Yuan Shao's big camp Yecheng.

Yecheng was the seat of Jizhou in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the ruling center of the Hebei Plain. Han Fu and Yuan Shao were state pastoral residences before and after.

The city here is high and strong, and Yuan Shao's mansion is convenient for the center of the city.

After occupying most of Youzhou, it was once a joyful atmosphere, but today, as if it was a sudden frost, the atmosphere in the entire mansion was depressed to the extreme, so that the people in the mansion did not dare to breathe more, as if they were afraid of angering the master and being angry.

In fact, Yuan Shao was indeed very angry at this time, and he was furious when he saw that the general Yan Liang sent back in defeat, only bringing back less than 4,000 soldiers, and after hearing that the Youzhou he had occupied before was lost, he was furious.

Originally, after occupying Youzhou, Yuan Shao's ambitions began to grow, and for a while he was already planning to capture Hanoi Wang Kuang, and then expand his territory again to become the strongest among the princes. But he never expected that without waiting for him to make a move, Zhang Chao did insert a lever behind him first, and this change caught him off guard.

In the hall of the mansion, Yan Liang, Gao Lan, and Lu Weihuang knelt on the ground with ropes.

On their side, standing on the left were Guo Tu, Tian Feng, Xu You and other military ministers, and on the right were Wen Chou, Zhang He, Gao Gan and other military generals.

Yuan Shao sat on the desk, and the closest people around him were Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang's three sons.

After listening to what Yan Liang said, Yuan Shao was already furious, "Zhang Zhiyuan, if you dare to send troops to me first, I will ask for it." ”

Yuan Shao was angry. In fact, this is no wonder of him, he originally thought that with his own strength, Cao Cao, who was the son of heaven, would be afraid of his own three points, but Zhang Chao was just a small and state pastor, a nominal general, and he dared to come to find his own trouble, isn't he looking for death?

After subduing Youzhou, Yuan Shao recruited more than 200,000 soldiers, plus the men and horses of his headquarters, he could make up an army of nearly 500,000. With this force, who would dare to provoke it? It's a good thing that he doesn't go to other people's troubles, how can someone be so blind, looking for their own unhappiness, isn't it no different from looking for death?

As soon as the joy and anger came out, Yan Liang, who was kneeling below, said with excitement on his face: "Lord, Liang is willing to make up for his mistakes and be the vanguard army, this time he will definitely give the Bingzhou army a good look, in order to show the bravery of our Hebei army." ”

"Lord, don't be willing to go." Seeing that Yan Liang raised his head, at the moment, Wen Chou and the other generals also said in unison.

Seeing that the generals below were all about to fight, Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction, there are such brave generals, but they are just a small and state pastor, what is there to be afraid of?

Er Yanliang just showed a satisfied look on his face, and the two Wenchen Guo Tu and Xu You, who were standing on the left, had already exchanged glances, and then Guo Tu suddenly knelt down on the ground and said, "Lord, don't!" ”

Just when all the generals were asking for battle, someone suddenly came out and said no, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. Especially Tian Feng, who was among the Wenchen, looked at Guo Tu with a very curious gaze, he really couldn't figure out what this person was doing at this time, could it be...

Tian Feng suppressed the doubts in his heart and watched the development of the situation.

"My lord." Guo Tu, who was kneeling on the ground, spoke out again.

"Can't? Why not? Yuan Shao's anger rose, and there was a clear hint of anger in his accountable voice.

"Lord, please calm your anger, Rong Chen said slowly." Guo Tu was indeed not in a hurry, and slowly raised his head and said: "Lord, our army has just occupied Youzhou, and the army is tired. Our real enemy is not Zhang Zhiyuan, but Cao Apu, who has just moved the capital to Xuchang, if we now raise troops with Zhang Chao, it will be equivalent to losing the geographical advantage; Third, we have already formulated a plan to capture Hanoi, and if we stop, the preliminary work will be done in vain, and many soldiers will also be shaken by the change of the lord's order. That is, the time of day, the location is favorable, and people do not occupy it, and there is no reason to raise troops at this time. ”

"What? Then can Zhang Zhiyuan be allowed to snatch the fruits of my victory? Although Yuan Shao also knew that it was not a wise choice to raise troops and Zhang Chao on a large scale now. But if he said that he was beaten, and he didn't even resist, he really couldn't swallow this breath.

"Of course, you can't look at it like that. We can attack Hanoi first, in Nayou Chau. Once that time comes, our will be equivalent to completely surround Zhang Zhiyuan, and at that time, we can start from wherever we want, and at that time, we can not only take back Youzhou, but we can also capture it together, which is a long-term plan. Guo Tu knelt on the ground, and his voice was loud to express his meaning.

Yuan Shao was indeed moved when he heard this.

The territory of Hanoi is bordered by the eastern part of the river. As we all know, Hedong produces iron and salt, and these are things that are sought after in troubled times. If you can attack Hanoi first and attack Hedong, it will be equivalent to having a stronger economic foundation, and at that time, it will be much easier to clean up Zhang Chao.

In the case, what Guo Tu said is not unreasonable, once Hanoi is taken, whether it is to attack Hedong or Huguan, or even to attack Yanmen, you can choose at will, at that time, facing many blows, Zhang Chao will definitely not be able to defend against it, and the state can be mapped.

Yuan Shaozheng, who was a little moved by these words, hesitated, and Xu You also stood up. "My lord, the minister praised what Brother Gongze (Guo Tuzi) said, now it seems that we have ceded Youzhou to Zhang Zhiyuan, but in fact, it is also a move to consume his troops and energy. Think about it, even the wisdom of the lord has not completely calmed down Youzhou, and there are still Gongsun Zan who is eyeing him and Kebi Neng, who is not very obedient to orders, so how can Zhang Zhiyuan do it? When he spends a lot of energy on Youzhou, the defense of Hezhou will be relaxed, and it is a good time for us to attack. And the matter of Youzhou has not been decided, and there are Liu Yu's remnants and Gongsun Zan and others fighting, plus a Zhang Zhiyuan, wouldn't it be even more lively, and when the three of them are tired, we will take the opportunity to make a move, and the matter of Youzhou can be determined in a war. ”

Xu You stood up and agreed with Guo Tu's opinion, and as soon as these words came out, the balance in Yuan Shao's heart, who was hesitating, was more tilted.

But it was like this that Zhang Chao took advantage, he was still a little unhappy in his heart, and immediately set his eyes on Tian Fengzhi, who was pondering, and said, "Yuan Hao, what do you suggest?" ”

Tian Feng, who was still hesitating why Guo Tu and Xu You would come up with such an idea, was suddenly asked by Yuan Shao, first stunned for a while, and then hugged his fists and said: "Everyone has their own reasons, and the minister has nothing to suggest for a while." ”

After saying this, Tian Feng himself felt a burst of self-blame in his heart.

He himself disagreed with Guo Tu and Xu You's remarks, and in his eyes, Zhang Chao and Cao Cao were Yuan Shao's confidants. Now is Zhang Chao's use of troops in Youzhou, which is a good time to attack and occupy the state.

However, Tian Feng, who had been to Jinyang City in person, knew that Zhang Chao was a good hand in handling internal affairs and developing the economy, and if Bingzhou really became Yuan Shao's territory, I am afraid that the people there would never live such a good life.

It was precisely because he thought of the suffering of the people that Tian Feng did not speak out his disagreeing opinions, and did something against his will for the sake of the people.

Tian Feng didn't give an opinion, but he didn't object, which made Guo Tu and Xu You both breathe a sigh of relief, and then the two looked at each other and smiled.

Just five days ago, a messenger sent by Zhang Chao came to the house of the two of them and gave them gold and silver gifts.

The two of them, who were greedy for money, had long coveted these things when they saw them, and after learning from the envoy that Zhang Chao had just asked them to persuade Yuan Shao not to raise troops in Youzhou immediately, the two agreed after a little consideration. It's just that they don't immediately enter Youzhou, it's not that they will never enter the army, but they can still agree to such a request.

After receiving the heavy gift, there is now a scene in the palace today, and there is a move by the two of them to persuade Yuan Shao.

Of course, they were able to succeed because of their absence. Because he sent grain and grass a while ago, his son was frustrated that he couldn't see anyone alive or dead. Only this one beloved son could not bear the blow and fell ill. He was not above the court, which gave the two villains a chance.

Yuan Shao, who was persuaded, decided to ignore Zhang Chao first, but to capture Hanoi, and after taking Hanoi, when the state was encircled, he could think of what he wanted.

The result of the meeting was beyond the expectations of Yan Liang and other military generals, but immediately after the lord made a decision, they began to prepare for the capture of Hanoi. And the content of today's meeting was also quickly spread by the members of Tianyan lurking in Yecheng. By the time Zhang Chao received the news, it had been five days.

At this time, Zhang Chao took Guo Jia and Lu Buji across Yanmen County to Dai County and settled in Pingshu City.

In the evening, Zhang Chao received a letter from Tianyan, and after reading it, he couldn't help laughing, and handed the letter to Guo Jiadao on the side: "Fengxiao, now you can rest assured." ”

Guo Jia also took the letter, and after reading it, he also said with a happy face: "Yuan Benchu was supplemented by these two people, and he was not far from defeat. ”

"Yes, such a person who betrayed his master for money is indeed hateful. But it is also thanks to them that my plan can be better realized. Zhang Chao said with a little emotion.

A minister can help the Lord, but he can also mislead the Lord. Fortunately, he has a forward-looking view of the overall situation, and he can be impeccable in knowing the appointment of people, which is also his biggest advantage.

Knowing that Yuan Shao would ignore himself for a while, Zhang Chao said to Guo Jia: "Fengxiao, that is, Yuan Benchu ignored me and waited, I think I can prepare to send Fengxian to support Wenhe." It is better to decide the affairs of Youzhou as soon as possible. ”