Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 525
Yuan Ximing headed south to Guangling, but stopped halfway from Han River to Ling County. After entering the city, he met Guan and Zhang, who led them to the mansion and met Liu Bei who had secretly returned to Ling County.

That day, Liu Bei led his people to flee, but Cao Cao dispersed them. Liu Bei escaped at night, but fell down the mountain and was seriously injured, so he had to hide temporarily.

Later, Guan Yu returned to the army and joined Zhang Fei. The two searched everywhere and finally found the dying Liu Bei, so they quickly took him back to Ling County to recuperate.

Seeing Yuan Xi coming over, Liu Bei raised his hand tremblingly and sighed: "Thank you so much for your help, otherwise Bei would really have lost everything this time."

Yuan Xi consoled him: "Winning or losing is a common thing for a military strategist. Yuan Shu's army is pressing down, and defense is not easy. What's more, Cao Cao sneaks in from behind, and I am in Xiapi, and my performance is not as good as Xuande Gong."

"Now Xuande Gong still has strength. As long as he finds the right time, he will surely make a comeback."

Liu Bei sighed: "It's a pity that I was careless and allowed Cao Cao to sneak attack Pengcheng first and then take Tancheng. As a result, my way to Xiapi was cut off and I was isolated and helpless. I had to retreat in a hurry. I was ambushed again and was completely defeated."

Yuan Xi was also depressed. The loss of Pengcheng would really affect the war situation in Xuzhou.

Pengcheng has been the key to the North and the gateway to the South since ancient times. It is a battleground for military strategists and its strategic location is very important.

The reason for this is not only that it is on the shore of Surabaya, which connects the hills of Shandong and the Huaihe River, but also because it is located on the hills. Although the altitude is only a few hundred meters, it occupies a high position in the Xuzhou Plain. Xiang Yu chose to make his capital in This is also due to its location.

Now that Cao's army has occupied Pengcheng, this place is more difficult to conquer than Xiapi, and it forms a corner with Houqiu in the northeast, making it temporarily difficult for Yuan Shu's army to conquer.

Cao Ren's army, which originally occupied Tancheng, did abandon the city decisively, returned to Yuzhou, and attacked Yuan Shu's army who was heading north to Chen State.

Yuan Shu's army who captured Tancheng was in a dilemma. If they followed Cao Ren in pursuit, they might be cut off by Xiahou Yuan's army in Pengcheng.

Yuan Xi sighed: "I have heard that Duke Xuande was very guarded against Pengcheng. Why did he suddenly abandon Pengcheng?"

As soon as these words came out, all three people present looked embarrassed, especially Zhang Fei, whose black face as dark as the bottom of a pot seemed to have a trace of red color from shame.

When Liu Bei saw this, he sighed: "This is because Bei was greedy and was deceived by Cao Cao."

After Liu Bei's explanation, Yuan Xi finally understood the cause and effect of the matter.

Cao Cao actually reached a private deal with Liu Bei before!

He promised that Xiahou's daughter would be betrothed to Zhang Fei, promised to give Liu Bei an official position, and also promised to divide Yuzhou equally with Liu Bei.

When Liu Bei heard this, he was naturally overjoyed and agreed without even thinking about it.

As a result, Cao Cao did indeed apply for an official position for Liu Bei, and Liu Xie also issued an edict, making Liu Bei the Mu of Yuzhou and the Tinghou of Yicheng.

This name is not a bad one. Yuan Xi was secretly shocked when he heard this. He thought he had a close relationship with Liu Bei, but Cao Cao privately offered a higher price!
Moreover, judging from the fact that Cao Cao immediately turned against him, this official position was pure bait. Yuan Xi found that he was too conservative compared to Cao Cao in using the emperor's edict!

Cao Cao threw out such a free title just to confuse Liu Bei and achieve his own strategic goals. It can be said that he was playing Liu Bei into the palm of his hand.

And not only that, Xiahou was brought here by Xiahou Yuan himself. As Xiahou's identity, she was Xiahou Yuan's niece, so her status was not low.

Zhang Fei was naturally overjoyed, so he found a place to place the Xiahou family first, and waited for the two parties to complete the six rites before choosing a date to get married.

As a result, Xia Houyuan was stationed when he passed Pengcheng on his way back, but he took action brazenly and attacked Pengcheng from both sides with Cao Hong, who had already ambushed him earlier.

The Pengcheng defenders had already learned about the marriage between Zhang Fei and the Xiahou family. They relaxed their vigilance and were caught off guard by a sneak attack. They were captured by Xiahou Yuan and occupied Pengcheng.

At the same time, another army of Cao Cao crossed the East China Sea from Taishan County and attacked Tancheng. Cooperating with Cao Ren's army from Pengcheng, they defeated Tancheng in one fell swoop.

The two cities fell one after another in less than five or six days. When the news came back to Xiapi, Liu Bei's army, which had struggled to resist Yuan Shu's army's attack, was suddenly in a state of morale.

Seeing that there was nothing he could do, Liu Bei had no choice but to leave Guan Yu and Zhang Fei behind, and led the people to Guangling. As a result, he was attacked by Cao Chun's cavalry at night, and was defeated. It can be said that Cao Cao suffered from it from beginning to end. Deadly.

After Yuan Xi heard this, he felt mixed. Liu Bei did not join forces with him wholeheartedly. He also had his own plans in private. But speaking of it, he made a mistake and did not consider what the other party wanted from Liu Bei's perspective.

Just relying on verbal promises without practical benefits will not last long. This incident also taught Yuan Xi a great lesson. If you want a horse to run, you must feed it.

However, Liu Bei was also blinded. Because of Cao Cao's false benefits, he became careless, so that now all the three counties of Xiapi in the East China Sea of ​​Pengcheng have been lost, and he can only live in a city under Yuan Xi's rule.

Yuan Xi also admired Cao Cao's ruthlessness, and it was just a false title. Xia Houyuan's niece was also willing to give up. She was from her own family, right?

Wait, Xiahou clan?

Yuan Xi suddenly remembered, wasn't this the woman who was said to have been raped by Zhang Fei to become his wife?
Yuan Xi spoke out: "Xia Houyuan is willing to give up a daughter of his own family. He is cruel enough. He really doesn't care about his own life and death."

After hearing this, Zhang Fei said angrily: "Xia Houyuan, this thief, used this woman to deceive my elder brother and me!"

"And after Xiahou Yuan turned his back and captured Pengcheng, he even publicly announced that it was me, Lao Zhang, who went out to rob and kidnapped him!" "His grandma has only two legs. Xiahou's family is in Taishan County. I was full and ran far away." Go and rob people!”

After hearing this, Yuan Xi thought that this was wrong. In this life, it was the Xiahou family who gave away their daughter, instead of Zhang Fei who snatched her away. Could it be that the rumors in later generations were also wrong?
"Wei Lue" (Zhang) Fei knew that he had a good daughter, so he took her as his wife.

A daughter from a good family was a very special concept in the Han Dynasty, referring to a woman who was not born into a family of witches, doctors, workers, or merchants.

"Historical Records Suoyin" - As Chunyun said: (Liangjiazi) is not a doctor, a witch, a merchant, or a craftsman.

For example, Liu Bei once weaved mats and sold shoes. Weaving mats was a craftsman, and selling shoes was a merchant. Then Liu Bei was not a good man.

Dong Zhuo was born into a powerful local and had never been engaged in commerce or handicrafts. Therefore, Dong Zhuo was regarded as a son of a good family.

Therefore, Wei Lue's records are very interesting. How did Zhang Fei in later generations know that the Xiahou family he kidnapped was a daughter of a good family?
We must know that identification of identity in ancient times is extremely complicated. It is difficult to determine simply through the oral transmission of the person involved. The identity can only be confirmed when the family lineage is verified.

At this time, the two families usually confirm each other's identities, and it is often used for the six rites of marriage.

Does this mean that Wei Luo's records about Zhang Fei robbing people in the previous life may also have concealed the truth. The real inside story may be similar to this life. It may be that the Xiahou family took the initiative to propose the marriage?

Moreover, if the Xiahou family was really snatched by Zhang Fei from a hostile force, no matter what her identity was, it would be impossible for her to be his wife. It would be even more likely that she would be a concubine, or even worse.

Later, after Liu Bei's daughter was captured by Cao Jun in the Battle of Changbanpo, she was directly rewarded by Cao Cao to Cao Chun, the hero of the battle. Later, the record was not found in the history books. I am afraid that she was used as a maid or concubine, or even worse.

"The Biography of Cao Chun in the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms": "Conquered Jingzhou, pursued Liu Bei in Changban, obtained his two daughters' baggage, and collected their scattered soldiers. He surrendered to Jiangling, returned to Qiao, and died in the 15th year of Jian'an."

After Xiahou married Zhang Fei, her status was very high, and she was very likely to become the head wife.

(Xiahou family) gave birth to a daughter, Queen Liu Chan. --"Wei Lue"

It is absolutely impossible for a queen of a country to be born to a person of low status.

Yuan Xi suddenly felt that his current guess might be closer to the facts of later generations. If put together in this way, things would be much more reasonable!
He suddenly became curious and asked, "Where is the Xiahou family now?"

Zhang Fei said angrily: "When Xiapi City was destroyed, I tied her up and escaped, but I didn't let her run away!"

After hearing this, Yuan Xi said to Zhang Fei: "What are you going to do with this woman, general?"

Zhang Fei said unjustly: "He deserves to be punished for his crime!"

"In a few days, I will chop off her head and punish her!"

After hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid she can't help herself, and hasn't the general already proposed marriage to her?"

"I think it would be good for the general to marry her. Maybe he can have a relationship with the Xiahou family in the future."

After hearing this, Zhang Fei shook his head like a splashing drum, "No, no, no."

"The Xiahou dog thief deceived my elder brother and caused him to lose his land and family. This revenge must be avenged. How can I marry her niece again?"

"And when I meet Xia Houyuan today, I will definitely chop off his head. If I marry this woman, who knows if she will stab me while I'm sleeping at night?"

Yuan Xi heard this and smiled bitterly. Guan Yu next to him saw it and said to Yuan Xi: "The third brother is a deadbeat. My eldest brother and I have advised him that a war is a war and a marriage is a marriage. However, he has such a bad temper that this matter has been temporary. Digging into the bull’s horns.”

Yuan Xi thought to himself that if Zhang Fei really killed his future wife, he might not have the same kind of relatives in future generations.

Forget it, I can't take care of other people's housework.

He said aloud: "What I can't figure out is that Cao Cao could obviously join forces with Xuande Gong to attack Yuan Shu, so why was he short-sighted and turned against him? This is both emotional and rational, and I can't figure it out."

Liu Bei unconsciously looked away and said with an unnatural expression: "I'm not sure. I'm afraid that for Cao Cao, Xuzhou is a place he must win."

Lu Xun, who was beside Yuan Xi, listened thoughtfully and raised his hand slightly to Yuan Xi. Yuan Xi immediately understood that there must be some hidden secrets in this matter, but Liu Bei was unwilling to tell it, and he couldn't ask any more questions.

He thought for a while and then said: "The situation in Xuzhou is extremely complicated now. I wonder what Xuande Gong's plans are?"

Liu, Guan, and Zhang looked at each other, and Liu Bei said, "Bei wants to hear what you think first."

After hearing this, Yuan Xi said straight to the point: "My idea is very simple."

"Gather all your forces, move west along the Yangtze River from Guangling to the Lujiang River, and then go north to attack Shouchun!"

(End of this chapter)