Although Liu Jing was very polite to Hua Xin, he did not make any concessions on issues of principle, including etiquette, and he was not qualified to negotiate directly with Liu Jing regardless of whether Hua Xin represented Cao Pi or not, and on the principle of reciprocity, he should negotiate peace with Xiangguo.

Hua Xin was anxious for a while, forgetting this, and was coldly rejected by Liu Jing, Hua Xin suddenly blushed, and said apologetically: "It's Weichen who is abrupt." ”

Liu Jing smiled and gave Sima Yi a look, Sima Yi understood, got up and said with a smile: "Hua Shizhong, please!" ”

Sima Yi invited Hua Xin out of the big tent to negotiate with another account, while Liu Jing slowly drank tea and pondered, thinking about how to take advantage of Cao Wei's infighting.

Not long after, Sima Yi returned to Liu Jing's big tent, he didn't get Liu Jing's specific instructions, just listened to Hua Xin's plan, he smiled and reported to Liu Jing: "To be honest, I didn't expect Cao Pi to make such a request, they made three demands, the first is to release Cao Ren, the second is to release the prisoners of war, and the third is to hope that the Han army can evacuate Qingzhou, and in return, the Cao army is willing to give up Luoyang and let Xu Huang's army evacuate Luoyang." ”

This remark made Liu Jing laugh dumbly, what does Cao Pi mean by this, did he think that the Central Plains War was won by Cao Jun? Is this the sincerity of asking for oneself?

Sima Yi pondered for a moment and said: "Weichen thinks that Cao Pi is not so ignorant of current affairs, this should be Cao Pi's temptation." ”

"Tempting what?" Liu Jing asked.

"He hopes that His Highness will take the initiative to put forward conditions, and the three demands he made, Weichen thought that the release of Cao Ren was the most important, and the other two requirements were just his cover-up."

Liu Jing nodded, Sima Yi's analysis made sense, he pondered for a moment and said: "It's not impossible to release Cao Ren and the prisoners of war, I can also agree to withdraw from Qingzhou temporarily, but I only have one condition, that is, to abolish the current pseudo-emperor, Cao Pi can temporarily draft the government as the prime minister of the prison country until the lord of the world ascends the throne." ”

It should be said that the conditions proposed by Liu Jing are very harsh, this is no longer a regular condition for you to fight for a stone, but a kind of political condition, which is ten times harsher than the conditions that required the safety of Queen Fu back then, of course, Liu Jing has this confidence, as for whether Cao Pi agrees or not, he doesn't care.

Sima Yi was also secretly surprised, he didn't expect Liu Jing to put forward such harsh conditions, how could Cao Pi agree, but as soon as he thought about it, he understood that if Cao Pi really got out of the predicament, it would not be conducive to them to unify the world, so he put forward harsh conditions, if Cao Pi was forced to agree, they would at least be able to offset their gains and losses.

Sima Yi smiled: "Weichen understands, so I'll go to negotiate with Hua Xin." ”

Liu Jing said again: "In addition, tell Sù Huaxin that if he comes to see me again, let him go to Chang'an." ”

Early the next morning, Liu Jing ended his inspection of Dongjun and all parts of the Central Plains, and returned to Chang'an on the Luoyang line.

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Just as Liu Jing got the information, Cao Pi is indeed facing great pressure, this pressure is not only Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang's forced palace, but also the ministers' distrust of him, when the news of the disastrous defeat in the Central Plains War reached Yedu, the government and the opposition were in an uproar, no one thought that it was Cao Ren's responsibility, obviously, the responsibility was Cao Pi's ineffective response.

This war brought Cao Pi's prestige to a freezing point, and if Cao Pi's use of the Wei case to eradicate Cao Zhi's supporters had aroused public anger, then the fiasco in the Battle of the Central Plains had caused many ministers who had originally supported him to become dissatisfied with him.

What made Cao Pi even more frightened was that the second brother Cao Zhang and Xiahoudun were so bold that they mobilized the army without authorization, Cao Zhang took advantage of the absence of Yedu to rob the 20,000 Youzhou troops in Beidaying, and Xiahoudun was even more excessive, transferring 20,000 troops from Bingzhou, so that 40,000 of the 50,000 troops in Yedu were not under his control, and a mutiny was about to occur.

The government and the opposition were guided by Cao Zhi, and the army was controlled by Cao Zhang and Xiahou Dun, and Cao Pi was anxious, and at the same time, he was extremely worried, and he had no choice but to send Hua Xin to Dongjun to negotiate with Liu Jing in an attempt to save a little prestige, and on the other hand, he sent his henchmen to Qingzhou to transfer Cao Xiu's army into Yedu.

For a few days, Cao Pi spent his time in anxiety and worry, the government and the opposition asked him to take responsibility for the defeat of the call getting louder and louder, Cao Pi knew very well that this was the third brother Cao Zhi behind the planning, but he was helpless, there were more and more civil officials who favored the third brother, which was not only affected by the defeat of the Central Plains, but also because of the adverse impact of the Ding Order.

Although the Ding Order was already in a state of existence in name only, his father was seriously ill, and Cao Pi was no longer able to implement it, but the major families who had suffered losses because of the Ding Order in the early stage aimed the contradiction of hatred at him, making him extremely passive in politics.

Internal and external troubles, Cao Pi has felt physically and mentally exhausted, he feels the need to ask his father for help, Tongque Palace Outer Hall, Cao Pi waited for almost an hour, but there was no news, he was a little restless, got up and said to a guard: "You go and see, what's going on in the palace?" ”

As soon as the words fell, but seeing the imperial doctor Wang walking out quickly, Cao Pi was stunned, and suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "How is my father?" ”

Imperial Physician Wang sighed, "The prince should go back!" ”

Cao Pi suddenly became anxious, grabbed his shirt, and said viciously: "Do you want to talk about it?" ”

Imperial Doctor Wang was helpless, so he had to whisper to Cao Pi: "Duke Wei has been in a coma for two days and has not woken up yet. ”

Cao Pi was stunned, slowly let go of his hand, Imperial Doctor Wang hurriedly tidied up his clothes, and said: "This is not the first time, but after waking up, he became very excited, and he was delirious, he didn't even know your mother anymore, saying that your mother wanted to harm him, and ordered someone to push your mother out and behead him, fortunately, everyone knew the truth and didn't listen to his orders, and now even your mother didn't dare to see him." ”

"It's ...... What's going on? ”

"I don't know, some people say that Wei Gong is evil and wants to invite a wizard to exorcise the evil spirit, but in my experience, this is a kind of retribution."

"And how long does my father have left?"

"Let's do our best! If it is better, it will survive until the end of the year or the beginning of next year, and if the will of heaven does not go well, it will only be until around November. ”

Cao Pi didn't wait for his father's help, he returned to his mansion in despair, and just after entering the door, a guard stepped forward and said: "Report to the prince, Hua Shizhong is back, and now he is waiting in the outer study." ”

This is also the news that Cao Pi has been looking forward to for a long time, he hurriedly beat his spirits, and quickly came to the outer study, as soon as he entered the door, Hua Xin hurriedly got up and saluted, "See the son!" ”

Cao Pi waved his hand and closed the door casually, he sat down and asked a little nervously, "How did you talk to Liu Jing?" ”

"Returning to the prince, Weichen first discussed with Sima Yi and put forward the prince's plan, but was rejected by Liu Jing."

Cao Pi was not surprised, this was completely unexpected by him, his plan was just a temptation, not his real condition, and he hurriedly asked: "Then did Liu Jing put forward any conditions?" ”

Hua Xin nodded, hesitated, and said, "Sima Yi did put forward Liu Jing's conditions. ”

"What is it?" Cao Pi leaned forward, his face was very nervous, he was very anxious to know Liu Jing's conditions,

"Say it quickly, don't spit out."

Hua Xin had no choice but to continue: "Regarding the request of the prince, Liu Jing said that he could agree, but he had one condition, asking the prince to depose the current son of heaven, and he agreed to the prince to be the prime minister of the Han Dynasty. ”

Cao Pi was stunned, half loud, he shook his head, and said to himself: "How is this possible! ”

Hua Xin also smiled bitterly, he knew that this condition was indeed too harsh, if the prince agreed to this condition, it would undoubtedly be a disguised recognition of Liu Jing as the son of the Han Dynasty, and Cao Pi would not only be defeated on the battlefield, but also completely lost in politics.

But then again, now there are not many people who recognize Cao Pi's infant son of heaven, and the Han dynasty of Yedu has existed in name only, if Cao Pi abolishes this infant son of heaven, in fact, the loss is not big, and Cao Pi can continue to serve as the prime minister of the prison state, which is still the prime minister admitted by Liu Jing.

Although Hua Xin thought so in his heart, he didn't dare to say it, this kind of thing had to be figured out by Cao Pi himself, as a subordinate, he could only point it out.

Hua Xin saw that Cao Pi was deep in thought, so he whispered: "Weichen retires first!" ”

"Go ahead!"

Cao Pi waved his hand, he really didn't want someone next to him to disturb his train of thought now, Hua Xin bowed and retreated.

Cao Pi walked to the window with his hands down, looking at the sky full of sunset, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

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With Xiahoudun leading the army back to Yedu, the power structure of Yedu has become complicated, and it is no longer Cao Pi's family that is big, in fact, Cao Pi is already in a weak position.

The 20,000 Youzhou troops in the northern military camp were recaptured by Cao Zhang, and more than 10,000 Cao troops on the north bank of the Yellow River in Wei County were pinned down by the Han army and could not withdraw to Yedu.

The 3,000 city defense soldiers were mainly the army guarding the nine gates of Yedu, they were originally only Wei County soldiers, subordinate to the local government, and ranked at the bottom of the Cao army system, whether it was equipment, supplies, or social status, they were far inferior to the regular army, not to mention the tiger Benwei in the same city.

But such a county soldier, who has always been despised, unexpectedly highlighted its importance when the situation in Yedu was delicate.

The general who commanded this army of 3,000 people was called Chen Guo, and he was appointed as the governor of Wei County, perhaps because of his relatively low official status, Chen Guo did not belong to Cao Pi's lineage, nor to Cao Zhi's Xiahou faction, nor did he belong to Cao Ren's faction, he belonged to a three-regardless territory - Wei County Ya.

Chen Guonian is in his early fifties, has three sons, and the eldest grandson can also climb trees, and in two years he will be ready to retire and return to his ancestral home to enjoy the joy of family.

Although Chen Guo's status is not high, his family background is very good, in fact, due to the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, the magistrates of each county are controlled by the local family or Haoqiang, and the family is from the literature, and the Haoqiang is the martial arts, so the county governors are basically served by the local Haoqiang, and Wei County is no exception, Chen Guo's family is the famous Haoqiang family in Wei County.

Chen Guo's mansion is located in the south of the city, it is a middle house covering an area of ten acres, the house is not big because his status is not high, in the capital of Yedu, where the powerful people live, he is really not worth mentioning, but his manor in Anyang covers an area of 200 hectares, which is the largest manor in Anyang County.

At night, Chen Guo just came back from the city gate inspection, was sitting alone in the room to drink a few glasses, Chen Guo's biggest hobby is to be greedy for a cup of good wine, just when Ye Du issued a ban on alcohol, he also made wine at home for his own drink, he would rather not be this captain, than a day without wine.

At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door, and his second son Chen Xi whispered a little nervously outside the door: "Father, there is a distinguished guest visiting!" ”