Since the ninth year of Jian'an, the general Yuan Xi captured Xuzhou and became the largest force in the north, he never participated in the conquest between the princes of the Central Plains, but focused on dealing with foreign invaders. In the tenth year of Jian'an, the general Yuan Xi sent Zhang Jaw and Sima Yi to attack the island country in the east, eliminate the Japanese forces, and change it to Dongying County, which was included in the territory of the Han Dynasty.

A year later, the three Korean coalition forces rebelled and attacked Liaodong. The general Yuan Xi resolutely went on an expedition, and spent another year to conquer Sanhan, recover the entire territory of Youzhou, expand the territory of the Han Dynasty again, and spend a lot of manpower and material resources to develop Liaodong and Liaoxi.

Although the general Yuan Xi opened up territory for the Han Dynasty and obtained a large number of wild lands in the north, he did not help much for his real strength, and he had to spend energy to develop, so he was not favored by short-sighted people, thinking that he should take advantage of the victory to pursue, go south to eliminate Cao Cao, unify the Central Plains, and then unify the world.

Of course, there are also people who think that the general Yuan Xi is steadily expanding his territory, and among the princes, Yuan Xi is the youngest, and in another five or ten years, the world will sooner or later fall into Yuan Xi's hands. This person is Zhuge Liang.

Since Zhuge Liang missed Huang Yueying, he met Cai Mao's daughter. Cai Xi was unwilling to marry Liu Cong, so he took Zhuge Liang to see Cai Mao, saying that he had made a private agreement with Zhuge Liang for life and would not marry Liu Cong again. Cai Mao was angry, although Zhuge Liang was dignified, but he didn't think that this person could help him win Jingzhou, and asked Zhuge Liang: "Zhuge Kongming, right, I've heard of you, although you are a little famous, but what can you help me?" You're a commoner, can you be worthy of my daughter? ”

Cai Xiqiang pulled Zhuge Liang to persuade Cai Mao, although the relationship between the two was not so close, but she didn't want Zhuge Liang to be blamed by Cai Mao, and was about to say something to help, but she saw Zhuge Liang with a light look, and replied with a smile: "What General Cai said is extremely true, of course I am not worthy of Miss Cai as a civilian, but Kong Ming can still help the general, I wonder if the general can borrow a step to speak?" ”

Although Cai Mao didn't want to see Zhuge Liang, he heard that this person was outstanding, and it didn't hurt to see it, so the two came to the study. Zhuge Liang said respectfully to Cai Mao: "The general's concern should be to continue to hold the power of Jingzhou, but Kong Ming thinks that this matter has nothing to do with Miss Cai, and I guess that Cao Jun will definitely take advantage of the inability of the general Yuan Xi to go south and seize Jingzhou." Let me ask General Cai, with Liu Cong's ability, can Jingzhou hold it? ”

Zhuge Liang's words suddenly made Cai Mao fall into contemplation, and after a long time, Cai Mao softened his tone and asked: "Cao Jun does have the possibility of going south, but there is Liu Bei guarding in the north, and I have more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in Jingzhou, as long as Cao Cao is dragged back, when the general Yuan Xi returns to the army, Cao Cao can only helplessly collect his troops, and Jingzhou can be protected." ”

Cai Mao looked very open, and was most optimistic about Yuan Xi, and felt that Yuan Xi would definitely not sit back and watch Cao Cao become stronger, if it weren't for the remoteness of Jizhou, maybe he would marry his daughter to Yuan Xi and tie up the relationship. Zhuge Liang is entrusted by people and loyal to people, but he doesn't want to mess up the things that a little girl explains, so he said patiently: "General Cai overestimated Uncle Liu's strength, although Uncle Liu Huang has Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, no one can give him advice, he will definitely vote for Jiangxia, Liu Cong will definitely surrender in the face of the powerful Cao army, but pity Miss Cai, I heard that Cao Cao likes other people's wives the most!" ”

Zhuge Liang's analysis made Cai Mao hesitate, and secretly thought about the gap between the Jingzhou army and the Cao army in his heart. Cai Mao is confident in his own naval army, but the land battle, the division of the Cao army in a hundred battles, and now with the help of the Xiliang cavalry, it is not something he can resist.

Cai Mao also realized Zhuge Liang's talent and foresight at this time, and began to woo him: "Then according to Kong Ming's opinion, what should I do?" ”

Kong Ming saw that Cai Mao began to pay attention to himself and his task was almost completed, so he suddenly felt relaxed and said confidently: "Liang has three strategies, and I hope the general will not laugh." The best policy is that the general can accept Liu Bei, and after Liu Cong surrenders, the general can continue to resist. Yuan Xi went south, Cao Cao returned north, and the general took the opportunity to seize Jingzhou, and continued to order Liu Bei to guard Xinye and resist Cao Cao, so Jingzhou had no worries. ”

Although Cai Mao agrees with Kong Ming's strategy, he has a deep prejudice against Liu Bei, and looks down on Liu Bei who goes around to others, and does not want to cooperate until he has to. Cai Mao continued to ask: "Kong Ming doesn't know, I don't like Liu Bei's hypocrisy, I don't want to be with him, Kong Ming can talk about the middle strategy and the next strategy." ”

Kong Ming also knew that Cai Mao was unlikely to join forces with Liu Bei, so he was also prepared, and said confidently: "The middle strategy is to wait for Liu Bei to be defeated and not accepted, and let him go to Jiangxia." The general can pretend to surrender, even if Cao Cao gets Jingzhou, he will not be able to stabilize Jingzhou, and when he returns to the north, he will definitely guard against Liu Cong and ignore the general, and the general can take advantage of the situation to gather the old troops and retake Jingzhou. As for the next policy, it is to take refuge in the general Yuan Xi, but Hebei has a navy, Yuan Xi should reuse the general, but the general is no longer as free as in Jingzhou. ”

Although Cai Mao's ability is average, he is still ambitious, and after listening to Zhuge Liang's middle and lower strategies, he decided to choose the middle strategy, as Zhuge Liang said, Cao Cao will not be able to stabilize Jingzhou in a short period of time, and he must reuse himself, and Jingzhou will still have the final say in the future. Although it is the most reliable to take refuge in Yuan Xi, even if Yuan Xi lacks the generals of the water army, he may not necessarily give himself too much power, and he is not as happy as Jingzhou.

Cai Mao decided to choose the middle strategy, and also recognized Zhuge Liang's ability, hoping that Zhuge Liang could stay and help him, even if Cai Xi and Zhuge Liang's marriage could be discussed. Zhuge Liang didn't think that Cai Mao was worth taking refuge in, he just helped Cai Xi out of the siege, and politely refused: "Liang is shallow in learning, and it is difficult to be a big responsibility, this time I was also entrusted by Miss Cai to explain to the general." Cai Mao saw that Zhuge Liang rejected his kindness, and he was unhappy, but he was not reluctant, but now young people think very highly of themselves.

After Zhuge Liang came out, he happily said to Cai Xi: "Liang has lived up to his expectations and has persuaded General Cai, Miss Cai doesn't have to worry about it anymore." Cai Xi was relieved to see that he didn't have to marry Liu Cong, I don't know if his father really did a fake show, and he was a little looking forward to recruiting Zhuge Liang as Xu.

After Cai Mao came out, he didn't mention it, but said lightly: "Since Xi'er doesn't want to, I won't force it, your aunt will explain it to her father!" Zhuge Liang saw that something was going to happen, so he quit and went back to Longzhong, and Cai Xi could only be secretly lost. Cai Mao comforted her daughter and said: "Don't worry, it is impossible for a person who knows the world well to have no ideas, and I am his best choice in the great Jingzhou, but he can't put it down and relies on a woman to be an official." ”

Indeed, as Cai Mao said, Zhuge Liang has the heart to take refuge in the Ming Lord, but he thinks that the Han family is orthodox and must assist the Han family. Yuan Xi once invited Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang hesitated at that time, whether to go to Luoyang, although Luoyang is nominally for the Han family, in fact, it should be for Yuan Xi, Yuan Xi is not the orthodoxy of the Han family, and it is also the fundamental reason why Zhuge Liang did not go. The rest of the Han clansmen, Liu Zhang of Yizhou and Liu Biao of Jingzhou, were self-satisfied people and had no enterprising spirit. The only one left is Liu Bei, although he has the name of benevolence and righteousness, his strength is too weak, even if he is unable to return to heaven. Zhuge Liang could also see it, and began to entertain himself in Longzhong again, waiting for the master.

Although history did not run according to the original trajectory, Liu Bei did not know Zhuge Liang because of Xu Shu's introduction, and it was already destined that Liu Bei met Mr. Shuijing because he was lost. Mr. Shui Jing saw that Liu Bei was a relative of the Han family and treated people sincerely, so he recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei has been running for half his life for the ambition in his heart, and he is strong-willed, and at this moment he also understands that what he lacks is a military advisor who can strategize. Liu Bei heard that Zhuge Liang compared himself to Zhong Leyi, and was recommended by Mr. Shuijing, a famous man in Jingzhou, so he immediately prepared gifts and went to visit Zhuge Liang with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Zhuge Liang was moved by Liu Bei's sincerity and decided to go out of the mountain to assist Liu Bei.