Considering that Uncle Liu Huang came to rescue him thousands of miles this time, and just drove Uncle Liu away like this, it would be too detrimental to his reputation, and it would also give his ally Liu Biao, who was not firm enough, an excuse to send troops to rescue, after Yuan Tan Gongzi calmed down, he still listened to Cui Yan's persuasion, and sent Chen Zhen to comfort Uncle Liu's brother and apologize, and at the same time secretly explained that Chen Zhen did not have to vigorously keep Uncle Liu's team, if Uncle Liu insisted on leaving, Then sending Uncle Liu Huang a sum of grain and grass to let him get out of the defeated army with the last more than 800 remnants is that he can't force himself to stay, which will affect the possible Yuan Tao reconciliation negotiations.

With Chen Zhen's reason, Uncle Liu Huang, who didn't want to leave, of course had a reason to stay, as if he didn't pay attention to Chen Zhen to keep him, and opened his mouth to say that since Yuan Tan Gongzi kept him repeatedly, he could not care about Yuan Tan's rude words, and he could stay and continue to work together with Yuan Tanjun to break the pottery thief - by the way, he continued to fish in troubled waters. In the face of Uncle Liu's impassioned words, Chen Zhen, who didn't want to keep Uncle Liu at all, had no choice but to knock out his teeth and swallow blood, smiled bitterly and thanked Uncle Liu for his kindness, and then hurriedly returned to the big tent of the Chinese army to hand over the order to Yuan Tan Gongzi.

However, Yuan Tan Gongzi didn't have time to pay attention to Uncle Liu's dead face anymore, because the heralds sent by Tian Chou and Peng An had already reported another important news to Yuan Tan Gongzi - in addition to throwing a large number of poisonous snakes into the Yuan army camp, the Xuzhou army also threw more than a dozen seriously decomposed civilian corpses into the Yuan army camp!

Hearing this news, Yuan Tan Gongzi, who is not knowledgeable, and Mr. Guo Tu, who is not knowledgeable, are of course inexplicable, I don't know what Deputy Director Tao is doing, Cui Yan, who is rich in five cars, was also a little confused at first, but after a little recollection, Cui Yan's face suddenly changed, and he was so anxious that even his voice changed, and he jumped up and shouted, "Quick!" Burn those corpses! Let our soldiers never touch it! Absolutely not! Push the corpses out into the open with long sticks, pile up firewood and set them on fire! Hurry! ”

"Mr. Ji Jue, why are you doing this?" Yuan Tan asked in surprise.

"According to the history books, when Emperor Wu was emperor, my Han Dynasty conquered the Xiongnu in the north, and the Xiongnu could not resist it, and they were defeated repeatedly!" Cui Yan said with a blue face: "Later, the Xiongnu used a poisonous trick to tie up some horses infected with the plague and send them to the Great Wall as gifts to beg the Han army for mercy. If nothing else, Tao Ying is following the poisonous plan of the Huns! ”

Yuan Tan Gongzi's face suddenly turned like earth, and Mr. Guo Tu immediately jumped up and shouted, "Quick, go and burn those corpses!" It's all burned! The pottery thief, with such a ruthless poisonous move, he is not afraid of retribution! ”

"No, no." The herald who came to report the news also changed his face greatly, and quickly kowtowed and sang a promise, and then said tremblingly: "But my lord, there are already a lot of soldiers of our army, and they have already encountered those corpses, what should I do?" ”

"Tao Ying, you are too ruthless!" Cui Yan slapped his forehead and screamed, and then said quickly: "There is no way, I can only isolate these soldiers who have touched the corpses like we do with lepers, first vacate a camp for these people to live in, and not allow them to enter and exit, and then make a decision based on their situation!" ”

Cui Yan's method is very smart and symptomatic, Yuan Tan also arranged a special person to supervise this matter, but in this way, the morale of Yuan Tanjun, who was already very low, was naturally hit the hardest, and the soldiers of Yuan Jun, who unfortunately encountered those corpses, cried and shook the sky, saying that they would not say anything like lepers who were isolated by their companions, or crying and begging, or fleeing for their lives, forcing the generals of the Yuan army to forcibly isolate them by force, during which many soldiers died, and the entire Yuan army camp was panicked. The morale of the army was extremely weak, and the morale was also extremely low, and hundreds of soldiers became deserters overnight, and many deserters simply fled directly to the Xuzhou camp and surrendered.

Faced with such an embarrassing situation, Yuan Tan Gongzi had no choice but to listen to Guo Tu's suggestion, and prepared to send an envoy to contact Deputy Director Tao in person the next day, under the pretext of condemning the inhumane behavior of the Xuzhou army, and agreed not to use inhumane means such as poisoned arrows and poison, and took the opportunity to test whether Deputy Director Tao accepted Yuan Tanjun's request for peace.

The next morning, the envoy of the Yuan army was about to leave for the Xuzhou camp to negotiate, but Deputy Director Tao took the lead and personally led 30,000 troops to the Yuan army camp to fight, Yuan Tan Gongzi thought twice, and also personally set up a formation in front of the camp, and then ordered people to play a white flag out of the battle, asking Deputy Director Tao to answer in front of the battle, after getting the permission of Deputy Director Tao, Yuan Tan and Deputy Director Tao each led ten horsemen out of the battle, stood ten steps apart in the two army formations, and negotiated directly face to face.

"Tao Ying, you are also a courtier of the Han Dynasty, a disciple of a saint, and you actually used this unheard-of vicious method to brutalize and poison living beings!" After meeting, in order to seize the moral upper hand, Yuan Tan Gongzi preemptively roared: "Even if you use poisonous arrows, you even threw poisonous snakes and plague corpses into my military camp, which is simply inferior to beasts, wolf hearts and dog lungs!" ”

"Come on, brother-in-law!" Deputy Director Tao coldly fought back: "I have made it very clear yesterday, it was you who used poisoned arrows first, and I will return the favor with a tooth for a tooth, and repay the other with the way of others, and double the revenge!" You want to accuse me of being vicious, wipe your own ass clean first! ”

"I didn't use it." Yuan Tan retorted weakly: "It was used by Liu Bei's team, and I only learned later that they used poisoned arrows in that battle!" ”

"Brother-in-law, if you say something, lie to the three-year-old child!" Deputy Director Tao sneered, and said: "Okay, for the sake of Lord Yuezhang and my wife, I will give you a chance, as long as you hand over the three brothers of the big-eared thief and Zhuge Villager, and promise not to abuse vicious weapons in the future, I will promise you that I will not use those vicious weapons against you on the battlefield in the future!" ”

"Impossible!" Yuan Tan Gongzi flatly refused, and said: "Although Liu Bei is hateful, he came thousands of miles to rescue me, how can I hand him over to you?" ”

"Then there's nothing to say." Deputy Director Tao waved his hand and said, "Go back and prepare for the war, and finally call you brother-in-law, I came to crusade against you this time, don't expect me to show mercy to your subordinates, I will soon order an attack." ”

After speaking, Deputy Director Tao turned around and was about to leave, Yuan Tan was anxious, and hurriedly shouted: "Tao Envoyjun, virtuous brother-in-law, stay here, I still have something to say." Brother-in-law, no matter what, we are always Uncle Lang's relatives, when you were weak, it was our Yuan family who came forward to protect you and gave you time and opportunity to grow, do you really want to kill me? ”

Deputy Director Tao reined in the horse's head and said coldly: "Originally, I was sent by edict, and I should have killed you completely, but for the sake of Lord Yue's father and wife, I will give you a chance, say, what do you want?" ”

"Thank you, brother-in-law." Yuan Tan Gongzi breathed a sigh of relief, and then said in a pleading tone: "Brother-in-law, how about our peace talks?" As long as you are willing to call off the army and stop fighting, we can negotiate any conditions. ”

"The heart-attacking tactics were successful, and Yuan Tan was really timid." Deputy Director Tao was secretly happy in his heart, and after a little calculation, he said: "Okay, as long as you agree to three conditions, I will promise a truce." ”

"Brother-in-law, please say, those three conditions?" Yuan Tan Daxi asked.

"First, you must make peace with Yuan Shang and swear never to interact with sword soldiers in the future." Deputy Director Tao offered: "Second, you must withdraw from the entire territory of Yanzhou and return the Son of Heaven; Third, you must capture Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang and hand them over to me, and then I will promise to stop fighting with you and never invade each other in the future. ”

Deputy Director Tao's conditions are actually not harsh at all, and Yuan Tan Gongzi is completely acceptable, but people are greedy animals, after listening to Deputy Director Tao's not harsh conditions, Yuan Tan was overjoyed, his eyes rolled, and he hurriedly said: "Brother-in-law, can you discuss your conditions a little?" I can definitely agree to the first one, and the second one you want to cover the whole territory of Yanzhou, isn't it too much? There is a third one, I must not agree, Xuande Gong came thousands of miles to save me, I captured him and handed him over to you, what face will I have in the world in the future? ”

"The second is negotiable, and the third is non-negotiable!" Deputy Director Tao suddenly raised his voice and shouted: "You listen to me, I ask you to hand over the big-eared thief, and I am also standing in the position of my son-in-law, for the sake of Lord Yue's foundation!" I know better than you who the big-eared thief is! When he saved Xuzhou, it was I who plotted Xuzhou, and later saved Yuan Shu, also to plot Huainan, and then attached himself to Cao Thief, and abducted a large number of Cao Thief's military horses! You idiot lure the wolf into the house and bring the big-eared thief into your team, if I don't come forward to take care of it, sooner or later he will attack Jizhou, Bingzhou and Youzhou left by Lord Yue! ”

People were under the eaves and had to bow their heads, although they were scolded by Deputy Director Tao in public, Yuan Tan Gongzi didn't dare to refute half a sentence, just lowered his head and calculated, and said with difficulty after a long time: "Tao Envoy, oh no, brother-in-law, give me a little time, give me a little time to think about it." ”

"Humph!" Deputy Director Tao snorted heavily, and said: "Okay, give you a day to think about it, give me an answer before noon tomorrow, if you don't escort the three brothers of the big-eared thief and Zhuge Village to the gate of my camp before noon tomorrow, I will personally lead an army of 100,000 to arrest it myself!" ”

Yuan Tan nodded with difficulty, Deputy Director Tao snorted again, and then turned the horse's head and said loudly while returning to the horse to return to the formation: "Remember, there is only one day!" By the way, the dead body thrown into your camp yesterday is not the corpse of the plague patient, but the corpse of the nearby people killed by your corporal during the silver captivity. Command the whole army, collect the troops and return to the camp! ”

Deputy Director Tao really took the army away, Yuan Tan also took the army back to the camp with a heavy heart, and went to Guo Tu and Cui Yan to discuss countermeasures, after the content of Yuan Tan and Deputy Director Tao's pre-battle answer was transmitted to Uncle Liu, Uncle Liu Huang also panicked, and hurriedly ran to Zhuge Liang's sickbed to ask for advice, so that Zhuge Liang could analyze whether Yuan Tan would really poison the army, and after Zhuge Liang heard the situation, he also sighed and said: "Lord, it was Liang who misunderstood you, if Liang could have known that Tao Zhijun was so vigilant against you, I don't even want to drill for you, Liang will definitely not approve of you going north this time. ”

"You can't be blamed for this, I didn't expect the pottery thief to be so hostile to me." Uncle Liu Huang was also very depressed, and he couldn't understand why Deputy Director Tao hated and hostilized himself so much, every time he touched himself, he was ruthlessly poisoned and killed, and he didn't give himself a chance to fish in troubled waters?

After being depressed, Uncle Liu Huang asked Zhuge Liang for countermeasures, and Zhuge Liang replied after calculating: "Liang thinks that Yuan Tan may not be able to immediately make up his mind to hand over us, and the lord should be strict inside and loose outside, while secretly guarding against it, he sent someone to see Cui Yan, and said that we don't want to embarrass the Marquis of Ji, and asked Cui Jiqi to resign, asking to lead the army to leave the Guandu camp and return to Jingzhou, please Cui Jiqi persuade more in front of Yuan Tan and be accommodating, Cui Jiqi is a moral gentleman, and he must agree." ”

"Cui Jiqi did answer yes, but Yuan Tan and Guo Tu may not agree?" Uncle Liu Huang was a little worried, and he regretted that he didn't take the plane to leave last night.

"It's okay, of course it's best if you can agree, it's okay if you don't agree, we just need to stabilize them for the time being, and ...... tonight."

Zhuge Liang's smile replied Before he finished speaking, Uncle Liu Huang had already nodded in understanding and said, "I understand, you can recuperate with peace of mind, and I will make arrangements." ”

"Don't worry, lord, please listen to Liang." Zhuge Liang hurriedly stopped Uncle Liu Huang, lowered his voice and said: "Ruoliang's expectation is not bad, our army's withdrawal to Jingzhou overnight may be able to hide from Yuan Tan and Guo Tu, two fools, but it will definitely not be able to hide thieves like Tao Yuanjun, so our army will go south tonight, and there may be Tao Yuanjun's ambush on the road to intercept it, so we must make some preparations............." ”

……………… If Uncle Liu Huang knew Deputy Director Tao's true intentions, maybe he wouldn't be so worried, because after Deputy Director Tao led the army back to the camp, he didn't honestly wait for Yuan Tan Gongzi's reply, but immediately raised the tent to order troops and summoned the generals to convey the order.

"Wei Yan, Zhao Yun, and Tai Shici listen to orders!" Deputy Director Tao named the names of the three Xuzhou heavy generals in one breath, and after the three generals came out of the column and hugged their fists, Deputy Director Tao immediately ordered: "The three of you each lead the soldiers and horses of the headquarters to prepare for the night battle, tonight the second watch will send troops to rob the enemy camp, Wei Yan's team will serve as the vanguard, and Zhao Yun and Tai Shici's two armies will follow behind, if Wei Yan's team robs the camp smoothly, you will immediately follow after entering the enemy camp, and kill the enemy camp to break the enemy army!" If the enemy is prepared, rescue Wei Yan's team and return to the camp! ”

"No!" The three generals sang the promise together, and then Zhao Yun asked suspiciously: "Lord, you only promised Yuan Tan today to give him a day to ......." ”

"Soldiers are not tired of deceit, I am just slowing down the enemy's tactics and making the enemy take it lightly." Deputy Director Tao finally revealed his hideous face, and said coldly: "If I really accept Yuan Tan's request for peace, my personal reputation will be preserved, but what if Yuan Tan refuses to agree to the conditions I offered?" At that time, our army will not only have to take a long time to forcibly attack the Guandu camp, but also sacrifice many officers and men of our army who did not have to sacrifice in the battle of attacking fortified positions. ”

Speaking of this, Deputy Director Tao paused for a moment, and added: "Besides, there is such a possibility, that is, Yuan Tan will fully retreat to Xuchang, leaving the big-eared thief alive in exchange for Liu Biao's help, at that time, our army will not only break through the city of Xuchang as difficult as climbing to the sky, once Liu Biao really goes all out to rescue Yuan Tan, our army's Xuchang war is bound to be more prolonged, sacrifice more Xuzhou soldiers, and the people of the Central Plains will also suffer more wars, do you understand this truth?" ”

"The Admiral understands." Zhao Yun's heart sank, and he hurriedly clenched his fists and pleaded guilty, but Deputy Director Tao waved his hand disapprovingly, and he was not surprised by Zhao Yun's reaction - if Zhao Yun is really the kind of person who is so old-fashioned that he doesn't know how to be flexible, when Uncle Liu Huang suddenly turned his face to Liu Zhang in history, Zhao Yun would not have helped Uncle Liu Huang to poison his brother Liu Zhang.

"Xu Huang listens to the order." Deputy Director Tao took out another arrow and ordered Xu Huang who was out of the ranks: "Gongming, tonight you lead the cavalry of your headquarters to leave the camp at the beginning of the shift, cross the river downstream of the canal, and ambush twenty miles south of Guandu. ”

Xu Huang sang a promise, took the order arrow and retreated, Deputy Director Tao took out the third order arrow, drank Tao Ji to listen to the order, and commanded viciously: "Third brother, you lead the Junzi Army to bring more dry food arrows, and send troops with General Xu Huang to ambush forty miles south of Guandu, where the rivers are scarce and the terrain is open, which is suitable for the Junzi Army to fight, find scattered enemies, and kill them with all your might!" Even if you chase down the city of Xuchang, you have to kill all those scattered enemies! ”

"No!" Tao Ji first sang the promise, and then asked suspiciously: "Second brother, the younger brother dares to ask, are you mistaken?" The younger brother led the Junzi army, and he should go to the upper reaches of the canal to ambush and block the road for Yuan Tan Pifu to flee to Hanoi and Bingzhou, so as to destroy more enemies and expand the results of the battle, how to let the younger brother go to the south to ambush behind the back of General Gongming? How many enemies can you kill? ”

"That's a good question, if our army wants to maximize the results of the battle, we should indeed let you go to the upstream of the canal to ambush." Deputy Director Tao nodded, and said with a smile: "But I'm not interested in whether I can kill Yuan Tan now, maybe it will be more beneficial for our army to let Yuan Tan escape back to Bingzhou, but you hate that person the most, General Xu Huang may not be able to stop him, so it depends on your gentleman's army - even if you kill one of them, the gentleman's army will not be a trip in vain this time." ”

"The younger brother guarantees to take the heads of the three brothers of the big-eared thief to see them!" Tao Ji replied loudly in understanding.

"I hope so." Deputy Director Tao smiled bitterly, he was very troubled by the escape skills of Uncle Liu Huang's three brothers, and after a sudden thought, Deputy Director Tao had another idea, and hurriedly added an order: "Wait, third brother, you will go to see Yang Hong in a while, and let him go with you to intercept the big-eared thief." ”

"Take Yang Hong with you?" Tao Ji shook his head and hurriedly asked, "Why?" Mr. Zhongming is a civilian official, so he can't go to the battlefield? ”

"It's okay, take him with you." Deputy Director Tao smiled and said, "Although the hope is very slim, and I am not sure at all, maybe he can really help you." ”

(To be continued)