"Yuan Xi?" Zhao Feng never dreamed that this second son of the Yuan family would write a letter to him. This letter was really tortuous, first sent by Yuan Xi to Chaisang, then from Chaisang to Xiangyang, and then from Xiangyang to Hanshou County. Arriving almost at the same time, there was also a letter sent by Liu Bei.

Reading the two letters side by side, Zhao Feng finally figured out what was going on. It turned out that after Yuan Shao was defeated in Cangting, he lost and merged states, his strength was greatly reduced, and his body was not as good as the other, and all the big and small affairs were now taken care of by Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi and Guo Tu. Yuan Tan sent Chen Zhen to ask Liu Bei for support, and at the same time, Yuan Xi also wrote to Zhao Feng, the "brother-in-law", for help, asking him to help persuade Liu Bei, and the two families attacked Cao Ying together, and after the matter was completed, the Yellow River was used as the boundary to divide the land equally.

To be honest, Zhao Feng was very excited. Yuan Tan is really the kind of person who is bold and prolific. There are only two and a half states left in him, and he is already discussing how to solve Cao Ying and divide it equally. If it can really be as he said, then after occupying all the territory under Cao Ying's rule, the remaining Yuan family in Hebei has nothing to worry about at all. Looking at Yuan Xi's letter again, it is nothing more than persuading himself to persuade Liu Bei to join forces with the Yuan family to deal with Cao Ying.

When Liu Bei and Cao Ying formed an alliance against Yuan Shao, they ruled only the two states of Xu and Henan, with a population of only 4 million and less than 200,000 soldiers and horses. At present, Liu Bei occupies the land of four states, with a population of more than 8 million and nearly 400,000 soldiers and horses. On the other hand, after Cao Ying occupied the four states, his strength also made great progress. Although the population of Bingzhou is only 700,000, it is one of the four major horse-producing bases in Dahan, and its strategic significance is extremely important. What's more important is that after Cao Ying occupies the annexed state, he can attack Jizhou on both sides. And once Yuan Shao is squeezed out of Jizhou, then he will probably only be able to survive after retreating to Youzhou. As for Qingzhou, most of it has been occupied by Liu Bei at present, and only the Nanpi and the plains north of the Yellow River are left to be guarded by Yuan Shang. After Yuan Tan took sole power, he transferred Yuan Shang's henchmen and Feng Ji to there, nominally to assist Yuan Shang in guarding Qingzhou, but in fact to dismiss his people. In addition, the general Zhang Jaw and the strategist Fu Zhi were transferred back to Jizhou, preparing to defend Jizhou to deal with Cao Ying. In addition, Tian Feng was transferred to Youzhou by him to assist Yan Rou in dealing with foreign races. At the same time, Tian Yu led 40,000 elite soldiers from Youzhou into Shangdang County, preparing to help in the war.

It should be said that Guo Tu and Yuan Tan still have some skills. In this bad situation, it is not easy to put on a decent defensive posture, and let Yuan Shang, who is not interested in himself, live in Qingzhou and do nothing. However, if you want to deal with Cao Ying with this ability, it is obviously not enough.

Now history has been changed by Zhao Feng into a mess, except for Liu Zhang in the deep mountains and Gongsun Kang in Liaodong who are still living their own little words, the fate of other major princes has undergone earth-shaking changes compared to the same period in history. Liu Biao, who was supposed to be still breathing, has been in Jingnan for more than half a year; Sun Zhongmou, who led Jiangdong, was forced to live his life freely and depressed in the four counties of Jiaozhou. Even Ma Teng and Han Sui, who should have stayed out of the matter at this time, actually went to Bingzhou for a walk. At present, Yuan Tan wants to form an alliance with Liu Bei, and Liu Bei also asks the opinions of core figures such as Zhao Feng and Guan Yu.

Zhao Feng thought about it again and again, feeling that even though he was allied with Yuan Tan. But firstly, the two families are far apart and the news is not clear, and secondly, with Yuan Tan's strength and ability, he can only contain Cao Ying at most, but it cannot be used as too much help. Thinking about it, it seems that it is best to squeeze Yuan Tan's surplus value and let it be best for himself to get some more benefits. It is good to take the opportunity to seize Hanzhong, or to take the opportunity to consolidate Jingxiang.

At that moment, Zhao Feng wrote his opinion in detail and submitted a reply letter to Liu Bei, to the effect that he could agree to form an alliance with him to plan for Cao Ying, but in fact, he took the opportunity to seek benefits for himself. "Zijing, Shi Yuan, Bo Tao and the second brother and Kong Ming all think that they might as well form an alliance with them, but it is not appropriate to use swordsmen." Liu Bei read several reply letters, and basically the opinions were the same.

"We think so!" Pang Tong and others also agreed. "But if Cao Ying comes to commit it, what can I do?" Sun Qian asked at this time.

"Gongyou rest assured, although the battle of Cao Yingcangting was won, it was also a narrow victory. Even if you want to attack again now, you are powerless. In fact, it is not only Cao Ying, but also our side, and Yuan Shao. At present, the tripartite recuperation is the general trend. At least for the next year, no one can afford to fight any more. Chen Qun said with a smile.

"That's right, in this battle of Cangting, when Yuan Cao's troops were far inferior to Guandu, they were all due to the lack of food and grass!" Pang Tong said with a smile.

"What's more, since then, Yuan Shao has become a trend of Bo Xishan. It is said that in the future, the world will become a trend of competition between the lord and Cao Ying. Lu Su said with a smile. Everyone agreed, Liu Bei looked at the map of the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty hanging on the wall, and the population of the land under his rule was already the first, and he was immediately overjoyed.

"Huh?" Pang Tong saw Liu Bei's brows furrowed slightly, and looked along his eyes, but saw that what Liu Bei was looking at was the land of Xichuan, and he suddenly understood in his heart. At this time, Liu Bei came back to his senses and ordered someone to invite Chen Zhen and promised to form an alliance with Yuan Shao, and the two families plotted Cao Zhen together. If any one is attacked, the other needs to be rescued. In the same way, if any one attacks Cao, it needs to inform the other one first, and it needs to work together to destroy Cao Ying. After the two sides signed the letter of agreement, Liu Bei ordered a banquet to entertain Chen Zhen, and the latter, who successfully completed the task, was also in a very happy mood.

The next day, Chen Zhen returned to Jizhou via Qingzhou and reported the alliance to Yuan Tan and Guo Tuyu. "The eldest son, Uncle Liu Huang hates Cao Ying deeply, and is willing to fight this thief with the son!" Chen Zhen couldn't hide his excitement and said to Yuan Tan.

"Filial piety has worked hard all the way!" Hearing this good news, Yuan Tan was also extremely excited, and praised Chen Zhen for his ability again and again. Just as he was excited, the maid who served Yuan Shao came to report, and Yuan Shao vomited blood again.

"Father!" Yuan Tan and Guo Tu hurried to Yuan Shao's side, but saw that Yuan Shao's face was pale, his eyes were closed and he was panting slightly, and there was still a trace of blood stains on the corner of his mouth. Hearing Yuan Tan's voice, Yuan Shao slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Tan and said, "Xiansi, what is the current situation, has Cao Mengde ever come to attack?" ”

"No, Cao Mengde is short of food and grass, and now he is recuperating. So that my father knows that Chen Xiaoqi sent an envoy to Shouchun, and he has already said that Uncle Liu Huang is willing to discuss Cao Ying with us, and the existing alliance is here! Yuan Tan said as he took out the book of the alliance and showed it to Yuan Shao.

"Good, good!" Yuan Shao looked at Bi Liandao three good, and casually looked at Yuan Tan and said: "It's not as good as a father's body, but I'm afraid that it's not far away." You and the other three brothers, if you can be wholehearted and unanimous, you can still protect yourself. If it is a disaster, it will bring disaster upon itself. Liu Bei is generous, and if something goes wrong in the future, he can go to his people, and if it doesn't work, he can save his life, understand? ”

"The child understands!" Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi said respectfully. Yuan Shao closed his eyes a little tired after saying this, and Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi also retreated together.

"The eldest prince, since he has formed an alliance with Uncle Liu Huang, the military horses of the third prince of Qingzhou can be transferred back to Jizhou to block Cao Ying!" Walking out of Yuan Shao's room, Guo Tu suddenly proposed.

"That's how it should be, what do you think, second brother?" Yuan Tan nodded and said, Yuan Xi has nothing to do. How did he know that Guo Tu wanted to reinforce Jizhou, but also to take the opportunity to weaken Yuan Shang's power in disguise. At present, there are still 70,000 troops under Yuan Shang in Qingzhou, and Yuan Tan ordered the transfer of 50,000 of them to help fight Qingzhou, which Yuan Shang is really unhappy with.

"How can this be reasonable, resisting Cao Ying is fake, it is clearly to take the opportunity to take away my inheritance!" In Nanpi City, Qingzhou, Yuan Shang looked at the order in front of him, and he was also furious. Yuan Shang is only in his twenties this year, and he has been very popular with Yuan Shao since he was a child, and he has always been the favorite to inherit his title. But since he came to Qingzhou, Yuan Shang's fortune has not been very good. was first beaten all over the ground by Zhang Fei + Chen Gong, and the general Gao Ran was even captured and surrendered, which hit Yuan Shang, who has always been pretentious, and his impression in Yuan Shao's heart was greatly reduced. Later, because he was in Qingzhou, Yuan Tan, who accompanied Yuan Shao, took advantage of Yuan Shao's inability to be a director, and gradually grasped the power and received more support. Now that he is living in Qingzhou, he really calls the sky not to the earth.

"The third son, the former lady sent someone to send a letter to say that the lord's illness is heavy, but I am afraid that there will be not much. If the third prince patrols Qingzhou, he is afraid that the heir is hopeless! Feng Ji on the side said at this time.

"I also know about this, how can I go back to Qingzhou without my father's order, what can I do?" Yuan Shang was a little helpless. At this time, Feng Ji's eyes rolled and said: "Now that the lord has formed an alliance with Uncle Liu Huang, why doesn't the prince connect with Prime Minister Cao?" It is necessary to know that the Son of Heaven is still in Xuchang, and the third prince can ask him to play the son as the Qingzhou pastor. He said that even if he is not an heir, he can also be a pastor in Qingzhou! It turned out that since Liu Bei formed an alliance with Yuan Shao, Chen Gong took the initiative to request the removal of his position as the Thorn History of Qingzhou, which finally ended the embarrassing situation of the coexistence of Qingzhou's three-year state pastor and Thorn History.

"Well, now we can only take one step at a time!" Yuan Shang hated the authentic. At the moment, the people were handed over, but Yuan Shang prepared a heavy gift, attached his own handwritten letter, and sent Xinbi to Cao Ying secretly, and the letter was full of admiration for Cao Ying. In the end, he vaguely expressed his hope that Cao Ying could support him.

"The descendants of the Yuan family, when this great enemy is at the moment, they are still fighting with each other, it is really hopeless!" After Cao Ying met Xinbi, he was quite disdainful.

"The second son of the Yuan family, he is very talented and sparse. Yuan Tan Shang was able to lead the army to fight, but Yuan Shang was the son of the Taiping, and it was useless in this troubled era. Xun Yu shook his head and said.

"Wen Ruo, the two sons of the Yuan family are fighting, what should we do now?" Cao Ying asked Xun Yu.

"Yuan Benchu said that he would die, and the lord could send people to appease Yuan Shang with kind words and make him sit in Qingzhou. With the strength of Yuan Tan Guotu's open jaw, although it is inferior to our army, it can still fight. If the two sons fight, it will be of great benefit to us. Why didn't the lord provoke the two and let them kill each other? Xun Yu thought for a while.

"That's right!" Cao Ying nodded. At this time, it was the seventh year of Jian'an, and in the middle of the fifth lunar month of 202 AD, after the tripartite battle of Yuan, Cao and Liu, they were all guarding their places for the time being, recuperating and recuperating.

(To be continued)