Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Okay, let him go to Xuchang." Hold accountable for the Battle of Luoyang. You tell him to be more active and not so rigid, and say that our army is patrolling south of Xiaopingjin and has no intention of attacking Luoyang, but the defenders of Luoyang have turned their backs on the alliance and slaughtered 20,000 of our soldiers, and they should be fully responsible. ”

"Will Cao Cao be responsible?" Tian Feng asked.

"It depends on Xun Kan's ability..." Said with a smile.

"You can still laugh."

Yuan Xi said with a deep face: "These 20,000 soldiers have only set out for the first time, and they have spilled blood on the battlefield. That's 20,000 lives. What should their parents, wives and children weep for? ”

Frustrated, he said: "My lord, our military administration department has decided to compensate the families of these fallen soldiers twice. Not only to appease, but also to buy people's hearts. Because the Central Plains has just been pacified, the people still don't know much about our Hebei Army, and not many people join the army. If you are wounded and killed, you can get huge compensation, and the people should be happy to join the army. ”

"Just do as you say."

Yuan Xi has no objection.

...........

Xun Kan, the chief secretary of Youzhou, was transferred back to Yecheng and ordered to send an envoy to Xuchang.

Before he left, Yuan Xi sent someone to inform Cao Cao and explain the intention of the negotiations. and informed Cao Cao and Xun Kan's course of action. In this way, Cao Cao has the responsibility to protect Xun Kan.

Xuchang.

Prime Minister's Office.

Cao Cao had just returned, and before he could meet the Son of Heaven in a hurry, he received good news from Luoyang.

Luoyang guard general Cao Xu (Cao Cao's righteous son), only led 3,000 old and weak, defeated 20,000 Yuan troops, all entered the territory of Luoyang, none of them survived, were burned in the valley of fish.

Hearing this, Cao Cao almost didn't get angry.

Since the Great War in the Central Plains, he has been in awe and fear of Yuan Xi, and it is too late to hide, how can he take the initiative to attack? In case of angering Yuan Xi, the Hebei army will attack Xuchang again, it will be a battle of life and death.

Moreover, he was not sure of winning.

"You go and call Wen He." Cao Cao commanded one of the guards at the door.

"No."

The guards departed.

Jia Xu (Ziwenhe) was summoned and rushed over, and said respectfully: "Meet the prime minister." ”

"Wenhe doesn't have to be polite, please take a seat." As soon as Jia Xu sat down, Cao Cao asked, "Have you heard about Luoyang?" ”

"On the way here, I heard that Xu Gongzi is worthy of being the prime minister's righteous son, and he made an extraordinary move. Being able to annihilate 20,000 Yuan troops with 3,000 journeys is rare in any battlefield. ”

Cao Cao said: "But in this way, Yuan Xi will not give up. It is highly likely that he will lead troops to attack. We have just returned to the dynasty and suffered a great defeat in Jingnan, so it is really not suitable to fight with Yuan Xi. ”

"Mr. Wenhe, what are your plans to resolve this crisis?"

Jia Xu smiled and said, "Prime Minister, how can you be sure that Yuan Xi will lead troops to attack?" ”

"It's his usual style."

"The so-called consistent style should also be realistic. What is the reality now? The minister thought that although Yuan Xi had won the Central Plains, he agreed to suffer heavy losses. According to detailed reports, more than half of the wolf cavalry army, vanguard battalion, and Korean spearmen that Yuan Xi had always relied on were killed and had no combat effectiveness. The elite cavalry transferred from Youzhou to the Central Plains is not one in ten. He should be more heartbroken and want to recuperate. Jia Xu said with a smile: "The minister dares to guarantee that he will not take the initiative to provoke a war because of this matter..." ”

"Perhaps."

Cao Cao is not as optimistic as Jia Xu.

For the sake of safety, he ordered Cao Ren, who was stationed in Chang'an, to return to Xuchang along Hongnong and Luoyang. He also asked Xu Huang and Zhang Liao to step up the recruitment of soldiers and expand the strength of the Jingzhou army.

If Yuan Xi really led the army to attack, he would also be able to mobilize the army to resist.

...............

Time flies quickly, and it's June in the blink of an eye.

Xun Kan, who was ordered to send an envoy to Xuchang, was escorted by a team of guards and finally arrived at Xuchang City, the capital of Cao Cao.

This is Xun Kan's hometown.

Cao Cao's strategists Xun Yu and Xun Yu are all his relatives, and they are very familiar with other Yingchuan strategists.

When he got here, he had a feeling of coming home.

But...

Thinking of his relatives in Jixian County, Youzhou, and thinking of Yuan Xi's trust in him, Xun Kan said in his heart: "I must not miss the old feelings and live up to the expectations of the lord." ”

He entered the city of Xuchang.

I went to see Xun Yu first.

Xun Yu was a very effective strategist under Cao Cao, not only good at strategy and politics, but also good at governing internal affairs. Every time Cao Cao went on an expedition, he asked Xun Yu to guard the rear and transport grain, grass, troops, etc.

If Jia Xu is the first strategist, then Xun Yu is the second strategist.

"Brother Wen Ruo, long time no see."

"yes, long time no see." Xun Yu took Xun Kan's hand and entered the Xun Mansion.

"My brother is under Prime Minister Cao Cheng, how is he doing?" When they arrived at the main hall, the two sat opposite each other, and Xun Kan asked.

There is a ring of tea.

Xun Kan took a sip slowly.

Xun Yu smiled: "That's nature. The prime minister treats the soldiers with humility and sincerity, and the rewards and punishments are clear, and he takes special care of the strategists who came out of our Yingchuan Academy, and now they are all reused. ”

"Really?"

Xun Kan asked casually and chuckled, "Brother just mentioned Yingchuan Academy. I really miss the days when we read together, that's called happiness. ”

"It's all in the past..."

Xun Yu poured a pot of tea, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Xun Kan: "Brother Xian is here this time for the matter of Luoyang, right?" ”

"I can't hide anything from you."

"I don't know what General Yuan's purpose was in sending you?"

Xun Kan stood up, walked mysteriously to Xun Yu's side, and said in a low voice: "Brother, I won't hide it from you." When my lord heard about this, he was furious and almost ordered an attack on Yanzhou. The officials of Houye City were also indignant, and they all strongly recommended the lord to crusade against Cao Gong. Only frustration, Tian Feng and others dissuaded. After a few days of stalemate, the lord ordered me to send an envoy to Xuchang to ask Cao Gong for an explanation. With all due respect, if Duke Cao can't satisfy my lord, my lord will definitely lead an army to attack. ”

"Seriously?"

"Of course it's true."

"Hehe..."

Xun Yu put down the teapot with a smile and said, "It's not so serious, right?" ”

"Not serious?" Xun Kan said anxiously: "Twenty thousand lives were buried in the sea of fire, what a big deal." Can it not be serious? If it weren't for Fu Zhu and Tian Feng to stop him, the Hebei Army would have entered Yanzhou. ”

"Well, even if what you say is true. I want to know, how much compensation does General Yuan want? This should be the purpose of your visit to Yanzhou, right? Xun Yu saw through Xun Kan at a glance.

Xun Kan frowned and said: "Wen Ruo, although we are relatives, there are some things that I must say in advance. ”

"You say."

"Before coming, I told the lord that the battle of Luoyang was Cao Cao's fault, and Cao Cao should take the initiative to send someone to Hebei to ask the lord for his guilt. How can we send someone to Xuchang first? Isn't this an obvious request for something from Cao Cao? Xun Kan said this, and snorted: "My brother's tone and attitude just now seem to be saying... We came to Xuchang with a cheeky face to compensate? Or rather... Extort? Is that what it means? If you say yes, I will leave at once, and I will not be the messenger of this unpleasantness. ”