Liu Min said goodbye and left, Sun Quan ordered someone to find Zhang Zhao, and after a while, Zhang Zhao hurriedly came, bowed down and said, "Is there something wrong with Wu Hou looking for the old minister?" ”

Since the death of Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao was re-used by Sun Quan, and gradually grasped the power of Jiangdong government, in the power struggle in Jiangdong officialdom, the Jiangbei faction represented by Zhang Zhao also had an advantage, while the Lujiang faction of Lusu was in a weak position, in Jiangdong's imitation of Jingzhou last year, the Jiangbei scholars recommended by the Zhang Zhao faction and the Wu Yue scholars recommended by the Dongwu faction accounted for most of the places, and the Lujiang and Yuzhang scholars recommended by the Lusu faction, only three of them were admitted, and suffered a fiasco——, remember-

In fact, Sun Quan also hoped to completely emulate Jingzhou, regardless of the scholars, but he couldn't do it, and his hundreds of officials unanimously opposed it, and finally had to adopt a compromise method, first by the county's famous families to promote filial piety, and then the examination to select the best.

In the end, the competition for officialdom resources between various factions evolved later, and ended with a complete victory for Zhang Zhao's Jiangbei faction and the Wuyue faction represented by the Gu, Lu, and Yu families.

This made Sun Quan also realize that the factional disputes in Jiangdong officialdom have been deep-rooted, and have become the biggest constraint to his reform and new map, the most typical is the failure of Jiangdong craftsmen, Zhou Yu founded Jiangdong craftsmen in order to learn Jingzhou, abolished the craftsman registration, and enjoyed the same treatment as official scholars, but this reform initiative was strongly opposed by Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Yu Chuan and others, when Zhou Yu died, Lu Su did not save the craftsman, and was finally revoked last year due to the loss of apprentices.

It can be said that this is Sun Quan's self-brewed bitter wine, at the beginning, in order to consolidate power, he deliberately strengthened the sense of officialdom faction, and in the end the officialdom factional struggle became a major tumor in Jiangdong, which has become too big to eradicate.

After Sun Quan saw Zhang Zhao enter the house, he only greeted Lu Su coldly, he was a little unhappy in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face, and said gently: "Just now I met with Liu Jing's long-term envoy Liu Min, he said that Liu Jing planned to visit Jiangdong, under the pretext of accompanying Princess Shangxiang to Jiangdong Province, Zijing and I speculated that Liu Jing should have a plan to come, I don't know what Zibu thinks?" ”

Zhang Zhao pondered for a moment, and then said with a smile: "If the old minister is not mistaken, he personally came to Jiangdong to consolidate the Sun-Liu alliance, but his real purpose is to hope that Jiangdong will send troops to the Northern Expedition to echo his western front, so as to seek the greatest political interests." 5”

"Zibu is the same as what we think, it seems that Liu Jing is indeed here, so how should we deal with it?" Sun Quan asked again.

Zhang Zhao thought for a while and said: "Since Liu Jing is here to ask Jiangdong, then we also ask for corresponding benefits, I suggest that the lord first do not agree to Liu Jing's request for any substance, but look at his specific sincerity, and then show our attitude and seek the greatest interests for Jiangdong." ”

Sun Quan nodded, then turned back and asked Lu Su with a smile, "What does Zijing mean?" ”

Lu Su said slowly: "If Liu Jing treats each other with sincerity, we should also show sincerity, and we can't consider interests in everything, just like the Battle of Hefei, Gan Ning did his best to come, but the road was far away, and he didn't arrive in time, which is not entirely the responsibility of the Jingzhou Navy, I think Wu Hou also needs to apologize to Liu Jing, this is the basis of cooperation between the two sides, treat each other with sincerity, treat each other with courtesy, and seek the common interests of both sides, this is the way for Sun and Liu to have long-term peace and stability." ”

Lu Su's words were obviously aimed at Zhang Zhao, Zhang Zhao's face changed slightly, and he was about to refute, but Sun Quan waved his hand and smiled: "Zibu is right, Jiangdong's interests are first, Zijing is also good, the two sides must cooperate frankly, like this!" Zijing went to Chengdu to meet Liu Jing on my behalf, and Zijing was solely responsible for all the etiquette arrangements, and Zibu was going to start preparing grain and grass materials, once the two sides reached a consensus, Jiangdong was likely to send troops. ”

Just as Lu Su and Liu Min were going to Chengdu by boat to meet Liu Jing, Cao Cāo's fine work in Jianye also found out the news and immediately sent this important information to Yedu in a pigeon letter.

The information that Liu Jing was going to visit Jiangdong suddenly made Cao Cāo nervous, and Cao Cāo knew very well in his heart that Liu Jing's visit to Jiangdong at this critical moment must have wanted to join forces with Jiangdong to plot against the Central Plains. 3

In the inner hall of Tongquetai, Cheng Yu, Guo Yuan, Liu Ye, Chen Qun, Mao Yu and other important strategists and ministers gathered together, the eldest son Cao Pi and the third son Cao Zhi were also sitting, Cao Cāo told everyone the news of Liu Jingyù's visit to Jiangdong, he was worried: "Now that the Han army has taken the initiative in Guanlong, at this time Liu Jing is defending but not attacking, but running to visit Jiangdong, it is obvious that he wants to unite Jiangdong to launch an offensive in the Central Plains, I want to discuss with you, how should we deal with it?" ”

There was silence in the lobby, this news really shocked everyone, and they didn't know how to answer for a while, at this time, Cao Cāo glanced at Cheng Yu, and saw that he seemed to have thought about it, so he said: "Zhongde said first!" ”

Cheng Yu sighed and said: "Frankly speaking, this news shocked Wechen, but I'm not surprised, Liu Jing's intentions are already obvious, he occupies a strategic advantage in Guanzhong, but he doesn't trigger it, but instead goes to unite with Sun Quan and prepares to attack the Central Plains in the north, so that we will suffer from the enemy on our backs, Wechen thinks that he clearly wants to hit the Central Plains, but in fact it is for Guanzhong, what makes Wechen feel very helpless is that he knows that he is for Guanzhong, but he has to be restrained by him, Guanzhong is important, but the Central Plains is more important. ”

At this time, Shang Shu Guoyuan said: "Even if Liu Jing is to attack the Central Plains, but his visit to Jiangdong, it will take at least four or five months to go back and forth, and when they launch a war against the Central Plains, it will be autumn, but now it is only mid-May, can we take advantage of Liu Jing's absence on the front line to concentrate our forces to recapture Chencang and Longxian, drive the Han army out of Guanzhong, and even recapture Longxi, I wonder if Mao Yuanjun thinks it is feasible?" ”

Mao Jie was a strategist who escaped from Chen Cang, and he knew very well about the situation in Chen Cang and Longxian, although Guo Yuan was sincere in asking for advice, but Mao Jue's face was still red, and he was deeply ashamed in his heart, and he bowed his head and was silent for a long time.

Cao Cāo understood his mood, so he smiled and said, "I also have this kind of thought, Xiaoxian might as well talk frankly!" ”

Mao Jue was helpless, so he had to say slowly: "Although Liu Jing is not in Chencang, but Jia Xu is in Chencang, there are 50,000 Jīng Rui garrisons in Chencang, 30,000 in Longxian, and Sanguan is also firmly controlled by the Han army, the minister heard that Liu Jing's first thing after capturing Chencang is to strengthen the city, widen the moat, and strengthen the defense, if we want to conquer Chencang, we need at least 100,000 troops, and in addition to prevent the Han army in Longxian County from attacking Chang'an, we also need to garrison 50,000 troops in Chang'an, so that it is a 150,000 army, more than half of our army, Chang'an can no longer afford to spend grain and grass materials, and must transport grain from Bingzhou, which is still under the premise of being able to conquer Chencang, once Chencang can not be captured, but is counterattacked by the Han army of Longxian and Chencang, 80,000 to 100,000, we have no certainty of victory, once the army is defeated, the consequences are serious, I think everyone should understand. ”

Cao Cāo's face changed, Mao Jue was right, there was Jia Xu guarding Chencang, and Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were brave, once they couldn't capture Chencang, they were defeated, and the consequences were indeed very serious, and he couldn't afford it.

At this time, Cheng Yu continued: "Or continue what Weichen said just now, although Liu Jing is attacking the Central Plains, but once the Central Plains has a chance, he will definitely turn the virtual into the real and really march to the Central Plains, the Central Plains is unfavorable, and the world is shaking, I hope the prime minister can fully attach importance to this." ”

Cao Cāo nodded silently, although he didn't want to admit it, he had to face the reality, he sighed in his heart and asked, "Then according to Zhongde's opinion, what should we do?" ”

"Wechen put forward a plan, called: Guanzhong guards, the Central Plains borders, specifically Tun 50,000 heavy troops to defend Chang'an, and the Han army, Guanzhong only put 50,000 troops, and the principle of the deployment of 150,000 troops, divided into four points, Nanyang, Runan, Hefei and Xuzhou, the other 100,000 troops to guard Xudu, where the crisis will be supported, as long as Liu Jing's Central Plains offensive can be thwarted, we will turn back and counterattack the attack, Wechen believes that the situation can still be recovered."

Cao Cāo also felt that this plan was feasible, so he said: "Zhongde stay for a while, everyone retreat first!" ”

He saw that the eldest son yù stopped talking, and also nodded, "Pi'er can also stay." ”

Everyone retired, and only Cheng Yu and Cao Pi were left in the inner hall, and Cao Cāo asked Cao Pi first: "Does Pi'er have anything to say?" ”

"Qi father, the child wants to remind his father that there are many heroic men in the battle of Longxi and Guanzhong, and they have not been rewarded for a long time, which is not good for the morale of the army, such as Jiang Ping, who would rather kill himself than surrender Liu Jing, how heroic, why didn't his father reward him."

"Wu'er is right, this is what I didn't think through, Jiang Ping is strong and loyal, but he can be called 'loyalty', and he will be crowned as the Marquis of the Street Pavilion, inherited by his son, and the sergeants who kill themselves with him will be named Liehou, and each will be rewarded with a thousand taels, and this matter will be handled by you to cāo."

"The child obeys!"

Cao Cāo praised the eldest son for being thoughtful, he pondered for a moment, and then sighed to Cheng Yu and said: "To be honest, the most urgent thing I need now is to save my reputation, Zhongde's successful counterattack on Nanyang, although it has saved a lot of prestige, but it is not enough, if I can achieve another victory, my prestige will increase greatly, I can continue to recruit troops and increase my strength, now Liu Jing is going to visit Jiangdong, I think we can use these few months to do something and recruit troops as soon as possible, I don't know"

Cheng Yu was well aware of the pressure Cao Cāo was under, and he kept himself in the hope that he would share his worries for him, Cheng Yu thought about it and smiled: "There is a way to increase the prestige of the prime minister." ”

Cao Cāo was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "What way?" ”

"As the saying goes, persimmons have to pick up soft pinch, in addition to the southern power in the world, there is also a soft persimmon, did the prime minister forget?"

Cao Cāo was stunned for a moment, and suddenly woke up, "Zhongde is talking about Liaodong?" ”

Cheng Yu nodded, "The remnants of the Yuan clan retreated to Liaodong, although they defeated the strength of the Gongsun family, but I heard that they fought fiercely and fought against each other, the army gradually split, and the military discipline was very chaotic, I didn't care about them, they would have a civil war within a few years, but if the prime minister wants to improve his prestige, it is better to send a strong army to go, and he can be defeated in a battle." ”

Cao Cāo happily brushed his beard and said, "Zhongde knows my heart!" I don't know who to send? ”

Cheng Yu looked at Cao Pi, and Cao Pi immediately bowed down and saluted, "The child is willing to share his father's worries and lead the army to pacify Liaodong." ”

Cao Cāo looked at Cheng Yu, then at Cao Pi, and said with a slight smile: "Okay!" I will let Pi'er lead the army, and I hope you will not disappoint me. ”