Yuan Shao really saw it quite thoroughly at this moment, he didn't think that he could confront the Xinhan army with his own strength. The previous battle with Cao Cao was so embarrassing, compared to Cao Cao's military horses, the superior New Han army made Yuan Shao even more desperate.

In his heyday, Yuan Shao was like a cloud of fierce generals and strategists like a forest, but he was no match for Cao Cao. The battle of Guandu did hit Yuan Shao very thoroughly. Therefore, in his heart, he was not as unwilling as Liu Biao.

The ups and downs of the world, Yuan Shaodu has seen more clearly. Now the Great Han, although there are still many people who keep saying that he is the fourth and third duke of the Yuan family, he is extremely honorable. However, the tears in his heart are only known to Yuan Shao himself.

The so-called Yuan family four and three dukes, these, everything has become a thing of the past, how honorable the past is? The Yuan family is full of people, hasn't it been destroyed by Dong Zhuo? If Yuan Shao couldn't figure it out before, then now he really thinks more transparently.

The honor brought by the fourth and third princes of the Yuan family should have come to an end now, and in this world, it is estimated that no one will really respect him after the Yuan family. Looking at Yuan Shu's fate, Yuan Shao's heart understood, and he also felt helpless.

Hehe, a slave for one day, a slave for a lifetime. It doesn't matter if the Yuan family used to be a supreme minister, one person is below and above ten thousand, but so what? A minister is a minister after all, and he will never be able to ascend to the Ninety-Five Honor. Yuan Shu is a very good example, before Yuan Shu was not called emperor, although he was tyrannical, but after all, there were still people who saw that he was the fourth and third dukes, and there were still few people who went to take refuge in him. Moreover. The princes of the Han Dynasty did not openly say that they would destroy his Yuan Shu. As soon as he became emperor, he immediately became a street rat. Everyone shouted and fought. In the past, the Yuan family was the mainstay, with the will of the Yuan family as the will, and the Yuan family was on good terms, as well as those so-called protégés of the Yuan family, how many of them could wave the flag and shout for Yuan Shu's title of emperor? How many people can say half a good word for Yuan Shu? At least, Yuan Shu got the jade seal of the country. It coincides with the proverb that the jade seal wins the world. If the fourth and third dukes of the Yuan family are really convincing and appealing, then. Those Yuan protégés and former officials who can't be counted, what are they doing?

No one can openly support Yuan Shu as emperor, no one can say a good word for Yuan Shu as emperor, and no one stands up to say it. The Han Dynasty declined. The court was corrupt, Yuan Shu was called the emperor, but he just obeyed the mandate of heaven, and the jade seal was called the emperor, which was really the destiny of heaven, and the Han changed Liu's surname to Yuan......

Well, back then, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were able to shout out that the prince and general Xiangning had a kind of words. Now. Yuan Shu is not born with mud legs, and has such an honorable identity. None of them can be accepted by the world.

Therefore, Yuan Shao can be regarded as seeing through it.

For generations of his Yuan family, they were all ministers of the Han Dynasty, and now, it is impossible to send the master to claim the king and hegemony. This is like a slave of a family, who wants to turn over and become the head of his family, is it possible? A domestic slave is a slave after all, and there will never be any possibility that he will become the master of the house one day. Moreover, the betrayal of the master by the house slave is even more angry and hated. If an outsider comes and takes away his family's inheritance, the world may still accept it, but no one can accept it if a domestic slave betrays his master.

thought that he had millions of male soldiers in his hands, and the world was at his fingertips, but he couldn't even fight Cao Cao, a childhood playmate. The defeat in the first battle of Guandu hit Yuan Shao deeply, especially the departure of a group of strategists, as well as the betrayal of Zhang He, Gao Ran and other generals, which made Yuan Shao feel a feeling of twilight in the West Mountain, and a feeling that his Yuan family was exhausted.

Unconsciously, the Yuan family is in one lineage, and at this moment, there is only one branch left of him Yuan Shao, and the originally prosperous Yuan family has now declined, and the people have withered. Subconsciously, Yuan Shao felt that he couldn't let the Yuan family line break off the inheritance in his hands no matter what.

Therefore, under the circumstance of knowing that it is invincible to the New Han Dynasty, confronting or not confronting Liu Yi is just a dead end. Yuan Shao felt that only by taking refuge in Cao Cao was the way out for his Yuan clan, and the only choice to save himself.

At this moment, Yuan Shao proposed in public that he wanted to vote for Cao Cao, which suddenly surprised the ministers and generals under his account, and at the same time, made some people who were truly loyal to Yuan Shao at a loss and could not accept it.

"My lord! Don't think so. Defecting to Cao Cao, this matter is not trivial, and it cannot be easily decided. Some courtiers shouted a little excitedly: "We still have hundreds of thousands of troops, and we still have the strength to fight with the New Han Army. ”

"Yes! Lord, we are all united and swear to fight to the death against the invasion of the New Han Army, I don't believe that Liu Yi has three heads and six arms, and he can't defeat him! ”

"Lord, don't vote for Cao Cao, we have a big battle with it, the resentment between the two sides has not disappeared, if the lord votes for Cao Cao, I am afraid that my life will be at risk!"

"Lord ......"

“……”

Even Yuan Shao didn't expect that his plan to vote for Cao Cao would cause unanimous opposition from the ministers.

Guo Tu also said at this moment: "Lord, don't think about the defeat in the battle of Guandu anymore. The so-called victory and defeat is a common thing in soldiers, didn't Han Gaozu have been defeated repeatedly? But isn't it the same as getting the Han world? What's more, we are now especially strong, so we must not give up lightly, no matter what, we are willing to follow the lord, life and death together! ”

"That's right! We are willing to die for the Lord! Swear to fight to the death with the New Han Dynasty to the end! ”

……

Guo Tu's words caused a surge of public sentiment, and at the end of the day, everyone knelt down in front of Yuan Shao, swore allegiance, and swore to live and die with Yuan Shao and Jizhou.

This is also what Yuan Shao couldn't imagine, he didn't expect that when he felt that he had no way out, he said that he planned to take refuge in Cao Cao, which aroused the fighting spirit of his ministers.

Well, in fact, Yuan Shao was really a little too rash. Even if he planned to vote for Cao Cao, he shouldn't have revealed such a meaning too early at this moment. Because, where to go for a general force like Yuan Shao involves the interests of too many people. If you want to say that it will fall, it is not that Yuan Shao will say that it will fall.

Most of the ministers under Yuan Shao's account are looking at following Yuan Shao and being able to obtain greater benefits, so they will always follow Yuan Shao. Now Yuan Shao said that he wants to vote for Cao Cao? Then Yuan Shao really voted for Cao Cao. Where do they go from here? Where will the army of hundreds of thousands go?

Anyway, quite a few of them. Even if Yuan Shao voted for Cao Cao, they were unwilling to vote.

"Okay, well, I, Yuan, can get your followers, and it's not in vain for this life. Guo Tu is right, victory and defeat are just a common thing in soldiers, and we will not reach the end of the road. Actually, don't worry. I, Yuan Shao, didn't collapse! If Yuan really has no fighting spirit and no ambition, these days. Yuan will not transfer troops and prepare for a war with the New Han Dynasty. Yuan Shao saw that all the ministers unanimously opposed him to Cao Cao, so he had to beat his spirits and pretend to be moved by the loyalty of everyone. Squeezed his eyes. made his eyes a little wet, and said to the ministers.

"I see......"

A group of subordinates, this is a little relieved.

"Everyone, please get up quickly." Yuan Shao raised his hands and said: "What Yuan said about voting for Cao Cao is just the last choice when we have to do it, and now." The most important thing for us is to do a good job of resisting the invasion of the New Han Dynasty. ”

"As it should be! Lord. I recommend ......"

The ministers seemed to let go of the surprise in their hearts, and began to discuss enthusiastically, changing the heavy and depressed atmosphere earlier.

"My lord, when you mentioned voting for Cao Cao, I thought about it, perhaps, if we want to dismantle the crisis brought about by these new Han dynasties, I am afraid that we will really have to take advantage of Cao Cao." Guo Tu rolled his eyes and said: "Perhaps, we don't have to say anything about the issue of defecting to Cao Cao, but we can send someone to see Cao Cao, we, make peace with Cao Cao, first put aside the grievances between our two families, and form an alliance to deal with Liu Yi together, this should be the most important thing we should do at present." ”

"Oh? and Cao Cao's peace ...... "Yuan Shao really didn't think about such a question earlier, all he thought about was to directly join Cao Cao, and he didn't think about forming an alliance with Cao Cao to fight against Liu Yi.

"My lord, the New Han Dynasty threatened to send troops to unify the Han Dynasty, but it did not say which of the princes they wanted to attack first. Perhaps, it may be possible to attack Cao Cao first. No matter which prince Liu Yi wants to attack, no one will be at ease, although Cao Cao defeated us in the battle of Guandu, but, according to our spies, Cao Cao is now very short of money and food, which has a lot to do with the fact that they burned down our black nest granary, although they defeated us, they did not get our grain and grass supplement, so Cao Cao's current situation is not too good. So, should we send an envoy to Cao Cao now? Shake hands with Cao Cao and talk about fighting against the New Han Dynasty? Guo Tu's eyes flashed, he felt that it was a plan, and said to Yuan Shao more affirmatively: "That's right!" My lord, in this way, may be the only possibility that we can fight against the new Han Dynasty. Maybe, the lord and Cao Cao join forces, and they can have another grand event like the world when the world's heroes discussed Dong Zhuo, if you want to defeat Liu Yi, you have to join forces with the princes of the world. ”

"Huh?" Yuan Shao couldn't help but be a little moved by Guo Tu's words.

"The lord, the minister seconded!"

"It is not advisable to take refuge in Cao Cao, but if you can shake hands with Cao Cao and make peace with the New Han Dynasty, this is the best policy, and the minister also seconded it!"

"Seconded!"

……

In the end, Yuan Shao and his ministers decided to speed up the collection of military horses and build a defensive line to resist the attack of the New Han army, and at the same time send fast horses to Xu Du to meet Cao Cao and discuss with Cao Cao about the formation of an alliance.

Here, Yuan Shao's indecisive character is once again reflected.

In Yuan Shao's heart, he felt that he had no chance of winning against the New Han Dynasty, and in his heart, he did make up his mind to join Cao Cao, and he also planned to move out of his childhood relationship with Cao Cao and persuade Cao Cao to accept him. However, now that he is so opposed by the ministers, he can no longer assert himself. Or, in other words, under such circumstances, before Yuan Shao received Cao Cao's answer, he could only obey the advice of his subordinates, and send an envoy to meet Cao Cao first, and first talk about the alliance and the alliance.

In addition, the key thing is that Yuan Shao feels that with his own military strength, even if he can't defeat Liu Yi, he can still resist the enemy for a while, and if he defeats Liu Yi of the New Han Dynasty, then there is no need to say anything. If the battle is defeated, Yuan Shao feels that he can talk about defecting to Cao Cao again.

Coincidentally, at the same time that Yuan Shao sent an envoy, Liu Biao of Jingzhou also sent an envoy. The envoys who went to Xudu arrived in Xudu almost at the same time. And the believers sent by Liu Biao to see Yuan Shao, because of the problem that they were relatively farther away from Xudu, and Yuan Shao went to Xindu City further north, so. After the envoy sent by Yuan Shao arrived in Xudu, he rushed to Xindu to see Yuan Shao.

This is not talked about beforehand.

Let's talk about Cai Mao from Jingzhou, and Guo Tu sent by Yuan Shao. Almost at the same time, he arrived in Xudu and handed over a visit to Cao Cao at the same time.

As for Cao Cao, he was faster than these two powerful forces, and he had already sent Hua Xin to Luoyang to meet Liu Yi, but there was no news back for the time being.

If Cao Cao hadn't decided, Liu Biao in Jingzhou and Yuan Shao in Jizhou had sent envoys to meet him at this moment. Naturally, he was very happy. Because, if it weren't for the fact that there was already a strategy to solve the crisis that the New Han Dynasty might send troops to attack him, there was no need for Liu Biao and Yuan Shao to send envoys to meet him. He had already sent messengers to these princes.

Therefore, when he heard the envoys from Jingzhou and Jizhou at the same time, Cao Cao's expression was very exciting, and he wanted to laugh three times. He didn't have to guess. He already knew Liu Biao and Yuan Shao's intention to send envoys to see him. Recently. He was also as frightened as Liu Biao and Yuan Shao, but now he was very determined, because the princes of Ren Tianxia would never think of it, and he would not think that he would fight against them with Liu Yi.

If Hua Xin met with Liu Yi, he explained his position. Cao Cao is very confident that Liu Yi will definitely not use troops against him first. Then, he can sit back and watch the tiger fight.

Well, before he fought with Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Liu Bei and other princes, then Liu Yi'an sat in Luoyang and watched him fight with the princes. Now, Cao Cao feels that there is a kind of feng shui in turn, thirty years in the east of the river and thirty years in the west of the river.

As long as he can form an alliance with Liu Yi clearly, he will verbally stand on Liu Yi's position, and declare to send troops to crusade against those princes who are not subservient. In secret, he seized the time to recruit troops and horses, engage in construction, production and development, and wait for Liu Yi to fight to the death with the princes of the world, it is best to fight until both are defeated, and then it is the time for him to conquer the world.

The two countries will not fight each other, not to mention that Cao Cao has no intention of fighting Yuan Shao again immediately, let alone sending troops to fight Liu Biao. Therefore, Cao Cao still met with Cai Mao from Jingzhou and Guo Tu from Jizhou.

Cao Cao is no stranger to Cai Mao and Guo Tu, especially Guo Tu, who met him in Luoyang in his early years. and Cai Mao, although he has never looked good, he has long heard of the name of Cai Mao of the Cai family.

Therefore, Cao Cao still put on a gesture of welcoming the two and received the two in the meeting hall of the Xiangguo Mansion.

As soon as they met, Cao Cao said: "Ha Lu Ha, I don't know what kind of wind is blowing in Lu Dao, there are two distinguished guests together, the public rule, we know each other, although you are now your own master, but after so many years, this is only to see Cao once, and it is really not enough friends." Come on, please be seated! ”

After Cao Cao finished speaking, he looked at Cai Mao, who came in with Guo Tu, and said: "Cai Mao, the word Deqi, the number one general under Liu Jingsheng's account in Jingzhou, not only that, General Cai's Cai family, but there are several wealthy families in Jingxiang, the reason why Liu Biao can gain a foothold in Jingzhou and truly become the lord of Jingzhou, your Cai family, your General Cai Mao has made the greatest contribution, and his contribution is indispensable!" What I Cao Cao said, is it true? ”

"Ha Lu Ha ......"

"People say that Cao Gong is humorous and a big person, when I see it today, as expected, I dare not say the credit, nothing else, but I really can't hide it from Cao Gong!"

"Hehe, Guo was just a small staff member of the Yuan family back then, I didn't think about it, Cao Gong still remembered Guo, which really flattered Guo, not that Guo didn't want to visit Cao Gong, but that Guo knew that his status was low, and he didn't dare to climb high."

Cai Mao and Guo Tu, although they met, they didn't have time to say anything more, and they didn't express their intentions to each other, but at this moment, they seemed to have a very tacit understanding, laughed loudly in unison, and bowed to Cao Cao respectively.

Cao Cao invited the two of them to sit down, and said loudly: "Come on, set up a banquet and set up wine, today, I want to have a good gathering with General Cai and Mr. Guo!" ”

When the subordinates heard this, they hurriedly got busy.

After a while, the wine and food were served, and Cao Cao deliberately did not ask them about their intentions, as if he was really happy to have friends from afar, and talked about it, but he didn't ask about business.

Cai and Guo wanted to explain their intentions to Cao Cao several times, but Cao Cao intentionally or unintentionally pulled away from the topic.

Well, if there is really no way, Cao Cao will naturally also ally with Yuan Shao and Liu Biao to fight against Liu Yi of the New Han Dynasty. After all, all of their princes were facing the same situation, if Liu Yi wanted to attack any of them, no one would be able to resist the enemy. The same is true of him Cao Cao. sent Hua Xin to see Liu Yi, but there was no news back, Cao Cao planned to drag the two of them first, and see what the result of Hua Xin's meeting of Liu Yi was.

Cao Cao knew that he was not in a hurry for these things, no matter who Liu Yi was going to attack, he didn't believe that Liu Biao and Yuan Shao were not prepared at all, so even if Liu Yi attacked which one, there was still time for them to form an alliance to counterattack Liu Yi.

Of course, if Liu Yi agrees to form an alliance with him Cao Cao, the situation will be different, and he may be able to instigate them to fight to the death with Liu Yi and consume the strength of the New Han Dynasty as much as possible. He profited from cocoa.

After the third round of drinking, Cao Cao was about to find an excuse to let the two of them go to the post station to rest first. The two generals, Zhang He and Gao Lan, who had just joined Cao Cao, hurriedly came to the meeting hall.

It turned out that when these two generals heard that Guo Tu had come to Xudu, they both remembered that when Yuan Shao was in Yuan Shao's camp, Yuan Shao wanted to condemn him, but Guo Tu sent someone to report to them, so they resolutely betrayed Yuan Shao and took refuge in Cao Cao, and only in this way did they have their current status.

Well, not to mention being named a general by Cao Cao, now in Cao Cao's army, Zhang He is also Cao Cao's favorite general, and he is deeply valued by Cao Cao, and his status is not lower than that of Xu Huang, Zhang Liao and other generals.

Hearing that Guo Tu had arrived in Xudu, they came to toast and thank Guo Tu for his kindness.

Cao Cao took advantage of the arrival of Zhang He and Gao Ran, excused himself to be a little drunk, and left decisively, so that Cai Mao and Guo Tu had no chance to talk to Cao Cao about business. (To be continued......)