We agreed that you, a weak strategist, would fight against three heroes by yourself?

However, Cao Cao seemed to be impatient about this.

As soon as Xiahou Dun came in, Cao Cao already guessed what he wanted to say. It must be related to Xi Yu, otherwise how could Xiahou Dun come to him in person.

The clan members are already afraid.

Not to mention the clan members, even Cao Cao himself is a little scared now.

Three hundred thousand people.

Last night, Cao Cao didn't think about this the whole night. Where did 300,000 people appear?

Cao Cao clearly remembered that when she asked Xi Yu to take charge of Xuzhou, she only gave her 80,000 troops, and more than 20,000 of them were recruited in a hurry.

With just tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, it was not easy to defend Yuan Shao, but now it turned out to be 300,000 soldiers!

Such a large number of soldiers and horses are almost enough to dominate the world today!

The thing that Cao Cao is most worried about now is that he has worked hard all his life, but he is afraid that in the end he will end up making a wedding dress for someone else!

"Mengde, I mentioned to you before that General Zhao Zilong under Fengyi's command robbed my arms, do you remember?" Xiahou Dun looked at Cao Cao, lowered his head and said.

"I remember this." Cao Cao replied calmly, but did not show any other expression.

Seeing this, Xiahou Dun told Zhao Yun's story again.

After hearing this, Cao Cao raised his head, dumbfounded and said, "Haha, you are so talented in sophistry? This is not like what Changshan Zhao Zilong did!"

"Perhaps, Zhao Yun has learned bad things through constant exposure to Xi Yu and others?"

"It's quite possible..."

Cao Cao shook his head and said: "If Zhao Yun talks like this, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get your armaments back. If you are still dissatisfied, I will allocate four thousand battle armors from our army to you. What do you think?"

"Thank you very much..." Xiahou Dun saluted Cao Cao with clasped fists and said, "However, Meng De, please listen to me for now. The important thing I said today is not this."

"Currently, all four major counties in Jizhou have been occupied by Xi Yu. He also owns Qinghe County, where literati and poets gather. I think many nobles have moved into Qinghe County. As a result, Qinghe County will soon be Become the second Xuzhou Xiapi."

"From this point of view, the location of Xiyu is like destiny. Now, we are not short of soldiers and horses. To be honest with Meng De, I have one hundred thousand soldiers and horses. Taking Hejian is like searching for treasure. We can also take Jizhou within half a year. Spring is about to begin in all prefectures and counties. Meng De, you might as well give this opportunity to the Cao family and the Xiahou family..."

"Why?"

Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Xiahou Dun with a half-smile.

“With so many prey in the hunting grounds, is it possible that we can only eat rabbits?”

Cao Cao suddenly looked stunned, then smiled and said, "Haha...that makes sense."

"This matter has been decided. You and Cao Ren will be the main ones to attack the land of Jizhou. This hunting ground, Fengyi should be full by now. It's time for him to take action in the south."

"Mengde, what I want to say today is exactly this." Xiahou Dun knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said to Cao Cao, "I thought that General Xi Yu was only suitable to sit in the rear to guard Xuzhou and Qingzhou and defend Sun Ce in the south. , do a good job of guarding!"

"Of course you can become a big family in the future, but Fengyi is not suitable to be a pioneer and go south! The credit for going south must be given to our Cao family, or Xiahou family, Mengde. If we capture Jizhou, Bingzhou, and even You In the state, within three years, the number of soldiers and horses will reach 500,000."

Hearing this, Cao Cao put down the letter in his hand and couldn't help but turn his eyes several times.

Suddenly, Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun, his eyes suddenly shot out a ray of light, and he scolded Xiahou Dun, "Is this what Xi Zhicai taught you?!"

"Mengde..."

Xiahou Dun was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and crawled in front of Cao Cao.

He usually had a good relationship with Cao Cao, but now Cao Cao's eyes burst out with terrifying majesty, and Xiahou Dun was really frightened.

Xiahou Dun knelt on the ground and explained, "Mengde, this is not what Zhicai taught me. I rarely meet him in private. What I said just now is all based on my own study of military books."

"hehe……"

Cao Cao put down the letter and stared at Xiahou Dun who was lying on the ground. He was confused and full of thoughts. Cao Cao really didn't know if anyone taught Xiahou Dun what he just said.

The scolding he just did was to scare Xiahou Dun.

"Xi Zhicai really didn't teach you anything? Haha, don't think that I don't know anything if you don't tell me."

At this time, Xiahou Dun's shoulders and even his back were trembling with tension. He was staring at the ground motionless, feeling very frightened and uneasy.

After a long time, Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun and said lightly, "Get up."

"Here."

Xiahou Dun was sweating all over his body at this moment, and his clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body, which was very uncomfortable.

Xiahou Dun secretly glanced at Cao Cao and saw that Cao Cao was pacing back and forth, thinking about something, so he said to Cao Cao, "Mengde, once our troops and horses are sufficient, I think Liu Biao in the south will not be afraid. However, Jiangdong Sun Ce is a person who needs to be guarded against."

"As far as I know, Sun Ce suppressed the gentry in Jiangdong and reused young people. In this way, he gained the support of poor families and people. Now he is using force to intimidate the land of Jiangdong. Although this person has a bad reputation, he also has a brother... …”

"The man's name is Sun Quan. I have met him before. Does Meng De remember this man?"

Cao Cao immediately smiled and said, "Back then, Wentai was considered my adopted brother. I worked with him to eliminate thieves in Runan for a long time. But later, Wentai prospered and declined, and was defeated in Jingzhou."

"Since then, I have also met his family. When I first met Sun Quan, he was only nine years old. But even at such a child's age, he had the strategies of an adult, and he also had a bookish spirit, which impressed me Very profound.”

Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun and continued, "Now, listening to what you said, Sun Ce of Jiangdong inherited the bravery and might of Wentai, thus suppressing the Confucian scholars in Jiangdong counties, but Sun Quan is the best in Jiangdong in the future. The successor, with his benevolent government, will ease the relationship between the Sun family and the Jiangdong gentry?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Xiahou Dun nodded and said, "Mengde, now, we go south to capture Jingzhou. This will be easy. Then we can capture Jiangdong. In this way, the Central Plains can be unified in one fell swoop."

"This time half a million soldiers and horses are marching south, leaving Xi Yu to guard Xuzhou. At that time, can we test Xi Yu's loyalty to you?!"

"Why do you say this?" Cao Cao thought.

"Go south to Jingzhou and then capture Jiangdong. We should be invincible. While Xiyu stays in Xuzhou, if he is disloyal to Mengde, he can directly capture Xuchang and control the emperor, and even lead you into a trap. Come into our heart.”

"In this matter, we can plan precautions in advance, and then we can try out Xi Yu's loyalty."

"If Xi Yu does not rebel, no matter whether he is loyal or not, he will not do any more rebellion. After all, after the world is unified and everything is a foregone conclusion, no one will be willing to cause rebellion with Xi Yu. "

Cao Cao immediately asked: "If I am marching and I raise troops to invade Xuchang, how should you respond?"

Xiahou Dun said decisively, "This is definitely not the case!"

"Qingzhou defends Xuzhou, Yanzhou defends Qingzhou, and Jizhou is so huge that Xiyu cannot make a quick decision. Furthermore, such a major matter must take time to decide."

"My lord, you have always treated him with integrity and courtesy. How could Xi Yu attack Xuchang on the way? Furthermore, even if Xiyu attacks Xuchang on the way, we can return immediately to besiege him, so there is nothing to be afraid of."

If Yanzhou and Jingzhou are united, they can directly attack Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and win easily.

"Very good." Cao Cao gave a faint approval and then said, "Although I don't fully agree with your approach, there is really no need for Xi Yu to take action in the future."

"You go back for the time being. I will discuss with Xi Yu and work hard to prepare to capture the remaining counties in Jizhou during the spring plowing period, and then attack Bingzhou and annex Yuan Shao's troops in Bingzhou."

"In my opinion, Yuan Shao has already lost people's support, and there will definitely not be much resistance in Bingzhou."

"good!"

Xiahou Dun used this incident today to explain to Cao Cao the relationship between hunting and prey, and to hint to Cao Cao that Xiyu had already made great achievements and should not be allowed to continue to make meritorious deeds, otherwise, they would only get fewer and fewer prey.

By then, how to award rewards has become a big problem.

However, Xiahou Dun also wanted to talk about one thing at this time.

Now that the second son, Cao Pi, is fourteen years old, he can already join the army and make contributions, and he has a good relationship with Cao Zhen, so the two can go together. In a few years, the Cao family will have another direct relative who can lead the army. This is a very good thing.

Nowadays, the Cao family and the Xiahou family have to gradually place their generals, scribes, princes, young masters, etc. like chess pieces, and serve as officials in the military camp and various levels. Only in this way, the other heroes with foreign surnames will naturally will be reduced, and the people of the Cao family and the Xiahou family can always occupy the core position.

Otherwise, as time passes, the Cao family and Xiahou family will gradually leave their core positions, and it will become increasingly difficult to manage foreign surnames.

People who are closer to Cao Cao naturally understand better what Cao Cao wants. Even if some things are not what Cao Cao wants, everyone's hard work forces Cao Cao to have them.

Granting officials and generals, or even dividing the world, this is what everyone wants and desires most after Hongtu dominates.

…

Therefore, Xi Yu had been leisurely for less than half a month before he was called by Cao Cao to go to the government office and meet Cao Cao in the main hall.

Cao Cao said that he had something to discuss with him. At this time, Dian Wei was the only one traveling with Xi Yu in the main hall.

But beside Cao Cao were Xu Chu, Xi Zhicai and Xu You. These people had always been loyal to Cao Cao. The other advisers were busy with their own affairs and did not come at this moment.

"Fengyi, please read this edict carefully for now. I won't ask the eunuch to come over and read it out." Cao Cao smiled and handed a copy of the edict to Xi Yu.

Xi Yu took the edict, slowly opened it, and took a closer look. It read the new rewards given to him: General of the Five Features, General of the Great, and Marquis of Chenliu of Han Dynasty.

The fiefdom changed from Jiwu to the entire Chenliu County, and Chenliu County was within Yanzhou. This was Cao Cao's heaviest reward so far, and Xiyu's fiefdom was right next to Cao Cao's hometown.

Xu Zhen frowned slightly and said secretly: This fiefdom is not far from where the emperor is.

Cao Cao suddenly smiled and said to Xi Yu, "Fengyi, now the world...is settled."

Xi Yu frowned and thought to himself: Is the world settled?

Jiangdong and Liu Bei are both alive and well, how can they say the world is settled? !

"Brother, you cannot make this judgment now." Xi Yu bowed to Cao Cao and said calmly, "In this world today, there are many powerful enemies in the south. It is premature to think that the world is settled."

"No, now I, Cao Cao, have hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers, and I am in an advantageous position in the current war in the north. What else can be difficult? I thought that the world was about to be settled. If I, Cao Cao, don't even have this little confidence, how can I claim to be a hero?" !”

"Today's reward is what I give you in advance, and it is also a compliment to you!" Cao Cao said with a smile.

Hearing this, Xi Yu's face suddenly darkened, he stared at Cao Cao and sighed, "Brother, so you have made your decision?"

"Haha, is there anyone who won't decide this matter?" Cao Cao walked up to Xi Yu, patted his shoulder, and then pulled Xi Yu out of the hall.

As Cao Cao walked away, he said, "Fengyi, there is no need for you and me to be so guarded and caring about each other."

"Of course, now there are many talents in my clan, including many civil servants and generals. Brother, of course I have to let them have something to eat. Just like the hunting ground, if you can take away a lot of prey just by yourself, then the rest of my soldiers will What other prey is available to the horse?”

"In this case, they will naturally starve. Therefore, I will definitely take care of you in this matter of enfeoffment in the world, but I also have to take care of the people of the clan. Feng Yi, do you know the difficulties of being a brother?"

"Of course I know." Xi Yu replied with a smile.

The two gradually arrived at the entrance of the hall.

Looking at the magnificent school grounds, the government office with thousands of people stationed under the stairs, and the Xuchang Palace with thousands of people stationed next to it, Cao Cao sighed with emotion, "Fengyi, eight years ago, I, Cao Mengde, would never have dared to imagine that, I can have the prosperous life I have today!”

"Today's prosperous age is entirely due to the hard work of you and me. It must be managed well and must not be destroyed. Now I will hand over Xuzhou and Qingzhou to you. You must live well and develop."

"From now on, you can develop your clan in the land of Qingzhou and Xuzhou. I, Cao Cao, promise you that in the future, your clan will definitely become the largest noble clan in the world!"

"You, Xi Yu, will always be the most powerful official of Cao Cao, even better than any of my descendants, confidants, or even benefactors."

Hearing Cao Cao's words, Xi Yu couldn't calm down in his heart. He could clearly feel that Cao Cao was really anxious at this time, and very anxious.

Perhaps it is because Yuan Shao is now terminally ill and will soon pass away from this world, which makes Cao Cao more eager for the world and wants to end this troubled world quickly.

But in matters of time, haste makes waste.

Today, the world is not yet settled, but Cao Cao says it is.

The south is very strong, but Cao Cao said that the south is weak.

As for Sun Ce's defeat at Hefei, it was not that Sun Ce was too weak, but that Zhang Liao had the talent to be a general. If someone else had guarded Hefei, Sun Ce would have already occupied Hefei.

Xi Yu understood in his heart how could Cao Cao not understand this matter, but now... Cao Cao only needs to persuade Xi Yu not to make any more military exploits.

Maybe what Cao Cao said before was just a lie.

At this time, Cao Cao's intention was very obvious. It was nothing more than a hint that Xi Yu would give all the opportunities to make meritorious deeds to Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and others, and even more people from the Cao family's clan, so that these people could make great achievements and become great heroes.

In this way, these people can very well restrain him from playing Yu.

Xi Yu smiled bitterly in his heart: Haha, Cao Cao, Cao Cao, you are still afraid of me after all.

Now, are your words a reward?

You are just hinting that I should stop making meritorious deeds and put aside my past feelings. You are also hinting that my playfulness is no longer of use to you. You actually want me to retire and return to my hometown to rest and recuperate.

Xi Yu sighed secretly.

In today's situation, if he doesn't agree to cacao, he may end up turning against each other.

After all, when things got to this point, Cao Cao did not dare to let Xi Yu go easily, because in Cao Cao's view, if he let Xi Yu go back now, he would soon become a prince.

How could Cao Cao accept such a situation!

"I already understand that from now on, I will return to the fiefdom for a while, and then return to the land of Xuzhou and Qingzhou to let the people gather food, recuperate, and fulfill my responsibility of supplying my brother."

"Haha, haha... Fengyi understands righteousness so well, he is really a good minister of Cao Cao."

Cao Cao suddenly smiled.

He had known for a long time what would happen today, and he was certain that Xiyu would not refuse him.

I think back then, when Xi Yu had no fame or military strength, it was Cao Cao who gave him the opportunity to make achievements.

Now, Cao Cao is just letting him succeed and retire early.

Now, Xi Yu can gain the highest fame and status. As for the military strength he holds, he can slowly hand it over when the world is unified.

well……

Cao Cao's plan is really good, but it's a pity that he came too early. Are Liu Bei and Sun Quan stupid people?

However, since Cao Cao wants to think so and do this, although he doesn't know what the result will be, let Cao Cao do it for the time being, and he can live a leisurely life for a few years.

…

Xi Yu then bid farewell to Cao Cao and went to the fiefdom of Chenliu with Dian Wei.

Although Xi Yu did not have a clan in the local area at this time, he was already well-known.

Many nobles heard that Xi Yu had six wives in his family, so they all wanted to marry their female relatives to Xi Yu.

However, whenever someone brought up this idea, they were immediately scolded by Lu Lingqi.

Lu Lingqi was very angry: There are already six wives, and now six people are no longer enough to share the joy. If there are more women, how can we share? !

Dian Wei was somewhat interested in returning to his hometown in glory, remembering that he had killed someone and fled to Yanzhou to join Zhang Miao's army.

Now that Dianwei was famous all over the world, he came to Jiwu Township and had a drink with his former friends on a blind date. After Xiyu got the farming household and the dian registration, and decided when to collect rent every year, Just left.

By the beginning of spring, Xi Yu had returned to Xiapi City in Xuzhou.

Seeing Xi Yu's return, Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang were relieved. Although Xi Yu returned safely, Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang still felt that Xi Yu's trip to Xuchang was very dangerous.

They always felt that as long as something went wrong, Xi Yu would be forced to stay in Xuchang by Cao Cao, never leaving again.

Fortunately, now it seems that everything is a near miss.

…