Suddenly, Yuan Xi seemed to understand why Cao Cao, after years of conquest, found that wherever he went, either the enemy surrendered inexplicably, or spies emerged from within the enemy ranks, betraying their lords and offering the city.
While Cao Cao's power was certainly a factor, it was hard to say whether he had secretly controlled the enemy's soldiers and generals, just like the Yellow Turban Army, by spreading doctrines to control the common people and then launching an uprising.
If that were the case, Yuan Xi would have to come up with corresponding countermeasures to resolve it.
He not only had to strive for a good reputation among the gentry, but also had to compete for the right to speak among the common people!
He was somewhat ashamed that he kept saying he would go among the people, but it was just castles in the air, and he hadn't fully understood this point before.
However, Cao Cao was already revered as a 'True Man' by Taoism in his lifetime, with extremely deep foundations. To sever his roots, he would need someone who understood this path to point him in the right direction.
Once Yuan Xi understood this, he immediately felt much more relaxed. He couldn't help but grab Cao Xian's hand and smile, saying, "You've done me a great favor."
Cao Xian's face flushed red, and she lowered her head, whispering, "This concubine is very happy."
But Yuan Xi's next words made her heart sink, "In a few days, I will be going to Beixin City."
"You and your mother and sister should stay in this mansion first. I will return after I follow the Yuan clan to conquer Yijing."
Cao Xian quickly said, "I am now a servant girl of the Young Master, how can I not follow the Young Master?"
"Moreover, Sister Wu Zhao is doing so many miscellaneous things alone by the Young Master's side, which is very tiring. Can't I share her worries?"
Yuan Xi said in a deep voice, "I don't plan to take Wu Zhao this time either."
Cao Xian was stunned, and then reacted, her face turning pale, "Could it be that Beixin City is very dangerous?"
Yuan Xi sighed, "I don't know if Gongsun Zan and the others will resort to desperate measures."
Yijing, where Gongsun Zan was located, was located at the junction of You and Ji provinces, directly north of Ye City, and controlled the important passage from Ji Province to You Province.
And Yuan Xi's Beixin City was located in the northwest direction of Yijing, blocking the western passage for You Province to support Yijing, which can be said to be extremely critical.
The news that Ji Province was fully attacking Yijing had already been known to Gongsun Zan. Although he might not leave Yijing, his generals and allies would try their best to provide support and relief.
At that time, the battle for Beixin City would no longer be the small-scale skirmishes of the previous three years, but would be extremely brutal.
Therefore, after thinking it over and over again, Yuan Xi decided not to bring anyone this time. If Beixin City were to fall, and he were to break through, the women he brought with him would only make him lose sight of the other.
At this time, Wu Zhao's voice came, "Although we should always make the worst plans, Young Master, this idea may have the opposite effect."
When Cao Xian saw Wu Zhao coming in, she quickly moved her body away, and Wu Zhao naturally knelt and sat beside her.
Yuan Xi asked in confusion, "What do you mean by this?"
Wu Zhao said, "This concubine knows that Young Master is confused because he cares. Although he is worried about our safety, the starting point is good."
"But if you show the appearance of running away at any time when defending the city, the people in the city will only be more unstable."
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "I understand, but with the lessons of the Rebellion of Ye City, if I am really in that kind of predicament, I don't know what choice I will make."
For Yuan Xi, the current historical trajectory was completely different. The Rebellion of Ye City could still be predicted, but Beixin City was completely beyond his ability.
Wu Zhao said in a low voice, "This matter is indeed difficult to decide. This concubine is not a strategist and cannot speak rashly."
"For matters of military affairs, why doesn't Young Master ask someone who is proficient in strategy?"
"I see that Young Master appreciates that Mr. Fengxiao very much, why not ask him?"
Yuan Xi thought to himself that it was true, so he immediately went out and knocked on Guo Jia's door a few times.
He only heard an angry curse from inside the door. After a while, Guo Jia opened the door with an unfriendly expression.
When Yuan Xi saw that he was unbuttoned and only wearing a robe, and seemed to be wearing nothing inside, he realized it and couldn't help but be stunned. You're doing this in broad daylight, how lecherous are you?
When Guo Jia saw Yuan Xi's expression, he knew what he was thinking and said angrily, "I'm leaving in a few days, can't I indulge myself?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Then I came at the wrong time. I'll go back first and come back later tonight?"
Guo Jia rolled his eyes, "Forget it, if you come at the wrong time again, I'll really be killed by you."
"Tell me what's going on now, hurry up!"
Yuan Xi briefly explained the matter and finally said, "In your opinion, is it better to keep close people by your side or leave them in Ye City when defending a place?"
Guo Jia laughed angrily, "I almost got sick because of this trivial matter!"
"I won't give you any ideas!"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "This is not marching and fighting. I'm just here to ask your opinion, it doesn't count as giving ideas, right?"
Guo Jia didn't expect Yuan Xi to be so thick-skinned and insisted on staying at the door. He sighed and said helplessly, "Okay, I'll only say this kind of thing once."
"It's a good thing it's here."
"If your subordinates knew you had this kind of idea, I'm afraid they would lose confidence in you."
When Yuan Xi heard this, he immediately said solemnly, "Please enlighten me, sir."
Guo Jia said, "This is not a problem at all."
"Those who want to achieve great things can abandon everyone except themselves."
"As a lord, you must understand this, and as subordinates, you should also understand this."
"I think you are too sentimental and go back to think about this boring question."
"You must know that if you die, everything will be meaningless."
"As people who follow you, even if they die, as long as you can achieve great things, their descendants will definitely live well, how can subordinates be afraid of death?"
"On the contrary, they are more afraid of your failure, after all, no one knows whether they will be killed by the enemy if you lose."
Yuan Xi was stunned and said, "Doesn't that mean that as a lord, you have to be as ruthless as Gaozu?"
Guo Jia laughed and said, "If you learn from Gaozu, then you have to have Han Xin!"
"Can you learn it!"
"In today's chaotic world, even more ruthless people than Gaozu don't know if they can survive!"
Yuan Xi was thoughtful when he heard Guo Jia say, "I'm too lazy to talk to you, I won't see you off!" After saying that, he slammed the door shut.
Yuan Xi stood in the snow and smiled bitterly.
What Guo Jia said was indeed true. If he died, Wu Zhao and Cao Xian would not end well, so for them, it was the same wherever they were.
Forget it, since he had chosen this path, he should have been prepared.
He returned to the house and said to Wu Zhao and Cao Xian, "You pack up these days and follow me back to Beixin City."
When Wu Zhao and Cao Xian heard this, they showed happy smiles.
The reason why Yuan Xi was so worried was because Ji Province was mobilizing troops and supplies to attack Yijing. Although it might take several months to prepare, Beixin City had to be laid out in advance.
Because of the location of Beixin City, it not only blocked the passage for Zhuo County in You Province to support Yijing, but also blocked the eastern route of Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army in Bing Province, Gongsun Zan's ally!
The Black Mountain Army was said to have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so Beixin City would be under great pressure at that time.
The reason why Beixin City did not have this threat in the previous three years was because Yuan Shao had been personally leading a large army to fight against the Black Mountain Army, driving them out of Ji Province and back into the Taihang Mountains in Bing Province.
Now that Zhang Yan was at odds with Yuan Shao and had a good relationship with Gongsun Zan, if Yijing were attacked, the Black Mountain Army would inevitably take the opportunity to cause trouble.
Moreover, Yuan Xi knew that Gongsun Zan did ask Zhang Yan for help in later generations, and Zhang Yan also came with a large army, but he didn't make it in time in the end.
But after Gongsun Zan's defeat, the Black Mountain Army still fought with Yuan Shao for several years, and the Black Mountain Army was not wiped out until Yuan Shao died of illness.
Yuan Xi cursed inwardly. The difficulty of capturing You Province in advance was too high. He had made so many plans, but the problems he faced later were more troublesome than the last!
Never mind, he had already tied Guo Jia over. Unless he wanted to commit suicide, Yuan Xi didn't believe that Guo Jia would hold back from speaking at a time of crisis!
Once Yuan Xi had made up his mind, he went directly out of the mansion by car to Yuan Shao's official residence.
When he saw Yuan Shao, he was surprised to find that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, as well as many counselors, had arrived, and even Xun Chen, who had not shown up for a long time, was there.
When Yuan Shao saw Yuan Xi's arrival, he was also a little surprised and said, "Did Xianyi hear any news, or do you have something to say to me?"
Yuan Xi bowed and said, "I have something."
"I want to leave Ye City in the next few days and take a few thousand soldiers and horses back to Beixin City."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned, seemingly a little surprised, but some counselors showed appreciation on their faces.
Yuan Xi found that the expressions on Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang's faces were very complicated, but Yuan Xi was very relieved. This was a key battle against Gongsun Zan, and even Yuan Shang would not hold back at this time.
Yuan Shao's face was somewhat gratified and said, "Xianyi can also think of this."
"I have already decided to let Xianfu be responsible for the mobilization of food, grass, soldiers and horses in Ji Province, and let Xiansi go to Qing Province to recruit soldiers and collect food."
"The only reason I didn't call you over was because the location of Beixin City is indeed very critical, and the clerks also have different opinions."
"Your ability to think of this proves that what you have done before is not accidental, and you are indeed very far-sighted."
When everyone heard this, they echoed and praised him.
Yuan Shang also nodded along with everyone, but he was extremely furious in his heart. Yuan Xi was now someone he could no longer simply suppress!
He had deliberately excluded Yuan Shang from today's preparations, but Yuan Xi came directly!
There must be someone among the people present who had defected to him!
This kind of person staying in the family was really a disaster, but he was indispensable in order to defeat Gongsun Zan!
But if he made great contributions again when destroying Gongsun Zan, wouldn't there be even more variables?
While Yuan Shang was suspicious, Yuan Xi said, "Since I have been appointed as the prefect of Zhuo County, I have a responsibility to defend the territory, and Beixin City can block the passage between the Black Mountain Army and Bing Province as soon as possible. The sooner the better."
When a group of counselors heard this, they also nodded one after another. They did indeed think so.
Attacking Yijing would require at least tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops, depending on the movements of Gongsun Zan's reinforcements.
If the opponent had more reinforcements, Ji Province would have to increase the number of troops accordingly. In order to prevent the enemy from causing trouble, it was natural to lay out the plan as early as possible.
But none of the counselors wanted to speak, because they knew that although Yuan Xi should theoretically defend Zhuo County, this errand was actually very dangerous.
Not to mention Gongsun Zan's subordinates in You Province, how could Yuan Xi stop the Black Mountain Army if they marched from Beixin City with hundreds of thousands of troops?
If Yuan Xi really died there, wouldn't Yuan Shao blame the person who came up with the idea?