A time passed quickly, and within a few days, Cao Hong failed to send anyone to inform Cao Bao of the situation here, but Cao Bao of Guangling City learned about Sun Jian's actions from other channels.

The surrounding counties of Xuyi County were all occupied by Sun Jian, but Sun Jian sent too few officers and soldiers to effectively control the locality, and many people were unwilling to accept Yuan Shu's rule, so they sent people to send information here.

Not only did Cao Bao learn the news, but even Tao Qian in Xiapi also received information about the accident in Guangling County.

Cao Bao was shocked when he learned the news, and immediately sent people to make a detour to Xiapi City to inform Tao Qian of the rescue and strengthen the defense of Yangzhou.

However, the information that came one after another did not attract much attention from Tao Qian; Now that Cao Bao has incorporated Liu Bei and Xu Sheng's tens of thousands of infantry, his strength is even stronger, and all of Sun Jian's infantry has been disarmed and captured, leaving only a few thousand cavalry, how can he be Cao Bao's opponent? Not to mention other officers and soldiers, just the 10,000 Danyang soldiers left by Xu Sheng were not something that Sun Jian could deal with; More importantly, Tao Qian believed that Sun Jian only had a few thousand cavalry left, and he would not be able to conquer the city at all, and he would inevitably leave after plundering.

Yuan Shu received Sun Jian's report, and was very angry in his heart, vowing to fight with Xuzhou and take the opportunity to occupy Guangling County.

Military advisor Yang Hong did not think so, it is not appropriate to expand the contradiction with Xuzhou, this time it is Xuzhou's fault, and it is more in line with Yangzhou's current interests to hold peace talks with Xuzhou, take the opportunity to blackmail Xuzhou, and continue to maintain a stable relationship with Xuzhou.

Yuan Shu said angrily: "Maintaining friendly relations was proposed by Xuzhou on his own initiative, and we Yangzhou dispatched officers and soldiers to help them drive away Liu Bei, recover the territory, and the army they absorbed, not only did we not get any benefits, but they went back on their word and actually disarmed and captured more than 10,000 of our officers and soldiers, is it tolerable?" Tao Qian, an old villager, deceived people too much. ”

The military advisor Yang Hong comforted: "The lord is angry, Sun Wentai has done a good job, not only obtained Liu Bei's 2,500 cavalry, captured more than 3,000 war horses in Xuzhou, but also 15,000 Xuzhou infantry were surrounded, several counties were occupied, and it was Tao Qian who suffered." ”

When Yuan Shu heard this, but this was the case, he couldn't help but feel good, and said with a smile: "Hahaha, Wentai is really my lucky general!" ”

Yang Hong saw that Yuan Shu no longer planned to attack Xuzhou, so he relieved himself and echoed: "Haha, congratulations to the lord, the new 5,500 cavalry is very important, and we must reward Wentai." ”

"Haha, yes, in the opinion of the military advisor, how to reward Wentai?"

Yang Hong said: "The lord, Wentai is brave in battle, excellent in strategy, and outstanding in battle, he can be allowed to be a general, and the captured 3,000 war horses can be handed over to the lord, as for the captured 2,500 cavalry, they can be classified as Wentai's troops, which will make him loyal to the lord!" ”

Yuan Shu pondered for a while, feeling that the captured Liu Bei's cavalry was not loyal enough, and it was not appropriate to stay by his side, if he only needed war horses, and selected cavalry in Jiujiang County, it would be easier to control and be more loyal to him, so he agreed to Yang Hong's suggestion and decided: "Okay, then what the military advisor said, then how to deal with Tao Qian's villager?" It must not be easily forgiven. ”

Yang Hong said confidently: "My lord, you can send the general Ji Ling to lead 30,000 troops, stationed in Zhongli, and make a posture of attacking Xuzhou. ”

This is very in line with Yuan Shu's plan, he has a more long-term plan in his heart, that is, after stabilizing the relationship with Xuzhou, Ji Ling will guard Zhongli, guard against the troops of Yuzhou and Xuzhou, protect the northern security of Yangzhou, and then send Sun Jian to attack Jingzhou to vent his resentment against Liu Biao.

Sun Jian is more fierce than Ji Ling, more familiar with the situation in Jingzhou than Ji Ling, and is more suitable to be the main general in the attack on Jingzhou.

In order to stimulate Sun Jian's enthusiasm, Yuan Shu decided: "Okay, then with the words of the military advisor, send Ji Ling to guard Zhongli; And ordered Wentai to plunder in Xuzhou, and Tao Qian's village must be punished and let him take it as a warning, otherwise he doesn't know how powerful our Yangzhou is. ”

"Yes, my lord!" After Yang Hong responded, he went to arrange the details of the work.

Yuan Shu calmed down and began to think about how to blackmail Tao Qian well, so as to obtain the necessary benefits, and maintain a stable relationship with Xuzhou, so as to buy him enough time to punish Liu Biao, so as not to make Yangzhou fall into the dilemma of fighting on two fronts.

After receiving the letter of appointment and letter from Yuan Shu, Sun Jian was overjoyed, the title of a broken general, although it was not an appointment from the imperial court, at least it was the recognition of him by the lord Yuan Shu; Moreover, Yuan Shu only needed 3,000 war horses, but the 2,500 Liangzhou soldiers he valued the most were used as his troops, which greatly enhanced his strength.

What made him even happier was that Yuan Shu allowed him to plunder in Xuzhou, which was not only a good opportunity for him to make a fortune personally, but also a good opportunity for him to reward his subordinates.

Therefore, Sun Jian immediately adjusted the order, and each cavalry took turns to go out to loot and recruit soldiers, and all those who joined the army were not allowed to loot, and their families could move to Yangzhou; Officers and soldiers who do not have a daughter-in-law can rob a wife, and their families can also be relocated to Yangzhou without being robbed; In addition to the above two types of families, the remaining Xuzhou people are among the plunderers, one-third of the looted booty belongs to individuals, one-third is handed over to Sun Jian, and one-third is handed over to the lord Yuan Shu.

In times of war, population is the most valuable resource, providing tax revenues and providing successor soldiers.

Sun Jian's order made all the officers and soldiers happy and their morale even higher, but this move brought a terrible disaster to the people of several counties in the south of Xiapi and Guangling County.

The fly in the ointment is that Sun Jian only sent three cavalry out to plunder at a time, and the large army still besieged Cao Hong's military camp; In his opinion, the value of the five thousand Danyang soldiers led by Cao Hong is even higher, if he can recruit five thousand Danyang soldiers, even if he hands over most of Yuan Shu and leaves two thousand as his troops, his strength will increase by leaps and bounds.

This move also had the unexpected benefit of Sun Jian, that is, he obtained the absolute allegiance of two thousand five hundred Liangzhou cavalry; Previously, it was because they were abandoned by Liu Bei, they had hatred in their hearts, and they were forced to be loyal to Sun Jian because of pressure and the temptation of money, but now they are loyal to Sun Jian from the bottom of their hearts.

The Liangzhou soldiers all have the habit of looting, after they followed Liu Bei, Liu Bei showed people with benevolence and righteousness, forbidding them to rob blatantly, they could only secretly make a little fortune, Liu Bei opened his eyes and closed his eyes, as if he didn't see it, although Liu Bei took good care of them, they were still a little unhappy in their hearts; Now that Sun Jian actually let them plunder legally, this is too in line with their temperament, and they like such a lord too much, how can they not get their allegiance?

The news of the looting of the Quartet soon reached Cao Taoqian in Xiapi.

Tao Qian fainted on the spot, and after waking up, he scolded Cao Bao, he was not enough to succeed and more than to lose, so greedy, not only broke his plan to befriend Yangzhou, lost 3,000 cavalry, and even the territory of Guangling County, but also brought heavy disasters to Xuzhou; has the ability to cause trouble, but has no ability to end up.

Originally, he wanted to invite the Qingzhou cavalry to quickly go south to rescue Guangling County, but he was dissuaded by Zhao Yu, who was discredited by Xuzhou, how to ask Qingzhou for help?

Tao Qian also felt embarrassed and couldn't ask for help.

After that, there was news that Yangzhou General Ji Ling was marching to Xuzhou, which made Tao Qian panic.

Don't drive Zhao Yu suggested sending someone to Shouchun to negotiate with Yuan Shu as soon as possible, now Yangzhou is unstable internally, and there are many contradictions with Jingzhou, I believe that Yuan Shu will make a reasonable choice and let Xuzhou go; Otherwise, when the time comes, you can justifiably ask Qingzhou for help, and I believe that Qingzhou will not sit idly by.

At this time, Tao Qian had no better idea in a panic, so he adopted the suggestion of Beijia and asked Yuan Shu for peace, and the heavy responsibility still fell on Wang Lang, who was engaged in governance.

Tao Qian's plan was to continue to maintain a friendly state with Yangzhou, Xuzhou returned the detained Yangzhou officers and soldiers, and asked Yangzhou officers and soldiers to stop plundering Xuzhou and withdraw from Xuzhou jurisdiction, as for other conditions, Wang Lang played out on the spot.

With Qingzhou as the backing, Wang Lang was full of confidence, and after taking over the errand, he hurried to Shouchun, and he reached the conditions of the talks one day earlier, and ended the disaster of the people of Xuzhou one day earlier.