Xiangping, Liaodong Taishou Mansion, Liu Bei was wrapped in a thick bear skin, looked at the arrogant Goguryeo envoy, laughed with him, and greeted him repeatedly: "Ashamed, ashamed, I am not strict in my governance, and I am offended." Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info Please also ask your envoy to go back and say a few kind words in front of the king of your family, our two families are good, how can we hurt the harmony because of this little thing? These are some small gifts, and please accept them with a smile. Come on, please have another drink, this is a fine wine that has just been shipped from Namashu. Your envoy must also know that now that Jizhou is in a big war, it is not easy to get wine from Jizhou. ”

The Goguryeo envoy wearing a white robe and a high hat looked at the heavy boxes under the steps, and then showed a smug smile, stroked his long beard, and nodded slowly: "I understand the wishes of the prince." It's just that nothing like this can happen again in the future. In order to teach those wild monkeys a lesson, our country has been preparing for three years, and the king himself has gone on an expedition, so there can be no mistakes. ”

Liu Bei nodded again and again: "It is true that such a big war cannot be missed." Well, is there anything I can help? If there is, despite the opening. ”

Although the envoy drank a lot and his face was red, when he heard Liu Bei's words, he still paused with a smile, and said: "This is not necessary, how can I be the soldier of the king of my family?" In half a month at most, the king of my family will be triumphant, and then I will invite the prince to drink. ”

Liu Bei laughed: "Okay, I'll congratulate your king on the good news." In fact, I won't tell you anything, I just received a holy decree from His Majesty of my family, asking me to lead troops to attack Yuan Shao, I really don't have any soldiers, but there is still some grain and grass, since your king is so powerful, then I will wait for good news. ”

The messenger was a little regretful, but the words had already come out of his mouth, but it was not good to say any more. While thinking about how to ask for some more benefits, he drank wine. But the wine was so strong that the messenger was drunk and unconscious before he could understand it. Liu Bei immediately sent someone to send the envoy back to the post house. In the middle of the night, the messenger woke up drunk. Hurriedly sent someone to return to China to deliver the letter, Liu Bei is about to march west, there is no army to the east, please rest assured, no matter what, hold on for another two months, I will strive to ask Liu Bei for more food.

The messenger left the city and soon disappeared into the snowy forest.

On the hillside in the distance. Liu Bei squinted his eyes, looked at the messenger who was far away, and smiled: "What did you say was the news that you sent back?" ”

Jian Yong, the chief bookkeeper, shook his head: "What else can it be, it must be what the prince said yesterday, so that their king can rest assured to attack." Fujun, now all the Jing Zhuang in Goguryeo are going out to fight, but it's a good opportunity for us. ”

Liu Bei tightened the bearskin on his body and sighed: "Of course I know." Otherwise, how could he spend so much effort dealing with that greedy and greedy old ghost. Yuan Shao's 80,000-strong army was lost in the battle in Yanzhou, and the others had already retreated to Yi County, and it seemed that they were about to flee when they saw that something was wrong. Where can he flee? To the north is ice and snow. Only to the east, to capture Liaodong, to seize my territory. The tiger is majestic, don't look at him being beaten by the hussar general, his nose and eyes are swollen, but if he wants to plot against me Liaodong, he is still more than enough. I can't help but prepare my way back. ”

Jian Yong didn't say anything, Yuan Shao was killed by Liu Xiu, Liu Bei was not. Liu Bei's defense against Yuan Shao is on the one hand, and more on the other hand, it is more about preventing Liu Xiu. The sailors led by Gan Ning anchored in Bohai Bay, and according to sources, the soldiers took turns to rest. But they are from Yizhou, why don't they go back to the Yangtze River to take turns off? Its intention was already obvious, but it was just held by the battle in the court, and it didn't free up its hand for a while. When the time comes, Ganning's sailors will inevitably kill Liaodong.

Liu Bei branded Goguryeo's idea for this. As early as two years ago, he began to contact Goguryeo. He found a woman surnamed Liu out of nowhere. Thinking that the righteous sister married her to the Goguryeo king Bogu, and then he married Bogu's sister Ziya, and the two sides formed an in-law and moved around each other quite frequently. Liu Bei kept sending the artifacts that were easily obtained from the Central Plains to the Goguryeo palace, saying that they were for his sister, but in fact, he was currying favor with Bogu and making him relax. Under his management, Bogu slowly got used to this luxurious life, and in order to expand his territory and grab more wealth in exchange for beautiful goods in the Central Plains, he prepared for a year and began to attack the filthy in the east.

Liu Bei was waiting for this opportunity.

"Wait two more days, and after the New Year, we'll leave immediately." Liu Bei tightened the reins of the horse and said softly: "From the old ghost's accent, I can tell that Bogu can't come back for two months, and he is entangled by filthy people. ”

Jian Yong hesitated for a moment: "Fujun, both Filthy and Bogu are defeated, this is not a problem, but in addition to Filthy, there are also Sanhan, although those Yi people are poorly armed, they are brave and good at fighting, and they are not easy to defeat." ”

"What are you afraid of, no matter how good you fight, you can still stop my Flying Bear Army?" Liu Bei was disdainful, and after a while, he looked at Jian Yong again: "Xianhe, it's not that I'm in a hurry, it's that time is not waiting for me." Don't look at Yuan Shao still occupying Jizhou, but his courage has been broken, once the imperial court makes a move, no matter whether Jizhou is broken or not, he will definitely run away in panic. When we get ready, we'll be late. ”

Jian Yong sighed: "That's all it can be." I hope that the preparation of the past two years has not been wasted, and I can succeed in one fell swoop. ”

Liu Bei frowned tightly and did not speak. He looked at the rolling snowfields to the east and his mind was on Jiangling on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hearing that Liu Xiu returned to Jiangling to live in Jiangling after fighting Yanzhou, Liu Bei not only did not feel more relaxed, but became even more nervous. According to Liu Xiu's habits, he would always take a step back temporarily before making the next move. Now that he has returned to Jiangling, when he leaves Jiangling again, I don't know where he will target, Luoyang or Jizhou, or Liaodong? Liu Bei put himself in Liu Xiu's position, thought about it, and felt that Liu Xiu was likely to send troops to Liaodong first, locking Yuan Shao's retreat first.

It's really a fire at the city gate, which affects the fish in the pond. Liu Bei was very angry, but he was very helpless, with his strength, he could sweep Liaodong, but if he wanted to compete with giants like Liu Xiu and Yuan Shao, he knew clearly that there was no chance of winning at all.

All he can do is prepare a way out for himself before disaster strikes, so that he will not be captured.

Liu Bei returned to the Taishou Mansion with a full stomach, took off the bear skin, and was about to go to the fire pond to warm his hands, when he saw the honor guard in the courtyard and the Lang official who was shivering from the cold. He had been a Lang official in the palace, and he knew these clothes very well.

"There are messengers?" Liu Bei subconsciously pressed the knife ring on his waist, and looked at the oncoming soldier Cao Peng Liu Yi with a wary gaze.

"Well, it's His Majesty's emissary." Liu Yi approached Liu Bei and whispered, "It's the one surnamed Mao last time." ”

Liu Bei's expression was relieved. With a smile on his face, he strode into the house. Mao Zong, who was sitting by the fire and drying his hands, heard the footsteps, and didn't even raise his head, but just laughed: "Xuande." It's been a tiring year. ”

Liu Bei blinked his eyes and said with a smile: "Where did this come from?" I heard that you have already done the service, a high-ranking official of 2,000 stones, why are you still tired, you are really a companion like a tiger? ”

Mao Zong straightened his waist and looked at Liu Bei calmly until Liu Bei was a little sneering. Only then did he point to Liu Bei's heart: "I'm talking about you, why do you bother talking about him left and right." ”

"What am I tired of?" Liu Beiqiang laughed, sat opposite, lifted the boiling water on the fire, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mao Zong, and poured another cup for himself. Mao Zong held the bowl and looked at the dark red tea soup inside, but he didn't drink it. Gently put it down, beckoned, and a Lang official walked over. With both hands, a porcelain jar as white as jade was offered. Mao Zong opened the porcelain jar and said, "Come, pour those leaves of yours and taste the tea I brought." ”

Liu Bei was stunned for a moment, watched Mao Zong pour the tea soup in the bowl, flushed the bowl with boiling water, put in a pinch of tea leaves like a ball, and poured a bowl of water, and after a while, a rich tea fragrance spread. Mao Zong handed over the bowl. Motioned to him with his eyes: "Taste." ”

Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, took the tea bowl, took a sip of hot tea, and a thick tea fragrance spread on the tip of his tongue, soaking people's hearts. He couldn't help but take another sip, and those taste buds that had been blocked by beef and mutton and coarse tea seemed to regain consciousness. Suddenly I felt relaxed, and every pore was bubbling with fragrance.

"What kind of tea is this, it smells so good!"

"After the pacification of Yangzhou, the tea that came from Yizhou was called Yicha." Mao Zong made himself another cup, looked at Liu Bei for a long time, and after a long while, he suddenly said: "This is what De Ran asked me to bring to you." ”

Liu Bei's hand shook, and half a bowl of tea soup was poured on his hand, but fortunately, it was not so hot, so it didn't burn him. He raised his head, looked at the tea soup in the bowl, and then looked at Mao Zong, who was tasting it with taste, and only laughed for a long time: "He still remembers me." ”

"Of course I do." Mao Zong said lightly: "Actually, he knows every move you make in Liaodong. ”

The corners of Liu Bei's eyes twitched a few times, but he couldn't help but not jump.

"He also asked me to bring a map." Mao Zong stretched out his hand again, and a Lang official handed over a tube. Mao Zong opened it, took out a picture from it, and spread it on the floor next to him. Liu Bei squinted his eyes, and after just one glance, his heart beat like a drum.

The map depicts the topography and rivers of Liaodong in detail, Lelang, Sanhan, and Goguryeo are in the column, although they are not as detailed as Liaodong, but they are still a lot more accurate than the map he has mastered, and what surprises him even more is that in the east of Goguryeo, there is actually a half-moon-shaped place, which is blank, and there are only a few rough peaks.

"What is this?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know what it means." Mao Zong slowly sipped the tea, "I just received a letter from Deran before leaving, entrusting me to bring this map to you." After a while, he added: "De Ran also said that if you are interested in expanding your territory, he is willing to help you." ”

"How can he help me?"

"He can send a sailor to transport your men and horses from Liaoshui all the way to the south of Samhan, and even to that island."

Liu Bei's eyes flashed: "Then what are the conditions?" ”

"Work together with Gongsun Zhan to recapture Youzhou, close the door and beat the dogs."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and laughed: "Yuan Ming, I thought you were here to pass on the decree, but it turns out that you are passing on the decree of the hussar general." ”

"Rather, I have come to preach the message." Mao Zong smiled slightly: "However, Your Majesty's conditions are far less generous than those of Deran. Mao Zong stood up and sank his face: "Marquis Xiangping, Liaodong is too guarded by Liu Bei to receive the edict." ”

Liu Bei subconsciously turned over and bowed down.