A strong sense of uneasiness surged in Yuan Tan's heart.

He knew that Sun Ce was very strong and could not compete with him, and he could not deal with it alone, but Sun Ce took the initiative to attack Yizhou in two ways and still surprised him. If the situation was true, this was an ominous signal. Sun Ce's development speed was faster than they expected. Except for three sieges, no one could face him alone.

In the plans of Tian Feng, Ju Su, Guo Tu and others, the situation is clear and opportunities are also available. Cao Cao took the initiative to attack Jingzhou, attracting Sun Ce's attention, and directing Sun Ce's attention to Yizhou and Jiaozhou, which are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once Sun Ce's main force penetrates into the jungle and fails to fight for a long time, and the teacher's veterans are exhausted, Yuan Tan will launch an offensive in Jizhou, forcing Sun Ce to run around thousands of miles of fronts, consume his strength with the power of a group of wolves fighting against the tiger, delaying his development speed, and even dragging down his economy. Then he rushed forward to divide his bodies and decide the outcome of each other.

Now the situation is developing in the predetermined direction, but the trend is somewhat wrong. Sun Ce is determined to win Yizhou and is aggressive. He may take Yizhou in a short period of time, and all plans may fail. Once Yizhou falls into Sun Ce's hands, the situation in the world will be difficult to reverse and will not be beneficial to everyone.

Yuan Tan was unwilling to believe it, but he had to prepare early. It took time to assemble men and transport food and grass. He had to send troops before Cao Cao could not support him and restrain Sun Ce. It would be too late to wait until Sun Ce took over Yizhou.

But he was not ready yet. Youzhou had not been pacified and the alliance with Liu Bei was not stable. If Liu Bei could not stop Taishi Ci when he attacked the Central Plains, and even repeatedly formed an alliance with Taishi Ci, the situation in Jizhou would be worrying. And Bingzhou. What is Jia Xu's attitude? If he turned to Sun Ce and advanced east from Bingzhou, he could directly invade the hinterland of Jizhou, and the threat should not be underestimated.

Yuan Tan was uneasy, and Ju Su was also very uneasy. He didn't know who he could trust, and he could not make a judgment until the information was confirmed. However, the southern part of Jingzhou was too far from Jizhou, and the delay was delayed and could delay the opportunity. From common sense, even if Sun Ce was very strong, it would not be easy to attack Yizhou from Hanzhong or Wuling. It would take at least half a year, and the news would be lagging behind for a few days without any impact. However, Sun Ce's achievements in recent years have been too amazing. No matter what is related to him, you should always be more vigilant.

Yuan Tan immediately withdrew. On the 28th day of the 12th lunar month, he returned to Yecheng, communicated with Tian Feng, and formally met Cui Lie and received the edict.

What the edict said was not important, everyone knew it. Yuan Tan was most concerned about the authenticity of Zhou Yu's advance from Wuling. Cui Lie insisted that the information was reliable. Zhou Yu was moving to Wuling from Jiangling, and was going up the Yuan River to enter Jingke, fighting for southern Yizhou. Yuan Tan and others were skeptical. Zhou Yu's move to Wuling might be true, but who knows whether he was suspicious? Huang Zhong led his troops to attack Hanzhong for several months, and he didn't even take down a single Fangling. The possibility of Zhou Yu passing through Wuling and entering Jingke was even slim. Even if he didn't understand military affairs, he could see the difficulty of the two fronts at a glance.

Wuling is not that easy to fight. It has thousands of miles of mountainous areas, jungles and sparsely populated areas. The food and grass needed by the army is completely dependent on transportation. The barbarians in the mountains are fierce and aggressive and unsubmissive. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, any war involving Jiangnan has been mobilized and the losses are amazing. Sun Ce is cautious and cannot not understand these war examples.

It sounds more like a lie made up to get them to send troops.

Cui Lie is a senior. Yuan Tan cannot tell him lies in person, so he can only make indirect comments and find some excuses. One is to delay time and wait for confirmation, the other is to bargain, and get some benefits. Yuan Tan raised many questions, one of which is to make arrangements for Jia Xu, Liu Bei and Cao Ang. These three people are bordering on him and have close ties with Sun Ce. What is their attitude has a great impact on Jizhou.

Cui Lie said that he had made arrangements for Cao Ang, and specially arranged an envoy to go to Yanzhou to preach the imperial edict, but Cao Ang and Sun Ce had a marriage relationship, so he was a secret envoy, and the news was not announced. Liu Bei was also willing to say that he was going to Youzhou to preach the imperial edict soon. Zhang Ze had returned to Chang'an and reported to the emperor about Liu Bei's situation. The court would win over Liu Bei, at least to ensure that he would block Taishi Ci for Yuan Tan and protect the rear wing of Jizhou, and might even ask him to send troops to assist Yuan Tan.

As for Jia Xu, there is no need for Yuan Tan to worry. When the Liangzhou people entered the court, they had already contacted Jia Xu and reached a tacit understanding. If it weren't for this, Jia Xu could be the governor of Bingzhou and also take charge of Hedong and Hongnong? People are all selfish, especially Liangzhou people, and Jia Xu is no exception. This is the best opportunity for Liangzhou people to have ever had, so how could they let it go.

Speaking of Liangzhou people, Cui Lie's words became a little mean. He was the backbone of the strong advocate of abandoning Liang back then. Now seeing Liangzhou people spread all over the government and the country, the hostility is inevitably a little heavy. He can't speak in Chang'an, but now he has returned to Jizhou, and he no longer has to have any scruples.

Although Cui Lie was passionate, Yuan Tan was still skeptical and did not give Cui Lie a correct word in the end, but instead made a request: Hanoi. Considering that Cao Ang was in Yanzhou, he hoped that the court could place Hanoi under his control. If he had a chance in the future, he wanted to advance from Hanoi and threaten Luoyang.

Cui Lie had prepared and agreed immediately. Hanoi is currently a vague area with no clear ownership and is basically autonomous by local families. Nominally, Hanoi is the capital and was managed by the imperial court. However, after the imperial court moved its capital to Chang'an, the east of Tongguan lost control. Jia Xu and others entered Hanoi for a time, but were beaten by Yuan Shao to the point of being blue and swollen, and retreated in shame. Yuan Shao was defeated in Guandu, Yuan Tan retreated to Yecheng, and gave up his control over the southern part of Hanoi and only retained several northern counties. Lu Su was ordered by Sun Ce to guard Luoyang, but he could only control Henan, and his impact on Hanoi was very limited. As for the remnants of the Yellow Turbans such as Zhang Yan, let alone, he could only occasionally wander to Hanoi to rob, and he could not gain a foothold.

It would be no loss to the court to hand over Hanoi to Yuan Tan's management. Hanoi is one of the three rivers and has been a major capital in history. The aristocratic family and powerful people have a deep foundation and cannot be controlled by others. Only Yuan Tan can do it. Yuan Tan controls Hanoi and confronts Lusu, which is also in line with the requirements of the court. If necessary, join forces with the Hedong family and force Jia Xu to submit.

Cui Lie specifically reminded Yuan Tan that there are many aristocratic families in Hanoi, and Sima of Wen County is one of them. Sima of Wen County is also a descendant of a famous family. He was originally a military post. In recent generations, he has transformed from martial arts to literature and followed Confucianism for several generations. He passed away last year. Sima Yen, the head of the family, was officially appointed as the prefect of Yingchuan. When Sima Fang, the leader of the family, was appointed as the ruling of Luoyang and Jingzhao Yin, he once defeated Cao Cao and was considered the former master of Cao Cao. Now he is idle at home and has given birth to several sons, including many talents. If Yuan Tan wants to gain a foothold in Hanoi, he should respect Sima Fang, eliminate his son as an official, and win over the Hanoi family.

Yuan Tan was very grateful. He was perfunctory to Cui Lie, but Cui Lie sincerely thought about him and gave advice.

After seeing off Cui Lie, Yuan Tan discussed with Tian Feng and others and decided to appoint Xun Yan as the prefect of Hanoi. When dealing with aristocratic families, it is naturally more suitable for aristocratic families like Xun Yan. At the same time, Yuan Tan sent the chief clerk Geng Bao to Wen County to visit Sima Fang and pronounced his son as an official.

——

New Year's Eve, Changyi, Zhoumufu.

Cao Ang leaned on the podium, held his cheek, and looked at the shaking flames and was in a daze.

Mrs. Ding sat aside, chatting with Ding Ruyi, Xiahou Heng and Xiahou Ba gathered together to play and Cao Ying squeezed beside Sun Shangying, not knowing what to say, muttering, his face flushed, not knowing whether it was roasted by fire or shy.

It should be said that she got married. She and Sun Yi had a marriage contract. If she hadn't been too young, she would have been married long ago. Two days ago, Sun Ce sent someone to send gifts, including a few pairs of high-quality clothes Sun Yi gave Cao Ying, which made Cao Ying very happy and very proud in front of the little sisters.

After the Chinese New Year, let her go to Xiangyang. Cao Ang made a decision in his heart. He waved his hand. Cao Ying saw it and immediately came over, leaned on Cao Ang's shoulder, hugged Cao Ang's neck, and asked intimately: "Brother, do you have any instructions? Do you want to give him a flirt with money?"

"Your brother is poor and can't afford money. If you want money, go to Xiangyang next year."

"Hmph! Stingy." Cao Ying raised his hand and a golden money of roaring to victory appeared in front of Cao Ang. "I don't have to go to Xiangyang."

“Where did it come from?”

"Sister-in-law gave it." Cao Ying grimaced and smiled at Sun Shangying. Hearing her words, the three brothers Xiahou Heng and the other two turned around and widened their eyes when they saw Jin Cancan's Yansheng Qian. Xiahou Heng, Xiahou Ba, was older and embarrassed to speak. The eight-year-old Xiahou said that he had no such concern and turned around and begged: "Sister Ying, Sister Ying, can you let me see it?"

"Look at it, but you are not allowed to rob it." Cao Ying pretended to be generous and handed it to Xiahou, but he refused to move his eyes away for a moment, and did not release the tether, for fear that Xiahou would run away if he robbed Yansheng's money. Xiahou said he was a posthumous son and had no father when he was born. Mrs. Ding pity him the most. Others dared not to rob her things, but Xiahou said he dared. If he really wanted to rob her, she might not be able to get it back.

"The second general didn't give you two?"

Cao Ying was embarrassed and robbed Bai, saying, "He is not my brother, why should I give me money? Why didn't you give my sister-in-law the money?"

Cao Ang laughed and patted Cao Ying's hand. "Aying, let you get married next year. Anyway, you are also a member of the Sun family now, and you even help your sister-in-law when you speak."

"Are you talking about sister-in-law or Sun's family, not our Cao family?"

"Uh..." Cao Ang knew he had made a mistake and was a little embarrassed. He secretly glanced at Sun Shangying, feeling guilty. He really didn't dare to determine whether Sun Shangying was a member of the Cao family or the Sun family. They did have feelings, but they were not ordinary couples after all, and they couldn't help themselves. Cao Ying didn't understand these things, but Sun Shangying must have understood them.
Chapter completed!