Chapter 67 Chapter 8 Expansion of the Territory: Tu Xuzhou’s Backyard Fires and Battle of Puyang (11)

Cao Cao failed to capture Puyang for a while, and Lu Bu failed to drive Cao Cao away.During the more than 100 days of confrontation between the two sides, the Kanto tyrants sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight one by one, no one helped which side, and no one negotiated peace for them.In the end, due to the plague of locusts, they were forced to withdraw their troops.This year was indeed a year of great disasters. Except for the plague of locusts, there was no rain from April to July, and a bucket of millet was worth half a million yuan. Even people in Chang'an City starved to death.

Cao Cao returned to Zhencheng, which was too close to Shanyang where Lu Bu was stationed, so he went north to Dong'e.There was a severe shortage of food, and Cao Cao's army also encountered difficulties in food supply, and the army was facing disintegration.At this time of isolation and helplessness, Yuan Shao sent someone to persuade Cao Cao, suggesting that Cao Cao send his family members to Yuan Shao's territory to accept his protection.He also said that he and Cao Cao had a mutual support. When Cao Cao was fighting Lv Bu, Yuan Shao didn't send a single soldier to help Cao Cao. Why did he think of him now? It turned out that due to the change of the situation, Yuan Shao needed to contact Cao Cao again to deal with Gongsun Zan in the north.

Cao Cao intended to accept Yuan Shao's arrangement because Yanzhou was no longer able to effectively rule and his only food reserves would be exhausted.Cheng Yu, who is good at strategy, expressed strong opposition. He said to Cao Cao: "I heard that General Cao intends to send Yuan Shao's family members as hostages to gain trust. Is there such a thing?" Cao Cao nodded and said, "Yes..." Cheng Yu frowned and said, "I think it's probably because the general encountered some difficulties and was a little scared? Otherwise, how could he be so thoughtless?"

Cao Cao sighed, "It's a bit difficult...so, I want to be patient for a while." Cheng Yu said: "Is General Cao really afraid of the difficulties in front of him? Why is he so lacking in thinking? Yuan Shao had long had the ambition to annex the world, but he couldn't do it because he was not resourceful! Yuan Shao General, do you really think that this kind of person can let himself go? I know the general very well. I know that the general has the power of a dragon and a tiger. How can he end up like Han Xin? Now, although Yanzhou is dilapidated, we still have What about the three important bases of Zhencheng, Fancheng and Dong'e! Moreover, we also have tens of thousands of troops who are used to fighting. My Cheng Yu's assistant, everyone will work together, and we will definitely be able to complete the hegemony. I hope that the general will make a comprehensive balance and consider it more prudently!"

In fact, why is Cao Cao willing to kowtow to Yuan Shao as a minister? He also knows what it means to send his family members away.During the years of war, there have been many cases where small legions or leaders of small princes attached to powerful princes sent their family members to the territory of the big princes as hostages to show their obedience and get some help.However, in this way, one's actions will be strictly controlled by the big princes, and it will be even more difficult to find another development at that time.This can be said to be a way to quench thirst with poison...

How could Cao Cao, who has always considered issues carefully, be so attached to this? He also encountered difficulties that he had never thought of.He had never thought of this kind of difficulty before, or ignored it because he thought it was too ordinary.Now, once he met, he realized how important it was. And the current Cao Cao can be said to be in such a situation, how could he not be extremely nervous? Therefore, knowing that Yuan Shao was using a trap to let him go, in order to obtain temporary support from food and grass, he was also tempted.But Cheng Yu's firm opposition and rational analysis must have been a serious warning to him.Although he was aware of the benefits and consequences, it would be another matter if it was said by others, especially the counselor Cheng Yu.So, he began to dismiss that thought, and no longer be tempted by Yuan Shaozhi.

Cao Cao discussed this plan with Cheng Yu, and Cheng Yu fully agreed and supported it.So: The two separately found counselors and subordinates such as Xun Yu, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, Li Dian, Le Jin, etc. Sure enough, these key figures all had the same views as Cheng Yu, although they had different opinions. Cao Cao was certainly very happy, so on this basis, he held a meeting of the middle and lower ranks to explain clearly the current situation and the pros and cons of whether to accept Yuan Shao's invitation, as well as the possibility of temporarily overcoming difficulties through hard work, etc. .

Such frankness and openness have first moved the soldiers, coupled with the presentation of the facts and reasoning, the soldiers became generous and wholeheartedly expressed that they would work together with Cao Cao to tide over the difficulties.