After the defeat of Guandu, Yuan Shao led Guo Tu, Feng Ji and others to return to Yecheng under the escort of seven or eight hundred cavalrymen who lost their armor and unloaded their armor.

Zang Ba marched into Qingzhou, but Yuan Tan has not been able to get out.

Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were waiting in Yecheng.

Knowing that Yuan Shao was back, the brothers went to the city gate to greet them.

Seeing Yuan Shao from afar, they rode up to meet them.

"Father!" The two brothers clasped their fists and saluted Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao, who was full of frustration, ignored them and went directly into Yecheng.

After entering the city, Yuan Shao never said a word.

Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang followed him, and they didn't dare to say more.

When he was about to arrive at Yuan's house, Yuan Shaocai turned his head and glanced at the brothers: "You two are ready, immediately recruit soldiers and horses, and we will fight Cao Mengde again." ”

The brothers didn't dare to disobey and hurriedly agreed.

Seeing Yuan Shao enter the gate, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang stopped outside.

"Xianfu, my father wants us to recruit soldiers and horses, and there are not many soldiers available in Hebei, what should we do?" Yuan Xi asked Yuan Shang.

"The supply of the Cao army is too far, and it is difficult to transport grain and grass, and the cities in various places have also received orders, as long as the Cao army arrives and waits for help, Cao Mengde can't do anything to us." Yuan Shang said: "We still have plenty of time to recruit soldiers and horses to fight again. ”

"It's not enough to just rely on Yanzhou, Jizhou and other places, and we have to transfer people from all over the country." Yuan Xi said: "Although we still have a chance to fight again, we don't have much time to wait. Now that it is winter, Cao Cao will come again after spring. Until then, there must be sufficient combat power, otherwise Hebei will be handed away. ”

Yuan Shang nodded.

"You and Cao Zirong have been the closest to each other, have you heard from him?" Yuan Xi asked suddenly.

"Is it possible that the second brother suspects that I have some kind of collusion with Cao Zirong?" Yuan Shang frowned slightly: "When you got closer, wasn't it because of Fang'er?" Now that the Yuan Cao family has turned against each other, where will I have any connection with him. ”

"I don't suspect that you have any collusion with him, but I think that in order to break the Cao family, you must first break Cao Zirong." Yuan Xi said: "If you send troops again, I think you should start from Xuzhou first." ”

"What the second brother said is reasonable." Yuan Shang said: "Actually, I also think that in order to break the Cao family, Cao Zi must be melted first. Although he did not have many soldiers and horses, they were all elite, and it was far more difficult to deal with than Cao Cao. ”

"Do you think it's necessary to send more spies to Xuzhou, Huainan and other places?" Yuan Xi asked suddenly.

Yuan Shang was stunned for a moment, and then his brows furrowed slightly: "Send the spies to Cao Zirong?" ”

"Yes." Yuan Xi replied: "Only by knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent can one not be defeated in a hundred battles." ”

After thinking for a while, Yuan Shang said: "Sending more spies to Xuzhou can't be said to be a no-brainer, but how difficult Cao Zirong is to deal with, my brother should also know very well." I'm afraid that when our spies get there, they will be wiped out in a short time. ”

"It's better than not giving it away." Yuan Xi said: "In Yecheng, I don't know how many Cao Zirong's spies were, we caught some, but after the interrogation, they were just the eyeliner they were looking for in Yecheng, and a real spy didn't catch them." We can use the methods he uses on him. ”

Looking at Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang nodded.

"When my father came back this time, some people are afraid that some things will be liquidated." Yuan Xi said again: "Yecheng may be in chaos for a while, let's be careful." ”

"That's what the second brother said." Yuan Shang replied: "When I saw my father just now, I felt that his spirit was extremely poor, and I am afraid that many things could not be done by myself, and as sons, we still have to worry more about our father." ”

"What's your plan over there, big brother?" Yuan Xi asked suddenly.

"Isn't the eldest brother fighting for Qingzhou with Zang Ba?" Yuan Shang asked, "What else can I plan?" ”

"Although my eldest brother and I were born to the same mother, our relationship has never been particularly close." Yuan Xi lowered his voice and said: "I also know Xianfu's thoughts, now that my father is back, it is best for Xianfu to find a way to keep his eldest brother in Qingzhou." If he returns to Yecheng at this time, the situation will be complicated. ”

"Second brother means ......" Yuan Shang did not show his intentions, but looked at Yuan Xi with some suspicion.

Gently patting him on the shoulder, Yuan Xi said: "That's all I can say, it's up to you what to do, don't forget the second brother in the future." ”

Staring at Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang smiled and said: "I'm the third, and the second brother is longer than me, don't you have a little thought?" ”

"Thoughts?" Yuan Xi shook his head and said, "The eldest brother is the eldest brother, of course he is qualified to take over the Yuan family." Xianfu and I were not born to the same mother, my eldest brother and I died at an early age, and now it is Mrs. Liu who is in charge of the Yuan family's back house. With the help of his biological mother, he will be more likely to succeed than his eldest brother. I'm just going to choose a backer. ”

"My second brother and I are about the same age, and we have been very close since we were children." Yuan Shang said: "Although I don't understand what the second brother said too well, I also have something to say to the second brother. As long as I gain a firm foothold in Hebei, there is mine, of course, there is a second brother. There are so many people in Hebei, but after all, you and I are brothers who grew up together, I don't believe you, who else can I trust? ”

"With Xianfu's words, I am relieved." Yuan Xi said: "Father's order has been given, and we will act as soon as possible." My father's tone was not straightened out, and it was only a matter of time before he fought with the Cao family. It's better to prepare early than to procrastinate. ”

Yuan Shang arched his hand and said, "Second brother, please act according to the order, and I will also go to recruit soldiers and horses for my father." ”

The two brothers said goodbye and dispersed, and each went to recruit soldiers and horses for Yuan Shao.

The Yuan family is actively preparing for the war, preparing to fight the Cao family again.

Cao Shuo also returned to Shouchun with a large army.

Pang Tong, Chen Gong and others, who had already repelled the Jiangdong Army and returned to Shouchun, were also taken aback when they saw Cao Shuo coming back with a man and horses with no end in sight.

When he went, there were only more than 20,000 people, and when he came back, Cao Shuo actually brought more than 100,000 troops.

Although most of the horses in the team were still wearing Yuan Jun's armor, it could be seen from their demeanor that Cao Shuo had straightened them out and smoothed them out along the way.

These people have already defected to Cao Shuo in their hearts!

Pang Tong and Chen Gong took Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Ju Yi and other generals out of the city gate.

Seeing Cao Shuo, the two saluted, and Pang Tong asked, "The Yuan family hasn't been broken yet, why did the son come back first?" ”

"There are so many people, if I don't come back to settle them, I don't have any heart to fight in front." Glancing back at the army, Cao Shuo said: "What's more, our army is difficult to transport, and it is not advisable to drive straight into Hebei before preparing sufficient grain and grass." ”

"What is Childe going to do with these people?" Pang Tong asked again.

"More than 100,000 people, most of them are strong." Cao Shuo said: "Select them, leave 20,000 as a standing army, and all the other soldiers will be assigned to various villages, so that they can be military households for land reclamation." ”