Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

This further confirmed from another angle that there was indeed a heavily armed ambush in the dense forest.

It wasn't until the next day that Yuan Shao cautiously commanded his army to form a formation and slowly advance into the dense forest, only to discover that the traces left in the forest didn't resemble a heavily armed ambush at all.

However, after such repeated delays, they had bought enough time for Gongsun Zan's army for two full days.

Yuan Shao wanted to pursue, but it was too late, so he had to abandon the pursuit of Gongsun Zan's army and instead began to attack and plunder within Ji Province.

The great defeat at the Battle of Jieqiao had already completely shattered Han Fu's courage.

Some Ji Province officials and generals, dissatisfied with Yuan Shao's overbearing behavior, were still spontaneously trying to resist Yuan's army, but Han Fu took the lead in presenting his seal of office to Yuan Shao to surrender, hoping to survive.

This also allowed Gongsun Zan to retreat back to You Province with his front foot, and Yuan Shao almost completely occupied Ji Province with his back foot, becoming the true master of Ji Province.

Once Ji Province fell into Yuan Shao's hands, he sent people to Bing Province in the name of the Governor of Bing Province to seize power, while also preparing a large army, attempting to take advantage of the situation and attack You Province.

However, after Yuan Shao prepared the troops under Han Fu's command and led an imposing army of 100,000 men towards You Province.

Yuan Shao finally learned from the reports of a large number of scouts that during the year of confrontation at Jieqiao, Liu Yu had continuously relocated the people in the southern part of You Province, adjacent to Ji Province, to the northern part to raise horses and cattle.

Even a large number of You Province cities and towns adjacent to Ji Province were set on fire and destroyed by Liu Yu after the Battle of Jieqiao yielded results.

By the time Yuan Shao noticed this, the area adjacent to You Province and Ji Province could be described as cleared for hundreds of miles.

At this moment, Yuan Shao and the counselors under his command felt helpless.

Without cities or towns as a base, even if Yuan Shao's army could pass through this hundred-mile plain step by step, how could logistics and supplies be guaranteed under the harassment of You Province's cavalry, which came and went like the wind?

Just as Yuan Shao was plagued by this, the results of the Battle of Jieqiao spread throughout the entire Han Dynasty.

Before this result appeared, the world generally favored General Bai Ma, Gongsun Zan, and more people were estimating how long Yuan Shao could last without being defeated.

What they never expected was that Yuan Shao would win a great victory and occupy Ji Province in one fell swoop.

Not only did Gongsun Zan's army suffer heavy losses, but if Zhao Yun hadn't come to the rescue in time, Gongsun Zan himself would have almost lost his life at Jieqiao and had to retreat to You Province in a disheveled manner.

The situation of the struggle between Yuan and Liu, two hegemons and many strongmen, seemed to have initially formed.

In the eyes of the world, Jing and Yang Provinces have the hidden danger of Jiao Province behind them, and Ji and Bing Provinces also need to pacify You Province before Yuan Shao and Liu Bei can truly attack the Central Plains without any worries.

Moreover, Yuan Shao's victory also had a huge impact on the situation in the Central Plains.

When Liu Bei in Shouchun learned the results of the Battle of Jieqiao, a look of sorrow could not help but appear on his face.

About 50,000 Youyan men died at Jieqiao.

How could Liu Bei, as a fellow villager, not feel sorrow for this?

The entire process of the Battle of Jieqiao was even more clearly reported in every detail in the report sent back by Guo Jia.

In this regard, Li Ji could only sigh that Gongsun Zan's defeat was not unjust.

Yuan Shao's side was united from top to bottom, everyone gave their lives, and in the face of adversity, Yuan Shao's performance was remarkable, completely worthy of the current praise of "Model of the World".

In contrast, Gongsun Zan was too arrogant, relying on his superior military strength and being in a plain that was favorable to cavalry, he had never taken Yuan Shao, who had weak military strength, seriously.

However, the Battle of Jieqiao made Qu Yi and Zhao Yun's reputations greatly enhanced.

Qu Yi led eight hundred first-登死士 to resist the White Horse Righteous Cavalry, while Zhao Yun charged back and forth in the chaotic army to rescue Gongsun Zan.

"Alas, it is a blessing in misfortune that Bogui is not in mortal danger. I hope that this battle will make Bogui guard against arrogance and impetuosity."

After analyzing the Battle of Jieqiao, Liu Bei could only sigh like this, and then spoke to Li Ji.

"Fortunately, Zikun had foreseen early on that there might be changes in the Battle of Jieqiao, and had Liu Youzhou clear the fields in the south in advance, delaying Yuan Benchu's momentum to take the opportunity to attack You Province."

"Otherwise, if Yuan Benchu really occupied the three states of You, Bing, and Ji, and with Yuan Gonglu and Cao Mengde cheering for him in the Central Plains, half of the Han Dynasty's territory would be easily changed to the Yuan surname in an instant."

Speaking of the end, Liu Bei felt more and more shocked.

Yuan Shao's victory exceeded the expectations of the world, but it did not exceed Li Ji's expectations.

More importantly, in the eyes of the world, Yuan Shao can now form a situation of contending for hegemony with Liu Bei across the Central Plains.

However, from the perspective of Liu Bei's interests, Yuan Shao's victory is also beneficial to Liu Bei.

During the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Gongsun Zan vaguely respected Liu Bei, but as Gongsun Zan gradually became the hegemon north of the Yellow River, Liu Yu and Liu Bei were increasingly not taken seriously by Gongsun Zan.

Once Gongsun Zan defeated Yuan Shao and occupied the three states of Ji, Bing, and You, then who would be greater, Liu Bei or Gongsun Zan?

At that time, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan would not only become enemies, but the sea trade that had lasted for many years would also be interrupted, and it would be difficult for Jing and Yang to continue to purchase large quantities of war horses and plows.

On the contrary, although Yuan Shao has won now, under Li Ji's arrangement, Yuan Shao is difficult to attack You Province, which has been cleared in advance.

It not only preserves You Province to maintain sea trade, but also invisibly weakens Yuan Shao, making it difficult for Yuan Shao to occupy You Province in the short term.

However, in response to Liu Bei's praise, Li Ji shook his head, got up and walked to the giant Han Dynasty sand table displayed in the hall, while slowly inserting a small flag representing Yuan Shao in the two states of Ji and Bing, he replied modestly.

"It's just taking advantage of the situation. Gongsun Bogui is too arrogant. Although his military strength is strong, it is not enough to determine the outcome. It is normal to have this defeat."

Military warfare is by no means a matter of measuring the paper data of both sides to determine the outcome.

It is true that the Battle of Jieqiao was a victory of the weak over the strong, but compared with the four major comeback battles of the Battle of Guandu, the Battle of Chibi, the Battle of Hefei, and the Battle of Yiling, there is nothing surprising about it.

Especially the Battle of Hefei, Sun Shiwang's 100,000 troops were defeated by Zhang Liao's eight hundred elites, which not only affected the overall situation of the world, but also established the eternal reputation of "Jiangdong Jerry" in one fell swoop.

The crime lies in the present, the fault lies in the future.

This world is often a makeshift team that opens champagne in the middle of the game.

Therefore, even if Gongsun Zan's military strength is stronger than the original trajectory under Li Ji's influence, Li Ji is not surprised at all to have harvested a major defeat.

After Li Ji replaced the small flags of the two states of Ji and Bing, he stroked his sleeves with his left hand and pointed to the north of the Yellow River with his right hand, saying.

"My lord, the situation north of the Yellow River is clear. Han Fu is as timid as a mouse and took the initiative to surrender, but the Black Mountain Army, You Province, and Bing Province Xianbei and other parties contain each other. Even if Yuan Shao combines the two states of Ji and Bing in the short term, he will be unable to go south to the Central Plains in a year or two."

Immediately, Li Ji pointed to Yanzhou again.

"However, the victory or defeat in the Battle of Jieqiao divides this struggle for Yanzhou... Yuan Shao's side also needs to be added to form a situation of four-way contention."

"Moreover, Yuan Shao should also know that it is best to stabilize the rear in the short term and should not get involved in the Central Plains, so Yuan Shao is very likely to choose to support Yuan Shu in seizing Yanzhou."

"However, Cao Cao of Qingzhou is only separated from Jizhou by a river. Cao Cao may not dare to compete with the two Yuans, and can only choose to give up Yanzhou."

Liu Bei heard this, and his vision suddenly opened up, and said. "So, soon after, Lu Bu will compete with the two Yuans for Yanzhou?"

"Not so."

At this moment, Li Ji waved his hand and said.

"The two Yuans must know that competing with Lu Bu will only give our army an opportunity to attack the rear of Yuzhou, so the two Yuans may choose to use profits to make Lu Bu give up Yanzhou."

Speaking of this, Li Ji's fingers pondered slightly, and pointed towards Nanyang.

"Here, Nanyang may be ceded to Lu Bu."

(End of this chapter)