At the end of December of the Zhongping Year, in the middle of winter, Yuan Benchu personally led more than ten thousand elite troops to the gate of Zhiju County, Beihai County. Facing Yuan Chaqi, who was becoming more powerful and more tyrannical, the only one who had the ability to resist was Yuan Shao.
Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou who was an old friend in the past, directly chose to resign and return home out of fear... He was originally from Donglai, so it was convenient to just abandon the army and staff and go east.
This move almost instantly declared Yuan Shao's complete victory in the Qingyan area.
In fact, after they annexed the troops of Liu Dai, Bao Xin and others and pacified them (Yu Jin was directly represented as General Liang Qianshi), they immediately marched the army into Juxian City and came directly to Jiuxian.
Occupied the magpie's nest and occupied the official temple of Kong Wenju.
In this regard, Kong Rong, a famous scholar in the world, chose the strange attitude of firstly not speaking, secondly ignoring, thirdly not objecting, and fourthly not taking any action. Two or three days later, Yuan Shao sent a letter asking him to go to Chang'an to "pay tribute gifts" on behalf of Qingzhou.
, the man didn’t even say a word and took his family directly on the road.
In fact, it cannot be said that Kong Rong was strange, because after the Yellow Turban Army was driven into Qingzhou by the Kwantung Allied Forces, and even after the Qingzhou Rebellion, this descendant of Confucius has been doing this... No matter when the Yellow Turban Army came to the city
, or Gongsun Zan to the north to capture the plains, or Yuan Shao to the west to capture Jinan, Le'an, and Qi. Anyway, Kong Wenju just did nothing. The so-called 'just sit high and do nothing'!
However, fortunately, there is a captain named Wu Anguo in Beihai who can work hard to arrange city defenses. Moreover, Kong Rong is considered a descendant of Confucius, so he still has a good eye for recommending and selecting talents. The two subordinates he promoted during his tenure, one
One is called Shi Yi, the other is called Peng Qiu, and they are both very capable.
These three people, one civil, one military, one financial, managed to sustain the overall situation of Beihai.
Yuan Benchu was very jealous of this, so as soon as Kong Rong left, he immediately paid a courtesy call to Corporal Xian and paid a personal visit, giving these three people enough face. And with their status, how could they possibly use Qiao as a favor in front of Yuan Shao?
Da, just like Yu Jin, he bowed his head and worshiped, and called Ming Gong.
Not only that, since Yuan Shao took over Beihai, Gaomi, where the famous scholar Zheng Xuan lived, was also included in his bag. He personally visited Zheng Kangcheng again and asked to see Zheng Kangcheng... Zheng Kangcheng excused himself because of illness and did not see him, but he did not stop himself.
Dozens of his disciples were recruited by Yuan Shao and left.
In this way, Cui Yan, Guoyuan, Xi Lu and other disciples of the Zheng clan who were originally scattered due to the Yellow Turban invasion of Qingzhou in the second year, joined Yuan Shao's command one after another. Among them, Cui Yan was born in a famous family and stood out from the crowd.
He advised Yuan Shao face to face that he should strictly enforce military discipline in order to stabilize the country, so he was recognized as a cavalry captain on the spot... Only one Gongsun Fang, because he was a descendant of the Gongsun family, chose to go north to the plains, only to see his distant nephew Gongsun Zan go there.
However, so far, Yuan Benchu, who had started the wise and powerful model, was still not satisfied. While he ordered his troops to improve the security of Qingzhou, he also imitated Gongsun Xun and issued an order seeking talents, openly recruiting talents locally, and preparing to establish a shogunate and completely control the shogunate.
The two states of Qing and Yan were included in his personal bag.
However, that's not all. After Yuan Shao issued the order to recruit talents, Junran sent an envoy with gold, jade, money and silk, and drove dozens of buses to Yanzhou to try to recruit three people.
Which three?
There are two famous people from Dongjun, one is Dong A Chengyu, the other is Dong Wuyang Chen Gong, and the other is Jiyin Li Jin.
Cheng Yu and Chen Gong are both famous people. Among them, Chen Gong has a better background and has made friends with famous people at home very early, so he was a member of the circle from the beginning. As for Cheng Yu, he may have a poorer background and became famous later, but earlier.
Gongsun Xun held Cheng Yu's hand reluctantly at the Cang Pavilion of the Yellow River in 1998, and even persuaded him to change his name. It had already become a hot topic. When Liu Dai was in office, he would write to Cheng Yu specifically to ask for advice. Now he is asking for help.
How could the thirsty Yuan Benchu let go of such a talented person?
As for Li Jin, the reason is even simpler... After the successive battles in Hanoi and Hulao Pass, Yuan Benchu was convinced of Gongsun Xun's vision of generals. He heard that there was a top powerful Li family under the rule of Yanzhou.
One of them, Li Jin, was an old member of General Wei Gongsun Xun, so he immediately took notice of him.
But now, taking advantage of the opportunity when the war subsided and Qing Yan was in hand, he naturally wanted to get his hands on this person as well.
"Yuan Benchu promoted me to the rank of Zhonglang General, do you think I should go?" Cheng Yu, who has now reached the age of knowing his destiny, is sitting in the hall, looking at the gifts packed in the hall, but he doesn't seem to care.
As soon as these words came out, several people sitting in the hall, including his sons Cheng Wu, Cheng Yan, and Xue Fang, who bribed Xu You to become the magistrate of Dong'a County after Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, was killed, each looked at each other a few times.
eyes, but they all became speechless.
After a long while, Cheng Wu stood up and bowed his hands honestly: "I don't know, sir. Please make it clear."
Cheng Yu immediately chuckled, sat on the Taiwei chair again and continued to ask: "Then do you think Li Tuizhi and Chen Gongtai will accept the conquest?"
"Li Tuizhi should know it, right?" Since there is no need to talk about Cheng Yu, everyone in the hall immediately let go, and Cheng Wu also immediately expressed his opinion. "Although the Li family is the most powerful in Yanzhou and even the Central Plains, its power spans the county.
, but after all, he came from a humble family and had always been looked down upon by others. At this time, Yuan Cheqi offered him the title of school captain and suddenly received two thousand dan, which should have been satisfying. Chen Gongtai, on the other hand, had always been known as a famous person in the country, and now Yuan Cheqi was the
Qing and Yan, imprisoning two Zhang, disposing of Qiao Mao, and expelling Liu Dai, may only arouse their dissatisfaction, and even make three into four, which will cause many delays."
"I don't think so." After hearing this, Xue Fang expressed his objection abruptly. "I thought Li Jin would not be recruited, but Chen Gongtai would be ordered...Awu Mo forgot the current situation. In the troubled times,
How to generalize by family? In ordinary times, of course it is as you said, but now that the world is in chaos, it is ridiculous to talk about family. The power of the Li family in Jiyin spans the county, and even seems to be separatist in Jiyin and Shanyang.
, how can a school captain bribe him? As for Chen Gong, no matter how famous he is, he can't go the usual way and hope to become a high official now, can he? Yuan Benchu gave him such an opportunity, how could he be willing to let it go? "
"Brother Xue, please don't forget the temperament of these two people." Cheng Wu argued. "Chen Gongtai has a strong character, but Li Tuizhi acted calmly and measuredly after he was subdued by General Wei.
The daily maintenance of the family is not as tough as in the past... The word "retreat" is no longer a joke."
Xue Fang was about to argue again, but when he saw Cheng Yu sipping ginger soup above him with a serious smile, he stopped talking and just waited for Cheng Yu to give his judgment... In other words, since the Yellow Turban chaos, Cheng Yu actually
He has become the backbone of Dong'a, and powerful people like Xue Fang can only follow him.
The so-called obedience.
When Cheng Wu noticed his father's expression, he naturally stopped immediately.
"You guys are all right." Cheng Yu put down the ginger soup, folded his hands and said in the seat above. "It's actually quite good to be able to consider many factors including origin, current situation, and personal temperament..."
Cheng Wu and Xue Fang both cheered.
"But you all missed one thing, that is, who is Yuan Benchu?" Cheng Yu said calmly. "In today's world, it is true that the king chooses his ministers and his ministers, but he also chooses the king. But let me ask you, let's take our Yanzhou as an example.
, Liu Gongshan resigned, the governor of Qiao was killed, Er Zhang was imprisoned, and Prime Minister Bao Guo died in the battle. If you want to choose a king, who else can you choose besides Yuan Benchu?"
"What's the difference between that and Dong Zhuo?" Cheng Yu's second son, Cheng Yan, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but frowned. "Being wanton and reckless will completely lose the hearts of the people."
"If he really imitates Dong Zhuo, he will definitely fail, but it will be a matter of the future." Cheng Yu said seriously. "Because everything has its importance. For example, in this matter, family background, current situation, personal temperament, monarch, etc.
There is always one of them that should be highlighted as the weight of decision-making. However, based on this point of view, it is precisely because of the current situation that the decision-making of the superiors takes second place, and personal character and even origins and ideas have to be ranked further back.
.”
Young Cheng Yan was still puzzled, but Cheng Wu and Xue Fang became solemn.
"Let me make it clear, I think both of them will accept the call." Cheng Yu put down the ginger soup, stood up and walked across the gifts in the hall, and came to the threshold of the lobby. He put his hands behind his hands and looked at the snowflakes flying in the wind outside the door.
And the unruly hair on his temples seemed to be dancing with the snowflakes. "This has nothing to do with their temperament and origin, but because Yuan Benchu's power is unshakable in Yanzhou, and Chen Gongtai's reputation and Li Tuizhi's family power are both
It is not enough for them and Yuan Benchu to pretend to be good at everything. But the more important point is that there may be recurrences and dissatisfaction in the future, but at this time, Dong Zhuo's chaos caused the world to suddenly collapse, so that the Han Dynasty
Suddenly completely powerless, people's hearts are in panic... What do you think it is possible for General Wei to travel to Taihang and annex the three auxiliaries, and for Yuan Che and his tigers to perch on the river and sweep through Qingyan? Although they are indeed heroes, but
What’s more, it’s not that the world is scattered and in need of heroes! It’s Liu Jingsheng who rose up in Jingxiang and Tao Gongzu who shielded Xuzhou. Why are they not from Jingzhou? People in Xuzhou want to ask for a piece of peace and tranquility?”
Cheng Wu, Xue Fang and others were all slightly awakened.
In other words, He Cheng Zhongde's words actually explain the fundamental reason why all the heroes came together during the first year of Chuping. Starting from Gongsun Xun and Yuan Shao, to Yuan Shu in the middle, to Tao Qian and Liu Biao, the reason why they were able to rise in a short period of time.
There are sufficient reasons for annexing extremely large areas.
The first is that there are not enough qualified opponents.
This opponent not only refers to politicians of the same level and weight, but also refers to ambitions that need to be nurtured. Even if some people do have strength and fame, they may not have the political ambitions to be willing to compete with these tyrannical and ambitious styles.
The vigorous pioneers are against each other.
For example, Bao Xin, Kong Rong, and Liu Dai. The first one had force, the middle one was popular, and the last one was justified and powerful. However, they all chose to obey Yuan Shao's massive annexation... Why?
Because they really do not have the political desire to fight for the country in troubled times, nor do they have the courage and ambition of Yuan Benzhu and Gongsun Xun to risk their wealth and life to fulfill their political ideals and become the world's supreme leader.
In fact, even if someone resists and the resistance is fierce, they may not be the real opponent.
This is just like the group of warlords in Xiliang. The quality of their soldiers and horses is famous all over the world, but they just want to separate the local areas, keep the territory, and live in peace and contentment. Even people like Han Sui who had some political ideals in the past, in Meiyang, Weishui
After the war, they completely lost their ambition to "do things for the world", let alone others?
Such people are nothing more than so-called stumbling blocks, not opponents or competitors.
Secondly, in this era, we really need such heroes to protect the country and the people, or simply clean up the world.
You must know that, on the one hand, the collapse of the situation after the Ling Emperor had deep-seated reasons and was irreversible, so the loss of order in the world was comprehensive and complete. However, on the other hand, any normal person knows that... even before
I don't know, but I know now...that is, no matter how unbearable the 'peaceful world' is, people like it more than the troubled times.
During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the two Han hinterlands of Hebei and the Central Plains became battlefields, causing countless casualties, dilapidated cities, and depleted farmers and businesses. Then there was a large-scale banditry chaos caused by the increase of taxes, and then there were heavy rains, floods, and again.
Then of course there was a pandemic.
However, the Yellow Turban Rebellion was still not as good as the war against Dong that just ended, because this war, which lasted for a year, not only caused a chain reaction throughout the empire, causing chaos everywhere and killing each other, but more importantly
It was the reason why the authority of the Han Dynasty was completely lost, and people could not see the hope of restoring the rule of the Han Dynasty in the short term... The so-called "the Han Dynasty cannot be revived" in the eyes of some smart people!
It is particularly worth mentioning that in Henan, the fierce fighting in Hongnong and its surrounding areas, as well as Dong Zhuo's eagerness to move the capital, not only caused a large number of casualties and war disasters, but also reduced Sakon, the most intimate capital of the former empire, to
The miserable sight of the almost uninhabited white land.
Otherwise, why did Gongsun Xun let surrendered generals like Li Meng and Duan Yan serve as governors of Henan and Hongnong? It was not because there were no ordinary people in the area. The so-called empty governors were forced to impose military control.
When Cao Mengde failed to attack Dong, he fled back to Fengshi. When he left for Yangzhou, he and Sun Liu recited the phrase "There is no rooster crow for a thousand miles, and the bones are exposed in the wild" before leaving for Yangzhou.
But is it better to describe the reality?
The entire Henan area is deserted, and fighting, looting, and killings are happening everywhere. Who can stand it?
Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a scholar like Wang Xiu, who was as weak as Wang Xiu, could ride a thin horse, carry a quilt on his back, rely on the pavilion and post system to travel across states and counties, and travel thousands of miles to study...
…Which scholar are you going to ask to walk through now?
So at this time, almost everyone, from the noble family, to the wealthy and powerful, to the poor and common people, longs from the bottom of their hearts for a big man to help the crisis and quell the chaos.
For most people with ideals, if they themselves do not have the ability to prevent troubled times, they will instinctively hope to find a capable hero to assist the other party in doing such things; for those who do not have political ideals, they just want to preserve the family and let the family
For the powerful people of the family who continue to maintain their previous wealthy lives or political privileges, if they cannot protect themselves, it is natural for them to choose a powerful person to take refuge with them; as for the people at the bottom, their ideas are even simpler...as long as they can survive
!
This is why Gongsun Xun was so domineering in front of the Weiyang Palace and on the banks of the Wei River, but few people stood up to oppose it, because the ministers were really afraid, because Gongsun Wenqi was there, and this General Wei stood up and said
When everything in the world is mine, they really feel a certain sense of security.
This is why Yuan Benchu used all means to annex the Guandong princes, but few people actually resisted, because the people of Yanzhou and Qingzhou really needed someone to help them unify order so that they would not be frightened and constantly suffer military disasters.
bitter.
"So, Mr. Zhong De is going to apply for the army?" Xue Fang came to his senses, and after sighing with emotion, he stood behind Cheng Yu with his sleeves rolled up.
"What will happen if you don't get drafted?" Cheng Yu said with an expressionless face, continuing to stare at the snowflakes outside the door. "Who will protect you if you don't get drafted? But I am over fifty years old, so I may be able to cope with it.
When we go to Hebei, we just guard Dong'a here... Anyway, our place is an important node connecting Yanzhou to Hebei, so someone must guard it, right?"
"So...just right." Xue Fang sighed repeatedly.
"The envoy is waiting at the post house." Cheng Yu continued to look calm. "You go there as the county magistrate, pretend to be a middleman, and give me some help... I won't teach you how to speak."
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhong De!" Xue Fang bowed and bowed, then quickly left in the snow.
"Father," Cheng Wu said after watching Xue Fang leave. "Is Magistrate Xue reliable? I always feel that since he became the magistrate, he has some mixed thoughts."
"So what if it's reliable or not?" Cheng Yu said without changing his expression, Wang Xue said. "The current situation dictates, am I wrong? And what's the harm to him if I stay in Dong'a?"
"It's just my lord," Cheng Yan also stepped forward and said, "What if Yuan Benzhu is really not trustworthy?"
"Your words are too arrogant." With no outsiders present, Cheng Wu was naturally more casual. "The situation in Guandong lies with Er Yuan. If he is not able to rely on him, who can? If General Wei is able to rely on him, we can't reach him either?"
Cheng Yan was speechless for a moment.
"Don't worry!" Cheng Yu finally turned back and walked back to the rear house, sighing as he walked. "I am neither a loyal minister nor a filial son, nor am I a thorn in General Wei's side... He took the gifts to the Xue family and exchanged them all for grain and cloth.
Firewood, and then distribute it to the people in the city, don’t keep any of it!”
Er Cheng quickly bowed his head and said yes.
There was heavy snowfall, and at the same time, in Beihaiju County, Yuan Shao, who claimed to be a cavalry general, had a severe headache. What made him suddenly sick was not only the snowfall, but also several letters.
It is said that after Liu Dai retired alone, there was a villain among his subordinates who took the initiative to search for some of Liu Gongshan's old private letters in order to advance to the higher ranks. However, after Guo Tu's inspection, he suddenly discovered that some of the letters were still there.
It’s really amazing!
It turned out that Bao Xin's death had caused countless people to grieve. Among them, Yuan Shao's especially trusted confidant Liu Xun, the commander of the Tiger Ya in the army, actually took the initiative to contact Liu Dai to vent his dissatisfaction. Not only that, Liu Xun's letter actually mentioned that he had contacted Liu Dai
He found Zang Hong, another confidant of Yuan Shao who was controlling Le'an at this time, and prepared to rebel against Yuan Shao in order to set the record straight.
These letters were like a bucket of winter ice water poured directly on Yuan Shao's head. How could he not get a headache?
"Lord, please make a decision!" Guo Tu held the letter in his hands and approached the couch with a rare serious look.
Yuan Shao held his forehead and sat on the couch. His eyes were bloodshot and he didn't respond for a moment.
"Ming Gong, if we continue to cut off, disaster will inevitably occur." Feng Ji also gritted his teeth and advised. "Liu Xun has been in the army for a long time and knows all about our true and false situation. Zang Hong is in Le'an. His original intention is to have him clamp down on Gongsun Zan on the flanks in the coming year. Now if
opposite……"
"Even if these two rebel against me, they will not seek refuge with Gongsun Zan!" Yuan Shao replied impatiently.
"Ben Chu, we really have to make a decision." Even Xu You had no choice but to lean over and persuade him. "I know you are afraid that repeated killings will cause turmoil, so that the Qingyan people will mistakenly think that you are committing cruelty.
…But can we hesitate about this kind of thing now?”
"Forget it!" Yuan Shao also knew that this matter could not be avoided. "Do you have a plan to prevent this matter from being too widely involved?"
"Capture Liu Xun directly in the army, and then lure Zang Hong here in the name of releasing two Zhangs. Publicize the crime and make the punishment official!"
"Then do it like this!" Yuan Shao turned his head and looked at the snowflakes outside the window and sighed quietly. "But don't forget that the villain who reported the message...will be executed together!"
"Ming Gong is a wise and wise man!" Xin Ping bowed and praised.
"If you are really wise and wise, why would you let such a close confidant betray you?" Yuan Shao looked up to the sky and sighed.
"In such troubled times, why should my lord blame himself?" Guo Tu disagreed. "Every time the heroes in the world follow the trend, there are always those who do not know the right circumstances and disobey them... They are not worth a damn!"
Yuan Shao was speechless.
————I am the dividing line of the current situation————
"Don't worry if Li Guang won't be granted the title of marquis; it's not enough to worry if Guang won't be granted the title of marquis.
The Han cauldron did not cook Gongsun's meat, and Wu Goukong cut off the heads of the soldiers.
In the past, Hongmen slaughtered dogs, but now the barracks are ashamed of monkeys.
Thousands of people in Luoyang met Cao Cao, and the hero was burning down the building for his words." - Anonymous
