Three Kingdoms: Peak Summons

Chapter 2953: Marriage between Chu and Wei, Xu Bei fights against Qi (Part 2)

Chapter 2949: Marriage between Chu and Wei, Xu Bei fights against Qi (Part 2)

The reason why Liu Xiu was willing to sell prisoners of war instead of integrating them into the army to increase the total strength of the Chu army was actually a helpless move.

Reorganizing prisoners of war into an army, or using prisoners of war to attack a city, Liu Xiu had done this a long time ago, but unfortunately not only was the effect ineffective, it even almost caused a mutiny.

It has to be said that Sun Wu was quite successful in brainwashing ordinary soldiers. Just like no one dared to use Qin army prisoners of war, no one dared to use Sun Wu's prisoners of war.

As early as the period of Sun Jian, Sun Wu proposed to gather the families of soldiers, centralize management and divide the fields. This also completely tied ordinary soldiers to the battlefield of Wu, and they would not dare to rebel easily.

For these prisoners of war, they could neither kill nor release them. After all, killing them would definitely arouse the hatred of the soldiers and civilians in Jiangdong, thus making it more difficult for the Chu State to completely destroy the Wu State.

But if they don't kill them, as the Chu State captures more Wu army prisoners of war, the difficulty of dividing the troops to take care of the prisoners of war, and the consumption of food and grass will increase rapidly.

Therefore, these Sun Wu uniforms that can neither be killed nor released have become a major headache for Liu Xiu.

At this time, the three kingdoms of Wei, Song, and Ming took the initiative to come to the door to capture prisoners. This was a good thing that Liu Xiu could not ask for. After all, he not only got rid of a big burden, but also earned the funds and materials to destroy Wu. It was the best of both worlds, so naturally there was nothing he could not sell. reason.

Chu State's attitude towards the transactions between Wei, Song and Ming Dynasties was completely different.

Cao Wei was at the forefront of the resistance against Qin and suffered the most losses. Although Liu Xiu knew that Cao Wei would be destroyed by Qin sooner or later, he hoped that Cao's army could hold on longer, so Chu State was more aggressive with Cao Wei in purchasing prisoners than Song and Ming Dynasties. There are many offers.

As for the two big tycoons of the Song and Ming Dynasties, Liu Xiu would naturally have to kill him severely. After all, there were not many opportunities to grab money like this. But unfortunately, Zhu Di and Zhao Kuangyin were not stupid either. They only bought navy prisoners of war. Rather than buying infantry, Liu Xiudu couldn't help but feel a pity. After all, he could only make a small profit but not become rich.

Liu Xiu didn't expect how much money he would earn from Cao Cao. After all, he also knew that Cao Wei was the poorest among the Three Kingdoms. He thought that the discount given to Cao Cao was big enough, but he still underestimated Cao Wei's poverty and Cao Cao's greed. , his appetite was so great that he wanted to buy all the Soochow infantry prisoners of war.

For Cao Cao, after Cao Wei experienced the defeat of Yanxi, even though Cao Wei had urgently expanded its army and recruited the Demon Sect rebels, which increased the number of the army, the overall combat effectiveness was still too poor, and in the short term It is also impossible to increase combat power.

These Sun Wu prisoners of war from Chu State were different. Although they were defeated by the Chu army, they were still well-trained soldiers. As long as they could be made obedient, they would definitely be much easier to use than new soldiers.

Cao Cao wanted to buy all these infantry prisoners of war, but even if Liu Xiu gave him the lowest discount, even if he paid for goods, he still couldn't afford it, so he proposed to Liu Xiu to buy half of them in installments and loans.

If Cao Wei wanted a loan before the war started, Liu Xiu would naturally agree without hesitation. After all, although Cao Wei was poor, he was not weak. The wealth exchanged by tens of thousands of prisoners of war was worth it. Cao Cao sent an army of ten thousand people to Yingzhou to fight. You can earn it back in a few battles.

But now that Cao Wei has entered the countdown to the country's subjugation, he will definitely not be able to repay the money he borrowed at this time. Although Liu Xiu wanted Cao Wei to continue, he would not do such an obvious loss-making business, so he decisively rejected Cao Wei's loan. Only the installment request was agreed.

Although Cao Cao was disappointed that he failed to fool Liu Xiu, he had no choice but to accept it as soon as it was good. At the same time, he found another way to borrow money from the Song and Ming Dynasties to try to buy the remaining half.

The relationship between Chu and Wei was originally very ordinary. After all, the two countries had no interests involved. However, because of the prisoner purchase, the two countries had more contacts and even their diplomatic relations improved a lot.

Therefore, when the news of Xia Houwei came back, Cao Cao was puzzled. He could not understand why Liu Yu would target his concubine Cao Ying, nor what role Liu Xiu played in it.

After some thought, Xun You said solemnly: "My lord, Liu Yu and Liu Xiu have ulterior motives."

Hearing this, Cao Cao didn't say anything, but the prince Cao Ang on the side couldn't wait to ask: "Did the military advisor guess why Liu Yu took his sister and sent him to Chu?"

Xun You nodded and smiled bitterly: "The spies of the school affairs office in the country recently reported a rumor. Because it was too outrageous, Li didn't pay attention to it, so he didn't report it to the lord. But now looking at these two things, I'm afraid It’s related.”

"What rumors?" Cao Ang asked.

"Both Liu Yu and Liu Xiu fell in love with Miss Ying at first sight, but Liu Xiu voluntarily quit for the sake of the stability of the Shu-Chu Alliance, which allowed Liu Xiu to capture the beauty's heart..."

Xun You's explosive remarks made Cao Cao and Cao Ang dumbfounded. Before, they were wondering if it was an outrageous rumor, but now it seems that it is indeed outrageous, and it is simply fake. No wonder Xun You didn't bother to report it.

Cao Cao had a look of contemplation on his face, while Cao Ang asked with a puzzled look on his face: "Yingmei has never been to Shu and Chu, and she has never met Liu Yu and Liu Xiu before, so how could she fall in love at first sight? This is simply nonsense.”

"It is indeed nonsense, but there is a purpose behind the rumors. The reason why Liu Yu wants Liu Xiu to marry Miss Ying is probably for Chu State's interests in Yingzhou, and the reason why Liu Xiu cooperates with Liu Yu is probably for …”

Before Xun You finished speaking, Cao Cao on the other side sneered and said, "For the sake of my status as Cao Cao's son-in-law, I can legitimately take over the remnant troops after the fall of the Wei Dynasty."

The reason why Cao Cao couldn't figure it out before was just because of the lack of intelligence. But when Xun You told the outrageous rumor, he had already guessed the purpose of Liu Yu and Liu Xiu. After all, it was not difficult to guess.

Liu Yu and Liu Xiu's calculations actually had little impact on Cao Cao. After all, he only lost a concubine.

But what really makes Cao Cao angry is that Wei has not yet fallen, but Liu Yu and Liu Xiu both agree that Cao Wei will fall, and are even planning in advance what will happen after Cao Wei's fall. This operation is really not harmful. Extremely insulting.

Cao Cao's own reputation is polarizing. Although he doesn't care much about reputation now, he still cares about face. But Liu Yu and Liu Xiu insulting him are just a slap in the face. If they are indifferent, then He couldn't even keep his last bit of dignity. "This villain Liu Xiu is really whimsical. He wants to take advantage of his status as an orphan son-in-law. Haha, it doesn't matter if I just go along with his wishes, but I can't tell who will take advantage of whom."

Cao Cao's face was full of sneers, but he already had a plan in his heart.

Liu Xiu wanted to marry Cao Ying to gain the identity of Cao Wei's son-in-law, so that he could openly take over the remaining forces after the fall of Cao Wei. Cao Cao had nothing to do and couldn't stop it. After all, Cao Ying had been sent to Chu by Liu Yu, and It is obviously unrealistic to rescue people by force.

Although Cao Cao was unable to save his daughter and was not prepared to do so, he was prepared to take advantage of her.

Liu Xiu believed that Cao Wei would be destroyed by Qin sooner or later, and he could use the identity of Cao Cao's son-in-law to make profits after the fall of Cao Wei, but he ignored that Cao Cao could also use the identity of Liu Xiu's father-in-law to make profits. It would depend on who he was when the time came. The method is more sophisticated.

When it comes to making profits through marriage, let alone Liu Xiu, no one in the world can compare with Cao Cao. After all, 70% of Cao Wei's power at its peak was obtained through marriage with Qin.

Now Liu Xiu wants to use marriage to plot against him, Cao Cao. In Cao Cao's view, this is like using a big sword in front of Duke Cao, and playing tricks on others.

"Since Liu Xiu wants to be Gu's son-in-law so much, how can Gu have any reason to refuse?"

At this point, Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang below and said calmly: "Ang'er, it's up to you to go to Jianye in person to discuss the wedding date with your brother-in-law. Even if the orphan's daughter is to be a concubine, it must be grand. ”

"Yes, Father."

"By the way, remember to tell Liu Xiu that the remaining balance of the prisoner purchase will be regarded as his dowry for marrying the orphan girl."

Cao Cao sneered and said that this was just the beginning. He had a series of follow-up plans. In short, he would not give up until he sucked a sip of blood from Liu Xiu. He wanted Liu Xiu to know that Cao Cao would have to pay the price for scheming against him.

Before Xia Houwei and Cao Ang arrived at Jianye, Liu Xiu learned that Cao Wei had suspended the final payment for the purchase of prisoners.

Liu Xiu also knew that this was Cao Cao's revenge after guessing his intentions, but there was no good way. After all, he was still waiting for Cao Wei to take over the remnants of his army after the fall of the country. If he really fell out with Cao Wei, it would not be conducive to his recruitment. Can I regret my negligence in giving installments to Cao Cao?

Cao Wei's prisoner purchase payment was paid in three installments. He had already paid two installments before, and only the last third was left. Even if there was a loss, it would not be too big.

But what Liu Xiu never expected was that one-third of the balance was just the beginning. Cao Cao relied on him just like he relied on Ying Hao. First, he proposed to let the remaining half of the prisoners of war serve as betrothal gifts, and then even more In the name of Liu Xiu's father-in-law, he may not induce Chu merchants to purchase large quantities of materials at low prices, but his shamelessness really opened Liu Xiu's eyes.

Liu Xiu married Cao Ying just to take advantage, but now that he has not taken advantage, he has suffered a loss. First, half of the profits from colonizing Yingzhou were stolen by the Shu Han, and then he lost a lot of profits from purchasing prisoners. The future is still unknown. How much blood would it take to be sucked by Cao Cao, so Liu Xiu felt like he was trapped in a cocoon.

However, there was no turning back when he fired his bow, and this time he had a long-term plan. Even if he would suffer losses in the early stage, Liu Xiu could only grit his teeth and admit it. As long as a small number of the remnants of Cao Wei can come after the fall of Cao Wei, everything in the early stage will be worth it. .

——————

Yuzhou, Yingchuan, Xuchang City.

Ying Hao looked at the two letters in his hand. One was sent back by a spy lurking inside Shuhan, and the other was a letter from Zhang Liang, the governor of Qingxu.

After hesitating for a while, Ying Hao opened Zhang Liang's letter first. After all, compared to Shu Han, the news from Zhang Liang was more important.

After the Qin army captured the western part of Yanzhou, due to frequent uprisings by the people in the occupied area, in order to stabilize and ensure the safety of the grain road, they had to postpone their offensive and planned to clear the trouble in the rear before advancing. This also gave Cao's army a breather. machine.

The Qin Dynasty dispatched millions of troops, divided into eight groups, and opened three major battlefields in the Central Plains: Yanzhou, Qingxu, and Runan.

On the battlefields of Qingxu and Runan, although the losses of the coalition forces were greater, and Zhu Di took the initiative to abandon Qingnan and retreat to Xubei, overall the losses were within the tolerance range. The two sides were mutually victorious, and Yanzhou was actually the only one. What breaks down is the battlefield.

Although the Qin army has suspended its attack on Yanzhou, Qingxu and Runan have not stopped. They have only slowed down their offensive due to the war in Yanzhou, but they have not ceased the war.

On the Qingxu side, as the Ming army voluntarily abandoned Qingnan and retreated to Xubei, the morale of the Ming army was at its lowest.

After Zhuge Liang and Su Dingfang led their troops to capture Qingnan, although they also wanted to expand the battle and engage in a decisive battle with the Ming army, they faced the same problem as Yanzhou.

The people of Qingnan were dissatisfied with the rule of the Qin Dynasty, and the Qin army's rear was unstable. It needed to divide its troops to garrison wherever it went, otherwise there would be constant uprisings. In this case, it was natural to stabilize the rear before going to war with the Ming army with all its strength.

In order to solve this problem as quickly as possible, Ying Hao urgently transferred Zhang Liang to Qingnan and specially created the position of governor for him, making him the first governor since the founding of the Qin Dynasty. He was thus responsible for managing the military and political affairs of Qingnan and Xuzhou. .

(End of chapter)