"The road in Xichuan is dangerous, Liu Zhang's father and son have been running for dozens of generations, how did they get broken by Zhao Feng and Zhang Fei in less than two months?" Cao Pi was very surprised after reading the military report that his Lao Tzu handed him. The military newspaper was written too briefly, and many things were not clear. After learning that Xichuan was lost, Xiahou Yuan in Guanzhong only sent first-hand news as soon as possible.

"Jianmen Pass and Jiameng Pass are all the world's male passes, and Zhao Botao was so easy to take them?" Zhong Xuan has been in Guanzhong for many years, and he has a certain understanding of the topography of Jianmen Pass and Jiameng Pass, and he feels that this matter is a bit unbelievable. After listening to their words, Jia Xu on the side thought for a while before he spoke: "Xichuan is mountainous, maybe Zhao Botao found a mountain road and made a detour to avoid these two Xiongguan, or rather, the guards surrendered?" ”

"It's possible!" When most people heard this, they felt that such a surname was not small. Cao Ying ordered someone to take the most detailed map of Xichuan and examine it carefully. It's a pity that on this map, the Yinpingguan plank road is not marked, and Cao Ying can't grasp it for a while.

"The key now is not how Zhao Botao won Xichuan, but once he wins Xichuan, how should we deal with it?" Cao Ying can afford to put it down, seeing that Xichuan is no longer in his hands, the surname Suo will no longer summarize the lessons of defeat for Liu Zhang, and wait until he gets accurate information.

"Zhao Botao is new to Xichuan, but the people of Xichuan are very xenophobic, if you want to consolidate the land of Xichuan and Hanzhong, there is no two or three years that cannot be done. Therefore, it is best for the lord to wave his army south to Jingxiang within two or three years, and after occupying Jingxiang, Liu Bei's army will not be able to take care of everything! If the soldiers of Xichuan can also go north to commit the mirror, then I am afraid that the night will not be peaceful in Guanzhong! After a while, Guo Jia put forward the most realistic strategy.

"I want to take Jing Xiang for a long time, I don't know what your good plan is?" Cao Ying also agreed with Guo Jia's strategy, and hurriedly asked everyone the most realistic questions. There are different opinions, some say that they want to march to Nanyang from Guanzhong, and some say that they want to march to Wancheng from Xuchang. There are all kinds of theories, each of which sounds beautiful, but it is still a long way from being implemented.

"King Wei, Yi has a plan, or he can help the lord go south to Jingxiang easily!" At this time, Sima Yi, the master bookkeeper who had been silent, suddenly spoke. Cao Ying's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light when he heard this, since the plan of the Six Routes Army to advance together ended without a problem, although Sima Yi was added to his own main book, and later promoted to Changshi, he has always been unknown, and I don't see him coming up with any ideas. Now at this time, he suddenly volunteered again, and with such a big grasp, Cao Ying always felt that something was wrong.

"Zhongda has something to say!" Cao Ying motioned to Sima Yi but said that it was okay, so Sima Yi nodded and said: "Lord, in fact, compared with Liu Bei, the biggest advantage of the lord is that the lord has a large and brave cavalry army. In the plains, cavalry was very advantageous to the infantry. Therefore, as long as Liu Bei's army is lured to the plains, and the lord will use the tiger and leopard cavalry and other cavalry to cut off his rear road to fight with it, the chance of victory is very great. ”

"This is true, but I don't know what Zhongda's strategy is to lure Liu Bei's main force to the plains." It was not Cao Ying who was questioned, but Cheng Yu, who was surnamed Lovely. The tone is very bad, it seems that what Sima Yi said before is all nonsense.

Although Cheng Yu's tone was not good, Sima Yi was not annoyed. At that moment, Sima Yi smiled faintly and said: "The lord has forgotten this person, if this person is asked to lure Liu Bei to attack, Liu Bei will definitely not be able to hold back." Once his army leaves Jingxiang lightly, and the lord cuts off his way back with a tiger and leopard, it will be a big deal! Then Sima Yi explained his strategy in detail, and after Cao Ying and the others listened to it, they felt very novel, but it was difficult to tell whether it was good or bad.

"What Zhong Da said, it's not impossible, anyway, this person is idle and idle, it's better to use it!" In the middle of the night, Cao Pi was the first to speak, obviously in favor of Sima Yi. Cao Ying looked at Jia Xu and Guo Jia, the strategists, but saw that these people were also frowning and noncommittal.

"What does Feng Xiao think about this?" Cao Ying didn't want them to be silent forever, so Suo asked his own questions. After a while, Guo Jiacai slowly spoke: "Zhongda's plan is very good, but there are many resourceful people around Liu Bei, and it is very difficult for this person to deceive Liu Bei. ”

"Then Fengxiao doesn't approve of this plan?" Cao Ying didn't seem to be too confident when he heard Guo Jia's words, and hurriedly asked. Guo Jia was silent when he heard this, and finally admonished: "If this plan is successful, it will be enough to make Liu Bei's elite mourn, and he will not be able to recover within five years." It's just that if you want to, you need to use other tricks to deceive Liu Bei. ”

"Feng Xiao's words are not bad, the lord can use the excuse to crusade against Yuan Tan in Liaodong at that time, and pretend to lead the army to Youzhou, so Liu Bei may be able to win the scheme!" Cheng Yu thought for a while. Cao Ying nodded again and again when he heard this, and secretly calculated in his heart.

"Lord, the fourth prince is back!" At this time, suddenly the chamberlain came to report. "Oh? Zhi'er went to Zhanghe to supervise the construction of Tongque Terrace on my behalf, and came back so soon? Cao Yingle said happily, his tone full of love for his son. Cao Pi on the side couldn't help but feel a little gloomy when he heard this. At this moment, he felt that his sleeve robe was gently pulled, and when he looked back, it was Sima Yi who glanced at him, Cao Pi immediately woke up, smiled happily, and praised his younger brother without mentioning it.

"Zhongda, you have also seen that my father is now more and more fond of Zijian. I see that he is called an heir, but I am afraid that it is Zijian! After the discussion was over, Cao Pi and Sima Yi left together, and the former suddenly said a little stunned. It's no wonder that no one will be happy now.

Cao Ying said that it had been half a year since the King of Wei, and in the past half a year, Cao Ying had not established an heir, and anyone with a discerning eye could see what Cao Ying meant. At present, among Cao Ying's sons, only Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi are over fifteen years old. Cao Pidun was filial piety and benevolence, and was kind to others, and the clan generals and the third brother Cao Zhang were kind to him. It stands to reason that he is the only one who is the son of the world, but Cao Ying obviously has other scruples.

His scruple is Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi, who is only 16 years old this year, is already a talented man who has moved the world. In the past two years, no less than 100 famous articles and poems written by him have been widely circulated. At the beginning of the year, Tongquetai was built, and his article "Tongquetai Fu" won full applause, and also won him a lot of prestige among scholars. In the face of such a smart son, Cao Ying would have some ideas anyway. It is no exaggeration to say that if Cao Pi hadn't been pretending to be deep enough, I am afraid that Cao Ying would have established Cao Zhi as his heir.

"The second prince is not in a hurry, although the fourth prince is famous all over the world, but since ancient times, there have been countless people who have caused trouble, and King Wei will not ignore it. Moreover, the second son is filial piety and benevolence, and his virtue is noble, but the fourth son is inevitably profligate and indulgent. For the heir, the importance of virtue is more important than talent and learning, and the lord will not fail to take this into account. Now that the fourth prince returns to Yecheng, he will inevitably drink and sing with the literati of the Ding Yi brothers, why don't the second sons go and have a look? Sima Yi said with a smile, a pair of wolf eyes full of wisdom.

"That makes sense!" Cao Pi was overjoyed and was about to go, but saw Sima Yi pulling him and said, "Gongzi is slow, you still need to go with the third prince or General Zidan, so that you can be a witness!" ”

"Zhongda, you really have an idea!" Cao Pi was overjoyed when he heard this, and then patted Sima Yi on the shoulder and sighed: "Although I am kind to the clan elders, among the ministers, you are the only one who has a heart-to-heart with me. Zhong Dacai was born in the world, and if he can inherit his father's inheritance in the future, I will reuse it with you! ”

"The second son is serious!" Sima Yi said respectfully, a glimmer of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.

So that afternoon, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhen, who were asking Xu Chu to teach martial arts, met Cao Pi, who came to find them. Cao Pi said that he heard that Cao Zhi had returned, and the brothers had not seen each other for several months, during which he was supervising the work in Tongquetai, and it was very hard, so it was better to go to his house to see him. Cao Zhang and Cao Zhen were indispensable, so Cao Ying's two sons and a godson went to Cao Zhi's mansion together.

"Second son, third son, General Zidan!" The gatekeeper saw that it was the three of them, and hurriedly saluted.

"Where's Zijian?" Cao Zhang saw that it was not Cao Zhi himself who was being greeted, and asked in surprise. This person hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke: "The three of you don't know, the fourth son is drunk, and he is now lying on his back and unconscious in the hall. ”

"Ah, drunk again?" Cao Zhang was also taken aback when he heard this, his younger brother has always been a good drinker, and he didn't want to get drunk again today. At this time, Cao Pi said: "I haven't seen my brother for a long time, but now I just came to see it." Since Zijian is drunk, it is inconvenient for us not to disturb his rest. It's just that it's early autumn now, and I'm drunk and lying on my back in the hall, what if I get infected with the wind chill? Why don't you take your son-in-law to the couch in the room to rest! ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" The chamberlain hurried to the hall and carried Cao Zhi, who was drunk and drunk, back to the room. Cao Zhang and Cao Zhen couldn't help frowning when they looked at the unconscious Cao Zhi. At this moment, Cao Zhi, who was in a coma, suddenly vomited out, vomiting all over the ground with a mouth full of filth, and a lot of splashes on Cao Pi, who came forward to check on him.

"You kid!" Cao Zhang was also angry when he saw that Cao Zhi was so drunk. was about to reprimand him, but Cao Pi was already pulling him and said, "Forget the third brother, the fourth brother is drunk, so I won't bother with him." It's just that he drinks like this at a young age, and he will inevitably hurt himself in the future! ”

"That's it, go back and tell your father, let him take care of the fourth brother!" Cao Zhang arrived a little unhappily. Because Cao Zhi has been unconscious, the three of them returned disappointed, but they didn't want to meet Cao Zhi at the door.

"Father!" The three of them hurriedly saluted Cao Ying. Cao Ying nodded, looked at the three people in front of him, and couldn't help frowning and asked, "Zihuan, you are unclean, why is this so?" The tone was very displeased.

"This!" Cao Pi smiled a little embarrassedly, and Cao Zhang, who was on the side, couldn't help but speak: "Father doesn't know, Zijian is drunk and lying on his back in the hall, and the second brother is afraid that he will be infected with the wind and cold, so he will be carried into the room." didn't want Zijian to vomit, so he soiled the second brother's clothes. ”

"What's the matter, Zijian is drunk again?" Cao Ying couldn't help frowning when he heard this.

"Exactly!" Cao Zhang said angrily, and Cao Zhen on the side also nodded yes. How did they know that Cao Pi had already bought the people around Cao Ying, and knew that Cao Ying was going to come to Cao Zhi this afternoon, so they pulled them to play a good show of caring for their brothers for Cao Ying.

"That's it, I'll go back first, Zihuan will go back to the house to change his clothes, so as not to lose his manners!" Cao Ying looked at the three of them, and finally sighed. When looking at Cao Pi, a complicated look flashed in the corners of his eyes.

That night, Cao Ying returned to his Wei Palace, but he was a little uneasy. At dinner time, I heard someone report that the general Xiahoudun and the general Cao Ren of Zhendong had something to report. Cao Ying hurriedly ordered the two to come in, but it was Cao Ren who reported the progress of this year's recruit training, and Xiahoudun reported on the confrontation with Yuan Tan in Youzhou.

"Good, good!" Cao Ying saw that everything was smooth sailing, and he was also overjoyed. Looking at Xiahoudun and Cao Ren in front of him, Cao Ying suddenly said with some emotion: "Zixiao, Yuan Rang, it has been more than ten years since Chen Liu's army, right?" ”

"It's been sixteen years!" Cao Ren was also quite emotional.

"My name with you is a king, and I am a brother. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't be able to get to where I am today! Cao Ying said with a little emotion. Signaling the two not to be modest, Cao Ying said again: "I have a matter that is difficult to decide right now, and I hope you can give me some advice." ”

"My lord, please speak!" The two didn't even dare to say it, so Cao Ying said bluntly.

"There are several sons born of orphans, each with its own strengths. From the perspective of the two of you, who can be the heir of Zihuan, Zihe, and Zijian? Cao Ying meant something authentic. Xiahoudun and Cao Ren glanced at each other, although they were military generals, they also knew that this kind of heir inheritance was not good to talk about, and it would be difficult to say it once they stood on the wrong team. But now that Cao Ying took the initiative to ask, and mentioned brotherhood to them again, he really couldn't hide from it.

"The lord, since ancient times, he has been the heir, and now the son of Zihuan is filial piety and benevolence, and he is rightfully inheriting the heir." Cao Ren said without thinking. Xiahoudun's only remaining one-eyed turned a few times, and finally spoke: "Lord, Zihuan Gongzi has always been kind to others, and his surname is generous, so he is a good candidate for the heir. ”

Cao Ren's son Cao Tai and Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Dun's son, were all friends of Cao Pi's general horn. On this issue, they did not hesitate to stand on Cao Pi's side. Cao Ying nodded when he heard this, but he didn't say anything, just pulled them to discuss some issues on military strategy.

Compared with Cao Ying's hesitation, Liu Bei doesn't have so many scruples, after all, he only has a seven-year-old son Liu Feng now, and no one fights with him. Under the teaching of Sun Gan, the personal disciple of the great Confucian Zheng Xuan, this child is still smart and clever.

But Liu Bei is a little upset now, not because of his son, but because of his wife. Yizhou's ministers Meng Da and Fazheng, who had just come to Shouchun, brought him a more troublesome matter. At this time, someone came to report, saying that Pang Tong asked to see.

"Hurry up!" Liu Bei hurriedly motioned for Pang Tong to come in. "I've seen the lord!" After Pang Tong finished the salute, Liu Bei also asked a little eagerly: "Shi Yuan came just in time, I have a difficult thing here, and I ask Shi Yuan to solve my doubts!" ”

"What's the matter with the lord's office?" Pang Tong seemed to expect something, and hurriedly asked.

"Alas, just now Fa Xiaozhi and Mencius Du proposed to me to marry Wu Ziyu's sister-in-law, what do you think this should be?" Liu Bei sighed and said. When Pang Tong heard this, he smiled and said: "The lord is the prince of Qi, and it is common for him to have three wives and four concubines. Now that there are only two wives and one concubine in the lord's house, what does it matter if he marries another? ”

"This matter is not so simple, this Mrs. Wu is a widow!" Liu Bei sighed. In fact, this Mrs. Wu can't be regarded as a widow, but she made a marriage contract with Liu Zhang's eldest son Liu Mao before, but Liu Mao died early, but she has never married and is still a virgin.

What Liu Bei scruples about is that if he marries this Mrs. Wu now, the people of the Yizhou faction can certainly feel at ease, but the Xuzhou faction and the Jingzhou faction are inevitably a little difficult to feel at ease. Pang Tong was naturally aware of the stakes, and said with a strange smile at the moment: "What's the matter, the lord has a plan, so that the lord can cover everything!" ”

(To be continued)