The night is like water, quietly shining in front of the spotless hall, the plum branches in the corner of the courtyard are slanted, and the faint fragrance is wafting with the wind.

At the end of the discussion, Cao Ang left Chen Gong alone and told him in detail about his experience in Pingyu these days. He was in Pingyu for three days and two nights, except for arrival and departure, the real time in Pingyu was only one and a half days, but he saw many people, saw a lot of things, and had a lot of ideas on this day. On the way back, he was thinking about how to tell Chen Gong about his feelings.

Chen Gong had been listening, except for occasionally asking for some details, he barely spoke, not only because he didn't want to interrupt Cao Ang's train of thought, but also because the amount of information was too large and he didn't have time to react for a while. After Cao Ang finished speaking, he pondered for a while before opening his mouth faintly.

"Envoy ...... Do you think General Sun's law can be followed? ”

Cao Ang thought for a while, and showed a bitter smile. "Even if I could, I can't follow suit now. The civilians of Yanzhou died and fled, and most of the people who can still stick to their homeland now are families and heroes, if I take their property, wouldn't it be self-defeating, even if I can take it, who can I give it to? Moreover, in the battle of the four wars in Yanzhou, tigers and wolves are around, and Tuntian Youcheng will also be taken by others. ”

Chen Gong exhaled quietly and looked at Cao Ang for a moment. "I made you go to Pingyu, and your bearing became more and more calm, which is gratifying. General Sun's government may be good, otherwise Lingzun will not be implemented in Yizhou, but the way of governance varies from time to time, and it can be moved anywhere, as the envoy said, Yizhou is feasible, it does not mean that Yanzhou is feasible. In fact, strictly speaking, Yuzhou is not feasible, otherwise, General Sun would not have planned to form an alliance with the envoy. ”

"That's not what Sun rebelled in, he didn't ......"

Chen Gong raised his hand and signaled Cao Ang not to worry. "It's not that he doesn't want to, but he was rejected by the envoy, so he pretended to be generous and didn't fall into the notoriety of being difficult for a strong man. But if Yanyu is one, how can it be separated by a stream of water? Suishui can't stop Yuan Benchu, only the big river has a chance. Chen Gong hugged his legs and looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and after a while, he chuckled and said, "Envoy, in fact, you can be cheeky and ask him for more assistance." If Yanzhou can't be defended, it will be difficult for Yuzhou to hold, he can only retreat to the south of Huaishui, and Yuzhou Tuntian will become Yuan Benchu's spoils. ”

Cao Ang was a little embarrassed. "Yes, I thought so at the time, but seeing that Yuzhou was so difficult, and he agreed to accept the people of Yanzhou, I really couldn't open this mouth." He held Chen Gong's hand. "Brother Gongtai, don't talk about those things now, a gentleman should be self-reliant, General Sun can find a new way to improve himself, can't we find a way to be self-reliant?"

Chen Gong's eyes flickered, and he sighed lightly. "How difficult it is for Yanzhou to stand on its own."

"Yes, General Sun said the same thing. However, I believe that with the wisdom of Brother Gongtai, there must be a way. ”

"General Sun?" Chen Gong turned his head to look at Cao Ang. "What did he say?"

Cao Ang looked at him left and right, flickering. "Actually, it's nothing, it's just that Yanzhou is not as good as Yuzhou, although the public platform is wise, but it is difficult to speak alone, unlike the talent under his command......"

"He has a lot of talents under his command, so don't I have talents in Yanzhou?" Chen Gong disdainfully ignored it, and a raging fire ignited in his chest, which made him excited, and even his face was a little hot. Cao Ang is not a person who is good at lying, he does not tell the truth. Sun Ce must have arranged his fault, and Cao Ang was embarrassed to relay it to his face to cover it up for him. In fact, this sentence has already revealed a little meaning, which is nothing more than saying that he can't tolerate people.

That's right, Xin Bi is under Sun Ce, and Sun Ce must know everything about the fight between them. Can't do without Yingchuan people? Joke! My Yanzhou talent is no worse than Ruying's talent, I want to make a pair of achievements, let Sun Ce take a look, let Xin Bi and Guo Jia take a look.

"Envoy, in the past two days, I have visited more than a dozen houses and written dozens of letters, and I have gained a lot. Knowing that the envoy was benevolent and righteous, and did not hesitate to feed the tiger in order to save the people of Yanzhou, my people with lofty ideals in Yanzhou were very admired, and they were willing to support the envoy and defend Yanzhou together. ”

Cao Ang lowered his head, embarrassed to face Chen Gong's fiery gaze. In order to arouse Chen Gong's fighting spirit, he had to make this decision.

"It's hard work, Brother Gongtai."

——

As Sun Ce expected, Cao Ang soon received Yuan Shao's order. Yuan Shao said that he would fight against Yuzhou after the year, and asked Cao Ang to gather Yanzhou's talents and material resources and prepare for the expedition, especially food. If Yanzhou can collect one more stone of grain, it can transport three less stones of grain from Jizhou.

After discussing with Chen Gong, Cao Ang drafted a humbly worded reply: first, he expressed his attitude and resolutely supported Yuan Shao's crusade against Sun Ce; Secondly, explain their difficulties, Yanzhou after many years of military disasters, this year suffered a major epidemic, serious losses, almost no harvest in the autumn, famine is inevitable, especially the epidemic has not been controlled, a large number of people have fled. He hoped that Yuan Shao could provide some food and medicine as soon as possible, so that he could recover as soon as possible and assist Yuan Shao in the war.

After Cao Ang returned to Yanzhou, he drew up relevant plans with Chen Gong. The first is to exaggerate the epidemic, although after a large number of people fled to Yuzhou, the epidemic situation in Yanzhou has improved significantly, but they are still waiting for it, publicizing epidemic prevention and treatment, and revising the daily death toll, so that the epidemic seems to have the possibility of continuation. The second is to discuss with the family heroes who stayed in their hometowns to unify their voices, especially those who are dissatisfied with Yuan Shao's death, and let them pass on the news that the epidemic is still spreading through various channels.

In order to obtain the support of these families, Cao Ang not only made contact with Chen Gong, but also worked out specific conditions. With the population of Yanzhou declining dramatically and a large amount of land abandoned, Cao Ang decided to distribute the land to the families who were willing to support him, on the condition that these families provide troops, food, grass and ordnance to assist him in the war.

In order to convince those families, Chen Gong unconsciously moved Sun Ce out. One of the bases of Sun Ce's new policy in Yuzhou was to evict the families, seize their land, and distribute it to the landless people, he said. If he is allowed to control Yanzhou, you will all be slaughtered like the family in Yuzhou. Even if you are willing to surrender to Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao already has the Ruying and Jizhou factions under his command, and it is difficult for the Yanzhou people to get a piece of the pie. It is imperative that Yanzhou does not depend on any party and protects itself, which is the most beneficial choice for everyone. Only by holding up the group and supporting Cao Ang can the Yanzhou people have the opportunity to bargain with Yuan Shao and Sun Ce to protect their existing interests.

In the face of righteousness and interests, under the coercion and temptation of Chen Gong, the Yanzhou family successively expressed their willingness to advance and retreat with Cao Ang. They not only sent troops and food, but also sent the children of the family to serve in the Assassin's Mansion and obeyed Cao Ang's dispatch. Cao Ang did what he said, so that Cao Maoyu selected a group of talents, enriched them to the counties, cleaned up the counties under his rule, and gradually expelled the county magistrates who were not from Yanzhou.

For a time, the people of Yanzhou were inexplicably excited, and praised Cao Ang for his young and promising, especially his father, Chen Gong was brilliant and intelligent, and he was a good leader, and the praise was endless. The families rushed to show their sincerity to Cao Ang, and contributed money and food, but Cao Ang did not spend a single penny, gathered an army of 30,000, and also raised a sum of materials to solve the urgent need.

It is with such strength that Cao Ang has the confidence to reply to Yuan Shao, seemingly humble, but in fact refusing.