Han Xiang

Chapter 393 Long Xiang bites the hook Cao Caoxi

"Haha."

Long Xiang smiled openly: "It's not dark yet, and it's not time to dream. I know myself."

"Are you serious?"

Seeing Long Xiang's relaxed expression, Lu Su felt that he was not joking, so he reminded seriously: "Tai Shici is famous as a young man. I heard that he and Sun Ce once had an inseparable fight. I am afraid that such a talent will not fall in love with us in Hefei."

Long Xiang didn't take it seriously, pointed to Xixi and said, "I have little virtue and talent, and it's normal for Tai Shici to look down on him, but don't forget the one behind us, I heard that they had friendship before."

"If you use the name of the emperor's uncle, there may be some opportunities. The key is to have a place to settle down. Living in Jingzhou is not enough." Lu Su stroked his beard and frowned slightly.

Long Xiang nodded and added: "This matter can't be rushed, you have to endure loneliness like fishing, now that we have become neighbors, we should start with getting to know each other first, and when the emperor rises to the top, our side will come to fruition. .”

"Since Yun Qi cares about it, let's do it according to your wishes." Lu Su immediately showed a worried look: "I remember that the emperor's uncle has been in Jingzhou for nearly a year, and I don't know how he is doing there. Jan didn't send a letter either."

"Before the Central Plains trade route was opened, it was difficult for us to get in touch with Jingzhou. When we move into the new city at the end of the year, I will ask Xingzuo to supervise the construction of a batch of long-distance merchant ships to prepare for the future trade on the Yangtze River."

Lu Su looked at Long Xiang very curiously: "Even though the Sun family has an enmity with Huang Zu, the private business between Jiangdong and Jingzhou has not stopped. Since Yunqi intends to do business with Jingzhou, there is no need to delay the sun and the moon, right?"

Long Xiang replied: "We don't have any special products in Hefei. If we want to promote underwear, we must proceed step by step. If Cao thief and Xudu officials accept this product, then we will go to Xiangyang to spread it, so that you can contact us through the intelligence station."

"Commodities like underwear really can't be brought out in the open. I don't know if Sun Quan wants to use this thing to fool him, so the thief will fall for it." Lu Su paused in the middle of the sentence, and continued to add: "A few days ago You Zhengping came back from Shouchun and said that the Jiangdong envoy is still waiting for a letter, and now that Sun Quan has sent Tai Shici to Liyang, Sun He’s imprisoned days will probably be very difficult.”

Long Xiang frowned and analyzed: "20 dendrobium grain is not a small amount. Even if Sun Quan is willing to use grain to redeem people, he should be worried that Cao Cao will use it as bait to carry out an ambush in Shouchun. If Jiangdong experiences Wu Jing's defeat, I guess Cao Cao At that time, without crossing the river, we can rely on deterrence to spread the word and determine Jiangdong."

"It's reasonable, and the water is a lesson from the past." Lu Su nodded affirmatively: "Cao Cao was burned and the water transport ship was burned. It is said that he would not have a decisive battle with Yuan Shao. Why is there no news yet? If you know that you are willing to be the prefect of Lujiang, I don't know how to return it." What tricks are waiting for us."

Long Xiang spread his hands: "The people of Lujiang River have been evacuated, and this prefect is only in name. If Cao thief wants to use the imperial court to issue orders, I have 1 reasons to refuse. Although the official seal and imperial edict have been taken back, I have I plan to move to the new city at the end of the year, and then appoint county officials for everyone, Zijing will consult with me during this period, try to be fair and just, and make the best use of talents."

"In fact, what you did in the past is what you are still doing now." Lu Su nodded and smiled: "Besides, you, the prefect of Lujiang, are not just in name. No matter the new city of Hefei or the old city, there are many people who moved from Lujiang. Both are in Jiujiang, but they are still doing things for Lujiang.”

After hearing this, Long Xiang gave a bitter smile, thinking that he described it like the government-in-exile.

Originally, he was not interested in the prefect's fame. After all, every brick and tile in Hefei was dug out by Long Xiang and the people, but he underestimated the influence of Confucian culture and the soldiers' sense of identification with the officials of the Han Dynasty.

Especially Feng Zhong and Tang Yu, who came from the bottom, followed Long Xiang this time, and directly became a veritable military officer at the county level, which is already considered glorious.

After Long Xiang felt the joy of these people, he fully understood what it means for one person to attain the Tao and ascend to heaven.

No wonder Cao Cao coerced the emperor to make the princes so powerful. The emperor's edict and flashy official position are actually an invisible weapon and bait.

People like Long Xiang may not be recruited, but if they can't stand the countless people who yearn for power, they are willing to work hard for that false name.

Cao Cao learned that Long Xiang was going to take the seal and edict of the prefect, and it was on his way back to Xudu from the front line of Liyang in September.

Going north to repel the harassing troops sent by Yuan Shao, the two old enemies faced off across the Yellow River near Liyang.

Because a large number of Cao Cao's water transport ships were burned in Huainan, it seriously affected the speed of supplying soldiers and food for the Northern Expedition.

If it is necessary to fight Yuan Shao in Liyang, a large number of corvees must be requisitioned to provide logistics for the army. This may affect the cultivation and harvest in the next two years, and it may also trigger civil uprisings in various places and turn into rebellions. Moreover, the main force of Cao's army was exhausted from fighting in Huainan. Various factors made Cao Cao I chose to wait and see.

If the people from Hebei cross the Yellow River, Cao Cao will rely on the terrain and the waterways of the Central Plains to reproduce the layers of resistance in the early stage of the Battle of Guandu. He is confident that he will drag Yuan Shao down on his own territory.

After Yuan Shao experienced two defeats at Guandu and Cangting, he realized that Cao Cao was not his former playmate, but a solid rock standing in front of him. Even if Tian Feng and Jushou didn't stop him, he would never impulsively cross the river for a decisive battle.

Although there are many soldiers in Hebei, there are more recruits.

Yuan Shao is now reintegrating the interior of Hebei, while training soldiers, building weapons, and armor. He just wants to take advantage of Cao Cao's emptiness by crossing the river to Yanzhou during the war between Cao Cao and Sun Quan and Liu Biao.

Jushou's strategy of "three years of fatigue" was not adopted, but Yuan Shao picked up the strategy of "weakness" one year after Jushou's death.

That is to say, he entered Liyang, gradually camped in Henan, benefited from building boats, repairing equipment, dispatching fine cavalry, copying the borders, making them uncomfortable, and I took the rest.

After two months of confrontation at the Yellow River, Cao Cao saw that Yuan Shao was not in a decisive battle. At the same time, he received information that Yuan Shao was in poor health and was taking decoction every day, so that he could withdraw his troops back to Xudu in early September.

Yuan Shao once excused his child's serious illness and did not send troops while Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou.

Therefore, no matter whether the information is true or not, Cao Cao is not prepared to waste it. Besides, Yuan Shao is over fifty years old, and his physical condition will be worse than before, and he may die of worry and anger.

Cao Cao withdrew his troops in front of Yuan Shao, because of the needs of the real situation, and also meant to provoke his opponent.

It means I'm leaving just like that, Yuan Shao, do you dare to chase after me?
Cao Cao went to Guandu to rest, when news of Yuan Shao's withdrawal came from behind, he looked back to the north with a solemn expression.

That night, Cao Xiu passed Shouchun's information to Cao Cao.

The letter mentioned that Long Xiang sent someone to take away the prefect's seal, and that Tai Shici was stationed in Liyang and other Huainan news.

Cao Cao was troubled by Yuan Shao's wretched use of troops, but suddenly he smiled when he read Zhang Liao's letter. He handed the letter to Xun You who was beside him, stroked his beard and laughed, "Long Xiang, a cunning fish, has finally bit the bait. It seems that Huainan will be safe in the short term. , and finally be free to attack Hebei."

(End of this chapter)