Cao Song was attacked on his way to Yanzhou to join his son Cao Cao, and the whole family, including the guards, were all killed in the roadside wilderness. When the news reached Yanzhou, it was like pouring cold water into a hot oil pot, and it suddenly exploded.

Cao Cao stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back and didn't speak, his tall back was hidden in the shadows, looking blurry, but the awe-inspiring momentum exuded around him was impossible to ignore, and everyone stood on both sides tremblingly, not even daring to raise their heads.

This was the scene that Xiahou Yuan saw when he entered the door, he frowned deeply, and made a face to Cheng Yu beside him. Cheng Yu shook his head, put his fingers up to his lips, and made a quiet gesture.

Now that Cao Cao is angry, don't talk too much to provoke him.

Xiahou Yuan pursed his lips, and as soon as he walked to his position and stood up, he heard Cao Cao's seemingly calm voice sound: "What about Mr.?" ”

In Yanzhou, there can be many strategists and military advisors, but there is only one gentleman.

Cheng Yu sighed secretly, and he said in a low voice: "I have sent a letter from the Tiger and Par Battalion to let him come back." ”

Cao Cao nodded imperceptibly, he raised his hand and lightly tapped the location of Xuzhou on the map, and slowly drew a circle along the border.

Xiahou Yuan was so shocked by Cao Cao's action that he felt cold, he ignored Cheng Yu's eye knife, and persuaded with an anxious expression: "Lord, there is something strange about this matter in Xuzhou, although Liu Xuande is ......."

Before Xiahou Yuan finished speaking, he saw Cao Cao suddenly turn around and glance at him. That glance was incomparably calm, like well water without waves, but Xiahou Yuan seemed to be splashed with cold water from head to foot, and he was instantly silenced.

Cao Cao was not angry, he said lightly: "Is it Liu Xuande or Lu Fengxian, is there any difference?" ”

Xiahou Yuan's face was full of confusion, and Cheng Yu lowered his head and showed a wry smile: he knew that this would be the result.

Regardless of whether Cao Song was killed by Lu Bu or Liu Bei, this account will eventually be counted on the head of Xuzhou by Cao Cao, who lost his biological father and was in pain. Cheng Yu knows Cao Cao's character too well, this revenge will be avenged, and it will be repaid tenfold, don't look at his calm expression and peaceful language now, in fact, there may be monstrous hatred in his heart, and the people of Xuzhou are afraid that it will be difficult to escape this catastrophe.

If Xi Zhicai was here, maybe he could still persuade Cao Cao, but unfortunately he is now in Lujiang.

Lujiang? Wait a minute!

Thinking of this location, Cheng Yu once again had a strange feeling in his heart. Ever since he heard the news that Cao Song's entire family had been killed, he had always felt that something was wrong, but there were too many things that came together at that time to cause his thinking ability to decline. Later, after understanding that Cao Cao had made up his mind, Cheng Yu did not know how to persuade him, so he simply gave up completely. Without the interference of foreign affairs, Cheng Yu's IQ returned, so that feeling followed.

Cheng Yu's real purpose of going to Lujiang is not clear, on the surface, it seems that it was because Hua Tuo was treating the plague in Lujiang, so Cao Cao sent Xi Zhicai to try his luck to see if he could also treat his paper-like body. But Cheng Yu knows that the truth of the matter is far from that simple. You must know that although Xi Zhicai is a scholar from a poor family and has no prominent status, he was already by Cao Cao's side as early as when he sent troops to fight against Dong, and at that time, Xi Zhicai was extremely trusted by Cao Cao, and this qualification was definitely not lower than that of the Xiahou brothers and the Cao brothers. And because of the drama Zhicai, this person is proficient in strategy and calculation, and can often strategize and win thousands of miles away, and it is a five-body throw that is admired by the soldiers in the army.

Such a person was released by Cao Cao, Cheng Yu couldn't believe that Xi Zhicai was dedicated to treatment, if he didn't take the opportunity to do something, wouldn't it be a waste of this trip of effort and talent? And Lujiang is high in the top five places on the list of regions that Cao Cao wants to win the most, if it weren't for the outbreak of the plague in Lujiang some time ago, this place would have been in Cao Cao's pocket at this time.

So the more Cheng Yu thought about it, the more he felt that the cliff of Xi Zhicai was a mysterious task, and it was this task that allowed all parties to operate secretly, bringing about a series of chain reactions, and finally triggering the ending of Cao Song's death in Xuzhou.

Cheng Yu felt a cool breath running down his spine from his back to the top of his head, he couldn't help but shudder, and decided to bury his guess in his heart silently without saying a word. This scene is chaotic enough, the top priority is to quickly calm Cao Cao's anger, as for whether there is a deeper meaning behind Cao Song's death, I believe that Cao Cao will be aware of it when he recovers to normal. Even if Cao Cao can't find out at that time, there is still the person directly related to the incident, Xi Zhicai, where can he use others to talk more.

The strategist doesn't have to say everything, and before assisting the lord, he must first save his life and prevent the lord from being suspicious.

Cheng Yu followed the others to make a uniform gesture to Cao Cao.

Shen Xian found that her troubles seemed to have finally been solved, because Xi Zhi came to her to say goodbye.

"You're leaving?"

When Shen Xian heard this, she was overjoyed, she stood up straight with her hands on the table, and stared at Xi Zhicai with burning eyes.

Xi Zhicai was seen by Shen Xian crying and laughing: "Yes, Liu Yuanjun, do I think you have any opinions about me?" ”

Otherwise, how could I be so happy to hear that I was leaving! I can't hide the joy on my face, okay! How about pretending!

Xi Zhicai roared in his heart, but his face did not show it at all, and he showed Shen Xian a smile that he thought was very kind.

Shen Xian was tingled by Xi Zhicai's expression, and she smiled stiffly: "How can it be, Mr. Xi, you are too worried, haha, I really welcome you to stay here!" ”

Xi Zhicai: "......"

Sling the bull! You clearly write "Strange" on the left face and "You go quickly" on the right face, so anyone can see such obvious words!

So Xi Zhicai sighed deliberately, he shook his head and said: "Liu Yuanjun, thank you for your hospitality, if you have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely visit you in Yizhou." ”

This good goodbye is matched with the tone of Xi Zhicai, and it has become a threat. Then Xi Zhicai looked at Shen Xian with interest, and his face darkened instantly.

Xi Zhicai laughed: "Liu Yuanjun, the green mountains will not change, the green water will flow forever, we will have a period later." ”

A scholar said goodbye with words full of rivers and lakes, but it was not awkward at all, probably because the smile on Xi Zhicai's face was very sincere. Shen Xian was also a little embarrassed by his affection, but after a second, she kicked those chaotic thoughts out of her mind.

Hmph, Xi Zhicai is really good at deceiving people, so I won't be fooled. Shen Xian thought silently.

After Xi Zhicai left, Shen Xian suddenly felt that she had turned over as a serf and sang, and she was happy and directly gave Jia Xu and Guo Jia a secret one-third of the salary, and asked Diao to send it back with a reply. The eagle was very unhappy with the heavy package, but under the temptation of Shen Xian's full pot of fresh rabbit meat, it still raised its head arrogantly, flapped its wings and flew away.

In the next few days, Shen Xian was extremely happy, and even Hua Tuo forced her to practice needle prick and play the piano, Shen Xian felt very interested, which made Hua Tuo glare at her frequently, and thought that something was wrong with her baby apprentice.

After he returned to Yanzhou, Cao Cao had already driven his army to the border of Xuzhou, leaving only Xiahoudun and Xi Zhicai, who stayed behind.

"How's that, sir? Is there anything to gain from this trip to Lujiang? Xiahoudun was a little happy when he saw Xi Zhicai, and he greeted Xi Zhicai warmly: "Have you found Doctor Huashen?" ”

Looking at the enthusiastic Xiahoudun, a smile involuntarily appeared on Xi Zhicai's face, and he nodded and said, "Found it." The doctor said that my health is fine, and I just need to pay more attention to rest. ”

Xiahoudun's strange gaze swept over Xi Zhicai's pale cheeks, pale lips and blue circles one by one, he endured and endured, and still said tentatively: "Sir, that ...... You don't just look like you're lacking in rest. ”

Whoever lacks rest will vomit blood if nothing happens! Don't Hua Tuo don't want to see a doctor and pit people, right?

This thought flashed through his mind, and the more Xia Houdun thought about it, the more he felt that it made sense. After all, Hua Tuo is the master of Yizhou Mu Shen Xian, and he naturally looks to his apprentice, their Mr. Xi in Yanzhou is so smart and witty, if he dies one day, it will be a big loss for Yanzhou!

So Xiahoudun began to consider the possibility of smashing Hua Tuo's signboard.

Xi Zhicai knew that Xiahoudun had misunderstood, he shook his head and said, "Congenital deficiency, loss of qi and blood...... What Doctor Hua said is right, and my own body knows it, but I didn't expect that Doctor Hua would have a cure. Just ......"

A wry smile appeared on Xi Zhicai's face: "But the divine doctor said that if you want to fully recover, you need to cultivate for three years, and I don't have that much time." ”

Xiahoudun opened his mouth, his gaze was a little daze: "Sir, you ......"

"I'm fine, life and death are fateful, this is not to sue the lord." Xi Zhicai raised his hand and gently patted Xiahoudun's broad shoulder: "I don't want to disappoint him." ”

"How could the lord be disappointed?" Xiahoudun frowned deeply.

The relationship between Xiahoudun and Cao Cao is not only between superiors and subordinates, they are also cousins who are related by blood, they have grown up together since childhood, and they have been messing with each other for many years. So Xiahoudun knows Cao Cao better than anyone else, and when Cao Cao introduced Xicai to the two brothers of the Xiahou family with excitement on his face a few years ago, Xiahoudun knew that this young man with a pale face and a smile on his face was very valued by Cao Cao, and it was not an ordinary trust.

At that time, Xiahoudun was quite worried, because Xi Zhicai seemed to be a short-lived person, and he was not doing his job all day long, and he couldn't observe where he was talented, and he was a charlatan. However, soon Xi Zhicai proved with his actual actions that he did not live up to Cao Cao's trust. Over the years, Cao Cao's power has gradually grown, and his subordinates have gathered a lot of talented strategists, from the poor scholars to the children of the family, the old and the young, with different painting styles, but to be called "sir" and always respected by everyone, there is only one sick and crooked drama talent.

Cao Cao sincerely hoped that Xi Zhicai would be healthy, and if the price of recovering Xi Zhicai was only three years of cultivation, Xiahoudun believed that Cao Cao would agree without hesitation.

"I know." Seeing that Xiahoudun still wanted to persuade himself, Xi Zhicai hurriedly said: "It's me who doesn't want to." Instead of waiting for an illusory future, it is better to grasp the present, the lord can't wait for three years, and I can't wait, so I can only arrange as much as possible for the future. ”

This kind of talk is an understatement, but Xiahoudun felt shocked, he really didn't expect that Xi Zhicai's illness had reached this point.

"And others." Xiahoudun tried his best to speak very tactfully: "Of course, Mr. is different, but others can also ...... Oh, I'm not very good at talking, but my body is important, sir. ”

Xi Zhicai saw Xiahoudun scratching his ears and cheeks with a worried face, and couldn't help laughing: "Thank you for the general's reminder, I understand." ”

Xiahoudun saw that Xi Zhicai didn't want to discuss it anymore, so he had to stop the topic.

Xi Zhicai chatted casually with Xiahoudun and was about to leave, he had just come back from Lujiang, he had been tired all the way, and his body was almost on the verge of patience, so he had to sleep first to replenish his qi and blood. Looking at Xi Zhicai's pale and bloodless lips, Xiahou Tang didn't plan to keep him anymore, and went to his subordinates to make soup for Xi Zhicai, and then hurriedly urged him to rest.

Xi Zhicai took out a prescription and handed it to the servant: "Boil this, this is the new medicine prescribed for me by Doctor Huashen." ”

There was a flash of surprise in Xiahou Xuan's eyes, you must know that Xi Zhicai used to be the most annoying to take medicine, so Cao Cao replaced the medicine with tonic soup. I didn't expect the stubborn drama to go out and change his temperament! The miracle doctor really deserves to be a miracle doctor!

"Mr. drank the medicine and rested early, the lord specially instructed me before leaving, so as not to let Mr. worry about this time." Anyway, it's a good thing that Xi Zhi is willing to take medicine on his own, Xia Houdun smiled with satisfaction: "I won't bother you." ”

"General, wait." Xi Zhicai stopped Xiahoudun: "I'll leave after drinking the medicine, and ask the general to help me send a measuring carriage." ”

"No way!" Xiahoudun flatly refused: "Meng De asked you to stay honest in Xuzhou!" ”

"Does the general think I'm going to find my lord?" Xi Zhicai laughed, he shook his head, and explained in a low voice: "The lord is afraid that I will go to him because he doesn't want me to persuade him. ”

When it comes to the matter of beating Xuzhou, Xiahoudun is also very upset. Yanzhou had just fought for a few months, and finally tried to drive Lu Bu out, and now the soldiers were tired and tired, and it was the time to rest and recuperate. But the revenge of killing his father is not shared, and no one can persuade Cao Cao at all, he must fight this battle. It's okay to win, it can play a role in deterring the crowd, and people no longer dare to act rashly; If it loses, the repeated battles will drag down Yanzhou, and it will be an unsolvable dead end.

At the moment when he learned that Cao Song was dead, Xi Zhicai knew that he had derailed all of them. But it doesn't matter, the so-called strategist is to clean up the mess behind the lord's buttocks, since Cao Cao wants to fight, then he will let it go, even if he stabs the sky, he is just going to make up for the sky, it's a big deal to take his life.

And things have not yet reached the point of no return, although the battle in Xuzhou is difficult, it is not impossible to fight, it only needs to ......

Xi Zhicai narrowed his delicate and narrow eyes, and he sneered and said: "Lu Feng was first accepted by Princess Benchu, and he betrayed Benchugong, if Benchugong allowed him to flee to Xuzhou Dongshan to make a comeback...... So where is his Yuan family's face going to rest? ”

Xi Zhicai's words lightly made Xiahoudun hear the infinite killing intent hidden in it, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said: "What does Mr. mean ......"

"I'm going to Jizhou." Xi Zhicai covered his lips with a handkerchief and coughed violently several times, so frightened that Xiahoudun hurriedly helped him smooth his back. After taking a breath, Xi Zhicai said coldly: "Who knows how much of Lu Fengxian's rebellion was in Ben Chugong's calculations? What he wants to pick our Yanzhou and Xuzhou to compete with, so that we can reap the benefits of fishermen, I prefer to drag him into the water together, and no one wants to take them out. ”

Yuan Shao deliberately led Lu Bu into the game, in order to weaken Cao Cao's growing power, although the result of the civil strife in Yanzhou was the result of the joint efforts of many parties, but the biggest impetus was undoubtedly Yuan Shao, which the high-level leaders in Yanzhou knew well. However, although everyone was angry, no one could catch Yuan Shao's handle, and they couldn't do anything.

Moreover, even if Cao Cao caught Yuan Shao's evidence of cheating him, it was useless, Cao Cao couldn't break up with Yuan Shao in a short time, and he had to continue to endure the suspicion and jealousy of this big brother until he had enough strength to break away or even directly annex him.

But endure and endure, blindly pretending to be a quail is not Cao Cao's style, he went to Xuzhou without waiting for Xi Zhicai, in addition to not wanting to take him to a bumpy war and let his condition continue to deteriorate, there are two reasons: one is not to hear Xi Zhicai persuade him to stop, and the other is to hope that Xi Zhicai will do something to make up for the situation that has been twisted to a disadvantage.

It turns out that Xi Zhicai and Boss Cao are really smart, and they can understand each other's meaning without saying a word.

"It's a pity that we really can't spare the energy to deal with Lujiang ......," Xi Zhicai rubbed his wrinkled eyebrows.

"Lujiang?" Hearing Xi Zhicai's words, Xiahoudun raised his knife-like eyebrows, he waved his hand and smiled: "Lu Jining is dead, leaving Liu Zhengli to shrink to a county, and there is still Yuan Highway next to him, he is not afraid." ”

I don't know what I remembered, a faint smile blurred from the corner of Xi Zhicai's eyes, and he nodded as if agreeing with Xiahoudun's opinion: "Well, you're right, Liu Zhengli is really not to be afraid." ”

I'm afraid of someone else.

Although Liu Bei knew that the matter was going to be over after learning that Cao Song had died in Xuzhou and that he had left Xuzhou Mu's token by his side, Liu Bei still felt that his eyes were dark when he heard that Cao Cao was silently driving outside Xuzhou with a large army.

Blessings are incomparable, and disasters are not singular. The tearing with Yuan Shu is not over yet, there is another Cao Cao, Liu Bei is thinking about whether he should simply open the door and surrender, fighting on two fronts, both sides are still elite soldiers, and he has resisted for so long with less than 20,000 soldiers and horses...... This battle is simply unfought.

Neither Zhang Fei nor Guan Yu agreed to surrender. Zhang Fei said angrily: "In the battle outside the Tiger Prison back then, I thought Cao Mengde was such a reasonable person, but today I turned out to be a person with a clear mind. I don't want to think that we have enough headaches to deal with Yuan Highway, how can we kill his father? We don't even know where his dad lives! ”

"Don't say that, after all, it was my father who died innocently, and it is normal for Meng Degong to be so angry." Liu Bei sighed and held his forehead: "It's also to blame me for not knowing people clearly......

"I said it earlier, brother, don't believe that Lu Fengxian! He's a capricious villain! Okay now, lure the wolf in, right? Zhang Fei was so angry that he stomped his feet: "I'm going to kill that fight!" Give the head to Cao Mengde and let him be angry! ”

"You're back!" Liu Bei reprimanded helplessly: "Why are you still so impulsive!" ”

Guan Yu grabbed Zhang Fei's arm and dragged him back: "Third brother, listen to what the eldest brother says." ”

Zhang Fei sat back in his seat with a reluctant face, and he stiffened his neck and asked, "Then what do you say about this?" Surrender? ”

Liu Bei thought for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "This battle can't be fought, the Yuan Highway has not been solved yet, and the troops in our hands are not enough to fight on two fronts, so let's do it, you guys here first, and I will personally go to Meng Degong to explain the situation." ”

Zhang Fei, who had just sat down, stood up suddenly, he rushed to Liu Bei and hurriedly said, "No! Big brother, you can't go! ”

Guan Yu also frowned slightly: "Brother, this matter is not appropriate, if you want to make amends, you only need to repair a letter to explain the situation, there is no need to go in person." ”

Liu Bei shook his head and smiled bitterly: "After all, Meng Degong's father died in Xuzhou, and I am also responsible for this matter, I am afraid that the sincerity is not enough to write a letter." ”

Zhang Fei also wanted to refute: "But who knows if Cao Mengde will be-"

"Third brother!" Liu Bei sighed: "What else do you say you can do?" If you can't catch the murderer and don't give Meng Degong an explanation, I'm afraid that the people of Xuzhou will be unlucky in the end! ”

Zhang Fei couldn't find any other solution when he wanted to break his head, so in the end he simply threw off his sleeves and ran out of the camp with an angry face.

"Big brother, I'll go watch the third brother and ask him not to mess around." Guan Yu said to Liu Bei, and after Liu Bei nodded, he also left.

Liu Bei sat behind the table with an expressionless face, his hand on the letter paper gradually clenched into a fist, crumpling the rice paper into a crumpled ball.

The crisis in Lujiang was temporarily lifted, and Shen Xian began to refocus on the battle situation in Jingzhou after relaxing for a few days.

After experiencing the initial panic, Liu Biao quickly gathered his forces and rushed to the three battlefields. Because he was in Xiangyang, he personally led the troops against the Hanzhong army of Mrs. Qingxuan; Liu Biao's general Huang Zu served as the Taishou of Nanjun, he led his troops and horses to resist Cai Yan's attack, and after several tentative confrontations between the two sides, he formulated a bold plan to lure the enemy into deep annihilation in one fell swoop, and the plan is being implemented, and most of it has been completed; And Fan Chou, who had been following Liu Biao before, finally belatedly went to the front line of the battlefield - Wulin when Sun Ce occupied Xiling like a bamboo and was about to take all the territory of Jiangxia County.

"Liu Jingsheng's reinforcements have finally arrived, what are we going to do next?"

Sun Ce summoned the generals to a meeting in the big tent to discuss the next attack plan. After these days of rest, they are now full of energy, and they are almost about to fight.

"It's Fan Yiming here." International practice, Guo Jiaxian said, his eyes kept turning on the map, and said while thinking: "He was originally a general in the north and was not good at water warfare, but Liu Jingsheng sent him to Wulin with a naval army...... Who is Pioneer? ”

"Cai Deqi." Jia Xu said lightly: "This person is a disciple of the Cai family in Jingzhou, who once helped Liu Jingsheng pacify the bandits in Jingzhou, and is good at water warfare. ”

"Oh, I look like I'm going to fight." Guo Jia smiled, and gradually took over the relevant information of Cai Mao from Jia Xu and gradually pushed it to Sun Ce.

Sun Ce took the bamboo slip and casually glanced at it twice and threw it aside, he said indifferently: "It doesn't matter who he is from, I have been waiting for a long time." ”

Han Dang nodded: "Our naval army has a high combat effectiveness, so we really don't have to be afraid, but we still have to be careful." ”

Huang Gai's eyes rolled, and he snorted coldly: "Didn't Taishi Ziyi train in Dongting Lake?" Just let him sneak attack Fan Yiming's base camp from the rear, and then take advantage of the chaos to send troops again, and the front and rear attacks will definitely be able to kill them! ”

Sun Ce had a headache when he heard Huang Gai's words, he didn't understand why Old Man Huang always targeted Tai Shi Ci, the so-called persimmon picks a soft pinch, and if you want to bully, you should first bully Guo Jia or Jia Xu, a literati who has no power to tie the chicken, could it be that Tai Shi Ci secretly cut his old man's beard?

But although Huang Gai habitually blacks out Tai Shi Ci every day, the plan he proposed today is really good.

Jia Xu smiled slightly: "It's a good way." ”

Guo Jia also agreed: "You can give it a try." ”

Seeing that the two military advisors did not object, Sun Ce covered his teeth and settled the matter.

After the meeting, Sun Ce secretly ran to Guo Jia: "Tsk, really let Ziyi go to sneak attack?" ”

"yes." Guo Jia's face was full of seriousness: "But he may not be able to come." ”

"Why?" Sun Ce was stunned: "What's wrong with him?" I received his peace letter this morning! ”

Jia Xu filled Sun Ce with a cup of tea: "Don't panic, Ziyi is fine, it's just that Changsha may have to send troops, he has to help us guard the rear, and we can't leave." ”

Sun Ce blinked: "Then you still agree to let him go?" ”

Guo Jia looked at Sun Ce with an innocent face: "It's one thing to agree, it's another thing to be able to go, this is force majeure, and I can't help it." ”

Sun Ce narrowed his eyes and patted Guo Jia's shoulder: "I'll write a letter to Ziyi to be on guard, then Fan Yiming can only do it ourselves." ”

"What's so hard about that?" Jia Xu smiled, "I'm ready, let him come." ”