Great Han Empire

Chapter 719
In August of the second year of Xingping in the Han Dynasty (AD 195).

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With food and ordnance, the various armies in Xinfeng City immediately stabilized.Under the persuasion of the emperor and Taiwei Yang Biao, Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and others shook hands with Huang Fuhong to make peace, and everyone sat together to discuss the solution to the crisis in Guanzhong.

After the Chang'an War, the General's Northern Border Army and Han Sui's Xiliang Army withdrew from Guanzhong at the same time. Now, there are still four armies in Guanzhong, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, Ma Teng, and Duan Yan, with about 5 people.Fighting by force cannot defeat these 5 people, so other methods must be found.

Recently, there were many reasons why Yuan Shao did not launch an offensive.One is that after the Chang'an War, his army lost a lot and needed time to rest and replenish food, grass and weapons.The second is that he was not sure of the true intention of the Northern Xinjiang Army to withdraw troops earlier, so he did not dare to use troops lightly.The third is that Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and others are still strong. If the emperor is killed by force, he will be charged with regicide.Fourth, Luoyang is not stable.The Northern Xinjiang Army attacked the Kanto for more than a month, and surrounded Luoyang for more than 20 days. This caused great harm to the Kanto. It took time to appease the people, and it took time to recapture Hangu Pass to ensure the safety of the Kanto.

Another point is the most important, that is, starting from the current situation in Guanzhong, how Yuan Shao can achieve the two goals of serving as king and capturing Guanzhong at the same time.He needs time to think.

The current situation in Guanzhong is very favorable to Yuan Shao. Under the premise of King Qin, Liu Biao's Jingzhou soldiers, Ma Teng's Xiliang cavalry, and Duan Yan's Guanzhong soldiers are all willing to obey Yuan Shao's military orders. After the Yellow River broke its embankment and Hebei was hit by disasters, the army basically lost the possibility of sending troops to King Qin again. Therefore, Yuan Shao only needs to kill Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and other rebels, and King Qin will succeed.The Son of Heaven was saved, Guanzhong was obtained, and Yuan Shao had the final say on the rest.If he wants to abolish the current emperor and rebuild the imperial line, he can also change his ways and reverence the current emperor.

Liu Biao definitely wanted to serve the king and take the emperor to Nanyang for refuge, but Liu Biao absolutely didn't want to see people like Zhang Ji and Wang Fang kidnap the emperor to Nanyang.Similarly, for their own survival, people like Zhang Ji and Wang Fang would definitely not hand over the emperor and let the emperor leave him and leave Guanzhong.

Under such circumstances, Yuan Shao and Liu Da reached a certain kind of tacit understanding.Yuan Shao immediately turned his face and refused to provide food, intending to use the food shortage to intensify the contradictions among Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and Huang Fuhong, so that the generals in Guanzhong would fight each other, intending to win without fighting.

The general obviously anticipated this situation. In order to ensure the safety of the emperor and also to fight against Yuan Shao, he immediately provided the emperor and the generals in the Kanto region with food, grass and weapons.

After Yuan Shao learned the news, what countermeasures would he take?

The Kwantung generals huddled together again, and Yuan Shao's divorce plan had no effect, so he had to fight.

But Liu Biao would not help Yuan Shao attack the Tianzi Camp at the risk of killing the king, and neither did Ma Teng and Duan Yan.The purpose of Ma Teng and Duan Yan to seek refuge with Yuan Shao was not to help Yuan Shao achieve hegemony, they wanted to serve the king and build meritorious deeds.They, Zhang Ji, Wang Fang, Huangfuhong and others are all from Xiliang, and they have deep friendship with each other. Once they defected, Yuan Shao would be kicked out of Guanzhong, so it was difficult for Yuan Shao to fully trust them.

Therefore, if Yuan Shao wants to occupy Guanzhong, there is only one way, and that is to quickly increase his troops in Guanzhong after Luoyang is stabilized.

At the end of June, the Yellow River burst its embankment, and the Northern Xinjiang Army withdrew from Kansai. It has been more than a month, and Yuan Wei's army in Yuzhou should have returned to Yuzhou.Yuan Wei had an army of [-], and his army could be divided into two. One part went to Luoyang to help Jushou, Chunyuqiong, and Tao Sheng attack Guanxi, and the other rushed to Nanyang to join Zhu Ling, and went north to enter Guanzhong to fight.

Yuan Shao received reinforcements and his strength increased greatly. Even though Kuai Yue, Ma Teng and Duan Yan had opinions in their hearts, they did not dare to express their opposition publicly, especially Ma Teng and Duan Yan, and they did not dare to betray.

Taiwei Yang Biao, Situ Chunyujia, Sikong Zhang Xi, Shangshu Lingshi Sun Rui, Hussar General Zhang Ji, Shangshu Jiaxu, Shizhong Zhongji and many other ministers discussed carefully and agreed that Yuan Shao's attack time would not be the latest. more than October.

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Jia Xu immediately proposed two countermeasures.

One is to retreat to Tongguan.Our strength cannot compete with Yuan Shao, the wisest and safest way is to retreat to Tongguan, preserve our strength, and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.After retreating to Tongguan, we can get food, grass and military equipment from the northern army, as well as assistance from the Kansai and Hebei army, and the general is more at ease when he sees that the emperor is in Tongguan, and will not take the initiative to trouble us.In addition, after we retreated to Tongguan with 2 horses, the number of troops in Kansai increased greatly.The northern border army is guarding the east of Kansai, and we are guarding Tongguan. No matter what Yuan Shao thinks of, he will not be able to take Kansai in a short time.

Yuan Shao couldn't hold Guanxi, it was like a fishbone stuck in his throat, he couldn't get in, he couldn't get out, it was very uncomfortable.Yuan Shao is feeling uncomfortable, and our chance has come.

As the war lasts for a long time, the military resources will be consumed. Liu Biao of Jingzhou is definitely unwilling to continue to help Yuan Shao fight in Kansai when he fails to serve as king.Now it is Yuzhou and Jingzhou that provide food, grass and armaments to Yuan Shao. Yuzhou belongs to Yuan Shao, but Jingzhou does not.If Liu Biao of Jingzhou wanted Kuai Yue to withdraw his troops, Kuai Yue would go back immediately.Ma Teng and Duan Yan will not do their best for their own survival.

As a result, Yuan Shao was in a dilemma.Continue to fight, the loss is too great, and Kansai may not be able to win yet.If you don't fight, Guanzhong and Kanto will not be united as one, and your hegemony will be seriously frustrated.What's more serious is that once the general survives this year, he will make a comeback next year, and Guanzhong will definitely be lost.

When Yuan Shao cried, we were about to laugh.

The second method is more risky, but if it succeeds, we can get rid of Yuan Shao this year.

Yuan Shao took advantage of our food shortage and used scheming to make us fight among ourselves so that he could get a big deal.We will use our tricks and give him a plan to divorce him.

Yuan Shao is currently unaware of the provision of food, grass and military equipment by the Northern Xinjiang Army, and his reinforcements will not arrive in Chang'an until the end of this month and the beginning of next month at the earliest. We will use this more than a month to drive a wedge between him and Kuai Yue The relationship between , Ma Teng and Duan Yan made them start a quarrel first, and then took the opportunity to surprise Yuan Shao, catching him by surprise and forcing him out of Guanzhong.

Ma Teng and we are both friends. We used to be brothers who fought side by side on the Xiliang battlefield. Of course he didn't want to kill us, and of course he trusted us more.Duan Yan and we are of the same mind, if it wasn't for the bastard Li Jue who insisted on killing each other, he wouldn't go to join Yuan Shao.What benefits can Yuan Shao give him?Yuan Shao himself is a big rebel, following him will lead to death sooner or later.Following the emperor, everyone will be famous officials of ZTE in the future, who doesn't know?These two are very convincing.

As for the method of separating Yuan Shao and Kuai Yue, it is even simpler.We asked the Son of Heaven to issue an imperial decree to Liu Biao, saying that we had persuaded the three generals Zhang Ji, Wang Fang, and Huangfuhong that we would take the Son of Heaven's battalion to Jingzhou and just ask the Jingzhou Army to escort them.

At this time, the situation in Guanzhong was very favorable to Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao would never agree to Liu Biao welcoming the emperor anyway.Once Liu Biao greets him, he will be a hero of the king. Yuan Shao will not only lose Nanyang, but also lose his position among the officials of various states and counties.In the future, Liu Biao will not only command him, but also command the officials of various states and counties instead of him.At that time, Yuan Shao, not to mention occupying Guanzhong, even his own career as a king and hegemony, might have to be turned into a spring and autumn dream.

Yuan Shao disagreed with Kuai Yue's escort of the Son of Heaven to the south of Jingzhou, and there was bound to be a fierce conflict between the two.Once the conflict is complete, the opportunity for a surprise attack will come.

This "raid" is not our surprise attack on Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao's surprise attack on us.

General Huangfuhong can feign surrender, he can offer advice to Yuan Shao, and he is willing to cooperate with Yuan Shaoli to punish the rebels and rescue the emperor.

Yuan Shao may be skeptical, but he is very likely to take a risk when the reinforcements have not arrived and Kuai Yue has many conflicts with him.

Because as long as he grabs the emperor, the situation will completely change, and he will completely control it.At that time, whether it is the Son of Heaven, Liu Biao, Ma Teng, Duan Yan, or Kansai, they are all under his control.Of course, if the emperor had an accident, he would still have to take a lot of risks.However, Yuan Shao has always said that today's emperor was not born by the first emperor, and he has always wanted to rebuild the imperial line. If he can quickly take down Guanzhong and Kansai, and the initial success of the king's career, he will probably not be afraid of the accusations of the officials of various states and counties. .

Therefore, he will definitely "take" this "risk".

When Yuan Shao came to attack us, he would not tell Kuai Yue, let alone ask Kuai Yue for help.The more Kuai knew, he was worried about the safety of the emperor, so he would stop it.Yuan Shao would not tell Ma Teng and Duan Yan, he did not believe Ma Teng and Duan Yan, and was worried that the news would be leaked.

Yuan Shao's army is only 2 people, and we are also 2 people. If we do mental calculations or not, we will definitely kill him.Once Yuan Shao was defeated, the situation changed drastically, and Ma Teng and Duan Yan would immediately turn against each other.In this way, the strength of the two sides changed. Yuan Shao and Kuai Yue saw that it was impossible to win King Qin and seize Guanzhong, so they could only withdraw their troops.

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Taiwei Yang Biao and other ministers, Hussar General Zhang Ji disagreed with the second method, and they strongly demanded to retreat to Tongguan.With the food and military equipment of the Northern Xinjiang Army, Zhang Ji didn't care about his little food reserves. He wanted to preserve his strength now, and Yang Biao, considering Xu Rong's advice, was worried about the safety of the emperor, so he refused without hesitation. He came up with a plan to surprise Yuan Shao.

The people here are very complicated, and Yuan Shao has a lot of eyes and ears. Once the news is leaked, it will be self-defeating, and Yuan Shao will use his tricks, and we will die.

Wang Fang, Huang Fuhong, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, Jia Xu, Zhong Ji and other civil and military ministers demanded the second method.

The first strategy of retreating to Tongguan has a huge hidden worry, that is, the situation next year will be very unfavorable to us.Once the Great General helps us defeat Yuan Shao and regain Guanzhong next year, the Northern Frontier Army will no longer withdraw from Guanzhong.At that time, neither the Son of Heaven nor us had any reason to refuse the northern army to enter Guanzhong and the general to rule in the court.When the general enters the court and takes power, he will deal with us first, and our fate can be imagined.Therefore, the current plan is to adopt the second method, defeating Yuan Shao first, and then stabilizing Guanzhong. Everyone still has a way to survive.

The ministers refused to give in to each other, quarreled fiercely, and finally unanimously asked the emperor to make a decision.The emperor is 14 years old, and he has already performed the crown ceremony. He is an adult and should have his own ideas.

The emperor chose the second method.

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Zhongji went to Changmen Pavilion to ask Yuan Shao for food.

Yuan Shao refused.Zhong Ji was very angry and scolded Yuan Shao, Master Huangfu Hong was almost killed by you, what else do you want?Do you want to kill the emperor before giving up?

Zhong Ji was beaten out of the Chinese army account by random sticks.He ran to Duan Yan's camp with a bruised nose and a swollen face, and begged Duan Yan bitterly. The emperor is dying. As a minister of the court, how can you turn a blind eye like a traitor?Duan Yan gritted his teeth, and snatched five carts of grain from the soldiers for the plant.No need for seeds, what is the use of this grain?If Yuan Shao is not driven away, the emperor will die sooner or later.Duan Yan let out a long and short sigh, heartbroken.

Zhong Ji went to see Kuai Yue again.The emperor is dying, so hurry up and escort him to Jingzhou.If you don't save him, the emperor will starve to death or be killed by Yuan Shao.Kuai Yue lamented tears and grief, how can I save His Majesty?Unless His Majesty is willing to go, and people like Zhang Ji, Wang Fang, and Huang Fuhong are willing to stay in Guanzhong, Yuan Shao will not agree.

Zhong Ji said, well, as long as you agree, and Lord Liu Biao agrees, I will go back and beg His Majesty, Zhang Ji and the others.

The next day, the emperor ordered that General Zhendong and Jingzhou Mu Liubiao send troops to escort him south to Jingzhou.When Kuai Yue received the imperial decree, he rushed to Liu Biao in Xiangyang and rushed to Xinfeng City to meet the emperor.Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and Huangfuhong swore in front of the emperor that they would lead the army to stay in Guanzhong and guard the imperial tomb for the emperor.

Kuai Yue was overjoyed and rushed back to the camp to discuss with Yuan Shao about welcoming him.

Yuan Shao poured a basin of cold water on him.It's okay to greet you, but you can't send the emperor to Jingzhou.

Why?Kuai Yue said angrily, didn't our Jingzhou army contribute in the battle of Chang'an?We are here to fight for the king, not to help you beat the pass, not to help you achieve the career of king and overlord.

Kuai Yue's speech was harsh, and Yuan Shao's speech was also rude.So you are here to serve as king, and I am here to help Liu Biao become king?King Qin is a matter for all of us, not your Jingzhou family.What do you mean by taking the emperor to Jingzhou?Chang'an was burned down, and Luoyang was the capital of the Han Dynasty.Luoyang is in my hands, but I let you take the emperor to Nanyang, what will people in the world say about me?The Son of Heaven did not come to the capital, but took refuge in Nanyang, so wouldn't I, Yuan Shao, become a traitor?Do you want me to die without a burial?

Kuai Yue was rendered speechless by his scolding.

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Zhong Ji came to urge Kuai Yue every day.Kuai Yue and Yuan Shao quarreled, and the two almost turned against each other.

Duan Yan and Ma Teng were very angry, and it happened that Zhang Ji, Wang Fang, Liu Ai, Jia Xu and other old friends from Xiliang sent people to contact them one after another.Following the emperor is a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, and following Yuan Shao is a rebellious Han Dynasty. Can't you see the situation clearly?The two had the intention of betrayal.

Yuan Shao knew very well in his heart that this was a divorce plan by Zhang Ji and others, but he knew it was a divorce plan, so he had to fall into the trap.Once the Son of Heaven really arrives in Jingzhou, his troubles will not be big, but very, very big, and the situation will be far worse than today.He urgently wrote to Nanyang Zhu Ling, Chen Guo Gaogan, and Gaorou brothers, and led the army to Guanzhong to support day and night.

In Xinfeng City, Zhang Ji, Wang Fang and Huang Fuhong fought again.Huangfuhong had no choice but to withdraw his troops from Zhidao Pavilion, and went to Changmen Pavilion to ask Yuan Shao for food.

Yuan Shao was the same as before, with great hospitality.Huang Fuhong yelled at the banquet, saying that Zhang Ji, Wang Fang, Yang Feng and others were rebels who deserved death and wanted to kill the emperor.Yuan Shao asked him, is it true that the emperor is going to Jingzhou?
"Of course it's fake?" Huangfu Hong said through gritted teeth, "The emperor is gone, how can they survive? These people just want to drive a wedge between you so that you can't concentrate on attacking Xinfeng City. They not only drive a wedge between you and the Jingzhou army, They also separated you from Ma Teng and Duan Yan. I heard that they have secretly contacted Ma Teng and Duan Yan, and are planning to find an opportunity to raid your camp and drive you out of Guanzhong."

Yuan Shao sneered, not taking it seriously.

"Since this is the case, why are you still helping them? Why don't you help me rescue the emperor earlier."

"I want to save the emperor, but how can I trust you?" Huangfu Hong stared at him dissatisfied, "You say you want to save the emperor, but in your heart you think about how to dethrone the emperor and how to rebuild the emperor. I will help you save the emperor , it’s like harming the emperor, so I won’t do it.”

Yuan Shao smiled, "Jian Shou, since you don't trust me or the general, who do you trust? Do you trust Liu Biao?"

Huangfu Hong looked up to the sky and sighed, drank Juezhong's wine in one gulp, then cried with his head in his arms.

Yuan Shao drank alone and didn't persuade Huangfu Hong to cry bitterly.After Huangfu Hong had cried enough, Yuan Shao asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"You promise me that you will not kill the emperor."

"Okay." Yuan Shao was very straightforward, and swore a poisonous oath.

"I'm going back to Xinfeng City right now." Huangfu Hong stood up, kicked the desk in front of him away, and shouted at the top of his voice, "We should cooperate with each other, kill all the rebels, and rescue the emperor."

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Tian Feng persuaded, my lord, Huang Fuhong cannot be trusted.This person only has the Son of Heaven in his heart, and he will do anything for the Son of Heaven.Since he can betray the general, why can't he deceive you?This is probably Huangfuhong's treacherous scheme, we cannot fall for it.

"Then what do you think we should do?" Yuan Shao said angrily, "The situation in Guanzhong has reached this point, and I have to be on guard against Ma Teng and Duan Yao's turnaround. Rather than just sit and wait for death, it is better to take the initiative."

"My lord, it's better to wait for the reinforcements to arrive before launching an attack." The judge also persuaded, "The timing is not good at this time. Once the army is defeated, there is no room for recovery."

Yuan Shao didn't listen, "If we lose, we'll get out of Guanzhong. If we win, we can achieve dominance. Success or failure depends on one action, fight."

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(End of this chapter)