Cao Jun has been a little panicked lately! It's not that the Cao army is afraid of fighting the Han army, but that strange things have always happened in the barracks these days. Either a few things are lost today, or one or two people are missing tomorrow, and those who are lost will be found somewhere else, and those who are missing will be found dead in the camp a day or two later.

When it comes to the unknown, human beings will always have a sense of awe. Even in modern times, there are still countless phenomena that cannot be explained by science, let alone in ancient times when feudal superstition was highly developed. There are few people who are really not afraid of ghosts and gods, even first-class wise men like Cao Cao and Guo Jia, but now they have become a little suspicious.

It happened so suddenly, and the loss of something can be explained as being stolen, but how can the missing person be found dead when he is found again? There were no external injuries on the deceased's body at all, all of them were strangled to death by something!

"This must be a conspiracy of the Han army!" Guo Jia said to Xiahoudun in a firm tone. There is no way, the haunting of the military camp is rumored to have a nose and eyes, and even a general in the army like Xiahoudun began to become restless. Cao Cao's headache now is not how to deal with the Han army, but how to stabilize his military morale. With a team of more than 100,000 horses, trying to find a few people who are intent on making trouble, it is tantamount to looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Meng De, why don't we find a mage to do a few rituals? I know a few ...... who have the right way."

"Shut up! Yuan Rang, haven't you always been afraid of heaven and earth? Why have you become timid now? Cao Cao asked angrily.

"Mengde, I'm not afraid of people, it's great to fight together, but how to deal with that ghost? Ordinary weapons can't touch ghosts. Xiahoudun hurriedly explained.

"Shut up! There are no ghosts! It's the conspiracy of the Han army! Cao Cao shouted angrily.

"Meng De, if there are no ghosts, then you can tell me how the soldiers who disappeared and were found were strangled to death?" Xiahoudun asked very stubbornly.

“…… It was strangled to death by the Han army. ”

"Since the Han army can kill soldiers unknowingly, why don't they attack the generals in the army, why do they pick some ordinary soldiers?" Xiahoudun asked again.

“…… I said that it was a conspiracy of the Han army, and it was a conspiracy of the Han army! Cao Cao, who was poor in words, could only say to Xiahoudun arrogantly.

Guo Jia stopped Xiahou Dun, who still wanted to fight with Cao Cao, and said to Cao Cao in a deep voice: "Ming Gong, the suggestion that General Xiahou just said is actually a solution. Although you and I both know that nine times out of ten what happened in the barracks during this period was caused by the Han army, most of the soldiers did not think so, and the reason why General Xiahou proposed to find a mage to do something to appease the souls of the dead can indeed appease the hearts of the army. ”

"Fengxiao, I'm afraid it's useless to do things, if you don't get rid of those guys in the Han army who pretend to be gods, it's useless to do any number of rituals."

"Ming Gong rest assured, there is a good chance that the people who are responsible for pretending to be ghosts in the Han army during this period of time will not be in the army, these rangers are good at flying eaves and walking walls, ordinary soldiers can't find it, so they naturally suspect that they are ghosts, but they have also recruited a lot of such talents in the net."

"Are they already here?"

"I'm here, I just arrived today, Jiaben wanted to report to Ming Gong, but unfortunately asked General Xiahou to take the lead." Guo Jia replied with a smile.

"Okay, this matter will be handed over to Fengxiao, Yuan Rang, you are responsible for cooperating."

Meng De rest assured, he will definitely cooperate well. Fengxiao, what do you want me to do? Xiahoudun asked Guo Jiadao.

"General Xiahou is polite, didn't you suggest that you find a mage with a way to come to the army to do things to appease the souls? Then look for it, and remember to make as much noise as possible. ”

"Bonghyo, why is that?" Cao Cao asked puzzled.

Guo Jia explained: "Ming Gong, if you don't make a big noise, how can you appease people's hearts. The night patrols were business as usual, and the Jiahui let the netters ambush in the shadows, and as long as they could catch a person sent by the Han army to cause trouble, the rumors of haunting would be self-defeating. ”

"Fengxiao, isn't it because of the haunting of the Japanese army during this time?" Xiahoudun interjected and asked.

"You just understand?" Cao Cao glared at Xiahoudun angrily.

"General Xiahou, it's not easy to make a conclusion about ghosts and gods, if you believe it, you have it, and if you don't believe it, you don't have it. Now most people in the army are estimated to be the same as General Xiahou, believing that this is a haunting in the army. Since most people believe it, then appease it with a reason that most people can believe. You don't have to think about it, just get what you want to do. Guo Jia said to Xiahoudun.

“…… Fengxiao, if there is really someone sent by the Han army to pretend to be a ghost, you must remember to let me see it. ”

After sending Xiahoudun away, Cao Cao sighed and said to Guo Jia: "I didn't expect Yuan Rang to be afraid of ghosts?" As a martial artist, he has killed countless people, and he is afraid of ghosts. ”

"Ming Gong doesn't have to be surprised, no one is perfect, everyone is afraid, so why be disappointed by this." Guo Jia smiled and comforted.

“…… Bonghyo, really not haunted? Cao Cao asked Guo Jiadao in a low voice.

"Ming Gong, the ancients, worship ghosts and gods and stay away, this ghost and god thing, it's better to say less. What's more, even if it's really haunted, didn't General Xiahou go to find a mage. ”

Cao Cao: "......"

……

Cao Jun was busy looking for a mage to exorcise ghosts, and Sima Yi, who had succeeded in his treacherous scheme, was overjoyed when he heard the news. He had this idea at the beginning, and he was completely idle. For the 150,000 army that defeated Cao Cao on their own, whether it was Sima Yi or Xu Huang, they had little confidence. Especially when Xu Huang was fighting with Xiahoudun, Sima Yi secretly observed Cao Jun's lineup, and was disappointed to find that there were no flaws to be found.

It was not yet time to fight to the death, and after discussing with Xu Huang, Sima Yi decided to delay the return of Cao's army as much as possible and buy a few more days for his friendly army.

The idea of pretending to be a ghost seems to be very good, and in order to appease people's hearts, Cao Jun now even uses the method of finding a mage to exorcise ghosts. However, because he knew that Cao Jun had asked someone to exorcise ghosts, Sima Yi ordered to stop sending people to Cao Ying to make trouble. Sima Yi didn't know that his decision avoided the loss of Tianyan's personnel, Guo Jia arranged the masters transferred from Luo Wang in the camp on the night when the exorcism began, and waited for the Han army to throw himself into the net, but he didn't want the Han army to come, and hundreds of people waited in vain.

The army retreated again and again, until it retreated to Fengqiu, and Cao Cao, although he was recovering the lost territory, did not divide his troops. Both Cao Cao and Guo Jia knew that if they did not defeat the imperial court's dispatch of troops, they would not be able to protect the Central Plains at all, so after the army retreated to Fengqiu, Cao Cao directly ignored Xu Huang and Sima Yi, but led the army to Chenliu.

Seeing this, Xu Huang and Sima Yi wanted to lead the army to follow and cut off the return route of the Cao army, but they suddenly found that the retreat of the Cao army was not in the one where Yanzhou and Qingzhou were connected, and even if they sent troops to occupy the northern part of Yanzhou again, it would be difficult to have much impact on the Cao army. Just when Xu Huang and Sima Yi decided to rush to Chenliu to join Zhang Liao, Liu Xie's order came, allowing the Xie Fu army to garrison the Tiger Pass and wait for an opportunity to defend the Yuan clan in Hebei.

Tiger Prison Pass was burned down by Cao Ren, if it was according to the previous method, it would not be possible to complete the repair overnight, but since Ma Jun burned out the cement as a building weapon according to Liu Xie's account, the construction of the city fortress has become no problem.

Knowing that Liu Xie had led the Son of Heaven's army out of the pass and rushed to Chenliu, Xu Huang and Sima Yi accepted the new order and waved their troops to the Tiger Prison Pass.

Hebei, which is being closely watched, is also busy taking care of itself at this time. Not long after Yuan Shang accepted Feng Ji's suggestion and took the initiative to withdraw from Yecheng, Yecheng also ushered in a new owner. Yuan Xi accepted the allegiance of Gao Gan and also let Yuan Shang live. In the words of Frustration, Yuan Shang took the initiative to give up Yecheng, which is equivalent to giving up Hebei, and no one will continue to be loyal to a lord who will leave when he is in distress. But Yuan Xi's life is not comfortable, Yuan Shang is gone, but Yuan Tan is still in Hebei.

After Cao Cao withdrew his troops from Qingzhou, Yuan Tan, who was trapped in Linzi, seemed to have a new life all of a sudden, and regained the lost territory as a Qingzhou pastor, and by the time Tian Feng reacted, the south of Linzi had become Yuan Tan's territory.

Compared with the size of Hebei, the place that Yuan Tan now controls is indeed nothing, but Tian Feng cannot tolerate Yuan Tan's "separatist" behavior. But Yuan Tan is Yuan Xi's brother after all, and he just forced out a Yuan Shang, and now if he deals with Yuan Tan, it will be easy for Yuan Xi to be criticized. And at present, compared with Yuan Tan, whether to join forces with Cao Jun has become Hebei's top priority.

Joining forces is a certainty, there's no doubt about that. No one thought that the Han Dynasty would be able to dry the wood in the spring, and once again there was a trend that swept the world, if Cao Cao was allowed to be eliminated by the imperial court, then the next unlucky person may be Hebei. Saving others is also saving oneself, so there is no doubt about sending troops to Hebei.

But how to save it, this is a disagreement. Some people think that they should do their best, some people think that they should have reservations, and some people are whimsical, thinking that they should wait for the court and Cao Jun to be defeated before coming forward to clean up the mess.

Yuan Xi's personality is soft, he is not a person who can take big ideas, and he can only watch his most trusted Tian Feng fight with dissent. And Tian Feng is indeed worthy of being called the old stubborn donkey in Hebei, his mouth is so smooth, and he has recently added a problem, that is, he will do it if he doesn't agree with him. Everyone knows that this old guy is now trusted by the lord, and he doesn't dare to add fists and feet to him, and in the end, it is usually Tian Feng who wins the final victory.

Unifying the internal strife, Tian Feng began to discuss with Dong Zhao, the envoy of Cao Jun, about the alliance between the two families. Hebei's dispatch of troops is not in vain, and the landlord has to pay the wages for helpers, not to mention that the Yuan clan of Hebei and the Cao clan of the Central Plains were still hostile before.

But Dong Zhao did not give it in vain, Dong Zhao clearly understood the current situation, and Hebei sent troops not for the so-called friendship between Yuan and Cao, but for self-help. Today, Cao Jun is unlucky, and the next unlucky one is Yuan, so Dong Zhao resolutely refuses to accept Hebei's blackmail.

After some fierce bargaining, Yuan Cao joined forces to resist the imperial court, and when the imperial army retreated, the Cao clan would give the Yuan clan Puyang to the north of Dongwu, and the Yuan clan would be responsible for the grain and grass needs of the two families during the war.

While Dong Zhao negotiated an alliance with Yuan Cao in Hebei, Xu You, who was ordered to go to Jiangdong, ran into trouble. Sun Ce has a short temperament, there is no room for sand in his eyes, and the people he looks down on the most are those who betray the Lord and seek glory. When Xu You arrived in Jiangdong, he didn't even see Sun Ce's face, so he was thrown into the post official and no one cared about him.

For several days, Xu You would go to see Sun Ce every day, and the answer he got was always that Sun Ce was busy, and as for what he was busy with, it was not for Xu You to know. As a few days ago, Xu You returned disappointed again, but this time when he was about to return to the post office, Xu You met a person. This person's appearance is different from ordinary people, with blue eyes and purple hair, and he can be recognized at a glance even if he is thrown into a pile of people.

"Xu You has seen the second son." Xu You knew that the person in front of him was Sun Quan, the younger brother of the Jiangdong Xiaobawang.

"Who are you?" Sun Quan asked.

"Xu Ziyuan is far away." Xu You introduced himself.

"Oh, I know, it's the advisor of the Yuan clan in Hebei, what are you doing in Jiangdong?" Sun Quan asked in confusion.

“…… The second son, now he no longer works for the Yuan family in Hebei. ”

"Then you're here to vote for me Jiangdong?"

"No, I came here as an envoy of the Cao family, but it was not a coincidence, it was not the right time to come, and I always ran into a wall whenever I asked to see Wu Hou." Xu You said a little depressed.

"Oh, that's right. Since Mr. Xu is fine at this time, why don't you go drinking with me? Sun Quan heard the words and invited Xu Youdao.

"It's okay, anyway, if you have nothing to do, then you won't bother."

Sun Quan took Xu You to the tavern he frequented, and since he realized that he was now a superfluous person to Jiangdong in Chaisang, Sun Quan resigned from his official position and returned to Wu County with only a spare job. At first, his mother, Mrs. Wu, persuaded Sun Quan that he should help Sun Ce, but after Sun Quan cried once, Mrs. Wu stopped mentioning the matter and allowed Sun Quan to give up on himself. The palms and backs of her hands are full of meat, and Mrs. Wu is also very embarrassed, so she can only help each other, but for Zhou Yu, who has ruined the brotherhood of Sun Ce and Sun Quan, it will not have a good face.

After three rounds of drinking, Xu You asked Sun Quan for advice through the wine, asking if there was a way to meet Sun Ce, and Sun Quan told Xu You with drunkenness that it was not difficult to see Sun Ce, as long as he could say that Zhou Yu could be moved to help, then wanting to see Sun Ce was a matter of one sentence. In the entire Jiangdong, who doesn't know that Zhou Yu's status is above 10,000 people under one person, and sometimes even Sun Ce, the lord of Jiangdong, has to listen to Zhou Yu.

Xu You heard the hatred for Zhou Yu in Sun Quan's words, although he didn't understand why Sun Quan hated Zhou Yu so much, but Sun Quan's suggestion was indeed consistent with the news he had ordered someone to find out in the past few days. It's just how to convince Zhou Yu by himself? Don't look at Zhou Yu's age younger than Xu You, but Xu You didn't dare to despise Zhou Yu at all.

"Mr. Xu, why did you come to Jiangdong? Don't you want to say that Jiangdong will send troops to help your Cao clan resist the imperial court? Sun Quan asked Xu Yu in a daze.

"The court is unkind, and the army is sent for no reason, my lord is not a person who sits back and waits to be killed, so he naturally has to rise up and resist......"

Without waiting for Xu You to finish speaking, Sun Quan waved his hand and interrupted: "Mr. Xu, don't tell me these clichés, who doesn't know that it is a group of heroes in this world, and the Han family wants to reorganize the rivers and mountains, so naturally they want to do something to your Cao family." ”

"Since the second prince also knows, how likely do you think Jiangdong will send troops?"

"Huh...... I don't know. But I guess you ran away in vain this time, my brother is a little foolish, but Zhou Yu is a master who can't afford to be profitable, and he won't do anything that is not beneficial. But the benefits that you Cao can give, whether you can satisfy him, only God knows. Sun Quan shrugged his shoulders when he heard this, and replied with a smile.

“…… According to the second son's opinion, what gift should I give to Zhou Yu? ”

"Huh...... Although I don't like to see Zhou Yu, to be honest, Zhou Yu's ethics are still good. If you want to buy him to speak well for you in front of my brother, dispel the idea as soon as possible. ”

“…… Then the second son may wait for me to meet your brother? Xu Yu asked again.

"Huh...... Don't even think about my way, I can take you to see my brother, but you don't know, I will take you there, it is better for you to go by yourself, then maybe your things can be done. Sun Quan said to Xu You with a smile for the third time.

Xu You was silent when he heard this, and from Sun Quan's words, Xu You had already heard that Sun Quan in front of him didn't seem to be very well treated by his brother in Jiangdong.

"You go to Zhou Yu and try it. Since you came to Jiangdong for official business, Zhou Yu should not refuse to see you. As long as you can convince Zhou Yu, then your visit to Jiangdong this time will be half done. ”

Sun Ce refused to see him, Sun Quan was reluctant to recommend, Xu You had no choice but to prepare a gift to see Zhou Yu, but the result disappointed Xu You. Although Zhou Yu met Xu Yu, Zhou Yu opened his mouth and directly proposed to ask for the entire territory of Xuzhou as the price to be paid for sending troops to Jiangdong.

Cao Cao now occupies a total of Yan, Henan, Qing, and Xu four prefectures, and eighty percent of Qingzhou will be used as a condition to persuade Hebei to send troops. At present, the imperial army is still in Yan and Henan Prefectures, after the war, Yan and Henan Prefectures are bound to be seriously damaged, if there is no Xuzhou, it is better to surrender directly to the imperial court!

Xu Yu refused to agree to Zhou Yu's conditions, and only refused to take Guangling and Shouchun, which had been occupied by Cao's army, as a reward for Jiangdong's troops, but Jiangdong bit the conditions to death and refused to give in at all. Xu You had no choice but to resign and go to Jingzhou first, at least to try his luck first, if Jingzhou was willing to send troops, then it would not be so important whether Jiangdong sent troops or not.

From the perspective of geographical location, it is more important to persuade Jingzhou to send troops than to persuade Jiangdong to send troops, and now Jiangdong is unwilling to back down, so he can only go to Jingzhou, at least let Jiangdong understand that the Cao family is now in danger, and no one can take the opportunity to blackmail.