novel-bin Chapter 320 8 Princes
Chapter 320 8 Princes
Chapter 320: Eighteen Princes
While Cao Cao was arranging his troops, other places were also busy.
Huang Zhong of Yanzhou launched a tentative attack on Liang State. He encountered little resistance and easily occupied seven counties, but had to stop the attack.
Feng County.
Huang Zhong stood on the city wall, looking in the direction of Pei State, then lowered his head to look at the map in his hand. A hint of doubt appeared on his solemn and indifferent face.
Standing next to him was Kuai Liang, the military advisor sent by the imperial court.
Seeing Huang Zhong's cautious expression, Kuai Liang said, "What the Zhonglang General did is right. Dong Zhuo has always been treacherous. We must be on guard against General Cao's previous mistakes."
Huang Zhong put away the map and said in a deep voice, "I am actually worried about Runan. Cao Cao's advance is too radical. The south is full of mixed people. It is easy for something to go wrong."
Kuai Liang entered Luoyang from Jingzhou and understood the complexity of Jiangdong. He said thoughtfully, "General Cao has been through many battles and is not a reckless person. He will not suffer the same loss twice. I am worried about Xuzhou. Envoy Liu has been pushing it back and forth. Xuzhou has already fallen into the hands of Lu Bu. Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo have an unpredictable relationship. Once these two tigers and wolves join forces, their strength will increase greatly. Their territory will instantly span two states, and they will have enough space to maneuver. If the court wants to wipe them out, it will take a long time to do so."
Huang Zhong turned to Kuai Liang and asked, "What do you think, military advisor?"
Kuai Liang recalled what Huangfu Jianshou had told him before he left Beijing, and said, "The current mission of the General of the Central Army is to contain Dong Zhuo, not to actively participate in the war. The current situation is unclear and someone needs to break it. Yuan Shao has defeated Gongsun Zan, so I guess the next step is to go north. The General of the Central Army might as well be patient and wait for changes, and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out."
Huang Zhong received not only imperial edicts, but also public and private letters from officials of all ranks, including the Secretariat, the Grand Marshal's Office, the Military Department, and the Governor of Yanzhou. They said all kinds of things and put him under tremendous pressure.
After a moment of silence, Huang Zhong said, "Military Advisor, please take good care of the people in the Imperial City."
"Don't worry, General Zhonglang." Kuai Liang said. He had learned a lot of military information from the military marquis, and also understood that the Imperial City Government had sent various people to the shogunate of the generals who were going to attack Dong Zhuo.
At the same time, the counties bordering Qingzhou and Xuzhou.
Liu Bei's official career was quite unsuccessful. Although he was promoted every time he made achievements, he either could not accept the corrupt official environment and resigned, or he suffered setbacks and fled everywhere.
At this moment, sitting in the back hall, I couldn't help but sigh softly.
At this time, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei walked in. Zhang Fei saw this and said loudly, "Brother, a man should have no problem finding a wife. Why do you have to complain about yourself?"
Over the past few years, Liu Bei had two wives, both of whom died for various reasons. He had no interest in his new wife, Mi.
Mi Zhu came in later and said, "Sir, Lu Bu's retreat is a good opportunity to advance. How can we miss it?"
Liu Bei forced himself to cheer up and said with a smile: "My two brothers, please forgive me, Brother Mi, I am just worried about the precarious situation of the Han Dynasty, but my ability is limited, so I can only sigh..."
Guan Yu opened his eyes and said, "Brother, there is nothing to be afraid of Lu Bu. If he had not been attacked, I would have been able to fight him head-on!"
Guan Yu and Lu Bu fought several battles, and on the surface there was no clear winner. However, people far away on the high platform could see that if the fight continued, Guan Yu would undoubtedly lose!
Hearing their consolation, Lu Bu stood up, raised his hand and said solemnly: "That's right! The more dangerous the situation, the more a man should not lose his ambition!"
Seeing him like this, Mi Zhu nodded secretly, knowing that he had not misjudged him!
After a pause, Mi Zhu said, "Sir, Yuan Shao killed Gongsun Zan and sent a letter to attack Dong Zhuo. How should we respond?"
Liu Bei was very angry that Yuan Shao had killed Gongsun Zan without authorization, not to mention that Gongsun Zan had a close relationship with him.
He said without revealing any expression, "Destroying Dong is a national priority and cannot be changed. I have already written back to him and sent troops to support him. We are just waiting for the general plan to be decided, so that we can jointly send troops and destroy Dong in one fell swoop!"
Zhang Fei was very excited and had already clenched his spear.
Guan Yu's expression remained calm and he said nothing.
Mi Zhu pondered and said, "Sir, we are trapped in the counties. How should we respond?"
Liu Bei looked up at Xuzhou, his voice firm, his eyes sharp as swords, and said: "I am the governor of Xuzhou, how can I sit back and watch the rebels occupy it? I intend to send troops soon to fight Lu Bu! Even if we can't break through, we can contain Lu Bu and prevent him from joining forces with Dong Zhuo!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei did not respond. They just followed their eldest brother's decision.
Mi Zhu hesitated and said, "Sir, if we lose again, I'm afraid it will greatly reduce the morale of the troops and will be very detrimental to your future."
Mi Zhu was a businessman. He gave his sister to Liu Bei, and also sent him money and food, because he valued Liu Bei's "career"!
If Liu Bei fails to accomplish his goal, wouldn't he suffer a great loss?
Liu Bei hesitated suddenly.
The severe loss of military morale and the disappointment of the court and the palace were extremely serious consequences for Liu Bei!
"Your Majesty!"
At this time, a clerk ran in and said, "General Yang Wei, Cao Cao sent someone to deliver a letter."
Liu Bei hurriedly stepped forward to take it, opened it and looked at it. After just a moment, he became more hesitant and thought about it.
Zhang Fei was in a hot temper and stepped forward and shouted, "Brother, what did Cao Cao say that made you so worried?"
Liu Bei did not have much contact with him. They met a few times when they were under Huangfu Song's command during the expedition against the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Overall, they did not get along well.
Liu Bei looked up, handed the letter to Mi Zhu, and said, "General Cao asked me to go to Yingchuan to join him and fight Dong together."
Guan Yu stroked his beard and said thoughtfully: "That's not a bad idea."
They were driven out of Xuzhou by Lu Bu. Although they had the assistance of Sima Fang, the governor of Qingzhou, they could not just sit there and do nothing.
Mi Zhu read the letter carefully and said, "Sir, I think it's OK."
In Mi Zhu's view, Xuzhou was no longer within his reach, so he had to find another way. When Liu Bei and Cao Cao joined forces, their total force would be close to 50,000, which would be enough to confront Dong Zhuo head-on.
After Dong is defeated, Lu Bu can be easily dealt with. By then, Xuzhou will still belong to Liu Bei. Relying on the relationship with Liu Bian, the Mi family will transform from a merchant family to a "aristocratic family"!
And it is not an ordinary family. You must know that Liu Bei is a relative of the Han royal family. In troubled times, his future is limitless!
Liu Bei thought about it again and again, sighed in his heart, and said, "Okay. After I visit Sima Shijun, I will set off for Yingchuan."
No one spoke because there was nothing to discuss.
Seeing that they were silent, Liu Bei sighed again in his heart.
"It would be nice if I had Dacai by my side."
Liu Bei looked out the door with a look of melancholy in his eyes.
He also tried to recruit talented people, but it was never long-lasting and they all left him one by one.
In Xuzhou, south of the counties, Lu Bu did not completely control all the places. Some county magistrates and famous families responded to Yuan Shao's call to action, and brought more or less soldiers and horses, crossing mountains and rivers to Jiujiang County, to form an alliance with Yuan Shao and jointly attack Dong Zhuo.
In the south, there are even more people who want to take the opportunity to gain fame. The number of people who bring dozens or hundreds of people and carry various banners is increasing. They gather in groups and shout everywhere, fearing that others will not know.
In just over ten days, the army had gained a certain reputation, and more than ten groups of troops with more than a thousand soldiers rushed to Jiujiang County from all directions.
With a few days left before the end of August when Yuan Shao issued his manifesto, Yuan Shao personally led his army and wanted to enter Runan, but was blocked outside Zhongli County by Xiahou Dun and Le Jin sent by Cao Cao.
At first, the vanguard Zhang He was confused and sent people to pass the message, asking for passage.
As a result, three waves of people were sent out, and none of them came back.
Zhang He understood the situation clearly, so he led his troops to Zhongli County to negotiate.
Le Jin had a bad temper and without saying a word, he opened the city gate, led his troops, waved his sword, and rushed forward shouting.
Zhang He has always been a man of good temper, but he was provoked by Le Jin and became as sharp as a sword. He held a spear and fought with Le Jin.
The two sides fought back and forth for hundreds of rounds with no clear winner, so they had to stop fighting.
Zhang He's eyebrows were like swords, his eyes were sharp, he pointed his spear at Le Jin, and shouted coldly: "I am the vanguard of the rear general, ordered to enter Runan to fight Dong, why are you stopping me here?"
Le Jin pulled his horse and faced Zhang He, saying loudly and unyieldingly: "I have not received any orders. If you want to pass, you must have a warrant from General Yang Wei!"
"presumptuous!"
Zhang He shouted angrily, "Cao Cao is under the command of the rear general. The rear general does not need Cao Cao's consent to march! Let him go immediately, otherwise you will be charged with treason!"
How could Le Jin be frightened? He swung his sword for a while and sneered, "If we are talking about rebellion, it's the Yuan family. Our General Cao's Cao family has been loyal for generations, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that!"
Zhang He was instantly furious, and he rode his horse to charge forward again, shouting, "You little bastard Le Jin, prepare to die!"
After hundreds of rounds without a clear winner, Le Jin was not afraid of this famous general who was in the limelight, and he roared and fought again.
The soldiers brought by both sides waved their weapons and shouted continuously, cheering for their commander.
After another hundred rounds, both sides were too tired to fight and could only retreat when they saw that they could not defeat each other.
Le Jin entered the city, laughed heartily, jumped off his horse, and said, "Great! Great!"
Xiahou Dun stood on the top of the city wall, looking at Zhang He going away with a hesitant look on his face.
Le Jin came up with a big laugh and said, "Yuan Rang, did you see that? Zhang He is just like this!"
Zhang He played a very crucial role in defeating Sun Jian and Gongsun Zan, as well as in a series of battles in which Yuan Shao launched an extermination of Yuan Shu. His reputation spread throughout the world, and he was clearly a sign of becoming a famous general.
Xiahou Dun raised his head slightly and said, "Yuan Shao's army has arrived."
Le Jin was startled and asked, "Are you coming so soon?"
Xiahou Dun said: "Ru'nan is the ancestral land of the Yuan family. Yuan Shao is so impatient, I think he has some intention."
Le Jin lost his smile and asked, "What should we do then? Should we stop Yuan Shao as well? What if Yuan Shao attacks us forcefully?"
The reason why Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun and Le Jin to stop Yuan Shao from entering Runan was because he was angered by Yuan Shao and it was a form of revenge.
But fundamentally, Cao Cao would not go to war with Yuan Shao, but would join forces with Yuan Shao to attack Dong Zhuo together.
Cao Cao would never do such a stupid thing as internal strife!
Xiahou Dun shook his head and said, "I don't know either. But the general and the military advisor have no other orders, so we can only defend to the death."
Le Jin hesitated and said, "We only have 10,000 people. Do we really have to fight?"
He is not afraid of a real fight with Yuan Shao, but this will ruin Cao Cao's plan!
"If Yuan Shao wants to fight, then we must fight! Keep fighting until the general gives the order!" Xiahou Dun said in a deep voice.
Le Jin said without hesitation: "Okay, let's fight!"
Xiahou Dun and Le Jin prepared for the worst and began to mobilize troops to defend the city.
The next morning, it was not Zhang He or a large group of soldiers who came, but Xu You who came alone on horseback, leisurely to the foot of the city.
He tilted his neck and shouted to Xiahou Dun on the city gate: "Yuan Rang, I am Xu Ziyuan, an old friend of your general Cao Aman, and I have come here today to deliver a letter."
Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao had been friends since childhood. When Cao Cao grew up, he became a knight-errant and took the Xiahou brothers with him. He became familiar with knights-errant such as Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and Xu You.
Xiahou Dun, who was standing on the city gate, saw that there was no movement in Yuan Shao's camp, so he ordered, "Brother Xu, please come up."
Xu You has been moving around a lot in recent years and has gained some reputation, although it is not so clean.
Xu You was dragged up to the city wall. He first straightened his clothes, then stroked his mustache, looked at Xiahou Dun, and said with a smile: "Yuan Rang, it's been many years since we last met. Now you are also the deputy driver, right? What a happy occasion!"
Xiahou Dun didn't care, and cautiously raised his hand to Xu You and said, "Brother Xu is now in Yuan Shao's camp. I wonder what you are doing here?"
Xu You was calm and said with a gentle smile: "It's a small matter. Our rear general was ordered to fight against Dong Zhuo, and General Cao Cao was under his command. From now on, the general specially ordered me to invite General Cao to the camp to discuss the matter of fighting against the enemy."
Le Jin's expression suddenly changed and he seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Yuan Shao is not a good person. He killed Gongsun Zan not long ago and sent his head to Cao Cao. Now he wants Cao Cao to meet him. Isn't this the Hongmen Banquet?
If Cao Cao goes there, can he come out alive?
Xu You thought he was calm and equal, but in fact, in Xiahou Dun's eyes, he was arrogant and looked down on everyone.
Xiahou Dun remained calm and said, "Okay, I'll tell General Cao."
Xu You didn't want to leave yet. He crossed his arms and said with a smile, "Yuan Rang, shouldn't you be in Xu County? Why are you suddenly in Zhongli, blocking the way of the rear general's army? What do you want to do?"
Le Jin looked at Xu You's behavior and immediately understood that he was trying to "ask for a bribe"!
Xiahou Dun seemed to be completely unaware of this and said, "I have been ordered to pursue Dong Zhuo. I have basically recovered Runan and am awaiting further orders."
Seeing that Xiahou Dun had no intention of giving him money, Xu You slowly withdrew his smile and said in a cold tone, "Yuan Rang, do you know how serious the consequences will be if the rear general gets angry? Cao A Man is feared by the government and the people. If a fight really breaks out, humph, even ten heads of Cao A Man will not be enough to chop off!"
Le Jin couldn't help it any longer, and immediately stepped forward and shouted angrily: "Our general is loyal and devoted, who dares to harm him?"
Xu You glanced at him, shook his sleeves, turned around and walked towards the basket not far away, and said: "Within three days, Cao A Man must arrive at the rear general's camp, otherwise he will bear the consequences."
Xiahou Dun frowned, and then gave the order as usual, ordering people to drop Xu You.
At this time, Xiahou Dun still refused to give the money. Xu You's eyes were gloomy and his heart was burning with anger. In an instant, he had already thought of how to frame Cao Cao in front of Yuan Shao.