Survival Three Kingdoms

Chapter 463 Three-pronged approach
Although Cao Cao hated Liu Bei, he still didn't take him seriously. However, more than 20 people huddled in Xiakou. As long as the army pointed, Liu Bei had no choice but to flee to Jiangdong. Cao Cao's reputation is also related to the stability of Jingzhou, so the most important thing is to appease the hearts of the people and eliminate the negative impact of killing Liu Cong and Cao Chun chasing and killing Liu Bei and hurting countless people.

The four major families in Jingzhou, the Huang family and the Pang family fled to Jiangdong, and Cao Cao treated the Cai family and the Kuai family as honored guests.Zhou Cang started early and summoned Cui Jun and Wang Can to Xuzhou, but Liu Biao still had many capable men. Cao Cao took Han Song as Dahonghe, Deng Xi as his servant, Liu Xian as Shangshu, Liang Hu as Luoyang order, Fu Xunjue, Marquis of Guannei and so on.

Cao Cao also established Xiangyang County and Nanxiang County. Fancheng, Shandu County, and Deng County in Nanyang County were assigned to Xiangyang County, and eight counties including Nanxiang County and Xi County in the west of Nanyang County were assigned to Nanxiang County.Nanyang, the largest county in the world, was split up, and the seven counties of Jingzhou became nine counties. He transferred Cao Ren from Wancheng to station in Nanjun, and Fancheng was full of favors.

Liu Ba sent back news from Jingnan that all the counties expressed their willingness to join, but Changsha County Governor Liu Pan led the army to escape. Cao Cao ordered Han Xuan, the younger brother of Han Hao of the Central Guard Army, to go to Changsha as the prefect.

Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang brothers were assigned to appease the people and resettle the refugees.During the chat with Cai Mao, Cao Cao asked: "Liu Bei's escape to the south is very strange this time. If he was one step too late, he would have been besieged and killed, but he escaped. Could it be that there are any capable people under his command?"

Cai Mao smiled wryly and said, "I have a nephew and son-in-law named Zhuge Liang, who is now beside Liu Bei to give advice."

"How does this talent learn?"

"Zhuge Liang has been living in Longzhong, calling himself Wolong. He has never been an official, but he thinks highly of himself, speaks wild words, and compares himself to Guan Zhong and Le Yi."

"A common man in the mountains doesn't know the heroes of the world." Cao Cao laughed, and then pretended to ask casually, "There used to be a counselor beside Liu Bei, named Xu Shu. Where is this person?"

"I heard that he left Liu Bei a few months ago and has disappeared. Is the prime minister looking for this person?"

"No need." Cao Cao waved his hand.Cheng Yu sent several people to Yingchuan to pick up Xu Shu's old mother, but they never returned, and then sent several groups of people to investigate, but there was no trace. Even the surrounding neighbors didn't know where they went. I will not continue to ask, a Xu Shu is not enough for Cao Cao to pay attention.He turned to another topic: "This time, there are more than [-] recruits, half of the navy and half of the infantry, but why?"

Cai Hao panicked again, fearing that Cao Cao would blame him and explained: "Liu Jingzhou is alive, there are more than [-] soldiers in Jingzhou, and [-] sailors. Take away [-], so there are only [-] sailors left. As for the infantry, [-] were led by Liu Pan in Changsha."

Cao Cao nodded and said: "I will allocate another 2 people to be led by Jin and Mao Jie. It's just that my soldiers in the north are not familiar with water warfare, and Degui will also assist in drills."

Although his military power was cut off, Cai Mao agreed in a hurry.The Jingzhou navy was ruled by Yu Jin and Mao Jie, so it was unavoidable that they felt uneasy, and they were bullied by Cao Jun, and even complained. After dealing with it, the Jingzhou navy became even more silent.Hebei soldiers were discriminated against by Cao Jun, and when they met Jingzhou soldiers who were a head lower than themselves, they transferred the bullying they had received in the past to Jingzhou Jiangbing soldiers.

It took Cao Cao nearly a month to be busy with resettling refugees, appeasing the people, recruiting surrendered soldiers, and winning the hearts of the people and the gentry.In September of the 13th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao summoned his advisers to start studying the next step.

On this expedition, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, Liu Ye and others accompanied him, and Xun Yu was still sitting in Xudu. Cao Cao thought of Guo Jia for no reason, adding a touch of sadness for no reason.After coughing a few times, Cao Cao said, "Now that Jingzhou has been settled, what's your opinion on how to enter the army?"

Xun You cupped his hands and said: "My lord, Jingzhou was initially established, but people's hearts are not attached, and our army is marching south. Most of the soldiers are not convinced, so it is not appropriate to rush into the army."

Cheng Yu cupped his hands and said: "Gongda's words are wrong. My lord first established Hebei, and then took Jingzhou, which shocked the world. The princes are not afraid, and the soldiers are strong and horses are strong, and the food and grass are abundant. When the morale of the soldiers is strong, it is the time to rule the world. In the west, you can go to Bashu to attack Liu Zhang, and in the east, you can cross the river and flatten Sun Quan."

Cao Cao's heart was moved by Cheng Yu's words, but Xun You's worries made him cautious, so he asked Liu Ye instead.

Liu Ye was not stupid, so naturally he would not refute Xun and Cheng, and after pretending to ponder, he said: "Gongda and Zhongde's words are all reasonable, but my worry is not here, but Ma Teng and Han Sui in Xiliang, There is also Xuzhou Zhoucang, no matter how you use your troops, you must ensure that you have no worries."

"Wenhe, what do you think?" Cao Cao asked Jia Xu again.

"Ma Teng and Han Sui have no big plans. With Duke Ming's current majesty, Xiliang would dare to act rashly. It is nothing to worry about. Even if there is a change, Yuan Chang and Miao Cai are there to resist." Jia Xu bowed and replied: "The lord took Jingzhou, and Xichuan and Jiangdong were shaken, and everyone panicked. Minggong only needs to hold Jingzhou firmly, recuperate, and become the top of Jiangdong. In a few years, Jiangdong will win without fighting. If you send troops at this time, Jiangdong will be united. , Fight to the death, even if you win, you will inevitably suffer damage."

Cao Cao was a little displeased, not a few years, is it three years or five years?The smug Cao Cao can't wait that long.Said: "In the meaning of Wenhe, my hundreds of thousands of troops can't take down the little Jiangdong?"

Jia Xu hurriedly said: "No, my original intention is to win without fighting. Minggong might as well send troops to destroy Liu Bei first, so as to show our army's prestige, and let people build warships to deter Sun Quan."

Cao Cao had almost heard it, and made a plan in his heart.

"Ling, Zhang Liao, Li Dian, and Le Jin led [-] troops to Jiangxia, and joined Wenpin to take Xiakou."

"Order, Zhao Yan supervises Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, and Feng Kai's three armies to garrison key points to guard against Xuzhou."

"Ling, Yu Jin and Mao Jie, train the navy and build warships."

"Gongda wrote two letters for me, one to Sun Quan ordering him to surrender, and one to Liu Zhang asking him to send troops to assist our army."

Cao Cao fully adopted the opinions of several counselors, and prepared to use a three-pronged approach: one is to eliminate Liu Bei and eliminate a future trouble.The second is to intimidate Sun Quan and coerce Liu Zhang. It doesn't matter how many people Liu Zhang sends, Liu Zhang needs to express his attitude. As for Sun Quan, it is best to surrender. To prepare for the project, it happened that the northeast wind was blowing in winter, and it was heading south.The third is to prevent Zhou Cang, and also to force Zhou Cang to give up Xuzhou in the future.

Cao Cao's wishful thinking is very good, and the three-pronged approach is foolproof.However, Zhang Liao soon reported that Liu Bei abandoned Xiakou and crossed the river to Fankou after arriving at Xiakou to meet Zhuge Liang. However, Xiakou was still in Liu Bei's hands. There was no other reason. It is impossible for the navy to take it; and Liu Zhang also sent people to help in the battle, but no one thought that this would almost bring a devastating disaster to Cao Jun.

(End of this chapter)