Ten days later, Lü Bu was ordered to return to Xiaopei, and only brought back 5,000 men and horses, but left Zhang Liao and Zang Ba in Langya. Liu Bei led the civil and military forces out of the city to greet him, and held a banquet for Lu Bu in the state governor's mansion to celebrate his achievements.

In the second year of Han Xingping, in the autumn of 195 AD, Lu Bu recovered Langya and other places, Zang Ba surrendered, Taishan Kou Sun Guan, Yin Li and others retreated to Mount Tai, so far, the whole territory of Xuzhou has nominally all been in the hands of Liu Bei. However, after this battle, Lu Bu's strength has increased greatly, and he has faintly been able to compete with Liu Bei.

Not long after Lu Bu returned to Xiaopei, Gao Ping came to visit, and the two talked secretly for a long time, but the topic always revolved around one person, a woman - Tao Zhi. After Gao Ping left Lu Bu's mansion, Lu Bu came to Xuzhou Tao Mansion the next day, asked Tao Zhi a few questions briefly and left in a hurry, but within a few days, Lu Bu announced that he had canceled his marriage contract with Tao Zhi and set a good day to accept Cao Rong as a concubine.

After Lu Bu returned to Xiaopei, Liu Bei followed the advice of Guan Yu, Jian Yong and others to strengthen the defense of Xuzhou, and also sent some additional soldiers and horses in several counties near the south of Langya, while Gao Ping was busy training the "Flying Eagle" special forces, and at the same time went to Tao Zhi from time to time to talk to the little beauty.

In the blink of an eye, history entered 196 A.D., Cao Cao finally entered Luoyang under the advice of Xun Yu, greeted the emperor, during which he received the general Xu Huang, and then entered Yuzhou, defeated Liu Pi and others, and moved the capital to Xuchang, changed the Yuan Jian'an, and completed the first step of its unification of the Central Plains. Since then, Cao Cao has Yanzhou, Yuzhou and most of the divisions, with good strategies and fierce generals, more than 300,000 soldiers who can fight, and he also coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, and became one of the powerful princes in the Central Plains for a time.

In the north, after Yuan Shao exterminated Zhang Yan of Montenegro, he was surrendered to more than 100,000 Black Mountain thieves, and forced Gongsun Zan to only a small part of Youzhou's territory, and its sphere of influence included Qingzhou, Jizhou, and most of Youzhou, with hundreds of military generals under his command, with more than 500,000 soldiers and horses, becoming the strongest princes.

After moving the capital to Xuchang, because of Yuan Shao's great power, Cao Cao borrowed the name of the Son of Heaven to make Yuan Shao a general, and he himself was the Sikong, leading the car and riding the general.

At the same time, Liu Bei was named the general of Zhengdong, the Marquis of Yicheng Pavilion, and the leader of Xuzhou Mu. and secretly sent a book to Liu Bei to get rid of Lu Bu, but unfortunately he didn't know Liu Bei's personality too well, and Gao Ping pointed out that this was Cao Cao's "two tigers competing for food" plan, and secretly gave Zhang Fei a plan, just waiting for Lu Bu to arrive.

Lu Bu listened to Liu Beishi's teaching of Xuzhou pastor, so he personally came to congratulate.

Liu Bei hurriedly let him into the hall, and after the two of them took their seats, Lu Bu said: "Today, I heard that Duke Xuande received the court's reward, and he actually awarded Xuzhou Mu and the marquis, and I came to congratulate him." There is a lot of envy and jealousy, after all, Lu Bu is still nominally working under Liu Bei.

Liu Bei hurriedly thanked him when he heard this, and the two were talking happily, when they suddenly heard someone in the courtyard shouting: "Where is Lu Bu?" I'll kill you. The two of them were shocked, but they saw Zhang Fei holding a sword in his hand, and when he saw Lu Bu here, he wanted to step forward to fight. Lu Bu was shocked, jumped up, and at the same time drew his sword, shouting: "Xuande Gong, why did Yide want to kill me?" ”

Liu Bei hurriedly stopped Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu also stopped him forward. Zhang Fei saw that he couldn't succeed, so he shouted angrily: "Lu Bu, I don't want to kill you, because Cao Cao said that you are an unrighteous person, and specially asked my brother to kill you." My brother can't bear to do it, but I'm willing to kill you. ”

After that, he had to move forward, Liu Bei scolded again and again before he drank Zhang Fei back, but he didn't know that Zhang Fei retreated to the courtyard, nagging himself, and he didn't know if Gao Xiaozi's idea worked.

Liu Bei drank Zhang Fei away, then showed Cao Cao's letter to Lu Bu and explained the matter.

Lu Bu read the letter and hurriedly said, "Xuande Gong." This is Cao Cao's discord, wanting to discord between the two of us. There was anger in his words. Liu Bei hurriedly relieved: "Don't disturb Wenhou, and swear not to do anything unkind and unrighteous for this." Lu Bu hurriedly thanked him.

In order to calm his heart, Liu Bei left him to drink and returned in the evening. After Lu Bu left, Guan Yu asked, "Big brother, why didn't you kill Lu Bu?" Killing it at this time is just a backhand. If he changes in the day, it will be too late to regret it. ”

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "Zi Qingyan said that this is Cao Cao's plan to 'compete for food with two tigers', and wants to make me and Lu Bu kill each other, no matter who wins or loses, it will definitely reduce the power of Xuzhou, and now Cao Cao has more than 300,000 troops, at this time, he can't make enemies with Lu Bu, and he will have to resist with Cao Cao when he comes" Guan Yu nodded and said yes.

Liu Bei said again: "The third brother has always been reckless, but the events of the day also made Lu Bu convinced, and even made Lu Bu hate Cao Cao, which can be regarded as a great help." Guan Yu frowned again and said, "Wouldn't it be better if you killed Lu Bu at this time and collected all of them?" ”

"Hehe, it's not as simple as the second brother thinks, even if he really kills Lu Bu during the day, our reputation will also be damaged, and Lu Bu's subordinates are all old departments brought by his annexation for many years, Lu Bu is dead, and others such as Gao Shun, Chen Gong and others will also refuse to obey, and Zhang Liao, Zang Ba and others still have tens of thousands of male soldiers in Langya, which is also a big threat" Guan Yu nodded yes.

Let's say that Zhang Fei returned to the mansion, saw Gao Ping, and said with a smile: "Ziqing is very calculating." Lu Bu was really frightened, but he made my old man breathe. ”

Gao Ping said with a smile: "Lu Bu's martial arts are unparalleled, and now his power is not as good as that of the lord, if it is usual, I am afraid that I will only stop after three hundred rounds with the three generals." ”

Zhang Fei said indifferently: "Regardless of him, anyway, I have a bad mouth, but although Lu Bu is unrighteous, his martial arts are indeed extraordinary." Come on, come on, you and I will drink for the time being. Gao Ping smiled and drank with Zhang Fei.

A few days later, another messenger came, and the edict said that Liu Bei was going to crusade against Yuan Shu. Liu Bei hurriedly invited everyone to discuss. Mi Zhu said: "This must be Cao Cao's intention, but it is a chaotic life." The lord doesn't need to pay attention. ”

Liu Bei shook his head and said, "Although I know that it is a plan, the king's order cannot be violated." ”

Jian Yong said: "Since the lord wants to do it, he will first determine the people who will defend the city." ”

Liu Bei nodded and said, "That's right." Two virtuous brothers, who is willing to defend the city? ”

When Guan Yu heard this, he said: "My brother is willing to defend the city." Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu and sighed: "Second brother, sooner or later, I will discuss everything with you, how can I be separated?" ”

Zhang Fei originally wanted to go to Huainan to fight Yuan Shujun, but when he heard this, he said: "Big brother, little brother is willing to guard this city." ”

Liu Bei said: "You can't defend this city. Thou art strong in drunkenness, and thou shalt whip thy soldiers; The two are easy to do and do not obey others. I'm not at ease. ”

Zhang Fei replied: "From now on, my brother will not drink, do not beat sergeants, and just listen to people's advice." ”

Mi Zhu said: "I am only afraid of my mouth, but I should not be hearted." ”

Zhang Fei said angrily when he heard this: "I have been with my brother for many years, and I have never broken my promise, how can you ignore me!" ”

Seeing this, Gao Ping said: "My lord, stay as you wish, and defend the city with the three generals." Liu Bei said happily when he heard this: "With Ziqing's assistance, I can rest assured." However, this expedition Yuan Shu could not have a military advisor to plan"

"It's okay" Gao Ping smiled and said: "The lord can just fight with Yuan Shu under the guise of fighting, there is no need to fight hard, Ping Zheng can take this opportunity to pull out the only hidden danger in Xuzhou"

"Haha, who is Ziqing going to calculate this time, is it ......?"

"Don't divulge the secret of heaven," Gao Ping hurriedly said.

"Okay, I just hope that Ziqing will kill less, it is better to solve it peacefully, and in ordinary times, all the affairs in the state should also ask Yuanlong Wen Chang to assist him, and order him to drink less alcohol sooner or later, so as not to cause accidents." Chen Deng and Chen Qun hurriedly replied: "Do your best." After everyone discussed, Liu Bei and Guan Yu Guan Ping led 30,000 troops and marched to Huainan.