Chapter 299: The Poisonous Scholar Jia Xu, Stirring Up the Storm

February thirteenth.

Huaiyin County, Guangling County.

Jia Xu received Jin Mao's order, but did not act on it immediately.

In his opinion, since Cao Cao unexpectedly took Yanzhou, he would not give away Xuzhou easily.

Furthermore, Huailing County on the other side of the river was under martial law, and no news could be transmitted from Yihongyuan. Jia Xu knew that Cao Cao was likely to go back on his word and destroy the bridge after having crossed it.

Therefore, Jia Xu entrusted Zhou Tai, the commander-in-chief of the Huaihe River Navy, to find out the situation on the other side of the river.

Soon, Zhou Tai sent back a message.

"Huailing County is under martial law!"

If Cao Cao really broke the agreement, the lost 200,000 tons of grain and fodder would probably never be recovered.

However, Jia Xu understood that Jinmao's primary strategic goal had been achieved.

Two hundred thousand grains of food would bring about a rift between Cao and Yuan, which would bring more benefits than disadvantages to Jinmao's side.

Xuzhou is a place that has been fought on four sides, so it doesn’t matter whether you take it or not.

Even if Cao Cao really gave up Xuzhou, it is still unclear whether Jin Mao would dare to take it.

Jia Xu guessed that Jin Mao's order to take Xuzhou was false, and the real purpose was to create chaos.

Because the letter contains the words "full responsibility"!

Who is Jia Xu? Doesn’t Jin Mao know?
Giving full responsibility to such a person would only disrupt the situation.

In response to this, Jia Xu was frightened and excited at the same time.

Who doesn’t want to be a chess player who dominates the world?
What's more, there is a sense of making trouble "on orders" in it.

In this case, Jia Xu couldn't wait to play a game of chess.

If you think about it carefully, you don't have to worry about Yuzhou and Yanzhou. Yuan Shu will never let Cao Cao go. It is obvious that these two will fight.

Yuan Shao.

"We can't let him withdraw his hand too early!"

Jia Xu didn't know how long Gongsun Zan could last, but if Cao Cao could really occupy Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou and half of Yuzhou, there would definitely be no complications.

Neither help Yuan Shao nor fight Yuan Shao.

Then someone else would be needed to restrain Yuan Shao and prevent him from destroying Gongsun Zan easily.

"Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army?"

Jia Xu shook his head. This guy was beaten badly by Yuan Shao last year and has lost his courage.

But if Zhang Yan can't get a number, only outsiders will be left.

Wuhuan, Northern Xiongnu, Xianbei and so on.

Jia Xu still denied this possibility.

Because Gongsun Zan had beaten these foreign tribes too harshly, it was good enough if they didn't step on them too harshly. How could they possibly come to help Gongsun Zan?

"I hope Gongsun Zan can hold on a little longer."

Jia Xu focused on the Central Plains, so it would be better to weaken Cao Cao.

Having a powerful neighbor made not only Jin Mao sleepless, but Jia Xu also didn't want to be involved in a life-threatening fight.

Although Tao Qian had Xuzhou robbed by Cao Cao, he had a wide network of contacts and left many of them with him when he left.

Jia Xu wrote a letter to Tao Qian, explaining his capabilities and hoping that he would come out again to retake Xuzhou.

In the letter, Jia Xu mentioned that he would provide Tao Qian with food and supplies so that he would have no worries.

If Tao Qian really had this idea, it would not only weaken Yuan Shu's strength, but also make it difficult for Cao Cao to resist.

If Tao Qian is too old to move, Jia Xu also has a second plan.

Huailing County is not a place exclusive to Cao Cao, but to the Chen family!

Jia Xu didn't believe that Chen Gui and his son Chen Deng could tolerate Cao Cao's notice.

Write another letter.

At this moment.

Gan Ning, the captain of the third battalion, had nothing to do, so he asked to see Jia Xu, hoping to be given an assignment.

Just when Jia Xu was worried that no one was going to Huailing County to deliver the letter, Gan Ning came to his door.

After spending some time together, Jia Xu knew that Gan Ning's talent was superior to Zhou Tian's. Not only was he proficient in naval warfare, he was also good at archery, horse riding and shooting. He was an all-round military general.

No wonder it gained Jinmao’s trust and was able to upgrade rapidly.

"Captain Gan is here."

Jia Xu quickly stood up and invited, "Hurry up and sit down, hurry up and sit down."

In terms of official position, Jia Xu, a county magistrate, is naturally not as good as the captain of the main camp, but Jia Xu was appointed by Jin Mao to be in charge of the political affairs in the Huaihe River Basin and even to interfere in military affairs.

From this perspective, Jia Xu is Gan Ning's direct superior, but in terms of military rank, Jia Xu is several levels lower than Gan Ning.

After all, the speed at which a military strategist gains military merits cannot be compared with that of a military general.

Therefore, Jia Xu was very kind and friendly to generals such as Gan Ning and Zhou Tai.

Jia Xu never neglected even the low-level officers and tried his best to meet everyone's needs.

Generals such as Gan Ning also respected Jia Xu very much, as the title of military advisor is not something that everyone can bear.

"Thank you, Lord Jia." Gan Ning clasped his fists and said, "I'll just stand there."

Jia Xu nodded, not forcing him, and asked, "What is Xingba doing here?"

"Mr. Jia," Gan Ning said, "My brothers have heard that a war is about to break out, and they are all urging me to come and take on the mission."

Gan Ning spread his hands and said, "I have no choice but to ask Lord Jia if he has any assignments."

Gan Ning still uses his old ways, treating his subordinates as brothers, which really wins people's hearts.

Look, in just half a year, the cohesion of the Third Battalion has far surpassed the other three battalions, and Gan Ning's words are even as effective as Jin Mao's.

Jia Xu saw everything and always kept his distance from Gan Ning.

In Jia Xu's opinion, Jin Mao is a person with a strong desire for power. Gan Ning's behavior is a challenge to authority and he will be dealt with sooner or later.

However, the combat effectiveness of the three battalions is also a very important link, and Jia Xu does not dare to offend them easily.

"Captain Gan, don't worry. It won't be too late to dispatch after Commander Zhou has gathered all the information."

Jia Xu flattered him lightly: "The Third Battalion is the main force of Guangling County, how can we move it lightly?"

Sure enough, when Gan Ning heard this, he smiled and said, "Mr. Jia, you are too kind. The Third Battalion can be where it is today thanks to your efforts."

He said modestly: "I just got lucky."

Jia Xu nodded secretly in his heart, admiring Gan Ning's humility and self-awareness.

He knows very well that in these chaotic times, those who can keep a clear head and a humble attitude can often go further.

So, he changed the subject and continued, "Captain Gan is too modest. The reputation of the Third Battalion is not only well-known in Guangling County, but also a terrifying existence in the entire Jiangdong.

This is of course inseparable from your wise command, Captain Gan, and the heroic fighting of the soldiers.

However, as the saying goes, "Speed ​​is the most important thing in war, and careful planning is also the most important thing before action." We must not only demonstrate the bravery and combat prowess of the Third Battalion, but also ensure that every action can achieve the expected results, so that we can remain invincible in troubled times."

Gan Ning's expression became serious when he heard this. He knew that what Jia Xu said was true. As a general who had been on the battlefield for a long time, he naturally understood the importance of strategy and tactics.

So, he bowed and said, "Mr. Jia is right. I was too impatient. Please rest assured, Mr. Jia, I will patiently wait for the news from Governor Zhou before making a decision. However, if there is a chance for war, I hope Mr. Jia can lend me a hand and overcome the difficulties together."

Jia Xu smiled slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes. "Don't worry, Captain Gan. You and I both serve the Lord, so we should support each other and work together for great things. When the time is right, I will fully support the actions of the Third Battalion."

After saying this, the two smiled at each other.

After dealing with Gan Ning, who was eager to make progress, Jia Xu immediately got down to work and sent people to deliver letters and contact all parties.

But there are always times when plans cannot keep up with changes.

February 30th.

Jia Xu had just received the news that Tao Qian had led his army to break away from Yuan Shu and march eastward, but he received another even more shocking news.

Yuan Shu sent Ji Ling and Liu Xun to lead 10,000 troops each to break through the blockade of Xiahou Yuan and others.

Lu Bu took the opportunity to head north and joined forces with Zhang Yang, the governor of Henei, and Yu Luofu of the Southern Xiongnu.

Welcomed by Zhang Miao, the prefect of Chenliu County, they invaded Yanzhou.

Cao Cao led his army to resist, but was defeated and fled eastward.

Lu Bu takes control of Yanzhou!

The situation reversed instantly.

Yuan Shu took the opportunity to retake the three vassal states of Yuzhou.

However, something more interesting happened.

Yuan Shu was preparing to take over the eight counties of Yanzhou, but he was attacked from behind by Lu Bu's army, resulting in the loss of most of his 30,000 soldiers.

It was at this time that Tao Qian led 20,000 troops to announce his separation from Yuan Shu and marched eastward to Xuzhou.

This really made Yuan Shu's already disadvantageous situation even worse, and his strength was greatly damaged.

Yuan Shu originally had 80,000 troops, but in the end, he didn't gain a single cent. Instead, he lost more than 50,000 troops, leaving only more than 25,000 troops.

It's not over yet.

The second day of March.

When Gan Ning learned that Tao Qian had invaded Xuzhou and Pei State again, he could no longer sit still and found Jia Xu again.

"Mr. Jia, Tao Qian's move is clearly to take advantage of Yuan Shu's setback and expand his sphere of influence in Xuzhou.

Gan Ning frowned, and his tone revealed an unquestionable determination: "Pei State is the northern barrier of our Xia Pi County. If it is lost, our northern gate will be wide open, and the consequences will be disastrous."

Although he said so, Gan Ning just wanted a chance to fight, as if to say: "Look, if you don't fight now, you won't even have a sip of soup!"

Jia Xu stroked his long beard, his eyes deep, as if he was calculating every change in the chess game.

"Captain Gan, please be patient." Jia Xu said in a lukewarm tone, "Tao Qian's troops are deceived. The whole army mistakenly believes that this is Yuan Shu's order."

"When the truth comes out, that will be the day of Tao Qian's demise. He will be nothing but dry bones in a grave. There is no need to worry."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning realized that Jia Xu was not making a move without a purpose, but he had promised his brothers that he would definitely leave this time.

Therefore, Gan Ning was too lazy to make excuses and said, "Mr. Jia, Cao Cao is going too far!"

"Now that we are busy with our own affairs, it is a good time to cut the weeds and root them out!"

"Gan would rather lead his troops to first capture Huailing and then Pengcheng, leaving Cao Cao with no place to stand!"

Jia Xu also knew that Gan Ning had a bad temper, and if he didn't explain things clearly this time, he would definitely not be able to get away with it.

He explained, "Captain Gan, I understand your feelings, but the Art of War says: 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger.'

Although Cao Cao was temporarily trapped, he had many wise counselors and generals under his command, and they were not ordinary people.

Although our troops’ morale is high, we also need to be strategic and avoid unnecessary sacrifices.

Furthermore, although Tao Qian is weak, he has not lost the support of the people in Xuzhou. If our army acts rashly, we may end up in a protracted war.

Regardless of the loss of food and military supplies, if we lose soldiers and generals, how can we explain to the Lord?"

Jia Xu continued, "Captain Gan wants to capture Huailing and Pengcheng, which is commendable, but these two cities cannot be conquered in one day. The current focus of our army is to stabilize the rear, accumulate strength, and at the same time find an opportunity to drive Cao and swallow Tao, so that they will consume each other.

When the time is right, we will strike with all our might and hit the target. This will not only minimize our casualties, but also ensure a stable outcome.”

Seeing Gan Ning's determination to achieve his goal, Jia Xu said helplessly, "If Captain Gan really wants to make achievements, he might as well lead his troops to inspect the river defense first to ensure that our front line is safe.

At the same time, spies can be sent to infiltrate behind enemy lines to collect intelligence and prepare for future wars.

As for the frontal battlefield, I will devise a brilliant plan to lure Cao Cao into the trap. Then, the general will lead the elite troops to attack Huanglong directly. Isn't that wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning was silent for a moment, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

He knew very well that Jia Xu's plan was far-reaching, and that his impulsiveness just now was indeed inappropriate.

So, he bowed and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Jia, your opinion is profound. Gan Ning has learned from it. From today on, I will lead the troops to strengthen the river defense and send spies into the enemy territory. When Mr. Jia gives the order, Gan Ning will lead the troops and live up to your trust!"

Jia Xu smiled slightly and nodded gently, admiring Gan Ning's loyalty and bravery.

The battlefield is not just about fighting and killing, you also have to consider the human relationships and worldly wisdom.

For example, the lord's attitude towards Cao Cao was ambiguous, and Jia Xu did not dare to make a decision on his own and devote all his strength to dealing with Cao Cao.

For example, if we can disrupt the situation in Kanto without spending a single soldier, why bother spending money and food on a forceful attack?

Wouldn't it be better to let them kill each other? When they are tired of fighting, you can send in a large force to attack them all in one go, saving time and effort.

Based on the above, Jia Xu decided to write a letter to his lord to ask for his attitude towards Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Yuan Shao and others.

It would be fine for Gan Ning to just say a few perfunctory words to fool him, but Jia Xu knew that his lord was not easy to fool, and such an important matter must be made clear.

Otherwise, doing something wrong is a small matter, but killing the wrong person is a big matter.

If his lord's plan was ruined, Jia Xu felt that he would have to chop off his own heads.

Speaking of which, if his youngest son hadn't been willing to risk his life to make a career, Jia Xu wouldn't have worked so hard.

Slacking off at work was Jia Xu's favorite thing to do in history.

The eighth day of March.

Cao Cao led the remnants of his troops and joined forces with Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong and others to gather 23,000 troops and launched an attack on Tao Qian's troops who were invading Pei State.

According to the reports from the frontline spies sent by Gan Ning, this time Cao Cao and Tao Qian had a big show of "chickens fighting each other".

On Tao Qian's side, many people received orders from Yuan Shu to return. After the middle and high-level generals were massacred by Tao Qian, no one dared to disobey Tao Qian's orders.

Similarly, the morale and combat effectiveness of these 20,000 people had fallen to the bottom, and they were not much stronger than the Moth Bandits in the earlier Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Normally speaking, Cao Cao was a first-rate warrior, so he would definitely be defeated by this kind of pleasure.

However, after several days of defeat, the army had lost all morale, and with the food and grass running out, its situation was not much better than Tao Qian's army.

Thus, the most miserable battle since the 18 princes launched the campaign against Dong Zhuo began.

Although Cao Cao became the final winner, after fighting this battle, only less than 10,000 of the 23,000 troops were left.

Most of them were non-combat casualties and deserters, and only a very small number died in battle.

No matter how strict the Cao army's military discipline is, it is useless. These people were once Yellow Turban bandits. How could they have families and concerns? Even if Cao Cao wanted to investigate, he didn't know where to start.

As for the 20,000 elite troops led by Cao Ren of Huailing County, why didn't Cao Cao mobilize them?
Gan Ning was so eager to gain military merit that he almost gave up, so Cao Ren tried to make a move.

At that time, Cao Cao will not only have to face Tao Qian, but also the pursuit of the Huaihe River Navy and three battalions of four thousand elite troops!

Which is lighter and heavier, at a glance.

(End of this chapter)