Xuzhou, Xiapi.

Since Baili Yan left, Lu Bu felt more and more that he was in a disadvantageous position.

First of all, the Night Striker was taken away, which undoubtedly reduced his own strength. Of course, on the other hand, it also reduces the burden of food.

Secondly, what is even more troublesome than this is that Liu Bei has used this time to recruit 5,000 recruits in Xiaopei, plus the old department before, it has also exceeded 10,000.

Moreover, there is also a force that is always hiding in the shadows that threatens itself - the Dragon Blade Battalion.

Moreover, the Northern Army reported that the battle between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zhan was gradually coming to an end.

What is the next step for the Hebei overlord, will it start using troops in the south?

If he wants to march south, he will not attack Cao Cao, who supports the Han Emperor, then he has only one goal - to sit on Xuzhou himself.

Although nothing happened, Lu Bu could also feel the kind of crisis that was surging on all sides.

But it was under such circumstances that the south side suddenly changed.

Xiahou Yuan's soldiers and horses had already withdrawn from Yuan Shu's territory, and Yang Feng and Qiao Rui were unable to encircle and annihilate him in the end.

Losing the soldiers and horses but failing to win is actually a return in vain.

Lu Bu and Chen Gong were very curious about how Xiahou Yuan escaped.

So, they questioned the soldier who delivered the letter in detail.

After asking, I learned that it was Cao Cao who sent Xu Huang, the old subordinate before Yang Feng, to the front of the battle, and when Yang Feng was talking to him, Xiahou Yuan retreated across Haiti without concealment.

Hearing this result, how could Lu Bu not be angry, isn't this Yang Feng just falling for the enemy's plan!

The most important thing is that the grain and grass provided to him by Lu Bu on this expedition are tantamount to being wasted.

In fact, Lu Bu didn't guess Yang Feng's true thoughts.

The surprise attack that Qiao Rui did not cooperate with at all caused Yang Feng to lose a lot of his own soldiers and horses.

The root cause of this result is Yang Feng's expectation of a quick solution.

He has also been in battle for a long time, and at a glance, he can know what level Lu Bu gave him soldiers.

Such soldiers are of no use other than to consume the enemy during a surprise attack.

So in the first battle, he basically invested in his own elite.

But I didn't expect that due to a selfish thought of Qiao Rui, the plan would not work.

In fact, even if Xu Huang didn't come, Yang Feng might not be able to stop Xiahou Yuan.

After all, he wasn't sure if that bastard from behind would take the opportunity to attack from behind.

But these details, he had no way to tell Lu Bu and Chen Gong.

Regardless of whether he has the opportunity to say it, his identity alone is destined for him to hide these things.

He betrayed Yuan Shu, and now his generals do not cooperate with him, resulting in his own defeat.

If this kind of thing is known by others, it will not be sympathetic, but will only attract ridicule.

And it was this situation that triggered Lu Bu's wrong judgment - Yang Feng had different intentions.

After all, this expedition is just to see Yang Feng's intentions, and his letting go of Xiahou Yuan is enough to explain a lot of things.

Under various factors, Lü Bu gave Yang a new military order - there was no need to return to the army to Xiapi, and he would directly take the route to the northwest, and attack Xiaopei after Pengcheng was replenished.

At the same time, Lu Bu also made two other decisions.

First, he ordered Chen Deng to be an envoy and went to Xudu to pay tribute to the Han Emperor.

Of course, this is only the surface, and the actual meaning of this trip is to stabilize Cao Cao.

Although Lü Bu did not expect Yang Feng to capture Xiaopei, he also did not want to see Cao's army participate in this battle.

And the reason why Chen Deng was made an envoy was mainly because Lu Bu was not sure what response Cao Cao would give.

If he is unwilling to come to a deal with him, there is a good chance that the unfortunate messenger will be killed, so there is no need to let his own people go.

It's just that Lu Bu didn't expect that this was exactly what Chen Deng was looking forward to.

And this time, Wu Zheng also accompanied him as an escort.

After enduring it for a long time, Chen Deng finally waited for the opportunity.

And Lu Bu's second decision was to send Song Xian to Pengcheng to spread the word.

The content is very simple: if Yang Fengruo goes to Pengcheng to replenish, the supply does not need to be given more, it can be used for three days; Also, pay close attention to Yang Feng's actions in case there is a change.

At the end of the second year of Jian'an, the restlessness in Xuzhou began again.

————————————————

Yangzhou, Jianye.

The cooler weather finally relieved the people who had endured the scorching heat of the whole summer.

But for Wu Ning, this time is the most difficult.

After having an abortion from Yuan Shu before, he hurriedly ran away, and the sequelae of the fall have never healed.

At this moment, she was frowning, curled up and moaning in pain.

"Master, why don't I send someone to send a message to ask the lord to come back." The girl who was waiting in front of the bed said with concern.

"No...... No," Wu Ning endured the pain and waved her hand, "Ce'er is entangled in everything, I ...... I'm fine, just bear with it. ”

Looking at the sweat on Wu Ning's forehead and pale face, the girl didn't believe that she was fine.

This girl's name is Ji Fang, and she is a close apprentice of Wu Ning.

"Fang'er, it's good to have you here." Wu Ning struggled to squeeze out a smile.

Ji Fang's eyes were red, and she hurriedly lowered her head.

"To have you by my side,...... That's enough. ”

"Master......"

"There's something I've always wanted to ask you."

"Master, please speak." Ji Fang secretly wiped the corners of her eyes and said with a forced smile.

"You have followed me for many years, and I have always looked down on you...... Such as a little sister. I wanted to ask you before, but I always ...... I find it difficult to speak, and now I am full of pain, and I am afraid that my time is short......"

"Master, don't think nonsense, master ......" Ji Fang's words were stopped by Wu Ning waving his hand.

"I'm not afraid of your jokes, although I take them with me, I always want a daughter in my heart."

Ji Fang didn't expect Wu Ning to say this, and was stunned for a while.

Wu Ning couldn't help but smile when she saw her like this, although her face was haggard, she was still very beautiful.

"It's hard for you to be with me like this."

The reason why she said this was because in fact, Ji Fang had only given birth for less than half a year.

"It's in vain."

"Fang'er, if you are ...... If I don't give up, how about I think she is a righteous daughter? Wu Ning had to take a break from time to time when he spoke.

"Of course the apprentice is willing, but the master is not afraid that she is from a humble background?"

Wu Ning smiled gently, and the answer was all in plain sight.

This may be the style of the Southeast Church, which doesn't care about worldly thoughts.

If it were other main halls, how could there be such a thing as a master recognizing his apprentice's daughter as a righteous daughter?

"What's the girl's name?"

"Lingze."

Wu Ning would only ask these questions, because she knew very well the origin of this child - her father was dead.

"From today on, she will be half of the Sun family. How about I give her a word? ”

"This ...... Is it all right? Ji Fang hesitated because few women took words.

"What's wrong. Then take your fragrant word as the meaning, enjoy yourself with fragrant fragrance, and only have its fragrance, so call it Sun Shangxiang. ”