"Are you threatening me?" Cao Cao's expression gradually dimmed.

"Don't dare. I'm just telling the truth. Yang Hong said.

"This thing... We need to discuss it again, and Envoy Yang will go back to the post house to rest first. When we've discussed it, we'll send someone to inform you. Cao Cao did not immediately refuse Yang Hong.

"Yes."

Yang Hong's heart is playful.

As long as Cao Cao hesitated, there was a high probability that he would agree.

As soon as Cao Cao agreed, his mission was accomplished.

After Yang Hong left.

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu and Cheng Yu and said, "After Lu Bu occupied Yizhou, his power became stronger and stronger, and the number of soldiers and horses increased by about 500,000. If he really wants to forcibly seize Hanzhong, we are probably not an opponent. Do you think it's better to sell it to Lu Buhanzhong? Or is it better not to sell? ”

"This..."

Xun Yu and Cheng Yu couldn't make up their minds for a while.

"What about Sima Yi?" Cao Cao suddenly remembered that there was also a military advisor who gave advice.

"King Wei, Sima Yi went to Luoyang and said that he was worshipping his ancestors. It is estimated that it will be back in a few days. Cheng Yu said.

"Then wait until he returns, and then discuss the matter." Cao Cao had a solemn look on his face, and waved his hand: "You all retreat." When I go back, I should think about how to make decisions about the affairs of Hanzhong County. ”

"No."

Yang Hong stayed in the post house for seven days.

During this period, Cao Cao Zhao met once and also discussed the matter of trading Hanzhong. But Cao Cao himself hasn't made up his mind yet, and he won't give Yang Hong an accurate answer.

After a banquet, nothing was done.

until the eighth day.

Sima Yi returned to Xudu.

Cao Cao immediately summoned him to discuss the matter of Hanzhong County.

"How does Zhong Da think he should make a decision?" Cao Cao told Sima Yi about Hanzhong County and asked.

Sima Yi thought for a while and said, "King Wei should know that Hanzhong County is important. The Hanjiang River basin goes directly to Jingxiang, Yizhou in the south, and Yuzhou in the north. It is still the only passage to block the Shu army. If Hanzhong is given to Lu Bu, and Luo Cheng and Liu Bowen fight again and occupy the southern part of Yuzhou, then Yue Fei's Yizhou army will enter the Central Plains, and Lu Bu will have hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses... ”

"I know what you're talking about." Cao Cao said with some worry: "I'm worried that Lu Bu won't succeed in buying Hanzhong, and he will gather heavy troops to attack." You also know Lu Bu's temper, he can do anything. ”

"Does the King of Wei have a map?"

"Yes."

Cao Cao ordered someone to take a map of the whole country and spread it on the ground.

Sima Yi knelt on the ground and looked at it for a long time, then got up and said, "There seems to be something strange about Lu Bu's purchase of Hanzhong. King Wei said just now that he was willing to pay 40,000 yuan to buy Hanzhong. That's not a small number. According to Lu Bu's temperament, he is a guy who only takes advantage and does not suffer losses, how can he be so generous all of a sudden? ”

"yes, I think too..."

"Unless..." Sima Yi paused.

"Unless what?"

Sima Yi said: "Unless he already regards this world as his, he gives money to King Wei, but he just puts the money here to store it here, and he will take it back immediately." ”

"Are you saying that after Lu Bu buys Hanzhong, he will go to war with me?" Cao Cao asked.

"Highly likely!"

Sima Yi pointed to the map and said, "What puzzles me the most is... Why did Lu Bu buy Hanzhong alone? Is it really to pave the way for Yue Fei's Yizhou army, so that the Yizhou army can also participate in the war in the Central Plains? Lu Bu is in the four states of Xu Qingyangjing, with more than one million troops, and there are countless elites, do you still care about those Yizhou recruits? Didn't King Wei think it was strange? ”

"It's a little weird..."

Cao Cao also noticed it.

Sima Yi was also puzzled.

But they couldn't think of breaking their heads, and they couldn't think of going up to the saltpeter.

In the end, it was Cao Cao who said: "According to my understanding of Lu Bu, if he fails to buy Hanzhong, he will definitely raise troops to commit it." If I resist as best I can, he will keep building up his troops, and he will last get out of control. I'm not sure I'll beat him yet. So.... ”

"Does King Wei still want to sell Hanzhong County?" Sima Yi asked.

Cao Cao nodded.

Sima Yi didn't reply, sat on the ground thoughtfully, raised his head and thought for a while, and said: "After King Wei sold Hanzhong County, Yuzhou has no danger to defend. Yanzhou is also weak. Lü Bu's Yizhou army could reach Hanzhong directly, meet Luo Cheng and Liu Bowen, and occupy Yuzhou in an instant, or march to Yanzhou, or march to Luoyang. The king of Wei was in a disadvantageous situation. Although Hanzhong is small, it has a great stake. He can block the Yizhou army, contain the Jingzhou army, meet the Yuzhou soldiers and horses to hold on, and resist Luo Cheng and Liu Bowen in Jingzhou, and the king of Wei should think twice. ”

"Xun Yu and Cheng Yu have also said these words, and I also know the importance of Hanzhong, but..."

Cao Cao was really helpless.

"The minister has a plan to make Lu Bu give up buying Hanzhong. Or... Don't dare to ask for Hanzhong again. Sima Yi thought for a while and said suddenly.

"Oh?"

Cao Cao was quite surprised and asked curiously, "What's the plan?" ”

Sima Yi stood up, pointed to the map, and said: "The king of Wei sent an envoy to Yecheng and ordered Yuan Xi to raise 100,000 troops and garrison the plains to build warships. He sent an envoy to Liaodong to help Gongsun Du 50,000 stone grain, and ordered him to raise 100,000 troops, cross Korea, cross the Yellow River and attack Qingzhou. Ordered the naval army to supervise Lu Qian, raise 50,000 naval troops, and inspect the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Ordered Xu Huang to lead 250,000 troops and feint Pengcheng. Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Yuan commanded the soldiers and horses of various departments in Yuzhou and stationed in Xicheng. Cao Ren of Hanzhong County raised 100,000 troops and stationed in Shangyong. The prince of Wei led an army of 400,000 to camp on the border of Yangzhou, trained soldiers and horses, and made a posture of a decisive battle. In this way, Qing, Xu, Yang, and Jing are all likely to have wars, and no matter how arrogant Lu Bu is, he doesn't dare to mention the matter of Hanzhong County again, right? He would immediately prepare for war and send more troops to the prefectures and counties, at which point the king of Wei would withdraw all his troops and horses. Half a year has passed, and then we will make a plan. ”

"What if Lu Bu starts a war against me?" Cao Cao asked.

"No, it won't."

Sima Yi said with certainty: "Lu Bu has just experienced a big war and urgently needs to rest, and it is not appropriate to move troops within a year." This is also the reason why he did not immediately start a war against the king of Wei after capturing Yizhou, and even Hanzhong did not dare to attack it, and only bought it with money. And also... In the battles of Yizhou and Xuzhou, Lü Bu's artillery was exhausted. Without artillery, the combat effectiveness of his army would be greatly reduced. The king of Wei mobilized nearly a million troops, and Lü Bu would only be on guard, not counterattack. ”

Sima Yi said that the head is the Tao.

After Cao Cao thought about it carefully, he also felt that it made sense, so he said, "Okay, let's give it a try." If Lu Bu dares to start a war against me, I will not be relentless. Take advantage of the situation and fight him! He has no artillery, just in time for him to taste my magic battalion! ”

"The matter of the decisive battle needs to be considered in the long run. Dispelling Lu Bu's idea of buying Hanzhong County first is the most important thing at present. Sima Yi said.

"Hmm."

After the conversation with Sima Yi, Cao Cao sent someone to the post house, sternly rejected Yang Hong, and drove him out of Xudu.

Yang Hong didn't know what was going on, let alone why Cao Cao's attitude had changed so much. He was driven out of Xudu and could not enter the city, so he had to return to Shouchun.