In the first year of Jian'an, Cao Cao, the governor of Yanzhou, followed Xun Yu's strategy of "deeply consolidating the foundation to control the world" and determined to annex Yuzhou.
In the first month of spring, Cao Cao led his army to attack Wuping for more than 200 miles and arrived at Wuping City.
Although Yuan Yao reminded Yuan Shu of Cao Cao's intentions in advance, and Xinqi arrived in Wuping in time to convey the order, Yuan Si, the prime minister appointed by Yuan Shu, still disagreed and believed that Cao Cao had just broken Yongqiu and needed to rest for at least a month, at least until Troops will not be sent out until after the first month.
Therefore, Yuan Si dismissed the soldiers as usual and sent them home to celebrate the New Year. There were only a few hundred defenders left in Wuping City.
As soon as Cao Jun arrived, Yuan Si surrendered at the speed of light.
In this way, Cao Cao easily removed the biggest obstacle from Yanzhou to Yuzhou.
The news of Yuan Si's surrender came back to Shouchun together with the news of the defeat of the Runan Yellow Turban Army.
When Yuan Shu heard that Yuzhou was in danger, he was naturally furious. In front of all the civil and military officials, he started scolding Cao Cao when he was ten years old and continued to scold Cao Cao for more than an hour. During this period, Cao Cao was called "Cao Ah Man", "Eunuch Queen", "Cao Thief", "Traitor", etc., and all kinds of unpleasant curses were endless.
Just cursing was definitely not enough to vent his anger. Yuan Shu announced on the spot that he would go to war with Cao Cao and would send 100,000 troops north to meet Cao Cao's army!
Originally, Yuan Shu gave up the fight with Xuzhou Liu Bei, which was something Yuan Yao was happy to see.
But Yuan Shu personally led the main force north to fight Cao Cao, but Yuan Yao was frightened.
Judging from the situation, although Cao's army marched straight into the Runan Yellow Turban Army and defeated it, it seemed that it was at the end of its battle and was unable to follow up.
Unlike Yuan Si, most of the soldiers under Yuan Si were recruited from Chen State. During the Chinese New Year, soldiers need to be released back home to visit relatives.
All units of the Yellow Turban Army gathered together with their families, so even though Cao Jun suddenly attacked, the Yellow Turban Army units of He Yi, Liu Pi, Huang Shao, and He Man were still capable of fighting.
In addition, Sun Xiang, the governor of Runan appointed by Yuan Shu, and the Yellow Turban Army from various departments were all prepared to varying degrees after receiving orders from Yuan Shu's Xinqi.
And because Yuan Shu's main army is still in Shouchun and has not set off to attack Xuzhou like in history, each Yellow Turban army relies on strong support from behind, so it does not collapse at the first touch like in history.
After several battles, although they faced Cao's army with more defeats and fewer victories, the Yellow Turban troops of He Yi, Liu Pi, Huang Shao, and He Man still persisted in resisting.
It's just that all kinds of urgent reports begging Yuan Shu to send troops to assist and to obtain food, grass and weapons kept flying to Shouchun like snow flakes.
According to reports from the front line, Cao's army is currently suffering a lot of casualties, and its food supply is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
Judging from the comprehensive strength of Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, Cao Cao's troops were severely depleted due to his continuous use of troops against Xuzhou and the civil strife in Yanzhou, and he was exhausted from long battles. Since the Battle of Kuangting, Yuan Shu has been accumulating food and grass, recruiting troops and horses, and recharging his strength.
As the saying goes, leisure awaits work, and it seems that there is a great opportunity to defeat the traitor Cao Cao!
But Yuan Yao was not sure whether all this was Cao Cao's strategy.
Moreover, Yuan Shu did not allow himself to go out with the army, and only allowed him to stay in Shouchun.
In fact, even if he could go out with the army, it would be difficult for him to have an impact on the war situation.
The main reason is that Yuan Shu doesn't listen to him!
From Yuan Shu's point of view, no matter how outstanding his performance was, he was only under his protection.
In a word, in Yuan Shu's heart, Yuan Yao will always be just a son inferior to him.
Most fathers are actually unwilling to admit that their sons are better than themselves. This is a common human problem. But Yuan Shu was more seriously ill. He believed that he was better than everyone in the world and should be the emperor.
This kind of person will never listen to the opinions of Yuan Yao, his son.
Secondly, Yuan Yao's influence on the civil and military personnel under Yuan Shu's account was extremely limited.
Yuan Yao discovered very early that the main civil and military personnel under Yuan Shu were all foolish and loyal people with very limited abilities.
The ability of the four generals Ji Ling, Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui and Lu Mian to unite the army can only be said to be passable. Although their personal bravery is good, they lack changes in battle and enemy strategies. Compared with Yuan Shao's Hebei Four Court Pillars Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He and Gao Lan, there is a qualitative difference.
The counselors represented by Yang Hong only know some power and cleverness, but lack foresight and change tactics. One Xu You can defeat all the counselors under Yuan Shu.
The civil servants represented by Yan Xiang are full of benevolence, justice and morality, but lack the ability to do practical things. It cannot be compared with Shen Pei, Xin Pi and others.
In short, the disciples and former officials of the Yuan family in Runan, as well as the talents who were attracted by their reputation, became polarized when they chose to serve Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu.
A good bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a good minister chooses his master to serve!
People with strong ability and personality have good vision, so they will naturally choose to follow Yuan Shao, who is a commoner but has more outstanding abilities.
The people who choose to follow Yuan Shu are mainly because of Yuan Shu's status as a direct descendant, so they are all mediocre, incompetent, foolish and loyal people.
These foolish and loyal people only follow Yuan Shu's lead. Even if Yuan Shu wants to become emperor, they are willing to obey. They cannot listen to Yuan Yao's words, nor can they understand them!
This is also the reason why Yuan Yao left Shouchun to develop separately in the first place.
Now, several of Yuan Yao's generals and direct troops are not in Huainan, and the available capital on hand is pitiful.
Yuan Yao did not dare to risk his life in this decisive battle with Cao Cao.
Thinking about it, it would be better not to go out with the army.
Anyway, Yuan Shu now has a great family and a great business, so he is not afraid of defeat.
Even if there are 100,000 pigs, Cao Cao can't catch them all in one go!
It’s better to stay in Shouchun and marry Daqiao first!
Just when Yuan Yao was temporarily freed from his worries and happily waiting to marry Da Qiao, another news reached Shouchun.
This time Yuan Yao couldn't sit still at all.
Sun Ce and Cao Cao coincided with each other and also took advantage of the Chinese New Year to raid Kuaiji County!
Sun Ce's deployment of troops was much ahead of Yuan Yao's expectation.
But thinking back, Yuan Yao understood.
It seemed that the heavy pressure he put on Sun Ce had an effect.
Sun Ce was eager to capture Jiangdong to get rid of Yuan Shu's control.
Although he didn't know the battle situation in Kuaiji County, Yuan Yao knew that Wang Lang's defeat would be a matter of time.
As a result, his good wishes of sitting in Shouchun and watching the battle and marrying beauties were shattered.
You have to take action yourself!
On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, the third day after Yuan Yao bid farewell to Yuan Shu's army for the expedition, after arranging many matters, Yuan Yao ordered Lu Mian to stay in Shouchun on his behalf, while Yuan Yao himself led his troops south to Danyang.
Although Lu Mian brought up Yuan Shu's order to oppose Yuan Yao, Yuan Yao used his status as the governor of Yangzhou to suppress Lu Mian and was speechless.
Before Lu Mian could send someone to ask Yuan Shu for instructions, Yuan Yao left directly with Xu Chu and his Su Wei troops.
No one, including the city gate Sima and the checkpoint guards, dared to stop him!
