"Leading the snake out of its hole? It's better to say it than to sing it. Since you want to lure Cao's bandit out of peace, why don't you inform our army as an ally of the news beforehand? You have to wait for our army to send troops to attack.

Did you come here in a hurry to explain to our army? Did you know in advance that you were afraid of leaking the news? This is nonsense! How did the news leak? Who leaked the news? Is it because you were afraid that I would secretly reveal it to Cao Cao? "

"Shut up! Go back to Xuchang immediately with your gifts and tell Yuan Tanpifu that I am sending troops this time not only to teach my father-in-law a lesson for his unfilial son, but also to send troops to serve the king and punish him for his crime of deceiving the king."

, it is impossible to stop the army! If you ask Yuan Tanpifu to be smart, he will immediately put down his weapons and surrender with his troops. For the sake of my wife, I can consider sparing him alive and will also intercede in front of the emperor! Otherwise, ask him to give

Thief Cao, prepare to be buried!"

After pleading hard but being rudely and unreasonably rejected by Deputy Director Tao, Chen Zhen, the envoy sent by Yuan Tan to negotiate with the Xuzhou army, had no choice but to rush back to Yuan Tan to ask for help. His momentary confusion led to a big mistake.

Master Yuan Tan was even more helpless. In addition to scolding Guo Tu and Xin Ping for their bad ideas again, he had no choice but to immediately prepare for war to resist the Xuzhou army, which had already arrived in Changyi.

The battlefield of the decisive battle is of course Guandu. Although Xuzhou has several routes to attack Xuchang, considering the problem of transporting grain and grass baggage, even if the Xuzhou army attacks Xuchang, the most ideal route is to go west along the Surabaya and Jishui rivers, first

Take Guandu and then attack Xuchang, otherwise the road loss will be too great. At the same time, land transportation is far less safe than water transportation. If the Xuzhou army repeats its old trick and takes the Chenliu road to attack Xuchang, then the distance of land transportation will be

It was more than 350 miles long and could not cut off the direct connection between Yuan Tan's army and Jizhou and the northern part of Yanzhou. Therefore, Mr. Yuan Tan unexpectedly guessed Deputy Director Tao's thoughts correctly and immediately set about arranging the defense of Guandu. This was achieved once

Prepare for a rainy day.

If you guessed Deputy Director Tao's route, the most you can do is to build fortifications in advance to take precautions. Whether you can block the Xuzhou army's attack depends on the army's battlefield performance. And what worries Mr. Yuan Tan the most is that

In order to quell Yuan Shang's rebellion, Jiang Yiqu and the senior cadres who were the most capable under Prince Yuan Tan have already entered the Jizhou battlefield. The fresh troops assembled in Bingzhou are either in Huguan or in Dangyin. Li Yang protects the Northern Expeditionary Army.

Even if the grain road is emphasized, it will give Yuan Shang an opportunity to counterattack and defeat Deputy Director Tao. Therefore, Mr. Yuan Tan only has more than 50,000 troops in Xuchang area that can be used to resist Deputy Director Tao's attack.

.

What makes Mr. Yuan Tan even more tearful is that these more than 50,000 troops are basically the remaining defeated soldiers after the tragic defeat of Xuchang. The morale is not high, and the level of eliteness is not as good as the main force of Jizhou in its heyday, and this

Of the more than 50,000 troops, some must be left to defend Xuchang. Some are to defend Cao Cao, and some are to protect the grain and grass transportation. Therefore, no matter how fully calculated, the number of troops that Mr. Yuan Tan can really put into the Guandu battlefield will never exceed 35,000.

Using these 35,000 defeated soldiers to resist the 150,000 Xuzhou Jackal Army, the disparity in strength is even more tragic than when Cao Cao used more than 60,000 soldiers to carry out the 300,000 Jizhou army.

No matter how disparate the strength was, they had to fight. In order to give himself a little chance of winning, Yuan Tan could only immediately order senior officials and Jiang Yiqu to give up the attack on Yecheng, withdraw the army to Liyang and Puyang, and move the Xuzhou army behind to share the frontal pressure.

At this point, although Cui Yan also pointed out that the troops of Gao Gan and Jiang Yiqu must be restrained by Yuan Shang and should not place too much hope, Master Yuan Tan could not care so much and could only bite the bullet and order the withdrawal of the troops while praying for his three

My character is despicable. I sit on the mountain and watch the fight between tigers and don't follow him to cause trouble for myself.

In addition, Master Yuan Tan naturally had no choice but to send an envoy to Xiangyang to seek help from Liu Biao, asking Liu Biao for the sake of his allies to send troops to help him resist Deputy Director Tao, who was as ruthless as a jackal and as poisonous as a snake. However, Liu Biao hesitated again and again.

Finally, at the instigation of Cai Mao, Zhuge Xuan and Liu Huangshu, they decided to dispatch 10,000 troops and Liu Huangshu's guest army to go north to Xuchang to help in the battle. Although Master Yuan Tan was very dissatisfied with Liu Biao's sending too few troops, he did not dare to take offense.

Perhaps he was thanking Liu Biao profusely, while begging Liu Biao to send more money and food to support the army. Liu Biao, who was stingy and conservative by nature, said politely, but actually waited and waited.

During the painful suffering, on the tenth day of July, Xuzhou's main force arrived in Jiyang. As expected, they did not go south from Jiyang to attack Chenliu, but chose to continue westward to kill Fengqiu. After confirming the news, Master Yuan Tan was helpless.

, he had no choice but to leave his confidants Xin Ping and Cen Bi to guard Xuchang, and led an army of 10,000 troops north to Guandu to fight against Deputy Director Tao. However, to the great surprise of Mr. Yuan Tan, when the team set off, 4,000 reinforcements led by Uncle Liu also arrived.

At the foot of Xuchang City, it turned out that Uncle Liu Huang immediately sent out troops after getting Liu Biao's permission, and he hurriedly traveled sixty miles a day, so he happened to catch up with Master Yuan Tan's expedition.

As soon as the rear troops arrived, reinforcements arrived. Master Yuan Tan, who was worried about the lack of troops, was naturally overjoyed and hurriedly led his civil and military forces to meet the leader. The three brothers Liu Huangshu had already been familiar with Master Yuan Tan when they were in Qingzhou.

Of course they were overjoyed to meet again after a long separation. Then Uncle Liu introduced Mr. Yuan Tan to a young man sitting in a carriage and introduced: "Marquis Yuan Ji, this gentleman's surname is Zhuge, his single name is Liang, and his courtesy name is Kong Ming.

To prepare military advisors."

Looking at Zhuge Liang who was lame and young, Master Yuan Tan wondered why the famous Uncle Liu Huang used such a person as a military advisor? But in front of Zhuge Liang, no matter how arrogant Yuan Tan was, it was inconvenient to ask Uncle Liu for advice.

Regarding this matter, he exchanged a few polite words with Zhuge Liang and said some nonsense such as saying that he had admired his name for a long time. Then he couldn't wait to ask Uncle Liu: "Mr. Xuande, doesn't Liu Shijun still have 10,000 troops to help?

Where have we been? Maybe we will arrive in Xudu today?"

The smile on Uncle Liu Huang's straight face disappeared immediately. He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a slower tone: "Don't blame me, Lord Ji. The 10,000 reinforcements led by General Liu Pan should still be on their way to Ye County from Bowang. Also, Bei Ye

We dare not deceive the Marquis of Ji. After General Liu Pan's troops arrive in Ye County, they will be stationed in Ye County for a period of rest. This is an order personally given by Jing Shenggong."

The faces of Young Master Yuan Tan, Guo Tu, Cui Yan and others all changed colors. They wanted to scold Liu Biao for being a cunning person, but they did not dare to yell in front of Uncle Liu Huang. After gritting their teeth for a long time, Young Master Yuan Tan managed to smile and said: "Then Jing Sheng

Can you tell me when we will allow this army to go north again to reinforce me?"

"Jihou, when will Jing Shenggong's reinforcements go north, and will there be follow-up reinforcements going north?" Zhuge Liang suddenly spoke and said slowly: "This does not depend on Jing Shenggong, but on Jihou. But also

There is Mr. Tao Shijun of Xuzhou."

"It depends on me and Tao Ying, the traitor?" Mr. Yuan Tan was stunned. He asked doubtfully: "Mr. Kong Ming, what do you mean by this?"

"Mr. Kong Ming is truly worthy of being Duke Xuande's military advisor. He is indeed very clever." Cui Yan also spoke, saying: "Whether Duke Jing Sheng's reinforcements will continue to go north to reinforce our army. This really depends on the Marquis of Ji. If the Marquis of Ji is in Guandu

It has been proved on the battlefield that our army is salvageable and worthy of rescue. Then the reinforcements from Jingzhou will definitely continue to move north, and there may be follow-up reinforcements arriving. But Mr. Kong Ming said that it still depends on Tao Ying of Xuzhou. Yan didn't know what he meant."

"It's very simple, it depends on Tao Shijun's attitude towards Jing Shenggong." Zhuge Liang replied confidently: "In the previous battle of Xuchang, the Jingzhou Army and the Xuzhou Army clashed, resulting in hatred, and they did not repair the relationship afterwards. Jing Sheng

Duke is a kind man. Although he does not hold grudges, he has to guard against Tao Shijun's revenge. Therefore, in this Guandu battle, if Tao Shijun shows enough hostility towards Jing Shenggong, Jing Shenggong will not try his best to rescue him.

Jihou can’t do it either.”

"Wonderful! Hit the nail on the head!" Cui Yan clapped, finally showing some smile after many days, and said to Mr. Yuan Tan: "My lord, Kong Ming's words are very kind. If our army wants to win the full support of Mr. Jing Sheng for our army, we must

We can only make a fuss about the fact that Duke Jing Sheng is afraid of Tao Ying and the nine counties of Jingxiang."

Mr. Yuan Tan nodded as if he understood, and asked Zhuge Liang curiously: "Mr. Kong Ming, there is a deep hatred between Mr. Xuande and Mr. Tao. Why do you still use the honorific title for Mr. Tao?"

"Kong Ming is a wise man and never speaks ill of anyone, even if he is an enemy." Liu Huangshu explained, pointing to Zhuge Liang's right foot and said: "To be honest with Jihou, Kong Ming's foot is the one who was killed in the last battle of Xuchang.

It was shot by Tao Thief's soldiers and horses." Master Yuan Tan suddenly realized this and hurriedly paid Zhuge Liang courtesy and treated him as an honored guest.

The war situation was so intense that Yuan Tan, Liu Huangshu and others did not dare to be too polite. After exchanging a few words, they hurriedly led the army north. Liu Huangshu, who was anxious to fish in troubled waters, ignored Yuan Tan and allowed his army to take action despite the exhaustion of the team.

With good intentions of resting and recuperating, they didn't even bother to enter Xuchang City. They led 4,000 troops including more than 2,000 surrendered troops from Cao's army and followed Yuan Tan's army northward. The 14,000 troops marched eighty miles a day, and finally on the third day

On the evening of July 13th, which was also the afternoon of July 13th, we arrived at Guandu and garrisoned the Guandu camp before the main force from Xuzhou arrived.

One thing I have to introduce is that when Mr. Yuan Tan and Uncle Liu arrived at the Guandu Camp, what surprised them was that the Guandu Camp, which had been razed to the ground when Mr. Yuan Sangong vented his anger, had been rebuilt in a short period of time.

It had a completely new look. The camps were arranged in an orderly manner based on the hills and rivers. They were scattered and interlocked to protect each other. At the same time, the needs of defense, water intake, food transportation, supplies, etc. were taken into account. There were no flaws in the connection and cooperation.

At first glance, it looks like it was made by an expert.

What made Mr. Yuan Tan and Uncle Liu even more happy was the camp's fortifications, which were as strong as a city fortress. The fences were towering and solid, the trenches were wide and deep, and there were many sharp wooden stakes buried in them. In addition, they were built

There are trebuchet positions and command podiums that command a commanding position, light and dark sentry fortifications to prevent enemy night attacks, a movable beam bridge that can tip over, a deep moat surrounding the camp to prevent enemy tunnels from penetrating the camp, and even a sheep-horse wall that is about to be completed.

During the construction, the defenders could hide behind the waist-high wall of sheep and horses to fire crossbows, increasing firepower and providing buffers. The defenses were so perfect that the entire camp turned into a giant hedgehog.

"Who did this?" Mr. Yuan Tan asked in surprise: "Such a defense is comparable to the Langyaju City I encountered back then."

"Hao Zhao Hao Bo Dao." Cui Yan replied: "I have close contacts with General Bo Dao. I know that he is not only versatile in civil and military affairs, but also loyal to the lord, and he is also the best at defending the country. Previously, the lord sent his second son to lead the army here.

When the Guandu camp was rebuilt, I recommended General Bo Dao to the Second Young Master and suggested that the Second Young Master listen to Hao Bo Dao's advice when setting up the camp. It seems that the Second Young Master also discovered this advantage of Hao Bo Dao."

Yuan Tan nodded with satisfaction and praised Hao Zhao a few words. Zhuge Liang next to him was secretly frightened and reminded himself in his heart: "If you play against this Hao Zhao in the future, it seems that you must be careful about his defensive skills.

The Guandu camp was built so well by this man, even I am not sure that it will be able to break through it!"

After entering the camp, as soon as the team was stationed, Yuan Tan immediately asked about the news of the Xuzhou army. Yuan Xi, who had arrived in Guandu early, replied: "The main force of the Tao thieves crossed Pingqiu today. Calculating the distance, they can reach ** tomorrow. Zhao Yun, the Tao thieves' forward, has 10,000 soldiers."

The team arrived at Fengqiu this morning. However, they are not in a hurry to cross the river. They are currently setting up a pontoon bridge on the river, and they probably want to wait for the main force to arrive before crossing the river together. "

"Fortunately, our army still has at least two days to rest and prepare for war."

Young Master Yuan Tan breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest congratulating himself on the speed of his troops. Zhuge Liang looked at each other and Cui Yan, who had been getting along very well these days. They both thought to themselves: "Tao is so cautious in his advance. It seems that Tao is so cautious."

The thief is planning to fight slowly and use his strength to overwhelm others. It is impossible to expect the Tao thief to be careless and underestimate the enemy."

At this time, Yuan Tan turned to the crowd and asked: "My lords, the Tao bandit army should be approaching Guandu in two days. Do you have any clever ideas for me to defeat the enemy?"

Mr. Guo Tu, who was named the military advisor of Yuan Tan's army, kept his mouth shut and had no idea. Zhuge Liang asked Yuan Tan: "May I ask the Marquis of Ji, how many grain and grass villages are there in the Guandu camp? It is a matter of great importance, and everyone is looking forward to it."

Please tell me the truth."

Guo Tu was furious and was about to ask Zhuge Liang what qualifications he had to inquire about such important military information. Cui Yan on the other side rushed to say: "It can take at least five months. Yan heard that during the Guandu War, Cao Cao's thieves had insufficient food and grass and lack of food roads.

Because our army was attacked by Qingqi, we were almost defeated because we ran out of food, so I suggested that your lord learn from your lesson and send a large amount of the winter wheat harvested in Xuchang this year to Guandu as a precaution."

"So, even including our army, it can last at least four months." Zhuge Liang nodded and said confidently: "Jihou, Mr. Ji Gui, in my humble opinion, if you want our two armies to defeat Tao Shi

Sir, the first thing is to stand firm and not fight! Relying on this Guandu camp to confront Tao Shijun's army, as long as we persist for three months, there will be a turning point!"

"Wonderful!" Cui Yan once again applauded Zhuge Liang's lofty ideas and said to Yuan Tan: "My lord, Mr. Kong Ming's words are very good. Our army has few soldiers and sufficient food. The camp is strong and we are holding on to the right. The enemy has many soldiers and far away, but the food transportation is exhausted."

It is time-consuming and labor-intensive and the journey is far away. We need to fight urgently. Our army sticks to the Guandu camp. Tao Ying will attack the camp because of the urgent battle. At that time, our army will rely on the Guandu strong camp to face the enemy's attacking division. We will definitely win! Then wait for it.

When Tao's soldiers and horsemen are tired, their morale is depleted, and their morale becomes slack, the situation on the battlefield will inevitably turn for the better in our army's favor!"

"Jihou, Mr. Ji Gui and Kong Ming's tactics are feasible." Liu Huangshu also said: "As long as our army relies on camp defense to achieve a few victories, it will be much easier to invite Jing Shenggong's reinforcements to go north and send reinforcements again.

."

"No!" Mr. Guo Tu was afraid that he, as a military advisor, would be forgotten by Mr. Yuan Tan, so he quickly stood up and retorted: "Although our army has sufficient food and grass, the Tao thieves have more food and grass. Our army has made careful inquiries and found out that Tao thieves' five counties in Xuzhou this year

It’s another big harvest. The two counties of Huainan, which suffered from drought in the past few years, had good weather last year and plenty of rain this year. In January, there will be a big rice harvest. The abundance of grain and grass is already the best in the world. And the pottery thieves are still there.

With the convenience of transporting food from Surabaya to Ershui, the food can be transported quickly and the journey is very light. If we compete with pottery thieves for food and grass consumption, if a beggar fights with a prince for wealth, and an infant fights with a strong man for strength, how can he win?"

"Then from the perspective of the military advisor and general, how should our army defeat the enemy?"

Cui Yan asked back with a smile, his smile still full of disdain. Poor Mr. Guo Tu closed his mouth again and had nothing to say. Cui Yan waited for a long time and then said with a smile: "There is one more thing that must be reminded of the military advisor.

, Mr. Zhuge and I just want to stabilize the situation, drain the energy of the Tao thief's team, and make him feel tired and slack in military morale. And that sentence mentioned that we must fight against the Tao thief for food and grass? Haha, is it possible for the military advisor to do so?

Are you deaf?"
To be continued...