Upon hearing this, Cao Cao hurriedly said: "The basics. Wen Ruo will tell you quickly."
"Although Zhang Liao's actions may appear to be imaginative, he actually works step by step. Everywhere he goes, he must set up fields to raise troops and show benefit to the people. In this way, he first wins the hearts of the people and then reorganizes the military strength. Although the progress is slow, the foundation is solid and there is no risk of repeated rebellions. .”
Cao Cao was convinced when he heard this. He was too aggressive at the beginning and wanted to overpower Wenyuan. He sent troops to attack Xuzhou regardless of the unstable situation in Yanzhou. However, Xuzhou was not captured and Yanzhou was captured by Lu Bu.
Cao Cao was also a wise man. He drew inferences from one example and listened to what Xun Yu said. He immediately remembered a suggestion made by Mao Jie a few days ago.
"A few days ago, Mao Xiaoxian gave me a message. He said, 'Today, the country is falling apart. The country's leader has moved. The people have lost their industry. The people are in exile. The government has no savings for the years. The people have no ambition to settle down. It will not last long. According to the emperor's order. If you do not serve ministers, cultivate crops, raise livestock and military resources. In this way, you will be able to become an overlord. If you think about it carefully, doesn’t this refer to Zhang Liao’s policy strategy?”
"Mao Xiaoxian has such good words." Xun Yu praised.
Cao Cao nodded with deep understanding. When he attacked Xuzhou, if he hadn't retreated after running out of food, Xuzhou would have been in his hands. Last year, he fought with Lu Bu. It was also because of food that they both stopped fighting. The food problem has seriously restricted Cao Cao's development. In the past, Cao Cao actually I never thought about it.
Cao Cao sighed with emotion: "Farming is indeed a top priority. It's a pity that I didn't get Mao Xiaoxian for a long time. I let Zhang Liao go in front." Thinking of this, Cao Cao felt more urgent to defeat Lu Bu. After Yanzhou is settled, he will leave too. The road that Wen Yuan traveled. The Daxing Farming.
Xun Yu said: "Although Zhang Liao was strong, he was not incapable of taking advantage of him. Although he worked in various places to enrich the people and did little in taxation, he actually competed with the local gentry for profit, which made many aristocratic families in Jizhou secretly dissatisfied. It should be noted that Scholars are the leaders in the world. If Zhang Liao continues like this, conflicts will eventually break out. At that time, all the lord has to do is ascend to the top and shout, and the powerful families in the world will attack in groups. Zhang Liao will undoubtedly be destroyed."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up. This was the only good news he heard all night. He held Xun Yu's hand excitedly and said, "Wen Ruo's words are like enlightenment. Cao Cao has benefited a lot. Wen Ruo is here. I should sit back and relax. Zhang Liao, although you are stronger than ever, how can you be an enemy of the world's powerful families? Isn't it too overestimating your own capabilities?"
Cao Cao's family is a big family and a big landlord class. Xun Yu is also from a famous wealthy family in Yingchuan. Both of them admired Wen Yuan's talents and achievements. However, Wen Yuan's political strategy made the representatives of the two wealthy families sniff. When there is an aura of danger, they instinctively classify them as dangerous enemies. It can be said that although the two forces have not officially confronted each other, the contradiction is already irreconcilable.
Cao Cao was refreshed and his thinking became clearer. Cao Cao was not a man of faith. Since he had grasped Zhang Liao's weakness, there was no reason why he should not seize it and strike hard.
He pondered for a while and said: "Since Zhang Liao has this weakness that can be exploited, Man Boning can secretly visit various places and contact all forces secretly... In this way, as long as Zhang Liao makes the slightest move, I can spread the word to the world and attack in groups. Even in the future, Zhang Liao is powerful, so we can make preparations in advance."
Xun Yu bowed and said, "My lord, I admire your foresight and foresight."
Cao Cao laughed and said: "Wen Ruo is too humble. Without you, I almost lost my ambition. But now I am better. Zhang Liao dares to overestimate his own abilities and go against the will of heaven. I will let him know the majesty of heaven."
…………
In April, Wenyuan set off from Shangdang and returned to Jizhou via Huguan.
At the end of April, Wenyuan finally returned to Yecheng Prefecture after half a year.
"Jushou, please see my lord."
Wen Yuan stepped forward to help Ju Shou up and said, "We haven't seen you for half a year again. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Ju. How are you? Is there anything important happening in Jizhou recently?"
Ju said: "Thanks to my lord Hongfu, there has been nothing unusual in Jizhou in the past six months. However, there are two groups of people who have been in Yecheng for many days and want to see my lord."
"Who is it?" Wen Yuan looked at Ju Shou. A hint of joy flashed in the latter's eyes.
"Mr. Zhongzhi, generals, you are willing to serve me. Liao is like a long drought and there is rain. I have ordered Xin Zuozhi to hold a banquet. I will have a good drink later. If you are not drunk, you will not return." Looking at the people in the hall. Wen Yuan was also radiant and full of joy.
Xin Ping, Jiang Yiqu, Lu Weihuang, Zhang Wei and more than a dozen of Yuan Shao's surviving ministers finally returned to Jizhou after more than a year and worshiped in Wenyuan's tent.
In the autumn of the fourth year of Chuping, Wen Yuan defeated Yuan Shao and occupied Yecheng. Yuan Shao, the overlord of his generation, was defeated and the morale of the entire army was depleted. His sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi ordered the defeated troops to retreat into the Bohai Sea and the two counties of Hejian. Xu You, Feng Ji, Xin Ping, Guo Tu, Jiang Yiqu and other surviving officials of the Yuan family followed Yuan Tan.
However, the good times did not last long. Although Wen Yuan let them go because of the pain of losing his wife, Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei did not miss the opportunity to beat the drowned dog so hard. Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi had not established a stable foothold in Bohai. Gongsun Zan then started to rise in Youzhou. Elite. Together with Qingzhou Tian Kai and Pingyuan Liu Bei, they attacked Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi. As a result, the Yuan family was defeated. The brave generals Wang Zhao and Peng An were killed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei respectively. Meng Dai and Wang Zhao died in the rebellion.
Yuan Tan and Yuan Xihe only led more than a thousand defeated soldiers and their confidants such as Feng Ji, Xu You, Guo Tu, Gao Gan, and Guo Yuan to cross the sea by sea and fled to Gongsun Du's territory in Liaodong.
The rest either surrendered to Gongsun Zan or went to live in seclusion. The two counties of Bohai and Hejian fell under Gongsun Zan's rule. The famous Yuan Shao clan collapsed from then on. Yuan Shang had his nose and ears cut off by Wen Yuan. Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi Then he stayed under someone else's fence and lived in the bitter cold land of Liaodong.
Xin Ping did not flee to Liaodong with Yuan Tan. He was Han Fu's counselor and had a comradeship with Wen Yuan. It was only because he recognized that Yuan Shao was the master of the Ming Dynasty that he remained loyal to Yuan Shao.
However, after Yuan Shao was angered to death by Wen Yuan, Xin Ping immediately lost his allegiance and left sadly, unwilling to change his position to anyone else. He has been living in seclusion in Hebei.
His younger brother Xinpi wrote several times over a year asking him to transfer to Wenyuan. It was not until recently that he changed his mind.
This time Xin Ping came. Also with him were Jiang Yiqu, Lu Weihuang, Zhang Wei and other old generals of Yuan Shao. These people were also people who had left the country after the defeat. They had always been in contact with Xin Ping. Xin Ping was going to join Wen. As he was far away, he called these people to go with him.
Of course Wen Yuan couldn't help but feel happy to be able to receive the help of these people. As the territory expanded, Wen Yuan became more and more aware of the shortage of talents at hand. They are Yuan Shao's generals. They have a long history of loyalty and have the ability to lead troops. As for Lu Weihuang and Zhang Wei, they will be deputy military commanders first. Captains are still qualified.
After such a banquet, Wen Yuan immediately appointed Xin to work in the government. Together with his younger brother Xin Pi, he helped him take care of the affairs of the state government. Jiang Yiqu was also worshiped by Wen Yuan as the captain of the Zuo Army. He temporarily stayed in Yecheng to familiarize himself with the military system. Half a year later he was transferred to Taishi Ci's Zuo Army.
As for Lu Weihuang and Zhang Wei, Wenyuan sent them to Xiaquyang for further study and internship. After half a year, they were appointed as deputy military captains.
It was a joyous banquet. Everyone who participated enjoyed it. Xinpi was reunited with his brother. Needless to say, there was a sense of brotherhood. The few people who had newly joined Wen Yuan were also happy. Especially when they saw the enthusiasm and kindness of the new lord. Xinpi, Chen Lin
The others were also entrusted with important tasks under him. Finally, their anxious heart was relieved.