Pei Wei said: "I heard that the former overlord was in Wujiang, and Yiyun was not guilty of war, and God did not protect his ears, but ...... Sure enough, Emperor Gao has the favor of heaven, Han He should be prosperous, and Chu He should be destroyed? The heroes of ancient times can achieve their deeds, but they are in the power but not in the sky! The meaning of these words: If you succeed, you will say that it is caused by your own struggle, and if you fail, you will say that God does not bless you, but in fact, you are just making excuses for yourself - Wenyue, are you also this kind of person?

Pei Gai was speechless, so he had to bow his head and remain silent.

So Pei Wei turned his words back again: "I am a talent for viewing Wenyue, and I am not ......under the respect of Ling Xianjun" In fact, after he looked at the governance of Xuzhou, he already vaguely felt that Pei should be more bullish than his father Pei Wei, but it was inconvenient to say that you were stronger than your father, so he had to be vague - "And let Xianjun be in the center, and there are many constraints, and he will not be able to support the Chaogang in the end; The text is about to meet in the place, the mountains are high and the water is wide, and it is time to use force. It's just that this Xuzhou is not a place that can shake the world. ”

When Pei Gai heard this, his heart couldn't help but move slightly-the words "shaking the world" are so familiar...... By the way, Pei Tong also talked about it.

Seeing that he was still groaning, and didn't seem to be too touched, Pei Wei suddenly reached out and grabbed a chess piece and threw it to the ground fiercely. This set of chess pieces was originally a mainland product, with a ceramic texture, and it was only after Pei Wei arrived in Huaiyin that he asked someone to fire it, so that he could play with it in his spare time, so the material was very brittle. I only heard Pei Wei raise his voice and say: "Hugh said that it is pottery, even if it is made of jade, it is difficult to be a strike of iron soldiers." Even if Xuzhou is rich in the world, the warehouse is full, the people are safe, and the army is 100,000, but there is no way to win, and there is no danger of retreating. The only way to choose is to surrender, go, and die. ”

When Pei Gai heard this, he felt like he had been drunk, and he couldn't help but be moved.

Xuzhou is not the best base for the Central Plains, this Pei should naturally know, after all, he has more than two thousand years of knowledge than Pei Wei, throughout the ages, how can there be forces occupying both sides of the Huai River can seek to seize the world? Starting from King Xu Yan, until the end of the Yuan Dynasty, there was no good end to the Longfeng regime - Zhu Yuanzhang also started near Xuzhou, but he first had to cross the river and enter Western Wu, which developed, and finally expelled the Tartars and restored the Central Plains.

The reason why Pei Gai chose Xuzhou at the beginning was mainly to follow the route of Zu Ti's Northern Expedition - in history, the original base of Zu Shizhi after crossing the river was Guangling - and compared with Yan and Henan, Xuzhou's external environment was relatively safer, and the damage to agricultural production was relatively small. Besides, if you don't calm Guangling and garrison Huaishang, how can Wang Dao let himself go north?

However, after several years of planting, although the results are gratifying, the future is even more bleak. If it is according to the original assumption, he only cares about farming the land to fund the great cause of Zu Ti's Northern Expedition, but the problem is that with the growth of power, Pei Gai's own ambition is gradually expanding, he can't help but think, to expel Hu Lu, must rely on Zu Ti, can I do it myself? After all, Zu Shizhi doesn't have a few years to live, and he wants to completely pacify the Central Plains in the other party's lifetime, even if he has his own help and Xuzhou as the backing, the difficulty coefficient is also quite large. So what should I do after Zu Ti dies? Plotting to receive his Yan and Yu? Those dock forts are not to be feared, but they are easy to disturb.

If you get rid of Zu Ti and go it alone, or always regard Zu Ti and his successor as reliable allies - no, his successor may not be reliable - his foundation in Xuzhou is too thin. If you really wait for Shi to kill Wang Jun and break Liu Kun, and occupy all the Youji Division, can you fight against it by relying only on the land of one state?

The productive forces of an agrarian society depend mainly on land and population, and unless there is an epoch-making breakthrough, such as the evolution of an industrial society and the creation of muskets and artillery, it is impossible to open up too much of a gap with other regions. What if I raise 100,000 victorious soldiers in Xuzhou? When the time comes, Shi Le will drive all the peasants and soldiers from the four states, and he will be able to bury you just by filling in human lives - the key is that the other party doesn't take human life seriously, but he can't be ruthless.

As Pei Wei said, there is no natural danger around Xuzhou, even if it can defeat the attack of the army, it will not be able to resist the invasion of all sides, once it leads to the destruction of production and the dispersion of people's hearts, even the strong soldiers will become weaker and weaker, until they are defeated. Before the Guandu War, Fu Zhu once conspired for Yuan Shao: "Dispatch elite cavalry, copy its borders, make him uneasy, I will take it." "If Yuan Shao obeys, Cao Cao will definitely be defeated!

What to do? I have already taken this first step, and I can't go back, and to be honest, I am still quite satisfied with the preliminary results, so what should I do next? Pei Gai couldn't help but get up and stay, and took a deep look at Pei Wei: "Xuzhou is not a good place to start a business, and I should always think about it, but I can't make a good plan - please ask my uncle to teach me." ”

Pei Wei smiled faintly, waved his hand, and signaled that Pei should not be polite and return to the couch to sit. Then he pointed to the chessboard: "For example, in a game of chess, occupy the four corners first, even if you don't win, you can protect yourself and avoid a big defeat." Now the king of Langya is in the left of the river, supplemented by the Wang family, although its foundation is not solid, but the momentum is getting thicker, it is difficult to replace it. Wang Pengzu is greedy and tyrannical, and his grave is dry, and if he wants to seize his inheritance, he must first settle down on Hebei - it is a pity that it is occupied by thieves. Shu can't go, Bayi has been occupied, and the terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If you want to break the game......" stretched out his hand and pointed to the northwest corner: "Only the center." ”

"If you want to drive away Hulu, first serve the Son of Heaven, if you want to seek the world, first take Guanzhong, this former Han Gaozu is also the business!"

After saying this, Pei Wei lowered his voice slightly: "Wenyue, Qing and I are close relatives, there are some things to say to Qing, be careful not to spread them." I am not a rebellious sectarian, and the Han Gaozu is just a more convenient metaphor. ”

Pei Gai nodded and said that he understood-you must know that the most taboo in these years is to compare the emperor with the courtiers, even if the emperor was many years ago, it is not comparable to the real people, otherwise it will inevitably be suspected of usurpation. That's why Pei Wei greeted first: I compared Liu Bang just to say that it was convenient, anyway, there are no outsiders here, don't be careful, and don't go out to tell people.

"Wen Yue asked me before, what is the intention of Qing leading his army to the west, and he returned along the river without seeing Hu Lu," Pei Wei said word by word, "A certain selfish concern, Wen Yue probably has three concerns." ”

"Which triple concern?"

Pei Wei raised a finger: "The first concern, at this time, Guanzhong is like a quagmire, Suo Gong, Koji Gong, and Nanyang Wang are incompatible with each other, Wen Yue is afraid that once the mud feet are deep, like spider silk, hands and feet are bound, it is difficult to develop his ambitions......"

Originally, he didn't have a clear view of the general trend of the world - mainly because he was in a corner of Liaodong, and there were too few intelligence sources - so he decided to assist Murong Diao and wanted to borrow his teacher to defeat Hu. But this time when I went south, I first asked Shao Xu for advice in Yici, and then went to Huaiyin to talk with Bian Yan many times, and my horizons were naturally broadened, and my thoughts were different. You must know that the most important thing to collect intelligence in these years is Pei Gai, and Pei Gai is also familiar with the context of historical development, as long as many things do not deviate from the main line, they can often dig out the deeper truth, and these insights will naturally be instilled in Bian Yan from time to time, and Bian Wangzhi's current learning and selling are passed on to Pei Wenji.

What is the situation in Guanzhong now, and even in Chang'an City, Pei Wei knows the general situation, and he already knows it.

When Pei Gai heard this, he nodded, and said: "Xingzhi, the great-grandson of Duke Wenxiu came from Chang'an to envoy Xu, and he told me about the situation in Guanzhong, so he knew it. ”

Pei Wei smiled: "I look at today's Guanzhong, there is a comparison." ”

"Than what?"

"Compared with the return of Emperor Han to Luoyang, Yang Feng and Dong Cheng took power, Li Le and Hu Cai were dominant, although the strong enemy was outside, and the generals had their own ghosts and refused to work together. However, Wei Wu got Xun Wenruo's teaching, went to welcome the Son of Heaven in person, and put it in Xuchang, which became a hegemony - where are Yang Feng, Li Le and others? Although Dong Cheng is a relative of the emperor, he can't do it for long. ”

Pei Gai frowned and thought about it, and listened to Pei Wei further explain: "Now that the Hu army is ravaging Hexi, Chang'an is in danger, the ministers have many intentions, and the soldiers have no will to fight. If Qing can go hand in hand with Zu Yuzhou, expel Hu Shi, and enter Chang'an, he will be rewarded by the Son of Heaven. Even the king of Nanyang did not dare to pretend to be superior. ”

Pei Gai's eyebrows jumped slightly, as if he was moving.

Pei Wei immediately raised a second finger: "Wen Yue's second concern is that he is afraid that the accumulation will not be enough, and the soldiers will not be refined, so he will not dare to rush to Yu Luo to oppose the Hu Han army." However, Wenyue, those who have achieved their deeds in ancient times, do not conform to the times, if they do not follow the trend, although they are strong, they will die! If the city of Chang'an is broken and the Son of Heaven is captured, I am afraid that the Qing will no longer have the righteous name of the soldiers entering the customs - you have to cross the river and take Pingyang directly to save the king, then I am afraid it will be thousands of times more difficult than rescuing Chang'an. ”

Pei Gai was still silent. He estimated that in the past two years, if the original historical trend was followed, Chang'an City would be breached, and Emperor Sima Ye of the Jin Dynasty would be reduced to a prisoner, so he always hesitated between saving and not saving. If he is rescued, Emperor Chu can survive, the position of the Jiankang regime will be very embarrassing, Sima Rui can't be the Emperor of Jin Yuan, he may not have any ideas, but what about those overseas Chinese who have crossed to the south under his command? At least Wang Dun will never bow down to Chang'an, I am afraid that the smoke between the north and the south will rise again, and it will be difficult to be a man in the middle. Moreover, Shile is still in Hebei, if he joins forces with Hu Han to attack, Yan and Yu will be in danger.

To put it bluntly, there is a tradition of fighting in the royal family of the Jin Dynasty, and Pei should not want to fold himself in. He wanted to chase Hu, he didn't want to kill Han, and he had previously suppressed Du Zeng and captured the fifth Yi, first, he was forced to be impatient, and second, it was just a small means that had to be used in the process of development. He didn't want to turn this small tactic into a big war.

Therefore, it is best to wait for Emperor Chu to be captured, Liu Yao to enter the customs, and Emperor Yuan to ascend the throne, and then find a way to unify the Han forces in the Central Plains and provoke the relationship between Liu and Shi - which will break up sooner or later anyway - in order to profit from it. It's just that history has gradually deviated from the original trajectory, can he still be allowed to go on like this?

Pei Wei persuaded himself to make the merit of the king of diligence, so as to serve the Son of Heaven to please the ministers, is this road really possible? Once you enter the customs, can you really beat Suo Qi and others? Will it be that the mud feet are deep, leading to several years of work, and once abandoned? After all, Suo, Koji and others are deeply rooted in Kansai, and they are not comparable to Yang Feng and Dong Cheng - even if they are Cao Cao!

Pei Gai had always hesitated before, whether to save Emperor Jin Chu, and even wanted to put into heaven's will for a while - I have done enough to support Zu Li's Northern Expedition, Zu Shizhi must be able to save you, it is your life that is great, if you can't save it, it is your life that should be like this. waited until Zu Ti rushed forward without saying hello to him, but he couldn't move after a wave, and Pei Gai put aside the idea of the Northern Expedition for the time being.

If Zu Ti still had strength left after the battle of Jiaxian, Pei Gai would have led 5,000 people to follow Zu Shizhi directly, went straight to Luoyang, and then turned to Chang'an.

I heard Pei Wei say again: "Gaozu of the former Han Dynasty was named the king of Han by Xiang Yu, burned the plank road, and pretended not to communicate with China, but in fact, he secretly crossed Chen Cang and covered up the attack on Sanqin, and it was only a few months before and after, how to accumulate reserves?" Its soldiers all thought of returning to the east, and fled countless times, and their strength was much weaker than when they first entered the customs. However, Xiang Yu abandoned Guanzhong and returned to Pengcheng, re-attacking Tian Qi, and as soon as he was far away, Gaozu moved - it was not his strength to oppose Xiang Yu, and it was irreversible for the time.

"Zhuge Kongming is in Shuzhong, knowing the trend of small and big, but he prefers to go on a northern expedition for many years in order to succeed. I heard that Wen Yue was quite heavy on Kong Ming, do you think that his move is a labor force and has no chance of winning? As a corner of Bashu, it is difficult to resist China, and the longer the confrontation, the stronger China will be and the weaker Bashu will be. Therefore, Kong Ming is not against the sky, but really fights for the sky! ”

As soon as the words "fighting for the sky" came out, Pei Gai's spirit couldn't help but suddenly perk.

"Kong Ming once wrote: 'Liu Xuan and Wang Lang each based on the state and county, talked about the security of the words, moved the saints, the crowd was full of doubts, the crowd was full of difficulties, and the people were not fighting, and they would not be recruited next year, so that Sun Ce would sit big and then annex Jiangdong.'" The text should take this as a warning. In ancient times, there was no battle to win, and if you want to be foolproof, you dare to conquer, what is the difference between Qing and Jiangzuo Zhugong? ”

Pei Gai couldn't help but fight a little cold.

Pei Wei immediately raised his third finger: "The third concern of Wen Yue is probably because he is afraid of Jiankang's constraints, so he returned along the river and went up the Yaowu River." However, Jiang Zuo really had no intention of the Northern Expedition, and he had the ambition to cover up Xu Fang? After the yellow finch, there is no bow hunter, but just a head of the child, what is there to fear? Those who have become great things in ancient times have overcome thorns and thorns, and they are indomitable, if they are afraid of thorns and clothes, they can return home and recuperate, why should they talk about the world in vain? ! ”

As he spoke, he pointed at Pei Gai, raised his voice and shouted: "Wen Yue, Qing is just reluctant to count the counties of Xu Fang, but at this time, the northern captives have not yet gone south, and the turmoil in Jing and Hunan has stopped. ”