Chapter 289

It could be said that all resources were unconditionally tilted toward this cavalry unit under his command.

This feeling was akin to the "hoping for one's child to become a dragon" of later generations, where parents would fill their children's schedules with tutoring classes from childhood to adulthood.

Therefore, he was full of expectations for this child!

Yuan Shao was the same.

He hoped that this cavalry, forged with countless efforts, would be able to overcome all obstacles and become an elite force that shook the world, just like the Xiliang Iron Cavalry and the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry!

However, this cavalry unit was declared finished today with the total annihilation of the entire force.

For Yuan Shao, this was no different from a bolt from the blue!

For a moment, Yuan Shao could not bear the blow and collapsed straight onto the ground.

"Someone, come here!"

"Quickly take the Master and General Yan Liang into the camp to rest."

At the critical moment, Ju Shou stood out to preside over the affairs of the Yuan Army.

Besides his identity as a strategist.

Ju Shou was also a leader-level figure of the Hebei aristocratic group.

Coming from a top-tier local aristocratic family in Jizhou.

He also held the position of Bieja of Jizhou.

He could be considered the one with the highest status and official rank among the scholars in the Yuan camp.

Soon, everyone brought Yan Liang and Yuan Shao into the camp.

After calming down a little.

Yan Liang told everyone the ins and outs of the matter.

After hearing it, everyone was terrified.

"General Yan, in other words, has that Gongsun Zan completely turned to Dong Zhuo?"

Ju Shou frowned tightly.

The thing he feared most had happened after all.

If this scoundrel Gongsun Zan mixed with Dong Zhuo.

The threat to Yuan Shao's power would surely increase exponentially!

However.

At this moment, more than half of the coalition cavalry had been lost, and the Yuan camp's cavalry had been completely wiped out.

Even if Yuan Shao and the others wanted to stop Gongsun Zan, it was of no use.

Just as Ju Shou was worrying about how to deal with Gongsun Zan.

Suddenly, several sentries rushed in from outside with hurried expressions.

"Sir! Something terrible has happened!"

"The Dong Zhuo army has gifted Gongsun Zan a significant amount of grain and ships."

"Right now, Gongsun Zan has already taken his Youzhou army to the vicinity of the Yellow River ferry."

【289-34】

"What!?"

Hearing this.

Yuan Shao, who was lying on the bed recuperating, was overcome with rage, and a mouthful of old blood sprayed from his mouth!

Subsequently, he fell into a faint.

"Master!"

Ju Shou and the others were even more worried when they saw this.

Gongsun Zan had received the grain and ships gifted by Gu Yi and was leading his Youzhou army across the Yellow River to return to Hebei.

One could guess with their toes that Gongsun Zan's next plan was definitely revenge!

Gongsun Zan had long coveted Yuan Shao's base, Jizhou.

The Battle of Jieqiao back then,

to put it bluntly, was because Gongsun Zan coveted the fertile land of Jizhou.

He wanted to start a war and forcibly occupy it.

It was just that the Battle of Jieqiao ended with the failure of Gongsun Zan's side.

Afterwards, Yuan Shao launched a counterattack against Gongsun Zan and began to invade Youzhou.

And now.

Yuan Shao's main army was all near Hulao Pass.

The Jizhou base was therefore extremely empty.

Only his three sons, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang, as well as the Yecheng Magistrate Shen Pei, were left behind in Jizhou with a small number of troops.

Under such circumstances.

If Gongsun Zan launched a major attack on Jizhou.

Relying solely on Yuan Shao's three sons and Shen Pei and the others, it would be impossible to organize an effective counterattack.

"No, Jizhou is of great importance and must not be lost!"

"Only by withdrawing the troops can Jizhou be preserved."

At the critical moment when Yuan Shao fell into a faint.

Ju Shou quickly stood out to make a decision on Yuan Shao's behalf.

As the leader of the Hebei faction under Yuan Shao.

Ju Shou naturally could not watch Jizhou suffer an attack by Gongsun Zan.

As soon as Ju Shou's voice fell.

Guo Tu and Xin Ping habitually stood out, wanting to say something.

But before they could speak, several gazes full of killing intent were cast in this direction!

The owners of these gazes were precisely the Hebei faction under Yuan Shao.

Once Guo Tu and Xin Ping tried to dissuade the army from returning to Jizhou.

The Hebei faction would definitely pounce directly and tear them to pieces!

Jizhou was the root of the Hebei faction and also their bottom line!

How important was Jizhou to the Hebei faction?

Let's put it this way: even if Yuan Shao died, Jizhou must never be lost!

Historically, in the ninth year of Jian'an (204 AD).

Shen Pei and the others, in order to oppose Cao Cao.

Held out in Yecheng until the very last moment!

Of course, to be precise.

Historically, when Cao Cao conquered Yecheng, the Hebei faction had already split into two.

The first faction was the "would rather die than surrender" group led by Shen Pei and others.

Before passing away.

Shen Pei left behind the tragic words: "My master is in the north, I must not face south when I die!"

In Shen Pei's heart, only Yuan Shao and Yuan Shang could be called his masters.

As for Cao Cao, who was originally Yuan Shao's little brother, Shen Pei held contempt for him from the bottom of his heart.

Besides Shen Pei and the others.

The Hebei faction also split into a surrender faction.

The reason why Jizhou could be conquered by Cao Cao was largely due to the contribution of the surrender faction.

In the eyes of these Hebei surrenderists.

It didn't matter who was the master of Hebei.

Anyway, as long as their interests could be guaranteed, everything was negotiable.

But whether it was the Hebei "would rather die than surrender" faction or the Hebei "surrender faction".

The common point between the two was the need for the ruler to cooperate with local aristocrats to ensure the safety of Hebei.

The reason why Cao Cao and Yuan Shao could rise quickly was inseparable from the full support of the aristocrats behind them.

Therefore, in the eyes of the aristocrats, both were people they could cooperate with. ===== CHAPTER 290 =====