The 400,000 Han troops preparing for the Northern Expedition, including 300,000 elite cavalry and 100,000 logistical baggage troops, were assembled on the south bank of the Yellow River, ready to attack Yuan Shao in Jizhou at any time.

The rest of the troops and Yuan Shao's army of nearly 400,000 were stationed in four places.

On the second day, Liu Xie and his people would survey the terrain by the Yellow River, and suddenly a small piece of information sent back that Yuan Shao's younger brother Yuan Shu vomited blood and died in Huainan

It turned out that since Yuan Shu became emperor, he was extravagant and lascivious, and he was expropriated and expropriated, which made the Jianghuai region dilapidated, the people starved to death countless times, the people were centrifuged, the army was disheartened, and the morale was low.

In the spring and March of the ninth year of the galaxy, that is, in 197 AD, Yuan Shu was seriously ill, and seeing that the general trend had gone, he was angry and vomited blood and died, which was two years earlier than the original history.

The soldiers of the Yuan Shu Department died and fled, some of whom surrendered to Sun Ce, and some of whom surrendered to Zhang Liao of the Han army, and so on. Zhang Liao took the opportunity to go south, and once pushed the territory of the Han dynasty to the area of Heqi.

When Liu Xie heard this, he was overjoyed, and said to the generals: "You have seen it, Yuan Shu will destroy himself without attacking, spread my will, and seal Zhang Liao as the general of the expedition to the east, the Marquis of Jinyang, and guard Hefei!" ”

A general said: "Jiangnan Sun Ce is a many, I am afraid that Wenyuan will not be able to hold Hefei, it is better to retreat to Xuzhou as the best policy." ”

Liu Xie said: "Otherwise, you don't know that Zhang Liao is mighty, I believe that he will be able to hold Hefei!" ”

Liu Xie knew very well in his heart that in the original history, Zhang Liao won more with less, killed Sun Quan and abandoned his armor, and the people in Jiangnan were terrified when they heard Zhang Liao's name. Even a three-year-old child cries at night, and when he hears Zhang Liao's name, he is so frightened that he doesn't dare to cry anymore.

Therefore, Liu Xie is very relieved of Zhang Liao.

Liu Xie also said: "Spread my will to establish an official road between Luoyang and Hefei to facilitate the transportation of Luoyang materials to the front line in Hefei." ”

The order was completed, and the 300,000 crossbow cavalry were all assembled in the evening, and Liu Xie ordered to go down, prepare wine and food, reward the whole army, camp for the night, and cross the river to the north early tomorrow morning.

That night, in the imperial camp, the party with the generals ended, and the two Qiao served left and right, Liu Xie said: "The birthdays of the two of you are gradual, take me to take down Jizhou, and celebrate the birthday of the two of you." ”

Da Qiao said: "Your Majesty, our birthday is a trivial matter, and subduing Yuan Shao is the top priority today." ”

Xiao Qiao also followed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, there is nothing more important than destroying Yuan Shao." Thinking about Your Majesty, I have never celebrated my birthday for so many years, and my sisters are just little maids, how can they still think about asking Your Majesty to celebrate their birthday? ”

Liu Xie smiled and said: "Your sisters are really very knowledgeable. But I have one thing......"

Seeing that Liu Xie didn't say anything, Da Qiao asked, "What's the matter, Your Majesty, brother?" ”

Liu Xie smiled and said nothing, and replaced Xiao Luozi and said: "You draw up a decree to send people back to the Wei Mansion in Luoyang, and ask Cao Cao that I plan to build a palace in Jizhou after destroying Yuan Shao, and let him help me with the name." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Xiao Luozi, "and is there any hint for this palace?" ”

"Hint?" Liu Xie thought for a while and said, "Hint, it's related to Er Qiao's birthday, let him think, if the name is good, I will be rewarded." Wait a minute, I heard that this Cao Cao is a very famous poet, so I asked him to write a poem for this palace by the way. Okay, that's all, you organize the language yourself, and send it back tomorrow morning. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Da Qiao said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this is not okay?" I built a separate palace for the sake of my two sisters. I am afraid that the world will scold me, and Your Majesty has always been known for being industrious and thrifty, so that my two sisters will be said to be a disaster. ”

Liu Xie smiled and said: "You two can really understand the general situation, but you don't know my intentions. If you don't talk about it now, you'll find out later. ”

Arrow Liu Xie didn't say, and Er Qiao didn't ask much.

Liu Xie said: "It's not early, you two sisters should also go to rest, march tomorrow morning, and you will follow behind the baggage troops." ”

Da Qiao said: "Your Majesty, we can keep up with the big army." ”

Liu Xie said: "The battle is turbulent, your sisters are already weak, and I can't bear it." Okay, obedient. ”

Er Qiao left, Liu Xie watched the backs of the two of them go away, and he was ready to rest.

The next day, just after two days, the Han army began to cross the river, and 300,000 elite horsemen stretched for more than ten miles, crossing the river by more than a dozen ferries.

As soon as the army crossed the river, a soldier came to report, saying that there were more than a dozen old people pushing carts and carrying burdens to comfort the Han army.

Liu Xie said: "The beginning of the army has alarmed the township, causing the people to be displaced, the family to be destroyed, and I am uneasy. ”

The old man said: "Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch, and the Han army is a teacher of benevolence and righteousness." Yuan Shao was brutal and unkind, slaughtered the people, drove the people into battle, and was full of evil. Your Majesty, the Han army is too late! ”

After that, the middle-aged and old people all knelt down and wept.

Liu Xie said: "Old man, I have made a mistake, but you can rest assured, I will definitely destroy Yuan Shao in this battle, and return a calm sky to Jizhou!" ”

And he got up with the old man, and gave him a reward of silver, and distributed the wine to the camps everywhere, and at the same time ordered the whole army, but whoever disturbed the people and took the goods of the people without permission was to be beheaded.

The military order is given, and the military and civilians are subdued.

All the way to Cangting, Yuan Shao has gathered 200,000 troops at Cangting, including 60,000 troops of Yuan Xi in Youzhou, 50,000 troops of Yuan Tan in Qingzhou, and 50,000 troops of Gaogan in Bingzhou.

Liu Xie's 300,000 Han troops camped in Cangting, Liu Xie saw that it was not early, so he said to the generals: "It's not early, our army is well-rested, and the decisive battle will be fought tomorrow!" ”

The next day, the two armies went out, Liu Xie led the generals to fight, and Yuan Shao led his three sons: the eldest son Yuan Tan, the second son Yuan Xi, the youngest son Yuan Shang, and his nephew Gao Gan, and many military generals.

Liu Xie said: "Yuan Benchu, against the sky, brutal and unkind, unrepentant, surrender early, otherwise it will be too late when my Heavenly Sword is on your neck!" ”

Yuan Shao beckoned, Liu Wei rode out of the formation, and shouted: "Brother Huang, let's get lost, Yuan Gong is not to blame for the past, you continue to be your King of Chenliu, the world is peaceful, isn't it beautiful?" ”

Liu Xieqi scolded directly in modern language: "Are you stupid, Liu Da braid!" The general trend of the world, can't you see clearly? How can I see you everywhere? For the sake of you being my royal brother, I will spare you from dying, and you will retreat quickly! Let Yuan Datou come out and duel with me! ”

Liu Xie's shouting has since given Liu Wei the nickname of Liu Da Braid, and Yuan Shao has also earned the nickname of Yuan Datou.

In fact, Liu Wei didn't have braids, and Yuan Shao's head was not big.

Yuan Shao said angrily: "Who can fight? ”

Yuan Shang, who was only thirteen years old, danced with two knives and Pegasus came out of battle.

(End of chapter)