Gou writes entries in the Three Kingdoms

The two sides fought continuously for ten days, evenly matched, and each suffered tens of thousands of soldiers and horses.

On the Yanzhou battlefield, Guo Jia used his excellent troop formation ability to regain the disadvantage.

However, on the Qingzhou front, Cao Ren's Qingzhou army fell into a bitter battle.

Cao Ren faced off against Yuan Xi's troops who came south from Youzhou.

Although Yuan Xi's troops are not many, most of them are veterans of hundreds of battles who survived the mutant invasion two years ago. Compared with the Qingzhou soldiers temporarily recruited by Cao Cao, their combat power is significantly higher.

Yuan Xi personally led the army, with Guo Yuan and Zhang Nan as the left and right forward generals. He launched attacks from Taishan and Le'an counties at the same time. He used superior troops to break through Cao Ren's defense along the way, and his troops advanced directly towards Linzi, the capital of Qingzhou.

At this time, Cao Cao's problem of insufficient reserve resources caused by successive wars began to appear.

All the resources of Yuzhou and Yanzhou are already stretched to deal with Yuan's army in the Baima area, and there is no extra force to support Qingzhou.

As a last resort, Cao Cao could only let Cao Ren fight and retreat, trading space for time.

As long as it is delayed until winter, Yuan Shao's army will fight from a distance and will not be able to supply supplies. In addition, it is difficult to march in the north in winter. When the road is blocked by heavy snow and food and grass are not available, Yuan Shao will naturally have no choice but to retreat.

But it's only late autumn now, and it's at least two months away from freezing temperatures.

Fortunately for Yanzhou, the two sides were in a stalemate, and it was difficult to tell the winner for a while.

However, both Yuan Xi's troops in Qingzhou have broken through Cao Ren's defense line and are attacking the city and territory in Qingzhou.

Yuan Xi did not attack Linzi by force, but continued to divide his troops into two groups, along Le'an and Taishan counties, bypassing Linzi and attacking Donglai County and Chengyang County.

Cao Ren's remaining troops were exhausted and unable to effectively intercept Yuan Xi. However, due to the scattered troops, Yuan Xi lost part of his troops in several battles.

Yuan Xi's strategy in Qingzhou is obvious, which is to capture cities and territories and use war to support war.

Since Cao Cao lacked effective means of blocking, Yuan Xi's army seemed to be in an uninhabited territory. Every time they captured a city, they would plunder all the treasury and granary.

In more than half a month, Yuan Xi had robbed enough supplies to last the Youzhou army for more than a month.

When Yuan Shao learned of Yuan Xi's achievements in Yecheng, he was so happy that his illness was mostly healed. He personally sent his chief secretary to Qingzhou to reward Yuan Xi's army and praised Yuan Xi in front of the three armies.

After this battle, Yuan Xi became famous.Originally, because of Yuan Tan's death, Yuan Shao became angry and seriously ill. This time, because of Yuan Xi's emergence, Yuan Shao cheered up again.

Yuan Xi is the most pragmatic among the three brothers.

As the eldest son, Yuan Tan is not Yuan Shao's favorite son.
Although Yuan Shang was favored by Yuan Shao, he was still a young son.

Since ancient times, it has been a taboo in the family to abolish the elder and establish the younger. Tian Feng, Jushou and others under Yuan Shao's account strongly opposed Yuan Shang's succession to Yuan Shao.

So until Yuan Tan died, Yuan Shao had not decided on a successor.

On the contrary, after Yuan Tan died, because there was no one to compete with Yuan Shang, and Yuan Shao was unwell, if a successor was not decided, if something happened to Yuan Shao, the Yuan family might really be in chaos.

Therefore, Yuan Shang naturally took over the Yuan family's foundation and became the default successor of Yuan Shao.As for Yuan Xi, he has been a little transparent since he was a child, and he is far away in Youzhou. Even if there are a few advisers and generals who have this idea, they will not take the initiative to mention it. If Yuan Shang really succeeds, wouldn't he be in trouble for nothing.

Yanzhou, Puyang.

Cao Cao lost his battle in Qingzhou.

I was so worried that I couldn't sleep at night, and my hair turned very white.

Xun Yu, Cheng Yu and others in the meeting hall looked at Cao Cao's haggard appearance and were speechless.

They have tried their best to handle the government affairs of various states for Cao Cao.

Xun Yu even tried his best to solve the military supply problem of hundreds of thousands of troops on Cao Cao's front line with the help of Yanzhou, Qingzhou and northern Yuzhou, which was not a vast territory.

It's just that he can only do this. When a large army fights, logistics is important, but in the end, it is the outcome of the battle on the front line that determines the outcome.

"You have all been overworked recently. Please go down and rest. Our army has done a good enough job. For the next thing, we will do our best and follow fate."

Cao Cao, who has always been ambitious, also said that he would obey fate. This shows that Cao Cao is also powerless in this war.

Xun Yu, Cheng Yu and others bowed silently and slowly exited the meeting hall.

Before leaving the house, he was stopped by Cao Cao again.

"Oh, by the way, is Fengxiao's condition getting better?"

Xun Yu responded in a deep voice: "Back to my lord, Fengxiao was originally ill. After working hard these days, his condition worsened and he is already bedridden."

Cao Cao paused, sighed and said, "Then let him rest in peace and recuperate, and don't let him know about the battlefield for the time being."

However, as soon as Cao Cao finished explaining, the guards outside reported: "My lord, military advisor Guo Jia sent someone to deliver a letter to my lord."

Cao Cao quickly stood up and waved, "Quick, the express is coming."

The personal guard handed the letter over. Cao Cao took it and looked at it carefully. A smile gradually appeared on his face.

"Lord, what did Feng Xiao say?" Xun Yu asked curiously.

"He treated me with filial piety and sincerity. Even though he was in such a bad state, he still carefully planned for me. He said in the letter that he had a strategy to retreat from the enemy, but he was bedridden and asked me to come over and discuss it in detail. "

Xun Yu laughed when he heard this, "What a Guo Fengxiao, he dared to ask the lord to go to the house to find him, that is, Guo Jia. If it had been anyone else, I'm afraid the lord's guards would have gone over to the house to fetch him directly. "

Cao Cao also smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Fengxiao is still thinking about me hard when he is lying on the sickbed. Not to mention letting me go through the house, I am also happy to let me serve him in his daily life."

After saying that, Cao Cao raised his hand and said, "Wen Ruo, you go with me."

When the two came to Guo Jia's house, they saw that Guo Jia's thin face was almost bloodless and his eye sockets were sunken. It seemed that although his body was recovering from illness, his mind did not stop for a moment.

When Cao Cao saw Guo Jia like this, he couldn't help but feel sad.
"Fengxiao, you don't have to worry about things on the front line. If they are there, they can keep the front line intact. You just need to take care of yourself and take good care of yourself."

Guo Jia struggled to push himself up from the couch, "Ahem, cough, cough, Guo Jia thanks my lord for your understanding, but if the crisis on the front line is not resolved, how can Guo Jia have the time to recuperate."

Cao Cao wanted to say something else, but Guo Jia raised his hand to stop him.

"Lord, it's rare for me to wake up for a moment. Please let me finish talking about important things."

Guo Jia struggled, pulled out a letter from under his pillow, and handed it to Cao Cao.

"I know that what my lord is worried about is the matter in Qingzhou. I originally planned to wait until the final decisive battle between the two sides to use this letter, but it was a stroke of genius. But looking at the current situation, I have to use it now."

Although Guo Jia's face was pale, his eyes were still full of sparkle.
"If this letter is used properly, it will be enough to seriously injure Yuan Jun's vitality. At worst, it will also be able to retreat Qingzhou's troops."

Cao Cao excitedly took the letter from Guo Jia and opened it.
The excitement in his eyes became even more intense, and he handed the letter to Xun Yu who was standing aside.
"Wen Ruo, it's up to you to arrange this matter. Don't let Fengxiao's painstaking plan go down."

Xun Yu took the letter and took a look at it, and he knew the secret of it.The corner of his mouth raised a mocking smile, "If Yuan Shao hadn't already had the intention to abolish the elders and establish the younger ones, why would he let the Yuan brothers kill each other?"

In Qingzhou, Yuan Xi led the Youzhou army to conquer a Qingzhou city again, and Yuan Shao also sent another commendation order without hesitation.

At this time, Yuan Xi received a message from Yuan Shang of Yanzhou, asking him to lead the Qingzhou Army to move to Jibei Kingdom, which was close to Yanzhou.

The intention is that the two armies will meet at the junction of Yanzhou and Qingzhou, and then join forces together to defeat Cao Cao's Yanzhou troops with superior force, and Yanzhou can be defeated in one battle.

There is nothing suspicious about this tactical arrangement. Even when Yuan Xi saw this plan, he couldn't help but admire Yuan Shang's layout.

Just as he was preparing to lead his army to set off, a mysterious man suddenly came to the camp, claiming to be Yuan Tan's retainer and having important matters to discuss in secret.

The retainer's words were to dissuade Yuan Xi from sending troops westward to join Yuan Shang, and then handed a handwritten letter to Yuan Xi.

This handwritten letter is exactly the mysterious letter that Guo Jia received during the last battle between Yuan and Cao.

The content of the letter was not complicated. It was about Yuan Tan leading an eight thousand armored battalion to secretly go to Puyang via mountain roads to join Yuan Shao's army.

The route map and time of the march were also clearly explained.

Yuan Xi naturally knew what happened next.

Yuan Tan secretly went to Puyang in accordance with Yuan Shao's orders, but was ambushed by Cao's army in Hulukou Valley. No one of the [-] armored battalion and its commander Yuan Tan survived.

Yuan Xi read the handwritten letter, and a chill suddenly ran down his back.

He was sent to Youzhou by Yuan Shao. Although he had no intention of competing with Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang for favor, he was not unaware of the fight between his eldest brother and his third brother for inheritance rights.

But Yuan Xi was just the second child. In comparison, he didn't like Yuan Shao that much, so he naturally gave up the idea of ​​taking over the throne.

Yuan Tan died unexpectedly, and the ambition that Yuan Xi had just emerged dissipated again as Yuan Shao quickly established Yuan Shang as his successor.

But now, he has repeatedly made military exploits in Qingzhou, but Yuan Shang is dragged tightly by Cao Jun to the Baima area. It is impossible to say that Yuan Xi has no ideas.

However, before his idea had just sprouted, Yuan Shang had already taken action.

In the last battle between Yuan and Cao, Yuan Tan led an invincible armored army, while Yuan Shang followed Yuan Shao and fought hard outside Puyang City, and then Yuan Tan was transferred to Puyang.

This time, Yuan Xi attacked the city in Qingzhou, and Yuan Shang was restrained in Baima, but he once again mobilized Yuan Xi's troops.

At this moment, just as at that moment.

Yuan Xi stared at the handwritten letter several times. No matter how stupid he was, he still knew what Yuan Shang had in mind.

This third brother usually looks cute and lively, but his mind is as vicious as a snake.

At this time, the subordinates will come into the tent,

"Second Young Master, the army has been organized. When will we set out?"

Yuan Xi folded the letter and hid it on his body, "Let's set off immediately."

"As ordered, the army will leave Jibei Kingdom immediately and head to Yanzhou to join forces."

"No," Yuan Xi interrupted coldly, "Let's go back to Youzhou."

The general was stunned for a while, "Huh? No, are you going to Yanzhou to support the Third Young Master?"

"Support is nothing," Yuan Xi said angrily, "I sacrificed my life for him, and if he wants my life, I can go to hell with him."

"The entire army withdraws from Qingzhou and returns to Youzhou."

Overnight, Yuan Xi's tens of thousands of troops retreated directly from Qingzhou, laden with supplies looted from Qingzhou, and retreated to Youzhou without stopping.

Yuan Shang was still fighting fiercely on the White Horse Front, waiting for Yuan Xi's army to round up Cao Cao from the rear of Yanzhou, so as to end the war before the cold winter came.

Unexpectedly, instead of waiting for Yuan Xi's army, he waited for a messenger to report back.
Yuan Xi suddenly withdrew his troops from Qingzhou and returned to Youzhou.

At the same time, there was also a transfer order from Yuan Shao, ordering Yuan Shang to return to Yecheng to see Yuan Shao immediately.

Although Yuan Shang was confused, he knew that something big must have happened.

He had no choice but to let his troops retreat north and set up camp near Liyang, and then hurried back to Yecheng with his soldiers.

Returning to Yecheng, Yuan Shang was immediately captured by Yuan Shao's soldiers and brought directly to Yuan Shao.

Although there was handwriting as evidence, and Yuan Tan's death was in perfect agreement with the plan described in the handwriting, Yuan Shao still did not want to believe that his favorite youngest son would do such a treacherous thing.

Therefore, Yuan Shao was the only one in the room interrogating Yuan Shang.

Not only did he want to give Yuan Shang a chance to argue, but he also wanted to prevent the family scandal from being publicized.

"Xianfu, there are only two of us here, father and son. Please tell me truthfully. Is this handwritten letter written by you to Cao Cao?"

Although Yuan Shao was ill, the majesty he had gained from holding high positions for many years was still there. Yuan Shang knelt on the ground at the foot of the steps. Under Yuan Shao's majestic questioning, his body trembled and he fell on the ground crying bitterly.

"Father, I know I'm wrong, I know I'm wrong. I just wanted my eldest brother to suffer a defeat and make me look less useless. I didn't expect that my eldest brother couldn't escape the encirclement despite having eight thousand armored battalions in hand."

Yuan Shang cried pitifully,

"Father, I have been with you since I was a child. I follow my father's example in everything and am proud of my father. I also want to be as majestic as my father and control half of the country. However, my father's civil servants and generals all support my elder brother. I have no chance at all."

"Father, my eldest brother is no longer here, so let me take care of my father's worries and carry forward the Yuan family's legacy. Father, please give your child a chance."

Yuan Shao took a deep breath and hit the armrest of the seat with his palm.

"Confused, extremely confused. Although your eldest brother is gone, your second brother is still there. This handwritten letter was given to me by him. If I am tolerant to you, how can I make your second brother feel at ease? How can I convince everyone? "

Yuan Shao frowned and looked at Yuan Shang who was crying at the foot of the stairs. He couldn't help having a headache and closed his eyes, and said slowly,
"You have done such a thing and are no longer worthy of being my heir, Yuan Shao. I will depose you as heir and make your second brother Xian Yong my heir. This will not only prevent Xian Yong from pursuing this matter anymore, but also If you don’t have the suspicion of abolishing the elders and establishing the younger ones, no one will catch you for your faults.”

"It's also my fault for being too doting on you. From now on, you can continue to practice with me."

When Yuan Shang heard that his position as heir had been deposed, his body trembled slightly with excitement.

He raised his head faintly and said, "Father, no one has any faults. Can't we really give our children a chance?"

Yuan Shao hated the iron and cursed: "I have already given you a chance. If I had my past temper, you would be killed here. You have committed such a heinous crime, don't you forget to think about power?"

"Father, I have worked so hard for this little bit of power, but now it's all in vain. I'm not willing to accept it."

As Yuan Shang spoke, he crawled towards Yuan Shao's feet.
"Father, there is another way to solve this situation." (End of Chapter)