Since Yuan Shao sent troops in September, he combined with the Wuhuan troops to deal with Gongsun Zan like crazy, as if he was avenging the last attack and killing.
Yuan Shao had many powerful generals, many counselors, brave generals and many plans. How could Gongsun Zan be Yuan Shao's opponent just by relying on his passion? After a month of fighting, Gongsun Zan was beaten back to his original form and couldn't come out of Yi Jing. The previously recaptured city fell into Yuan Shao's hands again.
In order to remove Gongsun Zan's thorn in the side as quickly as possible, Yuan Shao personally supervised the battle and demolished dozens of bunkers. He was bound to pry open Gongsun Zan's turtle shell, pull out his head and chop off his head.
Gongsun Zan was not a vegetarian. When Yuan Shao attacked fiercely, he built strong defenses. He built another blockhouse after he pulled out one. This method was stupid and effective. No matter how many counselors Yuan Shao had, he couldn't demolish all the blockhouses at once.
In front of a solid bunker, all strategies are in vain.
The two sides have been confronting each other in Yijing since early October. It has been more than a month now. Yuan Shao still has not pried open Gongsun Zan's hard turtle shell, but at this moment Gongsun Zan can hardly stand it any longer.
No more food.
After counterattacking Yuan Shao last time, Gongsun Zan felt that he was able to do it again, and he became energetic. He moved half of the accumulated food and grass out, and started another wave of recruiting troops in Youzhou, preparing to fight Yuan Shao, which will happen next time. In the battle, Yuan Shao was captured and Jizhou was recaptured.
As a result, after a few rounds, Gongsun Zan was beaten back to his original shape and was trapped in Yi Jing unable to get out.
Although they can be self-sufficient in farming in Yijing, the problem is that the land that can be cultivated is being gradually reduced by Yuan Shao, and there is not enough growing in the land for people to eat.
The purpose of Yuan Shao's counselors was to compress the field space, use up Gongsun Zan's food and grass, and let him die without a fight, so they began to adopt the strategy of siege but not attack. Since Gongsun Zan would not come out for a decisive battle, they would waste it to see who would consume it first. Who died.
Gongsun Zan couldn't use it up.
The only option is rescue.
He ordered Guan Jing to write three letters and send them to Zhang Xiu in Guanzhong, Liu Bei in Qingzhou, and Zhang Yan in Montenegro.
…
Qingzhou, Beihai City.
Liu Bei was recognized by the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and confirmed his title as a clan member of the Han Dynasty. He can be said to be a rising star among the princes. Later, Cao Cao issued another edict, saying that someone had falsely preached the imperial edict and the previous edict was invalid.
But everyone is not a fool, and the subsequent edict proves the authenticity of the former. Coupled with Cao Cao's big fight in Xudu, it further confirms the authenticity of the previous edict.
The first benefit that the title of imperial uncle brought to him was that Zang Ba of Kaiyang City surrendered, and the second benefit was that Xuzhou Chen Deng came to vote.
Liu Bei was overjoyed when Chen Deng came to join him. Chen Deng's appearance immediately filled his embarrassing situation of lacking counselors.
Since Tao Qian died of illness in the first year of Xingping (194), Chen Deng presided over Liu Bei's succession as Xuzhou pastor and supported him wholeheartedly.
Unexpectedly, Lu Bu drove away Liu Bei, raided Xuzhou, and led Xuzhou as a herdsman. Chen Deng changed his name to Lü Bu, but he hated Lü Bu deeply and wanted to repay him. Now that Liu Bei was confirmed as the emperor's uncle, Chen Deng made up his mind to come to Qingzhou to assist Liu Bei and his uncle.
In the general's mansion.
After Liu Bei read Gongsun Zan's letter, he handed it to Chen Deng who was opposite him and said: "Yuanlong, Yuan Shao has raised 150,000 horses and infantry to attack Youzhou. Gongsun Zan was unable to defeat and retreated to Yi Jing. Now there is insufficient food and grass, and Yuan Shao may be able to defeat him. What can I do?"
Chen Deng briefly glanced at the content of the letter, pondered for a moment, looked at Liu Bei and asked, "What do you think, my lord?"
"Although our army occupies the land of Qingzhou, there are Lu Bu in the south, Yuan Shao in the north, and Cao Cao in the west. Although there are dangers in the Yellow River and Mount Tai to defend, it is not a long-term solution. Kuang Gongsun Zan is brave but not resourceful, and he is eager to win sooner or later. They will be defeated by Yuan Shao. When Yuan Shao raises his troops and goes south to capture Qingzhou, Qingzhou will be in danger."
Liu Bei nodded: "If Yuan Long has any suggestions, please tell me quickly."
Chen Deng talked freely: "Back then, Tao Shijun gave Xuzhou to his lord three times. Everyone knew this. Now that it is occupied by thieves like Lu Bu, it is really a disaster for the people of Xuzhou. We can join forces with Cao Cao to capture Xuzhou. If we occupy the territory of Qingzhou and Xuzhou and have a hundred thousand soldiers, we can unite with Cao Cao or Zhang Xiu to resist the threat of Yuan Shao."
"No!" Liu Bei shook his head, "Senior brother Gongsun Zan asks for a letter from me, how can I ignore it?"
"No?" Chen Deng said, "My lord can cross the river and send troops to launch a strong attack to distract Yuan Shao. This is enough. Our army has few major generals, how can we confront him head-on?"
Liu Bei nodded.
Then he thought about it and said, "Will Cao Cao agree to send troops?"
"Hahaha!"
Chen Deng laughed confidently. "My lord, please be at ease, I'm sure Cao Cao will come."
"Oh?" Liu Bei cast a doubtful look.
"Does Cao Cao want to capture Xuzhou?" Chen Deng asked.
Liu Bei nodded.
How could you not miss such a big cake in Xuzhou?
Chen Deng said: "Lü Bu is brave but not resourceful, but with Chen Gong's help, we alone can't do anything to him. If we join forces with Cao Cao to capture Xuzhou, Xuzhou will definitely be conquered. Cao Cao's base is in Xuchang, not Xuzhou. Wait until Cao Cao captures it. After we capture Xuzhou, we will send a general to stay in Xuzhou, and then we can launch a surprise attack on Xuzhou."
"Ah ~ Yuan Long, this is a 'killing with a borrowed sword' strategy. Now that Zang Ba has agreed to submit to me, Kaiyang City is in my hands. This can be used as a hidden line. After Cao Cao captures Xuzhou, we can move out. Take Yangcheng and take Xuzhou."
After that, the two looked at each other and smiled.
…
Montenegro.
Zhang Yan's original name is Chu Yan.
In the first year of Zhongping (184), the Yellow Turban Uprising broke out. Zhang Yan gathered a group of young men as bandits and fought in the mountains and rivers for many years. Later, he joined forces with Zhang Niujiao and called himself a general. During the attack on Yingtao, Zhang Niujiao was killed by an arrow. Zhang Yan was respected as the leader and was known as the "Black Mountain Army".
Because Zhang Yan is as light as a swallow and is brave and good at fighting, the army calls him "Feiyan".
After Yuan Shao occupied Jizhou, Zhang Yan fought with Yuan Shao several times, but neither side took any advantage. Whenever Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zan, Zhang Yan would send troops to help Gongsun Zan.
Now Gongsun Zan's son Gongsun Xu came to deliver a message to him.
After Zhang Yan read the letter, he said boldly and cheerfully: "Relax, Major General. Since the letter is from General Gongsun, I will naturally do my best to help. Besides, Uncle Liu is also cooperating in Qingzhou. This counterattack will definitely make Yuan Shao shed blood on the battlefield." .”
Seeing Zhang Yan agreeing so generously, Gongsun Xu said happily: "This is the best. Fortunately, Uncle Liu came to the rescue in time during the last crisis. Now with General Zhang and Uncle Liu, Yuan Shao will definitely be defeated."
"Yuan Shao relied on his background as the Fourth Prince and Third Duke to bully others too much. If General Gongsun hadn't sent troops to assist him, how could he have easily won the land of Jizhou? Now he has turned his back and refuses to recognize others. This man is independent and self-reliant. He is really hateful. If you are captured by me, Zhang Yan, you will be killed." Zhang Yan said viciously.
Gongsun Xu gritted his teeth: "Yuan Shao is a hateful thief. When he was poor in the Bohai Sea, he asked my father for help. Now that the situation is in his favor, he wants to kill my Gongsun and his son instead. Hmph! I can't wait to eat his flesh alive."
"Don't worry, Major General. This time I will lead an army of 100,000 people out of the mountain to attack Yuan Shao from the outside, making it impossible for him to come back."
Gongsun Xu nodded: "In this battle, we must kill Yuan Shao and seize Jizhou."
While Gongsun Xu was talking to Zhang Yan, Zhang Xiu also received a letter of help from Gongsun Zan on the way.
He was a little surprised to get Gongsun Zan's letter asking for help.
It seemed that his influence increased as his strength increased, so much so that Gongsun Zan even remembered him.
