Three Kingdoms: I choose Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao, why are you crying, Diao Chan?

Chapter 257 Li Jue and Guo Si! (Thanks to the book friend 2023…0438 for the two monthly tickets support~)

As the news of Lu Bu's promotion from "Marquis" to "Duke" spread throughout the country.

All the civil servants and military officers under his command were extremely excited!

This is a title conferred by the imperial court itself. It is an extremely legitimate honor, enough to make other princes envious!
But not many people know what kind of undercurrent is surging beneath this glory...

Lu Bu set about promoting all the officials in the territory by one level.

All the subordinates were pleasantly surprised and their loyalty increased significantly!
However, at the same time, Yuan Shao in Jizhou also received the news that Lv Bu was promoted to "Duke"...

Weijun, Yecheng.

In the prefect's mansion, a tall, handsome, and imposing middle-aged man threw the wine jar in his hand to the ground and cursed angrily:

"He, Lu Bu, is just a bandit. How can he be called a duke and given a kingdom?!

"The little emperor that Dong Zhuo established really couldn't tell right from wrong and abused his power!

"I, Yuan Benchu, once led the eighteen princes to fight against the traitors, but he refused to confer the title of Duke on me.

"Instead, he gave a lowly person the title of duke? Does Lu Bu deserve it?
"Sooner or later, the governor of this state will depose that little emperor and appoint a wise and perceptive heir as the new ruler!"

The person who spoke was none other than Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, the current leader of the Runan Yuan family, a prominent family with three generations of officials.
After Yuan Shao finished speaking, he turned his head and looked at Cao Cao who was still drinking calmly, frowning slightly:
"Why was Meng De so calm when he learned about this?"

Cao Cao raised the wine jar towards Yuan Shao and said cheerfully:

"Brother Benchu, why are you so angry? Duke is just a title and has no practical effect.

“And according to the reports from the spies I left in Lu Bu’s army.

“The young emperor intends to exchange three counties including Hongnong County for one county of Hanzhong.

"In my opinion, there must be some trick!

"When the Emperor and Lu Bu fall out, it will be a great opportunity for us!
“We can take this opportunity to form an alliance with Lu Bu and use his strength to fight against the Emperor and Liu Bei’s army!
"When Brother Benchu ​​conquers the world in the future, will you still be interested in a mere duke?"

After listening to Cao Cao's well-reasoned analysis, Yuan Shao, who was still angry, suddenly calmed down:
“What Meng De said does make some sense.

“But it’s hard to imagine that Lu Bu, who once saved the little emperor, would have the courage to turn against the little emperor.

"I don't know who will strike first..."

Cao Cao put down the wine jar and said slowly:
“There’s no need for us to meddle in this matter.

“When Brother Benchu ​​takes over my five counties in Yanzhou, we will first deal with Gongsun Zan in the north, and then establish a cooperative relationship with Wuhuan.

"After that, we can deal with the enemies in the south without any worries."

Listening to the other party's plan, Yuan Shao smiled and said:

"How can this be so embarrassing? It is better to let Meng De take care of the Yanzhou counties himself.

"We are all brothers, there is no need to separate us so much."

Cao Cao looked at Yuan Shao's brilliant smile and knew this guy's hypocrisy, so he immediately shook his head:
"Brother Benchu ​​also said that we are all brothers, so what's mine is naturally yours.

"Now that I have lost my power, I no longer have the capital to challenge the world.

“I only wish to use this useful body to help Brother Benchu ​​conquer the world, and by the way, destroy the big-eared thief and the little emperor.

"Only in this way can I fulfill my lifelong wish!"

After hearing Cao Cao's words of loyalty, Yuan Shao was no longer polite:

"Since Meng De has made up his mind, I will not refuse.

"Tomorrow I will send a large army to take over your five counties in Yanzhou.

"I will avenge you then!"

Cao Cao refilled the glass of wine and stood up to pass it to Yuan Shao:
"Brother Benchu, I will do my utmost to help you conquer the world even if I die a thousand times!"

After saying that, Cao Cao toasted Yuan Shao, and under Yuan Shao's scrutinizing gaze, he drank the wine in the jar in one gulp!

…………

In the following period, Lu Bu ordered Hao Meng and Wei Xu to lead the army to take over Yingchuan and Chenliu counties in accordance with the agreement.

During the takeover process, Lu Bu reminded Hao Meng and the others to be extremely careful.

Fortunately, there were no accidents during the takeover process. After Liu Xie's army completed the handover of various affairs, they took the initiative to withdraw from the two counties, which seemed to be very sincere!

But the more this happened, the more disheartened Lu Bu became.

It would be normal if the other party seemed a little reluctant.

The more flattering they are, the more it means that there are evil plots waiting for them!

However, at this moment, Lu Bu had already led his army to Hanzhong in person, and told Zhang Lu the plan he had made with Chen Gong.

Although Zhang Lu met Lu Bu for the first time, he was conquered by the other party's powerful aura at first sight!

He had already surrendered, and was obedient to Lu Bu from the bottom of his heart, so he naturally cooperated with Lu Bu's actions with all his strength.

When the time agreed with Liu Xie arrived, at the border between Jingzhao County and Hanzhong County.

General Li Jue and his colleague Guo Si were leading an army of 40,000 troops, marching from Shangxian into Hanzhong and heading straight for Fengxiang City.

When the army arrived near the city, Li Jue was delighted to see that the city gates were wide open.

The city's defenders were already waiting outside the city with the city's officials.

Li Jue and Guo Si immediately led a large army into the city.

But as they marched through the streets, the two soon discovered that almost all the people in the city were old, weak, sick and disabled.

Moreover, the population of the city is only one or two thousand people!
Seeing this scene, Li Jue's face changed instantly, and he immediately glared at the Fengxiang garrison commander who was following him:
"What's going on? Why are there only these old, weak and sick people in the city? Where have all the others gone?"

The guard smiled bitterly and replied:

"Don't be surprised, General. This is a small town called Fengxiang. There are no strategic passes to defend it, so there aren't many people there.

“Later I heard that the imperial court was going to take over this place.

"Many people who believed in the Five Pecks of Rice Sect feared that their beliefs would be restricted, so they followed the governor and sect leader, Lord Zhang Lu, and moved to Ba County.

"If it weren't for the old, weak, sick and disabled people who couldn't walk anymore, I'm afraid they would have followed along."

After listening to the explanation of the defending general, Li Jue had already heard about how popular the Five Pecks of Rice Sect was in Hanzhong.

This situation happening at this moment is actually reasonable.

Li Jue did not think any more and immediately led his army to take over the city. He also asked Guo Si to go to the city lord's mansion to see how much grain was in the treasury.

But when they opened the treasury, they found that the granary was empty!
Not even a sack left!

Guo Si was immediately enraged, and he grabbed the guard by the collar and yelled:

"What the hell is going on? Now that those untouchables have left, do they have the guts to even take away the grain in the treasury?"

The guard waved his hands in fear.

"No, no, no, General, you misunderstood! How could those common people have the guts to move the grain from the treasury?
“I am not a member of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, but our governor is the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.

"He ordered the lords of each city to use as much food as possible from their granaries to aid the people in the city.

“However, for a small border town like ours, it’s not easy to collect costs.

"Even feeding the soldiers is a problem, how can there be food for the people?

"So this granary is empty because we really have no food..."

After hearing the words of the defending general, Guo Si was extremely angry, but there was nothing he could do because the other party was not his subordinate.

He wouldn't dare to act rashly before he completely controlled Hanzhong.

Otherwise, if he delays His Majesty's order to retake Hanzhong, he will lose his head!
After running around for most of the day, we only managed to recapture a city that was basically an empty town. There was absolutely no sense of accomplishment at all!

After handing over the city, Li Jue and Guo Si could only angrily drive the garrison general and a group of officials out of the city.

But Li and Guo didn't know it.

The defenders and officials who were driven out of the city did not evacuate directly, but instead quietly hid in the nearby mountains.

And in this mountain, there is an elite force covered in black armor hiding!

(End of this chapter)