Great Han Empire

Chapter 673
Cao Cao understood what Xun Yu was anxious about.Now that I am in a difficult situation, if Yuan Shao's reinforcements arrive in Yanzhou and defeat the Yellow Turban Army, I, the Yanzhou Shepherd, will be at the end.

Now Yuan Shao is very dissatisfied with himself, and may even harbor resentment. The reason is that he broke his promise to Yuan Shao, failed to fulfill his promise, and killed Zhang Miao.

At the beginning, Cao Cao followed Xun Yu's suggestion and wanted to go south to Yanzhou to seek the king's career and to revive the country. But at that time, he had already promised Yuan Shao that he would go to Luoyang with Yuan Shao. If he suddenly repented, it would definitely cause Yuan Shao's misunderstanding. So Cao Cao said a reason that made Yuan Shao very happy, that is to help Yuan Shao kill Zhang Miao.If Zhang Miao, with the support of the officials in Yanzhou's counties, takes the opportunity to lead Yanzhou Mu and occupy Yanzhou, his power will expand rapidly, which will pose a great threat to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shaoxin thought it was true, so he agreed straight away.He made an appointment with Cao Cao, and after killing Zhang Miao, he immediately ordered his cousin Yuan Wei to lead Yanzhou Mu on his behalf.

After Cao Cao returned to Puyang in the east county of Yanzhou, he was about to meet Zhang Miao in Chenliu when Mao Jie, the governor of Yanzhou Prefecture, and Gongcao Chen Gong arrived.The two were going to Hanoi to invite Cao Cao to help Yanzhou. They were very happy to see Cao Cao came back.Both Mao Jie and Chen Gong are good friends of Cao Cao. The real purpose of this trip to the north is to invite Cao Cao to take advantage of this rare opportunity to occupy Yanzhou and seek hegemony.

But Cao Cao hesitated at this time.Because the current situation is extremely bad for Cao Cao.Sooner or later, the land of Hebei will be occupied by Li Hong, and the lands of Guandong, Jing and Yu will soon be Yuan Shao's world. Yanzhou is located in the center of the Central Plains, and the disaster of the Yellow Turban is getting worse every year. If you want to occupy Yanzhou to seek hegemony, there is a possibility of success Small and small.In addition, once I occupy Yanzhou, I will turn against Li Hong and Yuan Shao. Under the attack of these two powerful forces, it seems a bit idiotic if I want to survive and develop.Cao Cao believes that his purpose is to quell the flames of war as soon as possible, stabilize the country, and rejuvenate the great man, rather than let the great man go to destruction. Therefore, judging from the current situation, it is most reliable to stand closely with Yuan Shao, and it can save ZTE the most. time.

Mao Jie and Chen Gong disagreed with Cao Cao.Yuan Shao's refusal to recognize the current emperor is completely different from our strategy to save the country. In the future, no matter whether Li Hong controls the emperor or Yuan Shao rebuilds the imperial line, the great Han will be overthrown.Mao Jie then made a deep analysis of the current situation in the world and the officials of various states and counties. Finally, he told Cao Cao that to save the country, one must first strengthen one's own strength, but to be strong one must learn from others and learn from others. In today's "righteousness" situation, seek the support and help of all parties as much as possible. "It is advisable to serve the emperor so that he will not be a minister, cultivate farming and planting, and raise military funds. If this is the case, the career of the overlord can be achieved."

Cao Cao actually agrees with them on how to save the country.As early as the beginning of the year, he had frequent correspondence with Zhang Miao.Cao Cao affirmed the so-called "middle way". On the premise of respecting today's emperor, he plotted to become a king and hegemony, and then entered Guanzhong to serve the king and prosper the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao really didn't have the slightest confidence in Yanzhou.

Xun Yu said, "If Yanzhou is complete now, can my lord get Yanzhou?"

Cao Cao smiled wryly.If Yanzhou is still intact now, where is his turn?Yuan Shao took advantage of the situation and led Yanzhou pastor himself.

Xun Yu smiled and said, "Then why are you still hesitating? After Yuan Shao occupies Luoyang and defeats Yuan, Yanzhou will be in Yuan Shao's pocket."

Mao Jie also persuaded, "If Li Hong stabilizes Jizhou and Yuan Shao stabilizes Kanto, my lord will have no choice but to watch the big man collapse."

Cao Cao had no choice.

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Mao Jie and Chen Gong then rushed to Changyi to persuade other officials in Yanzhou Prefecture to support Cao Cao as Yanzhou pastor.

At the same time, Cao Cao also sent Xun Yu, Ren Jun and others to Jiyin, Rencheng and other places to lobby for Jibei Minister Bao Xin, Jiyin Prefect Wu Zi, Rencheng Minister Zheng Sui and other state and county officials and powerful people from all over the country. family.Without the support of these county officials and powerful families, even if he became the shepherd of Yanzhou, no one would pay him any attention.

Cao Cao himself led the army to rush to Chenliu.

Zhang Miao also wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to lead Yanzhou pastor himself, but the current situation in Yanzhou made him very hesitant.The Yellow Turban Army is too powerful, relying on the strength of the counties in Yanzhou, it is difficult to calm down in a short time.Yuan Shao was recently kicked out of Jizhou by Li Hong, and Yuan Shu and Yuan Tan's uncle and nephew fought very happily. Zhu Jun and Xu Rong had no one to help him on the Kansai battlefield, and Yanzhou seemed unable to survive.After much deliberation, he still focused his energy on Yangzhou.If you can occupy Yangzhou, you can not only avoid the war between the various forces in the Central Plains and preserve your strength, but also use Yangzhou's sufficient food to effectively contain and attack the various forces in the Central Plains.

At this time, Cao Cao arrived. Cao Cao said that he was here to borrow some food, and then led his army to the front to attack the Yellow Turban Army.Then he told Zhang Miao the news of Wang Kuang's death, saying that Yuan Shao had already known that you and Wang Kuang were going to conspire against Yuan Shao. The opportunity to suppress the rebellion killed Zhang Miao.

Zhang Miao was furious and scolded Yuan Shao severely. He was very grateful to Cao Cao.Cao Cao said, Yuan Shao wanted to occupy Yanzhou and intended to let Yuan Wei be the shepherd of Yanzhou, which is very unfavorable to us.In my opinion, you might as well be the shepherd of Yanzhou. I firmly support you.

Zhang Miao refused, saying that you should do this Yanzhou Mu.He didn't hide anything from Cao Cao, saying that he planned to go to Yangzhou.If you occupy Yangzhou by yourself, Cao Cao is in Yanzhou, and Tao Qian in Xuzhou is added, the three states will form an alliance and become horns of each other, so that Yuan Shao can be contained and Li Hong can be countered.

At present, we are not sure that the news that Dong Zhuo was killed is true, but if the news is true, we can take the lead in responding to the emperor and the court, and give the emperor and the court strong support.If Yuan Shao is still obsessed with his obsession at this time, determined to rebuild the imperial line, and refuses to respect the emperor, then we will unite with Li Hong to fight Yuan Shao first, and welcome the emperor and the court back to Luoyang.

As for Li Hong, if he is willing to give up his military power to defend the frontier, it will be a blessing for the dynasty, and the world will be able to settle down from now on, but if he is not willing, then there will still be battles to be fought.However, he only has two places in northern Xinjiang and Jizhou. The faster the rebellion, the sooner he will die.

Cao Cao said in surprise: "Brother Meng Zhuo, if you want to take control of Yangzhou, go south as soon as possible, because Yuan Shao has urgently written to Chen Wen, the prefect of Jiujiang, to let him be the governor of Yangzhou."

Zhang Miao was confident, and he was not in a hurry, "I have already sent people south, and my younger brother Zhang Chao, the prefect of Guangling, also rushed to Jiujiang County in person. I will go south after everything is settled in Yangzhou."

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With the full support of Zhang Miao, the prefect of Chenliu, and Bao Xin, the chancellor of Jibei, and the great help of Liu Yi, Mao Jie, Chen Gong, Xi Zhicai, Wang Bi, etc. in Yanzhou Prefecture, Cao Cao succeeded in temporarily acting as his deputy. He took Yanzhou animal husbandry.

Zheng Sui, chancellor of Ren Cheng, Wu Zi, prefect of Jiyin, and Yuan Yi, prefect of Shanyang County, were reluctant, but they reluctantly agreed when there was no news from Yuan Shao and the Yellow Turban army was pressing hard on him.

Cao Cao had a plan in his mind. He was born in a prominent family of eunuchs, and he didn't have any outstanding achievements. Not many people looked at him seriously.Today, when the Yuan faction is all over Yanzhou, there is only one way to completely occupy Yanzhou, and that is to defeat the Yellow Turban Army as soon as possible and keep Yanzhou, in exchange for the favor and support of the Yanzhou clan.If you lose every battle you lose, then things will be troublesome.As long as Yuan Shao stands firm in Kanto, he will immediately free up his hands to drive him out of Yanzhou.With only a handful of soldiers, how could Yuan Shao be an opponent.

Unfortunately, Cao Cao had just succeeded Yanzhou Mu, and news came from the Kanto.Yuan Shao not only occupied Luoyang without bloodshed, but also forced Yuan Shu to make peace with himself, and the brothers joined forces.

Cao Cao was very worried, and hurriedly wrote to Yuan Shao to explain.The situation in Yanzhou was tense, the Yellow Turban army was overwhelming, and the Yanzhou army was defeated again and again. The food and salaries of the army were all provided by Chenliu County, so Zhang Miao must not be killed at this time.If I kill Zhang Miao, I will stay in Yanzhou forever.Both Zhang Miao and we have been friends for decades. When the country is in danger today, we should work together. How can brothers kill each other?Brother Benchu, forget it, after all, Zhang Miao and you just have different political views, and there is no deep hatred.As for his succession as Yanzhou Mu, Cao Cao also has his own rhetoric.Now that Yanzhou is like this, whoever wants to do it, I still don't want to do it?If Zhang Miao and Liu Yi didn't force me to let go, I wouldn't be this death-seeking state shepherd?Do you think your life is not long enough?

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao had known each other since they were young, and knew his temper clearly, and knew that he was lying, but Yuan Shao didn't point it out.It is a fact that the battle situation in Yanzhou is unfavorable. Since you, Cao Cao and Zhang Miao, are going to plot against me behind your back, then you can deal with the Yellow Turban Army yourself.Wait until your army is finished fighting, please, I will settle the score with you.

Just at this time, Yangzhou received a letter saying that Chen Wen, the prefect of Jiujiang, launched a mutiny in Liyang, locked up Zhang Miao and Yuan Shu, and drove Zhang Chao, the prefect of Guangling, out of Jiujiang County, and successfully took over the governor of Yangzhou.

Yuan Shao was overjoyed, so he wrote back to Cao Cao, and asked Meng De to do it first.When you don't want to do it anymore, just say it, and I will send someone to bring you to Luoyang.

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Cao Cao went to ask Yuan Shao for help at this time, which was tantamount to surrendering to Yuan Shao, and months of hard work were in vain.

Xun Yu, Ren Jun, Liu Yi, Mao Jie, Chen Gong, Xi Zhicai and others gathered together to discuss, and everyone thought it was unlikely that Yuan Shao would send troops to support them.Yuan Shao had just occupied Luoyang, and although he had made peace with Yuan Shu, that was a truce, and his main purpose was to quickly stabilize the Kanto region.The Yuan brothers have yet to shake hands, and they are far from reconciliation in the true sense. Sooner or later, the two will turn against each other.In addition, if the Yanzhou battle continues like this, Cao Cao and Zhang Miao will definitely lose their strength. When the Yanzhou army is almost finished, Yuan Shao will deploy troops to support him, and he can take Yanzhou without any effort.

After all, we still have to defeat the Yellow Turban Army on our own.Just when everyone was at their wit's end, Cheng Yu, the magistrate of Shouzhang County of Dongping Kingdom, arrived.

Cheng Yu is over 40 years old, tall, with a long face and beard, and looks dignified.He is a native of Dong'a, Dongjun, Yanzhou, and a famous scholar in Yanzhou.In the past, Liu Dai conscripted many times, and even conferred him the post of captain of cavalry, but Cheng Yu was unmoved and refused to follow.After Cao Cao succeeded Yanzhou Mu, he was recruited as Shouzhang County Magistrate of Dongping Kingdom, and Cheng Yu left happily.He and Cao Cao had known each other since their early years.When Cao Cao was the Prime Minister of Jinan, Cheng Yu admired him and helped him a lot. Cao Cao was always grateful.

Cheng Yu urgently told Cao Cao that after the victory of the Yellow Turban Army in Rencheng, one part of the Yellow Turban Army stayed in Rencheng State to contain the Yanzhou Army, and the other, under the leadership of Xu He, turned around and attacked Dongping State.Cheng Yu believed that this was a good opportunity to sneak attack on the Yellow Turban Army.The Yellow Turban Army believed that the strength of the Yanzhou Army was suppressed by its main force in Jiyin and Shanyang counties, so the number of troops sent back to attack Dongping was not large.If the Yanzhou Army can attack Dongping, severely damage Xu He's Yellow Turban Army, and then launch an attack from behind the main force of the Yellow Turban Army, the Yellow Turban Army will panic and retreat to Mount Tai in a hurry. In this way, the crisis in Yanzhou can be eased .

Cao Cao immediately accepted it.He, Bao Xin, Minister of Jibei, and Zheng Sui, Minister of Rencheng, left Changyi overnight with a thousand cavalry and five thousand infantry. They traveled day and night and hurried to Dongping Kingdom.

At the end of July, Xu He led an army of 20 Yellow Turbans and more than [-] refugees to attack Shouzhang City in Dongping.

When Cao Cao led his army to lurk near Shouzhang, he was discovered by refugees.While asking for help from Sima Ju and Sun Guan, Xu He led the Yellow Turban Army to attack Cao Cao suddenly.

The bloody battle between the two sides.The Yellow Turban Army came very suddenly. Although the Yanzhou Army was prepared, they were still caught off guard. The soldiers of both sides immediately fell into a melee, and the battle was very tragic.

Bao Xin, Prime Minister of Jinbei, was hacked to death in the chaos, and his bones remained.Zheng Sui, the Prime Minister of Rencheng, suffered heavy losses and was torn to pieces by a group of crazy refugees on the way back.

Xu He, the leader of the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Army, was surrounded by Cao Cao's generals Li Gan, Li Zheng, and Li Dian's uncle and nephew during the fierce battle. Hundreds of people from both sides entangled and attacked.Xu He was seriously injured and died of bleeding.Li Qian was stabbed several times, and his thigh was pierced by the spear. Li Dian desperately protected him and withdrew from the battlefield.Li Zheng was surrounded by the Yellow Turbans who gave up their lives and was in danger.Fortunately, Shi Huan and Xu Chu arrived with their cavalry at this time, and rescued Li Zheng who was bruised and bruised.

The leader of the Yellow Turban Army died in battle, their morale dropped sharply, and they were defeated immediately. .

In this battle, although the Yanzhou Army paid a heavy price, it killed Xu He, the leader of the Yellow Turban Army, and almost wiped out [-] Yellow Turban soldiers, which was considered a great victory.Tens of thousands of innocent refugees died tragically in this fierce battle.

Cao Cao didn't dare to stay in Shouzhang for a long time, so he hurriedly led his army to Dayozawa, where he joined Zhang Miao and Wu Zi with 5000 troops who had rushed here first to set up an ambush.

Sima Ju and Sun Guan got the news and rushed back to help.That night, one hundred thousand troops and hundreds of thousands of homestays camped in Onozawa.

Cao Cao led his army to attack.The Yellow Turban Army and the refugees were already in a state of panic, but now they were suddenly attacked, and there was a sudden chaos. They were trampled and countless people died.Sima Ju withdrew to Jibei Kingdom with some remnants in a hurry, and Sun Guan fled to Mount Tai with some remnants.

The victory of the Shouzhang War completely reversed the situation in Yanzhou.

(End of this chapter)