typeface
large
in
Small
Turn off the lights
Previous bookshelf directory Bookmark Next

Chapter 247: Upheaval, Good Opportunity

w This battle lasted from night to dawn, and the smoke and shouts of killing gradually subsided.

When the east turned white, Yan's army had taken control of all the gates of Jiangling and killed three to four thousand enemy soldiers. The rest fled and surrendered, and captured nearly four thousand soldiers.

When Yan Liang led his army to Jiangling Prefecture, the entire prefecture was deserted, and there was no trace of Liu Qi.

The generals everywhere reported back, but no body of Liu Qi was found. Yan Liang guessed that the boy must have seen a bad opportunity and abandoned the city and fled to the river bank.

So while Yan Liang was in charge of the state capital and pacifying the newly conquered Jiangling City, he also sent troops to continue the pursuit and capture and kill Liu Qi as much as possible to avoid future troubles.

However, Yan Liang's army was only 30,000, which was not enough to completely encircle Jiangling City. Soon after, Zhang He, who had chased to the riverside, sent a report saying that Liu Qi had led more than a thousand soldiers and horses to escape downstream by boat.

State capital.

"This kid Liu Qi is really lucky. He actually escaped with his life in the chaos."

After Yan Liang heard the news, he looked excited and slightly regretful.

Xu Shu said: "Liu Qi has lost Jiangling and the situation is over. Even if he can join Huang Zu and retreat to the four counties of Jingnan, it will be just a trapped beast still fighting. Sooner or later he will be wiped out by the Lord."

The four counties in Jingnan are Wuling, Changsha, Lingling and Guiyang. These four counties are located south of the Yangtze River and cover thousands of miles. In terms of pure area, they are half of Jingzhou.

However, these four counties are sparsely populated, most of the area has not been developed, and the economy is relatively backward. Among the four counties, only Changsha County is slightly stronger, and the other three counties combined are not as strong as Nan County where Jiangling is located.

The battle is not only about ingenuity and force, but also about force. If Liu Qi can make a comeback with the barren southern four counties, then he is simply an unparalleled warrior in the world, and how could he be captured by Yan Liang?

With this in mind, and considering that the soldiers were exhausted after fighting for several months, and that the new conquerors in Jiangling were still undecided, Yan Liang decided to postpone the southern expedition to the four counties and focus on digesting the newly acquired lands first.

The most prosperous county in Jingzhou is none other than Nanjun. Jingzhou’s political center, Xiangyang, and economic center, Jiangling, are located at the north and south ends of Nanjun, and control two water systems, the Han River and the Yangtze River. The north and south correspond to each other.

Liu Biao had been running Jingzhou for more than ten years, and Jiangling was the place where he gathered military supplies, with countless grain, grass and ordnance stored there. With Liu Qi's defeat, all the supplies in Jiangling City fell into Yan Liang's hands.

When Yan Liang inspected the stacked granaries and the arsenals filled with swords and guns, he truly realized that Liu Biao was truly the only rich man in the world.

It's a pity that Liu Biao and his son were so incompetent that they ended up making Yan Liang's wedding dress despite being so wealthy.

A few days later, news came from Lu Meng that Huang Zuguo and Liu Qi had reunited, abandoned Baqiu, entered the Xiang River south, and retreated to Changsha.

The withdrawal of Huang Zu's navy meant that the water control rights of the Yangtze River were surrendered. Yan Liang was also unambiguous and immediately ordered Lu Meng to lead the navy to the west of the Yangtze River, seize the Baqiu Fortress, and seal Liu Qi to death in the four counties of Jingnan.

At the same time, Yan Liang also ordered Zhang He to lead his army across the Yangtze River and seize the mouth of Youjiang River. He also captured the counties on the south bank of Nanjun to serve as a springboard for his next conquest of Nanjun.

After more than a month of appeasement, the people of Jiangling and other newly acquired counties gradually stabilized, so Yan Liang planned to send his army across the river to wipe out Liu Qi's remaining troops and occupy Jingxiang.

At this moment, Xu You sent news from Xiangyang. According to the intelligence sent back by his commander, Wen Cao, the situation in the entire north had changed dramatically.

The Yuan family was divided.

Just when Yan Liang had just captured Jiangling, Yuan Tan publicly announced that his brother Yuan Shang had murdered his father, Yuan Shao, and colluded with Shen Pei and other treacherous officials to forge Yuan Shao's edict and usurp the throne of Wei King.

Immediately afterwards, Yuan Tan proclaimed himself King of Wei in Xudu, and the three states of Yan, Si, and Yu he guarded responded.

Yuan Shang, who was in Yecheng, was naturally furious when he heard that Yuan Tan was independent. He immediately declared Yuan Tan a traitor in the name of the King of Wei, and declared that Yuan Tan was a traitor who had violated the order of the late king.

Firmly support Yuan Shang as the orthodox king of Wei.

As for Yuan Xi, the governor of Youzhou, he supported his troops and defended himself. He did not express support or opposition to anyone, and maintained a neutral wait-and-see attitude.

In the month after Yuan Tan became independent, Yuan Shang raised an army from Yecheng and led 70,000 troops to Liyang, claiming to destroy Yuan Tan's rebels.

Yuan Tan was not to be outdone, so he sent 50,000 troops to Baima and Yanjin ferry crossings to resist Yuan Shang's attack with a tough attitude.

Less than two years after the Battle of Guandu ended, war broke out again along the two rivers.

When Yuan Shao defeated Guandu and returned to Yecheng to recuperate, he left many elite soldiers and generals in the Central Plains states. Yuan Tan's military strength was originally superior to Yuan Shang's.

However, in recent years, Yuan Tan was defeated by Yan Liang twice and lost many elite soldiers. Therefore, when the war started this time, the number of troops was at a disadvantage.

The three states in the Central Plains that Yuan Tan occupied were originally Cao Cao's territory. Their population and economy were already inferior to those in Hebei controlled by Yuan Shang. After the Battle of Guandu, they were further damaged by wars and wars.

As a result, Yuan Tan was at a disadvantage both militarily and economically.

Therefore, since the two brothers started the war, Yuan Tan suffered successive military setbacks and soon showed signs of failure.

However, at this critical moment, the emergence of a third force changed the balance of strength between the two Yuan brothers.

This third force was none other than Liu Bei who occupied Xuzhou.

When Liu Bei used Yuan Shao's name to invade Xuzhou, he quickly won the support of Chen Deng and other Xuzhou nobles by relying on the popularity he had accumulated in Xuzhou earlier, and firmly established Xuzhou.

Cao Cao's westward retreat caused many Cao forces who were unable to retreat to Guanzhong to defect to Liu Bei one after another.

For example, Zang Ba and Sun Li who originally guarded Xuzhou, Zhang Xiu who guarded Chenliu during the Battle of Guandu, and even Cao Cao's counselor Cheng Yu who guarded Dongping all led their troops to submit to Liu Bei shortly after Cao Cao retreated westward from Guanzhong.

After that, after Liu Bei secured Xuzhou, he took the opportunity to capture Shouchun and divided Huainan equally with the Sun family, further expanding his territory and enhancing his own strength.

After years of management, Liu Bei now has 40,000 troops and has become the third most powerful figure in the Central Plains.

Shortly after Yuan Tan raised his army, Liu Bei immediately publicly declared his support for Yuan Tan. He became an ally with Yuan Tan and ordered Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou. He led Zhang Fei, Zhang Xiu, Zang Ba and other 30,000 troops to the north from Xuzhou to Qingzhou, which was ruled by Yuan Shang.

March.

Liu Bei's joining quickly changed the pattern of the Yuan family's infighting, putting Yuan Shang, who originally had the advantage, in a disadvantageous position of being attacked from both sides, forcing him to give up his proactive offensive strategy and divide his troops to rescue Qingzhou in order to stop Liu Bei from coming.

Eastern offensive.

"It's no wonder that just a few months after Yuan Tan Wancheng's defeat, he dared to openly fall out with Yuan Shang. It turned out that he had formed an alliance with Liu Xuande. This is no wonder."

After Xu Shu read the information coming from the north, he couldn't help but sigh.

Yan Liang sneered.

"Uncle Liu Huang is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Yuan Tan thought he could use Liu Bei's hand to kill his good brother, but little did he know that he was making Liu Bei's wedding dress."

After hearing Yan Liang's words, Xu Shu's expression was shocked and he fell into deep thought.

After a long silence, Xu Shu nodded and said: "What the lord said is absolutely true. Liu Xuande is a powerful hero. Neither Yuan Shang nor Yuan Tan is his opponent. If he takes advantage of the infighting in the Yuan family to gain power, who will own the two rivers in the future?"

I’m afraid it’s hard to predict where it belongs.”

Xu Shu's emotion reminded Yan Liang. He suddenly realized that the resumption of chaos in the Central Plains was a God-given opportunity, and he should no longer limit his sights to Jingzhou.

If you can't take advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains and get a share of it, then what's the difference between you and Liu Biao who was sitting in Jingzhou?

While Yan Liang was thinking, Zhou Cang hurried into the hall and whispered a few words to Yan Liang.

Yan Liang's expression moved slightly, and a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He waved his hand and said: "The visitor is a guest, so please invite him in to meet you."

Zhou Cang responded and left.

When Xu Shu saw Yan Liang's expression was different, he asked curiously: "My lord, I wonder who is asking to see you?"

"Who else could be there at this time? Of course it would be someone who comes to ask for help." Yan Liang said with a smile.

Someone to ask for help?

Xu Shu couldn't guess who it was, and his curiosity became even more intense.

In a moment, footsteps sounded, and a scribe in a green shirt stepped inside.

The scribe came forward with his hands raised and smiled: "The king of Wei, Chang Shi Fengji, pays homage to General Yan You."

The white-faced celebrity at the foot of the stairs who smiled like a steamed bun was none other than Fengji, a celebrity from Hebei Province.

Hearing the name "Feng Ji", Xu Shu's eyes moved, and he suddenly realized something, and couldn't help but look at Yan Liang.

The corner of Yan Liang's mouth raised slightly, but he said calmly: "It turns out that I am an old friend from Hebei. I haven't seen you for a long time, but I am still so proud of you. It seems that you have become famous under the hands of Young Master Yuan San."

Yan Liang called Yuan Shang "Yuan Sangongzi" to show that he did not recognize Yuan Shang, the so-called King of Wei.

Feng Ji hurriedly smiled and said: "General Yan You is really over-honored. Feng Ji is just a nobody. General Yan You is now powerful in Jingzhou. That is the real pride."

Yan Liang's reputation in Jingzhou is good, but Feng Ji's compliment is obviously flattering.

If you flatter someone, you must be asking for something from someone, Yan Liangliang has already guessed.

At that moment, he remained calm and just waved his hands and said: "What's so powerful about Jingzhou? Yan's territory is only within the reach of the three counties of Jingxiang and Xiangzhou. How can it compare to the domineering power of Master Yuan, who controls eight states and controls the world."

He knew clearly that the Yuan family was in civil strife and that Yuan Shang only really ruled the three states of Hebei, but he deliberately said that he controlled eight states. This was obviously a compliment, but secretly it was really ironic.

Feng Ji is a smart man, so why can't he hear what Yan Liang is saying, and a trace of embarrassment flashes across his face.

After coughing a few times, Feng Ji said with a smile: "The Queen Mother of Wei is from Hebei, and the King of Wei is half Hebei. Speaking of it, the king and General Yan You are from the same hometown. In fact, earlier, the King of Wei

He often spoke good words for the general in front of the late king. Yuan Tan repeatedly raised troops to attack the general, and the king of Wei tried to dissuade him many times. Unfortunately, the late king was confused by Yuan Tan at that time and refused to listen to his advice. The king of Wei was also deeply troubled.

It’s a pity.”

Feng Ji's eloquent words were obviously trying to bring Yuan Shang closer to Yan Liang.

Although Yan Liang was from Hebei, he was deeply disgusted by Feng Ji and others' intrigues and slander. Now listening to Feng Ji's words, he felt even more disgusted in his heart.

At that moment, Yan Liang's face darkened and he said impatiently: "Fengji, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. I am very busy and I don't have time to listen to you beating around the bush."

Yan Liang choked, and Feng Ji was stunned, his face became even more embarrassed, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

In desperation, Feng Ji could only endure Yan Liang's ridicule. After coughing a few times, he raised his hands and said with a smile: "General Yan You is indeed a quick-tongued hero, so I should be honest with you. In fact, I should be frank with you."

I came here on the order of the King of Wei to ask the general to send troops to attack Yuan Tan from the south and attack Xudu."

As expected.

———

The battle of Gangneung is over, and the captain has to think about the next plot for a while. There is no need to wait for the update at 9 o'clock tonight. Let's pay first. Welcome to your support, which is my biggest motivation.m


This chapter has been completed!
Previous Bookshelf directory Bookmark Next