"Lord, this is one time and another." Faced with Yuan Shao's concern, Feng Ji comforted him and said, "The lord and Gongsun Zan were hard to distinguish because of the hatred of killing their brother. But now the power of the Han family's children is growing, which is enough to threaten Gongsun Zan. He may also want to get rid of it quickly."

Xin Ping immediately agreed with Feng Ji's statement: "If the Han family child seized Yecheng, he would be able to free up his hands to take Bingzhou and Qingzhou. At that time, the Youzhou where Gongsun Zan is located will be at risk of being annexed by him at any time. Gongsun Zan would not want to see this situation. If the lord is willing to join forces with Gongsun Zan to attack Jizhou, he must be willing to do so."

After persuading the counselors, Yuan Shao decided to send envoys to Gongsun Zan and Cao Cao for help. His eyes swept across the crowd and asked, "I don't know who originally intended to ask for help from Gongsun Zan?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes focused on Feng Ji. Seeing that everyone was staring at him, Feng Ji quickly waved his hand and said, "It's not right, it's inappropriate. Gongsun Zan has been blaming his cousin for killing his compatriot. If he went down to Jizhou, he would definitely be broken into pieces by Gongsun Zan. His personal life and death are small. If he misses his lord's big affairs, he will never be redeemed."

Xin Ping knew that even if the knife was placed on Feng Ji's neck, he would not go to Youzhou to ask Gongsun Zan to attack from north to south, so he volunteered: "Lord, I am willing to go!"

When Yuan Shao saw that Feng Ji refused to go to Youzhou, he was disappointed. He suddenly heard Xin Ping was willing to go, so he hurriedly said to him: "Zhongzhi, when you go to Youzhou here, when you pass by Bohai, you might as well send a letter to my Shanger and his nephew Gao Guan. If Gongsun Zan was unwilling to send troops to him, he would let them go south to seize Jizhou, so that the Han children could not take care of themselves."

Then, he discussed who should go to Dongjun and ask Cao Cao for help. This time, Feng Ji took the initiative to stand up and ask for help: "Lord, my subordinates have met Cao Mengde several times, and they are considered to have some friendship. When I go to Dongjun and ask for help, my subordinates will be responsible."

Feng Ji was Yuan Shao's most respected counselor. Even if he said he would not go to Youzhou, Yuan Shao was not angry with him. At this moment, he heard that he was willing to go to Dongjun, and was overjoyed and said to him: "Since Yuantu has old age with Meng De, then Yuantu will be responsible for the matter of going to Dongjun."

After the meeting, Yuan Shao ordered Xin Ping and Feng Ji to split into two groups and go to Youzhou and Dongjun to seek help.

Although Han Zhan's troops had not yet besieged Yecheng, there were many horses near Yecheng. The two groups of envoys who came out of the city were more likely to be discovered by the horses in Jizhou.

After receiving the news, Han Zhan immediately ordered people to intercept the envoys who went to Youzhou, and ignored the group of envoys who went to Dongjun. After hearing Han Zhan's arrangement, Dian Wei couldn't help but ask curiously: "Lord, why do you only send people to intercept the envoys who went to Youzhou, but not the envoys who went to Dongjun?"

After Han Zhan and Dian Wei finished speaking, he asked back: "Dian Wei, who do you think Gongsun Zan or Cao Cao poses more threats to us?"

"Is this more important?" Dian Wei said carelessly: "Gongsun Zan has many soldiers and sufficient food and grass, and they also occupy the border bridge, so they can send troops to attack Jizhou City. But when it comes to threats, Cao Cao's Dongjun is only one or two hundred miles away from Yecheng, and the cavalry can arrive in one day..."

Han Zhan did not interrupt Dian Wei's analysis, but waited for him to finish his words, and then he slowly said: "Although the Dongjun where Cao Cao is located is not far from Yecheng, the soldiers and horses are all sent to fight before the troops move. Cao Cao borrowed food and grass from us not long ago. Now he has no military rations to support the battle. How could he attack us? And Gongsun Zan, he has a land in Youzhou, with many soldiers and many food and grass. If he sends troops, we are really a little overwhelmed. This is why I sent someone to intercept the envoys who went to Youzhou and let the envoys who went to Dongzhou go."

"So that's how it is." After listening to Han Zhan's analysis, Dian Wei suddenly realized: "As long as Yuan Shao's envoy cannot reach Jizhou, Gongsun Zan will not send troops to attack us in the short term, and we can attack Yecheng with peace of mind."

Xun You had a cautious personality. Although he thought that Cao Cao would not take the initiative to attack because of his lack of food, for the sake of peace, he still advised Han Zhan: "Lord, although Cao Cao lacks food and grass, he will not take the initiative to attack our army. But if he was bewitched by Yuan Shao and sent someone to cut off our army's food and grass, the situation would be bad at that time."

Xun You's words reminded

Han Zhan, he remembered that Cao Cao was the one who liked to cut off people’s food channels the most. After scanning the generals in the conference hall, he shouted: “Where is Xiahou Lan!”

"The last one is here!" Xiahou Lan quickly walked out of the queue and bowed to Han Zhan.

Han Zhan pulled out a command arrow from the box on the table: "I will give you five thousand soldiers and horses, stationed in the direction of Wei County, monitor Dongjun, and prevent Cao Cao from sneak attacking the grain-stationing place of our army."

"The last one will obey the order!" Xiahou Lan stepped forward and took the command arrow.

Han Zhan arranged several other defenses against Dongjun before announcing: "Tomorrow morning, we will fight in Yecheng!"

…………

In the prefect's palace of Dongjun.

After reading the letter sent by Feng Ji, Cao Cao immediately shouted: "Come here!"

Following the shouts, two servants came in from outside, and Cao Cao ordered them: "Take Feng Yuantu to the inn to rest!"

After Feng Ji left, Cao Cao threw Yuan Shao's letter on the table and asked his subordinates: "Yuan Benchu ​​asked for help from the prefect, tell me, what should we do? Should we send troops or not?"

"Of course, we won't send troops." Xiahou Dun took the lead and said, "Our army lacks food and grass. If we send troops, even if we want Yecheng, the soldiers will be hungry in less than three or five days."

Xiahou Dun's words immediately aroused the response of a group of military generals. Everyone believed that there was no need to send troops. Even if they sent troops, the morale of the army would be dispersed and the morale would be depressed due to insufficient food and grass. Maybe before the war could be fought, the soldiers would scattered like birds and beasts.

While the generals were talking, Cao Cao did not speak, but just observed the expressions of his several strategists. Man Chong, like the generals, firmly opposed sending troops while Cheng Yu was silent while twisting his beard.

After the meeting hall calmed down again, Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu and asked, "Zhongde, do you think the prefect sent troops? Or not?"

When Cheng Yu heard Cao Cao's question, he quickly stood up and said, "Lord, it's too early to say whether to send troops."

"How can I explain this?"

"We might as well send a probe to investigate the situation of the Jizhou army and see if they have any deployments against our army." Cheng Yu said slowly: "If we were prepared for a long time, we would naturally remain unmoved. If we were not prepared, it would be impossible for us to send troops to support Yuan Benchu."

Cao Cao thought about Cheng Yu's proposal, and then repeatedly said: "Zhongde's plan is very good. Let's hold the troops first, and then decide whether to send troops after exploring the movements of the soldiers and horses in Jizhou." After that, he sent Yu Jin to lead 500 soldiers and horses to inquire about the situation in the direction of Yecheng and Guantao.

The next day, Yu Jin came to report: "I reported to the lord that there are currently soldiers and horses stationed in Jizhou in Wei County. The remaining important roads are also guarded by Jizhou."

"I'll ask you," Cheng Yu heard that the Jizhou army had been on guard for a long time, but he still asked unwillingly: "Who are the generals stationed in the Jizhou army such as Weixian Er?"

"I have investigated it carefully," Yu Jin knew that Cheng Yu was someone Cao Cao trusted, so he replied respectfully: "It is Xiahou Lan, a lieutenant of the Jinshima under the command of the Muslim Jizhou!"

"Xiahou Lan!" When Cheng Yu heard this name, his heart was cold. He knew that under Han Zhan's men, Xiahou Lan was a civil and military talent. Since he ordered him to station in Wei County, he was obviously guarding against Dongjun. Thinking of this, he bowed to Cao Cao: "Lord, it seems that the Jizhou army has been on guard against our army. If he sends troops rashly, he may not have any chance of winning."

Cao Cao knew that Cheng Yu was telling the truth, and sighed and said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, go to the inn to tell Feng Yuantu, saying that our army is powerless and cannot reinforce Yecheng, please make other plans."

Let’s talk about Xin Ping, who was heading to Youzhou, took more than a dozen followers and disguised themselves and tried to quietly go to Youzhou to ask Gongsun Zan for help through the defense zone of the Jizhou Army. But before they could reach the Jiehe River, they were stopped by the troops sent by Han Zhan.

Protecting Xin Ping's team rate, facing the rushing over the hundreds of cavalry, he still gritted his teeth and said to Xin Ping: "Mr. Xin, you go first, the youngest one is here to break the back."

Junhou Chuge, who rushed over with cavalry, saw seven or eight people forming a formation on the other side, ready to fight with him to the death. He couldn't help but snorted coldly, and then ordered: "Shoot the arrow!"

With a command,

The hundred powerful crossbow soldiers riding on horseback behind him shot crossbow arrows at the other side. Facing the dense crossbow arrows, several Yuan soldiers hurriedly waved their weapons and dialed the crossbow arrows desperately. As soon as they shot down the first round of crossbow arrows, the second round of crossbow arrows arrived. Several people were immediately shot into hedgehogs by the people and horses, and fell to the ground in a thump.

After killing Yuan Bing who was blocking the road, Chu Ge surrounded Xin Ping who was trying to escape and said coldly: "This is Xin Pingxin Zhongde, a counselor under Yuan Shao? I am Hou Chu Ge, a powerful crossbow soldier of the Jizhou Army. He is here to invite you to Guantao on the order of my lord, please!"

Xin Ping saw that the Yuan soldiers who protected him were all dead under arrows. He was surrounded by cavalry and knew that it was meaningless to escape. After sighing, he surrendered.

When Chu Ge escorted Xin Ping back, he thought happily: "The lord sent five or six people to intercept Yuan Shao's messenger. He didn't expect that I would make the first contribution. After I went back, all kinds of rewards would definitely be indispensable."

After the meeting hall calmed down again, Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu and asked, "Zhongde, do you think the prefect sent troops? Or not?"

When Cheng Yu heard Cao Cao's question, he quickly stood up and said, "Lord, it's too early to say whether to send troops."

"How can I explain this?"

"We might as well send a probe to investigate the situation of the Jizhou army and see if they have any deployments against our army." Cheng Yu said slowly: "If we were prepared for a long time, we would naturally remain unmoved. If we were not prepared, it would be impossible for us to send troops to support Yuan Benchu."

Cao Cao thought about Cheng Yu's proposal, and then repeatedly said: "Zhongde's plan is very good. Let's hold the troops first, and then decide whether to send troops after exploring the movements of the soldiers and horses in Jizhou." After that, he sent Yu Jin to lead 500 soldiers and horses to inquire about the situation in the direction of Yecheng and Guantao.

The next day, Yu Jin came to report: "I reported to the lord that there are currently soldiers and horses stationed in Jizhou in Wei County. The remaining important roads are also guarded by Jizhou."

"I'll ask you," Cheng Yu heard that the Jizhou army had been on guard for a long time, but he still asked unwillingly: "Who are the generals stationed in the Jizhou army such as Weixian Er?"

"I have investigated it carefully," Yu Jin knew that Cheng Yu was someone Cao Cao trusted, so he replied respectfully: "It is Xiahou Lan, a lieutenant of the Jinshima under the command of the Muslim Jizhou!"

"Xiahou Lan!" When Cheng Yu heard this name, his heart was cold. He knew that under Han Zhan's men, Xiahou Lan was a civil and military talent. Since he ordered him to station in Wei County, he was obviously guarding against Dongjun. Thinking of this, he bowed to Cao Cao: "Lord, it seems that the Jizhou army has been on guard against our army. If he sends troops rashly, he may not have any chance of winning."

Cao Cao knew that Cheng Yu was telling the truth, and sighed and said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, go to the inn to tell Feng Yuantu, saying that our army is powerless and cannot reinforce Yecheng, please make other plans."

Let’s talk about Xin Ping, who was heading to Youzhou, took more than a dozen followers and disguised themselves and tried to quietly go to Youzhou to ask Gongsun Zan for help through the defense zone of the Jizhou Army. But before they could reach the Jiehe River, they were stopped by the troops sent by Han Zhan.

Protecting Xin Ping's team rate, facing the rushing over the hundreds of cavalry, he still gritted his teeth and said to Xin Ping: "Mr. Xin, you go first, the youngest one is here to break the back."

Junhou Chuge, who rushed over with cavalry, saw seven or eight people forming a formation on the other side, ready to fight with him to the death. He couldn't help but snorted coldly, and then ordered: "Shoot the arrow!"

With a command, he followed the hundred powerful crossbow soldiers riding on horseback behind him and shot crossbow arrows at the other side. Facing the dense crossbow arrows, several Yuan soldiers hurriedly waved their weapons and tried their best to dial the crossbow arrows. As soon as they shot down the first round of crossbow arrows, the second round of crossbow arrows arrived. Several people were immediately shot into hedgehogs by the people and horses, and fell to the ground in a thump.

After killing Yuan Bing who was blocking the road, Chu Ge surrounded Xin Ping who was trying to escape and said coldly: "This is Xin Pingxin Zhongde, a counselor under Yuan Shao? I am Hou Chu Ge, a powerful crossbow soldier of the Jizhou Army. He is here to invite you to Guantao on the order of my lord, please!"

Xin Ping saw that the Yuan soldiers who protected him were all dead under arrows. He was surrounded by cavalry and knew that it was meaningless to escape. After sighing, he surrendered.
Chapter completed!