The ancients said that three people became tigers. If it wasn't a rumor in the first place, after a few people deliberately spread it, it spread to the hundreds, and finally became the consensus of everyone. There was a plague in the Xuzhou army!

Immediately afterwards, Liu Bei, who has been working hard to establish an image of loving the people like a son, was deliberately exaggerated by people with intentions and widely disseminated, and Liu Bei's image was also fixed in the hearts of everyone. Liu Bei is a good man, he will not allow the plague to spread!

Liu Bei is a person who cares a lot about reputation.

In history, Liu Bei had nothing, only an empty title of imperial uncle and a reputation of loving the people like a son, so he has always paid great attention to maintaining his reputation. Tian Fan's appearance gave him a lot of other things in addition to these false names, but Liu Bei still cherished his feathers very much. When everyone said that Liu Bei would not allow the plague to spread, Liu Bei really wouldn't do that. Because, once the plague spreads, he loses far more than he wins! It seems that Liu Bei's way out has been completely blocked, and he doesn't even seem to have the right to return to Xuzhou.

The first two steps of Yuan Shu's plan have been completed, and the third step is being carried out in an orderly manner.

Xuzhou, Xiapi City.

The rumors of the plague epidemic in the Xuzhou Expeditionary Army, which began to circulate yesterday, began to intensify. The silence of Chen Qun and a few other insiders makes this rumor much more credible. The people are worried that once the Xuzhou army turns back, the plague will spread to Xuzhou, how can this be good? At the same time, because of Liu Bei's strength, many local families felt that their interests were damaged, and naturally had opinions on Liu Bei. The rumors of this plague gave them hope, and they began to connect everywhere, ready to move.

In the General's Mansion, many civil servants and a small number of military generals led by Chen Qun are urgently discussing countermeasures. They discussed for a long time, but they still did not come up with any good solution, and the only feasible way seemed to be to control the rumors, and the government would come forward and denounce the rumors as rumors.

After Chen Qun summarized everyone's opinions, he decided to publish the list of An Min, and the content of the list was: The Great General Huainan War went well, and so far, there is only one Shouchun City left in Yuan Shu's territory, which is no longer a concern. Yuan Shugou jumped over the wall in a hurry, and deliberately released these rumors in order to pull the general's hind legs, but he was just dying. I hope that all the fathers and fellow villagers will not be deceived by rumors, and give Yuan Shu an opportunity.

The list is posted, but the actual effect is not very good. Chen Qun and the others could only pray, praying that Liu Bei could quickly win Shouchun, and that Tian Fan could create a miracle again!

After writing the list article, Chen Qun looked at Cao Yong, who was three steps in front of him. After several years of training, Cao Yong is no longer the Wuxia Amon who couldn't even tell the importance of intelligence, he is much more calm and capable, and he can fully assume the position of the leader of the dark night.

Chen Qun said in a deep voice: "Yuan Ji, this time the matter is very urgent, you must do it well!" If the rumors are allowed to spread around, and the people and various families believe it, then my Xuzhou will definitely be in chaos, and it will eventually shake the foundation of the lord! Therefore, you must do your best and do everything possible to catch the spreader of the rumor for me! ”

After a slight pause, he brushed his beard and groaned for a while, and said: "Before the lord leaves, I am specially ordered to have the right to deal with it on the spot, and all things that are not conducive to the stability of Xuzhou and the great cause of the lord are all rights to inquire and dispose of." This official will give you a power now, any person or family that may be related to the rumors, you have the right to arrest people, and you have the right to use punishment! In a word, I don't ask about the process, I only ask about the result! ”

Cao Yong hugged his fists and said: "The lower officials obey orders!" ”

In the dark night of Xuzhou, it was only external and not internal in the past, but this time, it is about to start internally. I don't know if this kind of thing is a good thing or a bad thing.

After Cao Yong left, Chen Qun looked at Xu Ding. Xu Ding is Xu Chu's eldest brother, and his bravery is not under Chen Zhi, and he is also a rare brave general. He and the Xu Chu brothers were responsible for commanding Liu Bei's pro-army, and Xu Chu followed the expedition, but he stayed. Now, he is responsible for the defense of the city of Xiapi, and the troops in the city are at his disposal.

Chen Qun said: "General Xu, starting today, the whole city will enter a state of combat readiness, and the night curfew will be advanced by one hour. Intensify night patrols, and if there are wanderers, arrest them and hand them over to Cao Yong. If you resist, whoever it is, kill me! ”

Xu Ding clenched his fists and said loudly: "The last general will take the order!" ”

Chen Qun nodded, looked at Sun Gan, and said, "Sun Gan, you are temporarily stationed in the camp outside the city, so that the army outside the city will set up a card check on the way to enter the city, and every person and car must not be let go." When encountering a suspicious person, he was temporarily detained and handed over to Cao Yong. In case of resistance, shoot and kill! ”

Sun Qian clenched his fists and gave the order.

In the end, Chen Qun looked at the rest of the people and said, "Pass on my order, from today onwards, all the cities in Xuzhou will increase the intensity of my investigation and strictly investigate the source of rumors!" ”

Everyone clasped their fists and said loudly: "The lower official obeys the order!" ”

Chen Qun bowed slightly, glanced at everyone, and said: "Everyone, my Xuzhou is facing an unprecedented crisis, please encourage me to encourage you, so that when the lord comes back, what he sees is not a chaotic Xuzhou, but a more prosperous Xuzhou!" ”

Xu Du, Cao Cao's mansion.

Lao Cao likes Cao Chong very much, and I don't know if it's because this child escaped death, and it makes him feel the joy of being lost and regained, or because when he sees Cao Chong, he will think of Tian Fan who makes him love and hate, or because this child is very smart, in short, he likes this child very much.

Lao Cao has many children, but he has never had a child who can be so loved by him. The rest of the children looked at Cao Chong, who had been held in Lao Cao's arms all day, and they were a little envious in their hearts! They have never been treated like this. But envy is also tightly envy, far from the level of hate. Cao Chong, after all, is a child less than two years old.

In the backyard of Cao's house, Lao Cao was lying on a delicately designed recliner, his body swaying with the recliner swaying, slightly undulating. He held the babbling Cao Chong in his arms, teasing the child from time to time, and whenever Cao Chong giggled, there was always a knowing smile on his face. At the same time, Lao Cao has not forgotten his business, he has been paying attention to watching Cao Pi dancing the sword, and from time to time he points out the shortcomings of a certain move and the flaws of a certain move.

Beside him, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi stood beside the recliner, looking enviously at Cao Chong, who giggled from time to time, and at the same time watching Cao Pi dancing the sword. The children of the old Cao family do not have a single waste. Although Cao Pi is still young, his swordsmanship is already good.

Suddenly, there was a slight sound of footsteps in the distance.

Lao Cao didn't look back, listening to the footsteps, he could hear that it was a man, but the man who casually entered his inner courtyard was only the eldest son Cao Ang.

Sure enough, Cao Ang's voice came, "Ang, I've seen my father!" Although Cao Cao had his back to him and couldn't see what he was doing, Cao Ang still saluted respectfully.

Cao Chang and Cao Zhi saluted Cao Ang, and Cao Ang touched the heads of his two younger brothers and smiled slightly.

Cao Cao nodded slightly, still didn't look back, and asked lightly, "Zixiu, but is there something?" ”

Cao Ang said: "Father, I ask to see you!" ”

Cao Cao nodded, sighed, and asked, "Oh, Fengxiao, he has nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace!" Go, go with the Father! With that, he stood up, handed Cao Chong to the maid beside him, and walked out with Cao Ang.

Cao Pi easily finished practicing swordsmanship, wiped his sweat, turned his head with great interest, and waited for his father to praise him, but he only saw Cao Cao's back, and he couldn't help but feel a little unhappy. He thrust the two-foot-long sword into its scabbard and strode toward his mother.

Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi are still young, and they don't have so many hearts, but they feel that their brother is a little angry, but they don't know why.

Guo Jia came to Cao Cao because their spies in Huainan learned the news of the plague raging within the Xuzhou army. This news is really good news for Cao Cao.

Cao Cao pondered for a long time and asked rhetorically, "Is the news true?" ”

Guo Jia nodded and said, "It's true! A few days ago, our spies spread the news that after Tian Boguang and the general converged, they still did not move. We thought it was a little strange, but we didn't think about it that much. Now that this kind of rumor has come out, hehe, I'm afraid that this is not far from the truth! ”

Cao Cao bowed slightly, and said, "So, this is really good news for us!" Taking advantage of this time, we can speed up the migration and move all those former Qingzhou yellow turbans to the vicinity of Luoyang. ”

Guo Jia nodded and said, "It's more than that!" After a slight pause, he continued: "My lord, there is a saying circulating in Huainan now, saying how the general loves the people like a son, and how he is a benevolent and righteous lord!" Jia thought that this was a ploy of Yuan Shu! ”

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, pondered for a while, and said, "You mean, Yuan Shu wants to force the big-eared thief to stare at the outside of Shouchun City, and he can't even move?" ”

Guo Jia nodded and said, "Not bad!" Yuan Shu's move can be said to be very clever. The lord thought that all kinds of rumors among the people were spread by the general, who loved the people like a son, and would not let the plague spread. According to Jia's idea, Yuan Shu wanted to force the general into a corner by controlling public opinion. In Tian Boguang's camp, there were nearly 40,000 battle-hardened troops, but because of the plague epidemic, he could not participate in the war. Once you enter the war, the plague will spread, and in this way, the general will be the sinner of the world! ”

Cao Cao nodded slowly, pondered for a long time, his eyes lit up, and he said with some excitement: "What do you mean......"

Guo Jia nodded and said, "Not bad!" ”

After a slight pause, he said: "Jia guesses, Yuan Shu will definitely have an auxiliary strategy!" He will definitely spread the news of the epidemic of plague in the general's army to Xuzhou. The people of Xuzhou are also afraid of the plague! Once the people of Xuzhou know the news, hehe, the general's retreat will be completely gone! ”

Cao Cao nodded, sighed, and said, "In this way, this is a great opportunity for us?" ”

Guo Jia smiled and said, "The lord is wise!" He glanced at Cao Cao, clasped his fists and asked: "Lord, the focus of our business still needs to be transferred to the Sili region?" ”

Cao Cao frowned, and for some reason, he remembered Tian Fan's harmless face. After a long silence, he said, "Prepare with both hands!" First, the hundreds of thousands of people in the Yellow Turban in Qingzhou, continue to transfer, don't stop! Second...... gather the army, and if Yuan Shu's strategy succeeds, we will also go and get a piece of the pie! ”