After Yuan Shang received the news from Xu You from Beixin City, his face was gloomy. Although he had received the news that Yuan Xi was sending troops earlier, the speed of the other party's actions still made Yuan Shang feel a lot of pressure.
If the opponent really wants to knock down Heishan, is he afraid that Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi will surround Jizhou?
What exactly is Yuan Xi thinking?
Especially when the Black Mountain Army was defeated in front of him and the long border of Bingzhou and Jizhou was given to Yuan Xi, he really felt like it. I can't take this breath!
At the moment, Yuan Shang has two options. One is to send troops from Yecheng and attack Shangdang County in the southernmost part of Bingzhou. This is the southern exit of the Taihang Mountains and the junction with Hanoi.
According to intelligence, Yuan Xi was attacking the northern pass of Taihang Mountain between Taiyuan County in Bingzhou and Changshan County in Jizhou.
In this case, they can echo Yuan Xi from beginning to end and let the Montenegrin Army focus on one thing and not the other.
But in this way, the Montenegrin Army will feel that Yuan Shang is more threatened and may use its main force to defend the south. Wouldn't this help Yuan Xi?
When Yuan Shang thought about letting Yuan Xi take advantage, he felt as uncomfortable as eating shit.
Moreover, when sending troops from Wei County, one needs to be cautious, because to the south of Shangdang County is Hanoi County, where Lu Bu, who is at odds with the Yuan family, is entrenched. Who knows whether he will sneak attack on his retreat?
Moreover, sending troops to Yecheng will inevitably be empty. What if Cao Cao of Dongjun turns against him?
Although Yuan Shang had reached some deals with Cao Cao privately, he also understood that nothing in the world was free. If Cao Cao had good friends with him, what kind of good intentions could he have?
He just used him to obtain the Five Stones, but it was not without cost. For example, a few days ago, Zang Hong came to Yecheng to ask for help and asked the Yuan family to send troops to rescue Chen Liu's Zhang Chao and Zhang Miao brothers, but Yuan Shang refused.
To rescue Chen Liu, he would have to break up with Cao Cao. It was obvious that the gains outweighed the losses by offending Cao Cao for Zhang Chao. Yuan Shang used this as a reason to persuade Yuan Shao to reject Zang Hong.
Thinking of Zang Hong's resentful expression when he left, Yuan Shang sneered in his heart, "How dare you, a little prefect of Dongjun, dare to cause any trouble!"
Since it is not appropriate to send troops from Yecheng, another option is to break into the central pass of Taihang Mountain from between Shangdang and Zhaojun, and intercept Yuan Xi's march south to Taihang.
If you do this, Jizhou will invade Bingzhou and completely separate the Black Mountain Army.
Pang Ji and Shen Pei also proposed a more suitable plan.
If they do not attack and just accumulate heavy troops at the middle pass, the Montenegrin army may panic and look for a breakthrough.
Between going south to Hanoi to seek refuge with Lu Bu and going north to Youzhou for a decisive battle with Yuan Xi, Pang Ji and Shen Pei agreed after discussion that Zhang Yan would most likely choose to go north.
Hanoi itself is short of food, Lu Bu and Zhang Yan have a very average relationship, and Hanoi cannot accommodate hundreds of thousands of mouths.
In comparison, Youzhou still has a large area of land. I heard that it has built water conservancy projects and used rice and wheat sowing. It has had good harvests for two consecutive years. As long as Yuan Xi can be defeated, a large amount of food can be obtained.
It would be better if several counties in Youzhou were captured. Even if they were attacked by the Yuan family in the future, Youzhou was close to the outside of the fortress. They could advance, attack, retreat or defend, and there were several retreat routes to choose from.
Zhang Yan is not an ordinary person either. He doesn't have many choices in front of him and will most likely give it a try!
If Zhang Yan attacks with all his strength, Yuan Xi will be unable to stop him, and he will probably be invaded Youzhou and lose several counties.
Of course, Yuan Shang cannot let Zhang Yan destroy Yuan Xi like this. At this time, he will lead the army brazenly, attack the Taihang Mountains, go all the way north, and pursue Zhang Yan's retreat!
At this time, Zhang Yan had already chased him out of the Taihang Mountains. If Yuan Shang went north to cut off the north exit of the Taihang Mountains, he would make Zhang Yan homeless!
The final result was that Zhang Yan was attacked from both sides, and hundreds of thousands of Black Mountain troops were scattered in Youzhou and turned into rogue bandits. Yuan Xi was busy dealing with it for several years, or even ten years, and could no longer cause trouble!
This is the serial plan devised by Yuan Shang's two great counselors to lure the snake out of its hole and drive the tiger away to devour the wolf!
In this way, Yuan Shang can control the Taihang Mountains and open up the channel to Bingzhou. Yuan Shao will definitely choose Yuan Shang's close confidants as the governor of Bingzhou in terms of rewards.
Then he would find a way to make good friends with the Southern Xiongnu who merged with the state and obtain a large number of their cavalry. Yuan Shang's situation in Jizhou would be revitalized and he would gain the strength to dominate the world!
Yuan Shang reviewed this idea several times and felt that there should be no flaws, so he couldn't help but let out a proud laugh.
He suddenly remembered that he still had a chess piece in Youzhou, Shan Yu Tadun.
Should he send troops to cause Yuan Xi some trouble?
Yuan Shang thought about it and realized that Shan Yu Tadun was a man who would not let go of hawks before seeing rabbits. If he wanted to work for him, he had to meet the conditions for marriage with him.
Yuan Xing actually has no ability to resist. The key is how to persuade Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shang's eyes began to roll.
Yuan Xi had already entered Beixin City, and he didn't have time to return home, so he came directly to the military camp to watch the soldiers train.
Today, there are still thousands of soldiers in Beixin City. Although they have not been trained in the new methods of sword, shield, gun and crossbow, they have gone through several battles and are quite proficient in infantry warfare. Jushou has not stopped training since he took office. So the combat power is not weak.
Yuan Xi thought about it and temporarily left it to Tian Yu to lead the troops.
He thought that he still lacked an infantry commander like Gao Shun. Logically speaking, Qu Yi was the most suitable, so he went to Hanoi.
However, Yuan Xi also knew that Qu Yi's body was not suitable for fighting on the battlefield. Every battle was fought at the cost of his life.
What made Yuan Xi even more depressed was that he had previously asked Qu Yi to wait for him in Jicheng while he took Hua Tuo there to check his physical condition.
As a result, Qu Yi concealed his illness and refused to seek medical treatment. He was extremely resistant to medical treatment and stayed in Beixin City. Later, he heard that Yuan Xi was looking for someone to see Lu Bu, so he immediately left for Hanoi.
Yuan Xi is a little worried. If this continues, Qu Yi will come back, and he still doesn't know how his body has deteriorated, and he doesn't know what he thinks!
Moreover, when Qu Yi arrived in Hanoi, there was no news. Chen Gui should also be negotiating with Lu Bu at this time. I wonder how it went?
Thinking of Lu Bu, Yuan Xi vaguely felt that he would meet him sooner or later. If he found out that he was a hidden tiger and felt that he was taking advantage of him, he would not go crazy and kill him, right?
Yuan Xi summoned everyone to inquire about the city's situation and found that some of the baggage was not ready, so he asked everyone to organize their troops and horses, gather grain, grass and baggage, and wait for a few days in Beixin City for repairs.
He was sitting in a carriage, preparing to return to the mansion where he had been away for more than half a year.
As soon as he entered the carriage, he saw Cao Xian looking at him and smiling.
He asked doubtfully: "Why are you laughing?"
Cao Xian chuckled a few more times, "I didn't expect that the young master would come out alone with me this time."
"I'm afraid that Sister Zhaoji is angry that I took her place, and I will teach me a lesson when I get back."
Seeing Cao Xian's triumphant look, not even the slightest bit worried, Yuan Xi couldn't help but feel angry and funny, and patted her on the head: "What have you been thinking about all day long?"
"Now that Yi Xue Pepsi has begun to flourish, Zhao Ji cannot do anything without her. Instead of staying by my side, it is better to let her play a greater role."
After hearing this, Cao Xian pouted and said, "Humph, I can't become a talented woman like Sister Zhaoji anyway. It is said that they call her a wife in the Yi Xue."
"I am not like Mrs. Zhen, who has read poetry and books since she was a child and is called a female doctor."
Yuan Xi saw that she had lost her temper and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll send you back to free school now."
After hearing this, Cao Xian immediately put on a flattering look and said, "Young Master, I was just joking. Being able to serve the Young Master alone is better than anything else."
Seeing her, Yuan Xi took the opportunity to lick the corner of her mouth with her tongue. She couldn't bear her weirdness and thought that a war was about to begin. I didn't want my legs to weaken and fall off the horse!
While they were talking, there was a noise outside the carriage. Groups of fully armed cavalry rushed through the street with shouts, and people on both sides ducked.
Sun Li hurriedly drove the carriage to the side. A passing cavalry almost bumped into him. He reined in his horse and started to curse.
When he saw Sun Li's attire, his expression changed and he turned around to leave. However, Sun Li asked, "Is there something going on outside the city?"
The man hesitated for a moment and then said: "General, there are Black Mountain bandits outside the city." After saying that, he rode off and followed the others.
When Sun Li saw Yuan Xi coming out, he smiled and said, "This man is quite clever."
The cavalryman most likely saw the rank mark on Sun Li's clothes and was so polite.
When Yuan Xi saw several more scout cavalry rushing past, he knew something was going on outside the city. He returned to the carriage and said to Cao Xian, "Wear your armor."
Cao Xian quickly moved out the armor in the corner. Yuan Xi jumped off the carriage and took it and put it on. Cao Xian quickly put on the leather rope locks on the back of the armor one by one.
Yuan Xi picked up the Huanshou knife under the car seat, held the outer leather sheath with one hand, and pulled out half of the knife with the other hand.
As the scabbard was opened, there was a scent of oil, and the newly forged blade shone with a cold blue light, as if it was longing for something.
Yuan Xi felt that something familiar had returned to his body. This was one of the two most primitive desires for conquest in men's blood since the birth of mankind.
Kill and conquer.
Since the last battle of Guangling, this feeling has been diluted by another desire, but with the call of the Huanshou Sword in his hand, Yuan Xi is ready to move again.
He got on his horse and said to Sun Li: "Follow me to the top of the city!"
Mrs. Hou was waiting at the door of the mansion with her daughter. She had to know the news in advance. Today, the envoy will finally lead his troops back to the city.
While she felt vaguely uneasy, she felt relieved. She thought that the other party had given up on Beixin City and would never come back.
In this case, do you want to take your child with you and live in the Northland forever as if in exile?
She was slightly ashamed of her thoughts. Wasn't this what she had expected?
While she was dazed, she saw groups of fast horses in the city, and the cavalry on horseback rushed to the city gate first.
The Hou family is used to it. There must be something happening to the Black Mountain Army to harass them. It happens frequently these days.
According to what she heard, these Montenegrin troops specifically killed refugees fleeing outside the site, causing people to panic.
Not long after, the motorcade with the governor's logo slowly woke up and stopped at the entrance of the mansion.
Seeing the car door open, Mrs. Hou was about to go up to greet her, but she saw Cao Xian jumping out alone.
(End of chapter)
