HLnovel Chapter 353 Cao Army Crosses the Yellow River North? Yuan Shang: Nobody told me!
Chapter 353 Cao Army Crosses the Yellow River North? Yuan Shang: Nobody told me!
"My lord, the only option now is to seek help from Minister Cao."
Rhythm master Guo Tu once again offered his insights.
Yuan Tan clenched his fists.
It was clear that he could not stop Yuan Shang on his own.
However, given the territory captured by Cao Cao's army, even if Yuan Tan had the thick skin, he wouldn't dare to ask for it back.
Even if they asked for it, Mengde Shu was an honest and kind man, but that didn't mean that the civil and military officials in Cao Cao's camp were easy to get along with!
Why would we give up territory we've already gained?
Especially that Xu Sheng, and that Jia Xu.
Yuan Tan hated them both to the core!
"My lord, you must be able to distinguish between what is more important and what is less important."
Guo Tu said urgently.
Before he could finish speaking, Xin Ping loudly rebuked:
"Guo Gongze, do not bewitch our lord."
"Cao Cao's camp also harbors wolfish ambitions."
"If Cao Cao's camp destroys Yuan Shang, the next one to be destroyed will be you, my lord!"
"Please reconsider, my lord!"
Yuan Tan's expression shifted between light and dark.
Although he has a bad temper, he's not an idiot.
External forces are ultimately just external forces.
Cao Cao's willingness to support him and his willingness to send troops to assist him are two completely different concepts.
Whether or not to ask Cao Cao's camp to send troops is a question worth pondering.
Over the next few days, Yuan Tan still couldn't figure out what to do.
But when he received the news that Pingyuan County had surrendered, he could no longer suppress his anger!
Pingyuan County is a very important town in Qingzhou.
The Prefect of Pingyuan was also a confidant of Yuan Tan.
I never expected that this so-called confidant would surrender without even fighting!
For a time, Yuan Tan experienced a crisis of trust among his civil and military officials to varying degrees.
Even when it came to the advice of Xin Ping, Guo Tu, and others, Yuan Tan only listened to half of it.
at last.
Yuan Tan made up his mind, pricked his finger, wrote a letter in blood, and entrusted Xun Chen to deliver it to Cao Cao!
……
Xuchang
Upon learning of Pingyuan's surrender, Su Yu and Cao Cao remained completely calm.
Although on the surface, Cao Cao showed no intention of sending troops to support Yuan Tan.
But secretly, Cao Cao's generals had already quietly assembled their troops and were marching towards the south bank of the Yellow River.
Yuan Shao and Ju Shou were both gone.
The balance of power between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao has shifted!
In the Sikong Mansion
The bodyguard came in and reported:
"Reporting to my lord, Xun Chen has returned to Xuchang!"
"Heh, so you've finally arrived?"
"Ziyi, guess whether my nephew is asking me for help or not?"
Su Yu rolled her eyes and laughed:
"My lord, the two options you mentioned are the same."
"Su suspects that Yuan Tan not only asked the lord for help, but may have also written something in blood, expressing his longing for his father!"
"What a profound sorrow of missing one's father!"
"After pacifying the four provinces, I, Cao, may spare my good nephew's life, but he can no longer have the ambition to dominate the world."
Cao Cao sighed softly.
As a ruthless and powerful figure, one must never be sentimental like a woman.
Out of consideration for his friendship with his elder brother Yuan Shao, Cao Cao would not take Yuan Tan's life.
But if Cao Cao were to allow Yuan Tan to govern himself in Qingzhou, that would be out of the question!
Historically, Cao Cao did not actually intend to kill Yuan Tan.
The initial plan was to capture the other three provinces besides Qingzhou and then persuade Yuan Tan to surrender.
Grant Yuan Tan a noble title and a fiefdom, and let him become a wealthy man.
For this reason, Cao Cao sent envoys to negotiate with Yuan Tan many times, but Yuan Tan refused each time.
In the ninth year of Jian'an (204 AD), the two sides cooperated and captured Ye City.
But just as Cao Cao's army was preparing to enter the city on the outskirts of Ye, Yuan Tan suddenly launched an attack on Cao Cao!
And then……
Yes, Yuan Tan was badly defeated by Cao Cao's generals and fled in a sorry state.
Even Guo Tu, the "iron-blooded strategist" and "master of intuitive judgment," unfortunately died in the chaos of battle.
In the end, Yuan Tan suffered a series of defeats.
The last stronghold, Nanpi, was also lost.
He was killed by Yue Jin during his escape.
The Yuan family, the most prestigious family in the land, saw its direct bloodline completely severed from this point on.
As for the popular legend that Yuan Shao's youngest son, Yuan Mai, was protected by Liu Bei, there is no historical evidence or record to support this claim.
Therefore, whether this person exists is an unsolved mystery, just like whether Cao Ang's younger brother Cao Shuo exists.
And now.
Cao Cao received Yuan Tan's blood-written letter from Xun Chen, and was filled with emotion.
Xun Chen planned to ask Cao Cao for a new position and continue to remain in Cao Cao's camp as a covert infiltrator.
But before he could speak, Xun Yu rushed in from outside, grabbed Xun Chen's arm, and pulled him outside.
Apart from Yang Xiu and Sima Yi, who were on the run, and the members of the Shangshu Ling's office who were forced to transfer to other places.
Xun Yu could no longer tolerate the fact that the Minister's Office was such a large family, lacking any harmonious and loving companions!
As his fourth elder brother, Xun Chen naturally had to take the lead.
Dear Fourth Brother, a bunch of boring government affairs that only cattle and horses can handle are waiting for you. Hurry up and come back to your place!
It is said.
Su Yu even designed a new slogan specifically for Xun Yu's office.
People from the Minister's Mansion, the spirit of the Minister's Mansion, all people from the Minister's Mansion are superior!
After Xun Yu and Xun Chen left, Su Yu spoke up:
"My lord, with Yuan Tan's blood-written letter, you can now march on Liyang under the pretext of avenging Yuan Shao!"
Cao Cao nodded and said:
"exactly."
"Liyang is the most important stronghold on the north bank of the Yellow River."
"Taking Liyang will not only intimidate Yecheng, but also provide an opportunity to launch military campaigns against Bingzhou and Youzhou."
"There is no time to lose, I, Cao, shall prepare to move my troops now."
"Ziyi, you should go back and get ready too."
"Once we take Ye City, you can choose any beauty you like."
"My lord, you said it yourself."
"If I, Su, were to demand five beauties from you all at once, don't get angry!"
Cao Cao waved his hand:
"Five is nothing! Fifty, five hundred, no problem!"
Su Yu smiled and said:
"How about I send my intelligence scouts to the new Xu Family Village in Ye City to scout out a suitable construction site?"
Cao Cao smiled with satisfaction:
"Ziyi, you understand me best."
As is widely known, Xujia Village is just a concept.
As Cao Cao's exclusive resort, Xu Family Village was scattered throughout every province within Cao Cao's territory.
……
Plain County
Wearing the golden helmet and armor that Yuan Shao had worn during his lifetime, and riding a tall horse, Yuan Shang entered the city accompanied by Wang Xiu, the governor of Pingyuan.
"My lord, that brat Yuan Tan is ignorant of his own limitations and dares to challenge your authority. He is utterly despicable!"
"Your subordinate is willing to volunteer to serve as the vanguard in attacking Linzi and to annihilate Yuan Tan for our lord!"
Yuan Shang felt gratified when he heard Wang Xiu praise him while belittling Yuan Tan.
Just as he was about to say something to boost morale, his subordinate general Jiao Chu suddenly looked grim and said:
"My lord, according to our scouts, Cao Cao's army has crossed Yanjin and intends to march north to attack Liyang!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang was greatly alarmed.
Meanwhile, Wang Xiu, standing to the side, was secretly pondering:
"Damn Yuan Shang, he's ruining my business!"
"After this guy leaves, I'll have to surrender to Yuan Tan again. I'll have to figure out how to get Yuan Tan to forgive my betrayal."
"I've got it! I'll say that I was only pretending to surrender, but in reality I was biding my time to assassinate Yuan Shang!"
……