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

Chapter 77: The first use of the strategy of using both kindness and force, Cao Cao sincerely asks about the general strategy

Luo Yuan smiled and said, "I have already parted ways with the Emperor's uncle. We have different ideas and are not on the same path. I have given Jiangxia to the Emperor's uncle. If the Prime Minister wants to attack the Emperor's uncle, then go ahead. But I predict that Brother Xiahou will be defeated in Bowang!"

Cao Cao laughed and asked, "Did Gongqi make plans for Liu Bei?"

"No, I did come up with some strategies with my uncle. When the prime minister sent Xiahou south, I told my uncle to give up Xinye and go to Xiangyang. Cai Mao and others are useless. We should take Xiangyang and Fancheng as a supporting force. Then we can rely on Jingzhou to fight against the prime minister for five or six years. In this way, we can kill the prime minister. Then I can contact Ma Teng and Han Sui and advance from Chang'an to Xuchang and Yecheng. The prime minister will have a hard time. Then we can take Bashu in the west, Hanzhong in the north, and march to Heluo. Then the world can be settled. But my uncle didn't use my plan."

Cao Cao listened and got cold sweat on his face. He wiped it off and laughed: "Liu Bei is short-sighted and hypocritical. If he had used Gongqi's plan, I would have died. Gongqi is a man of great talent. Fortunately, he didn't use it!"

Cao Cao felt guilty when he thought about it. Although he was powerful now, if Liu Bei really fought with him for a few years, he would be killed.

The north had experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and there were Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and others, with countless casualties and no roosters crowing for thousands of miles. Although he destroyed Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the economy of the north did not recover at all.

He was eager to attack Jingzhou, not only because Liu Biao had died and the opportunity had come, but also because Jingzhou was a land of fish and rice, with a large population and abundant food. He needed Jingzhou as a granary.

Now that he is settling in the north, the supply of military rations has become a problem. Without sufficient food, there will be no army!
In order to collect military funds, he even secretly hired a tomb-raiding lieutenant. Fortunately, the tomb-raiding lieutenant is now a secret, otherwise he would be scolded to death by the world.

Luo Yuan saw the weaknesses of the North at a glance, which were the poor economy, small population, and food production that had not yet recovered.

Although Cao Cao had a large number of soldiers, he was under tremendous pressure.

Once they make trouble for food, Cao Cao will be killed in no time.

Sima Yi and others were all smart people. After listening to Luo Yuan's words, everyone was shocked. Luo Gongqi's reputation was well-deserved.

What Gongqi said is a grand strategy, equivalent to a national policy. Once it succeeds, the world will be at peace.

Sima Yi secretly glanced at Luo Yuan. This man is so powerful. If he surrenders to the lord, I will never be able to make a success.

Cao Cao quickly sat down next to Luo Yuan and took his hand: "Gongqi, if I take Jingzhou, what should I do?"

"If the Prime Minister takes Jingzhou, the next step must be to destroy Ma Teng and Han Sui and take Hanzhong. To pacify Hanzhong, we must first take Bashu, and then take Jiangdong. In this way, the world can be settled."

"Why not just take Jiangdong?"

"Prime Minister, you can't beat Kong Ming and Zhou Yu." Luo Yuan glanced at Cao Cao and said, "Listen to me, otherwise you will be in the Battle of Red Cliffs." "Bashu is the key!"

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Do you know that Cai Mao is willing to submit to me?"

"I know. It's no secret that Cai Mao wants to surrender in Jingzhou. When I was heading north, I passed by Xiangyang and Cai Mao gave me a thousand gold coins. The Prime Minister wanted to say that since Cai Mao was willing to surrender, Jingzhou was already in the Prime Minister's hands, and Jiangdong wasn't far away, right?"

"Yes, isn't it so? I despise Sun Quan. If it were his father Sun Jian, I would still have some concerns about him, but not Sun Quan," Cao Cao said with disdain.

Sun Quan is just lucky, he is just a rich second generation.

Boss Cao is a pioneer!
Luo Yuan smiled and said, "It seems that there is no point in saying more. The Prime Minister wants to attack Jiangdong directly, and so do the nobles and advisers under the Prime Minister. Well, I won't say anything more. Let's just wait and see. Time will prove everything. I say too much now, and others will think I'm bragging!" Cao Cao understood the word "awesome". Xiahou Dun specifically mentioned this word in his letter. Yuan Rang said that Gong Qi was a thief who was awesome.

Cao Cao laughed loudly, and everyone else also smiled!
Cao Cao took Jingzhou and then attacked Jiangdong. This was not only Cao Cao's decision, but also the collective wish of the northern gentry. Everyone wanted to see unification as soon as possible.

Once the country was unified, Cao Cao would naturally plan to become the emperor, and those who followed Cao Cao would naturally go a step further. Those who should be noble families would continue to be noble families, and the three highest officials would be passed down from generation to generation.

The world will once again become a world of aristocratic families like that of the Han Dynasty, and the superiors will be able to maintain their ruling status.

You guys look down on the heroes of the world.

Cao Cao stopped talking about Jingzhou and turned to ask, "Gongqi, I want Ma Teng to come to Xuchang to serve as an official, but Han Sui is playing tricks and Ma Teng is hesitant. I am worried about my rear. I wonder if Gongqi can help me. Please give me some advice!"

"It's simple. Ma Teng is a real poor man. He used to be a bandit. He only wants a high position and a generous salary. You can send a man who can speak well, promise him a high position, and give him enough respect. Ma Teng is still a good person. What he is hesitant about is whether the prime minister will kill him after he loses his military power. The prime minister just needs to guarantee it. I think the prime minister can write a handwritten letter with more sincere words, and then report to the emperor to promise Ma Teng the position of general of the Han Dynasty, give him land, beautiful women, gold and silver. If the prime minister sends a young man as an envoy, it can show his sincerity, and Ma Teng will definitely surrender!"

"What about Han Sui?"

"Han Sui? Just kill him, so that Ma Teng will know that he will live if he obeys and die if he disobeys. This is the kingly way of using both kindness and force!" Luo Yuan looked at Cao Cao and said, "Prime Minister, you are using the emperor to control the princes. Why don't you use the emperor? Then why do you keep the emperor? Use him when necessary. If Ma Teng still refuses to surrender, use the emperor's edict to deprive him of his official position and order Han Sui to attack him. You can also order Zhang Lu to attack Ma Teng from the rear. The emperor is very useful. You'll be right if you listen to me. Use kindness and force, and Ma Teng will definitely be willing to surrender!"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up when he heard this. Sima Yi and Cheng Yu had both given him advice, either to kill them or to appease them, but none of them was as thoughtful as Gong Qi.

Use both kindness and force!

That's right, what I want is to use both kindness and force. I am not the kind of person who kills people at will.

Gong Qi is so nice. He gave me advice as soon as he arrived, unlike Xu Shu.

I was worried that Luo Yuan wouldn't find a way to help me, but I didn't expect Gong Qi to do it without hesitation.

Cao Cao thought about it and said, "Gong Qi, everyone in the world thinks I am a traitor to the Han Dynasty. What do you think?"

Sima Yi and others hurriedly listened carefully. This was related to Cao Cao's reputation, what would Luo Gongqi say?

"Those who steal the country are the princes, this is exactly what the prime minister said!" Luo Yuan didn't have any worries, as the ancestors had made it very clear.

Petty theft will not lead to anything big, but once the pattern is opened up, things will be different.

"Han thief? Why not just be the biggest thief?" Luo Yuan said with a smile: "The Prime Minister is already a vassal today, so it won't hurt to go one step further!"

Cao Cao couldn't sit still like his butt was on fire. Although you said it very clearly, it was too straightforward and too direct. Didn't you consider the thoughts of Xun Yu and others?

I...want to do so, but there are still many people among my subordinates who are loyal to the Han Dynasty. For the sake of the overall situation, I cannot be so direct.

(End of this chapter)