Chapter 9 Chasing the Central Plains 33rd Festival in April, Xuzhou, Langya Kingdom, Kaiyang City. Late at night, Xiao Jian, the prime minister of Langya, dragged his tired body back to the house.

Xiao Jian is in his forties, tall and thin, with a long beard, an elegant temperament, and a bit of a fairy spirit.

Due to the tense situation of the war and the busy schedule of official business, he went directly to the study. Xiao Jian sat down and drank a sip of water, and was about to review the official document, when the guards in the palace came to report,

"My lord, Lord Wang Xun has returned from Yangdu and is now waiting outside the mansion." Xiao Jian hurriedly waved his hand,

"Please, please." After a short time, Changshi Wang Xun walked in with a priest in a black robe.

The alchemist was very strong, and he followed behind Wang Xun, hiding his face in the darkness intentionally or unintentionally.

"Master Guan is urging food and recruiting soldiers, and we are so busy that we don't even have time to breathe." Xiao Jian stood at the door, stretched out his hand to greet him, and said with a smile,

"What's the situation in Yangdu? Did the rebels attack fiercely? Then he pointed to the priest behind Wang Xun and asked strangely,

"This is your friend?" The Fang Shi walked out from behind Wang Xun. Xiao Jian suddenly saw it, and suddenly changed color in shock,

"Is that you?" Wang Xun turned around and closed the door. Xiao Jian hurriedly took two steps and grabbed Fang Shi's hand,

"Xuan Gao, you are too bold, you dare to come to Kaiyang at this time?" Zang Ba smiled slightly,

"I haven't seen you for two years, but adults have always been good?"

"What are you doing in Kaiyang?" Xiao Jian subconsciously lowered his voice and asked urgently. Zang Ba smiled but did not answer,

"Could you please sit down?"

"You sit, you sit ......" Xiao Jian was shocked, turned around and asked Wang Xun again,

"Where did you meet Xuangao? Is it in Yangdu? ”

"Outside Kaiyang City." Wang Xun pointed at Zang Ba and said,

Xuan Gao said that he had been in the city for two days and had not had a chance to enter the city. Today I came back from Yangdu, and I happened to see him. ”

"And you brought him into town?" Wang Xun nodded,

"Don't worry, so far, no one has found out that Xuan Gao has entered the city." Xiao Jian asked Wang Xun to stand guard outside the study to prevent someone from breaking in.

After greeting Zang Ba, Xiao Jian asked bluntly: "Xuan Gao, let's be straight, you took such a big risk to rush to Kaiyang in person, what is the matter?" Zang Ba wiped the water stains on his mouth and said slowly: "More than ten years ago, when the great sage and good teacher preached the world, the adults were so touched that they not only donated their family resources to help the homeless, but also secretly participated in the Taiping Dao. At that time, the lord was the county of Taishan County, and he was close friends with Taishou Zhang Ju, and he also had dealings with many big leaders in the Yellow Turban Army. Xiao Jian frowned and said with a wry smile: "Why are you suddenly saying this?" I'm not old. I still remember these old things, I don't want you to remind me. ”

"How many years has your lord been the minister of Langya? About four or five years, right? Zang Ba asked,

"I remember that when Lord Tao Qian recommended Lord Tao Qian to be the Minister of Langya, it coincided with Cao Cao's second attack on Xuzhou, right?" Xiao Jian nodded, his expression gradually solemn.

Zang Ba will not talk about the past for no reason, and very few people know about his participation in the Taiping Dao. Zang Ba's father and himself were in the same family, and they participated in the Taiping Road together, so Zang Ba knew this secret.

When Zang Ba broke away from the Yellow Turban Army and joined Tao Qian, he came forward to persuade him. After Tao Qian's death, Xuzhou was succeeded by Liu Bei as the state pastor.

In order to consolidate his power in Xuzhou, Liu Bei drove Zang Ba to Langya. So together with Zang Ba, based on Langya Kingdom, he carefully appeased the remnants of the Yellow Turban, appeased the displaced people, and let most of the people live a stable life as much as possible.

However, after the outbreak of the Jizhou War, Zang Ba never returned, and it was difficult for him to support himself, and Liu Bei's forces soon entered the Langya Kingdom.

If it weren't for the continuous war, I am afraid that Liu Bei would have found an excuse to drive him out of Langya Country.

"Then ......" Zang Ba looked at Xiao Jian's old face and asked in a low voice,

"Do you know that General Li Hong has led an army to attack the Central Plains?"

"I know, the news has just arrived from Pengcheng." Xiao Jian said,

"I heard that the offensive of the Northern Xinjiang Army is like a tide, and the attack is overwhelming, and all parts of the Central Plains are in a hurry." Zang Ba paused for a moment, and then continued: "After careful discussion with Sun Guan, Guan Hai and others, I decided to honor the Son of Heaven and the imperial court of Jinyang, follow the general Li Hong to conquer the world, and revitalize Sheji. ”

"I know." Xiao Jian was not the slightest surprised, and said very calmly,

"I heard Lord Guan say that the army attacking Xuzhou this time, in addition to you and Guan Hai of the Yellow Turban Army, there is also Gao Shun of the Northern Xinjiang Army." Then he stared at Zang Ba with both eyes and asked solemnly,

"Xuangao, are you here to persuade me to return to Hebei?" Zang Ba smiled,

"Sir, don't you want to?"

"Li Hong killed the monarch and tried to usurp the throne, and he was the enemy of the world. The crime is so big, especially Dong Zhuo back then, don't you know? Xiao Jian's face was worried, and he asked worriedly,

"How can you take refuge in such a person?"

"There are many crimes against the general, but I want to ask my lord, get rid of these crimes piled up on the head of the general, doesn't the general have any credit? Who conquered the desert and stabilized northern Xinjiang back then? Who resettled millions of displaced people in northern Xinjiang? When the world was in turmoil and disasters broke out in the Central Plains, who accepted and resettled millions of displaced people who fled to northern Xinjiang in just a few years? ”

"Why did adults participate in Taiping Road back then? Isn't it because you want the innocent people in the world to live? For more than ten years, looking at today, in addition to the generals, who else cherishes the lives of the people in the world? Who else is fighting bloody battles for the survival of the people? ”

"Have you forgotten your oath to participate in the Taiping Road?" Xiao Jian was stunned for a moment, and sat there thinking for a long time.

"Have you seen Li Hong?"

"I've seen him."

He ...... Look...... Like ......" Xiao Jian wanted to ask something.

"He's ordinary, he looks like a tall and mighty pawn." Zang Ba said admiringly,

"Although we don't know much about him, but looking at today's Hebei and today's northern frontier, we have to admit that today is the only one who can save Sheji, save the people in the world, and let thousands of people in the world enjoy a peaceful world." Xiao Jian was silent.

"I've also met Master Zhang Yan." Zang Ba continued,

"Master Zhang Yan said a lot to me. We don't care whether what Zhang Yan did back then was correct or not, but there is one thing we must admit. It was precisely because of Lord Zhang Yan's betrayal that hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army and millions of displaced people who followed the Yellow Turban Army survived. If Lord Zhang Yan continues to persist in Taihang Mountain, his fate will be the same as that of Sima Ju and the hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban Army soldiers in Qingzhou. Of course, today in the Northern Xinjiang Army, we don't see so many Yellow Turban generals. Zang Ba stretched out his hand to pat Xiao Jian, lowered his voice and said: "In the future, the Northern Xinjiang Army has pacified the world, the people will live and work in peace and contentment, the Son of Heaven and the imperial court of Jinyang will return to Luoyang, and the Yellow Turban generals headed by Lord Zhang Yan will have great merit, and they will enjoy endless glory, wealth, fame and fortune, haven't you thought about this?" Xiao Jian hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Xuan Gao, what if the Northern Xinjiang Army is defeated?" ”

"My lord, as long as Hebei wins the Central Plains War, the days of pacifying the world will be numbered." Zang Ba smiled and said meaningfully,

"If Hebei is defeated, how much strength will the parties in the Central Plains have? In Qingzhou, in Mount Tai, as long as we raise the banner, within ten days and a half months, we will be able to gather hundreds of thousands of troops to kill the Central Plains. At that time, whether it is Hebei, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, or Liu Bei, they will all look at our faces and form an alliance with us. Maybe one day, the dream that the great sage and good teacher, the bull horn handsome, and Sima Ju handsome could not realize in our hands, and the peaceful world in the dream may really come......" Xiao Jian, Zang Ba, and Wang Xun discussed all night, carefully weighed the pros and cons, and finally Xiao Jian decided to accept Zang Ba's suggestion, return to the Jinyang court, and take refuge in Hebei.

"Can you tell me where your army is now?" Xiao Jian looked at Zang Ba and asked,

"Isn't it on the other side of the Yishui River?"

"There were only three thousand people on the other side of the river." Zang Ba spread out the map on the desk, stretched out his hand to a place, and clicked,

"Sun Guan and Yin Li's army is already approaching here."

"Tancheng?" Xiao Jian's eyes widened in surprise,

"Your army has reached Tancheng in Donghai County, and you have cut off my retreat."

"How many defenders are there in Tancheng?" Zang Ba asked nonchalantly.

"A thousand, only a thousand." Then Xiao Jian asked suspiciously,

"How did your army approach Tancheng? The land and water routes from Tancheng to Kaiyang have been transporting grain and grass and baggage, and the defense is tight, and your army will definitely be discovered if it goes south. Are you lying to me? ”

"The army marched down the east bank of the Shushui River, day and night." Zang Ba pointed to the map and said,

"Your men and horses are all focused on the Yangdu battlefield and the banks of the Yishui River, and it is normal that you are negligent in guarding against the Shushui River and not discovering it. I have been in Langya for more than ten years, and I am very familiar with the terrain here, is it not easy to hide it from you? If I hadn't miscalculated, Sun Guan would have attacked Tancheng today. Xiao Jian and Wang Xun looked at each other speechlessly.

Zang Ba cut off his retreat, and in the case of cutting off food and grass, it was difficult for the army to support, and he would soon break through and withdraw from Langya.

Why is he in such a hurry to take Langya? Do you want to take advantage of Liu Bei's reinforcements before they come back, kill Pengcheng, and deal with the Northern Xinjiang Army on the battlefield in the Central Plains?

“

"Xuan Gao, are you going to kill Guan Yu?" Xiao Jian looked at Zang Ba and sighed softly,

"Over the years, Lord Guan has gotten along well with us, is it necessary for you to kill them all?"

"How much food does he have on hand? How many days can it last? ”

"At least half a month's worth of food." Wang Xun said,

"There are still nearly 10,000 troops in Yangdu, and with Guan Yu's bravery and the fierceness of Danyang soldiers, it will definitely not be a problem to hold on for half a month."

"Let him go." Zang Ba waved his hand without hesitation,

"Immediately write to Guan Yu, saying that you have returned to Hebei, and the Northern Xinjiang Army has killed the East China Sea and occupied Tancheng. Guan Yu was cut off from the back road, cut off from grain and grass, and the East China Sea was in an emergency, so he had to retreat rapidly along the west bank of the Yishui River. Xiao Jian was overjoyed and hurriedly said: "Okay, okay, I will immediately tell Guan Yu to retreat from Wushui and return to the East China Sea in a hurry." I guarantee his safety while crossing the river. After Guan Yu received Xiao Jian's letter, although he was furious, at this life-and-death juncture, time is everything, and he will withdraw from the Wushui River first.

Whether Xiao Jian's guarantee is true or false, he has to take a risk, otherwise he will really be wiped out.

The Xuzhou army, under the command of Guan Yu, retreated sharply overnight. Gao Shun, Guan Hai, Xiang Cheng, and Chang Xuan led their troops to occupy Yangdu and Linyi successively, and the army immediately went north.

One route was led by Gao Shun and Chang Xuan, crossed the Wushui River, and killed the Lu State. One route was led by Xiang Cheng and Guan Hai, and directly killed the southern part of Taishan County.

Zang Ba and Xiao Jian rushed to meet in the camp before Gao Shun left Linyi.

"The important task of garrisoning Langya State, blocking the counterattack of the Xuzhou army, and containing the strength of the Xuzhou army will be handed over to the two adults." After Gao Shun and Zang Ba and others discussed the details of the division of the soldiers, they said solemnly,

"The battle on the Central Plains battlefield is getting harder and harder, and most of the Xuzhou Army will definitely be put into the Central Plains battlefield for a period of time in the future. Although Guan Yu has the heart to counterattack, he has the heart to be powerless, and it is difficult to make a difference. Holding the Langya Kingdom and threatening the hinterland of Xuzhou will be of considerable help to the attack of the main force of the army on the Central Plains battlefield, so the two adults will have to worry a lot. ”

"Your Excellency, don't worry, go north. Guan Yu suffered a heavy blow from this, and his vitality was greatly damaged, and the possibility of counterattacking was too small. Zang Ba said,

"I will do my best to raise and deliver the grain, grass, and baggage. Although Qingzhou can supply very little food, a little more is better than a little less. Gao Shun thanked him repeatedly.

"After Sun Guan and Yin Li occupied Tancheng, they seized a large amount of grain and grass. Considering that Guan Yu's attack will be very fierce, it is better for you to organize the people to transport the grain and grass from the city to Kaiyang as soon as possible. Gao Shun instructed,

"After the army goes north, you only have 10,000 troops in your hands, in order to preserve your strength, you should withdraw from Tancheng as soon as possible and stick to Kaiyang, so as not to have an accident." Zang Ba nodded again and again, wanting to speak and stopping.

"Xuan Gao, if you have something, just say it. You have made a great contribution this time, no matter what conditions you put forward, I believe the imperial court will agree. ”

"In the Central Plains War, the loss of troops must be amazing. Now that all the soldiers and horses of the seven battalions of Jizhou have been dispatched, Hebei's reserve forces have been exhausted. Qingzhou's troops were also all dispatched, and the counties and counties of Qingzhou had no troops to defend. Zang Ba said cautiously,

"I want to play the imperial court, immediately recruit troops in Qingzhou, and protect Qingzhou, I don't know ......" Gao Shun was slightly surprised, and his expression suddenly became solemn.

Qingzhou has been submitted to the table, and the military and political power of Qingzhou will be handed over to the imperial court immediately. Zang Ba and Guan Hai may have to enter the court as officials or lead the army in Qingzhou, and it is obviously inappropriate for Zang Ba to submit this piece at this time.

After the implementation of the new military system, the imperial court has abolished the conscription system, and Zang Ba's proposal will definitely be vetoed.

In addition, what made Gao Shun uneasy was that the imperial court would doubt Zang Ba's submission because of this movement, and the consequences were unpredictable.

Seeing that Gao Shun didn't speak for a long time, Zang Ba was a little frightened, and asked in a low voice, "Isn't it okay?" ”

"Nope." Gao Shun shook his hand resolutely and explained the reasons without hesitation.

"The Han military system has been revised, and it is absolutely impossible to recruit soldiers. If Brother Xuan Gao is worried about the safety of Qingzhou, it is best to report this concern to the imperial court first, or write a letter to the general and General Zhang Yan first, and ask them to play the imperial court on behalf of him and try to solve it. Zang Ba saw that Gao Shun said it so seriously, and it was difficult to accept it for a while,

"Isn't Hebei the general having the final say? Can the imperial court still restrain the generals? Gao Shun shook his head, word by word, and said solemnly: "In Hebei, it is the Son of Heaven and the imperial court who have the final say. "Jump to