Han family achievements

Chapter 330 Zhuge Family

Cao Cao always felt that something was wrong with Guo Jia, but he was too focused on how to deal with Dong Zhuo and had no time to think about it.

When the three of them arrived at Qiao County, Cao Hong immediately came to report and said: "General Qi, Guo Si knew that the reinforcements had arrived and had already retreated. The general was afraid of fraud and did not dare to pursue him."

Cao Cao nodded calmly and said, "Well done, go ahead."

"General, please retreat!" Cao Hong retreated after hearing this.

Liu Bei and Sun Ce didn't know at this moment that Cao Cao did this just to get away from Yuan Shao and at the same time force Yuan Shao to send troops.

After Cao Cao's performance was complete, he, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce smiled and said, "Xuan Degong, Bo Fu, please come in, and we will discuss the strategy of advancing the army together."

Liu Bei and Sun Ce naturally didn't say anything and followed Cao Cao into the government office.

Liu Bei is survived by his two inseparable brothers-Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.Behind Sun Ce were two generals left to her by his father - Cheng Pu and Huang Gai.

Sitting next to Cao Cao was Guo Jia, who had not had a drink for many days - he was in a very bad state, and his face turned white and red.

Cao Cao did not care about Liu and Sun's fatigue from the long journey, laid out the map, and said seriously: "From Qiao County to the east, seventy miles away, we will return to Xiaguan. This pass is not big and not difficult to attack."

At this point, Cao Cao thought of the last time he fell into the trap, and continued after a moment: "Our difficulty is at the back. Here, Pinghu Pass, is built on the mountains and rivers. It is impossible to go around it. There are mountains on both sides and the entrance is narrow. Just like pouring a bottle, it is the only way to enter Xiangxian County..."

Liu Bei looked at the place where Cao Cao pointed, with some vague impression, and said, "I know this place. Did Dong Zhuo build the Great Pass here?"

Cao Cao stared at Pinghu Pass, nodded and said: "In these years, Dong Zhuo has conquered the young and strong and continued to build fortresses. He has a plan."

Sun Ce just watched and didn't care too much.

His current goal is very clear and simple - to gain military merit, win the trust of Cao Cao and the court, and inherit the title of Marquis of Wucheng.

Only in this way can he legitimately stand firm in Wu County and inherit the legacy left by his father!

Cao Cao glanced at the two men and said solemnly: "I intend to march quickly, break back to Xiaguan first, and then go straight to Pinghu Pass to fight Dong Zhuo!"

"General Cao means that Dong Zhuo will gather his troops here?" Liu Bei asked doubtfully.

When Cao Cao heard this, he hesitated.

Guo Jia answered with a smile and said: "Liu Shijun, our coalition forces are nearly 20. Dong Zhuo must be frightened. Even if he wants to retreat, he can only go to Xuzhou. Xuzhou has the East China Sea at its back and there is no way to retreat. Therefore, this bottle Huguan is the place of decisive battle, life and death for both of us."

Liu Bei nodded thoughtfully and said, "Will we decide the outcome at Pinghu Pass?"

Cao Cao stood up, looked directly at Liu Bei with burning eyes, and said: "Mr. Xuande, it's already September, we don't have much time, we can't delay it into winter!"

Liu Bei really wanted to talk about the news he got from Yuan Shao's shogunate - Yuan Shao just wanted to consume them and reap the benefits!

But after thinking about it, Cao Cao had no reason not to know. He raised his hand and said: "As long as Dong Zhuo is destroyed, I will do anything!"

With Liu Bei's support, Cao Cao was convinced and turned to Sun Ce and said: "Bo Fu, I have sent a letter to the Grand Sima's Mansion. The Grand Sima replied that as long as you achieve military merit, he will report it in front of His Majesty."

Sun Ce immediately raised his hand and said loudly: "I will obey General Cao's orders!"

Cao Cao suddenly surged with pride and looked towards the direction back to Xiaguan and said: "We have nearly [-] troops, far more than Dong Zhuo. We will rest for a day and send troops tomorrow to destroy Dong Zhuo and stabilize the country!"

One hundred thousand?

Liu Bei and Sun Ce glanced at each other subconsciously.

Liu Bei has less than [-] soldiers and horses, and Sun Ce has less than [-] soldiers and horses. How many soldiers and horses does Cao Cao have?Or is it a bluff?

The three of them carefully discussed the strategy of sending troops. At night, Liu Bei and Sun Ce left.

Cao Cao stretched and felt sore all over. When he turned around, he found that Guo Jia had fallen asleep beside him.

Cao Cao observed Guo Jia's face and saw that he was as pale as paper. He couldn't help but frown secretly. He took his coat, quietly stepped forward and covered Guo Jia.

"Well……"

Guo Jia woke up slowly, looked at the clothes on his body, sat up quickly, and apologized: "I am the official..."

"Filial piety,"

Cao Cao interrupted him and asked doubtfully: "Fengxiao...who did you make a bet with and had to give up drinking?"

Seeing that Cao Cao didn't notice, Guo Jia rubbed his face with a smile and said: "I made a bet with myself, and I lost. General, don't worry, it's only a month. General, Liu Shijun, Sun Bofu Is the negotiation settled?"

When Cao Cao heard this, he didn't go into details. He sat back and said with a serious look on his face: "Fengxiao, can you really win in one battle?"

Guo Jia picked up the tea cup, took a sip of the cold tea, shook his head thoughtfully, and said: "Dong Zhuo continued to build fortresses many years ago, and he was ready to fight against the imperial court for a long time. With the decline of the Han Dynasty, everyone in the world is Waiting for the imperial court to fall apart, now that the momentum in the south has been established, and signs of competition among heroes are beginning to show, as long as Dong Zhuo survives this year, it will be difficult to say what will happen next year."

Cao Cao frowned and said, "Is it that dangerous?"

Guo Jia showed a rare look of worry on his face and said: "If the coalition forces cannot wipe out Dong Zhuo this time, the imperial court will fall into an extremely passive situation and even have to mobilize the army to conquer again. The northern states seem stable, but in fact they are very fragile. Once The imperial court draws out its troops, and various rebellions will surely reappear. How can the imperial court rule the world without money, soldiers, or food? By then, I am afraid that His Majesty's will will not be able to leave Luoyang City..." Cao Cao's expression became more solemn, His long and narrow eyes were almost squinted together.

Guo Jia held the teacup, his thoughts racing, and said: "This battle, the general cannot lose, even if he cannot win, he cannot lose. Even if Yuan Shao and others withdraw, the general must stay and continue to confront Dong Zhuo. This is the only way , the court can stabilize it, the Han Dynasty will not fall apart, and the general will have a foothold. By then, the court will be more dependent and will have to supply the general with soldiers, horses, equipment, money and food, and increase the general's strength. Most of Dong Zhuo's men are from Xiliang and are homesick. The sentiment is so strong, and Dong Zhuo is not tolerated by the nobles and is isolated from the world. As long as the general blocks them, Dong Zhuo will be defeated in at most two years. The general will wipe out Dong Zhuo and go south to annihilate all the princes. Unparalleled achievements will be easily achieved..."

When Cao Cao heard the "grand occasion" described by Guo Jia, he felt excited, as if he had already seen it. He led his army to annihilate Dong Zhuo, and then went south, overwhelmingly pacifying Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, Shi Xie, Liu Yan and other rebellious officials and traitors, and then in Luoyang City The grand scene of conferring a title on a prince and paying homage to the prime minister, with all the ministers paying attention and saluting!
After a moment, Cao Cao calmed down, frowned, looked at Guo Jia, and asked doubtfully: "Fengxiao, you seem to be talking too much lately?"

In the past, although Guo Jia was not stingy with this sentence, he did not have such long speeches.

Guo Jia sat up straight and said with a smile: "I'm worried that my brain will be bad if I quit drinking for a long time. I'll tell the general everything I can in advance to avoid any delays."

Cao Cao didn't think much about it. He waved his hand and said, "What's the benefit of quitting drinking? I've asked Miaocai to look for it. I will definitely find Fengxiao's favorite wine."

Guo Jia just smiled and then said: "Liu Shijun, Sun Bofu should be available, general, don't let them in front. There must be a lot of secret information in the Imperial City Mansion, general can ask for it again. In addition, , I remember that the imperial court placed many people around Dong Zhuo, can they be used?"

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said: "When I was in the palace, your majesty accidentally mentioned Kong Niao and others to me. They can be used. There are also some secrets. I have to report them to your majesty in secret."

Guo Jia nodded, hugged the tea cup and said nothing.

Some things may seem hidden, but in fact many people in both the government and the public are aware of them.

His Majesty in the palace does not trust the court officials so much on the surface. Not to mention Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao and other rebellious officials and traitors, the Yingchuan Party in the court, including Prime Minister Xun Yu, Xun You, Zhong Yao and others, the government, government offices, etc., There are people placed in the palace.

Even Cao Cao knew it well and had even noticed that some people were placed in the palace for surveillance.

Xun Yu, Xun You, Zhong Yao and others knew these things, and Cao Cao also had a clear mind.

But this kind of thing can only be known, and you can't ask too much, let alone think too much.

After waiting for a while, Guo Jia put down his tea cup, looked at Cao Cao, and said calmly: "General, Yuan Shao... If there is something wrong, the general can strike first!"

Cao Cao was startled, with a serious look on his face, and said, "Pre-emptive strike?"

For now, Yuan Shao is the main force in the fight against Dong, and everyone in the world is looking forward to it. If Cao Cao suddenly sends troops to attack Yuan Shao, I am afraid that it will be criticized by thousands of people, and the court will not be compatible, and there will be no place for him in the world!
Guo Jia nodded slightly and said: "Although it is a bit risky, His Majesty in the palace is a man with a sharp vision. As long as he can understand the general's intention, everything will be worry-free."

Cao Cao understood clearly that what Guo Jia said was 'a last resort'.

After thinking about it in his mind, Cao Cao's eyes flashed fiercely and he said: "There is no need to say this as a filial piety. If there is such a time, how can Cao Cao cherish himself!?"

Guo Jia hummed, thought over and over again, and said: "Others, it actually doesn't matter. Based on my inference, Dong Zhuo doesn't have much food and grass. Even if he survives this winter, next year will be very difficult, blocking the Pinghu Pass. As long as the general doesn't fall into the trap, he is basically invincible."

Cao Cao felt a little embarrassed when he thought about falling into the trap last time. However, his face did not move at all. Instead, he said with concern: "Fengxiao, don't think too much about it, just take good care of it. In this way, you don't have to go with me tomorrow. Let’s rest in Qiao County for a few days, and then go to Pinghu Pass.”

Guo Jiazheng was thinking about secretly finding a doctor to take a look. Hearing this, he said: "Okay. General, please remember that Dong Zhuo has many capable people. When dealing with him, you must not take risks and be cautious."

Cao Cao said: "Don't worry about Fengxiao, just take care of him with peace of mind."

Guo Jia knew that Cao Cao was a thoughtful man, and ordinary people could not deceive him.

'hope everything is fine. '

Guo Jia resisted the urge to cough, his face alternated between red and white, and he said silently.

He didn't know if it was because he was coughing up blood, but he always had a bad feeling.

On the other side, after Liu Bei inspected the military camp, he grilled meat and drank wine with his two brothers, looking sad and helpless.

"I originally thought that Yingchuan and Runan are emerald places of humanity, with many great sages. I wanted to take the opportunity to visit them, but I didn't want to rush back and forth and march." Liu Bei drank wine, feeling quite depressed.

Liu Bei was well aware that his talents were limited, so he went around visiting talented people. However, after so many years, he never visited the "Great Talent". On the contrary, because he traveled around, he did not retain the "Little Talent". He was in his 30s and his achievements were not completed. Not to mention, there are only two sworn brothers around, which can be said to be quite lonely.

Zhang Fei tore the leg of mutton and said: "Brother, if you ask me, there is no good scholar. With me and my second brother here, we can help you achieve great things!"

Liu Bei shook his head secretly, feeling disappointed.

He thought of Guo Jia. If this person was willing to assist him, why would he come here from Xuzhou and live under someone else's roof, without the dignity of a state pastor?

Guan Yu was relatively polite while eating and drinking, and said: "Brother, didn't Zhuge Xuan say that he would recommend his nephew to your shogunate?"

"No one can be found."

Liu Bei looked at him and said: "When Yuan Shao destroyed Yuan Shu, his whereabouts were unknown. Now I don't know whether he is alive or dead."

Guan Yu didn't say anything more, and he didn't think highly of literati either.

Liu Bei drank a glass of wine in silence, but what he was thinking about was Zhuge Xuan's other nephew, Zhuge Kongming.

This man is not famous, but Zhuge Xuan said that his talent is no less than that of his brother Zhuge Jin.

It's a pity that this person went to Jingzhou from Langya County to escape disaster. He should be in Yuzhang County now and is difficult to see.

(End of this chapter)