"General Yu, Cai Ji has returned to Qinghe from Julu."

In Gaoyang City, the spies brought Yuan Xi the news he had been waiting for for a long time. Previously, Cai Ji's battle report of the army going north once made Yuan Xi and others anxious. It must be known that although Cai Ji did not say the goal of going north, anyone with a discerning eye could see that she was coming for Zhao County. But at the moment, Yuan Shang has just gained a foothold in Handan, and Yuan Xi is dragged by Tai Shici in Zhongshan County and cannot move. Once Cai Ji's soldiers surrounded Handan, Yuan Shang couldn't resist it at all.

Just when Yuan Xi was hesitating whether to give up Zhongshan and go to Zhao County to support Yuan Shang, the military advisor Han Heng offered him a complete strategy. That was to send a surprise army deep behind enemy lines, thus forcing Cai Ji to suspend the attack on Zhao County and buy Yuan Shang time to consolidate Handan. But not just that army can take on this task. The soldiers and horses responsible for going deep behind enemy lines must not only be good at fighting, but also ruthless enough to make Cai Ji feel distressed and come back. But in Yuan Xi's impression, there doesn't seem to be such a talent under his subordinates. And just as he was picking it up, Wuhuan's little prince Lou Ban came to take the initiative to ask Ying to express his willingness to share his worries and solve problems. So Yuan Xi had the idea of giving it a try, and sent Lou Ban and his Qu troops south to attack and harass the Qi army.

Unexpectedly, just over a month later, there was good news from the Lou Ban. At this moment, Yuan Xi, who was in a happy mood, turned around and smiled at Han Heng, the military division, "As Zipei said, the Qi army will retreat." ”

But Han Heng was not as optimistic as Yuan Xi, but he frowned and asked the spy, "The Qi army has also retreated?" ”

The spy hesitated for a moment and replied, "There are still 20,000 soldiers and horses guarding the city. ”

Yuan Xi immediately raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and scolded angrily, "Bastard! Why not say it sooner! ”

The spy was drunk like this by Yuan Xi. Immediately bowed his head and accused, "The general forgives the sin." ”

Han Heng waved his hand and motioned for the spies to retreat. Then stepped forward and bowed his hand to Yuan Xi and said, "The general is angry. The strategy of attack is not achieved overnight. It is half the story to be able to lead Cai Anzhen to Qinghe in person. ”

Yuan Xi glanced back at Han Heng and sighed to himself, "Xi also knows that there are few people in the Lou class, and it is difficult to threaten the Qi army. It's just that the Hu people are ferocious, and if they are allowed to attack the Qinghe Prefectures for a long time, they are afraid that they will lose the hearts of the people. ”

"The general doesn't need to be too mindful. In extraordinary times, do extraordinary things. At the beginning, Cao Cao slaughtered Xuzhou, and now the people of Xuzhou do not follow him as the master. Han Heng persuaded Yuan Xi.

Han Heng's statement represents the thinking of many rulers of this era. In their eyes, the people are resources that can be calculated, sacrificed, and gathered. As long as you can win the victory in the end, all the previous unrighteous deeds can be written off, and even blamed on your opponent. Furthermore. Compared with Cai Ji, whose soul came from later generations, the Eastern Han people did not particularly reject the nomads in the northwest and northeast. Because of the relationship between the Southern Xiongnu, Qiang, Wuhuan, and Xianbei in the Han Dynasty and the Central Plains court. It is not a vassal relationship between countries, but a local administrative region directly under the central court, known as "Nei Zhi Hu". However, in contrast to ordinary counties, counties with a majority of minority tribal populations are called subject states and have the privilege of maintaining "the customs of their own country". The official positions in the country were filled by the Han Chinese or the chieftains of the Hu and Qiang. For example, in the Han Dynasty, the subject state of Qiuci only existed as a county of Shangjun, which was said to be Qiuci Autonomous County in later generations. If later generations consider it to be an independent country because of the word "country" in its subject country, then wouldn't Beihai Kingdom, Qinghe Kingdom, Zhongshan Kingdom, and Changshan Kingdom all be independent countries?

Therefore, there is no legal problem in the transfer of foreign troops in the two Han Dynasty for the use of foreign troops. Just like the Han Emperor Liu Xie when he was hunted down and killed by Li Xun and others. He once issued an edict to recruit the Southern Huns to come to the rescue. But it is logically influenced by Huayi's discrimination. The mainstream public opinion is still quite contemptuous of the practice of driving foreign races to the Central Plains. In addition, these nomadic tribes were capricious, and although they were nominally subordinate to the Han court, they often rebelled. For those who rebelled and surrendered. The subordinate tribes who surrendered and rebelled, the attitude of the two Han Dynasty was to resolutely suppress them. Anyway, in the second century, there was no fear that people with good deeds would jump out and interfere in the internal affairs of the Han court. Therefore, both the court and the princes did not trust the internal aliens under their rule, for fear that a negligence would be stabbed in the back by the internal subordinate Hu.

Therefore, after listening to Han Heng's persuasion, Yuan Xi had to sigh helplessly, "That's it, I have to leave it like this for the time being." ”

Just as Yuan Xi lamented that Lou Ban had failed to achieve the strategic goal, another spy heard a report from another spy outside the door, "General, Hejian is urgent." ”

"Come in." Yuan Xi adjusted his feelings, opened his mouth and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

The spy stepped forward quickly, knelt down on one knee and said, "General Hui, Tai Shici will go south out of the city." ”

"What?" Yuan Xiwen's expression changed, but he pretended to be cautious and asked, "Wait for you to see clearly?" ”

"Absolutely." The spies cut the railway, "There are only 5,000 defenders left in Hejian City. ”

"Isn't it Cai Anzhen who transferred Tai Shi Ci south to quell the chaos?" After Yuan Xi stood up and walked back and forth in the study, he turned around and asked Han Heng again, "What does Zipei think about this?" ”

"It's a real possibility." Han Heng echoed Yuan Xi's judgment. Tai Shici's southward move undoubtedly provided a chance for Yuan Xibu, who was in a stalemate, to turn the tables. As long as he could take the opportunity to expel the Qi army from Hejian, Yuan Xi would be able to march into Julu County and Anping County, so as to cover Yuan Shang of Zhao County from the flank. But Han Heng, who is a military advisor, still didn't forget to remind Yuan Xi, "But Cai Anzhen has always been cunning, and there may be fraud in this matter." ”

The struggle for hegemony between the princes is always full of all kinds of intrigues and tricks. But if any of the princes are stopped by this, they will inevitably achieve nothing. So after weighing the pros and cons, Yuan Xi made a decision, "Then wait a little longer." If Tai Shi Ci really went south to quell the chaos, it would not be too late for us to send troops to Hejian again. ”

Although Han Heng felt that this was a little inappropriate, the capital in his hands was really limited, so he could only nod his head and agree, "Oh." ”

The wind blows from the north, cold as a knife, Tai Shi Ci rode his horse to stand on the north bank of Zhangshui, overlooking several Qi soldiers riding horses and wading across to the south bank, and tied the five ropes drawn from the north bank to the big tree on the south bank. After he was ready to prepare, Tai Shici raised his hand and waved, and the tiger ben who had been waiting behind him for a long time began to carefully cross the river in groups of twenty people holding on to the rope. As for the soldiers waiting on the shore, they were divided into two parts, one part was quietly waiting to cross the river, and the other part was in position to be on guard.

Although Liu Yixun has been fighting in Jizhou with Tai Shici for more than half a year as a military advisor. But seeing the front 5,000 Qi troops crossing the river in such an orderly manner. He still can't help but secretly sigh in his heart that Taishi Ci has a way to govern the army. At the same time, I sincerely look forward to their mission this time.

But he saw Liu Yixun comforting the war horse under his crotch on the one hand, and asked Tai Shi Cihuan with interest on the other. "Ziyi, do you say that Yuan Xi will attack Hejian in a plan?"

"We still need to go a hundred miles south." Tai Shi Ci looked at the soldiers who were crossing the river and replied in a deep voice.

As reported by the spies to Yuan Xi, Tai Shi Ci did lead five thousand elites to leave Hejian City and head south. But the defenders who remained between the rivers were not 5,000 men, but 3,000 men. In fact, if Yuan Xi led his troops to attack Hejian City at this time, the defenders in the city would not be able to resist for a long time and would open the city and surrender. Because Tai Shici did not rush to Qinghe to quell the chaos this time, but according to Cai Ji's instructions, he carried out the plan of "luring the snake out of the hole".

The strategy that Jia Xu provided to Cai Ji that day was not so much to besiege Wei to save Zhao, but to besiege the city and send reinforcements. In principle, Jia Xu's strategy was still to besiege the important stronghold of the Yuan army to lure the Wuhuan people back to help, so as to encircle and annihilate this gang of thieves. It's just that this time the stronghold is not Handan. It's between the rivers. To put it bluntly, it was to let Tai Shici deliberately withdraw from the river and lead Yuan Xi to take the initiative to attack. After Yuan Xi "took" Hejian City, Tai Shici killed him again, and together with the Qi army of Julu and Bohai counties, Yuan Xi was trapped and killed in Hejian City. Yuan Xi will ask the Wuhuan people for help in order to protect himself. At that time, the Qi army will not only be able to catch the whereabouts of that group of Wuhuan people. can also take Yuan Xi together to catch them all.

Of course, according to this plan, the closer the Taishi Cibu is to the river, the faster it can return to the division, so Liu Yixun heard that he had to go south for a hundred miles, and he couldn't help frowning and said, "Will it be too far away?" ”

"Ci is afraid that it is too close, and Yuan Xi does not dare to go out." Tai Shi Ci turned his head and said with a slight sarcasm.

Liu Yixun couldn't help but smile when he heard Tai Shici say this. Indeed, after several encounters, the Yuan army was intimidated by Tai Shici's prestige and had been hanging up the battle card for many days. If Tai Shi Ci hadn't left the river realm. Yuan Xi may really stay in Gaoyang all the time and refuse to fight. Thinking of this, Liu Yixun had to cough lightly and said with a wry smile. "In that case, we have no choice but to continue south."

"Yixun rest assured, there is a way for Zhongchun to copy Yuan Xi. Forgive that Yuan Ergongzi can't turn the sky upside down. Tai Shi Ci said, glanced at the soldiers and horses he had trained single-handedly, and said proudly, "What's more, even if he goes a hundred miles south, these sons and daughters under Ci can still kill him by surprise." It's not just Hu people who come and go like the wind. ”

In October of the fifth year of Jian'an, Cai Ji stayed in Qinghe, Tai Shici was ordered to go south, but Cao Cao took Maocheng and attacked the east to take Shexian County, and then went north to fight Wu'an County at the junction of Wei County and Zhao County. In just over a month, Cao Cao conquered three cities in a row, greatly intimidating Yuan Shangbu of Zhao County. For a while, everyone in Zhao County was in danger, and everyone before and after everyone was discussing when Cao Cao would go east to slaughter Zhao County, and no one cared about the various changes that happened in Qinghe.

Yuan Shangbu didn't have time to take care of the open and secret struggle between Yuan Xi and Cai Ji, which didn't mean that Cao Cao didn't pay attention to the situation on Cai Ji's side. In fact, while Cao Cao was raiding Wei County, he never relaxed the surveillance of the Qi army. Therefore, as soon as Cai Ji rushed to Qinghe, he immediately attracted Cao Cao's attention.

"Oh? There are Wuhuan people attacking and disturbing the Qinghe? Cao Cao stood at the head of Wu'an City with his hands in his hands, and asked Gao Fan about the news from the Qi army.

"Yes." Gao Fan hurriedly stepped forward to report to Cao Cao, "According to the spies, that group of Wuhuan people burned Jianjin Town. ”

"Cai Anzhen is stranded in Qinghe because of this?" Cao Cao raised his eyebrows slightly and raised his voice and asked.

Gao Fan heard a hint of doubt in Cao Cao's words. But the information sent back by the spies is like that, and it is also a fact that Cai Ji is stranded in Qinghe. So after hesitating for a moment, Gao Fan replied cautiously, "It seems so." Maybe Cai Anzhen was sympathetic to the people's feelings, so he temporarily stayed in Qinghe to preside over the suppression of bandits. ”

"Bandits? What is the use of Cai Anzhen staying in Qinghe without the strength of the chicken? Cao Cao snorted disappreciatively. Although Gao Fan is a famous man in Jizhou, he is far from Xun Yu when it comes to wisdom. However, Xun You is currently assisting Cao Ang in Wei County to attack Yecheng. As the saying goes, far water can't quench the thirst of the near, and Cao Cao only analyzed the situation in his mind. In Cao Cao's opinion, Cai Ji is not the kind of ignorant woman and child who does not know the importance of it, and it is impossible to give up Zhao Jun for the sake of a few thieves. And the only explanation for her current actions is that these thieves threaten the strategy of the Qi army. Thinking of the identity of the thief Wuhuan people, Cao Cao immediately grasped the key to the problem, "That group of Wuhuan people must have been sent by Yuan Xi." ”

"The lord is saying that Yuan Xi sent Wuhuan people to attack and disturb the back road of the Qi army?" Gao Fan was reminded by Cao Cao like this, and he also saw some doorways.

"If it weren't for that, how could Cai Anzhen personally rush to Qinghe to sit in town." Cao Cao twisted his beard and analyzed, "It must have been Yuan Xi who angered Cai Anzhen, so that this woman abandoned Zhao Jun and turned to pursue the Wuhuan people." ”

"The Lord shall not raise up his army in anger, nor shall he be discouraged and cause war. Cai Anzhen: This is a taboo for the master. Gao Fan dropped his book bag and said.

Cao Cao clasped his arms noncommittally and said leisurely, "Let's let Cai Anzhen and Yuan Xianyi fight, so that Gu can take the opportunity to return south to attack Yecheng." ”

"What about Zhao Jun?" Gao Fan asked.

Cao Cao's cold eyes swept Gao Fan, who was so frightened that the latter quickly shrank his head and was silent. However, Cao Cao, who was in a good mood at this time, also took the trouble to explain to Gao Fan, "Yuan Shang has become a frightened bird, and it is enough to leave Gongming here to attack Zhao County." ”

Since the last Guandu rescue, Cao Cao has been impressed by Xu Huang and transferred him to his side to entrust him with important tasks. And with the increasing contact, Cao Cao felt more and more that Xu Gongming was indeed a rare handsome talent. This is not only because Xu Huang is good at governing the army and has the style of Zhou Yafu, but also because he has a strategy that many generals lack, and more precisely, it should be a kind of political sensitivity. Just like Xu Huang learned that Cao Cao was trapped in Guandu, his first thought was to go to Cai Ji to borrow troops, rather than fighting Yuan Shao to the death. After attacking Maocheng, Xu Huang coincided with Cao Cao again, and they both thought of using a plan to break Maocheng. Therefore, Cao Cao often felt that it was more reliable to discuss strategy with Xu Huang than to talk nonsense with Gao Fan. In order to further test Xu Huang's ability, Cao Cao specially ordered him to attack Yi Yang this time, and intended to entrust Zhao County's strategy to him as commander.

As soon as Cao Cao's words fell, there was a commotion from the city, but he saw a group of cavalry galloping towards Wu'an City not far away, and the huge "Xu" flag fluttered in the wind. Seeing this situation, Cao Cao, who had just said that he wanted Xu Huang to attack Zhao County, suddenly brightened his eyes and laughed, "Look! Komeito returned to the city also. ”

Note: Regarding the subject state of the two Han Dynasty, Liu Ding thinks that it is necessary to explain again, the subject state is an administrative region set up by the two Han Dynasty to settle the Xiongnu, Qiang, Yi and other minority ethnic groups that belong to it, not an independent country. Please don't react to "foreigners" when you see the words Xiongnu, Qiang, and Yi, this is a very cheating misunderstanding, and the Yin family is also a big Han people, although they are not loyal. In other words, China has always been a multi-ethnic country, and the policy of ethnic autonomy is also in the same vein~~~ Of course, the lessons of Wuhu Chaohua are also profound~~~ Well, if you say more, it is the national problem & the racial problem. Although this is a popular topic all over the world, it has not been stopped, stopped~~~ (to be continued)