"Against such a man, if he is engaged head-on, his army... The fighting power is very strong, because the soldiers are willing to fight to the death for him. Why didn't the prime minister do the opposite? Capture 100,000 people, young and old, men and women, as the front army to attack Jingzhou. Let them attack the city, let them go to death, and see if Liu Bei dares to kill the people? If he kills, he still dares to say that he is a teacher of benevolence and righteousness? If he doesn't kill him, the prime minister will take the opportunity to conquer the city and conquer the city, and he will be invincible. Or write to Liu Bei, and order him to retreat to Jingnan, and if he refuses to allow it, bring the people to him, and kill a thousand people every day until they are finished.... ”

After Jia Xu finished speaking, Cao Cao was stupid.

"Prime Minister, what do you think of this plan?" Jia Xu saw Cao Cao's distraction and asked him.

"There is a saying since ancient times, those who win the hearts of the people win the world, according to this way of playing, even if I win Jingzhou, I will lose the hearts of the people in the world, do you think it is worth it?" Although Cao Cao was called a traitor, he did not dare to take that step.

Using the people as a shield is really the way to death.

He still remembers that when Guo Jia was alive, he said more than once that anyone in the world can be offended, but he can't offend the people, at least he can't be hated by the people.

"Whether it is worth it or not depends on the direction and timing of use. Liu Bei boasted of benevolence and righteousness, and the prime minister threatened with this, and he threw a mouse trap that our army could not only recover the central part of Jingzhou, but also capture the southern part of Jingzhou and completely eliminate Liu Bei. Unless Liu Bei is willing to kill the people. If that's the case, his reputation will stink... In fact, the prime minister understands in his heart that to win the world, not only rely on the people's will, benevolence and righteousness, but also rely on soldiers and horses, and power and strategy. I personally value the latter, without the support of a strong army, without a good strategy of power and strategy, it is impossible to seize the world.... ”

Jia Xu said a lot, and finally he said: "There is one more important point. Since the prime minister coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, the people of the world, all regard the prime minister as a national thief, eager to eat his flesh, sleep on his skin, the officials in the court, but also disobey the prime minister, no matter how good the prime minister is, how respectful he is to the Son of Heaven, they will not change this view. At the first opportunity, they will unite against the prime minister. Even if the prime minister doesn't threaten Liu Bei with the people, he has already made enemies in the world... The minister said a lot, just to show that he can't be wronged by the people of the world in vain, since he has become a traitor and a wicked person, what does it matter if he does it in the end? To take over the world, force those who are not convinced to obey, and those who are not respected are respected, and history is rewritten by the prime minister, who dares to say that the prime minister is not? ”

Jia Xu is really bold in speaking.

No one has ever dared to say these words, but Jia Xu dares.

Cao Cao's heart trembled when he heard this.

He hesitated for a long time about this.

He also asked himself, what is the real purpose of coercing the princes of the Son of Heaven? Originally, it was to make all the princes obedient and make themselves occupy the righteousness, with the Son of Heaven in hand, his army was the royal army of the imperial court, and the other princes were chaotic troops. But gradually, with the growth of the princes from all walks of life, the Son of Heaven lost his original value, and he was no longer a royal army holding high the imperial banner, because everyone in the world understood that his name was Han Xiang, but he was actually a thief.

was also scolded for being a celestial constitution and in charge of the dynasty alone.

But despite this, Cao Cao never dared to attack the people!

He finally confirmed that he could not go any further.

Then he called Jia Xu and said, "Maybe your plan is good and you can eliminate Liu Bei, but I don't want to do that." Do you have any other strategies? ”

"Yes."

"Sit down."

"Prime Minister Xie." After Jia Xu took his seat, he said: "Liu Bei obeyed Zhuge Liang's words, and when we fought with Liu Bei, we were actually at war with Zhuge Liang. The minister is indeed not sure of victory, but it is not easy for Zhuge Liang to win. ”

"The minister's plan is..."

He got up and walked to the front of the map, waved his hand, and said: "Concentrate all the main forces, attack Fancheng first, and attack fiercely to attract Zhuge Liang's attention." From the territory of Yanzhou, 5,000 elite cavalry, General Xu Chu's tiger guards, and General Cao Chun's more than 1,000 tiger and leopard cavalry, and then from General Li Tong, 3,000 Danyang soldiers were transferred to help in the battle. These elite soldiers and horses quietly went to Xiling. Xiling is close to the Yangtze River, after the defeat of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, the garrison there, Xiling shore pass, there are still dozens of warships, our troops, can cross the river by boat, first seize Jiangxia, and then attack the cattle blockage, and go straight to Linxiang. There is Liu Bei's rear, and Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's families are all there. As long as Linxiang is conquered, Liu Bei will be defeated! ”

"Even if he didn't capture Linxiang, Zhuge Liang didn't dare to take Xiangyang anymore, he would definitely lead the army back to help, and when the time came, the prime minister would take advantage of the situation to regain the lost territory."

"Good strategy!" Cao Cao smiled: "Wenhe, your strategy is much better than the previous poisonous plan, why didn't you say it earlier... Are you forcing me to be the bad guy? ”

Jia Xu smiled bitterly: "The minister doesn't think so, isn't it better to collect Jingxiang without spending a single soldier?" Why gather tens of thousands of elites and drive hundreds of miles to fight. ”

Cao Cao replied: "Don't argue about this question, I will adopt your second strategy, feint attack Fancheng, and surprise attack Linxiang!" Moreover, I have thought about the main general who led the army to Linxiang, that is, Xiahou Yuan, he is still in Guandu, and if he is transferred, it will be delayed for a few more days, and I believe that he will definitely be able to complete the task. ”

"Everything is decided by the prime minister." Jia Xu gave up.

The Battle of Jingzhou was very important to Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and it was related to the ownership of Jingzhou's population, money, food, and resources in the next four or five years, which would determine whether they could survive the next battle. To put it seriously, it is more related to the belonging of the Han family to the world. Because Jingzhou's resources are too abundant, it is enough to raise 500,000 soldiers. Whoever gets him, whose strength skyrockets several times.

And for Jia Xu and Zhuge Liang, it is also very important.

This is their chance to prove themselves, and who is the strategic warrior who wins a thousand miles, through this battle, you can see.

.................

Xuzhou.

Tan County.

After Cao Cao evacuated Xuzhou, Yuan Xi took Zhang Jaw and Xi Gu and others from Pengcheng to the northeast, advanced more than 300 miles, and arrived at Tan County, Xuzhou.

When passing by Xiapi, Yuan Xi went to take a look.

It was there that Lü Bu was defeated in the first place.

The city is tall and sturdy, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is a real strategic point, but it is located in the lower reaches of Surabaya, and once the enemy excavates Surabaya, there is a danger of flooding the city. Therefore, the Xuzhou administrative office was moved from Xiapi to Tan County. The geographical location of Tan County is high, and it is close to Mount Tai, and his city defense is no worse than Xiapi.

"My lord, please look there... The urn city in Tan County is built in imitation of Luoyang, although it is a little smaller than Luoyang, but it is also easy to defend and difficult to attack.... Zhang Jaw and Yuan Xi were wandering around the city, and everywhere they went, Zhang Jaw was introducing.

"How do you know so well?" Yuan Xi asked curiously.

"This is all Zang Ba's own words, I made an inspection yesterday and found that it was better than what Zang Ba introduced. According to the general, this place can be used as the capital of the Central Plains. ”