In September of the twelfth year of Jian'an, after two years of rest, Cao Cao's national strength was restored, millions of military rations were harvested, and the morale of the army and the people was revived.

But at this moment, a sudden news came that made him uneasy: "Liu Qi, the Duke of Chu, joined forces with Sun Kang, the Duke of Liaodong, and Lord Wuhuan, and the brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, who lived there, to prepare a flank attack from the north and south, and attack the Qingzhou area by water. ”

Cao Cao was shocked when he heard the news, and hurriedly discussed countermeasures with Xun You, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, Sima Yi and others.

This Sima Yi is a native of Hanoi, rarely odd, smart and strategic, erudite and informed, subdued Confucianism, often worried about the world, originally in Jian'an six years, Cao Cao heard about his reputation, ready to summon him to serve in the palace. However, Sima Yi saw that the fortunes of the Han Dynasty were declining and did not want to go out, so he refused on the pretext that he had wind paralysis and could not live. Cao Cao didn't believe it, so he sent someone to his house at night to spy on the news, but found Sima Yi lying there motionless, as if he was really infected with wind paralysis, Cao Cao had no choice but to give up.

Later, when he was ten years in Jian'an, Xun Yu was taken captive by Liu Qi, and when he arrived in Xiangyang, it was rumored that Liu Qi had been submissive, and Cao Cao was afraid that Guo Jia and Xun Yu were both recommended by Xun Yu, and he was a little distant from them, and he was eager to recruit talents, and he remembered Sima Yi again, so he personally visited him in his house, and forcibly recruited, threatening: "If you don't obey, you will be thrown into prison." Sima Yi was afraid, so he had to agree to come down and become the right man of Shangshu.

After Cao Cao finished the news, he saw that Sima Yi's eyes were slightly closed and silent, Cheng Yu thought silently, Xun You always did not ask or answer, only Guo Jia was eager to try.

But Cao Cao first asked Sima Yi: "Zhongda, Qingzhou is dangerous, I don't know what strategy you have to break the enemy?" ”

I saw Sima Yi say slowly: "Duke Wei, in fact, this matter is not difficult, according to the analysis of the lower officials. This time, Liu Qi claimed to attack Qingzhou with great fanfare, but in fact, it was thunder and rain, Duke Wei, please think about it. Wuhuan are all cavalry and are not good at water warfare. How dare you sacrifice your strengths and weaknesses and come to Qingzhou by boat? Although Liu Qi's army was strong, it was not good at attacking the city, so he had to sneak attack. But now that his whereabouts have been exposed, and the effect of the surprise attack has been lost, as long as we are in danger, what can he do? So, the lower official thinks. Liu Qi was planning to attack the west, and the target was not Qingzhou at all, but it was possible to attack Shouchun and completely take possession of the entire Yangzhou. ”

"So how do we deal with it?" Cao Cao looked at Sima Yi, couldn't help but nodded, and then continued to ask.

Sima Yi smiled on his face, and said without thinking: "According to the plan of the lower officials, it is better for us to lead the army to defend in Qingzhou on the surface, but in fact, we will secretly concentrate our forces in Shouchun after the arrival of Liu Qi's army." Take it by surprise, annihilate most of it, and then take advantage of the victory to fight back. Occupy Jiujiang, Lujiang and other places, surround Xuzhou, and Xu Tu recovers. ”

As soon as Sima Yi's voice fell, he saw Guo Jia shaking his head and said: "This plan is not appropriate, lord, according to the lower officials, Xu Shu is a cautious person, and Liu Ye, the military advisor under his command, has the talent of Wang Zuo, and we will increase the army in Shouchun." There's no way they don't know, even if they really hide it. It is also difficult for us to take Jiujiang and Lujiang, not to mention that Liu Qi is still seriously ill in Nanyang and Xuzhou. Even if we get Jiujiang and Lujiang, it will be difficult to hold on. Therefore, instead of counterattacking Jiujiang and Lujiang, it is better to lead a large army to conquer Liaodong, as long as we pacify Liaodong, kill Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, and completely eliminate the root cause, we can expand the territory, collect Wuhuan horses, train a strong cavalry, and compete for the world in the future, which is also a sum of money. ”

As soon as Guo Jia's voice fell, even if Cao Cao was afraid of him, he had to admit that this was in his heart.

But he saw Sima Yi say: "Liu Qi led the army to attack Shouchun, our army did not go to defense, but took Liaodong from afar, I am afraid that the day our army takes Liaodong is the time when Liu Qi takes Shouchun." ”

I saw Guo Jia smile and said: "Our army has been operating in Shouchun for a long time, and Zhang Liao is here to guard, Liao is wise and brave, and has won the hearts of the people, Shouchun City Defense is strong, as long as Zhang Liao deep ditch and high fortress for defense, Liu Qi wants to break Shouchun is not so easy?" However, Liaodong has posed a serious threat to the rear of our army, and if it is not eliminated early, it will be a great disaster. Although the Duke of Wei is powerful in the world, he will not be equipped if he is far away. Because it is unprepared, it can be destroyed if it is struck suddenly. And Yuan Shao is kind to the people, and the Shang brothers survive. The people of the secluded world are attached to it in vain, and the virtue is not added, and because of the capital of Karasuma, the ministers of the deceased lord are recruited, and the Hu people move, and the people are afraid of it. ”

Cao Cao laughed when he heard this, and said with admiration: "The words of filial piety are in line with the will, but Zhong Dazhi's worries are also very reasonable, it is better to take 80,000 troops to be rectified, but we ordered Zhong Datong 30,000 troops to aid Shouchun, and ordered Zhong Da to supervise the army Shouchun, as long as the deep ditch is high and the fortress is strong, and it is difficult to attack Shouchun even if Liu Qi comes to the 200,000 army." ”

At this moment, I suddenly heard the report of the spies, saying that Liu Qi led 50,000 troops from Xiangyang to Hanzhong, and ordered Huang Zhong, the assassin of Yizhou, to lead 80,000 troops to accompany him and increase his troops in Hanyang, which seemed to be to attack stability.

Half a month later, Cao Cao's son Cao Pi led Cheng Yu and others to defend Luoyang, led an army of 50,000, and after a swearing, he entered Jizhou through Hanoi, and joined the army of Xu Huang and Xiahoudun of Youzhou who were guarding in Jizhou, a total of 100,000 troops, and went to Liaodong to conquer Wuhuan and Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang brothers.

When Liu Qi got the news that Cao Cao led the army to conquer Liaodong, he had already come to Hanyang County, and after he got the news, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said with a smile: "Cao Cao led the army to conquer Liaodong, and we can finally rest assured that we can take stability." ”

Jia Xu frowned and said: "We just got a small stability, and Cao Cao got the entire Youzhou, so it seems that we have lost a lot, the lord has always been shrewd, why do you do such a cost-effective deal today?" ”

Liu Qi took Jia Xu's hand and whispered: "Wen He doesn't know, before we spread the news of Xun Yu's surrender, Cao Cao has been suspicious of Guo Jia and Xun You and others, this time Guo Jia strongly advocated Cao Cao's expedition to Liaodong, in order to prove his loyalty, he will definitely repay him with death, as long as Guo Jia dies, we can be regarded as a big enemy, hehe, Guo Jia is extremely smart, and his strategy is no less than Wen He, Shi Yuan, Gong Jin, and a few of you, it is our biggest hidden danger in Cao Ying, and now there is another Sima Yi in Cao Ying, once Guo Jia and Xun You, Cheng Yu, Sima Yi and others joined forces to plan, our army wants to fight a decisive battle with Cao Cao in the future, I don't know how much money will be spent on food and horses? ”

This time, even Jia Xu was a little discolored, and asked softly: "The lord said that this time Guo Jiazheng Liaodong will die?" If this is the case, Hugh said that it is a Liaodong, even if we exchange our own land for the life of the country, it is too worthwhile, but is Guo Jia really going to die? If he doesn't die, and he makes a great contribution, and the gap with Cao Cao is gone, I'm afraid this will be our disaster. Also, the lord said that Sima Yi's plan is no less than Guo Jia, Xun You and others, is this true? If this is the case, I am afraid that we will have many tribulations in the future to conquer Cao Wei. ”

Liu Qi nodded thoughtfully, and said: "Sima Yi is cunning, wise, and persevering, but on the surface he seems to be loyal and friendly, honest and honest, and he is definitely a difficult character, and it is precisely for this reason that Lone Cai did not hesitate to let Cao Cao get Liaodong in exchange for Guo Jia's life, otherwise, as long as these two cooperate, we will have no chance to deal with Cao Cao." Hehe, Guo Jia can be said to have repeatedly conspired to block the rise of Gu in this life, and even almost put Gu in a place of no return a few times, this time Gu can be regarded as some return gifts to him. Put Guo Jia's life, Wen He doesn't have to doubt it, watching the sky at night, knowing that Guo Jia will dim the stars, if he goes to Liaodong this time, he will definitely die. ”

Although Jia Xu didn't believe in Liu Qi's so-called stargazing at night, he knew that Liu Qi seemed to have a special ability to accurately judge some major events, such as the situation of the Battle of Guandu at the beginning, Yuan Shao's death later, and the disaster of Feng Ji, all of which proved the accuracy of his judgment, so he believed that Liu Qi's judgment would not be wrong this time.

Of course, Jia Xu is also a smart person, but he will not say his doubts about why Liu Qi has such a judgment, but just pretend to believe that Liu Qi is watching the sky at night, and said with a smile: "That is the case, Weichen believes that this time Guo Jia will inevitably die, hehe, as long as Guo Jia dies, Cao Cao is equivalent to cutting off an arm, in this way, although he wins Liaodong, it is worth the loss, the lord's plan is really impressive, but poor Sima Yi, I actually believe that we will attack Shouchun, It seems that the illusion that we were building up there did deceive him. However, the lord will lose his trust in Wuhuan and Gongsun Kang because of this, and Wuhuan will be on the verge of death, so that's it. But the lord can't help but prevent Gongsun Kang from angering our caravan. ”

Liu Qi said with a smile: "I have already thought about this section, and I have explained it to Pei Wenxing and Chen Yuanlong in advance, so that our caravan will no longer trade with Liaodong, hehe, after several years of trading, we have obtained enough Liaodong horses, and there is no need to trade with them anymore, but Liaodong is different, they are more dependent on our food and jewelry, so even if Gongsun Kang is angry, he is helpless at all, not only that, but he will strengthen the alliance so that I can reopen trade with him." ”

Jia Xu couldn't help laughing and said: "The lord is clever, I didn't expect that trade and commerce would have such benefits, which can make the other party subject to others in commerce and trade, this time it is an eye-opener." ”

"Hehe, next we have to think about how to occupy stability, Hao Zhao is good at guarding, I am afraid it will not be easy to break the city." Liu Qi said softly with a hint of worry between his eyebrows.

Jia Xu listened to Liu Qi's words, thought for a moment, and said slowly: "Actually, it's not difficult, it's just a matter of leaving." ”

Liu Qi knew the meaning of the song when he heard it, and laughed: "It's really a wonderful plan." (To be continued)