Yuan Xi heard what Liu He said about him and met Tian Chou in Xu Wushan. He was instantly interested because Tian Chou had a very stubborn personality and his experience was legendary.
At the beginning, Tian Chou was attached to Liu Yu and became his official, and he went to Chang'an as an envoy to meet the emperor.
Because the road from Youzhou to Chang'an was blocked and there were many battles, Tian Chou led 20 or 30 people on horseback from Juyongguan, left the border fortress along Yinshan Mountain, went directly to Shuofang County, followed the path, and finally arrived in Chang'an, completing his mission.
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Feeling his loyalty, the imperial court first appointed Tian Chou as the cavalry captain, and then the Sangong Mansion recruited him, but Tian Chou rejected them both.
Later, Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan attacked. Tian Chou learned about it and hurried back, but before he was on the road, Liu Yu was killed by Gongsun Zan.
After Tian Chou came back, he paid homage to Liu Yu's tomb and made a speech in which he cried. This made Gongsun Zan angry and he was arrested.
Gongsun Zan brought Tian Chou to the front for questioning, but Tian Chou retorted and was speechless. After finally detaining him for a period of time, even Gongsun Zan's subordinates stood up to advise him, and in the end Gongsun Zan had no choice but to let Tian Chou go.
After that, Tian Chou took his family to live in seclusion in Xu Wu Mountain and farmed the land himself. Gradually, his reputation spread, and people came to join him, reaching thousands of households.
In later generations, Tian Chou refused Yuan Shao's recruitment several times, and even refused to accept the general's seal. After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Shang came to recruit him, and Tian Chou refused.
However, he finally surrendered to Cao Cao, and it was the first time Cao Cao sent an envoy, so Tian Chou agreed!
"Three Kingdoms·Book of Wei·Tian Chou Biography": In the twelfth year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao conquered Wuwan in the north and ordered Tian Chou to take them as rural guides, go up Xu Wushan, and leave Lulong.
With the help of Tian Chou, Cao Cao led his army out of Lulong from Xu Wushan, passed through Bailang City and reached Liucheng, and unexpectedly defeated Shanyu Taodun.
This battle became the famous Battle of Bailang Mountain in later generations. This was the last time Guo Jia made suggestions before his death. Tian Chou led the way, and Zhang Liao defeated and killed Shanyu Taton.
Later, Tian Chou served as Cao Cao's subordinate, Sikonghu, and participated in the attack on Jingzhou. He made great achievements, but he repeatedly refused to be rewarded and refused to be granted a title. In the eyes of people at the time, he was an extremely strange person.
To be honest, Yuan Xi actually didn't have much expectations for Tian Chou, because he had an awkward personality and a strong emphasis on friendship, and he didn't seem to be keen on fame and fortune. Moreover, his literary and martial arts skills in later generations were inferior to those of Tian Yu and others.
In fact, it's quite different.
Moreover, Yuan Xi never understood why Tian Chou was so resistant to the Yuan family but hit it off with Cao Cao.
So Yuan Xi wanted to give it a try and asked Liu He to find a way to contact Tian Chou to find out what kind of medicine he sold in the gourd.
The worst-case scenario is that Tian Chou has long become Cao Cao's secret chess. If this is the case, Yuan Xi will naturally not let it go.
Liu He saw Yuan Xi asking questions at this time, thought for a while, and said: "I conveyed everything about the recruitment of the young master, and as expected, he rejected it."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi thought that this was indeed the case. Since the other party had no intention of becoming an official, he didn't have much time to waste on it now, so he would just put it aside for the time being.
Liu He added: "But when he asked about Gongsun Zan, I told him what happened in Yijing City, and Tian Chou was touched."
"He said that as a vassal of his late father, he could not avenge his late father, but the young master fulfilled his wish and saved He's life. In comparison, he felt very ashamed."
"I see that his views on the young master have changed a lot in his words. Do you want to persuade him again?"
Yuan Xi thought that Youbeiping County, where Xu Wushan was located, was an important land node connecting Wuhuan in western Liaoning. Moreover, it was not far from Yongnu, Yuyang County, so it could be fought for.
However, this was because Yuan Xi wanted to leave more escape routes, because his goal was to build a huge fleet that could transport troops from the sea. In this way, the importance of Lulongsai was greatly reduced.
Thinking of this, he said: "In that case, please Brother Liu, please follow me to the three cities of Yongnu in Quanzhou, Piaoyuyi, to arrange the affairs in the city, and then return to the port and go to Xu Wushan by sea."
After hearing this, Liu He said: "The sea route is indeed much more convenient than the land route. The young master has planned the ship in advance with great foresight. In the future, the seaside cities that are difficult to reach in Youzhou will not be difficult for the young master."
Yuan Xi thought that this was indeed the case. Even though the three cities of Piaoyuyi were on the boundary of Tianjin in later generations, and Xu Wushan was on the boundary of Tangshan, although the two were close to each other, the terrain in this world was extremely complicated and difficult to navigate.
However, taking the sea route did not have this problem at all. The seaside topography at this time was also different from that of later generations. The coastline had not yet fully expanded. As long as there were ports on both sides, it would only take a day or two.
Liu He thought for a while and said, "There is one more thing."
"Xian Yufu is now in the north of Yuyang County. He heard that Tian Yu returned to surrender, so he sent someone to find me and said he wanted to see Tian Yu."
Yuan Xi heard this and said, "Xian Yufu?"
"This person can be used. This person and Yan Rou are both extremely important people in Youzhou. Why didn't Brother Liu tell him earlier?"
After hearing this, Liu He smiled and said: "I thought that Tian Chou is the most famous nowadays, and the master would pay more attention to Tian Chou."
Yuan Xi waved his hand and said: "For me, celebrities are far inferior to counselors and generals. Moreover, celebrities have weird tempers and it is difficult to get what they want."
"Besides, Youzhou is such a big territory. What I urgently need now is people who can lead troops to fight."
"Xian Yufu has no problem meeting Tian Yu. Brother Liu asked someone to reply and said that I also wanted to meet him."
Liu He heard this and quickly agreed.
Yuan Xi thought to himself that these forces in Youzhou each have their own demands and conflicts. As long as he negotiates with each party individually and uses the suspicion among them, he should be able to conquer them.
But how to win their loyalty later is a big problem. You can't indulge them too much, which will make them arrogant, and you can't suppress them too much, which will alienate them from you.
Every military commander and counselor has his own independent thoughts. If the master loses his moral character, his subordinates will betray him, just like Chen Gong left Cao Cao and Sun Ce left Yuan Shu.
For the current Yuan Xi, pacifying the Wuhuan and Xianbei forces in Youzhou is a guarantee for him to be based in Youzhou and focus on the world. Otherwise, there will be fires in the backyard of Youzhou from time to time, so how can he fight for hegemony in the world?
But what Yuan Xi didn't know was that in Hunu City in the north of Yuyang County, Yan Rou Xian Yufu and Shan Yu Tadun's envoy were sitting together, discussing Yuan Xi's return to Youzhou with solemn expressions.
Yan Rou was the first to speak up: "Now our three parties are all in a difficult situation. The Yuan family is powerful. Our best choice at the moment is to submit and become attached."
"Lord Shanyu Tatton should also agree with this move, right?"
The Wuhuan envoy sent by Chanyu Tatton heard this and expressed his approval. He had just returned from Yecheng and expressed his intention to marry on behalf of Tatton to the Yuan family.
Xian Yufu said: "Yan Sima is right. If we all have our own thoughts, we may be eaten up by the fierce tiger of the Yuan family, leaving no bones left."
Yan Rou spoke up and said: "I, Sima, was recommended privately by everyone. If my name is not justified, let's not mention it to avoid suspicion."
"If we want to be recognized, we have to ask the Yuan family to submit to the emperor. This is the right way."
Xian Yufu said: "The problem we face now is who to turn to."
"Is it Yuan Xi, the current governor of Youzhou, or Yuan Shang, who is actually in charge of Jizhou?"
Shan Yutaodun's envoy said without hesitation: "Of course it is Yuan Shang, the legitimate son of Yuan Benchu!"
"Now he has become the next head of the Yuan family, and he promised me that he will promote the marriage between the eldest daughter of the Yuan family and Lord Shanyu Tadun!"
Yan Rou and Xian Yufu became more alert after listening to it.
You Shanyu Tatton is going to be Yuan Shao's son-in-law, what else do you have to do with us?
If this continues, a pure Wuhuan can suppress us, but what about the Han and Xianbei?
No, we have to find a way to mess this up!
On the surface, the temporary tripartite alliance was still harmonious, but secretly, they all had their own agendas.
Yan Rou spoke up: "I heard that Yuan Shang has a bad relationship with Yuan Xi, the governor of Youzhou. If Lord Shanyu Tatton works for Yuan Shang, will he offend Yuan Xi?"
The Taodun envoy said in astonishment: "Why did Yan Sima say this?"
"Yuan Xi is now a side branch, so he naturally has to take orders from the main branch Yuan Shang, one by one. Of course we are dependent on the main family."
"Although Yuan Xi is called the governor of Youzhou, he only occupies two counties. How can he compare with Yuan Shang who controls Jizhou?"
Xian Yufu said: "This is wrong. The sky is high and the emperor is far away. Can Jizhou manage the affairs of Youzhou?"
"You know, we are in Youzhou, and we are nominally under the control of Yuan Xi!"
Envoy Taton shook his head and said: "Although what you two said is reasonable, I feel that the three of us are sitting here just to discuss how to become guests."
"Why do you two keep saying that you want to join Yuan Xi?"
"To make friends at a distance and attack at home, the most beneficial thing for us is to rely on Yuan Shang and use his reputation to overwhelm Yuan Xi, so that the three of us can gain the greatest benefits in Youzhou?"
Yan Rouxian Yufu secretly said that this person is really hard to fool. The key is that the envoy did not understand one thing.
The idea is good, but once the matter is revealed, can the three parties withstand the vicious revenge of the Yuan family?
Your Wuhuan tribe's headquarters is far away in Liucheng, western Liaoning, and Yuan Xi may be out of reach, but we are in Yuyang County, and Yuan Xi's cavalry will attack Hunu at any time within a few days!
When the time comes, you pat your butt and run back, and we are here to block it for you?
Take 10,000 steps back. If your base camp is really attacked, you can run to Gongsundu in Liaodong or outside the pass, and you will still live a prosperous life, but where are we going?
Yan Rou and Xian Yufu couldn't help but look at each other, and they both understood what the other was thinking.
Unlike Shanyu Tatun, who wanted to stand on his own and become the overlord of one side, Yanrou Xianyufu still wanted to support the Central Plains, and they had no way out.
Yan Rou was originally a Han. After being captured by Wuhuan Xianbei, he was favored by Wuhuan Xianbei on all sides, so he was trusted by Wuhuan Xianbei and established his own power. He named himself Wuwan Sima.
But in his bones, he still retains the Han people's idea of conferring nobility and worshiping generals. This is a cultural inheritance and cannot be easily erased.
Not to mention Xian Yufu, he is also a Han, and he is a local wealthy family and has a long reputation.
Only when the two of them are full and full can they consider the problem from Shan Yutaodun's point of view!
Moreover, the two of them knew that the relationship between Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi was not good. If they were on the wrong team, it would be difficult to turn back.
Thinking of this, Yan Rou said: "Sir Shanyu Taodun is blessed with talents, and he will definitely be able to revitalize Wuhuan."
"But you are so ambitious, please don't ignore it."
"Some food may not be digestible after being eaten. Although the Yuan family's marriage can be a help to you, it may also cause disaster."