The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

The first year of Chuping, the end of the twelfth year.

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It has been several months since Xun Zhen returned to Guangling from Yingchuan. Although Le Jin had already been designated as the prime minister of Xiapi by Sun Jian, Xun Zhen had remained inactive for the past few months. Those who do it every day are nothing more than diligently cultivating internal affairs, supervising grain and agriculture, honoring virtuous corpors, recruiting talents, and expanding diplomacy at the same time. On behalf of Xun Zhen, he traveled all over Xuzhou and made contacts with officials and celebrities from all over the country. It was when he heard that Tao Qian secretly formed a secret alliance with Yuan Shu and sneaked to Luyang to transport grain and weapons. Obviously, he wanted to take advantage of Yuan Shu's strength to consolidate himself. After that, he still didn't care and ignored it.

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Today, I received another letter from Sun Jian.

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Sun Jianxin said in the middle: starting from five days ago, the train from Tanxian to Luyang will have double guards. In addition to the flag of Xuzhou, there are quite a number of strong soldiers in Danyang and Taishan, who travel day and night, and are strictly guarded. There are local tyrants along the way. , has no chance.

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When Xun Zhen got Sun Jian's confidence, the night was approaching. He had just had dinner with Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Xun Yu, Xun Chen, Xun Yan and others, and was chatting with them in the back room. After reading Sun Jian's letter, He handed the letter to Xi Zhicai and others to pass on his views, and said with a smile, "I was robbed by Wentai several times, but Tao Gongzu has learned to be smart."

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After everyone looked at it, Xun Chen smiled and said: "Tao Gongzu's disciples. In Yuzhou, the only person who can rob his food, food and weapons is Sun Fujun. I predict that he must know that the person who robbed him is Sun. Fu Jun, but he didn't dare to say a word, he just sent guards, it's ridiculous."

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Xun Yan also sneered and said, "I really don't know how Tao Gongzu pacified Xuzhou when the Yellow Turbans rioted."

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Xun Chen came out from Yuan Shao's place, and after arriving at Xun Zhen's place, he didn't go back and stayed.

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Xun Yan came with Xun Zhen when Xun Zhen returned to Guangling from Yingchuan.

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Since the two of them have no military achievements, although they are relatives of Xun Zhen, they do not have any positions under Xun Zhen's account now.

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Xun Zhen's current status is not as good as it was in the past, and his reputation is far better than in the past. As early as the beginning of his army, there were not many Xun clan people around him. Among them, Xun You and Xun Cheng were the only two who could share their arms. There were a lot of people who followed him. Brothers Xun Yu, Xun Chen, and Xun Yan, who were regarded as the most important things in the prefectures and the Xun family, were also included in his house.

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In the Xun clan, in addition to the Xun Yu brothers, there is another person in the generation of Xun Zhen and Xun Yu, who is also famous. Xun Yue, the son of the "big dragon" Xun Jian.

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Xun Zhen also wanted to invite him to join his family's tent, but Xun Yue was different from Xun Yu, Xun You and others. A scholarly person has little interest in politics and military affairs. When the chaos in the world is already on the rise, and when the heroes are fighting for their bases, instead of following Xunzhen like Xun Yu, Xun You and others, he is more willing to study behind closed doors. To study the classics, even though Xun Zhen asked him again, he still declined and did not come to Guangling with Xun Zhen.

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The reason why Xun Zhen invited Xun Yue to join her family twice was because Xun Yue's academic ability and reputation were what he valued, but since Xun Yue was clean and ambitious, he refused to come, so that's all. The brothers Xun Chen and Xun Yan were willing to obey, and Xun Zhen was quite satisfied.

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At present, there are dozens of Xunzhen clan members from Xunzhen, most of whom came with Xunzhen when Xunzhen returned to Guangling from Yingchuan. The commander of the department and the assistant of the Marquis of Qu Jun, some share a little baggage and logistics; or in the house, some are divided into some daily affairs, some are divided into some letters and words, and some have good knowledge, and they are appointed by Xun Zhen. There were also scholars of scriptures in the county, who were well versed in farming and the law, and who had the ability to govern the people.

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Among the dozens of members of the Xun clan, Xun You, Xun Yu, Xun Cheng, Xun Chen, and Xun Yan were the most highly regarded by Xun Zhen, and compared to their ability, they were also the best. These five people are collectively called "Five Xuns".

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Because it was a family banquet, the order of the people was not based on their status, but according to their age and seniority. Among the Xun family members, Xun You had the lowest seniority and the last seat. He was the last to read the letter. Returning his beliefs to Xun Zhen, he took his seat at the seat of his return, stroking his beard for a moment, and said, "In Luoyang, Tao Gongzu had humiliated the old commander Zhang Gong, and his human nature was really strong. But it’s still not to be underestimated.”

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Xi Zhicai agreed with Xun You's words and said: "Today, Zi has moved westward, and Shandong is in turmoil. Ancestor Tao Gong is in Xuzhou and holds a heroic army. Although he does not have the name of a state shepherd, he has long been a state shepherd. After Guangling and Pengcheng, he still has three The county has a vast area and people, and there is enough equipment and food. Among these three counties, the elites and nobles are mostly used for them. Danyang and Taishan are known for producing elite soldiers. Cao Bao and Zang Ba are both famous for their bravery. Sun Fujun robbed his food and equipment, and the reason why he forbears it, in my opinion, is just a concern for two things."

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Xun Chen asked, "Which two things?"

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"Ming Gong and Sun Hou each have elite soldiers and are known to be good at fighting. Once they join forces, the south and east will attack, and the troops of Danyang and Taishan will also be difficult to fight against. This is one of Tao Gongzu's concerns. Many soldiers and horses dared not move, but Duke Ming and Marquis Sun were loyal and forgetful, they both went out of Yingchuan, fought against Dong Zhuo several times, and finally recovered Luoyang and expelled Dong Zhuo. two."

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Xi Zhicai's analysis was correct.

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The reason why Tao Qian is in the current situation is that, in the final analysis, the fault is still his own.

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He was wrong in two places.

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One thing is: when Xun Zhen first took office in Guangling, if he didn't care about Xun Zhen's martial arts, family reputation and "backer", and was tough to the end, it would be very difficult for Xun Zhen to develop. If there was a war between the two sides, Xun Zhen would probably He would be defeated, but Tao Qian was apprehensive at the time. When Xun Zhen expelled his influence in Guangling, he acquiesced, which gave Xun Zhen a chance to grow bigger.

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Another mistake he made was: when Xun Zhen responded to Yuan Shao and raised an army against Dong, he did not accept Xun Zhen's "invitation" because he felt that Yuan Shao would be difficult to resolve, and he did not join the army. Although there was no "success", Xun Zhen and Sun Jian actually defeated Dong Zhuo and recovered Luoyang, which caused Xun Zhen and Sun Jian to become famous all over the world and were respected by scholars from all over the world. The result of the ode.

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Now that Xun Zhen has returned with the prestige of a great victory, he has not only strengthened his strength through war and gained a greater reputation, but also forged a covenant with Sun Jian, who has transformed himself into the prefect of Yuzhou. Facing this unexpected change, his strength There is no certainty that he will survive, and his reputation falls behind Xun Zhen, so Tao Qian is at a loss, even after being robbed by Sun Jian, he can only swallow his anger, and it is inevitable that he has to keep forbearance.

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However, as Xi Zhicai said, if Tao Qian was underestimated because of it, it would not work.

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Xun Zhen agreed and said, "Tao Gongzu has been running Xuzhou for a long time after all. Although he is patient now, I can't take him lightly."

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Xun Zhen wanted to get Xuzhou's heart, and now most of the middle and high-ranking officers in the army know it, and everyone in the Xun family here is even more aware of this. Tao Gongzu has been recruiting and training for months and months, and he has re-divided into Yuan Gonggong. Even if the newly recruited troops are not enough to fight, Yuan Gonggong may not send troops to help him. However, I have heard that 'delay will lead to change'. It has been several months since the general returned to Guangling. All military and political affairs are in harmony, and food supplies are also fully prepared, dare to ask the general, when do you plan to send troops to fight for Xu?"

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