The Nameless of the Common Clans

Not many major events happened in the four years of Jian'an. The only major event was that Yuan Shao completely defeated Gongsun Zan.

While Chen Mo was experiencing farm life with his family on the banks of the Yellow River, farming and studying every day, news came that Yuan Shao had completely destroyed Gongsun Zan.

In fact, last year, Gongsun Zan's defeat was clearly exposed. Not only was Yuan Shao pressing hard on his territory, but the more important problem was Gongsun Zan himself. When his soldiers were besieged by the enemy, they were not allowed to send troops to rescue. Chen Mo I don’t know what Gongsun Zan was thinking, but this order completely ruined Gongsun Zan’s last chance. When Yuan Shao’s army came to attack, the generals who defended the city either surrendered or fled. There were few strong fighters, allowing Yuan Shao’s army to easily attack Yi. Under the capital.

Yijing is very strong. According to the news Chen Mo received, Gongsun Zan built a lot of construction projects in Yijing, built high earth platforms, and had many defenders, but he was still completely defeated.

"Therefore, it is said that the people of the region should not rely on the boundaries of the border, the country should not be protected by the dangers of mountains and rivers, the people of the country should not rely on the benefits of military revolution, and if there is a lot of help, there will be little help..." Chen Jin suddenly raised his head and looked at Chen Mo and said: "Father, then Gongsun Zan has lost the right way, but Yuan Shao has gained the right way?"

"These people are all your elders. They should be addressed with respect. Do not call them by their first names. This is a courtesy." Chen Mo frowned and said: "Whether he is enlightened or not, General Gongsun defends the border and protects the people of the area so that the barbarians cannot If you dare to go south, the people in the border areas can live in peace, and you have contributed to the world. Even if you are defeated and killed, you are still considered a hero. You are just a young person, and you have not done anything to the world. How dare you call him by his name? "

"My child, please remember, but since you have contributed to the world, why do you still lose?" Chen Jin asked doubtfully.

"These are two different things." Chen Mo knelt down on the mat, put down the bamboo slips in his hands, looked at his son and said: "To contribute to the world is because he has done a high enough job, but to lose the army is because he lacks ability, his strategy is insufficient, and his decisiveness is insufficient. Virtue has nothing to do with it.”

"As for winning or losing, in this war, General Gongsun is obviously on the wrong side." Chen Mo said with emotion.

"You have done great service to the world and are kind to the people on the frontier, why are you still unjust?" Chen Jin was puzzled.

"First of all, if he makes a wrong decision and fails to save the trapped soldiers, he will naturally lose his morale as a soldier. I must remember that people's hearts hold grudges but not gratitude." Chen Mo said with a smile.

"I don't understand, kid. Didn't father say that human nature is kind?" Chen Jin asked doubtfully.

"This has nothing to do with good or evil, this is human nature." Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "I remember you picked up a chicken some time ago and you were very happy?"

"Well, the chicken soup made by grandma is very delicious." Chen Jin nodded.

"Have you been happy all day?" Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Um."

"But then the hen at home was eaten by a wild dog in the village. Even if the wild dog was killed, you would be sad for a long time." Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"Well, I raised him." Chen Jin nodded. Thinking about it now, he still felt very uncomfortable.

"Actually, they are all just a chicken, but the happiness gained is far less painful than the loss, right?" Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"It seems so." Chen Jin thought for a while and nodded.

"This is human nature. Although you are happy when you get something, it will not last long, but you will remember the loss for a long time." Chen Mo said with a smile: "General Gongsun protected the border for more than ten years, so that the Hu people did not dare to go south. Although he protected the border and the people, he did not After experiencing the devastation of the Hu people, the people would not have much feeling for General Gongsun's kindness. They were used to it, but they felt deeply about what they had lost. In the past few years, the Northland had been fighting year after year, and taxes had become higher and higher. These are real losses that can be seen with the eyes and felt with the heart. Most people live in the present. Moreover, if Youzhou changes to another ruler, Yuan Shao will still protect the country and the people. General Gongsun is not irreplaceable. This It is the Tao, which is both the human heart and human nature.”

"I seem to understand, but I also don't seem to understand." Chen Jin looked at his father blankly.

"There's no need to force it. You haven't learned enough now, and your knowledge isn't deep enough. When you go out in the future, you will slowly understand." Chen Mo touched his son's head and smiled.

"The child wants to grow up quickly and share his father's worries." Chen Jin puffed up his chest and said.

"When you grow up, you won't think like this anymore. Keep on endorsing it. Without this daily accumulation, it's useless to grow taller and older." Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Here~" Chen Jin nodded in agreement and continued reading.

Early the next morning, Chen Mo set off for Luoyang.

"At the beginning of April, Yuan Shao appointed Yuan Tan as the governor of Qingzhou, and his second son Yuan Xi as the governor of Youzhou. Now Yuan Shao dominates the three states. Now that the three states have been divided, I am afraid that Yuan Shao will plot against the Central Plains next." Among them, Xu Shu handed the latest information to Chen Mo and frowned: "My lord, Yuan Shao has conquered all three states. Now Jizhou has abundant food and grass, and many soldiers. Once Yuan Shao gets involved in the Central Plains, whether it is our army or Cao Cao, I’m afraid it’s hard to resist.”

Chen Mo nodded. The most important thing is Jizhou. Chen Mo has been plotting to seize Guanzhong and annex Xiliang in recent years. After incorporating Xiliang's household registration and redoing it last year, the population under his rule is only 1.6 million households, and the total population is only 9 million. .

But Chen Mo from Jizhou remembered that he had seen the household registrations of various states when he was in Luoyang. The household registrations in Jizhou at that time were two million!

Even if the wars have decreased in recent years, one Jizhou is as big as all the territories under Chen Mo's rule combined, and maybe even more. In addition, Qingzhou and Youzhou are both places that send out strong troops. It is said that Yuan Shao is the number one in the world today. The princes are really right.

In terms of population, Cao Cao is comparable to Yuan Shao, but Cao Cao now has to divide his troops to defend Chen Mo, Lu Bu, Sun Ce and Yuan Shu, and use troops on all sides. If Yuan Shao really attacks, Chen Mo estimates that Cao Cao will not be able to withstand it, because Cao Cao himself is not very stable.

"So, we should form an alliance with Cao Cao at this time." Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"My Lord, no matter whether Yuan Shao attacks and destroys our army or Cao Cao, the other side will find it difficult to survive alone." Xu Shu nodded.

If Yuan Shao attacks and destroys Cao Cao, Chen Mo will have the advantage of mountains and rivers. If Yuan Shao spreads out his troops to attack, Chen Mo will find it difficult to counterattack comprehensively. If Yuan Shao attacks and destroys Chen Mo, he can send troops from various ferry crossings of the Yellow River, Hulao, and Yique to attack Cao Cao comprehensively. Cao Cao will have no advantage to defend, and he will be dead at that time. In the current situation, we can only fight against the strong with the weak, otherwise neither Chen Mo nor Cao Cao will have a chance.

"This matter is indeed urgent, but don't worry. I believe that Cao Cao will be more anxious than us when he hears this news." Chen Mo said with a smile.

If Yuan Shao wants to expand outward again, the first choice should be Cao Cao's territory. After all, there are no obstacles in the Central Plains. If he attacks Chen Mo first, Chen Mo has Yanmen in the north, Jiguan in Hedong, and Hulao and Yique in Luoyang. Even if a full-scale war breaks out, Chen Mo only needs to guard these points. Yuan Shao, with more soldiers and more generals, cannot attack for a while, and the rear is vulnerable to Cao Cao's attack.

After all, there is Taihang Mountain between Yuan Shao and Chen Mo. On the contrary, Cao Cao's forces are intertwined, and Qingzhou is directly behind Cao Cao. He can attack Xuzhou in the south and Yanzhou in the west.

Attacking Cao Cao is obviously much easier than attacking Chen Mo, and the benefits will be greater. On the contrary, if he attacks Chen Mo, even if Bingzhou and Heluo are captured, Chen Mo can retreat to Guanzhong. Once Hangu Pass is closed, it will be more difficult for Yuan Shao to attack.

Fighting Cao Cao, as long as Cao Cao is defeated, the Central Plains can be conquered in one battle, but if Chen Mo is fought, there will be many obstacles and it will be difficult to achieve complete success in one battle.

Yuan Shao has just defeated Gongsun Zan and is in high spirits. It is very likely that he wants to send troops to seize the Central Plains. Cao Cao cannot fail to see this, so Cao Cao needs allies more urgently than Chen Mo.

There are only three of them in the Central Plains now, and the only ally Cao Cao can find is Chen Mo.

Xu Shu was startled when he heard this, and then nodded. The lord is asking for benefits!

…

Suiyang, Cao Mansion.

Just as Chen Mo thought, Cao Cao really wants to form an alliance with Chen Mo now, but based on Cao Cao's understanding of his little brother, if he takes the initiative to ask for an alliance, he will definitely be blackmailed.

"My lord, don't worry." Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao and smiled, "I think the Marquis of Changling might have the same intention at this time."

"How could I not know?" Cao Cao smiled bitterly, "Fengxiao doesn't know what kind of person this little thief is. If I take the initiative to send someone to see him, he will definitely take the opportunity to blackmail me."

"In my humble opinion, it won't be too much." Guo Jia smiled. Because of Cai Yong, he has been paying attention to Chen Mo since a long time ago when he didn't occupy Hedong. This is a person who can compare with his lord. It is not important to have talent. What is more important is that Chen Mo has the same overall view and decisiveness as Cao Cao. He is almost a perfect lord. However, it is precisely because of this that Guo Jia did not vote for Chen Mo but chose Cao Cao. The lord knows everything, which will make the counselor seem to have no sense of existence.

But this does not prevent Guo Jia from appreciating Chen Mo. He believes that Chen Mo can now see the situation clearly. It is beneficial to unite, but if it is divided, it is likely that he will be defeated by Yuan Shao one by one.

Regardless of Yuan Shao's character flaws, if he was allowed to seize the Central Plains, Yuan Shao would probably use his troops against Chen Mo before the negative effects of Yuan Shao's shortcomings came out. Therefore, it is the best choice for the two families to join forces to fight against Yuan Shao now. He also believes that Chen Mo will choose this.

As for taking the opportunity to blackmail... isn't this normal? Now it is obvious that Cao Cao is more urgent than Chen Mo.

"But I just can't accept it!" Cao Cao gritted his teeth and said, "It is more difficult for me to bear to let this little thief blackmail than others!"

Guo Jia: "..."

Okay, I thought too much. This is a grudge between the two people and has nothing to do with decision-making.

As far as Guo Jia knows, his master has a very complicated relationship with Chen Mo. He likes to communicate privately when he has nothing to do. The private relationship is good. Only Cao Cao can scold Chen Mo in the family. Others will be punished by Cao Cao, but if there is a chance to add insult to injury, he will never be soft-hearted.

It is a very complicated relationship. Even Guo Jia doesn't quite understand what the situation is between these two people.

Since Cao Cao knew what was going on, Guo Jia just listened to Cao Cao's complaints. Being a subject is sometimes difficult, and you have to listen to your lord vent his emotions~ Tsk...