Chapter 18 Sixth, leave a Tarzan problem

Cao Cao not only won a big victory in the eastward campaign against Lu Bu, occupying Xuzhou, but also extended his power into the territory of Qingzhou Governor's Department. This is the traditional sphere of influence of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. Insert a hand. Judging from the future development of the battle situation, this hand was too important to Cao Cao, and to some extent affected the victory or defeat of Yuan Cao's decisive battle in the future. This task was done for Cao Cao by a few special people. They had roughly the same experience. They were all born in Taishan County of the Qingzhou Governor’s Department or were active in Taishan County. After Tao Qian died, he took refuge in Lu Bu. Cao Cao eliminated Lu Bu, found them, incorporated them, and then kept them in Qingzhou and Xuzhou for development.

These people are Zang Ba, Chang, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, and Yin Li, and Zang Ba is their leader.Zang Ba, styled Xuangao and nicknamed Nukou, was a native of Hua County, Taishan County (now Fei County, Shandong Province).His father's name is Zang Jie, and he works as the warden (戴掾) in the county.The prefect of Taishan county likes to kill casually. Zang Jie refused to carry out the order, which angered the prefect. He was arrested and sent to the county for punishment. Zang Ba was 18 years old at the time. After hearing about this incident, he gathered dozens of people and kidnapped his father on the way. After that, he took his father and a group of people and fled to Xuzhou area.Zang Ba was famous for his bravery. After the Yellow Turban Uprising broke out, Tao Qian recruited soldiers in Xuzhou. Zang Ba joined Tao Qian's team. Because of his bravery in battle, he was promoted to a senior officer (Captain Cavalry).

In the several battles between Tao Qian and Cao Cao, there is no record of Zang Ba's participation in the battle. He may be in charge of stationing in the outer areas.Zang Ba was very close to Tao Qian's subordinates Chang, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, etc., and secretly formed an alliance.After Tao Qian's death, Zang Ba developed independently and became the leader of Chang and others. He was stationed in Kaiyang County of Langya Kingdom in Xuzhou Governor's Department and became the overlord of one side. After Liu Bei occupied Xuzhou, Zang Ba and others took the initiative to seek refuge and established a good relationship.After Lv Bu got Xuzhou, Zang Ba and others took refuge in Lv Bu again. When Cao Cao attacked Lv Bu, Zang Ba led his troops to help in the battle, but they knew how to preserve their own strength, they only put on airs, or echoed each other from a distance, and did not fight to the death.

Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and others were in the same situation as Zang Ba. Like Zang Ba, they all had nicknames. According to "Wei Lue", Sun Guan's nickname is Yingzi, Wu Dun's nickname is Annu, and Yin Li's nickname is Lu'er. It can be seen that they are not from scholar-bureaucrat backgrounds, but belong to the people of the world. The role of soldiers and bandits. But in the territory of local forces, they should not be underestimated. They have considerable influence in the several counties at the junction of Qingzhou and Xuzhou.Although they took refuge in Tao Qian, Liu Bei, Lu Bu and others successively, they were very independent and would not really work for these people.

In troubled times, they respect pragmatism, which is the key to their survival. Cao Cao conquered Xiapi and killed Lu Bu, but it did not mean that the situation in Xuzhou and even the entire East could be determined. In fact, the situation at that time was quite serious. To the south of Xuzhou is Yuan Shu, and behind Yuan Shu is the rapidly rising Sun Ce. They all have the urge to expand northward; although the north of Xuzhou is the relatively stable "Cao Tong District" Yanzhou, it has become more and more strongly felt the influence of Yuan Shao's pressure; to the northeast of Xuzhou is Qingzhou, where Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan have been operating for a long time, and Cao Cao basically has no influence.

After conquering Xiapi, Cao Cao can also take advantage of the victory to pursue, continue to consolidate the foundation in Xuzhou, and then capture Qingzhou.But in that case, he would have to risk Zhang Xiu's counterattack, Yuan Shao going south to attack Xu County, and the generals in Guanzhong taking the opportunity to make trouble.The main force of Cao Jun cannot stay in the Xuzhou area for a long time, he has to return to the division as soon as possible. Cao Cao knew that before he could go back, he had to find someone, no matter how hard it was to find him, he had to be found. Without him, Cao Cao would not feel at ease when he went back.The person Cao Cao was looking for was Zang Ba.

After the city of Xiapi was broken, Zang Ba hid (self-hiding), Cao Cao offered a reward for searching (asking), and finally found him.Cao Cao was very happy to see Zang Ba (seeing and delighting), persuaded Zang Ba to submit to him, and found Chang, Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Guan and Sun Guan's brother Sun Kang through Zang Ba. Cao Cao appointed Zang Ba as Minister of Langye, Chang as Governor of Donghai County, Wu Dun as Governor of Licheng County, Sun Li as Governor of Dongguan County, Sun Guan as Minister of Beihai, and Sun Kang as Governor of Chengyang County.These places are located at the junction of Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and they formed a "Taishan Gang" with Zang Ba as the core.

Cao Cao's strategy is to use Chen Deng to contain Yuan Shu on the southern front, and use Zang Ba and others to contain Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan on the northern front, so that he can free up his hands and give priority to dealing with the enemies in the south.From then on, Zang Ba stayed in Xuzhou and Qingzhou, which became the "marginal zone" of Cao Wei's forces. Although they obeyed Cao Cao's leadership, they stood firmly on Cao Cao's side in the subsequent battles, especially in the Battle of Guandu. They have also maintained considerable independence. Although Zang Ba and others did not have the strength to stand against Cao Cao, Cao Cao could not completely eliminate them by force. In addition, this is not Cao Cao's main battlefield. It is undoubtedly the most wise to deal with these "Taishan Gang" in a peaceful way.

However, with the development of the situation, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and unified the entire north, and solving the Mount Tai issue was put on the agenda.Cao Cao tried to solve this problem many times, but then he suffered the defeat of Chibi. The list of Cao Cao's enemies is still very long, and Zang Ba has always been at the bottom of this list. Until Cao Cao's death, the Zang Ba and Taishan issues were not resolved.As an independent non-directed armed group, it has always been the weakness of the Cao Wei Empire.It was not until Cao Pi succeeded to the throne that he made up his mind to completely solve this problem.

After dealing with these matters, it was the spring of the fourth year of Jian'an (199), and Cao Cao moved back to Xu County. The first stop was Changyi. At this time, Suigu killed Yang Chou and led Zhang Yang's old troops to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao ordered his Shegou stationed on the north bank of the Yellow River. According to "Dianlue", Suigu's word is Baitu. After he killed Yang Chou, he stationed in Shegou. You must be shocked, you should leave quickly." Sui Gu didn't believe it. In April, Cao Cao led his army to the bank of the Yellow River and ordered Cao Ren and Shi Huan to cross the river to attack Suigu. The two sides fought in Quancheng and killed Suigu, as the fortune teller said.Cao Cao then led his army across the Yellow River and surrounded Shegou. The city was guarded by Suigu's long history Xue Hong and Yuan Shao's prefect of Hanoi County Miao Shang.

At this time, Dong Zhao had been promoted from Luoyang Ling to Henan Yin. He had served under Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang, and had contacts with Xue Hong and Miao Shang. Cao Cao sent someone to invite Dong Zhao to study countermeasures.Dong Zhao went into the city alone and persuaded Xue Hong and Miao Shang to lead their troops to surrender. Cao Cao returned to Aocang, appointed Dong Zhao as the shepherd of Jizhou, and appointed Wei Zhong as the prefect of Hanoi County. The "Cao Tong District" has now developed to most of the Yanzhou Governor's Department, Sili Xiaowei Department, and part of the Yuzhou Governor's Department, Xuzhou Governor's Department, and Qingzhou Governor's Department. In terms of sphere of influence, it is no longer inferior to old friend Yuan Shao.