With the news from both sides coming one after another, Yuan Shao had actually long ago determined that Xiang Yu was dead, but he just didn't want to take risks, lest others say that he specialized in martial arts and lost his reputation. Therefore, after Guo Tu finished speaking, although Yuan Shao was unhappy, he had no choice but to comply. After walking and walking for more than ten miles, Yuan Shao still didn't see the pursuers coming, and Yuan Shao was filled with hatred.
It was noon, and people were tired and helpless. Yuan Shao had no choice but to fake it and lead the army to camp at Jiuli Mountain, taking a few rests to rest and recuperate.
That night, just after one watch, someone suddenly reported outside Yuan Shao's tent, and the news came to him about the details: In the early morning, Xiang Jun saw our army retreating, and wanted to pursue it, but was blocked by two generals, Xu Ding and Xu Chu. Xu Chu even had a strict order, only to teach the troops to defend Xiao Pass and not to go into battle! The generals were dissatisfied and wanted to see Xiang Thief, but they held Xu Chu's sword and drank him back. During this period, two generals wanted to force themselves to see Xiang Thief. Xu Chu knew about it and beat him to death with sticks!
When Yuan Shao heard the report, he urgently summoned all the generals to discuss the situation.
"Is it possible that those who see benefits but refuse to advance, and punish those who want to meet the thieves so severely, are just trying to cover up the situation?" Did the young master really kill Thief Xiang with one arrow? ¡¯ Guo Tu was also moved when he saw the book. He looked back and forth several times, then shook his head secretly and said: 'But the young master's martial arts are mediocre, and the two generals, Wen and Yan, are not even close enough! In the chaos of the army, I believe that hidden arrows can slightly injure this thief; but if this thief is severely wounded to death, I don't believe it! ¡¯
Even though I was thinking this way, how could I dare to sue Yuan Shao like this? He only patiently advised Yuan Shao to stay quiet and wait for news. After Yuan Shao heard this, he felt unhappy. He looked at Guo Tu calmly and thought: "I will have a good opportunity tomorrow, but Gongze has blocked me time and time again. Could it be"
With so many worries on his mind, Yuan Shao could not sleep. After tossing and turning for a long time, it was almost dawn, and someone suddenly reported outside the tent that Gao Gan and Chen Lin had arrived from Shanyang to deliver grain. After Yuan Shao heard this, he was about to go out of his tent to see the two senior officials. He didn't want to bump into another person, but news came from Xiao Guan Xizao: At the beginning of the night, rumors suddenly spread in Guanzhong that Xiang Thief was dead. Xu Chu was furious when he heard about it. After investigating, he beheaded several generals in the camp. He even issued a strict order. If he heard about it again, the whole camp would be beheaded!
¡®Is it so obvious? Thief Xiang must die! ¡¯ After Yuan Shao heard this, he couldn¡¯t help but be happy. He became more and more sure that it was his son Yuan Tan who had shot the arrow, and Xiang Yu was dead. He intended to summon the civil and military forces to come for discussion, but thinking that Guo Tu would definitely stop him again, he quickly declined and just asked the left and right officials to invite senior officials and Chen Lin to come first.
"The art of war is like chess. It is better to lose a piece than to lose an advance. Why doesn't my lord stand still?" Chen Lin looked at it and was very puzzled. After asking, Yuan Shao's face was full of anger and he told Guo Tu exactly what he said. Chen Lin heard this and exclaimed: "You have mistaken your lord! Even if it is a trick, our army should send troops to test it. If not, how will I know it is a trick? Not to mention that I am five times larger than the enemy and can attack them by force." ? Guo Tu must have selfish motives for admonishing my lord like this! I hope my lord will see clearly!"
"Someone must investigate it!" Yuan Shao was originally dissatisfied with Guo Tu, but now after hearing what Chen Lin said, he issued an order to teach Xun Chen to secretly inspect Guo Tu and his family. He also appointed high-ranking officials as commanders to lead various divisions. But when Chen Lin didn't see her retreating, she sneered in her heart: "Guo Gongze, Guo Gongze, you took the post of governor and took bribes and sold officials. You are full of naan. It's time for you to abdicate in favor of someone worthy of your position!" ¡¯
The senior officials took the order and left. By then, it was dawn. As soon as the drums were beaten, he led more than 20,000 troops to fight against Xiaoguan.
After several rounds of strong attacks, they almost rushed to the front of the pass, but were shot back by random arrows. In less than three seconds, I have lost thousands of troops. The senior officials did not dare to suffer too much loss, so they turned their troops into a feint attack and sent Pegasus to report back to Yuan Shao.
¡®Why didn¡¯t you tell me that my lord was sending troops? ¡¯ When Guo Tu found out, he was shocked and hurried to Yuan Shao¡¯s army tent. At that time, I heard Chen Lin talking from a distance outside the tent: "What is true is false, and what is false is true. I dare to ask my lord, if my lord wants to use a deceitful trick to lure foreign enemies to attack me, what will he do? Resist evil?"
"If I use a plan to set up a military camp in the air, let the enemy enter the camp first, and then surround them on all sides, how can I resist stubbornly?" Yuan Shao blurted out after hearing this. As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Lin nodded and said with a smile: "Well, I would like to ask my lord again, why did the enemy do the opposite?"
¡®Is it just to cover up the news of Xiang Thief¡¯s death and delay the time so that Xiang Thief can be buried safely in Xuzhou? When this question came out, Yuan Shao was shocked. Just as he was about to slap the table and speak, a loud shout suddenly appeared outside the tent: "The son of Xuzhou did the opposite, which is the most treacherous part of this plan! I'm afraid he has a big plan!" "
Seeing it, it is Guo Tu. When Yuan Shao saw this, he was immediately unhappy and asked with a strong face: "Why did Gongze say this?"
"I dare you to ask my lord, how many people do I have in my side?" Yuan Shao finished his words. Guo Tu cupped his hands and stepped forward and said, "They are only tens of thousands. If my lord uses a plan, he will lure them into the pass and annihilate them." In other words, should we sacrifice big gains for small gains?"
"When the enemy is outnumbered and we are outnumbered, the best strategy is to divide them and annihilate them! The governor doesn't know such a superficial truth?" After Guo Tu finished speaking, Chen Lin immediately held up her hands and retorted with her lips and teeth. After Guo Tu heard this, he also sneered: "I have an army of 200,000, only tens of thousands, but it's just a drop in the bucket! Master Chen is really clever!"
When Chen Lin heard this, she was very angry and said: "The governor is also good at planning! Sun Tzu said: surround it ten times, attack it five times! Since the governor knows that I have an army of 200,000, why did he not receive the detailed information from Guanzhong when I made a detailed report? Are you trying to persuade my lord to retreat without fighting? Is it selfish?"
Guo Tu was furious. After hearing this, he laughed and said: "Our army went deep into the two states of Xu and Gun. Without knowing the enemy's situation, we attacked Xiao Pass. If the losses are too great, in the opinion of Master Chen, others may betray the alliance and take advantage of the opportunity." Kill me?"
"Shut up!" Seeing Guo Tu and Chen Lin arguing endlessly, Yuan Shao had a headache. He slapped the table and walked away: "I'm thinking about it!"
As it got dark, there was a sudden noise outside the tent. When I came out of the tent, I saw a few people arriving with guards. He looked at it, but it was none other than the few members of our army stationed in Xiaoguan. If you look closely, you can see that each of them is hit by several arrows. Yuan Shao was taken aback and asked quickly: "Why did you escape? Could it be that the children of Xuzhou figured out your identity?"
"Don't worry, my lord, our identity has not been revealed to others! We are risking our lives to return, but we have great news to tell you, lord!"
As soon as Yuan Shao finished speaking, one of the injured men, Xizuo, quickly bowed to the ground and said: "The thief Xiang has not shown up for several days. Rumors have spread within the Xuzhou army. It is said that the thief Xiang was seriously injured. There are some who say that the thief Xiang is dead." Yes! The morale of the army is in chaos! Xu Chu is even more cruel and killing for no reason, and the morale of the army is even more chaotic! Today, General Gaogan attacked the city one after another. Rumors spread in Guanzhong that the lord's army will be coming soon, and all the battalions are even more trembling. Night. As soon as they arrive, nine out of ten battalions will flee!"
"If this is true, you will all be promoted to the third level and be rewarded with hundreds of hectares of fertile land!" Yuan Shao was overjoyed after hearing this. On the one hand, he sent people to help the few craftsmen to heal their injuries, and on the other hand, he sent people to teach senior officials to attack Xiaoguan.
The senior cadre received the order to lead 50,000 troops to kill Xiaoguan. At that time, all the banners and banners were seen, but there was a horizontal sword standing on the door with an angry look. The door was wide open, and there were hundreds of sergeants holding torches guarding both sides. Looking into the pass, it was completely dark and it was difficult to see anything. When the senior officer saw this, he did not dare to move forward. With a spear in his hand, he stopped the troops and said: "If the door is wide open, there will be an ambush. If our soldiers advance, they will fall into his trap. We should report to the lord quickly!"
"No!"
After receiving the order, the left and right did not dare to be slow. They quickly whipped their horses and reported to Yuan Shao. At that time, Yuan Shao was putting on his armor and preparing to raise an army. Chen Lin heard this and immediately exclaimed: "Yuancai fell into the trap!"
"Why did Kong Zhang say this?" Yuan Shao was puzzled. As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Linli said loudly: "There are deserters in Guanzhong. How can there be an ambush? It must be Xu Chu's son who set up an empty city to confuse our army so that he can escape for his life!"
Yuan Shao also thought so. On the one hand, he sent someone to tell the senior officials not to be suspicious anymore and to enter the pass immediately. On the other hand, he raised an army of 100,000 men to rush to Xiaoguan. The senior officials received orders, but they did not dare to advance rashly. They only instructed the generals to rush in with light cavalry in front.
"My sons! The time has come to make great contributions! Come and kill with me!" The general took the order and rushed in with great ease. Walking along the way, there were scattered people in the pass, and there were no people or horses. Only then did the high-ranking cadres know the plan, leaving thousands of troops behind to wait for Yuan Shao, and then rushed out of the pass to catch up in Xuzhou.