"Already at war?" Wang Xu exclaimed in surprise, and then said in disbelief: "If Yuan Shu doesn't consolidate his current territory, he will directly start a war in winter?" ”

Shan Huai nodded and said, "Yes!" Yuan Shu saw that Cao Cao, who was close to Yuan Shao, led Yanzhou, and was worried, and saw that Cao Cao was chasing the Yellow Turban defeated army in the direction of Qingzhou, so he suddenly sent troops to attack Yanzhou. Who knew that Cao Cao was extremely powerful, and suddenly sent troops in winter, and it didn't take ten days to break the main force of the Yellow Turbans that had retreated, and in Jibei, all the Yellow Turban troops surrendered. More than 300,000 soldiers were collected, and more than 1 million men and women were collected. Cao Cao selected the elite from them and called them 'Qingzhou soldiers'. ”

"At present, Chen Liu, Hebei Yuan Shao also sent a soldier and horse to help, and Zhou Ang and Ju Yi led the troops to cross the Yellow River and enter the white horse. However, none of them were as fast as Liu Biao, Liu Biao had already sent Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to raid Nanyang when Yuan Shu had just sent troops, and Yuan Shu was forced to lead his troops to garrison Fengqiu! Several of the Black Mountain thieves and the Southern Xiongnu Shan Yu all defected to Yuan Shu, wanting to take the opportunity to unite against Cao Cao. ”

"However, Yuan Shao divided his troops, and Gongsun Zhan thought that there was an opportunity, so he sent troops to attack again, and the specific situation is not clear!"

"Huh! It's hilarious. With a sneer, Wang Xu frowned and thought for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "When did this happen?" ”

"The time of occurrence of each information is different, but the latest is eight days ago, and the members of the spy department also sent the information sorted out to the south eight days ago, and they just arrived." Shan Huai replied.

Wang Xu immediately nodded approvingly, the progress of the spy department is obvious, and the information this time was sent in a timely manner. But he didn't say anything, and after thinking about it, he slowly walked around the courtyard.

"Shan Huai, why do you think Yuan Shu dared to send troops to Cao Cao in winter?"

"This ......" Shan Huai hesitated.

"But it doesn't hurt to say it, you can say whatever you want!"

"No!" Wang Xu asked, Shan Huai didn't hesitate anymore, and answered. Then he slowly spoke: "According to the subordinates." Ostensibly, it was because Cao Cao pursued the Yellow Turban and the rear was empty, so Yuan Shu wanted to take the opportunity to invade Yanzhou. But in fact, there should be a more important reason, that is, what Liu Biao promised Yuan Shu in private, or that the two parties have even been aligned. ”

"Huh! Yes, Yuan Shu must have been deceived by Liu Biao. Otherwise, he didn't have the courage to let Nanyang go and run to seize Yanzhou. Liu Biao waited and waited again and again, just to get Nanyang, and he understood that if he didn't take it again, I would start to go north in Jingnan. He completely lost the opportunity, so he used this method to make the world shameful. Wait, in two days, Yuan Shu will definitely make his alliance with Liu Biao public, and then accuse Liu Biao of being a treacherous. ”

Saying that, Wang Xu smiled meaningfully, shook his head and said, "Judging from the current shape, our goal of taking Jingbei may have to be changed slightly!" ”

"Huh?" Shan Huai looked up at Wang Xu's side face in surprise. Some don't understand what this has to do with Jing Nan. After thinking carefully for a while, he suddenly exclaimed: "The lord wants a barrier!" ”

"Huh. Not bad! is to be a barrier, and Liu Biao is the most suitable person! Wang Xu nodded with a smile and continued: "Although I have a good personal relationship with Cao Cao, Cao Cao is a person who does big things, and he will not be bound by these." I know him, but he also cares about me. Therefore, now that Cao Cao has monopolized Yanzhou and is strong, there should be a buffer zone in the middle before he is ready to fight each other. And Nanyang is blocked by mountains in the north, connecting Yuzhou in the east and Hanzhong in the west, which can be described as the land of four wars. It's not a good idea to take it now, if I drive Liu Biao there and give him a headache, I just need to send a soldier and horse to guard against Liu Biao. ”

"Besides, Liu Biao and I don't have a deep grudge, and even he is a student of my grandfather, so he actually has no personal grudges, and the reason why he is against the enemy is just forced by the form. After driving him to Nanyang, I can even try to improve relations with him, and if necessary, I can also support him against the enemy. In this way, he became my northern barrier, allowing me to take the rear from Rong Tu. ”

Hearing this, Shan Huai immediately praised with emotion: "The lord's foresight, his subordinates really admire!" ”

He smiled incomprehensibly, but Wang Xu did not continue to explain, and walked quietly in the courtyard. In fact, there is one more important thing he didn't say, that is, the plot against Liu Biao's entire group.

The two families themselves have no personal grudges, and they are all forced by their positions and shapes, so it may not be impossible for the two families to reconcile. After driving Liu Biao to Nanyang, he tried to change the relationship, and when the time came, Liu Biao, who occupied a county but was surrounded by enemies, was not an ordinary difficulty. He doesn't have the support of other forces like Yuan Shu, and he is definitely in danger.

Yingchuan and Runan, which are adjacent to the east, are currently in the hands of Yuan Shu, whether from the perspective of the general direction of history, or in terms of the current timing, Yuan Shu will definitely be defeated by Cao Cao, and Yingchuan will definitely fall into the hands of Cao Cao. And if Yuan Shu is defeated and flees to Yangzhou as in history, and Runan is not lost, then Liu Biao will also face Yuan Shu, who hates him to the bone.

No matter who it is, it is enough for Liu Biao to have a headache, and coupled with the suppression of Zhang Lu in Hanzhong and Jingzhou, he can't afford to set off the storm. When the time comes, even if you don't use the sword, you can make the entire group surrender without much effort.

And this has a greater advantage, because most of Liu Biao's subordinate military generals are people from local families in Jingzhou, and when they are driven to Nanyang, they have every reason and strength to deprive them of their power and completely cut off the power of these families. When I go back to collect Liu Biao in the future, will these things be returned? At that time, they will serve themselves with nothing, which is a good way to prevent the local power from becoming too large and shaking the ruling authority!

After sorting out this line of thought, a smile appeared on the corner of Wang Xu's mouth, and he turned his head to look at Shan Huai and said: "Shan Huai, now let's start collecting Liu Biao's garrison information as much as possible, it seems that the time of the Northern Expedition is going to be advanced, but there is no need to be too anxious, there is still time, safety first." ”

"No!" Shan Huai responded, looked at Wang Xu's face, and then slowly continued: "I don't know if the lord has other things to order, if it's okay, then the subordinates will retire first!" ”

"Hmmm! Go get busy! By the way, by the way, I asked someone to notify Feng Xiao to come to the back house. ”

As soon as the words fell, Shan Huai was about to promise, but Guo Jia's hearty laughter was heard from afar. "Hahaha! No need, the subordinates have arrived! As he spoke, Guo Jia walked over quickly, patted the dust on his body, and said with a smile: "Lord, my subordinates have something to report." ”

"Huh! It's just the right time, okay, let's go to the study and talk! ”

When the two were talking, Shan Huai had already left quietly and silently, and Wang Xu took Guo Jia to the study.

"Lord, Chang'an is here for superstition!" As soon as he sat down, Guo Jia took out an encrypted silk silk from his arms.

"Oh? Letter from Chang'an? Wang Xu was surprised and took it over.

After quickly opening it and browsing it, there is already a hint of a smile.

Seeing this, Guo Jia on the side didn't wait for Wang Xu to speak, so he spoke: "Lord, but Wang Situ has a letter?" The secret decree of the imperial court? ”

"Exactly!"

"But let the lord be a foreign aid!"

"Exactly!"

The guess was confirmed, and Guo Jia immediately stroked his beard and smiled. "What does the lord think?"

"Of course, I agreed, and I want to publicly state this matter, so that my war with Liu Biao will be more reasonable! Because I'm a meritorious minister recognized by the imperial court, isn't it? Moreover, Wang Yun is Diao Chan's father-in-law, even if he is half a relative, he is also regarded as a favor. Wang Xu said with a smile.

"When does the lord want to make it public?"

"Before you go to war, add a reason to the soldiers."

Hearing this, Guo Jia shook his head: "Lord, according to his subordinates, it should be announced now!" ”

"What do you mean by that?" Wang Xuqi said.

Guo Jia waved his hand calmly and said: "My lord, the message dissemination we designed last year has greatly reduced Liu Biao's prestige, but in a few months, those public indignation has gradually faded, although the support for Liu Biao has not decreased, but also has an attitude of not speaking. Now it is completely possible to take advantage of this secret decree of the imperial court to do something to stimulate the antipathy of the people of Jingzhou to Liu Biao again. ”

"Oh? How? ”

"My lord, when we make this letter public, we also want to write a letter at the same time, denouncing Liu Biao's attack on Jingnan last year for his own selfish desires, causing a large number of casualties. At the same time, this time the troops should not be said to be to exterminate the thieves, but to say that they are willing to give Liu Biao a chance. Now that Dong Zhuo has been destroyed, His Majesty is leading the ministers to rectify the dynasty and return the people to a stable and peaceful day. This order is issued this time to summon you to King Qin. I hope that Liu Biao can see the people of the world and the prosperity of the Han Dynasty, and let him go! We did not send troops to fight him, but to go to King Qin, hoping that he would not be hindered by his own selfishness. ”

Hearing this, Wang Xu suddenly understood, and said with a smile: "Fengxiao, you are so clever and calculating!" In this way, Liu Biao will simply become a traitor if he does not let him go, and when we denounce it again, the people will already be dissatisfied with him, and it will inevitably arouse the anger of the people again, and they will definitely not support him again, and there are even many people to help us. ”

"If he lets him go, our army can enter Jingbei logically, and at the same time transport the supplies over, and then the excuse is to reorganize the army, advance slowly, and wait for a foothold, wouldn't it be possible to fight wherever we want. It is impossible for him to even refute it, because I have in my hands this holy decree of the imperial court that I am a foreign aid, and it has been circulated to all parties. ”

"Not bad! If this plan is successful, the battle of Jingzhou will increase the possibility of success by at least two layers! Guo Jia smiled and continued.

Hearing this, Wang Xu couldn't stop laughing: "Hahaha! My father-in-law has really given me a great gift! ”

"My lord, in fact, my subordinates have another idea!"

"Oh? Bong-hyo, please speak. ”

"My lord, if we get Jingbei, what should we do?"

Wang Xu glanced at Guo Jia strangely, but he still quickly replied: "Work hard to make the country prosperous, and seek Yizhou!" ”

"Nope! The subordinates didn't say that. Guo Jia immediately shook his head, and he didn't sell Guanzi, and said in an inaudible voice: "I don't know if the lord has ever thought about welcoming the Son of Heaven into Jingzhou, gaining the authority of the Son of Heaven, and ruling the princes of the world ......" (to be continued.) )