"Ha Luha, Gong Zhi, if you want to be excited, you should calm down first." Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "To be honest, it's not that Cao doesn't want to form an alliance with you, but the world is forced by the general trend, not to mention, Liu Yi also has a sentence that is not wrong, in the final analysis, this world is the world of the Han Dynasty, I, Cao Cao, represent the Han family, and what about you?" It is precisely because of you that this great man is so divided, don't tell me, Yuan Shu's claim to be emperor is just his personal behavior, and your lord, as well as other princes, they have no ambition to be the emperor in their hearts. This big man is in the world, you are the king and I am the hegemon, is that still a big man? ”

Guo Tu said disapprerovingly: "Hehe, Cao Mengde, Prime Minister Cao Cheng, who doesn't understand these big truths?" However, hanging on his lips all day long, this one says it is for the Han, that one says it is for the Han, and now the prime minister is like this, may I ask the prime minister, is your current court your Cao Cao's court? Or the Han court? We don't need to say secret words from bright people, everyone knows how to do it, everyone understands it in their hearts. To put it bluntly, it should be that Liu Yi of the New Han Dynasty did not come to attack you, if Liu Yi's New Han Army attacked your court, would you still be so leisurely? Will you still refuse an alliance with our so-called lawless servants? ”

"Well, you can't say that, in the final analysis, the Han court is the Han court, do you dare to deny that this court is not the emperor? He can't represent Han orthodoxy? If the New Han Dynasty really wants to attack my court, it will only be a matter between their emperor brothers, and our subjects will not care so much, and when the time comes, we will have to listen to the emperor's decree. Well. At the end of the day, we are not the same people. There is no possibility of an alliance between you and me, Cao, a soldier is a soldier, and a thief is a thief. If you want to talk about the alliance, then it's just that you are subservient to my court and subordinate to Cao, so. Needless to say, since everyone understands in their hearts, it is still their own destiny. If you go back to Yuan Shao, let's go back and give back to Yuan Shao. Of course, if you have a bad time in Yuan Benchu, look at the friendship of friends for many years. You're going to work with Cao. Cao is still welcome. ”

"Ha Luha, Cao Mengde, sometimes, people can't be complacent too early, there is a news, I'm afraid you still don't know the way, right? However, I'm afraid I'm going to have news back to you soon. Guo Tu sneered twice and said: "You may know the Tao yourself, now the army of the New Han Dynasty has marched in the direction of Youzhou and Jizhou. However, do you know the way but don't you know the way? The soldiers of the New Han Dynasty got Youzhou without blood. Before his army arrived, Gongsun Zhan had already announced that he would return to the New Han Dynasty, hehe, do you think that you can rest easy if the army of the New Han Dynasty did not attack you? Now, Liu Yi, who has obtained Youzhou, is even more powerful, if my lord is defeated by Liu Yi's army and is wiped out by Liu Yi, then, how long do you think you can sit back and relax? Months? A year? Two years? Cao Gong, please think about it, if Jizhou is also occupied by Liu Yi, does Cao Gong think that he will be able to compete with Liu Yi, who has greatly increased his strength, in the future? ”

"This ......"

Cao Cao also had to admit that what Guo Tu said now made sense. Moreover, as Guo Tu said, Gongsun Chan actually surrendered to the New Han Dynasty, and this news did make him feel worried. Originally, Cao Cao still thought that Liu Yi would fight with Gongsun Chan and Yuan Shao in Youzhou and Jizhou for a period of time, and only Gongsun Chan and Yuan Shao would be able to defend Liu Yi for a year and a half, then he would be able to ease his breath, and at that time, even if he did not send troops to attack Liu Yi, he would send troops to compete with Liu Yi for the territory of the powerful force. When the time comes, he will take advantage of the war between Yuan Shao and Liu Yi in the north, he suddenly sent troops to Jizhou, copied Yuan Shao's back road, and took the land of Jizhou in his hands first, and then blocked Liu Yi's army from going south.

Well, Cao Cao thought about it, when Liu Yi sent troops to attack Youzhou and Hebei Prefectures, even if he Cao Cao did not participate in the alliance of the princes, the other princes would unite to survive in the face of destruction. Therefore, he estimated that in the face of the strong attack of the New Han Dynasty, Gongsun Chan and Yuan Shao would definitely let go of their original grievances and form an alliance to resist Liu Yi, but Gongsun Chan actually surrendered to the New Han Dynasty without a fight, which is indeed not good news.

Cao Cao now has to think about the current situation again, and think about whether he wants to form an alliance with Yuan Shao, Liu Biao and other princes of the world.

"My lord! What if Gongsun Chan voted for the New Han Dynasty? As long as Yuan Shao does not surrender to the New Han Dynasty, then he can also delay the pace of the New Han Army going south, and we don't need too much time, we only need to take advantage of the opportunity of this year and a half to garrison troops on the south bank of the Yellow River and extensively repair river defenses, so that the New Han Army cannot cross the river and go south. As long as there is a period of rest and recuperation, why should our army be afraid of the New Han Dynasty? ”

At this time, Cheng Yu walked into the meeting hall with a letter, and as he walked, he raised the letter in his hand and said: "This is an express sent back from Youzhou, Gongsun Zan has indeed voted for the New Han Dynasty, and now, he is reorganizing the army and horses, and it is estimated that he will participate in the attack of the New Han Army on Yuan Shao." ”

"Hmm......" Cao Cao saw Cheng Yu coming, and said something again, which immediately made him dispel the consideration of forming an alliance with the princes of the world. After all, Cao Cao always believed that if he wanted to succeed, he must stand on the commanding heights of righteousness, even if it was one thing in front of him and one thing behind his back, he must firmly grasp the name of righteousness. Otherwise, why did he spend so much effort to win Emperor Xian and establish this so-called imperial court? All of this he did for the world to see.

Even at the beginning, he said that he was going to assassinate Dong Zhuo, but he just wanted to establish a positive image in the minds of the people of the world.

Therefore, he settled down, and took the express report delivered by Cheng Yu as if he didn't care, put it aside casually and said: "Oh, Gongzhi, I'm really sorry, I'm Cao Cao has my own position, no matter what you say, as long as it's beneficial to my Han, I Cao Cao will not hesitate to go to the soup, but ...... You princes, you have torn the world apart...... This, it really shouldn't be, you have to know that whether it is the New Han Dynasty or Cao's current court, it can be regarded as representing the orthodoxy of the Han royal family, but which of you really obeys the orders of the Han Dynasty? The two imperial courts have been established for so long, which of you came to the imperial court to meet the emperor? Who will report to the emperor? There is no court in sight, and now it is condemned by the court. But I panicked again, and I still wanted to linger, hehe. Is there such a beautiful thing in this world? I have already said it to General Cai Mao, and now, I, Cao Cao, have also said it to the public rules, and now I will tell you clearly, please go back and tell Yuan Shao, the Tao is not the same. There is no need to talk about the alliance anymore, soon. I, Cao Cao, will also raise troops to denounce the lawless ministers of the world, if Yuan Shao is still knowledgeable about affairs, he will return to the court as soon as possible. I don't know. He's got a glimmer of life! ”

"Cao Gong ......" Guo Tu saw that Cao Cao said toughly, and he didn't dare to be arrogant anymore, and even the news that Gongsun Chan had returned to the New Han Dynasty failed to make Cao Cao feel the crisis and change his mind.

"Okay, no more need." Cao Cao didn't want to listen to Guo Tu's persuasion anymore, so he waved his hand and said, "If the prince still talks about the alliance." Needless to say, Cao's mind has been decided! ”

"Ugh. Cao Gong, if it is said that ......" Guo Tu saw that Cao Cao was about to send off guests, he couldn't help but be a little anxious and opened his mouth to speak.

At this moment, he wanted to say that Yuan Shao actually had the intention of taking refuge in him, but when the words came to his mouth, it was difficult for him to say it, after all, Yuan Shao did not instruct him to say that if he said it first, then it would be tantamount to betraying Yuan Shao. Of course, this is not a big problem, the key thing is that if Yuan Shao submits to Cao Cao, then where will he Guo Tu go in the future? Under Cao Cao's account, strategists such as Lin, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Man Chong, etc., which one is not more talented than him Guo Tu? Guo Tu was worried that if Yuan Shao took refuge in Cao Cao, then his position would be difficult to protect, and everything he currently owned would also be lost. He didn't want the wealth he had worked so hard to earn in the first half of his life to be lost.

In Jizhou, Guo Tu is Yuan Shao's henchman, he wants the wind to be the wind and the rain, if he doesn't get to the last moment, he really doesn't want to change too much, and he doesn't want to follow Yuan Shao to Cao Cao and become an inconsequential marginal figure.

"Forget it, Guo will retire, and a certain will truthfully convey it to my father-in-law, and Duke Cao will meet again!" Guo Tu bowed his head a little in frustration and left.

After Guo Tu left, Cao Cao hurriedly picked up the express report, and after reading it, he said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, how is it now?" Gongsun Zhan voted for the New Han Dynasty, so Youzhou and Jizhou will fall into the hands of Liu Yi, Yuan Shao will definitely not be Liu Yi's opponent, can we arrange it in time? ”

"Well, don't worry too much, the lord, now, the generals have begun to recruit troops in the army, it won't be long before the autumn harvest, and our military food crisis will ease a little, we just need to arrange our defense before the winter. At the same time, we have stepped up the governance of Yangzhou and Yuzhou, and took advantage of this time to eliminate the bandits and bandits in Yangzhou and Henan. Cheng Yu said, smiled slightly, and said to Cao Cao a little mysteriously: "Ahem, lord, in fact, as long as we stay in the spring of the next year, we can have a plan." ”

"Huh? Got a picture? Figure what? Cao Cao didn't quite understand what Cheng Yu said for a while.

"Hehe, originally, it is unlikely that we will make a big move in the next year or two, but the situation may change a little now." Cheng Yu said: "Lord, don't you think that Cai Mao, the envoy sent by Liu Biao, is a little reluctant? Jingzhou, if you want to talk about military generals, there are few who can be of great use, but there are many scholars who can speak well. Jing Xiang's sons and advisers have gone to the sea. When did you talk about a military general in charge of military horses as an envoy? ”

"Oh? What's there? This Cai Mao, but Liu Biao's brother-in-law, is Liu Biao's confidant and important minister. This time I came to discuss the alliance with Cao, it seems that it is indeed a very important event for them, right? It is a matter of their life and death, and Liu Biao sent an important minister he can trust, which is reasonable, right? Cao Cao still didn't quite understand.

"Cai Mao is an important minister of Liu Biao in Jingzhou, that's right, the key is here." Cheng Yu said heavily: "For such an important matter, why don't you send a strategist with real diplomatic talent to negotiate with us?" Or might it be better to send an important minister? However, it was Cai Mao who came from Jingzhou. However, as far as Cheng knows, the nobles in the Jingxiang area are very conservative people, they are generally content with the status quo and will only look at the immediate interests, this Cai Mao, how can he be an exception? The lord may not have chatted with Zhang Xiu in private, right? Zhang Xiu once told his subordinates that at the beginning, Liu Biao intended to give up the powerful territory on the east bank of the Yushui River and instead develop to the west of Jingzhou and even Yizhou, but Cai Mao reached an agreement with Zhang Xiu in private, and privately divided some towns in the east of the Yushui River with Zhang Xiu, and did not act completely according to Liu Biao's instructions, that is. Cai Mao thought that once Liu Biao moved westward, he would continue to occupy the area centered on Xiangyang for independence. ”

This proves Cai Mao. First, he is a person who has ambitions, and second, he is conservative and reluctant to let his Cai family business in Jingxiang area, because he knows very well that once Liu Biao goes west. His Cai family will definitely fall like this. Cheng Yu continued: "Cai Mao should be a person who values his own family. Lord, actually, now. You should meet Cai Mao in private and persuade him to surrender. ”

"Oh? Persuade Cai Mao to surrender? This...... Is it possible? When Cao Cao heard this, his eyes lit up, but he was a little skeptical that he could move Cai Mao.

Right now. Cao Cao really understood what Cheng Yu meant. This Cai Mao. However, Liu Biao's cronies and ministers are Liu Biao's brother-in-law, and he still controls most of Liu Biao's military power. It can be said that as long as Cai Mao is persuaded to surrender, then it is possible for the entire Jingzhou to be won without a fight. Think about it, when Liu Yi and Yuan Shao fought fiercely in Hebei, he Cao Cao was able to get Jingzhou without blood. This one. Just as Liu Yi could easily get Gongsun Zhan's surrender, his results were definitely not worse than Liu Yi. Strictly speaking. Jingzhou seems to be much better than Youzhou, the territory is not smaller than Youzhou, the population is more than Youzhou, and it is also more wealthy. As long as Cao Cao gets Jingzhou, then what if Liu Yi gets Jizhou? When the time comes, he can also argue with Liu Yi head-on. At least, if he gets Jingzhou, his grain and grass problem will no longer be a problem. In other words, as long as he gets Jingzhou, then he can immediately raise troops and fight for the territory of the world with Liu Yi.

A big blueprint slowly formed in Cao Cao's heart.

Cao Cao thought that as long as he got Jingzhou, then he should not be more competitive than Liu Yi. Because, he can send an army of fierce generals to resist Liu Yi's army going south, as long as he defends the Yellow River, even if Liu Yi gets the land of Hebei, there will not be much development. As long as he guards the area around the Tiger Prison Pass, does not let Liu Yi send troops, and then defends Wancheng in Jingzhou, well, it would be better if he could sneak attack and capture Wancheng. In this way, it is possible to trap Leo in the west and north. In this way, Cao Cao could capture Dongting Lake Xinzhou, and even send troops from Yangzhou to Jiangdong to capture Qu'a City. Well, one by one, Liu Yi's nails in Dongting Lake and Danyang Qu'a were removed, so that most of the rivers and mountains south of the Yellow River would be his Cao Cao's.

Cai Mao is really a key figure!

As soon as Cao Cao thought of this, he hurriedly said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, is Cai Mao still in the post station now?" You shouldn't have left Xudu so soon, right? ”

"Hehe, it's still there, he should have exchanged words with Guo Tu. Guo Tu came to see the lord, and he would definitely wait for news at the post station. If the lord wants to persuade Cai Mao to surrender, he has to hurry up. If we don't form an alliance with them, then, Yuan Shao and Liu Biao, the situation forces them to have an alliance, so we have to persuade Cai Mao to surrender before the two meet and before they reach a formal agreement. Cheng Yu smiled at Cao Cao.

"So what are you waiting for? Please! Cao Cao said hurriedly.

"Lord, please rest assured, Cheng Yu has already sent someone to invite him just now, and it is estimated that he will rush to the Prime Minister's Mansion soon. Before that, though, I have a few words to say to my lord. Cheng Yu bowed his head and lowered his voice a little and said: "Lord, for Cai Mao, you can't persuade him, you have to use coercion to intimidate him, as long as he is forced to sign the surrender letter, then it will be a big deal." ”

"Intimidate him?" Cao Cao was a little stunned.

"Hehe, he threatened to take Jingzhou, confiscate his family wealth, and punish him for the nine clans, I don't believe that he won't scare him into surrendering to the lord." Cheng Yu smiled evilly, and said again: "Cai Maowen is not a martial artist, but he is conservative and greedy for money and afraid of death, holding on to the glory of the Cai family." It can be said that he is almost useless, but there is one point, the lord may be able to use him, and he has to be used, which is very important for the lord. ”

"Oh? That point? Cao Cao was strange that Cheng Yu criticized Cai Mao as useless, but said that he was very important to him, which was inconsistent and confusing, which made Cao Cao scratch his head.

At the beginning, most of the water thieves in Dongting Lake were all in Cai Mao's army, but they were later defeated by Liu Yi's army, forcing Liu Biao to cancel most of the Jingzhou water army. This Cai Mao failed to shine in the water army. If he surrenders, he can train the navy for the lord, because if the lord wants to seize Dongting Lake Xinzhou and capture Jiangdong, he must have a military general who is proficient in water warfare to train the navy and horses for the lord. ”

"That's right!" Cao Cao clapped his hands and said: "Zhongde, don't remind me, Cao almost forgot that the naval army formed by Cao Ren has low combat effectiveness, and Cao is also having a headache." ”

"Then the lord, the subordinates will avoid it first, and Cai Mao can come in." Cheng Yu said.

"Well, then you can avoid Zhongde behind the screen first, and wait for me to persuade you...... No, scare Cai Mao again! Cao Cao nodded, his eyes began to concentrate, flashing a majestic aura, and the momentum of the whole person became like a sword for sale, and the momentum was compelling.

"Someone! Order Cai Mao to come in and see her true appearance! Cao Cao shouted majestically.

After a while, Cai Mao, who had been sent by Cheng Yu earlier and called in the name of Cao Cao, walked into the meeting hall with a little nervousness. (To be continued......)