Two days later.

Xiang Yu returned victoriously and reported to Lu Bu.

"This time I went to Yunwu County, I met 50,000 foot soldiers who were both mediocre, and I fought a small battle, beheading 23 people and killing 5,000 enemies. It kind of taught them a lesson. When I came back, I passed by the eastern border of Yunwu County and annihilated the iron cavalry of Guishan Jiaye Lan, but it was a pity that I didn't catch the kid of Guishan Jiaye Lan. ”

After listening to Xiang Yu's report, Lu Bu asked Xu Shu with a smile: "How is it?" Quite satisfied, right? ”

"Satisfied, satisfied... General Xiang really deserves to be a wise and brave general, which is admirable. Xu Shu praised.

"Don't dare. My sheep didn't fall into the tiger's mouth, so it's a fluke. Xiang Yu said without being salty.

Xu Shu smiled bitterly and said, "General Xiang, do you still remember my grudge?" I just said it casually at the time, but I didn't mean to look down on you. With your achievements in this battle, it is enough to prove that you are a tiger and the enemy is a sheep. ”

"Haha... I love to hear that! Xiang Yu was finally relieved.

"Where did the mediocre troops go, after their defeat? Is it back to Yungo County? Liu Bowen asked.

"Yes. His army of 50,000 suffered 5,000 casualties and 23 generals, and he would never dare to be my enemy again. I expect that it won't be long before he will withdraw from Jincheng County. Xiang Yu replied.

As Xiang Yu expected, in less than three days, news came from the shadows, and all the troops of the two ordinary people retreated. To garrison Wudu, which is four hundred miles away, to do a comprehensive defense, and then dare not take a step forward.

At the same time, the 60,000 soldiers of Qianghu and the 70,000 chariots and iron cavalry of the Southern Turks joined together to storm Hanyang.

Cao Cao still adopted the strategy of avoiding but not fighting.

The stalemate lasted for more than half a month...

Eventually, the aliens ran out of food.

Seeing that their clansmen couldn't even eat enough, the Turkic and Qianghu leaders had the intention of retreating.

Cao Cao sent an envoy to the enemy camp, expressing his willingness to rebuild the old friendship with all the foreign races, and gave 20,000 stone of military rations for emergencies.

Neither the Turks nor the Qianghu could have imagined that after several months of life-and-death battles, Cao Cao would not only not be held accountable, but would also be willing to accept them, which was really unexpected and incomprehensible to them.

In particular, the 20,000 stone army rations solved the urgent needs of more than 100,000 troops. They were very impressed.

"Prime Minister, General Li Dian is back." In the county guard's mansion, Cao Cao was drinking tea and reading books, and Guo Jia sat aside and reminded.

Cao Cao put down the book: "Man Cheng, how are you talking to the Turks and Qiang?" ”

(Note: Li Dian, the word Mancheng.) ）

Li Dian said: "The Qiang, Di, Xiongnu, and Turks are all willing to rebuild old friendships with us. But there are many conditions, and the last general really can't be the master, so he has to come back and ask the prime minister for instructions. ”

"Conditions? What conditions? ”

Li Dian said: "They want to keep the land they have occupied.... ”

"No, I can't. It's a matter of principle! Before Li Dian's words were finished, Cao Cao vetoed it.

"Prime Minister, you listen to General Li Dian finish speaking first." Guo Jiadao.

"Say it."

Li Dian continued: "All the alien races live on nomadic herding, and there is no shortage of cattle, horses, and livestock, but there is a shortage of food. Every winter, many people will starve to death, and only by plundering in the Central Plains can they survive. They hope to have a stable trade with us in Xiliang. Cattle and horses are exchanged for grain with us every year. ”

Cao Cao said: "This can be considered. Is there any condition left? ”

"Yes. There is also the matter of forming a volunteer army. Li Dian said: "Ashina Jin Toad believes that their people are not suitable for living in the military camp, and if they are forcibly admitted to the military camp and trained, it will make the tribes complain. In addition, there are already enmities between various ethnic groups, and forcibly integrating them together will intensify the contradictions. He advised us not to form an army of volunteers. If there is war, he will lead his army to help. ”

"No, I can't. The Volunteer Army must be formed! And there can't be deserters, like last time. Cao Cao took a deep breath and said, "Let's think of a way to not only balance the righteous army, but also satisfy all the foreign races." ”

Easier said than done.

Li Dian didn't dare to interject at all.

Guo Jia thought seriously for a long time, raised his eyebrows, and said: "Prime Minister, I thought of a way to check and balance the righteous army." It can also block the mouth of Ashina Golden Toad. ”

"Oh? What's the solution? Cao Cao asked happily.

Guo Jia said: "You can tell all the foreign races that anyone who joins the righteous army must be a single unmarried man, and then find some young women in Yuzhou and Sili, and marry them to let them settle down in the Central Plains, so that they can be restrained?" Then take the righteous army to Luoyang and let them reclaim in Luoyang City. The current Luoyang City is completely wasteland, and after it is reclaimed, it can be planted and grazing, which is better than their grassland. I believe that the soldiers of the Volunteer Army will like Luoyang and will never leave easily. ”

"As for the contradictions between the various ethnic groups, they are all trivial. The prime minister said that he would send someone to mediate, and he would not force the righteous army to train, what else could Ashina Jin Toad say? When the righteous army arrived in Luoyang, and the prime minister let the righteous army train, how could Ashina Jin Toad know? ”

Cao Cao nodded again and again, and said with a smile: "Okay, good... The plan of filial piety is very much in line with my wishes. ”

"Man Cheng, you will convey it to Ashina Jin Toad according to the meaning of Feng Xiao, and see what he says."

"Yes."

Li Dian was silent for a while, and said, "There is still the matter of retaining land, how to answer?" ”

"Xiliang has been ours since ancient times, and it must not be given to foreigners, otherwise I have come all the way to Xiliang for what? Is it just to tell them to give them Xiliang? ”

Li Dian said: "But their attitude is very resolute, saying that the occupied land must be kept. ”

If it had been before, Cao Cao would not hesitate to start a war with the aliens, and when the aliens were gone, Xiliang would have returned. When the alien race is convinced, the righteous army can be reorganized.

But now the problem is that his own strength is not good, and he still has to guard against Lu Bu and Yuan Shao, so it is really not appropriate to do it.

"Prime Minister, can we take a step back?" Guo Jiadao.

"Back off? How to back down? Are you asking me to give Xiliang to the alien race? ”

"Nope. The meaning of the minister is to govern Xiliang with all the foreign races. Nominally, Xiliang is still ours, and it is garrisoned by our people. Then the land of Xiliang was cultivated by aliens. Their troops were also allowed to enter Xiliang, but not into the city. The annual harvest from cultivation is divided into fifty-fifty shares. ”

"Hahaha..." After listening to Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao burst out laughing.

Li Dian said: "Strategist, what kind of strategy are you?" Not only did they not give Xiliang to people, but they also let people reclaim wasteland, can people be willing? ”

Guo Jia said: "The real purpose of the alien race to occupy Xiliang is for food. As long as we promise to give food, they won't have much of a problem. Then there are the counties of Xiliang, which have a small population and a lot of wasteland. Didn't the lord always want to Tuntian? Isn't that the opportunity now? Let the aliens reclaim first, and after two years of planting, we will plant again, which will be much easier. ”

"Good strategy!"

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Man Cheng, you go and tell the Turks and Qianghu that I agree to give Xiliang to them." But the city is mine, garrisoned by my army. Their land is outside the city, and they can be cultivated and cultivated as they please, and I will give them all the grain they get, not a single grain. ”

(End of chapter)