The army of Sun Ce of Wu and the army of Cao Cao of Chen fought on the Yangtze River and the Huai River.

At this time, Xiang Ao's soldiers and horses had already been prepared, ready to go south again, and the Yellow River area was full of rumors.

Before Xiang Ao was ready to set off, in the city of Yecheng in Wei County, Xiang Ping came to Xiang Ao with a young man.

"Father, this is Zhou Budo."

"Lingling Chong'an people, white body Zhou is not suspicious, Zhou Wenzhi has seen King Yan."

"No need to be polite." Xiang Ao said lightly, looking at Zhou Budo with some curiosity.

In the influence of Xiang Ao, in the history of the Three Kingdoms at the end of the Han Dynasty, I have not heard of this person. But since it's someone brought by his son, he thinks he will have some ability.

"Wen Zhi is from Lingling?"

"I am indeed a person from Lingling in Jingzhou."

"Now that the army is in chaos, Wen Zhi is not taking refuge at home, what did he do when he came to this king Yanguo?"

Zhou Budo was a little surprised, as the head of a country, he spoke so directly.

"King Yan laughed." Zhou Budo looked at Xiang Ao and said respectfully: "King Yan said that the people are suffering; The dead people are also suffering. Since the people are so suffering, they are not talented in later life, and they want to use their little knowledge to benefit the people. ”

"Haha..."Xiang Ao was stunned for a moment, and then laughed and said, "Okay! Good! Good! ”

"If everyone in the world is so ambitious, why worry that the world is not peaceful, why worry that the people are not peaceful! It's just a no-no... Hey..."

Zhou Budo pretended to be bold and looked up at Xiang Ao, as if he wanted to see through Xiang Ao's thoughts.

"In that case, why did King Yan not only seek peace with various princes and princes, so that the people would not suffer from war?"

Xiang Ao raised his head and looked at Zhou Budo, his expression was indifferent, and he couldn't see any thoughts of Xiang Ao.

Xiang Ao smiled lightly and said suspiciously: "Wenzhi doesn't have a crown, I don't know why he already has a table word?" ”

Xiang Ao avoided answering, and suddenly said something else, which made Zhou Budo slightly unhappy. However, the person in front of him was always King Yan, and Zhou Budo was not angry either, but replied a little unnaturally: "King Yan doesn't know, the roar is the nephew of Mu Liu Biao of Jingzhou in the past." When my uncle was alive, maybe because he liked the next generation, he gave the table to the next generation early, but..."

Speaking of Liu Biao, Zhou Budo's face was bitter, and he was a little sluggish between his eyebrows and eyes.

Xiang Ao was surprised for a while, he didn't want the young man in front of him to be related to the emperor of the previous dynasty. But after all, he is just a teenager, and when it comes to his heart, he is really obvious.

"Wen Zhi mourns." Xiang Ao stepped forward and patted Zhou Budo's shoulder and said: "Liu Jingzhou is benevolent and virtuous, benefiting the people of Jingzhou and saving the people of Jingzhou from war, which will inevitably last for generations." ”

Zhou Budo raised his head, looked at Xiang Ao with some deep meaning, shook his head lightly and said, "It's okay not to doubt it, it's just a pity that my uncle didn't realize his ambitions." ”

Xiang Ao smiled lightly and did not answer.

Xiang Ping looked at the two of them and said nonchalantly, and was a little anxious beside him, so he opened his mouth.

"Father, Brother Wen has great talent and ambition to benefit the people, which is indeed very rare."

Zhou Budo glanced at Xiang Ping suspiciously, and Xiang Ao chuckled and looked at Xiang Ping. Knowing his son Mo Ruo's father, as soon as Xiang Ping opened his mouth, Xiang Ao knew that Xiang Ping wanted to recommend Zhou Budo.

Xiang Ao shook his head a little helplessly, and said casually: "Wen Zhi came to Yanguo, I'm afraid I don't just want to see me, the so-called Yan King. ”

Xiang Ao said casually, Zhou Budo's eyes flashed, and the curiosity in his eyes became more and more obvious.

"The Yan King is really wise." Zhou Budo slapped himself silently, and said to Xiang Ao again: "Although he is young, he has a heart to benefit one party. This time I came to Yanguo to see King Yan's governance of the people under his rule. If you can, you don't doubt that you want to get some errands under King Yan. ”

Xiang Ao was a little surprised by Zhou Budo's directness, and after being slightly stunned, he wondered: "Has Wenzhi already seen it in this king's territory?" ”

Zhou Budo didn't answer, just nodded heavily.

Xiang Ao smiled lightly: "That Wenzhi should also know that Xiang Ao did not rely on recommendation to serve in Yanguo, but had to pass various assessments in Yanguo. ”

Zhou Budo nodded heavily and said, "The system of Yanwang Academy has given countless poor families and even civilians a way to display their talents. This is good, but it also sets up a lot of obstacles for the world's heroes. ”

"Oh? What is Wen Zhi's opinion, let's listen to it? Xiang Ao was interested, and looked at Zhou Budo curiously.

Although it is said that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers, many teenagers dare to say it, but there are very few remarks that are really useful to Yanguo. Xiang Ping has the same vision as himself after tens of thousands of years before, and today Xiang Ping brought Zhou Budo to come, thinking that Zhou Budo must have something extraordinary.

Zhou Budo straightened his clothes, and said to Xiang Ao again: "The future life is not knowledgeable, if there is anything to say, please take care of King Yan." ”

Xiang Ao nodded with satisfaction, arrogant and not rude, this is the posture that a young handsome man should have.

"Anyone who is intelligent often has a different attitude from ordinary people. Like the palms of our hands, they vary in length and size, but each has its own use. ”

"There are few all-rounders in the world, and the assessment system of Yanwang's academy is too comprehensive. As a result, many students have to focus too much on areas that they are not good at. However, everyone's energy is limited, so isn't it impossible for college students to be knowledgeable and refined? ”

Xiang Ao was slightly stunned and looked at Zhou Budo strangely. Isn't this what later generations call teaching students according to their aptitude? Although it is also mentioned in the great treatises of the sages today, there are very few people in the world who can really see it clearly.

"Not only that, but in addition to different abilities, everyone has different personalities."

"King Yan, please imagine, what would happen if an introvert was allowed to preside over the reception of foreign guests?"

Teach according to your sexuality! It seems that he has a treasure again. Xiang Ao looked at Zhou Budo and secretly thought happily.

"Wen Zhi's opinion is really novel, if Wen Zhi is the dean of the college, how should the college system be formulated?"

Zhou Budo seemed to have a manuscript for a long time, and said with a confident face: "On top of the assessment system proposed by King Yan, go hand in hand with the recommended policies of the previous dynasty." Set different rating levels and delegate referral authority to counties. In accordance with the evaluation rules, the county recommends talents to the college on time. After the recommended person comes to the college, the assessment method that is different from ordinary people will be used to determine whether the recommended person is really talented. ”

Isn't this the guarantee of the Hereafter? But in today's society, the escort will not make the hidden dangers of the family rise again, right? Xiang Ao frowned slightly, and said with a little worry: "In this way, if the county is a prestigious descendant, wouldn't it be easier to get a recommendation place?" ”

Zhou Budo smiled lightly and said indifferently: "The recommended talents are for the use of King Yan and Yan Guo, and the academy is under the control of King Yan, King Yan can order again, if the person recommended is not talented, the person who recommended will be punished, and the person who will be recommended will be fined, and the official position will be removed and he will never be hired." ”

Xiang Ao was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly. Yes, you can sit together. If you have the right to recommend, you have the responsibility to recommend!

After a while, Xiang Ao pondered again. If the recommended policy is implemented, for Yan Guo, it can speed up the promotion of talents, but after Xiang Ao leaves, encountering mediocre descendants and ignoring the government will be the biggest loophole in the formation of local hegemony. This idea is good, but the recommendation has to be summed up with Jia Xu, Hu Zhao and others.

Xiang Ao thought so, raised his head, and continued to ask: "In addition to the matter of the academy, does Wen Zhi have any suggestions for other matters in the Yan Kingdom?" ”

If outsiders see Xiang Ao facing this descendant so politely, I am afraid that many people will admire Zhou Budo and be afraid at the same time.

From Xiang Ao's tenure as Shuo Fang Taishou, to the present, in addition to Xiang Ao's own strange decrees and undefeated campaigns, the biggest advantage is to know people. Among the important ministers who entered the Yan country, which one was not discovered by Xiang Ao and even brought out by himself.

However, Xiang Ao's reaction at this time made the young Zhou Budo a little proud.

Zhou Budo looked at Xiang Ao again, and said: "People's livelihood and political affairs are important, which can make the Yanguo regime more stable. However, such as today's situation, it is not allowed for King Yan to focus too much energy on these internal affairs. ”

When Xiang Ao heard this, his brows furrowed slightly, and he secretly asked with some puzzlement: Could it be that this person is not only proficient in political affairs, but also has great insights in military affairs?

"King Yan is now dominating Hebei, and he should have swept the world and unified the Central Plains." Zhou Budo said, glanced at Xiang Ao, found that Xiang Ao did not have a displeased look, and continued: "However, King Yan has always been timid in the area of the Yellow River, coupled with King Yan's attitude towards the family, King Yan has been unable to cross the Yellow River and go south to the Central Plains. ”

"If this stalemate continues, no matter if you are given the opportunity to let King Cao Cao of Chen unify the Central Plains, or Sun Ce, the king of Wu, and Liu Bei, the king of Lu, will be called the lords of the Central Plains, they will become the great enemies of the Yan State to dominate the world in the future."

Xiang Ao looked at Zhou Budo, and asked indifferently, "Wen Zhi thinks he wants to go south immediately?" ”

Zhou Budo nodded, and said in a deep voice: "Cao Cao was originally the most powerful prince under King Yan, but now after Sun Ce takes Jingzhou, King Cao Cao of Chen is about to be destroyed. ”

"If King Yan wants to dominate the world, he naturally wants to go south to attack Cao Cao. Sun Ce now occupies the land of Sanzhou, both the population and the territory are tight, and he can send troops to the north or west at any time. ”

"Sun Ce's navy is extraordinary, but there is a lack of an army capable of fighting. Sun Ce's next step was naturally to send troops to Cao Cao. ”

"King Yan wants to fight Cao Cao, and Sun Ce wants to fight Cao Cao. If the north and the south come out together, Cao Cao may not be able to hold on for even a year. ”

It is also for this reason that Cao Cao took the initiative to send troops to attack Jiujiang, and even directly attacked Sun Ce's lair, Wujun in Yangzhou, in order to make Sun Ce unable to spare time to deal with Jingzhou that he had just taken. Jingzhou is not yet stable, Cao raised a large army to attack Yangzhou at this time, if Sun Ce does not handle it properly, let Jingzhou rebel again, then Sun Ce will suffer from the enemy, giving Cao Cao a chance to take Wu. ”

"The capable people under Sun Ce's command naturally pay the same attention, if they take Yuzhou and Xuzhou before King Yan sends troops, they will be able to divide the north and south of King Yan across the Huai River in the future."

Xiang Ao's brows furrowed deeply, what Zhou Budo just said was also Xiang Ao and Jia Xu and others who had discussed it countless times. If Cao Cao can't be destroyed as soon as possible, after Sun Ce reacts and takes over a lot of territory in Cao Cao's current hands, I don't know how long the time for him to dominate the world will be extended.

"Then from the point of view of Wenzhi, how to attack Cao Cao?"

Zhou Budo smiled confidently and said firmly: "Naturally, the whole line is going south." ”

"With the military talent of the Yan King, he must already have a plan. If Hou Sheng's guess is correct, King Yan may have already Chen Bing Mengjin, Guandu and Pingyuan at this time, and is ready to go south. ”

When Xiang Ao heard this, he frowned and replied, and his face did not change in the slightest.

Zhou Budo didn't pay attention to the reaction he wanted, and continued: "The three lines are all together, and Cao Cao can naturally bring the biggest threat. But for the Yan King, the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Well?! Xiang Ao was slightly stunned, why the gains outweighed the losses.

Without waiting for Xiang Ao to ask, Zhou Budo continued: "Cao Cao's most fearful thing is not Sun Ce, but King Yan. If the north and south are attacked by the enemy, Cao Cao's first choice must be to block King Yan to the north of the Yellow River, and everything else on the way. ”

"But if Cao Cao really chooses to do so, then most of Cao Cao's southern territory will be occupied by Sun Ce. In this way, wouldn't King Yan send troops south to help Sun Ce expand his territory? ”

Xiang Ao frowned, his expression uncertain.

"So what? It's not to fight, won't it give Cao Cao and Sun Ce a chance to unify the Central Plains? ”

Zhou Budo smiled mysteriously and said to Xiang Aozuo: "King Yan, please look at the map." ”

After that, Zhou Budo took the first step to come to the map in Xiang Ao's study, pointed to Jingzhou and asked, "Dare to ask King Yan, what will happen if you go south to Jingzhou at this time?" ”

Xiang Ao stood up, squinting at the map, and after a while, Xiang Ao's hands trembled a little with excitement.

"What does Wen Zhi mean, taking advantage of the time when Cao Cao and Sun Ce are fighting for Jiujiang, and take Jingzhou with the momentum of thunder?"

"Yes and no." Zhou Budo smiled faintly and continued: "If King Yan sends troops from Hanzhong and directly attacks the hinterland of Jingzhou, how will Cao Cao and Sun Ce decide? ”

Xiang Ao racked his brains, and he didn't know what Zhou Budo was going to do, so he said uncertainly: "Sun Ce naturally doesn't need to say much, he will definitely resist, after all, it is not easy for him to come to Jingzhou." Moreover, there are many water systems in Jingzhou, and Sun Ce is estimated to have the confidence to fight with this king. ”

"As for Cao Cao..."Xiang Ao thought for a while and said, "It is very likely that he will take this opportunity to attack Yangzhou." ”

"King Yan's guess is true." Zhou Budo took over and said: "If this is the case, Cao Cao, who originally seemed to be perishable at any time, after capturing Yangzhou, forced Sun Ce's army to the area of Daojiaozhou. ”

"Coupled with the soldiers of Yanwang Jingzhou, it will be a blessing that Sun Ce will not be destroyed by then."

"But in this way, after Cao Cao has no worries, he occupies the richest states in the world, and I don't know how long the time for King Yan to dominate the world will be extended."

Xiang Ao was a little unhappy, Zhou Budo's analysis was good, neither he nor Jia Xu thought of sending troops to Jingzhou, but Zhou Budo kept hanging his appetite like this, which made Xiang Ao very unhappy.

Zhou Budo seemed to see Xiang Ao's mood, and he no longer hid it, and said: "According to Fang Cai's analysis, King Yan sent troops to Jingzhou, and Cao Cao naturally ignored it for the time being, and at most he would send troops to interfere a little as an alliance with Liu Bei. ”

"If Cao Cao has been oppressed in adversity for a long time, not only does he get a chance to breathe, but there is also a large piece of land waiting for Cao Cao to recover, what does King Yan think will happen to Cao Cao and the so-called strategists under Cao Cao?"

"After King Yan captured Runan and Nanjun, he suddenly turned his spear, no longer went south, and directly attacked Cao Cao Yuzhou, what will happen to Cao Cao?"

"When Cao Cao reacts, when King Yan is plotting against Yuzhou and Yanzhou, he will send troops from Puyang and directly attack the hinterland of Cao Cao's Yanzhou, what will Cao Cao do?"

Following Zhou Budo's strategy, a huge battlefield appeared in Xiang Ao's mind.

When Cao Cao's army went south, when Sun Ce's army was entangled with him in Jingzhou, he suddenly sent troops to the Yellow River, Cao Cao's Qingzhou, Yanzhou...

"Hahaha..."Xiang Ao thought about it, and suddenly laughed wildly.

"Wen Zhi, Wen Zhi, you are really a talent!" After Xiang Ao laughed, he said solemnly: "I don't know if Wen Zhi dares to go to the battlefield with this king at this time?" ”

Zhou Budo was stunned for a moment, and then he was also excited, and bowed deeply to Xiang Ao: "Zhou Budo, meet the lord!" ”

"Hahaha... Ok, good, good! ”

"Ping'er! Hurry up and call all the uncles to come over, this king wants them to see, what is called the back waves of the Yangtze River pushing the front waves, a mountain and a mountain high! ”

Xiang Ping was also very happy, first, he was happy that his confidant, who had known him for a short time, was recognized by his father, and he was happy that his father-in-law had another talent.

"Yes, Father!" Xiang Ping took the order and sent people to the various waiting houses in Yecheng.

After returning to Yanguo from the Northern Expedition, Xiang Ao gave his courtiers the title of Marquis according to their merits. Originally, heroes like Hu Zhao, Jia Xu, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei and others who followed Xiang Ao to make meritorious contributions could be crowned kings, but Xiang Ao did not claim the title of emperor at this time, and there was no other way for the time being.

For the previous dynasty, it may be extremely harmful to seal the king of the opposite sex. But in today's Yan Kingdom, the title is just a symbol of honor, there is no money, there is no real power, and there is no great threat to Xiang Ao's regime.

And Xiang Ao has already thought that as long as someone is willing to accept the title of king, he will cut off all his military and political positions. The imperial court will issue a reward for the response according to the previous merits.

There are not many people, only enough for meritorious people to support a family of more than 100 people. If you want to have a better life after retiring, you can lease land to the imperial court at a low price and cultivate it yourself. It is also possible to do business, and only pay 70% of the normal taxes and fees within 10 years.

Xiang Ao summoned a group of civil and military ministers, not only to introduce Zhou Budo to everyone, but also to discuss with everyone to supplement and change the strategy proposed by Zhou Budo.

In terms of strategy, a group of civil ministers and military generals almost unanimously approved, but in terms of details, a lot of additions have been made.

Originally, Zhou Budo still boasted that he was smart, and few people in the world could match him, but when Jia Xu, Hu Zhao, Pang Tong, Xi Zhong and others came, Zhou Budo realized how shallow his knowledge was.

The appearance of so many capable people at once made Zhou Budo become a lot more low-key, but the pride in his heart made Zhou Budo more and more eager to make achievements to prove himself.