Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 227 Looking for Helpers
Cao Xian was copying a bamboo slip, but he secretly looked out of the window from time to time. At this time, the window of Yuan Xi's bedroom was lowered, and then the light inside went out.

She oopsed, bit the pen holder, and muttered, "Why is it so early today?"

Seeing her distracted appearance, Cai Zhaoji, who was pacing up and down the room, slapped Cao Xian on the shoulder with a bamboo slip, and teased, "It's okay to be distracted, but don't write wrong words."

Cao Xian looked down, and sure enough, the last two characters were written incorrectly. She took a sackcloth soaked in clear water, wiped off the ink carefully, and smiled back, "My sister has such good eyes, you can still see my typo from such a distance. .”

Cai Zhaoji smiled and said, "I'm just used to it. My mother died early, and I compiled and copied many of my father's classics. I have written a lot since I was a child."

Cao Xian wiped the bamboo slips dry, filled in the words neatly, and said enviously: "Our family has far fewer classics than my sister's family, and my handwriting is also very average. I'm afraid I will never be able to write as well as my sister."

Cai Zhaoji said: "You are only so old, and you have a bright future. This young master who compiles the classics attaches great importance to it. I entrusted it to you because he is the most reassuring."

After Cao Xian heard this, he sighed and said, "Why do I feel that the young master appreciates me more than female virtues such as appearance?"

After hearing this, Cai Zhaoji smiled and said, "What's wrong with that?"

"Isn't that your advantage?"

Cao Xian approached Cai Yan, pointed to the dark bedroom of Yuan Xi outside the window, and a faint voice came from inside, "Madam's appearance is really nothing to say, is the young master bullying her like a sister?"

Cai Zhaoji was taken aback, "What are you bullying me for?"

Cao Xianshen said mysteriously: "I heard my sister crying in the son's house several times at night, isn't it?"

Cai Zhaoji's face became hot when she heard this, she slapped Cao Xian lightly, and said angrily, "You're so young, what's going on in your head."

Cao Xian didn't understand, so he still wanted to hide it, let's see if I catch it someday, and see how the young master bullies you.

What happened in Xuzhou has spread throughout the states.

Chen Deng got up from the posthouse early in the morning, thinking that there was no progress in Yecheng for more than half a month, and it would be meaningless to stay any longer.

Yuan Shi left him alone, he had already been mentally prepared, after all, at the beginning, Yuan Shi only verbally supported Liu Bei's acquisition of Xuzhou. In terms of relationship, Cao Cao was much closer than Liu Bei.

Chen Deng could tell these days that many people in Ye City were more inclined to Cao Cao. Now that Cao Cao's army was approaching Xiapi Tan City under the banner of saving Xuzhou, Chen Deng understood that this must have bad intentions.

If Cao Cao occupied Xuzhou, he would definitely not spit out this piece of fat again, but for local gentry like Chen Deng, this was almost the worst-case scenario.

Cao Cao's two massacres of Xuzhou have already formed a bridge with the Xuzhou gentry. It can be said that no matter who occupies Xuzhou, the resistance will not be as great as Cao Cao.

But Cao Cao and Yuan Shao have a good relationship, and Jizhou can't count on it. Chen Deng's only hope now is Yuan Xi. If he can capture Yuyang, go south from Qingzhou to Xuzhou, and join forces with Liu Bei, he may be able to keep half of Xuzhou.

But only half of it.

Chen Deng felt that the six counties of Xuzhou, Guangling and Xiapi fell into Sun Ce's hands, and he might never get them back.

He sighed, Liu Bei is a good lord, but it's a pity that the officials under him are not convinced by anyone, especially because there is no one who can subdue Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and make the final decision, which has led to so many problems.

He hastily ate his meal, started to pack his bags, and prepared to return.

What Chen Deng didn't expect was that a batch of urgent letters came to the post station at this time, one of which was for him.

Chen Deng couldn't help opening his eyes wide after receiving it. The letter was written to him by Yuan Xi, but the sign of the place where the letter was sent was from Xuzhou!

After he carefully read the contents of the letter, he was even more shocked. Yuan Ximing planned to attack Yuyang, secretly passed the Youzhou Sea Road, went straight to Xuzhou, and went directly from the Yangtze River to the city of Guangling, the base camp behind Sun Ce, and captured Guangling in a surprise attack!

Now that Sun Ce has returned to the army for rescue, he has repeatedly attacked Guangling, and the two sides are in a stalemate.

Yuan Xi sent a letter by water, telling Chen Deng that he had to conceal his purpose before, in order to prevent leakage of secrets, which would not be effective as a surprise soldier.

Now he is fulfilling his promise to assist Liu Bei in retaking Xuzhou.

Chen Deng saw it, and stood up excitedly. Yuan Xi was indeed a believer, and he did not let himself down!

He continued to look, and his face became serious.

The letter also said that Sun Ce and Yuan Xi were on the offensive and attacked Guangling for several days. Although there was no problem defending the city for the time being, Yuan Xi was worried that Cao Cao would take advantage of the fisherman's profit and take the opportunity to capture Xiapi Tancheng.

However, it was inconvenient for Yuan Xi to deploy troops here, so he could only barely block Sun Ce, but Xiapi could not take care of it.

If Liu Bei still wants to take back Xiapi, he can only find another reinforcement.

So in the letter, Yuan Xi told Chen Deng that if he wanted to help Liu Bei make a comeback, there is only one person in Yecheng who can help Liu Bei.

Yuan Tan just came back from Qingzhou.

But if you want to seek his help, you need to pay a corresponding price.

Chen Deng thought about the words in Yuan Xi's letter, and suddenly realized that Liu Bei really had what Yuan Tan needed!

He hurriedly told the servant to stop, took out all the undelivered gifts in the bag, wrote a name card, and took it to visit Yuan Tan.

Yuan Tan was in his mansion, talking with some counselors from Guo Tuxin. At this time, the Chinese New Year was approaching, and he came back to meet Yuan Shao after arranging Qingzhou affairs.

But he was a little restless at the moment, Xun Chen, the few great counselors who were close to him, appeared less and less, only Guo Tu and brothers Xin Ping and Xin Pi still supported him.

Although the counselors of Yuan Shang's faction were somewhat restricted, they were in a much better situation compared to Yuan Tan.

Now that Yuan Shang is becoming more and more powerful, most of the gentry in Yecheng have turned to Yuan Shang. After all, everyone has seen the general trend, and Yuan Shang must be the future master of Jizhou.

As a result, Yuan Tan felt very uncomfortable. Although Yuan Xi helped him prevent the adoption, the disadvantage was getting bigger and bigger, and he couldn't think of a countermeasure with him.

When he returned to Jizhou this time, he was telling Yuan Shao about the difficulties of the Taishan bandits.

It has been almost two years since he occupied Qingzhou, but only his friend Qingxu, the hundreds of thousands of Taishan thieves in the deep mountains have nothing to do, Yuan Shao is also very unhappy about this.

Yuan Tan understood that if he had no choice but to take the Mount Tai thief again, his status in Yuan Shao's heart would plummet even further.

However, hundreds of thousands of Taishan thieves are really difficult to deal with. Yuan Tan wants to seek Yuan Shao's help, but the money, food and soldiers in Jizhou are all transferred by Yuan Shang.

When Yuan Tan was in trouble, a guard sent a pass saying that Chen Deng, the envoy of Xuzhou, Sinong Dianwei, asked to see him.

As soon as Yuan Tan heard Chen Deng's name, he knew the intention of the other party's visit, and said displeasedly: "Yuan Liu Lianmeng, it is the third younger brother who wants to save Xuzhou. I can't take care of myself. How can I spare time to help him?"

"Let him go back."

The guard went out, but he came back and said, "Then Chen Deng said that Mr. Yuan Xi asked him to come."

When Yuan Tan heard this, he pondered, what did Yuan Xi ask Chen Deng to do?
Yuan Xi was far-sighted, and would never find someone to do him for no reason. Thinking of this, Yuan Tan said, "Let him in."

After a while, Chen Deng walked in slowly and said, "Chen Deng from Xuzhou, I pay my respects to the envoy."

At that time, the governors of the state were all called envoys, but at this time there were four people in the Yuan family who could be called envoys.

Yuan Shao, the governor of Jizhou, Yuan Shu, the governor of Yangzhou, Yuan Tan, the governor of Qingzhou, and Yuan Xi, the governor of Youzhou.

Yuan Shu, who occupies parts of Jingzhou, Yuzhou, and Yangzhou, was not a governor or governor of a state at first, but a military officer. He used to be Henan Yin, Huben Zhonglang, and former general. Sun Jian was the governor of Yuzhou and proclaimed himself the governor of Yangzhou.

Of the thirteen prefectures in the world, the Yuan family occupies nearly half of them, and there is no two in the limelight. The official positions of these four prefects are all self-appointed, but strictly speaking, there is a big difference.

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu's official positions are more legitimate than Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi's, which involves Yuan Shao's intentional or unintentional restrictions on Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi's one-Han system.

Seeing Chen Deng coming in, Yuan Tan nodded and said, "Mr. Wenlong, please sit down. Why are you here today?"

Chen Deng explained Liu Bei's difficulties, and finally said: "If Shi Jun can help Liu Yuzhou solve Xuzhou's difficulties, Xuzhou will do its best to help with the Taishan bandits in the future."

After hearing this, Guo Tu said, "Mr. Wenlong understands what you need, but Liu Yuzhou is hard to protect himself. Most of Xuzhou has been lost, and the soldiers are scattered. How can we talk about the future?"

After hearing this, Chen Deng said, "Young Master Xianyi has already given his hand and occupied Guangling City."

The counselors were all shocked when they heard this, Xin Ping lost his voice and said, "How is it possible, isn't Mr. Xianyi hunting Yuyang?"

Chen Deng told about Yuan Xi's letter, "Deng came here this time because Mr. Xian Yi pointed out that now is an excellent opportunity."

"Once Xuzhou is pacified, the envoy can transport troops by sea, and attack the Taishan bandits from the north and the south without being blocked by them."

Yuan Tan listened and became thoughtful.

The reason why the Mount Tai bandits became a chronic disease was because there were large stretches of deep mountains between Qingzhou, where even horses and pawns could hardly enter.

Simpi stroked his beard and sighed: "Mr. Xianyi really used his troops like a god. He attacked Yuyang openly and went to Guangling secretly. This wonderful move revitalized the situation in Xuzhou."

"In this way, Mr. Xiansi can indeed deploy troops in Qingzhou, and go directly to Haixi and Liu Yuzhou via sea ships to join forces and attack Xiapi."

"However, it will cost a lot to mobilize troops, horses, money and food. If Xuzhou doesn't say anything, I'm afraid Mr. Xiansi will not be able to explain it."

Yuan Tan listened and nodded in agreement.

Chen Deng thought to himself that this was the difference between Yuan Xi and Yuan Tan's situation. Although they all knew that Xuzhou would pay the price, Yuan Xi fought after the fight, while Yuan Tan fought after the negotiation.

Chen Deng pondered for a while, and said, "The matter of the site must be decided by Liu Yuzhou himself."

"But another thing, Deng can make a promise in advance for Liu Yuzhou."

"Praise Mr. Xiansi as a talented person."

As soon as this incident happened, Yuan Tan was immediately moved.

(End of this chapter)