Zhuge Liang invited Xu Shu to sit down in the thatched house, boiled a pot of tea from Jingxiang, and chatted while drinking.

Xu Shu said: "Kong Ming, the troubled times are troubled, it is the time for my generation to show what they have learned, calm the chaos in the world, and establish meritorious deeds." Isn't it just to sell to the emperor's family when I learn literature and martial arts? Do you really want to farm here for the rest of your life? ”

Zhuge Liang smiled: "What's wrong with farming, it's free, how happy it is." ”

Xu Shu looked at him for a long time and said, "You compare yourself to Guan Zhong, obviously you are also a person who has retribution, how can you waste what you have learned." With your talent, it would be a pity if you didn't. ”

Zhuge Liang said: "If Brother Yuan is a lobbyist for General Liu Bei, then it is better to be exempted!" ”

Xu Shu shook his head and said: "I haven't mentioned your matter to the lord in the next day, but then again, Uncle Liu Huang is benevolent and righteous, and he is generous, he is indeed a rare master, and now it is the time to employ people, don't you think about it?" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Don't talk about this, let's talk about the battle of Guandu, what does Brother Yuan think Yuan Cao will do?" ”

Xu Shu was helpless, just said this, thought for a while, and said: "This is not easy to say, although I feel that Cao Cao is not easy to deal with, but Yuan Shao raised troops south to the Central Plains, which has affected the general trend of the world, Sun Ce and Luo Zheng have sent troops, the result is really unpredictable, the biggest possibility is that Cao Cao is defeated and retreats to a corner of peace, and Luo Zheng and Yuan Shao divide the Central Plains." ”

Zhuge Liang pondered and did not say anything.

Xu Shu paused and asked, "I don't know what Kong Ming thinks?" ”

"What can I say!"

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Brother Yuan Zhi has a keen eye, and he can really see it accurately. Regardless of the victory or defeat of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in the battle of Guandu, Cao Cao will also be in big trouble. This Yuan brother also saw it. ”

Xu Shu groaned: "Kong Ming is talking about Luo Zheng? ”

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Yes, this person is eloquent." Standing in Guanzhong for several years, but also because of the benefits of gold and rice, it can be said that the soldiers are good enough to eat, and this alone is far better than the princes of the world. The people regard the truth as the sky, and the grain is the foundation of the society! Look at the princes who can have no hungry people under the rule of today, even if Xichuan is rich, there are also people who can't eat enough because of the oppression of the powerful. However, it is known that there are no hungry people in Guanzhong, Liangzhou and other places under Luo Zheng's rule, which is of course beneficial to gold and rice, but Luo Zheng has vigorously reformed the malpractice. It is also the most important reason, in recent years, the people in the cool land have lived in peace, and the people's minds have been determined, and the foundation of Luo Zheng has been solidified, even if Yuan Shao or Cao Cao can defeat the other party and unify the north, it will be difficult to shake the foundation of Luo Zheng within a few decades, and this alone is far superior to the princes of the world. ”

Xu Shu's face gradually became solemn, and he thought for a while before he said, "But the population of Guanliang Land is too small. But it's an indisputable fact! ”

Zhuge Liang said casually: "Brother Yuan, why should he deceive himself, the Xichuan Shi clan welcomed Luo Zheng into Sichuan, and has solved the shortcomings of the insufficient population under Luo Zheng's rule. Now Xiqiang and Mobei are all swept away by Luo Zheng, and there is no trouble in the cool land of Guanliang. I heard that after the grain was put to the ground last autumn, the grain in Guanzhong had been piled up into a mountain, and the people's families had ten years of grain storage, and then there was the prosperity of the population of Xichuan. And Luo Zheng is also a hero in the world, does Brother Yuan think that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao still have organs to succeed in Kou Guanzhong? ”

Xu Shu was silent. After a while, he said: "Kong Ming is saying that even if Cao Cao can repel Yuan Shao." Luo Zheng won't let him go this time? ”

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Yes, Luo Zheng has been recuperating in Guanzhong for several years, and he is waiting for this opportunity." And Sun Ce is also waiting for this opportunity, but compared with Luo Zheng, Sun Ce's strength in all aspects is much worse. Luo Zheng couldn't wait to send troops at this time, so that he had only one purpose, that is, to get rid of Cao Cao. Otherwise, if Luo Zheng wanted to take this opportunity to pacify the Central Plains in one fell swoop, he would not have sent troops at this time, but would have sent troops after Yuan Shao and Cao Cao had divided the victory and defeat. ”

Xu Shu said: "Cao Cao has arranged 50,000 soldiers and horses on the front line of the Tiger Pass, and it is not so easy for the Xiliang army to advance eastward. ”

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Brother Yuan already knows this matter, how can he be duplicitous." Don't look at the Chang'an battalion under Luo Zheng only 80,000 soldiers and horses, but Luo Zheng has always only left elite soldiers, and implemented changes and reforms in Guanzhong, although the combat effectiveness of the 80,000 Xiliang army has not been seen, but it is definitely not good, and Luo Zheng poured out of the nest and personally commanded the troops, unless Cao Cao came in person, Xiahou Yuan and others were Luo Zheng's opponents. Even if Xiahou Yuan can block Luo Zheng's 80,000 Xiliang army outside the Tiger Prison Pass, Brother Yuan should not forget that there are still 100,000 Sichuan troops in Tuntian in the pass, and they can gather and march east at any time. ”

Xu Shu said: "In this way, Cao Cao is afraid that he will not escape this time?" ”

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said: "It's hard to say this, no one dares to make a judgment before the results come out." ”

Xu Shu smiled and said, "Kong Ming thinks that who in the world can achieve great things?" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Luo Zheng, and Sun Ce are all heroes in the world, and they can all achieve great things. ”

Xu Shu raised his eyebrows and did not speak.

Zhuge Liang saw it in his eyes, couldn't help but smile secretly, and said: "General Liu Bei, the hero of the world, can also become a great cause!" ”

Xu Shu smiled bitterly and said: "Forget it, Kong Ming don't say these unspeakable words, although Uncle Liu Huang is a hero of the world, he is indeed a little worse luck than Luo Zheng, Cao Cao and others, and Jiji is not as good as other princes." ”

Zhuge Liang said meaningfully: "Luck is sometimes something that depends on people to fight for, when Luo Zheng was assigned to the west by Dong Zhuo at the age of a weak crown, how difficult the situation is, this person has not swept away the neighbors and laid the foundation of hegemony." Therefore, the opportunity still depends on oneself. Look at Luo Zheng, this person comes from a humble background, but he is fierce and ruthless, bold and decisive, and can become the most powerful prince in the world. Although General Liu Bei was wise and benevolent, he was inevitably ruthless. ”

Xu Shu thought for a moment and said, "Kong Ming is right, maybe this is the difference between people!" However, who can say clearly about the general trend of the world, even if my lord is temporarily subordinate, he may not have no chance! ”

"What Brother Yuan said is reasonable!"

Zhuge Liang laughed, no longer said this, but set up a chess game to fight against Xu Shu.

Outside the tiger prison, iron hooves are galloping, and mud and grass are flying.

30,000 Xiliang cavalry rolled and killed, lined up outside the city. All of them are murderous.

At the head of the city, there was a row of Cao Jun, who was looking down. All of them are afraid.

In front of the large army, the cavalry parted to the sides.

Luo Zheng urged him to step forward. After looking at the city for a while, he looked suspicious and said in a deep voice: "What's the matter, isn't the Tiger Prison General Xiahou Yuan, why didn't the city see Xiahou Yuan's general flag?" ”

Jia Xu also urged the horse to the front of the battle, glanced at the city a few times, and was also a little surprised, and said: "There should be 20,000 Cao troops in the Tiger Prison Pass, but look at it like this." I'm afraid there are no 20,000 soldiers and horses at all. There is a big mystery in this matter, the lord might as well order the army to set up camp on the spot, and when the follow-up army arrives, just order the army to attack the city, and you can see it! ”

Luo Zheng pondered for a while, and said, "That's it, just according to the text and his opinion!" ”

At that moment, he ordered 30,000 cavalry to retreat ten miles to the village, waiting for the follow-up army to arrive.

Luoyang is only more than 200 miles away from the Tiger Prison, and the cavalry can be reached in one day. Walking slowly, it was easy to arrive in two days, but the infantry had to carry rations and a lot of baggage with the army, so the marching speed was naturally not so fast.

I waited another two days. Gao Shuncai led an army of 50,000 to the Tiger Pass.

Luo Zheng was also a grinder, and immediately ordered a large army to attack the city.

It was only a tentative attack, but unexpectedly the 10,000 infantry were divided into two phalanxes. They only took turns to fight once, and when the sun was about to set, they broke through the Tiger Prison. After Luo Zheng ordered the army to enter the city, he found out what was going on.

Although the Tiger Prison Pass is the world's male pass. The fortifications were also very well developed.

But there are only more than a thousand old and weak soldiers, how can they resist the repeated attacks of the Xiliang army.

It is already very good to be able to take advantage of the city and hold on for most of the day.

The Great Tent of the Chinese Army.

Luo Zheng's brows were twisted together, he looked around at the civil and military forces under the tent, and said in a deep voice: "What's going on, how could Xiahou Yuan give up the Tiger Prison Pass, not to mention that Cao Apu would let General Ben's 80,000 army out of the pass with generosity, this is impossible." ”

Fa Zheng said: "This matter is extremely strange, I thought that Cao Jun must have some conspiracy and tricks, and he had to guard against it." ”

Luo Zheng said: "Xiaozhi thinks Cao Jun has some conspiracy? ”

Fa Zheng groaned: "The importance of the Tiger Pass is known to everyone, and it is absolutely impossible for the Cao army to give up the Xiongguan Pass to our army so lightly. Since Xiahou Yuan has given up the fortified city, he must have a more correct way to deal with our army. Although it is not known what conspiracy and tricks Cao Jun has, the soldiers are nothing more than flooding and burning and using external forces to drive them away. As long as our army can take every step of the way, be cautious, and not allow Cao Jun to take advantage of it, Cao Jun's tricks will naturally be self-defeating. ”

Luo Zheng looked at Jia Xu, Jia Xu stroked his beard and nodded, extremely satisfied with Fa Zheng's opinion.

As for what conspiracy Cao Jun has, it's hard to guess, if you can guess so accurately, Cao Cao has already been killed by Luo Zheng, how can he still live until now, this is not a big strategy, it is easy to observe.

Luo Zheng frowned, and said: "It is said that Xiahou Yuan is brave and strong, how can he have such great courage to take the initiative to give up the Tiger Prison Pass and not defend the city, could it be that Cao Apu didn't go to Guandu, but came to the Tiger Prison Pass?" ”

Jia Xu shook his head and said: "This matter is impossible, Yuan Shao's 300,000 army went south to the Central Plains, there is no danger to defend along the river, how can Cao Cao come to the Tiger Pass, at most ......"

Speaking of this, Jia Xu seemed to remember something, and his face became solemn.

Luo Zheng asked, "What at most?" ”

Jia Xu said: "I also thought of a possibility, at most Cao Cao asked Guo Jia to assist Xiahou Yuan to meet our army. Guo Jia is a person with excellent wisdom and is definitely not under criticism. Previously, Cao Jun's sneak attack on the Tiger Prison Pass was due to this person's strategy, if this person was in Xiahou Yuan's army, Xiahou Yuan would be able to give up the Tiger Prison Pass. ”

Luo Zheng's face also became solemn, and he thought for a long time before he said awe-inspiringly: "It's really possible." ”

Fa Zhenglang said: "Although Guo Jia is resourceful, how can he be compared with the military advisor. Even if Guo Jia is really wise and peerless, can he still scatter beans and become a soldier? If the conspiracy wants to succeed, then the target will also be scored. As long as our army does not camp step by step, does not make the mistake of underestimating the enemy's rash advance, and allows Guo Jia to be wise and resourceful, what can we do to our army? ”

Luo Zheng said: "What is the high opinion of filial piety? ”

Fa Zhengdao: "Now Yuan Shao's army is still in the south, the battle of Guandu wants to divide the victory, at least a few months, our army has time to find out the movements of the Cao army, the lord can press the troops and then order the cavalry to go out, first find out where Xia Xiuyuan's main army went, and then make corresponding arrangements, see what tricks Guo Jia can play." ”

Luo Zheng and Jia Xu glanced at each other, looked at each other and smiled.

"Goodness, according to the view of filial piety!"

Luo Zheng immediately issued a military order and ordered the scouts to make every effort to explore the movements of the main force of Xiahou Yuan's army.

At this moment, another junior colonel came in to report, "My lord, General Gan Ning is in a hurry." ”

"Gan Ning?"

Luo Zheng said in a deep voice: "Where is the water army?" ”

The colonel replied: "The navy encountered the Cao army in Pingjin to block it, and the Cao army set up 200 trebuchets on the north bank of Pingjin, and smashed them in the river to block the river with iron chains. ”

Luo Zheng suddenly frowned, "The navy can't come, so don't you have to transport grain and straw by land?" ”

Jia Xu said: "This is also expected, blocking the waterway, on the one hand, our army's grain and straw cannot be transported from the waterway, the army is bound to carry more grain and straw, and at the same time, it is necessary to recruit people to transport grain and straw, which will inevitably waste a lot of time; Second, our army can also bypass the Bishui Pass from the waterway and directly enter the Central Plains, and after raiding the flank of the Cao army, Xiahou Yuan is not stupid, so he naturally has to try to cut off the waterway of our army. Now we can only wait for General Gan Ning's army to break through Cao's army and come to the Tiger Prison Pass to rendezvous. ”

Luo Zheng said: "Can you punish a partial division and defeat the 5,000 Cao army?" ”

Fa Zhengdao: "There is no ferry nearby except Pingjin, if you want to go around to Hebei to break this Cao army, the only way is to detour from Pingyin or Heyang, but once you come and go, I am afraid that it will waste a lot of time, and it is not cost-effective!" ”

Luo Zheng thought for a while, and then said: "Order Gan Ning to do his best to break through the Cao army that blocked the way and come to meet at the Tiger Prison Pass." ”

"Yes!"

The little colonel hurriedly surrendered his order and withdrew.

Luo Zheng got up from the table and paced a few steps under the hall with his hands in his hands before turning his head and asking Cheng Ying, "Gongying, is there any news from Guandu?" ”

Cheng Ying replied: "For the time being, there is no new news coming, Cao Cao has led his army to Guandu to set up camp, and Yuan Shao's army is crossing the river in batches. After Cao Cao half-crossed and attacked to no avail, he had returned to the Guandu camp. ”

Luo Zheng asked: "What about Xuchang, who is left behind in Xuchang?" ”

Cheng Ying said: "It is Chen Palace who stays in Xuchang, and Xuchang should have 8,000 soldiers and horses. ”

Luo Zheng asked again, "What about Jingzhou, what's going on?" ”

Cheng Ying said: "Liu Qi's big and small matters are decided by Liu Bei, and he did not take the opportunity to send troops to Wancheng. ”

"Liu Bei!"

Luo Zheng chattered for a while, and said meaningfully: "Liu Bei's ability to use his strength is not small, and finally let him seize the opportunity to come to Li Dai Taozhuang and control the power of Jingzhou, this guy will not die, and it will be a scourge in the future." ”

Everyone looked at each other, and they couldn't understand how the lord could notice a little Liu Bei. (To be continued......)