Yuan Tan, who retreated to the plains, received the support of the former Donglai Prefect and temporarily got a chance to breathe.

However, the situation at this time was extremely unfavorable for Yuan Tan. He had been driven away by Yuan Shang and had lost most of the people who had originally supported him openly and secretly, and the troops he now could not resist Yuan Shang's army's attack.

In the trap of the lonely city, Yuan Tan was desperate.

Shortly after he stationed in the plains, Liu Biao sent envoys to send letters of peace to Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, intending to mediate the dispute between the two Yuans. This was originally a good way to stop the army and stop the war, but Yuan Tan's hatred of Yuan Shang had penetrated into the bones. He put Liu Biao's letter in the fire and shouted to the envoy: "If you want to stop the army and say peace, Yuan Shang must give way to me and leave Yecheng!"

Yuan Shang, who had the advantage, was unwilling to miss this opportunity to eliminate Yuan Tan in one fell swoop, and also refused Liu Biao's mediation.

After the envoy returned to Xiangyang, he reposted Yuan Tan's words to Liu Biao, and Liu Bei was also on the side at this time.

Hearing that Yuan Tan had been shaken by anger, Liu Bei closed his eyes and remained silent, his face full of disappointment.

Liu Biao waved his hand to let the envoy leave, turned his face and said to Liu Bei:

"Brother Xuande, it seems that your strategy of consuming Cao Cao's strength has failed."

Liu Bei, who followed Xu Shu's advice to Liu Biao, knew that Liu Biao was secretly sarcastic, so he bowed and apologized to Liu Biao and said, "It's a pity that Yuan Shang is not a tiger or wolf, but a jackal. He only cares about the small profits in front of him, thinking about unrealistic returns, and did not realize his future danger. Liu Bei saw that he was in absent-minded and asked Brother Jing Sheng to atone for his sins."

Seeing that Liu Bei was so humble, Liu Biao felt that his words were a bit too much, so he smiled and said:

"Hey, Xuande doesn't need to blame himself. Everything is just two Yuanshu's advice, it's not your fault."

Originally, Liu Beixiang took this opportunity to persuade Liu Biao again to go around Xiangcheng to attack Xudu through Luyang, but before he could open his mouth, an urgent report from the soldiers came from outside the door: "Report to lord! Cheng Pu, Lu Meng led the navy to attack me Shaxian!"

After hearing this, Liu Biao said to the soldiers: "I understand, I'll order General Huang Zu to meet the enemy."

Since Sun Jian died under Huang Zu's ragtag arrows, Sun Ce has always wanted to kill Huang Zuyi to avenge his father. However, Huang Zu is not an idiot. Sun Ce sent troops to attack Sha Xian in 199 AD. Later, Sun Ce died in assassination. After Sun Quan rectified the internal affairs of Jiangdong, he vowed to go on the expedition again. Sha Xian, who was guarded by his father's enemy, became the first target.

For Liu Bei, Sun Quan's move was tantamount to disrupting his plan. Huang Zu was the leader of Liu Biao's steadfast anti-Cao. Now he had no time to deal with Sun Quan's attack, so Liu Bei had to give up for the time being.

Zhou Yu, who was very good at water warfare, personally led hundreds of warships of all sizes to march towards Wuchang. Because Zhou Yu became famous as a young man and was extremely talented, the three river lines set up by Huang Zu along the way were defeated, and Huang Zu was forced to retreat to Xiekou.

After occupying Wuchang City, Zhou Yu thought carefully and wanted to take a break and wait for the opportunity. However, from Sun Quan, Kuaiji, the military order urging troops to kill Huang Zu. In desperation, Zhou Yu had to send troops to surround Xiekou and forced Huang Zu, who had less than a hundred ships at his hand to Xiakou. Zhou Yu, who originally thought that he was sure to win, sent Ling Cao to lead the army fleet to detour the rear to surround Huang Zu. Unexpectedly, he fell into Huang Zu's plan. The fleet led by Ling Cao was ambushed by Huang Zu's entire army. Ling Cao himself was shot and killed by Gan Ning, the general under Huang Zu's tent.

Soon Cai Mao led the Jingzhou Navy to reinforce, and Zhou Yu had to retreat when he saw that he was outnumbered.

Through this, Sun Quan learned from his shortcomings of greed for merit and progress, and never interfered in Zhou Yu's governance of the navy, and relied more on him.

When Zhou Yu returned to the camp, he realized that the person who made a fool of himself was not Huang Zu, but the young Gongcao beside him.

Not only that, the reason why Sun Ce's army was futile in the past was that this person offered advice by Huang Zu.

Zhou Yu was very interested in this person, so he sent Lu Meng to inquire about the relevant information about this person. In the end, Lu Meng found out that this person was the son of Pang Degong, a famous scholar in Xiangyang. Pang Tong, who was called "Feng Chu" by Mr. Shuijing Sima Hui.

"Pang Tong is one of the 'Five Abundances' and is a person as famous as Sima Hui. With this person here, I'm afraid it's not easy for us to conquer Huang Zu."

Zhou Yu, who returned to Chaisang safely, sat in the camp and said to Lu Meng beside him: "If this person can be used by me, then not to mention capturing Huang Zu to occupy Jiangxia, even if he seized the entire Jingzhou, it would not be a fool."

After two separate words, Yuan Tan knew that his food and supplies were seriously lacking, and he was desperate, isolated and helpless.

Just when he was in a dilemma, he received unexpected good news: Xinpi returned to the camp.

Yuan Tan knew very well that Xin Pi was the one who encouraged Yuan Shang to urge the high-ranking officials to send troops to Hedong. This person was from Yingchuan. In the past, Sima Hui once said that if Yingchuan wanted to add a ninth scholar, then Xin Pi would be the one who belonged to him.

At this time, he was just in need of someone to give him advice and give him some advice.

In order to show respect for Xinpi and the guilt of raising troops to resist Yuan Shang despite his life and death, Yuan Tan personally came out to greet him. As soon as he met, he held Xinpi's hand tightly: "Sir, I have worked hard all the way, and coming this time can solve my urgent need."

The dusty Xinpi respectfully bowed to Yuan Tan and said, "Xinpi is a very young man, how dare you let the young master condescend to welcome him..."

Yuan Tan smiled and said, "Hey, sir, are too modest. If you hadn't convinced Yuan Shang to let the high-ranking officials send troops to harass Cao Cao's West before, Liyang City would have fallen earlier. It's a pity that the high-ranking officials and Guo Yuan are incompetent people and cannot fulfill his plan."

After entering the account, Yuan Tan hurriedly asked:

"At present, Yuan Shang is very nervous. There is no way out to retreat with Yuan Shangnan and Cao. Please teach me how to survive."

After saying that, Yuan Tan bowed his head and asked for advice humbly before Xi Chou. Xinpi looked down at the eldest son who had lost power in front of him. After pondering for a moment, he reached out and gently helped Yuan Tan up:

"It is Xinpi's duty to serve the young master, and there is no need for such a great gift. However, Jizhou is completely controlled by Yuan Shang except Pingyuan County, and Qingzhou in the east is not a general's place. Yuan Shang is determined to kill you, but I think there is only one way to find."

Yuan Tan asked anxiously: "What method can be found?"

Xin Pi looked at Yuan Tan, slowly put his face up and said two words lightly: "Go to Cao..."

"What?" Yuan Tan almost thought he had heard it wrong, and when he realized it, he stood up:

"Does sir mean to let me surrender to Cao Cao? This move must not be done!"

In Xinpi's opinion, Yuan Tan's reaction was completely within his expectations. He advised Yuan Tan to calm down and listen to his careful analysis:

"Young master seems to have no other choice at this moment, right? You still want to keep yourself alone in the situation where Yuan Shangnan and Cao Cao are there. This is already a dream. You must choose one of these two people to protect you."

"It is impossible for me to surrender to Yuan Shang. Even if I have this intention, I am afraid Yuan Shang will not agree."

Although it seems difficult for Yuan Tan to accept that Xinpi asked Yuan Tan to make a choice between Cao Cao and Yuan Shang, he knew in his heart that he had no other choice as Xinpi said, but he was still worried about surrendering to Cao Cao, the great enemy that Yuan Shao had during his lifetime:

"My Yuan family and Cao Cao are irreconcilable, and the battle of Guandu has even formed a mortal hatred. If you defect to Cao Cao at this moment..."

Xinpi smiled and said, "Young Master is worried. Cao Cao's purpose is to unify Hebei. Leaving an enemy is a good thing for him. What's more, as Yuan Shao's eldest son, you have extremely high expectations in Hebei. At this moment, you can use Cao Cao's hands to kill Yuan Tan first, and then plan to retake Hebei in Xutu."

After thinking about it, Yuan Tan felt that the suggestion made by Xinpi was the only feasible, so he said earnestly:

"Since this is the case, please ask the sir to work hard on your behalf, go to Xudu to meet Cao Cao, and ask him to send troops to help me."

Judging from Yuan Tan's tone, he did not want to surrender to Cao Cao, but tried to change his concept to ask Cao Cao to help him deal with Yuan Shang. Xin Pi could naturally see what Yuan Tan had in mind.

When he returned home, Xinpi packed his luggage and was about to set off. On the way to pack the package, he noticed a person standing behind him. He looked at the person standing behind him slightly, and still packed his clothes as usual:

"What? You protect my whole family from Yuan Shang's pursuit. Didn't you come to ask for compensation now?"

The person standing behind him said coldly: "Don't look at me as snobbish as you..."

Xinpi noticed that the man seemed to be ridiculing himself, put down his clothes and turned to look at him:

"I said to Brother Kong Ming, no wonder you have such a bad reputation. Can you stop being so mean next time? I haven't offended you."

The person standing in front of Xinpi was nothing but Hu Zhao, who was also a fellow Yangdi villager. He leaned his back against the door with his hands in his chest and glanced at Xinpi: "Stop coming, I will help you when I am a fellow villager. Don't put gilds on your face."

After saying this, Xinpi remembered to ask him: "How did you know that I would be hunted by Yuan Shang?"

Hu Zhao replied: "It's not what I calculated. It was Guo Fengxiao who told me that Yuan Tan would start a war with Yuan Shang soon. In order to inevitably leak the news, Yuan Tan would not notify you in advance. When you are in Yecheng, Yuan Shang will definitely be unfavorable to you, so I asked me to wait in Yecheng first. Unexpectedly, he was really impressed by his crow's mouth."

When Xinpi nodded when he heard that it was Guo Jia who calculated what he was about to encounter when he was in Yecheng:

"It seems that Guo Jia wants me to become a Cao Cao, so he asked you to save me and give me favors."

In fact, Hu Zhao also saw Guo Jia's intention: "I thought he would become Cao Cao just to find out the death of the opera master, but I didn't expect that he would actually serve Cao Cao now. His outstanding talent really doesn't want to give up on himself."

After saying that, Hu Zhao looked at Xin Pi and said meaningfully: "Did you really go to Xudu for Yuan Tan?"

"What does it mean?" Xinpi narrowed his eyes slightly and asked cautiously: "I don't understand what you mean."

Hu Zhao smiled: "It's not interesting..."

After several months of running around, Xinpi finally arrived in Xudu safely and met with Guo Jia as an envoy of Yuan Tan.

As soon as I saw Guo Jiaxinpi, I expressed my gratitude for his help in times of crisis:

"If you hadn't expected that the dispute between the two Yuans would affect me, I'm afraid I would have been a ghost under the sword now."

Guo Jia smiled and said, "Mr. George, you are polite. If a person like you dies at the hands of a rat like Yuan Shang, it would be too humiliating for you. What's more, you are the same hometown as me in this book. It is natural for Guo Jia to ask Mr. Kong Ming to take action."

After a few greetings, Xinpi began to ask about military matters:

"I dare to ask Mr. Fengxiao, I wonder when the noble Lord Cao will send troops to attack Jizhou?"

Seeing Xinpi mentioning this matter on his own initiative, Guo Jia did not give a positive answer: "Yuan Shang just took most of Yuan Tan's troops into his own hands, and with the support of Bingzhou senior officials and Youzhou Yuan Xi, it is not easy to send troops to attack."

After saying that, Guo Jia stood up and walked towards the door with his hands behind his back. Xin Pi wanted to find out the truth of Cao Cao, but Guo Jia was very skilled and saw his own thoughts. Everyone was smart, so Xin Pi couldn't show his ugly appearance in front of Guo Jia anymore:

"Although my brother Xin Ping and I were loyal to the Yuan family in the past, after Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan only focused on fighting for power and had no political vision. Since the gentleman specially saved me from Hukou, I am willing to contribute to you and Cao Cao in order to repay your kindness."

"It's OK!"

As soon as Xinpi talked to Guo Jia, Cao Cao walked in from outside the door. Before Xinpi bowed to him, he helped him up his bowed waist, held his hand tightly and said, "If you get help from the sir, what's the fear of Meng De in Hebei?"

Xinpi, who had never been in contact with Cao Cao, was moved by the heart when he saw Cao Cao's politeness and politeness.

After taking the seat, Cao Cao mentioned the battle in Hedong: "Sir, you are a good plan. If I hadn't had Zhong Yao in Hedong, I'm afraid the land of Hedong would have been occupied by Yuan Shang and the senior officials long ago. How could we sit here with peace of mind?"

Xinpi said in shame: "Mr. Ming Gong praised it. Hasn't the clumsy strategy you have offered to me and Mr. Yuan Chang see through it?"

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Okay, okay, sir, I'm here to be the envoy of Yuan Tan, I don't know what I want?"

After looking at Guo Jia who was silent, Xin Pi stood up and bowed and said, "George comes here to do two things."

"Oh? I wonder what happened?" Cao Cao put his fingers crossed on the table, listening carefully to Xinpi's words.

Xinpi said: "One of the things is clear. I put it on the table and said that I am borrowing troops from you for Yuan Tan..."

Cao Cao nodded: "I expected this. Yuan Tan would not send an envoy to me for no reason. He must have something to ask for."

Then Cao Cao changed his mind: "What about the second one?"

"The second thing is a secret matter. Xinpi begs Cao Cao to pretend to agree to Yuan Tan's request for troops. As the saying goes, the two tigers fight to help him weak. Yuan Tan is desperate at this moment. Ming Gongzheng can take this opportunity to deploy troops in the plains, Liyang area, called assisting Yuan Tan to return to Yecheng, but in fact, it will capture Jizhou for yourself. Then, join forces with Hedong troops to attack Bingzhou, and finally wipe out Youzhou with the autumn wind sweeps away fallen leaves."

Listening to Xinpi's words, Cao Cao's eyes shone. While admiring Xinpi, Cao Cao expressed his thoughts:

"Mr.'s plan is very good, but according to my opinion, it seems that the time is not the time to send troops. Yuan Tan is my bait for Yuan Shang. I will not send troops to help Yuan Tan for the time being, but Mr.'s subsequent deployment is very consistent with my intentions, and Meng De admires it."
Chapter completed!