Under the recommendation of everyone, Liu Bei finally made a correct decision: he put down the shelf between his elders and the emperor's uncle, and personally invited this young man who only had the title of "Wolong" at that time but had not done anything practical. After visiting the thatched cottage three times, Liu Bei finally met the legendary Zhuge Liang ("Romance of the Three Kingdoms" chapters 37-38 have a wonderful description of this)

In Zhuge Liang's grassland, there was a dialogue between the two that changed Chinese history in the future, known as "Longzhong countermeasures" (Mr. Yi Zhongtian had a wonderful analysis of the three visits to the thatched cottage and Longzhong countermeasures in the 16th and 17th episodes of "Three Kingdoms"), Chen Shou recorded it very clearly in "Three Kingdoms" in three words, "Ping Ren said" So how the content of this conversation was later leaked and known by Chen Shou is really a historical mystery.

Liu Bei said, "The Han family is declining, and traitors steal their lives." Lonely and measured, I want to believe in the righteousness of the world. And the wisdom is shallow, so it is rampant, as for today. However, the ambition is still unfinished, and the monarch will set up the "Zhuge Liang Dao" since Dong Zhuo, and the heroes have risen together, and there are countless people who cross the state and even the county. Cao Cao is more famous than Yuan Shao, and he is small and outnumbered. However, Cao Cao can eventually Keshao, and the weak are strong, not only the time, but also the people. Today, Cao has millions of people, and he coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, and this sincerity cannot compete with it. Sun Quan owned Jiangdong and had been in the past three generations. The national risk is attached to the people, and the meritocracy is used for it. This can be helped, but not profitable. Jingzhou is based on Han in the north, making the best use of the South China Sea, connecting Wuhui in the east and Bashu in the west. This country that uses force, and its lord can't defend it, this heaven is so a general, how can the general care? Yizhou is dangerous, fertile and thousands of miles, the land of abundance. Gaozu became an emperor because of this. Liu Zhang is weak, Zhang Lu is in the north, the people are rich and the country is rich but does not know how to save it, and the wise man thinks of Mingjun. The general is the emperor of the imperial family, and the letter is written in the four seas. If there are Jing and Yi, protect its rock resistance, west and Zhurong, south Fu Yiyue, form a good Sun Quan outside, repair politics inside, and wait for the world to change, then order a general to take the troops of Jingzhou to Xiang Wan and Luo, and the general will lead the people of Yizhou to Qinchuan. How dare the people not eat pot pulp to welcome the general? If this is the case, then the hegemony can be successful, and the Han family can be prosperous."

Receiving the kindness of Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched house, Zhuge Liang finally decided to go out of the mountain to help Liu Bei make contributions. And the "good relationship" between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang also caused dissatisfaction with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were Liu Bei's right-hand men. In the end, Liu Bei used a sentence to block the mouths of the two righteous brothers who were said to be Taoyuan Yiyi: "There is Kong Ming in loneliness, and there is water in the fish." May not repeat it"

In January 208, Situ Zhao Wen enlisted Cao Cao's son Cao Pi as an official. was impeached by Cao Cao for "false elections", and Zhao Wen was dismissed.

In January, Cao Cao returned to Zhencheng, dug the Xuanwu Pond, and trained sailors.

In the spring, Huang Zubu defected Gan Ning to Sun Quan. Gan Ning originally led 800 servants to Liu Biao. Later, he saw that Liu Biao was not the master, so he wanted to go to Jiangdong. However, when passing through Xiakou in Jiangxia County, Huang Zu blocked the road, and had to stay under Huang Zu's tent for three years.

Once, Sun Quan came to conquer Huang Zu, Huang Zu was defeated, and Sun Quan's subordinate Ling Cao led his troops to chase after him and was shot by Gan Ning. After Huang Zu got rid of this catastrophe, he never used Gan Ning more heavily. Huang Zu's subordinate Su Fei recommended Gan Ning several times, but Huang Zu never listened. In the end, Su Fei could only recommend to Huang Zu and let Gan Ning serve as the county magistrate of Yi County. Gan Ning was also able to get out of Wu. Introduced by Zhou Yu, Lu Meng and others, he met Sun Quan.

As soon as he saw Sun Quan, Gan Ning suggested that Sun Quan send troops to attack Huang Zu and occupy Jiangxia County. After that, he entered Jingzhou and the land of Bashu. Zhang Zhao believed that it was time to manage internal affairs and that it was not appropriate to send troops. was refuted by Gan Ning, "The country entrusts you with the heavy responsibility of Xiao He, but you only know how to defend yourself, is this worthy of the country" After hearing this, Sun Quan immediately poured a glass of wine for Gan Ning, "The matter of conquering Huang Zu, just like this, I decided to take full responsibility for this matter." You don't care what Zhang Changshi says."

Sun Quan sent a large army to the west to conquer Huangzu. Huang Zu guarded the pass with two Mengchong big ships, and used the spelling of the Lu Daqi system stone as a line, with thousands of people, and fired crossbows and arrows rained down, so that the Wu army could not advance. In the end, Dong Xi and Ling Tong each led a death squad of 100 people, each of whom was heavily armored, took a boat with a sword, and broke into the Mengchong battleship. Dong Xi personally cut the two cables, and the Mengchong battleship was less fixed and was washed away by the current, so that Wu Bing was able to continue the march.

Huang Zu ordered Chen to lead the naval army to engage in the battle, but was beheaded on the spot by Lu Meng, the striker of the Wu army. The soldiers of the Wu army took advantage of the victory by land and water, captured Jiangxia City, captured tens of thousands of men and women, and slaughtered its city. Huang Zu escaped and was chased and beheaded by Feng Ze.

Before this battle, Sun Quan had made two letter cabinets in advance, and wanted to carry the heads of Huang Zu and Su Fei to pay respects at the tomb of his father Sun Jian. Huang Zu has no problem, but Su Fei is Gan Ning's benefactor, and Gan Ning can't help it. Once, at a banquet where Sun Quan was serving wine to reward the generals, Gan Ning suddenly bowed to the table, exchanged blood, and pleaded with Sun Quan for Su Fei. Sun Quan was also moved: "I can pardon Su Fei." But if Su Fei flees like this, are you willing to be punished?" Gan Ning said, "Su Fei will not flee. If this is the case, Gan Ning is willing to substitute his head in this letter," Sun Quan agreed. Because of his father Ling ** in the hands of Gan Ning, Ling Tong often wanted to kill Gan Ning to avenge his father, and finally Sun Quan had to come forward to persuade the two.

In June, Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty issued an edict abolishing the official positions of the three princes and re-establishing the official positions of prime minister and imperial historian at the beginning of Liu Bang's founding of the country. On the 9th, Sikong Cao Cao was appointed prime minister. Cao Cao also appointed Cui Yan as Prime Minister Xi Cao Peng, Mao Jie as Prime Minister Dong Cao Peng, Sima Lang as the master bookkeeper, Sima Yi as the literary Peng, and Lu Yu as the history of the Fa Cao Decree. Cui Yan and Mao Jue are responsible for the election of officials, and the people recommended are all upright people, who are upright, reprimanded Chinese hypocrisy, entered Chongxun, and suppressed the party. The people of the world are all self-motivated by incorruptibility, although the ministers of nobility and favor do not dare to overdo it. The chief officials returned, with dirty clothes, riding alone in a firewood cart, and the military officials entered the house, and the court clothes were in vain. The officials are clean at the top, and the vulgar are moved from the bottom. After Cao Cao knew about it, he couldn't help but sigh, "Employing people like this, so that the people of the world are autonomous, what can I do?"

Sima Yi, 30 years old this year, is also a genius in the world, the biggest opponent of Zhuge Liang in the future, and the actual canon of the Jin Dynasty. Cui Yan once commented on Sima Yi's eldest brother Sima Lang, "Your second brother is bright and bright, just broken off the Yingte, you are far inferior to him" 7 years ago, Cao Cao, who was still a commonplace at the time, had recruited Sima Yi as an official, but the 23-year-old Sima Yi pretended to be paralyzed and couldn't live, and avoided the call. This time, Cao Cao said cruelly, "If you don't come again, I will ban you", and Sima Yi was afraid to take office.

In June, Cao Cao ordered Zhang Liaotun to be stationed in Changshe County, Yingchuan County, Yu Bantun to be stationed in Yingyin County, and Lejintun to be stationed in Zhiyang Zhai County, Yingchuan County. These three people are all famous generals under Cao Cao, and they are often disagreeable when encountering problems. Cao Cao ordered Zhao Yan to join the three armies, and instructed him on everything, and the three generals became friendly with each other. Once, some soldiers in Zhang Liao's army wanted to rebel and lit a fire at night, causing the whole army to be disturbed. Zhang Liao is not chaotic in the face of danger: "This is absolutely impossible for the whole army to rebel, there must be a mastermind, who wants to alarm the army." Now I order: All those in the army who do not oppose will be given me a seat" Soon, the mastermind was found out and beheaded by Zhang Liao's order.

Ma Teng and Han Sui, who were brothers with different surnames, have had frequent conflicts recently, and they are almost enemies. After Cao Cao learned about it, in order to ensure the stability of the rear, he ordered Zhong Xuan, the lieutenant of Sili, and Shi Weiduan, the assassin of Liangzhou, to mediate, and ordered Ma Teng to enter Tunyou Fufeng Huaili County. Later, he asked Zhang Ji to persuade Ma Teng to disband the ministry and enter the court alone. Maten said yes at first, but soon returned. In order to prevent long nights and dreams, Zhang made a quick decision and ordered the counties along the way to prepare for Ma Teng, and the 2,000 stone officials went out to meet Ma Teng and forced Ma Teng to go east. After Ma Teng entered the court, he was appointed as a guard lieutenant. His son Ma Chao was a partial general, commanding the army on behalf of his father, and all Ma Teng's family members moved to Zhencheng.

In July, Cao Cao personally conquered Liu Biao in Jingzhou.

On August 24, Guanglu Xun Xi was promoted to the rank of Imperial Doctor. On the 29th, Taizhong doctor Kong Rong was abandoned in the city.

After Kong Rong became famous, he was proud of his talents, and he insulted Cao Cao several times, but Cao Cao tolerated it on the surface but hated it in his heart. At the same time, the newly promoted Xi Xi was also at odds with Kong Rong, so he took the opportunity to order Lu Cui to falsely accuse Kong Rong of several major crimes: 1 When Kong Rong was in Beihai Kingdom, he recruited disciples and wanted to misbehave; 2 Kong Rong secretly communicated with Sun Quan's envoy and slandered the court; 3. Kong Rong and You Heng praise each other. In the end, Cao Cao ordered Kong Rong and his wife and their two sons to be beheaded for public display.

Kong Rong's old friend Li Xi once advised Kong Rong not to be too upright, so as not to suffer disaster. After Kong Rong's death, no one in Xudu City dared to collect his body. Fat Xi came to Kong Rong's corpse and cried loudly, "Wenju (Kong Rong Ziwenju) is dead, and I don't want to survive anymore" After Cao Cao learned of this, he ordered Fat Xi to be imprisoned, originally wanted to kill him, and later pardoned him. After that, Fat Xi collected and buried Kong Rong's family, and Cao Cao did not ask again.

In August, Liu Biao died. Leaving the eldest son Liu Qi and the second son Liu Cong to compete for the right to inherit. Liu Cong was born to Liu Biao's wife Cai, and married Cai's niece, Cai's naturally loves Cong and hates Qi. Together with his younger brother Cai Mao and nephew Zhang Yun, whenever he had the opportunity, he slandered his eldest son Liu Qi in front of Liu Mian and praised his youngest son Liu Cong. made Liu Qi restless day and night, and asked Zhuge Liang several times for advice on self-preservation. Zhuge Liang always excused himself with "this is a family affair of the son, and it is inconvenient for outsiders to conspire". finally forced Liu Qi to make a ruthless move: Once, Liu Qi invited Zhuge Liang to climb a tall building, secretly ordered someone to remove the ladder, and then said, "Now you can't go up to the sky, you can't go down to the ground." Words come out of your mouth, and into my ears. Please give me advice again" Zhuge Liang was helpless, and could only say two sentences: "When you don't see the Spring and Autumn Jin Kingdom, Shen Sheng is in danger inside, and he is safe outside" Liu Qi suddenly woke up.

When Jiangxia Taishou Huang Zu was killed by Sun Quan, Liu Qi took the initiative to ask his father, and finally made Liu Biao agree to succeed Jiangxia Taishou.

When Liu Biao was seriously ill, Liu Qi returned to Xiangyang to visit the patient. was rejected by Cai Mao and Zhang Yun on the grounds of "guarding Jiangxia and not leaving without permission". In the end, Liu Qi could only cry outside his father's room.

After Liu Biao's death, Cai Mao, Zhang Yun and others pretended to pass on their wills and made Liu Cong their heirs. Liu Cong awarded Liu Qi with Hou Yin. Liu Qi didn't accept it, and threw himself to the ground angrily. Then he wanted to raise troops, and in the name of mourning, he went to Xiangyang to ask for an explanation. However, at this time, the news came: Cao Cao's army was coming, and Liu Qi hurriedly fled to Jiangnan.

In the face of the tense situation that Cao Cao's army was about to overwhelm the border, Zhang Ling Taishou Kuai Yue, Dong Cao Peng, Fu Xun and others were trying to persuade Liu Cong to surrender, and they put forward three reasons: 1. Reject the lord with the subordinate, and go against the grain; 2. Jingzhou and China will be in danger; 3 It is not appropriate to use Liu Bei as the enemy of Cao Gong. But what moved Liu Cong the most and made him decide to surrender should be the following words: "How does the general compare himself to Liu Bei?" If Liu Bei can't resist Cao Cao, then our Jingzhou will definitely be in trouble. If Liu Bei can really resist Cao Cao, then Liu Bei will still listen to you and be your subordinate?"

In September, Cao Cao's army reached Xinye County. Liu Cong officially decided to surrender. Send someone to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao's generals all suspected that Liu Cong's move was fraudulent, but Lou Gui thought that "Liu Cong will come with sincerity" Cao Cao also believed Liu Cong, so he ordered the army.

Liu Cong did not inform Liu Bei, who was in Fancheng, not far from Xiangyang, of the news of his surrender to Cao Cao. It wasn't until Cao Jun stopped in Zhiwan County, Nanyang County, that Liu Bei felt strange and sent someone to ask Liu Cong. Only then did Liu Cong send Song Zhong as an envoy to inform Liu Bei of the matter. Liu Bei was shocked, pulled out his knife and said, "Even if I kill you now, it's not enough to vent my anger." And I killed you and stained my sword. Get out of here."

After Song Zhong left, Liu Bei urgently convened everyone to discuss countermeasures. Zhuge Liang suggested that Jingzhou be captured now, and then a decisive battle with Cao Cao could be achieved. Liu Bei rejected "Liu Biao was lonely with me when he was dying, if I do this, it will be treacherous, and what face will I have to see Liu Biao after death" But Cao Cao's threat is close at hand, and Liu Bei can't sit still. So he ordered to flee quickly. When passing through the city of Xiangyang, Liu Bei was stationed in Mahucong. Liu Cong was afraid and didn't dare to come out. Liu Bei could only go to worship Liu Biao's tomb and then continue to escape. At this time, something happened that Liu Bei did not expect: many of Liu Cong's people around Liu Cong and the people of Jingzhou were willing to flee with Liu Bei.

When he arrived in Dangyang County, Nanjun, he was already "more than 100,000 people, thousands of taels of baggage, and more than 10 miles a day", and his subordinates suggested to Liu Bei that "it is advisable to abandon the people and go to Nanjun County to govern Jiangling County as soon as possible, so as to defend the city and resist Cao's army." If you want to take care of these unarmed people, as soon as Cao Jun arrives, he will be burned with jade and stones, and "Liu Beidao" will be people-oriented. Now that the hearts of the people are mine, I can't bear to abandon "Zhuge Liangdao" Then I should also send someone to occupy the strategic place of Jiangling first" Liu Bei asked Guan Yu to take hundreds of ships and go to Jiangling first. I'm still slow...

Liu Cong's general Wang Wei volunteered to say to Liu Cong: "Now that Cao Cao and Liu Bei have relaxed their vigilance against you, please give me thousands of strange soldiers to ambush in dangerous places, and I promise to capture Cao Cao alive." Once Cao Cao is captured, then you will be able to shock the world and enter the world" But Liu Cong would not take this suggestion at all.