Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

What Yan Xiang has always been worried about is Yuan Shu’s self-confidence of unknown origin.

It is true that Yang Hong's intention is punishable, but Yuan Shu's attitude of fighting Li Ji to the death also makes Yan Xiang's scalp tingle.

If the 100,000 troops led by Ji Ling were still there, even if Li Ji really led an army of 200,000 to attack, Yan Xiang also felt that it would not be difficult to block them by relying on the city.

But does Yuzhou still have this much military strength now?
Obviously not.

Therefore, Yan Xiang spoke almost reluctantly.

"My lord, can you listen to me?"

"Do you have a plan to defeat Li Ji?" Yuan Shu asked in return.

Yan Xiang unconsciously revealed a bitter smile, but secretly gritted his teeth and continued to speak.

"My lord, the enemy's forces are strong and the Yuzhou troops are few, so we should avoid their front and swords."

Yuan Shu's face flashed with anger, but he still endured it and asked, "What do you mean by avoiding his sharp edge?"

Yan Xiang bowed and advised. "Give up Yuzhou and preserve your strength. Go north to join Yuan Benchu, and one day you will raise the Yuan family's banner together. You don't have to worry about losing Yuzhou and getting it back."

This plan is undoubtedly quite conservative, but in Yan Xiang's opinion it is the best option at the moment.

When Yuan Shu suffered so many heavy losses and Liu Bei's reputation soared after receiving the "Mandate of Heaven", it was undoubtedly impossible for Yuan Shu to defend Yuzhou to the death. Even Yan Xiang gave up the plan to let Yuan Shu move to Yanzhou.

In Yan Xiang's opinion, Yuan Shu's best strategy now is to recognize the current situation and move away from the Central Plains, go north to join Yuan Shao, and join forces with the two sons of the Yuan family to jointly raise the Yuan clan flag.

however……

Even before this, Yuan Shu had been quite reluctant to form an alliance with Yuan Shao, let alone to join Yuan Shao in the attitude of surrender.

"The Yuan family is the Yuan family of Runan. If I abandon Yuzhou and flee north, will I still be a Yuan family?"

"I would rather die than bring disgrace upon the reputation of the Yuan family, which has three dukes for four generations."

After hearing this, Yan Xiang's face turned somewhat gloomy.

Even though Yan Xiang understood that this was Yuan Shu's usual style, he still couldn't hide his sadness. He knelt on the ground and shouted.

"Please think twice, my lord! In the past, the Marquis of Huaiyin suffered humiliation under the crotch. As long as you preserve your strength, you can take back Yuzhou in the future. If you defend Yuzhou to the death, you will definitely end up with your head and body separated."

Yuan Shu shouted with a very ugly look on his face.

"I have made up my mind, so stop talking!"

Yan Xiang couldn't help but close his eyes and shed tears, shouting.

"Yan Xiang is incompetent and cannot help the lord achieve hegemony, but he is even more unwilling to see the lord lose the battle and die..."

As soon as these words were spoken, anger appeared on Yuan Shu's face.

However, before Yuan Shu could get angry, Yan Xiang shouted "My lord, please think twice before you act" and suddenly crashed into a pillar nearby.

"boom!"

A dull voice sounded.

Yan Xiang, who was ready to die, did not leave himself any way to retreat and rushed headfirst, with blood splattering everywhere.

Yuan Shu's face changed drastically and he hurried forward to check, only to find that Yan Xiang, with blood all over his head, was already dead.

For a moment, Yuan Shu looked somewhat sad, with a complicated expression in his eyes, and the others also looked sad.

After a long time, Yuan Shu finally spoke.

"Yan Xiang disturbed our army's morale and should have been severely punished, but considering his meritorious service over the years, I will give him a lavish burial."

The soldiers carefully carried Yan Xiang's body away.

In this meeting hall that was still filled with the smell of blood, Yuan Shu returned to the main seat, stared at the civil and military officials below, and said.

"The bandits are about to invade, and Yuzhou is short of troops. Immediately order all counties to conscript young and strong men to strengthen the troops and defend the city." Perhaps, what Yang Hong and Yan Xiang said are both ways to protect themselves.

With the identity of the Yuan family represented by Yuan Shu, whether he surrendered to Liu Bei or joined Yuan Shao, he could still be treated as a guest of honor and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Even if Yuan Shu preserved enough strength to join Yuan Shao, there would still be a possibility that he could return to Yuzhou in the future.

However, these two options were unacceptable to Yuan Shu.

Since you are born as a duke, how can you live in mediocrity?
What's more, in Yuan Shu's view, the population of Yuzhou is still as high as seven or eight million, and there are countless aristocratic families who follow the lead of the Yuan family.

In terms of background, how can he be compared with Liu Bei, a mat weaver and shoe seller?

Yuan Shu’s attitude was to defend Yuzhou to the death.

As long as it waits until winter when snow falls, even if Li Ji has some evil plan, he will have to retreat from Yuzhou in disgrace.

At Yuan Shu's command, even though his civil and military officials had their own thoughts, his orders flew like snowflakes to every county and city in Yuzhou.

Moreover, in Yuan Shu's order, each county and city must forcibly conscript young and strong men into the army at a ratio of one in two based on household registration.

For a time, the entire Yuzhou was in chaos, and the people complained and rushed to flee Yuzhou.

Just to guard against Li Ji, Yuan Shu had already ordered the blockade of all official road passes in advance, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, and violators would be killed on the spot.

When the news of the unexpected events in Yuzhou reached Xuzhou, Li Ji couldn't help but frown.

Yuan Shu was undoubtedly arrogant.

If the Yuan family's foundation was still there, he would have adhered to the policy of governing by doing nothing and would not care about the people's trivial matters.

But when Yuan Shu was angry, he also did not care about the survival of the people.

Under Yuan Shu's order, the entire Yuzhou was in chaos. Many people were unwilling to endure such heavy military service but could not escape, so they had to abandon their land and property and flee into the wilderness and jungles to avoid the disaster.

However, Li Ji still needs some time to further reorganize his army, and Xu Sheng in Shouchun also needs time.

Just when Li Ji was gathering his generals to discuss the matter, Liu Bei, who was stationed in Xia Pi City, sent a fast horse to deliver the military order.

【Zi Kun also quickly sent troops into Yuzhou, protecting the people first and attacking the city second.】

After receiving Liu Bei's order, Li Ji no longer hesitated. While ordering Xu Sheng to send troops in advance, he immediately led the army to attack Pei State with a mighty force.

……

at the same time.

North of the Yellow River, within Bohai County.

With the help of Zhu Ling, a guide, Cao Cao almost easily captured Nanpi, the capital of Bohai County.

This was also Yuan Shao's rear base where money, food, and weapons were stored. Even the families of Yuan Shao and his civil and military confidants were all in Nanpi City.

After Cao Cao inspected the granaries and treasuries, he was so excited that his face flushed.

Yuan Shao also knew that his rule over the rest of Jizhou was not stable, and that Han Fu's remnants occasionally caused chaos, and the Black Mountain bandits were looting everywhere from time to time.

Therefore, after Yuan Shao unified Jizhou, he transported most of the money and grain from various counties to Nanpi City for storage.

At this moment, Cao Cao obviously did not drink any alcohol, but looking at the full warehouses of money, grain and weapons in the city, he felt as if he had drunk three hundred cups of Du Kang and was in ecstasy.

Afterwards, Cao Cao went straight to Yuan's mansion, which had been surrounded by Cao's army, and strode into it.

Inside the mansion, all of Yuan Shao's family members had been gathered in one courtyard.

After Cao Cao entered, he glanced around, then looked at Madam Liu, Yuan Shao's wife, and bowed.

"Meng De greets you." (End of this chapter)