Chapter 4 Section 20 Defeat and Retreat

"According to the character of Yuan Cheqi (Yuan Shao became the leader of the alliance and appointed himself as the general of the Che Cai), he personally led the army to the front line to confront Dong Thief, and he should make a big fanfare, and asked us to prepare the car in advance and do a good job in reception, how could it be that there was no sound, and the camp was suddenly pulled out and the whole army marched west?" Cao Cao was also very puzzled.

Yuan Shao is a good person who holds grudges and is good at pomp, how can he not publicize such a thing worthy of showing off, and besides, if he doesn't notify us of the reception, and we don't entertain him well, won't he be jealous. Coming to fight the enemy without making a sound, this is not in line with Yuan Shao's consistent code of conduct.

"You passed Yuan Shao's army on the way, what did Yuan Shao say?" Frowning for a moment, Liu Bei asked Li Wei.

"When contacting Yuan Shao's rear army, our army shouted the slogan 'Qingzhou reinforcements, go to the front line', and the commander of the rear army, Hanoi Taishou Wang Kuang, immediately got out of the way. When we arrived at the Chinese army, our army shouted slogans again, but Yuan Shao's army not only did not give way, but intended to block our army. Our army dispersed Yuan Shao's army. After arriving at the front army, the former army Shanyang guarded Yuan's army, and Yanzhou assassinated Liu Dai's army, showing his sword to our army, and almost made a move, but fortunately, our army was fast. The opponent didn't have time to form a formation, and I rushed by. ”

"Conspiracy, there is definitely a conspiracy, almost fought with our army? This is too inconsistent with Yuan Shao's character. If things go out of the way, there will be adultery. Liu Bei muttered to himself.

Cao Cao persuaded: "Why should Xuande Gong be careful, the Qingzhou cavalry will not get off the horse when Yuan Che rides his own army, and with Yuan Che's character, he may want to pull them off his horse and teach them a lesson." After being charged by them, perhaps the chariots and horsemen were annoyed and angry, so they ordered the front army to collect their weapons, and so on and so forth, a conflict ensued. Now, we are about to start attacking Luoyang, and Yuan Cheqi will see that his family and country will be avenged, and I think he will never engage in internal strife with us at this critical juncture."

"Infighting", Liu Bei suddenly brightened up in front of him, "Yes, it's infighting"

Since ancient times, the officials of the government have been best at internal strife. Whenever history reaches the most critical juncture, there are always people who come out to kill meritorious people and drag our nation into the abyss of misery again. What does the hatred of the country and the family have to do with the officials? As long as he can maintain his power and continue to be an official.

When the princes were cowardly and stagnant, Liu Cao's allied forces fought hard, which threatened Yuan Shao's prestige and power, which was a sufficient reason to kill in China. Judging from Yuan Shao's attitude, no matter what, he didn't have good intentions.

Liu Bei secretly thought in his heart: What should I do? Once Yuan Shao came to the Tiger Prison, no matter what tricks he came up with to embarrass himself, it was all people who stabbed me as fish and meat, and he did whatever he wanted. Therefore, it is necessary to break this situation and take the initiative into our own hands

Retreat? The coalition army is more than 20 thousand, stretching for more than ten miles. And after a battle with Lu Bu, Liu Bei only had 7,000 foot soldiers and 5,000 new cavalry, with such a weak force to attack 200,000 regular troops, the battle lasted more than ten miles, even if Yuan Shao's combat effectiveness was half of Lu Bu's, the result was terrible.

Cao Cao saw Liu Bei's eyes flickering, and said with a light smile: "It's not okay to retreat, can't you move forward?" ”

"Forward?" Liu Bei suddenly realized: "Yes, move forward...... What does Cao Gong think about this? ”

Cao Cao smiled and said: "Lu Gong (Lu Zhi) often said: Xuande has always liked to plan and then act, and now it seems that Xuande Gong also has too much heart. Although you and Yuan Che are not on good terms, however, Yuan Che is from a wealthy family, and all his relatives were slaughtered by Dong Zhuo. If Xuande Gong is too worried, it is better to avoid it for the time being, and wait for me to mediate in front of Xuande Gong in front of the chariot. If it is done, Xuande Gong will return to the army, but if it is not done, Xuande Gong will think of another way. ”

The vicious Cao Cao, in front of Xu Rong's Liangzhou soldiers, with Liu Bei's small number of troops to fight Xu Rong, it is another plan to kill people with a knife.

However, Xu Rong is ahead, so I don't dare to move forward?

Thinking of this, Liu Bei suddenly became angry: "Brother Meng De, fighting side by side for so long, you and I cherish each other." Just in case, I plan to immediately lead the army out of the Tiger Prison and go to Yanshi to challenge Xu Rong. However, the breakup with Cao Gong is imminent, and the friendship is difficult to give up. I think, what do you think of signing an agreement with Cao Gong - the trade and mutual market agreement? ”

"What agreement? Trade market? Xuande Gong, you're too kidding, I don't have a size of land today, you have to trade with me, oh, I don't seem to have brushed my teeth this morning. Cao Cao was surprised.

"What? Does Cao Gong think I can't go back to Qingzhou? ”

"There, with the courage of Xuande, plus these generals and soldiers under him, he can create a foundation wherever he goes. It's just that, how could Xuande Gong want to enter into a trade agreement with me who has no size? ”

Liu Bei stood up and said in high spirits: "The sons of the coalition are all pigs and dogs, how can they be the ones who have achieved great things?" Looking at the heroes all over the world, there are few people like Cao Gong. I think that sooner or later Cao Gong will be able to stand out.

If Cao Gong wants to take off thousands of miles, doesn't he want to get the best armor and combat equipment? And these, I have. Liu and Cao Gong fought side by side for many days, and if they could reach an agreement with Cao Gong this time, it would not be in vain to fight here.

Cao Gong, after the signing of the trade agreement, you and I can reduce or exempt customs duties, road and bridge taxes and other past taxes in each other's territories, and take the landing of goods as the basis for paying taxes, that is to say, once the merchants sell the goods, where they sell them, they will pay the landing tax at one time according to the local tax rate, how about? ”

Cao Cao calculated carefully, no matter how he calculated, he would not suffer a loss - there are many varieties of goods in Qingzhou, half of the merchants in the world are in Izumo in Qingzhou, and many Qingzhou merchants sell goods and do business. Once this agreement is signed, the landing tax paid by the merchants in Qingzhou is more than the tax paid to Qingzhou by their subordinates to do business in Qingzhou - so much cheaper.

At the same time, many commodities in Qingzhou are under exclusive control and are prohibited from being sold to the outside world. If the agreement is signed, with Liu Bei's support, and the control of these materials is released to himself, then just collecting the landing tax of Qingzhou merchants will be enough to equip an army for himself.

"Maybe, maybe Liu Bei gave himself such a big benefit, and he wanted to win himself over and let himself work hard to mediate for him and Yuan Benchu?" Cao Cao made up his mind, nodded briskly, and said, "It's okay, Xuande Gong will favor me, and I will be arrogant and sign this agreement with Xuande Gong." ”

Liu Bei nodded and agreed: "Time is pressing." I'm going to leave immediately, and when I call the senior priest in the army, let the gods be a just person, you and I will simply sign an agreement first, and when Cao Gong has a specific territory, we will make a detailed contract.

Well, I think the agreement can be divided into three parts: first, the two sides will open road traffic to each other, and no miscellaneous taxes will be levied on merchants who hold pass certificates, and no difficulties will be imposed. Second: a single tax, a merchant who has paid taxes in the territory of the other party, with a tax payment certificate, the other party shall not double the tax. Third, if there is a transaction dispute between merchants, the local judgment is the main ......

By the way, Cao Gong, what kind of law do you plan to use to deal with transaction disputes? I think it's better for us to use a uniform standard of law and law...... You didn't think of it now...... Well, Qingzhou has implemented the "Contract Law" and "Fair Trade Law" for many years, and has a lot of experience in dealing with transaction disputes......

Well, you agreed, that's great! Then I will write it into the "Agreement on the Mutual Market of Commerce", Article 3, in the event of a transaction dispute between merchants, the local judgment shall prevail, and the applicable law shall be the Contract Law and the Fair Trade Law.

Okay, Cao Gong, sign it. Let the gods do justice, and if there is a breach of the agreement, God will punish them, this is called the 'covenant of God'".

At that time, Cao Cao held the attitude that he had taken such a big advantage and had nothing to lose to himself anyway, and signed this "covenant of God" under the condition that Liu Bei was even coaxed and deceived. In the following years, Cao Cao's biggest regret in his life was: in the Tiger Prison Pass, he was ruthlessly deceived by Liu Bei when he left......

After the agreement was signed, Liu Bei tilted his head, thought for a moment, and resolutely ordered: "The whole army, straighten out the armor, go out of the customs immediately, and leave all the things that can't be taken away to Brother Meng De." ”

Cao Cao slightly humbly conceded: "Xuande Gong, it's too polite, then I will be disrespectful." ”

Liu Bei didn't have time to explain to Cao Cao, so he said directly: "Sun Jian's special envoy Han Dang and Dong Zhuo's special envoy Han Rong I haven't had time to receive them, sergeants, hurry up and find them, Cao Gong, I will take these two people away." ”

Cao Cao couldn't rest assured, and kindly persuaded him: "Han Rong, the great Confucian of the world, the killing is unknown, Xuande Gong, please don't offend." ”

Liu Bei sneered coldly: "He is not the only Confucian in the world, and he is not the only one who is a thief. Don't worry, I just want to save his life. Now that Yuan Benchu is on fire, and the coalition army is in full swing, these people are still coming to comfort them, and I am afraid that there will be no place to bury them. When I arrived outside the gate, I immediately released Han Rong, which can be regarded as saving his life. ”

With a wave of his hand, Liu Bei showed a rare panic, and he couldn't do it, so he flew out of the army.

"Lord, why is our army so panicked?" As soon as he came out of the door, Xu Shu asked urgently.

"Yuan Zhi, did you hear Cao Cao's words? He said: With the courage of Xuande, plus these generals and soldiers under him, he can create a foundation wherever he goes. Do you understand what he means? ”

Xu Shu was shocked: "Cao Cao must have heard some rumors, so he made such a hint." ”

"Yes, with Cao Cao's wisdom, I'm still not sure if I can return to Qingzhou, how dare I stay in the Tiger Prison anymore and wait for Yuan Shao to clean me up? By the way, let's go in a hurry, do we take Kong Rong with us? ”

Xu Shu replied: "Kong Rong is accompanying Han Gong (Han Rong), Han Gong is here, Kong Rong must be there." ”

Liu Bei Yangtian said with emotion: "Politics is like this, there are no eternal enemies, and there are no eternal friends, Yuan Ben and I were originally people who fought side by side, but now we may become enemies." Today I broke up with Cao Cao, and I don't know if we will be friends or enemies when we see each other again. Well, it is rumored to see Dahonglu Han Rong. ”

In the wilderness, the scorching sun, the sound of cicadas, the scorching sun on the iron armor, the armor was hot, the Qingzhou soldiers were sweating, and the speed of the march gradually decreased.

Liu Bei said to Han Rong gently: "Han Gong, Dong thief abolished the emperor and established the emperor, arbitrary, tyrannical, and the people are unbearable. We are in addition to the Han thieves, and the division of the king of Qin, and the Dong thieves are on the same footing. This is not something you can dissuade. It's a pity that the coalition forces are not united, but they are falling against each other. I plan to go east alone and capture Luoyang, and if it is successful, it will be enough to thank the world, but if it fails, I will retreat to Qingzhou, be a farmer, and do not ask about the world. Han Gong, please go back, please report to Dong Zhuo, see you on the battlefield. ”

Han Rong hugged his head and left, Kong Rong was puzzled, and asked: "Liu Guoxiang (Liu Bei is now the current Minister of Qi), why did our army leave the Tiger Prison in a hurry, and what happened?" ”

Liu Bei replied calmly: "Yuan Cheqi suddenly led the troops to the Tiger Prison, but he did not notify us of the reception, on the way, when he encountered Qingzhou reinforcements, the Cheqi actually wanted to intercept it. I judged that he must want to do us badly. Wenju (Kong Rong's character), I plan to quickly recapture the road back to Qingzhou. This road will continue to fight, extremely hard, I think, Wenju is better to return to the tiger prison temporarily, with Cao Mengde's protection, the car ride should not embarrass you. ”

Kong Rong thought about it for a while and replied: "Qingzhou has no taxes for five years, and all the people have been able to cultivate themselves and recuperate, which is all the credit of Xuande Gong." Rong Bucai, also a Qingzhou person, has endured the favor of Xuande Gong for many years, and this is the opportunity to repay Xuande Gong, I am willing to advance and retreat with Xuande Gong. ”

"The wind knows the strength of the grass, and the danger is now Chengchen, okay, there is Kong Wenju with him, even if he has thousands of troops, even if he is like a forest, we will go all the way." Liu Bei was in high spirits and shouted with a whip.

However, although Kong Rong was arrogant and willing to go with Liu Bei, he was full of doubts: How to go back to Qingzhou in the direction of Luoyang? Isn't that the opposite way around? I wanted to ask, but when I saw that the generals didn't care about it, it was not good to speak again.

Encouraged by Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei went to their respective regiments and loudly gathered the team. Xu Shu Kongrong and Zhang Liao followed the left and right, slowly pressing the horse steps of the Guards Legion, approaching the Yan Division.

After receiving a report from Han Rong that Liu Bei's army was approaching Yanshi, Xu Rong led his army to meet it, however, as soon as the Qingzhou soldiers made a little contact, they slowly retreated to the south, and the generals suggested pursuing Liu Bei, but Xu Rong categorically vetoed.

"The armies, gradually disengage, slowly retreat." Xu Rong ordered.

The generals were puzzled, and Xu Rong explained: "Liu Beijun has defeated Lu Bu, so he shouldn't be so unbearable, and besides, Liu Beijun and our army are all foot soldiers, and there are still 5,000 iron horsemen around him who have not moved." The foot soldiers retreated, knowing that it was not to make room for the cavalry to sprint, and if our army pursued his foot soldiers, just in time for his cavalry to stop the waist and strike, then the situation would be in danger. Since the Qingzhou soldiers retreated, our army also retreated, and the whole army was ready to meet his cavalry. ”

However, the Qingzhou soldiers did not seem to have the hope of fighting at all, and under the cover of the alternating infantry and cavalry, the whole Qingzhou army withdrew to the south in an orderly manner.

Xu Rong slowly let out a sigh: "I understand, there must have been a change within the coalition army, and Liu Beijun is going south to avoid trouble." Anyway, the combat power of the Qingzhou soldiers is extraordinary, and if our army starts fighting, even if it eats this Qingzhou soldier, the casualties will be very heavy. Since Liu Bei was unwilling to fight, and he broke away from the coalition army, there was nothing to worry about in the future. Collect the troops, report to the prime minister, and our army retreated from Qingzhou soldiers. ”

At the same time, Liu Bei called the herald and ordered: "Go and report quickly, our army was defeated by Xu Rong, and the whole army was dispersed and retreated to Yangcheng Mountain." ”