After making up his mind, Yuan Yao immediately sent a letter to Liu Pi and Gong Du, stating that he would lead his troops to join them in the land of Runan within a few days, allowing Liu Pi and Gong Du to join them.
Gong Du was ready to receive it.
After Liu Pi received Yuan Yao's reply, he was overjoyed and immediately sent yellow scarf soldiers and Pegasus to Pengcheng to report Yuan Yao's movements to the pottery merchant.
…
Pengcheng, meeting hall.
"Great!" The pottery merchant slammed the table and said happily: "Yuan Shu's son really can't survive in Huainan. He went to Runan County Meeting to meet Liu Pi and Gong Du this time, and he must have wanted to use them.
With our troops, horses and channels, we will rush to the land of three rivers, enter the territory of Hebei, and defect to Yuan Shao. In this way, great things will be accomplished."
Zhuge Liang swung his feather fan below and said: "But Yuan Yao and others never expected that both Liu Pi and Gong had already taken refuge with the teacher. I am afraid that the place he will go to this time is not Hebei, but Xuzhou!"
Sima Yi also played with the palmetto fan in his hand and said with emotion: "I heard that Yuan Shu had a very beautiful concubine named Feng. She was an unparalleled beauty... I really want to watch her."
When the pottery merchant heard this, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
At such a young age, you actually started to enjoy this?
What a stinking problem! It really needs to be sorted out.
Tao, Zhuge, and Sima all had excited expressions on their faces. The three of them were beaming with joy, but Guo Jia was the only one who was uncharacteristically frowning and thinking deeply about something.
Seeing Guo Jia's depressed look, Tao Shang knew that he must be thinking about something.
He told Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi: "Liangliang, Xiaoyi, I have issued an order to appoint you two as the county magistrates of my county and Chaoqiu county respectively. You two will go to these two places to take office from now on.
All counties are counties on the western border of Xuzhou. After you two take office, you will be fully responsible for the military affairs of the county. You must always pay attention to the contact with Liu Pi and others, and be ready to assist them at any time. You must cooperate with them to lure Yuan Yao.
Everyone enters Xuzhou, and in the follow-up, Tao will dispatch an army to support you."
The two stood up separately, cupped their hands together and said, "No!"
After the two boys left the main hall, Guo Jia looked up at the pottery merchant and said doubtfully: "These two boys are not bad in qualifications and have strategies. If they stay with you and train them carefully, they will definitely have success in the long run."
They are so promising, why should they be released suddenly?"
A smile appeared on the pottery merchant's face: "The reason is very simple. One is that in order to deal with the deception of Yuan Yao and his group into Xuzhou, it is necessary to make proper arrangements at the western border to avoid mistakes; the other is that these two children are
They are great seedlings, and it will definitely be beneficial for them to go out and get some experience. If they just stay with me and listen to the training, I am afraid that they will not be able to take charge of themselves in the future, which will be a bit of a waste."
Guo Jia suddenly realized what he said.
"So my life is wasted by following you? Then Guo has been wasted by you for four or five years, Master! When will you let me go?"
The pottery merchant looked at him with a smile and said: "My dear brother is a dragon and a phoenix among men. He can be said to be the one who emerges from the mud and remains unsullied... You should continue to be abused by me."
Guo Jia lowered his head in disappointment.
"Brother Fengxiao, just now Liangliang and Xiaoyi and I were talking about Yuan Yao and his group going north, but you were there bowing your head in thought without answering a word. This is really not your character... I wonder what you have in mind?
Or have you thought of something big?"
Guo Jia's expression turned from sunny to ***: "Actually, nothing is wrong, but Guo always feels something is not right."
Upon hearing this, the pottery merchant raised his eyebrows and said, "What's wrong? Over there in Huainan?"
Guo Jia thought carefully for a while and then said: "It's not Huainan! It's the Central Plains... Such a big thing happened in Shouchun, but Cao Cao, who was in Yuzhou, didn't do anything big except sending Cao Ren to occupy Lu'an.
, in order to seek a strategic advantage in the south, there are no other measures! This is not like Cao Cao's style, even if Cao Cao can't think of it... Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, and those bastards Xi Zhong can't
I will definitely rebuke him! Guo always feels that something is wrong here."
Tao Shang touched his chin, thought carefully for a while, and said: "You may be worrying too much. This matter is not impossible. The school secretary of the school affairs office did not come to report some time ago. Since Cao Cao recruited and surrendered Zhang Ji,
, have you been using his method to recruit Dong Zhuo's old generals? At the moment, Xing Cao is preparing for this, and I guess he has no time to go south."
In the battle for the Holy Master in Guanzhong, Ma Teng and Han Sui were beaten into dogs by Cao Cao, and they also lost Pang De and Yan Xing. They retreated to Jincheng and lined up with the other princes in Liangzhou. At present, the small princes in Western Guanxi were beaten by Luoyang.
Zhong Yao used his political skills to overwhelm him and was very clever. Among Dong Zhuo's former generals, Niu Fu was dead, and Lu Bu, who was in charge of the Bingzhou Army, joined forces with Sun Ce to conquer Huainan.
Among the remaining old generals of the Xiliang Army, Zhang Ji led some of the Xiliang soldiers to surrender to Cao Cao, while the remaining Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou and others were still leading the former Xiliang soldiers and a small number of the Luoyang North and South Army.
Wandering on the land of the Central Plains.
Some time ago, word came back from the school affairs office that Cao Cao was planning to use Zhang Ji's relationship to recruit and surrender those Liangzhou generals.
Now Li Jue, Guo Si and others are different from the historical situation. Although they served as Dong Zhuo's accomplices for many years, they did not kill Wang Yun and imprison the emperor. They were only Dong Zhuo's accomplices, so to a certain extent, they were Dong Zhuo's accomplices.
In the category that can be accepted by the princes of Guandong.
The person who is most hungry for the soldiers and generals in their hands, and the person with the most convenient geographical location, is Cao Cao, who occupies the Central Plains.
According to the pottery merchant's understanding, Cao Cao is currently doing just this.
"No!" Guo Jia shook his head and said: "There is a problem with this matter. Cao Cao, Guo secretly sent someone to observe him for a long time. This person is not inferior to Yuan Shao in terms of mind, ability, and courage. Such a heroic figure,
How can we not distinguish the priorities? The generals of the Xiliang generals under Dong Zhuo are strong, but after all, they are like a lost dog, struggling to survive. If it is really possible to recruit them through Zhang Ji, it does not require Cao Cao to spend any money.
With so much energy to focus on this matter personally... According to Guo's judgment, for Cao Cao, the descendants of the Yuan family in Huainan are more important than Dong Zhuo's legacy... Therefore, Guo suspects that this matter is not what it seems.
It's so simple. There may be someone behind Cao Cao who has given guidance."
Tao Shang was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then said slowly: "Brother Feng Xiao, do you suspect that Cao Cao is also eyeing Yuan Yao and his group? There is no action now, but are you trying to cover up others' eyes?"
Guo Jia affirmed: "If there is a movement of troops in Yuzhou, maybe Guo will not mind so much, but regarding the Huainan area, Cao Cao's side is too calm, which is worrying...
Guo has a hunch that Cao Cao will make a big move this time, so this time, the Taifu will have to take action himself."
…
Yuzhou, Xuchang.
Last month, Cao Cao changed the name of Xu County, where he currently lives, to Xuchang. Starting from this year, the power of commanding troops and horses will be transferred from Yanzhou to Xuchang.
"How is the situation with Zhang Ji?" Cao Cao was alone with Xun Yu at this time, and the two were plotting a shady plan.
Xun Yu said to Cao Cao: "Zhang Ji sent someone to send back the news. Fan Chou has agreed to surrender and is now returning to Xuchang with him. As for Li Jue and Guo Si, they are also interested in Zhang Ji's persuasion to surrender."
If you like, you might as well send a lot of favors and go there with gold foil and generous gifts. It will be beneficial and reasonable, and it will not be difficult to make them obey."
"Xiliang soldiers...Feixiong army...the remaining troops in the north and south."
Cao Cao's eyes showed a splendor that is difficult to describe in words, and he said: "Li Jue and Guo Si are not worthy of mention, but the remaining soldiers and horses left by Dong Zhuo are all the best of the best in Luoyang City, even if they are in dire straits.
However, their combat power is also extremely strong. If they can be recruited to surrender, it will be far better than recruiting new troops in the Central Plains! If this is done, Cao will have the capital to compete with Yuan Shao, and this matter must not be neglected...
Just let Man Chong go! Go quickly!"
"Nuo." Xun Yu responded: "Yu will make arrangements immediately."
"Is there any news about Yan Xing's stay in Runan?" Cao Cao suddenly asked Xun Yu: "Liu Pi and Gong Du are rebellious, but they have already provoked Yuan Yao and others to come over?"
Xun Yu smiled and said: "There has been news that Yuan Yao abandoned Shouchun and headed for the territory of Runan. Yan Xing will only wait for the commander's order and will intercept and kill the people in Huainan according to the plan. Liu Xun will be there to cooperate with him."
.”
Cao Cao thought for a while and suddenly said: "Don't worry, there is one more thing I want Yan Xing to understand for me in this fierce battle, but I don't know if he can do it."
Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao doubtfully.
Everything seems to have been arranged. Is there anything special that needs to be entrusted to Yan Xing?
Facing Xun Yu's puzzled gaze, Cao Cao couldn't help but blush, coughed twice, and said, "Wen Ruo, you go back first, we can discuss it later if we have anything to do."
Xun Yu knew that Cao Cao had confidential matters that he wanted to do himself, and he did not want to see it, so he wisely left Cao Cao's study.
After Xun Yu quit shooting arrows, Cao Cao stood up, impatiently came to a wooden box and opened it.
In that wooden box, there were volumes of slips and slips. The first volume had the four characters "Tao" written clearly on it.
Cao Cao touched the slip with emotion and said with emotion: "What a book, what a book...it's a pity that it was written by a little bastard."
After finishing his emotion, Cao Cao took out the volume of "Qun Fang Pu" written by the pottery merchant from the box. The records on it were all the beautiful and charming women of this era.
Cao Cao opened the book of Qunfang and looked at each name one by one. Finally, his eyes fell on the name of Zhang Ji's wife, 'Zou'.
After pondering for a long time, Cao Cao returned to the bank of the table, opened a scroll of slips, and began to write a secret letter to Yan Xing.
The content of the letter is not enough for outsiders to understand, but the first few characters of the letter to Yan Xing are striking.
"Assign Zhang Ji to the position of Lieutenant General of the Auxiliary Army, deputy vanguard, and serve under Yan Xing's command..."