A tortuous post road winds to the north, to the foot of Taihang, and then to the east, walking more than 100 miles, you can reach Yecheng, an important town in Hebei, which is also the core of the entire north.

Yuan Mai led 10,000 horses and horses to march on the unmelted snow in the fields, but he deliberately slowed down the march, and only walked thirty miles a day. It was only 245 miles from Hanoi to Yecheng, and he had not yet arrived after six or seven days, so he sent detectives to listen to Yuan Tan's movements in Qingzhou.

The sound of horses' hooves sounded in the east, and a scout rode at a gallop with a red flag.

"Report ...... Qi Yu Assassin Shi Daren, General Yuan Tan of Qingzhou raised 30,000 troops, marched to Ye County at a speed of 100 miles a day, and has now arrived near Guantao, it is estimated that tomorrow evening, or the morning after tomorrow, you can arrive at Ye County! ”

"It seems that this Yuan Tan can't hold his breath anymore? It's good, we sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, it couldn't be better! ”

Yuan Mai stroked his beard and smiled on the horse, since he grew a beard, he looked more manly, and over time, Yuan Mai slowly developed the habit of stroking his beard, which can always be reminiscent of the word domineering.

Frustrated, he sighed: "The lord has not established an heir for a long time, but I am afraid that today will cause trouble to Xiao Wall!" ”

"I think it's better, I heard that the lord's favorite in his heart is still the third son Yuan Shang, if the lord is the heir, he has to set up Yuan Shang as the heir. I hate this birdman the most, if that's the case, is it possible that I have to work for him? This is the best, the lord has no last life anyway, and I will support the prince to be the lord and get out of Jizhou! Frustrated, his voice fell. Zhou Cang shouted behind him.

But there is some truth in saying that this situation is much better than Yuan Shao's designation of Yuan Shang's heir, cutting the land and standing on his own, at least he will not bear the name of rebellion. Anyway, Yuan Shao didn't say who would succeed him, the brothers had their own reasons, and outsiders couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong. But if Yuan Shao publicly declares Yuan Shang as the heir, and Yuan Mai fights again, he will become a betrayer, which will be greatly detrimental to his reputation.

After listening to Zhou Cang's words, Wang Shuang and Zhu Gongdao echoed: "What Yuanfu said is very true. If Yuan Gong is really unconscious. If he Yuan Shang is the master, we will divide the land with Jizhou and govern it, and support the prince as the master! ”

Yuan Mai smiled and reassured everyone: "Don't worry. I have a plan in my heart; It's not just that you are unwilling to be driven by Yuan Shang. I'm not happy with him too! ”

"And the state has a lot of resources. Self-protection is more than enough, but compared to Jizhou, it is still not as good. If it can be won, it will definitely establish the hegemony of the north! ”

Zhang He carried a spear in his hand and planned for Yuan Mai with a more far-sighted strategic vision, which was a step higher than Zhou Cang, Zhu Gongdao, Wang Shuang and others.

Frustrated with a slight frown, he muttered: "Jizhou is vast, with a large population, abundant grain and grass reserves, and perfect fortifications. Yuan Shang has been in charge of Jizhou for many years, and his lineage is all over the place, and he is desperately supported by trial and matching, and it is not easy to win Jizhou! ”

While discussing, everyone marched towards Yecheng, crossed the hill in front, and walked more than 30 miles, and you could see the Zhanghe River.

Suddenly, the dust was flying in the north, and a cavalry team of one hundred and ten people galloped in front of him, but it was Tian Feng who came from Jinyang.

As Yuan Shao's old department, hearing that Yuan Shao fell from a horse and fell into a coma, Tian Feng was sad in his heart, so he entrusted the political affairs to Wang Ling, and he took a hundred and ten entourages to Yecheng to visit, and heard that Yuan Mai's flag was not far away, so he came to meet.

After not seeing each other for a few months, everyone naturally had to have a pleasantry. mentioned Yuan Shao's illness, Tian Feng and Frustrated Zhi were even more in tears, and the rest of them were all embarrassed.

In the army, it is not uncommon for the horses to stand in shock, and the people on the horses are overturned to the ground; Not to mention that Tian Feng, Fu Zhu, Yuan Mai and others were not present when the accident occurred, even Chen Lin, Feng Ji and others who followed Yuan Shao did not notice that Yuan Shao's mount was injured by a sneak attack by a hunting dog, so Yuan Shao fainted in a daze, but Yuan Shang, the murderer, was unknown.

When it got dark, the team was less than 20 miles away from Ye County, and they set up camp near the Zhanghe River.

Yuan Mai secretly summoned Tian Feng, Fu Zhu, and Zhang He to discuss countermeasures, as for Zhu Ao, Zhou Cang, Wang Shuang and others are all martial artists, and there is no high opinion when they are summoned, but it will make the confidentiality of the matter not guaranteed; As for his cousin Yuan Yao, who was demoted to Zhang Xun, Yuan Mai has never been regarded as his own.

The candlelight flickered, and the four monarchs and ministers knelt down in front of the table, secretly planning countermeasures.

"Mr. Tian, Mr. Gong and Mr." Yuan Mai arched his hand towards the two, "Aside from the identities of the two of you, from the perspective of ordinary staff, do you two think that between me, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, who is more qualified to inherit your father's great cause?" ”

Tian Feng coughed and spoke first, he was upright by nature, so his voice was relatively loud: "According to the order of the eldest and youngest, the eldest son Yuan Tan should succeed to the throne, if it is according to the preference of the lord, there should be the third son Yuan Shang to succeed him; According to talent, it should be you who succeed to the throne! ”

Zhang He smiled and said: "It's true, even the lord can't make up his mind, and outsiders can't comment!" Anyway, in Zhang He's heart, the only candidate to support is you, Gongzi! ”

"Now my father is in a coma, his injuries are worrying, and he is afraid that his life will not be long; Yuan Shang wrote to the imperial court, obtained the power to control the four states, and acted as the general, I am really unwilling, how to deal with it? ”

Yuan Mai picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and asked.

After all these years of vertical and horizontal struggles, Yuan Mai has sharpened his mind and has a countermeasure in his heart, but he still wants to hear the advice of these two super thinkers. With Cao Cao's resourcefulness, he still needs to ask Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Xun You and others, as an ordinary man, he has nothing to be proud of.

Tian Feng thought for a while and put forward his own suggestion: "Feng has three plans, and he can plan Jizhou!" Pretending to be a discussion, recruiting Yuan Shang, trial matching, and Fengji into the military camp, ambushing and killing him, and leading the lord of Jizhou, this is the best plan. Find an excuse, Lai is not leaving Jizhou, and when the hearts of the people in Jizhou have not yet returned to Yuan Shang, he secretly buys the hearts of the people, waits for the opportunity to move, and seizes Jizhou, which is the middle policy. After visiting the lord, he retreated and returned to the state, cut the land and stood on his own, and Xu Tu Jizhou, this is the next policy! ”

Listening to what Tian Feng said, Yuan Mai smiled silently. I feel that among Tian Feng's three plans, it is worth making a decision.

Whether it is political or military competition, it is all deceitful and ever-changing. When you take action, the enemy will inevitably respond as well.

Tian Feng's three plans, some of which are taken for granted, were set up on the basis that Yuan Shang, Xianping, Feng Ji and others were all incompetent; Although Yuan Shang is "golden and jade", he still has some skills in judging and meeting.

Set up a Hongmen banquet and lure the three of them to ambush and kill them, such a plan will inevitably not be hidden from them. In fact, according to the natural development of history, after Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Shang once used this trick to deal with Yuan Tan under the advice of trial and Feng Ji, and was recognized by Guo Tu, Yuan Tan said that he was sick and did not dare to enter the city, and now he used this trick against them in turn, but he was afraid that it would be ineffective!

As for the middle strategy that Tian Feng said, Lai did not leave in Jizhou, won the hearts of the people, and waited for the opportunity to move; If Yuan Shao doesn't die, maybe it's okay, but now Yuan Shao is almost like a vegetative person, Yuan Shang has already monopolized the power of Jizhou, as long as he enters the city and gives Yuan Shang an opportunity to take advantage of, this guy probably won't let himself go easily, let alone win people's hearts!

Without waiting for Yuan Mai to speak, Fu Zhu took the lead in speaking: "Yuan Hao's middle and upper plans are too optimistic, with the cunning of Feng Ji and the ruthlessness of Yuan Shangzhi, I am afraid that these methods have been planned in their hearts for a long time, and if they are not good, they will be used to deal with the fourth prince." I still think that visiting the lord is a little bit of a son, and then retreating to the state, Xu Tu has a good strategy, so it is stable! ”

"Hmm...... After listening to what the two gentlemen said, I already had an idea in my heart, and after visiting my father's illness in the city tomorrow, I will make a plan! ”

Yuan Mai drank all the tea in the cup and made a decision.

Yuan Mai rested on the edge of the Zhanghe River for a day, and when he received Yuan Tan's soldiers under Yecheng, he ordered the camp to move forward and set up camp three miles west of Yecheng. And Yuan Tan's army of 30,000 had already set up a fence in the east of the city, and sent people to invite Yuan Mai to discuss countermeasures.

"Okay, go to the eldest brother's tent and listen to what he has to say!"

Yuan Mai left Wang Shuang, Yuan Yao, and Zhang Xun to lead the troops to camp, and he took Zhang He, Fu Zhu, Tian Feng and others, and under the escort of five hundred white feather cavalry, they galloped towards Yuan Tan's camp.

Walking under Yecheng, looking up, I saw that the city gate was closed and the drawbridge was pulled up; On the city wall, flags were displayed, soldiers were numerous, and all of them were covered in armor, looking like they were facing a great enemy.

"This Yuan Xianfu is really hateful, this vigilant appearance, that is to welcome his brother, clearly treating us as enemies!"

Looking at the heavily guarded city wall, Zhang He poked his spear on the ground and scolded angrily.

Yuan Mai smiled, and said in his heart that according to the normal trajectory of history, Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan are inseparable from each other, and they are very happy, this is just the beginning!

After a while, when he came to Yuan Tan's camp, he saw that the 30,000-strong army had set up nearly a thousand tents, stretching for miles away. It's not like he's coming to visit his seriously ill father, it's more like he's coming to attack the city.

"Haha...... Fourth brother, I haven't seen you for a year, don't come unharmed? I miss my brother! ”

Hearing that Yuan Mai was coming, Yuan Tan took Guo Tu, Xin Ping and others out to greet him in person, and gave Yuan Mai a warm hug as soon as they met.

Yuan Maizuo returned the salute: "The younger brother visits his brother, and he misses it day and night!" ”

In addition to the brothers' reminiscences, Tian Feng, Fu Zhu, Zhang He, Guo Tu, Xin Ping and other Hebei veteran-level important ministers also greeted each other and entered the camp side by side.

Before everyone sat down, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves, and more than a dozen horsemen galloped over, and the people on the horses shouted: "The general's edict is here, Yuan Tan and Yuan Mai listen to the announcement!" (To be continued......)