To Boss Cao's surprise, the vigilance and hatred of the third prince of Yuan for Lu Wenhou was far beyond his imagination, after receiving the alarm letter from Boss Cao, the third prince of the great Yuan, who has always been known for his indecision, made up his mind for the first time, and decided on the spot to drive out the number one jackal of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Wenhou! Not only did he let the 30,000 reinforcements stationed in Liyang immediately pull out the camp and go south, but also sent the general Wen Chou to lead another 20,000 main forces to the south to reinforce his childhood friend Cao Boss, and join forces with Cao Boss to clean up Deputy Director Tao's unlucky father-in-law, Lu Wenhou!

There is also the benevolent and righteous Uncle Liu Huang, originally Uncle Liu Huang didn't have much interest in the troubled waters of Lu Wenhou, under the pretext of containing Lu Bu's Rencheng garrison and Cao Boss bargaining, he didn't want to go to the fire with Lu Wenhou, so that the weak troops rewarded by Cao Boss in his hand were wasted, and Cao Boss also knew that the combat effectiveness of the team in Uncle Liu Huang's hands was average, and it didn't play much role when he came, but he didn't force Liu Bei to send troops, so Uncle Liu Huang was even aware of Tao Ying's attempt to support Lu Bu to take the whole territory of Yanzhou. There are not many people who want to strike first to join Cao Boss to kill Lu Wenhou - the sky is falling, there is a high top, there is Cao Boss and Lu Wenhou facing each other head-on, and Uncle Liu Huang is happy to play soy sauce on the flanks.

The attitude of the Great Yuan Sangong who really made Uncle Liu Huang make up his mind to send troops confirmed the news that the Great Yuan Sangong supported Boss Cao to kill Lu Wenhou at any cost, and confirmed that the 30,000 troops of Yuan Shaojun, who had been standing still, set off from Liyang, crossed the Yellow River to the south, and officially increased the troops on the battlefield of Yanzhou. How could Uncle Liu Huang miss it? In order not to be pinched by the reinforcements of the three princes of the Great Yuan and threatened by Uncle Liu Huang on the grain road, Lu Bu could only rush to the front of the reinforcements of the three princes of the Great Yuan before the arrival of the battlefield, led the army back to Pushui, and confronted the combined forces of Cao Yuan and Liu in the Juyang area, and relied on the majestic soldiers and horses, and also relied on the grain and grass support of the filial son-in-law, and the strong enemy was on par, and the two sides had their own victories and defeats, and no one could help anyone in a short time.

Although he successfully blocked the strong enemy on the north bank of Pushui and did not show defeat in a short period of time, but in the long run, the situation of Lü Wenhou is still very unoptimistic, because Lü Wenhou's enemies are too strong, and in terms of generals, there are more than a dozen fierce generals who can face the enemy head-on with Lü Wenhou, and these people can completely offset Lü Wenhou's unparalleled force in the world as long as they dispatch two or three at will.

In terms of troops, the disadvantage of Lü Wenhou was even more obvious, the army of about 50,000 had to confront the enemy head-on, but also had to garrison the three counties of Shanyang, Dingtao and Rencheng, and also had to protect the grain route connected with Xuzhou. Lü Wenhou's enemies are different, just one Cao Boss has an army of about 60,000, of which the core elite soldiers are nearly 15,000, and the remaining Qingzhou soldiers are also quite good in combat effectiveness - at least much stronger than Deputy Director Tao's Xuzhou soldiers, in the case of sufficient grain and grass, it is enough to confront Lü Wenhou head-on, coupled with the full support of the huge army of the Great Yuan Sangong, it is not easy for Lü Wenhou to keep the existing territory, let alone expand the territory and take the entire eight counties and seventy-eight counties of Yanzhou.

There are also capable people in the team of Lu Bu's army, and they have noticed the weakness of Lu Bu's army's lack of stamina, and Chen Gongshao, the only think tank of Lu Bu's army, has not been warned by Lu Bu, and suggested that Lu Bu prepare to solve this fatal problem as soon as possible, and at the same time, Chen Gong also proposed two solutions to Lu Bu, the first is to take out part of the interests of Yanzhou, and ask Tao Ying to send troops to help, and join forces with Lu Bu's army to deal with Cao Yuan's coalition army. The second method is to temporarily abandon the plan to attack Dongjun, retreat to Dingtao, Shanyang and Rencheng, which are the favorable defense lines backed by the rich man's son-in-law, use Xuzhou's money and grain and fortified cities to fight against the enemy, and wait until the northern line of Dayuan Sangong, who also has the hidden danger of Gongsun Zan in the rear, changes and withdraws from Yanzhou, and then beats the water dog to clean up Cao Laoda.

Lü Wenhou is a very enterprising person, and retreating across the line is certainly not in line with Lü Wenhou's style of acting, so Lü Wenhou quickly made up his mind and decided to ask his filial son-in-law to send troops to help. In order to make his son-in-law tempted, Lü Wenhou also listened to Chen Gong's suggestion, and promised that once Lü Bujun defeated Dongjun and resumed contact with another hardcore ally, Zhang Yang, Lü Wenhou would give Tao Ying a thousand war horses, and also promised to protect the trade route between Xuzhou and the Bingzhou horse-producing area, so that his son-in-law would no longer have to worry about the source of horses - because of Uncle Liu's instigation, Tao Ying and his old ally Gongsun Zan turned their faces, but they had already lost the source of war horses, so Lü Wenhou and Chen Gong both felt that Tao Ying should be tempted to consider this condition.

Just when Lü Wenhou was about to send an envoy to the south, Lü Wenhou's cronies and henchmen came one after another, reporting that it was rumored in the ranks of Lü Bu's army that Tao Ying borrowed Gao Shun, the second general surnamed Cao and some of the trapped camps from Lü Wenhou, rewarded more money and beauties, and lured them to high-ranking officials, Gao Cao's second general coveted wealth and glory, and had secretly taken refuge in Tao Ying, and also sent people to send letters to their friends in the Lü Bu army's old department, recruiting other Lü Bu army generals for Tao Ying, Induce these generals of the Lü Bu army to lead their troops south to Xuzhou.

There are even rumors that there are already generals of the Lu Bu army who have been bought by Tao Ying, and sooner or later they will get rid of Lu Wenhou, so that Tao Ying can buy more Lu Bujun soldiers - the conscience of heaven and earth, this ridiculous rumor is really not spread by Cao Boss's faction, it is completely a rumor that has been added to the vinegar in the process of spreading and gradually evolved.

Although the rumors are a little absurd, but the nose and eyes have already affected the hearts of some soldiers, so it is impossible for Lü Wenhou to be careless and vigilant, and quickly convene the military Chinese to discuss this matter, but after Lü Wenhou announced this matter at the meeting, before he had time to ask everyone's opinions, Chen Gong over there immediately said: "Lord Duke, this must be Cao Ying's plan to annihilate the thief, Cao thief has always annihilated fraud, and he is most afraid that the Lord Duke and Tao Envoy Jun will work together to conspire against Yanzhou, so he uses the topic to play and wants to separate the feelings of the Lord Duke and Tao Envoy Jun." The lord should issue a strict decree strictly prohibiting the sergeants and soldiers from spreading such nonsense, so as not to shake the morale of the army and ruin the alliance between our army and Tao Envoy. ”

"Really?" Lu Wenhou's head was a little two, and he finally got it right this time, and said suspiciously: "Although the words of the public platform are reasonable, if it is true, then what can be done?" ”

"Impossible." Chen Gong shook his head categorically, and said categorically: "Lord, if it is said that Tao Envoy Jun bribed and encircled other generals of our army, and bribed and encircled other teams of our army, then he might still believe it." But if Tao Yuanjun was able to buy General Gao Shun, General Cao and the team trapped in the camp, he would not believe it in the next one! General Gao Shun is innocent and majestic, brave and wise, heartfelt and benevolent, does not drink, and is not left behind, saying that he betrayed the lord, I'm afraid you won't believe it first, right? And as long as General Gao Shun is here, Tao Envoy Jun will not want to buy the trap camp formed by General Gao Shun! ”

"As for the general surnamed Cao, the lord was forced to leave Chang'an by Li Dao and Guo Yan, and your family escaped from Chang'an with the help of General Pang Shu, and it was the general surnamed Cao who led dozens of people to protect the lord and your wife and daughter, and sent them back to the lord and you, how could such a loyal and brave man be bribed by Tao Envoy Jun? How could he betray his lord? ”

Lu Wenhou was a little shaken, and couldn't help but hesitate and said: "In this way, I'm afraid it's really a trick of Cao Thief." ”

"My lord, the last general thinks it's better to be careful." At this time, something happened that made Chen Gong stunned, and Zhang Liao, another member of Lu Bu's army, actually stood up and said to Lu Bu: "Lord, in the eyes of the last general, it is indeed impossible for the two generals surnamed Gao Shun and Cao to betray the lord, but if it is said that Tao Envoy Jun has no intention of bribing and entrapping them, I am afraid that it will ......, not necessarily." ”

"Why did Wen Yuan say this?" Chen Gong was shocked and hurriedly inquired in detail. Over there, Lu Wenhou hurriedly planted his ears - Lu Wenhou's current money, food and territory situation are very bad, and the biggest turnaround capital is these elite soldiers, I heard that someone wanted to steal his last capital, Lu Wenhou naturally had to be careful and vigilant.

"A few days ago, the last general received a letter from General Cao." Zhang Liao said in a deep voice: "General Cao repeatedly mentioned in his letters that after he and General Gao Shun arrived in Xuzhou, Tao Zhijun treated them very generously, rewarded them with gold and silver, and gave a concubine to each soldier who was trapped in the camp. Then General Cao said that Tao Zhijun admired the last general very much, and repeatedly expressed the hope that the last general would also go to Xuzhou for a trip, and General Cao was very favored by Tao Zhijun, so he wrote to convey his respect for Tao Zhijun, and asked the last general to try to go to Xuzhou for a trip, and said that Tao Zhijun would definitely not treat the last general ...... badly. ”

"Where is the faith?" Lu Wenhou interrupted with a roar.

"In the tent of the last general, in the letter box by the bedside, the lord may have it taken at once." Zhang Liao replied respectfully.

Lü Wenhou was furious, and hurriedly sent someone to Zhang Liao's tent to get a letter, and then Lü Wenhou patted the case and shouted to the generals present: "Who else has received such a letter?" Now, I won't pursue it, if you dare to hide it, hum! ”

Afraid of the threat of Lü Wenhou, Hao Meng, Song Xian and Hou Cheng, who had also received similar letters, obediently came out to admit it, and told Lü Bu where these letters were, Lü Bu was even more furious, and quickly sent someone to get all these letters, as a result, Lü Wenhou found a total of five similar letters, four of which were written by the surname Cao, and the content was similar to Zhang Liao's introduction, and the last one was written by Gao Shun to Cheng Lian, the general of Lü Bu's army - Gao Shun found that the Xuzhou army was very weak in the tactics of resisting the enemy's cavalry raids. Cheng Lian happened to be the first master of the rejection of the horse gun in the team of Lu Bu's army, in order to repay Tao Ying's hospitality and generous kindness, so Gao Shun suggested that Cheng Lian strive to become the general of the Lu Bujun army who transferred south to Xuzhou in the second round, and brought some spearmen to Xuzhou to help Tao Ying train.

"Tao Yingxiaoer, dare to bully me like this!" After reading these letters, Lu Wenhou, who had never believed in his son-in-law at all, suddenly jumped like thunder, and yelled at the case, "I am thinking of the love of Weng and my son-in-law, and I sent a powerful general to the south to help you train your troops, and you dare to take the opportunity to buy my soldiers!" It's too much to deceive me! It's too much to deceive me! ”

"Could it be that Tao Ying really wants to annex our army?" After reading these letters, Chen Gong inevitably had some doubts, and was deeply suspicious of the true purpose of Tao Ying's big strokes. But fortunately, Chen Gong is still sensible and knows that he must not turn his face with the gold lord at this critical moment, so Chen Gong had to say: "Lord, these letters only say that Tao Ying treats our soldiers well, and it does not prove that Tao Ying really has the intention of buying our soldiers, so I think that the lord should send a messenger to Xuzhou to see the situation, and then make a decision." ”

"What else are you looking at?" Lu Wenhou shouted: "Immediately send an order, let Gao Shun, surnamed Cao, and the trapped camp all come back to me, and Tao Yingxiao'er is not allowed to ask for anything that Xiao Er rewarded them!" ”

"My lord, no." Chen Gong was shocked, and hurriedly reminded: "Lord, at the moment of the great enemy, if Gao Shun and Cao and others are recalled for no reason, if Tao Ying is angered and our army's food and grass are cut off, then our army will be suspended!" ”

"Yes, lord, let's understand the situation first, the two generals surnamed Gao Shun and Cao are not unrighteous people." The civil and military forces of Lu Bujun who were present also persuaded him, and the initiator Zhang Liao also played: "My lord, even if Tao Yuanjun has the heart to buy the soldiers of our army, the two generals surnamed Gao Shun and Cao are by no means people who can move their hearts with glory and wealth, and the lord still finds out their true situation now, and understands whether Tao Yuanjun has mentioned the intention of entrapment in front of them, and then it is not too late to make a decision." ”

To put it mildly, for the sake of his son-in-law's money and food, Lu Wenhou finally decided to give his son-in-law a chance, and sent his cronies and strategists Xu Yan south to Xuzhou, under the pretext of negotiating with Tao Ying for the next round of military training plans, to understand the situation of Gao Shun and Cao and others in Xuzhou, and to inquire directly with Cao and Gao Shun in person, and ask Tao Ying whether he had any intention of bribing Lu Bujun's soldiers. If there is, then let Gao Shun and the surname Cao use the excuse that the war in Yanzhou is urgent, and immediately roll back from Xuzhou Gentle Township!

"No, Wen Hou's approach is too rough, I'm afraid it's going to be bad." Chen Gong secretly pondered in his heart, "Regardless of whether the thief Tao Ying has the intention of annexing our army, I will send him a letter, one is to tell him about the Cao thief's strategy, the second is to remind our army and his lips and teeth, without our army, his northern front will immediately be in an emergency, and the third is to warn him that Wen Hou has already known about this, hoping that he can restrain a little, don't rely on money and food, just think that he can buy our soldiers with gold and silver beauties!" ”

The plan was settled, and after the account was dispersed, Chen Gong immediately wrote this handwritten letter, and sent his henchmen to the south overnight, and sent the letter to Tao Ying before Xu Yan, hoping to make Tao Ying restrain a little, and warn Tao Ying that it was best not to fight the idea of Lu Bu's elite generals. However, a wise man has a thousand thoughts, and there must be a mistake, although Chen Gong is resourceful, but this time he made a big mistake, and this big mistake is that Chen Gong underestimated Deputy Director Tao's ruthlessness and shamelessness.......................................... Relying on the hard work of his henchmen, Chen Gong's handwritten letter was finally delivered to Xuzhou before Lu Bujun's envoy Xu Yan and was delivered to Tao Ying in advance. And after reading this letter, he was caught off guard, and Tao Ying, who had a ghost in his heart, was really a little frightened, and exclaimed: "Old thief Cao sent people to spread rumors, saying that I intend to buy the elite soldiers and strong generals under Lu Bu's command in an attempt to drive a wedge between me and Lu Bu's alliance?" How can there be such a coincidence? ”

Lu Su and Chen Deng, the two major think tanks of the Xuzhou army, were also very shocked, and hurriedly asked for the letter from Tao Ying's hand to check, and after reading it, Chen Deng and Lu Su were also a little dumbfounded for a while, Lu Su also said: "Everyone in the world says that Meng De is deceitful, and now I can see it, and it really deserves its reputation, and it actually seized such a little flaw and took the opportunity to start, and separated from the alliance between our army and Lu Bu's army." ”

"The thief is crooked." Chen Deng also said with a wry smile: "His plan will not only definitely make Lu Wenhou's cautious eyes suspicious of our army, but also destined to destroy our army's plan." When Xu Yan arrived in Xuzhou, he saw how we entertained the elite soldiers and strong generals of Lu Bu's army, and then reported the facts to Lu Bu, with the capricious and suspicious surname of Lu Wenhou, he was determined to immediately recall Gao Shun, Cao surnamed and the trapped camp, and in the future, he would not use the elite soldiers and strong generals to help our army improve its combat effectiveness. ”

"Lu Bu would be so ruthless?" Lu Su never knew much about Lu Bu, and asked with some suspicion: "If Lu Bu does this, isn't he afraid that our army will tear up the alliance with him and cut off grain and grass support?" ”

"Yes, I will definitely do it, no one can persuade me." Chen Deng replied helplessly: "Lu Bu, Jackal Tiger also, brave and unplanned, go lightly, once you find out that our army intends to annex his military strength, you will definitely be furious, and you will turn against our army regardless of the consequences!" ”

Lu Su frowned, and only hesitated for a while before he said: "Lord, why don't you take the initiative to explain it to Lu Bu, under the pretext that our army just wants to thank the power of the trapping camp's teaching, so we ......." ”

"Hah! Hahahahaha——! Tao Ying suddenly laughed, and applauded while laughing, and shouted excitedly: "Old thief Cao, I didn't expect you to be a really good person, you helped me last time in Xuzhou City, but this time you actually helped me again, thank you, thank you." ”

"Lord, what did the thief do you a lot again?" Chen Deng and Lu Su asked in surprise together.

"Of course, it's to help me spread this rumor, which is actually completely true." Tao Ying replied with a cruel smile: "This time, not only will my old father-in-law's elite soldiers be owned by me, but the old thief Cao will also help me solve the big trouble of my old father-in-law!" ”

"My lord, what do you mean by that?" Lu Su and Chen Deng were completely confused by Tao Ying's words.

"After listening to my plan, you will understand." Tao Ying quickly calculated, and instructed: "Yuanlong, Zijing, immediately arrange, and send one pound of gold and two pieces of cloth to each soldier in the trapped camp, and send fifty catties of gold and one hundred horses of cloth to each of Gao Shun and Cao surnames." Then I told Gao Shun and Cao surnamed Cao, and said that I was very grateful for their dedication, and asked them to promise to stay in Xuzhou for an extra month, and help us train soldiers for another month, and this gold was their reward. During the extended secondment period, everything will continue as usual! ”

"But Lu Bu is about to recall them back to Yanzhou, what's the use of their promises? And so much gold and cloth wasted in vain. Lu Su asked with some confusion.

"It's okay, Lu Bu wants to call them back, then let them go back." Tao Ying replied with a smile: "As for this batch of gold and cloth, it will definitely not be wasted. ”

"The lord wants to divide Lu Bujun?" Chen Deng woke up and said: "Although the lord has the intention of bribing and trapping the camp, but he has never taken action, now the lord knows that Lu Bu is suspicious and wants to recall the trapping camp, and deliberately gives the trapping camp, Lu Bu will inevitably be more suspicious, Gao Shun, Cao surnamed and these two hundred trapped camps After returning to Yanzhou, they will inevitably be blamed and even embarrassed by Lu Bu, Gao Shun, Cao surnamed and the trapped camp are innocently punished, and it is difficult not to give birth to Lu Bu's heart. ”

"That's right!" Tao Ying snapped his fingers, and then said with a cruel smile: "Immediately after, I used Lu Bu as an excuse to regret and despair, and took the opportunity to cut off the supply of grain, grass and weapons to Lu Bu, without the support of Xuzhou's money and grain, Lu Bu must not be the opponent of the Yuan, Cao and Liu alliances, and when Lu Bu is defeated and killed, these trapped soldiers will not only obediently return to my arms, but also bring me more elite soldiers!" ”

Chen Deng applauded and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the lord will arrange it in the next place, according to the opinion below, the lord can be rewarded more thickly, anyway, it is a hammer deal, the heavier the reward, the more the soldiers in the camp will miss the lord's kindness." Moreover, Chen Gong also mentioned in the letter that Lu Bu also asked to return all the rewards received by the trapped camp in Xuzhou to the lord, and maybe these things would be returned to the lord. ”

"Yuanlong's opinion is exactly what I want, and I can do it quickly." Tao Ying smiled happier than Boss Cao.

"Wait." Lu Su hurriedly stopped it, and then bowed his hand to Tao Ying and said: "Lord, although this plan is wonderful, but after Lu Bu's army is defeated and killed, Cao's army borders our army, and our north will never be peaceful." ”

Tao Ying smiled again, but his smile was quite bitter, and he said lightly: "Zijing, now that Lu Bu is here, how can our northern front have a day of peace?" I let Liu Xuan, Yan Baihu and Wang Lang and other mediocre and incompetent people in Jiangnan not clean up, but I want to put seventy percent of the main force of Xuzhou on the northern front, isn't it to guard against my father-in-law? Although Cao Thief is deceitful, he can still talk about some rules, he can weigh the pros and cons, seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and he can be prevented or even join forces, but he borders on my old father-in-law, even if I raise all his troops and treat him as an ancestor, he may also use my money and grain as military funds at any time to rob my Xuzhou and come to ask for my life. ”

Speaking of this, Tao Ying slapped his palm on the desk and shouted: "So, if my old father-in-law is not removed, the northern line of Xuzhou is the real Yongwuning!" ”

(To be continued)