Yuan Shang was reluctant to give up Yecheng and shook hands with Yuan Tan, but when Cao Cao proposed that Yuan Shang turn around to rescue Yecheng, Yuan Shang hesitated again. The combat power of the Nanyang Army is known to the world, and Yuan Shang is conceited, but he is not a fool. If it weren't for the help of Cao Cao and Zhang Yan, he would have led Yan Liang and 40,000 Jizhou soldiers to challenge He Xian head-on, and Yuan Shang would have no bottom in his heart.

Feng Ji knew Yuan Shang's thoughts, but proposed: "Why is Meng De unwilling to return to Yecheng with the army? ”

Cao Cao smiled bitterly: "It's not that I don't want to, but I can't!" If the general can't shake hands with Yuan Tan and make peace, and our army retreats together, Yuan Tan and Lu Bu will definitely not give up such a good opportunity and will take advantage of the situation to pursue. Retreat and it will be extremely dangerous! ”

Cao Cao was right, although Yuan Tan and Lu Bu were defeated, the main force was still there. In particular, Lu Bu's Flying Bear Army is particularly good at surprise attacks, and it is necessary to guard against it.

Zhang Yan stood up and said, "Why don't I go back to Yecheng with the general?" Here in Jixian County, with Meng De in charge, Yuan Tan and Lu Bu should not dare to move lightly! ”

Cao Cao looked at Zhang Yan with some surprise, and his eyes clearly said: The Nanyang Army is not so easy to deal with.

Zhang Yan laughed and said: "A few years ago, Ben Shuai collected money from people but failed to eliminate disasters for others. This time, I took the opportunity to end this grievance. ”

"It turns out that Feiyan and He Zhongxin still have such entanglements in the past!" Cao Cao sighed.

"That's the best!" Hearing that Zhang Yan was willing to lead 30,000 Black Mountain troops to follow him back to Yecheng, Yuan Shang's confidence suddenly increased.

"Yan Liang, this general ordered you to lead the vanguard army of 20,000 to set off immediately, turn back to Yecheng, and explore the way for the army!"

"No!" Yan Liang was ordered to go down to reorganize the army.

Cao Cao also took his leave and returned to his military camp.

"Lord, is Yuan Xianfu willing to listen to persuasion?" In Cao Cao's big tent, Xi Zhicai was dealing with official documents, and when he saw Cao Cao coming in, he quickly stood up and asked. Xianfu is the word of Yuan Shang.

Cao Cao shook his head: "Yuan Shang is short-sighted and has always refused to shake hands with his brother. ”

"Yuan Xiansi, why isn't this the case?" Xi Zhicai persuaded. Xiansi is Yuan Tan's word.

"Alas~ Yuan Benchu was a wise man, his bones were not cold, and his huge foundation was about to be lost by his sons, what a pity!" Cao Cao sighed.

"Father, why don't we join forces with the Montenegrin Army and replace it?"

Cao Cao found out that next to the desk on the side of Xi Zhicai, his eldest son Cao Zhang was also there.

"Huang Xu'er, be cautious!" Cao Cao was still very happy to see Cao Zhang. His eldest son is good at archery, good at driving, has excellent arm strength, can fight with fierce beasts with his bare hands, and his ambition since childhood is to be a general.

"What am I doing here?" Cao Cao asked.

"Back to my father, my master is teaching me how to handle official documents!" Cao Zhang replied respectfully.

"Is my son improving?"

Cao Cao scratched his head and said, "It's still better to dance a sword and a gun!" ”

Cao Cao criticized: "If you want to be a good general, you can't just dance a sword and a gun. To read more books of sages, the art of war, strategy, and handling government affairs are indispensable! ”

"Thank you Father! The child knows! Cao Zhang replied respectfully, as for whether he heard it in his ears, only Cao Zhang himself knew.

"Hmm~" Cao Cao nodded, with a teachable satisfied expression, "Ziwen, you go and call Liu Ziyang and say that your father has something important to discuss with him!" ”

Cao Zhang went out of the account to call Liu Ye, and Xi Zhicai said worriedly: "Lord, if Yuan Shang refuses to reconcile with Yuan Tan, the situation in Jizhou is not good!" ”

"I think that Yuan Shao and his brother Yuan Shu were constantly fighting at the beginning, and now there are Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. The Yuan family has the prestige of the fourth world and the third duke, but after all, they are brothers and cannot achieve great things. Jizhou is not a place to stay for a long time, where can we gain a foothold? ”

"Perhaps, the lord can consider the eldest prince's suggestion?"

"What does the military advisor mean to take Jizhou?"

"Nope! It's to take Youzhou! Xi Zhicai corrected, "Jizhou is already He Xian and Yuan Shang, the two tigers are eating, and the lord will participate in it again, and it will be in vain!" What's more, Yuan Shang has already promised to let the lord judge, and continue to confront Yuan Tan and Lu Bu in Jixian County, the lord may wish to go further, go all out to capture Jixian County, and take Youzhou as the foundation! ”

"Take Youzhou, you can go down to Jizhou in the south, you can go to Saiwai in the north, you can take Sanhan in the east, and you can join the state in the west, and the lord can get rid of the constraints of the Yuan family and attack and defend freely!" Liu Ye lifted the curtain of the big tent and strode in.

"Liu Ye has seen the lord and the military advisor!"

"Ziyang came just in time!" Cao Cao said happily, "Listening to Ziyang, do you agree with the opinion of the military advisor?" ”

"Exactly!" Liu Ye arched his hand and said, "The Jizhou War is about to start, and neither He Xian nor Yuan Shang has time to take care of Youzhou. This is a good opportunity for the lord to take Youzhou! ”

Cao Cao: "Although Youzhou is good, the main forces of Yuan Tan and Lu Bu are still there, and it is not easy to defeat!" ”

Liu Ye: "It depends on whether the lord is willing to take a risk!" ”

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "What kind of fight?" ”

Liu Ye lowered his voice and explained his risky strategy to Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai.

After Cao Cao listened, he looked at Xi Zhicai. Xi Zhicai nodded and said, "Have a fight!" ”

Cao Cao sat upright, stroked his beard with his hands, and closed his eyes in contemplation. Xi Zhicai and Liu Ye stood aside, silent, waiting for Cao Cao's decision. Although Cao Cao closed his eyes, his eyelids kept beating. Apparently, he was thinking violently.

In terms of administrative division, Pingyuan County actually belongs to Qingzhou. But whether it was during Cao Cao's control of Qingzhou or He Xian's control of Qingzhou, Pingyuan County had always been under the control of Yuan Shao's power. After Cao Cao's defeat, Yuan Shao temporarily lent Pingyuan County to Cao Cao for shelter out of the consideration of jointly resisting He Xian. Pingyuan County was sandwiched between the forces of the Nanyang Army and Yuan Shang, and it was a dead land. Whether Yuan Shang defeated He Xian, or He Xian defeated Yuan Shang, Cao Cao would not have good fruit to eat. Therefore, Cao Cao had already had the intention of leaving the plains and finding another base. It's just that the time has not been ripe. Cao Cao originally wanted to slowly infiltrate the military and political system of Jizhou, and like Yuan Shao took Jizhou, he overthrew Yuan Shang and replaced him. However, the Nanyang army sent troops ahead of schedule, interrupting Cao Cao's plan. Now, abandoning Jizhou and taking Youzhou has become the only choice!

After the time of half a pillar of incense, Cao Cao opened his eyes and spit out one word firmly: "Good!" ”

"The lord is wise!" Xi Zhicai and Liu Ye bowed down and praised at the same time.

Half an hour later, Cao's army battalion sent several fast horses and headed straight for Pingyuan County. Xiahou Yuan, who stayed in Pingyuan County, also had Cao Cao's 30,000 Qingzhou soldiers. Coupled with the 20,000 Yanzhou soldiers stationed outside Jixian County, these 50,000 people are all Cao Cao's belongings now! Compared with the elite of the Cao army in the past, these soldiers are obviously a little weaker, but now Cao Cao has no time to train. It's a matter of success or failure!