Chapter 348 Jizhou Matchmaking
There are many famous people in Hebei, but no one is like Shen Zhengnan. His fate is due to faintness, and his heart is like the ancient ginseng. Loyal and outspoken without hiding anything, honest and capable but not greedy. When dying, you still face the north, and those who descend will be ashamed. ----------Ming Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"
It is said that Chen Long's army and Yuan Xi's army encountered each other unexpectedly outside Baibi Town. Chen Long knew that Yuan Xi had mediocre qualifications and had no generals under his command. After discussing with Zhou Buji, he was already determined to win in a decisive battle.
Chen Long has experienced hundreds of battles and has formed the habit of personally investigating the terrain. Zhou Buyi is also a terrain master. Everywhere he goes, he works tirelessly and draws a complete topographic map of the local area. When the Black Mountain Army set up camp that day, Chen Long, Zhou Buyi and 30 special operations team members led by Lu Chang used the cover of trees in broad daylight to successfully approach Yuan Xi's camp along the mountain forest and observe closely.
The trees for several miles around Yuan Xi's camp have been cut down, revealing empty tree stumps. This was a very effective defense method at the time. Not only were the cut branches and trees used to build tent fortifications and fence antlers, but also after the trees were cleared, the guarding soldiers could have a clear view of the surrounding situation from the high platform, effectively preventing camp robberies. Village.
Chen Long and Zhou Buyi observed for a long time and exchanged opinions: "Yuan Zhi, this camp is very consistent with the art of war. The Chinese army is a self-contained body. There are four small camps at the front, rear, left and right, all guarding each other. If there is an incident, they can all rush to each other's aid." , it seems that Yuan Xi is not completely a fool."
Zhou Buyi nodded and said: "There are no big loopholes in this camp. I don't know if Yuan Xi is a idiot, but I heard from the intelligence report that his military advisor is Shen Zhengnan. He is an old fox, and his experience can be said to be very experienced." .”
Chen Long smiled slightly and said: "The trial match? How did I hear that he is Yuan Shang's man?"
Zhou Buji's eyes lit up: "My lord, are you saying that the trial partner hopes that Yuan Xi will suffer a big defeat?"
Shen Pei, whose courtesy name is Zhengnan, had a loyal and generous character when he was a child, and had some unbreakable rules. In his early years, he was a subordinate of Taiwei Chen Qiu, but later he was discouraged from pursuing his ambition to be the shepherd of Han Fu in Jizhou due to his integrity.
In the second year of Chuping (AD 191), Yuan Shao, the governor of Bohai, rebelled against the guests and assisted Han Fu to give up Jizhou. He then took the charge of Jizhou pastoral, commissioned judges and appointed confidants, thinking that he would rule the country and serve as the general shogunate.
In the fourth year of Jian'an (AD 199), Yuan Shao eliminated Gongsun Zan, selected 100,000 elite soldiers and 10,000 horses to review and coordinate the army according to discipline, and prepared to attack Xudu. Shen Pei believed that "Ten sieges and five attacks are as powerful as overthrowing the enemy. If we take it now, it will be difficult to capture it later." This statement was exactly what Yuan Shao meant. Yuan Shao then asked Shen Pei to stay in Yecheng and send troops to attack Cao Cao.
In the fifth year of Jian'an (AD 200), the armies of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao faced off in Guandu. It happened that Xu You's family broke the law, and they were all arrested. Xu You was frustrated, so he defected to Cao Cao, and his envoys attacked Wuchao, causing Yuan's army to be defeated. Both of Shen Pei's sons were captured alive by Cao Cao and then surrendered. Cao Cao appointed them as prominent officials.
Meng Dai had a conflict with Shenpei, so he told Yuan Shao through Jiang Qi: "Shenpei has monopolized power while he was in office. He has a large clan and a strong military, and his two sons are in the south. He must want to rebel." Guo Tu and Xin Ping also thought so. .
Yuan Shao then appointed Meng Dai as the supervisor of the army to guard Ye County instead of Shen Pei. Yuan Shao asked Feng Ji for his opinion on the matter. Feng Ji replied: "Shen Pei is strong and straightforward by nature. Every time he says something or does something, he admires the integrity of the ancients. He won't do anything unjust because his two sons are in the south. Don't doubt him." Yuan Shao said, "Don't you hate him?" Feng Ji said, "What we argued about in the past was a private matter. What we are talking about now is It is a national matter." Yuan Shao said: "That's right." So he did not dismiss the judge. Since then, the relationship between Shen Pei and Feng Ji has become more harmonious.
In the seventh year of Jian'an (AD 202), Yuan Shao fell ill and died. Everyone believed that Yuan Tan was the eldest son and should be the heir, and planned to support him. However, Shenpei and Fengji had always been disliked by Yuan Tan, and they had issues with Xin Ping and Guo Tu. They were worried that Yuan Tan would harm them after he came to the throne, so they privately changed Yuan Shao's will and appointed Yuan Shang to succeed him.
Yuan Tan could not succeed to the throne, so he named himself General of Chariots and Cavalry and settled in Liyang. Yuan Shangbu sent more troops to Yuan Tan, and ordered his subordinates to follow and keep a close eye on him. Yuan Tan asked for troops but was rejected by Shen Du. He killed Feng Ji in a rage, and the two brothers gradually developed a rift.
In the seventh year of Jian'an (AD 202), Cao Cao attacked Yuan Tan. Yuan Tan asked Yuan Shang for help. Yuan Shang was afraid that Yuan Tan would not return the soldiers after getting them, so he stayed behind for trial and led the soldiers to rescue him. After the war, Yuan Tan asked Yuan Shang to send more armor and soldiers, but he was refused. Instigated by Guo Tu and Xin Ping, Yuan Tan attacked Yuan Shang, but was defeated and retreated to Nanpi. During this period, the judge wrote a letter to blame Yuan Tan. Yuan Tan was devastated when he received the letter and went to the city to cry.
In the ninth year of Jian'an (AD 204), Yuan Shang went to the plains to attack Yuan Tan, leaving Shenpei and Su You to guard Yecheng. When Cao Cao marched to Huan River, Su You planned to act as an internal agent for Cao Cao. When the plot was leaked, Su You left the city and defected to Cao Cao. After Cao Cao's army arrived at Yecheng, they built earthen mountains and dug tunnels to launch an attack. Yin Kai, the magistrate of Wu'an County appointed by Yuan Shang, garrisoned Maocheng to protect the grain road leading to Shangdang. In April, Cao Cao left Cao Hong to continue attacking Yecheng, and personally led the army to attack Yin Kai. After defeating Yin Kai, Cao Cao returned to his army. Then he went to attack Yuan Shang's general Ju Hu who was guarding Handan, and captured Handan. Feng Li, the general of Shenpei, acted as an internal response and opened the small gate under the city to let more than 300 soldiers of Cao Cao enter the city. After Henpei found out, he smashed the door with a big stone from the top of the city wall and closed the city gate. As a result, Cao Cao entered the city. All soldiers died in battle.
In the fifth month, Cao Cao destroyed the mountains and tunnels, dug trenches, and surrounded Yecheng for forty miles. At first the excavation was so shallow that it looked as if it could be crossed. When Shen Pei saw it on the city, he laughed loudly and did not send any troops to destroy it. Cao Cao sent people to dredge at night, and overnight, they dug a deep trench two feet deep and two feet wide, leading the Zhang River into the trench, completely cutting off the connection between inside and outside Yecheng. From May to August, more than half of the people in the city died of starvation.
Yuan Shang learned that Ye City was in danger and led more than 10,000 people back to rescue Ye County. Cao Cao intercepted him and defeated Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang fled to the bend of Zhang River and set up camp. Cao Cao then surrounded it. Before the encirclement could be encircled, Yuan Shang was afraid and sent an undercover force. Kui and Chen Lin requested surrender, but Cao Cao refused. Yuan Shang had no choice but to turn back and flee to Lankou. Cao Cao advanced again and quickly surrounded Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang's general Ma Yan and others surrendered before the battle. The troops were completely defeated and Yuan Shang fled to Zhongshan. Cao Cao collected Yuan Shang's baggage and obtained Yuan Shang's seals, ribbons, talismans, axes, cymbals, clothes and items, and showed them to the people in the city. The defenders in the city collapsed in frustration. Shen Pei ordered the soldiers: "We must fight to the death. Cao Cao's army is very tired. Yuan Youzhou (Yuan Xi) is coming here, why worry about not having a commander!" Cao Cao came out to inspect the siege situation, and Shen Pei ambushed archers and shot Cao Cao, but he almost missed it. Shot.
Shen Pei appointed his nephew Shen Rong as the captain of the Cambodian Gate. Shen Rong opened the city gate at night to let Cao's army enter the city. Shen Pei was on the southeast corner of the city and saw Cao's army entering. He was angry that Xin Ping and Guo Tu had ruined Jizhou, so he ordered They rushed to the prison in Yecheng and killed Xin Ping's family.
On the other hand, Shenpei persisted in resisting in the city and was captured alive. He was escorted to Cao Cao's tent. Xin Ping's younger brother Xin Pi saw that his brother was dead, so he whipped Shen Pei on the head with a riding crop and cursed: "Slave, you are dead today!" Shen Pei turned around and said, "Dog My dear, you are the one who caused Jizhou to be destroyed, I want to kill you! Besides, is it rare for you to kill me with your own hands today?"
After a while, Cao Cao introduced Shen Pei and said, "Do you know who opened the gate of Ye City?" Shen Pei said, "I don't know." Cao Cao said, "It's your nephew Shen Rong." Shen Pei said. Said: "This kid is not useful enough, and he has reached this point!"
Cao Cao said again: "I have been inspecting the siege recently. How come you have so many arrows?" Shen Pei said: "I still hate the lack of arrows." Cao Cao said: "You are loyal to the Yuan family, and you have to do this." Cao Cao's I don't want to kill him. But Shen Pei had a strong spirit and never said anything about surrender. Everyone present sighed, and Xin Pi and others cried incessantly, so Cao Cao killed him.
Zhang Ziqian, a native of Jizhou, had always been at odds with Shenpei. He surrendered first when Cao's army attacked the city. At this time, he smiled and said to Shenpei, "Zhengnan, how are you better than me?" Shenpei scolded him sternly: "You are just a surrender, Shenpei." As a loyal minister, even though you are dead, how can you survive in vain!" Before the execution, the judge scolded the executioner for letting him die facing the north, saying: "My king is in the north."
If you want to know what happens next, listen to the explanation next time.
