"The general's words are wrong! According to Cao Mengde's ambition of the wolf son, after he unified the Central Plains, he would definitely use the name of the Son of Heaven to go south again to conquer Jing Yang. How can we go our separate ways and sit back and watch Cao Mengde annex the Cai family! ”

Zhuge Liang in the big tent of the Wu army broke the key to the situation in the world with sonorous and powerful words, causing the surrounding Wu generals to nod again and again. It must be noted that at present, the prefectures and counties south of the Yangtze River cannot be compared with the Central Plains in terms of population and financial resources. If Cao Cao really did what Zhuge Liang said, annexed Cai Ji's forces in one fell swoop and pocketed the northern states, then the gap in strength between Cao and Sun would undoubtedly be further widened.

Of course, Zhou Yu knew Cao Cao's threat to Jiangdong, otherwise he would not have deliberately raised his head to give Zhuge Liang a chance to talk in public. But just as Cao Cao did everything possible to figure out how to annex Cai Ji's territory, Zhou Yu was also bent on taking Jingzhou to realize his idea of dividing the world into two. Therefore, the ideal situation for Zhou Yu would be for Cao Cao to fight to the death against Cai's party in the north, so that he would have enough time to take Jingzhou from Liu Bei.

But the current situation is that Cai Ji's life is on the verge of death, and the Cai family has no leader. In this case, if Sun Ce can't completely defeat Liu Bei and take the entire territory of Jingzhou before Cao Cao annexes the Cai family, then both Liu Bei and Sun Ce will be defeated by Cao Cao who took advantage of the victory. This is, of course, the last thing Zhou Yu wants to see. So at present, he is still more inclined to form an alliance with Liu Bei to join forces to deal with his henchman Cao Cao.

Since Sun Ce was not the hasty successor to the throne in history, this almost self-made bully had undisputed majesty in Jiangdong. Therefore, Zhou Yu, who is now highly valued by Sun Ce, does not have to worry about Zhang Zhao and others coming to pull him back. Seeing that he secretly glanced at Sun Ce, the latter immediately waved his hand at Zhuge Liang in understanding, "This matter is very important, Rong Gu think about it again." ”

In the face of Sun Ce's almost perfunctory response, Zhuge Liang did not feel discouraged. In fact, from the beginning, he did not expect to reach the Sun-Liu alliance with just a few words. After all, people in Jingyang and Yang know that Sun Ce has always had a heart for Jingzhou. And the reason why Zhuge Liang risked his life to come to Wuying to lobby Sun Ce to form an alliance with Liu Bei was also because he was afraid that Sun Ce would take advantage of Cao Cao's northward stall to turn around and attack Liu Bei. So as long as Sun Ce didn't beat him out on the spot, there would still be a drama about the alliance. At this moment, I saw Zhuge Liang immediately graciously bow his hand to Sun Ce, and then withdrew from the big tent without saying a word.

Seeing that Zhuge Liang was so straightforward, Sun Ce was somewhat puzzled. I thought that it was obviously Ru Jing who came to the door to ask for an alliance. But it made it as if it was a big loss if it was alone and did not form an alliance. However, he still had an indifferent expression on his face. After that, Sun Ce discussed military affairs with the generals under his account for a while, and then quietly took away Huang Gai and others.

After only Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were left in the tent, Sun Ce, who could no longer hold back the doubts in his heart, hurriedly leaned over and asked the latter, "Gong Jin, what do you mean by Liu Xuande?" ”

Seeing this, Zhou Yu smiled faintly and said, "What Liu Xuande is trying to do is just the word self-preservation." ”

"Self-preservation?" After listening to what Zhou Yu said, Sun Ce asked noncommittally while brushing his neatly trimmed mustache. "Liu Xuande is so afraid of Cao Mengde?"

Zhou Yu waved his hand and shook his head and said, "Bo Fu doesn't know, the person Liu Xuande is afraid of now is not Cao Mengde, but Rusun Bo Fu!" ”

"Lonely?" Sun Ce was surprised at first. Immediately, he slapped his thigh and shouted, "I see! Liu Bei was afraid that Lone would take advantage of Cao Cao's northward journey to seize his Jingzhou! Therefore, the first one made an offensive and defensive alliance! Sun Ce said this. The handsome face couldn't help but reveal a terrifying anger. "Humph! It's a beautiful idea! Gong Jin, when did you say that you will start an army to attack Liu? Lone Hao beheaded the Zhuge village husband's sacrifice flag! ”

"The seventh day of the first month of next month is an auspicious day, and it is advisable to form a blood alliance." Zhou Yu pinched his fingers and said.

"Good! Just next month..."Sun Ce was halfway through speaking, and suddenly his eyes widened and he exclaimed with an expression of disbelief, "What? A blood alliance? ”

"It's a bloody alliance." Zhou Yu solemnly reiterated again.

"Why?" Sun Ce's beard collapsed and he said depressedly, "Liu Bei and the Zhuge villager obviously want to be lonely. ”

Zhou Yu did not answer Sun Ce directly. Instead, he talked loudly about an allusion in the "Warring States Policy", "In the past, Zhao and Yan were killed, and Su Dai was Yan and Hui Wang said: Today's ministers are here, and they are easy to water." The mussel side is violent, and the sandpiper pecks its flesh, and the mussel closes and clamps its beak. The sandpiper said: If it doesn't rain today, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, there will be dead mussels. The mussel is also called the sandpiper and said: if it does not come out today, it will not come out tomorrow, that is, there will be a dead sandpiper. The two refused to give up each other, and the fisherman got and fowled. Today, Zhao and Yan have been supporting each other for a long time, and the public is afraid of Qin Zhi as the fisherman. Therefore, may the king's plan be well understood. King Hui heard it and said: Good! That's it. ”

When Zhou Yu said this, he set his eyes on the thoughtful Sun Ce, and said step by step: "According to today's trend, Cao Cao is a strong Qin and a fisherman; Liu Bei is a weak swallow and a river mussel. I don't know if Bo Fu wants to benefit the king? Or a sandpiper? ”

Zhou Yu's rhetoric of quoting scriptures is actually no different from Zhuge Liang's lobbying before. But for the same reason, there is a world of difference between the effect of speaking from the mouth of the villager and the effect of speaking from the mouth of the righteous brother. No, as soon as Zhou Yu's words fell, Sun Ce nodded without hesitation and agreed, "Gong Jin's words are reasonable, and Gu will send someone to do the alliance ceremony." ”

But who knew that the next moment, Zhou Yu touched his chin, and thoughtfully changed the conversation suddenly, "Maybe this time Sun Liu alliance doesn't need blood..."

"Huh?" Sun Ce blinked his eyes and looked at Zhou Yu, who was bowing his head and contemplating, and lost his direction for a while.

Zhou Yu pondered for a moment, then raised his head and smiled leisurely at Sun Ce, "Bo Fu, Yu has a plan to decide." ”

In March of the eighth year of Jian'an, when most people were still paying attention to the progress of the siege of the White Wolf, a meteor horse galloped in from the east gate of Xiangyang, bringing interesting news to Cao Cao, who was sitting here.

"Oh? Sun Ce Xiao'er expelled Liu Xuande's envoy from the Wu camp? In the Xiangyang Mansion, Cao Cao sat in front of the case and listened with great interest to Yang Xiu reading out the information from Soochow. Although Cao Jun's current main direction of attack has shifted from the southern counties to the prefectures and counties under Cai Ji's rule, Prime Minister Cao Cheng obviously will not let go of any news about the Sun and Liu families.

Faced with Cao Cao's inquiry, Yang Xiu cautiously replied, "Yes." It is reported that the expelled envoy was Zhuge Kongming, a famous man in Jingzhou who promoted the alliance of the four families last year. ”

"Zhuge Kongming?" Cao Cao was slightly moved, and asked, "But it's flooding." Zhuge Kongming, who helped Liu Xuande escape the Yangtze River? ”

"Prime Minister Hui, it is this son. It is said that he has been hired by Liu Xuande as a military general. Yang Xiu replied with a little surprise. It can be said that almost every strategist has imagined that one day he will be able to carry the seal of the six kingdoms. But in the end, there are very few people who can do this. Now, although Zhuge Liang did not reach the Cheng dù of Su and Qin's Six Kingdoms, he finally promoted the four alliances with his own strength at the age of the weak crown, and rescued Liu Bei from fire and water a few months later. In the face of such a rapidly rising young talent, Yang Xiu was ashamed of himself, but also a little unconvinced. In his opinion, it is precisely because of the lack of talents in Jingzhou that Zhuge Liang, who was born in Langya's Zhuge family, will have the opportunity to stand out. And if Yang Xiu is given the same opportunity, he will definitely do more beautiful than Zhuge Kongming.

However, Cao Cao apparently didn't think so. I saw him twisting his long beard in his hands, narrowing a pair of Danfeng eyes and saying, "I want to recruit Kong Ming into the curtain." What does Dezu think is lonely? ”

Although Yang Xiu was a little jealous of Zhuge Liang, he still didn't dare to slack off in the face of Cao Cao's question. So after pondering for a while, Yang Xiu replied, "The prime minister can give him chicken tongue incense." ”

"Chicken tongue?" Cao Cao pondered slightly, then stroked his palm and laughed. "Dezu is really a wonderful person."

It turns out that chicken tongue incense, also known as female cloves, is a spice made from clove flowers. According to the "Han Guanyi" compiled by Cai Zhen. Shang Shulang of the Eastern Han Dynasty when he played to the emperor. It is necessary to have the fragrance of chicken tongue in the mouth, so that the atmosphere of the mouth is fragrant, that is, "the fragrance of chicken tongue is volatile". Yang Xiu asked Cao Cao to send chicken tongue incense to Zhuge Liang, naturally wanting to use this elegant way to express his heart of recruiting talents. As for whether Zhuge Liang himself is willing to have a chicken tongue in his mouth and be an official in the same dynasty as Cao Cao, that is another matter. At least at this moment, Cao Cao still admired Yang Xiu's wit and intelligence. Especially thinking of the fourth son, Cao Zhi, who has been excellent in recent days. Cao Cao couldn't help but mention yì to Yang Xiu, "I heard that Dezu is good at poetry, and the lonely son is also quite good at this, and I also ask Dezu to have time to give him some advice." ”

As a young talent who aspires to leave a name in history. Yang Xiu is naturally more willing to come into contact with Cao Angduo, the sister-in-law of the Cao family, who has become an adult. As for Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and other Cao family children, no matter how favored they are, they are all concubines after all. Once there is a need, Cao Cao will not hesitate to abandon them like abandoning Cao Pi, the second son of the Cao family. But now that Cao Cao has spoken, Yang Xiu can't directly refuse, so he has to give up his hand and say, "Xiu will live up to the trust of the prime minister." ”

Seeing that Yang Xiu was so obedient, Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction. Although Yuan Shao has already died and Chen Lin has also surrendered, Cao Cao is still very sensitive to the origin of "eunuchs and ugliness" in his bones. You must know that Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was bought with "one trillion" when he was originally a lieutenant. Therefore, in the eyes of many families, the Cao family is a nouveau riche who rose by clinging to eunuchs and spreading money. In order to change all kinds of discrimination against the Cao family from the outside world, Cao Cao specially invited many celebrities and talents to teach his sons. He wants the world to see that the Cao family can also produce literary heroes and Confucianism. However, so far, apart from Cao Zhi and the younger Cao Chong, no other Cao children have shown sufficient interest and talent in literature. Cao Zhang even skipped class all day long and ran to fight with the sergeant. Although Cao Cao felt a little regretful, he also doted on Cao Zhi and Cao Chong's two sons more and more. Because he feels that these two sons are most like him, and they are also the most likely to transform the Cao family into a real family.

Yang Xiu didn't know the grand cause in Cao Cao's heart, he just felt that Cao Cao asked him to guide Cao Zhi's poetry and didn't value him. Because since the Han Dynasty "deposed a hundred schools of thought and respected Confucianism alone", the Han court has always used scriptures to win scholars, and the children of scholars and scholars have all taken scripture as their business, not only to seek fame and fortune, but also to use it as the foundation of their lives. Under the influence of this atmosphere, all kinds of talents, including poetry and songs, are regarded as small skills of carving insects and belong to the category of acrobatics. Even if there is an occasional king who prefers this way, he can only be treated according to the standards of a haiku, and it is impossible to really be entrusted with a heavy task. It is true that during the reign of Emperor Ling, in order to fight against the Confucian clan, the eunuchs set up the "Hongdu Gate School", and ordered the "Three Princes" and local governments to take scholars by "resignation". And Cao Cao himself was born in a eunuch family, and was deeply infiltrated by the court fashion of the late Han Dynasty, and liked all kinds of talents. He has a keen interest in poetry, music, calligraphy, Go, architecture, medicine, and even magic. Many scholars even gave up their studies and turned to study resignation, just to curry favor with Cao Cao and seek a half-official position. But after all, Yang Xiu came from a family of generations of hairpins, and he had the pride of being a Confucian doctor. So although he agreed to Cao Cao's arrangement, in his bones, he hoped to use scripture, wisdom, and martial arts to make Cao Cao recognize his talent.

Thinking of this, Yang Xiu was about to change the conversation, and solemnly said to Cao Cao, "Prime Minister Mingjian, Sun Bofu's expulsion of Zhuge Kongming this time must be to take advantage of the Prime Minister's northward journey to swallow Jingzhou." Therefore, Xiu thought that the prime minister could first do a wall view, so that Sun and Liu and the two people competed with each other. ”

Cao Cao nodded approvingly after hearing what Yang Xiu said. In fact, the first plan he thought of after learning that Sun Ce drove Zhuge Liang was to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight. But this alone does not seem to satisfy Cao Cao. So he followed up and asked Yang Xiu, "What about what will happen to the situation in Liaoxi as Yi Dezu's opinion?" ”

I heard Yang Xiu assert in a loud voice, "Xiu thinks that Cai Anzhen may have died in Huangquan a long time ago." ”

"Why did Dezu say this?" Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and asked. At present, although the outside world is not optimistic about Cai Ji's results, there are few people who dare to assert that Cai Ji is dead.

Yang Xiu said eloquently, "Prime Minister Mingjian." In the past, Bai Qi trapped Zhao Kuo in Changping for 46 days, and the Zhao army took turns to break through the siege four or five times without success, and finally 400,000 Zhao soldiers were unarmed. Now Cai Anzhen has been trapped in western Liaoning for nearly 40 days, even if she is temporarily surviving, she will not be alive for a long time. ”

Regarding Yang Xiu's answer, Cao Cao seemed quite unimpressed. In his view, the victory or defeat of the Changping War was affected by many factors. Judging whether Cai Ji is defeated or not based on the time of being trapped is obviously on paper. But deep down, Cao Cao desperately hoped that Cai Ji would die in Liaoxi, because in this way, he could effortlessly take the hinterland of the Central Plains and even the entire Heshuo, and then wave his army south to dominate Jingyang at the pass where Sun Ce and Liu Bei were both defeated. So even though he knew that Yang Xiu's analysis was far-fetched, Cao Cao still said ambiguously: "I hope so." (To be continued......)