Three Kingdoms: At the beginning, Lu Bu was mistaken for his father-in-law

Chapter 229 Chapter 229

Bingzhou, Taiyuan County Government, Jinyang City, on the horse path, Cao Cao supported the city wall with both hands, looked up into the distance, with complicated emotions.

Gao Gan died, and more than half of the more than 2 people in the city have become prisoners of war and are being detained and rectified.

According to Xun You's strategy, after taking down Shangdang, he began to plunder the land of Xihe and Leping counties, thus forming a high-pressure situation against the high-ranking cadres in Taiyuan County.

During this period of time, the sentry cavalry led by Chen Dao captured the messenger who asked for help from Gao Gan. After learning about the situation, Xun You immediately asked someone to pretend to be a member of Jiang Yiqu's tribe in Liyang, and went to Jinyang City to meet with Gao Gan to encircle and suppress Cao Jun. .

In fact, such a plan is full of loopholes, not to mention other things, if it is not feasible to inform the senior cadres in the form of letters, because Cao Cao does not have Jiang Yiqu's seal in his hand.

Fortunately, at this time, the entire territory of Shangdang had fallen into the hands of Cao Cao, and Leping was only in the midst of stubborn resistance. The messenger only said that because there were too many Cao troops along the way, he did not dare to carry the letter with him, so it was a word of mouth.

In addition, Gao Gan was in Taiyuan and was in urgent need of help, so there was no time for him to check the authenticity, so he had to choose Stud.

In fact, this is not the first time this kind of situation has happened. When he was in Yijing, why Gongsun Zan was lured out by Yuan Shao, the situation is similar.

In such a battle, Dian Wei Sanhe took off the head of Gao Gan. When Gao Gan died, Cao Jun took his head and played it up. Except for the people who rushed in at the beginning as cannon fodder, most of the others simply surrendered. .

It is only a matter of time before the senior cadres die and the whole state is accepted.

In the first battle to conquer Bingzhou, Cao Jun's death was not too many. The total number of people before and after was only more than [-], but the number of captives was more than [-].

At the same time, 30 shi of food and grass were seized, countless armors and military equipment, and even four thousand horses. More importantly, with Bingzhou in hand, the purchase of war horses will no longer be subject to prices in the Kansai region.

So far, the second step of Guo Jia's grand strategy has been completed.

But Cao Cao's excitement disappeared within half an hour.

Because he knows very well that in this battle, Lu Bu and Lin Mo's harvest is ten times or even dozens of times that of his own. sergeant.

If this is the case, he can still pin his hopes on Youzhou. After uniting with Yuan Xi, he will form a three-sided strategic restraint on the North Kingdom, and he will still take the initiative after all.

The problem is that, a quarter of an hour ago, Anfeng's messenger arrived, and Xiahoudun lost more than ten thousand people in the battle. Not only did he lose the most elite cavalry, but even the general Gao Lan got involved. The pain was severe, and there was no excitement of winning a big victory.

Anfeng's defeat was beyond his expectation.

How could this fellow Chen Deng pretend to surrender? This is too unreasonable. Even if Lin Mo is good at playing games, he can't pay the price of suppressing the Chen family for two years.

Cao Cao wasn't sure whether Chen Deng was discovered because of his indiscretion, or whether he was Lin Mo's chess piece from beginning to end, but it didn't matter anymore. Anfeng's defeat was unexpected, and his plan was disrupted all at once. up.

As Xuzhou's strategic frontier, these three counties brought Lu Bu great convenience. If he didn't eat them, he would be restrained forever.

But if they really want to entangle, without Chen Deng as an insider, they suffered another big defeat, how to pry open Anfeng City.

Cao Cao wanted to withdraw the army a little bit. The people Xiahoudun brought could not be lost, otherwise the advantage of winning Bingzhou would be gone.

"Mr. Guo said that he will play by ear, and if he is really not sure, he will weigh the withdrawal." Behind him, Cao Ang explained as if comforting.

That's right, Feng Xiaoti is leading the supervising army. If the situation is wrong, he will take everyone back. Since he hasn't spoken yet, maybe there is a turning point. Cao Cao still believes in Guo Jia.

"Just for this matter, you don't have to come to Bingzhou yourself."

Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang with reproach in his eyes, "Ang'er, you know that there can be chaos everywhere now, but Xuchang can't. Those imperial parties have always had ulterior motives and wanted to take the opportunity to make some troubles. You Once I leave, I don't worry."

A smile appeared on the corner of Cao Ang's mouth, confirming that Dianwei's guards were by his side and no one was around, he leaned forward and spoke in a low voice.

After hearing his words, Cao Cao was startled for a moment, then turned around, looked straight at Cao Ang, and said in a deep voice after a while, "Is this serious?"

"It's true, I have sent someone to check it out, and the time is right."

After Cao Ang finished speaking, Cao Cao snorted, then sneered again, "You are really a lady?"

"It's all in Xuchang."

Cao Cao touched his nose with his right hand, half-closed his eyes, and nodded slowly, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while, he patted the city wall and calmed down: "Be sure to protect people well. These two people may be heavy weapons to destroy the enemy, so don't take them lightly. Also... let's build some momentum, it doesn't have to be too big, there are so many people." Just make a point."

"The child understands!"

Cao Ang cupped his hands and added, "If the father has no other errands, the child will return to Xuchang."

Cao Cao glanced at him and sighed softly. As a grand prince, he was busy doing the work of a messenger.

However, this matter is of great importance. It is an exaggeration to say that Lu Bu and Lin Mo will be brought down, but they will definitely suffer a big loss. In addition, there are follow-up ways to deal with it. It is indeed necessary to make a trip in person.

"Let's go after a night's rest." Looking at Cao Ang with a tired face, Cao Cao didn't think the atmosphere was too sensational, after all, he still cherished words like gold.

After Cao Ang withdrew, Cao Cao seemed to be in a better mood.

Bingzhou has won, but Anfeng lost. It seems to be a bit even, but the news sent by Cao Ang is very important. We need to think carefully about how to use people to the extreme, not to mention killing them with one blow. They have to suffer a defeat.

He also began to reflect that he still underestimated Lu Bu and Lin Mo in the past. Now, no matter whether you want to admit it or not, as long as Lu Bu successfully conquers Ji and Qingzhou, he will succeed Yuan Shao and become the most powerful prince in the Han Dynasty.

It seems that this time the game has to be deeper and farther away.

It's a pity that Feng Xiao is not by my side.

In fact, Guo Jia and Xun You are counselors at the same level, but people are emotional animals after all, and Cao Cao prefers Guo Jia in his heart.

This may also have something to do with Xun Yu. The situation has become what it is today. He is no longer the ambitious young man who aspires to become the general of the imperial court.

Especially after experiencing the intrigues of Liu Bei and Chen Deng, the paranoid problem has penetrated into the bone marrow.

And although Xun Yu tried his best during Cao Cao's several crises, and even supported him with his family background, Cao Cao knew in his heart that he was looking for Liu Xie.

Xun You's personality is more restrained, which is different from Xun Yu's. The problem is that you are uncles and nephews, and it is difficult to talk to Xun You because of preconceived ideas.

On the contrary, Guo Jia seems to be much more magnanimous in this regard. He is someone who is still willing to help after he sees Cao Cao's inner thoughts. In addition to his own intelligence, Cao Cao has long regarded him as his own family. up.

But this matter is not easy to delay for too long, so I can only turn around and discuss it with Xun You.

The two chatted from noon to night in the general's mansion in Jinyang City. Xun You did not disappoint Cao Cao. The several strategies he gave were not only highly feasible, but also worthy of the two trump cards in terms of foreseeable benefits.

"Kou can go, so can I."

Cao Cao smiled knowingly, nodded and said: "Okay, okay, Gongda's words made me wake up like a dream, and I will bring Ang'er to come later and make him act according to Gongda's words."

"Sikong Mingjian." Xun You kept a low profile as always.

The chatterbox was opened, and Cao Cao was about to throw out all the questions in his heart.

"Bingzhou is in my hands. I'm going to Youzhou to meet Yuan Xi with someone who can speak eloquently, and persuade him to fight against Lu Bu with me."

"I think that this matter may be postponed for a month or two."

Under Cao Cao's puzzled eyes, Xun You continued: "Lv Bu coerced Yuan Shang to order Beiguo to wait for the puppet. Give some time for this matter to cause turmoil among the aristocratic and powerful families in Beiguo, and Yuan Xi will feel it immediately. Threatening.

When Sikong sent people there again, it was no longer asking for an alliance, but saving Yuan Xi's life. "

Cao Cao rubbed his chin. Yuan Xi, this guy can stand still when the two Yuans are fighting for power. He is obviously a middle-of-the-road person and has no ambitions. Sending people to Youzhou at this time is really not sure of convincing him. big.

If according to Xun You's view, Lu Bu threatened Yuan Shang to command the Northern Kingdom, then the Northern Kingdom could not have two sons of the Yuan family, otherwise it would be easy to catch fire in the backyard.

Therefore, it is indeed more appropriate to go later than now.

Moreover, even if they entered Yecheng now, they still had to wait for the princes of various families to slowly accept the fact that Lv Bu had taken over. It is impossible for Youzhou to have any problems in a short period of time.

"Okay, it should be so, then I will take it easy."

Cao Cao's eyes became firmer, and then he asked: "There is one more thing. After Bingzhou is in hand, our strategic goal is to recover Jingzhou, the belly of the world. However, Liu Biao has 20 troops, and the water and land are both available. It is obviously unwise to attack by force. What do you think."

After Cao Cao plundered a state and county, because he had the emperor in his hand, he didn't need to spend too much time to appease the aristocratic family. Apart from adjusting the state's fields, taxes, and booklets, other things were done. It can be done with a decree.

This saves a lot of effort compared to the follow-up trouble of other princes attacking a piece of territory.

Therefore, he began to have thoughts about Jingzhou early on.

In fact, this is also a helpless move.

Although the northern kingdom is in chaos now, at any rate, Lu Bu can generally stabilize it with Yuan Shang in his hands, but there is no way to send troops in the short term, because what they need now is internal stability, which is a time-consuming and lengthy task.

And after he conquered Bingzhou, he didn't have the ability to fight immediately. Besides, he couldn't fight. The disparity in the number of soldiers and horses has now come out.

Originally, if Anfeng could be successfully conquered, the three counties changed hands, and if they took the initiative, they could choose to eat Xuzhou again.

Now we have hit a wall, in the vast world, there are not many places where we can use force.

Liangzhou?Even if you are poor, you will try your best to produce some unruly militants, such as Ma Teng and Han Sui;
Yizhou, the Land of Abundance?Liu Zhang is indeed an embroidered pillow, but the problem is that Yizhou has natural dangers, Qinchuan is eight hundred miles away, and three passes are guarded.

After thinking about it, there is indeed only one Jingzhou left.

The land there is fertile, there are many soldiers, and under the general environment of the Central Plains withered, Jingzhou is a very good strategic back garden.

"Sikong, forgive me, although Liu Biao has internal strife at home and powerful enemies outside, but as long as he is alive, Jingzhou will not be chaotic."

Is there a problem in Jingzhou?

Yes, and it's serious.

Not only the eldest son and the second son are seizing the heir, but most of the military power is in the hands of the family, especially the Cai family.

Although Cai Mao's heart is for the court, but you expect him to help kill Liu Biao?He is not mentally ill, as long as the military and political power in Jingzhou is still in his hands, and the Cai family is still the No. [-] family in Jingzhou, it is absolutely impossible for him to take the initiative to break this balance.

Because of the loss of balance, no one can estimate who will be in charge of the subsequent situation.

Cao Cao sighed deeply, leaned back on the handsome chair, rubbed his temples, looked melancholy, and murmured, "Could it be that we can only wait for Liu Biao to die?"

Waiting for a person to die, this kind of thing sounds absurd, obviously it will not be Cao Cao's pattern.

But he really didn't have a good way.

Xun You lowered his head, glanced at Cao Cao, and hesitated to speak.

"Gongda, there are only you and me here. If you have anything to say, you might as well just say it." Probably because he caught Xun You's fleeting hesitation, Cao Cao sat upright again and looked at him expectantly.

After hesitating for a moment, Xun You stood up directly, went to the middle of the hall, bowed his hands, and said in a low voice, "Kill him."

"What did you say?" Cao Cao thought he had heard wrong, so he picked his ears.

"Aren't Cai Mao and Sikong childhood friends? Tell Cai Mao to kill Liu Biao."

Cao Cao gave a wry smile, shook his head and said, "My friendship with Degui is not enough to allow him to kill Liu Biao, and besides bearing the name of murdering the lord, how can the Cai family gain a foothold in Jingzhou?"

"So, Sikong needs to find someone to help him, he will definitely make Cai Mao make up his mind."

"Who?"

Xun You bowed his body, raised his eyes and said in a low voice, "Liu Bei."

Liu Bei?

Cao Cao moved his buttocks, feeling more and more mysterious, "Speak clearly."

"There is only one thing that can make Cai Mao attack Liu Biao, and that is that the interests of the Cai family are threatened. Now that Jingzhou is on the verge of seizing the throne, the Cai family supports the second son, Liu Cong, and the eldest son, Liu Qi, has asked Liu Bei to help him."

As Xun You said, he couldn't help walking closer to Cao Cao, so that his voice could be quieter, "Sikong only needs to secretly trust Cai Mao, saying that Liu Bei wrote a letter to the emperor, ordering Liu Cong to take office in Beijing, then Cai Mao will definitely come." Like a frightened bird, he attacked Liu Bei.

If he succeeds, Sikong will be relieved of a serious confidant; if not, then in order to stabilize the power of the Cai family, he will definitely take advantage of the fact that Liu Cong is the lord of Jingzhou before Liu Qi and Liu Bei become big."

Cao Cao waved his hand directly, and then fell into deep thought.

This plan is very clever. Taking the opportunity of seizing the heir apparent, we will provoke the civil strife in Jingzhou. If Liu Bei dies, he will lose a strong enemy in Jingzhou in the future; The next day might really attack Liu Biao.

Of course, in this process, I must make good use of the big banner of the Son of Heaven to constantly put pressure on Cai Mao.

Cai Mao, a reckless man, would definitely not dare to discuss with anyone on this kind of matter. With his brain, he really seems to be a person who can kill the master.

Taking a step back, Cai Hao really killed Liu Bei, except that he lost a serious confidant, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others are willing to give up?If Liu Qi died because of supporting himself, can Liu Qi stay out of it?

At that time, there will inevitably be a civil strife in Jingzhou.

Cao Cao doesn't know Liu Qi's strength very well now, but one thing is certain, Jiang Xia and Changsha are both in his hands.

And these two counties are the most affluent places in Jingxiang, if they act impulsively, there will definitely be a cost of a war.

If it's messed up, you can fish in troubled waters.

"Two birds with one stone, wonderful, wonderful!" Cao Cao stood up excitedly, clapping his hands together and rubbing them together, unable to hide his excitement.

Xun You was a little uneasy, this matter was a bit vicious.

No matter how far it develops, some clan members of the Han family will die in his own hands, but he also hopes to use this method to show Cao Cao the position of the Xun family.

At least tell him that the Xun family is not all people like Xun Yu who are loyal to Emperor Han, but some are also loyal to Sikong.

When Cao Cao became king in history, although Xun You did not express his support clearly, he did not strongly oppose it like Xun Yu after all, and he upheld the inheritance of the family.

Of course, there is another important reason. Lu Bu is too powerful now. As the Xun family, they still hope that Cao Cao will have the last laugh.

Some things always need to be done.

(End of this chapter)