Xuzhou, Xiapi.

"How?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Ren who came back from outside with some expectation.

"My lord, according to the investigation of the last general, Mr. Na Lu Su has moved away a few years ago, and it is unknown where he went." Cao Ren saluted Chen Qi on the side and said with a wry smile.

Cao Cao was stunned when he heard this, a few years ago...... I'm afraid it was not long after I met Xi Zhicai, I was a little disappointed in my heart, but I didn't show it.

"Lord, who is this Lu Su? Why did the lord worry so much? Chen Qi looked at Cao Cao with some confusion, puzzled.

"Han Yu doesn't know." Cao Cao smiled bitterly and explained to Chen Jue: "This person was recommended by Cao Cao's earlier strategist Xi Zhicai, who said that he has the ability to stabilize the country. ”

"I don't want such strange people to exist under my rule in Xuzhou." Chen Jue shook his head and exclaimed, he was the lord of Xuzhou before, and Chen Deng had also searched for talents among the people many times, but unfortunately, the final result was not ideal, except for a Xiang Yang, there was no gain.

Looking at Cao Cao's face, Chen Qi smiled and explained: "The lord doesn't have to worry, if you know the person, you will have a chance to find it sooner or later." ”

"I hope so." Cao Cao sighed, but he was not so optimistic in his heart, he always felt that Lu Su's departure, I am afraid that he did not want to be found by himself, in fact, not only Lu Su, with the gradual strengthening of the imperial court, the princes' attraction to talents has been greatly reduced, and recently with the destruction of Yuan Shao, there have been some scholars from the north and south who have come to defect, but among these people, there are very few talents who can really be used.

The bad thing is that with the increase of these talents, the poor talents under Cao Cao began to be excluded and suppressed, which was by no means Cao Cao's original intention, but these people in the family obviously did not want Cao Cao to rely too much on the cold family and suppress the family like the imperial court.

He somewhat understood why Xi Zhicai said that if he couldn't take Jiangdong, he would return to the imperial court as soon as possible, if he couldn't have such a stable rear in Jiangdong, it would not only be difficult to resist the imperial court militarily, but also be constantly weakened in terms of autonomy, and now, even if Cao Cao wanted to return to the imperial court, few of these people under his rule would be willing.

For example, Chen Jue has the pain of losing a child with the imperial court, and he is willing to be a vassal as a prince, why? Naturally, he hopes that with the help of Cao Cao's power, he will be able to take revenge one day.

There are many such people under Cao Cao, especially since the Jizhou family went south, there are even more people with such thoughts, even if Cao Cao wants to return to the imperial court, it is impossible.

I thought it was a good thing, but now it seems that Xi Zhicai had expected that there would be today's events, Cao Cao originally wanted to invite Lu Su to give advice for himself, but now it seems that Lu Su is worthy of being the person that Xi Zhicai likes, and he has obviously noticed it, and he doesn't want to wade into troubled waters, so he withdrew in advance and didn't give himself a chance at all.

"What's the recent movement of the imperial court?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Ren and changed the subject.

"The Son of Heaven is still in Jizhou, and it seems that after Jizhou is digested, in addition to the necessary soldiers and horses and border troops, the other troops have begun to withdraw from Jizhou." Cao Ren replied.

It seems that it will not go south in a short time.

Cao Cao is a little bitter, now among the princes, he has the most extensive contact with the imperial court, and then, when the imperial court makes another move, I am afraid that he will have to deal with Cao Cao.

"The lord doesn't need to worry, our army now occupies Xuzhou, and most of the land of Yanzhou, according to the old man's opinion, you can give up the land of Yanzhou, move to Xuzhou, and rely on the danger of Mount Tai to resist the imperial court." Chen Qi smiled.

Cao Cao shook his head when he heard this, the matter of moving people is not a trivial matter, not to mention the consumption of grain and grass, how many people will die on the way to move people? And this approach is tantamount to a desperate gamble, once Mount Tai is difficult to resist the imperial court, he does not even have a deep place, can only resist the imperial court.

What's more, he has been in business in Yanzhou for many years, and if he moves the people in, it will be Chen Jue who will benefit the most.

Moreover, Mount Tai is now from the imperial court, how can he break it?

Glancing at Chen Jue with a meaningful look, Cao Cao said with a smile: "Han Yugong is too worried, Yanzhou is the important place of my business, and there are all kinds of dangers to rely on, if you really give up, our army can only shrink in Xuzhou, and Xuzhou alone may not be able to hold it." ”

When Chen Jue heard this, he didn't say anything more.

Cao Cao changed the topic and said: "In today's situation, the imperial court is difficult to match, so it is better to ......"

Cao Hong rushed over, and said with a solemn face: "Lord, the big thing is not good!" Sun Ce has mobilized his troops! ”

"What the hell is going on?" When Cao Cao heard this, he frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Back to the lord, early yesterday morning, Sun Ce quietly led the army to touch the Dantu through the fog, Wen Ze was not ready, and was broken by Sun Ce's general Huang Gai broke the camp, our army was stationed in the Dantu garrison suffered heavy casualties, Wen Ze desperately fought out of the siege, and escaped to the Tanglin Pavilion through the fog, and now Sun Ce has led the naval army to threaten the Tanglin Pavilion, Mancheng sent people to ask for help overnight, please make a quick decision." Cao Hong finished his words in one breath and gasped fiercely.

"Sun Ce Xiao'er, at this time, you still have to fight with our army!?" Cao Cao slapped the table and stood up and said angrily.

The imperial court is now sweeping, Jingzhou Liu Biao is impossible to be an enemy of the imperial court, and now there are only two princes left, Cao Cao and Sun Ce, at this time, I don't want to join forces and fight against the imperial court, but send troops to attack, what does it mean?

"Lord!" Chen Jue frowned and said: "Then Sun Ce, I'm afraid he wants to take advantage of the fact that the imperial court is now focused on Jizhou and is unable to look south, so as to take the lead and integrate the land of Yang and Xu. ”

"I don't have a lot of ability, but I don't have a small appetite." When Cao Cao heard this, he snorted coldly: "Pass on my military order, order Xiahou Yuan to attack Jiujiang directly, and order Le Jin and Mao Jue to lead the army from Hailing to attack the Jiangdong Naval Army, no need to scruple, fight hard!" ”

"Whoa!" Cao Hong nodded fiercely and agreed, and went to give the order.

"Lord, if this battle can inflict heavy damage on Sun Ce, our army can not only recapture Dantu, but also enter Wu County from Dantu, if we can take this opportunity to occupy Jiangdong in one fell swoop, then our army will have more chances of winning in a fierce battle with the imperial court." Chen Qi's heart moved and he smiled.

Cao Cao nodded silently, this is also the strategy that Xi Zhicai set for him at the beginning, originally he was worried about the prestige of the imperial court, so in the end, after taking Xuzhou, seeing that the imperial court received Jizhou, he didn't dare to move again, who knows that people have the intention of hurting the tiger, and the tiger also eats people's hearts! Since Sun Ce also has this intention, why should he hide it? If he can make the best use of the land of Jiangdong, not only will he have bargaining chips with the imperial court, but the family may not be able to obstruct his decision.