Chapter 238

"Wait for Lin Ziyuan's army to arrive!"

Looking at the crowd, according to the scouts' reports, Lin Yang's army had already arrived at Zhuxu in Langya Commandery, and it wouldn't take five days to reach Shouguang!

By then!

He, Yuan Benchu, and Lin Ziyuan would all gather in Shouguang!

"My lord, Guo Fengxiao and Cheng Zhongde under Lin Ziyuan both have great talent. This time they have come, I'm afraid their plans are not small!"

Seeing the generals had calmed down, Xi Zhicai spoke up!

Lin Yang's army had arrived, clearly wanting a share of Qingzhou!

Now that they had problems in Yanzhou!

The army had to retreat!

Otherwise!

Once Lu Bu and Zhang Miao rebelled in the rear!

Then they might be attacked from both sides by Lu Bu and Yuan Benchu!

This was a risk they absolutely couldn't afford!

But!

Giving up Qingzhou just like that was truly a pity!

"Sigh, what Zhicai said is exactly what I am worried about!"

That's right!

Lin Yang's army had arrived, clearly wanting to occupy Qingzhou!

Lin Yang already occupied Xuzhou!

If he occupied Qingzhou as well!

He would inevitably leap into the ranks of top warlords!

Like Yuan Benchu, controlling two provinces!

"My lord doesn't need to worry too much; although you are withdrawing, Yuan Benchu won't let Lin Ziyuan succeed so easily!"

Man Chong pondered and bowed!

Yuan Benchu, four generations and three dukes!

This time, he had led a large army to attack!

With the posture of having to occupy Qingzhou!

With this posture, it would be difficult for Lin Yang to occupy Qingzhou!

"Boning, although Yuan Benchu has his heart set on Qingzhou, Gongsun Bogui in the north might not necessarily agree!"

Xun You, who was silent, saw further!

Lin Yang dared to come!

How could Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, and others under his command not think of allying with Gongsun Bogui!

Yuan Benchu's military edge was strong!

But with an enemy like Gongsun Bogui in the north, he would only be able to retreat at a critical moment!

"In that case, doesn't it mean Qingzhou will fall into Lin Ziyuan's hands?"

Listening to the analysis of his strategists, Cao Mengde's brows furrowed!

It didn't matter if he retreated!

As long as Yuan Benchu and Lin Yang were entangled!

Then Qingzhou wouldn't fall into the other party's hands!

But if Yuan Benchu also retreated!

Then Qingzhou would be in danger!

Cao Mengde didn't want another enemy controlling two provinces to appear by his side!

"My lord, don't worry, Lin Ziyuan won't be able to take the whole of Qingzhou!"

Xi Zhicai looked at Qingzhou on the map; although Qingzhou was good, it was now surrounded by wolves!

It wouldn't be easy for anyone to monopolize this piece of fat!

"Zhicai, do you have a good plan?"

With eyes shining, Cao Mengde looked at his strategist!

"Since my lord is going to retreat, these two commanderies in Qingzhou are like chicken ribs!"

Xi Zhicai said lightly, pointing to the two commanderies currently occupied by the Cao Army!

Xun You, on the side, seemed to have already thought of Xi Zhicai's plan and whispered!

"Chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, but a pity to discard!"

These words left Xiahou Dun and the others in the camp confused, not understanding what the two strategists were hinting at!

Meanwhile, north of Shouguang County

"My lord, Lin Ziyuan has dispatched troops this time, clearly plotting for Qingzhou!"

In the main tent of the Yuan Army, Yuan Benchu sat above, staring at the military report with a difficult expression!

Heh!

It really was that everyone dared to come and compete with him!

First came Cao Aman!

Now came Lin Ziyuan!

One was the descendant of a eunuch, and the other was a mere county magistrate!

"My lord, Lin Ziyuan dares to dispatch troops; he must have something to rely on. We must be on guard!"

Tian Feng, below, seeing Yuan Benchu unhappy, still stubbornly stood out!

This land of Qingzhou!

For others, perhaps it wasn't important!

But for Yuan Benchu, it was crucial!

Yuan Benchu now occupied Jizhou and Bingzhou!

Seemingly infinitely glorious, but the bitterness within was not something to be told to outsiders!

The land of Bingzhou!

Although it was a province, it had experienced war and disaster!

And there were invasions by foreign tribes in the north!

Everyone in the world knew the Bingzhou cavalry was fierce and unparalleled!

But did they know that Bingzhou was nine-tenths empty!

That's right!

The population of Bingzhou was now less than a million!

With this population, plus the harassment of foreign tribes!

A dignified province was not even as good as Lin Yang's Guangling Commandery!

Miserable, truly miserable!

Yuan Benchu occupied Bingzhou, although he obtained a supply of warhorses!

But in terms of population, he didn't get much replenishment!

Therefore!

The two million-plus population of Qingzhou!

Was very important to Yuan Benchu!

With these two million-plus people from Qingzhou!

He would have enough strength to confront Gongsun Zan in the north!

If he didn't have Qingzhou!

Relying on just Jizhou and the depopulated Bingzhou!

Even if he defeated Gongsun Zan, the price they would pay would be extremely painful!

This was why!

Tian Feng had agreed to Guo Fengxiao's proposal!

Unfortunately!