Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 9 The Night Visit
The poem "Guanghan" recited by Wang Can comes from "Guofeng Zhounan".The collection of "Zhou Nan" is mostly folk songs from the junction of modern Shaanxi, Henan and Hubei, while the content of "Guang Han" is stories from the Han River Basin.

The general idea is as follows: The woodcutter fell in love with a woman on the Han River, but he couldn't get what he wanted.In the poem, in addition to expressing the man's lovesickness, he also vowed that if the woman marries him, he will treat her wholeheartedly.

Perhaps when young people read it, they will feel that the "situation of admiration" is strong and romantic.But in the eyes of Huo Jun in later generations, this man was simply a licker.The longing is not just that it is within sight but not within reach, the heart longs for it but the body cannot reach it.

It is also common to use admiration to compare the relationship between monarch and minister.Not only did Cao Cao not want Guan Yu, he thought about Guan Yu's loyalty and loyalty like a licking dog.

Regarding the relationship between Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei, after some pulling and pulling, Liu Bei treated Zhuge Liang like a fish in water, which attracted Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Now it's Huo Jun. In order to make Liu Bei admire him, he can also use some small tricks.Let them ask for it but not get it, sleep hard and think about it, and after getting it, they will regard it as a treasure.

After the banquet, Liu Bei and Yi Ji sat in the side hall and talked.

Liu Bei was still worried about Huo Jun's judgment and said: "Although Huo Zhongmiao is good at judging the general trend, he has been in charge of the world for more than ten years. Although he was trapped for a while, how could he humiliate me with military force? From a certain perspective, he How can he be called a Jingchu sergeant if he is nothing more than a mad scholar?"

Yi Ji was a little embarrassed about Liu Bei's dissatisfaction. After all, he was the one who introduced Huo Jun to Liu Bei.Now that Huo Jun has provoked Liu Bei, he naturally needs to protect Huo Jun.

After pondering for a while, Yi Ji said: "I think Zhongmiao is a humble gentleman, and he is definitely not a person who causes trouble for no reason. He also drank a lot at the banquet today, so he must be drunk.

"Zuiyan?"

Liu Bei frowned and muttered a few words.In fact, he is not a narrow-minded person, but he is about to send troops to the Northern Expedition, but some people say to his face that he is not capable. How could he not mind?
Zhao Yun, who was sitting next to him, also added something at this moment: "My lord, I think that Mr. Huo Lang may not be talking drunkenly, but have hidden meanings behind his words."

"Implicit?"

Liu Bei turned to look at Zhao Yun, and then recalled what happened at the banquet.

"Exactly."

Zhao Yun also recalled Huo Jun's performance at the banquet and said: "When Huo Langjun discussed the dispute between Liu and Zhang, he was full of energy and spoke fluently. But when he talked about the situation in the Central Plains and the Northern Expedition, his words were more carefully considered. Deep meaning.”

As Liu Bei's bodyguard, Zhao Yun did not take a seat at the banquet, but observed everyone's actions in the corner.As an outsider, he seemed to see things more clearly than Liu Bei and Yi Ji.

As he spoke, Zhao Yun slowed down and analyzed sentence by sentence: "The Lord asked, 'What will be the outcome of the Northern Expedition with Liu Jingzhou?' However, Huo Langjun hesitated several times and only said, 'The Northern Expedition in Jingzhou can change the overall situation and make you "Using troops is not a wise move.' It seems that it is not about the Northern Expedition, nor about the victory or defeat of military strategists, but about Liu Jingzhou and the Lord."

Listening to Zhao Yun's answer, Yi Ji seemed to have a sudden realization and said: "When I first met Zhong Miao, Ji once asked how Liu Jingzhou was. However, Zhong Miao kept silent about Liu Jingzhou, which seemed to be contemptuous, but now he said Liu Jingzhou was terrible. It would be strange to change the overall situation of the world."

Seeing Liu Bei's expression slowing down, Zhao Yun said again: "Huo Langjun only talks briefly, which may hinder everyone and makes it difficult to explain. Yun thought that Huo Langjun is a sergeant in Jingzhou, and it will be helpful for my lord to visit him again."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then turned around and said, "What do you think, Uncle Ji?"

"I think what General Zhao said is very true. I know Zhongmiao. There must be a reason for what he said, so that you may be able to think deeply and draw a clear lesson." Yi Ji replied.

After Liu Bei heard this, he immediately said: "In that case, I will pay you one more visit. Bei should see if Huo Zhongmiao really has anything to say!"

"Zilong, prepare the car!" Liu Bei strode and ordered.

"promise!"

After a while, under the darkness of night, Liu Bei boarded the carriage and drove to Wang Can's mansion.

At this time, Huo Jun was still in the library, lighting candles and studying books.In order to enrich his theoretical knowledge, Huo Jun often works late at night recently.

In the silence, Huo Xiong knocked on the door and gasped: "Master, General Zuo is here to pay his respects."

"Oh?"

Huo Jun's eyes widened in disbelief.He didn't expect that Liu Bei would come to see him just after attending the banquet. He was just laying the groundwork, and planned to wait for Liu Bei to finish the Battle of Bowangpo and verify his words before communicating with him.

"Quick, come with me to greet you!"

"promise!"

Huo Jun left the study in a hurry, not even having time to close the door.When they arrived at the front yard, they saw Liu Bei and Wang Can already sitting in the hall, chatting happily.

"Mr. Xuande!" Huo Jun saluted in surprise and responded.

"Mr. Huo, please don't be offended if I come to visit you in a hurry late at night and disturb you a lot."

Liu Bei smiled knowingly at Huo Jun's surprise. Anyone with talent would benefit from this trick.Liu Bei immediately saluted Huo Jun and called him sir to show his respect for Huo Jun.

"Sir" has different meanings in the two Han Dynasties, such as teacher, father and brother, and scholar.As Liu Bei, calling Huo Jun "sir" is an extremely high level of respect.

"Don't dare!" Huo Jun responded humbly: "Just call Jun Zhongmiao." Xuande Gong came here to make the humble house shine brightly, and Chandang prepared a small amount of wine to reward the noble man. "After that, Wang Can handed over his hands and left the table, leaving only Liu Bei and Huo Jun.

Huo Jun led the way down, Liu Bei took off his shoes and entered the house, while Zhao Yun guarded the door with his sword.

"Zhongmiao studies late at night and is diligent in his studies." Liu Bei looked at the bamboo slips on the desk and said.

"Just a little reading before going to bed!"

After sitting down, Huo Jun poured a cup of tea for Liu Bei and asked, "I wonder what the purpose of your visit late at night is?"

Liu Bei sat on the couch and asked directly: "Zhongmiao said at the banquet that the Northern Expedition was 'not a wise move'. Is there any reason for this?"

Huo Jun raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "Since the envoy paid a late-night visit, Jun will no longer hide it. Mr. Xuande came down from the Central Plains. I wonder what the situation in the Central Plains is like?"

Liu Bei pondered for a while and said: "Yuan Shao is in danger, and Cao Cao's power needs to be restrained."

Huo Jun smiled and said bluntly: "On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Duke Xuande killed chariots and captured Xuzhou. Yuan Shao was strong. However, Cao Cao defeated Xuzhou in the east and defeated Yuan Shao in the north. Now Yuan Shao is weak and Duke does not have Xuzhou, so what? Can you restrain Cao Cao?"

I have to say that Cao Cao performed amazingly in the Battle of Guandu. At that time, Cao Cao had Liu Bei in the east and Yuan Shao in the north.However, Cao Cao made accurate judgment and believed that if he did not attack Liu Bei, he would be a trouble in the future.Although Yuan Shao had great ambitions, he was too late to notice the situation and would not move his army.

And things developed as Cao Cao expected. After he quickly defeated Liu Bei, Yuan Shao was still stuck in Guandu and was stopped by Yu Jin.

Liu Bei was silent for a while and then replied: "Although Bei lost Xuzhou, Jingsheng retained Jingzhou. With his power, he can attack Xuchang northward, which may turn the tide of the war."

Huo Jun raised the corner of his mouth and said: "What Jun said, Liu Jingzhou's Northern Expedition can change the overall situation."

Liu Bei frowned and asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

"The Duke does not seek to expand the territory at the moment. Instead, he relies on weak troops to attack Cao Cao from the north. How can he call it a 'wise move'?" Huo Jun pointed out.

Liu Bei completely understood what Huo Jun meant. He meant to let himself conquer territory and establish a foundation, rather than focusing on the situation in the Central Plains.

After hesitating for a while, Liu Bei sighed and said truthfully: "It is a helpless move to prepare to station troops in new areas. In terms of the current situation, all states and counties in the world have their own masters. Ma Teng and Han Sui occupied Guanzhong and Longyou, Sun Quan seized control of Jiangdong, and Yizhou With Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu, although the world is vast, there is no place for them to stay."

"I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to give me some advice to resolve Bei's chaos." Liu Bei said with his hand in hand.

Huo Jun considered his words and said, "I have three suggestions. I wonder if you are willing to listen to them?"

"Sir, please speak!"

Hearing this, Liu Bei straightened his back and waited attentively for Huo Jun's instructions.

Huo Jun took out a map from the scroll on the case, spread it out on the case, and gave instructions.

"The best strategy is to borrow the power of Liu Jingzhou to go down the river to attack Sun Quan and seize the six counties east of the Yangtze River as a base, relying on the danger of the river to compete with Cao Cao. The middle strategy is to use the eight counties of Jingzhou with a large number of people and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but it can be secretly Plan to seize it. Make a strategy, stay in Xinye temporarily, conquer Cao Cao, join forces with the Yuan family in the north, advance into the Central Plains, or sit back and watch the changes in the world."

After speaking, Huo Jun took a sip of tea and handed over the decision-making power to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei stared at the map in front of him, frowning and thinking. Now he had no doubts about Huo Jun's ability, but he was a little confused about his future.

After a long time, Liu Bei said: "As far as the best strategy is concerned, Jiangdong has the advantage of river water. If you are not good at water warfare, it may be difficult. Let Bei think about it. In terms of planning for Jingzhou, Liu Jingsheng is more than Bei Youen, and he is the queen of the clan. He has a good reputation and cannot bear to seize it. The next strategy may be feasible, unite with Yuan Shao and rely on the power of Jingzhou to advance into the Central Plains."

Huo Jun sighed, put the tea cup on the table, and said nothing.

In fact, he probably guessed Liu Bei's choice. Going to Jiangdong was not easy.Liu Bei came from the north and had only been in the south for a few months. If he was asked to fight against Jiangdong, no one else would be able to do it.As for trying to capture Jingzhou, in history Liu Biao died of illness and Liu Bei did not capture Jingzhou, so we can guess a bit now.

As for the next step, I am afraid it is also the way out that Liu Bei has in mind for the time being. Liu Bei's mentality and thoughts when he first arrived in Xinye today are still different from those when he met Zhuge Liang six or seven years later.

When Liu Bei saw that Huo Jun didn't say anything, he thought he was disappointed, so he quickly explained: "It's not that Bei doesn't want to take the best or middle policy. It's just that Liu Jingzhou and Bei have been planning to capture the Central Plains recently, and they are about to send troops, so they must go."

"Sir, you are a great talent, can you go with the army to see what the next plan will be!"

Huo Jun paused for a moment and saw the expectant look on Liu Bei's face, and finally said: "General Zuo invites you late at night, Jun should follow."

"it is good!"

Liu Bei responded happily.

(End of this chapter)