The Three Kingdoms: A vicious plan was offered, and Liu Bei was stunned!

Chapter 74 Everyone is busy calculating Luo Gongqi, Cao Cao releases Xu Yuanzhi
"I can't ask. If I go to Xuchang, I might meet Cao Pi. Actually, I like Cao Zhi more. He is very talented, but he has a bad personality and it is difficult for him to achieve great things!"

Xiahou Dun nodded and said, "You've said too much. Cao Zhi is an outstanding writer, but he has a weak character. He is just a spoiled child."

In the 14th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao was already 57 years old, and he would die ten years later.

If Luo Yuan doesn't go to meet him, he will never see this legendary figure again.

Xiahou Dun led Luo Yuan back and continued to grill, saying, "The Lord has not yet appointed a crown prince, who do you think is suitable?"

"Cao Ang is the best!"

Xiahou Dun rolled his eyes at Luo Yuan. Cao Ang had died a long time ago, so if he were still alive, it would be the most suitable one, as he was the eldest son!

Luo Yuan turned around and smiled: "If you ask me about your affairs, what can I say? Of course I will choose Cao Ang!"

Xiahou Dun smiled silently. After dinner, Luo Yuan wanted to visit Zhang family in Bowang. Xiahou Dun personally led his troops to escort Luo Yuan there.

Entering Zhang's house was just like entering his own home. Xiahou Dun was not polite at all and the people of Zhang's house were as timid as quails.

Luo Yuan said: "Brother, please respect them. Forget about others, but you must respect the descendants of Zhang Qian!"

Luo Yuan bowed to the Zhang family and said, "Excuse me, I came to the Zhang family for no other reason. May I ask, are the descendants of Bowang allowed to farm?"

"We are planting seeds left by our ancestors. We dare not forget!"

Luo Yuan was overjoyed: "I want some seeds. I'll pay for them. Big brother, give me the money!"

Xiahou Dun was stunned: "I just want some seeds, do I need to pay?"

"We are here to do business, not to rob. Besides, it is not easy for them to cultivate seeds, and you don't need the money!"

Xiahou Dun was afraid that Luo Yuan would be unhappy so he had no choice but to give him money. Zhang was shocked and couldn't believe it. When had Xiahou Dun ever been polite to them?

As soon as Cao's army arrived, these clans had to contribute money and food. Not giving was unacceptable, and Xiahou Dun would not reason with them at all.

If you don't obey, I will kill you.

Seeing that Luo Yuan was curious, Zhang hurriedly asked. After hearing that it was Luo Gongqi, Zhang and others fell silent.

The Jiangxia incident had spread a long time ago. Luo Yuan killed the clan members like pigs and dogs. He was much more cruel than Xiahou Dun. Xiahou Dun just cut the leeks at most, while Luo Yuan uprooted them.

Zhang and the others became even more frightened. Luo Yuan realized that he could not get any more information from them, so he took the seeds and went back.

Xiahou Dun laughed and said, "They are even more afraid of you. I killed you too hard in Jiangxia!"

"Oh, brother, you just think I'm cruel, but you don't think what I did was wrong!"

Xiahou Dun said: "The people are poor, there is nothing wrong with you distributing grain and land, but you killed too many people, if you killed fewer people, people would not be so afraid of you!"

"If they don't fear me, do they love me? Why do I need them to love me? It's enough if they fear me!" Luo Yuan didn't care and went back to the military camp with Xiahou Dun.

Huang Zhong, Gan Ning and their 500 personal soldiers arrived. After Guan Yu went back, he told Liu Bei about it. Liu Bei didn't want to let them go, but Kong Ming persuaded him. Guan Yu then told Liu Bei about Luo Yuan's arrangement. When he saw that Luo Yuan gave Jiangxia to him, Liu Bei realized that Luo Yuan had taken Jiangxia back after Mi Zhu lost it.

Xiahou Dun quickly wrote a letter and sent it to Yecheng, and Cao Cao saw the letter soon after.

"Luo Gongqi and I are asking for Xu Shu, what do you think?" Cao Cao said with a smile. Xu Shu did nothing here, and he was like a wooden man all day. Cheng Yu told him several times that he should either let him go or kill him.

Xun Yu and others were more kindhearted. They just wasted some food and let Cao Cao take care of them.
But now that Luo Yuan asked for it, it was the same again.

Xu Shu is insignificant to Cao Cao and cannot be used, but Luo Yuan is different.

Sima Yi said: "What does Luo Gongqi mean? Are you willing to join the Prime Minister?"

Cao Cao said: "Gongqi is now with Xiahou. Xiahou said that he and Gongqi have sworn brotherhood. He is the elder and Gongqi is the younger. Xiahou highly respects Gongqi and says that Gongqi is a great talent who can become a king."

He even told him about becoming emperor, which Cao Cao read but did not dare to say aloud.

But he was moved!
Xiahou Dun wrote down Luo Yuan's words word for word and sent them to him.

A talent for kingship?

Sima Yi was conflicted. He was only a minor official under Cao Cao. He was just an assistant, not a formal official. He was probably just a staff advisor.

Is Luo Gongqi coming? Wouldn’t it be even harder for me to make a name for myself?

Sima Yi thought for a moment and said, "Luo Gongqi wants to surrender, otherwise why not kill him?"

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Gongqi is a famous scholar in the world, and he is feared by the people in Jiangdong. How can I kill him indiscriminately? Moreover, Yuanrang admires Gongqi, and I also want to meet Gongqi. Yuanrang said that Gongqi intends to go to Xuchang to see the emperor, and he also wants to meet me. It is better to give Gongqi a favor and release Xu Shu!"

Cheng Yu objected, "My lord, Xu Shu was Liu Bei's counselor before, he worked for Liu Bei and recommended Kong Ming. If we let him go now, wouldn't it be like letting a tiger go back to the mountain? Our army and Liu Bei are about to go to war, my lord, you have to think about it!"

Cao Cao thought so too: "We still have to give Gongqi some face!"

Sima Yi said: "I think it is better to let Xu Shu go back and let Luo Gongqi come. If he can surrender, that's the best. If he can't surrender, we can kill him and not use him for Liu Bei! I think it's a good deal to exchange Xu Shu for Luo Gongqi!"

Xun Yu said, "My lord, I object. Gongqi is the governor of Changsha appointed by the emperor. He wants to pay homage to the emperor. How can we stop him? Moreover, Gongqi's position was recommended by the lord. How can the lord kill him? Moreover, since Luo Yuan dares to pay homage to the emperor, I am afraid he must have made preparations. If we plot against him, he may plot against us instead. It is better to be sincere instead."

Cao Cao laughed and said, "I have already made up my mind. Release Xu Shu. I will wait for your instructions in Yecheng. How can I be afraid of Xu Shu? As a leader, I still need to have some vision!"

Sima Yi was disappointed and uneasy for a moment. His lord really cared about Luo Gongqi. What should he do?
Why don’t you take a closer look at yourself, my lord? You are also a person of great talent.

Cheng Yu frowned with some dissatisfaction, but said nothing.

Cao Cao ordered his men to release Xu Shu. Xu Shu could not believe the news. When he found out that it was Luo Yuan who saved him, Xu Shu was deeply moved: "Since Gong Qi is coming, I will not leave. I will wait for him in Yecheng!"

"You're not leaving?" Xu Zhu, who came to deliver the order, looked at Xu Shu strangely.

I won't let you go, you've been looking for death all day, crying like a debt collector. I let you go but you won't leave.

Are you intellectuals sick in the brain?

Xu Zhu said dissatisfiedly: "I have been ordered to send you out of Yecheng, you must go!"

"If I don't leave, what can you do to me?"

(End of this chapter)