Liu Bei accompanied Yuan Shao to the back garden wing.

Entering the room, Yuan Shao said to Liu Bei: "Xuande has suffered recently. ”

Sighing, Liu Bei said: "If it weren't for the Yuan family, I would have been buried in Xuzhou, and now I have picked up a life, where can I dare to say bitterness." ”

Xuande sat down and spoke. Yuan Shao sat down on the main seat and gestured to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei sat facing Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao asked, "When you were in Xudu, how did you feel there?" ”

"Go back to Yuan Gong." Liu Bei said: "Cao Cao has been running Xudu for many years, and there are many businessmen there, which can definitely be called a rich place. ”

"How does it compare to Yecheng?" Yuan Shao asked.

Liu Bei hesitated for a moment and did not answer immediately.

"Xuande has something to say, you and I are not outsiders, so you don't have to be restrained." Yuan Shao said.

"Don't hide it from Duke Yuan, Xu Du may be a little worse than Yecheng at present, but in a few years, he will not lose to Yecheng." Liu Bei bowed his head and answered.

Yuan Shao frowned slightly, and asked him, "Why does Xuande have such a judgment?" ”

"Cao Cao has recruited talents in recent years, and there are many talented people around him." Liu Bei said: "Cao Zirong fought in the south and the north again, and now he has captured Xuzhou and other places, and the Cao family is in full swing. Give them another two years, and Xudu, Xuzhou and other places will definitely be very different from before. ”

"Xuande thinks so highly of Cao Mengde, why did he leave Xu Du?" Yuan Shao asked.

"Don't hide it from Yuan Gong." Liu Bei said: "Cao Cao coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, and now His Majesty secretly crusaded against him, but he didn't expect to leak the secret before he could get into trouble, Dong Cheng and others were killed, and I also escaped by luck." For the sake of His Majesty, I had to occupy Xuzhou, intending to contend with the Cao family, but I didn't expect to be defeated by Cao Zirong......"

Speaking of this, Liu Bei sighed heavily again, and said to Yuan Shao: "I can't live up to Your Majesty's ...... today."

"Xuande doesn't have to blame himself." Yuan Shao said: "Your Majesty must know your hard work. ”

"What if you know?" Liu Bei began to wipe away his tears again as he spoke: "Thinking that Your Majesty is still suffering in Xudu, I ...... in my heart."

"There's one more thing I want to ask Xuande." Yuan Shao ignored his crying, but asked him, "What do you think Cao Mengde will do next?" ”

"The Cao family has won Xuzhou, Hanoi, Hedong and other places, and their strength in the south is not very strong, I don't think Cao Cao will send troops south." When Liu Bei said this, he didn't continue.

"And what do you think they're up to?" Yuan Shao asked.

Liu Bei lowered his head and did not say a word.

He didn't speak, in fact, he gave Yuan Shao the most direct answer.

Breaking through Yijing, the Yuan family in Hebei has no other way to go except Nangu.

And if Cao Cao wants to stabilize everything he has gained, he must also turn his energy to Hebei.

War between the two sides is imminent.

With a slight frown, Yuan Shao stood up and walked to the window.

Looking out the window, he asked Liu Bei: "Could it be that Cao Mengde still dares to plot against Hebei?" ”

"Cao Cao's ambition is not small, and Yuan Gong is better to be careful." Liu Bei got up and saluted and said.

Yuan Shao didn't speak again, his face had become a little gloomy.

Liu Bei fled to Hebei, and Cao Shuo was also stepping up the development of Huainan, Xuzhou and other places.

On the shore of Huaishui between Shouchun and Xia Cai, more than ten miles away from the commercial ferry port that has been built, a new ferry port is being built.

On the ferry, Cao Jun's soldiers and many people carried supplies back and forth.

Cao Shuo looked at the busy soldiers with both hands.

"I heard that Gongzi was going to build a water port, and many people came here to help." Standing behind Cao Shuo, Pang Tong said: "At this rate, the port will be completed in just three or two months." ”

"I don't just want a port, I need more ships." Cao Shuo asked, "Is there a herald for the craftsmen to build big ships?" ”

"There are many craftsmen in the vicinity of Zhongli who are good at building warships." Pang Tong said: "I don't understand until now, Gongzi has a plan for a long time to be here. ”

"We have been on a conquest in the Central Plains for a long time." Cao Shuo said: "The rivers of the Central Plains are crisscrossed, but they are not like the big rivers in the south. In the future, our Cao family will definitely go to the south, and there will be no naval army, how can we cross the Yangtze River? ”

"That's what Childe said." Pang Tong said: "I understand why Gongzi set up a naval army, but I don't quite understand the purpose of building a seaport in the bay. ”

"It's the same thing." Cao Shuo smiled slightly and said to Pang Tong: "The seaports built in Xuzhou and other places are actually to support our army to fight at sea. Now that I have men and horses under my command, I am going to develop an army that is as strong on land as it is on water. ”

"It's just a pity that the population is not large." Pang Tong said: "Although there have been a lot of newborn babies recently, it will take at least ten years for them to grow up. ”

"When it comes to newborn babies, I haven't asked much lately." Cao Shuo asked, "How many families have added new children, and what is the ratio of men to women?" ”

"Newborn babies are also more female than male." Pang Tong said: "However, the enthusiasm of every family to have children is not low, and many women give birth to children, and then they become pregnant." ”

"Good thing." "The more they give birth, the faster the population increases," Cao said. It's just that you have to send someone to remind the families of those women that it is very difficult to have children, so that their families can provide more nourishment. ”

"Don't worry, Childe, I have already ordered to go down." Pang Tong replied.

He then said to Cao Shuo: "The scout has sent back news that Liu Xuande has gone to Yecheng. ”

"He went to Yecheng?" Cao Shuo asked Pang Tong, "When did it happen?" ”

"Just for a few days." Pang Tong said: "It is said that Yuan Shao also convened his staff to discuss whether to use troops against the Cao family. ”

"What should come is coming." Cao Shuo said: "Yuan Shao's acceptance of Liu Xuande is a signal to our Cao family, he has noticed the growth of the Cao family, and I am afraid that the war will not be too long." ”

"That's what Childe said." Pang Tong said: "After years of fighting, not long after taking Xuzhou, the soldiers didn't even have time to breathe, and Hebei was about to have an accident again." ”

"I've been thinking about one thing lately." Cao Shuo said: "The officers and men of our army have been assigned to various military households, and when the war comes, the standing army may not be very sufficient. At the beginning, this arrangement was made to promote a faster increase in the population, and secondly, the fields were barren and there was not much grain and grass, and the people could not afford to support so many soldiers. Now that the first crop of grain has been harvested, and the treasury has been filled with grain and grass, is it time to establish a standing army? ”

"Like the Cao Gonghu Guard?" Pang Tong asked.

"I plan to control the ratio of the number of standing armies to the population to 100 to 1, so that the people can afford to raise a large army, and in case of an emergency, the soldiers can also come and respond, what do you think?" Cao Shuo asked.

(End of chapter)