(Thanks to Dameng, Zhao Wuxian 2014, UFGW, Outside ★ the Wild, DragonX_Zh, Flying in the Flames, Book Friend 150203143254363, CBBYI, Take off the confusion)

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Gain, gain, iron hooves flying, mud splashing, a post man carrying a cylindrical post bag beats his horse like flying, appears on the river beach on the north bank of Huaishui, galloping from west to east. As far as the eye can see, three thin lines of buildings can be seen on the eastern horizon. As the post man approached, the building became clearer and clearer, and at last it was clear that they were three military camps that stretched for several miles.

Soon, more than ten sentinels appeared around, stopped the post guard, asked for the intention, checked the waist card, and immediately released.

The postman galloped to the Yuanmen, rode into the camp, passed through the two checkpoints along the gallop road, saw the tent in the center of the camp from a distance decorated with a big tent of white water, and dismounted at the moment, regardless of the puddles and mud all over the ground, quickly ran to the front of the tent, took off the mail bag, and held it high with both hands: "The city is urgent!" ”

As soon as the curtain was lifted, a bearded, majestic armor general strode out, it was Xu Chu.

Xu Chu stretched out his hand to take the mail bag from the hand of the postman, opened the envelope, revealing the black lacquer long cylinder, inspected the integrity of the fire paint, and the seal was intact, nodded, and instructed left and right: "Take this brother to Tangmu to eat, add meat, and reward three dollars." ”

As Xu Chu lifted the curtain of the tent, a wave of heat came to his face, and the source of the heat was not only because of the roaring stove built into the big tent, but also because of the crowd in the tent.

Cao Cao, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, Mao Jue, Cao Ang, Zhu Ling, Han Hao, Guan Yu, Jian Yong, Hu Cheer, Han Song...... The forces of Jinghuai and Huai have all gathered.

This was Cao Cao's second expedition to Yuan Shu in the fourth year of Jian'an, and it was also the last expedition against Yuan Shu. Previously, he had sent a request for a joint crusade to Liu Biao in Jingzhou, Zhang Xiu in Wancheng, Liu Bei in Xinye, Mi in Xuzhou, Chen Deng in Guangling, and Sun Ce in Jiangdong.

As a result, except for Liu Bei's more positive response and Liu Biao's more cautious response, the rest of the forces were silent.

Liu Bei's enthusiasm is expected, this guy already has a grudge against Yuan Shu, and of course he will not let go of the opportunity to beat the water dog. In addition, there is another reason, the battle of Guandu. Liu Bei's eyesight was insufficient, and he was not optimistic about Cao Cao at all, so he fooled Cao Cao and smeared oil on the soles of his feet. This incident not only hurt his character, but also had a grudge with Cao Cao, and there was a chance to bridge the relationship at this time, so there was a reason not to take the initiative to get closer.

The most important point is that Liu Bei can also see clearly that his biggest enemy in the future must be Ma Han. I want to reject the horse. must be Lian Cao, this contradiction between friend and foe can be cleared.

However, Liu Bei did not appear in person. Although he has a thick skin, he fooled Lao Cao last time, and his bad behavior made his image in Cao Ying's forces plummet, and he didn't want to make a face and be beaten in the past. So, he chose a person who Cao Cao couldn't bear to criticize the most - the second brother Guan Yu would join the alliance on his behalf, and Jian Yong would assist him with the main book. and led 2,000 soldiers to help, showing his sincerity.

Hu Che'er came on behalf of Wancheng Zhang Xiu. In fact, Zhang Xiu didn't plan to rush this trip to the troubled waters, but Liu Biao sent messengers to urge him several times, and he opened the price in full. gave a lot of sweetness, hoping that he could send at least 1,000 soldiers and horses to support, indirectly expressing Jingzhou's intentions.

After Zhang Xiu asked Luoyang for instructions, the reply he received was, "Yes." Watching the Movement". Zhang Xiu comprehended, so he sent Hu Che'er to lead more than 1,000 cavalry to participate in the Battle of Huainan.

And Han Song, who was engaged in Zhonglang at the time, was the official representative of Liu Biao. However, he came alone, without any army or food. To put it bluntly, he is purely mentally supportive. However, for Cao Cao, this statement is very important, even heavier than Hu Che'er's thousands of troops.

Guan Yu, Han Song, and Hu Che'er, whether in history or in this time and space, are all people that Cao Cao admires very much. Needless to say, Guan Yu also added a lot of chaos to Cao Cao; Han Song respected Cao Cao very much in history, and said a lot of good things to Lao Cao in front of Liu Biao, which angered Liu Biao and almost lost his life.

For these three people representing different forces, whether from the perspective of talents or from the perspective of the forces behind them, Cao Cao is naturally enveloped in every way.

Beginning in September, Cao Cao, after resting for nearly half a year, launched another attack on the Huainan Campaign, this time, the target was Xia Cai.

In mid-September, Cao's army of 15,000 men, plus 2,000 Guan Yu and more than 1,000 Hu Che'er, totaling nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses, approached Xia Cai by the Huai River.

In October, the army gathered in Xia Cai, as long as the city was breached, it could be attacked, and the retreat could be defended, so as not to be attacked by Yuan's army. The most advantageous point is that from there, cross the Huaishui and land on the other side, fifty miles away, is Shouchun.

Yuan Shu was already sick in bed at this time, and he was worried when he heard the news, so he sent a group of henchmen such as Liu Xun, the mastermind Yan Xiang, and his younger brother Yuan Yin, and led 5,000 soldiers and horses to cross the river to reject Cao.

After several rounds of confrontations, the two sides suffered losses. Due to the determination of the defenders, Cao's army besieged the city for two months and failed to conquer it.

As the weather turned colder, Hu Che'er's Wancheng army and Guan Yu's Xinye army both had the intention of retreating, and even the morale of Cao's army was low.

Cao Cao had to patrol the camp almost every day, cheer up the soldiers, and when he returned to the tent, he couldn't help but sigh for a long time, if it wasn't for the current battle of Pi, his own elite lost too much, and he couldn't recruit a large number of new soldiers, why not?

Fortunately, the winter of Lianghuai is not very cold, for Cao Jun, who is mostly Yanzhou soldiers, it is bearable, and it is not a big problem to drag it for a month, but it is not a way to drag it all the time.

Today, Cao Cao gathered to discuss a good plan, but before the discussion came to a conclusion, he waited for an explosive news.

"Gao Yuancai was conferred the head, Yuan Xianyi surrendered, the dragon and wolf army entered and merged, Hebei, and Ma Jinglong ruled Hebei."

When Xu Chu cut off the fire paint with a ruler knife under Cao Cao's instructions, took out the letter, and read it out loud, it was still a warm military tent, and the temperature plummeted, and it was extremely cold.

Even in the battle of Guandu, Cao Cao, who was also talking and laughing freely, lost his usual calmness and calmness, and said in a lost voice: "It only took half a year, how can this, how is this possible?" ”

Cao Hong almost jumped up: "Who sent the message?" ”

Xu Chu's voice became low: "It's Xun Beijia, who stayed in Qiaocheng." ”

Xun Yu's urgent message, that can't be wrong. It's just too unbelievable that Ma Han captured the entire Hebei in only half a year, and swallowed Gao Gan by the way, and took half of the state. This is in strong contrast to the cold wind that they have been grinding for months, and still blowing cold wind in Xiacai.

How exactly does Ma Ha do it? Even if he drove the army directly over, he did not meet any resistance. It's about that time! Are the Yuan brothers and Gao Gan papier-mâché? Shatter at the touch of a button!

If Cao Cao could still see these brothers, he would have to cut his chest and grab them and scold them.

Guan Yu's eyes were raised high, his teeth were clenched, his cheeks showed ridges, and his fists were clenched, as if he was competing with someone.

Mao Jue couldn't help but ask: "Did Xun Wenruo say in the letter that the battle of Ma Jinglong Hebei was in detail?" ”

Xu Chu glanced down and nodded: "Yes." ”

Cao Cao stretched out his hand: "Show it to me." ”

After a while, Cao Cao took a long breath, looked up at the generals' expressions, and sighed: "Ma Jinglong is indeed handsome. He is also full of talents. Jing Cheng raid, it is really difficult for ordinary generals to implement, this Zhao Zilong is very good. In particular, the battle of Yecheng, according to Wen Ruo, used a new siege weapon that could throw stones to hit the city. Most of them were made by Ma Deheng, who stuttered when he spoke, which is also amazing! ”

Cao Hong hated and hated: "This Ma Jinglong is nothing more than a side branch of Fufeng, but he is just relying on his status as a national relative." Win people's hearts and accommodate heroes. ”

Xiahou Yuan stroked the long hair under his chin, thoughtfully: "Ride with 2,000 males and 3,000 fast horses." A hundred miles a day, through the mountains and ...... Belligerent! Speaking of the back, with a fist high-five, it seems to have an understanding.

Xiahou Yuan's voice just fell. Cao Cao also seemed to have gained, and hurriedly shouted: "Get the map quickly!" ”

Xiahou Yuan also hurriedly stepped forward, and the two looked at each other for a while. At the same time, he stretched out his hand and pointed to one place, glanced at each other, laughed heartily, and turned his head to Han Song at the same time: "If you want to break the Yuan Highway, you still need Liu Yuanjun's help." ”

……

When Cao Cao learned the news of Ma Han's unification of the north, on the other side of the river, in the palace of Shouchun City, Yuan Shu, who was once the most powerful prince in the south, was entering the countdown to life. He was lying on the couch with a white cloth on his forehead, his eyes were dull, his face was yellow, his cheeks were thin, and his beard was gray, and he looked like an old man who was about to die, and it was hard to imagine that he was not yet fifty years old.

His wife, Feng Shi, was taking care of it, when a voice came from outside the hall: "Father, the son asks to see, there is something urgent." ”

Feng Shi said softly, "It's Yao'er." ”

Yuan Shu grunted in his throat, and his jaw moved imperceptibly.

Feng Shi hurriedly said, "Let him come in." ”

A young man in his twenties approached the temple, bowed down to the ground, and gave a great gift to Yuan Shu and his mother Feng Shi on the couch. This young man is Yuan Shu's eldest son, Yuan Yao, who served in Huainan Cheng at this time.

Yuan Shu motioned for Feng and his eldest son to help him up and lean on the couch, so that it was convenient to speak. After tossing for a while, he said weakly: "How is the situation of Xia Cai's battle?" ”

Yuan Yao cautiously replied, "Acceptable." Although Cao's army besieged the city, it was unable to break the city for a while. ”

"What's the matter?" Yuan Shu said unhappily, at this moment, is there anything more important than the battle of Xia Cai?

"Yes, it's about Hebei ......" Yuan Yao swallowed a mouthful of saliva, hesitating whether to sue his father.

"Oh, Hebei, last time I said that the three sons of the original family were not good at defending the city, and Yecheng was captured in one day and night, and he died in the chaos. Fortunately, there is the support of Xianyi and Yuancai, one east and one west, otherwise, if Ma Han is allowed to dominate Hebei, with the habit of this Liaodong wolf to invade like fire, I am afraid that he will soon grind his teeth to the south. ”

"Father ......" Yuan Yao's voice was difficult, and Ai Ai said, "There is conclusive news from Luoyang, Yuan Cai was defeated, fled into the West River, and was beheaded by the Huns; Xianyi is unable to support himself and has surrendered to Ma Han; The Dragon Wolf Army has completely occupied Hebei ...... Father, father! ”

Before Yuan Yao finished speaking, Yuan Shu's body had slipped on the couch. So what followed was another toss, and after Yuan Shu woke up slowly, the first sentence was: "All go out, Yao'er stay." ”

Feng and below, they did not dare to disobey, and retreated one after another.

Yuan Shu lay on the couch horizontally, like a zombie, the corners of his mouth still had residual red, he squinted at his eldest son, and breathed for a long time before he could say the second sentence: "What should I do?" ”

Yuan Yao hesitated again and again, gritted his teeth, and said boldly: "The only way to do this is to follow what Yan (Xiang) Beijia and Shu (Shao) said in the main book - cut the honorable number and write a letter to apologize." In this way, the excuse for the southern invasion of the dragon and wolf can be eliminated, that is, Cao Cao's southern attack, and he has also lost his righteous name......"

Yuan Yao didn't say any more, bowed his head and waited for his father's decision.

For a long time, for a long time, it was still silent, until Yuan Yao finally couldn't help but raise his head: "Father, ...... Emperor"

Yuan Shu's thin and pale hand shook: "Don't call Father Emperor anymore, call Ah Weng......"

A long sigh echoed through the empty hall, endlessly empty and desolate. (To be continued......)