In Yecheng, Tian Feng asked his soldiers to open the city gate that had been closed for half a month, and carriages carrying grain, fodder, and military supplies began to drive out one after another, rushing to the front line of Henan.
"Lord Qi, Yuan Shang hanged himself!" A young warrior in his thirties came to Tian Feng's side.
"What! Didn't you keep him under strict guard in prison? Why did you let him commit suicide!" Tian Feng said angrily.
Although he had a premonition that Yuan Shang would inevitably die, but such a sudden death in front of his eyes still made it difficult for him to accept it, and he was confused.
There are some things that people like Tian Feng and Wei Zheng cannot do, but Zhang Hong and Liu Ye, who are in charge of the secret guards and shadow guards, do not mean that they will not do it.
After saying that, Tian Feng quickly walked down the city wall and hurried to the government office on horseback. The young warrior rode behind him.
Teams of soldiers guarded the Facao Yamen. Tian Feng was released after showing his identity and went straight to the prison in the Yamen.
A new batch of prisoners were imprisoned in the prison, including men, women, old and young. They were all relatives of the conspirators, mainly the Shenpei family. On the other side was Xu You's family, including his two sons.
"Yuan Hao, what happened?" The judge in the cell asked Tian Feng loudly.
Tian Feng stopped, with a complicated look on his face, and said in a deep voice: "The third young master, he, he hanged himself."
Shen Pei shook his head and smiled bitterly, and then said with relief, "He can't escape death. He just suffered for my daughter."
Tian Feng was also helpless. Yuan Xi was most taboo about this kind of rebellion, and he still set up such a big trap for Yuan Shang to get into. The more Tian Feng thought about it, the more his heart palpitated. Maybe Wei Zheng felt the same when he faced Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng fighting each other.
"Mr. Yuan Hao, I am innocent. The general sent me to be Yuan Shang's intermediary!" shouted the clan elder who was more than a year old.
Tian Feng walked over and said calmly: "What happened will be known when the general comes back. If you stay here, Tian will not treat you badly."
"I was unjustly accused. That time the general received me and Zhang Chao at the same time. Why was he the hero of suppressing the rebellion, but I was a prisoner!" The clan elder said angrily.
"Just wait a little longer. If the matter is true, I will compensate you!" After Tian Feng finished speaking, he walked away. At the same time, he was secretly shocked. At that time, Yuan Xi only told him to take over everything in Yecheng. But it was not said that Yuan Shang and the Shen family had any intention to rebel.
When the soldiers and horses in the city moved, Tian Feng urgently summoned soldiers and horses to suppress them. But when Tian Feng led people outside the general's mansion, Zhang Chao, who was supposed to be the rebellious general, suddenly switched sides and had already captured Yuan Shang with Xu Yi and others.
Moreover, the police who had not shown up immediately took over the city defense. Everything came and went quickly. It was not until Shi A, the leader of the secret guard next to him, told him that Tian Feng knew the whole story.
Tian Feng came to a special guard cell. There was a body lying inside.
Tian Feng knelt down and took a closer look. Although the tongue of the corpse fell out of his head, and his face was strangely pale.
But Tian Feng still recognized Yuan Shang himself.
"How did he get this hemp rope?" Tian Feng asked.
"I don't know, the sergeants saw him dead as soon as they came in." Shi A replied expressionlessly.
Tian Feng shook his head. It was Yuan Xi's close guards and secret guards who closely guarded Yuan Shang. Now the matter was clear.
Cao Cao had fallen into the trap and headed north, and Yuan Shang was no longer useful. Instead of waiting for Yuan Xi to come back and dealing with Yuan Shang's affairs, it would be better to let him "hang himself out of fear of crime" in prison.
Didn't Zhu Yuanzhang also deal with Prince Xiao Ming in the same way?
Tian Feng's guess was correct. All of this was done by the shadow guard Han Long in order to distance Yuan Xi from his relationship. Just like Zhu Yuanzhang killed King Xiao Ming, history is always similar.
Tian Feng felt helpless. At the same time, I felt a slight chill in my heart, knowing that this person was facing power. People's passions will flourish endlessly, and all flesh and blood relationships will be as light as water.
Yuan Shang deserved to die if he had such a rebellious heart, but Yuan Xi's scheming made him even more frightened. The young man who went to Qingzhou finally grew into a great hero.
Furthermore, there is also the shadow of a generation of iron-blooded heroes. Tian Feng doesn't know whether he should be happy or worried.
Xu You was very embarrassed. Under the protection of three shadow guards, he put on the Yanzhou infantry uniform. Finally escaped from Cao's camp and came to Baima. Who knows
The guards Zhang He and Feng Ji immediately detained themselves. Although his life is not in danger, he is locked in a small room.
"Creak!" The door was opened.
Feng Ji and Zhang He stood in front of the door.
"Master Xu, please come out. Mr. Yuan Hao's letter has explained everything." Zhang He said.
Xu You straightened his robe and walked out of the hut quickly. When his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, he said coldly to Feng Ji: "They say I was sent to the death chamber by the general!"
Feng Ji also snorted coldly, "Who knows whether you are real or fake, and it is true that your son committed murder and committed crimes!"
Xu You felt depressed. If Yuan Xi and others hadn't caught this, how could he have been willing to die? For the sake of his two sons, he had no choice but to risk his life.
Poor parents in the world, Xu You is also a father, right?
"According to the news sent back, the lord should have captured Xu County, and Cao Cao may also receive urgent reports. Mr. Jushou ordered us to assemble on standby and prepare to intercept Cao Cao. Mr. Xu has been stranded in Cao Cao's camp for a while. I don't know if there is anything to say. Point?" Zhang He asked.
Xu You stopped staring at Feng Ji, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Not counting Chen Liu's defenders, Cao Cao's army is estimated to be around 40,000 people on the opposite side of the white horse, and 10,000 people stationed at Guandu to escort grain and grass. Since then, In the last battle of Wuchao, Cao Cao's army was severely short of horses and there were only about a thousand cavalry. However, Cao Cao's elite troops recruited in Qiao County and other places in Yuzhou were still intact. In fact, they were insufficient in attack and more than sufficient in defense."
Zhang He frowned and thought hard, and said: "In this case, wouldn't it be difficult for our army to annihilate them in one fell swoop in a field battle?"
"A decisive battle?" Xu You laughed, paused and said, "Cao Cao will definitely not fight a decisive battle with our army. Either he will retreat to Chenliu Guandu, or he will retreat to his hometown of Peiguo Qiao County."
"But General Jushu did not let the whole army pursue him in a large scale. Instead, he asked our troops to advance slowly and then look for opportunities to eat Cao Cao's rear army." Zhang He said.
Now Jushou serves as the marshal of the march of this army and controls all major and minor matters in this area, just like Gao Ying, the prime minister of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, who served as the marshal of the army during the Pingchen Dynasty and controlled all armies.
"Jushou is right. Cao Cao is cunning and changeable, and often manages to win unexpectedly in adversity. That's why he would send cautious generals to pursue him instead of brave generals like Han Meng." Xu You said and murmured: "It seems that Cao Cao has a lot of energy. It’s almost over!”
Overnight, the Yanzhou Army disappeared almost instantly.
Zhang He and others only pursued the rear troops of Le Jin and Li Tong.
Cao Cao set up several more ambushes along the way, which slowed down Zhang He and others' march.
Chen Liu, after receiving the urgent report of the emergency in Xu County, guard Zhao Yan ordered the city to be closed in preparation for war, and most of the surrounding villagers were relocated.
"There is smoke and dust in the north, it's our own people!" a uncle shouted.
Zhao Yan looked and saw that they were indeed his own soldiers, but he secretly became vigilant. There were two groups of Jizhou troops going deep into Chen State in Runan. You couldn't tell whether we were the enemy or ourselves by just looking at the flags.
"General, look, there are soldiers and horses appearing on the left wing!" the uncle shouted again.
Zhao Yan looked over, and sure enough, a group of cavalry rushed out and attacked the flanks of the infantry.
"Do you want to go out of the city to meet us?" the deputy general asked.
"Don't leave the city easily!" Zhao Yan said firmly.
"General. Another group of soldiers has arrived from the south of the city!" Dubbo reported again.
Zhao Yan was startled and turned around to observe the southern city wall. Sure enough, another group of infantry came from a distance.
In the field, Cao Ang and Xiahou Dun kept gathering their soldiers. They arranged their soldiers in a circular formation and slowly advanced towards Chenliu City.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!" A hail of arrows struck, and more than two thousand Wuhuan cavalry surrounded the Yanzhou army and fired arrows.
Zhang Liao was a little anxious. He didn't expect the Yanzhou Army to withdraw so quickly, and the Yanzhou Army's circular formation was like a hedgehog, and the terrain here was open. It's hard to bite in unless you fight tooth and nail.
"Retreat a hundred steps away and line up!" Zhang Liao ordered.
Immediately, Wuhuan's cavalry retreated a hundred steps away.
They stared closely at the Yanzhou Army, like hungry wolves, ready to pounce and bite at any time.
"The thieves want to attack me when I enter the city, Zixiu, be careful later!" Xiahou Dun ordered.
"General Zhao. Hurry and open the city gate to meet us!" Xiahou Dun shouted.
Zhao Yan for a moment
He recognized Xiahou Dun and quickly had his soldiers prepare to respond.
"Report. Another Yanzhou soldier came from behind the city. Judging from the flag, it should be Xiahou's!" The scout ran to Zhang Liao to report.
Zhang Liao sighed. Now that the troops and horses from the three parties were supporting each other, he couldn't cut them off even with three heads and six arms, so he had to order his sergeants to choose high ground to station down.
After one troop of the Yanzhou Army went to Chenliu, several more troops went there one after another. With the support of Zhao Yan and Xia Houdun, they all successfully entered Chenliu City, including the main force of Cao Cao's headquarters.
Yu Guandu learned the news of the fall of Xu County. Another unit of the Yanzhou Army also changed direction. Abandon Guandu and retreat directly to Chenliu.
in this way. Excluding the scattered soldiers and horses on the road, the number of Yanzhou troops stationed in Chenliu was as large as that of the enemy. It is also Cao Cao's last fortune.
On the other hand, in addition to the troops stationed in Baima, Guandu, Puyang and other places, there are also troops from Zhang He, Ju Shou, Zhang Xiu, Ji Ling, Gao Lan, Zhu Ling, Yuan Mai and other ministries.
A total of 130,000 troops also marched outside Chenliu City. In addition, there were 20,000 Wuhuan cavalry gathered back, and 8,000 Zangba Zhang Yan came to pursue Xiahou Shang's guerrillas.
Holding fast and besieging the city, the final decisive battle between the Cao and Yuan families is about to begin.
Shuai's eight thousand fine cavalry chased Cao's army for 200 miles and turned back. Gao Lan's eighteen thousand cavalry entered Luoyang. At the same time, Hulao Pass was heavily surrounded by Yuan's army.
Cao Hong, Li Tong, and Xia Houshang heard that Sishui Pass and Luoyang were lost, and the commander's army retreated to Yingdong. Knowing that the isolated city of Hulao Pass could not be defended, he abandoned the pass and fled without asking Cao Cao.
Wen Chou and Gao Lan entered Luoyang, Yuan's army became more powerful, and all the officials, officials and nobles in Xuchang became pale.
Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and Empress Fu issued several decrees in one day, urging Yuan Xi to make any requests as soon as possible.
Following the fate of Heaven, the emperor issued an edict: Cao Cao deceived the emperor and neglected his superiors, causing harm to the country and the people, and incited soldiers to attack and harass the people. He goes to the palace with swords and shoes, visits unknown people, cultivates party members inside and outside the palace, kills ministers indiscriminately, controls the government, and bullies my public. The Yuan family is a loyal and loyal general, and the Marquis of Linzi is also the son-in-law of the Han Dynasty. He is a relative of the emperor and the country. I hope that I will not forget the kindness of the country and kill Cao Cao and a female cadre. There must be no mistake. Granted. "
"Lord, people from all over Runan are sent to send seals to express their allegiance to our army." Jia Xu reported.
"Chen State and Liang State also surrendered." Zang Ba reported.
"Jiyin, Dongjun, Shanyang and other counties in Yanzhou have also joined our army!" Jushou said.
"Okay, then Cao Cao will soon be left with an isolated city of Chenliu!" Wen Chou said happily.
"My lord, this move sends you to death, and then goes where you don't expect it, and goes where you don't expect it. It's brilliant, it's really brilliant. Sun Wu's so-called god is nothing more than this!" Guo Tu praised.
Although everyone was disdainful of him and flattered him, what Guo Tu said was the truth. It was hard to imagine that he could use the dead time among highly intelligent people, and the attack on Xu County from Hanoi was a clever move.
"Xu Ziyuan has made great achievements!" Guo Tu said with a hint of sadness.
"General Meng trusts me, how dare I take credit." Xu You said with a smile.
"Don't be careless, Cao Cao is a wounded beast now, and there is a possibility of a decisive counterattack at any time. And you have also seen that Chenliu's city wall is thick and Cao Cao's troops are tightly defended, so it is not so easy to take down." Yuan Xi said in a deep voice.
"The general is right, and the various places in Yanzhou and Yuzhou only surrendered because of the strength of our army. If our army is defeated, they will immediately join Cao Cao again." Jushou said.
For example, the recent situation in Ukraine is like this. People obey the situation instead of being grateful for anything. The premise of justice is to win first and then to be just.
"Surround him for two or three months and see if the Yanzhou people still have no food or fodder to fight!" Wen Chou said.
"I don't know how much grain and grass Chen Liu has hoarded, but most of the grain and grass in Guandu were supplied by Chen Liu before. I'm afraid there really is a lot of grain in stock." Xu You reminded.
"The Art of War says that if we are surrounded ten times, our army will be only three times more than Cao Cao's army, so the siege must be tight to prevent him from counterattacking!" Yuan Xi said.
"Trenches have been dug on three sides outside the city, leaving only the middle section for carriages and horses. I believe they will not be able to break through," Zhang He said.
"Go all out to build equipment, dig through the city wall to the south of Chenliu, and start building mounds of earth to the west. Use all available siege methods!" Yuan Xi ordered.
"Here!" everyone said one after another
Take orders.
