The middle way is the right path in the world. The Xuzhou Army's Qingzhou War was neither as easy as Deputy Director Tao hoped nor as difficult as Deputy Director Tao feared. After the Xuzhou Army divided into two groups and entered Qingzhou, Yuan Xi, who was sent to guard Qingzhou, and

Instead of dividing the troops to attack, they concentrated the main force to fight against the main force of the Xuzhou Army, Zang Ba.

Wu took the initiative to fight with Zang Ba's army in Changguo County, Qi State County. He adopted defensive tactics against Xuzhou's partial army Sun Guan's troops, and ordered Qingzhou Farewell King Wang Xiu, Beihai Xiang Zhenyan and others to lead their troops to guard Beihai, demanding that they be able to compete with the Xuzhou army at every turn.

The city must be fought for, and every city must be defended, delaying the advance of Sun Guan's team as much as possible.

Yuan Xi, who is known as a coward, made Deputy Director Tao look at him with admiration. It also proved that Yuan Xi was more capable in military affairs than his bad-tempered eldest brother Yuan Tan and his third brother Yuan Shang. Because of Yuan Xi's

The hand strategy is indeed very targeted. The elite in Qingzhou have been defeated by Yuan Sangong.

With more than half of the troops mobilized, Yuan Xi did not blindly divide his troops or defend passively. Instead, he concentrated his forces to face the main force of Xuzhou, trading space for time to slow down the advance of Xuzhou's partial divisions. He learned the secrets of military tactics and allowed Deputy Director Tao to defeat them.

The dream that induced Yuan Xi to divide his troops came to nothing.

As a result, Xuzhou's army naturally had no hope of a quick victory. Sun Guan's partial division was dragged to the North Sea by Wang Xiu's troops who were defending in danger, and fell into a quagmire of attack, unable to quickly join forces with the main force. Zang Ba's main force

but

Yuan Xi was blocked in Changguo. Although he had the upper hand in several battles, he could not win quickly. After suffering several losses, Yuan Xi stopped fighting in the field. He only relied on the dangerous passes of the city to hold on, blocking Zang Bajun's northward march while advancing toward the rear of Jizhou.

Ask for help.

When news of the war in Qingzhou returned to Xuzhou, both Chen Deng and Chen Ying advised Deputy Director Tao to increase his troops in Qingzhou and defeat Yuan Xi before the third princess of Yuan Dynasty could reinforce Qingzhou. However, Deputy Director Tao flatly refused and said with a smile: "That's not necessary.

Our army is at the upper hand, so adding more troops to Qingzhou at this time is not only unnecessary, it will also make Xuangao feel that I look down on him and hurt his self-esteem."

"But what if Yuan Shao personally leads the army to reinforce Qingzhou?" Chen Deng was a little worried and reminded: "Although Yuan Shao was defeated in Guandu, nearly 100,000 of his 300,000 troops still escaped across the Yellow River and returned to his command.

, the military strength is still there, plus there are still a large number of soldiers and horses in Qingyou and the four states of Hebei, the overall strength is still far superior to our Xuzhou. If Yuan Shao personally proposes a large army to rescue Qingzhou, then General Zang Ba will be difficult to resist."

"If such a situation really occurs, it won't be too late for us to discuss countermeasures." Deputy Director Tao said with a smile: "In short, we must not send more troops to Qingzhou now. If the pie in the hands of Lord Yuezhang is too big,

We have no chance to go back and bite the pie in Cao Cao's hands."

"What do you mean?" Chen Deng was a little confused.

"Yuanlong, don't worry, my lord has his own sense of proportion." Jia Laowu next to him said with a smile: "In short, it is really not appropriate to send too many troops to Qingzhou at this time. Otherwise, our army will not only lose room for maneuver, but may also attract Yuan Shao's attack.

The soldiers of the four states will only send Zang Ba to lead the army to attack Qingzhou. The main force will not move, so that our army can advance, attack, retreat and defend."

Seeing that Deputy Director Tao and Mr. Jia were both confident, Chen Deng, who was only good at the tactical level, did not persist, so he just let Deputy Director Tao do his own thing. A few days later, news came from Nanyang,

It is said that Boss Cao has already defeated Uncle Liu Huang who took advantage of the situation and beat him with an old punch.

Uncle Liu Huang was in trouble and fled back to Xinye with less than a thousand defeated soldiers. Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhang Xiu also quickly fled back to Fuxian County, but Boss Cao was worried that Yuan Sangong was still threatening his northern front, so he did not dare

Taking advantage of the situation to attack Jingzhou, they quickly returned their troops to the north and deployed their main force to the northern front.

After hearing the news, Deputy Director Tao laughed loudly and became increasingly unwilling to send more troops to Qingzhou. He was determined to let Zang Ba stand alone due north to share the pressure of military affairs for him. At the same time, he closely monitored the movements on the northern line of Yanzhou and patiently

Waiting for the situation to change. Taking advantage of this period, Deputy Director Tao made a decision on the Xuzhou army, which had expanded to more than 160,000 people.

Some adjustments were made, and the biggest adjustment was the cavalry team. The cavalry, which numbered more than 9,000, was divided into two teams. One team of more than 4,000 people was given to Xu Huang to command, and his brother Qu Mian from the Quyi clan served as his deputy.

The team of five thousand cavalry was handed over to the command of the newly surrendered general Zhao Yun, with Tian Kai's eldest son Tian Xiang as his deputy. Xu Huang, Zhao Yun and others were ordered to carefully train the cavalry in order to prepare for great use.

Of course, there are also things that worry Deputy Director Tao. That is that since Boss Cao returned to the northern line of Yanzhou, he has not sent an envoy to contact Deputy Director Tao once. There is also Dayuan Sangong, Zang Ba was ordered to

Yuan Shaojun's envoy Chen Zhen was driven away and the gifts were returned intact. Yuan Sangong never sent an envoy to contact the Xuzhou army again. He was as silent as Boss Cao.

Deputy Director Tao was so afraid that he was preparing to receive the envoy of his father-in-law for the third time because he was afraid that he would completely anger his father-in-law with a bad temper and ruin his future plans. Therefore, after the army reorganization had just been completed, Tao

The deputy director also took the time to summon Jia Laowu alone, expressed his worries to Jia Laohu, and asked Jia Laohu to analyze the situation for him.

"My lord, there is no need to worry. It will never be possible for our army to stand alone against Yuan Shao's main force." Jia Laofu comforted Deputy Director Tao and said, "After the Guandu war, Yuan Cao has become a mortal enemy, and it is absolutely impossible to rebuild the old friendship. The Yuan and Cao families contain each other.

We also guard against each other's sneak attacks. Yuan Shao will never dare to bring the troops of the four states to rescue Qingzhou, and our army will never be able to defeat Yuan Shao's entire army alone!"

"I think so too." Deputy Director Tao nodded and asked: "Then why did Cao Cao and his father-in-law refuse to send envoys to contact and negotiate with our army? Our army not only threatens Cao Cao's southern line, but also

Yuan Shao's flanks, and Xuzhou's food is also necessary for Cao's thieves. Logically speaking, Cao's thieves should at least discuss the border market issue with our army?"

"If Xu Xu expected, there are two reasons for Cao Cao's move." Jia Laodu analyzed to Deputy Director Tao: "First, my lord, you are too shrewd and never suffer losses in doing things. Cao Cao knows that whether you ask for food from the lord or

If you seek an alliance, you will definitely be rejected by your lord.

You threatened to force him to send troops to attack Jizhou, but although Cao Cao won a great victory at Guandu, he was still not strong enough to attack Jizhou, so Cao Cao simply stopped begging our army and relied on his own efforts to solve internal problems so that you, my lord, could not threaten him."

"Secondly, Cao Cao is probably deliberately keeping a distance from our army." Jia Lao said with a smile: "Although it is impossible for Cao Cao and Yuan Shao to reconcile again, our army has already invaded Qingzhou, and there is still a decisive battle with Yuan Shao's main force in

The possibility of Qingzhou, so Cao Cao

He intends to keep a distance from our army in order to tell Yuan Shao that he, Cao Cao, and our army have not joined forces to form an alliance, to induce Yuan Shao to divide a large number of troops in Qingzhou, and then to force Yuan Shao's main force to march eastward to Qingzhou, allowing our army and Yuan Shao to kill each other and weaken each other.

, let him reap the benefits of being a fisherman!"

"Sure enough, he is treacherous!" Deputy Director Tao snorted and said, "Even I almost didn't realize it. This traitor really deserves his reputation."

"As for Yuan Shao, there are two reasons." Jia Laohu said lightly: "First, the indecisive Yuan Shao must be hesitant and unsure whether to start a war with our army and Cao's army at the same time, or to strive to join forces with our army.

Kill Cao with your own hands? The second thing is, of course, a matter of face. In any case, Yuan Shao is also the father-in-law of the lord, and he is also a big shot from the family of the fourth generation and the three princes. It is undoubtedly a difficult task for him to put down his face and beg for mercy and alliance from the lord.

.”

"Listening to your father-in-law is better than studying for ten years." Deputy Director Tao, who has gradually lost his advantage as a prophet of history, sighed, and then asked thoughtfully: "In that case, can I try to contact my father-in-law proactively and give him a step forward?"

Next? Lay the foundation for our army to weaken the Cao thieves in the next step?"

"Of course you can, but you must not try it now." Jia Laofu nodded and then shook his head, explaining: "General Zang Ba is confronting Yuan Xi in Changguo. Although he has the upper hand, he has not won, and the main force of Yuan Shao's army has not moved yet.

The back force has not yet been exerted. Trying to contact Yuan Shao at this time is no different.

Taking the initiative to show weakness will be extremely detrimental to our army's follow-up actions. Therefore, if our army wants to take the initiative to contact Yuan Shao, we must wait for General Zang Ba to win a decisive victory in Qingzhou! Gain the upper hand on the battlefield first, and then try to contact. Only in this way can we

Take the initiative in negotiations!”

Deputy Director Tao nodded slowly, and Mr. Jia suggested: "My lord, our army and Yuan Xi have been at a stalemate in Changguo for recent months. It's time to give General Zang Ba a boost. My lord might as well write a letter to Zang Ba."

general,

Ask General Zang Ba if he needs reinforcements? With Mr. Ziyang here, my lord must not worry about General Zang Ba being in danger." Deputy Director Tao laughed and immediately asked Mr. Jia to write a letter for him and give it to Zang Ba as a plan to provoke the general.

…………

Just as Deputy Director Tao and Mr. Jia had expected, when Deputy Director Tao's letter asking if reinforcements were needed was sent to Zang Ba's army, Zang Ba became angry. While writing back, he resolutely refused reinforcements and ordered the army to attack Changguo City with all its strength.

, but Yuan Xi, who knew he was defeated, defended the city and could not get out of the city. Zang Bajun was still unable to attack. Fortunately, at this time, Deputy Director Tao arranged for

Zang Ba's think tank Liu Ye finally figured out a way to break the city. He sent a clever soldier into the city carrying a fake letter and pretending to be Yuan Shao's reinforcements messenger. He pretended that Wen Chou had arrived at Dongpingling with 30,000 reinforcements and agreed on a time to ask Yuan Xi to see the west.

After the fire broke out, he immediately sent troops to respond and attacked the Xuzhou army. Yuan Xi was overjoyed and decided to act according to the plan, which immediately gave the Xuzhou army a chance.

Two nights later, Zang Ba and Liu Ye first set up an ambush outside the city, sent a small group of troops to set fire to the west to send a signal, and deliberately made the soldiers scream and run around, as if they were under attack. Yuan Xi was well prepared.

He also immediately led his troops out of the city and fought all the way towards Zang Ba's army camp. As a result, he immediately fell into the trap of Xuzhou army, and Zang Ba ambushed his troops everywhere.

Chen Dao then led an army to attack the state of Chang. Yuan Xi was caught off guard and was defeated. When he finally broke out of the siege, the state of Chang had already been captured by Chen Dao. Yuan Xi had no choice but to flee to Linzi. Who would have expected that he would have been prepared?

Hou Cheng had already led his army to block the road to Linzi, so Yuan Xi could only lead his army to flee to Linji. Hou Cheng sent his army to pursue and kill Yuan Xi, and defeated Yuan Xi again.

After defeating Changyang, Zang Ba's army quickly went north to attack Linzi. Liu Ye, who was not as evil as Deputy Director Tao and Mr. Jia, came up with a vicious plan and bribed hundreds of prisoners from Yuan Xi's team and let them come to Linzi City at night.

Calling the gate, Yuan Xi's deputy Tian Chou, who was guarding Linzi, saw that his own troops were defeated and urgently needed additional troops to defend the city, so he opened the city gate to let these defeated troops enter the city. Who knows?

As soon as these defeated soldiers entered the city, they immediately killed the gate soldiers and set fire to them. The Xuzhou troops who were lying behind swarmed in and successfully entered Linzi City. They found that although Tian Chou, who had been tricked, led his troops to fight to the death, they had no choice but to lose morale and their elite troops had already been mobilized.

After exhausting their efforts, they were finally forced to abandon the city of Linzi after a hard battle, and Linzi, the prefecture of Qingzhou, finally fell into the hands of the Xuzhou army.

Affected by the terrain and roads of this era, just after Linzi, Wang Xiu's team in Beihai suddenly became a lone army, and the long and narrow Qingzhou was also cut into two parts by the Xuzhou army. Zang Ba was so satisfied that he urged his old brother Sun Guan to retreat as soon as possible.

In addition to joining forces with him, he naturally had to send a fast horse back to Xuzhou to report to Deputy Tao.

After the director reported victory, Deputy Director Tao breathed a sigh of relief. After just a little calculation, he immediately returned to the back hall of his home, found his wife Yuan Fang, who was taking care of his children, and asked Yuan Fang to write a letter to his third brother-in-law Yuan Shang, trying to communicate with him.

The Sangong of Yuan Dynasty reestablished contact and avoided writing about the all-out war between Sangong and Yuan Dynasty.

Faced with her husband's request, Yuan Fang, a typical example of a good wife and mother, naturally agreed. When asked about the content of the letter, Deputy Director Tao replied: "First of all, of course, I want to ask about the well-being of my father-in-law and mother-in-law, and the second is about your reputation."

I advise your third brother to put state affairs first, and ask your third brother to try to reconcile the conflict between me and my father-in-law. That’s all. But remember, it must be your reputation. Secondly, use state affairs as an excuse, let alone family ties."

"Why?" Yuan Fang asked a little strangely.

Deputy Director Tao was a little embarrassed, not knowing how to explain to his kind wife, but Yuan Fang's personal maid Guo Huan next to her pursed her lips and smiled and said: "Madam, the master wants to let the wife's brother know that this letter is actually the master's request for a wife.

The writing was not written by the madam herself. Only in this way will the madam's brother present this letter to the madam's father."

"Huh?" Deputy Director Tao looked at Guo Huan with some surprise, and then realized that this little maid was not only very beautiful, but also very clever.

"So that's it." Yuan Fang was used to Guo Huan's exquisite thoughts. After a sudden realization, Yuan Fang couldn't help but rolled her eyes at Deputy Director Tao and said angrily: "You obviously want your father to see your letter, but you still beat around the bush like this.

, don’t you find it troublesome?”

"My husband needs some face." Deputy Director Tao said with a wry smile: "Madam, please spare no effort to write this letter for your husband."

"I can write it for you, but I can't write these words about state affairs being the most important thing?" Yuan Fang replied with some embarrassment.

"Madam, if you don't mind, I can write for you."

When Deputy Director Tao was about to ask Chen Ying to write this paragraph, Guo Huan suddenly raised her charming face and whispered timidly: "When my father was alive, he taught me calligraphy. When my father is gone,

The slave’s brother has also been teaching the slave poetry and literature, and he is quite proficient in writing.”

"Ah Huan, do you still have this ability?" Yuan Fang was a little happy and said: "Then you give it a try. If you can, I will leave all my documents to you from now on."
To be continued...