When Yuan Tan heard that Cao Cao's troops were approaching the city, he was not willing to be outdone and sent people to ask Liu Biao for help. Liu Biao called Liu Bei for discussion.
Liu Bei said: "Now that Cao Cao has defeated Jizhou and the army is at its peak, brothers Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang will be captured by Cao Cao sooner or later. Our efforts to rescue them are just a waste of time, and Cao Cao often attacks Jingzhou." It means that our strength can only be to station troops to defend ourselves, and we cannot act rashly."
Liu Biao finally felt something was wrong and asked, "Then how should I respond to this matter?"
Liu Bei said: "You can write a letter to the two brothers of the Yuan family and politely refuse in the name of reconciliation."
Liu Biao adopted Liu Bei's suggestion and first wrote a letter to Yuan Tan, which read: "A gentleman should not flee to a country that has hatred for his own country. Recently I heard that you knelt down and surrendered to Cao Cao, but you forgot to first It is very shameful for people to give up their brotherly friendship, and then betray them easily even though they are allies. If your brother in Jizhou does not act like a younger brother, you can first lower your attitude and listen. His opinion is that waiting until the matter is settled and then letting the world comment on who is right and who is wrong, wouldn't it also show his high righteousness?"
He also wrote a letter to Yuan Shang, the content of which was: "Yuan Tan is impatient by nature and cannot distinguish right from wrong. You are magnanimous and can tolerate him more than enough. You should tolerate the big and the small, the good and the bad. First get rid of Cao Cao and end your father's death." Isn't it good to wait until the big thing has been decided before commenting on who is right and wrong? If you persist in your stubbornness, the barbarians and foreigners will laugh at you, not to mention us allies, will we try our best to fight for you again! This is what Han Lugou and The reappearance of the story of Dongguo rabbits chasing each other, trapping themselves first, and the old farmers getting something for nothing!”
Yuan Tan got Liu Biao's letter and knew that Liu Biao meant that he was not ready to send troops. He also knew that he was no match for Cao Cao, so he abandoned the plain and retreated towards Nanpi.
Cao Cao chased to Nanpi. At that time, the weather started to get cold. The water in the river froze and the ships transporting grain and grass could not move. Cao Cao sent local people to break the ice to make it easier for the ships to move. As a result, the people heard that After hearing this news, they all prepared to leave. Cao Cao was furious and prepared to capture and kill him.
When the people got the news, they were very scared. They all entered Cao Cao's camp and surrendered. Cao Cao said: "If I don't kill you, then the order will not be carried out smoothly. If I kill you, then I will feel unbearable. You go to the mountains to hide." Come on, don't be captured by the sergeants I sent behind you." After hearing this, the people were very moved and left one after another.
Yuan Tan led his troops out of the city and faced Cao Cao. The two sides were facing each other in formation. Cao Cao pointed his whip at Yuan Tan and cursed: "After you surrendered to me, I treated you so well. Why do you have other ideas?"
Yuan Tan said: "You invaded our borders, captured our city, and took my wife. In turn, you accused me of having evil intentions. Isn't it funny?"
After hearing this, Cao Cao was furious and asked Xu Huang to ride out. Yuan Tan sent Peng An out to pick him up. The two horses crossed each other. Within a few rounds, Xu Huang killed the opponent.
Yuan Tan's troops could only be defeated and retreated to Nanpi.
Cao Cao sent troops to surround Nanpi. Yuan Tan began to panic and sent Xin Ping to find Cao Cao to discuss surrender. Cao Cao said: "This guy Yuan Tan is so capricious. It's hard for me to trust him. Your brother." Xinpi is a talented person, I have reused him, and you can stay."
Xin Ping replied: "There is a problem with what the Prime Minister said. I heard that if the lord is rich, the ministers will be glorious, and if the lord is sad, the ministers will be humiliated. I have been doing things here for a long time in the Yuan family, how can I do that?" What about betraying easily?"
Cao Cao knew that he would not stay, so he sent him back. Xin Ping went back to see Yuan Tan and explained the situation. Cao Cao did not accept surrender.
Yuan Tan scolded: "Your brother is with Cao Cao. Do you have any other ideas in your mind?"
Hearing this, he was so angry that he fainted and fell to the ground. Yuan Tan ordered him to be helped out. Not long after, Xin Ping became so angry that he died. After Yuan Tan found out, he regretted it very much.
He found Guo Tu, who suggested: "Tomorrow, we will drive the people in front, and our army will follow behind, and fight to the death with Cao Cao!" Yuan Tan accepted this suggestion.
That night, they arrested the people of Nanpi and used knives to force them to obey orders. In the morning, they opened the city gates, followed by the army, and escorted the people in front. They shouted loudly and came out together, directly to Cao Cao's camp. .
The two armies fought in a melee until noon, with no winner and loser, and dead people everywhere. Seeing that there was no victory, Cao Cao abandoned his horse, walked to the mountain, and beat the drums himself. After seeing this, the morale of the soldiers was high. Struggling forward, regardless of whether it was the common people or the sergeants, Yuan Tan's troops were defeated and many of the common people died.
Cao Hong fought his way in and happened to encounter Yuan Tan. He raised his weapon and slashed wildly, killing Yuan Tan in the chaos. Guo Tu saw the chaos in the formation and hurriedly rode towards the city. After Le Jin saw it, he He immediately bent his bow and shot an arrow into the trench.
Cao Cao entered Nanpi with the remaining troops and horses and pacified the local people. Suddenly, a group of troops arrived. It was Yuan Xi's generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan. Cao Cao personally brought the troops and horses to fight, but they were not Come to fight, but to surrender.
Cao Cao then rewarded him with the title of Marquis. Later, Zhang Yan from Heishan came over and surrendered with 100,000 troops and horses. Cao Cao named him General of Peiping and immediately ordered Yuan Tan's head to be hanged out. If anyone saw anyone crying, he would be beheaded immediately. .
As a result, there really was a man in tattered clothes crying under Yuan Tan's head. The sergeant arrested him and went to see Cao Cao.
Cao Cao asked the man's name and found out that it was Wang Xiu from Qingzhou. He had been expelled for admonishing Yuan Tan. Now that he knew he was dead, he came to cry.
Cao Cao asked: "Do you know my order?"
Wang Xiudao: "I know."
Asked: "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Wang Xiudao: "He was kind to me during his lifetime, but he didn't come to cry after his death. That is unethical. He is afraid of death and forgets morality. How can he gain a foothold in this world! If I can bury him, then I will die without a trace." Sorry."
Cao Cao said: "I didn't expect that there are many righteous men in Hebei. It's a pity that the Yuan family is stupid and can't make good use of these people! If they could be used, why would it be my turn to come to this place?" So he ordered Yuan to be sent to this place. Tan's body was collected and buried, and then Wang Xiu was treated as an honored guest and appointed as General Si Jin Zhonglang. Then he asked: "Now that Yuan Shang has taken refuge with Yuan Xi, what should I do?"
Wang Xiu deliberately did not answer. Cao Cao smiled and said: "What a loyal man." He came over to ask Guo Jia, and Guo Jia said: "We can send the surrendered generals of the Yuan family to attack them with troops and horses."
Cao Cao accepted this suggestion and sent Jiao Hu, Zhang Nan, Lu Kuang, Lu Xiang, Ma Yan, and Zhang Wei with his own troops to attack Youzhou in three groups.
