Han Xiang

Chapter 260 If you don't farm, you will fail the world

Yuan Shao's failure at Guandu led to rebellions in many counties and counties in Jizhou.

In Hanoi County, which borders the southwest of Yecheng, the prefect Zhang Yang rebelled and let Hanoi County fall into the hands of Cao Cao, but more than half of the county's territory was attached to Yuan Shao.

The failure of the Guandu battlefield put Hanoi County under the complete control of Cao Cao. After that, every move around Yecheng was exposed to Cao Cao's vision.

Yuan Shao learned from his experience after the defeat and did not gather troops at the old place Liyang. If he went south from Liyang to Baimajin again, he might repeat the fiasco of Guandu.

Yuan Shao ordered his three sons and nephew Gao Gan to gather the recruited soldiers at Cangtingjin in the east of Wei County. Crossing the Yellow River from Cangtingjin to the south can threaten Dong'a, Fanxian, and Juancheng in Yanzhou. (Xiahoudun's achievement as General Roupiao was obtained in Juancheng.)
Before the Guandu battle, Cheng Yu defended Juancheng, the east gate of Yanzhou, with [-] soldiers. After the war, Cao Cao added [-] troops to him. Yuan Shao's move clearly wanted to change the attack point.

It is too long to travel long distances to fight Xudu's grain road directly, but if the battlefield is selected in the eastern area of ​​Yanzhou, it will not only save the grain road in the north of Hebei, but also lengthen Cao Cao's grain road.

Yuan Shao likes to benefit oneself at the expense of others.

Yuan Shao stationed his troops and horses in Cangtingjin, with the intention of waiting for Cao Cao's operations and waiting for his work, and he also planned to slowly plan for Yanzhou.

If Cao Cao did not send troops to Yanzhou, Yuan Shao could restore the lost morale at Guandu and train the newly recruited soldiers by encroaching on the land of Yanzhou.

If Cao Cao raised his troops to the north and stayed away from Xudu, the dark chess Liu Bei sent by Yuan Shao to Runan would be able to play a role. He thought that when Cao Cao couldn't look at both ends, he might be able to regain his face.

Yuan Shao went to Cangting to gather troops and horses, and he was sure that Cao Cao would not come too soon, and at least he would have to wait until after the summer harvest if he wanted to move.

At this time, the mobilization ability of the Central Plains was not as good as that of Hebei. Yuan Shao considered that Cao Cao would spend more time preparing troops and rations for long-distance battles. Unexpectedly, this former friend of Luoyang, his current opponent is good at making surprise troops, and his game is unexpected.

In April, Cao Cao left Xudu and sent his troops northward.

Xun You, the hero and conspirator of Guandu, did not join the army because of his health. Cao Cao took Guo Jia and Jia Xu as his army staff and crossed Hebei with Cheng Yu from Juancheng.

Cao Cao not only sent troops in advance, but also planned to take the initiative to attack, which was completely beyond Yuan Shao's prediction. He thought that 8 or [-] people would dare to choose the front?Has Guandu lost his mind after beating him?
Just before Cao Jun left Xudu, Xiahou Dun took [-] garrison soldiers and went to Shouchun to fortify with Liu Fu, the governor of Yangzhou.

Before leaving, Cao Cao originally wanted to assign Xiahou Dun some capable lieutenants. Zhang He and Gao Lan, who surrendered at Guandu last year, were the best candidates, but Cao Cao considered again and again.

5000 people were few for Yuan Shao, but not many for Huainan now. Cao Cao worried that Xiahoudun had soldiers and generals, and he might attack rashly in Shouchun, so he did not choose a lieutenant general to accompany him.

Generals such as Zhang He and Gao Lan are most suitable for attacking tough battles. Their family members have been executed by Yuan Shao. At this time, they are used to deal with Yuan Shao's familiar enemies, so both of them were taken to Hebei by Cao Cao.

Xiahou Dun had a high status in Cao Ying, and he didn't necessarily listen to the advice of ordinary people, but Cao Cao could abide by his intentions and instructions, and not assigning him a deputy general meant that he could only defend and not attack.

In mid-April, Xiahou Dun led troops into Shouchun.

Seeing the dilapidated and desolate city, and seeing the surrounding fertile fields uncultivated, Xiahou Dun felt mixed feelings.

Five thousand defenders were stationed in Shouchun, but there were no local people to support them, and the military supplies and food had to be transported from Xudu. Xiahou Dun was ready to farm on the third day after he arrived.

Ear seeds have passed, but the summer solstice has not yet arrived.

Although the season of rice planting is a bit late, if you can produce a stone of grain, you can save a stone for the rear. After all, the 5000 people brought by Xiahou Dun were soldiers in the fields when Xudu was free.

Arriving in Huainan, where irrigation is convenient, and professional field soldiers farming, Xiahou Dun thought that the harvest must be good.

When Liu Fu returned to Shouchun, his butt was still hot, and was about to ask Qin Yi to select someone to go to Hefei, but when he learned that Xiahou Dun was arranging people to plant rice, he took Qin Yi out of the city to persuade him.

The two rushed to the Tuntian area outside the city in a hurry, and saw Xiahou Dun calling the village chiefs to assign tasks.

Liu Fu then stepped forward and saluted, "General Xiahou, please take a step to speak."

Xiahou Dun blinked his one-eyed eyes, then followed Liu Fu to avoid the crowd, strode out two feet away, and asked curiously, "Is Governor Liu looking for something?"

Liu Fu said earnestly: "Cao Sikong asked you to guard Shouchun, but you let the soldiers farm here, isn't it inappropriate?"

"Isn't it appropriate? I haven't seen a single soldier in Jiangdong, why should Governor Liu be so worried?"

Xiahoudun asked continuously, and then stroked his beard and sighed: "If I don't plant some rice in such a good field, such a good season, and such a good water source, I will feel that I have failed the world."

"The reason why Sun Quan didn't send troops was because Shi Shui and Fei Shui didn't pass through. Don't forget that Long Xiang's men are digging."

Before Liu Fu finished speaking, Xiahou Dun interrupted him with a big wave of his hand, "Yesterday I sent people to Jiangjunling. The excavation speed of the channel at the southern foot is not fast, and it will take several months to complete. The rice in Shouchun can be harvested."

"Ah?" Liu Fu didn't expect that Xiahoudun had finished his investigation, but he still didn't agree that he was farming in Shouchun at this time, so he continued to advise: "The terrain around Shouchun is flat, even if Sun Quan doesn't come by water, it is very difficult to go by land. Threat, even if they can't capture the city and destroy these fields easily, don't you think it's a pity?"

Xiahou Dun snorted coldly: "Worried about someone coming to harass, and then afraid to plant? How can anyone be fully prepared for the affairs of this world? When Yuan Shao went south last year, we were also unprepared. Could it be that we can't meet the enemy?"

"Ah this."

Liu Fu was at a loss for words by Xia Houdun.

"Mengde went to Hebei to fight, and Xudu's food and grass were very tight. The garrison I brought Shouchun was originally a field soldier, and it was a little bit to help the rear. If someone really came and harassed during this period, how much rice can be kept, even if It doesn't matter if you can't keep it, there is almost no loss." Xiahou Dun looked determined.

"But the soldiers are working hard to cultivate." Liu Fu hesitated to speak.

"Living in this troubled world, why don't you work hard? It is lucky that you will get something if you work hard. Sometimes you work hard, but you may not get anything."

Xiahou Dun looked up at the sky, and said to himself that I am farming beside the Huai River, at least the drought can be avoided, right?
Liu Fu was speechless after hearing this, and Qin Yi next to him clasped his fists and asked, "General Xiahou, all the soldiers you brought are going to farm, what about the defense of Shouchun City?"

Xiahoudun asked back: "Don't you have eight hundred sons under your command? I can guard well before I come, but I can't guard after I come?"

"No. The general misunderstood, what I mean is that Ruo Jiangdong drives troops to attack."

Xiahoudun replied quickly: "If there are few soldiers, I will defend myself. If there are many soldiers, I will return to the city to defend together. Just abandon the rice."

"It turns out that the general has a well-thought-out plan, and the final general admires it." Qin Yi clasped his fists in salute.

"Is it all over?"

Xiahou Dun waved his hand: "Aren't you going to Hefei to proclaim the imperial edict? What should you be busy with? I'm going to settle the land today."

"Oh."

"only."

(End of this chapter)