Three Kingdoms King of the North

Yuan Xi's words made Yuan Tan realize that if he wanted to gain a firm foothold in Nanpi, he had to choose a team now.If you stand in the right position, your future will naturally be bright; but if you stand in the wrong position, it means that you are about to fall into a situation beyond redemption.

Therefore, after Yuan Xi finished speaking, he did not clarify his attitude, but instead asked: "Second brother, which side do you think we should stand on?"

"The two ends of the first mouse are definitely not good, we can only choose one side." Yuan Xichao looked around, saw that the soldiers around him were busy on their way, and no one noticed his two brothers, so he said in a low voice: "Don't look Han Tinghou sent troops to escort us, and he was willing to lend us troops. But Bohai County is surrounded by Youzhou. If we express our affection for Jizhou, we will be attacked by Gongsun Zan. You can also see the situation today. Now, even though the Youzhou side is provoking in many ways, the Jizhou side is still holding back. In this way, when we are attacked by Gongsun Zan, Han Tinghou may just sit idly by."

"Don't we still have [-] Jizhou troops under our command?" Yuan Tan disagreed with Yuan Xi's statement: "Could it be that Marquis Han Ting will let their troops be wiped out by Gongsun Zan?"

"In order to achieve supremacy," Yuan Xi said coldly, "let alone [-] soldiers, what is [-] soldiers and horses? Brother, you should make a decision early!"

Yuan Tan was confused by Yuan Xi's words. Looking at the soldiers and horses walking through the forest, he couldn't help frowning and thought: "Bohai County's territory is too small, and it is surrounded by Youzhou. Among them, if Gongsun Zan really launched an attack, how should we respond? According to what the second brother said, Han Tinghou might really give up Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang's 3000 troops in order to maintain the superficial harmony with Gongsun Zan. "

"Young Master Yuan," just as Yuan Tan was thinking wildly, he suddenly heard someone calling out to him, "I see that you look out of your mind, what are you thinking?"

Yuan Tan turned his head and saw that it was Lu Xiang.Naturally, it was impossible for him to tell the other party that he was considering which side of Nanpi he would attach himself to. Instead, he said haha: "So it's General Lu Xiang. I'm thinking about it. It's getting late. Are we in the forest?" Stay in the camp, wait until tomorrow morning and then go on the road."

Before entering the woods, Lu Xiang had thought about traveling overnight. Seeing that the light in the forest was getting darker and darker, he knew that if he continued walking, many people would get separated, so he nodded quickly and said, "Mr. What you said is very true, stay here and discuss with your brother, find a place close to the water source to camp, and leave early tomorrow morning."

When Lu Xiang talked to Yuan Tan, although Yuan Xi was on the side, Lu Xiang turned a blind eye to him.After talking with Yuan Tan, he immediately urged his horse to look for Lu Kuang ahead, and discussed with him about finding a suitable place to camp.

The soldiers and horses walked forward for another five or six miles, and finally found an open forest glade with a small lake beside it.Lu Kuang felt that this place was good, so he quickly issued an order: "Stop the soldiers and horses, and set up camp on the spot!"

After setting up camp, Lu Xiang purposely shared a tent with Lu Kuang in order to prevent Yuan Xi from coming to be a lobbyist again.At the same time, the tent where the two Yuan brothers lived was placed on the edge of the camp.If wolves, tigers and leopards attacked at night, the camp they were in would be the first to bear the brunt.

Yuan Xi saw Lu Xiang's arrangement, and he sat in the tent and said unconvinced: "Brother, you saw how Lu Xiang dealt with us, and actually arranged our tent at the very edge of the camp. If the night forest If there are jackals in the middle, then maybe they will get into our tent."

Although Yuan Tan was very dissatisfied with the position Lu Xiang had arranged for them.But after thinking about it, my brother ran to persuade Lu Xiang to surrender a few days ago, which must have aroused the other party's resentment. At this moment, he just used the fact of camping in the forest to punish his two brothers a little.

After trying to understand this joint, Yuan Tan said to Yuan Xi with a normal expression: "Okay, second brother. Don't go to the two General Lu's side if you have nothing to do. After a few days, the anger in their hearts has calmed down. The attitudes of my two brothers are naturally quite different.”

Although Lu Xiang placed the tents of the Yuan family brothers on the edge of the camp, he never treated them badly in terms of food. Lu Kuang also specially sent someone to bring them wild boars and rabbits that the soldiers had brought.

Early the next morning, the army continued to set off.

After more than four hours of trekking, he finally passed through the woods and came to the official road.Seeing the familiar official road in front of him, Yuan Tan's nose couldn't help feeling sour. He knew very well that as long as he walked northward along this official road for three or four days, he could reach Nanpi City.

Yuan Xi saw that his elder brother's eye circles were red, and said with emotion: "Brother, it has been almost a year since we left Bohai County. I never thought that the two of us, brothers, would have a chance to return there alive."

"Second brother, I have an idea." Yuan Tan waited for Yuan Xi to finish expressing his emotions, and suddenly said: "Anyway, in a few days, we will return to Nanpi. But what is the situation in Nanpi City now? People don't know anything. Why don't you discuss it with the two generals Lu and send out scouts to investigate. If there is any change, we can make plans early."

"Brother's words are very true." Yuan Xi agreed with Yuan Tan's statement. Just when he was about to urge his horse to find Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang to discuss, he suddenly thought that the Lu family brothers were not friendly to him. If he went to make a suggestion, he might be directly rejected, so he turned his head to look at Yuan Tan, and said in embarrassment: "Brother, I think you should tell the two generals Lu about this matter."

"That's fine." Yuan Tan understood what Yuan Xi was thinking, so he readily agreed, "I'm going to see the two generals Lu, and ask them to send people to Nanpi to investigate the situation so that we can formulate a plan. Next steps."

Yuan Tan urged his horse to catch up with Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang who were walking at the front of the team, bowed his hands to the two and said, "I have seen the two generals."

Seeing that the person greeting him was Yuan Tan, Lu Kuang asked with a smile, "Master Yuan, in a few days, our army will arrive in Nanpi. I don't know what's on your mind?"

"I have mixed feelings, I have mixed feelings." After Yuan Tan talked about the two mixed feelings, he returned to the subject: "Tan has something to ask the two generals. Is it possible?"

Hearing Yuan Tan said that he had something to ask himself, Lu Kuang said carelessly: "Why is the eldest son so polite, if you have anything to do, just ask."

"It's been a year since Tan left Nanpi, and there's no way of knowing what it's like there now." Yuan Tan said slowly, "Tan wants to ask the two generals to send people to Nanpi to inquire about it. Find out what's going on inside."

Regarding Yuan Tan's request, the two brothers, Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang, looked at each other and nodded in agreement: "The request of Mr. Yuan is a trivial matter. We will immediately send people to Nanpi to inquire."

Just when Lu Kuang was about to call a clever scout and arrange for him to go to Nanpi to inquire about the news, Yuan Tan stopped him: "General Lu, wait a minute!"

"Is there anything else, Eldest Prince?" Lu Kuang asked while looking at him.

"Tan still has a few old subordinates in Nanpi City. I wonder if the general can inquire about the whereabouts of these people for me?"

"Yes." Lu Kuang nodded, and asked closely, "I don't know who's whereabouts do I need to inquire about?"

"My son used to have a good relationship with Guo Tu, Xin Pi, Xin Ping and others." In order to get Lu Kuang's help, Yuan Tan did not hide it from him, but named several officials who were close to him: "If Tan Ma has entered Nanpi City, and must inquire about the situation of the three of them. Please, please!"

"Young Master, please rest assured." Lu Kuang waited for Yuan Tan to finish speaking, nodded at him, and said, "I will definitely send Tanma to the city to inquire about the three of them, and give you a satisfactory answer."

Seeing that Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang sent a few scouts to Nanpi along the official road, Yuan Tan suddenly felt more at ease.After thanking the two of them, he returned to Yuan Xi's side and told him the news that Tan Ma had been dispatched.

After Lu Xiang waited for Yuan Tan to go far away, he asked Lu Kuang in a low voice: "Brother, I didn't expect Yuan Tan to have so many subordinates in Nanpi City. It seems that Yuan Shang's position cannot be kept."

"That's not necessarily the case." Regarding Lu Xiang's statement, Lu Kuang did not agree: "No matter what you say, Yuan Shao and the Yuan family brothers left Nanpi for such a long time, Bohai County is managed by Yuan Shang, and he must have his own. Help your cronies. Mr. Yuan wants to replace him, how can it be so easy."

"As far as I know, in Nanpi City, the officials who can be used are nothing more than Guo Tu, Xin Pi, Xin Ping, and Judgment." Lu Xiang said expressionlessly: "Except for the trial Apart from Yuan Shang's confidantes, the remaining three are Yuan Tan's old subordinates, once the two brothers start fighting for power, they will definitely stand by Yuan Tan's side, and the winner will be decided at that time."

"If the three of them don't have military power, even if they support Yuan Tan, I'm afraid it won't be that easy for Nanpi to change his master." The Lu brothers had nothing to do, and happened to be on their way while discussing Nanpi's future situation: "But my lord let you After the two of us arrived in Nanpi, we will follow Yuan Tan's instructions, maybe we will meet with the soldiers of Bohai County at that time."

"Brother, little brother remembered something." While chatting with Lu Kuang, Lu Xiang suddenly remembered an important thing, and continued to say: "Yesterday we encountered the Youzhou Army who made things difficult for us and even killed us. The messenger we sent. It seems that Gongsun Zan is planning to turn against us."

"It will be a matter of time." Lu Kuang said helplessly, "Ever since my lord brought the current holy man from the capital to Jizhou, Gongsun Zan has been eyeing the holy man, always thinking of sending someone to rob him to Youzhou. If it wasn't for the fact that General Zhang He was in command of Jizhou, it is estimated that Gongsun Zan would have raised an army to attack."

"Nanpi is surrounded by Youzhou. Regardless of whether the Yuan brothers have mastered Nanpi or not, they have to make a choice." Lu Xiang said softly: "Either submit to Gongsun Zan, or completely fall to our Jizhou, otherwise they It will be precarious.”

"Isn't it obvious who Yuan Tan is going to fall to?" Lu Kuang couldn't help raising his eyebrows when he heard his brother say this, and then said puzzledly: "Since the lord ordered us to escort them back to Nanpi, why don't we go back to Nanpi?" Agree to lend us to him for deployment. In this case, we must be the only choice.”

"That's not necessarily true." Lu Xiang waited for Lu Kuang to finish speaking, then shook his head and said, "Bohai County is surrounded by Youzhou. If Gongsun Zan wants to seize Bohai County by hand, our 3000 troops will not be enough for others. Therefore, after Yuan Tan takes control of Nanpi, he will definitely make the final decision on which side to stand on."

"If he is such an ungrateful person, I will never forgive him lightly." Lu Kuang waited for Lu Xiang to finish speaking, then gritted his teeth and said, "Although my lord told us to obey his orders, if he really turns to Gongsun Zan On the other hand, even if I try my best to be punished by the lord, I must immediately pull the troops back."

"Don't be impatient, brother." Lu Xiang said quickly: "We wait for Tan Ma to come back from Nanpi and report to us the situation in the city before we make a decision. The current priority is to escort the Yuan family brothers Return safely to Southpilt City. As for the next battle between their brothers, we just need to watch from the sidelines."

Chapter 327

The army walked on the road for another two days, but the scouts sent to Nanpi to inquire about the news never came back.Yuan Tan, who was marching with the team, didn't see Tan Ma returning, but he still couldn't help running to ask Lu Kuang again and again: "General Lu, I wonder if the Tan Ma you sent has ever returned?"

Regarding his questions, Lu Kuang still answered every question at the beginning, but the other party asked too many times, and Lu Kuang became a little annoyed.Every time I saw him riding up from behind, I felt like a thorn in my back.

When Yuan Tan was still relatively knowledgeable, seeing Lu Kuang's growing indifference towards him, he guessed that he must have frequently inquired about Tanma's news, which annoyed Lu Kuang, so he wisely walked in the middle of the team with Yuan Xi, Avoid any contact with the Lu family brothers.

Besides, Yuan Shang in Nanpi City had already known that a Jizhou army was coming towards his city.At first he thought it was Han Zhan who personally led the troops to take revenge, but he was frightened into confusion.Fortunately, a loyal adviser tried to persuade him: "My lord, don't worry. Nanpi and Jizhou are separated by Gongsun Zan's soldiers and horses. Even if they want to come here, it will not be easy. Now the rumors in the city, It is not ruled out that someone is spreading rumors and trying to cause panic in the city. In my opinion, we should send out scouts to find out whether there are really Jizhou soldiers and horses coming towards us."

Yuan Shang quickly agreed to the trial and assignment proposal, and then he sent several teams to investigate whether there were soldiers and horses from Jizhou heading south.

After Guo Tu, Xin Ping, Xin Pi and others got the news that a troop was coming towards the south, the three of them, who had always been at odds with Yuan Shang, immediately sent scouts to investigate.Today is Tanma reporting the news to them. Since the matter is of great importance, the three of them gathered together to study countermeasures.

Guo Tu said to the two Xin Ping brothers: "According to the report from the detective horse, there is a Jizhou army of about [-] people coming along the official road to the south."

"I don't know why the children of the Han family want to take our Nanpi with only 3000 troops. It only needs to send [-] soldiers and horses to defeat them."

"Don't underestimate the enemy." Simpi said worriedly: "Maybe these 3000 troops are just the vanguard, and maybe the Jizhou army is still behind."

"You two are worrying too much." Guo Tu shook his head and said to Xin Ping and his brothers, "In my opinion, the youngest son of the Han family must be busy with spring plowing at the moment, so there is no possibility of sending a large army to attack Nanpi. There are other plans."

"Another plot?" Hearing what Guo Tu said, Xin Ping asked curiously, "I don't know what they are planning?"

Guo Tu shook his head and said, "I don't know either. I think we need to send out some scouts to find out."

"Gongze," Xin Ping looked at Guo Tu and asked, "Do you think we need to report this matter to you?"