After accepting Yuan Shu's surrender, Feng Xian changed Huainan Yin back to Jiujiang Taishou and appointed Yuan Shu as Taishou. Later, Zhou Yu was appointed as the general of Zhennan, and concurrently served as the Taishou of Lujiang, responsible for guarding Huainan and assisting Sun Ce in attacking Jiangdong.

At this point, Yuan Shu suddenly realized that Zhou Yu was actually an undercover agent who was inserted by his side. This couldn't help but make him feel inexplicably remorseful in his heart, but he had no choice but to bow his head and sigh.

After everything was arranged, Feng Xian and I led the crowd back to Xiapi, preparing for the next step of the plan to attack Qingzhou. However, before that, it is necessary to deal with the issue of the imperial seal.

As for the disposition of the imperial seal, if it is handed over to the imperial court, then it means that we recognize the authority of the current imperial court, and it will inevitably increase the prestige of Xu Du in the eyes of the world. But although this is more beneficial to Cao **, Feng Xian and I still decided to hand over the imperial seal to the imperial court, just because this thing is useless in our hands, and it is better to directly hand it over to the reputation of a loyal minister, although this reputation does not matter at all.

When the imperial seal was sent to the imperial court, Liu Xie issued an edict appointing Feng Xian as the general of the expedition to the east, responsible for supervising the affairs of Xu and Yang.

Cao ** learned that we had destroyed Yuan Shu and possessed the two counties of Huainan, and he was immediately shocked in his heart, and immediately ordered to retreat from the siege of Qicheng. Zhang Xiu planned to lead the crowd in pursuit, so Jia Xu suggested that he said: "This time, we should use a strategy to lure the enemy, and we must drag Cao ** and not let him lead the army to withdraw to Xuchang." ”

Subsequently, Zhang Xiu led the crowd to catch up with Cao ** and engage with him, and then pretended to be defeated and retreated to induce Cao ** to pursue, but Cao ** was not fooled. Zhang Xiu was a little puzzled by this, but at this time Jia Xu proposed: "Since the plan to lure the enemy is useless, the general will take the initiative to attack and fight with him; As soon as Huang Zhong's reinforcements arrived, he should be able to besiege him in one fell swoop. ”

So, Zhang Xiu led the army to pursue Cao ** again, and this time he rushed with all his strength and went straight to Cao **'s main formation. Cao ** was bent on retreating, and failed to organize effective defense for a while, resulting in the formation of the formation being scattered by the other party in one fell swoop.

At the right time, Cao Hong and Yu Ban's soldiers and horses quickly surrounded him, and Zhang Xiu saw that the other party wanted to wrap himself in dumplings, so he quickly broke through and evacuated. Cao ** did not lead the crowd in pursuit, but gathered his soldiers and continued to retreat.

At this time, Huang Zhong and Gan Ning led the crowd to quickly occupy Anzhong City in the rear, cutting off Cao **'s retreat. So, Cao ** ordered to dig a dangerous road and transport the baggage out first. Then, he arranged a detachment of soldiers and horses to stay in place, pretending that he was going to lead a large army to escape.

Zhang Xiu and Huang Zhong mistakenly thought that Cao ** really wanted to escape, so they led light troops to make a detour to intercept them. Unexpectedly, when it came to the battle with Cao **, they were attacked from behind by the troops and horses he had arranged in advance, and the two immediately fell into the situation of being attacked by the enemy on their backs. Due to the unfavorable counterattack, the two had to lead troops to break through. Immediately, Cao ** successfully escaped from the predicament and evacuated.

After Cao ** withdrew to Xuchang, he ordered someone to carefully investigate how we attacked Yuan Shu so quickly, and the results of the investigation surprised Cao **. Immediately, Cao ** immediately ordered Man Chong to carefully investigate whether there was an undercover infiltration in Xu Du, but anyone who had the slightest suspicion must be severely tortured, even if the civil and military ministers of the court could not let go. Although Cao **'s suspicion is not wrong, his approach is inappropriate, which makes most of the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty tremble, and the people in Xu Du are panicked for a while.

There is a person named He Kui (pronounced "Kwai "Kui"), the word Shulong, a native of Yangxia County, Chen County. He was originally related to Yuan Shu, but he was unwilling to work for Yuan Shu, and was later recruited by Cao ** as Sikong Peng.

Cao ** once asked him what he thought of Yuan Shu, and he replied: "Those who conform to the times can be blessed by God, and those who pay attention to faith and righteousness can be supported by the people; Yuan Shuqi was unwilling to adapt to the times, lacked faith in dealing with things, and wanted to get the people's attachment, which was just wishful thinking. ”

Because He Kui has a strong self-esteem and is unwilling to be tortured, he carries poison with him every day, so that Cao ** never suspects him in the end.

At this time, Xun You timely reminded Cao ** that he could no longer treat his subordinate officials and scholars like this, otherwise he would lose people's hearts. Cao ** felt that what Xun Yu said was reasonable, so he restrained himself a little.

Then, Cao ** asked Xun You again: "Now that Lu Bu has captured Huainan, the next step will inevitably be to go north to attack Qingzhou; In your opinion, how do you stop it from growing bigger? ”

Xun You replied: "According to Gongda's opinion, at this time, troops should be sent to attack Xuzhou. ”

Cao ** nodded and said, "Well, this is just the will; It's just that Lone is a little worried, if he sends troops to expedition to Lu Bu, Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu take the opportunity to attack Xuchang, lest the rear be in danger; Moreover, Lu Bu only handed over the imperial seal of the country not long ago, which was an act of loyalty to the imperial court; If Lone sends troops to crusade against him, I'm afraid it will be immoral, this time it's really a dilemma for Lonely! ”

Xun You said: "Back to Cao Gong, according to Gongda's opinion, Liu Biao and Zhang Xiuxin have recently been injured, and they must not dare to make any moves at this time; And Lu Bu, Shaoran is extremely fierce, more supported by the people, and now he has subdued Yuan Shu, if the two of them are allowed to crisscross between Huai and Si, the heroes of the world will be more attached to it; Therefore, it is imperative to go east to Xuzhou at present. ”

Cao ** nodded with relief, and then asked, "Then what name should I use?" ”

At this time, Guo Jia on the side replied: "What's so difficult about the name? Not long ago, our army has been carefully investigated, Lu Bu ordered his generals Song Xian and Hou Cheng to go to Bingzhou to buy war horses, and Ming Gongda secretly instructed Liu Bei to rob them when the two herded horses passed through the border of Peiguo; At that time, Lu Bu was furious, and he would inevitably send troops to attack Liu Bei, and the Duke of Ming could take this opportunity to accuse Lu Bu of being a rebel, and then send troops to attack Xuzhou. ”

"Hmm!" Cao **'s expression immediately moved when he heard this, and he said with a smile: "Good strategy; Feng Xiaozhen is a ghost in the world, and there are many ghost ideas in his stomach. ”

Guo Jia smiled and said: "Ming Gong has won the award, this is just a small skill of carving insects." ”

At this time, Feng Xian was also discussing with Chen Gong and Chen Qun to formulate a plan to attack Qingzhou. When they brought the plan they had made to ask for my opinion, I said: "The plan to attack Qingzhou will be postponed for the time being, and Cao ** is already preparing to send troops to attack Xuzhou." ”

"Oh?" Several people were a little surprised when they heard this, and Chen Gong couldn't help but say: "This Cao ** is actually preparing to attack Xuzhou at this time, where does he come from?" ”

I smiled and said, "It's not easy to make up a random name?" ”

Feng Xian also said: "Yes, Cao ** coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, isn't it justifiable to want to crusade against anyone." ”

Chen Gong and Chen Qun looked at each other, and Chen Gong said, "Since this is the case, let's formulate tactics to deal with Cao ** first." ”

I said, "I've got my tactics in place, and you'll just have to follow my plan." ”

When the two heard this, they couldn't help but be slightly surprised. Immediately, Chen Qun shook his head with a somewhat incredulous smile and said, "The young general is unfathomable, and it is beyond the reach of ordinary people like me. ”

I smiled and said, "I'm not a mortal, but I'm just as a mortal; It's just that compared with ordinary people, I have a little bit of knowledge. ”

Feng Xian couldn't help but smile immediately: "Hehe, Brother Xian's words are really interesting. ”

After that, the situation continued to develop according to my plan. When Song Xian and Hou Cheng drove fifteen war horses through the territory of Peiguo, Liu Bei immediately led the crowd to launch a surprise attack and hijacked all the war horses. Song Xian and Hou Cheng didn't know in advance that someone would come to plunder the war horses, so they immediately stepped forward to fight with Liu Bei and the others, but because the number of the other party was too large, the two were finally defeated and had to abandon their horses and break through.

The so-called conspiracy leaks the loser. Therefore, in order to improve the probability of the success of the plan, only Wu Xin and Guo Jia, the three main figures, knew the inside story, and even Feng Xian and Xun You did not know.

After Song Xian and Hou Cheng returned to Xiapi, they reported the matter. After the two of them retreated under the first order, they couldn't help but immediately shoot the case angrily, saying: "Liu Bei, this guy is really thick-skinned enough!" I have put up with him three times and twice, and he still doesn't know what to do; If he didn't teach him some lessons this time, he would still think that I, Lu Bu, was a soft persimmon and pinched it if he wanted to! ”

I said, "Rest easy, brother, this was one of my plans." ”

Feng Xian couldn't help but be a little stunned when he heard this, but asked: "What does Brother Xian mean, did you plan this matter in advance?" ”

I smiled and said, "Not bad." ”

Feng Xian couldn't help but look at me strangely, and then asked, "How can the virtuous brother still have something to hide even as a brother?" ”

I said, "You and my brother have been together for more than ten years, and my brother should understand the temperament of the younger brother; In my layout, everyone has their own role, and everyone just needs to do their own thing. ”

Feng Xian pondered, then nodded and said, "I understand, I won't ask anything more in the future; What should we do next, and will we continue to endure it? ”

I shook my head and said, "No, I don't have to put up with it this time; However, Liu Bei does not have much attainment in the art of war, so he does not need my two brothers to come out this time; Send Gao Shun and Qin Yi to lead the trapping camp and cavalry battalion to attack Liu Bei, and by the way, let Zhang Liao and Gao Feng also pull out their recruits for training. ”

This time to attack Liu Bei, Cao ** will take the opportunity to lead a large army to attack Xuzhou. I've been planning for almost a decade to cope with this day. This time, as long as Cao ** is destroyed, the world will be the only one. (To be continued.) )