The spies and scouts of the Jingzhou Army were searching on the mountains, forests and rivers near Wancheng again and again, again and again...

At the beginning, the actions of the scouts in Jingzhou were not noticed by the Xiliang Army and Yuan Shu Army, but there was no airtight wall in the world. As Xun You asked Zhang Yun to send spies to investigate the mountains and forests near Wancheng again and again, gradually, the Xiliang Army and Yuan Shu Army finally began to notice the actions of the Jingzhou Army.

After all, in secret actions, it is too high to be discovered.

Since the scouts of the Jingzhou Army have been moving back and forth around Wancheng, the first person to notice their abnormal movements was naturally Yuan Shujun.

After Yuan Shujun's scout brought the news back to Wancheng, Yuan Shu did not dare to neglect it, so he immediately asked his subordinates to discuss it.

After this period of pain and suffering, Yuan Shu's appearance has become much older than before. He has become unkempt and looks a little sloppy.

The neat beard he had been repairing had become messy at this moment. The dark circles and big bags made him look decadent and his spirit became significantly weaker. Compared to Liu Qi's high spirits when he first saw him, he was completely different, and he had no pride and arrogance at that time.

The failure of several major battles has consumed most of his arrogance.

"The scouts of the Jingzhou Army took turns to explore around Wancheng, searching between the mountains and forests. This must be a big move. Now winter has passed, spring is coming, and it is time to raise troops again..."

When he said this, Yuan Shu's tone became somewhat lonely.

"Wancheng, I'm afraid I can't hold it anymore."

Yuan Shu's words were filled with sadness and unwillingness.

He currently has 30,000 soldiers and generals in Wan County, and also has complete baggage and armor, and he is not without the power of fighting. However, last year, after several defeats, most of his soldiers and generals have already rushed to Huainan. However, because he has stood there, the army of Yuan Shu's headquarters has not yet left in Wancheng.

In fact, it was not that Yuan Shu could not leave, but that he was reluctant to leave.

He had soldiers and generals, and had complete armor and food. Although his morale was low, if he really forced him to the point, if the 30,000 people under his command would fight to the end, they would also give him a heavy blow, so no one insisted on angering him.

Everyone wanted him to leave Wancheng obediently, but Yuan Shu didn't do that.

Compared with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu is not a generous person. He is very petty at heart. He is really reluctant to let go of Wancheng.

After Luoyang led the Hu Ben Army to leave, Yuan Shu directly arrived at Nanyang County to gain a foothold. He stationed here for more than two years, gradually grew and developed, and renovated Wancheng. After his repair, Wan County was larger than before, with more houses and more solid city structures.

According to Yuan Shu's idea, this place should be an important command center for him to command soldiers and generals to dominate the world, and it is his old nest and capital.

But now, I have to give in.

Even if everyone under his command advised Yuan Shu to leave, and Yuan Shu himself knew in his heart that he could not continue to stay in Nanyang County, but he just couldn't bear to leave.

However, as the Jingzhou army scouts began to operate on a large scale and high frequency, Yuan Shu also knew that it was indeed time for him to give up.

"Yan Zhubu..." Yuan Shu spoke slowly, his voice very hoarse for some reason: "I regret not listening to the chief clerk's words in the past, and even losing his foundation today. If Yuan had made good efforts with Benchu, he would gather the power of the Yuan family to fight for the world, and then discuss the brother's strength after his achievements are achieved, I think it would be a different situation now..."

With Yuan Shu's arrogance and character, since he is willing to say such words, it means that he is indeed quite regretful.

Yan Xiang also knew that if Yuan Shu was willing to join forces with Yuan Shao, one south and one north, and then join forces with other Yuan family members who served as county magistrates or national prime ministers, the situation today would definitely be a different situation... But there is no regret in this world. Since the things that should be done have been done, we have to bear the consequences and we can do nothing.

"The General of the Later General is not worried. Although the current situation in Nanyang County is not conducive to us, the Huai area is still under the control of our army. The Jianghuai area is rich and the population is dense and there are many rich households. The General of the Later General only needs to learn from his mistakes and lead his troops to the Huai area. Xu Tu develops and rests with peace of mind for two years. After he recovers his vitality, he will definitely take revenge."

Yuan Shu said helplessly: "Now that our foundation in Nanyang County has been lost. If we don't go to Huainan, there is no other way out. However, this Wancheng was repaired by Yuan. Now I don't know if it will be a thief in Xiliang or a scattered person in vain... I think it's so annoying."

Yan Xiang said: "At present, this is also helpless... Now that spring is approaching, the Jingzhou army has begun to send scouts to the mountains and river beaches near Wancheng in large numbers. I am afraid that they are investigating the terrain and cutting off our retreat to Yangzhou from east. The general must be on guard and prepare quickly."

Yuan Shu gritted his teeth and said, "If Yuan hadn't underestimated Cao Aman and suffered his defeat, how could Liu Lang be the best?"

Under Yuan Shu, in addition to Yan Xiang, there were also Yang Hong who was also a resourceful person.

"At the moment, while preparing troops and training near Wancheng, the general secretly sent people to Bowang, and asked the lieutenant who was standing there to transport the baggage and food to Huairu land in secret."

It turned out that most of the supplies that Yuan Shu confiscated and gathered from Nanyang County in recent years were concentrated near Bowang County. There were dense forests near Bowang County and the terrain was relatively dangerous. During the Xinmang period, there were many old village sites near Bowang County. Although most of them are abandoned now, they are still established according to the dangers and are numerous.

Yuan Shu has been expending heavy taxes over the years, and more than half of the wealth and supplies he has accumulated are not in Wancheng, but is stationed in Bowang, in order to leave a backup plan for himself at critical moments.

Yuan Shu sighed: "Bowang's baggage is indeed extremely important. I will send the captain Xu Shen and Zhang Chang to lead the troops to visit the next day, and specifically look for the baggage that Bowang's baggage to go eastward."

Yang Hongdao: "If the latter generals are like this, they may attract the attention of the Western Liang Army and the Jingzhou Army. At this time, only by using the sound of the east to attack the west can we hide from them."

“How to act?”

"The latter general should prepare troops in Wancheng, plunder wealth and goods, and quickly drive them out of the city eastward to attract the attention of the Xiliang thieves and Jingzhou people, and then let the troops stationed in Bowang act secretly, and the two groups of soldiers and horses travel together, but one should be made big and the other should be hidden, so that the people of Xiliang and Jingzhou people can not be noticed."

Yuan Shu turned to look at Yan Xiang and said, "What do you think Yan Zhuan thinks?"

"Yang Zhengshi's words are very good." Yan Xiang agreed very seriously.

But Yuan Shu frowned, as if he was not willing to accept it.

If he just left like this, leaving Wancheng Yuhe who had worked hard for two years, it seemed that it would not be in line with his personality.

"It's burned." Yuan Shu suddenly said something like this.

This sentence only scared everyone present.

Yang Hong looked at Yuan Shu in surprise and said in surprise: "Hou General, what have you said just now?"

Yuan Shu seemed to have made up his mind. He slowly stood up from his position and said solemnly: "Since Nanyang is too busy, then Wancheng will simply burn it. Even if Yuan leaves, he will not leave a whole store for the Liu family of Shanyang or Xiliang dog!"

Yan Xiang hurriedly said, "The latter general set fire to the city, which may cause resentment from the people, and may also cause resentment from the gentry in the world!"

Yuan Shu shook his head very casually and said, "Those who can recognize me Yuan Shu will agree with me if they don't burn the city. Even if Yuan makes a saint's move, they will not recognize me. After I repaired Wancheng for two years, it is much stronger than in the Zhongping period. If I just let others do this, I will be unwilling to accept it!"

Yang Hong and Yan Xiang seemed to want to persuade him again, but Yuan Shu raised his hand and said, "I have decided, please wait!"

...

Xi'e County, Xiliang Army Camp.

"You report to the two generals of the Central Army, and Zhang Sima returned from the jailiao, and I will come to the two generals of the Central Army!"

After hearing Zhang Xiu's return, Niu Fu laughed happily and said, "Nephew Zhang led his troops to search for prison this morning, and now he is back in the evening. How could he be so fast?"

Zhang Ji said on the side: "Xu'er has great skills, far from comparable to ordinary people. She is young and has become a famous general!"

Niu Fu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Come to Sima Zhang!"

When he was young, he saw Zhang Xiu stepping into the tent and holding a ceremony to Niu Fu and Zhang Ji.

"Reported to the General of the Central Army, the last official led his troops to search for prison today, breaking the three forts near Du Yan, and seizing a total of 50,000 stones of grain and fodder, wearing two thousand armors, and a thousand pounds of iron tools, and killing 5,000 thieves. I came to overthrow the two Generals of the Central Army!"

Niu Fu said with satisfaction: "Good! Very good! A virtuous nephew killed five thousand enemy thieves in one day. He is really a talented general. He should be rewarded! He should be rewarded!"

All the Xiliang military academies in the tent praised loudly, only Jia Xu looked at the people around him with expressionless face and sighed secretly.

What beheaded five thousand people... nonsense!

He knew the style of Xiliang soldiers' behavior. Every time he went out to search for prison and loot, he would kill civilians as his military achievements and a pure act of beasts.

It's a pity that another five thousand people have become the dead souls of these people in order to show their achievements.

I just sighed a little, but Jia Xu quickly felt relieved.

It’s no big deal. In this world, human life is like grass. Are there fewer people who die every day?

Maybe one day I don’t know, I will become a dead soul under the knife, so how can I have the leisure to sympathize with those who don’t want to do it?

Just as Jia Xu's mind was twisting and thinking about everything, he saw a scout of the Western Liang army hurried into the tent and whispering to Niu Fu.

Niu Fu's face suddenly changed, and he became very unfair!

He suddenly stood up, kicked the table in front of him, and said angrily: "Yuan Zhe, you really have a stingy heart."

Zhang Ji looked at Niu Fu in surprise and said strangely: "What made Brother Niu so angry?"

Niu Fu said with a gloomy face: "Yuan Shu withdrew all his troops from Wancheng and headed east, and he left the city."

Everyone was stunned at first, and then they couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Zhang Ji said puzzledly: "Brother Niu, Yuan Shu withdrew his troops and gave up Wancheng, which is a free space for us! It's a great thing. In the future, our army will occupy Wancheng, which means that we have a place to defend. This is equivalent to having a foundation in the south. Why is Brother Niu not happy or angry?"

Niu Fu's face was so gloomy that it made people feel suffocated.

"When the Yuan thief withdrew his troops, he not only made money in Wan County, but also set fires in the county town, burning countless houses. According to the spies' reward, the fire was extremely strong. Even if he rescued Wancheng, he would probably be far worse than before... The Yuan surnamed did not forget to destroy Wancheng before leaving. It was obvious that he did not want us to have a good life!"

When the military academies in Xiliang were furious when they heard this, they all cursed Yuan Shu with angrily.

However, Jia Xu straightened his beard and squinted his eyes and thought seriously about something.

When he was young, he suddenly heard him speak slowly, "I dare to ask General Zhonglang. Although Yuan Shu was defeated many times in the previous period, he never gave up Wancheng. Now he suddenly abandoned the city, raised his troops to the east, and burned the city. What he did was supposed to be worthy of, why did he burn the city?"

Niu Fu was stunned when he heard this and frowned.

He knew Jia Xu and knew that Jia Xu's eyes were very vicious and accurate. He could see the essence of everything. Since Jia Xu said that Yuan Shu had a problem with burning the city, then there was naturally a problem.

Zhang Ji said in confusion: "The words of Jia Zhengwei are puzzled. Yuan Shu burned the city clearly because he didn't want to leave us a good foundation and deliberately destroyed it. Why is it difficult to guess?"

Jia Xu smiled faintly and said nothing.

Niu Fu understood what this old guy meant.

He sighed and said to everyone present: "Let's go down..."

But after hesitating for a while, he added: "Brother Zhang and his nephew stay."

Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu immediately stayed in the commander's tent and the others slowly retreated.

Shortly after everyone retreated, Niu Fu sent someone to summon Jia Xu alone.

It's like this every time. When talking about some key things, Jia Xu didn't say a word in front of everyone. He had to drive everyone away and then recall him alone, which made it very troublesome.

When he was young, Jia Xu returned, bowed to Niu Fu, and then glanced at Zhang Ji tentatively.

Niu Fu understood what Jia Xu meant, so he said, "Wenhe, Zhang Zhonglang is our own person. I and he are all my brothers. If you have any questions, don't hide it from him."

If Niu Fu said he would not hide it, then Jia Xu would not care.

He bowed to Zhang Jichang and said, "The two generals of the Central Army should be punished by Jia. Yuan Shu's escape this time should be a deception used by the people of Jingzhou."

"A native of Jingzhou?" Niu Fu frowned and said, "You mean, Liu Qi?"

Jia Xu said: "Yes, Yuan Shu had already wanted to give up Wancheng in his heart. However, since the beginning of winter last year, we and the people of Jingzhou have not made any big moves with Wancheng, so Yuan Shu has been staying in Wancheng and has been leaving suddenly. It must be because the people of Jingzhou have made some small moves, which slightly stimulated him, so he made him determined to withdraw his troops eastward... Although Jia didn't know what the small moves of the army of Jingzhou were."

Zhang Ji asked, "What does this have to do with Yuan Shu burning Wancheng?"

Jia Xu smiled faintly and said, "Of course it's related. General Zhang Zhonglang just imagine that we had already negotiated with Liu Qi to divide the territory and govern Nanyang County together. Why did Liu Qi suddenly make small moves at Yuan Shu and force him to leave Nanyang?"

Zhang Ji guessed: "Can the people of Jingzhou want to go back on their word and go to Wancheng?"
Chapter completed!