Yuan Jun camp. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

When the potters and his soldiers were laughing wildly for victory, Yuan Shao, who had lost a front tooth, and his defeated soldiers, fled back to the camp in embarrassment.

Yuan Shao, who lost a tooth, was full of blood spurting from his mouth, and he couldn't even sit on his horse, so he was carried back to the camp directly.

Those soldiers and soldiers of Yuan who stayed in the camp were already panicked when they saw the destruction of the mountains in front of them, and they were all shocked and stunned when they saw their own lord fleeing back with such injuries and embarrassment.

The morale of Yuan's army suffered another setback.

Yuan Shao endured the pain and was carried back to the big tent, and several people who accompanied the military doctor rushed to treat him.

It wasn't until nightfall that the injury on Yuan Shao's mouth eased somewhat, and the bleeding finally stopped, but unfortunately the front tooth could not be saved.

Yuan Shao, who had woken up from the pain, rekindled his shame and anger, and he didn't care about the wound in his mouth, so he hurriedly ordered the strategists to come to discuss the matter.

A moment later, Xu You, Tian Feng and other strategists rushed over

Xu You had already hid in the crowd, and he didn't dare to take a breath, he lowered his head, and didn't dare to look at Yuan Shao, for fear of being scolded by Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao is belly is on fire, and for a moment, he really wanted to scold Xu Yu for a bloody scolding.

With his status as the number one prince in the world, even the kid Yu Pottery Merchant is just that, today he was knocked out of a front tooth by someone, and this kind of humiliation is really enough.

And what caused all this was Xu You's bullshit strategy, which made him lose thousands of crossbowmen in vain, and it was unforgivable that he was so humiliated.

Several times, Yuan Shao's scolding was about to be spoken, but in the end, he still held back.

The pain on his mouth seemed to make him sober up a little, and he clearly realized the strength of the potter, and also realized that when the army's heart was frustrated, it was not the time to cure Xu Yu's crimes, which would only hurt the morale of the army.

"This pottery thief, there is such a sharp weapon in the army, he is really capable, this battle was lost again, what other tricks do you have to break the enemy?" Yuan Shao asked in a deep voice, and his mouth touched the wound, so painful that he secretly frowned.

The crowd was silent.

In silence, Tian Feng sighed: "The wisdom of the pottery thief is very accessible, I am afraid that any conspiracy and trickery will be useless to him, perhaps, we were wrong at the beginning, we should not compete with him for wisdom, but when we use our military advantage, step by step, with a dignified and upright army to break him head-on." ”

Wisdom is like Tian Feng, and at this moment, he has to admit that his wisdom is not as good as that of the potter.

Yuan Shao's eyes moved, and a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, as if he was unwilling to admit that in terms of wisdom and tactics, he was no longer the opponent of the potter.

After a moment's silence, he sighed secretly.

That sigh means that he doesn't want to admit it, but he has to admit it.

Immediately, Yuan Shao's face was unprecedentedly cold, as if he had realized something in an instant.

Glancing at everyone, he took a deep breath and said coldly: "Since this is the case, then from today on, I will no longer compete with him for wisdom, and compete with him for whose strength is stronger, doesn't he want to confront me in Guandu, I will consume it with him, I want to see how long it will take me to spend with his broken Central Plains states." ”

In Yuan Shao's tone, the slightest murderous intent was permeated, and the momentum that was famous all over the world burned again.

At this moment, he finally remembered what was his greatest advantage.

Yuan Shao proved that he was not a straw bag, and he did what he said.

The protracted war begins.

Since the failure of the Tushan plan, Yuan Shao has not used any superfluous strategies, and the 100,000-strong army has only advanced to Guandu, forming a confrontation with the pottery merchants.

This confrontation lasted for half a year.

In the early spring of the following year, the potters finally began to lose their support.

If Yuan Shao's army did not retreat, the potters had to order Xiao He to continuously send grain and grass from various states to the front line for 40,000 mouths to eat and drink every day.

Although the potters have the attribute of "taxation", they can levy more food on the people without worrying about the people resisting, but the Central Plains states are broken, even if they are exhausted and fishing, there is a time when the fish is exhausted.

The two armies have been facing each other for nearly seven months, and the consumption of military food is too huge, so with Xiao He's ability, it has also reached the point where there is no way to levy it.

Yuan Shao is different, his Hebei Prefectures use rich land, and the supply capacity of grain and grass in Jizhou alone exceeds the supply capacity of the potters' states combined, so although he has many soldiers and horses, the supply of grain and grass is far easier than that of the potters.

What's even worse is that the time enters the spring ploughing, which is the critical moment when labor is needed to go to the field, and the stalemate of the war forced the potters to forcibly conscript nearly 60,000 people into military service to transport grain and grass and other logistical supplies.

Such a large number of laborers are not able to go to the fields and provide them with food and drink, which will not only increase the burden of grain and grass, but will also seriously affect the spring ploughing.

Once the spring ploughing is affected, the grain and grass harvest this autumn will inevitably decrease sharply, and at that time, what will the potters take to consume it with Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao was different, his four Hebei prefectures had a much larger population than the Central Plains, and although he also transferred a lot of labor, the autumn harvest was bound to be affected, but the losses were obviously less than those of the potters.

Moreover, Yuan Shao's family has a big business, even if it is the same loss, he can afford it, but the potter can't bear it.

The confrontation continued, and the potter's supply of grain and grass soon fell into shortage, and he had to reduce the ration supply of the soldiers, which was reduced by about 20%.

As soon as the rations are reduced, the morale of the soldiers is bound to be hit.

This is still the beginning, if it continues to be consumed, the rations will continue to be reduced, and the morale of the army will gradually decline, and if it is allowed to develop, the consequences will be unimaginable.

On that day, the pottery merchant came back from the grain camp, and before he entered the camp, a horse of his own soldiers rushed over and shouted: "Great Sima, General Zhang Xiu is afraid that he will not be able to do it." ”

"What!" The potter was taken aback, and hurried straight to Zhang Xiu's tent.

When he arrived outside the tent, Bian Que had just come out, with a look of pity and helplessness.

"What about Zhang Xiu's illness, is it really incurable?" The potter asked, turning over and dismounting.

Bian Que shook his head helplessly, "Que has done everything he can, but it's a pity that the halberd suffered by General Zhang injured the root of his internal organs, and it is already a miracle that he can live for six more months." ”

The potter was silent, sighed, and stepped into the tent.

There was a woman's choking sound in the tent, and when she turned the screen, she saw Zhang Xiuzheng lying on the hospital bed dying, and her aunt Zou Yu was sitting next to her, holding her nephew's hand and sobbing.

Zhang Xiu was seriously injured by the man in the iron mask, and he was originally incurable, but he barely survived to this day by relying on Bian Que's extraordinary medical skills.

A few days ago, Bian Que said that Zhang Xiu's deadline was approaching, and there was no cure, so the potter had no choice but to send someone to Xudu, and Pegasus took Zou to come, hoping that their aunt and nephew could see each other for the last time.

"Da Sima ......" Zou saw that the potter was coming, and quickly wiped away his tears, wanting to get up to salute.

"Madame, don't be polite, sit down." The potter hurriedly stepped forward and said gently.

Zou sat down again, glanced at Zhang Xiu, who was dying, and choked up and sighed: "Xiu'er, he's only afraid...... I'm afraid it's ......"

Sad, Zou couldn't speak, and couldn't help but tears falling again.

Tao Shang stood in front of the couch, looked at himself with regretful eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Zhong Yao, do you still have any wishes, just say it." ”

The weak Zhang Xiu, as if returning to the light, slowly opened her eyes, her shriveled and pale lips squirmed slightly, and she said weakly: "Embroidery has two wishes, one is ...... I hope that Da Sima will be ...... for me Kill the Man in the Iron Mask for me and avenge ...... Settle an old score...... The second is ......"

Zhang Xiu's gaze turned to his aunt, "I hope Da Sima can take care of my aunt for me...... If Da Sima can agree...... Embroidered ...... There are no regrets in dying......"

Zhang Xiu was seriously injured by the man in the iron mask, and it is only now that he looks like this, and it is only natural that he wants to take revenge.

Although Zou is young, she is Zhang Xiu's only aunt, and she is entrusted with the kindness of the pottery merchant, which can be regarded as a heavy love and filial piety.

"Don't worry, one day, I will take the head of the man in the iron mask and worship your spirit in the sky, and I will also provide for my aunt and wife like my own relatives, you can go with peace of mind." The potter made a solemn promise.

After getting the promise of the potter, Zhang Xiu's last wish had been fulfilled, and he swallowed the strong breath, and a relieved smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he stopped breathing.

"Xiu'er...... Xiu'er......" Seeing that his nephew had died, Zou threw himself on the body and lost his voice and became painful.

Jing Ke and other soldiers on the left and right were all silent, looking at the deceased Zhang Xiu, their eyes burning with the flames of revenge.

"Mrs. Zou, people can't be resurrected after death, you mourn, Zhong Yao's last wish, my potter swears here, I will definitely fulfill it for him." The potter comforted her softly.

Seeing her so sad, he couldn't help but feel compassion, and reached out to gently support her shoulders, wanting to lift her up from Zhang Xiu's body.

"Da Sima ......"

Zou was sad, just wanted to find a shoulder to lean on, and plunged into the arms of the potter, pillowed his solid chest, and cried sadly.

The potter was stunned, hesitated for a moment, but put his hands on her back, and gently stroked to comfort the weak and sad woman.

"Let's go, let's get out." After a moment of comfort, the potter put his arm around Zou, walked out of the tent, and glanced at Jing Ke again.

Jing Ke covered the embroidered corpse with a white cloth, and arranged for the soldiers to prepare for the funeral.

Out of the outer account, the potter caressed her shoulders and said with relief: "I will bury Zhongyao with the gift of the princes, I will definitely avenge him, Mrs. Zou, you don't have to worry about the life of the second half of your life, as long as I am a potter, you will be prosperous and wealthy, and you will have no worries about food and clothing." ”

The turbulent and sad emotions of the Zou family gradually calmed down, remembering his actions when he just threw himself into the arms of the pottery merchant, he couldn't help blushing, and said in a low voice: "The concubine is too rude, and I ask Da Sima to forgive me." ”

"Caused by love, what is the crime, Mrs. is serious." The pottery merchant smiled frankly, and said: "Madame, let's help Zhongyao's remains to return to Xu Du first, and when I don't defeat Yuan Lao Thief in the future, I will return to Xu Du to personally preside over the funeral for him." ”

After a few words of comfort, the potter left.

Zou Shi bowed, watched the potter leave, looked at the young and majestic back, disappeared from vision, remembered Fang Cai's gaffe, and couldn't help but blush quietly.

Outside the tent, the potter's front foot was out of the tent, and he met Chen Ping and asked, "Da Sima, what happened to General Zhang?" ”

The potter shook his head and sighed.

Chen Ping was stunned, then knew that Zhang Xiu had passed away, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, but said: "Zhang Xiu's illness and death is another blow to the morale of the army, and the supply of grain and grass has become more and more difficult, and the morale of the soldiers is becoming more and more low. ”

"I know." The pottery merchant had murderous intent in his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "The herald generals have assembled in the big tent, and it is time to compete with Yuan Laogou." ”