Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 235 Breaking Ground
The news that Sun Ce was about to withdraw from the camp quickly spread to Guangling City, and everyone couldn't help but look happy.

Because Sun Ce's offensive was too fierce, Yuan Xi's soldiers also suffered a lot of casualties after several days of such a desperate attack on the city.

Guo Jia, however, showed regret, and said to Yuan Xi: "When Qiao Rui was released, Guan Yu happened to enter the city. Now that there is a problem in Tancheng, it seems reasonable for Sun Ce to withdraw his troops."

"It's a pity that in this way, we can't see clearly Sun Ce's intention to attack Guangling."

Yuan Xi heard this, and said, "If Guangling is really important to Sun Ce, he should give up Xiapi, and the whole army should take down here regardless of casualties."

"After all, it is easier for Guangling to transfer troops from Yangzhou, but in the end he chose Xiapi, which is more difficult to defend. Could it be that he just couldn't swallow the breath of Guangling being attacked?"

Guo Jia pondered for a while, then shook his head and said, "I can't figure it out either, but even if he returns to Xiapi, it will be difficult to hold on. It can be said that he has lost sight of the other."

He mocked, "Sun Ce is still too young and has a big appetite. He wants to eat everything, but in the end he can't eat anything."

"Especially in a place like Xuzhou, where there are flat rivers and ports, and a county can be reached in a few days. How can it be so easy to defend?"

After hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "I understand what you mean, Mr. Xuzhou can't swallow it with my current strength."

Guo Jia was very satisfied. Yuan Xi has one advantage, that is, he is good at doing good things and not blindly confident.

You must know that famous generals who are always victorious are prone to major defeats. Many times, it is because of the self-confidence of the previous winning streak that they overestimate their own strength. Unable to roll over.

Guo Jia said: "How to defend Guangling City in the future, we have to discuss it carefully. After all, for such a city, all the young master's elite soldiers are detained here, and they are throwing everything away."

"Now that Sun Ce is withdrawing outside the city, do you want to chase after him, my lord?"

Yuan Xi said: "I personally don't want to fight anymore."

"Sun Cejun's fighting spirit is very high. Even if we take advantage of it, if he returns to Xiapi, won't he still benefit Cao Jun's fisherman?"

Guo Jia listened and said with a smile: "It seems that the young master is still more afraid of Cao Jun."

Yuan Xi nodded and said: "Naturally, I think Cao Jun is much more difficult to fight than Sun Ce Jun."

"Oh?" Guo Jia became interested, "Is it because Cao Cao defeated Lu Bu that you have such an idea?"

"I think Cao Cao is indeed better than Lu Bu, but I'm not sure how high."

"Young Master, do you think Sun Ce can't stop Cao Jun?"

Yuan Xi thought for a while and said, "It's very possible."

"Cao Cao is a powerful man. From military to strategy, he is very difficult to deal with. Now that I have met him, I cannot beat him."

Guo Jia was a little surprised when he heard this, "I didn't expect the young master to think so highly of him?"

Yuan Xi thought to himself that because of the battle of Guandu in later generations, the lesson was very heavy.

Although Yuan Shao was fully concerned, he just couldn't win. Although it is said that Xu You's rebellion played a decisive role, it is undeniable that Cao Cao defeated Yuan Jun several times in the key encounters. This is true. record.

You must know that Yuan Jun was well-equipped and had sufficient food and grass at that time. It can be said that he was a strong soldier in the top ranks in the world. In this way, he was still unable to defeat Cao Jun who was short of food, which shows his strength.

Moreover, Yuan Xi suspects that Cao Cao has a unique set of military training methods, and his book Meng De's new book does not record the essence.

Yuan Xi's nearly [-] elite soldiers are actually more motivated by military merit, but their weaknesses are also obvious. They rely too much on high-level generals like Tai Shici, and relatively lack a large number of middle- and lower-level generals.

And Cao Cao controlled the middle and lower ranks of the army with a large number of Cao's children and good family sons who were loyal to him, so that even if he was temporarily at a disadvantage on the battlefield, he could integrate the team in time and form combat power again.

Yuan Xi had some headaches, he still lacks counselors who are proficient in military and political personnel selection!
Guo Jia is not omnipotent, he is good at strategy, but not good at internal affairs, but looking around the world, it is extremely difficult to find internal affairs talents.

It's ridiculous to say that if you want to rank the internal affairs talents in the world at this time, the top two should be Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and the No. 3 is likely to be Xun Yu.

Of course, Zhuge Liang may surpass them in the future after he cultivates and enlightens, but now, he is just a 15-year-old boy who doesn't know where he is.

Yuan Xi cursed inwardly, what a troublesome mother!

He solemnly said to Guo Jia: "For me, Cao Cao is always the most dangerous."

"And this person is really untrustworthy. He joined hands with Yuan Shu openly and secretly, and attacked Sun Ce in Xiapi in the blink of an eye."

"However, in this way, I can go north along the canal and meet Liu Bei in Haixi."

Guo Jia's eyes narrowed, "Master, go to Haixi in person?"

"I suggest caution."

After Yuan Xi was done, he asked doubtfully, "Sir, don't you trust Liu Yuzhou?"

Guo Jia said: "That's not the case, but the young master can't show such urgency."

"If you want to negotiate, of course, those who can't calm down first will be at a disadvantage."

"Young master is going to wait for Guan Yu to return to Haixi, and wait for Liu Yuzhou to come to invite him, so that we can negotiate terms."

He thought for a while, and added: "Going to Haixi is also convenient. The merchant ship will go north and enter the Huaihe River and then enter Lianshui. If it goes well, Liu Bei will send people over soon after Guan Yu returns."

"Just take advantage of this time to rectify the defense of Guangling City and turn this city into a stronghold for us to go south."

"And the young master didn't want to return the city, did he?"

Yuan Xi heard this, and said with a cheeky smile, "Those who know me, sir."

He is a man without profit, as I said earlier, in the troubled times at the end of the Han Dynasty, there was no one who would do a free job for others. Even if he was willing, how could he treat the dead soldiers under his command.

The biggest problem Yuan Xi faces now is how to expand.

Youzhou is a good place for farming, with salt and iron, a large number of excellent war horses, rich water systems, fertile land, and even a long coastline for trade.

But the shortcomings are also very obvious, and several directions are blocked.

To the north is the Xianbei Xiongnu tribe outside the pass, to the east is Gongsundu of Liaodong, and to the south is Jizhou.

Bingzhou in the west is a breakthrough, but there are many people and bitter cold. Although it occupies the Hetao area where "the Yellow River is full of harm, but only one rich", there are millions of Southern Huns and hundreds of thousands of Black Mountain troops.

In time, Yuan Shao sent high-ranking cadres to occupy Bingzhou in later generations, but in fact they only opened up a small part of the Montenegro area, not even one-fifth of Bingzhou's territory.

Taking a ten thousand step back, even if Yuan Xi really settled the Bingzhou area and opened up the route to Xiqiang in Liangzhou, he still had to turn to the Guanzhong area, which was tantamount to throwing everything away.

To compete in the Central Plains, we still have to compete for the central area with a large population. Farming in a small corner until the end of time, the peak example is just like the Shu Kingdom in later generations. .

Therefore, Yuan Xi had to open up a different route, and Xuzhou was a crucial breakthrough point.

In the current situation, no one can eat Xuzhou, and no one wants others to eat it.

At this time, Liu Bei had a lot of talents under his command, even if he was beaten into a mess, Yuan Xi thought to himself that he would not be able to do better than Liu Bei.

But what if you change your mind?
He opened his mouth slowly and expressed his thoughts to Guo Jia.

After hearing this, Guo Jia couldn't help admiring: "Young master's idea is indeed a different way."

"It's different from occupying a grain-producing area with a large population, but based on the open sea. I'm afraid almost no one would think so."

"However, there are many key points in it that need to be carefully considered. After all, several forces are involved."

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Mr. Lai took the time to think about it."

Guo Jia sighed: "Sometimes I really regret it, are you using me as a donkey?"

"There are a lot of talents in Youzhou and Xuzhou, so why can't you find more counselors?"

Yuan Xi wondered: "Sir, you think I don't want to, why don't you recommend some people?"

Guo Jia thought for a while and said dejectedly: "Forget it, most of the people I know are Yingchuan scholars, and I guess they have gone to Cao Cao now."

"I can only find it slowly. There are many famous people in Jiangdong, but it is a pity that they can't cross the river now."

Yuan Xi listened, thoughtful.

Now Yuan Shu is plotting Yangzhou, if he still dares to proclaim himself emperor like the later generations, the princes of the world will attack him together and drive him to a dead end.

At that time, his power will fall apart, and then it will be a great time to snatch people!

In this case, occupying Guangling County is a foreshadowing in advance. This place borders Yangzhou, so we can work hard in the future!

While Yuan Xi and Guo Jia were secretly planning bad ideas, Zhen Mi's room was also quite lively.

Zhen Mi and Cai Yan had just sent off Liu Bei's wife and daughter who came to pay their respects. In the next few days, Liu Bei's wife and daughter will return to Haixi with Guan Yu.

Although Mrs. Liu Bei looked fierce, she still knew the basic etiquette. She couldn't tell Yuan Xi directly, so she brought her daughter to thank Zhen Mi.

Zhen Mi turned around and said to Kong Rong's wife and daughter who were sitting in the guest seat: "When the time comes, Madam and Miss will also return with General Guan?"

Mrs. Kong Rong said: "Exactly, I'm ashamed to say that I and my daughter have been rescued by the son twice, and my husband can't be ashamed, so I have no choice but to thank my wife."

Zhen Mi smiled and said, "Madam, you are being polite. My husband has already told my concubine that such trivial matters should not be taken care of by Madam."

Kong Rong's daughter hid behind her mother and secretly looked at Zhen Mi, feeling a little sour in her heart, thinking that she wasn't ugly, but she really couldn't compare with others.

Mrs. Kong Rong sighed: "After this farewell, it may be difficult to see each other again in the future."

Zhen Mi asked puzzledly, "Ma'am, what do you mean?"

Mrs. Kong Rong said: "My husband heard that the emperor Luan moved eastward and returned to Luoyang. He wanted to go to the emperor's command to accept grace, so when he arrived in Haixi, he had to set off for Luoyang."

"At that time, our family will have to find a way to go from Jizhou to Guanzhong, and I'm afraid we will settle down in Luoyang."

When Kong Rong's daughter heard this, she felt even more uncomfortable. She knew that when she returned to Haixi this time, her family would marry her to the Yang family, and if the matter failed, she would follow her to Luoyang.

Zhen Mi suddenly remembered something, and said to Cai Yan next to her, "Madam Cai, who was captured by Sun Ce's army the day before yesterday, doesn't she want to return to Jingzhou?"

"We won't be able to go back to Jizhou for a while, why don't we find her to ask, if she is impatient, would you like to go with your wife?"

(End of this chapter)