Yuan Shang besieged Nanpi, and Cao Cao never made any moves.

More than a month later, it is already in the depths of winter.

Zhang Yan led the Montenegrin army to the vicinity of Cao Cao's military camp.

After the Montenegrin army was stationed, Zhang Yan had not yet arrived in Cao Cao's army, and the scouts had already reported to Cao Cao how many of them, how many old and weak women and children in the army, and how many were strong.

In the front hall, Cao Cao sat at the top, surrounded by staff and generals on both sides.

"Zhang Yan said that he had an army of 100,000, I thought it was really 100,000 warriors, but I didn't expect that the old and weak women and children actually accounted for more than 70,000 or 80,000." Cao Cao said with a smile: "With these men and horses under his command to deal with Yuan Shang, how much do you think it will be successful?" ”

"It's still ten points." Guo Jia said: "Although Zhang Yan's subordinates are Black Mountain thieves, they have served the imperial court earlier, and they are the same as the soldiers of the Han Dynasty in terms of weapons and drills, and they are no longer comparable to the Yellow Turban thieves. At the beginning, he fought with the Yuan family, and they also won and lost each other. Yuan Shang is already at the end of his strong crossbow, not to mention that once our army besieges Yecheng, he must be in a hurry to return to help. Zhang Yan intercepted and killed in the middle of the road, if it can't be done, it can only be said that the Montenegrin army is too much. ”

"I have the same opinion as Bonghyo." Xun You also said: "Cao Gong can only rest assured that Zhang Yan intercepts Yuan Shang, even if Yuan Shang cannot be killed this time, at least Cao Gong can get Yecheng." After losing Yecheng, the Yuan family has no foundation, so why will they compete with Cao Gong for Hebei in the future? ”

Cao Cao stroked his beard and nodded, and asked everyone, "Is there any movement in Yuan Tan?" ”

"Recently, Yuan Tan has been guarding Nanpi, but there is no special action." Xun Yu said: "It's just that he has sent several groups of people to urge Cao Gong to send troops to help. ”

"It's the depths of winter." Cao Cao said: "It has always been a winter guard and a spring war, Zhang Yan came at this time, is it ......?"

"The winter and spring battles are only when the two armies are evenly matched." Guo Jia said: "Now that Yuan Shang is leading his troops outside, Yecheng is empty, and it is the best time to attack. Once spring comes, the battle is not as easy to fight as it is now. ”

"Feng Xiao means ......," Cao Cao asked.

"Take Yecheng before the New Year." Guo Jia said: "If everything goes well, Cao Gong will be able to spend the New Year in Yecheng this year." ”

Cao Cao was discussing with the crowd when a guard walked in from outside.

He clasped his fists and saluted Cao Cao and said, "Qi Cao Gong, General Zhang Yan has come to ask for a meeting." ”

Smiling slightly at everyone, Cao Cao said, "Zhang Yan is here, we can also attack Yuan Shang." ”

He instructed the guards, "General Zhang, please come in and speak." ”

Not long after the guard stepped back, Zhang Yan walked in.

He made a big salute to Cao Cao: "The last general was entrusted by Cao Gong to bring all the soldiers under his command. ”

"I don't know how many warriors there are under General Zhang's command?" Cao Cao asked.

"Back to Cao Gong, there are 30,000 warriors." Zhang Yan said: "Seventy or eighty thousand old and weak women and children. ”

"What is General Zhang doing with so many old and weak women and children in the army?" Cao Cao asked, "Why don't you assign them to a place and let them build a village to recuperate?" ”

Zhang Yan showed a trace of embarrassment on his face, and he said to Cao Cao: "Don't hide it from Cao Gong, the Taihang area is bitter, and there is too little arable land. I'd like to divide them all, but there's no place to put them......"

"Zhongde." Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu: "How many places are there in Yuzhou now to settle the people?" ”

Cheng Yu thought for a while and said to Cao Cao: "Back to Cao Gong, there is a lot of arable land in Yuzhou, but there are no villages that have been built......

"There weren't so many villages, so I settled all these people in the original villages." Cao Cao said: "What Zirong did in Huainan, we will do in Yuzhou." ”

"Childe's approach in Huainan is different from that in Yuzhou." Cheng Yu said: "Yuan Shu was oppressed in Huainan in various ways, and the people were very miserable. It was only after Childe went that they got out of poverty. Of course, whatever the son says, they will do it. What's more, Huainan has experienced many disasters, and the population is already small, and the transfer of population from other places has no bad impact on the aborigines. If there is no conflict of interest, there will certainly be no trouble. But Yuzhou is different, Cao Gong has been running Yuzhou for many years, and the people are living relatively stable, and suddenly there are a lot of outsiders begging for food, how can the people have no reaction? ”

"What do you mean ......," Cao Cao asked.

"We still have to build new villages." "And these villages have to be far away from the existing ones, otherwise there will be conflicts between the new people and the indigenous people," Cheng said. ”

Twisting his chin, Cao Cao thought for a while and said, "What Zhongde said is that this matter will be handled by you." ”

Looking at Zhang Yan, Cao Cao asked him, "General Zhang, I don't know if you will hand over the old and weak women and children to Zhongde and let him take them back to Yuzhou?" ”

"If Cao Gong thinks it's safe, then how to do it." Zhang Yan responded.

Cao Cao said again: "Just now I was still discussing with everyone, and when the general arrives with his troops, I will immediately send troops to besiege Yecheng." Yecheng was besieged, and Yuan Shang must return to the army to save him. General Zhang intercepted and killed him in the middle of the road. ”

"After defeating Yuan Shang, do you want to take advantage of the victory to pursue?" Zhang Yan asked.

Cao Cao did not answer directly, but asked Zhang Yan rhetorically: "How sure is General Zhang going to deal with Yuan Shang alone?" ”

"Ten points." Zhang Yan said to Cao Cao without thinking about it: "If Duke Cao doesn't believe it, I am willing to make a military order and break Yuan Shang." ”

"The military order is not needed." Cao Cao smiled and said, "Can I still trust the general? ”

"Thank you Cao Gong for your trust." Zhang Yan thanked her.

"Zhongde will later go with General Zhang to take over the old and weak women and children." Cao Cao said: "The big war is coming, leaving them here is not only useless, but it is still a constraint, send them away earlier, General Zhang can also feel more at ease." ”

"The big war is coming, and Cao Gong can still take care of the old and weak." Zhang Yan arched his hand and said: "With such benevolence and righteousness, it is no wonder that Yuan Shao was able to defeat Yuan Shao with less victory than Guandu." ”

"Could it be that Yuan Shao is not benevolent?" Cao Cao asked with a smile.

"Don't hide it from Cao Gong." Zhang Yan said: "If Yuan Shao gave me a little way to live, I would not lead the army to fight him." After all, the Yuan family is the fourth and third dukes, and it is not good for me to offend them. It's a pity that he plans to wipe us out, and that's why I led my army to help Gongsun Zhan. It's a pity that Gongsun Chan is not a person who achieves great things after all......"

Saying this, Zhang Yan sighed heavily.

Cao Cao said with a smile: "The general doesn't have to be sentimental, we don't mention the things of the year, follow me to achieve great things from now on, and I will not treat the general badly." ”

"Thank you Cao Gong!" Zhang Yan hurriedly thanked Cao Cao.

PS； Today's first two shifts, tomorrow's explosion will continue, there are indeed some things in the past two days, and I can't sit in a chair with back pain.

(End of chapter)