Chapter 140 Just as Zhou’s military advisor intended

Xia Houlan, Zhou Xing knows this person.

After Zhang Yan surrendered to Cao Cao, he followed Xiahou Dun to attack Liu Bei in Jingzhou, but was captured. Zhao Yun persuaded Liu Bei to let him go and make him a military commander.

He is indeed Zhao Yun's friend.

"It turns out that these are brothers Xiahou, Zilong's friends."

Zhou Xing bowed his hands to Xia Houlan.

"Do you know me?" Xia Houlan's reaction to Zhou Xing was a little strange.

"When Zilong was in General Gongsun's army, he had worked with General Liu Xuande to deal with Yuan Shao. He once talked to General Liu about the Xiahou brothers. Therefore, General Liu knew that the Xiahou brothers were Zilong's good friends. When we talked about Zilong, we once said

Talking about the Xiahou brothers."

In fact, Liu Bei never talked about Xiahoulan with Zhou Xing, and Zhao Yun never talked about him with Liu Bei.

Xia Houlan seemed very happy: "Did Zilong really talk about me to General Liu? Military Advisor Zhou, why do you want to see Zilong?"

"It's nothing. General Liu misses Zilong. I happened to come to Jizhou and asked me to pay my respects to Zilong if I see him. I wonder where Zilong is now?"

Gongsun Xu was still here, and Zhou Xing did not want to directly say that he wanted to persuade Zhao Yun to assist Liu Bei.

"It turns out that Zilong is at Zhending's home. I persuaded him to come with me to follow Zhang Qushuai, but he didn't want to come. Zilong is a man of great ambition. He always wants to do something for the people, and he always hates that he can't see the light of day.

Lord, do you want Military Advisor Zhou to go to Zhending to see him?"

Xia Houlan persuaded Zhao Yun several times to follow Zhang Yan, saying that as long as he came, he would definitely be the leader second only to Zhang Yan.

But no matter how he tried to persuade him, Zhao Yun refused and just stayed at home, seemingly waiting for an opportunity.

Zhou Xing was secretly happy, as long as Zhao Yun was at home.

"This place is not far from Zhending. If I have the chance, I might go and visit."

Zhang Yan said at this time: "Zhao Zilong is brave and loyal. I have asked him to come and lead the troops several times, but he always refused. If Military Advisor Zhou sees Zilong, you might as well persuade him for me. Military Advisor Zhou is good at speaking, I believe he can

Convince him."

Zhou Xing smiled and said: "Zhang Qushuai thinks highly of me. Now that I haven't been able to persuade Zhang Qushuai to surround Yecheng and rescue Yi Jing, I'm afraid it will be even harder to persuade Zilong to come here. He won't listen to the words of the Xiahou brothers and Zhang Qushuai."

, how can I make him listen."

"Indeed, everyone has his own ambitions and cannot be forced to do so. Military Advisor Zhou, as for whether we want to send troops to besiege Yecheng, I will give you an answer tomorrow."

On that day, Zhang Yan hosted a banquet in honor of Zhou Xing and allowed him to stay temporarily in the village.

Zhou Xing and Xia Houlan had a pleasant conversation and learned more about Zhao Yun.

After the banquet, Zhang Yan convened his troops for discussion at nightfall, but Gongsun Xu and Zhou Xing were not there.

Zhang Yan asked everyone: "Should our troops aid Yijing or besiege Yecheng? What do you think?"

"Commander Qu, I think we should go to aid Yijing. Yuan Shao's troops are in Yijing. Only by defeating Yuan Shao can our troops truly rescue General Gongsun." A leader named Du Chang said.

"Is Chief Du confident that he will defeat Yuan Shao? Yuan Shao personally commands the troops, and there are two generals, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and even though we have 100,000 troops, it won't be that easy to defeat him!" Xia Houlan said.

Because of Zhao Yun's relationship, Xia Houlan had some affection for Zhou Xing, and felt that it would be better to besiege Yecheng than to directly aid Yi Jing.

"Is Chief Xiahou afraid of Yuan Shao?" Du Chang glared at Xiahoulan.

Xia Houlan didn't take it seriously and smiled softly and said: "It's not a matter of fear or not. The fact is that if we do what Zhou Wensheng said and send troops south to pretend to besiege Yecheng and lure Yuan Shao to retreat, we can break the siege of Yijing. Moreover,

If we go south, we won’t fight Yuan Shao’s soldiers and horses, and there will be no casualties. Isn’t this better than going to fight Yuan Shao?”

"Hmph, what's wrong with fighting Yuan Shao? If we can defeat Yuan Shao and kill him, half of Jizhou will be ours from now on."

"What if we lose?"

"How could we lose!"

"Chief Du, the strongest person in the world today is Yuan Shao. Now Yuan Shao has gathered 60,000 troops to besiege Yi Jing. With our 100,000 troops, can we definitely defeat Yuan Shao? In terms of numbers, we are indeed the most numerous, and in terms of combat power, we have more people.

, Yuan Shao’s soldiers and horses are indeed stronger than ours, this is undeniable!”

Although Zhang Yan did not speak, she was listening carefully to the argument between Xia Houlan and Du Chang.

Xia Houlan was indeed right. He had a large number of soldiers, but in terms of training and combat power, his soldiers could not compare with Yuan Shao's troops.

In the Battle of Jieqiao, Gongsun Zan had so many soldiers and horses, including many cavalry, but he was defeated by Yuan Shao.

He himself was once defeated by Yuan Shao, and all the people in Heishan were wiped out by Yuan Shao. Now even Cao Cao does not dare to directly oppose Yuan Shao. With his own 100,000 troops, it is indeed difficult to defeat Yuan Shao.

Unless we cooperate with Gongsun Zan internally and externally, but the problem comes back again, how to make an appointment with Gongsun Zan.

When writing letters, I am afraid that my handwriting will be imitated and altered, and when I write orally, I am afraid that people will not be trustworthy.

"Besides," Xia Houlan continued, "now the left general Liu Xuande is openly hostile to Yuan Shao. Qingzhou to the east, Youzhou to the north, and us, forming a three-sided attack. And Cao Cao is in the process of conquering Xuzhou and has no time to assist Yuan Shao.

, we only need the three parties to join forces and advance the army at the same time, so that we can be safe, and it will be much easier to destroy Yuan Shao."

Zhang Yan nodded: "Well, Xiahou is right. If three sides attack at the same time, Yuan Shao will be difficult to deal with. As for Cao Cao, it would be fine if he doesn't take the opportunity to capture Ye City. He probably won't help Yuan Shao. This is indeed the case.

A safer method is that if Yuan Shao can be destroyed, Liu Xuande can take Qingzhou, and we can share Jizhou with Gongsun Bogui."

"Qu Shuai..."

Du Chang wanted to say more, but Zhang Yan waved his hand and said: "I have made up my mind to go south and besiege Yecheng."

Zhang Yan knew that Yuan Shao would not be destroyed so easily, at least with his own troops alone. Only by gathering troops from three parties and attacking from three sides could it be possible.

When the time comes, Liu Bei will march from Qingzhou and Gongsun Zan will march from Youzhou to divide Yuan Shao's troops, and he can directly go south to capture Ye City and get all of Yuan Shao's supplies, money and food.

The next day, when Gongsun Xu heard Zhang Yan personally say that he would lead his troops south to besiege Yecheng, he couldn't accept it in his heart, but he had no choice but to stare at Zhou Xing fiercely.

But Zhou Xing seemed very happy. Zhang Yan’s doing this would be beneficial to everyone.

"Since Zhang Qushuai has decided to go south to besiege Yecheng, he can immediately send a letter to Yijing, telling General Gongsun to hold on to Yijing and hold off Yuan Shao's troops so that he can attack Yecheng. The person who sent the letter had better let Yuan Shao

The scouts intercepted and let Yuan Shao read the letter. In this way, even if Yuan Shao did not retreat immediately, he would probably be worried. And as Zhang Qushuai's troops went south, when the news frequently reached Yuan Shao's ears, I believe he would immediately

Retreat."

"Haha, that's what Zhou's military advisor meant."

Zhang Yan was overjoyed and felt that doing so would disturb Yuan Shao's mood and make him worry about Ye City and make it difficult to concentrate on attacking the city. In this way, Yi Jing would not be captured so quickly.

Another day later, Zhang Yan's men and horses were gathered together. He personally led 100,000 men and horses to leave the village and go south toward Yecheng.
Chapter completed!