Three Kingdoms

Above the gate of Yecheng, there was some silence for a moment.

Following the change in Yuan Shao's expression, many people began to hold their breath and secretly shrank their heads, trying to make their protruding parts more rounded and less noticeable.

In fact, the matter of civilian husbands is both big and small.

According to the process, it is not necessary to gather so many people at once to set off together. After all, although Yecheng is now blooming with flowers, its carrying capacity is still limited. If so many people suddenly increase, even if nothing else is needed, Eating alone is enough to collapse a city's fragile markets.

So normally, Tian Feng's handling method is not wrong.

Let the farmers who have completed the spring plowing be transferred step by step. On the one hand, it will not cause local congestion. On the other hand, these farmers can be fully utilized so that the spring plowing will not be delayed.

But the problem is that Guo Tu will not explain these things to Yuan Shao because it is completely unnecessary.

Did these peasants cultivate the Guo family's fields?

Obviously not.

If Yuan Shao discovers the number of civilians and troops and investigates, will Tian Feng and others take the initiative to share the responsibility for Guo Tu?

Obviously not.

So why would Guo Tu take on this unprofitable matter?

Except for the first group of people who came to Jizhou with Yuan Shao, Guo Tu can be said to have followed Yuan Shao earlier, but Guo Tu's position in Yuan Shao's camp is not embarrassing. It's not that Yuan Shao didn't take Guo Tu seriously, but that Guo Tu couldn't give Yuan Shao the most direct help and supplementation like Tian Feng and other Jizhou nobles did on some matters, so whether it was military or government affairs, Even if they go up, there is no way to overpower Tian Feng.

Originally, he wanted to continue Qu Yi's affairs and use Yuan Shao's tiger skin to suppress the group of Jizhou nobles headed by Tian Feng. However, he did not expect that Xianbei, who suddenly went south, broke the siege of these Jizhou nobles. With the After Tian Feng reversed the battlefield under Jicheng and defeated Xianbei, all the follow-up steps Guo Tu had originally planned disappeared into thin air. How could Guo Tu continue calmly?

And another very important point is that if the arrogance of Tian Feng and others is not suppressed now, if Tian Feng turns up the old score, will Yuan Shao be able to cover Guo Tu from the swords and guns projected from all around?

Don't look at it now that Guo Tu talks and laughs calmly on weekdays, and seems to behave and socialize as usual, but in fact Guo Tu can only suppress his anxiety deep in his heart!

You must know that it was Guo Tu who suggested to Yuan Shao to remove Qu Yi!

Even if Tian Feng doesn't know about this kind of thing now, but he can hide it for a while, is it possible that he can hide it for the rest of his life? When Tian Feng and others regain the upper hand, it will probably be Guo Tu's own death...

At present, the area inside and outside Yecheng has almost become a military city, and people from all over are gathering here. Civilians transporting food, wages, and military equipment converged here like large brigades of moving ants, transporting military supplies prepared by various noble clans across Hebei, and even supplies sent from as far away as Youzhou and Qingzhou.

All day long, convoys of people and horses passed by in large groups every day, making the surrounding roads full of potholes. Even if multiple teams of civilians were sent to repair them, they still couldn't keep up with the speed of destruction.

To be honest, after Yuan Shao moved into Jizhou, he has held countless swearing-in ceremonies and held some military parades on weekdays. But this time, it seems to be a little different in terms of scale and momentum. Even Yuan Shao himself has been secretly practicing riding his horse for the past two days, so that on the day of the Grand Parade, he can fully show his majesty and pride, ride his horse with his sword, and review the three armies! We won’t lose the majesty of General Yuan Shao and Yuan because of the rebirth of his thigh meat!

Seeing that the grand parade was approaching, troops were about to be dispatched, and the news coming from the south was getting better day by day. Yuan Shu was defeated day by day, and Yuan Shao was happy day by day. Yuan Shao's cheerful and high-pitched laughter could always be heard in the government offices. Even the servants who served Yuan Shao were relaxed and smiling. , received many rewards.

Everything looks extremely happy...

Until now.

Yuan Shao's face darkened, and even the guards around Yuan Shao couldn't help but glare at Guo Tu several times!

Is this guy unable to live a comfortable life for a few days?

It's rare that General Yuan has been in a good mood these past two days, but now he's making General Yuan uncomfortable again!

Yuan Shao's face was gloomy, and he silently played with the jade ring around his waist. He did not look at Guo Tu who was bowing slightly at the side, but looked straight ahead, as if the scenery in the distance was so charming. People linger and forget to leave.

Guo Tu on the side also looked calm, just waiting for Yuan Shao to speak.

After an unknown amount of time, Yuan Shao stopped what he was doing, slapped the battlement beside him, and said in a deep voice: "Gongze! I usually see you as a steady person, but I never thought that you would be so ridiculous today! The north is stable, and the west is stable. The beginning of the war is the time for cooperation! How can we impeach each other! At this moment, you are slandering Yuan Hao and want to disturb the morale of the army? Yuan Hao is dedicated to the public, even if he intercepts civilians, there is a reason! If someone is wary of Yuan Hao Hao, isn't that disgusting? Go away, go away! Not only will I not restrict Yuan Hao, but I will also support him with all my strength! I should wash my ears from what you say and don't want to hear it again! Go away! Go away! Don't come back again !”

Guo Tu remained calm, as if he hadn't seen Yuan Shao's ugly face or heard Yuan Shao's angry words. He cupped his hands, took the account book with him, and retreated from the tower...

Yuan Shao said loudly from the top of the city tower: "Today's events must not be reported to anyone! Anyone who disobeys the order will be severely punished!" Then he flicked his sleeves and seemed to have lost interest in looking into the distance, so he returned to the government office.

It's quiet at night.

However, a group of people came to the back street of Yuan Shaofu Mansion. There were no lights, only a few guards in front and behind held up torches, illuminating the street.

The carriage stopped. Guo Tu, dressed in casual clothes, got out of the boxcar, looked around, entered the corner door, and was immediately led to the study.

Yuan Shao sat beside the light, half of his face in the light and half of his face hidden in the shadows. When he saw Guo Tu, he lowered his eyelids and silently pointed to the seats beside him.

Guo Tu didn't speak. He sat down quietly and adjusted the hem of his robe.

The sound of thin armor scales colliding as they marched could be heard outside the house, and then gradually faded away, seemingly forming a protective circle outside the house to prevent others from prying and listening.

"What happened at noon today..." Yuan Shao spoke calmly, but his eyes changed in the light, "When I was late, the news had already reached Tian Yuanhao's place..." Yuan Shao issued an order on the city gate tower to prohibit external news. , the result still spread to Tian Feng quickly.

Guo Tu was solemn.

Although this sentence is short, the meaning contained in it is very profound and rich...

Guo Tu's eyes turned slightly to the side and he remembered this matter in his heart.

Yuan Shao didn't care about the information he revealed, or he wanted to use such information to express some other meanings, such as warning, control, etc. Or maybe he thought that people from Yuzhou like Guo Tu would be more at ease than people from Jizhou?

Guo Tu is unknown.

But Guo Tu knew that Yuan Shao was becoming more and more dissatisfied with Tian Feng, and he was becoming more and more fearful...

This is an excellent thing for Guo Tu.

In order to win over the Jizhou faction, Yuan Shao gave too much before. As a result, the Jizhou nobles were not very satisfied with this political tilt. They were like a bottomless pit, eager for more and more and more. It’s a lot, but it doesn’t matter whether I can eat it or not.

Therefore, when Yuan Shao began to feel disgusted with the people of the Jizhou faction, it was naturally an opportunity for the Yuzhou people to stand up.

If you have the chance, of course you have to step on it to death, leave half a breath for the opponent, and then wait for the opponent to counterattack, which will undoubtedly lead to water in the head...

Yuan Shao whispered: "I treat Yuan Hao well, why is Yuan Hao so guarded against you?"

Guo Tu cupped his hands and said: "Ming Gong...if this matter is not dealt with, there will be serious trouble sooner or later..."

Yuan Shao glanced at Guo Tu slightly, then lowered his eyebrows again. "You might as well tell me."

"Master Ming, I have no grudges with Mr. Tian, ​​so everything I do is for the sake of Mr. Tian..." Guo Tu said with his hands raised, "If I am hated by Mr. Tian for this matter..."

Guo Tu quickly glanced at Yuan Shao, then covered his face with his sleeves and said: "... I will have no regrets even if I die... I hope Ming Gong can take care of our children..."

"Hey... why did you say this, sir!" Yuan Shao comforted Guo Tu with a smile, "It's just a matter of discussion. If Yuan Hao is dissatisfied, he comes to find someone, but what does he have to do with you? Just be patient!"

"Thank you very much, Ming Gong! Ming Gong is so generous and kind, I am really lucky for you!" Guo Tu bowed down, took the opportunity to wipe away his unnecessary tears, and then said, "I can only do my best to repay Ming Gong!"

"Well...there are differences between you and me in public, but in private, we are as close as brothers, and we don't need so many courtesy..." Yuan Shao stroked his beard and nodded, "Get up and talk..."

When a leader calls himself a brother, whoever takes this sentence seriously is the one who truly believes it. It's like a certain Dong. Once upon a time, the word "brother" was still lingering in the air, and then he turned around and laid off his previous brother with a click. Naturally, Guo Tu would not take it seriously, but he still looked grateful and said: "Ming Gong... Ming Gong is so benevolent, but there are people who are selfish after all..."

"... What he wants is not a heroic lord, but a mediocre lord!" Guo Tu said in a deep voice, "If you get a male lord, your benefits will inevitably be reduced. If you check the fields and search for the slaves, there will be many losses. It's disadvantageous... but if you support the mediocre master, you can use his hands to make huge profits, and the family can be stable..."

"Although Tian's move is in the name of spring plowing, it is actually to destroy the foundation of Ming Gong!" Guo Tu continued, "With Ming Gong's talent, he can dominate the world and pacify it within three to five years. Huanyu... But what benefit will this bring to the Jizhou nobles?"

Yuan Shao slowly stroked his beard and said, "Gongze, please tell me more details."

"My lord Mingjian," Guo Tu pointed slightly outward and said, "Why do my lord complain so much when he appoints the governors of Youzhou and Qingzhou? Isn't it to expand the family and devour acres of land? And now if the lord wins again and conquers the west, Then who in the world can withstand the lord's military front? At that time, it is the lord's banner that points to it, and people from all over the country are watching the wind and descending! How can the Jizhou nobles profit from it?"

"Therefore, the people of Jizhou want the lord to win steadily and slowly, but don't want the lord to win hastily and suddenly!" Guo Tu said in a deep voice, the light and shadow on his face changing in the light, "In this way, the people of Jizhou can free their hands and feet. Calmly arrange the arrangements and place the personnel... It is the same reason why I want to invite His Majesty to Ye again and again..."

Every word Guo Tu said was decisive, and Yuan Shao slowly moved.

"This is a plan to slow down the troops. If Duke Ming doesn't take it seriously..." Guo Tu said, "The people can slow down their advance with spring plowing, so that they can delay the advance in the name of food, grass, equipment, and even autumn harvest... Either Duke Ming will also slow down his advance to Bingzhou, or he will Compromise again and give up Qingzhou and Youzhou..."

Yuan Shao stood up, walked around on his back, and walked around the study room. After a while, he whispered in a low voice: "Yuan Hao is an upright man, so he shouldn't be like this."

Guo Tu smiled lightly and said, "Mr. Ming, you are not Mr. Tian, ​​but Mr. Tian."

Yuan Shao was stunned and stopped.

Guo Tu's voice was faint, and he said: "None of the subordinate families are here, so there is no benefit. It is still fair to say. However, Tian Gong has been in Hebei for generations. His family is very large, with many people, and many of them have no place to live... Tian Gong is upright, but Do you want to promote virtuous people and avoid relatives?"

Yuan Shao walked back slowly, sat down, straightened his hem, and covered it on the mat. It has to be said that Yuan Shao, who was born in a wealthy family, even though he is older, this set of movements still maintains a unique charm, chic and comfortable, just like Xiao Ma in a windbreaker, looking handsome and unrestrained, but the nouveau riche follow suit Even though I was wearing it, it looked like crumbs and dirt all over the floor.

"Is there any countermeasure to public principles?"

Guo Tu held up his hands and said, "You can worship Mr. Tian as your pioneer!"

Yuan Shao's eyes flashed and he remained silent.

Guo Tu didn't say anything, he just sat humbly aside, his clothes untouched, not even glancing at Yuan Shao, like a reserved virgin.

Letting Tian Feng go into battle would basically cost Tian Feng his life.

Because the average life span of people in the Han Dynasty was about forty, and anyone over fifty can be called longevity. People like Tian Feng who started to climb to sixty were basically very rare. In the military formation, even ordinary young people may not be able to bear it, let alone an old man who is almost sixty. And in the Taihang Mountains, you need to climb a winding mountain road. This road is rugged, and most of the people have to use their feet to walk, and Tian Feng’s legs and feet...

But having said that, Jiang Ziya is shining brightly in front of him, and Lian Po is still capable, so it is not a reason to say that he will not go into battle when he is old. If Tian Feng refused because of his old age, he could remove all of Tian Feng's positions in one fell swoop with just one push!