At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

"Ha ha ha ha."

Guo Peng shook his head: "I heard from Yide and Yuan Si that you don't want to attack the city. You just met with Yide for several days in a row outside the city to decide the outcome. Is there such a thing?"

"That's true."

Zhang Liao nodded: "Because Liao thought that what General Lu did was wrong, Liao couldn't convince himself to go all out to help General Lu do wrong things."

"If Lu Fengxian had Wen Yuan's insight, he wouldn't end up decapitated."

Guo Peng shook his head, sighed, stroking Zhang Liao's back and said to him: "Although it is six years late, in the end, you and I are destined, so Wen Yuan, this time you surrender me, I will not treat you as a Surrender will look at it.

I heard that you had received the post of prefect in Chang'an before, the price was two thousand shi, so this time I would like to present you as the prefect of Chenliu, guarding and governing Chenliu County for me, what do you think? "

As soon as this remark came out, Zhang Wenwu was surprised.

A surrendered general, who just came to Guo Peng's camp, can be awarded the post of prefect of two thousand stones?

Not only Zhang Wenwu was surprised, but even Zhang Liao himself found it inconceivable, so he quickly declined.

"The newly surrendered general of the defeated army dare not take on this important task, please take back his order!"

Zhang Liao knelt on the ground and begged Guo Peng to take back his life.

All the civil servants under his command spoke one after another, urging Guo Peng to think twice.

Guo Peng looked at Zhang Liao for a while, looked around at the surrounding civil and military personnel, and nodded slowly.

"In this case, I will grant you the position of Captain Guiyi, and serve as the guard of Dongjun County!"

Then, Guo Peng looked at Cao Ren: "Zi Xiao, you hand over your position and army to Wen Yuan, and I will represent you as Chen Liu's prefect."

Zhang Liao couldn't do it, and Cao Ren would be easily accepted by the big guys.

Cao Ren is a member of Guo Peng's family. He followed Guo Peng in the army for several years.

It's like Xiahou Dun being the Prime Minister of the State of Lu.

As for Cao Ren's ability to govern, Guo Peng didn't care very much. Anyway, he would equip Cao Ren with an administrative team.

Without being in this environment, one cannot deeply understand what it means to be loyal.

In the era when rebellion and betrayal were commonplace, only loyalty was the most valued, so Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan's military talents were not very outstanding, but Guo Peng would still be entrusted with the important task of guarding one side.

Zhang Liao took over Cao Ren's position and was appointed by Guo Peng as the captain of the Dongjun garrison. He led the army commanded by Cao Ren to guard Dongjun, and assisted Cao Cao, the prefect of Dongjun, to build Dongjun as a forward base for attacking Yuan Shao.

Even so, there are still voices of opposition and doubt.

I don't blame them. Prior to this, generals from the Xiahou family of the Cao family and the generals of the Guo family held this important position in the counties where the local garrison captains were set up.

The generals of the Xiahou family and the Cao family were all regarded as Guo Peng's family generals, absolute confidantes, and were awarded important positions.

Guo Peng transferred most of the power of the county prefect to the garrison captain in his own jurisdiction. The county prefect can command only a small number of county soldiers and the temporary recruitment and expansion of strong men during emergency wars.

The command and leadership of the regular army is in the hands of the garrison captain.

Although the garrison captain is not as powerful as the county prefect, the county prefect also cannot command the garrison captain.

Therefore, the garrison school lieutenant's camp is the only place with a regular army besides the large barracks set up by Guo Peng. It has a heavy responsibility, and it has always been the trusted generals of the Cao family Xiahou family and Guo Peng's family.

For example, Cao Hong served as the garrison of Pingyuan State, Xia Houyuan served as the garrison of Donglai County, Cao Ren previously served as the garrison of Dongjun County, Guo Lie, who was born as a general of Guo Peng, served as the garrison of Lu State, and so on.

In addition, generals with foreign surnames have not directly commanded troops to guard places.

But right now, Guo Peng seems to be planning to make some changes.

He asked Zhang Liao, who had just surrendered, to be the garrison of Dongjun, and led his troops to guard Yuan Shao.

Then he ordered Guan Yu to serve as Chenliu's garrison, commanding the newly established garrison battalion in Chenliu County, with a garrison of [-] troops.

All of a sudden, two school lieutenants with foreign surnames were assigned to guard and directly command the army, one of whom was a surrendered general who had just surrendered.

This change must be said to be insignificant, at least it is tantamount to declaring that the coming of the garrison captain in the future will not be limited to the generals of the Cao family, the Xiahou family and the Guo family.

Although now on the bright side, Guo Peng's military power in various places is still basically in the hands of the generals of the Cao family and the Xiahou family.

Of course, they do have the ability to command these 3000 garrison troops to take on garrison tasks.

For other people's inexplicable worry and excitement, Guo said that there was no fluctuation in his heart.

Because even if part of the army is stationed in various places, he still does not worry about his absolute control over the army.

Not to mention the officers at the grassroots level, but his semi-annual garrison rotation system can also ensure that the army is under his control.

When Guo Peng was concerned about the actual local defense needs, he also set up a rotation system. On the surface, he claimed that it was a bowl of water. He wanted to give all soldiers the same opportunity to guard the state boundary. Take control.

Many times when making political and military decisions, decision makers will encounter a dilemma.

How to find the most suitable balance point is to compare the level of decision makers.

Loyalty is not innate, it is cultivated, as long as the rules are in place, it will not matter if you want to be loyal or not.

If you want to do the opposite, you have to have conditions, right?

Mr. Guo asked himself that his methods were not inferior, but that they were all generous schemes. The rules and regulations he had established from the very beginning, and those who followed him very early had become accustomed to his style.

For those who took refuge later, this is equivalent to a change, but for the old subordinates, this is daily life.

So Guan Yu didn't find it strange, Cao Ren didn't think it was strange, that is, Zhang Liao felt a little strange.

Especially when he knew that he and Guan Yu were the only generals with foreign surnames to lead the army, he was even more surprised.

Then he took the initiative to request that his family members be arranged to live in Lu County, and asked Guo Peng to take care of them.

Guo Peng smiled and nodded, thinking that Zhang Liao still had a bright future.

In addition, Guan Yu was also very promising. When he learned that he would serve as Chenliu's garrison, apart from his wife and youngest son Guan Xing staying in Lu County, he also took the initiative to ask Guo Peng to transfer his eldest son Guan Ping away from him.

Guo Peng was very satisfied with Guan Yu's awareness, so he sent Guan Ping to serve in the Lu State's army guarding Guo Lie.

These things are not important, they are the norm, everyone is the same.

Relatives and generals have to set an example, and will not receive extra preferential treatment just because they are relatives. The Cao family, Xiahou family and Guo family also live in Lu County. Guo Peng wants to show everyone that he is a bowl of water.

So it doesn't really matter.

At least compared to what Guo Peng is going to do next, it is quite unimportant.

In short, it was Han Hao who spoke to Guo Peng and suggested that Guo Peng take Hanoi County.

Chapter 300 Nine It's a Good Feeling to Be a Boss

Han Hao strongly suggested that Guo Peng send troops to take Hanoi County.

He literally described the people of Hanoi County as crazy perverts who crave what he craves.

"Although Hanoi has been through war for a long time, it has been ravaged by Dong Zhuo and the Huns, and the people's livelihood has declined, but the elders in Hanoi are looking forward to the arrival of the general, and the location of Hanoi County is excellent. If the general can take Hanoi, he can directly threaten Yecheng, the seat of Yuan Benchu's Jizhou government. , so that it will not rest, may the general see clearly."

Guo Peng understood what Han Hao meant.

I have handed over my family to you, so you should believe me, I am really willing to be a leader, to guide you, and to ensure that you can take Hanoi County easily.

Then they can directly threaten Yecheng, the core of Yuan Shao's rule, from Hanoi County, so that he can't sleep well, eat well, and feel weak.

If you understand Hanoi's geographical environment, you know that taking Hanoi County can easily threaten Yecheng, the core of Jizhou's rule.

Instead of starting from Yanzhou and crossing more than half of Wei County to attack Yecheng, it is basically the state where the cavalry set off in the morning and arrive in the afternoon.

If he mastered Hanoi, he would definitely drive Yuan Shao crazy.

So, will it be that easy?

According to the information obtained so far, Guo Peng learned that Yuan Shao had garrisoned [-] troops in Fanyang County and did not go south to attack Puyang.

Yuan Shao himself was not in Yecheng, but went north to Gaoyang County, probably wanting to take advantage of the opportunity that Gongsun Zan was busy suppressing the uprisings of the old clan members from various places to eliminate Gongsun Zan from behind.

Speaking of it, Guo Peng is quite happy to see the success.

He very much hoped to see Yuan Shao destroy Gongsun Zan, and by the way, the Gongsun family of the local snakes in Liaodong.

It seems that Yuan Shao couldn't destroy the Gongsun family, but the Gongsun family was destroyed by Sima Yi.

Gongsun Zan wrote a letter to explain to Guo Peng after Guo Peng wrote him a letter scolding him for murdering the entire family of the patriarch.

He said that he was obsessed with ghosts, and he really didn't know how he thought of doing such a thing at the time.

Obviously, Gongsun Zan didn't want to lose Guo Peng's strong support, so he moved out of his identity as Lu Zhi's disciple, pleaded guilty to Guo Peng, and hoped that Guo Peng could send troops north to help him contain Yuan Shao.

Guo Peng burned Gongsun Zan's letter after reading it, and ignored his request for help.

As for winning Hanoi County, in Guo Peng's view, with Han Hao as the leading party, it is simply a breeze.

It's just that the chaos in Yanzhou hasn't been sorted out yet, Guo Peng can't get away, and he doesn't want to make trouble for Yuan Shao at this time.

Yuan Shao worked so hard to help him clean up the chaos in Youzhou, how could he hold him back at this time?

Coincidentally, Guo Peng's reasons are also very good.

The chaos in the four counties needs to be cleaned up, and a large number of farmland and refugees need to be dealt with. He really has no time to attack Hanoi County.

But he was interested in attacking Hanoi County.

"I understand the sufferings of the elders in Hanoi. Zhang Yang did not practice morality, but helped the evildoers, and actually helped Lv Butu and my Yanzhou. At this time, I must not let it go. When I finish sorting out Yanzhou, I will definitely send troops to Hanoi. I can't get away now. Like this.

Yuan Si, you go to Guo Sima, and together with Guo Sima, discuss and study a strategy for attacking Hanoi. Give me how many soldiers and horses, how much food, how the route is, etc. It should be as perfect and detailed as possible. I am looking forward to it. "

Guo Peng looked at Han Hao with an expression of "you know what I mean". Han Hao was overjoyed, and immediately took the order, and went to find Guo Jia with a smile.

Obviously, Han Hao found out that Guo Peng was testing his skills to see if he had real skills. If he had real skills, he would entrust him with more important responsibilities.

This is his opportunity, he must seize it!

Han Hao was full of confidence, and showed 12 points of energy to show what he had learned over the years.

Seeing his hard work, Guo felt very happy from the bottom of his heart.

The so-called boss speaks loudly, employees run off their feet, and the feeling of being a boss is really good.

Later, Guo Peng took people to Puyang to meet Cao Cao and Xi Zhong.

"Yuan Benchu ​​has stationed troops in Fanyang since the beginning of the war. He never went south or returned, so he stationed his troops in Fanyang County. The movements were strange. However, according to the investigation, our spies reported that Yuan Benchu's army seemed to be short of food and grass. Many soldiers went to the mountains to collect food. Berries satiate your hunger.

There were still many soldiers going down the river to fish, some soldiers hunted and killed wild animals, and many soldiers plundered Lishu and wealthy households in groups, storming manors to seize food and grass, and it was very chaotic. From this point of view, Yuan Benchu ​​didn't seem to be ready to attack East County's preparations. "

Cao Cao told Guo Peng the news he had discovered, and based on the lack of food in Yuan Shao's army, he judged that Yuan Shao had no intention of going south.

"If Yuan Benchu ​​wanted to go south to support Lu Bu, he would have to provide enough food and grass for the army. Therefore, Duke Ming believed that Yuan Benchu ​​would not dare to go south to attack Yanzhou before he defeated Gongsun Zan in Liaodong."

Xi Zhong gave a clearer judgment, judging that Yuan Shao adopted the strategy of first going north and then south, first easy and then difficult, first stabilizing the rear, and then Xu Tu attacked Qingyan two states.

This judgment is in line with the accurate information Guo Peng obtained from the intelligence, which shows that Xi Zhong has indeed put in a lot of effort to study Yuan Shao.

"If that's the case, it's good. Yanzhou is in a mess now. Han Yuansi also suggested that I attack Hanoi County. I have such an idea, but right now half of Yanzhou is broken and needs to be rectified. I don't have the strength to make progress for the time being."

Guo Peng shook his head with a regretful expression on his face.

Then, Guo Peng introduced Zhang Liao to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao to Zhang Liao. After that, Cao Cao and Zhang Liao were in charge of the government and the army, guarding Dongjun together.

Cao Cao didn't understand Guo Peng's arrangement of appointing a surrendered general to take over the military power, so he discussed it with Guo Peng in private.

"Zifeng, Zhang Wenyuan is from Bingzhou. He is a surrendered general. Lu Fengxian has just been defeated. Uncle Zhang Zhi is still in Hanoi County, and Yuan Benchu ​​is still eyeing Jizhou. Isn't it too dangerous for you to appoint him as the guard of Dongjun County? Don't you worry about him? Collaborating with the enemy, I still have such worries."

Hearing Cao Cao's worries, Guo Peng laughed and shook his head.

"Brother, you are worried, but I am not worried. Zhang Wenyuan is not a simple martial artist. He has read books and understands the truth. Isn't it very difficult to survive as a general in Luoyang and Chang'an? thing?"

Cao Cao frowned, and said slowly: "That's what I said, but I always feel uneasy. It's too risky for you to hand over the military power to a surrendered general."

"No and no."

Guo Peng also shook his head: "Zhang Wenyuan was able to survive in Luoyang and Chang'an. The ability to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages is not comparable to ordinary people. He understands the current situation better than anyone else, and he even disliked Lu Bu from the beginning of the war. , so the attack on Yan County is also a labor-intensive effort.

Even so, he did not betray Lv Bu and fight back, but surrendered when he had to. In this kind of world, this is human nature. Zhang Wenyuan will not fail to see our advantages and Yuan Benchu's disadvantages. full strength. "

Cao Cao was skeptical.

"Even so, I don't think he can be trusted, Zifeng, he is from Bingzhou."

"What about the Bingzhou people? Are they not the people of the big man?"

Guo Peng smiled and took Cao Cao's hand: "Brother, in this kind of world, we can't expect everyone to be as reliable as our family. Everyone doesn't want to die, everyone wants to live, and they want to be rich and powerful. .

It's human nature to see powerful people follow them. It's not surprising that the original master has declined, and his subordinates have scattered and changed his family. We can't expect everyone to die for the master, as long as they can do their job well. Things just work.