Cao Jun set up a large camp on the north bank of the Huai River, confronted the Han army camp on the south bank of the Huai River, the first heavy snow in winter came unexpectedly, the overwhelming snowflakes fell from the sky like a tear, the earth was soon covered with a thick snow jacket, the whole world became a gray piece, the heavy snow blocked the sight, and even the Huai River a hundred steps away could not be seen clearly.

In the flying snowflakes, Cheng Yu hurriedly came to Cao Cāo's big tent, Xu Chu stepped forward, whispered with his index finger to his lips, and invited Cheng Yu to the side and whispered: "The prime minister didn't sleep all night last night, he just fell asleep, the military advisor will come back later!" ”

Cheng Yu nodded, and sighed secretly in his heart, although he finally saw through Liu Jing's real strategy, but it was still a step too late, Taiyuan was finally lost, and the state government fell to the wind, and the prime minister was hit hard, and he had been locked in the big tent for two days.

He asked again, "Then the prime minister can eat?" ”

Xu Chu smiled bitterly, "I drank a few sips of porridge, and I heard the guard who delivered the porridge say that the prime minister seemed to be ten years old overnight." ”

Cheng Yu shook his head, the prime minister is old, it is not okay to go on like this, he said to Xu Chu again: "If the prime minister wakes up, notify me immediately, and I will persuade the prime minister." ”

"I know, I'll inform the prime minister."

As soon as Xu Chu's words fell, Cao Cāo's tired voice came from inside the big tent, "Is it Zhongde outside?" ”

Cheng Yu and Xu Chu looked at each other, and they both smiled helplessly, Cheng Yu had to step forward and say, "It's Weichen!" ”

"It's cold outside, please come in!"

"Prime Minister, rest a little longer! Wechen will come back later. ”

"Zhongde, please come in!"

Helpless, Cheng Yu had to walk into the big tent, Xu Chu followed in with no worries, only to see Cao Cāo wearing a big hat, sitting next to the brazier, playing with the charcoal fire with a fire stick, under the reflection of the charcoal fire, his eyes were red, his expression was tired, especially his hair was more gray, it could be seen that he was indeed a lot older.

Cheng Yu hurriedly bowed and saluted, "See the prime minister!" ”

"Zhongde, please take a seat!"

Cao Cāo asked Cheng Yu to sit down, and said to Xu Chu: "I suddenly want to drink some chicken soup and stew a **!" Simmer a little. ”

"Let's go!"

Xu Chu picked up the tent and rushed out of the city, Cao Cāo shook his head, sighed and said to Cheng Yu: "Zhongde, let's talk about it, why are we always so passive?" was led by Liu Jing by the nose. ”

Cheng Yu pondered for a moment and said: "Liu Jing takes the Yangtze River and Han River as a beggar, the Bashan and Qinling Mountains as a block, and a strong naval army as a supplement, his defense foundation is very solid, plus Jingzhou has the foundation laid by Liu Biao, Yizhou He is gentle and gentle, does not harm the interests of the Shu people, and uses people properly, although there are contradictions between Jing and Shu, but under the temptation of the great interests of the world, Jing Shu's strength can also be at peace for the time being, and work together to help the Han army march north, Weichen believes that this is Liu Jing's biggest foundation. ”

"What about me?" Cao Cāo asked again, "Where is my weakness?" And where is the foundation? ”

Cheng Yu knelt down and bowed, "The prime minister forgives the ministers for their innocence, and only the ministers dare to say it." ”

"I forgive you not guilty, and though you tell the truth, I want to hear the truth now."

Cheng Yu sighed and said: "The prime minister has three defeats, which led to today's passive situation. ”

"Let's be more detailed, which three defeats?" Cao Cāo looked at Cheng Yu intently with a solemn expression.

"The first defeat is that the southern expedition is too early, just to destroy the Yuan clan is in a hurry to the southern expedition, but I don't know that Yuan Shao is gracious to Hebei, Gao Gan won the hearts of the military and the people in the state, the prime minister destroyed the Yuan clan and killed the high cadre, there is nothing wrong with itself, but it should completely stabilize Hebei and merge the state and then march south, but the prime minister is very anxious, and the defeat of Chibi will make the north unstable."

"I also know that Lu Dao must stabilize Hebei and Merge Prefecture, and even move the capital to Yecheng, reduce taxes, and only start a large-scale southern expedition after six or seven years, isn't it enough?"

"Although the prime minister is gracious to Hebei, exempt from taxation and state, but a southern expedition has doubled the exploitation of the state and Hebei, in order to build a boat to cross the river, the houses along the Yellow River have been almost demolished, and the grain and husband have been requisitioned, ten times to give it, and a hundred times to claim it back, so the remnants of the Yuan family together, Hebei roared and responded to the peace, the reason is this, the Han army attacked Taiyuan, and all parts of the state fell in the wind, the Han army did not arrive, and the county has changed banners, the reason for this, does the prime minister understand? And the people of the state have been dissatisfied with the prime minister for a long time! ”

Cao Cāo nodded, although Cheng Yu said frankly and to the point, he did not get angry, but silently accepted Cheng Yu's accusation, he sighed, "Zhongde is right, although I unify the north, but the north is not stable, and the hasty southern expedition caused Liu Jing to sit big, it can be said that one wrong step, one wrong step, please Zhongde said the second defeat." ”

"The second defeat of the prime minister is the defeat of the poor Legalist, the prime minister set up the poor family to degrade the family, worship the Legalist, press Confucianism, kill the border, punish Kong Rong, and chill the famous family, in fact, Liu Jing did not do well, and the discerning people can see that he admires the Legalist as much as the prime minister, but he is a little more subtle, Confucianism is the skin, and the law is the bone, but he's not divided into scholars, In addition, after the Battle of Chibi, he released more than 100,000 prisoners of war and won the gratitude of the northern clan, which laid the foundation for his attack on the north today. ”

Cao Cāo sighed, "You're right, I killed Kong Rong, it was indeed a mistake, and now it's too late to regret it." ”

At this time, the curtain was opened, Xu Chu led several guards to come in with a can of chicken soup, and brought a few side dishes, Xu Chu moved very quickly, and without waiting for Cao Cāo to object, he put the dishes, chopsticks and dishes, and filled Cao Cāo with a bowl full of thick chicken soup.

Cao Cāo took a sip of the chicken soup, nodded, and said to Xu Chu: "Pour a bowl for the military advisor too." ”

Xu Chu also poured a bowl for Cheng Yu, Cheng Yu took a sip and said with a smile: "General Xu is very hearty!" ”

Xu Chu's face was slightly red, his mind was seen through by Cheng Yu, this is no longer pure chicken soup, there are yams and ginseng mixed together after being mashed, Cao Cāo also understood in his heart that he was not in the mood to eat, but after Cheng Yu untied a little knot in his heart, he also had an appetite, and he really felt hungry, drank a bowl of soup and ate a bowl of porridge, so he ordered Xu Chu to take away the things.

At this time, Cao Cāo asked again: "Please tell me about the third defeat." ”

Cheng Yu hesitated for a long time, "This third defeat, Weichen doesn't want to talk about it." ”

"You must say, I want to hear it!" Cao Cāo said solemnly.

Cheng Yu nodded silently and said, "This third defeat is the prime minister's political defeat." ”

"Zhongde is saying that I am the Duke of Wei and add nine tins?"

"Not only that, the prime minister coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, in law it was a win, but it lost morally, at the beginning of the group of heroes rose together, the world was divided, the prime minister respected the king, in the name of the Son of Heaven to crusade against the Quartet, unified the north, at this time the prime minister coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, everyone can accept, will also support, think that it is a move from power, but it will not work for a long time, especially after the unification of the north, the prime minister in the name of the Son of Heaven crusade against the clan Liu Bei and Liu Biao, in fact, politically lost, now Liu Jing played the banner of reviving the Han family, He also called his army the Han army, with a clear banner, a clear goal, and a political advantage, if it were not, how could the Han army have killed Taiyuan so smoothly, and the people of the government along the way did not resist the disturbance? ”

"Zhongde is right!" Cao Cāo sighed helplessly.

"In fact, the humble position was also slowly figured out after the fact, at that time, Weichen was also confused, and the southern expedition to Jingzhou, wasn't it Wechen's strong advocacy? Weichen also regretted that he could not persuade the prime minister to conquer Jingzhou a few years later. ”

"What's the use of saying these words of regret now? The key is how I should face the dilemma in front of me, Liu Jing captured Taiyuan, and the state was in danger, Ye was in danger, but I couldn't withdraw the army, Zhongde taught me, what should I do now? ”

Cheng Yu smiled and said, "Does the prime minister remember the incident with Liu Jing on the pontoon bridge?" ”

Cao Cāo nodded, "Of course I remember, so what?" ”

Cheng Yu said meaningfully: "I pondered repeatedly, I feel that Liu Jing is actually hinting at the prime minister, he hopes to end this dispute with the prime minister through negotiations, I also said that Liu Jing has been fighting for many years, and he is afraid that he will not be able to support it, this attack on Taiyuan, including the joint Jiangbei to the Central Plains, I think his real purpose is to force the prime minister to negotiate, of course, he is to obtain the greatest benefits." ”

In fact, Cao Cāo also realized that Liu Jing wanted to bargain with him, with Liu Jing's current strength, he couldn't attack on three sides, so he pulled Jiangdong into the water, and attacking Taiyuan was also a sneak attack, which may not be able to really occupy the state.

Cao Cāo pondered for a moment and said, "I can give Guan Long to him, but he must withdraw from the state, does the military advisor think it is possible?" ”

"Wechen doesn't know, but you can try it, if the prime minister agrees, Wechen is willing to negotiate with Liu Jing on behalf of the prime minister."

Cao Cāo took a few steps in the big tent with his hands in his hands, and finally sighed and said: "The three defeats that Zhongde said really make me restless, I will try my best to make up for it, or so, Zhongde will go for me!" I don't want to fight this war anymore. ”