Gou writes entries in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 72 Lu Bu's Great Defeat
Leaving Wanliu Lane, Liu Xuan was in a good mood.

Building the steam engine is only the second step. After all, it is built according to the award drawings. As long as the details are not flawless, the steam engine will definitely succeed.

The most important thing is the discovery of Ma Jun. Historically, Ma Jun was one of the few mechanical inventors in the Han Dynasty who could leave his name.

Once such a talent is given such an epoch-making tool as the steam engine, there is no telling how many new inventions will be inspired.

Back at the government office, Cheng Hu was already waiting in the meeting hall.
Although Liu Xuan was based in Huaiyin, he kept his eyes on the movements of the major forces in the Central Plains.

Many elite members of the Tiger Battalion were sent out as scouts to collect intelligence.
Cheng Hu came to report this time after receiving intelligence from all sources.

"Lord, there are two main points in this report,"

"First, last month we followed Mr. Wenhe's instructions and went to various banks in batches to pretend to be merchants to borrow money, and then deliberately passed through places where bandits were infested. Within one month, we attracted twelve groups of bandits, and they have all been wiped out. Bandits in the Jianghuai area will not dare to plunder again in the short term."

"Secondly, the war in Shouchun took a turn at the beginning of this month. Liu Bei, who was originally suppressed by Lu Bu, joined forces with Cao Cao to attack Feishuidu from the north and the south. Lu Bu was defeated, seriously injured, and fled back to Xiapi. Cao and Liu allied forces We are reorganizing our armaments and will besiege Xiapi soon."

Lu Bu was defeated?Cao Cao and Liu Bei join forces again?
These two pieces of news really surprised Liu Xuan.

But when you think about it carefully, it makes sense.

Liu Bei seems to always be able to survive from desperate situations.

More importantly, Liu Bei was able to keep his face down, calm down, and listened to advice.

In contrast, although Lu Bu was extremely brave and had many generals and counselors under his command, his character was too arrogant.

Even with the help of counselors like Chen Gong, it would not help.

Liu Xuan smiled bitterly and said to Jia Xu,

"It seems Wen He is right. The money Lu Bu lent will probably not come back."

Jia Xu lowered his eyebrows, but still had a smile on his face.

"Lu Bu still doesn't pay the money. Isn't that what the lord wants?"

After saying that, he raised his head slightly and looked at Liu Xuan with profound meaning in his eyes.

Liu Xuan was still confused and asked: "Why can Liu Bei persuade Cao Cao to join forces with him?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard, "Because he understands Cao Cao and knows what Cao Cao is afraid of."

"You said Cao Cao is afraid of Lu Bu?"

"If the two sides open up and fight, Cao Cao will certainly not be afraid of Lu Bu," Jia Xu said,

"But Cao Cao's current military focus is in Hebei and Guandu. If the battle between Yuan and Cao breaks out, and there is a tiger like Lu Bu lying behind him, do you think Cao Cao will be afraid?"

Liu Xuan said clearly: "Compared to Liu Bei, Cao Cao is indeed more worried about Lu Bu. This is not the first time Lu Bu has done this kind of thing behind his back."

Jia Xu said: "Actually, Cao Cao is also worried about Liu Bei, but Liu Bei has been crippled by Lu Bu, so there is no need to worry about it for the time being. Moreover, he is helping Liu Bei this time. With Liu Bei's reputation-focused behavior, the possibility of a sneak attack from behind is slightly smaller."

Liu Xuan became a little worried.

"In this case, we will soon face Cao Cao's forces. Does Wen He have a way to deal with it?"

Jia Xu waved his hand and said: "My lord, there is no need to worry for the time being. My lord and Cao Cao are not at odds with each other, and we were also considered allies in the Battle of Shouchun. Cao Cao's main enemy now is still Yuan Shao of Jizhou."

"As long as the lord shows enough strength and shows our attitude of staying safe, Cao Cao will never take action against the lord until Hebei is pacified. Maybe he will even try to win over the lord."

"Mr. Wenhe's analysis makes sense," Liu Xuan said with certainty, "but Cao Cao is a very scheming person and should not be underestimated. We still have to make two preparations."

"Cheng Hu, immediately issue a recruitment order in Huaiyin and Sheyang to recruit new soldiers. Each county will recruit [-] new soldiers. In addition to the existing [-] elites, [-] soldiers can guard a city without any danger."

"Yes, lord." Cheng Hu took the order and left.A county recruits five thousand soldiers, and the ratio can be said to be very high.

Normally, two to three thousand garrison troops for a county is considered too many.

It's just that after this year's development, Huaiyin County's population density is by no means comparable to other counties, and it is more than enough to recruit five thousand recruits.

It was not the soldiers that put Liu Xuan in trouble, but the generals.

There are too few generals at hand now.

With only Cheng Hu and Ji Ying, [-] troops were the limit.

After finishing the work at hand, I must look for a few good futures.

Liu Xuan thought of this and came to the martial arts field near the government office.

On weekdays, soldiers train, or Zhao Liniang and the others practice the Hundred Birds toward the Phoenix Spear, which is also in the martial arts field.

Liu Xuan would come to practice with them when he had nothing to do. He quite enjoyed the feeling of having hundreds of young and beautiful women surrounding him.

As soon as he entered the martial arts arena, Liu Xuan heard a scolding voice.
"I asked you to give me some water. You've been here for so long. Do you want me to die of thirst?"

"Also, your water ladle has obviously been used by others. I told you that I must use a new water ladle every time I drink water. Let me use the same water ladle with you servants. You can fix it. What heart?"

"My father is Marquis Lu Wen. If he knows that you have made me angry, he will kill you all. Do you believe it or not?"

Immediately afterwards, a water ladle flew towards Liu Xuan,
With a handful of water, it fell on Liu Xuan's feet.

Liu Xuan frowned and looked up,
Lu Qiling was seen pointing her hands on her hips and scolding several female soldiers from the guard camp in front of her.

"Qiling, don't be so presumptuous." Seeing Liu Xuan's unhappy expression, Zhao Liniang quickly shouted,

"My lord, Liniang is not strict in her discipline. There have been a lot of things in the past two days, so I asked her to practice martial arts with other sisters in the martial arts field. I don't want to conflict with the lord, so I will reprimand her now. Please don't get angry, lord."

Unexpectedly, when Lu Qiling heard Zhao Liniang's words, she started to sneer.
"Reprimand? Why do you reprimand me?" Lu Qiling looked at Zhao Liniang disdainfully,
"I've asked this a long time ago. You are just a village girl. I am the daughter of Marquis Wen. You are not qualified to teach me."

Lu Qiling became more and more arrogant as she spoke, pointing at the daughters behind her and defending,
"And they are just the playthings of the former county magistrate."

"Shut up!" Liu Xuan shouted loudly, interrupting Lu Qiling.

"You keep saying that you are the daughter of Marquis Wen. Let me see what the daughter of Marquis Wen Lu Fengxian is really capable of."

"Sun Wan'er"

"exist!"

"Beat her!"

"Yes!" The soldiers of the Guards Battalion would not hesitate at all to Liu Xuan's order.

What's more, Lu Qiling was so arrogant and domineering before, Sun Wan'er had already been filled with anger.
If it weren't for the fact that she was Lu Bu's daughter and Liu Xuan personally arranged to study under Zhao Liniang, she would have taught Lu Qiling a lesson.

Lu Qiling saw Sun Wan'er getting ready and approaching her,
Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she faced Sun Wan'er without any fear.

She was Lu Bu's daughter, and all her martial arts were taught by Lu Bu himself. How could she be afraid of this seemingly soft and weak Sun Waner?

Lu Qiling had a bad temper and did not wait for Sun Waner to attack. Instead, she stepped forward and raised her fair legs to greet Sun Waner proactively.

　I’m back from traveling, two chapters have been updated.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)