After the political turmoil spread for a few days, it finally gradually dissipated. At this time, in Yuan Xi's study.
Yuan Xi, who was dressed casually in a white shirt, was looking through a scroll of bamboo slips, with a hint of surprise on his face as he considered something carefully.
Wearing a gorgeous blue brocade suit, her temperament is completely different from the others. Even Yuan Mai, whose face was much fairer, stood in front of him with expectant eyes.
After Yuan Xi slowly read the last word, he gently put down the bamboo slip and looked at Yuan Mai in disbelief.
"Second brother, how's it going? Is my strategy okay? Is it still acceptable to my second brother?" Yuan Mai asked nervously. This was a strategy that he spent five days and several all-nighters writing.
Yuan Xi was amazed in his heart and said with a sigh: "Fifth brother, you are really handsome!" He did not expect that his Yuan family also had a talented person.
Hearing Yuan Xi's approval, Yuan Mai's face suddenly showed a hint of excitement, and he quickly said: "Second brother, you have given me the award!"
"Second brother, I didn't praise you!" Yuan Xi stood up fiercely, holding the bamboo slip in his hand, and exclaimed: "Brother, although I haven't fully understood this military treatise, it not only puts forward some suggestions for the construction of the army, but also The most reliable and effective method, and you have your own unique insights into facing the enemy in battle. Not only did you fully integrate Sun Tzu's Thirty-six Strategies into it, but you also implemented the three major elements of time, location, and people. As a brother, I can be sure. , there are very few people in the world who can do it!”
Yuan Mai's heart was suddenly filled with deep emotion, and he bowed deeply and said: "Second brother, your words are what I want to hear most in the past fifteen years, thank you!"
Yuan Xi sighed, gently helped Yuan Mai up, and said with a little regret: "Fifth brother, your talent is too great to be used as a small military prince in my Huwei camp. You should He who commands thousands of armies and dominates the world.”
"Second brother, please don't say that. Without your care, second brother, I might still be in the general's mansion, living a life worse than death. It was you who gave me life, and I firmly believe that in a few years, second brother will be able to be a hero." Looking at the world, I am willing to take the place of my second brother and sweep away the heroes." Yuan Mai said with sincerity and determination.
Yuan Xi looked at the sincere Yuan Mai, nodded with satisfaction, and said with a smile, "Okay, since the fifth brother has this ambition, you and I will create a great cause together. Tomorrow you will report to the Tiger Guard Camp with me."
Yuan Mai immediately took a few steps back, clasped his hands together, and responded loudly: "No! Thank you second brother for your support!"
Time passed slowly, and night came silently. In the study, Yuan Mai had left. Yuan Xi sat alone in the study, silently admiring Yuan Mai's military essay. There were many incisive and unique suggestions in it. He benefited a lot from Tao and became immersed in it unconsciously.
What Yuan Xi didn't know was that a few years later, Yuan Mai became his right-hand man and the second-largest person in the Yuan family besides Yuan Xi. Among the Yuan clan's forces, there were Gao Rou, Zhen Yao, and Liu He's relatives. , the clan forces headed by Zhongshan King Yuan Mai became Yuan Xi's two powerful arms to check the powerful officials.
However, a sudden change happened recently. Yuan Xi planned to attack Wuhuan, but Wuhuan wanted to strike first, not to mention Yuan Tan's instigation.
Yuan Tan, the eldest son of Hebei Province, fled to Wuhuan and was accepted and treated politely by Tadun. In May, Yuan Tan led the Wuhuan army to attack Yizhou City and became a traitor.
At first, Yuan Xi's father, Yuan Shao, and the Tadun brothers became allies and agreed to rescue each other in times of crisis. Now, Tadun has accommodated traitorous generals, betrayed his trust, and invaded his allies' lands, so Yuan Xi wrote a letter to blame Tadun.
Tadun had no intention of retreating, but instead rushed to attack Yizhou. Yuan Xi then sent Youzhou town general Zhang He to lead a total of 30,000 Youzhou soldiers and horses to fight. However, Zhang He was ultimately outnumbered and almost his entire army was destroyed. Wuhuan took advantage of the victory to pursue and besiege Jixian. Zhang He held on to the city and waited for rescue.
At that time, Wuhuan led by Tadun had more troops. Some said it was 300,000, some said it was 500,000, and some even said it was one million. To the north of Youzhou, in the valleys, there were felt tents like clouds, and sheep and horses were everywhere (Wuhuan used sheep and horses as military rations).
The rebel general Yuan Tan seduced the desperadoes in Youzhou and taught the Wuhuan people to make siege equipment, such as flying ladders and rams, which were all arranged under the city. They also dug tunnels, piled mountains of earth, and attacked the city from all sides. In half a month, they used various methods to attack the city.
In the city, Zhang He calmed the soldiers, adapted to the situation, and held on to the city. After a long time, the reinforcements did not arrive. The soldiers and civilians in the city were exhausted and everyone was afraid.
Zhang He sent people eight hundred miles away to report the military situation in Youzhou. Yuan Xi looked worried and summoned the generals to discuss the matter.
Zhao Yun, a general under Yuan Xi's command, requested that troops be sent to rescue Youzhou, and said, "If we delay for a moment, something may happen in Youzhou City."
General Tai Shici said: "I hope that if the general lends five thousand elite cavalry to the last general, he will be able to defeat Wuhuan."
General Zhang Liao said: "Elite soldiers should be selected to occupy dangerous places in the mountains, and carry powerful bows and crossbows to set up ambushes and wait for the Wuhuan troops to come."
Yuan Xi said happily: "With you three generals taking action, I can sit back and relax!"
In May, Yuan Xi ordered Zhang Liao to lead troops to rescue and stationed at Laishui; he also sent Tai Shi Ci to lead troops to attack Qigou at night and captured some Wuhuan soldiers and returned.
At this time, Zhang He sent someone to tell Zhang Liao who was rushing to help: "Wuhuan has 100,000 troops and horses, and the number of sheep and horses is unknown. In recent days, Wuhuan soldiers have consumed half of the sheep and horses. Tadun blamed Yuan Tan for this and regretted it very much. Come here. Wuhuan's strong soldiers are scattered in the mountains hunting, and there are less than ten thousand people in front of Tadun's tent. We should send out surprise troops at night to attack them unprepared."
So Zhang Liao reported the situation mentioned by Zhang He to Yuan Xi and waited for the next instruction.
In June, Tadun saw the smoke of fireworks in Youzhou City, so he said to his subordinates: "You can't attack yet."
Because of the heat and heavy rain, Tadun returned to Liucheng, leaving general Yuan Tan to continue the attack.
In July, Yuan Xi sent Zhao Yun to lead the cavalry army to join Zhang Liao in Yizhou, with a total of more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry.
So the three generals Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and Tai Shi Ci conspired and led their troops to secretly march directly to Youzhou.
In August, Zhang Liao led 3,000 cavalry as the vanguard and arrived sixty miles outside Youzhou City. Wuhuan's 10,000 cavalry suddenly arrived. Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun fought desperately. Wuhuan was defeated and abandoned a large amount of military supplies.
Three generals, Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, and Tai Shi Ci, took advantage of the situation and advanced to pursue them, killing and capturing tens of thousands of Wuhuan soldiers. Finally, the army entered Youzhou and met Zhang He.
In this siege of Youzhou, the Wuhuan soldiers besieged Youzhou for more than a hundred days, and finally ended with the victory of Yuan's army.
Yuan Xi also rushed to Youzhou at this time, intending to appease Youzhou, who had just decided, and was entertaining guests at the Governor's Mansion. Liu He, Gao Rou, and Zhen Yao were also invited by Yuan Xi to accompany him. They are all Yuan Xi's brothers-in-law and can be regarded as his confidants.
In addition to these three people, there are also five young masters Yuan Mai, Xian Yufu, Xian Yuyin, Qi Zhou, Yan Rou, and officers above Liu Jun's lieutenant. They were all invited to the governor's mansion today to participate in the banquet.
Then, Yuan Xi toasted to Xian Yuyin, Qi Zhou, Yan Rou and others one by one. The atmosphere of the banquet is getting more and more high. Everyone here is either a descendant of aristocratic family or a distinguished person. They are very comfortable in handling such a banquet. The atmosphere of the banquet is getting more and more high.
In the end, everyone left drunkenly.
The purpose of Yuan Xi's organization of this banquet was to use the influence of the original Liu Yu forces to remove the remaining influence of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Tan in Youzhou.
With the surrender of Xian Yufu and Liu Jun, Yuan Xi completely completed his control of Youzhou. Apart from the Xianbei and Wuhuan people, who else in Youzhou dared to fight against him.
A few days later, the General's Mansion.
Yuan Xi lowered his head and walked forward in deep thought. As he was thinking, he suddenly felt a gust of fragrant wind blowing against his face, and a figure flashed out of the bamboo forest. Then a pair of soft, delicate hands grabbed his front. Yuan Xi turned around in anger.
In the darkness, Yu Youwei, Yuan Shang's concubine, was standing next to Yuan Xi's left arm, squinting at him and said crisply: "Second brother, if you make a sound, I will shout loudly and say that you are molesting your sister-in-law." .”
After hearing Yu Youwei's coercion, Yuan Xi knew exactly what the consequences would be. The reputation of the Yuan family and Yuan Xi would definitely be hit. Who would sympathize with a rebellious son who dared to molest his sister-in-law? He would definitely be exploited by his political opponents. .
Yuan Xi asked lightly, "Oh? Xuanji, how did you know I'm here?"
Yu Youwei chuckled and said, "Second brother, don't you have to fulfill your filial piety at this time every day?"
Yuan Xi was a little panicked. Even when he faced an entire army and was about to die, he had never been so scared. It was a matter of honor and honor, so he had to be afraid.
Would Yuan Xi care about these things? I feel that these are just flattering words from historians. Would Yuan Xi care about etiquette?
"I won't say anything. Just let me go, Xuanji." Yuan Xi's heart was beating wildly in his chest.
It was completely dark, and I definitely didn’t dare to shout, and I didn’t dare to move. Yuan Xi stretched his neck, looked at Yu Youwei stiffly, and swallowed. He cursed secretly that this damn woman is trying to kill me. what to do? what to do?
In the darkness, a hand suddenly reached out to Yuan Xi and grabbed his hand. He also signaled Yuan Xi to walk towards the wooden house behind the bamboo forest.
Yuan Xi had "nothing to do" and "succumbed" to the hint of that hand. How could Emperor Xuanwu's strength be restricted by a weak woman? I don't believe it, he enjoys it very much.
After walking through the bamboo forest and passing through the dark corridor, they entered a dilapidated and abandoned wooden house.
Just a few steps out of the wooden house, Yu Youwei shouted at the top of her lungs from behind: "Here, help me, the second young master Yuan Xi has ruined me, please help me."
Seeing Yu Youwei shouting, Yuan Xi turned around suddenly and walked into the broken wooden house again. He waved his hand and gave Yu Youwei a slap in the face. He grabbed Yu Youwei's hair and said sternly, "Which bastard is this? You come to frame me."
Yu Youwei caressed her pink face and hugged Yuan Xi's arm. She didn't fight back, resist or get angry. She raised her head and looked at Yuan Xi's face, and said in a low voice, "No one, Xuanji just admires the second brother. You beat me Kill me."
The windows of the wooden house shed hazy starlight, and there were two bright beams of light in Yu Youwei's eyes, which were soft and moving. A strange breath stimulated Yuan Xi's nasal membranes.
The power condensed in Yuan Xi's fist quietly melted away, and his arm dropped gently.
In the end, Yu Youwei didn't shout. She looked at Yuan Xi's retreating back, cried and said quietly: "Second brother, you are a good person, much better than them all."
However, according to the secret history of the Jin Dynasty, there is actually another version, that is, Emperor Taizong Xuanwu Yuan Xi used unfounded excuses to invite Yu Youwei, Yuan Shang's concubine, to meet in a bamboo forest and express his love, but Yu Youwei was rejected by Yu Youwei. Refused.
After being rejected, Emperor Taizong Xuanwu Yuan Xi became angry and tried to rape Yu Youwei, but Yu Youwei refused to obey. In the end, Yuan Xi failed, but Yu Youwei's clothes were torn and she ran away miserably.
In the following time, in addition to contacting Yan Rou, Xian Yufu and waiting for news about Liucheng, Yuan Xi and a group of civil and military officials also repeatedly deduced the details of the attack on Wuhuan.
During this half month, the first batch of envoys returned from Liucheng. The envoy reported that Tadun was not only arrogant, but also did not give Yuan Xi any face, and almost killed them.
During this period, the second batch of envoys carrying heavy gifts had also been on their way, and they only needed to send out the third batch of envoys to paralyze Tadun. This was the strategy used by Li Cunxu, the king of Jin Dynasty in the Five Dynasties.
After Yuan Xi discussed with Jushou, Guo Jia and others. He reduced nearly half of Jizhou's army, leaving 150,000 people behind. He also sent Qianzhao, Gao Rou and Zhong Yao's nephew Guo Yuan to lead 30,000 people to Bingzhou to strengthen the rule there.
Originally, most of the Youzhou troops were eliminated, and 30,000 Qingzhou reserve troops were transferred to Youzhou for defense. The performance of the Youzhou army in the last Youzhou offensive and defensive battle was really disappointing.
During the period when Gao Rou was in charge of Bingzhou, Gao Rou recruited Wang Ling and Sun Li from Taiyuan as his right-hand men to assist him in handling military affairs and political affairs respectively.
The soldiers who went to Wuhuan in the three counties were constantly selected from the Jizhou and Qingzhou armies. But the direct descendants of Yuan Xi's Qingzhou Army are still the main ones. After the war, after rest and replenishment, the lost soldiers of each department were restored to full strength.
Among those who went on the expedition were Yuan Xi's 3,000 heroic cavalry, 3,000 Wuhuan cavalry, mainly from Xianbei and Shanggu Wuhuan, and 6,000 elite cavalry from the three states of Qing, You, and Ji.
Yuan Xi was afraid that the Danyang soldiers, who were southerners, would not adapt to the local environment, so he asked them to garrison Yecheng.
The infantry is mainly composed of standing troops from the Qingzhou Army, plus one-third of the Jizhou elite.
Ju Yi's extraordinary troops accounted for 6,000 of the 30,000 elite soldiers, including 2,000 Jizhou elite cavalry, 2,000 Qingzhou soldiers, and 2,000 Ju Yi's own direct Jizhou soldiers.
Yuan Xi also ordered more than 5,000 war horses from Wuhuan soldiers in three counties to be mobilized. The cattle, sheep and horses purchased from Shanggu and other places are also in sight, and they will only be submitted when Yuan Xi's army meets Yan Rou and Xian Yufu's troops.
The list of generals and counselors who will go out to attack Wuhuan in the three counties has also been finalized. Taishi Ci has been to Liaodong. Tian Yu grew up on the border of Yuyang. Guo Tu went on two missions to Liucheng, and these three people had to be brought along.
In addition, Yuan Xi is worried that history will repeat itself. He resolutely kept Guo Jia and asked Jia Xu to go with the army.
In terms of generals, Taishi Ci and Jiang Qi followed Ju Yi across the sea and crossed the Liaodong vassal state. Accompanying the Chinese army were Yan Liang, Wen Chou who was recovering from his injuries, Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Duan Pixi, and Tian Yu.
All the soldiers and horses of Yuan Xi's army went to Youzhou to secretly gather for training. Yuan Xi and others also left Yecheng on the pretext of inspecting the autumn harvest, and everything was being prepared.
Tian Feng, Jushou, Guo Jia, Zhong Yao, Feng Ji, Xu You and other senior officials also went out to see each other off in the suburbs on this day.
"These days, Fengxiao is still annoyed that he can't go out with the army." Liu Yelai said jokingly.
Yuan Xi looked at Guo Jia, who was shaking his head at the side, and said with a smile, "It's freezing cold in Hu's land, and the soil and water are bad. Fengxiao, you are usually weak. I'm afraid you won't be able to bear the wind and cold on the grassland. You should do it for me." Let me guard Jizhou."
Hearing this, Guo Jia couldn't help but smile bitterly, "If he had known that today would be like this, Guo would have practiced his riding and shooting diligently, otherwise he would not have missed this battle that will leave its name in military history."
Yuan Xi patted him on the shoulder and continued, "Hebei's burden is not light either. The barbarians in Bingzhou are making trouble in the border areas. Cao Cao in the south refuses to settle down. The court in Xu County is even controlled by him. In addition, Qingzhou is under his control. , I would also like to trouble you to pay attention to what is happening in Xuzhou!"
"Don't worry, Major General. Today's Jizhou is full of talented people. I believe we can handle it." Tian Feng said.
Yuan Xi smiled. He felt relieved now that Tian Feng was here, so he said, "Hao Zhao and Zhou Cang have been transferred to Qingzhou, and Qian Zhao will be a general who can calm down the chaos on the border. Zi Yang, I will leave the shadow guard to you. Find out more about the powerful people from all sides, and contact the people you are looking for as soon as possible, no matter what means are used, I hope to see them when I return in triumph, understand."
Liu Ye bowed respectfully to Yuan Xi. He was very moved. The "Shadow Guard" is one of the mysterious organizations that Yuan Xi is most directly related to. It is a great trust to be handed over to him who is new to the country to take care of it, and he will also take action Reward with results.
After all, if you treat me as a soldier of the country, I will repay you with my life, life and death.
After that, Yuan Xi drank the farewell wine with everyone. Then he mounted Jueying and led his army towards the north.
