"This is not because my lord is lucky, but because Yuan Jiujiu is too strong. In the eyes of these Guanzhong families, the Southern family is just a group of country bumpkins. How can they be willing to follow these country bumpkins now? They would rather have the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

These arrogant people have no choice but to be their lord." Xi Zhicai saw clearly and explained the thoughts of the Guanzhong family.

"Thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi. The younger brother I once looked down on has become someone I need to look up to in just ten years. These Guanzhong aristocratic families must have mixed feelings in their hearts!"

"Who says it's not the case! You can get a glimpse of the terror of Yuan Jiujiu from the growth of the southern aristocratic families. How inconspicuous were the southern aristocratic families back then? Only the Cai family and the Kuai family in Jingzhou could barely be considered first-rate, and those in Jiangdong and Yizhou

The aristocratic family is basically a group of frogs in the well. Not to mention the Guanzhong aristocratic family, a branch of the Yang family was running rampant in these places, but what about now?" Xi Zhicai said in a solemn tone.

Cao Cao said in a low tone: "Yuan Gongli is indeed very capable! However, in a few years, the power of the Jiangdong family has increased several times. No wonder the families in the south have been submissive under his rule. They must be happy with it now."

Bar!"

Xi Zhicai nodded: "First, the Yuan family used the power of the Yuan family to suppress the Jiangdong family, and then suppressed and developed it, making the benefits bigger and bigger, and then distributed them to a small part of the family. The benefits shared by the family increased rapidly, even if they were divided into

The reduction was reluctantly accepted, and in just a few years, the Jiangdong Family has completely become a tool in Yuan Shu's hands, allowing him to manipulate it. I have to say that Yuan Gongli's skills are really beautiful."

"Indeed! Who would have thought that the promiscuous heir of the Yuan family could have such methods, it's really terrifying. I really underestimated him at first, but now it seems that he is even more terrifying than before." Cao Cao murmured.

Now thinking about the scene of the last meeting, Cao Cao felt more and more that Yuan Shu was deeply scheming. After so many years of mediocrity, when troubled times came, he seemed to be a completely different person. Could it be that he had been hiding his clumsiness?

Xi Zhicai said with a slightly relaxed tone: "My lord, stones from other mountains can attack jade. Yuan Gongli's success proves that the family is not uncontrollable. We can learn from it and take the Guanzhong family into our hands. Wouldn't that be great?"

Cao Cao forced a smile: "Zhicai, you think too simplistically. Although the current Guanzhong aristocratic family is like a dragon swimming in the shoals and a tiger falling in the sun, the foundation is still there. Controlling them is not as difficult as that of the nouveau riche in the south.

"

The current strength of the Southern Family is based on power, not people. If we talk about intrigues and competition for talents, even if it is allowed to develop for another ten years, it will not be able to compare with the Guanzhong Family. Cao Cao is very aware of the terror of these established families, compared to the Southern Family

They are simple and rude, and among them there are countless capable people and talents. They can steal everything from you silently. Even Cao Cao is extremely frightened, so he has been trying to avoid contact with them.

But now that the situation is forcing him to do it, even if he doesn't want to contact him, he can't do it. He can only take it one step at a time and be more vigilant!

That night, Cao Cao asked Xiahou Yuan to lead his soldiers to harass the Tongguan garrison as usual, and attacked twice from time to time, leaving them unable to rest. However, what was different from the previous two days was that tonight, Xiahou Dun in Cao's army led a group of 30,000 men.

The troops quietly left the camp and headed towards the high mountains to the north of Tongguan.

"General, this is it!" The scout followed the map given by the man in black and found a remote dense forest.

Xiahou Dun looked at the dense forest in front of him, which was endless and overlapping. The weeds on the ground were as high as his calves. It was difficult for even a single pedestrian to pass through, let alone an army.

"Are you sure this is here?" Xiahou Dun questioned.

"That's right! I've compared it many times, and this is it. The front on the map is a small road." The scout carefully compared the surrounding terrain and said with certainty.

"Send someone to explore the road first. There should be a trail hidden here."

"promise!"

Soon, the scout came back, bringing the good news that Xiahou Dun expected. There was indeed a path that had been opened up among the layers of dense forest. This was a secret passage prepared by the Guanzhong family. On the surface, it was

There is no way to go, but as long as you go a few dozen meters deep, you will find a flat path, enough to accommodate two carriages.

Xiahou Dun followed this path all the way in-depth. As expected, he bypassed Tongguan directly and came to between Tongguan and Chang'an as shown on the map. And he began to prepare for the next action.

...

"Boom!"

On the road between Chang'an and Tongguan, the sound of thousands of galloping horses slowly sounded.

"How much longer?" Fan Chong asked anxiously.

"General, at our current speed, we will reach Tongguan in two hours. However, we have been marching for half a day, and the soldiers are a little tired. Should we take a rest first?" said the deputy general.

Fan Chou shook his head and said: "Rescuing troops is like putting out fire! Tongguan is in danger now. The sooner we arrive, the better. Inform the soldiers to continue moving forward and have a good rest until we reach Tongguan!"

"No!" The deputy general thought about it. With the hard-working spirit of the Xiliang soldiers, a half-day march was just a piece of cake. It was just a bit tired, as long as there was no battle. But now that Cao Liu and Liantong Pass have not been captured, where are the enemies?

?

However, he didn't know that less than twenty miles away from him, a team was already ready, waiting for their prey to enter the net.

The movement of Xiliang soldiers was quickly discovered by the scouts sent by Xiahou Dun. When he learned that Fan Chou did not stop to rest, but continued on his way, Xiahou Dun was extremely happy.

"Very good! Originally, I just wanted to attack while the opponent was resting and had an unsteady footing, but I never thought that the opponent would be so careless. Isn't this a tired army seeking death if they rush over without any defense?" Xiahou Dun immediately changed his plan.

Turn the original sneak attack into an ambush.

After a while, 30,000 cavalrymen led by Fan Chou arrived at this place. Seeing the dense forests on both sides of the road ahead, Fan Chou frowned, but did not take much precautions.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Just as he was marching to the center of the dense forest, countless thin sounds suddenly sounded in the dense forest on both sides.

"No! Enemy attack!" Fan Chou, who had been through a lot of fighting, knew immediately when he heard these sounds that he was ambushed and shouted quickly.

Countless arrows shot out from the dense forest, hitting the Xiliang cavalry led by Fan Chou overwhelmingly. The Xiliang army, which was already a little tired, was unprepared. Even the cloud of the army could not be opened, and a large area fell in an instant.

"Damn it! Ignore the enemies on both sides and charge forward!" Fan Chou quickly mobilized his army's cloud energy to protect his army and shouted.

No one can enter the forest, not to mention that he is leading cavalry. At this time, fighting the enemy crossbowmen ambushing in the forest is tantamount to seeking death. It is best to escape quickly. Since the opponent has set up an ambush, he has naturally considered it.

The road he retreated on was narrow and the brave would win, so it was better to just charge forward, maybe he could break through the enemy's ambush.

After all, Fan Chou was an experienced veteran, and he made his decision in a flash. He believed that with his 30,000 Xiliang cavalry, nothing could resist him, so he could just break the formation with force and charge forward.
Chapter completed!