Chapter 415 (1/2)
Yuzhou, Runan County.
”My Lord, after I heard that Cao Cao was the governor of Qingzhou, he chose the elite among the millions of yellow turban thieves as the Qingzhou soldier. Now he is very powerful in Qingzhou. He is the help of yuan Benchu. We have to guard against it.”
Hearing what Yan Xiang said, Yuan Shu, who was sitting on the throne, said impatiently, ”master Yan, Qingzhou is still a Xuzhou away from Yuzhou. How can we do anything about Cao Cao? We can't work hard and attack Cao Cao from the north of Xuzhou? Although Tao Qian is attached to us, he may not dare to send troops to provoke Cao Cao. ”
In fact, the initial situation at the end of the Han Dynasty was very simple, mainly around the struggle between the two yuan. Yuan Shu was the legitimate son, while Yuan Shao was the eldest son, but he was a common son. Both of them enjoyed the fame of four generations and three princes. Relying on the cohesion of famous families, they soon got a large number of iron support.
Yuan Shu called on friends and friends, took Sun Jian as the vanguard to attack the city and territory, and at the same time made friends with Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou. He was Cao Cao's opponent before he fought for hegemony over the Central Plains. Yuan Shao occupied Jizhou and relied on Cao Cao back-to-back in Yanzhou. In fact, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had a good relationship. They also peeped at the bride together. Their alliance was very stable.
As the successors of aristocratic families, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu both knew the importance of making close contact with each other from afar, so they made friends with the princes from afar as their helpers. Yuan Shu chose Gongsun Zan who was far away in Youzhou, and Yuan Shao chose Liu Biao, a powerful school in Jingzhou.
Therefore, Yuan Shu took Sun Jian as the vanguard to invade Jingzhou, while Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao had large-scale battles, such as the battle of Jieqiao, the battle of longchui and the battle of jumashui. In fact, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu fought for hegemony in the early Three Kingdoms period. Yuan Shao hoped that Cao Cao could be his younger brother to curb Yuan Shu's development. However, he did not expect that Cao Cao would swallow up Yuan Shu and become a hero in the Central Plains. Therefore, the battle of Guandu broke out.
Yan Xiang shook his head: ”naturally, it is impossible for someone to invite Tao Qian to send out heavy troops to make a feud with Cao Cao. In that case, old Tao Qian must be dissatisfied, but some recently got a news.”
Yuan Shu doubted, ”eh? What's the news? ”
Yan Xiang showed a sly smile: ”Cao Cao secretly escorted his father Cao song, a group of people in Taishan County, and sent them to Qingzhou via Xuzhou boundary. The Lord can order Tao gongzu to send troops to capture Cao Cao's family members, and then threaten Yuan Shu with Cao song's life. When the time comes, Cao Cao's father's life will be in our hands. Can Cao Cao, like Gao Zu, ask for a bowl of broth? ”
Yuan Shu was overjoyed: ”master Yan is really a clever plan. He can control Cao Cao without fighting. In this way, it is equivalent to breaking Yuan Shao's arm. Although Gongsun Zan was defeated in the war, he was in a stalemate with Yuan Shaoshang. Our army could sit in Yuzhou and Yangzhou, indirectly control Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and fight Liu Ye!”
Yan Xiang's face stiffened and said with a smile: ”ha ha, Liu Yuqing's military power is very strong recently. We don't have to worry. We should let Sun Bofu and Liu Zhengli compete for Yangzhou first, and then plot the Central Plains.” Although Yan Xiang was not as resourceful as Xunzi and Jiaxu, he also had a strategic vision. Therefore, he did not recommend Yuan Shu to fight Liu Ye too early.
Yuan Shu hummed: ”forget it, first to Tao gongzu letter, the rest of the matter back to talk about.”
Xuzhou, xiapi county.
”Mr. Tao, can I come in?” A voice said cautiously.
”It's Zizhong. Come in.” Tao Qian said with a smile.
A scholar of letters dressed as a rich businessman walked into Tao Qian's house, with a delicate face and a trace of worry between his eyebrows: ”Tao Xiangjun, Cao Cao occupies Qingzhou, and his military power is strong. Why does the envoy of Tao have to listen to yuan Gaodao's words and provoke Cao Cao?”
Tao Qian showed a slight smile: ”what does Zizhong think this governor should do?”