The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

Waiting for the opportunity, lay down Dongjun and Chenliu, occupy all the land in Yanzhou, then take Qingzhou in the north, then unite with Sun Ce, block Yuan Shao, attack Chang'an, destroy Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, etc., and welcome the emperor to Luoyang or take the emperor. Go to a certain place in Yuzhou and Xuzhou, and then follow the path of Cao Cao's "holding the emperor to make the princes", and cut down the princes one by one, thus conquering the world.

This is the overall strategy for the future development of Xuzhou that was discussed by Xun Zhen, Xi Zhicai, Xun Yu, and Xun You before attacking Yanzhou. This strategy is still in an undisclosed state, and not many people know about it.

In response to the latest situation of "Cao Cao wants to abandon Dongjun", this strategy needs to be fine-tuned accordingly.

After listening to the opinions of Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, Xun Zhen pondered for a long time and made a decision.

He said: "Although I don't want to have a conflict with Yuan Benchu ​​too early, since Meng De is about to give up Dongjun and flee to the west, we can only use troops in advance to win Dongjun."

Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia have no objection.

Xun Zhen said, "Fengxiao's words are right. Since we are going to attack Dongjun, there is no need to keep Chenliu and Pingyuan. I intend to use troops this time, so I will also take down Chenliu and Pingyuan. It is owned by me in Xuzhou."

Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia both agreed.

Xun Zhen said: "Meng De has no will to fight, and his soldiers have no fighting spirit, so it is not difficult for Dongjun to fight. The difficulty in this battle lies in two other points. One is that Yuan Benchu ​​may send troops to compete with me for the three counties of Dongjun, Chenliu and Pingyuan. For the former, there is no other way but to use the two methods proposed by Zhicai to try to solve the problem; for the latter, I have decided to send troops this time, not only to mobilize Le Jin, Pan Zhang, and Zhao Yun, but also to Xu Xian, so that he is ready to fight at any time, and once Yuan Benchu ​​really sends troops to attack, he will immediately rush to help Yanzhou!"

After speaking, Xun Zhen looked at Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia and asked, "How about Zhicai and Fengxiao?"

Xi Zhicai said: "Yuan Benchu ​​is indeed unavoidable, and it is very appropriate for the Duke of Ming to tell General Xu to prepare for this battle."

Guo Jia said: "Jia Yu sees it, and it seems that he can also pass on Sun Lang and ask him to make some preparations to help Yanzhou."

Xun Zhen smiled and said, "I will naturally pass on the Uncle Fu, but I don't plan to ask him to help Yanzhou."

Guo Jia asked, "What is Duke Ming's plan?"

Xun Zhen said calmly, "If Yuan Benchu ​​really comes to attack me, it will be time for Bo Fu to recover the lost land in Hanoi!"

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai looked at each other.

The two said in unison: "Ming Gong's strategy is very good!"

Hanoi is adjacent to Yuzhou in the south, Dongjun in Yanzhou in the east, Weijun in Jizhou in the north, and Weijun is where Yuan Shao's old nest is now.

If Yuan Shao came to attack, then Sun Ce's attack on Hanoi would have three advantages.

One is that, as Xun Zhen said, Sun Ce can recover the lost territory; one is that he can threaten the flank of the Shao soldiers from Hanoi to invade Dongjun; the other is that he can also threaten Weijun. Can be described as three birds with one stone.

Xun Zhen is an actionist, she has always acted resolutely. Once a decision is made, it will be implemented immediately.

A few days later, the order to attack Dongjun and capture Cao Cao alive was sent to Zhao Yun, Pan Zhang, and Le Jin respectively.

…

Zhao Yun received the order, and at the time specified in the military order, five days later, he led troops out of the city.

Heaven is not beautiful, it was sunny a few days ago, but last night there were dense clouds. Today, Zhao Yun just led his troops out of the city, and it started to rain.

To be precise, sleet.

The wind and the rain and the snow were blowing head-on. During the first month of the year, the weather was cold, and the rain and snow made it even colder. Even the horses and horses were frozen and neighed. Dozens of flags of various colors of different heights and sizes distributed in the marching team were rolled up by the wind, and soon the flags were soaked by rain and snow. However, the 2,000-step cavalry that followed Zhao Yun into battle was full of energy.

Zhao Yun's troops totaled more than 3,000 troops, and he personally led 2,000 troops on this expedition to Dongjun.

The rest stayed in Licheng, led by Xun Pu, the commander of the middle base, who was in charge of defending the city.

His favorite general, Yan Mengxu, rode to Zhao Yun's side, and said loudly, "General! Do you think Tian Kai will send troops as ordered?"

There are two orders from Xun Zhen to Zhao Yun.

One is for Zhao Yun himself, and the other is for Zhao Yun to hand over to Tian Kai.

Zhao Yun said lightly, "Does he dare not obey Duke Ming's military order?"

"So, Tian Kai will send troops?"

Zhao Yun summoned two officers to come forward, and ordered: "You two go first, go to Zhu'a County on the edge of Jishui, and see if there is Tian Kai's work on the other side, and if so, ask him to build a camp for our division. , buried the pot and made rice, and told him that our army would arrive before evening."

A soldier asked, "What if not?"

Zhao Yun touched the spear beside the saddle and said, "If not, then you two will cross Jishui, go to Pingyuan County, meet Tian Kai, and tell him, within one day, let him personally lead his troops to catch up with me. Ministry, if it is postponed, I will talk to him after the attack on Dongjun."

The two officers smiled and followed the order, and with more than ten cavalry, galloped out of the team, galloped southwestward, and headed to the shore of Jishui in front of them.

One or twenty miles west of Licheng County is the county boundary of Pingyuan County. However, because Dongjun County is located in the southwest of Licheng, Zhao Yun's troops did not march westward, but marched southwestward.

The Jishui and the Yellow River are almost in parallel. From Licheng to Dongjun, it is necessary to cross the Jishui first and then the Yellow River.

Zhu'a is a county in the most southeast corner of Pingyuan County. It is also the only county on the south bank of Jishui among the counties under the jurisdiction of Pingyuan County. It is also the closest county to Licheng among the counties in Pingyuan County. Only forty miles away.

Halfway through the march, one of the two officers turned back.

"General, Tian Kai's troops are already on the other side of the Jishui River, and Tian Kai personally led soldiers, about a thousand people up and down. The general's order, the subordinate officials have already conveyed to him, he is building a camp for us, burying pots and cooking rice, And ask the subordinate to report to the general, saying that he personally came to welcome the general to cross the alms."

Yan Meng smiled and said, "General, this Tian Kai used to look like a stubborn head. Why didn't he find out, he would be honest and obedient!"

Zhao Yun smiled and said: "In the past, there were Liu Dai and Cao Cao in Yanzhou, so Tian Kai dared to disobey; but now? Duke Ming defeated Cao Dongjun and Zhang Mengzhuo. How dare he not be honest and obedient?"

If you want people to be obedient, you have to be tough enough.

As long as the strength is enough, others will be obedient.

To put it in the words of later generations, a weak country has no diplomacy. This is an eternal truth.

Just like at the moment, taking advantage of Xun Zhen's current power, Zhao Yun ordered Tian Kai to build meals for the Licheng soldiers, serving them like servants, while Tian Kai, who was at both ends, had to obey.

After walking for another four or five miles, the military officials in front came to report, and the leading troops met Tian Kai. Not long after, Tian Kai was brought to Zhao Yun. Tian Kai is no better than Zhao Yun. One of them is older, and the other is that he is not a general. He can't stand the wind and cold.

Since Tian Kai had followed Xun Zhen's order and brought the troops, Zhao Yun was a good-natured person, so he didn't do anything about it, so he didn't need to see it, and a few words of greeting, seeing that Tian Kai's crown and robe were soaked with rain and snow. , his eyebrows, beard and face were also full of water droplets, his voice was trembling, and he kept fighting coldly.

Tian Kai is very grateful.

Before evening, we reached the shore of Jishui.

There is a bridge over the river.

Zhao Yun took the lead, Tian Kai followed, and two thousand Licheng soldiers filed across the river.

Tian Kai's team arrived on the other side this morning and had already settled in their camp. Zhao Yun's troops entered the camp. The meal for Zhao Yun's department was ready, and Tian Kai ordered the slaughter of a few sheep and two cows. The soldiers of the two armies had a full meal.

In the camp that night.

Early the next morning, the two armies cooperated, with Zhao Yun as the main general and Tian Kai as the deputy general, still marching northwest.

Because it is relatively close to Dongjun, the rest of the journey is only about a hundred miles. Therefore, in order to prevent Xiahou Dun, the garrison of Liaocheng and other counties on the northeastern border of Dongjun from receiving the military report prematurely, Zhao Yun ordered the entire army to speed up. .

Braving the rain and snow, three thousand soldiers rushed forward.

…

East County, Weiguo County, temporary county seat.

It has been raining for two days.

It was just nighttime that day, and several riders galloped from the direction of Liaocheng to the bottom of the city.

In extraordinary times, the curfew is very early, and the city gates are closed long ago.

The horsemen shouted from outside the city: "Liaocheng Military News! Open the city gate."

Cao Chun was the one who guarded the city at night. He personally waited for the tower and told the horses to level the torches, reflecting their faces, and recognizing that the leader was the Sima of Xiahou Dun, and this was called opening the city gate.

After several rides into the city, without stopping, they went straight to the county seat.

Cao Cao heard the news, temporarily stopped the military meeting that was being held, and summoned Lai Qi.

After receiving the military report, he opened it and saw that it was only one side. Cao Cao's expression changed slightly.

The military meeting that is currently being held starts at noon today. The theme of the military meeting is nothing else, but the issue of evacuation.

The plan of abandoning Dongjun and withdrawing to Bingzhou is now known to the important civil servants and generals under Cao Cao's account.

The specific order and plans for the retreat of each battalion have been arranged.

But after withdrawing like this, Cao Cao was unwilling. Not for himself, but mainly for the future development of his department. It can be imagined that after arriving in Wei County, he had to look up to Yuan Shao for at least a long period of time, so he had to prepare more money and food. That's what we're talking about today.

It's almost the same.

The focus of the direction of getting money and food is two.

One is a local powerful family, this task, Cao Cao handed over to Cheng Li and others; the other is the tombs of the past dynasties that have been excavated in various counties, but have not yet been excavated, this task, Cao Cao handed over to Qian Shi as his head. Li Xiang, who served as Colonel Jin Jin.

The former, whatever Cheng Li and the others did; the latter, Cao Cao explained to Li Xiang that he must be secretive.

After reading the military report, Cao Cao didn't tell everyone about the military report, he forced himself to be calm, and calmly put the discussion to an end, Fushou smiled and said: "I should have left you to wait for a meal, but these few Tianjun and others have been working hard, and today we are discussing affairs again into the night, forget about the meal, let’s talk about it another day, please go home quickly and rest early!”

Cheng Li and the others got up to say goodbye.

After the others leave, they all leave

In the house, Cheng Li turned back.

"Mr. Cheng, you're back!" Cao Cao sat in the hall without moving, just waiting for him.

Cheng Li asked, "Ming Gong, has Zhao Yun invaded Liaocheng?"

Cao Cao slapped his thigh and said, "Engong Cheng! It's like a god!"

Cheng Li said: "Zhao Yun is committing a crime at this time, this must be the news that Duke Ming wants to abandon Dongjun and go to Jizhou in the west, and Xun Zhendong learned about it! Xun Cheng is not in Licheng now, and Zhao Yun's army is only about 3,000 people. , he can't attack in full force, he can use up to two thousand soldiers, and with this two thousand paces, with Xiahou Dun stationed in Liaocheng, Liaocheng will be worry-free! Duke Ming, what needs to be guarded now is not Liaocheng. It should be the Pan Zhang Department of Lihu County and the Yue Jin Department of Changyi!"

Cao Cao said: "What Cheng Gong means is that Zhenzhi may use the 'sound east to attack the west' strategy? Ming Zhao Yun violated the border and actually sent Pan Zhang to attack?"

"Exactly!"

Cao Cao slapped his thigh again and said, "Engong Cheng is exactly what I expected!"

While waiting for Cheng Li to come back just now, Cao Cao had already figured this out, and he had also come up with a countermeasure.

He said: "Since Lihu attacked our country and defended the country, we had to cross the river. I will now order Cao Ren to lead his headquarters and strictly guard Hejin! As long as the ferry is imprisoned, Pan Zhang will not be given the opportunity to cross the river, and he will rush forward. It's useless!"

Cheng Li said: "Besides defending Hejin, there is one more thing, and Duke Ming must be cautious."

"What's the matter?"

Cheng Li looked outside the hall, only to see rain and snow falling in the night, and there was no one in the courtyard, but he still lowered his voice and said to Cao Cao, "It's the tyrant in the county."

"A powerful force in the county?"

Cheng Li said: "Just this morning, before Li Ying Ming Gongzhi called for a military meeting, Li received a secret report from Jin Yun, the magistrate of Fan County. Jin Yun said that the two powerful sects in Fan County had privately communicated with Jin Yun not long ago. Li Zan, Prime Minister of Dongping, contacted Li Zan! Jin Yun asked Li, what should be done? Because Li has not had time to report the matter to Duke Ming, so he has not replied to him.... Duke Ming, the strong sect of Fanxian County has surrendered to Xuzhou, and so on. There will definitely be other counties! Even Weiguo County, I'm afraid it will not be an exception."

Cao Cao sighed.

The Heishan Army in Hanoi once invaded Dongjun, and it was at that time that Cao Cao became the prefect of Dongjun. Cao Cao used his troops skillfully and boldly attacked the war, and in one fell swoop he repelled the invading Hanoi Heishan army. Through this battle, he not only protected the people of Dongjun, but also gained a reputation for being good at fighting. Later, the reason why Bao Xin and others died after Liu Dai's death The main reason for electing him to take over as the prefect of Yanzhou lies in this.

Cheng Li is a realist, without Cao Cao's emotion, he calmly said: "Ming Gong, fools and vulgar people, what do you know? Just as Ming Gong said, this is nothing more than their normal choice. Ming Gong, Li secretly thought, In addition to defending Hejin, before Duke Ming begins to withdraw from the Wei Kingdom, martial law should also be imposed on Wei County from tomorrow!"

"According to Cheng Gong's proposal!"

Cheng Li said: "All the generals in the army now know that our army is about to withdraw from Dongjun, and it is just when our army is slack, I am afraid that it will be difficult to stop Zhao Yun and Pan Zhang for a long time. It's dangerous, Weiguo can't be protected! Because of my humble opinion, Duke Ming, the evacuation of Dongjun is the date of evacuation, which can no longer be planned as originally planned, and should be moved earlier!"

"... Cheng Gong thinks, when is it appropriate to arrive earlier?"

"Five days at most, you should be evacuated after five days, UU reading www.uukanshu.com can't delay it any longer!"

Cao Cao said regretfully, "Five days? I'm afraid I won't be able to get much grain and army salaries in five days." Order Xiahou Dun to stay for five days! And order Cao Ren not to let one of Pan Zhang's soldiers and one soldier cross the river within five days!"

Two military orders were sent out that night.

…

The temperature is low at night, the weather is getting colder, and the wet ground is stained by rain and snow, and it is slippery to step on.

After leaving the temporary prefecture, Li Xiang almost fell on his way home.

Finally got home.

Candles are lit in the room, and one person sits in front of the desk, drinking alone.

This man had half eyebrows, a nose with wine lees, a small mouth, and a sparse beard. Could it be Liang Kui who defected to Cao Cao with Li Xiang.

Seeing Li Xiang coming back, Liang Kui dropped his wine bowl, got up to greet him, and said, "Xiaowei, why did you come back so late?"

"The discussion is too late. This is still a sudden report from Liaocheng, and the discussion is dismissed!"

"Liaocheng Emergency News? What happened to Liaocheng?"

With the help of Liang Kui, Li Xiang took off his rain-wet robe, changed into a dry suit, put it on casually, sat down, picked up the wine glass, drank three glasses in a row, drank the hot wine, and his body was slightly warm. . He replied, "Eunuch Cao didn't say it, I guess..."

Liang Kui also sat back to his original position, sitting opposite Li Xiang, and asked, "How did you expect it?"

Li Xiang stroked his beard and said, "It must be Zhao Yun who is attacking Liaocheng!"

"Ah? Zhao Yun attacked Liaocheng? Then, then, is that Zhendong coming to attack Dongjun?" Liang Kui was shocked.

Li Xiang's face was cloudy and uncertain, and the candle flames were extinguished, which made him look stern.

For a long time, Li Xiang did not answer Liang Kui's words, but raised his face, looked at Liang Kui, and asked him, "Do you want to be rich?"