Zhang Zhao's nephew, Zhang Fen, who did not like to read, but liked to make all kinds of machinery, he once built siege carts, so he was recommended to Sun Quan by Buqi. Sun Quan wanted him to lead troops to fight, but Zhang Zhao didn't like it, he felt that young people were not good at studying, and leading troops to fight too early was not conducive to future development, so he was not allowed to go, saying that you are still young, you should study hard and so on. As a result, Zhang Fen, who didn't like to read, used the ancients as an example to refute Zhang Zhao, saying that I was a few years older than Tong Wang and Ziqi, and I should have gone out to do things a long time ago.

Now hearing Gu Yong mention Zhang Fen, although Zhang Zhao is a little unhappy, he also knows that at this juncture, no matter how good he reads, it is useless, and it is the key to be able to build a thunderbolt car, although Zhang Fen can't build a thunderbolt car, but he always has research on this aspect, and he didn't say anything at the moment, pretending not to hear.

Sun Quan was a little happy when he saw Zhang Zhao deflated, but he didn't show it on his face. He immediately arranged for someone to recruit Zhang Fen - because he was afraid of seeing Zhang Zhao, Zhang Fen took the initiative to ask to stay away and serve under Sun Shao, the Taishou of Guangling. After everyone retreated, he called Xu Shen again, taught him face-to-face, and asked him to go to Cao Ying to ask for surrender, no matter what conditions Cao Ying offered, take a breath first.

Xu Shen took the order and left.

After a few days of familiarity, the soldiers who were the thunderbolts gradually began to adapt to the bumps of the warship, and the accuracy was improved, and the results began to be significant, but this improvement is actually limited, and one of the ten can be amazing, and in the end it is necessary to rely on the number to win, and it is better for the fixed target to be docked, and the effect on the mobile target warship is not satisfactory. Therefore, the most direct consequence is that the speed of consumption of the stone bullets that have been prepared for a few days is amazing, and Zang Ba and Sun Guan, who are playing happily, have been in a hurry many times, and if they don't add it, this thunderbolt will become an ornament.

"How many days can you beat the prepared stones?" Cao Ying stroked his beard, his spirit was very uplifted, not only because the war was going well, but also because he had just received the news that the prescription given by Sun Shao had been examined by the medical craftsman who accompanied the army, saying that although there was aconitum in it, he would dare to give it to him only after he had tried the medicine to ensure that it was correct, but judging from the reasonable compatibility of the entire prescription, it should be from the hands of a master. The headwind that had been bothering him had a solution, and he was in a much better mood.

"One day at most." Liu Ye said: "It is much more difficult to work on a warship than on flat ground, and the hit rate is very low. ”

"Hmm." Cao Ying nodded, feeling the same way, he boarded the warship yesterday and went to the river to take a look, the thunderbolt was very lively, but the momentum was far better than the results. He thought for a moment: "Tomorrow we will concentrate on attacking the Whisker Dock, and after taking the Whisker Dock, load the Thunderbolt on the Whisker Dock." ”

Liu Ye thought for a while, nodded and smiled: "Your Highness has a good plan, in this way, it will be much easier for our army to transport its baggage." He hesitated for a moment, and then said: "It's just that the water is gradually rising in the past few days, and the disadvantage of our army is becoming more and more obvious. ”

"It's good to be able to achieve such results." Cao Ying disagreed, "Don't give them a chance to breathe, fight so that they don't have time to stop and think about countermeasures." Let Yuan let arrange for people to go to logging and quarrying, and if they can fight for a day, they will fight for a day. He glanced at Liu Ye and said with some regret: "You can't hesitate this time, so as not to repeat the story of Hanzhong." Ziyang, thinking about it now, I didn't listen to you at the time, but I was too timid. ”

Liu Ye understood. The story of Hanzhong that Cao Ying said refers to the fact that after taking Hanzhong that year, he did not take advantage of the situation to take Bashu, but he missed the opportunity and was firmly established by Liu Bei in Yizhou. Cao Ying said this sentence in front of him, which was equivalent to admitting his mistake and giving him enough face, of course he had to save some face for Cao Ying. "The past cannot be admonished, but the coming can still be chased. His Royal Highness did not take Bashu at that time, and he also proceeded from the overall situation, which was not wrong. ”

"Hey, hey, why should Ziyang cover up for Lonely, wrong is wrong." Cao Ying shook his head helplessly, was silent for a moment, and then turned his head to Yang Xiu and said, "Where is Sun Shao?" ”

"According to the calculation of the time, it should be almost Jiaozhou."

"Alas-" Cao Ying sighed, his face was a little gloomy, and he said with a semantic pun: "The disaster is within the Xiao Wall, sure enough." ”

Yang Xiu was silent.

"Prime Minister, the envoy from Jiangdong is here." Simbi walked in quickly and whispered.

When Cao Ying heard this, his eyes flashed and he became energetic, he looked at Liu Ye and Yang Xiu, who were also happy, with a smile, and laughed: "Sun Zhongmou really can't support it." ”

"His Highness." Liu Ye and Yang Xiu said in unison.

"Let the messenger in." Cao Ying straightened his waist and waved his hand, full of domineering. After a short time, Xu Shen respectfully walked into the big tent and bowed his head and saluted: "Xu Shen, the captain of the Che Cavalry General's Mansion, is ordered by the Che Cavalry General to meet the Prime Minister, His Royal Highness the King of Wei." ”

"General Chesar?" Cao Ying snorted: "Sun Quan and Liu Bei are self-representing, when did the court admit it?" ”

Xu Shen is neither humble nor arrogant: "The table is indeed on the table, but thieves are rampant, and the Central Plains is restless, I am afraid that it is possible that Your Majesty has not received the watch seal." Since Dong Zhuo's rebellion, such things have been common, and my generals just acted according to the rules. ”

"Do what you do?" Cao Ying shook his hand and dismissed: "Lone is ordered by the Son of Heaven, leading the king to ask for disobedience, those who serve first will be rewarded, and those who serve later will be punished, is there any other way?" ”

Xu Shen was silent, and waited for Cao Ying to finish speaking, then said with a smile: "The world is in turmoil, the princes are all around, and the loyal ministers and heroes are all tears to serve the country." The Prime Minister raised troops to fight against Dong, fought in the east and west, pacified the Central Plains, and became the prime minister, and the king of Wei was the king, and the world was hopeful. My general inherited the will of my father and brother, guarded Jiangdong for the Han family, since Zhongping, conscientious, dare not have the slightest negligence, knight to reward merit, position to reward ability, with the function of my general, for a car riding general, why not? ”

Xu Shen's words were soft and firm, and he first blocked Cao Ying's mouth with words, you can be the king of Wei, why can't my general be a general of the chariot and cavalry? Everyone's not a good person, don't talk about these unspeakable reasons.

"In that case, why didn't he, the general of the chariot cavalry, come to visit, but instead raise a large army to fight against Wang Shi?" Cao Ying snorted coldly, "This Jiangdong, is it the Jiangdong of my Han Dynasty, or the Jiangdong of his grandson's family?" ”

"The general of my family came to greet the prime minister, but the prime minister was angry, and he was punished without teaching, because Jiangdong was frightened and did not dare to come rashly." Xu Shen got off the donkey down the slope and presented Sun Quan's letter with both hands: "My general's table is here, please take a look." ”

Cao Ying glanced at Liu Ye, Liu Ye stepped forward to take the watch and sent it to Cao Ying's case, Cao Ying opened it and glanced at it, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he looked disdainfully: "Sun Quan has a heart, it's good, but it's just a watch, how can Lone believe in his sincerity?" ”

Xu Jian's tone loosened, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, kowtowed, and said: "My general is naturally sincere in making peace with the prime minister, but he didn't hear the prime minister's approval, so he sent his ministers to discuss with the prime minister." Please take a break from the anger of the thunder, my general is naturally ordered to come, and now the stone arrows on the river are flying, he just wants to come to see the prime minister, but he can't get it. ”

"Hehe...... Cao Ying and Liu Ye glanced at each other and nodded heartily. Sun Quan really couldn't hold on, nominally asking for surrender, but in fact he was delaying the army. He didn't speak, just looked at Xu Shen gloomily, Xu Shen lay on the ground, and couldn't see Cao Ying's face, but he felt a lot of pressure, as if he was carrying a big grinding disc on his back, which made him a little breathless. This is not the same as the last time I saw Guan Yu, Guan Yu's murderous aura is like a knife, which makes people frightened, and Cao Ying's domineering aura is like a mountain, which makes him suffocate.

"Is Sun Quan really asking to surrender?" Cao Ying said slowly.

"Naturally, sincerely." Xu Shen paused again.

"Alright, since it's a surrender, then send the proton to my camp. When the proton arrives at the battalion, when will I stop attacking, withdraw my troops and go back, and as soon as I don't reach the battalion, I will storm it. If you go back and let him make a decision as soon as possible, if he wants to delay the army, then he will think crookedly, and when I cross the river, he will want to surrender again, but it is not so simple. ”

Xu Shen suddenly choked. Since it is a surrender, then it is a matter of course for Cao Quan to ask for quality, but Sun Quan is a fraudulent surrender, he just wants to delay for two days to take a breath, not a real surrender, this is really to send the proton over, so what is the chance to turn over? Sun Quan is in his thirties, but he only has one son, how could he send Sun Deng to Cao Ying to be a hostage?

But if you don't send it, then Cao Yingke said, you don't count one day, I'll fight for one day, don't give Jiangdong a chance to breathe at all, how many days can Jiangdong last?

"Go ahead, don't talk too much about other gossip, when will the proton be delivered, and when will we talk about it." Cao Ying waved his hand impatiently, and let him blast Xu Shen out before he came back to his senses. The last thing Xu Shen heard was, "Ziyang, don't expect Sun Quan to surrender, that erector is very cunning." You hurry up and build a thousand thunderbolts, and what you talk about is still better than the real one. ”

Xu Shen didn't dare to stay longer, as soon as he left Cao Ying, he immediately returned to Jiangdong to report to Sun Quan, Sun Quan heard it, and immediately became angry and jumped up: "Send quality? He took me for a fool. ”

Xu Shen wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Supreme, Cao Thief doesn't believe us at all, the proton is not there, he refuses to stop attacking, he is only afraid of ......" Thinking of Cao Ying's last domineering words, he swallowed his saliva and didn't dare to say anything, for fear of stimulating Sun Quan again.

"Don't even think about it." Sun Quan waved and turned around to leave. Xu Shen hesitated for a moment, and then shouted urgently: "Supreme." ”

The annoyed Sun Quan was very impatient, and originally wanted to use a plan to delay the army, but he didn't expect Cao Ying to be old and slippery, and he didn't pay attention to him at all. Since the surrender by fraud fails, there is only a desperate battle, and Lu Su's army will not arrive in a day, so it seems that Lu Xun and He Qi will have to be transferred to reinforce it. He was thinking about the battle situation, but he didn't notice that Xu Shen's face was a little weird: "What's the matter?" ”

"Minister......" Xu Shen licked his lips nervously.

Sun Quan was attracted by Xu Shen's expression, he knew that Xu Shen was a person, and what could make him hesitate so much must be something very important but not sure enough. He twisted his eyebrows, softened his tone, and the whole person suddenly quieted down: "You speak slowly, don't worry." ”

"Whoa." Xu Shen paused, and then said carefully: "When the minister was in Cao Ying, he occasionally heard a sentence that this warship was loaded with a thunderbolt car, and it seemed to be ...... Captain Sun related? ”

"Who?" Sun Quan didn't react for a while, and after a while, he remembered: "Feng Xian? ”

"Yes." Xu Shen said cautiously: "Supreme, although the minister can't believe this, the minister vaguely remembers that this thunderbolt car seems to have appeared after Captain Sun returned from Cao Ying. I heard that Captain Sun and Liu Ye had a very happy conversation, isn't it ......"

"Impossible." Sun Quan's face suddenly became ugly, he waved his hand, and undoubtedly interrupted Xu Shen's words, as if he was saying to Xu Shen, and as if he was saying to himself: "Even if he has any ideas, he will not make such a decision, don't think about it, this must be the old thief's plan to divide our uncle and nephew." Hmph, in this way, those recent rumors must have been his handiwork. ”

Xu Shen didn't dare to say it anymore, he was a person who did secret work, and he was well aware of the recent rumors. After Sun Shao left the barracks, there was a saying in Jiangdong that Sun Quan suppressed Sun Shao for fear that he would make meritorious contributions and affect his prestige, so although Sun Shao made great contributions, he was forced by Sun Quan to leave the barracks to do business. The news spread so quickly that it was impossible to tell whether it was from the barracks or from outside, in short, there was an air of conspiracy. But everyone knows that even if this is a rumor spread by Cao Jun, it is not outrageous, Sun Quan's suppression of Sun Shao is obvious to all, and it is not a secret, but Sun Shao left the military camp immediately after defeating Zhang Liao, which is a little unexpected.

But now with this news, Xu Shen sensitively realizes that it may not be so simple.

Conspiracy? You can say that it is a conspiracy, but if the conspiracy is used in a way that makes you unjustifiable, then it becomes a conspiracy.

Xu Shen retreated, as a courtier, what he could do had been done, how to decide, that was Sun Quan's business, and he wanted to leave space for Sun Quan to think.

Sun Quan sat in the big tent and didn't move for a long time. His face was hideous for a while, and a little disdainful for a while. Will Sun Shao have Cao Ying load a thunderbolt on a warship to attack Jiangdong? Is he crazy? This is simply impossible, this must be a ploy used by Cao Ying to sow discord between him and Sun Shao. Sun Shao has already gone to business, there is no need for him to kill Sun Shao again, if he falls for Cao Ying's plan and really attacks Sun Shao, then he will not be able to face the blame of the clan, and he will not be able to explain to the ministers that a clan that can voluntarily give up power and stay away from the center of right and wrong will not be spared, so what sense of security do other people have? He wouldn't be so stupid, he wouldn't let Cao Ying succeed.

But another voice stubbornly stayed in his mind, although it was faint, but it couldn't linger: why was the thunderbolt not loaded on the warship for a long time, and it was not loaded on the warship for a long time, but Sun Shao went to Cao Ying, and Cao Ying thought of loading the thunderbolt on the warship? Is it really a coincidence? Sun Shao can make sake and is also interested in thunderbolts, so it is not surprising that he can come up with this idea.

Sun Quan walked around the tent irritably, intellectually speaking, he was ninety percent sure that this was Cao Ying's discordant plan, but the remaining one percent poked into his flesh like a thorn, making him uneasy. What's more, his plan to delay the army was seen through by Cao Ying, and it had no effect on Cao Ying, but exposed the weakness of his weak heart in front of Cao Ying, according to his understanding of Cao Ying, he could guess with his toes that Cao Ying would definitely strengthen the offensive tomorrow and force him to comply.

Sun Quan stood still, held his lips tightly, took two deep breaths, and made himself look calmer, and then said to Zhu Ji: "Please Zhang Gong, Gu Gong and others to discuss the matter." ”

Zhu Ji turned around and went out of the account.

It didn't take long for Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong and others to arrive, and when they heard Sun Quan's report, they were all surprised. This delay in the army was not successful, and it was self-defeating, Cao Ying's thirty years of experience in commanding the army was really extraordinary, and he could see through their thoughts at a glance.

"Let's talk about it again." Teng Tan got up first, a little unable to control his emotions, and his voice was obviously very loud: "The water has risen badly in the past two days, and it will take two or three days for several reinforcements to arrive, no matter what, we have to drag these two days over." He asked for hostages, so he promised to send them, but we didn't send them until the conditions were negotiated. ”

Sun Quan looked at Teng Tan's swollen red face, and suddenly laughed easily. His smile was like a spring breeze, which suddenly blew a crack in the ice-like atmosphere in the tent. He waved his hand and said: "Okay, it's not that serious, in my opinion, the old thief is also bluffing, although his thunderbolt is powerful, but the accuracy is very poor, so many stone bullets are shot every day, it is not easy to replenish." ”

"Supreme Sage." Everyone knew that Sun Quan was comforting them, but they still felt a lot more relieved.

"And I think that if he really wants to ask for questions, there is no need to be so urgent, and he can talk slowly." Sun Quan was just comforting others, but suddenly he had a flash of inspiration and realized that he seemed to have missed something. He raised his big hand, stroked his beard, and muttered for a while, his eyes slowly lit up, and his voice became more calm: "The old thief has been using soldiers for many years, and he has some experience in this water war, and it is impossible for him not to notice the growth of the water potential. ”

Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong and the others looked at each other, they all felt reasonable, and their expressions slowly eased a little.

"Send someone to talk again." Sun Quan slapped the case a little excitedly, "I want to see who can survive to the end." Generals, the old thief is in a hurry, he will definitely go all out in the past two days, you can't take it lightly, and if you survive these few days, the old thief can only look at Jiang Xing and sigh. ”

When the generals heard this, they responded violently.

"Military generals fight, literati plan, everyone, who recommends a person who can speak well, and then cross the river?" Sun Quan smiled and ran into Zhang Zhao and the others. Zhang Zhao and the others looked at each other and thought about it carefully, this candidate was responsible for whether he could move Cao Ying, but not just one person could do it.

At this moment, Zhou Xun, the subordinate governor who had been standing behind Sun Quan, suddenly stepped forward half a step forward and whispered a few words in Sun Quan's ear. Sun Quan tilted his head slightly, glanced at him, and hesitated: "Zhang Wen? ”

"Exactly, he happened to bring wine to the camp, and he is still in the camp."

Sun Quan blinked, turned his head to Teng Tan and the others: "Everyone, how is Zhang Wen?" I only know that he is famous, but he has real talent and real learning? ”

Yan Jian replied: "Zhang Wen is indeed a talent, not only good at literature, but also eloquent, he is a suitable person." ”

"Really?" Sun Quan is a little disapproving, there are many people who are only highly educated, but many of them are nerds, and they really want to do things but they are a mess, this Yan Jian is an obvious example, the people he recommended, Sun Quan didn't believe it. "Who can you be with?"

The attendant Liu Ji responded: "Be the same as Quan Cong." ”

Sun Quan's eyes flashed, he knew Quan Cong very well, and he was indeed a talent. Quan Cong is a native of Qian Tang, very close to Fuchun, his father Quan Rou and Sun Jian are old acquaintances, Sun Ce raised troops to attack Wu, Quan Rou was the captain of the eastern part of Huiji at that time, and he was the first to respond, which can be regarded as a cronie. Quan Cong is young and talented, and his reputation is also good, he came out a few years ago, and he had to have nearly 10,000 elite soldiers in a few years, and now he is in Niuzhu, and he is a person that Sun Quan has high hopes for. If Zhang Wen can really be compared to Quan Cong, then he can be used.

"Gu Gong, can Zhang Wen really be compared to Quan Cong?" Sun Quan is very accustomed to consulting Gu Yong. Gu Yong shook his head: "Jingyu (Liu Ji) is not right. ”

"Oh, why?" Sun Quan looked at Gu Yong with some curiosity. Gu Yong was not like this before, if he agreed, he nodded, if he disagreed, he was silent, and he generally didn't need to refute others in person, even if Liu Ji was just a squire with a low official position. Today there are some exceptions.

"How can Zhang Wen be compared to Quan Cong?" Gu Yong's eyes were calm and calm, and he gently spit out a few words: "Zhang Wen, there is no generation today." ”

As soon as the words came out, the four were shocked. Everyone knows that Gu Yong doesn't talk much, and secondly, he is a good learner, has a very high vision, and easily does not allow people, but now he gives Zhang Wen such a high evaluation, which can be said to be something that has never been done before, everyone was a little surprised when they heard it, and even Zhang Zhao glanced at Gu Yong in surprise, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he was a little disapproving. Sun Quan had a smile on his face, but he muttered in his heart, what happened to Gu Yong today, he knew that he had some opinions about Zhang Wen, but he still respected Zhang Wen so much in front of so many people, he simply forced himself to use Zhang Wen. He was silent for a moment and smiled softly: "If that's the case, then Zhang Yun can be regarded as a successor." Come on, call Zhang Wen. ”

Zhou Xun breathed a sigh of relief and immediately turned around and walked out of the account. Zhang Wen was reading a book in his tent, and when he saw him hurriedly walking in, although his face was calm, there was a smile in his eyes, and he knew that there was a play. He smiled, "Looks like I'm going to owe you a favor." ”

"Don't take my affection." Zhou Xun picked up the ear cup on the case and drank a large sip of water, "You have to accept Gu Gong's affection." ”

(To be continued)