Chapter 245: Planning for Xuzhou

At this time, a guard had already come up to load the bait. Yuan Shu swung the bamboo pole hard, and the hook drew a beautiful arc in the air, splashing a few water splashes, and sank into the water.

A young and big-eyed maid quietly lifted the lid on the fish basket, looked at it for a while, and said enviously: "Oh~~ I have caught several fish, the master is really good at it." The little maid's eyes were bright, and she was full of admiration for Yuan Shu.

When he heard the praise, Yuan Shu was in a good mood and his face became much softer. In fact, Yuan Shu didn't like fishing. He just heard that the ancient wise emperor Shun liked fishing when he went out for a tour, so he imitated it. The difference was that Emperor Shun fished in the past to get food, while Yuan Shu fished just to fish for others to see and behaved with art.

Yuan Shu had just lifted the fishing rod and was about to catch another one, "Report~~ General Zhang came to see you!" A Yuan Shu's personal bodyguard knelt on one knee and clasped his fists to report.

Yuan Shu handed the fishing rod to the person beside him, his face calm as usual, and he said in a deep voice: "Please~~" After a while, a strong man with a tiger back and a bear waist walked over quickly and saluted after seeing Yuan Shu: "Lord, come and listen to the order!"

Since Zhang Yan successfully forced the Lu Su army to retreat, he was very popular with Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu believed that Zhang Yan was a talented general, and Zhang Xun was much stronger than Ji Ling. Therefore, Yuan Shu deliberately praised Zhang Yan repeatedly, in order to win people's hearts.

Zhang Yan also felt the huge difference between the official army and the Black Mountain bandits. As an official army, not only has military pay, but also food and grass, and it looks good in terms of face. Speaking of which, it is the military of the court, and officials must be welcomed wherever they go. Unlike the Black Mountain bandits, all the supplies have to be robbed by themselves and are besieged by the official army everywhere. Although the military discipline is not restricted and can live freely for a few days, Zhang Yan is an ambitious and thoughtful person and has always paid attention to restraining military discipline. He does not feel uncomfortable in this regard.

In Zhang Yan's eyes, Yuan Shu was the legitimate son of the Yuan family of the fourth generation and three dukes. He was well-organized and had a great influence throughout the country. He now occupied many prefectures and counties and was the master worthy of surrendering to him. With Yuan Shu, his future was bright. Therefore, Zhang Yan also tried his best to help Yuan Shu, expanding Yuan Shu's territory through continuous expeditions, and also expanding his own team. Through the test of previous battles, Zhang Yan eliminated the old, weak, sick and disabled in the army, and supplemented many young and strong men. Now the 80,000 people under his command are all elite soldiers and powerful generals.

Yuan Shu laughed and said, "General Zhang doesn't have to be too polite. Come on, look at the seat~~" Yuan Shu pointed his hand, and two Hu beds had been placed on the ground, and the two of them sat down respectively.

"Although the Xianbei people are wild and do not change, the Hu bed they use is very good. It is easy to carry and easy to use when they go out." Yuan Shu pointed at the Hu bed with his finger and sat down in a very comfortable position.

Although Zhang Yan sat down, his waist was still straight and replied somewhat restrainedly: "I had seen similar things when I was in Jizhou, but they were not as good as the two pieces of the lord." Yuan Shu liked luxury, and these two Hu beds were also made of good nanmu, and there were many fine patterns carved on them, which was naturally much more luxurious than what Zhang Yan had seen.

Yuan Shu laughed, "Some people say I am extravagant and wasteful, but I don't think so. In life, I should do something, but I don't have to treat myself badly. Look, the scenery here is so beautiful, and it's such a great enjoyment for us to sit on such a bed."

Zhang Yan nodded and said yes. He who knows how to adapt will naturally not miss this opportunity to flatter. "The lord has an elegant taste and a unique vision. He will not be able to catch up no matter how he studies~~"

Yuan Shu was happy, laughed loudly again, and said to Zhang Yan: "General Zhang is brave and good at fighting, just like my right-hand man. If I enjoy wealth and honor in the future, I will never forget each other. There is something now, I want to ask you to do it..."

Zhang Yan hurriedly replied: "Does the lord want me to attack Xuzhou?"

"Haha~~" Yuan Shu smiled, "General Zhang knows my heart well. Old Tao Qian is already terminally ill, but he rejected my kindness. Seeing that there is no one in Xuzhou and no one cares about the safety of the people, I am quite anxious~~Ah~~Who told me that I have always been anxious about the public? Just force myself to take on this important task..."

The maids standing around Yuan Shu laughed loudly when they heard this. They rarely saw Yuan Shu's expression. They didn't look like a young man from a noble family, but a gangster in the market.

Zhang Yan seemed to have not heard it. He immediately stood up, clasped his fists and replied: "Please rest assured, lord, I will definitely live up to my mission!"

"Okay!" Yuan Shu drummed his hands and said loudly, "I have ordered Ji Ling, who is stationed in Pengcheng, to divide his troops into six groups. Just wait for your army to arrive, and the seven armies will attack Tao Qian together. Remember, the other six groups of people are smoke screens. Your army is the main force of our army. Whether it can succeed in one battle depends on you!"

Zhang Yan was so passionate about his blood. Who said that our lord was short-sighted and frivolous? Judging from his plan, he was clearly a hero with a broad mind. It was worth it to work hard for such a lord!

Looking at Zhang Yan's back as he rode away, Yuan Shu's face gradually became cold. Yuan Shu, who claimed to be a noble family, attached great importance to a person's background. Although Zhang Yan was brave and good at fighting, he was from a poor family. He had gathered young men since childhood and became a group of thieves and fought among the mountains and lakes, which made him lose his color in Yuan Shu's mind.

Under the current situation, Yuan Shu has no general available and must rely on Zhang Yan, so he has a lot of favor with him. In time, Yuan Shu has more choices, and his attitude towards Zhang Yan will inevitably change.

Xuzhou, Xiapi City.

As one of the nine ancient Chinese states, Xuzhou is located in the transition zone between the north and the south. It is the key to the north and the gateway to the south. It has always been a strategic place and a gathering center for military strategists.

Xia Pi City has a superior geographical environment. It borders Sishui in the south, Yishui and Wushui come from north to circle the city and Sishui. It not only has the benefits of water transportation, but also has the convenience of irrigation, fishing and hunting. It has fertile soil and abundant resources.

Xia Pi was the capital of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xiang of Song built a city, and was called Xia Pi County in the Qin Dynasty. By the Han Dynasty, Xia Pi was once the capital of Chu, and Han Xin was the King of Chu, so he was stationed here. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xia Pi was established, which governed seventeen cities, and the area was quite large.

As an important town in the eastern part of the Han Dynasty, Xia Pi was quite developed in its economy and culture. It can be said to be the richest area in Xuzhou.
Chapter completed!