About five miles away from Pingyuan County in Pingyuan Kingdom, in Yuan Jun's camp, Yuan Shao was shocked when he heard the news.
It was already mid-January, and Yuan Shao had besieged Pingyuan County for two months. The Jiuhe defense area had long been destroyed, but these areas were occupied by Yuan's army and could no longer serve as the Qingzhou army's defense line.
Therefore, Yuan Jun began to attack Pingyuan County in full swing. However, due to the thick walls, sufficient food and grass, and the high morale of the soldiers, Pingyuan County was unable to enter.
You must know that Pingyuan City is as high as three feet six, which is more than eight meters high. Although this height is not as high as Chang'an City, Luoyang City, and Hulao Pass, which are more than ten meters high into the clouds, it is also among the prefectures and governments in the world.
Outstanding.
What's more, Liu Bei was fully prepared in the city, with a large amount of defensive equipment, food and grass, and elite soldiers. It would take Yuan Shao a year to attack Zang Hongshou's Dongwuyang, let alone the plain county town that was well prepared.
Therefore, the strategy Yuan Shao adopts now can only be siege tactics and slowly consume Liu Bei. Although he is not without the ability to attack Long Zuo, the army can just go south.
However, anyone with some military literacy knows that Longcuo is located at the rear of Pingyuan. If you leave Pingyuan and attack Longcoo Ferry behind, it will be easy for Pingyuan County to cut off your food route.
In addition, there are Zhang Fei, Taishi Ci, Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, Zang Ba and Liu Bei and Zhang Liao in Pingyuan City around Longcuo. The total strength of the nearby Qingzhou Army is close to 80,000, which is almost the same as Yuan Shao's army of more than 100,000.
With tens of thousands of people, if you are not careful, you will be surrounded from all sides.
Therefore, the strategy of a steady and steady attack must be to attack the city step by step, rather than go deep behind the enemy lines and risk the possibility of cutting off your own food routes by running to Longgou.
Today, Yuan Shao was reading in the camp. Unexpectedly, an urgent message was sent from Yanzhou in the south. Before Gao Lan arrived in Jibei Kingdom, the two groups in front, Han Juzi and Lu Weihuang, with more than 10,000 troops, had been defeated by Zhang Fei's troops. Lu Weihuang was defeated by Zhang Fei.
Fei beheaded him, and Han Juzi fled in panic. Only less than 3,000 people withdrew.
At the same time, Zhu'a's Xu Youjun learned that the rear was attacked, and the frontline attack failed, leaving little food and grass, so he had to withdraw his troops. He led the army south and met Gao Lan in Gucheng. After Zhang Fei's troops defeated Han Juzi and Lu Weihuang's troops, they
I immediately returned to Linyi to observe what was going on here.
After all, there are still 20,000 people in Gao Lan, and Xu You's army in the south still puts a lot of pressure on the Qingzhou Army. Therefore, Tian Feng does not dare to go back to Liaocheng directly, but chooses the middle area between the two sides and sends out a large number of scouts
Observe Gaolan's trends and wait and see the situation.
"Ming Gong, I have long said that this matter is not feasible, so Xu Ziyuan will seek the long-term strategy at the expense of the short-term. Working in vain will be a waste of our army's strength, causing damage to the troops and horses of Dongjun. I am afraid that Dongjun may not be able to save it."
, this is all his fault!"
When Yuan Shao found many counselors to discuss matters, there was a counselor in the army who was not as high as Liu Huixun, Chen Shenpei and others, but not too bad. Li Li, a native counselor from Jizhou, said to Yuan Shao.
Among the many counselor factions under Yuan Shao, Xu You and Feng Ji of the Nanyang faction both have the power to lead troops, and they can be said to be reused by Yuan Shao. Although Guo Tu of the Yingchuan faction suffered successive setbacks and his status gradually declined, Xun Chen had a very high status and was favored by Yuan Shao.
On the other hand, the Jizhou local faction has come to an end, so Li Li must add insult to injury.
However, what Li Li didn't expect was that Shen Pei, who was also from the Jizhou native faction, said something fair. He said to Yuan Shao: "Ming Gong, this is actually not Xu Ziyuan's fault. He almost captured Jinan is already very good.
It's just that something went wrong with the follow-up reinforcements, and it was beyond his ability."
Li Li glanced at Shenpei in surprise. He did not expect that Shenpei would actually speak for the enemy at this time. You must know that the Jizhou faction had been firmly in the first place under Yuan Shao's command before, but after Shenpei's defeat in Dahe Gudu in early December, his position had declined.
There is a slight downward trend.
And with Xu You also gaining military power, and Feng Ji controlling half of Ye City, the Nanyang faction can be said to have a lot of power. He did not take the opportunity to suppress at this time, but instead spoke for the enemy. This is Li Li Wanwan's
Something unexpected.
Liu Hui gave Li Li a calm look without leaving any trace, and followed the words of the judge and said: "Yes, Mr. Ming, Xu Ziyuan has done a good job, but Liu Xuande can handle it better."
"Um......."
Yuan Shao nodded slowly, looked around, and said: "Now that the plan to attack Jinan from Yanzhou to the south has completely failed, what do you think?"
Shen Pei immediately said: "Ming Gong, after Zhang Fei's troops went south, Liaocheng and Boping were empty, so we can take advantage of them."
"Isn't Zhang Fei's department in Linyi? You can go back at any time."
Yuan Shao asked confused.
Shen Pei smiled and said: "Ming Gong, Qingzhou only relies on the Great Wall of Qi. Now Ji Bei Kingdom has been conquered. If Gao Lan leads his army to continue to pretend to attack Ji Bei Kingdom at this time, does Ming Gong think Zhang Fei will go back?"
"Yes, the troops and horses we mobilized are all from Yanzhou and Weijun. It was after the defeat of Gongsun Zan in the north that the pressure on our troops and horses was relieved."
Xun Chen also echoed: "Now that the troops have withdrawn from Xu You and have settled down, it is better to continue to pretend to attack Jibei to contain Zhang Fei's troops, while some of our own troops will go south to take Liaocheng and Boping, so as to control the two fortresses."
Earth can also threaten Long Minato."
Long Min was difficult to attack before because it was surrounded by Pingyuan City, Liaocheng, and Bo Ping. As Zhang Fei moved south, the two southern cities were depleted of troops, which easily exposed some loopholes and weaknesses.
Although in the Boping area, that is, in the upper reaches of Longcuo, Huang Zhong's navy was stationed on the other side of the Yellow River south of Boping, and could go down the river at any time to defend the Longcuo ferry.
However, Zhang Fei's more than 10,000 troops are the main elite force of the Qingzhou Army, while Dianwei and Zang Ba's troops are located in the northeast of Pingyuan County, some distance away from Longzuo. Only Liu Bei and Huang Zhong's navy in Pingyuan County exist around them.
A fatal defense zone vulnerability was formed.
After all, Pingyuan City, Liaocheng and Boping are the three cities surrounding Longcuo. If Yuan Shao wants to cross these three cities to attack Longcuo, the transportation of grain and grass behind will become a big trouble. The three cities can send troops to attack the grain road at any time.
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Now the two cities of Liaocheng and Boping are free. Once occupied by Yuan Shao, they can immediately become a bridgehead for attacking Longzuo. Food and grass can also be transported into the city first, and the harassment and attack can be started based on the city.
Therefore, the southern offensive may indeed have been blocked, and Yuan Shao did not take advantage of Jinan. However, if he took advantage of Zhang Fei's southward movement to occupy the empty Boping area of Liaocheng and threaten Longcuo Ferry across the river, the Jizhou army would be in trouble.
It will be a big breakthrough.
At that time, Liu Bei might be able to be forced to abandon the plains and defend Gaotang instead.
Hearing that several counselors thought this plan was feasible, Yuan Shao nodded and said: "Shan, then I can send a letter to Gao Lan and Xu You, asking them to continue to pretend to attack Jinan and contain Zhang Fei's troops. I will send people south to capture Liaocheng and Boping."
!”
"Ming Gong is wise!"
Several people bowed and saluted.
A few days later, the order was conveyed to Gao Lan and Xu Youjun.
In fact, the two of them had this intention, so they took advantage of the situation and sent troops to attack again.
The reason why Gao Lan arrived so late was to transport grain and grass to Xu You. Xu You's grain and grass were at the bottom. After meeting Gao Lan and having grain supplies, they set out again for the expedition.
But they didn't know that Xun Yu, who had recaptured Zhu'a at this time and was hoarding his army in Zhu'a city, was writing a letter to Taishi Ci.
Hu Ping stood aside, because the Military Intelligence Department had no departments in these places, so he had to go to Licheng in person to deliver it.
Seeing that Xun Yu asked Taishi Ci to return to Changping immediately in the letter, Hu Ping couldn't help but curiously asked: "Prime Minister, the enemy has not gone far yet, do you want General Taishi to leave at this time?"
Xun Yu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Although the third general went south to help us relieve the siege, as soon as he left, he released Boping and Liaocheng to Yuan Jun. If Yuan Shao is not stupid, he will definitely send people to attack, so they must be allowed to attack immediately.
go back."
"If the enemy doesn't give up and attacks Jinan again, I'm afraid it will be difficult to handle."
Hu Ping thought for a while and said: "The Great Wall of Qi has been destroyed by them. I don't know how long it will take to repair it again. The three cities in Zhu'ali City and Changxian County alone cannot stop the enemy from coming from the valley."
Xun Yu smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, we are all rushing for time now. If Yuan Shao doesn't react immediately, we can also take this opportunity to recruit some retired soldiers from all over Jinan to defend. In this case, as long as Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci return
If we defend quickly, there is nothing he can do against us."
"oh."
Hu Ping nodded as if he understood, let them handle the affairs of the big shots, and just be the leader honestly.
However, what Hu Ping didn't know was that although Xun Yu appeared calm and calm on the surface, he was actually not relaxed on the inside.
Because it is said that retired soldiers can be temporarily recruited, and training, weapons, equipment, food and grass, etc. are all problems that need to be solved. Otherwise, even if they have been on the battlefield but have not been in combat for a long time, their combat effectiveness will not necessarily be stronger than that of new recruits.
Many retired soldiers have families, families, and even potbellies. In terms of fighting will and combat effectiveness, they may not be as good as young and strong recruits in their twenties.
Therefore, Xun Yu only comforted his generals. The troops he could use now were really only four to five thousand men.
Once Zhang Fei and Tai Shici returned to the defense, and Gao Lan and Xu You's 30,000 troops attacked again, the pressure on him would still be extremely huge, so now Xun Yu was also betting that Yuan Shao did not intend to continue attacking Jinan from Jibei Kingdom, but instead left the country far away
Seeking proximity, seeking Liaocheng and Boping.
Both sides are scheming, but in many cases, it does not mean that a good plan will succeed. As the saying goes, people plan and success depends on God. Sometimes, a small accident in the war can guide the direction of the entire battle.
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It's just that Xun Yu feels that his best effort is enough...
........
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Overall, the war situation in the north is still in a stalemate, except for some small-scale changes.
In this way, You withdrew troops from Jinan, and Zhang Fei's troops successfully encircled the point to carry out reinforcements. As a result, Dianwei's and Zang Ba's troops maintained high-intensity confrontation with Yuan's army in the Ande and Xipingchang areas, etc.
The war in the south also began to reach a stalemate. After Sun Ce defeated Yuan Shu, he gradually encroached on the Jiujiang and Lujiang areas and drove Yuan Shu to Danyang County in Jiangdong. Because there was no navy, he was temporarily unable to cross the river to continue the attack.
Historically, the reason why Sun Ce was able to take Jiangdong was because the officials in several counties in Jiangdong at that time were all his relatives and friends. For example, his uncle Wu Jing was the prefect of Danyang, and Wu Commandery Commander Zhu Zhi was an old subordinate of Sun Jian.
With the help of these people, Sun Ce could take control of Jiangdong. However, now these people are following Sun Jian in Yuzhou and prospering, and they have not developed steadily in Jiangdong at all.
Without the support of these local officials and relatives, it would be impossible for Sun Ce to go to Jiangdong smoothly. The most important thing is that even though Lu Su and Zhou Yu are from big families, their families are all in Lujiang, and they are Huainan big families rather than Jiangdong big families.
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The officials in power in Jiangdong were not Sun Ce's people, and the local powerful gentry had little to do with Sun Ce. Except for a few powerful officials in Wu County who had old ties to the Sun family, the powerful officials in other counties had nothing to do with them.
Therefore, even the powerful people in Jiangdong actually hate Yuan Shu, such as Yan Baihu, Zu Lang, Jiao Ji and others, as well as people from more than 30 counties in Danyang, Xuancheng, Jingxian, Lingyang, Shi'an, Yixian and Shexian.
None of the local powerful men liked him, but it was hard for Sun Ce to fight his way to Jiangdong.
As a result, the Jiangdong side fell into tranquility for the time being. Sun Ce was busy planning to cross the river, while Yuan Shu was still hanging with only half a breath left. His cousin Yuan Yin helped defend the Jiangdong line to prevent the enemy from crossing.
River.
Yangzhou will still be unable to fight for at least a year and a half.
On the other hand, Cao Cao stormed Huaibei, and the battle was quite fierce. However, Lu Bu resisted desperately, and the Qingzhou Army in Donghai County did not take action at all. Chen Mu's uncle Cai Yang guarded the north of Xuzhou, and watched Cao and Lu fight as if they were watching a play.
The bloody battle between the two of them led to a stalemate.
Cao Cao deliberately designed to put Yuan Shao into the Jibei Kingdom, hoping that the war in Qingzhou would be tense and let the court transfer all Sun Jian's troops to the north to fight Yuan Shao. Recently, the court did have such an idea, but it was stopped by Chen Mu's letter.
This guy is a hero. If you don't pay attention, he may get up. Chen Mu would rather give up Pingyuan than let Cao Cao succeed.
The most important thing is that the plains can be abandoned, because the plains are only the second line of defense, and their final line of defense is Gaotang. Gaotang is located on the other side of Longcuo Ferry. Even if Yuan Shao finally occupied Longcuo Ferry, without a strong navy, it would be impossible to pass by.
The river is also seeking its own death.
Therefore, it is not impossible to abandon the plains, but it does not achieve the expected strategic purpose of consuming Yuan Shao for more than a year. This is a pity, but compared to letting Cao Cao grow stronger, it is better to be a pity.
January of the second year of Yonghan was spent in the chaotic chaos of the world.
As time slowly came to February, the situation gradually began to change, and the war situation in the north also began to change quietly.