Wei Yan and Xin Pi couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, the worst case scenario did not happen."
Not only did Lu Bu not embarrass Zhang Liao, he also held a special banquet for Zhang Liao, Wei Yan, Xin Pi and others, and even specially took out the Erguotou that Lu Yan had given him, which he had been reluctant to drink.
During the banquet, Lu Bu pulled Zhang Liao and said many things, including regrets for his previous ignorance and arrogance, as well as longing for Gao Shun and guilt for Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao was extremely pleased with Lu Bu's maturity and change. If Lu Bu was as sensible as he is now, how could Gao Shun die in battle, and how could Zhang Liao defect to Cao Cao...
"It's a pity that everything can't go back." Zhang Liao sighed, and together with Wei Xu and others, they helped the drunken Lu Bu back to the room.
Under Lu Bu's order, the quartermaster of Pingyuan County gave Zhang Liao enough baggage.
The next day, Zhang Liao led the army westward in high spirits and high spirits.
...
Although it is still cold in Jizhou in February, it does not snow anymore.
The soldiers wore cotton coats under their iron armor, so there was no problem in keeping warm.
In early March, the cavalry team arrived at the border of Qinghe County. In order to avoid being discovered by Yuan Shang's spies, all the armor of Cao's army had to be replaced with the standard armor of Yuan Shao's cavalry.
"Damn it, just a few pieces of broken iron on the outside of this leather armor, what kind of defense can it have?" A soldier started to complain while holding Yuan Jun's armor.
"That's not true. Wearing this armor, I won't feel confident when I go to the battlefield..."
"Now you know how powerful the general is, right? Only the general founded by Lu Xiuqi can produce armor of our level!"
"Oh...I don't want to change my armor..."
But complaints were complaints, and the soldiers put on Yuan Jun's armor as quickly as possible.
"Cao Cao's army has excellent armor and well-trained soldiers. It deserves to be the strongest army in the world!" Xin Pi followed Zhang Liao on patrol in the army. Naturally, he heard the conversation of these sergeants, and he felt more confident in Cao Cao's unification of the world.
.
After changing their disguise, the cavalry team set off again.
Five days later, the cavalry team arrived in Qinghe, and Yuan Tan went out to greet them personally.
From the moment they entered Qinghe County, the nominal commander of this cavalry became Xinpi. In front of outsiders, both Zhang Liao and Wei Yan had to obey Xinpi's command.
Yuan Tan first met with Xin Pi, then Zhang Liao and Wei Yan.
When he saw that Cao's army had strong soldiers and horses, he was envious and felt more confident to fight Yuan Shang.
April, the sixth year of Jian'an.
With Zhong Yao as the commander and Zhang Xiu and Ma Chao as the vanguard, Hongnong Cao's army kicked off the prelude to regaining Hedong County.
Cao's army was so sharp that Gao Gan and Hu Chuquan were unable to withstand it. They retreated from Dayang until they reached Jiangxian County, where they could barely stand firm.
Just when Yuan's troops in Hedong were suppressed, Yuan Tan suddenly sent an army of 30,000 to attack Yecheng.
Yuan Shang obviously did not expect that Yuan Tan, who was trapped in a corner, would dare to attack him. In anger, he mobilized all the heavy troops in Wei County and launched a decisive battle with Yuan Tan's army under Yecheng.
Yuan Tan's army was severely defeated by Yuan Shang. The general died in the battle, while the soldiers fled and surrendered.
Even less than half of them were able to return to Qinghe County in the end.
In order to lure Yuan Shang to attack, Yuan Tan spent a lot of money. Thirty thousand soldiers were almost all his troops.
His foundation was already weak, but now he lost about 15,000 soldiers and a general was killed... When he heard the news, the corners of Yuan Tan's mouth and eyes could not stop twitching.
.
Yuan Shang defeated Yuan Tan's army. After he, Guo Tu and others determined that Yuan Tan had no extra troops, they decided to immediately send troops to attack Qinghe County.
In mid-April, Yuan Shangshuai's 50,000-strong army invaded Qinghe County and besieged Qinghe City.
There were less than 20,000 defenders in Qinghe City, and all of them had low morale, and looked sallow and thin... It seemed that Yuan Tan's defeat was only a matter of time.
Yuan Shang personally led the army and observed the situation in Qinghe County in front of the formation.
Just when Yuan Shang was thinking about whether to capture Qinghe City and capture Yuan Tan in one go, bad news suddenly came from Ye City.
"Report!!!"
A messenger stumbled and ran to Yuan Tan's horse in a panic, knelt on one knee and said: "Report! General, there is an urgent report from Yecheng. Cao Cao has sent troops from Baima, leading an army of 100,000, to invade our Jizhou!
"
"What did you say!!!" Yuan Shang's eyes were about to burst, and a rush of blood rushed straight to his forehead.
At this juncture, Cao Cao actually sent troops!
A personal guard stepped forward and took the secret report from the messenger and handed it to Yuan Shang.
Yuan Shangqiang calmed down and browsed through it in a hurry.
"Damn thief Cao!" Yuan Shang tore the letter into pieces, as if he had torn Cao Cao into pieces.
Just as he was about to capture Qinghe and Yuan Tan, Cao Cao led an army of one hundred thousand, with Zhao Yun and Lu Lingqi as the vanguard, and invaded Jizhou.
Guo Tu, who had been beside Yuan Shang, looked solemn.
Yuan Shang was now restless and uncertain, so he turned to look at his mastermind and asked: "Mr. Wen Ze, what should we do?"
After Guo Tu heard that Cao Jun was sending troops, he had already begun to think about countermeasures.
When Yuan Shang asked, he already had a rough plan in mind.
Guo Tu suppressed the ups and downs of emotions in his heart and pretended to be calm and said to Yuan Tan: "Master, actually we don't need to panic."
Seeing Guo Tu's calm appearance, Yuan Tan felt at ease. He raised his hands to Guo Tu and said, "Please give me some advice from Mr. Wen Ze!"
Guo Tu even forced out a smile and said: "Cao Cao just saw his lord and Yuan Tan fighting each other, so he decided to send troops to Jizhou on the spur of the moment. In his haste, he must not have prepared much food, grass and baggage at all."
When Yuan Shang heard this, he felt that Guo Tu's analysis was very reasonable, so he breathed a sigh of relief secretly.
Seeing Yuan Shang relax, Guo Tu continued his analysis: "Even if Cao Cao can quickly advance and attack Ye City, Ye City is guarded by Shen Zhengnan and Feng Yuantu. Cao Cao cannot capture Ye City in a short time.
Unrealistic."
"What if Cao Cao uses thunder to destroy the city wall again?"
"What kind of thunder..." Guo Tu shook his head and sneered: "It's just a trick played by Lu Yan."
"Oh? Does Mr. Wenze already know something hidden?"
"My subordinates secretly sent many spies to Chenliu to inquire about the news... Although I don't know what the specific thing that destroyed the city wall was, I am certain that it was a new type of weapon.
And it is a weapon that is only powerful enough at close range. That is to say, it must be buried under the city wall to completely destroy the city wall like before."
Seeing that Yuan Shang was still a little confused, Guo Tu continued: "When Lu Yan was able to destroy the city wall, he must have used the cover of night to bury the weapon under the city wall.
Because no one in the world except him knows the characteristics of this weapon, so no one can detect his movements at all.
But now that we are on guard, as long as there are soldiers patrolling the city wall at all times and keeping enough vigilance, it will be almost impossible for Cao Jun to bury new weapons under the city wall."
Yuan Shang praised: "Sir, I admire you for your thoughtfulness!"
Guo Tu held up his hand and said humbly: "I dare not praise you as a lord!" Although he was a humble nobleman on the surface, Guo Tu was very proud in his heart.
"So, what Mr. Wen Ze means now is..."
"Attack the county seat! Capture Yuan Tan in one go and avoid future troubles forever!" Guo Tu looked into Yuan Shang's eyes and replied decisively.
When Yuan Shang heard this, he no longer hesitated, and immediately nodded and said: "Okay! Just follow what the teacher said!"
Pulling out his sword, Yuan Shang immediately ordered: "All officers and soldiers listen to the order! Work together to capture Qinghe City!"
"Whoever kills Yuan Tan will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins and be made a lord!"