"Yes, the last general is willing to be the vanguard." Gan Ning stood up and bowed his hand.

"Okay, if you can defeat Zhou Yu's navy and occupy Nanhai County, after eliminating Sun Ce, I will make you the governor of Jiaozhou and command all the land and water armies in Jiaozhou." Lu Bu said.

Gan Ning's face showed ecstasy, and he hugged his fists and said: "Don't worry, the lord will not be disgraced in the end!" ”

"Okay."

Lu Bu opened another notebook to check Liu Beijun's situation.

Since September last year, Liu Bei has successively recovered all the counties in Jingzhou, and even Changsha County, which Gan Ning occupied, was also recaptured by Guan Yu. Now it has 130,000 horse infantry troops and 50,000 naval troops.

There are also more than 20,000 Xiliang iron horses of Ma Chao, which are also owned by Liu Bei.

Combined with the soldiers and horses of various counties, there are more than 200,000 in total.

Under Liu Bei, there are also many talents, including Zhuge Liang, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, Jian Yong, Sun Qian, Deng Xi, Han Song, Liu Xian, Wang Cang, and Mi Fang.

Wu Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Ma Dai, Pang De, Wen Ping, Zhang Yun, Mi Lan, Pang Ji, Yang Qiu, Li Kan, Cheng Yi, Zhang Heng, Hou Xuan, Cheng Yin, etc.

These Wenchen generals are all the subordinates of the original Tao Qian and Liu Biao, plus a large number of Xiliang generals who have just served.

And Jingzhou is different from Jiaozhou.

Jiaozhou is located in a remote area, and the poor do not even have a population.

The nine counties of Jingxiang (except Jiangxia County) have a population of more than 5 million. Among them, the population of Nanyang County is equivalent to two Jiaozhou.

"Liu Bei's house has more than 200,000 troops. Wait for me to defeat Sun Ce, and then settle accounts with him. Lu Bu regretted a little in his heart, when he went to Jingzhou to play, he should have taken advantage of the discord between Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, transferred more than 100,000 troops, and occupied Jingzhou. In that case, Liu Bei will never think about it for the rest of his life. It's good now, there is Ma Chao's investment, Zhuge Liang helps, and his strength has increased several times.

"Let's talk about how to occupy Jiaozhou." Lu Bu came back to his senses and asked.

Zhang Liang: "The minister thinks that Liu Bei's strength cannot be underestimated, and it is likely to take advantage of our army's attack on Jiaozhou to invade Jiangxia. ”

"The ovary has a point." Lu Bu turned his gaze, looked at Zhang Liao and Li Cunxiao, and asked, "Can you hold Jiangxia?" ”

"Yes!"

Li Cunxiao answered without hesitation.

"My lord, there are only 20,000 people left under the command of the last general. If Liu Bei attacks in a big way, I am afraid it will be difficult to resist. As... Transfer the soldiers and horses of Lujiang County to defend Jiangxia together. Zhang Liao suggested.

"Okay, I'll transfer the soldiers and horses from Lujiang County. Your task is to defend Jiangxia. At least two months, Liu Bei can't be given a chance. I said the ugly words in front, if you lose Jiangxia, I will take your military power. Lu Bu said.

Hearing this, Li Cunxiao didn't have anything, there were hundreds of people under his command, and it was the same whether he received it or not. But Zhang Liao has been charging into battle all his life before he has his current status, if he is taken into the army, isn't it a bamboo basket for nothing.

Zhang Liao's face was resolute, and he hugged his fists and said: "Don't worry, the lord will definitely be able to hold Jiangxia." ”

"Okay, I'm sure you can do it."

Lu Bu turned sideways, looked at the map that had just been hung, and said, "If you want to capture Jiaozhou, you must first take the South China Sea." Sun Ce's navy is mostly stationed here. Xingba, I'll give you a month, can you defeat Zhou Yu and cross the Yangtze River? ”

"Yes."

Gan Ning has been holding back for a year, and he has long been eager to try.

For him, this is an opportunity to prove himself, even without the promise given by Lu Bu, he should defeat Zhou Yu and consolidate the position of the Jiangxia Navy in Neijiang.

Lu Bu continued: "The rest of the armies, pay close attention to training, and after Xingba occupies Nanhai County, they will cross the river with me to fight. ”

"No."

Everyone answers.

A few days later.

Liu Bei learned that Lü Bu had come to Jiangxia County and convened the generals under his command to discuss the matter.

In the hall, there is also a clear distinction between civil and military.

"Lu Bu came to Jiangxia County to attack Jingzhou? Or Jiaozhou? Liu Bei was worried.

This is for Zhuge Liang.

Zhang Fei said disdainfully: "We have hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, why are we afraid of Lu Bu?!" ”

Liu Bei didn't bother to pay attention to Zhang Fei, and continued to ask Zhuge Liang: "What does the military advisor think?" ”

Zhuge Liang walked to the middle of the hall, shook his feather fan, and said, "As I expected, Lu Bu wants to attack Jiaozhou. ”

"How can the military advisor be sure?" Guan Yu asked.

"It's simple. Lu Bu's troops in Jiangxia County were less than 100,000, and he had to defend Jiangxia and use troops abroad. No matter how arrogant he is, he will not attack Jingzhou. ”

Hearing this, Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief: "As long as you don't attack my Jingzhou, it's fine." ”

"My lord..."

Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, and said: "It is suggested that the Jingzhou army should be raised to 150,000 and Jiangxia should be recovered." ”

"If Lu Bu doesn't attack my Jingzhou, thank God, why provoke him? It's better to gather strength and wait for the fighters. Liu Bei was frightened by Lu Bu and easily didn't want to use force.

Besides, the news of Cao Cao's defeat had just come, which made him feel a lot of shock. Even the 140,000 iron cavalry couldn't help Lu Bu, how could the recruits he had just recruited be Lu Bu's opponents?

"Is the lord afraid of Lu Bu?" Zhuge Liang said excitedly.

"It's not fear, it's that there's no need to go to war with him..."

Liu Bei's words were only halfway through, and Zhuge Liang said: "I think it's very necessary!" Looking at the trend of the world today, Cao Yuan and Lu are three-legged, whether Lu attacks Cao, Cao attacks Lu, or Yuan Cao Lu melee, it is difficult to shake the other party. Not so with the lord. The lord's Jingzhou, sandwiched between Cao and Lu, will be annexed sooner or later, and if you want to stand in the world for a long time, you must find allies. What is an ally? Both Jiangdong Sun Ce, Yizhou Liu Zhang. As long as the three families join forces, they can compete with the other three princes. If the lord sits and watches Sun Ce's defeat, then Lu Bu will turn around and invade Jingzhou, who will the lord ask for help at that time? ”

Speaking of this, Zhuge Liang turned his head and looked at the civil and military forces in the hall.

Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, etc., all handed over to the proposal.

Liu Bei also wavered and motioned for Zhuge Liang to continue.

"I know that Lu Bu is very strong, and with Xiang Yu, Li Yuanba, and Li Cunxiao to help, it is really difficult to compete. But he attacked Jiaozhou this time, and his troops were not many. As long as we mobilize 150,000 troops, after he crosses the river to fight, occupy Jiangxia County. Then let the Dongting Lake water army enter the Neijiang River to prevent the troops of Xu and Yang from reinforcing Lu Bu. At that time, Lu Bu will be alone, unable to return to the Central Plains and unable to capture Jiaozhou. We are in a position to negotiate with Lu Bu to resolve this crisis. ”

As soon as Zhuge Liang's words fell, Guan Yu seconded: "The military advisor is reasonable, and he should help Jiangdong!" ”

Zhao Yun also said: "Only the coexistence of Jingjiao and the two states can contend with Lu Bu, if one side is lost, the other side will also be overturned." Please give the order of the lord and seize Jiangxia! ”

The rest of the civil and military also knew the general trend and persuaded each other.

"Okay."

Liu Bei hesitated for a long time, and finally made up his mind, got up and said, "Since you all have confidence, then help Jiangdong." Mobilize 150,000 soldiers and horses from various counties, stand by in Xiangyang City, as long as Lu Bu dares to cross the river, he will take his Jiangxia! ”

"The lord is wise." Zhuge Liang smiled.

The civil and military forces at all levels also responded in unison.