People in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Hu and Han respected together

Chapter 292
Youzhou, Jixian!
Since Liu Yu left Youzhou and went to Guanzhong, Gongsun Zan began to expand wantonly, sweeping his sphere of influence directly towards the entire Youzhou.

Although Liu Yu left some arrangements, he arranged for his cronies to take charge of important positions in the state pastoral mansion and local counties.

But as Gongsun Zan was granted the title of Shepherd of Youzhou and General of Zhenbei, those arrangements gradually became invalid, because Gongsun Zan could justifiably eliminate dissidents and replace Liu Yu's people with his own.

This dissatisfied many of Liu Yu's former troops, but due to the situation, facing Gongsun Zan, who had a large army and was officially conferred by the court, they could only swallow this breath.

After swallowing the entire Youzhou, Gongsun Zan's power expanded rapidly. Youzhou was very poor, but he was on the front line fighting the Hu people all year round. There were countless elite soldiers and strong generals in every county and fortress.

Gongsun Zan no longer had any scruples, and remembered the great defeat last year, when Bai Mayi was annihilated from the whole army, and felt great hatred in his heart, so he set his sights on Yuan Shao again, on the affluent Jizhou.

Gathering [-] cavalry, known as an army of [-], is preparing to go south again this summer.

With the soldiers of Youzhou and the riches of Jizhou, this is Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu, who can stand out in the last years of Xinmang and win the foundation of the world's kingship.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses were preparing to go south, and such a big movement could not be concealed from others, but after Yuan Shao learned about it, he did not fly into a rage or feel aggrieved.

Even though he gritted his teeth with hatred in his heart, hated Gongsun Zan, Liu Yu, and Li Yao, but under tremendous pressure, he actively adopted the suggestions and strategies put forward by his advisers and staff.

They sent envoys to appease Zhang Yan and other Black Mountain bandit leaders, and the effect was very good. They were also beaten to the core. Yuan Shao proposed to negotiate a peace, and soon got a response.

Yuan Shao kept writing letters, instead of letting his advisers and staff do it for him. Instead, he wrote letters himself, and sent them to the local officials, prefects, county magistrates, and even the heads of the aristocratic and powerful families in northern Jizhou.

It has to be said that before controlling Qing, You, Bing, and Ji, Yuan Shao's ability could still match his ambition.

The purpose of writing the letter is to stabilize the local officials and powerful aristocratic families, so as to prevent them from surrendering directly to Gongsun Zan's strong soldiers without firing a single arrow.

The most important thing is to win on the battlefield. Yuan Shao also gave full trust to the generals under his command, and while laying out the defense line, he chose the decisive battle location.

At this time, Gongsun Zan officially went south, with Gongsun Xu, Guan Jing staying behind, and Gongsun Fan, Shan Jing, and Kuidan as generals, leading [-] cavalry, known as an army of [-], and vowed to avenge Yan Gang and the three thousand white horses.

Since Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan last year, his power has grown by leaps and bounds, but facing this great enemy, he still feels a lot of pressure.

At this time, Xu You, his confidant counselor, offered another plan and sent someone to provoke Wuhuan into rebellion.

Gongsun Zan's power seems to have risen, but there are also many places to defend, especially the northern barbarians, Xianbei, Wuhuan, Xianbei is far away, and Wuhuan is close. If Wuhuan gathers troops to make trouble, he will definitely be able to restrain Gongsun Zan's arm.

If it succeeds, they can gnaw off a piece of meat on Gongsun Zan's body. If it fails, it's just some barbarians who will die. If they can share the pressure, why not do it.

Yuan Shao was overjoyed, and he agreed directly, and immediately sent out many envoys to wait for the opportunity to provoke Wuhuan into chaos.

But at the same time, the scouts from both sides have already taken the lead, and the war can be said to be on the verge of breaking out.

Qingzhou, Pingyuan, only occupies the northern part of Qingzhou. Tian Kai, the governor of Qingzhou, also received the military order from Gongsun Zan and prepared to raise his troops to respond.

Tian Kai invited Liu Bei to march into Jizhou together, but Liu Bei politely refused. He wanted to lead his troops to Xuzhou. Cao Cao avenged his father.

Liu Bei is a righteous man, and he hates such evil things the most, so he took Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and all [-] soldiers under his command, and headed straight for Xuzhou.

Traveling to Beihai, Kong Rong learned that Liu Bei was going to Xuzhou. First, he thanked him for his kindness, and second, he appreciated his kindness. He put together another five thousand soldiers and horses.

So Liu Bei led [-] soldiers and horses, claiming to be [-] soldiers and horses, and went directly to Xuzhou and Langya. Wherever he passed, he saw no people, no one in the town, no one in the countryside, where did everyone go?Either die or run away!

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were all very disgusted with Cao Cao's cruelty and ruthlessness. They accelerated their march and headed for Donghai County and Tan County.

Before the person arrived, the news arrived first...

Cao Cao held an army of [-], and felt extremely dismissive of Liu Bei's [-] army. A mere Liu Bei and a mere [-] army could not shake his determination to attack and kill Tao Qian and Xuzhou.

This time Cao Cao came out in full force, and more than half of the army were Qingzhou soldiers. The so-called Qingzhou soldiers were the former Qingzhou Yellow Turbans. There were more than 30 men, women, and children, and more than 3 young and strong were selected to form the current Qingzhou soldiers.

They have not undergone long-term training, so their military discipline is loose and their combat power is low, but Cao Cao still brought them out, and the frontal combat is average, but they are quite good at burning, killing, looting, and slaughtering cities and villages.

This time Cao Cao killed and looted all the way. One aspect was the [-] army. Yanzhou was unable to provide enough food and grass. The other aspect was the [-] Qingzhou soldiers. It was easy to bring out, but it was difficult to manage.

Donghai County, Tan County!

When Tao Qian learned of Liu Bei's arrival, the anxiety he felt because of Cao Cao's large-scale attack was finally relieved to some extent. He summoned the soldiers under his command and said to Chen Deng, Cao Bao... and others with emotion:
"Xuande is a man of benevolence, righteousness and loyalty. I, Xuzhou, can be saved, and the people of Xuzhou can be saved!"

Tao Qian is old now, but when Tao Qian was young, he had a strong temperament. Wen Neng dismounted to rule the people, and Wu Neng rode to lead the army. He had a Danyang elite army, brave and good at fighting, and very capable of fighting.

Now in Xuzhou, there is one heart, the army and the people are one heart, and reinforcements are coming from the outside, and the morale is quite high.

In addition, Yuan Shu in Runan led his troops into Jiujiang and besieged Shouchun. The governor of Yangzhou, Chen Wen, was defeated, the city was destroyed, and he was killed. Yuan Shu occupied Yangzhou and led Yangzhou pastor himself.

But in Runan County, Yuan Shu is still in his hands, and at the same time he is still eyeing Xiapi and Guangling in Xuzhou.

His road to rise was much smoother than Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and even Yuan Shao, and perhaps he did not go through too many hardships. In the end, the higher he climbed, the harder he fell.

(End of this chapter)