Chapter 161: Ready to make a move

The last time the Black Mountain Bandits raided North New City, they were defeated and captured. After a month of hard labor, they were all released.

During that time, rumors were deliberately spread among them, and with the return of these people, the rumors were brought back to the Black Mountain Army and began to spread.

Since then, members of the Black Mountain Army in the Taihang Mountains had been bringing their families to North New City in a steady stream.

How to settle these people became a headache for Yuan Xi.

Guo Jia said, "Isn't this what you intended?"

Yuan Xi sighed, "I didn't expect them to come so quickly. Our strength is still weak. What if the Black Mountain Bandits take the opportunity to retaliate?"

"You must know that the three cities are now mobilized to participate in the Battle of Yi Jing, and the internal defenses are empty. If the Black Mountain Army launches a large-scale attack, I'm afraid I can't handle both ends."

His concerns were not without reason. He thought that these rumors might not take effect for a year or two, but he underestimated the difficult life of the Black Mountain Army in the Taihang Mountains.

In less than a few months, people had been fleeing one after another. When Yuan Xi questioned them about the reason, most of them replied that the Black Mountain Army could barely eat enough every meal.

Thinking about it, it was true. It was indeed easy to hide in the mountains and dense forests, but it was not very friendly for farming and wasteland reclamation.

The eight hundred miles of the Taihang Mountains, where the ancient Zhongshan Kingdom had established itself for more than a hundred years, with thousands of chariots, was known as the eighth power of the Warring States period. However, it was difficult to enter and difficult to exit, so it eventually disappeared in the long river of history.

Guo Jia said angrily, "Isn't this easy? Can't you send someone to negotiate peace first?"

"You don't have any irreconcilable hatred with the Black Mountain Army. Even if you can't reach an agreement, a smiling face is never struck. Zhang Yan shouldn't do anything to you for the time being."

"As for the peace talks, there's no need to rush. Drag it out while talking. As long as you drag it out for a few months, wouldn't it be easier to deal with after Yi Jing is captured?"

"By the way, I heard that he is also from Changshan. Colonel Zhao Yun is from the same hometown as him. Maybe we can make something of this."

Yuan Xi was delighted when he heard this and said, "What you said makes sense. I will go and ask Zilong about Zhang Yan's situation."

"Then choose someone willing to be an envoy and slowly negotiate."

Guo Jia said angrily, "Can you not ask me about every problem?"

"Don't you have any other military advisors?"

Yuan Xi honestly replied, "No."

Guo Jia fainted with anger.

Yuan Xi went to find Zhao Yun excitedly, wanting to inquire about Zhang Yan's situation. However, Zhao Yun pondered for a long time and shook his head, "I have heard of this person, but his aspirations are different from mine, so it is not easy to evaluate him. However, Zhang Yan is not lacking in strategy or martial arts. He is not a simple person."

Yuan Xi nodded. Zhao Yun was taking the path of leading his fellow villagers to join the Han imperial family and restore the world.

And Zhang Yan was taking the path of gathering people to rebel.

However, Zhang Yan did have extraordinary abilities. His original name was Chu Yan. After gathering people to become bandits, he joined forces with Zhang Niujiao from Boling and respected Zhang Niujiao as the leader.

Later, Zhang Niujiao died from an arrow wound. Before his death, he passed the leadership to Chu Yan. After Zhang Niujiao's death, Chu Yan changed his surname to Zhang, which represented recognizing Zhang Niujiao as his father.

Therefore, Zhang Yan won the hearts of the Black Mountain Army. After that, he made a decision that seems very wise now.

When the world was in chaos, he took the initiative to send someone to Luoyang to meet Emperor Ling of Han and submitted a letter expressing his surrender. He was appointed as the General of Pacifying Difficulties. With the tacit consent of the imperial court, he controlled the Taihang Mountains and also had the right to recommend filial and honest officials every year, which was no different from the governor of a state.

Moreover, he escaped the great war launched by the Han court to suppress the Yellow Turbans in the world and successfully survived.

However, Yuan Xi knew that although Zhang Yan held a high position, Zhao Yun actually looked down on Zhang Yan's character.

Zhang Yan gathered bandits, roamed the mountains and forests, and harassed the people. Many cities and counties suffered greatly. Later, he turned into an official army and ruled over the people he had once harmed. If Zhao Yun could accept this, he would not be Zhao Yun.

This was also why people from the Black Mountain Army had been fleeing to North New City one after another. It seemed that the people there were not living well.

Moreover, although Emperor Ling of Han appointed Zhang Yan at that time, it was also a helpless move by the Eastern Han court. In fact, it created a precedent for robbers to become high-ranking officials. What else could not be done?

Since then, the Han court became increasingly corrupt, and various warlords with ulterior motives took turns fighting for imperial power, trying to gain greater benefits.

From Dong Zhuo to the current Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou, and others, the evil consequences of fighting for power around Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, were the evil causes planted by Emperor Ling of Han that day.

Yuan Xi sighed, "But now, with our strength, we can't confront him yet. We can only plan slowly."

Zhao Yun's expression became solemn, "Yun understands and will never ruin your plans."

Yuan Xi smiled slightly. Zhao Yun said that he would not ruin things, rather than saying that he would follow his wishes, which showed that he did have a yardstick in his heart.

He laughed and said, "I understand what you mean, Zilong."

"The future may not be bright, and the road is very tortuous, but as long as we walk towards the light, at least we will be true to our hearts, right?"

Zhao Yun understood and a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes. He nodded heavily.

The news that Ji Province had mobilized a large army to attack Yi Jing spread throughout the world.

Except for Liang Province and Yi Province, which were still far away, almost all the lords of the states felt a sense of unease.

The situation in the world was about to undergo a major change.

Liu Biao, the governor of Jing Province, discovered that Yuan Shu, who had been coveting the border of Jing Province, had withdrawn all his generals and troops and transferred them to Yang Province.

Liu Biao had already secretly joined forces with Yuan Shao. From this incident, he discovered an unusual clue. While sending envoys to report to Yuan Shao, he strengthened his border defenses.

As for attacking Jingzhou and counterattacking Yuan Shu, he would absolutely not do it.

The Jingzhou soldiers have a very strong sense of defending their homeland. When they are protecting their hometown, their combat power soars, but asking them to attack out of Jingzhou is basically a series of defeats.

Although Yuan Shao seems to have many allies, most of them are like Liu Biao, watching from the sidelines.

There are very few people like Cao Cao who are so capable and have done so much dirty work for Yuan Shao, so Yuan Shao still cannot make up his mind to break with Cao Cao.

But now, what Cao Cao is doing has exceeded everyone's expectations.

Cao Cao's army attacked Chen State in Yuzhou, besieged Chen County, the seat of Chen State, and Liu Chong, the King of Chen, asked for help from all directions, but no one can help him now.

Previously, Yuan Shu coveted Chen State, and Liu Chong and his State Chancellor Luo Jun were disgusted and worried, so they sent thousands of soldiers to Cao Cao to befriend him, wanting to use Cao Cao to contain Yuan Shu.

However, what they did not expect was that Cao Cao turned his back on them less than half a year after receiving the soldiers, while Yuan Shu on the other side did not react at all.

At this time, Liu Chong realized that he had been sold!

But it was already too late.

As for Yuan Shu in Yuzhou, as Yuan Shao's strategists guessed, he tacitly avoided Cao Cao, turned his head to Yangzhou to attack Liu Yao, and at the same time sent people across the Yangtze River to invade Guangling County in Xuzhou.

After Liu Bei learned the news, he hurriedly transferred troops from Xiapi to guard Guangling.

He understood that at this time, Yuan Shao's attack on Yijing was imminent and could not be stopped. He could only rely on himself now.

Yuan Shu was aiming at this point, so he dared to attack Xuzhou and Yangzhou at the same time, after all, his desire for Xuzhou was no less than Cao Cao's.

The world began to become turbulent and uneasy. It is difficult to say how all these changes began, but when Yuan Xi learned of this news, he had a moment of Trance. These changes that deviated far from history could not be related to him, right?

If he was still the cowardly and uncontending illegitimate son in his previous life, he would only follow the rules and wait for Yuan Shao to attack Yijing three years later, and then go to Youzhou as governor.

Because he was not a threat, Yuan Tan would be adopted, and his relationship with Yuan Shang would not be so bad, and it would not have come to the point where the two were at odds with each other.

Mediocrity is hated, and his choice of this path means that he will inevitably encounter more targeting, but Cao Cao's reaction was unexpected by Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi's insidious tricks a few days ago may have really angered Cao Cao, so he took the opportunity to expand his territory when the Yuan family could not spare the time. It can only be said that Cao Cao is too good at finding opportunities.

Yuan Xi can only hope that Lu Bu's speed to Sili will be slower, and he will meet Zhang Yang, the governor of Henei, later, at least until after Yijing is captured, so that he can rearrange the layout.

On the other hand, Xuzhou is actually the most dangerous.

He estimates that Liu Bei's blocking Yuan Shu is already very reluctantly.

However, there is also a Cao Cao in the west.

After Cao Cao takes Chen State, he will definitely take the opportunity to get a share of the pie in Xuzhou. At that time, Liu Bei will be in danger!

Yuan Xi now desperately hopes that Lu Bu can stab Cao Cao in the back, but he knows that this is a bit unrealistic.

Even if he uses the identity of Yin Hu to persuade Lu Bu, the hope should not be great, because Yin Hu previously asked Lu Bu to attack Henei. Now, going back on his word will only make Lu Bu suspicious.

Moreover, if Lu Bu stabs Cao Cao in the back at this time, it is equivalent to turning against Yuan Shu. According to Lu Bu's current situation, he should not take such a big risk.

Moreover, Yuan Xi received news that Qin Yilu was sent to Yuan Shu and was given a Liu clan woman as his wife. Qin Yilu agreed on the spot and has already married.

This marriage is naturally to marry a legal wife, which is equivalent to divorcing his previous wife, Du Shi.

When Yuan Xi learned of this news, he wondered if Qin Yilu had listened to his words when he parted and properly settled Du Shi?

If not, then Du Shi can only ask for more blessings. In troubled times, women are involuntarily involved. How many people can control their own destiny?

Guangling County, Xuzhou.

Several cities bordering Xiapi, including Guangling County, the seat of Guangling County, have been completely occupied by Yuan Shu's army, and the people in the city are all uneasy.

No one thought that Yuan Shu's army would cross the river from Jiujiang County in Yangzhou, and instead of attacking Xiapi, they would occupy Guangling first!

In Guangling City, in a mansion, there is a young general in his twenties, tall and handsome, bowing to a beautiful woman, saying: "Mother, Ce is late."

The Book of the Three Kingdoms says, "Ce was handsome, liked to laugh and talk, was generous and receptive, and was good at employing people, so the scholars and people who saw him were all devoted and happy to die for him."

The beautiful woman sitting at the head is about thirty years old and extremely beautiful. She gently rocks the swaddling clothes in her arms, and the baby inside is already asleep.

She said softly: "It's good that Ce'er is here, but it is unrighteous for you to invade Xuzhou without permission, so don't disturb or harm the people."

The young general is Sun Ce. He now leads the newly recruited Danyang soldiers and his father's old troops, a total of two thousand people, and defeated Liu Yao all the way from Yangzhou, attacking Guangling to echo the offensive of Yuan Shu's other generals.

He said unconvinced: "I heard that Liu Bei even drove away Mother and almost killed Mother and younger sister. Today, I will definitely get this debt back from him!"

The beautiful woman is Sun Jian's widow, Madam Wu. She shook her head and said: "Speaking of which, this is not Liu Shi Jun's fault."

Sun Ce raised his head and asked in confusion: "Why?"