Cao Cao's whereabouts were unknown, and Yuan Shao did not stay long in Changyi. Under the protection of Zhang He and Gao Lan, he fled into Qingzhou in embarrassment, and then withdrew to Yecheng. Chen Cheng also immediately led his troops northward, joining forces with Liu Bei, Xu Rong, and Zang
With the strength of these people, Qingzhou was easily captured.
After the army entered Qingzhou, there were not many decent battles at all. Wherever the soldiers went, they all surrendered. Only after they entered Hebei did they encounter fierce resistance. Chen Cheng appointed Lu Fang as the shepherd of Yuzhou
, and took away half of the troops in his hands. He appointed Xu Rong as the Mu of Yanzhou, also took away half of the troops, and then launched an attack on Hebei.
At this time, Chen Cheng had Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang De, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Bao Chu, Wei Ran, Zhao Si and others as generals under his command. After receiving the gunpowder and artillery shipped from Guanzhong, the army crossed
Yellow River, divided his troops to attack various parts of Hebei. Zhao Yun, the governor of Bingzhou, also took the opportunity to lead Zhang Yan's tribe into Changshan Kingdom. With Gongsun Zan of Youzhou going south, Hebei was already besieged on all sides.
In just one or two months, most of Hebei was captured, leaving only the Yecheng generation still in the hands of Yuan Shao. But anyone with insight can see that the Yuan family is already a candle in the wind.
Generally speaking, it will be over at any time. Tian Feng, who had disappeared for several months, also appeared in Chen Cheng's army to help recruit surrenders and rebels.
After Chen Cheng led his army across the Yellow River, the Jizhou Army suffered several major defeats. The Buqu Jiabing and Wubao Barriers that Hebei was once proud of were all blown to pieces in front of the artillery. I saw the imperial court
After their soldiers and horses became stronger, both Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan had to obey orders. Otherwise, they would be finished before Yuan Shao was overthrown.
By the time the autumn harvest was over, Yuan Shao had only a lonely Ye city left in his hands. Yuan Benchu, who was on the verge of despair, moved all the surrounding food and people into the city, preparing to resist. Ye City is a famous city in the world, with a strong city and a thick pool.
If we use artillery to bombard it, it will take a month or two.
By that time, maybe a heavy snowfall will freeze all Chen's soldiers and horses to death?
Shen Pei said: "My lord, cotton-padded clothes came from Xiliang. If you want to freeze the Xiliang army to death, I'm afraid it's impossible. It's better to think of other ways."
Crows who announce funerals never end well. Yuan Shao glanced at the judge and said, "I do have an idea, but I need an eloquent person like you to make it happen."
Being stared at by Yuan Shao with unkind eyes, Shen Pei felt a chill in his heart. After Yuan Shao returned to Yecheng, he killed many people. Although he was once Yuan Shao's confidant, Yuan Benchu now became suspicious and irritable.
If one of them is not good, he might actually be dragged out and chopped.
Shen Pei asked cautiously: "What's the plan?"
Yuan Shao sneered: "But do you still remember when Zhibo led the Han and Wei families to besiege Jinyang?"
Of course Shen Pei knew about this. He thought about it for a moment and immediately understood, "My lord is saying that you want to persuade Liu Bei, Gongsun Zan and others to turn against each other?"
Yuan Shao said: "That's what I mean! You go out of the city and sneak into Liu Bei's camp and tell him the truth about the death of lips and teeth! If I, Yuan Shao, die, how can they survive alone? I will also send envoys to the others. Zhengnan, we will wait
My life and death depends on you waiting for me, so don’t let me down."
Shen Pei fell to the ground and said, "I will not disappoint my lord!"
Yecheng has been besieged for ten days. After more than 20 Napoleon cannons were set up, they bombarded them day and night. The top of the city was leveled. The soldiers and horses in the city could only hide behind the thick city wall to avoid being bombarded.
Turn into meat sauce.
Liu Bei was reading in the tent by the light of the lamp. Suddenly the door curtain was opened and Zhang Fei walked in and shouted: "My lord, there is a man from Yuan Shao who wants to see you."
Zhang Fei's voice was as loud as a bell, but now he spoke in a lowered voice, so that his voice was similar to that of ordinary people shouting. Otherwise, his voice would definitely disturb many people and prevent them from sleeping.
"Yuan Shao's people? Why do you want to see me?" Liu Bei put down the book in his hand and asked, "Bring him in."
After seeing the power of artillery, Liu Bei was shocked and asked Chen Cheng if he could give him some of those weapons. Chen Cheng naturally would not refuse, but he offered a very high price, one that Liu Bei could hardly afford.
price.
"I don't own the arsenal alone. I only have 20% of the shares. I don't need to pay for my part, but the other shareholders have to pay."
Why is the general's prestige getting higher and higher? It's because he never eats alone, and takes most of the dividends from development to distribute to the army, officials and people under his rule, so he can respond to everything. Chen Cheng is not deceiving Liu Bei, he is indeed
Only 20% of the shares are held in the arsenal, and the rest are deposited in military-related departments such as the Army Corps and the Ministry of War.
These departments rarely have extra money to earn, so they rely on selling arms. In the past, they sold swords, war horses, steel armor and other items, which were all very expensive. Now that there are big weapons like artillery, they are also ready to sell them.
Takeaway, but the price is even more ridiculously expensive.
After Liu Bei heard the price offered by Chen Cheng, he shook his head repeatedly and said, "It's really too expensive. Can it be cheaper?"
Chen Cheng said awkwardly: "How about I tell you the principle and you try to imitate it yourself?"
Liu Bei was actually very dissatisfied in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. After getting the book list issued by Chen Cheng, Liu Bei immersed himself in studying for a while, but it was obvious that he had passed the best time for studying. And he was
As a pastor in Xuzhou, how can I spare enough time to study?
But even so, Liu Bei did not give up. Instead, he took the book with him and read a little when he had time. At this time, Liu Bei put the book away and prepared to see the people sent by Yuan Shao.
What can I say?
Shen Pei was dragged into the tent by Zhang Fei. When Liu Bei saw him, he scolded him: "Why don't you untie this gentleman quickly?"
Zhang Fei pulled out the horizontal knife and thrust it between the judge's hands, causing the rope to break.
"Mr. Xuande, it's been a long time."
"Your Excellency is a little unfamiliar. I don't know how to address you?"
Shen Pei said: "I am Shen Zhengnan, the pastor of Jizhou. I have seen the heroic appearance of Duke Xuande on the battlefield in the past."
"It turns out to be Mr. Shen. Why do you want to come here late at night?"
"Mr. Xuande, please step aside and then speak."
Liu Bei said: "Yide is my sibling and confidant. If you have anything to say, sir, just say it."
Shen Pei then said: "Now that Cao Cao has been defeated and died, our lord Yuan Shao is also trapped in Ye City. The general is overwhelming the world, and the world is about to be unified, but I don't know what Xuande Gong's plans will be in the future?"
Liu Bei said: "If the world is unified, I will naturally disband and return to the fields and live a peaceful life for a few days."
Shen Pei said: "Otherwise, after Emperor Gaozu wiped out Xiang Yu, what would happen to Peng Yue, Yingbu and others? If Duke Xuande wants to enjoy peace, it depends on whether the generals agree. I once heard someone say that the emperor called Xuan
Duke De is the emperor's uncle, but he doesn't know if Duke Xuande still remembers that he is a member of the Liu family? How can a great general, with his majestic appearance, be a minister for a long time? If there is a day of great revolution, how will Duke Xuande deal with himself?
?By then the overall situation has been decided. Even if Duke Xuande wants to resist, he will be unable to do so alone!"
Liu Bei's face suddenly changed color and he said angrily: "How can a general do something disobedient?"
Seeing Liu Bei's anger, Shen Pei was moved in his heart, knowing that the other party must have considered this problem. He said loudly: "Now the general has replaced the original imperial court with three provinces and six departments, and put all the power into his hands.
Isn’t this an act of transgression and rebellion?”
Liu Bei argued: "The general entrusts all government affairs to Jia Xu, Zhongshu Ling, Yan Zhong, Zhongshu Ling, and Xu Chao, Shangshu Ling. They have no exclusive authority!"
Shen Pei was now more confident. He retorted: "Those people are all members of the general. Don't they want to go further? Only the general became the emperor..."
"Snapped!"
Liu Bei slammed his palm on the table and shouted: "Mr. Shen, don't speak nonsense! How dare you say such treasonous words?"
The judge raised his head and said: "Whether you are lying or not, Mr. Xuande knows for himself!"
Liu Bei stopped talking to him and said to Zhang Fei: "Drive him out!"
Zhang Fei came forward and dragged Shen Pei out of the tent. After a while, Zhang Fei quietly walked in again. He whispered to Liu Bei: "Brother, you don't really want to..."
.”
Liu Bei turned around and asked, "What do you want?"
Zhang Fei stretched out his hand and pointed in the direction of the Xiliang Army's garrison and said, "Isn't that what that person just said."
Liu Bei sighed, shook his head, and said, "The general treats us well, how can we do such a thing?"
Even if he wanted to take action, he would not be able to find a chance. The Xiliang Army built the camp very solidly and it was heavily guarded. It was impossible to make a surprise attack.
Zhang Fei shouted: "Yes, Wen is our friend and Yuan Shao is our enemy. How can we listen to an outsider's nonsense and then go back to help the enemy against our own people? How can there be such truth in the world?"
Seeing Zhang Fei's attitude, Liu Bei couldn't help laughing and said: "I didn't say that I wanted to listen to the judge. But since Yuan Shao sent people to our place, he will definitely send people to others. You send someone
Go to the general and tell him about this!"
"promise!"
Yuan Shao indeed sent Zhang Yan and Gongsun Zan out. The former tied up the man and sent him to Chen Cheng's army. The latter did not say anything, but after listening with a sullen face, he directly ordered the envoy to be beheaded. Gongsun Zan was stubborn and acted on his own.
, and he has a bad temper, so if he kills an envoy, he won’t have any psychological problems.
The artillery on the fort outside the city continued to destroy the city wall of Yecheng at a rate of one every ten minutes. Yuan Shao's envoys had no effect, but he still decided to grit his teeth and persevere. Maybe things would turn around.
What? Maybe thunder struck Chen Cheng to death?
As long as you are alive, there are all kinds of possibilities, right? But he can still persist, but many people can no longer persist.
