My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 464 Offering food and drink to welcome the royal army

Thanks to the overwhelming success of the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," the Chinese people have a unique "filter" when it comes to the history of the Three Kingdoms period throughout China's five thousand years of history, and almost everyone is familiar with this period of history.

Based on their own social and life experiences, people of different ages will have different views and preferences regarding the various factions in the Three Kingdoms period.

Shu Han had its romance, Cao Wei had its integrity, and Eastern Wu had its cowards.

As a vernacular novel, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" differs greatly from actual historical records in its plot, such as the deletion and merging of characters.

Xi Zhicai, Cao Cao's most important strategist in the early period, had all his scenes removed. He doesn't even exist in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and most of Xi Zhicai's credit was given to Guo Jia.

For example, it has led many people to have certain 'misconceptions' about history, especially regarding war.

Many people mistakenly believe that ancient warfare involved two armies actually setting up battle formations and having their generals engage in one-on-one duels on the battlefield. They also have no concept of army size, often referring to armies of hundreds of thousands...

However, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is ultimately an artistic creation based on the history of the Three Kingdoms period, and its overall structure still follows the original historical timeline.

Yingchuan.

Gao Yu had never been there in person, but he was very familiar with the place.

The first political investment Cao Cao received in the early days of his reign came from the powerful families of Yingchuan.

In particular, Xun Yu was Cao Cao's greatest helper. Just as Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, led troops to fight in the field, Xun Yu was Cao Cao's Xiao He, helping him stabilize the rear, coordinate food and logistics, and allowing Cao Cao to lead troops on the front line with peace of mind.

Such as Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia, Chen Qun, Chen Lin, and Zhong Yao, who gave birth to his youngest son Zhong Hui at the age of seventy...

The Chen, Xun, and Zhong families were all prominent clans in Yingchuan, and these clans were closely associated with the Cao Wei dynasty and later the Western Jin dynasty.

They all migrated south, and even after arriving in the Southern Dynasties, they still held high positions.

But not everyone went to the south.

In ancient times, the so-called aristocratic families and prominent clans were actually those whose ancestors were relatively wealthy, able to support the male members of the family to marry, have children, and expand their lineage, resulting in a large and prosperous family.

With a large and prosperous population, and being closely connected by blood, they would naturally have considerable influence in the local area and could even help their relatives become officials in the imperial court.

While the main branches of these aristocratic families migrated south, their collateral branches did not necessarily follow. Instead, they remained in the local area and, over the years, have grown considerably stronger.

In Gao Yu's memory, the Xun clan was the most powerful, after all, Xun Yu was the most famous.

However, on the way back to the Prime Minister's residence, Gao Yu learned from Yang Yin that...

Among the many powerful clans in Yingchuan, the Chen clan was the most influential.

When Emperor Xiaowen ordered the establishment of surnames and clans, the Chen family was designated as the first surname in Yingchuan. Chen Qun was one of the architects of the Nine-Rank System.

"So those who have come to see me are from the Chen family of Yingchuan?"

"There are also people from the Zhong and Xun families, but the Chen family is indeed the main force."

Without anyone holding a high position in the central government, no matter how illustrious one's ancestors were, at best one would only be a local tyrant or local bully. After all, without political protection from the court, it would be quite difficult to maintain one's local family business.

The Chen family of Yingchuan and others cannot compare with the Cui, Zheng, and Wang families, which were the top Han Chinese families after Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Gao Yu nodded, thinking it would be good to learn a little about it so he could be prepared.

The situation in Yuzhou.

He also knew a little bit about it.

Erzhu Rong ordered Chilie Yanqing to lead a large army to attack Xuzhou from the east, but they were blocked outside Juyang City by his brother-in-law Yang Kan.

Erzhu Rong's rule in Yuzhou was already very weak, and the people of Yuzhou might not have recognized him.

Now that the army has suffered another major defeat, it is understandable that the local strongmen in Yuzhou would want to switch sides.

Taking Yuzhou without bloodshed would indeed be very tempting.

Although it will increase the difficulty of governance, Gao Yu swallowed up too much territory in one go, but this is Yuzhou!
The most central area of ​​the Central Plains, a region that has been the focus of development in previous dynasties, has a well-developed water system and various water conservancy facilities.

The most important thing is that it has been developed before. Even if it has been abandoned for many years, it will be much easier to develop it again.

Why is development in the south so difficult?

Because it was not a core area of ​​the Central Plains and was regarded as a barbarian land, it had never been developed on a large scale before. The difficulty of developing it from scratch was extremely high, especially considering that poisonous insects, snakes, ants, miasma, and scorching temperatures were enough to kill people in this era.

Back to Jin Fengtai.

Gao Yu could see a group of people looking around from a distance.

Also... Golden Phoenix Terrace, Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Ice Well Terrace.

The Chen family was so prominent during the Cao Wei and Sima periods, which means that their ancestors frequently visited this place.

An elderly man dressed in a scholar's robe with white hair saw Gao Yu arrive and immediately led everyone forward to bow and pay their respects.

"Greetings, Prime Minister."

"How dare I accept such a great courtesy from an elder? Please rise quickly."

In ancient society, where the average lifespan was less than thirty years, a person who lived to seventy or eighty was generally considered a virtuous person blessed by heaven, and even the emperor would treat him with great respect.

The group of people were all cautiously sizing up Gao Yu.

He is indeed as handsome as the rumors say.

After some introductions, it was learned that the old man was named Chen Yu, and he had brought the younger generation of the Chen, Zhong, and Xun families to visit.

"Why has Lord Chen come in such a hurry?"

"Prime Minister! Please, Prime Minister, save the people of Yuzhou! That Erzhu clan is simply inhuman..."

As he spoke, Chen Yu bowed again, even bursting into tears, his heart filled with sorrow and grief...

He cursed everyone in the Erzhu clan, from top to bottom.

Gao Yu could understand.

Yuzhou is an important grain-producing area.

When Erzhu Rong raises an army in Yuzhou, he will surely ravage the local powerful families and clans.

Because Erzhu Rong himself had no grain.

Several important grain-producing areas.

Sichuan and Chongqing were in the hands of the Southern Dynasties, and the Guanzhong Plain had suffered from war and had only just begun to recover. Henan, Hebei, and Shandong—what a coincidence!

Right now, this is all Gao Yu's territory.

Erzhu Rong only had the Taiyuan Basin in Shanxi, which relied on the Fen River for irrigation, but how could the Taiyuan Basin alone support so many soldiers?

This is why more and more aristocratic families who were still observing are increasingly leaning towards Gao Yu.

Gao Yu's territory is too rich.

The best grain-producing areas are mostly in Gao Yu's hands. Er Zhu Rong only has the advantage of "geographical advantage". Guanzhong and Shanxi are indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack, but the two sides are locked in a stalemate and attrition. How can Er Zhu Rong outlast Gao Yu?
“Prime Minister, the people of Yuzhou have long heard of your virtuous reputation. When the late Emperor was alive, he often praised you as the pillar of the Great Wei. You cannot ignore the people of Yuzhou. As long as you send a large army south to Yuzhou, the people will welcome the royal army with food and drink.”

Gao Yu was somewhat embarrassed.

Chen Yu continued, "General, there's no need to be troubled. Erzhu Rong's army has already retreated westward to the Xingyang line. The area east of Xingyang is currently unclaimed territory!"

Retreat westward?

Gao Yu understood after a moment's thought.

If Hebei is lost, the Yellow River alone cannot defend Yuzhou.

Gao Yu can attack Yuzhou from both the north and the east at the same time. Yuzhou is a strategically important but difficult place to attack. If we are reluctant to give up Yuzhou, we will eventually be dragged down by Gao Yu.

Erzhurong has now chosen a comprehensive strategic contraction.

As long as we occupy Xingyang and Hulao Pass and don't lose these two places, Luoyang won't need to worry about threats from the east.

No wonder Chen Yu and his ilk hated the Erzhu clan so much, and the local people also said they were itching to get their hands on them.

Erzhu Rong had already decided to give up Yuzhou, and it was impossible for him to retake it in a short time, so naturally he wouldn't consider the local people's sentiments.

Before leaving, they must have thoroughly looted the place.

"You have traveled a long way and must be tired. Go and rest for a while. I will discuss this matter with my ministers at the court meeting tomorrow."

"We are also citizens of the Great Wei. Prime Minister, you must not abandon us, the people of Yuzhou!"

"Please rest assured, Lord Chen, after the discussion, I will give the people of Yuzhou a satisfactory explanation."

(End of this chapter)