Dragon of the Three Kingdoms

Yan Xiang first looked at Yuan Yao, the eldest son, and saw that anger flashed on his face from time to time, as if he was angry with Li Yi's actions, he sighed in his heart, leaned slightly, and said softly: "My lord, the current situation The situation is critical, and we still need to make up our minds."

Chapter 519 War, peace, retreat

"idea"

Hearing Yan Xiang's voice, although Yuan Shu on the sickbed was a little weak, he still opened his eyes. His eyes fell on the curtain above his head, as if he was thinking. It was cloudy, and although he opened his mouth, he couldn't say anything.

Yan Xiang saw that Yuan Shu seemed to be not sober, so he could only walk in a little bit, and called out softly, "My lord"

"Oh"

Yuan Shu responded, and finally came back to his senses, and asked, "Where did Xu Gong's reinforcements go?"

Yuan Shu's voice was very soft, a little hoarse, like a question in a chat, but when it fell into the ears of several other people, it felt like the heart was pinched, painful, and sour.

Yuan Yao opened his mouth, but he didn't dare to make a sound. In the end, Yan Xiang took a deep breath and reminded him softly, "My lord, Governor Xu was killed by Cao Cao's deserters a few days ago, so the reinforcements from Wujun are probably the ones."

"Oh, I remembered, alas, my brain"

It has been a long time since what happened to Xu Gong, Yuan Shu naturally knew about it, but just now he forgot such an important matter in a trance.

Yuan Shu stretched out his hand from under the quilt, rubbed his forehead, then seemed to wake up a lot, propped himself up a little higher, and sighed: "I can't even remember things clearly, but now I'm getting more and more useless .”

Those who were able to stay here were all people who had the utmost sympathy with Yuan Shu. Hearing Yuan Shu's sad words, all of them were heartbroken, and some even lowered their heads and quietly wiped their tears.

Yang Hongqiang said with a smile: "My lord, what are you talking about? My lord is now in his prime, and now it's just a few minor illnesses. After the body recovers, the future will be fine."

"hehe"

Yuan Shu smiled, shook his head and said, "Changyou, your words are always the most pleasant."

At this point, Yuan Shi changed his tone, and said: "In normal times, I would naturally like to listen to it, but now it is not a minor illness, but a terminal illness, which is a sharp pain. What can I do?"

Hearing this, Yang Hong really couldn't say any words of comfort, so he could only bow his head and bow deeply, and said in shame: "It's all because the subordinates are incompetent, and the lord is worrying."

Seeing this, other people also bowed one after another: "It's all subordinates who are incompetent."

"Hey, everyone, get up quickly, what is this?"

Yuan Shu propped himself up to help them up, but just as he moved, he started coughing. Seeing this, Yuan Yao hurriedly supported Yuan Shu, and said softly, "Father, take care of yourself."

The others also quickly stood up and supported Yuan Shu to lie down again.

Yuan Shu looked at everyone, and at his eldest son, although his talents were ordinary, he was still filial, but it was a pity that he would not be of much use after all.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shu couldn't help thinking of that young man who was about the same age as his son, but far surpassed his son, no, even surpassed him, and forced him to such a situation step by step.

Although Yuan Shu hated Li Yi deeply, he had to sigh in his heart, if he had an heir like Li Yi, why would he be in trouble today.

Taking a few deep breaths, Yuan Shu tried his best to clear his mind, and then slowly said: "I'm haggard, and I didn't think of a good way for a while, but since you are here, you probably don't really want me, a couch, But do you have something to say?"

Yuan Shu's voice was very gentle, but the more so, the more sad Yan Xiang and others felt. However, what Yuan Shu said was indeed correct. Yan Xiang and the others were here to speak. Now Yuan Shu can make a decision, but with his mental strength , It's really not suitable for him to think hard about countermeasures.

However, after Yuan Shu finished speaking, none of them spoke, even Yan Xiang, who was the most active in the first place.

Yuan Shu waited for a while, but they didn't make a sound. After thinking about it, he realized that their meaning might be difficult for him to accept, so he didn't dare to speak easily.

Wanting to understand this, Yuan Shu said again: "If you have something to say, just speak up. In the past six months, has anyone been convicted for speaking out?"

Seeing that Yuan Shu had said so, Yan Xiang and the others naturally stopped hesitating.

The first one was Yan Xiang, who first said "Master is wise", and then said seriously: "My lord, I have been discussing with a few people overnight. , nothing more than three methods.”

Yuan Shu said with some expectation: "What method, can you tell me?"

Yan Xiang said word by word: "Either fight, or make peace, or retreat!"

Fight, make peace, retreat!

Although there are only a few words in the area, but Yuan Shu listened to them, and his mood was like the meaning of these words. The ups and downs, and several changes in a row, just like his own life experience, the feeling is really indescribable. describe.

Yan Xiang didn't know that Yuan Shu had so many ideas, so he continued: "The so-called war is actually defense."

"Now Zhongli, Dangtu, Yinling and other places have been lost. After Li Yi rectifies his army, the army will inevitably press forward, and then Xiquyang. Originally, General Qiao was stationed in Xiquyang, just for the sake of the place. Li Yi would send surprise troops to harass the rear, so soldiers There are only [-] horses. Now that Li Yi has won a big victory, his momentum will inevitably increase. Moreover, if Li Yi is properly arranged, many soldiers will even be used by him. Under such circumstances, he wants General Qiao to resist Li Yi in Xiquyang , It’s almost the same as sending him to death, it’s really too embarrassing for him.”

Yuan Shu heard Yan Xiang's meaning, which was to order him to give up Xiquyang, but Yuan Shu felt unwilling, and asked, "Can you add more troops for Qiao Rui?"

Yan Xiang hesitated for a moment when he heard the words, but finally said truthfully: "Master, there are not many soldiers and horses that can be used now."

Yuan Shu's expression faltered, but Yan Xiang added: "Just now, Yuzhang reported urgently that Zhang Liao led [-] troops to Yuzhang. Liu Xun was afraid and did not dare to confront him. I also hope that the lord can send troops to support him."

The muscles on Yuan Shu's face twitched, and a look of anger flashed between his brows. It's fine for a subordinate who can't share his worries at such a critical time, but he still asks for soldiers. This is simply unreasonable. spare him.

Yan Xiang also knew that Liu Xun's matter made people angry, so he didn't mention him too much, but continued: "Now the troops are limited, if we go to Xiquyang to increase troops, and Xiquyang is not a strong city, once there is a loss, Shouchun There will be no soldiers to use."

Yuan Shu opened his mouth and let out a long sigh, acquiescing to the fact of abandoning Xiquyang.

Yan Xiang waited for Yuan Shu to calm down, and then said: "So, the subordinate's opinion is to abandon the surrounding cities of Shouchun, concentrate all soldiers, horses, food and grass, and stick to Shouchun, because the city of Shouchun is high and deep, and Li Yi just If you are not good at attacking the city, as long as you ensure that Shouchun will not be broken for a year, and Li Yi's army is on an expedition, then the food and grass will be unsustainable, and the army will be exhausted. Moreover, Li Yi is the lord of Jingzhou, and he will not be in Jingzhou for a long time. It may not be impossible to send someone to operate it Let his backyard catch fire, and even if Li Yi slack in attacking the city, my lord can let the soldiers and horses in the city take advantage of the situation to counterattack, and then turn defeat into victory."

"In short, the subordinate's opinion is to use the city to stick to it and drag Li Yi down!"

After listening to Yan Xiang's words, Yuan Shu closed his eyes and thought for a while, then asked, "Will the people and soldiers in the city not be in chaos if they guard the isolated city for a year, half a year, or within half a year?"

After Yan Xiang heard it, he was speechless.

As the number one think tank under Yuan Shu, how could Yan Xiang not know the disadvantages of guarding an isolated city?

There are prerequisites for an isolated city to stick to it. For example, the capital of a country is besieged, or the people in charge of the city are extremely popular. Therefore, from officials to common people and soldiers, they must unite as one and unite with the outside world. Only in this way can they defend for a long time and drag down the besieged people. .

But Yuan Shu did not have this condition and quality.

Indeed, Yuan Shu's attitude towards the common people is much better now. It is easy to do evil, but difficult to correct. When Yuan Shu sent troops to Jingzhou, forced the young and strong, and confiscated grain and grass, his reputation has already been damaged. If he was really besieged for a long time, Not to mention the common people, even Yuan Shu's soldiers and horses may become chaotic.

Yan Xiang is clear about these problems, he knows that there are great hidden dangers in doing so, but in such a situation, this is already the best choice for him.

Therefore, regarding Yuan Shu's question, Yan Xiang could only bow his head and hand, expressing his incompetence.

Fortunately, Yuan Shu was also aware of the current difficulties. He didn't force Yan Xiang to give him any good plan to defeat the enemy, but instead asked, "What about the other two plans?"

This time Yan Xiang didn't speak, but looked at Yang Hong, because those two methods were all Yang Hong's idea.

Yuan Shu took advantage of the situation to look at Yang Hong, but Yang Hong was a little nervous, because Yan Xiang's suggestion of shrinking troops and sticking to the defense was only a problem in strategy, but what he wanted to say was related to Yuan Shu's face.

Therefore, Yang Hong hesitated for a long time before hesitatingly said: "The subordinates thought that this time the lord and Li Yi were fighting, and the odds of winning this time were based on five-fifths, but after Zhongli's defeat on the front line, our army was defeated." With a loss of more than [-], the morale of the rest of the generals will be low, and if they fight Li Yi again, the chances of winning are probably right, I'm afraid."

Yang Hong opened his mouth several times, but he still didn't dare to say the number in his heart.

However, even if he didn't say these things, wouldn't Yuan Shu be clear in his mind?