Jushou was very tired after escaping all the way back.
His riding skills were not bad, but when he withdrew from Mo County, he was ambushed by Guan Yu's troops on the way. After escaping for most of the night, although he got rid of his pursuers, Ju Shou felt as if he was falling apart all the way down.
Jushou stretched his body before sitting down again and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, after the loss of Min County, the northern region of Hejian Kingdom fell. The best next step is to station in Gaoyang County."
"Gaoyang County, as the central region of Hejian Kingdom, has a relatively strong city. After the king enters Gaoyang County, he can recruit people, mobilize grain and grass, and further mobilize the elite of Yecheng to go north to further block Zhang Liao's army going south."
Yuan Shao frowned and said, "After our battle, our army has been exhausted. It may be dangerous to guard Gaoyang County."
When leaving Mo County, Yuan Shao still wanted to guard Gaoyang County.
Now, Yuan Shao had no idea.
His army suffered numerous casualties, and with only a few hundred cavalry left to follow, it was too difficult to defend Gaoyang County.
Jushou solemnly said: "Your Majesty, although we have suffered countless losses in this battle, our failure in Min County was not because of our lack of strength, but because of Xu You's betrayal."
"I have carefully thought about it, Xu You may have been connected with Lu Xuan for a long time. This time Xu You deliberately set the fire, just to betray the king and work for Lu Xuan instead, so our evacuation was plotted."
"All our actions have been predicted. This is a conspiracy arranged by Xu You and Zhang Liao in advance."
"Now, there are no villains like Xu You around the king. Once the king enters Gaoyang County, no one will rebel. Therefore, it is certain that the king can rely on Gaoyang County to guard it."
Jushou said, "Your Majesty, please think again."
Yuan Shao suddenly became angry and gritted his teeth and said: "Damn Xu You, I treat him badly, but he betrayed me. In recent years, the Xu family has always been domineering in Yecheng, and I turned a blind eye. Yiyan never cared about him. I didn’t expect that he would betray me. If it weren’t for Xu You, we wouldn’t have suffered such a tragic defeat.”
Jushuo's cheeks twitched.
Is the focus on Xu You?
The focus now is to guard Gaoyang County.
Jushou said again: "Your Majesty, I suggest that we garrison Gaoyang County to block Zhang Liao's offensive."
Tian Feng looked serious and echoed: "Your Majesty is the backbone of the Jin Kingdom. Your Majesty is in Gaoyang County. All the soldiers and people in the country will go all out and follow your Majesty to resist."
"Once the king has given up resistance, who will be willing to resist Zhang Liao?"
"I dare to conclude that if the king chooses to retreat from Gaoyang County, everyone in the Hejian Kingdom will betray and fall to the Wu Kingdom."
Tian Feng's eyes were full of expectation.
He hoped that Yuan Shao would stay in Gaoyang County and fight, so that he would have a chance to defend Hejian Kingdom. Otherwise, after the fall of Hejian Kingdom, the situation in Jizhou will become even worse.
Yuan Shao was thinking, his hands constantly stroking his robes. His graceful and elegant face lost the calmness of the past, only irritability remained.
When Guo Tu saw this scene, his eyes rolled.
He suddenly made a decision.
Guo Tu said seriously: "Your Majesty, I suggest you retreat and withdraw your troops back to Yecheng."
Yuan Shao raised his brows, the light in his eyes was brighter than ever before, and asked: "Why?"
Guo Tu replied: "The king continues to be in Gaoyang County. What if something like Xu You happens again in Gaoyang County? When we fought with Gongsun Zan, no one knew that we would be plotted outside Yijing City."
"No one knows that Tian Chou instigated Xu You's rebellion long ago and plotted against us in Muxian County. Now when we go to Gaoyang County, if there is Tian Chou's plan, we will be plotted against again. How can we resist it?"
Guo Tu said: "We only have a few hundred people left. We have no more strength to resist and must retreat."
"Please, Your Majesty, be clear about this."
Guo Tu put his hands together and saluted.
He believed that he had accurately judged Yuan Shao's thoughts, so he firmly requested to withdraw his troops.
Jushou immediately became furious and scolded: "Guo Tu, you are cowardly and bewitching the king. You are simply a bastard. If the king abandons Gaoyang County, it will be equivalent to ruining the hearts of the people of Hejian Kingdom. As long as you retreat, the hearts of the people will be dispersed."
Guo Tu retorted: "It is better to withdraw to Yecheng than to die in Gaoyang County."
Tian Feng said directly: "Who said that if you guard Gaoyang County, you will die in Gaoyang County? Your Majesty, Guo Tu is timid and fearful and dare not fight. Please enlighten me."
Yuan Shao looked at the two parties in the dispute and did not express his position.
He was still hesitating in his heart.
Yuan Shang was a little frightened and took the initiative: "Father, the armies of Zhang Liao and Tian Chou are getting stronger and stronger, with more and more soldiers and horses. We continue to stay in Hejian Kingdom, but we have no troops to support us. Once we are trapped, we will be completely finished. .”
"Withdraw!"
Yuan Shao made a decision.
He looked at Ju Shou and Tian Feng and explained: "The reason why we retreat is not because we are afraid of Zhang Liao, nor because we give up the Hejian Kingdom. It is because we have insufficient troops. Once we stay and are trapped, it will be very dangerous."
Tian Feng's eyes were eager and he advised: "Your Majesty, if you want to do great things, you must stand up in times of crisis and have the courage to sacrifice your life. When your Majesty retreats, people's hearts will disperse. Your Majesty's presence will definitely inspire people."
After Yuan Shao made his decision, he had no intention of changing it. Seeing that Tian Feng still tried to persuade him, he said angrily: "Tian Feng, you are so capable, you lead people to guard Gaoyang County. I will hand over Gaoyang County to you, what do you think you will do?"
Tian Feng's cheeks twitched.
He is not the king of Jin. If he stays in Gaoyang County, he will not be able to unite people's hearts.
Tian Feng sighed: "The king will regret it."
"I will never regret it."
Yuan Shao flicked his sleeves and spoke decisively.
Guo Tu said coldly: "Tian Feng, it's easy for you to say that. Do you know that if there is any problem in Gaoyang County, the king will not be able to evacuate. Now that we are back to Yecheng, we can still prepare for war. Your idea is too naive. .”
Tian Feng scolded: "You villain!"
Guo Tu glared angrily and retorted: "You Tian Feng are arrogant and self-righteous."
Tian Feng flicked his sleeves, looked away, and simply ignored Guo Tu.
He looked down upon such people.
When Jushou saw this scene, he looked at Tian Feng and signaled Tian Feng not to persuade him. Jushou felt helpless. His king was wise, but lacked the courage to make a desperate move, and he perfectly avoided the correct answer every time.
Outside Yijing City, Jushou and Tian Feng mentioned that there might be an ambush in the camp and they could not stay in the camp. Yuan Shao thought that there were supplies in the camp and insisted on going back. As a result, he was tricked and suffered heavy losses.
Nearing Yixian County, Jushou and Tianfeng also persuaded Yuan Shao to guard Yixian County. Yuan Shao gave up again and went directly south to Mo County.
That’s all.
Now it's time to fight harder and rely on Yuan Shao's personal prestige to rally people's hearts and block Zhang Liao's army at the front line of Gaoyang County. Yuan Shao still chooses to go south and is unwilling to fight to the death.
"well……"
Jushou said no more and rested quietly.
For a moment, the atmosphere was awkward.
Yuan Shao didn't say much. He agreed with Guo Tu's analysis. Once it fell into Gaoyang County or was captured by Zhang Liao, the Jin Kingdom would be destroyed. However, he left Gaoyang County and withdrew from the Hejian Kingdom. When he returned to Yecheng, he could continue fighting with the help of troops from the rear.
As long as a person is alive, he has the opportunity to fight back.
Yuan Shao didn't say much. After the army rested, he continued on his way with all the cavalry.
