The Warriors of the Three Kingdoms

The territory of Jizhou and Youzhou is not large, and naturally there is not much land that can be used to grow food. Coupled with years of wars, it has made the farmers even worse. It is not enough to support themselves, not to mention that they have to feed dozens of people. Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, all of Karasuma's troops are now under Yuan Shao's command, and Yuan Shao must provide them with enough food to eat.

After years of wars, there were not many people cultivating the land, and the food produced in Jizhou was barely enough for Yuan Shao's own troops. This was made up by Yuan Shao's imposing taxes and taxes. Now, with the addition of 10,000+ Karasuma people, the army will be It made Yuan Shao stretched even more.

This winter has been hard to get through.

Yuan Shao urgently needs a large amount of food to alleviate the crisis this winter.

Of course, Yuan Shao didn't expect that in winter he would have the same food crisis as the Karasuma people.

After thinking about it, there is no way to get food in other places, so he can only focus on robbing the food in the hands of the people in the Han city, and do the same thing as the Karasuma people.

Anyway, at this stage, Yuan Shao is at war with Lu Zhi, and the areas under Lu Zhi's control still have enough food and grass. He sent the Karasuma people to rob Lu Zhi's food road, and at the same time let the Karasuma people use cavalry to roam around. , Looting surrounding villages and towns.

This will allow Yuan Shao to relieve the temporary food pressure.

At the same time, in the hands of the Karasuma people, Yuan Shao knew that the previous year, someone had been to the west of Liaoning during the winter, and brought grain and grass for the entire winter to the Karasuma people in the west of Liaoning.

This news, after Yuan Shao took control of the entire Youzhou, finally fell into Yuan Shao's hands. Karasuma Chanyu Su Puyan was also received by Yuan Shao, and then Su Puyan didn't hide anything, and directly sent Liu Zheng had been here before, and told Yuan Shao about buying horses from him.

Moreover, Liu Zheng didn't come here a year ago, but in the past year, Liu Zheng's people have been sending caravans here every two or three months.

Naturally, they brought food, sea salt, and even things that were not available in Youzhou.

Most of the transported away are local specialties such as war horses, cattle and sheep.

Most of the food transported by Liu Zheng was traded with Su Puyan, and there were also some small tribes, but they did not trade with Qiu Liju, Nanlou and others.

Because Qiu Liju and the others are too strong, Liu Zheng doesn't want to strengthen them, and Liu Zheng also lacks war horses, so he can only get them from Youzhou. Over the past year, he has also obtained thousands of war horses and transported them to Jiaozhou. .

The cavalry regiment under Xu Huang was almost extinct, and there were only less than a thousand horses left. However, after Liu Zheng has been transporting horses back from Youzhou for a year, he finally trained Xu Huang's cavalry battalion again. .

Of the 1 horses under Xu Huang, [-] are cavalry.

Among them, some war horses were divided into several other battalions by Liu Zheng to serve as scouts. Although these war horses were still far from enough to meet Liu Zheng's needs, it only took time to transport them slowly from Youzhou. Liu Zheng believes that he can still form a cavalry.

After Yuan Shao found out that Liu Zheng was able to transport food from Yangzhou, or even Jiaozhou, to Youzhou through the caravan, Yuan Shao's thought of lacking food became active.

Since Liu Zheng has a lot of grain, Yuan Shao plans to buy it from Liu Zheng.

This is also a way.So Yuan Shao sent Su Puyan to contact the merchant ship envoy on Liu Zheng's side, and it can be regarded as officially connecting with Liu Zheng.

Chapter 5 Thirty

end of november.

Yuan Shao sent envoys from Youzhou to go south with Liu Zheng's fleet to meet Liu Zheng and try to persuade Liu Zheng to trade grain.

During this period of time, the people in charge of trade have always been Liu Zheng's right-hand man, Yuan Zhou, and Mi Fang from the Mi family.

Mi Fang is in charge of trade matters, and Yuan Zhou is in charge of contacting the leaders of the major Karasuma tribes. Whenever there is a need for negotiation, Yuan Zhou will go there.

However, because Yuan Zhou was arranged by Liu Zheng for many things, Yuan Zhou was usually very busy. Although he was solely responsible for the affairs related to the caravan, he rarely went to Youzhou, but it just so happened that the amount of trade this time was relatively large. , the matter is very important, so Yuan Zhou went to Youzhou a few months ago.

After being found out by Yuan Shao's men, they sent an envoy to return to Wujun with Yuan Zhou.

After they returned to Wu Jun, they did not come directly to meet Liu Zheng. Instead, Wu Jun had rested for two days and asked Yuan Zhou to come over and ask Liu Zheng for instructions. After reporting the news, they arranged for Yuan Shao's envoy to meet Liu Zheng.

"Mr. Yuan Zhou, you came back from Youzhou, how about the situation this time, you shouldn't have encountered any trouble."

"Reporting to my lord, this trip to Youzhou was quite smooth, and we didn't encounter any setbacks in Youzhou. The grain and grass we transported were all sold to the major tribes with ease. Relying on those few ships of grain and grass, we never Youzhou once again sold more than 1000 war horses."

Now Liu Zheng's grain and grass are no longer scarce. He has reclaimed wasteland in Jiaozhou, and he has already hoarded a lot of grain and grass.Later, after occupying Jingzhou and Yangzhou, the source of food and grass for his subordinates was greatly increased.

Jingzhou and Yangzhou are both water towns in the south of the Yangtze River.There are Yangtze River, Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake and other water systems.It is very suitable for growing crops, and the food produced is much more than ordinary places.After a year, more food can be accumulated in other places, which makes Liu Zheng's men not only start to have affluence, but also never worry about the food and grass problem of his soldiers and horses.

Of course, the most important thing is that Liu Zheng has always paid attention to the strategy of elite soldiers.

One of the ten people under the other princes was a soldier, and then used the grain paid by the ten people to support this soldier.

As for Liu Zheng's subordinates, the three states and counties he occupies now add up to more than 600 million people.

But the soldiers and horses under him are full of calculations, and there are less than 20 people.

Except for the soldiers and horses of the six battalions and the 10,000 sailors, the remaining [-]+ people are reserve troops, scattered among the counties and counties in the three states and counties.

Serve as county soldiers who maintain law and order in counties and counties.

Even so, the number of these troops added together is not large. In other words, every [-] of Liu Zheng's men can support one soldier.

In this way, there is naturally a lot of food, and a lot can be sold for sale.

"More than 1000 war horses, very good. With these war horses, the horses needed by the scouts of the camps are finally available."

"That's right. By the way, my lord, there is another thing I need to report to you when I go to Youzhou this time."

"whats the matter?"

"It was when I was in Youzhou that Yuan Shao sent someone to find me and said he wanted to make a deal with us."

"Yuan Shao?"

When Liu Zheng heard this, he immediately became interested, and immediately asked Yuan Zhou carefully. Yuan Zhou was not in a hurry, and slowly told Liu Zheng what he had encountered in Youzhou, and that Yuan Shao's envoy had arrived. Wu Jun's news was told to Liu Zheng.

After some description, Liu Zheng finally understood.

"What's the name of Yuan Shao's envoy?"

"Guo Tu."

Liu Zheng asked Yuan Zhou a question. Yuan Zhou had already chatted with Guo Tu along the way, so he was familiar with him, so when Liu Zheng asked, he immediately answered.

When Liu Zheng heard the word Guo Tu, he was startled immediately, and mixed feelings showed on his face involuntarily.

Guo Tu, oh Guo Tu, it was him.

Liu Zheng never expected that Yuan Shao would actually send Guo Tu, a waste.

As far as Liu Zheng's understanding of Yuan Shao is concerned, he has no shortage of counselors under his command, and even has a few counselors, who can be regarded as very strategic people in the Three Kingdoms.

For example, Tian Feng and Ju Shou.

For another example, Xun Yu and Guo Jia were all talents under Yuan Shao's command at the beginning, but it was a pity that they could not be reused later and took refuge in Cao Cao.

Even Xu You, Liu Zheng's subordinate, defected to Yuan Shao in his early years and worked under Yuan Shao's tent.

No matter how bad it is, there is still a trial match, Ji Feng and others.

They are all talented people. Although they are not top-notch advisers, they can still serve as important positions in the army. It is still useful to make suggestions.

But Guo Tu, Liu Zheng can only laugh, and Guo Tu can be regarded as Yuan Shao's crap stick.

It is said that crouching dragon and phoenix chick, one person can win the world.

There is still another saying, Wu has Dao Rong, Wen has Guo Tu, if you win one person, you lose the world.

There is Guo Tu in this article, but it is Guo Tu, the counselor under Yuan Shao.

It can be said that whoever Guo Tu is assisting will be cool.

Part of Yuan Shao's failure was caused by Yuan Shao himself, and the bigger reason was also indirectly caused by Guo Tu.

For example, when Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty fled, Yuan Shao's subordinates suggested to Yuan Shao that he go to welcome Emperor Han, so that he could coerce the emperor to command the princes.

But Guo Tu must not jump out immediately. Once Yuan Shaoruo welcomes the Han Emperor, Yuan Shaoruo's great foundation will become the Han Emperor's, and he will have to listen to the words of Han Xiandi.Yuan Shao was right when he thought about it, so he gave up and let Cao Cao take advantage of it.

Later Yuan Shao eliminated Gongsun Zan, and his counselor Ju Shou said that he should take the opportunity to cultivate himself, and slowly figured it out.Guo Tu immediately jumped out and said that he would kill Cao Cao in the cradle while he had few soldiers and horses, and then bewitched Yuan Shao to send troops to deal with Cao Cao.

Yuan Shao believed Guo Tu's nonsense, and he really sent troops from the three prefectures to attack Xuchang.He was hacked a wave of Jushou, which split Jushou's military power and was not trusted by Yuan Shao. Naturally, Yuan Shao was destroyed by Cao Cao.

Among them, Guo Tu contributed a lot to Yuan Shao's defeat so quickly.

After Xu You voted for Cao Cao, he proposed a surprise attack on Wuchao. This plan could not be so perfect. Zhang He and others once reported that they would return to Wuchao Granary, but Guo Tu resisted all opinions and insisted that After attacking Cao Ying, Zhang He and others were unable to attack Cao Ying. Guo Tu worried that Yuan Shao would blame him for his failure in his plan.

Fantastically charged Zhang Heyi with the crime, saying that Zhang He was not good at attacking, forcing Zhang Heyi to surrender to Cao Cao directly in a fit of anger.

Yuan Shao, who was already in a bad situation, directly lost a fierce general and tens of thousands of elite soldiers.

In the end, Cao Cao, the hero, won more with less, turned defeat into victory, and established Cao Cao's status as the overlord in the north.

Chapter 531 I'll be there

If it is said that Guo Tu only disturbed Yuan Shao's influence, then it cannot be said who he is with or who is cool.

Guo Tu was originally from Yingchuan. He worked under Yinxiu, the prefect of Yingchuan. After Yinxiu died, he took refuge in Han Fu, who was the governor of Jizhou at that time.

Han Fu didn't have much skills and couldn't handle Yuan Shao, so Guo Tu and several other counselors suggested that Han Fu give up the position of governor to Yuan Shao and hold on to his life. As a result, Han Fu died like this.

After Yuan Shao became famous, Guo Tu was not discouraged, and he took refuge in Yuan Shao's eldest son, Yuan Tan.

It's a pity that Guo Tu didn't have any other skills, and he soon got Yuan and Tan brothers to fight each other, and was defeated by Cao Cao not long after, which was equally cold.

Guo Tu has served four masters in total, and each of them ended well.

It can be called the number one waste material strategist in the Three Kingdoms.

When Liu Zheng learned that the envoy was actually Guo Tu, he was also a little surprised. After all, whether Guo Tu was here to facilitate the negotiation or to stir up trouble, Liu Zheng couldn't figure out.

"Where is that guy Guo Tu now?"

Liu Zheng asked Yuan Zhou a question.

"It's at our post house. Because I didn't ask the lord for permission, I didn't bring them here to see you directly."

"Since you're here, let's see you. Although I don't have much affection for Yuan Shao, I promised you that I will let you reorganize the Yuan family in the future. Now Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, two incompetent guys, are not doing very well. If this is the case, you, Yuan Zhou, will most likely become the successor of the Yuan family, and I will make you look good in front of Yuan Shao."

In fact, Liu Zheng didn't need to pay attention to Yuan Shao. Anyway, he and Yuan Shao didn't have much intersection, and their territories didn't border each other, so it didn't matter if their relationship was good or bad.

Although Yuan Shao is a long-distance and close-attack, but Liu Zheng is not optimistic about Yuan Shao, and sooner or later he will withdraw from the stage of history, so Liu Zheng does not want to spend too much energy on these things.

However, for the sake of his subordinate Yuan Zhou, Liu Zheng was still willing to talk to Yuan Shao's people. Firstly, he wanted to create momentum for Yuan Zhou, and secondly, Liu Zheng also wanted to see why Yuan Shao sent someone to ask to see him.

After Yuan Zhou heard Liu Zheng's words, he was still a little moved.

Thinking that Yuan Zhou will finally have a day of success, especially after Liu Zheng has never forgotten the agreement with him, Yuan Zhou's heart is touched, and the thoughts in his mind not only return to the time when he first met Liu Zheng. At that time, he abandoned darkness for light, abandoned Ou Xing, and took refuge in Liu Zheng.

Originally, I just wanted to find a better background, but I never thought that one day I would really be able to become a person of glory.

But now he is Liu Zheng's most capable assistant. Although he lacks strategy, his ability to manage internal affairs is no worse than others. He has the highest status in Liu Zheng's army. It can be said that he is the highest counselor.

Even Xu You, who knew Liu Zheng before, can't match Yuan Zhou's reputation in the current army.

"Thank you, my lord, for remembering this little thing."

"What is a trivial matter? A man born in heaven and earth. Things like Guangzong Yaozu are not trivial matters. Your matters are not trivial matters to me."

Liu Zheng still has a way of buying people's hearts. Some people can be bought directly with visible money, such as Xu You. Their purpose is very clear. Some people can be bought with beauty power, such as Tai Shici, Tai Shici valued power more, and wanted to honor his ancestors, so Liu Zheng gave him power.

And there are some people who do not lack these things and are not interested in power, so they need to use other brains, and they need to use invisible and intangible things, such as loyalty and friendship.

Xu Huang was the first person Liu Zheng won over with his loyalty, and Huang Zhong owed him a kindness with affection, and made Huang Zhong loyal to him.

For a person like Yuan Zhou, he only needs to use some careful thinking at ordinary times to make him grateful, so that he can work harder for Liu Zheng and follow him to the death.

At this time, Liu Zheng's words almost moved Yuan Zhou to tears, but Liu Zheng couldn't see such a scene, so he clicked to stop and asked Yuan Zhou about seeing Guo Tu.

"Then Guo Tu asked him to stay in the post house for two days, let him cool off his anger for two days, and then arrange to come to see me."

"It's my lord, I understand."

Soon Liu Zheng arranged for Yuan Zhou to make a series of arrangements for Guo Tu's visit.

It is said to be an arrangement, but in fact it is to leave Guo Tu alone at the station for a few days, so that Guo Tu will go from arrogant expectation at the beginning to a little annoyed later, when Yuan Zhou brings him here See Liu Zheng.

If Guo Tu couldn't bear it and wanted to go back directly, Yuan Zhou planned to take him to hang out for a few more days.

But after all, Guo Tu traveled thousands of miles from Youzhou. If he didn’t even meet Liu Zheng, then wouldn’t it be a big joke? After returning, Guo Tu might talk all about Liu Zheng in Yuan Shao’s ears. Bad words.

Although Liu Zheng didn't care, Liu Zheng still didn't want to see such an establishment of an enemy out of thin air.

A few days later, Liu Zheng met Guo Tu at the mansion in Wu County.

When Guo Tu saw Liu Zheng, he still felt a little arrogant in his heart.

For nothing else, Liu Zheng has always been an anti-thief. If it weren't for Liu Zheng who now occupies Yangzhou and most of Jingzhou, and in Yuan Shao's serious situation, Liu Zheng who occupies Jiaozhou would not be qualified to negotiate with him at all.

However, after all, this time Guo Tu was ordered to come to Liu Zheng to buy food and grass, so although he was upset, he still had to show some respect on the surface.

"Guo Tu, the envoy of the General, has met Lord Liu Zheng."

Guo Tu wanted to call Liu Zheng's official position, but when he thought about it, Liu Zheng seemed to have no official position. Although he occupies such a large territory, he has no official position and no name.

So I had to use the word "adult" instead.

"Mr. Guo Tu, you traveled thousands of miles and came to my Yangzhou, what's the matter?"