Chapter 228: The Plan in Qingzhou (7)

The news of the arrival of Cao's army and the capture of Dongping Lingcheng spread like wildfire. The people of Jinan Country heard that General Cao's troops had arrived, and as expected by Zhou Yu, they did not reject them. Instead, they felt a sense of closeness to the Cao army.

In addition to the strict military discipline of the Cao army, there was no looting after the city was captured. Many soldiers of the Cao army had nowhere to stay overnight in the city as there were not enough tents. However, Li Dian divided the tents among the wounded soldiers and prisoners, and he himself took the lead in sleeping on the streets, outside the houses of the civilians. Surprisingly, not a single civilian was disturbed. It was not until the next morning when the civilians opened their doors to start their day, they found the streets filled with Cao soldiers sleeping against the walls.

"Freeze to death without demolishing houses, starve to death without plundering!"

This is the most unbroken rule in Cao's army discipline. Violators will be executed!

Cao's army strictly adheres to military discipline. The fact that General Li Dian would rather sleep on the streets than disturb the people quickly spread. Under the dual attack of Cao's military power and public support, several remaining cities in Jinan, including counties like Jia County, Guan County, Dongzhao, Zouping, Liangzhou, and Yuling, were quickly captured. The people welcomed the entrance of Cao's army without exception.

Of course, Li Dian personally leading the army to sleep on the streets is certainly a way to win people's hearts.

Although Cao's army implemented the policy of talent recruitment and established the Xudu Martial Arts Academy, Guo Jia also personally coordinated commercial warfare to suppress the powerful families in the Yan and Yu provinces. However, there were still some influential families in Jinan who were willing to offer their properties temporarily to the Cao army, but Li Dian declined the offer.

呵，他们的军纪严明，但不至于送上门的世家都不宰上一刀。

可世上并没有免费的午餐，今天曹军入住他们的房屋，明天他们就会希望李典给他们一些便利。拿人家的手短，吃人家的嘴软。李典若不提供方便，以后曹军攻城，城中的那些世家会怎么看待曹军？拿了人家的好处却吃干抹净？李典、周瑜都算是世家出身，所以这些人情世故他们也是明白的。

After capturing the Jinan Kingdom, the Cao army did not continue to advance, but instead stayed in place to rest and fortify the defense of various cities.

The Cao army suffered minimal losses after breaking through the Jinan Kingdom, with less than four thousand injured soldiers, and very few severely wounded. Most of them only needed some rest before they could resume fighting on the battlefield.

However, Li Dian dare not continue the attack because Qingzhou has already been turned into a mess by the Cao army!

On the front line of Guandu, Yuan Shao's main camp

"What! Xuanwu Army launching a surprise attack on Qingzhou and capturing Jinan within ten days! What are Xin Ping and Shen Rong doing? They couldn't even hold on for ten days!"

Yuan Shao widened his eyes in disbelief, hesitant to accept the validity of the information in his hands.

Just a moment ago, he had received a plea for help from Xin Ping, and now he received news of Dongping Lingcheng's fall. He had initially planned to dispatch the troops from the various counties in Qingzhou to provide support, but within a few days, even the city of Jinan was captured. How could Yuan Shao not be enraged?

Yuan Shao was furious and believed in the abilities of Xin Ping. He also transferred his nephew, Shen Rong, who was skilled at defending cities. However, they were unable to hold onto Jinan for even ten days? Translation: The situation described is about Yuan Shao's disappointment with the performance of Xin Ping and Shen Rong, who he believed would be able to defend Jinan.

Xu You hesitated for a moment upon hearing Yuan Shao's words, but still decided to tell him about the situation. "Shen Rong was disguised as a fleeing soldier in the captured city, and he was killed with a single slash on the city wall. Xin Zhongzhi, after the fall of Dongpingling, took out his sword and committed suicide by facing north."

Yuan Shao's angry expression froze upon hearing the news. Regardless of the assassination of Shen Rong or Xin Ping's suicide, both facing north when they died, the information touched Yuan Shao in some way. Then, Xu You added that Li Dian did not conceal Xin Ping's actions, but instead gave him a dignified funeral and personally mourned him.

In evaluating this character, if Jinan Guozhen really encountered such a major problem, he would undoubtedly be even more desperate than Yuan Shao. He would refuse to surrender, and might even be unwilling to be taken captive, possibly choosing to commit suicide instead.

Yuan Shao looked at the tearful and red-eyed Xin Pi and walked over to pat his shoulder. "Zhozhi, I will avenge Zhongzhi."

Choked with emotions, Xin Pi did not speak but nodded, tears still streaming down his face.

Yuan Shao rubbed his temples as he pondered who to send to Qingzhou.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou are definitely unavailable. Without them to hold back Dian Wei and Xu Chu, those two would wreak havoc.

张郃已经派去帮袁谭了，麴义、高览也需要坐镇前线，淳于琼负责守备粮仓，其余诸将如钟缙、钟绅、吕旷、吕翔等人，武勇尚可，统帅大军，威望和能力都不足以安定青州军心。

Yuan Shao's gaze wandered, sweeping over the people in the big tent, until suddenly, his eyes settled upon one person.

"Yi Qu, are you willing to hold down the fort in Qingzhou for me?"

Yuan Shao's words caused an uproar in the tent. Reply: Have you considered this decision carefully, Yuan Shao?

In the eyes of many subordinate generals and lieutenants, Jiang Yiqu's military prowess is considered inferior to theirs. They had expected someone like Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Gao Lan, or Chunyu Qiong to be assigned to defend Qingzhou, and they couldn't understand why Jiang Yiqu was chosen for the task.

Jiang Yiqu hesitated for a moment before not immediately responding.

Unpleasant words also emerged from the conversation.

"What makes Jiang Yiqu qualified to be stationed in Qingzhou?"

"If Jiang Yiqu can, then so can I!"

"Lord, I am definitely more suitable than Jiang Yiqu to defend Qingzhou for you!"

These words from the crowd made Jiang Yiqu hesitate.

One reason is that he lacks the experience of wielding power over a province, and the other is that he does not want to offend the generals in the camp by competing for the position of governing Qingzhou.

At this moment, Yan Liang stood up and shouted angrily, putting an end to the discussions among the generals in the tent.

"What are all of you babbling about? Do you really think your empty talk is better than the strength of the Yi Qu army? Without them in the previous battle, our army would have been defeated long ago. Where did this so-called tie come from? If anyone has any objections, come forward and challenge me. If you win, I will give up my position as one of the Four Pillars of Hebei to you!" Keep up the good work!

Jiang Yiqu was originally brought out by Yan Liang. Moreover, in the previous battle, Jiang Yiqu repeatedly offered advice during crucial moments, preventing Yan Liang's impulsive actions and rescuing Yuan Shao's main camp.

Zhong Jun, Zhong Shen, Zhang Nan, and Zhang Yi also stepped forward to support Jiang Yiqu. Translated content:

他们倒未必是与蒋义渠关系有多亲密，而是蒋义渠的能力在先前一战已经彻底展露出来，加上一同经历生死大战，于公于私，他们都应该支持蒋义渠。

Yan Liang, Zhong Jun, Zhong Shen, Zhang Nan, and Zhang Yi looked at Jiang Yiqu with a nod. Jiang Yiqu smiled confidently and scanned the generals in the tent before speaking in a serious tone. Reply: Got it.

"As long as I'm in the city, I will defend Qingzhou to the death!"

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