Cao Cao couldn't fight, although he was depressed, but he also had some doubts: "Although Yuan's army has been defeated by our army repeatedly, Hebei is strong, and the number of soldiers is several times that of our army, why do you still hold on, is there some trick that can't be done?" ”

Guo Jia sorted out his thoughts and analyzed: "Yuan Xi didn't dare to fight, there are three main situations, the first is that he succeeded in raiding our army by cunning before, and as a result, our army's combat power is much higher than Yuan's army, and he didn't let him take advantage, he is a smart person, so he can't stick to it and preserve his strength." Second, Yuan Xi did not dare to fight on the surface, and secretly sent troops to attack our army elsewhere. Third, Yuan Xi wanted to drag down our army through defense, and then lead the army to attack when our army changed. Jia thinks that the second is the least likely, and the most likely is the third. ”

Cao Cao listened to Guo Jia's analysis, and the situation was much clearer, so he laughed and said: "This son is not ambitious, I don't know how to deceive Yuan Shao's military power, at this time, after preserving his strength and dragging down our army, I am afraid that the north will be in his hands." ”

Cheng Yu, as an important strategist under Cao Cao, is the best at conspiracy, so he stepped forward and offered advice: "Prime Minister, since Yuan Xi is ambitious, why don't we help him publicize it?" Especially his two brothers. ”

Cao Cao listened to Cheng Yu's words, and immediately planned to come from it, and ordered his subordinates to mix into Jizhou and Qingzhou to spread rumors: Yuan Xi assassinated Yuan Shao, supported the army and respected himself, and could not hold out, and even forced Yuan Shao to make him his successor, and pastor for the four states of Jizhou, Youzhou, Qingzhou and Bingzhou.

In Yuan Tan's Mansion in Qingzhou, Yuan Tan was furious and summoned his cronies Guo Tu and Xin Ping to discuss: "I really underestimated this second brother, I don't know how to deceive my father's trust and hand over the Hebei army to him?" ”

Guo Tu has few strategies, but he is a complete sycophant, and he also said angrily: "Yuan Ergongzi used to pretend to be really deep, and we fought with Yuan Shang to the death, and he persuaded to be a good person to win the trust of the general, which is really hypocritical." ”

Xin Ping was reasonable, and was not affected by Yuan Tan and Guo Tu's emotions, but said mysteriously: "It is actually very suspicious that the general suddenly passed the military power to the second prince, and it is very likely that it is really the recent rumors, Yuan Xi assassinated the general, so that he could not lead the troops, and could only give the military power to Yuan Xi, and Yuan Xi was immoral and incompetent, and he could only hold on in the face of Cao Cao and wait for Cao Cao's troops to retreat." Yuan Xi is in power, who in the north will compete. ”

Yuan Tan felt that Xin Ping's words made sense, and immediately wanted to go back to Yecheng to see what was going on. Xin Ping was helpless when he saw that Yuan Tan was so anxious, Guo Tu was still a little clever: "Don't be in a hurry, the eldest prince is the assassin of Qingzhou, and the battle on the front line is undecided, so you can't leave lightly." It's better for me to go to Yecheng to find out first, and then make another plan. ”

Yuan Tan saw that Guo Tu was reasonable, so he sent Guo Tu to Yecheng first to investigate the rumors, and said politely to Guo Tu: "Then there is Lao Gong Ze to go on a trip, comfort my father on my behalf, and ask for some military rations by the way." Guo Tu naturally understood that he and Yuan Tan all the way, whether Yuan Xi or Yuan Shang took over, it would not be good for him, and of course he would go to Qingzhou for some welfare this time.

Compared with the Qingzhou Thorn History Mansion, the Yecheng General's Mansion is much more lively. There were a lot of inconspicuous notices in the corners of the streets of Yecheng at some point, Yuan Xi assassinated the general, supported the army and respected himself, plotted against him, and forced the general to cede the four northern states to Yuan Xi. As soon as this notice came out, there was an endless discussion, and the people of the supporter Yuan Xi thought that this must be a rumor, Yuan Xi's son was mighty, humble and polite, and the general would definitely let him replace him in the future, and it was impossible to harm the general at this time. There are also opponents who believe that Yuan Xi is only the second son, and even if he inherits the position of general, he is still the eldest son. Naturally, there are also supporters of Yuan Shang, the general's favorite is the third son, and now the general's wife is the mother of the third prince......

The sound of the streets and alleys naturally reached the General's Mansion, and at this time, Yuan Shao was recuperating at home, and it was Yuan Shang who was in charge. Yuan Shang was quite complaining about Yuan Shao's handing over the army to Yuan Xi, and he was forced to make a mistake because of Yuan Shao's majesty. Now that rumors are spreading, it is a good time to take back the military power, and immediately consult with his mother Liu.

Liu is a person with great means, with Yuan Shao's favor, he has successfully persuaded Yuan Shao to send Yuan Xi and Yuan Tan to other places, originally thought that Yuan Shang would take over the throne is a sure thing, but I didn't expect Yuan Xi to shine, and even suppressed Yuan Tan, and now she has defrauded Yuan Shao of the military power in her hands, she has already begun to plan how to keep her position. Liu Shi heard the rumors that Yuan Shang said, and he was not as excited as Yuan Shang thought, but said lightly: "This is Cao Cao's trick, and it cannot be believed to be true." ”

Yuan Shang looked at his mother strangely, how could he miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and said unconvinced: "Mother, you can take this opportunity to persuade my father to let me replace Yuan Xi." If the military power is in hand, Jizhou will be my final say in the future, you can only have one son from me, Yuan Tan is not, Yuan Xi is not! ”

Liu Shi looked at this childish child with an extraordinary appearance and a childish heart, and comforted: "How could I not know, but now that the enemy is present, you can defeat Cao Cao?" The general will never agree! Don't worry, I have my own measure, your father is still here, when Yuan Xi retreats from Cao Cao and returns to Jizhou, I will persuade the general to pass on to you. ”

After Liu said his inner thoughts, Yuan Shang was convinced, and his mother was still a chess player, so he didn't tell Yuan Shao about it. But how can there be an impermeable wall, besides, Yuan Shao is not bedridden, when he heard the rumors, as Liu thought, Yuan Shao laughed and said: "Cao Cao is poor in skills, he actually wants to separate my father and son, pass on my orders, and arrest the rumor-mongers." Yecheng calmed down again.

Guandu Yuan Jun's big tent, this rumor also spread here, Yuan Xi's soldiers were furious, angrily denounced Cao Cao for being despicable and shameless, and asked for battle. Chun Yuqiong, the most qualified under Yuan Shao, said: "Major General, our army is not inferior to Cao Cao, and our previous battle shows that we have the strength to defeat Cao Cao, and now Cao Cao is spreading rumors and slandering the major general, and my Hebei generals would rather die than be a turtle with a shrunken head!" ”

Yuan Xi saw that the soldiers were eager to fight, and after appeasing the generals, he said angrily: "Cao Cao bullied me like this, is it tolerable or unbearable, I intend to raise troops to attack Cao Cao!" Where is the trial, I don't know how the grain and grass in the army are? ”

Seeing that Yuan Xi began to give orders, he didn't dare to slack off, and stepped forward and said: "The grain and grass in the army can last for a month, and it will be in the black nest, and it will be guarded by the general." ”

Yuan Xi instructed the judge: "Please also ask Mr. Zhengnan to go to Jizhou again to urge the grain and grass." Now rumors are spreading, saying that I support the army and deliberately do not go to war, although I have a clear conscience, but I Yuan Xi does not want to suffer injustice, and I also ask Mr. Zhengnan to return to Yecheng to explain to me and the general. ”

When the judge was about to be ordered to leave, Sima Yi suddenly suggested: "Young General, Your Majesty thinks that in order to avoid the recurrence of rumors, it is better to ask Mr. Zhengnan to apply to the general for a military order to attack Cao Cao, and we are also justified." ”

Or Sima Yi knew Yuan Xi's thoughts, Yuan Xi didn't want to fight at all, raising food was just an excuse to delay time, and obtaining a military order made this excuse even more convincing, and the cooperation between the two was fearless and tacit. The judge is a smart person, he can figure it out as soon as he thinks about it, and when he sees Yuan Xi nodding, he also takes the order. Seeing that Yuan Xi had made meticulous arrangements, everyone didn't say much, just waiting for the military order to fight.