Chapter 323: Yuan and Cao split, Yu Fan cheats

Julu County was once the site of Xiang Yu's Battle of Julu.

This time it was Yuan Shao's turn to host a banquet for Cao Cao, and there were only two people participating.

The first practice after the two-hand cooperation was fruitful.

Yuan Shao was very happy without the annoying worries. The main purpose of hosting a banquet to entertain Cao Cao was to discuss the issue of territory division.

Yuan Shao also saw clearly that it would be impossible to get rid of Cao Cao without bleeding some blood.

So this time, Yuan Shao directly took out a geomancy map of Youzhou and Jizhou and placed it between the two of them.

"I will give Hejian County to you, and the remaining two counties and four kingdoms in Jizhou will all belong to me."

Yuan Shao took the initiative and said, "How about this? I will give you the most fertile land in Jizhou. Isn't that good enough?"

Cao Cao was speechless. Hejian County was the county next to Yijing where Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan had fought for more than a year. After such a long period of turmoil, it was no longer as prosperous as it used to be.

"Brother Benchu." Cao Cao smiled bitterly and said, "You are using Hejian County to exchange the two counties and two countries in my hands. Isn't that too greedy?"

After destroying Zhang Yan, Changshan State was returned to Yuan Shao, and the southern Zhao State, Wei County and Julu County were naturally occupied by Cao Cao.

"That is my Jizhou land!"

Yuan Shao said angrily: "It's fine if you just snatch it away, but do you really think you are the master?"

Cao Cao's face was not looking good either, but if he wanted to produce in the cracks, he had to cooperate with Yuan Shao.

News of the death of Lu Bu in Yanzhou in the south has come. Yuan Shu is a stray dog ​​and cannot be trusted. Dong Zhuo is also dead, and Chang'an is in chaos.

Looking across the whole world, Yuan Shao is the only prince who is qualified to challenge Jin Mao.

Originally, Yuan Shao was able to challenge Jin Mao alone, but after Cao Cao intervened, he was more than half as weak.

At the moment, Cao Cao only hopes to join forces with Yuan Shao to drive out Yu Fan, Zhao Yun and others from Youzhou in the north.

At that time, after a few more years of development, even if we cannot defeat Jinmao, we will have room to retreat.

But now Yuan Shao’s non-cooperation made Cao Cao very uncomfortable.

After all, Cao Cao now controls one state and seven counties, and his army has reached a new high of 60,000!
Apart from being inferior to Yuan Shao in terms of military strength, in what other aspects is he not stronger than Yuan Shao?

This is where the problem lies. If you have a big fist, you can speak in a tough manner.

As it turned out, Cao Cao could not defeat Yuan Shao.

This is also the reason why Yuan Shao dared to say this.

"Brother Benchu, please be patient."

In the end, Cao Cao, who was flexible and adaptable, finally compromised.

"We have a common enemy right now."

"Youzhou!"

However, it didn't work for Yuan Shao this time.

"I do not care!"

Yuan Shao crossed his arms and said, "If you agree, everything will be fine. If you don't, we'll go to war!"

There was an unquestionable light in Yuan Shao's eyes, and his voice carried a majesty and determination that should not be underestimated.

Cao Cao knew very well that facing the current tough attitude of his former ally, any verbal concession would only make the other party more aggressive.

So he took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and tried to make his tone sound calm and firm.

“When the crane and the clam fight, the fisherman gains.

Brother Benchu, you and I both know that if Youzhou is allowed to grow too powerful, no one can escape the fate of being liquidated.

If the two of us kill each other because of personal grudges, only the general will benefit. "Cao Cao said slowly, his eyes deep, trying to put the overall situation first and persuade Yuan Shao.

“Although my army is slightly inferior to yours in terms of manpower, I believe I am no less capable than you in terms of strategy and military tactics.

If we can work together, first eliminate the threat from Youzhou, and then discuss other things, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds? By then, who among the heroes of the world would not admire the heroic names of the two of us?"

Cao Cao's words were full of longing and confidence for the future, trying to inspire Yuan Shao's ambitions.

Yuan Shao's expression was slightly moved when he heard this, but he immediately returned to his stern look. He was silent for a moment, as if he was having a fierce struggle deep in his heart.

Finally, he spoke slowly, with a hint of helplessness and compromise in his tone: "Cao Mengde, you are right. The affairs of Youzhou are indeed the top priority at the moment. I will not give in on the affairs of Jizhou, but I can share Youzhou with you equally."

Cao Cao exclaimed, "What a guy! He never thought that there would come a day when he would be deceived by empty promises.

As a CPU master, how could Cao Cao lose to Yuan Shao in this regard.

Cao Cao raised a meaningful smile, staring at Yuan Shao with a sharp gaze: "Yuan Benchu, you and I both know that dividing Youzhou is only a temporary measure. The real competition lies in who can seize the opportunity in this chaotic world and unify the north and even the world.

Youzhou is fertile, but if no one governs it, it will be nothing but a wasteland. I am willing to join hands with you, not only to divide Youzhou equally, but also to work together for the great cause of the world. You and I will each bring out our strengths, you are good at logistics and food, and I am good at strategic layout. With our complementary strengths, why worry about not accomplishing great things? "

When Yuan Shao heard this, a strange light flashed in his eyes. He had never expected Cao Cao to have such a broad mind and foresight. He couldn't help but admire him in his heart.

But years of power struggles have prevented him from revealing all his cards easily. He sighed and said, "Cao Mengde, you are indeed not an ordinary person. But the affairs of the world cannot be decided overnight. Although you and I have a consensus, we must also guard against disputes for profit in the future.

I think it is better to sign an alliance, fight Jinmao together, restore the Han Dynasty, and wait until the Central Plains is stable before discussing other things. "

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao secretly thought that Yuan Shao was really cunning. If they formed an alliance, wouldn't it be equivalent to declaring war on Jin Mao? How could he have the best of both worlds?

If Cao Cao had to choose an enemy between Yuan Shao and Jin Mao, he would rather choose Yuan Shao than to be an enemy of the powerful monster in the south.

Think about it, Jin Mao only sent one group of troops to Youzhou, but he caused the two princes a headache. If he goes all out, who can stop him?
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao knew clearly that cooperation would only lead to a slow death, while non-cooperation would lead to sudden death.

The only chance is that there is chaos within Jinmao, but that is impossible unless Jinmao dies.

But Jin Mao is much younger than the two of them, so if anyone is going to die, they will die first.

"Brother Benchu, please don't make such jokes."

Cao Cao chuckled and said, "I still rely on the general's food supply to survive, how could I betray him?"

Yuan Shao was disdainful, and it seemed like cutting off Youzhou's road to the south was not a betrayal.

"Then there's nothing to talk about."

Cao Cao's head was buzzing. Ever since this headache had attacked him once, it would come out to cause trouble from time to time.

"I have a plan. As long as Brother Benchu ​​helps me, we can form an alliance."

Yuan Shao's eyes wandered across Cao Cao's face, as if looking for the deeper meaning behind this sudden "plan".

He spoke slowly, with a barely perceptible hint of amusement in his voice: "Oh? Meng De actually has a good plan? But the trust between you and me has long been fragile. How can you guarantee that this plan will not become a trap for me, Yuan Shao?" Cao Cao took a deep breath and looked at Yuan Shao firmly, as if he could see through people's hearts: "Brother Benchu, although you and I have some grudges, we are facing a powerful enemy at the moment, surrounded by powerful enemies outside, and the people's livelihood is declining inside. If we continue to kill each other, it will only make the world laugh at us.

The plan I, Cao Cao, proposed was not for personal gain, but for the sake of the overall situation and our common future. "

He paused for a moment and continued, "If this plan succeeds, it will not only help us solve our food and grass problems, but also give us the opportunity to severely damage those princes who intend to divide the world.

I am willing to guarantee with my life that this plan is absolutely true. Of course, if Brother Benchu ​​still has doubts, I am willing to reveal some details first, and wait for you to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. "

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao frowned slightly, obviously considering Cao Cao's proposal seriously.

He knew very well that the current situation was indeed not optimistic. If he could temporarily put aside his prejudice with Cao Cao and join forces to fight the enemy, he might be able to turn the tide. But once trust was broken, it would be extremely difficult to rebuild it.

"Tell me about it. If it can really solve my urgent problem, it can be a way out." Yuan Shao finally relented, but there was still some wariness in his tone.

Seeing this, Cao Cao felt relieved and then whispered his plan to Yuan Shao.

It was nothing more than a joint effort by the two to trick Jinmao into storing food and grass at sea, and then to destroy the bridge after crossing the river.

Yuan Shao was disappointed. After talking for a long time, Cao Cao only cared about his own interests and never considered the issue from his perspective.

However, Yuan Shao also saw in Cao Cao's proposal an opportunity to regain the entire Jizhou.

"Okay! Let's do it!"

Yuan Shao agreed very straightforwardly, and stood up and said, "I will go back and prepare now."

Such behavior instead aroused Cao Cao's suspicion. His eyes flickered slightly, and he secretly guessed Yuan Shao's true intentions.

He knew very well that Yuan Shao had always been arrogant, so the fact that he agreed so quickly must be something fishy.

"Wait a minute!" Cao Cao stood up slowly, with a tentative tone in his voice: "Brother Benchu, although you and I are allies, this matter is of great importance. It concerns the life and death of both armies. I hope that you and I can be honest with each other and not have any selfish thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's lips curled up into an imperceptible smile. He turned around and looked at Cao Cao with deep eyes: "Meng De, you worry too much. Although I, Yuan Shao, am not a saint, I also know that the overall situation is more important. Youzhou cannot be lost, and it is imperative for you and me to form an alliance. As for the distribution of our interests, it will not be too late to discuss it after the matter is accomplished."

Cao Cao had some doubts when he heard this, but seeing Yuan Shao's sincere words and firm attitude, he could not say anything more. He nodded slightly to show his agreement: "In this case, let's act separately. You will be responsible for mobilizing troops and preparing for support; I will be responsible for negotiating with the Southern Army and luring them into the trap. Remember, this matter must be kept extremely confidential. Once leaked, the consequences will be disastrous."

Yuan Shao nodded heavily, and the two looked at each other, with determination and expectation flashing in each other's eyes.

Then, Yuan Shao turned around and strode away, leaving Cao Cao in deep thought.

After Cao Cao's attempts, he became more and more uneasy, but Yuan Shao had clearly agreed to help. If Cao Cao broke the agreement first, Yuan Shao would never sit down to negotiate again, and the two would have to fight to the end.

There was no choice but for Cao Cao to carry out the plan.

Everything went smoothly. Yuan Shao cooperated very well and stationed his troops in Zhangwu County again. The two sides were on the verge of fighting again.

Cao Cao used the excuse of insufficient food and grass to request reinforcements again.

However, Cao Cao received the reply: "The first batch of food and grass has been exhausted. The next batch will take at least two months to arrive."

In reality, Cao Cao only obtained 50,000 shi of grain at the end of November, which was less than ten days ago. According to the normal speed, he had not used it up at all.

Moreover, the Confederate Army transported grain in batches without interruption. I have never heard that they had to wait for the ship to return before they could get more grain.

Cao Cao then asked, "But something big happened in Jiangnan?"

Yu Fan, who was in charge of transporting grain and grass, nodded and said, "The general went to Chang'an to take the emperor back to the eastern capital Luoyang, but was ambushed by villains and encountered danger."

"The general was furious and dispatched troops, food and supplies from various states, vowing to destroy the remaining bandits in Chang'an."

"Alas~" Yu Fan sighed and said, "General Cao, rest assured, new food and fodder will arrive in two months."

The news that Cao Cao had lost Jiangnan long before he arrived in Hebei was unknown whether it was true or not. How should the story proceed?

However, before Cao Cao could come up with a plan, Yuan Shao turned his fake play into reality and attacked Zhangwu County with sparks and lightning.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Cao Cao wanted to escape to the sea with the help of the Southern Army's navy, but he never expected that Yu Fan had already packed up and escaped.

There was no other choice but Cao Cao could only grit his teeth and lead his troops to fight back.

Cao's army fought a desperate battle, showing unimaginable courage, and defeated Yuan's army and drove them out of Zhangwu County.

In this battle, both sides suffered 20,000 casualties, 5,000 from Yuan's army and 15,000 from Cao's army.

Cao Cao was severely injured and some of his troops fled, leaving only 30,000 men, most of whom were new recruits.

Cao Cao understood that his plan to go north was aborted and he would certainly not be able to defend the counties he had just conquered.

Above the Bohai Bay.

Yu Fan sat on a large ship and drank happily to celebrate.

The Southern Army was indeed going to fight with Chang'an, but the food and fodder were not as abundant as Yu Fan had said.

The reason is very simple. The Youzhou cavalry has grown too fast and has exceeded 30,000. There is only so much food and fodder every month. There is no other way except to cut Cao Cao's rations.

"Cao Mengde, you definitely don't know how deeply the lord is on guard against you."

In the darkness of night, Yu Fan stared at the distant land by the light of the lamp. Yu Fan did not know the full picture of Cao Cao's actions in these days, but he knew that they were going relatively smoothly.

According to Jin Mao's explanation, if everything goes well for Cao Cao, he should help Yuan Shao more. This is called the way of balance.

Anyway, he would be conquered by his lord in the end, so Yu Fan didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

As for hiding the idea from Cao Cao, it was only to save the lord's face and not be the first to break the alliance.

Now Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were acting out their true feelings and had not violated the alliance.

So, two months later, Yu Fan still had to supply food to Cao Cao.

How to spend these two months is Cao Cao's own business. Yu Fan is not a nanny who has to take care of everything.

"By then, Colonel Cheng, Sima Zhao, Sima Wen, and Sima Xu should not be afraid of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao joining forces."

With 30,000 cavalrymen, after two months of training, Yu Fan didn't know how to lose.

According to observations over the past few days, Yuan Shao's cavalry does not exceed 20,000, while Cao Cao's cavalry is just over 10,000. If only the elite troops are counted, the number of cavalry for both families would have to be halved.

The Youzhou cavalry is not weak. As long as their discipline is improved, their combat effectiveness should increase exponentially.

"Cao Mengde, if you are smart enough, you should surrender to my lord."

Yu Fan drank another glass of strong liquor, which warmed his body and dispelled the chill of the Bohai Sea in the winter.

"Hmm~ I miss my hometown a little bit."

Yu Fan wrapped himself tightly in his mink fur and muttered, "Let's end this soon. I really don't like the weather in the north."

(End of this chapter)