Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin were not optimistic about He Yan's idea.
"Besieging Xinye can be conquered if it takes some time, but Fancheng is very close to Xinye. It is enough for Liu Biao to send reinforcements to support Liu Bei."
When the time comes that the siege of the city cannot be taken, reinforcements will come to make dumplings. If you are not careful, it may turn from a "big victory" to a "big defeat". This risk is too great for both Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin.
Cao Cao had no choice but to send them to Nanyang to stop Liu Bei. Now that Liu Bei has been killed and returned to Xinye, it is enough to deal with Cao Cao.
"Uncle Yuan Rang, General Yu."
He Yan finally stopped paddling and informed the two of his plan.
"If this happens, not only Liu Bei, but also Liu Biao will suffer a big loss!"
Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin looked at each other, and each could see the shock in the other's eyes.
"This plan is indeed possible, but the risk you take, Yulang, is too great..."
"Uncle Yuanrang, don't worry!"
He Yan said nonchalantly: "Even if I am captured by Liu Biao or Liu Bei, they will not do anything to me! On the contrary, if it happens, then we will make a lot of money!"
At He Yan's level, as long as he doesn't encounter Lao Liu, his life is basically not in danger.
For example, Huang Zhong killed Xia Houyuan and Lu Meng killed Guan Yu. These were all accidents on the battlefield.
In a real battle situation, if you catch the enemy's top brass, there is a high probability that they will serve you delicious food and drinks, and then gain enough chips for yourself at the negotiation table.
In addition, Liu Biao always paid attention to "balance". If he really captured Cao Jun's general, there was a 98% chance that he would not kill the prisoner.
He Yan's military commander Ma Lu Meng even took the initiative to help He Yan request orders: "General Xiahou! General Yu! How can we catch tiger cubs if we don't enter the tiger's den? Liu Bei is stationed in Xinye. In the next few years, he will inevitably invade our army's rear area. It is better to take advantage of this opportunity and directly
Pull it out!”
Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin still had some doubts.
Xiahou Dun was worried about He Yan's safety, while Yu Jin was worried that if he were defeated, leaving He Yan in the land of Jingxiang would be a stain on Cao's army.
Seeing the two of them dilly-dallying, He Yan thought of saying something to provoke them.
"What? Could it be that Uncle Yuan Rang made the world think that he was afraid of Liu Bei, while his father was afraid of Liu Biao?"
"snort!"
Facts have proved that Xiahou Dun is indeed incapable of being provoked.
"It's just Liu Bei and Liu Biao. Even if they send out all their troops, what will happen?"
"Yulang! Just go! I'll see what Liu Biao dares to do?"
It was too late for Yu Jin to stop Xiahou Dun at this time.
Although Xiahou Dun has acted according to Yu Jin's strategies and tactics all the way, the nominal commander of this army is still Xiahou Dun. Once Xiahou Dun speaks, there will be no room for maneuver.
Yu Jin glanced at He Yan with his peripheral vision, knowing that He Yan was setting a trap for Xiahou Dun.
"Marquis Shen."
Yu Jin's expression was stubborn from beginning to end, and his words were particularly cold: "If you are really defeated and trapped in an ambush, I will not lead troops to rescue you."
Before He Yan could speak, Xiahou Dun was anxious: "Wen Ze! You..."
"Don't worry, General Yu! I, He Yan, don't like to trouble others!"
He Yan expressed unusual understanding of the ban's practice, and immediately extended his palm towards Xiahou Dun——
"Uncle Yuan Rang, please give me the things."
Xiahou Dun took out the tiger talisman and handed over all 300 cavalry under his command to He Yan, and then handed over the military supplies and military flags of Liu Bei's army captured on the road to He Yan.
"Yulang, what else do you need?"
He Yan touched his chin, and after carefully deducing it several times, his eyes lit up: "By the way, Uncle Yuan Rang! Lend me the red rabbit horse too!"
——————
——————
Xiangyang.
"Liu Bei was defeated?"
When an old man with a height of more than eight feet and a gentle and majestic appearance froze in place when he heard the news.
This man was Liu Biao and Liu Jingsheng who rode into Jingzhou alone and turned the eight counties of Jingzhou into a pure land in troubled times.
"Well, Liu Bei was defeated."
Sitting under Liu Biao was Qi Yue, the representative of the Jingzhou family.
Ji Yue's figure is tall and straight, not inferior to Liu Biao's posture, and he looks like a wise man.
"This time Duke Cao marched north to Cangting. Although the troops in the rear were empty, the ones who went to meet Liu Bei were famous generals like Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and He Yan. It is not surprising that Liu Yuzhou would be defeated..."
When Liu Biao heard Ji Yue call him "Cao Gong", a trace of displeasure flashed between his brows.
Although Qiyue once helped Liu Biaozuo pacify Jingzhou, the pursuit of Qiyue and the Jingzhou family has always been to protect the country and the people, and they have no enterprising spirit.
Since Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao in Guandu, Qi Yue, Cai Mao and others all "pro-Cao", hoping to reach a reconciliation with Cao Cao, and even offer Jingzhou directly.
In fact, it is not surprising that Qiyue had the idea of "pro-Cao".
As an aristocratic family, Jinyue had a deeper understanding of the internal conflicts between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.
He knew that Yuan Shao's failure was not a "crime of war", but because Yuan Shao did not get along well with the Hebei family.
Without the support of the Hebei family, even if Yuan Shao is still powerful, Qi Yue no longer thinks highly of him.
On the contrary, it was Cao Cao.
Let’s not talk about the united performance of the Yingchuan family in the Battle of Guandu.
The "new learning" that recently originated from Xuchang alone made Qi Yue understand that Cao Cao was the best ally for cooperation between the aristocratic families.
Therefore, "pro-Cao and rebel against Yuan" is more in line with the interests of the Jingzhou family.
Just like when Qi Yue supported Liu Biao to pacify Jingzhou!
As a hero of his generation, Liu Biao naturally understood what Qi Yue and others were pursuing, so the hint of unhappiness between his brows was only fleeting.
"Although Liu Bei was defeated, Cao's army was not invincible."
"Xiahou Dun is not known to be good at fighting. Yu Jin and his troops have long been exhausted in Yanzhou. If Wenpin is allowed to lead the troops north now, he may not be able to join forces with Liu Yuzhou to defeat Cao's army!"
Since Liu Biao chose to ask Liu Bei to send troops at this time, he must have found out the status of Cao's army.
It's just that he didn't expect that Liu Bei could be defeated when Cao's army only had such a small number of troops... It was really a bit embarrassing.
After hearing Liu Biao's disparaging remarks about Cao Jun, Qi Yue did not refute, but asked: "What about He Yan?"
"He Yan..."
When Liu Biao mentioned this name, his eyebrows twisted together.
He Yan probably didn't even know it himself, but his name was already registered with Liu Biao.
The cause was the war in Lujiang County.
He Yan and Sun were not the only ones who wanted Lujiang County, Liu Biao also wanted it!
Unfortunately, He Yan started too quickly, and Taishi Ci, who was stationed at Chaisang, was heavily guarded, and did not give the Jingzhou navy a chance to go down the river, so Liu Biao could only give up.
Afterwards, when Liu Biao inquired about the situation in Lujiang County, the name He Yan became known to him.
"He Yan...He Jin."
When Liu Biao mentioned He Yan, he naturally thought of He Jin.
Um.
Yes.
When Liu Biao was young, he was also a subordinate officer of General He Jin and served as the Lieutenant Commander of the Northern Army...
It’s not just Liu Biao.
Qi Yue was actually He Jin's subordinate officer before, serving as Dongcao's governor...
It can only be said that He Jin, as the "Scholar Leader" of the previous generation, did not have a very good relationship with scholars all over the world. Almost all famous scholars received favors from He Jin.
"I heard that He Yan not only pacified Lujiang County, but also entered Zhang He and Gao Lan's camp alone during the Battle of Guandu to persuade them to surrender..."
When Liu Biao talked about this, he sighed: "If the general knew that future generations would have such heroes, he would probably have to rest in peace."
In fact, what Liu Biao really wants to say is... why is He Yan not his own child?
Liu Biao’s three sons—Liu Qi, Liu Cong, and Liu Xiu—are worse than each other.
As long as there is one of them who can live up to his expectations, Liu Biao might give up his old bones and fight with the Jingzhou family to truly turn Jingzhou into his own.
What a pity... alas!
"Liu Jingzhou?"
Seeing Liu Biao start to lose his mind, Qi Yue quickly called Liu Biao back from his thoughts.
In fact, this was not the first time that Liu Biao could not concentrate for a long time.
Liu Biao is fifty-nine years old this year, which is definitely considered a long life in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
At this age, Liu Biao had long since lost the vigor he had when he first came to Jingzhou to expand his territory, let alone the courage to make a desperate move.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Qiyue and the others gradually began to choose Cao Cao, who was younger and more promising...
"oh!"
Liu Biao, who was awakened by Qi Yue, kept nodding his head to cover up his wandering thoughts just now.
"He Yan... although he is brave, he is still a junior, so there is nothing to worry about!"
"I have General Wenpin, so I only need to send troops to the north. I will definitely defeat Cao's army easily!"
Liu Biao may have become a little dull as he grew older, but this does not mean that Liu Biao has completely lost his judgment on the situation.
For Liu Biao, sending troops to attack Cao Cao was not only to put pressure on Cao Cao's rear, but also to stabilize Jingzhou's internal affairs.
The aristocratic families in Jingzhou have already voted with their feet to surrender to Cao Cao. If the attitude of Liu Biao, the shepherd of Jingzhou, becomes ambiguous, these Jingzhou aristocratic families may really kick their noses in the face and ask Jingzhou to surrender to Cao Cao.
Therefore, Liu Biao's attitude must be tough!
When Qiyue saw that Liu Biao was determined to send troops, he stopped trying to persuade Liu Biao.
In these years of cooperation and struggle, the two parties have already developed enough tacit understanding and will not easily interfere in each other's affairs.
But if Liu Biao loses again this time... the Jingzhou family's counterattack will probably make it difficult for Liu Biao to send troops north again.
After all, Zhang Jin in Jiaozhou, the Sun family in Jiangdong, the Wuling barbarians, and even Liu Zhang in the west were all competitors. Although Jingzhou was rich, it did not have the foundation to let Liu Biao waste his fortune.
"The last general takes command!"
After Liu Biao gave the order, Wenpin, who was originally low-key in the crowd, immediately stepped out: "General, we will go to war now!"
"Well, hurry up."
Liu Biao tapped the table with his finger: "This time, we must win a big victory and capture all Cao's troops to secure the northern border!"
"You will eventually understand!"
As Liu Biao's most trusted general, Wenpin immediately issued a military order to Liu Biao: "This battle will definitely live up to Liu Gong's expectations!"