Chapter 428: Cao Cao Decides Xuzhou

It turned out that Tao Qian had lost all his strength and could no longer speak.

"Tao Shijun, Tao Shijun!"

Liu Bei was stunned. He held Tao Qian's wrist with both hands and shook it gently, but Tao Qian didn't respond. Seeing this scene, Xuzhou Wenwu burst into tears, but Mi Zhu remained calm.

"Mr. Xuande, the country cannot be without a king for a day, and Xuzhou cannot be without a master for a day. Since Tao Shijun has given the Xuzhou governor's seal letter to Xuande, please ask Xuande to take over as Xuzhou governor." Mi Zhu said seriously.

Liu Bei shook his head: "Isn't this taking advantage of others' danger?"

Zhang Fei was dissatisfied and said: "Brother, you are really long-winded. This is Tao Shijun's last wish, so you should agree."

Zhao Yun also persuaded: "Mr. Xuande, Cao's army is besieging Xiapi on all sides, and it will arrive sooner or later. Now we must not delay the time. Let's go out of the city first."

"Well, I'll wait until I get out of the city to make a fuss. As for the seal, we'll discuss it later."

That night, Liu Bei led the Xuzhou Army and the Pingyuan Army to escort Tao Qian's body. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and other fierce generals cleared the way, forced a way out of Xiapi, and rushed out.

Liu Bei fled to Taishan County, knowing in his heart that Pingyuan would never go back, and Cao Cao would definitely send troops to besiege Pingyuan.

After everyone buried Tao Qian, Mi Zhu suggested that Liu Bei go to Luoyang.

"Liu Cheqi is a hero in the world, pacifies the northwest, settles in Guanzhong, fights in the Central Plains, and supports the court. Xuande Gong and Liu Cheqi worked together to put down the Yellow Turban Bandits, and they are both imperial clans. Why don't you go to Liu Cheqi to uphold justice?"

Mi Zhu went to Puyang and had a good impression of Liu Ye, so he recommended Liu Bei to go to Puyang.

Liu Guanzhang and others fought together with Liu Ye back then, and their friendship was very deep, so they readily agreed to go to Yanzhou. Cao Bao's family property was originally in Xiapi, but now there is nothing left after being attacked by Cao Cao. In a rage, he took more than 3,000 Danyang soldiers and defected to Liu Bei. For a while, Liu Bei's army rescued Xuzhou not only did not suffer losses, but its strength increased greatly.

After Cao Cao pacified Xiapi, he immediately ordered Qingqi to take the letter to Donghai County.

Zhao Yu was not a strong general, but he was not a scumbag, so he led his troops to stand firm against Shi Huan's attack, but after learning the news of Tao Qian's death on Xiapi City Slope, he had no choice but to leave the city and surrender.

After Donghai County was broken, there were still two places in Xuzhou that had not been pacified. One was Zang Ba and other Taishan thieves, and the other was Chen Gui and Chen Deng's father and son who led troops to guard Guangling County.

"Zhicai, Zhongde, tell me, do you want to continue attacking Taishan County and Guangling County?" Cao Cao laughed.

Originally, Xun Yu's emergency documents had been sent, but after the capture of Xiapi, Donghai and other counties, Cao Jun obtained more than 100,000 stones of food and grass for nothing, and was able to support the army for two or three months.

Xi Zhicai shook his head: "My lord, although our army attacked Xuzhou because of the old lady, the more important thing is to fight for world supremacy. Now that the attack on Xiapi City with water has already lost popular support in Xuzhou, the most important thing to do next is Restoring the hearts of the people in Xuzhou, if the war continues, there will be turmoil."

Although Xi Zhicai provided Cao Cao with a plan to flood Xiapi City and broke through the impenetrable Xiapi City overnight, tens of thousands of people were drowned. There were also close to 50,000 casualties.

Therefore, Xi Zhicai naturally does not recommend continuing to mobilize troops.

Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu, and Cheng Yu nodded in the same way, and said, "That's true, besides, Zang Ba and Chen's father and son have always been local snakes in Xuzhou's territory. Normally, even Tao Qian himself would find it difficult to give orders. It's okay to treat each other, if you send troops to attack and press each other hard, I'm afraid it will be even more unfavorable to fight fiercely for years."

"Although our army won the siege of Xiapi, our vigor has been exhausted. Both Zang Ba and Chen's father and son have been operating in the local area for many years. If our army is divided, it will be difficult to resolve the war within two or three months. I am afraid that Mr. Wen Ruo will again. An emergency document has been sent."

Cao Cao nodded, stroked his beard and said, "Well, what do you mean, the strategy of being gentle?"

Xi Zhicai nodded and said: "That's right, that's exactly the case. Zang Ba is rebellious and withdrawn. He has never been convinced by anyone. But this time, my lord mobilized many counties and shocked Xuzhou! Presumably Zang Ba is also unwilling." When fighting with the master's swordsman, the master can follow Tao Qian's example and designate Zang Ba as the prefect of Taishan, ride the captain, and appease Zang Ba."

"Okay, Zhicai, you write it yourself, but Captain Qi is too young, if you want to make Zang Ba a general." Cao Cao said with a smile: "Let's make him a general."

Xi Zhicai was taken aback: "General? My lord's official position is just General Fenwei, even Yuan Rang, Miao Cai, etc. are just school captains."

Cao Cao laughed: "Because of this, Zang Ba felt that a certain valued him."

Cheng Yu smiled and added: "As for the Chen family and his sons in Guangling, the same can be done. Chen Deng is appointed as the prefect of Guangling, and they are allowed to continue to take charge of Guangling. After our army has established a firm foothold in Xuzhou in the future, we will slowly send Zang Ba and Zang Ba together. It is not too late to get rid of the Chen family."

"Okay!" Cao Cao said vigorously, "Then make Chen Gui the prefect of Guangling, and order Chen Deng to be the governor of Xuzhou, and come to Xiapi to advise the general."

Biejia is the highest official position in a state other than state shepherd and governor. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao would give Chen Deng the title of Biejia.

Xi Zhicai clapped his palms and laughed: "It's a clever plan. If you make Chen Gui the prefect of Guangling, the Chen family will definitely obey our army. For the benefit of the family, Chen Deng will definitely be willing to accept the post. Xuzhou can be peaceful day and night."

Cao Cao said with a smile: "Okay, since that's the case, Zhicai, you are in charge of Zangba, Zhongde, you are in charge of Guangling, and act separately."

Xi Zhicai and Cheng Yu respectively accepted Cao Cao's mission and followed up the matter throughout the whole process. They wrote a letter to Chen's father and son and Zang Ba respectively. Lu.

Zang Ba immediately wrote back, expressing his firm support for the rule of Cao Jun, and accepted Cao Cao's official position. Chen Gui also readily agreed and sent his son Chen Deng to Xiapi. All of a sudden, the whole of Xuzhou changed color, and the Cao character battle flag was planted everywhere.

After Cao Cao acquired Xuzhou, he immediately introduced the Anmin policy, and many people in Xuzhou left one after another. With the gradual implementation of the Anmin policy, the number of exiles gradually decreased.

With the pacification of Xuzhou, Cao Cao's power expanded rapidly, possessing Qingzhou and Xuzhou, with a population of millions, and became the third largest prince in the world after Liu Ye and Yuan Shu, and the alliance with Yuan Shao also occurred. Subtle changes.

Yuan Shao devoted himself to the decisive battle with Gongsun Zan, but he still secretly mobilized General Gao Lan to lead 5,000 troops to Nanpi City.