Can I get to the other side?

Zhongshan, Wuji.

Late autumn has arrived, and everything is desolate.

In the other courtyard of Zhen Mansion, Zhen Mi and her mother Zhang were chatting in the courtyard.

Looking at Zhen Mi, who looked pale in the sun, Mrs. Zhang said with heartache: "Oh, your body is already weak, and you have a serious illness again, which has made you miserable."

Zhen Mi, who had returned to Zhen's house for more than a month, fell seriously ill due to fatigue on the bumpy road and excessive grief over her brother's death.

Fortunately, after a period of careful care, his condition has improved.

A smile appeared in Zhen Mi's eyes: "Being seriously ill is not entirely a bad thing. At least you can spend more time with your mother at home."

Mrs. Zhang glared at Zhen Mi, "Nonsense! How can being sick be a good thing? You are a noble person now, and the most important thing is to accompany His Majesty in the palace."

"Compared with accompanying His Majesty, Zhen's surrender is more important." Zhen Mi stared at Zhang with burning eyes, "It's been so long, mother hasn't considered it yet, okay?"

After paying condolences to Zhen Yan, Zhen Mi talked to Zhang about asking Zhen to serve the emperor, but Zhang did not agree immediately.

"The risk of surrendering to the Emperor is too great." Zhang avoided Zhen Mi's gaze and sighed: "It's not that I don't want to help the Emperor, but that Yuan Shao is powerful. He occupies three states and has the support of many aristocratic families. I don't know how much better than Lu Bu. Even if Lu Bu gets the support of our Zhen family, he can't compete with Yuan Shao."

"The most important thing is that if Yuan Shao discovers that the Zhen family is secretly helping the emperor, it will definitely bring disaster to the family!"

From a mother's perspective, Zhang was of course willing to help the emperor.

But from the perspective of family interests, the risk of doing this is too great.

"Mother!" Zhen Mi was anxious, holding Zhang's arm and trying to persuade her:

"Your Majesty is in trouble and is being controlled by Yuan Shao. Since your daughter is the emperor's concubine, how can you ignore it?"

"His Majesty has promised his daughter that after he regains control of the country in the future, he will make her the queen and give birth to an heir who will be the crown prince."

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang was shocked and said, "Your Majesty promises the position of Queen and Crown Prince?"

Zhen Mi said: "Your Majesty said it himself, how dare your daughter talk nonsense."

Mrs. Zhang saw that Zhen Mi didn't seem to be lying, and the expression on her face kept changing.

Zhen Mi noticed Zhang's expression and struck a chord while the iron was hot: "Wen Gong is the most powerful general in the world today. Now he has occupied Xuzhou and half of Yangzhou. He has a strong army, but he only lacks money."

"If I, the Zhen family, support me, Duke Wen will definitely be able to defeat Yuan Shao and rescue your majesty!"

Mrs. Zhang came back to her senses, slowly shook her head, and said: "Mi'er, this matter is not as simple as you think. Even if His Majesty is really willing to make you his queen, that will only happen after he gets out of trouble and takes power.

But His Majesty is still being held hostage by Yuan Shao. If Zhen secretly cooperates and provides Lu Bu with money and food, once Yuan Shao discovers it, the consequences will be disastrous. "

Although Zhang wanted to agree to Zhen Mi's request, Zhen Yan passed away, and as the mistress, she needed to consider the entire Zhen family.

We can't put the Zhen family in danger just for the sake of an illusory throne and crown prince.

She would not agree, and neither would the elders in the clan.

"Does mother think that after taking refuge with Yuan Shao, the Zhen family can avoid being embezzled?"

Zhen Mi's sharp words went straight into Zhang's heart, causing her expression to change drastically.

She had also considered this issue, but the family elders believed that the fourth and third princes of Yuan Shao, for the sake of reputation, should not embezzle the Zhen family.

Zhen Mi said aggressively: "My mother actually knew very well that after the death of her second brother, the Zhen family fell into a situation where there was no one to take over and no successor."

"Everyone is innocent and carries a jade, but Zhen is like a piece of fat meat that everyone wants to swallow in one bite."

"If Yuan Shao really cared about his reputation, how could he hold the emperor hostage?"

Mrs. Zhang stood there in a daze.

She couldn't refute what Zhen Mi said.

Since Zhen Mi entered the palace, Yuan Shao has repeatedly asked for money and food from Zhen.

Either raising the imperial army for the emperor, or repairing the palace for the emperor.

If the Zhen family can be as large as it is now, how can the people in the clan be all fools, just once or twice, but too many times, who knows that Yuan Shao is just a coincidence.

But knowing that Yuan Shao was making various demands in the name of the emperor, Zhen could not refuse, let alone refuse.

Seeing Zhang's ugly face, Zhen Mi softened her tone slightly, "Yuan Shao is unreliable, and relying on Yuan Shao is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger.

Although it is risky to rely on the emperor, once the emperor is out of trouble, his daughter becomes the queen, and his mother's grandson becomes the prince, our Zhen family may not be able to become the next Yuan family. "

What Zhen Mi said was well-founded and very sincere.

Although she wanted to help Liu Xie, she did not consider the interests of the family.

The current situation of the Zhen family is very likely to be annexed by Yuan Shao and his like.

It's better to take the gamble once and risk your life to survive.

Zhang hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed: "This matter is very important. I cannot make a decision at once. I will think about it carefully."

Sensing a change in Zhang's attitude, Zhen Mi felt happy.

"Mother, remember to keep it a secret!"

This matter was related to the life and death of the entire Zhen family, and she understood that Zhang did not dare to agree easily.

Mrs. Zhang nodded, she understood this truth if she didn't keep it secret.

After telling Zhen Mi a few words, asking her to take good care of her health, she hurriedly left the yard.

The autumn wind blew by, blowing Zhen Mi's hair at the temples. She looked in the direction of Yecheng, and the figure of Liu Xie appeared in her mind.

"Your Majesty, I will definitely convince Mrs. Zhen to join you."

…

Youzhou, the prefect's mansion.

After learning that Yuan Shao had assembled an army at Chen Bingyou and at the Hebei border, Gongsun Zan looked sarcastic.

"Yuan Shao, this shameless old thief, still wants to lie to me? I know that he has no intention of making peace with me!"

Some time ago, Yuan Shao sent an envoy to make peace with Gongsun Zan.

He felt that there was something fishy about the matter at that time, so he neither agreed nor refused, but quietly strengthened his defense.

As a result, not long after this, Yuan Shao personally led an army to attack him.

Such a face is really disgusting.

"Yuan Shao is coming to attack, what do you think about this?" Gongsun Zan looked at a general beside him.

This man is his younger brother named Gongsun Fan. He has been following him for a long time and is one of his most trusted generals.

Gongsun Fan said disapprovingly: "What do you think? Since Yuan Benchu ​​came to attack, we just have to repel him."

After the words fell, Gongsun Zan's son Gongsun continued: "Father, this time we face Yuan Shao's army, please be sure to let your child be the vanguard general!"

When Gongsun Zan heard this, he felt dizzy.

A disciple, a son, neither one has a brain, they are both reckless men who only know how to fight and kill.

Asking them is a waste of time.

"Alas~"

Gongsun Zan sighed.

His subordinates are basically warriors who only know how to charge into battle, and there are very few counselors who can advise him and analyze the situation.

His eyes turned to a young general standing beside him, "Zilong, what do you think?"

This young general's surname is Zhao, his name is Yun, and his subtitle is Zilong. Although he is young, he is extremely brave in combat, and he is among the best even among his Baima Yi.

In addition to being extremely powerful, he also has some strategy.

Zhao Yun cupped his fists and said, "General, I think that if Yuan Shao and Cao Cao each support an emperor, they will be incompatible with each other."

"Previously, Yuan Shao sent people to make peace with the lord, probably because he wanted to free up his hands to deal with Cao Cao; now that the general did not agree, he simply raised troops to attack."

"If he defeats the general and captures Youzhou, Yuan Shao will have no worries about starting a war with Cao Cao."

How can you allow others to sleep soundly on the side of the couch?

Youzhou has always been a serious concern for Yuan Shao.

If Yuan Shao wants to go south to the Central Plains, he must pacify Youzhou, otherwise he must always beware of Gongsun Zan's sneak attacks.

"Solve the worries? Yuan Benchu ​​takes it too much for granted!" Gongsun Zan sneered and said disdainfully: "Let him try to see if he can take Youzhou away from me!"

Although Yuan Shao was powerful, Gongsun Zan was not an ordinary person.

If you want to swallow his Youzhou, you won't be afraid of losing a tooth!

Zhao Yun said: "General, the autumn harvest has just passed and Yuan Shao has enough food and grass. I'm afraid this attack will not be as hasty as in the past. We should also be prepared for a protracted war."

"In addition, Yuan Shao sent troops to conquer the emperor's subordinates, occupying the rightful position, which is very detrimental to our military morale."

Anyone who sends troops must have status.

Yuan Shao sent troops under the emperor's order. If they didn't find a way to deal with it, they would be labeled as rebels.

"Who knows whether his emperor is real or fake!" Gongsun Zan snorted coldly. Now that the emperor's authenticity has not yet been determined, he will not recognize the emperor in Yecheng.

Glancing at one of his generals who was proficient in pen and ink, Gongsun Zan said: "Guo Rang, go and write a crusade against Yuan Shao."

"Yes, General!" Tian Yu responded with clasped fists.

Gongsun Zan sighed in his heart, Youzhou is really not as good as the Central Plains.

Even writing a statement can only be done by Wu Fu.

Shaking his head, Gongsun Zan said to Gongsun Xu: "What Zilong just said is true. I'm afraid we will have to fight a protracted war with Yuan Shao this time."

"Xu'er, you go to General Yan to collect three hundred white horse followers, and then take three thousand troops out of the customs to ask each tribe to hand over a batch of supplies."

"Anyone who dares not to obey will be killed!"

Gongsun Zan's tone was very calm, but his murderous intention was strong.

To him, those foreign races outside the pass were a place to replenish supplies, horses, and grain, and he was fully capable of killing them.

The reason why they didn't do this was to ask them to turn in supplies every year.

Youzhou is barren and not as good as Jizhou. It would be difficult for him to support his army without replenishing it by plundering these foreign races.

"Ah? Let the child go?" Gongsun Xu was a little unhappy.

It would be interesting to kill foreign barbarians, but how boring would it be to just collect supplies?

However, the order had been issued and he could not disobey it. He could only respond dullly: "I understand, father."

Now he just hopes that those alien races can be a little bloody and resist to some extent, so that he can enjoy themselves to the fullest.

Gongsun Zan looked at his younger brother again and said, "Send someone to monitor the movements of Yuan Shao's army at all times and pay attention to the situation in Bingzhou. If there is any abnormality, report it to me immediately."

Gongsun Fan nodded and agreed.

After some explanations, everyone took their orders and left.

Gongsun Zan picked up a letter from Yangzhou on the case.

"Xuande, Xuande, why do you need to work under that old thief Yuan Shao?"

"Speaking of such great achievements as surrendering Zhang Xiu and capturing Yuan Shu alive, he only granted you the title of Tinghou and the ridiculous title of Jingzhou Mu."

"With your talents, wouldn't it be nice if you came to help me?"

…

At the same time, Yangzhou, Runan County.

Twenty miles outside the city, Lu Bu is stationed.

In the camp, Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Chen Gong were discussing matters.

Chen Gong pointed to the map and said: "Xiahou Dun must pass through this place if he wants to attack Runan. After defeating Xiahou Dun's army of ten thousand, Cao's thieves will no longer be able to invade Yangzhou."

"In this battle, Wenyuan will be in charge of the central army and command the troops. Bo Ping will lead the Xianzhen Camp to resist the elite troops of Cao's army, and the general will lead the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry to attack the central army from the flank, killing the general and seizing the flag."

Lv Bu sneered, "Cao is pretending to be the emperor and getting his hands on Yangzhou. Today, this general will definitely kill his cousin!"

Seeing that Lu Bu despised Xiahou Dun so much, Chen Gong hurriedly said, "General, don't be careless. In Xiahou Dun's camp, there are 500 tiger and leopard cavalry led by Cao Ren, which should not be underestimated."

Lv Bu was very dissatisfied when he heard this, "Gongtai, you are trying to boost others' prestige. Although Cao Ren's tiger and leopard cavalry is powerful, isn't this general's Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry invincible?"

Lv Bu was full of confidence in the 1,000 Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry he led personally.

This iron cavalry followed him to the battle formation to kill the enemy, and often created a record of winning with fewer troops.

His glorious military exploits over the years made him not think that the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry would be worse than any other cavalry in the world.

Gao Shun on the side said: "General, I heard that the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was built by Cao Ren at great expense. Both the men and horses are heavily armed. Once they charge, they will be unstoppable."

"Both the men and horses are heavily armed!" Lu Bu widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, "So, the money spent on the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry is more than that on the Formation of the Fallen?"

The Formation of the Fallen was the most elite infantry under his command, well-equipped and brave in combat, known as "every attack is unbreakable".

But even if he emptied his family's wealth, the entire Formation of the Fallen only had more than 700 people.

Now that he knew that Cao Ren's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry actually spent more money than the Formation of the Fallen, he was dumbfounded and even more jealous.

"How hateful! If I had enough money and food, I would have driven Cao Cao and Sun Ce out of Yangzhou!"

Chen Gong said at the right time: "General, this battle is extremely critical. If we can achieve success in one battle, the three counties in the north of the Yangtze River will all fall into our hands. Don't underestimate the enemy!"

After lamenting his lack of silver and food, Lu Bu said: "Don't worry, Gongtai, I will act according to your plan."

The strategy Chen Gong gave Lu Bu was the same as usual. The frontal confrontation of the army was handed over to Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, while he led the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, took advantage of the cavalry, and looked for opportunities to insert from the flank to behead the enemy commander or generals.

This tactic can only be used to perfection by Lu Bu, who is unparalleled in the world. If it were other generals, let alone beheading the generals and seizing the flags, they would be surrounded by the enemy, and whether they could break through was another matter.

...

At noon the next day.

Xiahou Dun appeared on the horizon with an army of 10,000.

Zhang Liao was stationed in the central army camp, commanding and dispatching the three armies.

Gao Shun led 700 soldiers to the front.

Before the battle started, the whole plain was filled with murderous intent.

On a distant hilltop, Lu Bu gathered 1,000 Bingzhou wolf riders, ready to go.

As soon as the two armies fought, he would find an opportunity to attack from the flank and take Xiahou Dun's head.