"Fengxiao, what do you think of Bowen's matter?" Cao Cao asked in a trembling voice.

"To be honest, I don't want to see it."

Cao Cao: "I think Bowen is reminding me of the two states of trade and Hebei. ”

"With the wealth of Jizhou, to stabilize the people of Youzhou, so that the two states can prosper together."

"Just repair the main road, it can be easy to pass, the Qinghe River enters Zhongshan, Zhongshan goes out of Zhuo County, but hundreds of miles, if there is a Chi road as the main road, the caravan can arrive in a few days, so the people do not need to worry about food shortages."

"Youzhou Fish Market, Salt Market and Hu Market in Yuyang can be traded to Jizhou, and Jizhou grain, wood, stone, etc. can be transported north to Youzhou, so that it is just a transaction, so that the five baht money can be used effectively."

"Previously, Dong Zhuo's coinage had made the five-baht coin useless and no longer used, and now Bowen is able to make it effective, which is really commendable."

Guo Jia nodded slightly, "I understand, what the lord said is reasonable." ”

"Hmm."

Cao Cao ordered the refugees in Youzhou to receive five baht and leave, and at the same time transported grain to the counties of Youzhou, telling them that grain could be purchased for five baht, and the price was slightly different from that of Jizhou.

This is not an overkill, at least in this way, these local residents quickly formed a sense that five baht can be exchanged for food.

Under these circumstances, Cao Cao ordered people to release a lot of hard work, such as helping to build city walls, repair people's houses, cutting down trees and digging stones, carrying water for water, etc., and distributing a certain amount of five baht every day.

The people gradually enjoyed it.

At this time, Xu Zhen had returned to Jizhou, and the general's newspaper spread everywhere, and the battle once again shocked the military and civilians in the land of Bingzhou, and also made Guo Tu and others fall into confusion.

"Youzhou has been defeated, the whole army has been annihilated, and the second son has fled to Saiwai."

And the state governance office, still on top of the restored city tower, Guo Tu pinched the information, and his expression was extremely ugly.

He knew that he would definitely not be able to defeat Cao and Xu's soldiers and horses, but he didn't expect to lose so completely, Xu Zhen was not even hit hard by the tall building.

"Originally, I thought that as long as the second prince could hold out until the beginning of spring next year, he would send troops from Bingzhou to attack Daijun to alleviate Xu Zhen's offensive, and if he added the help of friends outside the Saiwai, he should be able to resist Cao Xu's attack."

"Gongsun Du will also come to get involved, but the trick has dropped, which is unexpected."

Guo Tu and Gao Ran stood at the head of the city, looking into the distance together in front of the wall trough, and their expressions were not good-looking, because after the recovery of Youzhou, as long as the cities were reopened, those clans on horseback would re-weigh their masters.

Because if they want to survive, they must rely on the huge grain depot of Youzhou, exchange for grain every year, and loot grain alive.

With the current ability of Badun, it is unlikely that he wants to rob, Cao Cao has a lot of time to deal with him, and it is not impossible to chase and kill Xianbei if he is in a hurry, so he must be seeking peace.

Youzhou is stable, and after the resumption of production in Jizhou, millions of soldiers can be produced in a year, and Cao Cao still has the rest of the four states and one county.

The products are abundant and rich year by year.

I don't know how much money there is in the treasury, and now with the Son of Heaven in hand, the army is monstrous.

Scholars and heroes will also gather to attach, and there will be 100,000 lone soldiers in the state, what will they do to fight Cao Cao?

At this time, the only thing that could have a negative impact on Cao Cao in the whole world was the secret edict of the Son of Heaven, known as the edict of the cloth belt.

But to be honest, anyone with a discerning eye knows that this is a letter from Dong Cheng, Liu Bei and others to the princes abroad, whether it is an edict or not is not known, and of course it is not important.

This is an edict defined by the winner as the king, and whoever wins is up to whomever he wins.

"Sir, now it seems that it is difficult to defend the state, there is a lot of civil strife, although we have 100,000 soldiers, but the grain yield per mu is very small, the people are insufficient, and the effect of bringing the people to the fields is not good, and we must wait for the autumn harvest next year to prolong the survival."

"It's really difficult," Guo Tu stroked his beard, even his face was much older at this time, and there were a few more strands of gray hair on his sideburns, and he also thought deeply of what Gao Ran said, "In the next few years, we will not have any food to hoard." ”

"It's just a matter of breathing."

Guo Tu's eyes were full of despair.

"The spirit of the year has become empty now, and I don't even know what the point of persistence is."

"Sir," Gao Ran looked indifferent, and said with a solemn face, "But he can't descend." ”

"You can go to Liangzhou to join forces and fight against Cao with Ma Teng and Han Sui."

"Ma Teng Han Sui and others are not people who defended the territory and enriched the people and strengthened the country, they are nothing more than warriors, and sooner or later they will be defeated by Cao Cao."

"Sir, don't be presumptuous!"

"Alas, I'm not arrogant! And where can you find so much grain on the soil of the state! ”

Guo Tu was anxious by Gao Ran's words, you generals always rely on their enthusiasm, and they have to repay the king with all their loyalty.

After so many years of civil strife, it has never stopped, and the resettlement of the people cannot be peaceful, and peace will never be obtained!

Now the winter is full of epidemics, and it is estimated that thousands of people will die by the beginning of spring.

The morale of the lieutenant generals in the army was low, and the morale of the army was lost.

The only advantage is that the people are strong, suitable for recruiting elites, and they can also get fierce generals.

However, many places are in name only, and no one lives there, Guo Tu estimates that in a few decades, the territory of this annexed state may be unprecedentedly reduced, and even absorbed and annexed by other states and counties, with only one name hanging on the map.

If you want to farm the land here and raise the people, herd cattle and sheep into herds, it is absolutely impossible, this is a matter of changing the quality of the soil.

You can't let a demon like Xu Bowen come.

Gao Ran was silenced by Guo Tu's words, he had not done anything else in the territory for the past year, and was basically suppressing rebellion and rebellion.

The left and the right are staggered, and the local military and civilian conditions are full of dangers.

The officers and men in the army were killed and wounded and recruited, and the increase or decrease was still 100,000, and most of the grain was extremely hard bread, and there was not much soup and meat.

Only when you kill old horses and old cows, you can eat some minced meat, and your life is much harder than in Yecheng back then, the difference between heaven and earth.

"Tsk, what should I do now?"

"I have to contact Ma Teng and Han Sui."

Guo Tu breathed a long sigh of relief and sighed: "Let them support the people for us, and in the future, we will join forces and threaten Cao Cao's rear at any time." ”

"As for the second son, don't look for his whereabouts."

Gao Ran's face was stunned, "Why?" ”

"He has lost the hearts of the people, in the battle of Youzhou, Xu Zhen asked him to shrink in the city tower and dare not come out, and even his own soldiers and horses gave up, which made the soldiers feel cold, this is the reason why he personally led the army to attack."

"What the gentleman said is very true."

Gao Ran sighed deeply, his face was full of disappointment, when he just heard about the military situation, he couldn't help but think of Gongsun Zhan, who killed his wife and son, and then set himself on fire.

Xu is not yet old, and his mood will not reach such a decadence and despair, so he has not yet walked on the road of self-immolation.

"Arrange the city defenses, control the people, please ask the general to collect the nearby clans, and be sure to feed the war with war before the autumn harvest next year."

This is the worst method, after there is no root, only to fight to feed the war, so that the dead and wounded can be owed to pay the pension in the future, and can reduce the consumption of food, and at the same time loot the thieves and enemies, and can also get some horses, cattle and sheep, and rice and flour.

The most important thing is that the state is vast and sparsely populated, and there are many clans, so it is necessary to deter the rule one by one, and catch more foreign races as slaves, so that they can continue to dominate in the future.

Fortunately, he came with the people back then, and there were still many people who could make him cultivate the land, Guo Tu knew in his heart that when he let go of benevolence and righteousness and was not shameless, he could still squeeze some more things.

Let the broken carriage of Yuan's soldiers and horses run for a while.

Then, within a day, a large number of letters and rumors were received in various forms.

At the same time, the most exquisite package was sent to Guo Tu and Gao Ran and other civil and military personnel.

Xin Ping and Xin Bi brothers still learned about it first, and they came with ugly faces.

This is Yuan Shang's handwritten letter, asking them to go to Jizhou to ransom people, 50,000 soldiers, plus 2,000 sturdy war horses, sent to Jizhou, in exchange for Yuan Shang to go back, and at the same time cede Yanmen County and Xinxing County to Xu Zhen.

After reading it, Guo Tu's expression became solemn, and he looked up at Xin Ping, "What does this mean?" ”

"With half of the soldiers and horses, plus the land of the two counties in exchange for the young son, how can we survive?"

"I can't survive," Xin Ping, who was yellow-faced and thin-skinned, was dressed in a beige robe, and said to Guo Tu: "Do you have the heart to be self-reliant?" ”

Guo Tu's eyes widened, and his heart suddenly froze, "Nonsense! How could I have meant that! ”

"Then why, ordered not to pursue the whereabouts of the second son? The second son fled to Saiwai, and if he could get Wu Huan's help, he would be able to travel thousands of miles to Bingzhou. ”

Xin Ping's words were sharp and straightforward, and he directly contradicted Guo Tu, and this is what many people want to say in their hearts, but they dare not say it.

After all, they are the soldiers and horses of the Yuan family, and the favors they received back then were all given by the Yuan family, and among these soldiers and horses, there are still many loyal to the Yuan family.

This is the relationship that has been cultivated together after seven or eight years of winning the war, and Guo Turang's order has angered most of the people in the military camp.

Now Xin commented on this sentence, which made Guo Tu speechless, and he wanted to explain it again, but it was useless to talk to Gao Ran yesterday, and it was useless to talk about it now.

Xin Ping immediately sneered: "Hmph, Mr. doesn't need to be sophistry, it's not that Mr. is being held accountable, and there is no suspicion, but now overnight, the overwhelming rumors have been sent into the territory of the state, and the officers and men in the army know it, I'm afraid that within one night, the officers and men of the three armies will have this question." ”

"What? Where did the rumors come from! ”

Guo Tu's face changed greatly, "This is, this is Xu Bowen's strategy!" Others have just finished fighting in Youzhou! Actually give me a gossip! He's nasty! ”

"Sir should understand that the news of sending this in exchange for two counties, 50,000 soldiers and horses, and 2,000 horses at this time is rumored again."

"Do you want to do it or not?"

Xin Ping stared at Guo Tu, the two looked at each other and were stunned, speechless for a while, this is a paradox.

If you agree, you will suffer heavy losses, and how to resist in the future, the state will definitely not be able to defend it.

But if you don't agree, you must have Yuan Shang to quell the current turmoil, if these rumors continue to spread, it will not be good for Guo Tu, and the generals in the whole army will also be in turmoil.

Maybe someone will sneak into Guo Tu's mansion at night and ask him why he didn't save Yuan Shanggongzi.

"To say yes, or not to agree!?"

Guo Tu looked at everyone, his face was already a little dazed, Xu Zhen's hand caught him off guard, and the already turbulent merger of states was chaotic again.

"Let the gentleman decide."

Gao Ran's face was serious, and he clenched his fists and said loudly.

I'm a ghost, you're a wooden pillar, I want to decide everything, and whoever decides this kind of thing will have to bear the consequences!

"I can't decide."

Xin Ping and Xin Bi glanced at each other, and sneered: "In this case, you should hand over the military power." ”

"Return all the power to transfer the army to General Gao Lan, and, after the young prince returns, the gentleman should plead guilty."

"Those who are ministers should put the lord first, if the lord is not there, it is a usurpation to support the army and stand on his own."

Guo Tu was forced to take several steps back by the edge of these words, and if he was hit hard, he only felt his scalp tingle at this moment, because in the past few years, he had also persecuted the Confucian military advisors of other factions in this way.

Only then did it have a soaring status.

Unexpectedly, his own ending was the same?

"Xin Comment! How dare you slander me, not handing over the right to the army is to protect the legacy of the soldiers and horses left by the lord! ”

"And I never said that I wouldn't save the young man!"

"Hmph, then please make a decision!"

Xin Ping arched his hand again, his waist was straight, his face was serious, and on his side, Gao Ran's expression was also extremely cold, and he was always staring at Guo Tu.

It seems that if there is a slight mistake in words, you have to suppress it immediately, and you can see at a glance that these people have been discussed a long time ago.

Force me to make a decision!

When I agreed, I welcomed the young prince back, there were no troops left, and I also humiliated the two counties to Xu Zhen, this anger will definitely attract the resentment of the young son, although this letter for help is in his own handwriting.

If he disagrees, Guo Tu can already see the result, Gao Ran will immediately seize military power, and inform the whole army together with Xin Ping and Xin Bi that Guo Tu is trying to stand on his own feet and not save the young master Yuan Shang.

Then they went to rescue, and when they came back, it could be said that it was Guo Tu's rebellion, and the 50,000 soldiers were also uncertain, so it was better to change the young master and go back to preside over the overall situation.

In this way, it is Guo Tu's responsibility to be horizontal and vertical, and he has to be scolded a few times left and right.

This is really a long-term popularity, fighting for power and profit for so many years, but I didn't expect that in such a situation, the boat would capsize in the gutter.

Forced to this point by these two people.

Thinking of this, Guo Tu's eyes narrowed slightly, gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Okay, I ordered to change it to calm the rumors." ”

"In this way, we will also understand Mr. Yuan's heart, and we can calm the army's heart and not be so turbulent."

"And it will take time to choose which armies."

"Now, please reply to Jizhou and let the young man feel at ease."

Guo Tu glanced at them helplessly and sighed slightly.

However, in the bottom of his heart, he was still thinking about whether he could use the plan to make Xu Zhen suffer heavy losses, and at the same time save the young son.

When he came to pick up the soldiers and horses, it was the best time to ambush, and at this moment, Xu Zhen would definitely take it lightly, so that he could make achievements.

……

Jizhou, Qinghe County.

After Xu Zhen returned to the government office, he didn't manage the government for seven consecutive days, and he didn't even go out of the door, and the only thing that urgently summoned Dian Wei, Zhuge Liang and others to the main hall was to buy supper.

It is said that the consumption is too great, and the food should be replenished.

Fortunately, Qinghe was governed in an orderly manner by Yang Xiu and Chen Deng during the war, and Zhuge Liang added help after he returned.

But many matters were not something they could decide, and they slowly piled up within seven days.

"The battle was won, and the people were shut up at home for seven days."

"It's not coming out today, the information is here!" Dian Wei is in front of the gate, people are numb, what do you play at home every day, is it so fun!?

Bang!

Xu Zhen came out of the middle courtyard, went to the corridor pavilion in the front yard, walked through the streets and alleys of the courtyard, and opened the door of the mansion at the main entrance.

The eye sockets are a little sunken, the hair is slightly messy, and the spirit looks a little sluggish.

"Prince! What's wrong?! ”

Xu Zhen waved his hand, "I've ended my vacation early." ”

"Nothing, govern!"

Sooner or later, an iron kidney and iron lung will come out!

Xu Zhen gritted his teeth and thought.

(End of chapter)