Sun Jian swallowed his anger and led his army back to Fancheng.

After Cao Cao learned that Lü Bu's army had abandoned Nanyang and retreated to Luoyang, he ordered the army to retreat to the garrison. Cao Cao drove back to Xuchang. Xun Yu, who stayed in Xuchang, followed Cao Cao and asked Cao Cao for instructions: "Lord, do you want to deal with the conflict between General Xiahoudun and Sun Jianjun?" Cao Cao stopped and scolded angrily: "This Yuan Rang always makes trouble for me!" Although the words were complaining, the tone sounded like approval. Perhaps in Cao Cao's heart, he was very happy with Xiahoudun's surprise attack on Nanyang. Cao Cao thought for a while and said to Xun Yu: "Send someone to Sun Jian, just say that I apologize for Xiahoudun's reckless actions!" Xun Yu responded with a fist.

A group of people walked into the main hall. At this time, the emperor was sitting high on the dragon chair like a puppet, and the civil and military ministers were divided into two shifts, and they all bowed to Cao Cao who walked in.

The emperor stood up and said very politely and with a hint of fear: "The prime minister has worked hard all the way!" ”

Cao Cao laughed, hugged his fists and said: "The minister sent troops to Liaodong, and the rebellion has been cleared!" ”

The emperor hurriedly said: "The prime minister is really hard work!" ”

Cao Cao turned his head and glanced at the general Yu Ban beside him, and Yu Ban immediately took out the merit book that had been prepared and read it, in addition to the names of the people and the meritorious deeds he made, there were also reward items. The round is over. Cao Cao hugged his fists and said: "Please reward the meritorious generals." The emperor hurriedly said: "Quasi-Aiqing played!" Cao Cao hugged his fist at the emperor, turned around and left, and the generals around him left, Xun Yu frowned, saluted respectfully to the emperor, and followed. The emperor was so angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to attack at all!

At this time, the eunuch raised his voice and said, "Retreat!" ”

Baiguan bowed to the emperor, and Yuguan retreated.

The emperor hurried back to the palace, and before Empress Dong could speak, the emperor walked straight to the dragon couch and sat down, and was stunned for a while, tears gushing out uncontrollably. Empress Dong was shocked, and hurriedly came over and asked, "Why is Your Majesty sad?" The emperor threw himself into the arms of Empress Dong and cried: "I originally thought that Cao Cao was the hero of Kuang Fu Sheji, and he came thousands of miles after tireless work!" But I didn't expect him to be even more hateful than anyone else! Sooner or later, the 400-year-old country of my Han dynasty will be delivered to him! ”

Empress Dong frowned and said to the emperor: "In this case, Your Majesty should have made plans as soon as possible. ”

The emperor sat up, sighed and said, "The Manchu Dynasty's civil and military equipment is a henchman of the Cao thief, and I can't leave, what can I do?" ”

Empress Dong said: "How can the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty be all Cao Cao's henchmen? I heard that Liu Bei is a hero, and he is the emperor's uncle, so it is better to summon him into the palace to discuss. The emperor's eyes lit up, "Yes, yes, yes, how did I forget him!" Then he became sad again, "But the four gates of the Forbidden Palace are all Cao Cao's soldiers' handles, if Liu Bei is summoned, it will inevitably arouse Cao Thief's vigilance!" Empress Dong smiled and said: "In a few days, it will be the first emperor's sacrifice day, and at that time, His Majesty will summon all the emperor's relatives to the Taimiao to pay tribute to the first emperor, and take that opportunity to meet Liu Bei in the ear room of the Taimiao." The emperor said excitedly: "This plan is the best, and the thief will not be suspicious!" ”

The realization was transferred to Lu Bu's side.

After the army retreated to Luoyang, Zhang Lang immediately adjusted the armies according to Huang Yueying's construction, and the hussars joined the Luoyang garrison sequence, making Luoyang's strength reach 300,000, including the hussar corps, the Luoyang legion and the Longtao legion; Bingzhou is still the Eagle Yang Army, with more than 100,000 local people's troops responsible for garrisoning and annexing the state; Hanzhong still arranged three legions, the Blue Wolf Army, the Pingnan Army and the Tiger Wing Army; The Xichuan garrison became the Zhanxiong Army, and the Leopard Tao Army, which was originally garrisoning Xichuan, was transferred to Wuling County; The Western Regions Legion is still guarding the Western Regions. After such an arrangement, there will be no regular army in the Xiliang Guanzhong area, but the people's army in the Xiliang Pass has been built, with a total of more than 100,000 people's troops, and there should be no problem in maintaining local stability.

At this moment, Cao Cao's army is also being adjusted, Cao Cao concentrated 600,000 infantry cavalry near Xuchang, which can be attacked and defended, and 200,000 infantry cavalry were arranged at the border points between Jizhou and Bingzhou, and there were 70,000 or 80,000 Karasuma cavalry to help on the border of Beidi; 100,000 soldiers and horses guarded Liaodong, 100,000 soldiers and horses guarded Qingzhou, another 300,000 troops were deployed in the Huainan area, 200,000 sailors were still training off the coast of Qingzhou, and Guo Jia trained a new army in Xuzhou, with a total strength of 300,000.

Sun Jian in the south, while recovering his losses, is also vigorously expanding his armaments, and the total number of troops will reach 800,000, including 600,000 infantry troops and 200,000 naval troops. Among them, 400,000 infantry troops and 100,000 sailors were deployed in the Jingzhou area, and the other 100,000 sailors and 100,000 infantry troops were along the Yangtze River.

Sun Jian of Xiangyang met Cao Cao's envoy. The messenger conveyed Cao Cao's apology. Sun Jian asked coldly, "Just apologize?" The envoy pretended to be stupid and said, "I don't know what Wuchenghou wants?" ”

Sun Jian stared coldly at the messenger. The envoy felt that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and couldn't help but get a little nervous.

Sun Jian suddenly smiled, "When Nanyang falls into the hands of the prime minister, I am relieved!" The envoy smiled: "What Wu Chenghou said is very true! ”

Sun Jian asked, "I don't know, what does Cheng think about the covenant between us?" ”

The envoy said: "The prime minister hopes to meet with Wuchenghou as soon as possible to discuss important matters in person. Prime Minister mentioned yì, the two sides met under Nanyang City, but I don't know what Wucheng Hou wanted? ”

Sun Jian thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay." When? ”

"The fifteenth of next month."

Sun Jian said: "Sue Prime Minister, I will definitely arrive on time." ”

The eyes turned to Xuchang.

This day is the sacrifice day of the first emperor, and the emperor led the royal family to come to the temple to worship. After a round of worship, everyone went to the side hall to rest. The Emperor got up and changed his clothes and left the side hall. A moment later, a little eunuch whispered in Liu Bei's ear. Liu Bei then stood up and left the side hall in the name of going to the toilet.

Follow the little eunuch to the east side of the ear room, see the emperor, and hurriedly bow: "Minister Liu Bei to see Your Majesty!" ”

The emperor hurriedly helped Liu Bei up: "Uncle Huang doesn't have to be polite!" Uncle Huang, please take a seat! ”

Liu Bei was frightened, hugged his fists and said, "How dare the minister sit in front of His Majesty?" The emperor did not force it, and returned to the top and sat down. glanced at Liu Bei, and said with grief in his eyes: "My four-hundred-year foundation of the Han Dynasty is about to be buried in the hands of Cao Thief at this time!" Liu Bei also sighed. The emperor said with a look of hope: "Uncle Huang is a hero of my royal family, why don't you come forward when the country is in danger?" Liu Bei hurriedly bowed: "It's not that Liu Bei doesn't want to, it's really powerless!" ”