Chen Cheng shook his head and said, "Brother, it's not like I've never seen Luoyang in ruins. Within three to five years, there wasn't even enough manpower to repair the palace."
Liu Bei said: "Despite this, letting the emperor live in Chang'an is not a long-term solution."
Chen Cheng smiled and said: "It won't be too late to welcome the emperor back to Luoyang when the world is peaceful."
So Liu Bei stopped talking and toasted Chen Cheng a few glasses. Although Chen Cheng felt that drinking wine was no different from drinking water, he did not object or dislike it, so he raised his glass and drank. The atmosphere at the banquet quickly reached its peak.
The generals talked loudly and boasted about their bravery and military exploits.
The banquet was not over until the moon was at the top of the sky. The next day, Chen Gong sent someone to deliver a message, saying that both Juancheng and Dong'a had surrendered without a fight, but only Fan County was still holding on. Chen Cheng and Liu Bei,
Guan Yu and others bid farewell and asked them to lead their troops back to Xuzhou. Xuzhou had a series of battles last year and this year, resulting in heavy casualties among the soldiers and civilians, and they needed to rest for a while.
He also ordered Zang Ba to lead troops to Langya County to resist the high-ranking cadres in Qingzhou. He himself took the Ya soldiers and Xu Rong's troops to Fan County to prepare to pull out the last nail. On the way to Fan County, Chen Gong took
Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses joined in. When he was in Yongqiu, Chen Cheng asked Yanzhou to prepare 30,000 soldiers and horses to join the battle with Cao Cao. But soon, he got rid of Zang Bajun and Yanzhou
The army, leading the Xiliang cavalry, rushed forward and directly defeated the main force of Cao's army with a sudden attack.
In this way, Chen Gong did not need to continue to recruit troops. Just the gathered Cao army had already defeated a lot of troops.
"Chen Gong pays homage to the general!"
Chen Cheng dismounted and helped Chen Gong up, saying: "What is the situation in Fan County? Why is Fan County still insisting on surrendering when the other two cities have surrendered?"
Chen Gong stood up, his expression more respectful than before, and he replied: "Xun Yu from Juancheng and Xiahou Dun from Dong'a fled to Hebei with Cao Cao's family members. Cheng Yu from Fan County did not go with them.
, but stayed and continued to resist stubbornly!"
Cheng Yu? This name is quite familiar to Chen Cheng. He knew that he was promoted by Cao Cao and that he was from Dongjun like Chen Gong. However, Chen Gong turned from Cao Cao's confidant to a rebel. Cheng Yu was another of Cao Cao's confidants.
, but he held on to the city and refused to surrender.
Chen Cheng asked: "Cheng Yu insists on refusing to surrender, what does Gongtai think we should do?"
Chen Gong's expression was a little heavy. He sighed and said: "Although Zhongde is a famous scholar in Yanzhou, he is ignorant and loyal to Cao Cao. If he still refuses to wake up, then we have to send troops to attack."
It’s a city.”
Cheng Yu, whose courtesy name was Zhongde. Although his background was not as good as that of Xun Yu and others, his reputation in Yanzhou was pretty good.
Chen Cheng asked with interest: "What should we do if we catch Cheng Yu?"
Chen Gong hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Of course I'll ask the general to make a decision."
Chen Cheng smiled and said, "Then let's go meet this Cheng Zhongde who refuses to surrender."
He rode Gulu to the foot of Fan County City, and shouted to the top of the city: "I am Chen Cheng, the great general of the imperial court, please come out and answer Cheng Zhongde!"
Seeing so many soldiers and horses outside the city, the defenders in the city were already panicking. Now they heard that the general had arrived in person, and there was a commotion on the city top. The news of Cao Cao's defeat soon spread throughout Yanzhou
, and the news quickly spread around, and Fan County naturally got the news. The soldiers and people in the city wanted to surrender, but were persuaded by Cheng Yu.
There was a commotion on the top of the city for a while, but it soon calmed down. Then, Cheng Yu poked his head out from the top of the city and said to the people below: "You said you are a general of the imperial court, do you have any proof?"
Proof? There is really nothing to prove his identity, and no one seems to have doubted his identity before. He looked to the side, pointed at Chen Gong and said: "This is the new Yanzhou Shepherd, can he
Can’t prove it?”
On the top of the city, Cheng Yu had already seen Chen Gong. Hearing this, he replied: "Chen Gongtai's words are certainly credible."
Chen Gong's face trembled, and he said loudly to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, this is the great general of the imperial court. You have also seen the troops and horses we have brought. They are definitely not something that the few people in your city can withstand."
. Now that Cao Cao has been defeated, Zhongde, why do you continue to resist stubbornly? It is better to abandon the dark side and surrender to the bright side, and you can save the lives of the people in the city!"
Cheng Yu smiled on the top of the city: "Since the general is in front of you, I will open the city gate and welcome the general into the city!"
Chen Gong originally thought that the other party would scold him angrily or say some other disgusting words, but he did not expect that Cheng Yu would immediately say that he would surrender. Just when he was stunned, the city gate creaked loudly.
Then Cheng Yu led the defenders in the city out and knelt on the ground to ask for surrender.
Chen Cheng stepped forward on his horse, came to Cheng Yu, and asked: "Zhongde was still holding on before, why did he suddenly surrender?"
Cheng Yu said respectfully: "After Cao Cao's defeat, the troops in the state broke out and fled in all directions. In order to protect the people, we had to close the city gates and wait for the arrival of the general."
Chen Gong's expression became ugly, but Chen Cheng laughed endlessly. He got off his horse, helped Cheng Yu up, and said: "With my talent, it is really unfair to be a county magistrate. Now that Yanzhou has been decided, Zheng Yu
We need a great talent like Zhongde to stabilize the place, so why don't you serve as the prefect of Dongjun?"
Cheng Yu prostrated himself on the ground and replied: "If someone is appointed to govern Dongjun, he should do his best to live up to the kindness of the general."
Chen Gong said anxiously from the side: "Dongjun already has a prefect, how can we let Cheng Yu be the governor?"
Chen Cheng seemed to be casually saying: "Wouldn't it be enough to remove the prefect in front? Does Gongtai think that Zhongde's talent is not enough to serve as a prefect of a county?"
Chen Gong was dumbfounded. Although he was still unwilling, he could only endure it for the time being. He was the shepherd of Yanzhou, and he had many opportunities to place his own people. Although the general had strong troops and horses, could he still stay in Yanzhou? Let's wait for the future!
With the surrender of Fan City, the entire Yanzhou was pacified. It took Cao Cao several years to quell the Yellow Turbans, chase away the bandits, conquer east and west, and defeat countless powerful enemies around him, and then he took possession of the entire Yanzhou. But he
His rule seemed indestructible, and his army seemed majestic, but after the scholars raised the flag of rebellion, they all fell into the hands of others in just one month.
In the Central Plains and in Hebei, the strength of the powerful scholars is evident from this. I don’t know whether Cao Mengde now regrets his poor attitude towards the scholars, or regrets that he is not ruthless enough in his treatment of the powerful scholars. But no matter what he has
My thinking is, there is nothing we can do against people like Chen Gong now.
Chen Cheng defeated the main force of Cao's army in two days, shocking the world. Although Chen Cheng had a reputation for bravery and was rumored to be good at using troops, he was only in the remote place of Liangzhou. Later he arrived in Guanzhong, but the princes of Guandong
We have always looked down upon these muddy legs without heels.
How could he be recognized by the upper-class people in Guandong if he was neither from a famous family nor a world-famous Confucian classics master? After all, Cao Cao was still one of his own, so who was Chen Wenzheng? He was just an old revolutionary! This kind of person is also
He is worthy of being the lackey of their scholars!
But it was such a warrior who was despised by the scholars. He first subdued the Xiliang princes, then annexed Guanzhong, Bingzhou, then occupied Sili, and now he defeated Yanzhou! If you add Xuzhou occupied by Liu Bei, Chen Cheng
The power has divided the entire world into two halves!
Cao Cao is not comparable to Dong Zhuo and his like, and Yanzhou is not comparable to Guanzhong and Xiliang. After capturing Yanzhou, Xiliang cavalry can now gallop around the Central Plains. Although Liu Biao, Liu Yao and others are farther away,
Shocked, but not horrified, Yuan Shao from Hebei felt like his scalp was standing on end!
Yuan Benchu had just driven Gongsun Zan and Zhang Yan out of Hebei, and was shifting from strategic stalemate to strategic offensive. If Yanzhou in the south joins the enemy's camp again, the good situation achieved after several years of hard work will be gone forever.
.
After hearing that Cao Cao was defeated, Yuan Shao urgently ordered his son Yuan Tan, who was far away in Runan, to recruit troops to prepare for any eventuality. At the same time, he sent envoys to Yanzhou and Chang'an to express their respect to the court and Chen Cheng respectively. If Chen Cheng had
After capturing Yanzhou, and then plotting against Hebei, he would join forces with Liu Biao and other princes to launch an attack on Yanzhou from the south. If Chen Cheng stopped here, he could also eliminate Gongsun Zan first.
These actions of Yuan Shao can be said to be preparations for war. In addition to these measures, he also sent people to contact Liu Bei, the pastor of Xuzhou, and Chen Gong, the pastor of Yanzhou, hoping that everyone can live in harmony. Liu Bei and Chen Gong now have their own affairs.
Of course, they were very interested in the peace proposal, and they all agreed to help put in a good word in front of the general.
Of course, Chen Cheng has no intention of continuing the fight. The current imperial court is like using the Seven-Injury Fist. Every time he hits the enemy, he doesn't know whether he will feel uncomfortable or not, but he has to vomit a few mouthfuls of blood first. Guanzhong had just been pacified last year, and another enemy was encountered.
After two major earthquakes, he was already dying. It was only through the hard work of Chen Cheng, Yan Zhong and others who worked overtime that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The next year, they sent troops to attack Bingzhou, completely consuming the few grain reserves. This time they sent troops to Yanzhou, and the army only had ten days of food. If Yanzhou could not provide food and grass, the seemingly powerful Xiliang
The army can only survive by feeding on large households.
Fortunately, Cao Cao's army was exhausted a long time ago, and was often hungry and full, and its morale was very poor. Therefore, the battle went smoothly and the goal set before the war was successfully achieved. Now Yuan Shao wants to maintain
Peace, at least peace on the surface, Chen Cheng responded enthusiastically to the request for peace.
He expressed happily that the imperial troops would soon withdraw as long as Hebei was willing to sell him grain.
Selling food?
"Yes," Chen Cheng said to Yuan Shao's envoy: "We can pay with gold coins, silver coins, copper coins, cloth, and even war horses and weapons!"
