When the Bafu Army entered Jixian, the situation in Youzhou was already extremely deteriorated.
After the First World War in Gaoyang, Gongsun Zan was frightened and ordered his 60,000 soldiers to be trapped in the area of Fan Yang and Yijing. No matter what Yuan's army did, they were not allowed to leave the city to fight. Yuan Shao took advantage of this situation and personally led 120,000 infantry and cavalry northward, camped with Yishui and Juma Shuijian for nearly a hundred miles, and then surrounded the two cities. Yijing was stable, and Fan Yang's heavy troops could not suddenly break the city, but they could not break the city suddenly. Gongsun Zan was cut off from all news and was isolated from all states and counties.
At the same time, after the Wuhuan and Yuan Shang tribes from the three counties joined together, there were also nearly 100,000 people. There were too many counties and counties to contend with, so they ran rampant in the counties of Youzhou. Seeing Gongsun Zan's loss of power, the county magistrates often felt deserted. Among the four counties of Yuyang, Guangyang, Zhuojun, and Beiping, those who surrendered from Kaicheng As many as thirteen counties. South of Juyong and north of Fanyang, only five counties, Zhuoxian, Jixian, Jundu, Guangyang and Changping, remained neutral.
After learning about the situation, Liu Bei suddenly fell into an extremely embarrassing situation. If he wanted to go south to rescue Gongsun Zan, he not only had to regain the counties in the south, but also had to guard against the threat of Wuhuan on the flanks. More importantly, his own troops were stretched thin and he was at an absolute disadvantage.
But Liu Bei was not impatient. He knew that his arrival was also a pressure on Yuan Shao. Surrounding 60,000 people with more than 100,000 people was actually a very difficult arrangement. A slight mistake would lead to a complete defeat. Therefore, Yuan Shao's headquarters did not dare to act rashly. The only ones who can be used against him are Yuan Shang and Wuhuan from the three counties. In the past few years, Bafu has been conquering east and west, and has become famous. They don't dare to act rashly without knowing the depth. Although the situation is bad, at this point, it will fall into a stalemate and will not become more corrupt.
However, for Liu Bei, although he only met Yuan Shao a few times in the court, he had heard Yuan Shao's name for too long, starting from when he was studying in Luoyang, and continuing to his reply a few days ago. From the teacher's mouth, Chen Chong's mouth, and Cao Cao's mouth, he knew that this was a figure who could influence the situation of the Han Dynasty. This was his first time fighting against Yuan Shao, which aroused a strong curiosity in him. He wanted to see with his own eyes what this man as famous as Chen Chong was like under his rule.
On the first day of July, Liu Bei received another news that Yuan Shang's troops were stationed in Anci, a hundred miles south of Ji County. The camp conditions were strict and orders were strictly followed. Even the Wuhuan tribes were under his control. The scene was quite spectacular. This made him even more intolerable, so he changed into a knight's attire, put on straw sandals, a bamboo hat, and a sword, and went south with four similarly dressed followers, intending to see Yuan Jun's momentum in person.
Of course, his colleagues tried to persuade him to do so, but when they failed, they planned to accompany him. But Liu Bei said that they were not Yan people and did not understand the rangers. Their accompanying them would only arouse suspicion, so he left Jixian and went south.
On the first day, they crossed the river and soon came to a small ancestral hall next to the official road. Looking at the plaque in the ancestral hall, we can see that this is a temple dedicated to Jing Ke. Youyan's knight-errants became popular, and they naturally highly respected Jing Ke, who almost succeeded in assassinating the Qin Dynasty. Therefore, there are many Jing Ke temples in Youzhou, and the incense has always been strong. When Liu Bei saw this, he walked in, lit a stick of incense for Jing Ke, and ordered his entourage to play a song to pay homage to the heroic spirit. When I came out after the service, I saw several cyclists passing by the road. They were dressed in hunting clothes and hats.
Liu Bei realized that it was Yuan Jun's scout, but he made no move and just walked quietly on the roadside.
When the knight approached, Liu Bei noticed that there were seven or eight people in this group. The leader looked like an adult. The followers were strong and the horses they rode were extremely majestic. They were obviously not ordinary knights. He couldn't help but wonder. Said: "Could it be a famous general in Yuan's army?"
Despite this belief in his heart, he still did not stop walking and continued southward with his followers. The team of men and horses finally came close to him, Liu Bei leaned to the roadside, and for a brief moment he was about to pass by. He held Kasa Yuan in his hand and looked up at the leading knight. The man was about thirty years old, slightly younger than himself, with tight lips and a hint of tiredness at the corners of his mouth. But he had foxtail-like brows, which made his eyes look sharp and sensitive, but it was only for a moment, and they had already galloped away.
Liu Bei had already recognized it. It was undoubtedly Zhang He, the general of Ningguo under Yuan Shao. When Guan Yu went to the allied forces, he was deeply impressed by Zhang He, and specifically mentioned it to Liu Bei, saying that Zhang He was like an old fox, the best at making changes, and he was a rare general. He was passing by now and probably wanted to inquire about himself personally. Liu Bei then said with emotion that a truly famous general can only make appropriate suggestions after observing every detail personally. It seems that Zhang He should not be underestimated. What kind of strategies will he offer?
No matter what, Liu Bei increasingly felt the need to see Yuan Jun's appearance.
Early the next morning, he arrived in the western suburbs of Anci.
In order not to make Yuan Jun suspicious, Liu Bei deliberately made a detour, arrived at Anci from the west, and lay down in a dilapidated temple in the countryside overnight to make himself look more like a common Youyan ranger. In fact, he was originally a Youyan Ranger.
When they were approaching Anci County, they encountered a group of warriors wearing light armor. The tips of a dozen of them reflected the midsummer sun. They were full of murderous spirit, but they marched in strict discipline, obviously to defend public security.
Along the way, Liu Bei met Yuan Jun soldiers who patrolled several times and was interrogated, but Xingzang was not exposed because he was thin and his accent was pure Yan people. At first glance, there was indeed no flaw.
The suburbs of Anji are flat. This vast field of depressions and plains is dotted with villages. One third is riverbank-like wilderness, one third is dry farmland, and one third is dense forest. The morning in the North is a bit chilly even in summer, but the seedlings in the fields have already been cut into strips, and the green fields are covered with a layer of green like a layer of pastel.
In times of war, all parties were busy fighting. Even though farmers were at risk of being intimidated by swords and massacred by bows and arrows, they still continued to cultivate in the fields. Without their labor and production, there would be famine all over the world, and the sages would not be able to make a living. Therefore, when people work in the fields, not all of them are forced to do so. Many people go to the fields with the feeling that hard work is a pleasure and production is a priority. Liu Bei thought, how noble this thought is, and it is through this kind of heart that the world can continue. In comparison, those princes and tycoons who mistreat farmers and fulfill their selfish desires are really hopeless.
This is Anci, and this is Youyan. He came here when he was young, and this is also his hometown. But now, under the patrols of Yuan Jun, the farmers are still working with peace of mind, and there is no sense of crisis that a war is about to happen.
"Will Yuan Shao own the harvest of these young plants when they grow up?" Liu Bei sighed with sadness as he thought about this. He then thought again: "What a difficult creature to deal with! In a hundred years of life, I can't expect to encounter a fool like Yuan Shu every time. If I fight Yuan Shao here, I'm afraid the people will lose their support!"
After stopping for a moment, he immediately walked towards Anci City.
The path between fields under the bright sun winds all the way eastward. After walking for about two miles, you could faintly see the city gate. There seemed to be smoke coming from somewhere in the south. Looking closer, there seemed to be something floating and flickering between the greenery and the village. Liu Bei knew it was a military flag. In this weather, the flag in the distance looks like this.
But before he reached the city, he was stopped by a checkpoint. This checkpoint is not big, it just has two antlers two feet wide on the official road. Guarding the antlers are two soldiers wearing light armor and bamboo hats. They are sitting under the willow shade eating dry food. When they see Liu Bei The four people came and were startled. After all, it was still very early, there were very few pedestrians on the road, and Liu Bei and the others were equipped with swords.
One of them shouted: "Who are you?"
Liu Bei replied calmly: "A warrior from Zhuo County!"
"What are you doing here?"
The other took a sip of water, swallowed the dry food he was choking on, and said helpfully: "Do you want to go into the city? You can't go there without a road guide!"
They all tried their best to put on a serious expression, but they still couldn't hide their good nature.
"I heard that General Yuan Shang is here, and he came here with a few friends to join the army. Please let me pass!"
Everyone knows that rangers like to join the army and make meritorious deeds, and since Youyan's rangers are the best in the world, it is natural for them to join the army. The two soldiers relaxed slightly.
"Extreme Spiritual Chaos Jue"
But the soldier who yelled first still didn't let them pass. Instead, he looked at Liu Bei curiously and continued to ask: "Looking at your age, you are quite old. Why do you think of joining the army now?"
"Liu Youzhou is not easy to use troops and has no place to use them. Gongsun Zan is too cold and cold. He has taxed my family three times a year. How can I want to be driven by him?"
"Indeed!" The soldier looked very approving and boasted to Liu Bei: "I am from Handan. Yuan Shijun only collected taxes once in our year. It is indeed much more comfortable!"
They no longer doubted Liu Bei's origins, but when Liu Bei was about to pass the checkpoint, they asked again: "Do you have a guide?"
"No."
"That won't work!" they replied sternly, and then softened their tone and said, "There will be a war here soon, and there may be spies everywhere, so you can't go there without a guide. I'm really sorry."
"Where should I get Lu Yin?"
"If you are from Zhuo County, you may not know that in Fangcheng, ten miles to the east, there are road guides there. However, road guides are not cheap. Each one costs seventy yuan!"
"Oh! We still have to go back and get it again?"
"Yes! If you want to surrender to our general, there is no way!" Although they were somewhat sympathetic. But stick to the law.
Liu Bei led his men to turn around and walk back, but he had no intention of getting a guide or looking at Yuan Jun's appearance. At least, from these two guards alone, Liu Bei could already see Yuan Jun's strict military discipline and how popular he was. Then thinking of Zhang He who personally inquired about the situation on the front line, Liu Bei was convinced that Yuan Jun would be the strongest enemy he had ever encountered.
