Cao Cao saw that Yuan Xi was powerful on the city wall, so he could only hold on, and he was even more distressed that Cao Zhi was still in Yuan Xi's hands, and his life and death were unknown. Cao Cao's current wife, Cao Zhi's biological mother, and Mrs. Bian even washed her face with tears and begged Cao Cao to rescue Cao Zhi.

Cao Cao consulted with the strategists on how to save Cao Zhi. Xun Yu pondered for a long time and said worriedly: "It is not impossible to rescue Zijian Gongzi, but I am afraid that Yuan Xi will take advantage of this to make unreasonable demands and make the prime minister in a dilemma." Cao Cao was also helpless, but he still wanted to send someone to negotiate with Yuan Xi, and first look at Yuan Xi's request.

On the outskirts of Xuchang, Yuan Xi was discussing with everyone how to capture Luoyang City and rescue the Son of Heaven. Xu Shu did not get carried away because of the victory in the battle of Guandu, and said honestly: "Our army has been marching for a long time, and the soldiers are tired, although they currently have an advantage, but Xuchang still has 50,000 soldiers, and Cao Cao has the advantage of the Son of Heaven, so the chance of conquering Xuchang is very small." ”

The generals are also worried, besieging Xuchang for more than ten days, there is no progress, and after a long time, I am afraid that the advantage will also come to naught. Although Sima Yi had no good idea of capturing Xuchang, he had a way to get Cao Cao to hand over the Son of Heaven. I saw Sima Yi propose: "It is not necessary to capture Xuchang to welcome the Holy Driver, we still have Cao Zhi, Xiahoudun and Xiahou Yuan three hostages in our hands, I think Cao Cao will not give up on them, we can use them to threaten Cao Cao to send the Son of Heaven." ”

Yuan Xi listened to Sima Yi's proposal, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he secretly thought that Cao Cao could not be destroyed in a battle, and if he welcomed the Son of Heaven this time, Cao Cao's political advantage would be in vain, and he would march south again one day, and Cao Cao would be destroyed. So, Yuan Xi asked Sima Yi how to make Cao Cao willingly send the Son of Heaven?

Yuan Xi's vision and political consciousness are based on the prophetic advantage of history, and Sima Yi is a natural political expert, and calculated: "The lord doesn't need to worry, I expect Cao Cao to be more anxious than us, wait patiently, and then we will wait for the price to sell!" ”

The judge was a little worried that Yuan Xi was making his own opinion, and felt the need to remind Yuan Xi, and said: "Second son, this matter is very important, should you notify the general first?" Yuan Xi listened to the words of the trial, and suddenly thought that he seemed to have ignored something, as if Yuan Shao did not want to welcome the Son of Heaven.

Fu Zhu also thought so, and said to Yuan Xi: "Although I believe that the general will support the second son's approach, it is more prudent to ask the general." Yuan Xi saw that the trial and frustration insisted, so he had no choice but to say: "Then the order will be made after the general is issued." Yuan Xi sent his confidant Xun Zhan back to Yecheng to ask Yuan Shao, and the trial and frustration were to remind him that the general did not approve of the return of the Son of Heaven to Yecheng, and Xun Zhan should be able to convince Yuan Shao if he went.

Yuan Shao had already received that Yuan Xi defeated Cao Cao in Guandu and besieged Xuchang, and the desire in his heart was also inflated, who could be his opponent in the whole world? When people were in good spirits on happy occasions, he decided to go to Xuchang and personally end the grievances between himself and Cao Cao.

Yuan Shang heard that Yuan Shao was going to the front line again, thinking that Cao Cao's defeat was decided, and hoped to pick up some cheapness, so Yuan Shao was impressed and took the initiative to ask for help. At this time, Xun Zhan came from Xuchang to meet the general, Yuan Shao thought that Yuan Xi was unfavorable in the war, but he didn't expect that he actually asked Cao Zhi, Xiahoudun and Xiahou Yuan to exchange the Son of Heaven, unhappy, and reproached: "I know who came up with such a scheme, the Son of Heaven is very important, how can he easily move?" ”

Yuan Shao refused to listen to Tian Feng's suggestion at the beginning, and welcomed the Son of Heaven in Yecheng, because he was worried that the Son of Heaven would become the last burden in his hands and block his dream of becoming the emperor.

Xun Zhan knew Yuan Shao's ambitions, but he knew that the general was too ideal, and Cao Cao was not so easy to destroy, so he defended Yuan Xi and said: "General, Yuan Gongzi is also considering the overall situation, if Zi is still in Xuchang today, if he attacks with all his might, he will be spurned by the people of the world." Only by letting Cao Cao hand over the Son of Heaven can our army be justified. ”

Yuan Shao began to hesitate, secretly thinking why not move Luoyang, so that Cao Cao would not be a burden to himself in the future, so he said to Xun Zhan: "It is indeed good to welcome the Son of Heaven, but Xuchang is a long way to Yecheng, in case something goes wrong, the gains outweigh the losses, why not move the old capital Luoyang?" ”

Xun Zhan saw that Yuan Shao agreed to welcome the Son of Heaven, although it was Luoyang, it was better than in the hands of Cao Cao, and thought about it, Luoyang was occupied by Yuan Xi, maybe it would be more beneficial to Yuan Xi than coming to Yecheng, so Xun Zhan said goodbye to Yuan Shao with important matters in the army, and conveyed Yuan Shao's words to Yuan Xi.

After Xun Zhan left, Liu, who was hiding behind the screen, flattered Yuan Shao and said: "Husband, although Xi'er can fight, but after all, she is not very old, and she still doesn't understand some things, so she still needs your guidance?" Why didn't the husband take Shang'er with him to gain some experience, and secondly, he could also solve Xi'er's doubts. ”

Yuan Shao hesitated, he relied on his son to win Cao Cao, and deprived Yuan Xi of his military power before he was rewarded, although it was his own son, Yuan Shao also felt ashamed. Seeing Yuan Xi's hesitation, Yuan Shang continued to persuade: "My Yuan family is not only the second brother, if my father gives me military power, I can also fight with Cao Cao." ”

Yuan Shao loves Yuan Shang, and seeing that Yuan Shang has this courage at a young age, why not give him a chance to exercise? Maybe he's a general who can fight well. So, Yuan Shao prepared to take Yuan Shang to Xuchang and compete with Cao Cao again.

Of course, Yuan Xi didn't know the news of Yuan Shao's future, and he was receiving Xun Yu, the envoy of Cao Jun, at this time. Xun Yu naturally came for Cao Zhi, Yuan Xi saw Xun Yu coming, and knew that the matter of welcoming the Son of Heaven was done, this person was a die-hard fan of the Han Dynasty, and he was completely optimistic about Cao Cao's ability to reorganize the rivers and mountains and support the Han family, if he could give him greater hope, he should be able to convince Cao Cao for himself. Yuan Xi said respectfully to Xun Yu: "I have heard Xun Wenruo's name for a long time, and when I see it today, it is enough for my life." Xun Yu didn't expect to be so polite to himself, but he still explained his purpose and discernment: "Yuan Gongzi praised it falsely, Xun Yu is mainly here for Cao Zhi's son this time, and I hope that Yuan Gongzi can open up the net and let Zijian reunite with my lord." ”

Yuan Xi was noncommittal, and deliberately said to him left and right: "Mr. Wenruo, I heard that the Son of Heaven is very unsatisfactory in Xuchang, and Concubine Dong Guifei was even more victimized by Cao thief. I respect Mr. because you are loyal to the Han family, and you only care about Cao Cao's heirs, so what about the dragon descendants of the Son of Heaven, have you ever cared? The more Yuan Xi came back, the sharper his tone became. Xun Yu was heartbroken for not being able to prevent Dong Guifei from being killed, and now he was ashamed to be mentioned by Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi saw that Xun Yu was on his mind, striking while the iron was hot, using both soft and hard, and said: "I want to welcome the Son of Heaven, if Cao Cao wants Cao Zhi and the three of them to be safe and sound, I ask Cao Cao to return the Son of Heaven." Of course, the Son of Heaven cannot be without a loyal minister like Lord Xun! Xun Yu sighed secretly, and sure enough, as Guo Jia expected, Yuan Xi wanted to use Cao Zhi to threaten Cao Cao to hand over the Son of Heaven. Although he expected that this was the worst plan, he still pleaded: "This matter is very important, I still need to tell the prime minister, I don't know if you can let me see Zijian Gongzi first?" ”

Yuan Xi ordered Cao Zhi, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to come, and Xun Yu was relieved to see that Yuan Xi did not treat the three of them badly. Yuan Xi issued an ultimatum to Xun Yu: "If the prime minister is sincere, he will send the Son of Heaven in three days, and I will also release Cao Zhi and the other three." I, Yuan Xi, have never liked to trade with people who have no integrity, and after the time has passed, if I don't see the Son of Heaven, then Cao Cao doesn't want to see these three again! ”