The time goes back to March of the fourth year of Chuping. In January, shortly after Wenyuan made an alliance with the thirteen princes Guantao, Wenyuan led an army of 160,000 to conquer Yuan Shao. He ordered Qingzhou Governor Tian Kai, Pingyuan Prime Minister Liu Bei, and Kong Rong as the vanguard. .Lead 20,000 troops to attack Guantao. The heroic cavalry captain Zhao Yun, Shangdang Governor Hao Zhao, Changshan Prime Minister Sun Jin, and Zhongshan Prime Minister Dou Neng led 30,000 troops to attack Guantao. Wen Yuan led an army of 100,000 to attack Yuancheng. The remaining troops were Contact and rescue.
However, due to the cold weather in Hebei, it was difficult for the army to fight. In addition, Yuan Shao defended the city tightly and did not go out to fight. Each army and horse had to camp under the city they wanted to attack. They waited for the weather to get warmer and fought. They did not launch an attack immediately.
Entering February, all the troops came out to fight, and challenged and insulted them in every possible way. Yuan Shao strictly ordered the defenders to stay behind closed doors. The coalition forces attacked the city for several days without success, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. As a last resort, Wen Yuan had to order a halt to the attack.
This confrontation lasted for dozens of days. Until March, Wen Yuan began to feel agitated. Firstly, the news of Yuan Shu's defeat had spread throughout the entire coalition. Secondly, the attack could not be defeated for a long time. The morale of the coalition inevitably declined and some disharmony appeared. The undercurrent is quietly growing within the coalition forces.
Furthermore, as three months passed, Wen Yuan did not have much food and grass on hand...
At this time, Wen Yuan has deeply realized that sometimes having too many people may not be a good thing.
For this dispatch, Wen Yuan summoned a total of 160,000 soldiers and horses from all walks of life. 160,000 people were chewed by the horses. The daily cost of food and grass was tens of thousands of dendrobium. Although all the coalition forces had prepared some of their own food and grass, who could get it these days? There is not much food and grass. It is not enough to last for a long time.
Especially the more than 80,000 Yellow Turban soldiers who came from Qingzhou. There was a drought in Qingzhou. These Qingzhou soldiers didn't have much food reserves. They were able to support themselves by eating Guantao. After arriving at Guantao, they had all the food, grass and military equipment. Supplied by Wenyuan.
There are 80,000 Yellow Turban soldiers taking the lead. The other princes will naturally not take advantage of them and follow behind to eat and drink. Since Wenyuan has taken in 80,000 Yellow Turban soldiers, how can they have the nerve to refuse other people's requests.
So within three months, Wenyuan's already small amount of food and grass would be even more stretched...
"Zhen Yan. This time I go to Youzhou to buy food. I must raise enough food and grass. I ordered Zhou Cang to lead five thousand soldiers and horses to go with you. I will leave all the food and grass for my Julu army of more than 100,000 men to you." In the tent, Wen Yuan carefully warned Zhen Yan.
On that day, a banquet was held to entertain heroes from all walks of life. Wen Yuan came up with the plan of exchanging wine for food. After discussing with Zhen Yan and other advisers, everyone agreed that this was a feasible plan. Especially Zhen Yan expressed his willingness to go all out in planning. This is not true. In just a few days, he had already made a plan.
Zhen Yan chose Youzhou as the destination for exchanging wine for food this time. It was under the rule of Liu Yu, the shepherd of Youzhou.
Liu Yu was named Bo'an. He was a descendant of Liu Qiang, Prince Gong of the East China Sea. He was a clan member of the Han Dynasty and a famous minister in the late Han Dynasty. In 187 years ago, Zhang Chun, the prime minister of Zhongshan, and Zhang Ju, the prefect of Taishan, rebelled. The imperial court appointed Liu Yu as the shepherd of Youzhou. From then on, he stayed in Youzhou for a long time. Stationed. Has high prestige.
Liu Yu pursued lenient government, developed the economy, appeased the people, and advocated a gentle policy towards ethnic minorities. His subordinate Gongsun Zan advocated using force to solve the problem. There was a conflict between the two. Later, the conflict intensified. Liu Yu led his troops to attack Gongsun Zan. He was killed after the failure.
"Although Liu Yu was a prince, he was frugal by nature. He wore no clothes, ropes, or shoes, and had nothing to eat but meat." He was completely different from the decadent style of the Eastern Han Dynasty bureaucrats who were extravagant and lustful. Therefore, he played a great role in changing the customs of Youzhou. " "Those who have always indulged in extravagance, both near and far, have always changed their behavior and returned to their heart." In the late Han Dynasty, he had a very rare personality charm. He was deeply loved by the people and scholars. During his term of office, Liu Yu "enforced lenient administration, persuaded and supervised agricultural plants, and opened up The benefit of Shanggu Hu City. "Tong Yuyang is rich in salt and iron". Focus on the development of agriculture and sericulture. Use Shanggu County to conduct border trade with the Xiongnu, Fuyu, Xianbei and other ethnic groups. Exploit the rich salt and iron resources in Yuyang County. Press A popular saying nowadays is to tap your own potential and get rid of poverty and become rich.
After several years of management by Liu Yu, Youzhou in the fourth year of Chuping is undoubtedly one of the richest states in the world today, with a population of nearly two million. There are actually millions of people who came to settle down from Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Liu said It is no exaggeration to say that Yu is an excellent master of internal affairs.
Moreover, Youzhou is adjacent to Jizhou. It will take at most two months to go north from Julu to Youzhou, plus the time to collect food. If you go to other places to raise food, the time and effect are difficult to determine. .
Therefore, considering various factors such as distance, food storage status, risks, etc., it is not difficult to think of why Wenyuan finally chose Youzhou as its destination.
"Don't worry, my lord. I have some relations with some wealthy families in Youzhou. They have long been looking forward to where Zheng Gong's wine can be sold. In the past, it was always limited in supply. They have complained about me a lot. They have been very ungrateful for a long time. It's time to sell out all the wine we have in hand." Zhen Yan nodded excitedly. Nowadays, the business of the Zhen Family Chamber of Commerce can be said to cover almost half of the Han Dynasty. The Zhen family can be regarded as a glorious family in Zhen Yan's hands.
When the business is done for his sake, it no longer matters whether he makes more or less. Now Zhen's Chamber of Commerce and Wenyuan have a mutually beneficial relationship. Zhen Yan has gradually moved from business to politics and transformed into another identity. In fact, now All money and food accounts in Wen Yuan's hands are managed by Zhen Yan.
"Okay. Then go down and prepare first. In addition, tell the trading clans that as long as they have food on hand in the future, Zheng Gong's wine will be as much as they want." Wen Yuan nodded. Zhen Yan paused and seemed to think of something. Something happened. I wanted to stay. But after seeing that there were other people present, I bowed my hands and left.
Wen Yuan, who had been thinking nervously, didn't pay attention to Zhen Yan's expression. Although he would definitely be able to exchange for some food in Youzhou, no one dared to guarantee the effect. Sixteen thousand people consume tens of thousands of grains and grass every day. This is not a joke. Just for fun. Once the food and fodder are exhausted, the battle will be lost without having to fight.
What's more, it will take at least two months to go to Youzhou. Wenyuan still has enough food and grass on hand to support the army for one month. In the remaining month, will the 160,000 troops have to drink from the northwest wind?
Therefore, going to Youzhou to exchange food will not relieve the fire. This one-month gap still needs to be filled in other ways.
Wen Yuan asked: "Everyone, I asked you to go back the day before yesterday to think about any ways to raise food and grass. Have you all figured it out?"
Han Hao served as the captain of the Julu field. He was very familiar with the situation in Julu. He was indispensable in this kind of meeting. He immediately came out and said: "My lord, I thought that although Julu suffered from drought last year, it was only due to the construction of water conservancy. The loss is not too big. If we raise food from military households, it will not be difficult to raise three to five hundred thousand grains and grass..."
Seeing Wen Yuan sinking silently, Han Hao's voice suddenly weakened.