Liu Bei listened to Chen Dao's words, and his heart moved, but he saw that the soldiers beside Liu Qi were all extraordinary, and he couldn't help but be jealous, after all, he had heard of the elite of Liu Qi's personal soldiers, plus he also had a master like Zhang Xiu by his side to protect him, so he gave up after a little thought, and said to Chen Zhizhengse: "Uncle Zhi, our army has always shown benevolence and righteousness, and Liu Qi is my nephew, not to mention that the two of us have to join forces with Cao Cao, Kuang to support the Han family, and welcome the Son of Heaven, how can we do this kind of thing?" ”

Chen Zhi followed Liu Bei very early, and it can be said that he is the person who knows Liu Bei's character best except for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and knows that since his lord said so, he must have some concerns, so he apologized to Liu Bei, and then stopped mentioning the matter, and followed Liu Bei into the city.

After everyone set up their own soldiers and horses, Liu Qi came to the county government under the guidance of Wang Wei. After a few people said kind words, they shifted the topic to the general trend of the world.

Liu Bei and Liu Qi didn't expect that this time it was Wang Wei who first cut to the point, but saw Wang Wei say to Liu Bei: "Liu Yuanjun, before the adults thought that my ancestor raised troops in the name of revenge and occupied Nanyang County in Jingzhou, and now that my family lives on the throne and the traitor has been pacified, shouldn't the envoy return the territory that occupied my lord to my lord?" ”

But Liu Bei was stunned for a moment, and then slowly sighed and said: "What General Wang said is right, this should be said that Jingzhou is Qi'er's territory. I really shouldn't rely on not paying it back, but Qi'er, General Wang, you also know, I just recently laid down Nanyang, and I have to guard against Cao Cao's iron cavalry going south at any time, if Nanyang is returned to Qi'er, I'm afraid there is no place to live, pity me for a battle, so far nearly forty, but still so adrift, but unfortunately I have wasted my life, and I still have nothing to do, but my group of brothers follow me and live that upside down life. ”

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he shed a string of tears, and then cried loudly, and Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Chen Zhi and others around him also burst into tears.

Liu Qi snorted coldly in his heart, and said secretly: "It seems that this guy has used a crying killing move like he recorded in history, but I don't want to eat your set, if you don't spit out some territory today, even if you say it, I will definitely not agree." ”

Liu Bei sobbed and cried for a while, and then said to Liu Qi: "Virtuous nephew, it's not that I don't want to return Nanyang, it's really because I don't even have a place to live now, it's better to be like this, we are still like the original Jingsheng brother treated General Zhang Xiu, our army is the barrier of the virtuous nephew, guarding Nanyang for the virtuous nephew, and the virtuous nephew will form an alliance with me to fight against Cao Cao, so that Jingzhou can also be safe." After I take Guanzhong in the future, I will return Nanyang to my nephew. ”

Liu Qi secretly sneered: "In history, there has been an allusion that Liu Bei borrowed Jingzhou and didn't pay it back, but I didn't expect that now there is a scene where Liu Bei borrowed Nanyang and didn't pay it back, but I won't be fooled by you, who doesn't know that you Liu Daer is a person who doesn't pay attention to faith, rather than believing in you, it is better to have confidence in Cao Cao." ”

However, Liu Qi didn't say this, but said haha: "Xuande Gong's calculation is really wonderful, Nanyang we will lend you indefinitely, and we will also be responsible for helping you resist Cao Cao, and our benefit is only to ensure the safety of Jingbei, but Xuande Gong should know that now Yuan and Cao are ready to go, if the two sides start a war, Cao Cao will not be able to take care of Jingbei at all, our army can directly send troops to Xuchang and support the Son of Heaven, there is no need to use you to protect the security." ”

Liu Qi's straightforward words made Liu Bei stunned, and he just wanted to speak, but he heard Zhang Fei on the side shouting: "This Nanyang is not your territory, but my eldest brother Yun took it from Cao Cao, why do you want to give it to you like this?" So there is no need to discuss this matter at all, Nanyang is absolutely impossible to give to you, not to mention that you also said just now, the battle of Yuan Cao is about to break out, and we don't need your help to defend it, with our strength, we can defend Nanyang, not only that, but we may even enter Xuchang. ”

Liu Qi was not afraid when he heard this, he said with a smile: "Since General Zhang is like this, then we don't have to talk about it, since your army doesn't need our help, it's naturally better, hehe, I hope your army will succeed and win Xuchang by chance." ”

Liu Bei on the side suddenly sank his face and shouted: "Yide, this is a matter between me and Qi'er, what do you know?" Don't retreat quickly. ”

After seeing Zhang Feinuo retreat, Liu Bei said with a smile: "Yide, this guy has always only known how to eat and drink, and he doesn't know the friendship between our uncle and nephew at all, Qi'er, don't take it to heart, although this Nanyang is Yun Chang, but if there is no help from the virtuous nephew, we will definitely not be able to keep it, so you can't push back this matter no matter what, we are both relatives of the Han family, and at this time it is related to the Han world." Although Nanyang is our only place to stay, and we can't return the virtuous nephew yet, Xinye and An Zhong are the territory of Jingsheng's brother, and we should return it. ”

Liu Bei was naturally unwilling to return Xinye and Anzhong, which he had finally found an excuse for, to return to Liu Qi. But he can't do anything now, after all, he is facing Cao Cao's pressure head-on, once he doesn't agree, I'm afraid that Liu Qi will not only not help him resist Cao Cao, but will even attack him from behind.

I haven't gotten Guanzhong yet, so I can't just lose my only foothold in Nanyang, and even if I get Guanzhong, this is also a frontier position for my troops in the Central Plains.

So although he was unwilling, Liu Bei had no choice but to promise to return Xinye and An Zhong to Liu Qi first.

"But my Liu Bei in Xinye and Anzhong are also famous, as long as I leave, the people of the two counties will definitely retreat to Wancheng with the old and the young, so I have added tens of thousands of people, and these tens of thousands of people can represent taxes and the army. Of course, if those people really refuse to leave, I will have a way to get them to leave. ”

Liu Bei's eyes flashed with cunning, and he thought silently.

When Liu Qi saw Liu Bei's eyes flickering, he knew that he must not have any good intentions, and he thought that according to those records in history, what kind of "carrying the people across the river" would Liu Bei have?

But fortunately, Xinye and Anzhong got it, and he finally got his wish, and as for places such as Yuxian and Wancheng, he believes that there will be opportunities in the future.

However, the most important thing for me now is to concentrate on dealing with Sun Quan in Jiangdong, so the current situation in Nanyang can only be like this temporarily.

Of course, Liu Qi is not the kind of person who suffers, he can't let Liu Bei get his wish and take away all the people in the two counties, so after a pause, he said to Liu Bei: "Since this is the case, the little nephew is also disrespectful, hehe, the little nephew heard that Xuande Gong has always been good at governing the people, and I don't know how many more accounts this Xinye and Anzhong have than before?" Xuande Gong so generously gave these accounts to me in Jingzhou, the little nephew is really grateful, please rest assured that once Cao Cao leads his troops to invade, the little nephew will definitely help his uncle defend against the enemy. ”

Liu Bei couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard this, he didn't expect Liu Qi to be guarding against him, so he said: "What is the mere hukou?" You can rest assured that as soon as I go back, I will ask Yun Chang to hand over the household registration of the two counties to your newly appointed county magistrate. ”

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he stood up and said to Liu Qi: "It's not too early, I'm still worried that my Nanyang will be attacked by Cao Cao, so I'll leave first." ”

At this time in Xuchang, Cao Cao was gathering his advisers Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Guo Jia and others to discuss the issue of Liu Bei. For the first time in history, Cao Cao gathered the most outstanding strategists under his command together to discuss the pacification of Liu Bei, which shows the importance he attaches to this matter.

"Guan Yu Pifu, I have so much trust in him, and I often feast and drink rewards on weekdays, and this time I also appointed him as Nanyang Taishou, I didn't expect him to be so ignorant of what to do, and dedicated Nanyang City to Liu Bei, this is really a legacy of raising tigers. Ladies and gentlemen, do you have any plans to enlist Liu Bei? ”

Cao Cao's face was obviously not good-looking, and he said to a few people.

But hearing Xun Yu said slowly: "Although the number of Liu Bei's army is large, the combat effectiveness is not strong, it is not difficult to break through, but we are mainly afraid of Liu Qi's army, once Liu Qi and Liu Bei unite, Nanyang will be as stable as Mount Tai." Therefore, Xia Guan believes that if Liu Bei is to be recruited, Liu Qi's problem must first be considered. ”

Cao Cao nodded when he heard this, and said: "We must find a way to stabilize Liu Qi first, and then we can deal with Liu Bei safely, otherwise, how can Liu Bei break through?" I don't know what the public has to do about this? ”

Xun Yu said: "In fact, although Liu Bei and Liu Qi cooperate with each other, they may not be sincere, as long as we give Liu Qi enough benefits, I think Liu Qi will definitely not care about Liu Bei's affairs anymore." ”

"Oh? Sufficient benefits. Cao Cao couldn't help frowning when he heard this, and thought about it.

But I heard Guo Jia say: "Lord, in fact, although Liu Qi and Liu Bei seem to be united with each other on the surface, they are secretly deceitful, and it is impossible to be truly concentric, as long as we can carve up Nanyang with Liu Qi, presumably Liu Qi will definitely not help Liu Bei anymore, and there is no need to consider other interests at all." ”

"Oh? Let's talk about it. Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said to Guo Jia.

If it weren't for the fact that he didn't listen to Guo Jia's advice and insisted on using Guan Yu to defend Nanyang, it is likely that the army would directly occupy Xiangyang, if it was his own army to defend Xiangyang, Cao Cao believed that he would definitely be able to resist the attack of Liu Qi's army.

Therefore, although Liu Qi finally succeeded in recovering Xiangyang this time, Cao Cao relied more on Guo Jia.

I saw Guo Jia said slowly: "Now Liu Qi has decided Jingxiang, and Jiangdong Sun Quan is also preliminary, with Liu Qi's ambition, he will definitely take the lead in taking Jiangdong, for my Central Plains, although it is easy to attack, but it is difficult to defend, and now Liu Qi, who is fighting on two fronts, will definitely not waste too many troops here, so we only need to attack Nanyang, Liu Qi will send troops to support at most, and will never invest too many troops, of course, we must attack Liu Bei, the speed must be fast, otherwise, there is no guarantee that Liu Qi will not take advantage of the fire to rob." ”