As soon as he entered the city gate, Yuan Xi saw the three Liu Bei brothers standing there and was startled.
"Second Young Master, Liu Bei has been waiting here for a long time on the orders of Tao Shijun!" Liu Bei saluted without any sense of disobedience.
Yuan Xi smiled slightly. He returned the courtesy and said, "You're welcome, Mr. Xuande. Please wait here if you can."
"Hmph! You know how long my eldest brother has been standing here, but you took your time to come in!" Zhang Fei said in a dull voice with a black face.
"Who are you? How dare you insult my young master? Do you want to taste my knife?" Xu Chu, who was following Yuan Xi, immediately cursed.
"Yide, shut up!" Liu Bei yelled loudly, and then he said to Yuan Xi: "My brother is a fool. He doesn't understand etiquette. Please don't take offense, second son."
"It's okay. I asked my subordinates to station themselves outside the city. It's my fault that I entered the city so slowly." Yuan Xi explained.
"Young Master is indeed marching rigorously. Please come with me to see Tao Shijun!" Liu Bei said.
Immediately, he took Yuan Xi to the Prefecture Mufu.
Yuan Xi and Liu Bei didn't get along well during their brief meeting. The grievances between the two sides ranged from the Battle of Jizhou Boundary Bridge to the Battle of Qingzhou. They had fought face to face on the battlefield, so naturally they would not easily resolve their hostility. At least Yuan Xi felt it was quite awkward, but Liu Bei had a calm look on his face, as if nothing had happened. He was really tolerable.
Tao Qian, supported by his two sons and several of his subordinates, met Yuan Xi and held a banquet in honor of Yuan Xi and Jia Xu.
Although there were not many Qingzhou troops rushing to help, it showed that Yuan Shao and Yuan Xi and his son were on his side. With such a backer, Tao Qian felt at ease. When the two met, Tao Qian naturally praised Yuan Xi highly. The two sides were enemies last time, but this time they can sit together and have a drink and talk. This is an unpredictable thing.
Tao Qian was able to receive Yuan Xi as calmly as Liu Bei, which shows that his political methods are extraordinary. A good gentleman does not have such scheming and skills.
"Young General, news has come from Guangling that more than 5,000 of your troops have landed there. It's just that many troops. Far less than Cao Cao!" Chen Deng said worriedly.
"Mr. Yuanlong, the Yanzhou Army is heavily stationed in Mount Tai and has occupied the entire territory of Langya. It has already blocked our army's southward passage. The Yanzhou Army is obviously fortified in Langya to guard against our army going south. If we send troops southward by land, we must attack Langya. So. Not only is it time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the Yanzhou Army stationed in Mount Tai is also a threat to Qingzhou," Jia Xu explained. There were some things that Yuan Xi couldn't talk about. Only he, the counselor, can say that.
Tao Qian and others were silent. Jia Xu's explanation was reasonable, but Qingzhou's army was small and it was difficult to influence the situation of the battle.
"What did Yuan Cheqi say?" Tao Qian suddenly asked.
"Father is also very indignant about Cao Cao's atrocities. He has sent people to dissuade Cao Cao. But Cao Cao's sinister intentions are clearly exposed, and I am afraid he will be in vain." Yuan Xi sighed longly, "It coincides with the National Day of the Year this year. Due to drought, Jizhou has laid off some soldiers due to lack of food, otherwise the army would be able to force Cao Cao back by crossing the river south."
"Major General, do you think we can repel Cao Cao?" Chen Deng asked.
"This. With all due respect, Xiapi, Tancheng and other places have become isolated cities. Cao Cao has many soldiers, so he can besiege the city while gathering troops and horses to defeat them one by one. The chance of winning is really slim if you stick to Xiapi." Yuan Xi said truthfully.
"No, I'm afraid the Major General missed something important. The Yanzhou Army is also short of food. How long can they besiege the city? If they attack for a long time, their food, grass and morale will inevitably be exhausted." Chen Deng retorted.
"Excuse me, Mr. Yuanlong, how many troops and horses are there in Xiapi?" Jia Xu asked.
Chen Deng hesitated for a moment and said: "Together with the soldiers from Qu County and other places, there are about more than 32,000 soldiers and horses. Cao Cao's army outside the city only numbers 50,000. Even if there are follow-up reinforcements, they only number 60,000. The so-called ten Then surround them, and if they are doubled, fight them. They are only half as many as our army, so they cannot be taken down easily.
"In my opinion, it will be easy to conquer Xiapi!" Jia Xu said confidently.
"Ah!" Tao Qian's subordinates all exclaimed, either surprised or disdainful.
"You old man, don't talk nonsense. There are tens of thousands of us. No matter how powerful Cao Cao is, he can't easily attack Xiapi!" Zhang Fei yelled.
"Haha, don't you know that a disaster is coming? What I say is not true!" Jia Xu said loudly, "Xuzhou is uniquely blessed by nature. This year, there is a severe drought north of the river. And Xuzhou is the least affected because of its many rivers and lakes. no."
"Ah!" Chen Deng exclaimed.
Hearing the words, he understood the elegant meaning and said in a trembling voice: "Water attack!"
Everyone didn't know why, but Jia Xu explained: "Although there is a severe drought this year, there are water lakes such as Weishan Lake and Sishui in the north of Xiapi. If Cao Cao diverts water from the lake to Sishui and floods the city with water, you think that even if the city is There are 60,000 to 70,000 troops, so how can we resist them?"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was frightened. The prosperity of Xiapi benefited from the water flow. This area has abundant water resources, developed agriculture, and is located on a major transportation route, so it became the seat of Xuzhou. But there are naturally advantages and disadvantages.
Sufficient water also gives the enemy the opportunity to use water attacks. If the Xuzhou Army has an advantage in strength, they can engage in field battles with the enemy to prevent them from using water attacks. But under the current fighting situation, they could only huddle up and hold on to Pi City, and they could only watch Cao Cao flood the city.
Yuan Xi nodded secretly in his mind. He vaguely remembered that when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou in history, Tao Qian retreated to Tancheng. Why not stick to Xiapi, the administrative center? There must also be considerations of the enemy's water attack. Therefore, Xiapi is not an ideal fortified city.
Tao Qian remained silent, but his hands trembled slightly. Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, Cao Hong, Chen Deng and others all frowned. Liu Bei also lowered his head and thought hard about how to deal with it.
"Afraid of him!" Zhang Fei stood behind Liu Bei and said loudly: "That's great. We might as well rush out and kill him. It's better than staying in the city and being a bastard."
"Yide, shut up!" Liu Bei shouted loudly, "It's not your turn to speak here!"
"Alas! Don't blame General Zhang, Mr. Xuande. He is right. If Lao Shou stays in the city and waits until Cao Cao accumulates enough water, we will all be flooded like bastards!" Yuan Xi couldn't help but say.
Zhang Fei curled his lips and said nothing more. Liu Bei asked: "Second Young Master, do you also want to have a decisive battle with Cao Cao?"
Yuan Xi shook his head and continued, "Yanzhou's soldiers are numerous and powerful, and they are elite soldiers who have fought in hundreds of battles. If we go out of the city to fight in the field, we may not be our opponents. My intention is to retreat to Guangling."
"That's the only way it can be. Xiapi can't be defended anymore." Tao Qian sighed.
"In fact, retreating to Guangling is not the best strategy. Once Xiapi is defeated, everyone will surely surrender to Cao Cao. The Yanzhou army has obtained the food and fodder, and it will be easy for them to attack Guangling." Jia Xu said gloomily.
Yuan Xi nodded secretly in his mind. He vaguely remembered that when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou in history, Tao Qian retreated to Tancheng. Why not stick to Xiapi, the administrative center? There must also be considerations of the enemy's water attack. Therefore, Xiapi is not an ideal fortified city.
Tao Qian remained silent, but his hands trembled slightly. Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, Cao Hong, Chen Deng and others all frowned. Liu Bei also lowered his head and thought hard about how to deal with it.
"Afraid of him!" Zhang Fei stood behind Liu Bei and said loudly: "This is very good. We might as well rush out and kill him, it is better than staying in the city and being a bastard."
"Yide, shut up!" Liu Bei yelled, "It's not your turn to speak here!"
"Alas! Don't blame General Zhang, Mr. Xuande. He is right. If Lao Shou stays in the city, when Cao Cao accumulates enough water, we will all be flooded like bastards!" Yuan Xi said.
Zhang Fei curled his lips. Nothing more was said. Liu Bei asked: "Second Young Master, do you also want to have a decisive battle with Cao Cao?"
Yuan Xi shook his head, "The soldiers in Yanzhou are numerous and powerful. They are also elite soldiers who have fought in hundreds of battles. If we go out of the city to fight in the field, we may not be our opponents. My intention is to retreat to Guangling."
"That's the only way it can be. Xiapi can't be defended anymore." Tao Qian sighed.
"In fact, retreating to Guangling is not the best strategy. Once Xiapi is defeated, everyone will surely surrender to Cao Cao. The Yanzhou army has obtained the food and fodder, and it will be easy for them to attack Guangling." Jia Xu said gloomily.
Chen Deng changed his mind and became dissolute in the past. He frowned and asked: "Since Xuzhou cannot escape defeat no matter what, why did General Yuan send troops here to do it?"
Jia Xu sighed and said, "Cao Cao is a good friend of Mr. Yuan, and he helped Mr. Yuan fight against Yuan Jiujiu. The relationship between the two families is naturally very close. However, my son, Tao Shijun, and Mr. Mi have always protected and helped each other. Oath. Secondly, everyone is outraged by Cao Cao's atrocities. I would like to ask my son, how can I sit back and watch my neighbors being slaughtered? Therefore, even if I am defeated, I must do my part to uphold justice."
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly in his heart. The scribes of this era could not speak without justice. Even if they were doing unscrupulous things, they still had to use the banner of justice.
In fact, Tao Qian and others all understood that Yuan Xi's biggest goal was to curb the expansion of Cao Cao's territory. After all, having an ambitious and powerful neighbor next to him would make sleeping uneasy.
"Ahem! Then, Major General..." Tao Qian kept coughing, his face turned red, and he said, "How does the Major General think I should protect myself..."
Yuan Xi hesitated and said: "The way is to keep the green hills, so there is no need to worry about not having firewood. Cao Cao's army is strong, Tao Shijun might as well get out of the way first. When Jizhou stabilizes, my father will denounce Cao Cao and give Tao Shijun justice." If Tao Shijun does not give up, I, Qingzhou, can still accommodate you."
"Ah! Major General, do you mean to let us give up Xuzhou?" Cao Bao exclaimed. Others were also frightened and angry.
"It doesn't matter if I risk my life, how can I give up my great foundation to the traitor Cao!" Zhang Fei said angrily.
This time Liu Bei did not scold Zhang Fei. He was also extremely anxious. He had to give up the inheritance he finally got with great difficulty. I really feel bad about it.
Mi Zhu, a businessman, has never opened his mouth. Since marrying Yuan Xi, his entanglement with Qingzhou has become more and more intense. The Mi family purchased a lot of properties in Qingzhou, and they also helped Yuan Xi a lot. Everyone bought it at the beginning of the year. Food, recruiting craftsmen, etc.
From the perspective of the head of the Mi family, Mi Zhu would be happy to move his family to Qingzhou as long as Yuan Xi offered generous benefits. Running a family business requires a stable environment and strong backers. Qingzhou has a strong military and Yuan Xi is an in-law, so it is undoubtedly safer and more reliable than Xuzhou.
But precisely because of his marriage to Yuan Xi, in order to avoid suspicion, Mi Zhu rarely spoke about matters involving Yuan Xi and Qingzhou. However, he did secretly let Mi Fang transfer some of his assets before.
"You must be tired after marching for a long time. Zizhong, please take the second young master to the annex to rest. Let me think about it again." Tao Qianqian said weakly.
Yuan Xi knew not to act too hastily. All he had to do was create a tense situation, and Tao Qian would have to consider his own safety. So Yuan Xi and Jia Xu said goodbye to everyone, and under the leadership of Mi Zhu, they went to rest in the annex arranged by Tao Qian.
After leaving the Prefecture Mufu, Mi Zhu asked Yuan Xi to get on his carriage.
"Sir, you have long planned to ask Tao Shijun to give up Xuzhou, right?" Mi Zhu asked.
"As a general, you should know how to attack and defend. There is a saying in the art of war: If you have less, you can escape; if you have less, you can avoid it. A small enemy is strong, and a big enemy can be captured. Cao Cao's dispatch of troops this time was actually carefully planned, and it was necessary A win." Yuan Xi said.
"Must win? That's not necessarily the case."
Yuan Xi shook his head and sighed, and said, "Why did Cao Cao choose this drought-hit enemy to attack Xuzhou? The first was to plunder money and food, and the second was to calculate that because of the lack of food, Jizhou and Qingzhou could not send troops to rescue him. If there was no foreign aid, Cao Cao used another method. If we rely on the tactics of fighting on enemy territory, the destruction of Xuzhou will be inevitable."
Mi Zhu shook his head. He sighed and said, "I'm afraid Tao Shijun is really old and can no longer protect Xuzhou. But the young master has offended the wealthy noble families in Xuzhou, and it is impossible for them to accept you."
"Cao Cao also offended the wealthy noble families in Xuzhou. As long as they don't accept Cao Cao, I have no worries." Yuan Xi chuckled.
"To be honest, Sir, what is your plan for sending troops to Xuzhou?" Mi Zhu asked Yuan Xi seriously.
Yuan Xi knew that he should give some information to Mi Zhu, so he said: "I can't take advantage of Cao Cao. Xuzhou can't let him take it easily. As long as it can cause trouble to Cao Cao, it is necessary to send troops to Xuzhou."
Mi Zhu's thoughts were complicated. He said helplessly: "Young Master, you persuaded us to avoid trouble in Qingzhou, but you have actually persuaded Tao Shijun."
"But Tao Shijun didn't agree!"
Mi Zhu shook his head and said, "I have been with Tao Shijun for many years, and I know very well how he behaves. On the surface, he says he is considering it, but in fact, he already has other ways to avoid trouble. He wants to protect the small family in the village. What he worries about is other wealthy families. "
Yuan Xi's heart moved and he said: "As long as Mr. Mi can move to Qingzhou, what does other wealthy families have to do with me?"
"Alas! If it weren't for frequent military disasters, who would be willing to leave their hometown?" Mi Zhu said helplessly, "I am willing to move to Qingzhou, and I can also help the young master persuade some wealthy squires who are close to the Mi family. But the young master must promise to help them establish themselves in Qingzhou."
Yuan Xi didn't care about the gentry and squires. Although they had many people in their hands, and the people in power at that time were proud to accept heroes, Yuan Xi was more willing to accept local civilians.
"I said that as long as the Mi family can come to Qingzhou, it will be fine. Actually, I have one more thing to ask Mr. Mi for help with," Yuan Xi said.
Hearing what Yuan Xi said, Mi Zhu's heart moved slightly. This shows that Yuan Xi attaches great importance to the Mi family, so he has no scruples about moving his family.
"Sir, please come and tell me. As long as I can help."
"In the early years, many people from Qingzhou fled to other places, and now there is a shortage of various craftsmen. I want Mr. Mi to persuade those craftsmen to move to Qingzhou together." Yuan Xi said slowly.
Mi Zhu was stunned for a while, understood what Yuan Xi meant, and replied: "Most craftsmen in Xuzhou are owned by officials and wealthy families. If Tao Shijun takes refuge in Qingzhou, those craftsmen from official families will naturally go with him, and craftsmen from other families will go with him. It’s difficult to handle, but I’ll keep an eye on it.”
"I heard that Tao Shijun has a Danyang elite army, but I don't know who is under its command?" Yuan Xi asked tentatively.
"There are more than 4,000 soldiers in Danyang. They are all soldiers recruited by Tao Shijun in his hometown Danyang. They are now under the command of his brother Mi Fang." As soon as Mi Zhu heard this, he knew that Yuan Xi wanted to seize the foundation of Xuzhou. in this way. This Danyang army was led by Mi Fang. It will also be an important weight for the Mi family to increase their value.
Yuan Xi nodded and discussed some specific matters about moving to Qingzhou with Mi Zhu.
Five days later. Zhang He, Guo Jia and others also led more than 4,000 Qingzhou soldiers to station in Xiapi. At Yuan Xi's signal, the Qingzhou army set up their camp on a high ground outside Xiapi City.
During this period of time, the Yanzhou Army did not make any big moves, but the scouts reported that the Yanzhou Army was frequently moving upstream of the Xiapi water source.
Tao Qian's so-called annex is usually a place where distinguished guests are entertained. But at this time, in addition to Yuan Xi and others, some wealthy families from Xuzhou who had taken refuge in Xiapi also stayed.
Under the protection of Zhao Yun, Guo Jia also entered Xiapi, and Yuan Xi took Guo Jia to the annex.
"There are a lot of people staying here. Fengxiao, you can make do with it." Yuan Xi said.
"After such a rough sea, as long as it's not a ship's cabin or a thatched cottage, I can live comfortably!" Guo Jia said with a smile. Although he lost a lot of weight, his energy finally recovered.
In fact, Yuan Xi was very concerned about Guo Jia's health. In addition to forbidding him from being obsessed with magical magic, he also advised him to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
Although Guo Jia's body is still relatively weak, at least he no longer looks sick.
Just when a few people entered the courtyard behind the gate of the annex, they happened to see the three Liu Bei brothers there.
Among them, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood behind Liu Bei, while Liu Bei said something to a scribe in white in his early thirties.
The white-clothed scribe looked apologetic and said, "I'd like to trouble General Liu to come visit my father, but I can't agree to my appointment as an official. My father has been ill for a long time and needs care, and I really can't spare the time."
Liu Bei bowed deeply and said, "Please take care, sir. I will keep an eye out for those famous doctors who can treat Mr. Chen."
The scribes in white also said goodbye. At this time, the three Liu Bei brothers saw Yuan Xi and others. Liu Bei seemed worried. He said hello to Yuan Xi and left in a hurry.
The scribe in white bowed his hand in greeting to Yuan Xi and then walked into the courtyard corridor.
"Sir, wait a minute!" Yuan Xi shouted.
