In March of the 12th year of Guangxi, Yuan Shao had to lead his army to support Dingtao because of frequent emergencies. As a result, Cao Cao secretly dug the Ji River on the way. Although the Ji River was not the season of water, the river flooded the road, causing Yuan Shao's cavalry to fall into mud. When he had to assemble on the straight road, he was attacked by Cao's heavy cavalry.

The cavalry was defeated, and Yuan Shao's infantry had to retreat back to the wrongful words. They were repeatedly pursued and surrounded by Cao Cao along the way. Finally, they were broken by heavy cavalry. Yuan Shao was defeated and fled back to Jiyang in panic.

The powerful generals in Dingtao and foreign aids fell a few days later. Cao Cao immediately pointed at Puyang. Once Puyang fell, Yuan Shao was besieged in Chenliu! Yuan Shao was shocked and immediately led his army to abandon Chenliu and passed through Yan County. He ran back to Puyang with white horses. Chenliu was then recovered by Xun You.

Yuan Shao shrank in Puyang and did not come out. The pressure from Cao Cao's army immediately crushed the east. Gao Gan and Yan Liang were already alone. Seeing Shanyang, Rencheng and Dongping fell one after another, Yanzhou had almost been completely lost to Cao Cao's hands. Yuan Shao's defeated prime minister had appeared, and he felt like he was in the evening.

In Puyang City, Yuan Shao's convention hall was a quarrel, and everyone blamed each other and shirked responsibility. As for what to do now, it seems that everyone has intentionally avoided this topic.

Yuan Shao drove all the ministers out in anger, leaving only his own staff. Yuan Shao could no longer describe it as worrying at this moment, but he should be worried.

This failed army was not only a military failure, but also wasted all the investment in Yuan Shao's reconstruction of Yanzhou. A country's power is a complete system. A local failure seems to not affect the overall situation, but the heavy losses suffered here, population losses, confidence losses and other series of impacts will affect the overall situation of this political force.

The western part of Yanzhou was lost, and the eastern and northern parts were difficult to defend, and even the western part of Qingzhou might not be safe. If you retreat to the north of the Yellow River, you can breathe a sigh of relief, but if you retreat and want to come back, it would be even more difficult.

And the western part of Qingzhou, which has been built halfway through Yanzhou, has basically recovered its vitality, will fall into Cao Cao's pocket in vain. As one goes up and down, Yuan Shao's desire to turn over is different from a dream.

This ending was absolutely unacceptable to Yuan Shao, so Yuan Shao was anxious. He was so anxious that he couldn't sleep or eat, and he was so anxious that he had bubbles in his mouth.

"Everyone, the situation is difficult now. How can we change the situation in front of you? You can have a good idea!"

Shen Pei, Xu You, Zheng Ji, Guo Tu, and Xun Chen looked at each other. If there was a way, who would have hidden it, would have said it long ago. This war not only concerns Yuan Shao's future interests, but also everyone's future interests. No one wants to fail.

Yuan Shao looked at everyone with a calm face and hopeful look. No one spoke for a while, which made Yuan Shao's heart burst into flames!

"Hmph! Aren't they all very smart? They usually speak very well, why are they all dumb at critical moments?! Hum?"

Everyone looked at each other again, and finally Xu You sighed and said, "Benchu, it's not that everyone has no choice, but everyone knows that this method is probably difficult for Benchu ​​to accept, so they don't dare to say it!"

"Oh? Could it be that I was asking me to fully retreat to Hebei? This is also called a method, it is simply a big absurdity in the world!"

Yuan Shao clenched his fists tightly with his hands, and his forehead was so angry that his veins jumped straight. Yuan Shao endured it tightly. He was afraid that he would not be able to bear it, so he jumped up and waved his sword to cut all the bastards.

"No!"

Xu You's slow words made Yuan Shao stunned, and his anger dissipated.

"Hmm? No, what's the solution? It will make it difficult for me to accept!"

"It's very simple, ask Fang Zhiwen for help!"

"What!?"

Yuan Shao was stunned, but he did not speak, but thought carefully about the possibility of this matter. After a while, Yuan Shao took a deep breath and tried to say in a gentle tone: "Isn't this suggestion very normal? Although Fang Zhiwen had rejected our suggestions for cooperating against Cao Cao before, now, even if he rejected it again, this suggestion itself is not a suggestion that is difficult for me to accept!"

"Benchu, it would be fine if it was just a rejection! When the two companies negotiated, Fang Zhiwen once proposed an idea, which was to exchange Zhongyuan for Jizhou. At that time, Benchu ​​refused voluntarily. If he went there at this time, it would probably be the same condition, and it was even harsh. Can Benchu ​​accept it?"

Yuan Shao breathed a sigh of relief, and his silence came to his mind, beating his fingers on the desk. Yuan Shao always thought that Fang Zhiwen's so-called condition was just to reject the trick he had come up with, but now Xu You's solemn old things are brought up again, perhaps Fang Zhiwen was serious at the time.

Everyone in the hall was paying attention to Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao's decision would involve everyone's personal interests.

If Yuan Shao rejected this suggestion, then no one would be optimistic about the outcome of the battle with Cao Cao in Yanzhou. The final outcome would probably be to return to Hebei obediently. Everyone would have lost their investment in Yanzhou. In the future, they would have to endure the oppression of two powerful princes, one south and one north, and eventually become a second-rate force, and even be annexed.

If you accept it, then no one dares to say what conditions Fang Zhiwen will offer. Even if Fang Zhiwen maintains the original conditions, the vital interests of everyone present will be seriously affected.

Therefore, everyone understands Yuan Shao’s embarrassment. The reason why no one has put forward this suggestion has been because everyone has not yet figured out the gains and losses.

Yuan Shao thought for a long time, finally raised his head, and said in a deep voice with a firm look on his face: "I have decided to return to Hebei. That's to survive. I, Yuan Shao, have not yet wanted to live in the world. I, Jizhou, exchanged the Central Plains for Jizhou. Although it is difficult to accept emotionally, are we making money or losing money in terms of interests?"

"I made a profit!" Xu You replied concisely.

"That's right, it's just a profit. Since you make money, why don't you do it? Since you can move forward, why should you shrink back! I decided to send someone north to negotiate immediately, just... Gongze and Ziyuan, please work hard for two people to have a good talk with Fang Zhiwen and exchange Jizhou for the Central Plains. If we do it, it's best to include Xuzhou!"

"promise!"

................

Xu You hasn't been here for a long time. Qinghekou Port has become very strange. The huge port makes Xu You feel very illusory. All these changes are really too much. A small port in the past has now become a giant city with millions of people living in it and several ships and vendors traveling, demonstrating the prosperity and prosperity of Youzhou.

This scene was really in contrast to the declining atmosphere when he left Puyang Port, which made Xu You feel a sour feeling in his heart.

Outside the Journey Terminal, there was already a small team of guards waiting for Xu You and Guo Tu. The one who came to greet Lu Su Lu Zijing of Youzhou Foreign Affairs Department.

Everyone was very polite to see the gift. People came and went here were not a place to talk. The three of them stood together, which attracted many curious eyes from strangers. Lu Su quickly took the two away.

"Thank you two for a long time. Should you take a day off and go to see my lord tomorrow?"

Both of them knew that time was urgent now, so they naturally didn't want to delay their work because of some fatigue.

"If it is convenient, we hope to meet Lord Fang as much as possible. The matter in Yanzhou is urgent and cannot be delayed."

Lu Su smiled and said, "Okay, then go directly to the government office to see if the lord can arrange time to meet with the two of you."

"I'm sorry for your hard work!"

"You're welcome. The two of you are from Puyang. What's the situation there? Has Cao Cao already started attacking Puyang?"

"Well, the periphery has been cleared and the building has begun to be built outside the city."

"Does the Iron Army have no intention of going to fight?"

"This... the Iron Army said that the troops were all in Ji County and Chaoge's front line, so there was no way to go to the aid. If Gongsun Zan took action again at this time, wouldn't it be bad!"

"Oh, where is the Eastern Front? The troops of the senior officials and General Yan Liang have not been damaged. They should be able to fight again, right?"

"This... the two generals have limited troops and the area to defend against is large. Now they are attacked from the west and south, and they can only shrink the front line. Now they have retreated to Dongping and Juping, but Cao's army's Jushu army is advancing east along the south bank of the Yellow River, trying to cut off Dongping's retreat. Therefore, the senior generals may retreat to Dong'e in the near future, and then may use Linyi and Lu County as the last line of defense."

Lu Su frowned: "This is what Dingtao's defeat is?"

"Haha, Zijing doesn't understand that our army's layout in Yanzhou has not been completed. In fact, most areas of Yanzhou are now human areas, so it is impossible to delay the dispersion of the enemy with city nodes. The main force of our army is eliminated and it takes time to recover. Cao Cao grasped the weakness of our army and pursued and fought relentlessly. While our army's old strength had not yet grown, we could seize important strategic points in one fell swoop. We must withdraw!"

Xu You smiled bitterly and explained to Lu Su softly. He didn't believe Lu Su didn't know these things. The reason why Lu Su asked was to see if he knew where he was defeated and whether he had a correct understanding of the situation in Yanzhou. To put it bluntly, he didn't want to have a teammate like a pig, so he had to take a look first.

"So that's it. So how much time does it take for your army to stand firm?"

"At least half a month, it's just that this period is enough for Cao Cao to take down all the strategic points of Henan. Even if our army adds it, it will face the embarrassing situation of fighting with Cao's army for strategic points!"

"But, doesn't Cao's army also face a long logistics line?"

"Haha, even if his logistics line is long, our army does not have the right node support, so it is impossible for us to harass this logistics line. Even if it is an alien, it still needs supplies!"

"Oh, then Ziyuan and Gong are here to ask for help?"

Xu You glanced at Lu Su who was smiling and felt that under his young face, there was a cunning heart! Xu You raised his lips slightly, and said with a firm tone:

"No, it's not asking for help, but cooperation!" To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Qidian (. voting for recommendations, monthly votes, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users please go to m.. to read.)
Chapter completed!