Xuzhou, Xiapi.

In the past two days, Lu Bu's heart has never been at peace.

Just yesterday, Zhang Liao from Pengcheng sent an urgent report, saying that Liu Bei had suddenly started recruiting troops.

Although he occasionally expanded his army before, he had never been like this time, all the villages and towns within a radius of dozens of miles had received news, and many young and strong men had all rushed to Xiaopei under the generous reward.

Although Lu Bu, Chen Gong and others also analyzed whether it would be Cao Ren's side that increased the troops, this conjecture was denied by the scout's return.

There has been no movement in Yanzhou.

Then, the result can only be that Liu Bei wants to do something.

Previously, because Diao Chan was held hostage, Lu Bu had to agree to let Liu Bei enter Xiaopei.

During the time when Liu Bei entered the city, it was quite peaceful, so Lu Bu only let Zhang Liao monitor him.

Maybe this is the human heart, how can you be content with the weight of the golden granary in your hand.

It's just that Lu Bu is also in an eventful situation now, and because of Chen Gong, he can't fully trust his subordinates.

This leads to a dilemma - let the people you trust lead the army into battle, and it is difficult to keep the city alive; Let the suspicious go, and it is likely to unite with Liu Bei.

The soldiers recruited from all over the country are not in harmony, how can we guarantee that they will not follow and cause chaos?

Now except for Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Cao Xing and Diao Chan, Lu Bu doesn't believe anyone anymore.

But if Liu Bei is allowed to continue to recruit troops, once the scale is reached, it will be a big trouble for himself.

Although Chen Gong knew that Lu Bu doubted him, he still suggested to him that he should adopt a method that would not hurt his anger - use his ally Yuan Shu.

Of course, with Yuan Shu's character, he would not do anything that was not beneficial.

Therefore, Lu Bu allocated a batch of grain and grass that was not abundant in the city and sent it to Yuan Shu.

After Yuan Shu received the grain and grass escorted by the envoy, he was very happy, and immediately ordered Ji Ling to order 30,000 troops to take Xiaopei directly.

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And all this, in fact, has long been expected.

In the deserted village, Zhang Feng was looking at Duan Xuan with disdain.

"What? I want you to sit back and enjoy it, but you blame me? ”

"Heh, in this way, Brother Xuan is kind?"

"Liu Bei is recruiting, Lu Bu must be nervous, the only thing I didn't calculate is that there is an extra Chen Palace by his side in the past few years. I didn't want him to use this strategy and let Yuan Shu do it for him. ”

"What if Yuan Shu really destroys Liu Bei! At that time, Cao Cao would have to confront the two strong enemies of Yuan Shu and Lü Bu, and he would never send troops. ”

"Liu Bei will not be destroyed." Duan Xuan said confidently.

"Why?"

"Lu Bu will save him. In fact, Lu Bu also knew in his heart that a villain like Yuan Shu, who only moved for profit, would never form an alliance with him. ”

"What if you make a mistake?"

"You can rest assured that if Lu Bu allows Yuan Shu to gain Xiao Pei and the nearby territory, it will not be good for him. After all, if things really develop to that point, he will be surrounded by the Yuan brothers, if Yuan Shao also lures him, Yuan Shu will definitely unite with him, exterminate Lu Bu, and carve up Xuzhou. ”

After listening to this, Zhang Feng lowered his head and thought.

Indeed, if it were me, I am afraid that I would also be careful, let alone a general like Lu Bu.

"But I'm very surprised, Liu Bei really dares to recruit soldiers. Wasn't he afraid of Lu Bu's suspicions? ”

"That's where I really gamble. What I bet on is Liu Bei's ambition. ”

"Oh?"

"If I were a fool like Han Fu at the beginning, I would never have done this. But the other party is Liu Bei, so he is a little more sure. ”

"Why?"

"How can a person who has the ambition of the world in his heart endure the occupation of the states and counties that have already been in his hands for a long time?"

"How do you know he's ambitious?"

"Hehe, if he doesn't, when the lord withdraws from Xuzhou, he will return to Gongsun Zhan. Now Gongsun Chan is at the end of his strong crossbow and his power is declining, but Liu Bei has a hint of a plan to help? Because he knows that Gongsun Chan has no rescue value. ”

"Why?"

"He's making a way out for himself. Now his situation is also very dangerous, there is Lu Bu in the east, the lord in the west, and Yuan Shu in the south, and the only place that can be used as a shelter for the back road is Yuan Shao in the north. If you swapped places with him, would you make the only retreat the enemy? ”

After hearing these words, Zhang Feng's heart felt as if he had been struck by thunder.

I have to say that his grasp of the forces of all parties is too far from Duan Xuan.

In Zhang Feng's eyes, he just focused on how to get rid of Lu Bu, and all his energy was on Lu Bu's side.

However, Duan Xuan's gaze always looked at the entire situation.

Now Zhang Feng finally understood why Duan Xuan occasionally contacted the remnants of Yefeng scattered all over the place - the value of intelligence was immeasurable.

However, he still had a trace of doubt: "Even if Liu Bei is ambitious, isn't he afraid that his actions will attract the attention of both Lu Bu and Cao Ren at the same time?" ”

"Because Liu Bei knows that General Cao Ren won't care."

"Why is that?"

"I've already seen General Cao Ren. I just asked him to send people to contact the surrounding counties to take strict precautions, but not to increase troops. ”

"That's it?"

"Of course not. After I met Zhang Fei half a month ago, I went to see General Cao Ren once. After listening to my plan, he immediately sent an urgent report to the lord who had returned to Xu County. ”

"You mean ......"

The lord agreed, and wrote a secret letter to Liu Bei.

It was only then that Zhang Feng fully understood.

In half a month, the bureau has been laid out. After Liu Bei got Cao Cao's secret letter, he began to recruit troops, and Cao Cao would inevitably raise troops in person.

"In other words, Cao Cao is ready to attack Lu Bu?" Zhang Feng asked with some excitement.

"No, the lord did not send troops. What he gave Liu Bei was just an empty promise. ”

"What?!" Zhang Feng shouted in shock.

"I have already written a letter to the lord today, even if there are soldiers and horses, I will not cross the Yanzhou border."

"You!"

"Don't forget, the people who are gathering to Xiaopei now are all enemies of the lord, and they are in a hurry, can you guarantee that Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shu will not all unite? Don't think about the agreement between the lord and Liu Bei, you must know that only if Liu Bei and Lu Bu turn against each other, the lord will have the opportunity to cooperate with him. ”

Zhang Feng couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart.

It's really not suitable for me to think about this thing. Compared with a person like Duan Xuan who sees the overall situation, his previous tricks in Chang'an are simply children's play.

For a moment, Zhang Feng suddenly felt that he wanted to follow this man and see what else he could do.

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As long as there is a place in the troubled times, everyone understands this truth.

Duan Xuan understands, Chen Gong understands, and Zhang Fei understands even more.

As the key to this plan, Liu Bei is also discussing countermeasures.

……

"Third brother, are you sure this is possible?" Liu Bei asked with a hint of doubt.

"Not convinced." Zhang Fei actually said something very casually that made people want to beat him up.

"Third brother, if you are serious, you must not mess around." Guan Yu saw that everyone was a little displeased, and hurriedly reprimanded.

"Second brother, I'm telling the truth. Do you know that this time, we are being used as pawns by all parties. ”

"Hehe, it turns out that the three generals know." When Mi Zhu heard Zhang Fei say this, he was suddenly relieved.

"What else is he not clear? And that's what he was happy to do. Jian Yong said with a smile.

"What do you mean by that?" Mi Zhu also smiled and asked Jian Yong.

"Yide, you better say it yourself." A lazy person like Jian Yong has no interest in explaining this kind of thing at all.

"Yes, third brother, you might as well make it clear to everyone." Liu Bei also said.

"It's fine."

Zhang Fei looked around at everyone, and basically all the people present were people who could be trusted.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Jian Yong naturally needless to say, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, and Sun Qian also expressed their intentions after what happened before.

"Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what that Duan Xuan's plan means?"

"It's nothing more than wanting us to side with Cao Cao." Sun Qian said.

"Gongyou only knows the surface, but not the inside." Zhang Fei shook his head.

"And what does he mean?" Mi Zhu interjected and asked.

"He wants us to break with Lu Bu. The former, Cao Cao's handwriting, has arrived, but I am sure that Cao Cao will never send troops this time. ”

"How?!" Sun Qian was taken aback.

"Let me wait for the recruitment, just to arouse Lu Bu's vigilance. Coupled with Cao Ren, who did not take precautions, it would make Lu Bu convinced that we had a plan against him. ”

Zhang Fei paused and continued: "Presumably you all know that the scout returned, and Yuan Shu's soldiers and horses suddenly came towards Xiaopei. ”

"That's right, Yuan Shu ordered Ji Ling to lead 30,000 horses and horses to Xiao Pei."

"I'm afraid that's what Lu Bu meant. He must have given Yuan Shu grain, grass or money to send troops. In this way, he can borrow Yuan Shu's hand to consume the newly recruited soldiers and horses of my Xiaopei. ”

"Isn't it dangerous for me to wait?" Sun Qian hurriedly asked.

"Gongyou don't have to worry, this is just Lu Bu's plan, he just wants to take advantage of this to see our attitude. If we are in trouble and Cao Cao sends troops, then we will be convicted of the crime. ”

"And where do I go for help?" Mi Zhu asked with a smile, of course, he already knew the answer.

"Hehe, Zizhong didn't say the key point, alas, it's okay. The only one we can ask for help is Lu Bu's side. In fact, even if I don't wait for help, he will come. It's just that then we will be too passive. ”

"The third brother is talking ......" Guan Yu also understood a little.

"He won't let me wait to sit down, but he doesn't want to see Xiaopei taken away."

"Hehe, since the third brother knows that it is a plan, why do you still persuade me to recruit troops to cause this trouble?" Liu Bei naturally understood Zhang Fei's thoughts, so he asked him in a mocking tone.

"Even the eldest brother blames me," Zhang Fei naturally knew that Liu Bei was joking, so he deliberately pretended to be very pitiful.

However, the next moment, he suddenly restrained his smile and said very seriously: "We will take this opportunity to make all parties think that our strength is weak and not to be worried." Since all parties want to be tigers, then we will stay out of the matter and let these evil tigers fight for their lives. ”