Li Yi read Mu Guiying's letter seven or eight times.

Xun Yu kept explaining to him the evolution of the Han official system, as well as the "separation of powers" and its advantages and disadvantages contained in the three-public official system proposed by Zhang Wen, as well as the possible results of this imperial court structure to solve the current crisis of the Han Dynasty, and finally asked: "Lord, what do you think?" ”

Li Yi handed the letter to Xun Yu and said slowly: "I have no opinion, just do it." ”

Xun Yu took the letter and threw it on the desk with a melancholy expression.

Li Yi smiled and asked, "Wen Ruo, is there any problem?" ”

"Mrs. Mu told Zhang Wen that the old man was dizzy, and this strategy can also be called perfect? There are a lot of worries in it, a lot. Xun Yu sighed, "I originally thought that Zhang Wen would rebuild a new imperial court, but who knew that he would come out with such a four-like imperial court, and there would be endless troubles." Such a good opportunity was wasted for these conformist old men. ”

Everyone looked at Xun Yu in confusion.

Xun Yu smiled bitterly: "Forget it, don't say it, maybe I'm wrong." Yuan Shao is an example. He wanted to say anything about rebuilding the imperial system, and he also killed four ministers in a row to show his determination, what was the result? There were few responders, and there was a lot of scolding. The ministers of the court and the central government may also have the same fear, if the eldest princess can do the affairs of the Son of Heaven and worship the ministers at will, the consequences may be the same as Yuan Shao. I don't want to, since the lord agrees, I will go back to Quanzhou. ”

Li Yi said with a smile: "I will personally reply to the book, let Gui Ying and the eldest princess's mansion discuss specifically, and follow Zhang Wen's arrangement to make preliminary preparations." ”

Looking at Xun Yu, Li Yi said: "Wen Ruo, you give a copy of the book to each of the generals stationed in the desert and Liaodong, tell them in detail about this matter, and ask for their opinions." ”

………………

Otani Pass. Xu Rong led a large army to the pass.

At the end of September, after he was ordered to attack, he confronted Sun Jian in Luyang. Sun Jian suffered a defeat in Yangren and Dahuling last time, and was trapped in Guangcheng Pass and couldn't move. At that time, if it wasn't for Xu Rong and Yuan Shu shaking hands in time and making peace, Sun Jian would have to eat people to get by. So this time he saw Xu Rong coming again, and he wanted to wash away his shame, so he went out of the city several times to invite battles. I want to face off against Xu Rong. Xu Rong didn't do it and refused in one bite.

Sun Jian went to the letter to ridicule Xu Rong, and scolded very badly, what kind of Wuhuan people's evil species, taking refuge in traitors, all the words that can be thought of are used. Xu Rong was unmoved, and wrote a reply, with only two big words on the letter, and did not fight.

Xu Rong said here that there would be no war. But he sent his subordinates to plunder everywhere with the army, and he almost dug three feet into the ground in Luyang County. The people of Luyang suffered deeply and fled south to Wancheng.

But there was also a northern army in the Wancheng area. Dong Yue and Li Su took advantage of the confrontation between Yuan Shu's main force and Liu Biao in Xiangyang, and wantonly burned and looted in the areas of Liguo, Shunyang, and Wancheng. The people of Nanyang were miserable and fled south in droves.

Although Sun Jian was worried about the suffering of the people, he did not dare to send troops out of the city to snipe at will, he was worried that he would fall into Xu Rong's plan to lure the enemy and lose his troops. He was bent on a head-on battle with Xu Rong's main force.

At this time, Xu Rong received Dong Zhuo's military order to return to Luoyang immediately. Xu Rong didn't know what was going on in Luoyang. Hurriedly retreated to Guangcheng Pass with a large army. He asked his deputy general to lead 3,000 men to guard the pass, and he himself led an army of 5,000 to the north day and night. Take Otani Pass back to Beijing.

Tian Yi greeted him at Otani Pass. He explained to Xu Rong in detail about the hussar general's betrayal of the imperial court, the raid on Luoyang, the ambush of Liu Jing, and the seizure of grain and grass in Biguiyuan.

Xu Rong was taken aback and asked, "The hussar general really betrayed the imperial court?" ”

Tian Yi nodded and said, "The hussar general personally led 50,000 troops from the Northern Frontier. The raid took Luoyang, intending to attack Chang'an. It seems that the hussar general has completely convinced Yuan Shao and betrayed the Son of Heaven and the imperial court. ”

Xu Rong was shocked, did the general want to kill Dong Zhuo. King Qin's removal of adultery?

As for Tian Yi's statement that the hussar general betrayed the Son of Heaven and the imperial court, Xu Rong did not believe it. He once fought side by side with the hussar generals and the Northern Xinjiang army in Bingzhou, and defeated the Xianbei people. With their own understanding of the generals and the generals of Northern Xinjiang, they would never betray the Son of Heaven and the imperial court. They have conquered the desert after a lot of hardships and made great achievements, what reason should they abandon all this, and instead become a rebellion that has been stinking for thousands of years?

Tian Yi continued: "The army of Northern Xinjiang is stationed near Luoyang, and they only have 50,000 people, so they are vulnerable. In order to prevent future troubles, the lord has now mobilized 120,000 troops to besiege Luoyang. Among them, he personally led the troops of Li Dao, Guo Yan and others to be stationed south of Yishui; Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu's uncle and nephew garrisoned Gucheng and threatened Luoyang from the west; At the same time, Fan Chou and Niu Fu were dispatched to cross the river to the south and attack Luoyang from the north; Let you and Hu Zhen attack north from Dagu Pass and Yuyuan Pass, and Li Ru will advance west from Hujiao Pass, so as to form a flank attack on all sides against the rebellious army. ”

Xu Rong's heart was cold after hearing this. The disparity in strength between the two sides is too great, and the northern army has no possibility of winning at all, and the hussar general will not make such a decision, there must be some secret in this. He is not Dong Zhuo's cronies, and he has always been at odds with the generals of the Xiliang family, Tian Yi will not tell himself this secret, what should he do? To fight or not to fight? fight, he formed a deep enmity with the Northern Xinjiang Army, and was accused of ingratitude? How will you face the hussar generals in the future? If you don't fight, how can you win Dong Zhuo's trust?

Xu Rong was worried and uneasy, and reluctantly followed Tian Yi quietly to the north.

Xu Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief when the news sent by the scouts led the hussar general to meet Dong Zhuo's attack in the area of the Yishui River, and it was the hussar general's general Huang Zhong who fended off his own army.

The Northern Xinjiang army did not fight with the Xiliang army outside the city, and the two sides only exchanged fire slightly, and the hussar general took the initiative to lead the army to withdraw into Luoyang City.

And the army of Huang Zhong, which confronted Xu Rong, did not engage Xu Rong and Hu Zhen, and after seeing Xu Rong's army arrive, he only made a little contact and took the initiative to withdraw from the battlefield.

Tian Yi immediately asked Xu Rong to take advantage of the victory to attack Huang Zhong. Xu Rong flatly refused, he opened a pair of blood-red eyes and roared: "Although I, Xu Rong, am a martial artist, I am not blind or an idiot. What about Hu Zhen? Where's Hu Zhen? He's closer to Huang Zhong, why can I rush back, but he can't? What does Sangkook mean? Do you want to kill me Xu Rong and bury all my men on the battlefield? I'm not going, I'm going to let Hu Zhen go. ”

Tian Yi was taken aback, and hurriedly comforted: "General Xu, this is the battlefield, don't be rash." ”

"Battlefield? Don't be presumptuous? Xu Rong pulled a soldier over, ripped off his leather armor and shouted, "Look at what this is?" This is the bones, the skin is wrapped in the bones, and this is how my men use them to withstand the swords and spears of the enemy. You go and look at Hu Zhen's soldiers, look at Niu Fu's soldiers, which one is not fat and strong? ”

"The general has said it,......" Tian Yi said with a wry smile, "The generals' food and salary are not enough, and Xiangguo does not mean to favor one over the other." ”

Xu Rong brushed his sleeves away, Tian Yi followed behind and persuaded hard, and promised that after winning this battle, he would definitely make up all the military salaries owed to Xu Rong in the past. Xu Rong's face looked a little better, and he ordered his subordinates to reorganize the army, let the soldiers seize the time to rest, and launch an attack on Huang Zhong's army after dawn.

After dawn, the scouts reported: In the early hours of yesterday morning, Zhang Fei, Chang Yuchun and others of the Northern Xinjiang Army suddenly appeared in the direction of Beibi Mountain, and they secretly attacked the flank of the North Road army that had just crossed the river to the south, inflicted heavy losses on Niu Fu, and then swaggered into Luoyang City.

Huang Zhong then withdrew his troops and returned to Luoyang City.

Dong Zhuo did not blame Xu Rong, on the contrary, he rewarded Xu Rong heavily. First, Xu Rong hurriedly traveled 400 miles to Luoyang in three days, and then fought fiercely for a day with 5,000 people and Huang Zhong's 8,000 army.

Now that Huang Zhong has withdrawn into Luoyang City, it is indeed difficult for a strongman to let him continue to attack at this time. Now that all the 50,000 troops in Northern Xinjiang have retreated into Luoyang City, not to mention Xu Rong's 5,000 army, even if he is given 50,000 troops, he will not be able to take Luoyang City.

Xu Rong's heart was dark. Of course, he would not be naïve enough to believe Dong Zhuo's nonsense. He knew that his refusal to send troops to attack Huang Zhong that night and his disobedience to military orders had aroused Dong Zhuo's jealousy. It's just that he doesn't know whether Dong Zhuo has murderous intentions or wants to cut off his military power.

Dong Zhuo did not come to Luoyang.

The hussar general's surprise attack on Luoyang severely disrupted his entire Gyeonggi strategy, and he had to rethink his response.

In Hedong County, because of the evacuation of Niu Fu and Fan Chou, Duan Xuan could not resist Xu Da's counterattack, so he had no choice but to evacuate Hedong County, so far Hedong County fell into the hands of the Northern Xinjiang Army.

In Luoyang, because the 50,000 troops of the Northern Frontier Army retreated in Luoyang City, although Dong Zhuo mobilized 100,000 troops, it was almost impossible to capture Luoyang City, and after suffering a series of defeats, Dong Zhuo was unable to fight again, so it was impossible for Luoyang to have another war in the short term.

The raid of the hussar general not only caused Dong Zhuo to lose Luoyang, but also lost all the grain and grass he had hoarded in Luoyang. The top priority of the Western Liang Army was to immediately pour its nest south to attack Yingchuan and Nanyang.

"Shuping, you go to Luoyang immediately." Dong Zhuo said, "I must first stabilize the tiger Li Yi." You said to him, I can give him Luoyang and Hedong, but the premise is that whether it is Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu, you must respect the Son of Today and obey the will of the Son of Heaven and the imperial court. Otherwise, I will never withdraw my troops, I would rather let Luoyang be destroyed in the war than let it become a place where the princes of his alliance will attack Guanzhong. ”

Dong Zhuo urgently ordered Hu Zhen to continue the attack on Yingchuan, and Li Dao and Guo Yan led their troops south to support.

Xu Rong was ordered to continue the attack on Luyang, and Zhang Ji went south with Zhang Xiu, striving to join Dong Yue and Li Su as soon as possible and capture Wancheng.

Li Ru was ordered to continue to lead the army of his headquarters to be stationed at Hugao Pass, and continue to threaten Chenliu in the east and Yingchuan in the south.

Dong Zhuo himself led the army and stationed it in Xianyang Yuan. (To be continued.) )