Liu Cong led his troops back to Nanjun at the same time as Huang Zu's official letter also arrived in Xiangyang, the first half of the official letter was the eldest prince Liu Qi's insistence on meeting the attack, but he was defeated, resulting in the loss of the Jiangxia navy and his own wounding, and Huang Shot was captured. In the second half, the second son, Liu Cong, galloped to the aid of the starry night, recaptured Shaxian, drove Sun Quan away, and pursued to Chaisang's victory.

Such an official letter arrived in Liu Biao's hands, which shows that Liu Biao's mood is complicated, and then he conveyed the official letter to Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others, Cai Mao is naturally happy, he has always supported Liu Cong, and now Liu Cong once again proved that he is stronger than Liu Qi. Kuai Yue and the others are even more depressed, although he is not Liu Qi's sworn friend, but since Liu Cong's sudden rise, he has unconsciously moved closer to Liu Qi, but he is also a son, and the gap is too big.

For the Jiangxia rescue battle, Liu Cong was not complacent, but convened the generals to discuss the war several times, and conscientiously summed up the lessons and lessons of this battle. Although the Jiangxia rescue initially showed the results of the training of Jiangling's elite soldiers, Liu Cong was not happy, because every time the sun rose in the east and set in the west, it meant that Cao Cao's southern expedition was one day closer.

Liu Cong could only participate in the wars of the counties as a general of Pingnan, but he could not interfere in their government affairs in peacetime, and Cao Cao's power was also the reason why Liu Cong was worried. Zhuge Liang saw that Liu Cong had a rare smile after returning from Jiangxia, so he asked the reason.

"Lord, in the battle of Jiangxia, although our department lost more than 5,000 people, it also completely destroyed Sun Quan's Chaisang army, and it cannot be recovered without two or three years, it should be said that Jiangxia is temporarily safe, and Huang Taishou also truthfully reported the battle situation to Xiangyang, and now the lord once again shocked the land of Jingxiang. Why are you still depressed all day long? ”

"Sir, when do you think Cao Cao will march south?"

"Jiangxia should not lose it, it should be within two years, if Jiangxia is taken away by Sun Quan, I am afraid that Cao Cao will immediately raise troops."

"Well, so Jiang Xia can't lose it. It's just that with the strength of Jingzhou now, what are the chances of winning against Cao Cao? ”

"If you stick to it, you can hold out for a year or two, but if you attack it, you have no chance of winning."

"When the gentleman says, how can I not be worried? After this battle, Huang Taishou in Jiangxia may be able to accept Liu Cong's advice to raise troops and strengthen the army to protect himself. But my father really couldn't do anything about it. ”

"If you can't force it, maybe weakening the enemy is also a way."

"Weaken the enemy? At this moment, although Cao Cao is on an expedition, but with Jingzhou's troops, I am afraid that he will not be able to threaten Xudu, even if he can attack the vicinity of Xudu, he will not be able to break the city, if he can't break the city quickly, Cao Cao will inevitably move his army south, and then my Jingzhou will not be in danger? ”

"My lord, in addition to the powerful soldiers and many people, Cao Cao relied on dozens of fierce generals and strategists. Wu has Zhang Liao, Le Jin, Xiahou brothers, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, etc., and Wen has Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu ......"

"Guo Jia, Xun Yu......, sir, I want to go to Xudu!" Liu Cong suddenly remembered that this year should be on the way of Cao Cao's northern expedition to Wuhuan, Guo Jia died of illness, and if one or two more strategists were killed, it would be a weakening of Cao Cao's strength. Xun Yu is aiming for Wang Zuo but finally the Han family, so he should be able to separate, and the old fox Jia Xu ...... Yes, Jia Xu, except for Guo Jia, Cao Cao's advisers belong to Jia Xu, but I don't know if he is in Xu Du.

As for the relationship between Cao Cao and Xun Yu, general historians believe that it can be clearly divided into three stages.

The first stage: My son's house represents the event: defending Yanzhou, persuading the Son of Heaven, the "Four Victories", and holding the center in the middle. Cao Cao attaches equal importance to the two Xun, Xun Yu is the main inside, and Xun Yu is the outside.

The turning point is 200 A.D.

Stage 2: Beware of suspicion

Representative events: Dong Cheng rebelled, was named Marquis, and took his wife. In this way, Cao Cao has the meaning of commending Xun Yu, and also has the meaning of wooing and tempting, with Xun Yu as the third duke, and Gu Xun Yu as the Han Chen, then Xun Yu's identity and status are clearly revealed.

Deadline, 212 A.D.

The third stage: remove hidden dangers

Representative events: Jiuximen, the Sacrifice Army incident

Regarding the various things between the two, Liu Cong also has his own understanding.

During the Han and Wei dynasties, Wang Gang was relieved, social turmoil, and the clan class suffered heavy losses. As a representative of a famous person, Xun Yuzhi's provenance has considerable social influence. He attached himself to Cao Cao, who was born in a "redundant and ugly legacy", to help him pacify Yan and Henan and stabilize Henan; He also advised Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty to recruit famous scholars, thus gradually reforming the nature of Cao Cao's regime, and advocating Confucianism to dilute the rule of punishment.

Judging from the situation at that time, the strategies he entered, such as "deep roots", Tuntian pioneering, and Guandu Yongqi, were all realistic, and he deserved to be a first-class strategist. Cao Cao's transformation from weak to strong and unifying the north relied on Xun Yu's assistance in many places. However, Yu Zhizhu Cao intends to use this to revive the Han dynasty and achieve stability in the world. In fact, Cao Cao originally held this ideal to do business, so Cao Cao and Xun Yu can be described as a love affair, one main attack and killing, and the other inside, complementing each other.

However, before and after the Battle of Guandu, as Cao Cao's feathers gradually increased, Comrade Apo changed his mind, and his heart to carry the position was clearly revealed, which caused Xun Yu's inner pain and his head-on conflict with Cao Cao, and finally Xun Yu caused a tragedy in his life. However, although the philosopher is gone, Yu Hui is still alive. From the perspective of social changes between the Han and Jin dynasties, the famous scholars introduced by Xun Yu gradually gained power, forming the backbone of the clan class of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

The Jin Dynasty Wei made the Confucianism family regain power, which can also be said to be a negation of the Cao Wei Dynasty Han. From this point of view, in the historical changes of more than half a century, Xun Yu is indeed a key figure

It is now the twelfth year of Jian'an, and Xun Yu and Cao Cao have long had a gap, if Liu Cong can light a fire from it, maybe he can accelerate the differentiation of Cao Cao and Xun Yu. This is also the reason why Liu Cong wants to go to Xuchang, but it is not possible for others to do this for others, Liu Cong's royal status is very important.

As for the poisoner Jia Xu, Cao Mengde's treachery is only afraid and difficult to match.

Those who defeated Cao Cao, except for Zhou Yu, first recommended Jia Xu. Defeated Cao Cao twice, so that he lost his troops and generals, and then returned to Shun and repeatedly performed miraculous feats, can be a strategist or a general, Cao Cao's subordinates use soldiers, second only to Guo Jia. Jia Xu, known as the "poisoner", is full of scheming and has no last resort. When Li Dao and Guo Yan were in rebellion, he served as a strategist in Li Dao's tent, and after Li Dao and others failed, he became Zhang Xiu's strategist. Zhang Xiu had used his strategy to defeat Cao Cao twice, and before the Battle of Guandu, he persuaded Zhang Xiu to surrender to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao fought against Yuan Shao in Guandu, broke Xiliang Ma Chao in Tongguan, and Han Sui all had Jia Xu's scheme. Yi Zhongtian, a famous critic of the Three Kingdoms, commented in "Hundred Lectures": Jia Xu was able to judge the situation in troubled times, he lived the longest, and he also saved his family. This is the real great wisdom, and Jia Xu may be the smartest person during the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Cong never thought that he would be able to win over Cao Cao when his strength was far stronger than his own, this person was too ghostly and too good, but such a strongman was in the opponent's camp, so Liu Cong was always worried. If you want to get rid of him, you can only use strong. However, Zhang Xiu followed Cao Cao to the north, maybe Zhang Xiu's death was an excuse to put Jia Xu on his back. And there are probably not many people who can successfully complete the task of assassinating Jia Xu in Xuchang, the key is how to get close to Jia Xu.

So Liu Cong wanted to experience Xuchang in person. But Zhuge Liang was relieved that Liu Cong would go, that was Cao Cao's territory, although Cao Cao was named Hanchen, he was only in the world, and once Liu Cong's identity was exposed, he might be detained to contain Liu Biao. Zhuge Liang saw that Liu Cong was thoughtful, and hurriedly spoke to dissuade him.

"My lord, don't take risks yourself." Zhuge Liang's willingness was to let Zhuge Liang send someone to lobby Cao Cao's subordinates, after all, there were many scholars in the Han family, but when he heard that Liu Cong was going to Xu Capital in person, he was a little worried.

"Sir, don't worry, I should be careful about this matter, don't we have caravans that often go to the north to trade, and occasionally adding a dozen people should not be considered a nightmare. If I can sneak into Xu Du, maybe I can meet the emperor in person......"

"What do you mean?"

"Cao thief coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, I will try to send an edict to the thief!"

"It's not difficult to beg the thief if you want to send an edict, just send a messenger to Xudu, why should the lord take the risk? Does the lord still remember Dong Cheng and Liu Bei? ”

"Don't worry, I will move with the caravan, and I should not be discovered, not to mention that I am just a county guard, and now Jingzhou is not openly opposed to the Cao thief, and the Cao thief will not be embarrassed by me."

Even so, Liang thought it was still inappropriate. If you have to go, Liang is willing to go for the lord! ”