The armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei fought in Pengcheng, the seat of Xuzhou, and Liu Bei and Chen Gong defended Pengcheng.
Cao Cao led his troops to attack the city repeatedly, but was unable to capture Pengcheng.
It was summer and there was plenty of rain. Seeing that Cao Cao could not conquer Pengcheng, he took the advice of his counselor Mao Jie and dug ditches to prepare for flooding Pengcheng.
Seeing that Pengcheng could not be defended, Liu Bei took Chen Gong, Zhang Fei and others to leave Pengcheng and retreat towards Runan.
After Cao Cao adopted Mao Jie's plan and occupied Pengcheng, he did not lead any troops to pursue Liu Bei. Cao Cao attacked steadily, stationed troops in Pengcheng, sent troops to sweep the counties around Pengcheng one by one, and took the counties within Xuzhou as his own. Finally, Cao Cao sent
Xia Houyuan guarded Xuzhou to prevent other princes from attacking Xuzhou.
After Liu Bei withdrew his army from Pengcheng, he prepared to return to Runan.
At this time, Chen Gong suggested that Liu Bei should not return to Runan and instead lead his troops deep into the hinterland of Yangzhou to attack Yangzhou. Liu Bei readily accepted Chen Gong's suggestion and diverted his troops to attack Yangzhou.
Following Chen Gong's suggestion, the army rushed directly to Shouchun and rushed to Yuan Shu's lair.
When Yuan Shu heard the news about Liu Bei's attack on Shouchun, he wanted to cry but had no tears.
He led troops to attack Runan, and was in a stalemate with Runan's defenders, but he had not yet gained any advantage. Now Liu Bei abandoned Xuzhou and went to attack Shouchun, so Yuan Shu had to return for reinforcements.
Yuan Shu led his troops back and met Liu Bei's army at Lujiang River.
The two armies clashed, and while the battle was in full swing, another large army suddenly came out.
This army was led by Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, who had been following Yuan Shu. When Yuan Shu and Liu Bei were fighting, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang suddenly rushed out, catching Yuan Shu by surprise.
Yuan Shu lost to Liu Bei and fled with his troops. His general Li Feng was also beheaded by Zhang Fei.
Yuan Shu led his troops and returned in defeat, and fled back to Shouchun in despair.
Liu Bei pursued Yuan Shu and reached the city, but failed to capture Shouchun.
In the end, Liu Bei adopted Chen Gong's suggestion and occupied Lujiang County. Taking Lujiang County, Hefei County, and Yingshang County as the boundaries, the west of Yangzhou was included in Liu Bei's sphere of influence. The east of Yangzhou was still occupied by Yuan Shu.
Chen Gong's purpose in doing this was to prevent Liu Bei from being taken advantage of by other princes.
Now that Cao Cao has occupied Xuzhou, he is accumulating strength and waiting for an attack; Sun Jian of Jiangdong has firmly established himself in Jiangdong, and his power has greatly increased. If Liu Bei attacks Yuan Shu with all his strength, if both sides lose, they are likely to be taken advantage of by Sun Jian or Cao Cao, so Chen Gong suggested that Liu Bei
Step by step, he secured the occupied areas and gradually encroached on Yuan Shu's territory.
In this way, the melee in the Central Plains completely turned into a war to carve up power. Cao Cao occupied Xuzhou, Liu Bei obtained Chen Palace and occupied the area west of Yangzhou, successfully dividing Yuan Shu's strength.
…
Yizhou, Chengdu.
When the news about Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Yuan Shu reached Chengdu, Wang Can got the news.
Wang Can looked at the information in his hand and sighed.
He didn't expect that Liu Bei's guy would actually get Chen Gong's support. This time he was really transformed by a sudden change. Liu Bei has a stoic character and can do good things well. After getting Chen Gong's support, his strength will definitely increase. What Liu Bei lacks
He was not a general, but a counselor. Even if Guan Yu was killed, Liu Bei's strength would still be the same.
Chen Gong's surrender suddenly made Liu Bei's strength much stronger.
However, this also increased the variables of the war in the Central Plains.
It is almost impossible for Cao Cao to dominate the Central Plains, and the situation in the Central Plains has gradually become clear.
Liu Bei obtained Chen Palace and occupied part of the west of Yangzhou, and his strength increased rapidly; Cao Cao occupied Xuzhou, and the strength of his subordinates also increased rapidly; only Yuan Shu was suppressed, and was always in danger of being swallowed up by Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Not only that,
Yuan Shu's old subordinate Sun Jian is also watching with eager eyes.
Sun Jian wanted to develop, so he first attacked Jingzhou and the second was to attack Yangzhou.
In comparison, Yangzhou was obviously a piece of fat that was easy to attack and would not encounter difficulties. Therefore, Yuan Shu became the target of bullying.
After Wang Can read the contents of the letter, he breathed a sigh of relief.
This situation is actually beneficial to Wang Can.
Wang Can was worried about the dominance of one family and the rapid rise of Cao Cao, but after the situation of princes competing for supremacy was formed, it was most suitable for Wang Can. The princes were afraid of each other and restrained each other, and in the end they would definitely restrict each other. Wang Can was in a situation where
Yizhou, which occupies Guanzhong, is connected to the north and south, and its power is definitely growing the fastest.
"Tap! Tread!..."
Just as Wang Can was deep in thought, there was a sound of footsteps outside the study.
Immediately, Dian Wei's majestic voice sounded again: "My lord, Xu Shu has come to pay homage to my lord."
Wang Can didn't even raise his head and shouted: "Please come in!"
Not long after, Xu Shu walked outside the study, opened the study door and walked in. Xu Shu bowed to Wang Can and then sat down in the study.
Wang Can looked at Xu Shu and asked, "Yuan Zhi, what's the matter?"
Xu Shu said: "My lord, I have inquired with Mr. Cheng and learned that the palace hall will probably be completed by the end of the year. It is only the beginning of June, and there is still half a year before the end of the year. Therefore, I sincerely ask my lord to use this half year to complete the project."
Sweep away the barbarians in Wuxi and put down the troubles in the south of Yizhou."
Xu Shu also knew about Wang Can becoming king.
By now, all the core advisers under Wang Can's command have known about this matter.
Wang Can heard this and said: "Yuanzhi, you have been the governor of Xangqi County for more than two years and have been committed to pacifying the barbarians around Xangqi County. Haven't they been pacified yet?"
Xu Shu shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said: "My lord, I have indeed repelled the barbarians. However, the Wuxi barbarians live in the mountains and forests. Once they are defeated, they will immediately retreat into the mountains and forests. The soldiers under my humble command have limited strength and cannot pursue them.
Moreover, the barbarians are accustomed to fighting in the mountains and forests, and are extremely ferocious. Our cavalry cannot charge in the mountains and forests, and it is difficult to wipe out the Wuxi barbarians."
Wang Can frowned, with a solemn look on his face.
This is not the first time Wang Can has encountered barbarians.
In the past, when Wang Can took his army to Hanzhong to take up his post, he once encountered barbarians outside Shangyong City. However, the barbarians outside Shangyong City were only a few and not strong. But Wuxi barbarians are a minority in the mountains and forests.
The gathering place has a large population and lives in the mountains and forests, making it difficult to conquer.
Xu Shu's words made Wang Can think about Meng Huo again.
Meng Huo was also a barbarian from central Shu, but the geographical location was different. Wuxi barbarians were barbarians headed by Samoko, mainly in Wuling County; while Meng Huo was located in Nanzhong, mainly in Yueqi County.
These barbarians located in different locations are all internal troubles that Yizhou needs to deal with.
Historically, Zhuge Liang first quelled internal troubles and subdued Meng Huo and Samoko, which laid the foundation for the Northern Expedition.
Xu Shu came to see Wang Can because he wanted Wang Can to use his free time in the past six months to quell the internal troubles in Yizhou so that he would have enough strength to attack the Central Plains and lay the foundation for future wars. Wang Can was serious and said in a deep voice:
"Yuanzhi, have you ever sent someone to find out where Wuxi Man lives?"
Xu Shu cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to my lord, the location where the Wuxi barbarians live has been clearly investigated. As long as the army pacifies the Wuxi barbarians, the internal troubles will definitely be eliminated."
Wang Can slapped the desk and said, "Okay, let's use this period of time to pacify the Wuxi barbarians."
After finishing speaking, Wang Can ordered again: "You go and make preparations, and I will draw up the personnel for the expedition."
"promise!"
Xu Shu answered with clasped fists, turned and left the study.
Wang Can stayed alone in the study, thinking carefully about the generals who were going on the expedition. According to Wang Can's original intention, he would take a year or two to rest, but now it seems that it is obviously impossible. Because after a year or two of rest,
Wang Can wanted to conquer the world and wipe out all the princes, but the barbarians in Yizhou had to be pacified, so he could only use this period of time to pacify them.
At this time, the Central Plains was in constant war.
And Wang Can was not idle either, preparing to send troops to quell the internal troubles.
Ps: Part one of the fourth update, please support me with flowers.
