If it is on the water or in a complex terrain environment with many streams and rivers, the victory or defeat of the Jingzhou army and the Xuzhou army is still a little uncertain, but in the open terrain battlefield east of Weishui, the victory or defeat between the Xuzhou army and the Jingzhou army can be said to be without the slightest suspense. The Xuzhou army, which was tempered in the bloody battles with many powerful neighbors around it, has in fact surpassed the former Central Plains overlord Cao Boss and the northern overlord Yuan Sangong in fact, and the Jingzhou army that is only good at water warfare on the plains.

In fact, it is exactly like this, in order to receive the emperor's army back to the camp, Cai Mao first sent the famous general Deng Long of Jingzhou to lead the army of 8,000 out of the camp to fight with the Xuzhou army, but the Xuzhou army that was exhausted by the elite was as easy as chopping melons and vegetables, after Deng Long's team was defeated to the camp, the Xuzhou army chased after him, and chased all the way to the gate of the Jingzhou army camp. Cai Mao and Huang Jie also gave an order without hesitation, ordering the soldiers in the battalion to fire arrows at their defeated soldiers to prevent the defeated soldiers from attacking the battalion.

Fortunately, almost everyone in the Jingzhou army knows how to water, and there is still water to escape if the camp can't enter, General Deng Long took the lead in bypassing the camp and jumping into the water, and the Jingzhou soldiers who were caught up by the Xuzhou army have followed, like dumplings rushing to jump into the water river with a lot of flow, relying on the skilled water surname to easily escape the water, so that the Xuzhou team in pursuit of the river sighed, can only shoot the enemy in the river with bows and crossbows and arrows as much as possible, but with little effect, can not prevent the defeated troops of Jingzhou from crossing the river, There's no way to annihilate too many enemies.

In fact, if the Xuzhou army is a little more prepared and has more time, it is not difficult to break through the simple camp defense of the Jingzhou army, which has only been built for more than a day, but the Xuzhou army has only made field preparations in this battle, and has not prepared weapons to attack the camp, and the sun has begun to set, Deputy Director Tao decisively gave up the plan to attack the Jingzhou army camp with victory, and just arranged for Xu Chu and Wei Yan to lead the army to monitor the Jingzhou army camp, and then began to search for the whereabouts of the three brothers of Uncle Liu and Zhuge Liang. It is also required to see people alive and corpses when dead.

It's a pity that the three peach brothers have too much experience in escaping, and after a rigorous search, the Xuzhou army just saw Guan Yu appear on the west bank of the river with an arrow wound, but Uncle Liu, Zhuge Liang and Zhang Sanye said that they would not be able to find anything, and when it was dark, Deputy Director Tao had no choice but to return to the camp with a stomach full of regret, and no longer care whether Uncle Liu and Zhuge Liang and others had escaped from the water - of course, if Deputy Director Tao knew that he was personally leading the army to search, If he was once less than 100 steps away from Uncle Liu Huang and Zhuge Liang, but he couldn't dig three feet into the ground to search because it was dark, then Deputy Director Tao would definitely be even more regretful and depressed.

In this one-sided battle, the losses of the Jingzhou army were not small, more than 3,000 soldiers were captured, killed and missing, but the most unlucky was the Huangshu army, 5,000 troops were annihilated by the Xuzhou army more than seventy percent, only more than 1,000 people escaped the water, although Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also crossed the river successively, they were injured together and not lightly, and at the same time, the commander of the Huangshu army, Liu Huangshu, was also missing in the melee, but the officers and soldiers of the Huangshu army, including Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, were not very worried - because Uncle Liu's escape experience was too rich, The person who wants to catch or kill Uncle Liu Huang in the melee may not have been born yet. As expected, after the Xuzhou army withdrew in darkness, at nearly four o'clock, Uncle Liu Huang really returned to the Jingzhou military camp with Zhuge Liang, who was injured in his foot, and once again escaped victoriously from the clutches of Deputy Director Tao.

After a little discussion, the Jingzhou army immediately took action overnight, and transferred grain and grass to the west bank of the river overnight, and the camp tents were so hurried that they could not take care of the camp tents. Fortunately, most of the grain and grass of the Jingzhou army were hoarded on the west bank of the river, and it was more convenient to transfer, so by the time it was dark, the Jingzhou army had basically withdrawn from the river.

The Xuzhou scout reported the news to Deputy Director Tao, and the generals in Xuzhou suggested that they send troops to pursue, but Deputy Director Tao gave up the pursuit plan under the suggestion of Jia Lao's poison, and chose to let the Jingzhou army withdraw, for two reasons, one is that the terrain west of Lishui is too complicated, and there are three large rivers blocking the road, which is not only not easy to pursue, but also easy to repeat the mistakes of the past and ambush; The second reason is that the Jizhou army is here again, and after receiving the news of the Xuzhou army's surprise attack on Xuchang, the big Yuan Sangong ignored his illness, and personally led the army back to Guandu, and put on a cheeky posture of reaching out to pick peaches.

The return of the Great Yuan Sangong to Deputy Director Tao brought two problems, one is the ownership of Emperor Han Xian, and the other is the ownership of Xuchang, and in the letter to Deputy Director Tao, Yuan Sangong has also directly asked about these two things, gave a reply, and unceremoniously asked Deputy Director Tao to negotiate this matter - Great Yuan Sangong also has this qualification, this Xuchang War, if it were not for the Jizhou army as cannon fodder to exhaust Cao Laoda's strength, the Xuzhou army sitting on the mountain watching the tiger fight would not have been able to take Xuchang and hold Emperor Han Xian in his hands.

Needless to say, how important is the adoption of Emperor Han Xian, basically mastering Emperor Han Xian is equivalent to obtaining the righteous title of commanding the world, the ownership of Xuchang is also a big problem, the strategic position of Xuchang, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, is quite important, holding Xuchang, the Xuzhou army can retreat and attack, to the west and south can bully the weak Liu Shoumen and the injured Cao Boss, to the north you can peep into Hanoi and Jizhou, which is also injured, and at the same time, Xuchang's developed Tuntian land can also become a new grain production area for the Xuzhou army, Just let it out, don't say that the generals in Xuzhou won't do it, Deputy Director Tao is also a little distressed.

"Lord, if Yuan Shao asks for the Son of Heaven, you can give it to him, anyway, with Yuan Shao's temperament and surname, when the Son of Heaven is in his hands, he will only miss our Xuzhou more, but Xuchang and Chen Liu must not give it to Yuan Shao!"

When discussing with the strategists how to solve the two problems, Liu Ye resolutely opposed the plan that Deputy Director Tao once considered to give up Xuchang and Chen Liu, and also warned: "If Xuchang and Chen Liu are ceded to Yuan Shao, our army will not only lose two important grain producing areas, the road to Sili and Jingzhou in the west, but also be completely surrounded by the Jizhou army on the northern and western fronts. ”

"Mr. Ziyang is right." Xun Chen echoed: "Xuchang and Chen Liu, both of whom were taken by our army by force, refused to hand them over to Yuan Shao, if the lord let him out, our army will not only lose the road to expansion, but also the Huainan grain production area will also be greatly threatened!" Don't forget, Xuchang's neighboring water, Weishui and Yingshui are all directly connected to the Huai River, and it is very convenient to transport grain and troops. ”

Deputy Director Tao was in great difficulty, and Deputy Director Tao had indeed carefully considered ceding Yingchuan County and Chenliu County, where Xuchang was located, to Da Yuan Sangong, so as to avoid the dilemma of being surrounded by enemies on three sides, and also to avoid immediately deteriorating the relationship with his father-in-law, and prolonging the honeymoon period of Xu Ji - after all, in this Yanzhou melee, the biggest contribution was still the Da Yuan Sangong team. But now after listening to Liu Ye and Xun Chen's analysis, Deputy Director Tao feels that his thoughts are a little naïve, if the army gives up this strategic place to increase grain production areas, and then wants to expand, it can only face the old man directly, or go to Jiangnan, where birds do not lay eggs.

In embarrassment, Deputy Director Tao turned his attention to the most reliable Jia Lao Poison, although the always resourceful Jia Lao Poison would understand, but it was also rare to show embarrassment, and said: "Lord, this time it is difficult to decide, with the current strength of our army, resolutely not to hand over the Son of Heaven and Xuchang, and even to start a full-scale war with Yuan Shao, in terms of strength, it is not inferior, but in terms of morality and reputation, it is not good enough." After all, although Xuchang was taken by our army, the Son of Heaven was also rescued by our army, but the biggest contribution was still Yuan Shao, the lord you are Yuan Shao's son-in-law, and the reputation of Yuan Shao is the master, at this time to turn his face with Yuan Shao and start a war, the lord you have worked hard for many years to ...... reputation. ”

"But if you hand over the Son of Heaven and Xuchang...... Jia Lao Poison hesitated even more, and said: "Lord, you claim to be a loyal minister of the Han family, and Yuan Shao issued an edict in the name of the fake Son of Heaven, you can't help but listen, and you are very passive in righteousness." Moreover, Xuchang's strategic position is placed here again, and it is a pity to hand it over, which is really ....... ”

"No matter how sorry it is, I have to hand it over! Could the lord have forgotten that Gaozu gave Xiang Yu out of the customs? Gao's ancestor entered Xianyang to capture his children, but he gave Guanzhong to Xiang Yu, and finally won the whole world! In this case, how similar is the situation of the lord to Gaozu today, why not follow Gaozu's example and cede Xuchang and the Son of Heaven to Yuan Shao in exchange for the good name of righteousness, and then try to the world? ”

After saying the above words loudly, Shi Yi bowed his hand to Deputy Director Tao and said: "Lord, Yi agrees with our army to give up the Son of Heaven and Xuchang, I hope that the lord should not hesitate, so as not to ruin the reputation of loyalty and righteousness that the lord has worked hard for many years, and make our army fall into the dilemma of being an enemy!" ”

"Is Mr. Ziyu's statement too ridiculous?" Liu Ye accused unhappily: "Back then, Gaozu gave up Guanzhong to Xiang Yu because Gaozu's strength at that time was not as good as Xiang Yu, so he had to do it as a last resort, and now the strength of our army has not allowed Yuan Shao, why should he follow Gaozu?" ”

"The strength of our army is indeed no longer against Yuan Shao, but the strength of our army is still inferior to Yuan Shao, Cao Ying, Liu Biao, Yuan Shu and others joining forces." Shi Yi said in a deep voice: "Mr. Ziyang, don't forget, Yuan Shu, Cao Ying, Liu Miao and others are already the mortal enemies of our army, and Liu Biao has a new grudge against our army. ”

"But if our army gives up the Son of Heaven and Xuchang, won't it make enemies with Cao Ying, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao and others?" Liu Ye asked unconvinced.

"Of course, it's still an enemy, but it's already an enemy who doesn't pose much of a threat." Shi Yi smiled and said: "Please imagine Mr. Ziyang, if our army ceded Xuchang to Yuan Shao, then who would be Yuan Shaojun's first target?" Is it our army that is said to be strong and well-fed, or is it Cao Ying, who is no longer in the same place as Yuan Shao? Riding a weak Liu Biao? With the threat of Yuan Shao, Liu Biao Cao Ying and Yuan Shu Liu Xuan, will they join forces to deal with our army, or will they resist Yuan Shao's threat? ”

Liu Ye closed his mouth, and Yi Ze said in a deep voice: "But if our army refuses to hand over the Son of Heaven and Xuchang, Yuan Shaojun, who has a dislike with our army because of the Qingzhou incident, will inevitably become a complete enemy with our army, Liu Biao will also ally with Yuan Shao to flank our army, Cao Ying can use our army as a shield, first win a chance to breathe, and then try to sneak attack Xuchang or my hinterland in Xuzhou, as well as Liu Xuan and Yuan Shu in Jiangdong, they will not miss this opportunity to counterattack, especially Yuan Shu, he is Yuan Shao's half-brother, In this case, he did not reconcile with Yuan Shao, is it possible? ”

Deputy Director Tao nodded slowly, and Deputy Director Tao had also considered these questions, but it was not that Yi had calculated so deeply.

"Lord, Yi also knows that it is a pity to give up Xuchang Chongdi, but I have to let it." Shi Yi said sincerely: "If our army relinquishes Xuchang and the Son of Heaven and temporarily eases the relationship with Yuan Shao, it can win a huge initiative strategically, but if our army is stingy, then it will fall into complete passivity strategically." Yi also wanted to remind the lord a little more, our army's front is too long now, to the north has reached the Bohai Sea, to the south has crossed the Yangtze River, if you stretch your hand to Xuchang in the west, just over 200,000 total troops, how can it be able to hold it? It is better to temporarily withdraw the hand stretched out to the west, concentrate on expanding the armament war, and wait until the soldiers and food are sufficient, why worry about not returning to Xuchang and dominating the world? ”

Deputy Director Tao nodded again, and he was even more tempted, but Xun Chen said unconvinced: "Although Mr. Ziyu's words are reasonable, if our army cedes the strategic place of Xuchang and then lets Yuan Shao take Runan and Chen Liang, our army's Huainan and Xuzhou hinterland will be threatened at the same time, how can this be good?" ”

"Yuan Shao is not so easy to take down Runan and Chen Liang." Shi Yi shook his head and said: "Cao Ying is still in Runan and Chen Liang, Cao Ying's retreat to Sili and Guanzhong Road, has been cut off by our army and Liu Biao and Yuan Shao, before recapturing the northern part of Nanyang and reopening the road, Runan Chen Liang is actually the only place for Cao Ying to stay at present, if Yuan Shao uses troops to Runan and Chen Liang, Cao Ying will definitely resist desperately, Cao Ying is still a little sure of fighting Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao is currently suffering from the same vitality, and it is not so easy to take the southern part of Yanzhou." ”

Speaking of this, Shi Yi paused, and said: "Besides, if you take 10,000 steps back, even if Yuan Shao immediately destroys Cao Ying, our army will not fall into passivity, because when the time comes, we only need to face a strong enemy of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao threatens our hinterland of Xuzhou and Huainan, how can our army not threaten the weak point of Yuan Shao's hinterland and the connection between the north and the south?" At that time, Xu Ji will fight a decisive battle, with the wisdom and wisdom of the lord, and how can Yuan Shao be afraid of him? ”

"Mr. Ziyu's proposal is clumsy and clever, rigid and soft, simplifying, and admiring it." Jia Lao Poison finally spoke again, nodded and said: "Lord, I agree with Mr. Ziyu's proposal, since the first year of Jian'an, in five years, the main force of our army has been fighting in the south and the north, and the soldiers have been fighting endlessly for five years, although the team is getting stronger and stronger, but the soldiers are already exhausted, it is time to recuperate and expand the army." It is estimated that giving up Xuchang and the Son of Heaven can at least win more than half a year of rest and recuperation time for our army. ”

Deputy Director Tao was silent for a moment, and then smiled at Shi Yi: "Mr. Ziyu, it seems that I really have to be glad that Liu Miao didn't reuse you a few years ago, otherwise, I would have the opportunity to cross the Yangtze River?" Annexation of Huainan? In this matter, I must say thank you to Liu Xuan, thanks to his lack of eyes. ”

Jia Lao Poison and Liu Ye and the others all laughed, Shi Yi hurriedly humbled himself, and then Deputy Director Tao made a decision on the spot, and immediately turned to the lord Bo Chen Ying next to him and shouted: "Yuan Fang, immediately write a letter to Lord Yuezhang for me, tell him that there is no need to negotiate the ownership of Xuchang and the Son of Heaven, without his sacrifice, what chance do I have to take Xuchang and rescue the Son of Heaven?" Ask him to go south immediately to take over Yingchuan and Chenliu County, and I will hand over the Son of Heaven to him unconditionally, which is a little filial piety on my part. ”

"No." Chen Ying agreed, and said with a smile while lifting the pen: "Yuan Shao is also lucky, I can meet a filial son-in-law like you, the lord, seeing this letter, it is estimated that Yuan Shao's illness will be half better immediately." ”

"Lord Yue-in-law is sick? How do you know? What disease? Deputy Director Tao asked hurriedly.

"Listen to what the Jizhou Army messenger said." Chen Ying replied casually while writing a book: "After the Jizhou messenger arrived in Xuchang, he once asked Ying about the injury of the lord, and when chatting with Ying, he mentioned that Yuan Shaozheng was sick, saying that it was because of Xuchang's fiasco and vomiting blood, and he was still sick, and he didn't think about eating and drinking, and he didn't eat or drink more than a few liters per day. ”

"And what's going on? Angry? Haematemesis? Don't want to eat? Deputy Director Tao rolled his eyes, and hurriedly ordered: "In this case, then by the way, I will bring some ginseng to Lord Yuezhang, as well as black bean sauce and salted dried radish that our soldiers like to eat, by the way, just send the cook who served me to Lord Yue, and ask him to make some Dongpo meat, braised elbow and fried river shrimp for Lord Yuezhang to taste, and see if these fresh dishes I invented are to Lord Yuezhang's appetite." Chen Ying sang the promise again, remembered the instructions of his filial son-in-law Deputy Director Tao, and did not mention it afterwards according to the order.

……………… As Chen Ying guessed, when he saw the filial son-in-law taking the initiative to offer the letters of Yingchuan, Chen Liu'er County and the Son of Heaven, Da Yuan Sangong's condition really improved by more than half at once, not only praised several words of filial piety to his son-in-law, but also tasted the dried tempeh radish sent by the filial son-in-law, as well as the delicacies carefully cooked by the son-in-law's cook, the result was not only salty, crisp and tender dried tempeh radish made Da Yuan Sangong full of praise, but also the fat but not greasy Dongpo meat and braised elbow also made the hypertensive patient Da Yuan Sangong have a great appetite, For the first time, he drank wine for the first time after the fiasco in Xuchang.

A day later, Officer Cao, who was surrounded by the Jizhou Legion, crossed the garrison, because he was completely isolated and helpless, and most of them were old and weak, so he could not continue to hold on, so he chose to lay down his arms and surrender to Yuan Shaojun. After the Great Yuan Sangong was overjoyed, he did not hesitate to kill all the more than 5,000 captives in order to avenge the previous official crossing Xuchang, and the scene of the burial alive was unbearable, but the Great Yuan Sangong refused to relieve his anger, and immediately decided to transfer troops from the rear to Xuchang to join the self-army, so as to take over Xuchang and Chen Liu, and launch a battle to destroy Cao as soon as possible.

On the same day that the three dukes of Da Yuan killed the prisoners of Cao Jun, Deputy Director Tao also rejected the official position of prime minister given to him by Emperor Xian of Han in Xuchang City, and also asked Emperor Xian of Han to abolish the position of prime minister and reset the three dukes to divide the power of prime minister. At the end, Deputy Director Tao also praised Yuan Shang as the general of the chariot cavalry, Yuan Xi as the general of the hussars, and he was only willing to accept the position of the general of the general under the general of the three princes of Yuan and the general of the chariot cavalry and the general of the hussars.

"Loyal and righteous!" This is the only evaluation given by Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and the civil and military affairs of the Han Dynasty to Deputy Director Tao. After sighing, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty took the initiative to move the capital to Xuzhou, but Deputy Director Tao still refused to obey his fate, under the pretext that the move of the capital was a matter of national fortune, and he had to stay until the third duke of the Great Yuan arrived in Xuchang, and solicited the opinions of the old man of the third duke of the fourth world, and then decided whether to move the capital to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. Although Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty knew that the three dukes of the Great Yuan might not allow him to move the capital to Xuzhou, the power was not in his hands, so he had to choose to resign himself to fate.

(To be continued)