After the news of Qiao Mao's death spread, the princes of the world were shaken, and it is conceivable that because of the war in Yanzhou, the princes finally tore open the layer of window paper, and the secret battle turned into an open dispute.

In this form, Xu Chu and Cao Cao also began to increase the reconnaissance around Luoyang, and more and more spies were sent out, so while rectifying the soldiers and horses, the scouts lurking around Luoyang sent Dong Jun's recent situation back to Yingchuan in a steady stream, Xu Chu and Cao Cao basically took time to get together every day, and analyzed the changes in Dong Jun with the information they fed back.

Half a month later, according to the information obtained, it was learned that the morale of Dong Jun was declining day by day, mainly in military discipline.

The army under Dong Zhuo's command has poor military discipline, not only his own Qinhu soldiers and horses, Huang Zhongyi's military discipline is not good, but also Lu Bu's military discipline is also very poor. With the long stay in the ruins of Luoyang, more and more soldiers and horses went out of the camp to loot without permission, not only Luoyang, but also Yique, Dagu, and Yuyuan Sanguan also regarded the camp and looting as the norm, and military reports were sent from Liangxian, Yangcheng, Lunshi and other places every day, saying that Dong Jun would take men and horses to loot. In addition to the increase in plunder, there was also the laxity of daily drills, as well as the vigilance inside and outside the camp, which gradually became full of loopholes.

On this day, Xu Chu went to Yang Zhai Taishou Mansion as usual to prepare to discuss the day of sending troops together with Cao Cao. After stepping into the county mansion, he met Xiahoudun in the front yard, Xu Chu smiled and asked, "Yuan Rang, is Meng De inside?" ”

Xiahoudun replied: "Xu Hou came just in time, Meng De was meeting with the guests in the hall. ”

Got guests?

Xu Chu tried to say: "Since there are guests visiting, I will come back later." Then he turned around and was leaving.

Xiahoudun caught up from behind, shook his hand, and said, "Xu Houmo is in a hurry to leave, Meng De said, if you come, go straight to the hall to talk to each other." ”

"Oh?"

"The guest is from Yicheng."

"Yicheng? But Liu Jingsheng's messenger? ”

"Xu Hou is right, it is Liu Jingzhou's envoy."

Since it was an envoy from Jingzhou, it must be related to the current situation, so Xu Chu went back to the county hall. When he arrived at the door, he took off his shoes and walked in with a big grin, but saw a man dressed as a scribe about thirty miles away sitting in the hall and facing Cao Cao. Saying that he is a scribe, in fact, it is biased, when Xu Chu entered the door, he deliberately looked at it, although he was dressed very civilly, but his fingers were thick, and his arms were also very strong, obviously a person who practiced martial arts.

The man saw Xu Chu walking in without being informed, and he also glanced at Xu Chu's appearance and dress a few times, then got up and left the table, and saluted Xu Chu: "Nanjun Zhang Yun, I have seen Zhaowu Hou." ”

In just a moment, he could clearly analyze his identity, and Xu Chu couldn't help but praise: "Fortunately, I will be lucky." Zhang Jun not only has extraordinary appearance, but also has wisdom, which is really rare. ”

Before meeting this Zhang Yun, Xu Chu also met a 'Zhang Yun' in Lujiang. Relatively speaking, Xu Chu is still familiar with the Zhang Yun in front of him, but this is because in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", there is a familiar plot of 'Jiang Gan stealing books', and this Zhang Yun was mistakenly killed by Cao Cao in the book.

After the greetings, Xu Chu smiled at Cao Cao and said, "Brother Meng De, Zhang Jun came this time to ......."

Cao Cao invited Xu Chu to sit down, and asked rhetorically: "Does Zhong Kang know Cai Deqi?" ”

Xu Chu thought about it, shook his head and said, "I really don't know, I hope my brother will teach me." ”

"Cai Deqi is a son of the Cai family of the famous Xiangyang clan, and his clan brothers are a Zhan and a Yan, both of whom were once guards and ministers, and his father Cai Gong is sarcastic, and he has an in-law with the late Taiwei Zhang Wen." Cao Cao touched his beard and said, "I have like-minded interests with Cai Dejun, we met in Luoyang when we were young, and we made friends, so today is Zhang Jun's visit, Zhang Jun is Cai Dejun's in-law." ”

As soon as he said this, Xu Chu knew. Cai Deqi turned out to be Cai Mao, the relationship between Cai Mao and Cao Cao, Xu Chu knew, in history, Cao Cao was able to get Jingxiang without much effort, and his relationship with Cai Mao was one of the very important reasons.

learned from Cao Cao that Zhang Yun and Cai Mao had an in-law relationship, so this time Zhang Yun sent an envoy from Yicheng to Yingchuan, probably under Liu Biao's orders.

Just when Xu Chu was guessing Liu Biao's intention of sending people over, Cao Cao said again: "Before Zhong Kang came, I had a deep conversation with Zhang Jun. Zhongkang, Liu Jingsheng's situation is very bad. ”

After speaking, he glanced at Zhang Yun, Zhang Yun understood, and said what he had said to Cao Cao to Xu Chu again.

However, it is said that Liu Biao entered Jingzhou alone after being worshiped by the imperial court as the assassin of Jingzhou, but because Nanyang County, the richest and most populous county in Jingzhou, was occupied by Yuan Shu, he could only go to Yicheng to live temporarily.

After arriving in Yicheng, Liu Biao did not have a single soldier around him, and most of the counties in Jingzhou except Nanyang were occupied by the sect party entrenched here, these sects had deep roots and were extremely rampant, and now the world was in chaos, although they were very rampant, Liu Biao was helpless. At this time, the three of them suddenly came to Yicheng - Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao.

The Cai family is a famous family in Xiangyang, the strength is strong, and the Kuai family is not far behind, in the land of Jingzhou is the number of the right surname family, and the two brothers Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue are also the same as Cai Mao, and they have long enjoyed a good reputation in the state and county, as soon as they came, Liu Biao finally had the capital to recover Jingzhou.

But even with the help of the Cai family and the Kuai family, there was the threat of Nanyang Yuan Shu outside, and the hidden danger of sect thieves and troubles inside, Liu Biao finally decided to ask for help from other forces, so he chose Xu Chu and Cao Cao as potential allies.

After listening to Zhang Yun's words, Xu Chu secretly thought to himself: Liu Biao told me and Cao Cao about the Cai family and the Kuai family, and he was telling us that he also had a certain strength, but these strengths were not enough to be very sure to resist the two forces of Yuan Shu and the sect thief, so he wanted to form an alliance with us.

Xu Chu smiled and said: "Liu Jingzhou is an upright gentleman, well-known at home, I have admired him for a long time, but unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to see him." Then he got up and walked to Cao Cao and said, "Take a step to speak." ”

The two came to the side room, and Xu Chu said: "Brother Meng De, Liu Jingsheng and Yuan Highway, which one do you prefer to enter Jingzhou?" ”

Cao Cao sighed: "The matter of Jingzhou, the foolish brother has long wanted to talk to you, but he forgot about it for a while. After a pause, Cao Cao pondered and said: "Yuan Highway was born in a noble family, his temperament is arrogant, at this time he should have the ambition to swallow Jing and Henan Erzhou, before he had secretly communicated with Kong Ling, wanting to be unfavorable to us, obviously treating us as a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh, if Jingzhou is obtained by it, you and I will have no peaceful day." ”

Xu Chu nodded heavily and said: "Having said that, the second time to fight Dong is imminent, you and I have no extra troops, in case Yuan Highway unites with the thieves at this time, I am afraid that Liu Biao will be unable to resist, and there is only one way to lose." ”

The two were silent for a long time, each thinking about it.

Cao Cao will live in Yingchuan for a long time in the future, and Yuan Shu is his main opponent, which is much more dangerous than Liu Biao, so Cao Cao attaches great importance to the arrival of Liu Biao's envoy this time.

Xu Chu took a fancy to Liu Biao as a potential ally on the one hand, but on the other hand, because he knew that Jingxiang had many scholars, if he had a good relationship with Liu Biao, it would be much more convenient for Jingzhou to recruit talents in the future, and Yuan Shu was always a scourge and could not let him sit big.

Recalling the details he knew about Liu Biao after he entered Jingzhou in the past, Xu Chu had a flash of inspiration and said: "Brother Mengde, I have a way!" ”

"What's the solution?"

"Two letters are enough."

"Huh?"

"One goes to Yicheng, and the other goes to Liang County."

Xu Chu immediately talked to Cao Cao in detail, and after Cao Cao heard this, he stroked his palms and laughed: "Good plan!" ”

......

......

Yicheng, Liu Biao's residence.

When Zhang Yun brought back Xu Chu's letter, Liu Biaozheng was talking about the current situation in Jingzhou with Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and Cai Mao. Because the alliance with Xu Chu and Cao Cao was very important, after Zhang Yun arrived in Yicheng, Liu Biao suspended the meeting and immediately summoned Zhang Yun.

After learning about Xu Chu and Cao Cao's attitude from Zhang Yun, Liu Biao was overjoyed and said to everyone: "My big thing has come to an end. After reading Xu Chu's letter, Liu Biao was even more surprised: "I heard that Xu Zhongkang is a 'Yuzhou Tiger', but looking at his letter, he is a person with outstanding wisdom, which is strange." ”

He circulated the letter, and when everyone read it, they were amazed.

It turned out that in the letter, Xu Chu first said that he and Cao Cao were willing to help Liu Biao, and he was sure that Yuan Shu would unintentionally hinder the six counties of Jingzhou except Nanyang County in the short term, but because Cao Cao's Yingchuan County and Xu Chu's Lujiang County were both bordering Jingzhou, after Liu Biao got Jingzhou, he must help Xu Chu and Cao Cao in the next war.

After that, it was Xu Chu's suggestion to Liu Biao.

As for the sect, Xu Chu said that most of the leaders of the sect were brutal and greedy people, and their subordinates were actually alienated from them, and they had heard that Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue were quite popular in the state, so they could lure the leaders of the sect to come to the meeting, and these people would not be suspicious, and they could be executed when the time came, and then rely on the Cai clan and Kuai clan's men and horses to raid various places and calmly absorb these people's subordinates. In this way, the internal troubles are eliminated.

In terms of Yuan Shu, Xu Chu suggested that Liu Biao move the state administration office from Changyi to Xiangyang, and arrange heavy troops in Xiangyang, so that he could defend the north well, and then arrange a soldier and horse in Jiangling, so that his henchmen could guard it, and the south could also be defended. In this way, the external worries will be unbearable.

......, Liu Biao sighed: "Different degrees, the so-called heroes see the same thing, it should be like this." ”

Kuai Yue, the word is different.

Just now, he made a plan with Liu Biao, and his plan was the same as Xu Chu.

Kuai Yue also said in disbelief: "I have lived in Nanjun for a long time, so it is not surprising that I can come up with this plan, but Xu Hou is far away in Yingchuan, but he can also adapt measures to local conditions, and make people throw themselves on the ground." ”

When Cai Mao heard this, his face was colorful, and the plan to unite Xu Chu and Cao Cao was exactly what he proposed, and now it seems that not only this plan can be sold, but Xu Chu also gave Liu Biao a plan, which can be described as an unexpected joy, and he is very happy. In addition to being happy, Cai Mao said deeply to the two places mentioned in Xu Chu's letter to guard Xiangyang and Jiangling: "Uncle Fang, Xiangyang and Jiangling are indeed important towns in the north and south of Nanjun. ”

Liu Biao said: "What De Jue said is very good, and if this is the case, I will ask you to work hard." There are also De Jue and Zirou, who are about to use troops, so please return to your hometown as soon as possible and gather manpower to wait for an emergency. ”

After speaking, Liu Biao left the table and saluted deeply to the three of them, "Please." ”

......

......

Liu Biao sent Kuai Yue to lure the leaders of the sect party, and sent Cai Mao and Kuai Liang to recruit troops in Zhonglu and Xiangyang, and after the arrangements were properly arranged, Zhang Yun was asked to rush to Yangzhai with a reply letter to meet Xu Chu and Cao Cao at the first time.

After seeing Zhang Yun in the Taishou Mansion, Xu Chu immediately returned to the barracks and summoned the civil and military affairs.

"The letter written by the lord to General Sun, there is also news from Luyang, it is said that General Sun and Yuan Highway argued with each other in the court over whether to please Dong or Liu, and finally broke up unhappily." Guo Jia smiled.

Xu Chu's letter to Sun Jian was the finishing touch to deal with the situation in Jingzhou this time, because he knew that Sun Jian was bent on courting Dong and thus seeking fame in the world for himself, while Yuan Shu was full of energy to take Jingzhou and prepare for his future hegemony in the world. The two of them have a fundamental contradiction, but in normal times, the two use each other and do not show it, and after Xu Chu wrote a letter and pointed out, he showed Sun Jian the analysis of the situation in Jingzhou, and Sun Jian, the tiger, was anxious.

Yuan Shu conquered Jingzhou, and he would definitely have to mobilize large troops, so the grain and grass delivered to Liang County would have to be suspended, so that Sun Jian would definitely not agree when he knew that the morale of the Dong army was gradually decreasing. Besides, what is the benefit of Yuan Shu taking Jingzhou and his Sun Jian, the assassin of Jingzhou can only be done by him Yuan Shu himself, is it difficult for him Sun Jian to return to Changsha County and continue to stay under Yuan Shu as his minions?

After weighing the pros and cons, Sun Jian rode to Luyang to see Yuan Shu that night.

As soon as Sun Jian returned to Luyang, Xu Chu knew that Yuan Shu would definitely not be able to let go of his hands and feet to deal with Liu Biao for the time being. Sun Jian's courage can be called the tiger general of the world, Yuan Shu originally planned to let Sun Jian be the main force to attack Nanjun, but now Sun Jian has made it clear that he wants to continue to fight against Dong, then his battle will not be easy to fight, after all, Liu Jian has the support of Cai Mao and others, and he can completely stick to Xiangyang, making it difficult for him to go south.

Xu Chu listened to Guo Jia's words, and said with a smile: "Now the two tigers in Jingzhou are fighting, and it is also a good thing for us to discuss Dong." ”

Xin Bi didn't understand what he meant, and asked, "What did the prince say about this?" ”

"George, let me ask you, imagine if you were a member of the Dong army, what would you think when you heard that Liu Jingsheng was making a big move in Yicheng and was going to fight for Jingzhou with Yuan Shu?"

Xin Bi clapped his hands and said: "I will definitely think: Yuan Shu's soldiers and horses all the way, there is no need to think about it anymore!" ”

Xi Zhong interjected: "Yes, first the sour jujube was scattered all the way, and then the two tigers of Jingzhou competed with each other, and the princes of Dong Shulu were already folded in half, and the only survivors were with Hanel, and Hanoi's Yuan Che rode hehe, hehe, I am afraid that he will not raise troops to attack Dong again." Dong Jun has been war-weary for a long time, and now the pressure has dropped sharply, in my opinion, ......." glanced at everyone, and then said: "Lord, everyone, the day when you send troops to return to Luo is not far away!" ”