Yuan Xijun and Zang Bajun fought in Qingzhou for months without Jizhou reinforcements, in fact, it is not that Yuan Sangong did not pay attention to the Qingzhou battlefield, mainly after the defeat of Guandu, Yuan Shaojun's military morale was extremely seriously affected, and he had to guard against Cao's army to attack Jizhou, and the remnants of the main elite were all arranged on the front line of the Yellow River, and the main forces of Youzhou and Bingzhou were difficult to mobilize in place for a while, and finally coupled with the indecisive surname of Yuan Sangong, he couldn't decide whether to make peace with his son-in-law or completely tear his face with his son-in-law. Therefore, it was not until twenty days after the start of the Qingzhou War that the Great Yuan Sangong sent the general Wen Chou to lead an army of 30,000 to the east to assist Yuan Xi in defending Qingzhou.

The reinforcements of the Great Yuan Sangong were too late, and the combat effectiveness of the Xuzhou army was too underestimated, and the elite was drawn away most of the Qingzhou Yuan army not only in the field has been unable to compete with the Xuzhou team, but also accidentally fell into the Xuzhou army's tricks to expose the flaw, when Wen Chou's reinforcements just arrived in the plain to cross the Yellow River, the Xuzhou army has broken through Changguo and Linzi, cutting off the east-west contact of the Qingzhou army, Wen scandal news is helpless, and can only quickly lead the army to Dongpingling to fortify, blocking the road of the Xuzhou army to the east, While sending a fast horse to announce the urgency to Da Yuan San, asking for instructions on the next move - is it to regain the lost territory at any cost? Or just hold on to the existing territory?

Not to mention, although he had just experienced the fiasco of Guandu, but the temper of the Great Yuan Sangong still did not change at all, after receiving the urgent letter from Wen Chou and Yuan Xi, the Great Yuan Sangong jumped up and roared on the spot, "Pass the order, gather the soldiers and horses, I want to personally lead the 200,000 army to the east to Qingzhou, to teach Tao Ying, this unfilial son-in-law!" ”

"Lord, never, never." The chief shogunate and military advisor who happened to be present hurriedly stood up to dissuade him, and said: "Lord, the mortal enemy of our army is not Tao Ying, but the national thief Cao Ying, and now the main force of Cao thief is on the northern line of Yanzhou, if our army uses troops on the eastern front, Cao thief will come to attack Jizhou, if so, the matter can be worried." ”

Of course Yuan Sangong understood this truth, so after gritting his teeth for a long time, he finally sat down again, and said distressedly: "But the matter of Qingzhou can't be ignored?" ”

"Father, brother-in-law used troops in Qingzhou, all because Guo Tu offered flattery and persuaded my father to behead his brother-in-law's second envoy." Yuan Shanggongzi took the opportunity to say: "The child suggests that my father might as well quickly cut off Guo Tu's head and send him to Xuzhou, explain the reason for the misunderstanding, and my brother-in-law will definitely withdraw from Qingzhou immediately." By the way, Yuan Shanggongzi pointed the finger at Mr. Guo Tu because after the defeat of Guandu, Yuan Sangong, in order to prevent accidents, once discussed with the strategists to appoint Yuan Shanggongzi as his heir, but he gave up because of Mr. Guo Tu's strong opposition.

"Fart! Guo Tu is also my retainer no matter how wrong he is, behead him and ask his son-in-law for peace, where does the face of my fourth and third dukes of the Yuan family exist? Da Yuan Sangong scolded angrily.

"Lord, the proposal of the third prince can actually be considered." The judge said gloomily: "Cutting off Guo Tu's head and sending it to Tao Ying for the crime of delaying the military aircraft, not only can Tao Ying retreat from Qingzhou, but also rebuild the old friendship with Xuzhou, and join forces to attack Cao thief, killing two birds with one stone, isn't it wonderful?" ”

"No!" The arrogant Yuan Sangong categorically rejected this suggestion, which was actually very reasonable, and said categorically: "I would rather start a war with my son-in-law and Cao Thief at the same time, than kill my subordinates to please others!" This matter must be mentioned again! ”

Seeing that the attitude of the three dukes of the Great Yuan was resolute, the trial and the prince of Yuan Shang did not dare to insist, but secretly regretted that he could not take the opportunity to cut off Yuan Tan's arms, and the three dukes of the Great Yuan continued to hesitate, in addition to ordering Wen Chou and Yuan Xi to stick to the land of Qingzhou, it was to discuss countermeasures with everyone, and the internal divisions within Jizhou were as serious as ever, one faction advocated making peace with the Xuzhou army, and the other faction advocated dividing the troops in Qingzhou and regaining the lost land of Qingzhou by force, and there were even a few superb advocates of suing for peace with the Cao army, freeing up their hands to attack the weaker Xuzhou army with all their might- As a result, this superb product was naturally slashed by the arrogant Yuan Sangong.

After hesitating for a few days, Yuan Shanggongzi's opportunity came, and the Xuzhou secret envoy sent Yuan Fang's letter to Yuan Shanggongzi, after reading the letter, Yuan Shanggongzi, who was not too stupid, suddenly understood that this letter was instructed by Deputy Director Tao, and at the same time, he was overjoyed, and quickly summoned the two confidants of Fengji to discuss for a long time, and made up his mind before sending the letter to Yuan Sangong. And Yuan Sangong's Alzheimer's disease has obviously shown some signs of improvement recently, and he woke up after reading the letter once, and said: "This letter must have been written by Tao Ying and asked Fang'er to copy and sign, otherwise, Fang'er would not be able to write such a letter." ”

"Father, the child thinks so too." Yuan Shang took the opportunity to say: "Brother-in-law, he borrowed his sister's hand to write to the child, obviously there is a desire for peace, my father may wish to send an envoy to the south to contact, persuade my brother-in-law to stop the army and make peace, and rebuild the old good, if it can be successful, not only Qingzhou will no longer have a sword soldier, but our army can also join forces with the Xuzhou army to flank Cao Thief." ”

Da Yuan Sangong was silent, and only after a while did he ask reluctantly: "Since Ying'er intends to seek peace, why didn't he send me a book directly?" Do you want to pretend to be Fang'er's hand, or send a letter to you? ”

"My lord, Tao Envoy Jun also wants to save face." The trial was cautious: "My lord, you even beheaded two envoys of Tao Envoy, if Tao Envoy Jun took the initiative to send envoys to sue for peace, his subordinates would definitely not accept ......." ”

Da Yuan Sangong stopped talking again, seeing that Da Yuan Sangong did not show anger, the judge had a bottom in his heart, and said busily: "Lord, don't lose the opportunity, since Tao Envoy Jun intends to make peace, the Lord Father sent a Jizhou important minister to carry a gift, pretending to visit the lord's daughter grandson to go south to Xuzhou, take the opportunity to rebuild the old friendship with Tao Envoy, and will succeed in one fell swoop." ”

Just suffered a big defeat in Qingzhou and wanted to ask his son-in-law for peace, the face-loving Yuan Sangong was naturally hesitant, Yuan Shanggongzi knelt down to the big Yuan Sangong and said: "Father, the child knows that this matter is detrimental to his father's tiger power, but my father misheard Guo Tu's words before and led to the defeat of Guandu, my Jizhou vitality has been injured, and I am in urgent need of recuperation and collusion with external reinforcements, the shame of Yixue Guandu, Tao Yingnai is his father and son-in-law, and he is also the brother-in-law of the child, rebuild the old friendship with my brother-in-law. ”

Da Yuan Sangong continued to keep a straight face and did not speak, until Yuan Shang repeatedly kowtowed and pleaded, Da Yuan Sangong said very reluctantly: "Since Wu'er has repeatedly pleaded, then I will try again, you think, who should be sent?" ”

"The minister thinks that this matter must be Guo Tu." The judge replied quickly.

"Guo Tu?" Da Yuan Sangong shook his head and said: "Guo Gong has always been hostile to Ying'er, and it was also his idea to behead the envoy twice, how can he act if he is sent as an envoy?" ”

"Lord, because the person who persuaded the lord twice to kill the envoy was Guo Tu, only Mr. Guo Tu can succeed when he goes to Xuzhou." The judge explained eloquently: "Guo Tu persuaded the lord to kill the Xuzhou envoy twice, but the lord sent Guo Tu to Xuzhou as an envoy, which is equivalent to sending Guo Tu to Xuzhou for punishment, which is enough to prove the sincerity of the lord's reconciliation with Xuzhou." And Tao Envoy Jun originally intended to reconcile with our army, and seeing that the envoy was Guo Tu's public intention, he would not kill Mr. Guo Tu, and he could rest assured that he would reconcile with our army. ”

"If it makes sense, let Guo Tu go." Da Yuan Sangong nodded, gritted his teeth and said: "It is also to give him Guo Gongze a chance to atone for his crimes, if he can persuade Ying'er to return to my command, the previous things can be ignored, if he is still not angry, the two crimes will be punished together!" ”

Yuan Shang sang a promise with the judge, quietly looked at each other and smiled, and hurriedly acted overnight, so that the messenger sent by Deputy Director Tao brought a handwritten letter from Yuan Shanggongzi back, asking Deputy Director Tao to take this opportunity to get rid of Yuan Tan Gongzi's chief accomplice for himself! Remove a major obstacle to your succession!

It is conceivable that Mr. Guo Tu's wonderful expression when he heard the order of the Great Yuan Sangong, gray and white, like a dead man, and trembling so much that he almost didn't pee his crotch on the spot, but no, after listening to Yuan Shang and the trial and bewilderment, the Great Yuan Sangong was determined to let Mr. Guo Tu go to Xuzhou to make meritorious service and atone for his crimes, so no matter how Mr. Guo Tu pleaded, and how the earth-colored Yuan Tan and Xin Ping and others persuaded him, the Great Yuan Sangong just refused to change his words, and said angrily that if Mr. Guo Tu didn't want to go, he could send another candidate, But I must borrow Mr. Guo Tu's head as a courtesy!

So there was no way, in order not to suffer retribution, Mr. Guo Tu, who was indeed guilty, had no choice but to take over the mission, lead the delegation to Qingzhou, and then go to Xuzhou through Qingzhou to contact and negotiate with Deputy Director Tao. After Deputy Director Tao received the letter sent by Yuan Shanggongzi in advance, he immediately gave up his previous plan and sent a fast horse north to contact Zang Ba, asking Zang Ba to allow Guo Tu's team to enter the country, and explained that Zang Ba must ensure Guo Tu's safety, so as not to make Xuzhou General angry and do stupid things and miss his own plan.

With Deputy Director Tao's explanation, Mr. Guo Tu was finally lucky to pass through the Xuzhou army defense area, and went south to Xuzhou under the surveillance of the Xuzhou army, fortunately, there were not many people in Zang Ba's team who knew that Mr. Guo Tu killed two Xuzhou envoys, and there was an explanation from Deputy Director Tao, so Mr. Guo Tu did not suffer any trouble and abuse in Zangba's team, and he passed through Qingzhou and Langya and other places smoothly, and arrived outside Xuzhou a month later. At the same time, Sun Guan's team of the Xuzhou Army had also broken through the drama city, captured Wang Xiu of Qingzhou and Zhen Yan of Beihai, and completely isolated Donglai County, the easternmost county in Qingzhou.

Deputy Director Tao made a small negligence when arranging the reception of Mr. Guo Tu, forgetting that Yang Changshi, who was in charge of Xuzhou's diplomacy, had a grudge against Mr. Guo Tu, and still asked Yang Changshi to come forward to receive Mr. Guo Tu, and explained that there was no need to be too polite. As a result, the narrow-minded Yang Changshi was also happy when he heard it, so he simply borrowed an army from Cao Bao to meet Guo Tu's team, and took down all the people in Guo Tu's team as soon as they met, and changed Guo Tuqiang into a set of death row clothes, and tied them with ropes like zongzi and escorted them back to Xuzhou City, which frightened poor Mr. Guo Tu into a disillusionment, and shouted loudly that he was a messenger, and the Xuzhou army could not treat himself like this.

"When Lord Ben went to Jizhou as an envoy, it seems that your husband also treated Lord Ben like this, right?" Yang Changshi was speechless with a word, and then Yang Changshi said with a cruel smile: "Piff, count your luck, the lord still wants to see you, so you don't need to go to the law field right away, but don't worry, Lord Ben has already prepared the law field, and after the lord gives the order, Lord Ben will personally send you to the law field!" ”

Fortunately, Mr. Guo Tu is also a well-known Yingchuan celebrity in the world - otherwise it is impossible to mix with high-ranking officials under the command of Yuan Sangong, who is above the top, although the despicability of character is far above Yang Changshi, the courage and backbone are obviously above Yang Changshi, so he was not scared to pee his crotch on the spot like Yang Changshi in Jizhou, but his face was like ashes and he was escorted into Xuzhou City, and he was escorted to the Xuzhou Thorn History Mansion whose scale was not as large as Mr. Guo Tu's mansion.

"My lord, His Majesty Guo Tupifu has already brought you here, and all the entourage of this Horseman has been taken, and the Dharma Field and the executioner's subordinates are also ready, as long as the Lord gives an order, you can open the knife at any time."

Yang Changshi's cheerful performance was exchanged for a scolding from Deputy Director Tao, "Who told you to tie up Guo Tu?" Who told you to prepare the executioner? The two countries are fighting each other and not killing the envoys, Guo Tupifu persuaded Lord Yuezhang to kill the envoy of our army is not a thing, is it possible that you, Mr. Zhongming, also imagine that he is willing to degenerate? Leave behind infamy? To take revenge, to avenge our messengers on the battlefield! What kind of hero is a hero who captures the enemy who is an emissary and beheads him for revenge?! Untie him immediately, you untie him personally! ”

Yang Changshi, who touched a gray nose, was resigned, and helplessly untied Mr. Guo Tu, Guo Tu glared at Yang Changshi viciously, and asked Yang Changshi to change his clothes again, Yang Changshi turned his head to look at Deputy Director Tao again, but Deputy Director Tao didn't give Mr. Guo Tu face this time, and ordered: "Mr. Zhongming, you go down to rest, arrange for someone to send Guo Tu's clothes, and let him change them himself in a while." ”

Yang Changshi happily agreed, said goodbye and left, and glared at Guo Tu viciously before leaving, Guo Tu turned to Deputy Director Tao and said angrily: "Tao Envoy, is this your hospitality in Xuzhou?" Let the envoy negotiate with you in the clothes of a death row prisoner? ”

"Isn't it hospitality to let the envoy wear a prison uniform? Is it a way of hospitality to kill the messenger? Deputy Director Tao asked slowly.

Guo Tu was speechless, and Deputy Director Tao sneered and said: "Mr. Gongze, you have to make one thing clear, it is your injustice first, even if I kill you now, it is justifiable, and the teacher is famous, even if someone accuses me of being narrow-minded, I will take revenge, I can also say that I am avenging the soldiers under my command and giving an explanation to the families of the two sacrificed messengers." ”

Guo Tu trembled again, and only reminded in a low voice after a while: "Tao Envoy, I am the envoy sent by your father-in-law, Benchugong. ”

"It doesn't matter." Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "Kill you, I still have a way to explain to Lord Yue, and I won't miss the important matter of rebuilding the old friendship between me and Lord Yue-Mr. Gongze, don't forget, who recommended you to Xuzhou in front of Lord Yue, since they dare to do this, don't they leave some back?" ”

"Sure enough, it was Yuan Shao and the trial match who borrowed a knife to kill people!" Guo Tu, who had been worried about this for a long time, began to tremble, and said tremblingly: "So, you must be beheaded at the lower level?" ”

"Cutting off Mr.'s head is one way, and imprisoning Mr. in Xuzhou forever is also a way." Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "In short, as long as Mr. can never return to Jizhou, there will be people in Jizhou who will be very happy, and there will be people who will lose an arm." ”

"Sure enough, sure enough." Guo Tu was gloomy, and said forcefully: "Since some people hope that they will never be able to return to Jizhou, then please make a decision, and you will already have fish on the anvil in Xia." ”

"Sir, don't be so pessimistic, the matter hasn't reached that point yet, and it may not be impossible for Mr. to return to Jizhou." Deputy Director Tao smiled and waved his hand, and said with a smile: "Sir, please sit quietly, and please tell me about the conditions of Lord Yue, how does Lord Yue plan to reconcile with me?" ”

"It may not be impossible to return to Jizhou? What do you mean? Guo Tu, who had not shared the Xuzhou army for many years, was a little puzzled, and after hesitating for a while, he still sat in the position designated by Deputy Director Tao and replied: "Envoy, about the two envoys, not only is he very guilty, but the lord is also very ......guilty. ”

"Mr. Gongze, don't talk about this nonsense, just talk about the reconciliation conditions offered by Lord Yue." Deputy Director Tao rudely interrupted Mr. Guo Tu, and said: "This is how I negotiated with Cao Thief, I didn't say half a word of nonsense, and directly talked about the conditions. ”

Guo Tu hesitated again, and finally replied: "Two thousand war horses, please make Jun withdraw from Qingzhou and join forces to attack Cao, this is the condition that my family master has publicly stated." ”

"If I want five thousand war horses, and Qingzhou is bounded by water, Mr. Gongze may agree on behalf of Lord Yue?" Deputy Director Tao asked quietly.

"Impossible!" Mr. Guo Tu shook his head categorically, slowed down his breath again, and said carefully: "Envoy, even if you kill Zaixia, you don't dare to agree like this, and the explanation given by the lord to Zaixia is at most to give in to a thousand war horses." ”

"If I insist on 5,000 war horses, and Qingzhou is bounded by Jishui, will Lord Yuezhang agree?" Deputy Director Tao asked.

"No way." Guo Tu continued to shake his head, and explained: "Envoy, you also know the temper of the lord, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the most face-loving person in the world, and it is such a shameful thing to cede most of Qingzhou County to seek peace, and the lord would rather die." Therefore, the war horse may be negotiable, but the land city is absolutely impossible. ”

"Mr. Gongze, how about the two of us make a deal alone?" Deputy Director Tao smiled and said, "You try to get Lord Yuezhang to agree to my conditions, and I will let you go back to Jizhou." ”

"Envoy, are you joking?" Guo Tu was surprised and said: "I am just a counselor under the lord's account, how can I make the lord agree to such conditions?" ”

"I'm sure you can." Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "I have heard for a long time, the civil and military forces under the command of Lord Yuezhang are divided into two factions, one faction is headed by Yuan Tan Gongzi and Mr., and the other is headed by Yuan Shang Gongzi and Mr. Trial. ”

"It's ......." Guo Tu's face was embarrassed.

"Sir, please think about it." Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "This is also for the sake of your own future, sir, if Mr. insists on refusing to help me with this little favor, then I can only leave Mr. in Xuzhou forever for the benefit of my wife and brother, but if Mr. can take care of my interests, of course I will not take revenge." ”

On the one hand, it is a dead end, and on the other hand, there is a little hope of life, for his own interests, Mr. Guo Tu, who can force Zhang He and Gao Ran, the two famous generals in Hebei, naturally knows how to choose, and is embarrassed: "But the envoy, even if you can promise you in the next place, but in Xuzhou, you can't persuade the lord for the envoy." ”

"It's okay to persuade by letter, and then use the letter to ask the eldest prince to come forward to help?" Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "Actually, this matter is not difficult at all, please ask Lord Yuezhang to give my army general Zang Ba a Qingzhou governor, and let General Zang Ba guard the land of Qingzhou in the east of Jishui, so that the face can be passed." ”

"Then ......." Mr. Guo Tu hesitated for a long time, and then he said stubbornly: "Then do your best, and if you can succeed, please keep your promise." ”

"Don't worry, I've always been a promise, and I've never broken my promise." Deputy Director Tao replied with a smile.

(To be continued)