Xu Ji did come one step late, he was delayed too long in the eastern capital, the situation in Xiangyang is changing every day, the Xi family sent people to buy Ma Lao's machete, and Shen Tan, the king of Jin, was not idle.

Liu Youzhong carried a pot of wine in his hand and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for many days, and the fourth brother's alcohol has grown again, right?" ”

"I'm about to quit."

Why is that? The wine of the mortal world can no longer satisfy the appetite of the fourth brother? ”

"I had a few minor injuries, and since then my alcohol consumption has been getting worse and worse day by day."

Hearing that Xu Ji had been injured, Liu You finally said: "Blame me, you should bring medicine, what kind of wine should you take?" How did the fourth brother get hurt? Is it heavy or not? ”

"It's not heavy, it's just ...... What kind of wine did the eldest brother bring? ”

Liu Youzhong picked up the wine jug and glanced at it, and said with a smile: "I can't hide it, I brought it casually, I don't know what kind of wine." ”

"It tastes good, I think I can have a drink."

"No effect on the injury?"

"A glass or two is fine, just not too much."

"Haha, the fourth brother is still good wine." Liu Youzhong took out two cups from his arms and handed one to Xu Ji.

There was no table in the tent, the two of them each held a cup, Liu Youzhong poured it separately, and said: "A glass of wine, talk about the heart, I hope the fourth brother will recover soon, and we will rest as soon as we get drunk." ”

"I also wish the eldest brother all the best, and help the King of Jin to dominate the world as soon as possible."

"Haha, the fourth brother is laughing at me, but if I take it, King Jin will definitely rule the world."

The two drank for a while, Xu Ji only drank one cup, and Liu Youzhong drank three cups in a row, and said: "It is rumored that King Ning burned the eastern capital, destroyed the wall and killed the people, is it true?" ”

"All I heard were rumors, and when I left, the Eastern Capital was still intact."

"But King Ning can do anything, King Jin won't, King Jin likes the Eastern Capital, and he can't bear to destroy it." Liu Youzhong put down his wine glass and said, "The fourth brother has taken refuge in King Ning?" ”

"Guests only."

"Fourth brother doesn't have to deceive himself, what you are doing now is beneficial to King Ning, although you don't have the name of a monarch and a minister, you already have it. I am considered to be a person who has come over, and I advise the fourth brother: now it is not as good as before, all the swarms are rising, everyone can be called the king, everyone can find their own master, now is the time to bet, if you hesitate so much, I am afraid that even the opportunity to bet will be lost, but you can only watch from the side with a lot of money. Find a place to stay early and don't be half-hearted. ”

"The eldest brother's early selection of King Jin is admirable and enviable." Xu Ji said with a smile.

"It's not a boast, I can't leave King Jin."

"I'll have to wait a little longer."

"Alas, if the fourth brother insisted on being the king at the beginning...... Forget it, there is no need to mention the past, the fourth brother is willing to be a guest of honor for a lifetime, and it is up to you, at least for now, there is no harm, all parties are facing each other, there is a lack of a messenger, who else is more suitable than the fourth brother? ”

"Who does Big Brother need me to pass a message to?"

"Chen Yicai is very familiar with the fourth brother, right?"

"There have been several encounters."

"I heard that it was the fourth brother who persuaded Chen Aicai to come to Xiangyang, and invited the king of Xiangdong to sit in the town for him, and made a great contribution."

Xu Ji said with a smile: "Big brother reminded me, when I go back, I have to ask General Chen for credit." ”

"I have asked to see General Chen several times, but I have been refused, if the fourth brother can intermediate and promote this matter, King Jin and I will remember this favor."

"I will introduce you, but whether it succeeds or not, it is still with General Chen."

"Of course, the fourth brother tried his best, and I was grateful."

Xu Ji drank another half a cup, put the cup on the ground, shook his head and said, "I can't drink it anymore." ”

Liu Youzhong also put down the cup, hesitated for a moment, and said: "These words shouldn't have been said now, but I finally met the fourth brother, if I hide it, the fourth brother will definitely complain about me in the future." ”

"Big brother must not be reluctant, if it is related to the king of Jin, the eldest brother should first abide by the courtesy of the monarch and ministers, and then talk about brotherhood."

Liu Youzhong smiled and said: "It is indeed about the King of Jin, but it will not damage the ministers." In this way, the king of Jin prepared to return to annex the state. ”

Xu Ji raised his eyebrows slightly, "Is it allowed?" ”

"Haha, the fourth brother won't believe that King Jin really took refuge in Shan Yu, right?"

"I don't believe it, but I don't think it's the best time for King Jin to rebel against Shan Yu."

"The King of Jin said, it is better to make the time, not to wait for the opportunity, the Jin army is ready, and it can raise the banner of righteousness at any time, expel the aliens, and restore the imperial court."

"Which court?"

"Of course, it's Yuyang's Tiancheng Imperial Court."

"What about King Jin's ambitions?"

"I don't hide it from the fourth brother, King Jin and I have repeatedly discussed, and I feel that this opportunity really has to wait, at least three and five years."

"Big brother wants to see General Chen for this?"

Liu You's finish line, "General Chen went north to King Qin, and coincided with King Jin." ”

Xu Ji smiled and asked, "Where is He Rong's army now?" ”

"Still in Hanzhou, the siege of Hanzhong City is not going well, Shan Yu is angry and angry, and vows to break through the city and kill the defenders."

"Hanzhong City is still there?" Xu Ji was both surprised and relieved, Hanzhong should be guarded by Tie Kite and Tang Weitian.

"It's still there, but it won't last long, a month at most. Shan Yu sent some soldiers from Hebei and Qin states to Xiangyang, called assists, but they were actually overseers, which was also one of the reasons why King Jin wanted to raise the banner of righteousness again. ”

"And King Liang."

"Haha, King Liang is very interesting, he seems to be timid, but he dares to take risks, take advantage of the unpreparedness, seize Jizhou, and merge the state, but he thinks too high of himself and is not popular with the people, he only dares to take advantage of the weakness, and does not dare to fight in person, King Jin only needs to send a general back to defend to be able to repel King Liang. The King of Jin wants to return to the state, and the person he cares about is not the King of Liang, but to cut off the retreat of the He Rong people. ”

"If the King of Jin leaves, Shan Yu has to personally lead the army to attack Xiangyang, the heroes are weak, and if they are not united, there is a chance that they will be defeated, and He Rong people are afraid that they do not need to retreat."

"If you win, unless the heroes gather in Xiangyang and pour out the power of the world, they can defeat He Rong's army, but ...... Most of the heroes are the generations of King Liang, taking advantage of the chaos to expand their territory, how many can they come to Xiangyang? There is no way to win in Xiangyang, only a chance to win, He Rong people have not been in the plug for a long time, and suddenly heard that the retreat road was cut off, the military heart or chaos, and there is still a glimmer of hope for the heroes of Xiangyang. ”

Xu Ji thought for a while, "Big brother may really be able to persuade General Chen, and I will try my best to facilitate this matter." ”

"There is the fourth brother of Lao, I know that the fourth brother is not a person who climbs the dragon and attaches the phoenix, so I won't promise you anything, in short, King Jin and I will remember the benefits of the fourth brother."

"What to do with this Liang army?"

"According to King Jin's intention, he wants to bring it back to Bingzhou, what is the suggestion of the fourth brother?"

"This Liang army has less food and more food, and it is useless to bring it back to Bingzhou. The Jin army was a besieger, and the retreat could boost the morale of Xiangyang, while the Liang army was originally a reinforcement, but once it left, it might change the heroes. ”

"Well, the fourth brother is right, when I go back to discuss with the King of Jin, maybe I can leave this Liang army behind, at least make up a number of 'heroes', I'm afraid that they themselves are unwilling."

Xu Ji said with a smile: "If King Jin speaks, General Yu has no reason to refuse. ”

The two chatted for a while, Liu You finally retired, and Yu Yuan sent someone to invite Xu Ji.

At the feast, everyone only chatted, and no one talked about business.

Early the next morning, Xu Ji said goodbye, thinking on the way: Liu Youzhong reminded him right, he really needs to take refuge in one force, and now it is no longer the chaotic situation when the world was in turmoil, the old and new heroes have grown separately, leaving less and less room for personal maneuver for the strategists.

The wisdom of a strategist can only be most effective if he relies on the courage of the king.

Thinking about it, Xu Ji felt that only King Ning was unsatisfactory among the heroes, and he couldn't help but sigh, he was unwilling in his heart, he still couldn't forgive King Ning for burning and killing Wu Bing.

Xu Ji went straight to the camp of the Southern Army.

Without Guo Shifeng present, Chen Aicai was much kinder, personally greeted him, and invited the king of Xiangdong to come.

The king of Xiangdong is a little fatter again, his face is good, it seems that he is quite preferential here in the Southern Army, he is very self-aware now, after thanking Xu Ji, he will not speak, no matter who speaks, he nodded in agreement.

Chen Yicai said: "Ning Baoguan's violent spirit is too heavy, if he rises, he will also be another He Rong person, why did Mr. Xu recruit him?" ”

"First get rid of the enemy of the henchmen, and then talk about the elbow and armpit."

"I'd rather hug Guan come here, but he doesn't want to command the crowd, at least I won't accept it. If Ning Baoguan can change his past mistakes and come to meet the king of Xiangdong in person to show his sincerity in helping each other, I am willing to be a minister in the same hall with him and join the great cause of the king. ”

King Xiangdong nodded vigorously, but his face changed slightly, obviously not believing that King Ning would really come to worship him.

"Although King Ning is ruthless, he is not an unreasonable person, and I will try my best to persuade him."

"I believe Mr. Xu, as for that Guo Shifeng, please don't come again."

Xu Ji nodded with a smile, and then said, "King Jin sent someone to contact General Chen, why didn't General Chen see him?" ”

Chen was slightly stunned, "How did Mr. Xu learn about this?" ”

"Rumors are rife."

Chen Yicai turned to the king of Xiangdong, "Shen Tan's insidious person, traitor, father, brother, he sent people, it is necessary to use tricks, so I refused to meet and did not inform His Highness." ”

King Xiangdong still nodded, "General Chen can call the shots for this little matter, and there is no need to inform me." ”

Chen Yicai turned to Xu Ji again, his expression was slightly stern, "Mr. Xu came to me, didn't he be a lobbyist for Shen Tan, right?" ”

"I only be a 'lobbyist' in Xiangyang."

"It's me who has a lot of heart, and the heroes come to guard Xiangyang, all rely on Mr. Xu's strength, others may switch to Shen Tan, but Mr. Xu will never be."

"But I still have to say a word for King Jin."

"Hmm."

"The enemy of Xiangyang is He Rongbu, not the King of Jin, not the soldiers of Ji, He, and Qin, if there is a chance to maneuver, you should not give up."

"Shen Tan sent someone over, just to persuade me to surrender, like the Xi family......" Chen Yi snorted, very disdainful, "I'm not Xi Yun, why should Shen Tan do more?" ”

"When two armies are at war, a confidant must also know the other."

Chen Yicai pondered for a while and asked the king of Xiangdong: "What does Your Highness think?" ”

"Huh? General Chen is in charge, and everything is up to General Chen. ”

"Okay, if Shen Tan sends someone again, I'll see you."

Xu Ji bowed his hand to leave, and Chen Aicai said: "The sky is going to be dark, where is Mr. Xu going?" ”

"Go back to the Majia military camp, go to Yizhou early tomorrow morning, and maybe invite some more reinforcements."

"Whether Xiangyang can be held or not, Mr. Xu is the first to make the contribution."

It was evening when Xu Ji left the camp, and it had been nearly three watches when he arrived at the camp, and before he could go in, he noticed that something was wrong, the camp guards had obviously become strict, and the tone of the soldiers was not good.

It was dark at night, and Xu Ji went back to the tent where he lived first.

Guo Shifeng also lives here, he hasn't slept yet, he sat on the bunk in a daze, and when he saw Xu Ji coming in, he immediately got up and said, "You are finally back, things have changed." ”

"What's wrong?"

"Ma Lao machete...... Killed. ”