people can compare with me, but you are a junior and have never treated me like an uncle in the long time you have been in the plains.
.
After all, I am your father’s benefactor and your Yuan family’s benefactor!
At this moment, Ju Yi felt as if he had eaten a mosquito. The feeling was very uncomfortable but he could not express it.
However, the father and son of the Yuan family are so similar. Yuan Tan is almost exactly the same as his father Yuan Shao: he has a handsome appearance, a good temperament on the outside, and a sanctimonious appearance, but he is very proud on the inside.
"General, if what I said is true, there are Sun Ce and Jingzhou to the south of Cao Cao. If a war breaks out in these two places, Cao Cao will have to go back and defend his base camp."
"That's it, so we can wait a little longer. It's almost time now, and the other princes can't bear it any longer."
"Oh, how come you can see it?"
Hearing this, Yuan Tan gritted his teeth. Although he felt that what Xi Yu said was reasonable, he couldn't help it now.
If it were slower, all the nobles in Qinghe County and Pingyuan County might have surrendered.
Until then, their army will have a very difficult time in the city.
In the past few days, Yuan Tan had killed four celebrities to shock him, but he seemed to be unable to restrain him. As long as people could escape from the plains and reach the plains, they felt that they could regain their lives.
In comparison, poor scholars and ordinary people are more willing to go to Laoling County, where Xiyu is implementing benevolent policies. In this way, if he responds calmly, he will naturally not be in chaos and there will be no hidden danger of being surrounded.
As a result, many people found new escape routes.
From Pingyuan City, go north first, and then go to Hejian County. From Hejian County, go east directly and you can enter Leling. The troops sent by Xu Zhen are waiting to greet you.
In this way, without offending local officials, one can enter Leling County and witness with one's own eyes the benevolent government promoted by Xi Yu.
Under such a situation, Guandu started fighting again. Yuan Shao immediately led his army southward. Without almost any probing with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao directly gathered his troops to storm Cao Cao's Guandu camp.
Moreover, the two sides must have had many confrontations in a short period of time, whether they were attacking the camp at night or setting up a battle formation. Without hesitation, the two sides launched a series of cavalry charges and battle formations.
However, most of Yuan Shao's soldiers and horses were new soldiers with very little battlefield experience. It was difficult to demonstrate much combat effectiveness on the battlefield. After being ambushed by Cao Cao several times, they were frightened.
Until this moment, Yuan Shao still did not stop attacking. He had no intention of stopping the attack at all.
He ordered the battle to be fought day and night, and asked Wen Chou and Zhang to lead troops and horses to charge continuously. The damage was huge. In less than a month, the troops and horses dispersed at least 50,000 people.
But Cao Cao's losses this time were only about 10,000.
Moreover, the general's men suffered heavy losses.
However, looking back at Yuan Shao's military camp, Zhang He and Wen Chou were very tired and even felt that their future was bleak. Even if Wen Chou and Zhang He were brave, Yuan Shao had the ability to lead the army.
However, now, it is true that Yuan Shao has long lost the hearts of the people. As a result, Yuan Shao is only angry now, but anger cannot bring victory.
On the contrary, they were attacked by the troops of Cao Cao and Xi Yu. Therefore, after Cao Cao's troops withstood the first round of attacks by Yuan Shao's army, they cooperated with Xi Yu. This made Yuan Shao's army even more difficult.
At the end of July, when autumn was about to begin, Yuan Shao fell ill again.
…
At this moment, in the Liyang City Government Office, Yuan Shao looked sick and was lying on a soft couch. Everyone around him felt melancholy and uneasy when he saw Yuan Shao's expression.
Military generals Wen Chou and Zhang He were covered in blood and stood in front of Yuan Shao, while Ju Shou and Guo Tu stood on the other side. The four of them were in very complicated moods at the moment. During these days, if everyone was not anxious and busy, their mental state was in a daze.
Trance.
The era that Xi Yu lives in now is the feudal period. Everything in society is based on the person: such as clan, army, civil servants and conquest. It is difficult to change easily. And the most important thing for this gentry class is
Control the entrance to the imperial court.
As a result, it was difficult for scholars and people from poor families to enter the imperial court, and as a result, the intellectuals completely controlled the political affairs of the court and some areas.
The result is...
Everyone will be prosperous, and everyone will suffer losses. As they move up the hierarchy, in the end, the glory and happiness of the nobles all benefit from one person. When the court is stable, he is the emperor.
But now, Cao Cao coerces the emperor to order the princes. In today's world, the glory and wealth of the nobles benefit from the local princes.
Yuan Shao was born into a noble family. He belonged to an official family of four generations and three princes. He had thousands of books in his family. His connections were as intricate as the roots of a tree. No one dared to underestimate him. In addition, Yuan Shao himself had a heroic spirit. He was favored by many nobles and gathered around him.
Many noble people.
But the real purpose of the noble people is profit and survival, and it is difficult to talk about emotions.
Like now, Yuan Shao is old and sick, and is very lonely.
At this moment, Yuan Shao just felt regretful that he should not have killed Xu Ziyuan in the first place. He had followed Yuan Shao for many years. If he were still alive now, he would at least still have some friendship with Yuan Shao.
Unlike people like Ju Shou, Guo Tu, and Tian Feng, who have reached this point and can't even say a word of what is on their mind.
After the previous Party Rebellion, many people chose to follow the gentry and attach themselves to them. Of course, the most famous Yuan family was one of them.
However, Yuan Shao later accidentally lost the imperial power, got Dong Zhuo, and further gathered more nobles around him.
Also from that year, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, with the support of many noble families, competed in the world.
However, it was a pity that Yuan Shao betrayed the Han Dynasty. Yuan Shao did not proclaim himself emperor, but he has been struggling to support him.
At the beginning, the situation was not like this. Yuan Shao's identity, background, character and abilities were all very strong. After receiving the support of nobles from various places, he quickly gathered into a force and rose rapidly.
But nowadays, dispersion is also quite rapid.
Even Cao Cao, in the original history, only obtained Yanzhou solely because of the "gifts" from Chen Gong, Zhang Miao and others...
Chapter completed!