The battle between the two Yuan in Yangzhou broke out without a doubt.

Yuan Yi, who was pinned on by Yuan Shao, was wiped out by Yuan Shu, and even Yuan Yi himself died in the chaos.

Although Cao Cao is unwilling to become Yuan Shao's thug, now, he still needs to rely on Yuan Shao. Therefore, Cao Cao also had to send troops to prepare for a showdown with Yuan Shu.

The sudden defeat of Yuan Yi made Cao Cao overjoyed. He thought to himself, now Yanzhou finally does not need to send troops to Yangzhou.

However, Yuan Shu, who defeated Yuan Yi, was a little self-confident.

In the fourth year of the first peace, that is, in 193 AD.

Yuan Shu used Cao Cao's Yanzhou pastoral name as an excuse to unite with the Yanzhou assassin Shi Jinshang, who was canonized by the imperial court, and brazenly sent troops to attack Cao Cao.

Jin Shangnai is the Yanzhou assassin appointed by Emperor Xian, the character Yuan Xiu, and Jingzhao people. By the time he was named the Assassin of Yanzhou, Cao Cao had already taken de facto control of Yanzhou.

Jin Yuanxiu went to Yanzhou to take up a post, but was rejected by Cao Cao. Jin Shang had no choice but to be displaced and almost perished.

When Yuan Shu found Jin Shang and said that he would help him recapture Yanzhou, Jin Shang still agreed to Yuan Shu's request, although he knew that Yuan Shu wanted to attack Yanzhou.

Yuan Shao had Jin Shang, a genuine Yanzhou assassin history, occupied a righteous reputation, and fought with Cao Cao in Kuangting.

However, Cao Cao's soldiers were brave and the strategists were outstanding, and the two sides fought for a short time, Yuan Shu was defeated by Cao Cao, and he had to retire to Yongqiu and return to Shouchun in the south.

However, the guard general Chen Yu did not let him enter the city, so Yuan Shu had to retreat to Yinling, gather troops to attack Chen Yu, and Chen Yu fled back to Xiapi.

Then, Yuan Shu led Yangzhou Mu, also known as Xuzhou Bo, and sealed Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui as generals. After Li Dao and others invaded Chang'an, they wanted to befriend Yuan Shu, so they named Yuan Shu as the general of the left, fake the festival, and entered the Marquis of Yang Zhai.

Since then, Yuan Shu occupied the rich land of Huainan, and was canonized by the imperial court.

However, it is said that Yuan Shao of Jizhou defeated Gongsun Chan at the boundary bridge, and although Gongsun Chan retreated to Youzhou, the princes of the two sides still fought repeatedly.

After Li Dao and Guo Yan took power, they sent the Taifu Ma Riyan to hold the festival and the Taifu Zhao Qi as their deputies to pacify the world. When Taifu Ma Riyan went to Yangzhou, he was detained by Yuan Shu.

On the other hand, Zhao Qi, a celebrity, was deeply respected by Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. When the two heard that Zhao Qi was coming, they both stopped fighting and led their troops to meet Zhao Qi hundreds of miles away.

In the end, Zhao Qi relied on his fame to persuade Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zhan to stop fighting. The war in the north, which lasted for more than a year, was temporarily subsided.

Although Zhao Qi played some role in it, Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao fought for too long, and all the soldiers were tired and short of food and grass. Even if Zhao Qi did not appear, the two would have quit sooner or later.

Zhao Qi's appearance was just a step down for the two of them. However, since the two have been grudges for a long time, even if they temporarily withdraw their troops, they will continue to fight sooner or later.

Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan quit the army, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu made a truce, and for a while, it seemed that the entire Han Dynasty and the princes began to live in peace.

However, the civil strife in the territory of the princes was one after another. In order to quell the civil strife, the vast majority of the princes did not settle down during the year.

In the blink of an eye, half a year later, in Changyi City, Yanzhou, Cao Cao took out the letter written by Xi Zhicai before he died, read it carefully for a long time, and finally burned it clean.

Cao Cao got up, with a complicated and unbearable look on his face, and he was in the house, constantly walking back and forth.

As he walked, his footsteps couldn't help but stop on the map of the big man.

"There is Yuan Benchu in the north of Yanzhou, Yuan Highway in the south, Chen Wenzhao in the west, and Tao Gongzu in the east."

"Looking at these four princes, only Xuzhou Tao Qian is the weakest. If Yanzhou wants to break the situation of being constrained on all sides, and if it wants to take the opportunity to expand its own power, it must first take Xuzhou. ”

Thinking of this, Cao Cao's eyes flashed.

He wrote a letter, and then summoned a confidant and asked him to give the letter to Cao Song, who was far away in Langya, Xuzhou.

"Ah Weng Ta Ri just to avoid the scourge of war, this went to Xuzhou Langya country. didn't want to be today, but he became a hostage in the hands of Tao Gong in disguise. ”

As Xi Zhicai said in the letter, if the two sides just had a small fight, Cao Song and the others would definitely have no worries about their lives. If Cao Cao led a large army to capture Xuzhou, I am afraid that Tao Qian would definitely be ashamed and angry and kill Cao Song and others.

Since the beginning of this year, Cao Cao has not secretly sent people to Xuzhou to pick up his father. But the people he sent out have been silent.

Cao Cao knew that Tao Qian must have sent a large number of people to monitor his father's residence.

Tao Qian is not a good person as described in the romance. On the contrary, he is a sharp and unruly person.

Historically, during the Xiqiang Rebellion, the imperial court appointed Sikong Zhang Wen as the general of the chariot cavalry to go to the crusade. Zhang Wen invited Tao Qian to join the army and treated him very well, but Tao Qian always despised Zhang Wen's actions and was unconvinced.

Later, when the army returned to the dynasty, Tao Qian actually openly humiliated Zhang Wen at the banquet of 100 officials. Zhang Wen was furious and intended to move Tao Qian to the border, but only after being persuaded by others to recover Tao Qian.

After that, Zhang Wen greeted Tao Qian at the palace gate, but Tao Qian didn't appreciate it, but Zhang Wen was still as good to Tao Qian as before.

It can be seen from this that Tao Qian is such an unruly person.

Moreover, when he was able to serve as the assassin of Xuzhou alone, he first defeated the Qingzhou Yellow Turban, and then pacified the civil strife in Xuzhou. And in Xuzhou, a place full of wealthy families, he served as the assassin of Xuzhou, and his own talent can be seen.

Cao Cao had no doubt that according to Tao Qian's character, if he sent troops to attack Xuzhou, his father would definitely be more than lucky.

The henchman took Cao Cao's letter, and after listening to his instructions, he nodded and left Cao Cao's mansion.

After walking in the house for a while, Cao Cao wrote a letter again, and then called a confidant and said to him: "You give this letter to Taishan County Taishou Yingshao."

Taishan County borders Langya State, as long as Cao Song successfully escapes from Langya State, if Ying Shao leads troops to respond in time, it may not be impossible to save the lives of Cao Song and others.

"Xuzhou, I am determined to win!"

Cao Cao clenched his fists, and there was a fierce look in his eyes.

In the fourth year of the early peace, he was engaged in the advice of Wang Lang and Zhao Yu. Tao Qian sent Zhao Yu to pay tribute to Emperor Xian to show his support for the Han family, and after Emperor Xian received Tao Qian's recital, he praised and promoted Tao Qian to Xuzhou Mu and General Anton.

Since then, Tao Qian has changed from Xuzhou Thorn History to Xuzhou Mu.

Xuzhou, Tan County, Prefecture Pastoral Mansion.

Tao Qian was dealing with government affairs, and suddenly saw Chen Deng rushing in.

"Why is Yuanlong so alarmed?"

For Chen Dengren, he is hearty, quiet and resourceful. He is now the captain of the agricultural school in Xuzhou.

Tao Qian attaches great importance to Chen Deng, whether it is the power of the Chen family in Xuzhou, or the talents of Chen Deng's father and son, they are all relied on by Tao Qian as an arm.

In Tao Qian's impression, Chen Deng is the kind of person who collapses in front of Mount Tai and does not change his face. He didn't understand why Chen Deng would show such a look today.

When Chen Deng saw Tao Qian, he gave a salute before hurriedly asking: "Doesn't Ming Gong know that Yanzhou Mu Cao Mengde and Taishan Taishou Yingshao are all mobilizing soldiers and horses?" ”

When Tao Qian heard this, he sneered twice and said, "Cao Mengde's father is in the territory of Langya Kingdom, and I have sent someone to closely monitor him. It is expected that Cao Mengde will never dare to attack Xuzhou easily. ”

Although Tao Qian is a bit unruly, he himself is a filial person. According to his thoughts, if his father was a hostage in Yanzhou, he would never dare to confront Yanzhou's sword soldiers.

Chen Deng sighed in his heart: "Although the envoy is wise and martial, he does not have the temperament that a hero should have. Such a person will surely become a good official on the shepherd side in times of peace. ”

"However, in the midst of troubled times, it seems a little pedantic."

Although Chen Deng thought so in his heart, his face was still respectful: "If you send someone from Cao Mengde to rescue your father, and then let Ying Shao lead the army to respond, I'm afraid Cao Song and others will be able to leave Xuzhou." ”

Tao Qian laughed, and then said nonchalantly: "In the entire county where Cao Song lives, there are heavy troops stationed there. If the family wanted to leave the county, it was impossible. ”

Chen Deng shook his head and said: "Cao Song's family has a huge fortune, if you buy off the defenders, plus the dead soldiers sent by Cao Mengde to help, if you want to get out, it may not be difficult." ”

Tao Qian was shocked at this time, and said: "If it weren't for Yuanlong's reminder, I'm afraid that it would be a big mistake!" ”

After speaking, Tao Qian sent a messenger to check the traces of Cao Song and others; On the one hand, the envoy led more than 1,000 light horsemen to the border between Langya and Taishan County to capture Cao Song.

It didn't take long for someone to report that Cao Song's family had disappeared. Tao Qian was shocked when he heard this.

Tao Qian thought in his heart: "Even if Cao Mengde leads his troops to attack Xuzhou, in order not to completely fight Yanzhou, I will only put Cao Song under house arrest at most, and it will not harm his life." ”

"But now, Cao Mengde wants to pick up his father Cao Song, does he really think that Cao Song can escape from Xuzhou?"

Thinking of this, Tao Qian's face was a little hideous.

He is not a stupid person, through the actions of Cao Song and Yanzhou Cao Cao, it can be judged that Cao Cao wants to attack Xuzhou.

"I formed an alliance with Gongsun Bogui to attack Yuan Shao, a man with wolf ambitions. But I don't want to, Cao Mengde has repeatedly opposed me, and is willing to be Yuan Shao's minions. ”

"In that case......

Tao Qian's eyes flashed with a fierce color.

Linyi County is the junction of Taishan County of Yanzhou and Langya State of Xuzhou. Cao Song's family traveled under the stars and night, and entered the territory of Linyi with a large amount of property.

"Ah Weng, as long as you pass Linyi, you will enter the territory of Mount Tai. My brother has already said in his letter that he will send Taishan County Taishou to lead troops to meet us and others. At that time, we will be safe. ”

Cao Song looked at his young son Cao De, and a doting color flashed in his eyes.

"It's a pity that Ade is not Apu's brother, I don't know if Apo will use Ade in this trip to Yanzhou."

"Stomp, stomp!"

Suddenly, a sound of horses' hooves sounded, and Cao Song was overjoyed and said, "This must be the soldier who came to meet the Shao!" ”