Although Zhang He has always scoffed at the division of troops, the military orders are like a mountain, and he can't afford to worry about it. Yuan Shao is his own lord, the lord of Hebei, and the commander of the three armies, how can he not listen to his orders? Besides, there are still a number of strategists around Yuan Shao, since none of them have objected, I think Yuan Shao's order may have other intentions.

Zhang He could also comfort himself with such a reason, and on the other hand, he was marching in the high night, and when he heard the news that Yuan Xi had divided his troops, he sighed his good luck all day long. This time, he can be said to have evacuated all the soldiers and horses in Qingzhou, and many counties in Donglai and Beihai County were even guarded by only two hundred soldiers at this time. At this time, the county, the plains and other places were only suspicious soldiers, and Gao Ye simply turned over the old bottom this time, so that he could make up 64,000 soldiers and horses and march west to Linqing.

Gao Ye's plan has been prepared since he occupied the plains, Zang Ba's 20,000 soldiers and horses took Dongwuyang, which seems to be a clever move, but if you look carefully, it is indeed like a chicken rib. The navy has always operated at night, so Yuan Shaojun has not yet discovered the terrible fact that Cao Jun has a navy. Therefore, thinking about it in the high night, as long as the brains of these guys are not in the water, they will keenly feel that Zang Ba's lone army is useless at all. Only when everyone thinks that this army is useless, can these 20,000 men be of the greatest use.

Speaking of which, when Gao Ye was planning this plan, he still referred to the battle of Guandu in history, without the loss of Puyang, and also without this tragic offensive and defensive battle of Cao Ying. What Gao Ye hopes for is an empty Jizhou, an empty rear of the Yuan army, and only in this way can he be given a chance to raid Yecheng. What Guo Jia said in Xuzhou that day was really not his whim. How many sleepless nights Gao Ye has experienced for this goal is known only to him.

Seven months have passed along the way, and even if Yuan Shao did not retreat after the battle, he still confronted Cao Cao in Guandu, and Gao Ye was counted. But Gao Ye didn't calculate that Zhang He would really agree to divide his troops with Yuan Xi, continue to defend himself all the way, and go all the way to attack Zang Ba. Although in terms of troop allocation, Yuan Xi's more than 40,000 soldiers and horses can barely be regarded as an advantage over Zang Ba who defended the city, Zhang He, Gao Lan's 40,000 troops plus two cities are also an advantage for themselves. But if the force is strong, the force is weak, is Yuan Jun really not afraid that he will bypass Linqing and kill directly to Dongwuyang, and then give Yuan Xi a front and rear pinch? Of course, there is also a possibility, that is, Yuan Jun's move was a trick to lure the enemy, thinking that when he hit Linqing and Beiqiu, Yuan Xi would give himself a surprise attack. Either way, some of the plans had to be changed.

Gao Ye's soldiers and horses were still on their way to Beiqiu, but Yuan Xi's soldiers and horses were already in the city. Zang Ba, who lived in Dongwuyang, had already received the news when Yuan Xi's forward army left Qinghe County. Like Gao Ye, when Zang Ba and Xu Shu heard the news, they also looked at each other. After all, from an overall point of view, his own troops and horses are insignificant, and the east defense is high at night, and the southern imperial Cao Cao is the most important thing for Yuan Jun to consider now. But Yuan Xi came to Dongwuyang, and he acted like this, making it clear that he was not playing cards according to common sense.

By the time Yuan Xi's striker arrived at Fagan, Xu Shu's emergency document had already received a reply from Gao Ye's eight words, "Unbeatable, act at the opportunity", and it was only at this time that Xu Shu and Zang Ba were relieved. Both of them knew what Gao Ye's ultimate goal was, but now that the plan was deviated and the situation was unclear, the four words of acting at the opportune time could be described as the best way to command.

Zang Ba looked at these four words, and while he breathed a sigh of relief, he also frowned. Gao Ye let go of power, how to fight this battle in the end is all on his own body, and the responsibility is heavy. Therefore, Zang Ba also looked at Xu Shu on the side and said, "Yuan Zhi, General Hou doesn't care how we fight now." Tell me, how should this battle be fought? ”

Xu Shu didn't answer Zang Ba's words immediately, but stared at the map hanging in the lobby, his hand was gesturing, and his mouth was still chanting. After a long while, after Zang Ba had drunk three bowls of tea, Xu Shu turned around and said with a smile: "If you and I lead the army to retreat to the south bank, then that's it." But if I want to defeat Yuan Xi, I really have a plan in mind. Just ......"

"Just what?"

"It's just that if Yuan Xi's army is defeated, the general's plan to attack Yecheng will be stranded. After all, Yuan Shao can continue to confront the lord in Guandu now, relying on his superior strength, sufficient food and grass, and the safety of the rear and the left and right wings. But if Yuan Xi is defeated, Zhang He will also be unable to support himself in Linqing. I am afraid that when Yuan Shao hears the news, he is afraid that under the authority of the general, he will immediately withdraw to Liyang, or even Yecheng, in order to gain momentum. In this way, although our army won this battle, it was a miserable victory, and I am afraid that some of the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Zang Ba nodded when he heard this: "But if you retreat like this, it will be difficult for the general to take Zhang He, and I don't know if the surprise attack on Yecheng can be carried out." In this way, the success or failure of this battle will all lie in Guandu. Yuan Zhi, you said that you have a plan to break the enemy, how sure are you? ”

"It's only fifty percent, if there are masters in Yuan Xi's army who see through my plan, then I can't do anything. General Xuan Gao, come and see. Saying that, Xu Shu pointed to the map and said: "You see, the geographical location of Dongwuyang can be described as unique. Facing Luoshui and backed by the Yellow River, if our army had not attacked suddenly and Yuan's army was unprepared, I am afraid that it would not be so easy to take this place. Our army can urgently order people to build embankments and store water in the upper reaches of the river to flood it. ”

"It's the end of summer now, and the water is turbulent, I'm afraid that Yuan Jun will be on guard and won't be flooded so easily."

"Well, having said that, Yuan Jun must have come here to fight a quick battle, and I already have a plan in my heart, or I can wipe out Yuan Xi's soldiers and horses. It's just that whether you want to try it or not depends on General Xuangao. ”

When Zang Ba heard this, he fell into deep thought, and this time it was Xu Shu's turn to drink tea all the time. However, Zang Ba didn't dwell on it for too long, and got up as soon as he opened his eyes and said: "This battle involves the next plan of the Hou General, so you can't be careless." Yuan Zhi, I think so, you write a letter about our current situation and send it to General Hou immediately. I will now order to prepare for the impoundment of water. In two days, General Hou's order came back, and if General Hou wanted us to fight, we would fight. If the general wants us to retreat, we will retreat, what do you think? ”

Xu Shu nodded with difficulty and said: "This is feasible, rush the paperwork to run back and forth, and Yuan Xi's soldiers and horses are estimated to not be able to reach the city." It was only the general who asked me to wait for the opportunity to act, and I kicked the ball back later, for fear that I would be scolded by the general after the war. ”

"Haha, what's there to be afraid of being scolded, I'll send the plan to General Hou, and the General Hou will cut it off, and the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in terms of the overall situation." When Xu Shu heard this, he also laughed, gave up his promise, shook his head and hurriedly ran back to his room to write paperwork.

In August, although it is already autumn, the weather is still a little hot. The so-called autumn tiger is nothing more than that. But in such a hot weather, Yuan Xi's marching speed did not decrease at all. The four words of soldier and god speed are now firmly rooted in Yuan Xi's mind, completely ignoring what kind of torture it is for soldiers to march in such weather. If it weren't for Xin Bi's suggestion that Yuan Xi take advantage of the morning and evening to march quickly and avoid the noon sun, I am afraid that by the time Yuan Xi arrives in Dongwuyang, Xin Bi will not be the only one suffering from heat stroke.

Zang Ba and Xu Shu in Dongwuyang were already ready at this moment, seeing the anxiety of showing off their might under the city, Zang Ba just symbolically shouted cruel words and asked him to let the horse come over. Jiao Fu, who has been tired for so many days, naturally will not kill to order the army to attack the city, and fight with Zang Ba and the two for half an hour, and then Shi Shiran returned to the newly built Dazhai.

Now in Yuan Xi's big tent, Xin Bi, who was suffering from heat stroke, was also fighting his spirits, and only listened to Yuan Xi's words: "Sir, now that General Jiao is going to fight, and there is no movement in the city, I think that Zang Ba wants to defend the city to the death." You say that I let the army attack the city tomorrow, what are the chances of victory? ”

Xin Bi rubbed his somewhat dizzy head, and said with difficulty: "I don't think it's possible for Zang Ba's soldiers and horses to defend the city. I heard a report from the scout that there were many boats on the banks of the Yellow River, and I saw that he was also retreating. Xin Bi said this, took a sip of tea, and then continued: "Actually, there is nothing strange about it, Zang Ba's army is a lone army, even if he takes Dongwuyang, but he must be short of food and grass." Because Dongwuyang was too close to Cao Cao, the grain and grass in the past were only enough for the defenders for half a month. Zang Ba has 20,000 horses, how can the little grain and grass in the city be enough? Now that our army is pressing the border, if he chooses to defend to the death, our army does not have to fight at all, besiege him for half a month, and starve to death his army. ”

Yuan Xi nodded when he heard this, and then said, "Since that's the case, then I'll surround him for a day tomorrow?" ”

"No, the second son should be attacked." Xin Bi shook his head and said resolutely, "Now all kinds of signs show that Zang Ba has no intention of sticking to it at all. If he is attacked, I don't think he will resist. The purpose of our army here is to drive Zang Ba's soldiers and horses back to Henan and recapture Dongwuyang. Zang Ba's men and horses are insignificant to this battle, how to block Gao Ye, how to defeat Cao Cao is the key. As long as Childe attacks fiercely, it will take less than two days to regain the power of Dongwu Yang......"

When Yuan Xi heard this, he thought it was true, and ordered a fierce attack early the next morning. Facts have proved that Xinbi's prediction of Cao's army to hold on to the time is still a little biased, Zang Ba did not like Xinbi thought, a day or two of the situation will be handed over to Dongwuyang, but it has been guarded for more than ten days, until the angry Yuan Xi, under the advice of Xinbi, began to prepare for a water attack, and Zang Ba in the city withdrew from Dongwuyang City. Zang Ba's move even Xin Bi was amazed again and again, Zang Xuangao was able to see through his strategy and retreat decisively, and he was really a general.

The Yuan army, which finally entered the city, finally slept peacefully after a long-distance attack and several days of fierce attacks. Yuan Xi was no exception, after dealing with the government affairs of this newly acquired land, he slept in the dark in the county government. Half-asleep and half-awake, only to hear a rumbling sound, Yuan Xiden sat up from the bed, only wearing underwear, and hurriedly ran outside the house and shouted: "Someone, what's going on?" ”