Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 37 Millions of Yellow Turbans Enter Yanzhou!
Jiyou land,
The battle of Jieqiao between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan had just ended.

The Yellow Turban Army in Qingzhou is ready to make a move again.

In the second year of Chuping,
The Yellow Turban Army of Qingzhou and the Yellow Turban Army of Xuzhou, totaling 300,000 people, marched northward with the intention of joining forces with the Black Mountain Army of Jizhou.

Gongsun Zan led 20,000 elite infantry and cavalry to set up an ambush in Dongguang County, Bohai Commandery.

Gongsun Zan first led his main force to attack head-on, defeated the Yellow Turban vanguard, and beheaded more than 30,000 people.

The Yellow Turban Army retreated to the Yellow River.

When the enemy was halfway across the river, Gongsun Zan suddenly launched a second surprise attack, killing tens of thousands of people and capturing more than 70,000 people.

The Yellow Turban Army lost more than 100,000 men and all their baggage, and was forced to retreat to Qingzhou.

Although he couldn't defeat Gongsun Zan,

But the Yellow Turban Army in Qing and Xu states is not something that ordinary people can deal with.

Qingzhou Governor Jiao He was unable to control the situation and could only pray to the gods all day long.

Qingzhou fell into chaos.

People's livelihood and economy have completely collapsed.
Jiao He himself also passed away due to illness.

After Jiao He's death,

Yuan Shao took the opportunity to appoint Zang Hong as the governor of Qingzhou, replacing Jiao He.

Zang Hong was originally a subordinate of Zhang Chao, the governor of Guangling.
He was also an important figure in the Guandong coalition's campaign against Dong Zhuo.

But he was poached by Yuan Shao without knowing why.

In a state where the imperial court and the localities were almost completely separated,

The appointment and dismissal of local officials was no longer decided by the imperial court.

A powerful force like Yuan Shao,
The above table is just for the sake of formality.
As for whether your court sends an envoy to deliver the appointment document, it is no longer important.

of course,

If you, Yuan Shao, can recommend Zang Hong as the governor of Qingzhou, then other forces can naturally do the same.

Gongsun Zan, who had already gone to war with Yuan Shao, certainly did not want to fall behind.

He appointed Tian Kai as the governor of Qingzhou and competed with Yuan Shao for Qingzhou.

The two sides fought a long and fierce battle in Qingzhou.

The current situation,

Gongsun Zan's side temporarily gained the upper hand.
Tian Kai controlled a relatively large area of ​​Qingzhou.

Caught between these two powerful forces,

The Yellow Turban Army of Qingzhou had no chance of survival.
He had no choice but to leave Qingzhou and find another way out.

In the third year of Chuping, March,
A million-strong Yellow Turban army from Qingzhou invades Yanzhou in a mighty force!
Cao Cao received the news of Yuan Shao's victory over Gongsun Zan and the invasion of Yanzhou by the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou almost at the same time.

At this time, Cao Yan

He was still busy dealing with spring plowing matters in the government office.

Someone suddenly ran in from outside and reported to Cao Yan: "Captain! The lord has urgent military information and needs your advice!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yan did not dare to delay and hurried to the county magistrate's office.

Entering the meeting hall of the County Magistrate's Mansion,
Cao Yan discovered that Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai had already arrived.

After nodding and greeting Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai,
Cao Yan asked Cao Cao, "Brother, what's the urgent military situation?"

Cao Cao handed the two letters to Cao Yan and explained:
“Just received two messages.

First, Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan at Jie Bridge, and Gongsun Zan was forced to retreat north and give up attacking Jizhou.

The second piece of news came from Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin.

He said that a million Yellow Turbans from Qingzhou had invaded Yanzhou.

The Yellow Turban Army split into three groups, attacking Taishan County, Jiyin County, and Rencheng State respectively!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yan's spirits lifted. He smiled and said, "Congratulations, brother! The day when you will rule Yanzhou is not far away!"

Cao Cao asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Cao Yan said, "Liu Dai will soon be killed by the Yellow Turbans. Someone will come to take you to rule Yanzhou."

Cao Cao looked unconvinced.

Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai fell into deep thought.

Cao Yan explained: "Liu Dai has only been in office in Yanzhou for two years and has not yet fully controlled the local forces.

This time the Yellow Turbans invaded,

He naturally also hoped to establish his prestige by defeating the Yellow Turbans.

To intimidate the Yanzhou gentry and external forces such as Tao Qian and Yuan Shu.

However, Liu Dai was stubborn and stubborn, and he was hard to listen to others. His personal abilities were extremely limited.
Facing the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, he could only set out at noon."

"???" Cao Cao and the other two were confused and asked, "Why can we only travel at noon?"

"Because something's going to happen sooner or later!"

"..."

Cao Cao and Xun Yu remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

But Xi Zhicai suddenly asked:
"If Liu Dai really died at the hands of the Yellow Turbans, how can we legitimately take control of Yanzhou?"

Hearing this, Cao Yan subconsciously glanced at Xun Yu.

Xun Yu felt a little confused when Cao Yan looked at him.

But Cao Yan turned back to Xi Zhicai and said:
"Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin and Chenliu Prefect Zhang Miao were both my elder brother's allies in the campaign against Dong Zhuo.

Moreover, Bao Xin had great respect for his elder brother, and Zhang Miao was his elder brother's best friend, and they were like brothers.

We have great hopes of winning over both of them.

As long as we have their support,

It will be a natural progression for my elder brother to take control of Yanzhou."

After a brief pause, Cao Yan continued:

"at the same time,
At the same time, my elder brother can write a letter to Yuan Shao,

Ask him to help petition the emperor for the post of governor of Yanzhou.
Only in this way can we take root in Yanzhou with full justification."

"Will Yuan Shao agree?" Cao Cao asked.

"You have to agree. If the lord quits, then the million Yellow Turbans will go north to join the Black Mountain Army." Xi Zhicai explained with a smile.

"That's right." Cao Cao nodded slightly and gave Cao Yan a look, indicating him to continue.

Cao Yan continued, "Just as Zhicai said,

Yuan Shao still needs our help to guard his back.

He will definitely weigh the pros and cons and agree to let you, my brother, occupy Yanzhou as our common foundation.

Once Yanzhou is under control,

We can look east to Xuzhou,

Go south to Yuzhou!"

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai, wanting to hear their opinions.

Xi Zhicai bowed and said, "Zi'an, this plan is feasible, but we still need someone to persuade and contact the other noble families in Yanzhou."

When Cao Cao heard this, his eyes naturally fell on Xun Yu.

With Xun Yu's identity, background and ability,
He was naturally the best candidate to be the lobbyist for Bao Xin and Zhang Miao.

So he asked, "Wen Ruo, are you willing to go on this trip to persuade Zhang Miao and Bao Xin?"

Xun Yu did not hesitate at all and said:

"If we can gain the support of Bao Xin and Zhang Miao, we will have a chance to take control of Yanzhou. Although I am not talented, I hope to make this trip and persuade them on my lord's behalf!"

everything's ready,
Cao Cao, Cao Yan and others,
So I just waited for news from Liu Dai.

……

The Yellow Turban Army that invaded Yanzhou was divided into three routes.

Sima Ju, the chief commander of the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, was the main force in the attack on Yanzhou.

He had as many as 150,000 combat-capable men under his command, plus their families, a total of 300,000 to 400,000 men.

Sima Ju went south from Linzi, Qingzhou, passed through Taishan County and headed straight for Jibei State.

Its goal was to control the Yellow River ferry and thus cut off the connection between Yanzhou and Jizhou.

Zuoqu Commander Xu He led more than 80,000 Yellow Turban soldiers under his command, bringing with them their families and refugees, totaling 300,000 people. They bypassed the west side of Jibei State and raided Jiyin County.

Zhang Rao, the commander of the Right Canal, led 70,000 Yellow Turban troops, including 200,000 to 300,000 families, and marched south along the Si River to attack Rencheng and Lu State, with the goal of controlling the granary in Yanzhou.

The three Yellow Turban armies were unstoppable and quickly captured nearly half of Yanzhou, making Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai extremely anxious.

The southern part of Yanzhou is definitely not defensible. If we insist on holding on, we may be in danger of being surrounded.

So he and Jibei Xiang Bao Xin,
He led his army to retreat to Cangtingjin,

At the same time, he asked Cao Cao and Yuan Shao for help.

Bao Xin saw that the Yellow Turbans were powerful.
So he proposed to Liu Dai the strategy of "fortifying the city and clearing the countryside".
He was advised to follow the example of Dongwuyang, defend the city and wait for support.

But Liu Dai didn't know what was wrong with him and decided to fight in person!

(End of this chapter)