Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 214: Favoring Jiang Han
Liu Bei's prediction was about the same. Two days after he fought with Cao Chun, Cao Cao arrived in Xiangyang with an army of [-].If he didn't leave early and was held back by Xia Houyuan, he might be defeated by Cao Cao's army.

Inside the city, the Chariot General's Mansion.

The seat formerly occupied by Liu Biao was now occupied by Cao Cao. His face was cheerful and his smile could not be concealed.

Looking through the documents, Cao Cao asked: "How many counties are there in Jingzhou? How much money and food does the army have? Where are the camps divided now?"

Cai Mao stood in the hall with a restrained smile and said: "Prime Minister, Jingzhou has seven counties, including Zhangling, Nanjun, Jiangxia, Changsha, and Wuling, with a household registration of 200 million people. There are about [-] to [-] soldiers and horses. We have three thousand cavalry and infantry, and the rest are navy infantry. There should be more than a thousand fighting boats, stern boats, and other boats, and they are now distributed among the seven counties."

After a pause, Cai Mao said: "However, several counties in Jiangxia are in Liu Bei's hands, and the four counties in Jingnan may not know that the prime minister has arrived in Xiangyang, so he has not submitted a token of surrender yet. Jiangling is an important town, and Mao does not dare to lose it, so he ordered his younger brother Cai Yan to guard it. . Today there are more than [-] soldiers and horses in northern Han Dynasty, more than [-] soldiers and horses around Xiangyang, and more than [-] soldiers and horses in Jiangling, about [-]. The remaining [-] to [-] are divided among the four counties in Jingnan."

Cao Cao's smile became brighter, and he raised his hand and said, "Degui doesn't need to be restrained. We have known each other since we were young, and our relationship is very close. Now that I am alone in Xiangyang, Degui can just behave as usual."

"Come, sit down!"

"Thank you, Prime Minister!"

Cai Mao did not dare to seek death like Xu You and call Cao Cao by his name. He carefully sat down under Cao Cao.Seeing Xun You's disgusted look, he didn't take it seriously. As long as Cao Cao was friendly to him, it didn't matter what the idle man said.

Cao Cao sat casually and said, "Degui knows the affairs of Jingzhou very well. I would like to express your gratitude to you as the prime minister, serving as a lieutenant, and also as the captain of Changshui School. You will be promoted to Han Yangtinghou, and you will live in a town with [-] households. How about it?"

Hearing this, Cai Mao was overjoyed, raised his hands and said, "Thank you, Prime Minister. Mao will do his best for the Prime Minister."

Cao Cao looked around at the Jingzhou people in the hall and said with a smile, "Where is Kuai Yidu?"

"Chen is here!"

Seeing Kuai Yue's extraordinary demeanor and wise eyes, Cao Cao laughed and said: "In the past, Liu Biao came to Xiangyang thanks to Yidu. Now I am not happy to have Jingzhou, but I am happy to have Yidu!"

Outsiders did not know about the dirty things planned by Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, but Cao Cao was well aware of the difficulties involved.If Cai Mao was allowed to plan alone, there would be no success today.Fortunately, with Kuai Yue's planning, Cao Cao was able to enter Xiangyang.

"Don't dare!"

Cao Cao pondered for a while and said: "Yidu has great achievements and has always been famous among Jingchu. I would like to express my gratitude to you as a Guangluxun. I have increased my land to two thousand shi as a merit."

"Thank you, the emperor, for your kindness, and thank you, the prime minister, for your recommendation." Kuai Yue cupped his hands and thanked him.

Cao Cao named Kuai Yue Guang Luxun, one of the Nine Qings, which is enough to prove that Kuai Yue's merits are greater than Cai Mao's.

He was rewarded upon entering the city, and Cao Cao knew how important people's hearts were.After conferring awards to Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, Cao Cao also granted 15 other marquises, including Fu Xun, Han Song, Song Zhong, Zhang Yun, Pang Ji, Cai Yan, and Cai Zan, all of whom were promoted to important positions.

Then Cao Cao recruited a large number of scholars as officials, such as Cui Jun, Shi Tao, Meng Jian, Pei Qian, Hexia, Du Kui, Han Ji, Huan Jie, Wang Su, Liu Ba and other close Cao scholars. Serving in the Prime Minister's Office of Cao Cao means serving as county magistrate and other positions.

When the reward campaign was over, Cao Cao looked around at everyone and said with a smile: "Jingnan has not yet surrendered. Liu Bei and Liu Qi are separatist on the left side of the Yangtze River and do not obey the king's orders. I want to conquer it alone. I wonder what you guys have in mind?"

Liu Ba stepped forward, raised his hands and said, "Now that the prime minister has gone to Xiangyang, the world will be united. Although Ba is a small official and his official position is not obvious, he hopes to plan for the world. Please send an envoy to Jingnan to persuade the four counties in Jingnan. The prefect surrendered to Duke Cao and helped the prime minister conquer Jingchu and restore peace to the south."

Cao Cao looked at Liu Ba with squinted eyes and said with admiration: "Where are you from? How can you speak such heroic words? It's rare in the world!"

Liu Ba cupped his hands and said, "Ba is the descendant of the Liu family in Lingling, with the courtesy name Zichu. My grandfather Yao was the prefect of Cangwu in the Han Dynasty, and my father Xiang was the prefect of Jiangxia."

"He is a descendant of Shangqing. His courage is commendable."

After saying that, Cao Cao turned to look at Kuai Yue, saw Kuai Yue nodding, and said with a smile: "Gu Baijun will serve as the prime minister, and he will be sent as an envoy to the four counties in Jingnan on behalf of Gu. Don't let Liu Liu come to you."

"promise!"

Liu Ba answered with cupped hands.

After Liu Ba came out of the hall and left, Cao Cao nodded and said with a smile: "Liu Zichu, I have only heard about it, but he is also a hero from Jingchu!"

As he said that, Cao Cao thought of Jiangzuo again and asked, "I have lived in Jingchu for a long time and have often interacted with Liu Bei and Liu Qi. Now I am alone and want to attack him. Do you have any strategies to offer?"

Kuai Yue stroked his beard and said: "The Prime Minister destroyed Yuan Shao, killed Lu Bu, defeated Yuan Shu, and surrendered Gongsun. The military power is great, and the court is orthodox, and the world will be unified. Jiangzuo is a small area, and there is nothing to worry about. Yue I thought it would be possible to attack Jiangzuo's heart and make him surrender without a fight."

"Oh?"

Cao Cao looked curious and asked, "Can you elaborate on the alienation?"

Kuai Yue pondered for a while and said: "There is Sun Quan, the old lord of Jiangzuo, in Xiangyang City, and there are Sun Fu, Sun Bi and other former prefects of Jiangzuo under the Ming Dynasty. Yue thought that he could let Sun Quan, Sun Bi and others write letters to Jiangzuo. I encourage the old ministers of Jiangzuo to surrender. The old ministers of Jiangzuo are grateful for their gratitude and will definitely respond."

After a pause, Kuai Yue continued: "Liu Qi's many civil and military figures such as Huo Jun, Pan Jun, Wang Can, Han Xuan, Huang Zhong, Wenpin and others have a close relationship with Jingchu, and that Wang Can, Shanyang Wang family After that, he had many interactions with the prime minister Wen Wu. Or maybe it was Pan Jun, whose mentor was Zhong Zigong (Song Zhong). You can ask the above friends to write letters and send them to Jiangzuo to persuade Liu Qi to surrender."

"Since the Prime Minister's reputation has spread far and wide, you can also write a letter to Liu Qi, clarifying the righteousness of the monarch and his subjects, and asking him to rebel against the trend and surrender to the Prime Minister. As for Liu Bei, the Prime Minister may decide on his own." "Cai!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao was slightly happy, applauded and said: "A great talent from another country! I led 60 soldiers and horses southward, near the Majiang River. I don't want to kill more people. If the people on the left of the river are willing to join me, I will not hesitate to reward you."

"The power of the Prime Minister is well known throughout the country, and Jiang Zuo must be timid if he knows it." Kuai Yue boasted.

"Ha ha!"

Cao Cao laughed a few times, and he was already very confident at the moment.In fact, since he went south, not only Cai Mao and Kuai Yue surrendered the city.Even the Shen brothers under Zhang Lu's tent brought envoys from Shangyong, Fangling, Xicheng and other counties in eastern Hanzhong to surrender.

In addition, Ma Teng, who had entered the court as an official, and Han Sui, who sent the protons.The only people in the world who have never surrendered are Liu Bei and Liu Qi.As for Liu Zhang in the southwest, he had contacted him long ago after the Battle of Guandu, and then sent three hundred troops to help last year.

By pacifying the left side of the Yangtze River, we can dominate the world.With such a huge advantage, Cao Cao didn't think he would lose!

After everyone in Jingchu retreated, Cheng Yu stepped forward, raised his hands and said: "Ming Gong is invincible in the world, and his troops approach the river, which frightens the people of Wu and Chu. However, with the help of Liu Bei and Huo Jun, Liu Qi was able to conquer the left side of the river. Kuai Yi Although Du's words are reasonable, from Yu's perspective, if Liu and Huo are unwilling to surrender, it will be difficult for Jiangzuo to join them."

"Therefore, Kuai Yidu's words may be feasible, but it is difficult for Jiangzuo to disarm and surrender. Ming Gong should strengthen his troops, recruit the soldiers of Jingchu, and gather the boats and boats of Jingchu to prepare for the war on Jiangzuo."

"How can I not know Zhongde's words?"

Cao Cao laughed several times and said with emotion: "When I was thinking about Guandu alone, Yuan Benchu ​​wrote a letter to persuade everyone in his tent. If he was alone and difficult to defeat, those people would come down to the city and lead their troops to return to Yuan Benchu. Now, Jiangzuo soldiers and horses It is difficult to defeat the enemy alone, and those who are cared for should be able to be used by our army."

The difficult situation of the Battle of Guandu was still fresh in Cao Cao's memory.He was defeated in Guandu. He had almost no backhand power and was pinned to the ground and beaten by Yuan Shao. Henan would be captured by Yuan Shao in two or three years.As for his victory over Guandu, it took him five or six years to conquer Hebei, and he spent a year on an expedition to Wuhuan.

Now the situation is reversed. If Cao Cao gains a slight advantage on the battlefield, those who are attached to the court will exert their efforts, either to persuade Liu Qi to surrender, or to become the leading party.

"Master Ming is wise!"

Seeing that Cao Cao had an idea, Cheng Yu couldn't say anything more.

Seeing Cao Cao behaving like this, Jia Xu secretly sighed in his heart, thinking of Cao Cao's kindness to him, and seeing that the world was about to be unified, he didn't want Cao Cao to do anything dangerous.

After deliberation for a while, Jia Xu took the initiative to remonstrate and said, "Ming Gong, Xu has something to say. I wonder if Ming Gong is willing to listen to it?"

Cao Cao went to look for reputation, and saw Jia Xu, who had always been taciturn and did not ask questions or offer suggestions, took the initiative to give advice and said with a smile: "Wen He can speak, how can Gu An not listen? Please speak?"

"In the past, Duke Ming defeated the Yuan family and conquered Hannan. His reputation was far-reaching and his army was so powerful that no one in the world could match it. Now if we can use the people of Jingchu to bestow favors on officials and appease the people, then we can conquer the Jingchu people." South. Jingnan and its affiliates share the river. Ming Gong can recruit Yizhou to surrender, and he can also threaten the Jiangdong sergeants."

Jia Xu slowly spoke out his thoughts, and his words were very sincere.

"China has a vast territory and a large number of people, but Jiangzuo has a vast territory and few soldiers. The Duke of Ming Dynasty sent out more troops and horses to attack, but he exhausted his troops and surrounded Xiakou. He was so kind and powerful to the north of the Yangtze River that he did not fight with him. In two or three years, there is no need to fight. Thanks to the efforts of the masses, Jiangdong surrenders!"

"Wenhe's words are different!"

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows slightly and said disapprovingly: "Although our people in the north are not used to water warfare, they have Jianghan soldiers and horses and can use them. The river is dangerous, so boats can cross it. And when we cross the river, the people in the north can show off their troops. Wei, how can the soldiers of Jiangzuo reach them?"

As he spoke, Cao Cao walked slowly and said in a deep voice: "There are few soldiers on the left side of the Yangtze River, and our army has many soldiers. Although they have the advantage of the navy, they are not enough to make us fearful!"

Jia Xu saw that Cao Cao was unwilling to accept his own strategy and did not argue with him, so he raised his hands and said, "Goodbye, Ming Gong!"

If it were normal times, Cao Cao would be willing to accept Jia Xu's words.But the situation has reached the moment. Cao Cao is not willing to spend several years tormenting Jiangzuo, and he still doesn't know whether Jia Xu's strategy will work.

After all, Cao Cao currently has a huge advantage. He cannot conquer Jiangzuo by force. Isn't it true that he is good at using soldiers?
Moreover, Cao Cao was already 55 years old, and his headaches often recurred. He longed to bring peace to the world as soon as possible, so that he could ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, and build his own country, Zuo.

"I report to the Prime Minister that Xia Houyuan and Cao Chun failed in their pursuit of Liu Bei. Cao Chun fell into Liu Bei's treacherous plan and was defeated. More than [-] people were killed by tigers and leopards in his tent, and more than a thousand horses were taken away. Liu Bei brought tens of thousands of people with him. It has been transported to Xiakou by boat." The scout hurriedly stepped inside and reported.

"Liu Xuande?"

When Cao Cao heard Liu Bei's name, he sneered a few times and said, "Liu Bei has always had small plans, and it is normal for Zi He to succeed in his plan. He can defeat the tiger and leopard cavalry now. It seems that Liu Bei's troops are also strong."

The more than a thousand war horses that were taken away were just a trivial matter.The only casualty among the 500 people, one tenth of which was the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, made Cao Cao feel quite distressed.

"I will fine Cao Cao three months' salary, and he will be demoted and retained."

"promise!"

Cao Cao put his hands behind his waist and looked at the map of Wu and Chu in the hall. He narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured: "Liu Xuande, you will die at the hands of an orphan!"

(End of this chapter)