In the summer of the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Zhou Yu, the governor of the Jiangdong Naval Army, led the princes of Sun, Cao, Yuan, and Liu to unite 120,000 and launched an attack on the Fubo army of the defenders of Xiaoguan in the name of the Qing monarch's side. Ma Chao, the commander of the Fubo army, listened to the advice of the mastermind Fa Zheng, avoided its edge, fought and retreated, and retreated all the way to Dingtao after giving up Xiaoguan.

Zhou Yu led the army to "pursue the victory", pressing step by step, and the troops were on the verge of Dingtao. At the same time, Yuan Xi went out of Huguan and entered the party; Cao Cao gathered 100,000 troops and set off from Xiaopei and took Shanyang directly; Sun Ce crossed the Yangtze River and divided his troops to approach Shouchun and Jiangxia. Of the four alliances, three have already started, but only Jingnan Liu Bei did not move.

Changan

Today is the Great Dynasty Meeting, the Chinese military ministers gathered together, Liu Xie, the son of the Han Dynasty, glanced at the calm ministers, and said slowly: "Not bad, look at their complexion is good, I believe that they rested well last night." Gossip is not to say, the thieves have done it, and they are ready to die and come back to life, and I believe that all the ministers know this in their hearts, so I will not talk about it anymore. Next, Xun Situ announced the appointment of the court's ministers. ”

Xun Yu coughed lightly, got up and stood on the lower left of Liu Xie, and loudly announced that the imperial court would enter a wartime state from this time on, and officials at all levels had their own tasks......

As early as last year, there were rumors that the hundreds of officials in the DPRK and China were also mentally prepared, so when Zhou Yu led the combined army to attack Xiao Pass, the 100 officials in the DPRK and China were not surprised.

If you fight, you can fight, what else can you do? It's all knocked on the door, do you still want to be appeased? The family has surplus food, and there is no panic in my heart. After five years of savings, the court now wants money, grain and food, and the most important thing is that there is a strong army loyal to the Han. Sun, Cao, Yuan, and Liu came to attack, and the court was not afraid.

As for the reasons for those "chaotic ministers and thieves" to send troops, they are just repeating the same old tune, and there is nothing new, and Liu Xie didn't even bother to mention it. When the battle is over, the next thing is to see who will take the knife.

For the victory or defeat of this battle, Liu Xie has absolute confidence. Except for Lu Bu, who was far away in the Western Regions, and Xu Huang, who was guarding Yanmen, Liu Xie was ready to play a big game. The family has a solid foundation for this benefit, and there are enough resources for Liu to coordinate his efforts. Sun, Cao, Yuan, and Liu also sent troops to fight after forming the combined army, and I am afraid that the idea of fighting was to make the imperial court lack skills, so that they were defeated by the alliance army one by one. But as early as the alliance of the four families soon after the secret order to start the expansion of the army, Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun and others at this time in the hands of the soldiers and horses in their hands is no longer the original 20,000, but the current 50,000, with 50,000 in hand, whether it is Zhang Liao or Zhao Yun, they are confident to fight with the invading enemy.

The war will inevitably enter a stalemate, and at that time, Liu Xie's pro-army of the Son of Heaven will also come in handy. The five main armies of the imperial court were given the opportunity to expand their troops, and the army of the Son of Heaven was even more expanded. Although Liu Xie did not want to affect the combat strength of each battalion in the army by adding too many people, he still recruited 40,000 people as a standing force.

The Son of Heaven's pro-army was based on each battalion, with 3,000 men in each battalion, and its combat strength was only stronger than that of the main army. And in today's Son of Heaven's pro-army, there are eight battalions of trapping, Xiandeng, White Tiger, Tengjia, Yuanrong, Feiyu, Xiaocai, and Beiwei. Each battalion has its own strengths, trapping heavy steps, first ascending the shield crossbow, Yuan Rong arrow array, flying feather cavalry shooting, Xiao cavalry breaking the formation, back Wei lurking, the remaining white tiger and rattan armor are composed of barbarians from non-Han origin. The Vine Armor Army was formed by the Ugo warriors led by the Vulture Bone, while the White Tiger Army was selected from the Banyu Barbarians who lived in the Hanzhong area. Legend has it that during the battle of Shang and Zhou Muye, it was the Ban Yuman who danced the war dance in front of the battle, which caused the Shang army to be in turmoil, resulting in the Zhou army winning more with less.

Each of the eight battalions has its own main generals, including Gao Shun, Xiandeng Juyi, Yuanrong Wang Ling, Feiyu Zhang Yan, Xiaoqi Li Tong, Beiwei Guo Huai, White Tiger Wang Ping, and Tengjia Vulture Bone. In addition to these eight people, Liu Xie handed over all the newly recruited 40,000 people to Commander Dian Wei, for which Dian Wei was grateful.

The imperial court is full of talents, and even if Cao Cao, Yuan Xi and others join forces to attack, Liu Xie has enough manpower to deal with it. Five ways to attack, there are five main forces of the imperial court to deal with it, and what Liu Xie has to do is to take the army of the Son of Heaven who belongs to him to choose which way to break the princes first.

Pick persimmons to start with the soft ones! It stands to reason that among the four princes, Liu Bei is the weakest, with few soldiers and poor people. But Liu Xie did not attack Liu Bei, not because he felt sorry for Liu Bei, nor because Liu Bei was still standing still at this time, but because Liu Xie was unwilling to trap the war in Jingnan.

Liu Bei is notoriously unbeatable, he can run, and he will run when the opportunity is not good. Even if Liu Xie can cross the river and enter Jingnan, Liu Bei can retreat to Jiaozhou to continue to deal with Liu Xie. At this time, Liu Xie hoped that he could fight a quick victory, boost his morale through a big victory, and hit the arrogance of the four princes, so Liu Bei, who had a way back, was not selected.

The princes of the four roads, Jiangdong has the Yangtze River, Hebei has a vast area, and the strategic space is huge, so Cao Cao, who has only one Xuzhou and his back to the sea, has become Liu Xie's first choice.

Although Zhou Yu's combined army was in the way, Liu Xie was confident in it. Throughout history, most of the classic examples that can be remembered are classic examples of winning more with less, why? Because scarcity is expensive, because there is scarcity, it is easy to remember. But less is less, and those wars that are not recorded are the norm of victory and defeat in wars.

In the contest of strength, although Zhou Yu has 120,000 horses, they come from all sides, although Zhou Yu has been trained by Zhou Yu for nearly a year, but at most he can do the order and prohibition, and it is absolutely impossible for people to obey orally. Because of the existence of the great goal of the imperial court, the four families with their own selfish intentions have been united, and the contradictions between each other will definitely not be written off because of temporary cooperation, but they are hidden in their hearts.

The target was chosen, and Liu Xie drove the expedition in person. Although there were some people in the DPRK and China who opposed Liu Xie's involvement in danger, Liu Xie did not listen, and others did not hesitate. The army left Chang'an and crossed the Tong Pass to Luoyang. Liu Xie suddenly had a whim to go and see Luoyang under reconstruction. At the beginning, Luoyang was burned down by Dong Zhuo's order, and the eastern capital of the Han Dynasty became a ruin, and the people were displaced. After Liu Xie came to power, he was busy protecting himself and couldn't take care of Luoyang. It was not until Yanyu was later taken that the Han Dynasty temporarily entered recuperation, and the reconstruction of Luoyang was put on the agenda. However, the reconstruction of Luoyang also began two years ago after the gradual recovery of the imperial court's finances, and Liu Xie did not intend to complete the reconstruction of Luoyang overnight, so until now, it is only the inner city of Luoyang. At this time, Luoyang is a huge construction site.

Liu Xie didn't come to play the trick of being close to the people, he just came to see how the construction progress of Luoyang was, and by the way, he found out who was buying land near Luoyang. Luoyang was originally the capital of the Han Dynasty, and this reconstruction made many people realize that Liu Xie might move the capital to Luoyang in the future.

The land in Jingshi is very expensive, just like the future generations, it is an inch of land, the lot in the first and second rings, and some people may not be able to buy a toilet after struggling for a lifetime. In ancient times, although the real estate industry was sluggish, if it could be established in Beijing, it would be a dignified thing.

If you can buy land, you must be rich, who will sell you if you don't have money? However, as early as the beginning of Luoyang's reconstruction, Liu Xie used the power in his hands to enclose a lot of land near Luoyang. It's not that he wants to make a fortune by selling land, but he doesn't want to be unable to catch up with the land in the future.

Liu Xie did a bit of a lack of morality in this matter, he did not directly divide a large piece of land as his imperial village, but divided it into parts, and divided a large piece of land that originally belonged to him into a small piece of land. As for the land that was divided into small pieces, Liu Xie did not give it to people in vain, but used it to settle the families of the fallen soldiers in the army and the wounded soldiers who retired due to injuries. These people have the benefits of Liu Xie, and they naturally have nothing to say about Liu Xie's loyalty, and with their existence, it also makes those families who bought land near Luoyang know how to restrain themselves.

What Liu Xie wants to see this time is how the farmers who came to Luoyang to settle down first. The proximity of the Son of Heaven flattered the villagers, and some disabled veterans even expressed their hope to Liu Xie that their juniors could go into battle to serve the Son of Heaven.

However, Liu Xie did not agree to these people's requests, so he comforted them to live their own lives, and at the same time asked them to keep an eye on the nearby family for him, so that someone would make trouble for him in the back when he was desperate in front. Liu Xie's worries are not superfluous, the implementation of the imperial examination system has brought Liu Xie and the family to the opposite side, among which enlightened such as the Xun family, the Zhong family, the Sima family, etc., choose to comply with the will of the imperial court and use their own advantages to occupy a place in the court. And some families are different, thinking that Liu Xie is shaking the foundation of the family and cutting off their back road, although they don't dare to go against Liu Xie, but secretly make stumbling blocks, and do a lot of shady things.

At present, the princes of the four roads are jointly attacking, Liu Xie does not want his rear to be restless, although there is Tianyan to keep an eye on those resentful families for him, wouldn't it be better to have more help to keep an eye on it.

Bidding farewell to those reluctant villagers, Liu Xie led his own army through the Tiger Prison Pass and arrived at Chenliu. At this time, Ma Chao's Fubo army was confronting the combined army of Dingtao and Zhou Yu, and Cao Cao had just taken Dongjun, should he go to join Ma Chao or go to Dongjun to meet Cao Cao first?

It didn't matter for Liu Xie to think about it for a long time, new news came, and Liu Xie didn't need to worry. It seems that Cao Cao's ears and eyes are also very smart, and after learning that he led the army through the Tiger Prison Pass, he did not go to Puyang Pang De for trouble, but led the army to Dingtao, preparing to join forces with Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu had 120,000 people, Cao Cao had 100,000, and Liu Xie's side, plus Ma Chao's Fubo army and Pang De's Xiao cavalry army, also exceeded 160,000 people. 220,000 against 160,000, although Liu Xie is at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, the combat power of the two sides is still more advantageous on Liu Xie's side.

But all the soldiers who can enter the regular army of the imperial court, even if they are not veterans of a hundred battles, are also strong men selected from various counties and counties, and the physical quality of this soldier is already a step higher. And more importantly, there are few soldiers who can enter the regular army without a life.

It's not difficult to kill someone, it's just a hurdle in my heart. The so-called practice makes perfect, in fact, killing is the same, you may be nervous and scared when you kill for the first time, and you may have nightmares at night after killing, but you get more people to kill, that's it, it's not much different from killing chickens and ducks, the only difference may be that the object of killing is relatively large.

There are always damned people in this world, and those damned people were also used by waste before they died, anyway, they are all dead, and it is better to let the novices in the army who have never seen blood practice before they die. This is an unwritten secret in the army, and no one has preached it to the outside world, but in fact it is done, but whenever the government has a condemned prisoner, the executioner is generally a novice sent by the army.

On the other hand, Cao Cao's soldiers were mostly ordinary people before joining the army. Especially in the past two years, in order to strengthen his strength, Cao Cao has been even more reckless, and almost all the young and strong people in Xuzhou have been forcibly conscripted into the army by him. Why did you choose this time to make trouble to the imperial court, because this is the time when the farming is idle, the spring plowing is over, the summer harvest has not yet arrived, even if you usually need to go to the field to care, the old and weak women and children are also competent.

Those honest people, not to mention killing, have never seen a few chickens killed, in Liu Xie's eyes, they are at best armed peasants, and they are not at the same level as the formally trained Han army on their side.

Since Cao Cao intended to join forces with Zhou Yu, Liu Xie didn't think much about it, and on the one hand, he sent someone to inform Pang De of Puyang to lead the army to come, and on the other hand, he personally led the army to Dingtao to join Ma Chao's Fubo army.

When he saw Ma Chao again, Liu Xie almost didn't recognize the person in front of him as the Ma Chao in his impression. In five years, in order to guard against Cao Cao in Xuzhou, Ma Chao has never moved his nest in Xiaoguan, and the annual meeting is only to send Fa Zheng back to the imperial court to report his work.

Ma Chao has matured a lot, hmm...... The water and soil of the Central Plains really raise people, Ma Chao was originally handsome, after five years of nourishment, he seems to be more handsome, I believe that after returning to Chang'an, he will definitely lose many girls. This damn little white face!

"Ma Chao meets the lord."

"Meng Qi, I haven't seen you for five years, I miss it very much." Liu Xie hugged Ma Chao with both hands and said with emotion.

"Yes, I haven't seen you for five years, and Ma Chao also misses her father-in-law." Ma Chao echoed casually.

After the monarch and the minister entered the military tent, Ma Chao asked Liu Xie for the guilt: "Lord, Ma Chao is not good at fighting, he lost Xiao Pass, and he also asks the lord to punish the crime." ”

"Hey~ I can't say that, if it weren't for Meng Qi to let Xiao Pass go, how could Cao Cao and others rest assured that they would send troops. What's more, now is the time to employ people, if Meng Qi feels that he is guilty, then it is better to redeem the credit. Since I am here this time, it means that Meng Qi no longer has to wronged himself for the overall situation. Liu Xie waved his hand and smiled.

Ma Chao was overjoyed when he heard this, he was not happy that Liu Xie did not blame him, but was excited about what Liu Xie said at the end. As the commander of an army, it is strange to make the enemy force to retreat again and again, and if he does not hold back the fire in his heart, it is called a strange thing. But as Liu Xie said, the overall situation is important, and in order to take care of the overall situation, Ma Chao has to wronged himself. And now, Liu Xie has arrived, which means that he doesn't need to wronged himself anymore, and he can let go of his hands and feet to fight with the princes' army, and nothing makes Ma Chao happier than this.

……

Forty miles east of Dingtao was the large camp of the combined army led by Zhou Yu, and Cao Cao's men and horses arrived in the evening. Zhou Yu, who had received the news in advance, had prepared a camp for Cao Cao, and Cao Cao did not take care of the army's encampment, but brought his henchman Lu Su to Zhou Yu to discuss countermeasures.

Liu Xie came, and Cao Cao suddenly felt a lot of pressure. It's not the first time I've fought with Liu Xie, the last time I asked Liu Xie to take away Yan and Henan, if he loses again this time, then Cao Cao can only jump into the sea. Cao Cao is not Liu Bei, he can be cheeky and send people under the fence, intending to make a comeback. If the war really failed, Cao Cao really didn't plan to live, which can be seen from the 100,000 horses he brought out with all his family resources.

He's not going to get by!

"Gong Jin, I don't know how you feel about playing against the Son of Heaven this time?" Cao Cao asked Zhou Yu, who was sitting at the top.

"Why did Cao Gong make fun of Zhou Yu, four words to describe Zhou Yu's mood at this time, like walking on thin ice. I didn't expect the Son of Heaven to pick you and me first. Zhou Yu replied with a wry smile.

"yes, I didn't expect that either. But since the Son of Heaven led the army to come in person, then you and I have to find a way to entertain it well, otherwise it will be rude. ”

"What Cao Gong said is very true, why don't you and I go together tomorrow and meet the Son of Heaven in front of the battle?"

“…… That's exactly what I mean. ”

Zhou Yu's plan was to salute first and then make a moral, after all, they were attacking the imperial court at this time, and there was no reasonable reason, so it was not good to say. But Cao Cao was not optimistic about Zhou Yu's idea, he didn't deal with Liu Xie for the first time, and knew that Liu Xie was a more practical person. And from the mouths of Xiahou Yuan and Yu Ban, Cao Cao also learned the true strength of the Son of Heaven's army around Liu Xie.

But Zhou Yu is the commander of the United Army after all, and now he is still counting on him to create a miracle to defeat the Han army, and Cao Cao is not good at pouring cold water on Zhou Yu at this time. Anyway, it's just a meeting, and it's not about to go to war...... As soon as he thought of this, Cao Cao suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly reminded Zhou Yu: "Gong Jin, although tomorrow is just to meet the Son of Heaven before the battle, you must be ready to fight with all your might." ”

"Huh? Cao Gong: Why is this? Zhou Yu asked puzzled.

“…… Gong Jin, do you know why I failed miserably back then? ”

"I don't know." Zhou Yu replied honestly. He really doesn't know, and it's not a glorious thing, Cao Cao naturally won't let people talk about it, so others only know the result of the fiasco back then, but they don't know the inside story.

"I was careless back then, I was just going to meet with the Son of Heaven in front of the battle, but I didn't want the Son of Heaven to play cards according to the routine, and I would fight to the death when I came up. I was so unprepared that I was defeated. There are many similarities between this situation and back then, and I hope that Gongjin will learn from it and don't follow in my footsteps. ”

“…… Thank you Cao Gong for reminding me, Zhou Yu wrote it down. Regardless of whether Cao Cao's worries will come true, I believe that he reminded Zhou Yu at this time out of good intentions, and Zhou Yu naturally wanted to thank Cao Cao.