Chapter 553: Lu Bu's Decision

Just when Zhou Jian's class returned to Jingzhou and was preparing to recuperate, the situation in the north also changed dramatically. 【】

It wasn't that Zhou Jian didn't want to trouble Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. It was because after the pacification of Xichuan, most of the money and food accumulated in Jingzhou over the years had been consumed.

More importantly, after two years of fighting abroad, not only were the soldiers already tired of the war, and they were eager to go home to rest, but even some generals were tired of fighting, and it was really inappropriate to go to war again.

Otherwise, if you hold it in for a long time, problems will inevitably occur.

In February of the ninth year of Zhongping.

Jizhou Mu Yuan Shao took advantage of the chaos in the south and raised 70,000 troops to attack Bingzhou.

In the past, Lu Bu, the governor of Bingzhou, went to Jizhou and was defeated. Since then, he has been in a slump. Except for Wuyuan and Dayuan, the rest of Bingzhou's counties are no longer under Lu Bu's control. The prefects of Shangdang, Dingxiang, and Yunzhong even declared themselves independent.

Yuan Shao's 70,000 troops were overwhelming the border, and they were so powerful that they were unstoppable.

General Yan Liang led an army of 20,000 pioneers to Huguan, and Zhang Yang, the prefect of Shangdang, immediately surrendered without saying a word.

Yuan Shao took down the southern gate of Bingzhou without bloodshed, and still took Zhang Yang as the prefect of Shangdang.

The army rested for a whole day, and Yuan Shao immediately marched northward, approaching Jinyang.

Lu Bu managed to gather an army of 20,000 troops, and set up a camp at Jieshan to meet Yuan Shao's army.

Yuan Shao wanted to divide his troops to attack the counties of Xihe and Shangjun, but Tian Feng, the military adviser, put forward a different view.

Tian Feng believes that it will take a long time to divide the troops to attack the counties of Bingzhou. It's not necessary at all. Lü Bu was already in a state of depression, and as long as he defeated Lv Bu head-on, the counties in Bingzhou, who were waiting to see, would naturally know how to choose.

In this way, Bingzhou can be captured in the shortest time with the least cost.

Yuan Shao was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately followed Tian Feng's strategy like a liar, and the 70,000 army, with the overwhelming force of Mount Tai, stormed Lv Bu's camp day and night, breaking it in ten days. Lu Bu led more than ten thousand remnants to retreat to Jinyang in a panic.

The situation is exactly as Tian Feng expected. Xihe, Shangjun and other counties were always on the sidelines, and did not send troops to help Lu Bu resist Yuan Shao's army. Obviously, the prefects of Xihe, Shangjun and other counties were not allowed to continue to sit on the same boat with Lu Bu.

Although scholars in this era pay attention to loyalty.

But follow the strong. Always the theme.

If Lu Bu continues to be strong. Perhaps the gentry in Bingzhou will always support him. But it is a pity that although Lu Bu is brave, he is brave, but strategy is not his forte. There are no highly intelligent masterminds under his command.

Since he led Bingzhou, he was defeated by Liu Bei and Yuan Shao successively, and lost troops and generals repeatedly. Naturally, those real nobles must seriously consider whether it is a blessing or a curse if they continue to follow Lu Bu.

The prefects of Shangdang, Dingxiang, and Yunzhong counties were even more straightforward. After Lu Bu defeated Jizhou, he declared independence.

After Lu Bu retreated, Yuan Shao was about to launch an army to pursue him, but he suffered a big loss when he didn't want to.

It turned out that when Lu Bu withdrew, he ordered Gao Shun to lead three thousand soldiers to cut off the rear.

Since Yuan Shaoyuan had only 3,000 infantry, a 70,000-strong army could have been defeated in one blow. General Yan Liang led 20,000 vanguards to storm Gaoshun's camp, but was defeated by Gao Shun's 3,000 infantry. And return.

Yuan Shao almost burst away out of breath, and was about to kill Yan Liang at that time, in order to uphold the army's prestige.

It is simply intolerable that an army of 20,000 was defeated by a mere 3,000 infantry.

Fortunately, Tian Feng, Guo Tu, Xu You, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Wen Chou and other confidantes Wen Chou tried their best to plead for mercy, Yuan Shao finally spared Yan Liang this time, but the death penalty can be avoided. Fifty army sticks were fired outside the battle, as a warning to others.

Yan Liang was beaten to pieces and was unable to lead the army, so he had to return to Yecheng to recuperate.

Yuan Shao defeated Gao Shun, and immediately raised his army to the north. Although Gao Shun was very good at commanding troops, but with only 3,000 infantry, although he was able to defeat Yan Liang, who underestimated the enemy and was careless, he was really unable to resist Yuan Shao's 70,000 army.

Besides, Lv Bu's army has retreated smoothly, so there is no need to confront Yuan Shao's army again.

Gao Shun immediately led the army to withdraw to Jinyang. Yuan Shao condemned Zhang He and led 5,000 cavalry to follow and pursue. Although he was not defeated like Yan Liang, he returned without success.

"It's a pity that such a general can't be used by me. It's a pity, it's a pity!"

Yuan Shao caressed his beautiful beard, expressing great regret.

It was the first time that Yan Liang was defeated. It can also be said that Yan Liang underestimated the enemy and took advantage of him.

But this time there will be no element of luck, Zhang He is a famous general in Hebei, leading 5,000 cavalry in pursuit, but Gaoshun still has only 3,000 infantry, which shows his ability to command troops.

Yuan Shao was able to lay down today's foundation, naturally he has extraordinary tolerance and mind.

Although Gao Shun was an enemy general, it didn't hinder Yuan Shao's love of talents. He was thinking in his heart that when Lu Bu was destroyed, he must find a way to recruit Gao Shun. This is a real general talent.

Yuan Shao praised Gao Shun's ability, but the complexions of the generals under his tent were not so pretty.

Zhang He, in particular, had no choice but to win Gao Shun. Although he was convinced by Gao Shun, his face was still a little unsightly.

General Ju Yi even came out and said loudly: "Master, how capable is a mere Gao Shun? In the end, the general is willing to lead 3,000 dead men to defeat Gao Shun for the Lord, and capture Gao Shun alive in front of the Lord's tent."

"Hugh is reckless."

Yuan Shao waved his hand and said in a loud voice: "Lü Bu has become a tiger in a cage, there is nothing to worry about. When our 70,000 army reaches Jinyang, Gao Shun will naturally not be able to escape. The order is issued, the army will march at full speed, and the troops will send to Jinyang."

"The general will obey."

Ju Yi had no choice but to accept orders with the other generals.

Three days later.

Yuan Shao's 70,000 troops surrounded Jinyang, and after a night's rest, he stormed the city the next day.

During Lu Bu's three days of guarding, there were few soldiers and food in the city, and soldiers had begun to flee at night.

On the fifth day, the west gate guarded by Hou Cheng was the first to be breached by Yuan Shao's army.

Lu Bu stood on the top of the city, his clothes were stained with blood, he looked up at the sky speechlessly, the sunset was infinitely beautiful, but it was already late.

Think about it, since following Ding Yuan in the past, it has been nearly ten years in a flash, and he finally entered Bingzhou and became a vassal, but now he is about to lose everything he owns.

Looking at the Jizhou soldiers rushing up like a swarm of ants from the city, Lu Bu felt a chill in his heart.

Helplessness, resentment, resentment and other complicated emotions mixed into a cavity of bitterness, which made Lu Bu's heart almost bleed.

"My lord, I can't stop it."

Zhang Liao ran to Lu Bu's side covered in blood, and said in a loud voice, "The west gate is broken, my lord, let's go, if it's too late, it will be too late."

"Walk?"

Lu Bu said sadly: "Bingzhou is lost today. Although the world is big, how can we accommodate ourselves?"

Zhang Liao said anxiously: "My lord, if you keep the green hills, you won't be afraid of running out of firewood!"

Song Xian, Hao Meng, Cao Xing, Cheng Lian and other generals also stepped forward to persuade them, and they all had no intention of fighting again.

There are only more than ten thousand soldiers and horses in the city. After several days of fierce fighting, more than half of them have already been lost. The number of soldiers available for battle is less than six thousand. , this loss is nothing at all.

If they don't break through again, unless they surrender to Yuan Shao, they may have to stay in Jinyang forever.

"Forget it, let's go and break out with this general."

After all, Lu Bu was extraordinary, so he quickly cheered up, shouted loudly, and ran down the wall first.

end of March.

When Yuan Shao attacked Jinyang, Lu Bu led less than 5,000 remnant troops to break through from the north gate and headed for Wuyuan.

Yuan Shao never forgot Gao Shun, sent a large army to chase after him, but returned in vain. After learning that Lu Bu led more than 4,000 remnant troops to Wuyuan County, he did not stay. Instead, he entered Shuoyan from Wuyuan, and then went south from Shuofang , entered Beidi County.

Although it was a pity that Gao Shun was not captured alive, there was good news.

As Tian Feng expected, after Yuan Shao defeated Jinyang and drove away Lu Bu, the counties in Bingzhou immediately surrendered without a fight after seeing Yuan Shao's strength. Bingzhou was pacified at a very small price.

Yuan Shao's nephew, Gao Gan, was the governor of Bingzhou. After everything in Bingzhou was settled, he returned to Jizhou at the end of May.

As for Lu Bu, he originally wanted to take advantage of the chaos in Liangzhou and flee to the north to plan a plan later. Unexpectedly, when he was defeated in Jinyang, Liu Bei, who had just suffered a defeat in Nanyang, reluctantly recruited a group of soldiers according to Jia Xu's plan. Grain and grass were squeezed out from the troops stationed in various cities and passes, and they managed to gather 20,000 troops, and went northward from the right side of Fufeng, and entered the northern land.

In fact, although Liangzhou has several rebel forces entrenched, Ma Teng and Li Jue, who are the strongest, mainly attack each other in Hanyang, Longxi, Wudu and other counties, while the rebel forces in the Northland are mainly a small group of Qiang people.

Under Jia Xu's planning, Liu Bei wiped out all the rebellious troops in the northern territory without much effort, and took 5,000 elite soldiers from the captive and surrendered Qiang rebellious troops into the army, practicing battle formation day and night.

When Lu Bu entered Beidi, Liu Bei had completely pacified Beidi County.

Lu Bu had nowhere to go, and he didn't dare to fight Liu Bei, so he had to temporarily rely on Liu Bei.

Jia Xu is not ashamed of Lu Bu as a man, because he successively recognized Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo as his father, and then killed them. This kind of person who only recognizes profit has no loyalty at all, so he strongly persuaded Liu Bei to kill Lu Bu, so as not to cause future disasters .

Liu Bei had a different idea. For the first time, regardless of Jia Xu's objection, he not only took Lv Bu in, but also gave Lv Bu some military rations, lent Wuguan to Lv Bu, and asked Lv Bu to lead his 4,000 remnant troops in Wuguan. Close rest.

Although Jia Xu felt that Lu Bu was too dangerous, he still couldn't help shouting at Liu Bei's decision.

And for the first time, Jia Xu couldn't help but look at Liu Bei with admiration.

This strategy is too poisonous, that is, selling Lu Bu's favor, and asking Lu Er to help block Zhou Jian, it can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Moreover, with Lu Bu stationed at Wuguan, Liu Bei was able to withdraw the 8,000 troops at Wuguan, and by the way, solved the problem of the lack of troops after the defeat of Nanyang.

Therefore, keeping Lu Bu is far more than killing Lu Bu.

After pacifying Lu Bu, Liu Bei immediately led his army south again, calming down Anding County with lightning speed. (To be continued..)