(PS: I'm sorry, some things were delayed, so that the second chapter update was a little late, but it's good to catch up, I hope you will forgive me.) ）

After Zhang Yan occupied Linzi City, he also received news from Zang Ba, and learned that Zang Ba led the army to occupy Jinan and Le'an, and was currently confronting Han Meng in the plain.

So, on the one hand, Zhang Yan sent people to Beihai to pick up Kong Rong to Linzi, and on the other hand, let Tai Shici, Xu Chu, Niu Jin, and Xu Sheng rest the troops.

On the issue of treating these captives of the Yuan army, Zhang Yan did not kill them, but gave them two ways to go.

First, if the captives were really willing to surrender, they could serve as soldiers under him, and the treatment would be the same as that of the Xuzhou soldiers.

Second, if they are unwilling to surrender, after confiscating their weapons and armor, they will be given some dry food and released to go home.

Zhang Yan's open-mindedness led to the sincere surrender of half of the captives, while the other half of the captives decided to unload their armor and return to the fields, take the food distributed by Zhang Yan, dress up as civilians, and return to their hometown in Hebei.

The next day, Kong Rong was taken to Linzi City, and Zhang Yan personally greeted him at the city gate.

After greeting each other and exchanging a few words, Kong Rong asked straight to the point: "Zhang Yuanjun summoned me here in such a hurry, don't you know what is going on?" ”

Zhang Yan said: "This is not the place to talk, let's go into the city to talk." ”

The two came to the Thorn Shi Mansion, Zhang Yan and Kong Rong sat down as guests, and let people make a pot of good tea, and then said to Kong Rong: "Actually, the reason why I am in such a hurry to call Kong Beihai is that I want to discuss something very important with Kong Beihai. ”

Kong Rong arched his hand and said: "Zhang Yuanjun has something to say, as long as I can help, I will definitely help." ”

Zhang Yan said: "Now that I have almost driven Yuan Tan out of Qingzhou, only the plains are still struggling, and I am also ready to lead troops to the plains to fight with the Yuan army." However, after I drove Yuan Tan away, Qingzhou cannot be left without an owner for a day, Kong Beihai is a famous man in the sea, and he is highly respected, I want to ask Kong Beihai to serve as the ...... of Qingzhou Thorn History."

As soon as the words fell, Kong Rong immediately retorted: "Zhang Yuanjun, this matter must not be allowed, the position of Qingzhou Assassin is very important, and it is definitely not something I can bear...... If I had known that Zhang Yuanjun had asked me to come because of this incident, I would never have come. I have said a long time ago that I am okay with dancing and writing, but if I want to protect the territory and the people, it is not worth mentioning at all. Zhang Yuanjun is martial arts, and he has a heavy army, not to mention that this Qingzhou was also defeated by Zhang Yuanjun, and it should be Zhang Zhijun who should be in charge. ”

Zhang Yan said: "But ......"

Kong Rong hurriedly said: "Zhang Yuanjun, don't do it." This position of Qingzhou Thorn History belongs to you. To tell you the truth, I have already written a letter yesterday, and I have sent someone to Chang'an, expressing the envoy as the pastor of Qingzhou. I believe that it will not be long before an edict will be sent from the imperial court. ”

"Kong Beihai, your actions are too fast, right?" Zhang Yan said.

Kong Rong said: "This matter is very important, it is related to the future of millions of Li people in Qingzhou, if you don't act as soon as possible, I am afraid that it will change later." ”

When Zhang Yan heard Kong Rong say this, he asked, "Kong Beihai, did you really promote me as the pastor of Qingzhou?" ”

"Qingzhou has been the land of Qi since ancient times, and the country of Qi has gradually become one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States on the basis of this place, so he naturally has his unique advantages. Zhang Zhijun already owns Xuzhou, and if he has Qingzhou, he will be able to achieve a king's hegemony with the majesty of the two states. Now that the Han dynasty is decadent and the heroes are divided, if Zhang Envoy can rely on Qingzhou and Xuzhou to become a hegemon, he will be able to win the Central Plains and go straight to Chang'an. In this way, the Son of Heaven can be rescued, the Han Dynasty can be restored, and it will definitely go down in history. Kong Rong said impassionedly.

When Zhang Yan heard this, he finally understood, it turned out that Kong Rong made himself the pastor of Qingzhou with ulterior motives, and he wanted to use his shili to rescue the Son of Heaven trapped in Chang'an.

However, what Kong Rong said does make sense.

Shandong is located in the north-south traffic to rush up, the water system in the territory is criss-crossed, fertile land is ten thousand hectares, salt, iron, fishery and other industries are very developed, to the north you can peep Jizhou, Youzhou, to the south can overlook the two Huai, more can be far away from the left of the river.

However, Shandong is a low mountain and hilly, facing the sea on three sides, the terrain is medium high and the surrounding area is low, and the water system shoots out from the central mountains. Its shape is not as good as the danger of Yongliang, its fiefdom is not as vast as Jingyang, it can be attacked on three sides, and it lacks strategic depth. Therefore, the terrain here is not conducive to defense, and if you are trapped in Shandong, then you will not be far from defeat.

Although Shandong cannot be defended, if Shandong attacks from all sides, it can be won, and the ancients called it the place of four blows.

Zhang Yan has now occupied Xuzhou, and if he wins Qingzhou again, he will definitely be like a tiger with wings.

Seeing the sincerity of Kong Rong's face, he said: "What Kong Beihai said is exactly what I think in my heart, if I can really win the Central Plains, the first thing is to lead the elite army, go to Chang'an, rescue the Son of Heaven, and then assist the Son of Heaven, Kuang Restore the Han Dynasty, and make it prosperous." ”

"If Zhang Yuanjun can really think like this, then the Son of Heaven will be very lucky, and the people will be very happy!"

Subsequently, Zhang Yan and Kong Rong chatted for a long time, and revealed that he was short of manpower and thirsty for talent. So, Kong Rong took the initiative to recommend a talent for Zhang Yan, this person's surname is Wang Mingxiu, the word Shuzhi, and he is from Beihai Yingling.

In addition, Kong Rong successively recommended several celebrities in Qingzhou.

Zhang Yan then continued to let Kong Rong be the state minister in Beihai State as the Qingzhou pastor, and was fully responsible for recruiting talents.

Kong Rong was also willing to serve Zhang Yan, so he promised to recruit a group of talents for Zhang Yan within a month.

On the same day, Zhang Yan and Kong Rong chatted late, and the more they chatted, the more speculative they became, and they also felt a little sympathetic.

In the evening, after Zhang Yan and Kong Rong finished dinner, they arranged for Kong Rong to stay in the guest room. He also rested early, preparing to lead his troops to the plains tomorrow.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yan took Tai Shici, Xu Chu, Niu Jin, Xu Sheng and others to leave Linzi City and go to the plains.

Kong Rong temporarily stayed in Linzi, managing the 3,000 Yuan soldiers who had sincerely surrendered, and began to recruit talents.

……

Pingyuan County, Gaotang County.

On the city wall, the military flag with the word "Yuan" fluttered in the wind, and Han Meng wore an iron helmet and iron armor, standing under Daxu, looking at the enemy army outside with a gloomy face.

In the open space outside the city, Zang Ba, the captain of Xuanyi, rode on a tall horse, surrounded by Wu Dun, Chang Xuan, Sun Guan and other generals, and thousands of Xuzhou soldiers were neatly arranged there, waiting for the battle.

The city wall of Gaotang County has long been stained red with blood, and it is even more devastated, and the corpses of Xuzhou soldiers lie horizontally and vertically under the city wall, and broken ladders, broken skulls, and broken blades can be seen everywhere.

As the sun sets, the sunset on the horizon is red, as if it has formed a contrast with here, and the rich smell of blood is carried away by the wind, and it can be smelled everywhere within a radius of several miles.

"Drumming! If you attack again, I won't believe it, I won't even be able to take this small county town! Zang Ba rode on horseback, his brows furrowed, and his eyes revealed a sense of hatred, looking at Han Meng on the city wall viciously.

After Wu Dun heard Zang Ba's words, he hurriedly persuaded: "My lord, if we continue to attack like this, our army's losses will be even greater. This man named Han Meng is a general under Yuan Shao's account, and he is very good at defense. His subordinates only had more than 2,000 men, and he was stunned to resist the attack of more than 5,000 people of our army, which is really not to be underestimated. The last general thought that since the strong attack could not be carried out, then he would outwit it, and after thinking of a clever plan to break the enemy, he would definitely be able to take the city. ”

Sun Guan said: "My lord, what Wu Dun said is very true. In the past two days, our army has launched several strong attacks in a row, and Han Meng commanded Ruoding, and the city of Gaotang County was as stable as a rock, and our army also suffered heavy casualties, so far, more than 1,800 soldiers have been killed in battle, and many of the troops have been wounded......

Zang Ba said: "Although our army has suffered a lot of losses, but the Yuan army also has a lot of casualties, I don't believe that he Han Meng can really hold this place with so few people!" Attack again, this time, I personally went into battle and told the soldiers that whoever kills a Yuan soldier will be rewarded with 10,000 yuan, and whoever can kill Han Meng will be rewarded with a million dollars. ”

Wu Dun and Sun Guan saw that Zang Ba was bent on going his own way, and hurriedly persuaded: "Your Excellency, ......"

"I have made up my mind, and if you say more, you will not be forgiven!" Zang Ba said categorically.

Wu Dun and Sun Guan had no choice but to inform the soldiers and prepare to attack again.

This time, Zang Ba gave a heavy reward, and the soldiers were in high spirits and geared up there.

Zang Ba rolled over and jumped off his horse, picking out a thousand daredevils and preparing to attack with him.

With a long knife in one hand and a shield in the other, he let Wu Dun, Sun Guan, and Chang Xuan press the formation behind, and he personally led the soldiers and rushed towards the county seat of Gaotang.

Gaotang County is a small city, there is no moat, and the city wall is not very high, but the Yuan army, under the command of Han Meng, was stunned to win more with less, and withstood wave after wave of attacks by Xuzhou soldiers.

Now, when Han Meng saw that Zang Ba personally led the army to attack, he immediately asked the archers to prepare to shoot, and he even took out a bow, opened the bow and set up arrows, aimed at Zang Ba, and prepared to shoot him.

"Rush!" Zang Ba led a thousand people who dared to die, running like the wind, extremely fast, and soon drove into the range of Yuan's archers.

On the city tower, Han Meng shot the arrow with a "whoosh", and shouted at the same time: "Release the arrow!" ”

With Han Meng's order, the archers on the city tower immediately shot arrows, and for a while, hundreds of arrows flew out of the city.

Zang Ba held a shield in one hand, a knife in the other, ran forward quickly, did not run to the city, he saw an arrow shooting, he waved the long knife in his hand, directly cut the arrow into two, and then, and waved the long knife continuously, set aside several arrows that were shot, and rushed to the city wall with a cold face.

The Xuzhou soldiers behind him were also brave, and in the face of the arrows shot by Yuan Jun, some soldiers couldn't dodge and were killed by arrows. Fortunately, the soldiers carrying the ladder rushed to the bottom of the city wall unscathed and quickly erected the ladder.

On the city tower, Han Meng was a little surprised to see that an arrow did not hit Zang Ba, and when he saw that the Xuzhou soldiers had rushed to the bottom of the city wall, he immediately discarded the bow and arrow, picked up a big stone, and smashed it towards Zang Ba under the city wall.