At the same time that Zhang Xiu surrendered to Yang Xiu, Liu Biao led the middle route army, and the troops marched in three ways, and marched towards the county seat of Runan County.

The county seat along the way, learned that Liu Biao led the army to come, and the county orders of each county were all looking forward to the wind, and he personally led his subordinate officials to meet Liu Biao's army outside the city, and warmly welcomed Liu Biao's arrival, and said that he had been oppressed by Zhang Yan for many years.

Liu Biao's mood at this moment is not to mention happy, these words of the officials, like honey, poured into Liu Biao's stomach, and also made his inner vanity extremely inflated, as if he really became the great savior to save the Han Dynasty.

As the saying goes, stretching out his hand and not hitting the smiling face, since the officials of the counties took the initiative to come to surrender, there was no need for Liu Biao to attack them, because Liu Biao's goal was to be peaceful, and he didn't want to waste time at all in the county towns along the way. To tell the truth, this soldier is divided into three ways in order to create momentum, so that the enemy army does not know how many soldiers and horses he has come, and give the enemy a sense of oppression.

Facts have proved that his goal has been achieved, because these county commanders who took the initiative to surrender are the best proof of this.

Liu Biao's journey was very smooth, and he did not encounter any resistance along the way, on the contrary, the enemy army also took the initiative to come to him, which rekindled the ambition of his youth in his heart.

When the army arrived in Pingyu, Runan Taishou Yuan Jian led the subordinate officials of the county to line up ten miles away from Pingyu County to welcome the arrival of Liu Biao's army.

Liu Biao received the news from Yuan Lian early in the morning, and Yuan Lian was like the officials from all over the country who had surrendered to him before. He also came to surrender on his own initiative.

And Yuan Lian's name. Liu Biao has heard about it for a long time. Because Yuan Jian was very famous in the Jianghuai area, he also sent someone to invite Yuan Jian to Jingzhou as an official, but unfortunately, at that time, Yuan Jian was within the scope of Yuan Shu's power, although he agreed to Liu Biao, but was forcibly detained by Yuan Shu, and then took refuge in Zhang Yan's account.

Since ancient times, Runan has the risk of "negative mountain face Huai, control and choke Cai". It is a place where the soldiers of the past dynasties must fight, when Zhang Yan extended the scope of power to Runan, the person stationed here was Xu Huang, and he also served as the Taishou of Runan, after Xu Huang was transferred, Zhang Yan sent Yuan Jian to Runan as a Taishou, until now.

Liu Biao led a large army, coming from the south, Yuan Jian saw Liu Biao's army coming, and immediately asked his subordinates to welcome him. For a time, the gongs and drums were noisy. The piano sounded in unison, so lively.

After looking at each other, Yuan Jian stepped forward in person, and bowed to Liu Biao respectfully: "I have made you come from afar, it must have been very hard along the way, I have already warmed the wine, and please make the gentleman move there, drink a sip of warm wine, and dispel the chill on his body." ”

"It's still Yuan Taishou's thoughtfulness, since Yuan Taishou has already arranged everything, if I don't go, it will be too much to give Yuan Taishou face." Liu Biao said with a smile.

As soon as the words fell, Liu Biao followed Yuan Jian to a simple tent that had been set up, a bonfire was raised in the tent, as soon as he entered the tent, he felt warm, and there was a jar of fine wine hanging on the shelf above the bonfire, the aroma of wine was overflowing, and the aroma came to the nose, which had a different charm.

"Envoy, please take a seat!" Yuan Jian said respectfully to Liu Biao.

Liu Biao and Yuan Jian sat on the ground, facing each other like this, and in the middle of them, there was a small table, just enough for them to place fine wine.

After the two sat down, Yuan Jian took down the warm wine and poured the wine for Liu Biao personally, Liu Biao glanced at these small cases except for this jar of wine and two wine lords, there was nothing else, so he smiled and said: "Wine and food are indispensable, but unfortunately there is only wine here, and there is no food, it seems that Yuan Taishou is still a little underprepared." ”

Yuan Jian said: "This place is only temporarily set up to make the king catch the wind and wash the dust, and when I get to the city, I will definitely not let the envoy down." ”

As soon as the words fell, Yuan Jian picked up the wine lord who was full of hot wine in front of him, and said to Liu Biao: "Liu Yuanjun, after drinking this glass of wine, Yuan is the envoy's subordinate, and when the envoy leads the army to Pingyu, he also hopes that the envoy can strictly restrain his subordinates, and don't do anything that harms the people, so as not to arouse the anger of the people." ”

Liu Biao nodded, he had already received the surrender letter from Yuan Lian, which clearly stated the reason for Yuan Lian's surrender.

Although Runan is a battleground for soldiers, Zhang Yan left very few soldiers and horses here, and in the face of Liu Biaohao's mighty army, Yuan Jian could not compete with it, and did not want the city to be destroyed, so he chose to surrender.

After Liu Biao got the letter of surrender from Yuan Lian, he was very happy, because Yuan Lian had always been the talented person he wanted, but because Yuan Shu left Yuan Lianqiang in Huainan, Liu Biao and Yuan Lian missed each other.

However, what Liu Biao didn't expect was that a few years later, he would be able to meet Yuan Jian again, and in this way.

Liu Biao lifted the wine jue, drank all the wine in it with Yuan Lian, and poured a warm liquid directly into his body, making him feel refreshed, and couldn't help laughing.

People are in good spirits when they are happy, and so is Liu Biao. Before setting out on the expedition, Liu Biao still had a trace of doubt, not knowing whether he could attack Pengcheng.

But now along the way, even the very strategic Runan has surrendered, which has increased Liu Biao's confidence many times, and he firmly believes that he will definitely be able to come to Pengcheng City and rescue the current emperor from Zhang Yan's clutches.

At this moment, Cai Mao, who had been standing behind Liu Biao, saw Liu Biao so happy, a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he secretly thought in his heart: "Liu Jingsheng, your life will end here, and when you arrive in Runan, it will be the time for you to say goodbye to this world." ”

Next, Yuan Jian said to Liu Biao: "The envoy brought a lot of soldiers and horses this time, Runan City is small, I'm afraid it can't accommodate so many soldiers and horses, if the envoy's soldiers and horses enter the city, it is likely to cause panic among the people in the city." The lower officials have already set up a camp for the envoy outside the city, so that the king can bring the soldiers and horses to be stationed in the camp. Other than that. Zhang Yan left a garrison in Qian County, Pei County. There are about 20,000 people. If the news of my surrender spreads, then the army of Qian County will immediately drive to the territory of Runan, so why don't you strike first, send an army to defeat the army of Qian County, and then when you lead the army to the east, there will be one less obstacle to advance. ”

Liu Biao pondered for a moment, and then said: "What you said is very reasonable, rather than being beaten passively." It's better to take the initiative to attack, and I lead the elite of Jingzhou, with only 20,000 troops, and I can't see it yet. Cai Mao! ”

"What does the lord command?" Cai Mao immediately asked with a fist.

Liu Biao said: "You should have heard Yuan Taishou's words, you can ask Yuan Taishou about the general situation of the army in Qian County in a while, and then dispatch elite soldiers and strong generals to attack and clear this obstacle." ”

Cai Mao nodded and said, "The last general will take the order." ”

Liu Biao chatted with Yuan Jian for a while, and then came out of the big tent. Leaving Cai Mao in the tent, he planned with Yuan Jian about the affairs of the army in Qian County.

When Liu Biao walked out of the gloom. Cai Mao's face immediately changed color, walked quickly to Yuan Lian's side, and asked in a low voice, "How did you do it, why didn't you act according to the original plan?" Shouldn't Liu Biao be led to the city, and then killed after he fell asleep? ”

Yuan Jian said: "The original plan was set by you, but I didn't say that I must abide by it." If you want to get rid of Liu Biao, you have to listen to me, otherwise, I will tell Liu Biao about your murder of Liu Biao! ”

With a "swish", Cai Mao instantly pulled out the saber in his waist, and put the cold and sharp long sword on Yuan Lian's neck, his face was hideous, he tried his best to lower his voice, and roared: "Without you, I can kill Liu Biao." Do you believe that I'm going to kill you right now? ”

Yuan Lian's face did not change, he looked at Cai Mao with a pair of deep eyes, and sneered: "If you want to kill, kill it, I am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death." However, when I came, I had already arranged for my subordinates, and if anything happened to me, they would tell Liu Biao about your plot to rebel, and when the time comes, your plan will not succeed! ”

Cai Mao glared at Yuan Jian angrily, it could be seen that he was extremely angry now, but he held back the anger in his heart, removed the long sword from Yuan Lian's neck, and put it into the scabbard, and said angrily: "You'd better be honest, don't play any tricks, otherwise, don't blame me for being unkind to you." ”

Yuan Jian smiled and said, "Cai Dudu, it seems that you sent someone to take the initiative to find me in this matter, you do this for only one purpose, and that is to kill people with a knife." Just imagine, after I kill Liu Biao, the army you lead will definitely be very angry, in case Cai Dudu loses his words for a while, in order to cut the grass and eradicate the roots, and completely let this secret disappear in this world, you will lead a large army into the city and kill me together. Only then will you be able to sit back and relax. Don't think that I don't know what you think in your heart, it is precisely for this reason that I thought of this way, let you lead the troops to attack the garrison of Qian County, so that I will be safe and sound. ”

After Cai Mao heard what Yuan Jian said, he was stunned in his heart, and he was even more shocked that Yuan Jian was able to understand his plan, because what Yuan Jian said was exactly what he was going to do.

If, according to the original plan, Yuan Jian killed Liu Biao in Runan City, then Cai Mao would shout the slogan of avenging Liu Biao, lead the army to the city, and kill Yuan Biao together, so that no one would know that he killed Liu Biao.

It's a pity that Cai Mao's wishful thinking was disrupted by Yuan Lian, and things have reached this point, even if he wants to kill Yuan Lian, it will be useless.

Yuan Jian saw that Cai Mao was moved, so he said: "Cai Dudu, if you really want to clear up this matter, it is best to stay as far away from Liu Biao as possible, only in this way will you not be implicated, and no one will suspect you." ”

Cai Mao thought about it, and then asked, "Why do you want to help me?" ”

Yuan Jian said: "I'm not helping you, I'm helping myself, we are now grasshoppers tied to a rope, if something happens, we can't run away from you, and we can't run away from me." I still need a commitment from you, though......"

"What promise?" Cai Mao asked.

"I promise that you will take the initiative to withdraw your troops and return to Jingzhou after Liu Biao's death, and you will not stay in Runan." Yuan said.

Cai Mao said: "After Liu Biao dies, even if you want me to stay, I won't be willing, I have more important things to do, staying here will only delay big things!" ”

"In that case, then I'm relieved. As long as Cai Dudu does what I planned, Liu Biao will die tonight, and tomorrow morning, you will see Liu Biao's head hanging on the gate of Runan City. Yuan said.

Cai Mao said: "Okay, remember your promise, if I don't see Liu Biao's head hanging on the city gate tomorrow, it will prove that you are untrustworthy, and don't blame me for being unkind to you at that time." ”

"Okay, we'll make up our minds." Yuan said.

"It's a deal." Cai Mao also said affirmatively. (To be continued......)