Chapter 9 Great Drought

The fifteenth day after Liu Biao fled to Jiangxia, that is, the day Gan Ning raided Cai Xun and returned to the army. Shi Lusu, the head of the lieutenant's office, was invited to Jiangxia to meet Liu Biao. The meeting between the two sides did not finalize much content, but it meant that Liu Bei would fully assist Liu Biao in pacing Jingxiang's rebellion. The specific way to march on a large scale will wait until the spring road is unblocked. Now it can only be determined that Guan Yu, Zhao Feng and others will march at that time. Although the navy had supported Li Yan along Xiangshui before, the land route was not suitable for large troops to enter.

Liu Biao welcomed Lu Su's arrival very much. He didn't say anything in person, and even promised to cede several counties to Liu Bei after it was done, but it was politely rejected by Lu Su. Lu Su repeatedly showed that Liu Bei's march this time was only to eliminate rebellion, and he had no intention of swallowing Jing Xiang. After hearing Lu Su's attitude, Liu Biao was not very surprised, nor was he too grateful for Liu Bei's "benevolence". After hospitality to Lu Su, Liu Biao also began to arrange people, waiting for the beginning of spring to prepare for a war with Cai Mao and others.

However, before Liu Biao and Liu Bei entered the army, an emergency made many people restless: in 201 A.D., after the end of the year, there was no rain in a large area of the north. In addition, there has been no rain for nearly a month before the year, and the whole north has not rained for nearly two months. Some of the farmland has begun to dry, and wheat seedlings have withered one after another.

Specifically, the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty, that is, Yongzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou and even Xuzhou, which are obviously embarrassed by this drought. Yuzhou will also be affected, but it won't be too big. Yangzhou, Jiaozhou in the south, and Yizhou in the west are almost unaffected. The most special situation is Jingzhou, which is known as the world's furnace tripod.

Jingzhou has a very long depth in the north and south, connecting Jiaozhou in the south and Yongsi in the north. Among them, the Yangtze River runs through the east and west. The climate of Jingbei counties in the north is similar to that of Yongzhou, which is deeply affected by drought. However, the four counties of Jingnan after the Yangtze River are mostly southern climate, with sufficient rain and intersecting the river network. This drought is almost unaffected. In other words, there is nothing wrong with Liu Biao's current territory, and the Jingbei occupied by Cai Mao and Kiao Yue is afraid of disaster.

"Devere in the north, Cao Jian and Yuan Shao both suspended the recruitment of troops and horses, and they can only rest and recuperate. Cao Jian has repeatedly ordered Taoist priests to set up altars to pray for rain, but it has not worked so far. In the lieutenant's mansion in this day, Zhang Zhao, the captain of the farm school, was a little gloating. Zhang Zhao has always been full of joy and anger, and today's tone is relatively rare.

"How about Xuzhou?" Liu Bei is most concerned about his own rule. It's their own business for Cao Qian and Yuan Shao to toss around again. It won't be fun if they are unlucky together.

"The situation in Xuzhou is not bad. A few years ago, the lord ordered to excavate channels to divert Huaihe water to irrigate Xuzhou farmland. In addition, the keel water truck has also been widely used. This year, the Xuzhou summer grain has been inffected very little." Zhang Zhao replied, and then frowned slightly and said, "Taishan County and Shanyang County of Yanzhou, as well as the four counties of Qingzhou, will be greatly affected. I'm afraid it's not easy for General San and General Wei.

"Quickly allocate food and fodder to prepare for disaster relief in these two places!" Liu Bei was not too panicked. After all, only these counties were affected by the disaster, and the total population was only about 500,000. The situation was not too bad. Then Liu Bei seemed to remember something and hurriedly asked, "How is the situation in Jingzhou?"

"Jingbei is seriously affected, and Jingnan is almost unaffected." It was not Zhang Zhao who answered the words, but Zhuge Liang with a smile on his face. Zhang Zhao was not angry. After many contacts with the Shouchun county magistrate in the past month, Zhang Zhao felt that Zhuge Liang's talent was far above himself, but he was modest and polite, which also made Zhang Zhao, who had always stubborn and even arrogant, have to admire him.

"If that's the case, the days of Kai Yue and Cai Mao are not very good!" Liu Bei also laughed when he heard the words. At this time, Guan Yu said, "Brother, this year is a great drought, and Cao Jian can't recruit troops. Why don't you take the opportunity to recover the five counties of Yuzhou?" It has never been Guan Yu's style to just be beaten and not to fight back. More than half of his Yuzhou pastoral land has been robbed, which can't be swallowed in any case.

"Huh?" Liu Bei was also moved when he heard the words. Pang Tong beside him smiled and said, "The prince's words are true, but they all think that the princes do not necessarily need a war. Cao Yan is likely to take the initiative to give up these counties. At least, he won't occupy it all.

"Give up?" Guan Yu was a little puzzled when he heard the words. Zhuge Liang, who was beside him, explained in detail: "If Cao Wei is short of military food this year, he will certainly not be able to maintain the needs of soldiers and horses in Yuzhou. By Cao's unscrupulous means, he is very likely to take away the money and grain of the people of these counties, shrink their troops and return to Yanzhou, leaving a few empty shells for us to carry the burden.

"How could he be like this?" Guan Yu was shocked that this practice made it difficult for Guan Yu, who has always loved the people, to accept. It is indeed possible that Cao's people claim that I would rather fail the people of the world and not teach the people of the world to fail me. Liu Bei also sighed.

"If so, what should we do now?" Guan Yu was also a little uncertain. Pang Tong pondered for a moment and then said, "At present, the road has been opened, but whether it is Cao Yan, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, there is no shortage of food at present. Let's wait for the first class. Let's wait until the summer grain is harvested. Cao Wei and those in Jingbei are short of food. What's more, when our army enters the army, we have to wait for the summer grain to be collected. Pang Tongyi likes to take risks, but now even he is in favor of waiting, and Liu Bei understands that there are indeed a lot of troops now. At the same time, Liu Bei also knew that Liu Biao, who was in Jiangxia, stated the stakes in it, and asked him to wait for a while.

It was not until the end of the third month of the lunar calendar that there was some rain in the north, but this year's summer harvest in the north has been greatly damaged. Although it will not be completely closed, it is certain that it will not be harvested. This year's grain output is expected to be less than 60% of that of last year, of which Qingzhou is almost a desperate harvest, and it is not suitable to fight again at present. The general's mansion in Yecheng, who is responsible for the review and distribution of money and grain, also introduced this year's situation in a somewhat optimistic way.

"If that's the case, let's rest for the time being and wait for next year!" Yuan Shao waved his hand tiredly when he heard the words. At this time, the counselor Guo Tu turned his eyes and stepped forward and said, "Your father-in-law, Liu Bei is now occupying Yangzhou, and there is no one who can surpass the abundance of food and grass in the world. Why don't you borrow food from him?"

"Huh? Liu Bei?" Yuan Shao was also stunned when he heard the words, and then frowned and said, "It's just that Liu Bei and I are enemies and friends. How can we help?"

"Lord, Liu Bei is known for his benevolence. The Lord only needs to send a good eloquent person to negotiate with him in the name of the people, and Liu Bei is bound to agree. What's more, the reason why Liu Bei is the enemy of the Lord is caused by Cao's temptation. At present, we have just been fighting in Yuzhou, and the alliance between the two has long been gone. Guo Tu smiled and then said, "In addition, Zhang Fei and General Zhang Hao have been facing each other in Linzi for a long time. The lord can allow the counties south of the Yellow River in Qingzhou, and Liu Bei will not agree."

"Do you want me to cut the ground?" Yuan Shao's tone was not good when he heard the words. Guo Tu hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Lord. It's time to judge the south. Qingzhou is a harvest this year. Liu Bei will only carry a big burden to the south of Qingzhou. In addition, General Zhang Yi can also rely on the Yellow River to defend himself. I just passed the difficulties in front of me. Isn't it a pleasure to destroy Cao Jian next year and then eliminate Liu Bei?

"This statement is reasonable, and the public principle is that you send to Xuzhou to borrow grain from Liu Bei." Yuan Shao thought about it and didn't think there was anything wrong, so he decided to send Guo Tu to Shouchun to meet Liu Bei.

If Yuan Shao doesn't have enough food, then Cao will not have enough. Although Yongzhou Guanzhong is a place for grain production, it is still worse than Jizhou. In addition, Cao Shenzhi's water conservancy facilities are not very good. Even if the method of deep cultivation is adopted, there is still a shortage of food this year.

"Your lord, I'm afraid this year's grain is only half of that of last year. Yongzhou and Yanzhou are still self-sufficient, but Sizhou is a little difficult. Xun Yu is not very optimistic. Cao Yan frowned slightly when he heard the words, and his fingers pounded rhythmically on the table. This year's military campaign is no longer possible, and Yuan Benchu is also too weak. There is no need to worry too much about Wen Ruo.

"Lord, even if it's a rest and recuperation, I'm afraid that there won't be enough food in the last two months." Xun Yu hesitated, but still said the worst.

"What?" Cao Wei was a little moved now. The people of Yuzhou were moved to Yanzhou, which cost a lot of money. In addition to the army's campaign, the remaining grain is already insufficient. Xun Yu was a little gloomy.

"If there is a good policy?" Cao Yan hurriedly looked at Xun Yu and asked. Xun Yu was silent for a long time, and finally looked at Cao Qian's expectant eyes. Then he sighed and said, "Runan is the former governor of Yuzhou, where money and grain are hoarded. At present, we can transfer grain and fodder from Runan to save Yanzhou's urgent needs.

Cao Qian was also stunned when he heard the words, and then took a deep look at Xun Yu. Then he nodded and said, "Just according to Wen Ruo, it is said that Wen and Zi Xiao will transport all the grain and fodder from Yuzhou to Yanzhou!" After a pause, Cao Yan said again, "Let Wen Ze retreat to Xiangcheng, and Zixiao retreat to Liang County. These two places are the gateways of Yanzhou, which need to be well guarded. Isn't Liu Xuande Rende? I handed over the people of the three counties of Runan to him.

"Lord, Shanyang County is now occupied by Wei Yan. General Cao Hong has attacked many times, but he has not made a contribution. If there is a shortage of food at present, it's better to collect troops as soon as possible!" Xun Yu said again. "

"In that case, let's send Ling Zilian to collect the troops!" Cao Qian said helplessly, "Liu D'er's command is really talented. This Wei Yan has no name, but he doesn't know where he came from. It actually makes Zilian helpless. And Nanyang Li Yan, Yangzhou Zhao Feng, it's really hateful!"

"What? Did Ruyin's Cao army withdraw? When Liu Bei heard the news that day, he even doubted whether he had heard it wrong for a moment.

"That's right, Lord, and when Cao's army withdrew, he searched all the remaining grain. It seems that Cao Jian wants to use the people of these three counties to hold us back!" Chen Qun said with hatred.

"Don't worry, Lord. The previous state herdsman Sun Quan sent 300,000 stone rice for the army's expedition and disaster relief!" Zhang Zhao hurriedly said.

"It's so good!" Liu Bei was a little surprised that the public would suddenly help now, but he was still quite happy. Then he was a little worried and said, "Thirty thousand stones? In this way, can Jiaozhou still be self-sufficient?

"Don't worry, Lord, Jiaozhou rice is cooked three times a year, the population is scarce, and there is no shortage of grain. These are the gains accumulated over the years. Sun Zhoumu heard that Xuzhou was hit by the disaster, so he specially ordered someone to send it!" Zhang Zhao said with a smile. As Sun Quan's teacher, this student's behavior undoubtedly made him more gratified. Seeing this, Liu Bei was relieved and asked Guan Yu to lead the army to Ruyin and other places to take over the defense. At the same time, he prepared to relieve this year's disaster victims and send Zhuge Liang with the army to deal with all civil affairs.

Guan Yu's army set out several times, and Guo Tu came to Shouchun to borrow grain from Liu Bei on behalf of Yuan Shao. At the cost, they are willing to cede all counties south of the Yellow River in Qingzhou. This condition is quite generous, at least it is more than enough to fool ordinary people. However, he met Lu Su. Under the latter's pressure, Guo Tu was finally forced to promise to give Liu Bei another 2,000 war horses in exchange for 500,000 stones of grain.

Another month passed, waiting until the end of July. Liu Biao, who is in Jiangxia, and Liu Bei, who is in Shouchun, issued an imperial edict at the same time, announcing the crusade against Cai Mao and Kui Yue, who "collusion with national thieves and chaos in the place". Among them, Liu Biao sent his nephew Liu Pan to lead 50,000 troops from Wuling to attack Yidu. Liu Bei sent Guan Yu to lead 30,000 troops to attack Yiyang after opening up Runan. At the same time, he responded to Li Yan in Nanyang. In addition, Zhao Feng, a general in Lujiang, also led 30,000 troops to attack Nanjun from Jiangxia.

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