With the birth of Wang Kai's heir, Wang Kai's ministers were all reassured.

Since then, Wang Kai has been waiting for a year later to send troops to Heluo.

Besides, after Cao Cao pacified Xuzhou and was named Sikong, he also suggested to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty to change Yuan Jian'an and establish Xu County as the capital.

When Emperor Han Xian saw that Cao Cao actually asked him to set up Xu County as the capital, although he was unwilling in his heart, he was just a puppet emperor after all, so he could only agree in the end.

Since then, 197 A.D. was officially changed to the first year of Jian'an, which was one year later than the first year of Jian'an in history.

After that, Cao Cao established a new Han court in Xudu, and all the civil and military generals under his command were added to the ranks.

After the new Han court was up and running, Cao Cao gathered his advisors to discuss the next step.

"Ladies and gentlemen, although I have now won the five counties of Xuzhou, Yanzhou and Yuzhou, but Yuan Shao in the north is now also in Jizhou, Youzhou and Qingzhou, his strength is even greater than mine, plus Wang Kai, who has the eleven counties of Liangzhou, Hanzhong and Guanzhong, I am now difficult to move by the enemy, and Huainan Yuan Shu has always had the heart to go north, according to everyone, where should I move now?"

After hearing Cao Cao's words, the strategists under Cao Cao had a little headache, because both Yuan Shao and Wang Kai were soldiers with enough food, and even Yuan Shu had more than 200,000 soldiers and horses.

At this time, it was Xun Yu who said to Cao Cao: "My lord, Yuan Shao is now in the land of the three states of Hebei, if he goes south, our army may be difficult to resist, we should induce Yuan Shao to attack and annex the state, so that the pressure in the north can be temporarily reduced." Then, our army can send troops to Nanyang to attack Wancheng Zhangxiu. ”

"There are four advantages to attacking Nanyang: first, Zhang Xiu's troops are the weakest and the best to attack; Second, Nanyang County is close to Xudu, and eliminating Zhang Xiu can relieve Xudu's worries; Third, Nanyang County is a strategic place for Wang Zhenxi to go out of the pass, if our army takes Nanyang, Wang Zhenxi can only be blocked in the pass and cannot move; Fourth, there are not only Wuguan in Nanyang County that can pass through Chang'an, but also Yique Pass that can pass through Heluo, and our army can not only block the road to the west of Wangzhen in Nanyang, but also send troops to support Heluo from Yique Pass. ”

After listening to Xun Yu's analysis, Cao Cao also said with appreciation: "If Wen Ruo is worthy of being my son's house, this Nanyang County is indeed a choke point. ”

Speaking of this, Cao Cao continued very worriedly: "But the situation in Nanyang County is also complicated, in addition to Wancheng Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao and Wang Kai all attach great importance to Nanyang, and even Yuan Shu may come over and intervene." ”

After hearing this, everyone also agreed, because the situation in Nanyang County is indeed very complicated.

After Cao Cao pondered, he suddenly said: "Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu are not really a master-slave relationship, if I can directly persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender, then Nanyang will be able to defeat itself." ”

"Everyone, who would like to send Nanyang to recruit Zhang Xiu for me?"

Hearing this, Mao Jue recommended himself: "Lord, the minister is willing to go to Wancheng to persuade Zhang Xiu." ”

"Good!"

Subsequently, Mao Jue went to Wancheng to envoy Zhang Xiu.

Half a month later.

When Mao Jue came to Wancheng, the defenders of Wancheng immediately stopped Mao Jue and asked loudly, "Who is coming?" ”

Mao Jue immediately replied: "I am Cao Sikong's envoy Mao Jue!" ”

Hearing this, a guard sergeant immediately went to report to Zhang Xiu.

When Zhang Xiu learned that Cao Cao had sent an envoy to come, he immediately sent someone to find Jia Xu.

When Jia Xu arrived, Zhang Xiu hurriedly said: "Wenhe, there are Cao Cao's envoys outside the city, do you say I see it or not?" ”

"Lord, Cao Cao's envoy must have set his sights on the land of Nanyang, at this time we should not get too close to Cao Cao, but we should not be too far away, the lord can see his side but cannot agree to any request."

Zhang Xiu agreed and immediately summoned Mao Jue.

After Mao Jue came to Zhang Xiu's mansion and saw Zhang Xiu, he immediately saluted and said, "Mao Jue meets General Zhang!" ”

"Master Mao, I don't know why Cao Sikong sent you here?"

Mao Jue saw that Zhang Xiu went straight to the topic, and he immediately replied: "I am here to find wealth for General Zhang!" ”

"Looking for wealth? What do you mean by that? ”

"General Zhang, now Nanyang County is a fire pit, my lord can't bear to let such a talent as General Zhang fall here, so he specially sent me to persuade the general to return to the imperial court, as long as General Zhang is willing, my lord is willing to promote the general as General Pingxi."

"General Pingxi?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Xiu was suddenly a little moved after hearing this.

Seeing that Zhang Xiu was a little moved, Mao Jue's heart was quite happy.

Seeing this, Jia Xu hurriedly coughed twice.

After hearing Jia Xu's cough, Zhang Xiu suddenly remembered Jia Xu's advice.

Immediately after, Zhang Xiu replied: "How can I be appointed as General Pingxi?" Please come back and tell Cao Sikong that I have no intention of sending someone under the fence for the time being. ”

After Mao Jue saw that Zhang Xiu had changed his mind when he heard Jia Xu's cough, he immediately replied: "General Zhang, if you miss such a good opportunity, I'm afraid you won't have such an opportunity in the future!" ”

"It's okay!"

When Mao Jue saw that Zhang Xiu was unwilling to surrender, he immediately said goodbye to Zhang Xiu in disappointment.

After Mao Jue left the mansion, Zhang Xiu suddenly said to Jia Xu: "Wenhe, why did you stop me just now?" ”

"Lord, have you forgotten what I told you? When there are two male masters today, now is not the time for us to choose the master, once the wrong choice, I am afraid that there is no way back, for today's plan is only to wait and see the changes. ”

"Wenhe, you have said this to me many times, but Nanyang is still worry-free!"

"Don't worry, Nanyang is about to usher in a catastrophe, if we want to protect ourselves, we can only choose when the situation is close to clear."

Seeing Jia Xu say this, Zhang Xiu finally sighed helplessly.

Besides, after Mao Jue left Wancheng, he soon returned to Xudu to report to Cao Cao.

When Cao Cao learned that Zhang Xiu of Wancheng bluntly rejected his title, he immediately said angrily: "Zhang Xiu's husband, he is so ignorant!" ”

At this time, Mao Jue answered: "Lord, Zhang Xiu had already moved, but when he heard the coughing of a scribe, he rejected the minister's proposal. ”

"Oh? Who is this person? ”

"Back to the lord, this person seems to be Dong Zhuo's old minister Jia Xu."

"Jia Xu? And where did this come from? ”

Because Jia Xu was not well-known under Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao naturally didn't know that Jia Xu was the top strategist in history.

Unable to convince Zhang Xiu, Cao Cao suddenly had to dispatch troops and horses to prepare for the expedition to Nanyang.

At the same time, after Yuan Shu took over Lu Bu, he suddenly had the idea of recovering Nanyang, because he was the Taishou of Nanyang when he begged Dong, but unfortunately he was defeated and fled to the Huainan region, and he wanted to recover Nanyang There is also one of the most important purposes, that is, relying on Nanyang to be the emperor, after all, Nanyang County is the emperor's township and the largest county in the world.

Yuan Shu, who had an idea, immediately summoned the ministers to discuss.

Knowing that Yuan Shu wanted to fight Nanyang, Lu Bu immediately stood up and asked for his life: "Lord, the last general is willing to lead the troops there!" ”

When Yuan Shu heard this, he immediately smiled and said: "With General Lu out of the horse, Nanyang must be captured!" ”

At this time, Yan Xiang, the chief bookkeeper under Yuan Shu, stood up and said: "Lord, we are not the only ones targeting Nanyang, Wang Kai, Cao Cao, and Liu Biao all covet Nanyang, plus Zhang Xiu, who is stationed in Wancheng, if you want to take Nanyang, you need to think long-term." ”

Hearing Yan Xiang say this, Yuan Shu immediately nodded and said, "What Master Yan said is reasonable, so let's think about it in the long run!" ”

When Lu Bu saw that he had missed the opportunity to lead the army, he immediately remembered Yan Xiang.