In mid-July, the golden autumn solstice.

The two states of Xuyang ushered in a rare bumper harvest.

The Department of the Interior drew up a plan to collect grain from the people at a price of 250 yuan per stone of millet and barley.

The market price was only 220 yuan, but the government gave 250 yuan, and the people of all counties were extremely happy, except for the grain seeds and what they left for their own food, all of which were handed over to the local government.

In just half a month, 400,000 stone of grain was sealed and stored in storage.

Xicheng Science and Technology Institute was also built. Ma Jun was appointed as the director of the Academy of Science and Technology and began to study siege weapons. The position of the former director of the printing house was filled by the bachelor of Wenxian Pavilion.

For more than two months, Gan Ning led 25,000 naval troops to attack Changsha and Lingling.

Changsha County guarded Han Xuan, was beheaded by the enemy, and more than 5,000 county soldiers under his command were captured by Gan Ning, including the veteran Huang Zhong.

(Note: Liu Xuan, the former Taishou of Changsha County, was deposed during Cai Mao's reign and succeeded by his confidant Han Xuan.) ）

After capturing Changsha County, Gan Ning continued to march...

In this regard, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang did not make any moves, nor did they send troops and horses to aid the counties, let alone stop Ganning, and let Ganning attack the city and seize the city along the river.

Liu Bei handed over the military power of Jingzhou to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang appointed Guan Yu as the Taishou of Nanyang County, led the Dongting Lake Water Army, guarded Nanyang, and intercepted Xiahoudun and Jia Xu.

He personally led an army of 40,000 (10,000 veterans and 30,000 soldiers) out of Xiangyang, through Duyang, Yinxian, Yuyang, Anzhong... and other six counties, went to the north of Xiangyang, and fought against the armies of Cao Ren and Xun You.

Both sides are equal in strength, and in terms of military strength, Cao Ren and Xun You are much stronger. Because the army under their command is all elites who have been on the battlefield, while Zhuge Liang's soldiers are mostly soldiers.

However, after the fighting, the results were jaw-dropping.

Cao Ren put down the eight-door golden lock array and fought with Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang only used more than 1,000 light horsemen to destroy his formation, and then the army rushed to kill, captured Cao Ren and Xun You, and captured more than 30,000 people under his command.

The whole process was surprisingly smooth and took little effort.

Yanzhou.

Xu Du.

Prime Minister's Office.

Cao Cao, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and Guo Jia were receiving the envoys sent by Zhuge Liang.

"Who's next?" Cao Cao was half-lying on the couch, holding a book of war in his hand, and was studying it carefully, as if he didn't care about it at all.

"Jingzhou is engaged in Sun Qian, and on the order of the military division, he came to give the prime minister a big gift."

"Ho Li?"

"Return Cao Ren, Xun You, and the 40,000 soldiers who were captured." Sun Qiandao.

Cao Cao put down the military book in his hand, his face changed, and he scolded: "Bold Sun Qian, you dare to bewitch the people in front of me and disturb the hearts of our army." Are you sure I won't dare to kill you? ”

Guo Jia asked: "Listening to Lord Sun's meaning, it seems that Cao Ren has been defeated?" ”

"What is the defeat, obviously Cao Ren and Xun Yu have been captured alive... Hmph, it's too big. Cheng Yu didn't believe it.

Xun Yu snorted coldly: "It's absolutely impossible. According to the detailed report, Zhuge Liang's army left Xiangyang City 15 days ago, even if it was fast, it only contacted Cao Ren's army, how could it win so quickly? ”

"Do you hear that? Now that the front line is fighting, and you are making a lot of nonsense here, should I kill you? Or should I kill you? Cao Cao asked.

Sun Qian laughed: "Our military advisor said that he wanted to capture and kill Cao Ren and Xun You, just at the snap of his fingers, as simple as probing for things." It's inevitable that it will be delayed for too long, so let me report the good news to the prime minister in advance. ”

Since the capture of Xiliang, Cao Cao's self-confidence has exploded, and he feels that even Lu Bu is not his opponent, not to mention Xiao Liu Bei, who weaves mats and sells shoes, does not look at it at all. And now, Sun Gan actually made wild remarks in front of him. How not to shock him, to be angry.

"How can this be true? Come... Drag him out and cook him! Cao Cao said angrily.

The soldiers rushed in and wanted to drag Sun Qian away.

Cheng Yu said: "The prime minister is angry, the two armies are fighting, and they haven't killed the envoys, not to mention that Sun Qian is here to give gifts.... ”

"What gift did he give? What gifts?! Cao Cao said angrily: "He's here to humiliate me!" ”

Guo Jia said: "Zhuge Liang does have extraordinary ability, the prime minister may wish to wait for two more days to see if he can block the attack of my two armies." If you can't, it's not too late to kill Sun Qian to vent your anger. ”

"Okay, take him down and keep him under strict supervision."

"No."

The soldiers dragged Sun Qian away.

Cao Cao took two sips of tea, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said: "Since the Great War of Yangzhou, the warlords of Guanxi have not taken me seriously, and even Liu Bei dares to speak wildly, if it weren't for Lu Bu by his side, I would have killed him a long time ago." ”

"Liu Bei is hateful, but with Zhuge Liang's help, don't be careless. The prime minister will wait patiently for two days to see how the battle report from the front line is. Guo Jiadao.

"Okay, I'll wait two more days."

Cao Cao glanced at the military book in his hand, handed it to Guo Jia, and said, "Fengxiao, this is our meticulous work, brought back from Shouchun, six volumes of military books, a total of thirty-six strategies." I've been studying for many days and have benefited a lot. It is said that this book of soldiers was written by Lu Bu. ”

(Note: Thirty-six strategies, originated from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, written in the Ming and Qing dynasties.) Not in the Three Kingdoms. ）

"Lu Bu can also write military books?" Guo Jialang smiled, took the book in his hand, and said, "Okay, I want to see what he wrote." ”

Guo Jia read the two volumes and praised: "What a good book." ”

"In the future, we will be more careful when fighting against Lu Bu. He not only has the courage to win the world, but also the wisdom to win a thousand miles, which is the biggest obstacle to the prime minister's domination of the world. ”

"yes..."

Cao Cao sighed: "I am not afraid of Liu Bei, Sun Ce, Liu Zhang, nor Yuan Shao, but..." ”

Thinking of Lu Bu, Cao Cao felt a headache.

A few days later.

Cao Cao received a battle report from the front, Cao Ren and Xun You were defeated, captured by Zhuge Liang, and the 40,000 elites under his command were defeated by Zhao Yun's more than 1,000 elite cavalry, and they were all captured.

Cao Cao realized the seriousness of the matter and called Sun Gan over.

"Sun Qian, Zhuge Liang asked you to come to Xudu, it won't just report the news, right? Whatever he said, he said it all. "In the hall, it's still Xun Yu, Guo Jia, and Cheng Yu. Cao Cao sat on the top seat.

Sun Qian replied: "The prime minister is wise. The military advisor sent me here to form an alliance with the prime minister and jointly crusade against Lu Bu. The captured soldiers, together with General Cao Ren and Lord Xun Youxun, are our sincerity. ”

Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and Cheng Yu are all first-class strategists. Cao Cao is even more incomparably wise. After hearing Sun Gan's words, he immediately understood that Zhuge Liang's move was to provoke a war between the princes and give him time to rectify Jingzhou and recuperate.

Sun Qian continued: "My lord has a word, as long as the imperial court issues an order to crusade against Lu Bu, an army of 200,000 will be sent out, led by Zhuge Junshi, to attack Yangzhou. And persuaded Jiangdong Sun Ce to enter the Neijiang River to fight. At that time, Yuan Shao will inevitably respond.... ”

(End of chapter)