Let's say that Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi retreated in defeat after defeat, so they had to lead their troops to Liaoxi to go to Wuhuan in the starry night. The Wuhuan people received Yuan's kindness and repeatedly made enemies with Cao Cao, who mobilized a large army to camp in western Liaoxi, intending to conquer Wuhuan in the north.

In the Assassin's Mansion, Gao Gan sat on the main seat, looked at the staff under the hall and said: "Cao Cao's army was transferred to Liaoxi, and the rear is empty. I want to raise troops to retake Yecheng, what do you think? ”

The generals discussed a lot and disagreed, so Gao Gan looked at the scribe wearing a scarf under the hall: "Mr. Zhong, do you have a high opinion?" ”

That man is a famous scholar Zhong Changtong, who has always been a strategist who has been very relied on by senior cadres, Zhong Changtong said: "The general has ambition but no talent, and a good man cannot choose people." May the general be good to himself. ”

Gao Ganxiang had a high opinion of himself and did not adopt Zhong Changtong's opinion. Gao Gan has been waiting for the opportunity, at this time he rebelled in the state, captured the party Taishou Zhang Gu, raised troops to refuse to accept the Hu Pass, and plotted to send troops to attack Yecheng.

Gao Gan contacted the old ministers loyal to the Yuan clan in Yecheng, and prepared to recapture Jizhou with the outside world. But Xun Yan found out that Xun Yan arrested and beheaded all Gao Gan's internal lines, and Gao Gan had to retreat to the state.

Cao Cao sent Le Jin and Li Dian to lead the army to conquer, and Gao Gan returned to Huguan to hold on. Under the tenacious stubbornness of the senior cadres, Lejin has not been attacked for a long time. Cao Cao had no choice but to personally conquer the Huguan and pass the sheep intestines. Gao Gan heard that Cao Cao personally led the army to attack Huguan, plus the original Lejin and Li Dianjun, and expected that the troops could not compete with Cao's army, so he went out of Huguan City, and left Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng to defend the city, ran to the Southern Xiongnu, and asked the Xiongnu for help.

Hu Chuquan returned from the defeat in the Battle of Pingyang, nominally attached to Cao Cao, afraid of Cao Cao's strong strength, naturally refused to be involved with Gao Gan and other anti-Cao remnants, and refused Gao Gan's request.

Gao Gan saw that Hu Chuquan did not send troops to rescue him, and remembered his opponent Liu Bao, the king of Zuoxian. Gao Gan came to the tribe of Zuoxian Wang, dismounted and entered the tent to bow to the ground, and said to Liu Bao: "Cao Cao is in a hurry to attack and annex the state, and now he wants to attack the prince's ground, and he will be rescued by ten thousand beggars, and he will be restored with Li to protect the north." ”

Liu Bao still wanted to accumulate strength to defeat Hu Chuquan and take Shan Yu's position, how could he send troops to help Gao Gan, he didn't want to offend Cao Cao. Liu Bao scolded: "I have no enmity with Cao Cao, how can Cao Cao invade my land?" You want to make me resentful of Cao's family! ”

Liu Bao asked Gao Gan to drive out of the big tent, and Gao Gan had to retreat to Hedong County, Huze, just when Zhang Bai cavalry attacked Hedong Dongyuan, and Zhang Yan, Wei Gu, Fan Xian and other Hedong forces responded, Gao Gan could also give it a go.

Du Ji, the Taishou of Hedong, knew that the counties in Hedong would support him, so he led dozens of his cronies to flee from the county seat and found a strong city to refuse. Before that, Wei Qi had already asked Cao Cao for help, and Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to lead a large army to help. The officials and people of the counties in Hedong County also gathered to Du Ji to unite and respond. Within a few dozen days, Du Ji gathered more than 4,000 horses.

Wei Gu and Fan Xian led their troops to attack Duji with Gao Gan and Zhang Bai's cavalry, but they could not win. Gao Gan and others went to the counties to loot, but they didn't get anything.

Cao Cao appointed Zhang Ji as the councilor, served as Wei Qian's military officer, and recruited Ma Teng and other Guanzhong generals to attack Zhang Baiqi and others, and broke the rebels. Zhang Yan and Wei Gu were beheaded, and Du Yi pacified Hedong.

Gao Gan lost ground at this time, so he could only go south to Jingzhou to seek refuge with Liu Biao. Gao Gan led a team of guards south, but was stopped by a masked man with a small hammer in his hand, and all Gao Gan's guards were killed.

Gao Gan absconded alone and fled to Shangluo, where Wang Yan, the captain of Sili, learned Gao Gan's news from a man in black and led his troops to capture Gao Gan. Wang Yan beheaded Gao Gan and dedicated his head to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao ordered people to take the head of the high cadres to recruit the rebels of the state and pacify the state. The masked man came to a high mountain, and a man in black stood on the edge of the cliff with his back to him and said to him, "You did a good job. If Gao Gan is allowed to flee to Jingzhou, he will definitely be taken in by Han Xuan and Liu Du. I will show your merits to the Celestial. ”

After Cao Cao pacified and annexed the state, he took Sima Liang Xi of the other department as the assassin of the state. At this time, after the war, the state was in dilapidation, and the Xiongnu and other minorities migrated to the state in large numbers, and the state organized households to avoid paying taxes, often fled to their tribes, and the leaders of a few tribes were arbitrary and domineering, and the army was self-respecting, and the situation was extremely chaotic.

Liang Xi took office and set out to solve the problem of ethnic minorities. He first summoned the heroes of his clan to the right, recommended them to serve as staff, and then sent Ding Zhuang to think that he was a "righteous servant", and took the opportunity of the army to recruit him to fill the army. Then his family members moved to Yecheng, the political center of Cao Cao, and sent tens of thousands of people before and after, and those who did not obey their orders were sent to recruit troops, beheaded more than 1,000 people before and after, and recruited more than 10,000 people.

After Liang Xi's painstaking management, the minority problems in the state were solved, and everyone surrendered to them, and their tribesmen engaged in production, which was like a national household. At the same time, Liang Xi persuaded the farmers to select talents, so the situation in the state was greatly improved, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, the territory was peaceful, orderly, and the state was under great governance.

In order to conquer the three counties of Wuhuan, Cao Cao listened to Guo Jia's plan to dig the two canals of Pinglu and Quanzhou to transport them by water. After the opening of the second canal, the materials south of the Yellow River could pass through Baigou, and then enter the sea with the second canal, and then go directly to Liaodong by sea, making material preparations for Cao Cao's northern expedition to Wuhuan.

The state has been decided, and Cao Cao discussed attacking Wuhuan in the west. Cao Hong and other generals persuaded: "Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang are defeated and will die, and they are exhausted and throw themselves far away." I will lead troops to pursue today, if Liu Bei and Liu Biao join forces with Liu Du and Han Xuan to attack Xudu, I will not be able to save it, and it will be a disaster. Please go back to the teacher and don't go in. ”

Guo Jia retorted: "What the princes said is wrong. Although the lord is powerful in the world, people outside the territory will not be equipped because of his remoteness; Take advantage of its unpreparedness, hit it suddenly, and it will be broken. And Yuan Shao and Wuhuan are gracious, and the Shang and Xi brothers still exist, and they must be removed. Liu Biao sat and talked about the guest ear, knowing that his talent was not enough to resist Liu Bei, and he was afraid that he would not be able to control it; If you leave it lightly, you will not be able to use it. Liu Du and Han Xuan have always had suspicions, and they have been looking at Jingzhou for a long time, so they are all right. Although the country is on an expedition, the lord is worry-free. ”

Cao Cao nodded and said, "The words of filial piety are extremely true. ”

And Han Xuan and Liu Du, who were far away in the south of the Yangtze River, both received the news that Cao Cao was going to go north to conquer Wuhuan. Both of them vetoed the proposal of their subordinates to jointly send troops to the north, and in the Danyang military camp, Han Xuan said to Chen Wu: "Cao Cao's conquest of Wuhuan is to fight foreigners. This battle will raise the prestige of our Han Dynasty, and we can't take advantage of the danger of others to attack Xudu. Otherwise, we are all sinners of the nation! ”

Chen Wu nodded, and went to the school with Gao Shun and the others to train the newly recruited sergeants.

Cao Cao learned that Han Xuan and Liu Du had no intention of going north, and Liu Biao was seriously ill, so he was relieved to lead the army to march into the territory of Wuhuan. I saw strong winds, rough roads, and difficult people and horses.

Cao Cao had the heart to return to the army, so he wanted to consult Guo Jia's opinion. Guo Jia was not accustomed to water and soil at this time, and was sick in the car with the army. Cao Cao held Guo Jia's hand and cried and said: "Because I want to calm Wuhuan, so that Fengxiao will be far away from hardships, and even get sick, how can I be safe!" ”

Guo Jia said excitedly: "I feel the great grace of the prime minister, although I can't repay it if I die." ”

Cao Cao said: "I see that the north is rugged, and I want to return to the army, what if? ”

Guo Jia persuaded and said: "The soldiers are fast. Now thousands of miles to attack people, there are many burdens and it is difficult to make profits, it is better to light troops and cover up their unpreparedness. But he who knows the path must be the guide ear. ”

Cao Cao left Guo Jia to recuperate in Yi County, so that Hua Tuo could be healed. Ask the guide to guide the way. Cao Cao's subordinates recommended Yuan Shao's old general Tian Chou to know this situation well, and Cao Cao summoned Tian Chou to the army. Cao Cao appointed Tian Chou as the commander of the city, and stationed in Wuzhong County with the army.

At this time, it was just in time for summer, the heavy rain did not stop, the coastal area was muddy and difficult to walk, and the Wuhuan people were still sending troops to guard the main road, and the Cao army was blocked and could not advance.

Cao Cao was very worried, and asked Tian Chou: "In the rainstorm season, the roads are muddy, and it is difficult for my army to travel. What is Zitai's countermeasure? ”

Tian Chou said: "This road is often waterlogged in summer and autumn, shallow can not be opened to cars and horses, deep can not carry boats, not a moment to decide. In the past, the right Beiping county government was located in Pinggang, and it passed through Lulongsai and arrived at Liucheng. Since Emperor Guangwu established the martial arts, the road has fallen into decay and no one has walked for nearly two hundred years, but there are still traces of the road to follow. Now the Wuhuan people thought that Wuzhong County was the only way for our army, and the army could not advance, so they had to retreat, so they relaxed their vigilance. If our army returns to the army, but crosses the white sandalwood danger from the mouth of Lulongsai, and travels to the place where it is not defended, the road is close and convenient, and it is unprepared to attack it, but it can be captured in a battle. ”

(End of chapter)