Chapter 413 Self-Defeating

Yuzhou, Runan County.

"My lord, I heard that after Cao Cao became the governor of Qingzhou, he chose the elite among the millions of yellow turban thieves, named Qingzhou soldiers, who are now very powerful in Qingzhou, and they are Yuan Benchu's help. We have to guard against them."

Hearing what Yan Xiang said, Yuan Shu, who was sitting in the main seat, said impatiently: "Master Yan, Qingzhou is still a Xuzhou away from Yuzhou. I can't wait until I can't reach it, so how can I do anything to Cao Cao? I can't bother to attack far away. Cross Xuzhou and go north to attack Cao Cao? Although old Tao Qian is attached to us, but I am afraid 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. It mainly revolved around the struggle between the two Yuans. Cohesion quickly gained a legion of die-hard supporters.

Yuan Shu summoned friends and attacked the city with Sun Jian as the vanguard. At the same time, he made friends with Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou. He was Cao Cao's opponent before he fought for hegemony in the Central Plains. On the other hand, Yuan Shao occupies Jizhou, back-to-back with Cao Cao in Yanzhou, relying on each other. In fact, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao have a very good relationship, and they even peeked at the bride together, and the alliance is very stable.

As the successors cultivated by aristocratic families, both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu knew the importance of long-distance friendship and short-distance attack, so they both made friends with distant princes as their assistants. Yuan Shu chose Gongsun Zan who was far away in Youzhou, and Yuan Shao chose the strength of Jingzhou. Send Liu Biao.

Therefore, Yuan Shu took Sun Jian as the vanguard to conquer Jingzhou, and between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, large-scale battles such as the Battle of Jieqiao, the Battle of Longcou, and the Battle of Jumashui broke out. In fact, the early struggle for hegemony in the Three Kingdoms was entirely due to the internal struggle between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. Yuan Shao also hoped that Cao Cao could be his younger brother to curb Yuan Shu's development. However, he did not expect that Cao Cao annexed Yuan Shu instead and became the hero of the Central Plains. Therefore, the Battle of Guandu broke out.

Yan Xiang shook his head: "It is naturally impossible for a certain to invite Tao Qian to send a heavy army to fight against Cao Cao. In that case, old Tao Qian must be dissatisfied, but a certain recently received a piece of news."

Yuan Shu asked puzzledly, "Huh? What news."

Yan Xiang showed a secretive smile: "Cao Cao secretly picked up his old father Cao Song and others in Taishan County, and sent them to Qingzhou via the boundary of Xuzhou. My lord can order Tao Gongzu to send troops to capture Cao Cao's family, and then threaten Yuan Shu with Cao Song's life. At that time, Cao Cao's father's life was in our hands, so could Cao Cao still beg for a bowl of broth to drink like Gaozu?"

After hearing this, Yuan Shu was overjoyed: "Lord Yan, it's a brilliant plan. You can control Cao Cao without fighting. This is equivalent to cutting off Yuan Shao's arm. Although Gongsun Zan was defeated, we are still in a stalemate with Yuan Shao. Being able to sit in Yuzhou and Yangzhou, indirectly control Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and fight Liu Ye is not impossible!"

Yan Xiang's face froze, and he said with a sneer: "Hehe, Liu Yuqing's army is powerful recently, I don't need to worry, let Sun Bofu and Liu Zhengli compete for Yangzhou first, and then it will not be too late to plot the Central Plains." Although Yan Xiang is not as good as Xun Yu Yuan Shu and Jia Xu are generally wise and scheming, but they also have a strategic vision, so it is not recommended that Yuan Shu and Liu Ye fight prematurely.

Yuan Shu snorted: "Forget it, write to Tao Gongzu first, and talk about the rest later."

Xuzhou, Xiapi County.

"Tao Shijun, can I come in?" a voice said cautiously.

"So it's Zizhong, come in." Tao Qian smiled.

I saw a scribe dressed as a wealthy businessman walk into Tao Qian's mansion, with a handsome face and a hint of worry between his brows: "Tao Shijun, Cao Cao occupies Qingzhou, and his army is powerful. Why does Tao Shijun listen to Yuan Gonggong's words?" , to provoke Cao Cao?"

Tao Qian smiled slightly: "What does Zizhong think the governor should do?"

Mi Zhu said bluntly: "Zang Ba is independent from Xuzhou. Although he belongs to Xuzhou in name, he has his own style. Why should the king personally order his subordinates instead of Zang Xuangao to do such a thankless thing?"

Tao Qian shook his head: "Zang Ba has always been arrogant and disobedient. If this matter is entrusted to him, who knows what he will do? Taishan has always been between Xuzhou, Yanzhou and Qingzhou. If Zang Ba gets Cao Song, I'm afraid Will be more independent, when the time comes."

Mi Zhu suddenly realized: "So it's because Zhu didn't think carefully."

"However." Mi Zhu frowned and said, "I always feel that Zhang Duwei might do something unexpected."

Tao Qian laughed: "It's just a pick-up. Although Zhang Duwei was born as a Yellow Turban thief, naturally there will be no accidents in such a small matter."

"Since Tao Shijun is confident, I will resign first." Mi Zhu had no choice but to say.

"Well, Zizhong go down first, ha ha."

After Mi Zhu left, a trace of disdain appeared on Tao Qian's benevolent face: "Sure enough, the son of a rich family is ignorant, and I don't know if it's right or wrong to hire Mi Zhu as a caretaker."

Unexpectedly, however, Mi Zhu's prediction would soon come true.

Originally, Tao Qian sent Du Wei and Zhang Kai to obey Yuan Shu's order, and wanted to control Cao Song and threaten Cao Cao. In this case, he must ensure Cao Song's life safety.

But Zhang Kai was originally a Yellow Turban thief, and he came to join him because he heard that Tao Qian was kind. Tao Qian came here to strengthen Xuzhou's military strength, and secondly, to control this bandit under his command, so he agreed to Zhang Kai.

However, although Zhang Kai belonged to Xuzhou, he caused dissatisfaction among officials in Xuzhou because of his experience of rebellion from a thief.

After Zhang Kai, who was full of resentment, led his troops to see Cao Song's family, he originally wanted to take them back to Xuzhou. However, since Cao Song went to Qingzhou to join his son to enjoy the glory and wealth, he carried almost all his family property with him, which was quite precious.

Zhang Kai, who had been a thief in his early years, did not change his nature as a thief. He thought that anyway, under Tao Qian's command, he would still be angry, so it would be better to kill Cao Song and wrap up his belongings to have a good time. After discussing with several small leaders under his command, Zhang Kai decided to attack at night. Cao Song's family of eighty-four had no survivors, and all of them were killed. In the deep mountains, there is no trace.

After Tao Qian heard the news, his face turned pale.

"I regret not listening to Mi Zizhong's words!"

Damn it, I would have sent Zang Ba there if I knew it earlier, even if Zang Ba never obeyed the management, at least the Taishan bandits under his command would not kill Cao Song's family.

Tao Qian had no choice but to write a letter to Cao Cao, willing to donate a large amount of grain, grass, gold and silver, but it is conceivable how Cao Cao's dead father's reaction will be.