The annual Jing Xiang Literary Conference finally ended with the closing of the meeting with the closing of Liu Qi, and at this meeting, Liu Qi's excellent performance immediately attracted the attention of many scribes, who were all quietly talking about this seemingly weak young man, and they saw a glimmer of hope in him.

Of course, there are also some people who are worried about Liu Qi's current situation, because Liu Qi proposed a completely different strategy from his father Liu Biao on such a public occasion, which will mean that he may incur the disgust of his father Liu Biao.

At least Wang Cang has such worries.

He knew that after Jingzhou Mu Liu Jingsheng took possession of the entire Jingzhou, he rode down Jingzhou alone and pacified the eight counties of Jingzhou, and his enterprising spirit to pacify the eight counties of Jingzhou had already been almost exhausted, and now he was only thinking about how to keep this foundation, but never how to expand this foundation.

Therefore, what Liu Biao appreciates most is Liu Cong's arguments, while Liu Qi's ideas are more dismissed as ambitious.

"I don't know if this time the eldest prince asked to send troops to aid Zhang Xiu, will he get Liu Jingzhou's consent? Judging from Liu Jingzhou's usual style, I am afraid that he may not agree to this request, although this request is indeed of great strategic significance. ”

In fact, Wang Cang didn't know that Liu Qi's request was easily approved this time, and there was even the credit of Liu Cong, Cai Mao and others.

Liu Qi's appearance at the Jingxiangwen Conference naturally aroused the vigilance of some people, especially Liu Cong, who regarded Liu Qi as his biggest competitor, and was even more jealous of Liu Qi for making him so embarrassed. So Liu Cong naturally hated Liu Qi to death, and now Liu Qi is so desperate that he wants to lead his troops north to rescue Nanyang Zhang Xiu, maybe he can get rid of Cao Cao with a fake hand.

After Liu Cong went back, he told his quasi-father-in-law Cai Mao about this idea, and Cai Mao had the same opinion as Liu Cong, and even praised Liu Cong for knowing how to use stratagems this time.

According to Cai Mao's analysis, this time Liu Qi led his troops to Nanyang, and the most optimistic estimate is that he can save his life and lose less, if he is unlucky, he is likely to lose his life on the battlefield.

If there was no crossing incident, such a thing might really happen, but now Liu Qi is no longer the original drunken son, he will use the rich historical knowledge he has learned to change this fate.

But Cai Mao and Liu Cong didn't know this, they had already expected that Liu Qi would be defeated this time, so even if he survived, he would definitely bear the reputation of a defeated general, and even become the spokesperson of Zhida Caishu, so they also tried their best to promote this matter, and they were even worried that Liu Qi would not make a request to help Nanyang.

However, Liu Qi did not disappoint him, and the day after the end of the Jingxiang Literary Conference, Liu Qi wrote to his father Liu Biao, asking to bring a team to Nanyang to assist Zhang Xiu.

Liu Biao was very hesitant after receiving the letter, he knew that it would be difficult for Liu Qi to win, but he couldn't bear to brush off his son's kindness. In addition, he was also very sorry for Liu Qi in his heart, because he promised Cai Mao's daughter to his second son Liu Cong, he knew that the eldest son Liu Qi would not have a good life in the future, and now his son wanted to lead a team to face Cao Cao, just to prove that his savings were just a loss of some people, so how could he bear to refuse?

Cai Mao also praised Liu Qi's filial piety in his own ear, and strongly persuaded Liu Biao to agree to this request, explained the benefits and disadvantages to him in detail, and made many guarantees and offered many generous conditions.

Liu Biao naturally knew that Cai Mao was not well-intentioned, but he still hoped that Liu Qi could go to the army to experience it, as long as he made a little merit, he could use this as an excuse to reward, or be named a county guard, or a marquis, at least there would be a way out, so he agreed.

"Father, the child is polite." Liu Qi, who learned that his application was approved, forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and saluted Liu Biao.

Looking at the eldest son who was eight feet tall like himself, and the jade tree was in the wind but was a little weak, Liu Biao's heart suddenly flashed a trace of unbearability, and he said softly: "Since my son is willing to share his father's worries, how can he not be allowed to be a father?" From today on, my father will appoint you as a general, and lead 10,000 horses to Nanyang to rescue Zhang Xiu, and the captains, captains, and Zhu Cao can be recruited at will. This 10,000-strong army is all elite soldiers, and the supply of food and grass must be sufficient, as long as you are fully prepared, you can set off at any time. Also, my son must be careful on this trip, in fact, although Cao Gong conscripted Zhang Xiu, he may not be able to go down, as long as you lead the troops to do support, Cao Cao will not dare to storm the county under his scruples. ”

Liu Qi knew that his father was worried about his safety with these words, so he hurriedly thanked him: "The child knows, thank you for your father's grace." ”

Half an hour later, Liu Qi led his father Liu Biao's order out of the Jingzhou Pastoral Office, and went to see Cai Mao, asking to appoint generals and strategists, select soldiers, grain, grass, and equipment to prepare for the expedition.

But Cai Mao said in embarrassment: "Qi'er, it's not that my uncle doesn't help you, it's really difficult here, I don't have many generals in Jingzhou, now Huangzu is guarding Jiangxia, your cousin Zhang Yun is guarding Jiangling, Wenpin is guarding Wu County, and Wang Wei is guarding Deng County, so my uncle and I really have no generals to send, and the strategists are also doing their jobs, so these people will only be selected by you, fortunately, I have a lot of talents in Xiangyang, and I should be able to meet your requirements, not to mention that the lord also said that you are actually just bluffing this time, You don't need to do anything, my uncle knows that you led the troops to battle because you were angry with Cong'er, but you also have to take care of your own life, right? ”

Liu Qi secretly sneered in his heart when he heard this, he knew that this was Cai Mao deliberately embarrassing himself, but he didn't have a seizure, because Cai Mao was his father's henchman and the real power figure in the entire Jingzhou, and he couldn't afford to offend him now, not to mention that even if he objected, I was afraid that not only would it be useless, but he would be accused by the other party.

What's more, he really doesn't want Cai Mao to send a general to interfere with him, because then I'm afraid that he won't be able to really control the leadership of the army.

Thinking of this, Liu Qi smiled at Cai Mao to express his understanding, and said respectfully: "As my uncle said, my nephew's trip to Nanyang this time is just for fun, and it doesn't matter if I send generals or not, this can just exercise my nephew's ability to command troops." In that case, the nephew will find a few more friends to come and choose the soldiers, food, grass and equipment later. ”

After finishing speaking, Liu Qi gave a salute and left.

Cai Mao couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this scene, he originally wanted to take the opportunity to force Liu Qi to be angry, and then accuse him in front of Liu Mian, so that he could leave a bad impression in front of Liu Mian, but he didn't expect the other party to be so calm.

After Liu Qi left, he hurriedly went to find Wang Cang, because he didn't know anything about selecting soldiers and receiving ordnance, grain and grass, and he had to find someone who knew how to do it.

Liu Qi had already investigated Wang Cang's address, so he went straight to Wang Cang's house, holding the order and said loudly: "Zhong Xuan, I have been appointed by my father as a general, and my father ordered me to lead 10,000 horses to support Zhang Xiu, but I didn't know until this time how difficult it was to go out to fight. ”

Wang Cang didn't expect Liu Qi's application to really go through, so he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said loudly: "It's an honor for you to be able to serve the eldest prince." It's just that although Cang also reads poetry and books, he is not good at these internal affairs, I have a friend named Pei Qian, who is good at writing and writing, and Hedong is pleasing to the people, has great talents, and is good at managing internal affairs, so he should be recommended by the eldest son. ”

Liu Qi couldn't help but be overjoyed after hearing about it, he came from later generations, and naturally knew the name of Pei Qian, this person had great talent, he had gone to the border to govern Dai County, so that the arrogant Wuhuan people were carefully attached, did not dare to make trouble, and was good at evaluating people, once said Liu Bei "If he is entrenched in the Central Plains, he can only cause chaos and cannot control chaos; If he is allowed to take the opportunity to defend the dangerous place, he will be the master of one side."

In addition, Pei Qian is also the ancestor of the famous Hedong Pei family in the Jin Dynasty, and his son Pei Xiu is a famous geographical cartographer, who contributed the famous "Six Bodies of Cartography" to later generations. His grandson, Pei Xiu's son, Pei Xiu, was also a famous scholar and important minister in the Western Jin Dynasty, and later died in the Eight Kings Rebellion.

If there is such a person to assist, coupled with his own foresight, Liu Qi believes that Cao Cao will definitely be able to win this expedition, so he said: "I should personally invite such a talent, and trouble Zhong Xuan to lead the way for me." ”

Wang Cang was overjoyed and immediately took Liu Qi to Pei Qian's residence.

When Pei Qian heard Wang Cang talk about Liu Qi's purpose, he didn't agree directly, but narrowed his eyes and asked slowly: "I don't know what strategy the eldest prince used to deal with Cao Cao when he went to Nanyang this time?" ”

Liu Qi said confidently: "Cao Cao's attack on Zhang Xiu this time is actually not well prepared, because Yuan Shao is eyeing him, I can spread rumors that Yuan Shao is about to attack Xudu, Cao Cao will definitely return, and our army can wait for work and intercept Cao's army halfway, and it will definitely win." ”

After Pei Qian listened to Liu Qi's words, he couldn't help but smile and said: "It's really a wonderful strategy, but there is one thing that needs to be explained, Cao Cao is a fine person, we must send a messenger in advance, thickly tie Yuan Shao, and ask him to make an appearance of going to Xu Du, Cao Cao will return, in addition, Cao Cao has been using troops for many years, so he naturally knows how to guard against ambushes, and this section has to be guarded against." ”

Liu Qi clapped his hands and smiled: "Mr. is really talented, please don't give up, and accompany me on the expedition." ”

After that, it was a deep sigh.

Pei Qian hurriedly returned the salute: "How can I afford this?" Since the son is so sincere, he should be effective in the next place. ”

"Hehe, since this is the case, I will appoint Mr. as a military advisor and a military lieutenant to join me in the military counsellor. Zhong Xuan, I will appoint you as the Sima of the Left Army, and I hope that you will follow me with one heart and one mind to defeat Cao Cao. ”

After Pei Qian and Wang Cang heard about it, they hurriedly thanked Liu Qi.

After a pause, Pei Qian said again: "I have a friend named Sima Zhi, whose name is Zihua, a native of Wen County, Hanoi, who is upright and upright, but can be in charge of military law. ”

Liu Qi also heard of Sima Zhi's name, so he went to visit with the two, and after a conversation, he appointed Sima Zhi as the military chief and was also in charge of Cao affairs.

For a while, Liu Qi's subordinates were full of talents, so they were ordered, Fanqin was responsible for receiving grain, grass and ordnance, Wang Cang was responsible for issuing proclamations, Pei Qian, responsible for selecting soldiers and soldiers, and selecting military marquis, chiefs, and military chiefs, and Sima Zhi was responsible for strict military discipline.

Cai Mao's face almost turned green now, because he didn't know what method Liu Qi used to find so many talents, and all of them were sharp-eyed, and he picked out the strongest soldiers in his army, leaving only those veterans and recruits.

I really can't see that Wang Cang doesn't look very good, but his memory is amazingly good, and he only needs to count it once, and he can remember it clearly, and the amount of ordnance, grain and grass he provided is only a little different from what Liu Biao announced, and he can also point it out.

And the man named Fanqin was originally a second-rate scholar, but now he turned over and became extremely shrewd, and he cheated in the grain and grass, and some of it was missing, and he pointed out it in public, and he had no choice but to lie and claim that he was wrong, and then make up for it.

What shocked him the most was that in this army, he had also arranged for the military marquis, military Sima and others sent out by himself, so that they deliberately violated the military order and embarrassed Liu Qi, but he didn't expect that the man named Sima Zhi was ruthless and cut down all his cronies.

"Hey, good boy, there are two hits, but what's the use? No matter how powerful you are, you will definitely suffer in front of Cao Gong this time, and when you lose the battle, the old man will find a way to treat you. A trace of coldness flashed on Cai Mao's face, and she said secretly.