At the beginning of Han Sui's arrival, Ma Teng was faced with the labor of comprehensive integration, frequent transfers, and complex personnel changes, which made the security guard extremely poor.

In this case, the departure of Wang Xu, Zhou Zhi and Xiang Tian was very smooth, and they almost didn't encounter any checkpoints along the way, so they passed through Hanyang County and returned to Wudu.

But what I didn't expect was that after returning to the territory of Chu, it was a little difficult, perhaps because of the chaos in Xiliang, the checkpoints here were very tightly guarded, and there were many checks, and it really took a lot of effort to go around, and it took more than 20 days to pass through Hanzhong, Shangyong and other places, and finally returned to Xiangyang and lived in the original hidden grassland.

Since then, Wang Xu has rarely left the grassland, except for reading books and practicing martial arts, he is studying military policy strategy, which is the first time in many years that he has really calmed down and thought about problems.

In addition, at most, he occasionally went to the mountains and rivers with Xiang Tian and Zhou Zhi to relax his mind.

During this period, Guo Jia and Shan Huai often came to visit secretly, but the main purpose was to report the latest situation, and they left in a hurry after a short time.

Originally, since returning to Xiangyang at the end of September, Wang Xu thought that it would not take long for the second Northern Expedition of Chu State.

But no one thought that such a bitter and lonely day would be more than a whole year at a time!

The main reason for this is the three dissuasions of Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang.

In November 206 AD, more than two months after Wang Xu returned to Xiangyang from Xiliang, he had the intention to launch the Northern Expedition, but soon after informing Guo Jia of his intentions, Guo Jia brought a letter from Zhuge Liang, in which the words were earnest, which can be described as a desperate admonition.

There is only one meaning. The military strength of the various departments of the state of Yan and Chu has not yet fully recovered. Recruits also need to be trained. The preparations for the war are not completely sufficient, and since the price has already been paid, why not seek a better opportunity, if you attack hastily, it will be difficult to do the whole thing.

This time, Wang Xu only thought about it for one day and agreed to Zhuge Liang. It was also on this day that Wang Xu secretly returned to Xiangyang City, stopped outside the palace of King Chu for a long time, looked at the towering palace wall, and was silent!

He hid all his thoughts about his family in his heart and quietly went away......

In March 207 AD, another five months later, the replenishment of the various armies of the Chu State was finally completed, and the preparations for the war under the guise of a name were almost perfect.

Meantime. The infighting in the Ming is becoming more and more intense, and it can be said that it is a mess.

The Asakata Yutaka and Fushi were united. formed a group and always competed for power with the group led by Guo Jia, and the royal power represented by Xu Shu was barely suppressed by them.

The rest of the Assassins, Taishou, and generals of each legion also chose their own supporters and fought with each other.

People all over the world believe that since Wang Xu's death, the young lord of Chu has been powerless, and the long-term infighting of Chu has symbolized the sunset, no longer aggressive, and sooner or later he will kill himself.

At this time, Cao Cao, taking advantage of such a good opportunity, carried out large-scale internal reforms, completely banned the nominal Son of Heaven, and made drastic changes from the army to internal affairs.

This also attracted great resistance, and there were many old ministers of the Han family who died for this, and there were frequent rebellions in various places, but for Cao Cao, who is now in the general trend, they can no longer pose a real threat. Under his rule, no matter who resisted, no matter how they resisted, they were all cleansed neatly, and those who rebelled in the local Taishou and the old generals of the Han family were extremely difficult.

Even Xun Yu, who has followed Cao Cao for many years and is in charge of the entire internal affairs, has gradually been hollowed out, and he has always thought that Cao Cao is "Xingyi soldiers to calm the country, uphold the sincerity of loyalty, and defend the truth of retreat", that is to say, after Xingbing the army to pacify the world, in the end, it is necessary to uphold loyalty and give power to the imperial family.

Of course, this is very different from Cao Cao's current thoughts, but Xun Yu is Cao Cao's highly valued person after all, coupled with his outstanding achievements and extremely high reputation, Cao Cao can only gradually weaken his rights and distance himself from the civil and military, one is a warning, and the other is to prepare for a complete break.

The land of a country, how complicated the shape is, of course, it is not easy to complete the rectification in three or five months, but because of the loss of the huge threat of the Chu State, Cao Cao no longer worries too much, just gradually according to his own plan, and the Wei State under his leadership, gradually towards a new road to prosperity.

In addition, Sun Jian also began to make internal reforms, although the problems of Wu are not as many as Wei, but the disadvantage is that it started late, the foundation is weak, and it has been overwhelmed by Cao Cao and Wang Xu for many years, and now Wu is officially established, Cao Cao is busy with his own rectification, and Chu seems to be in decline, of course, it is a good opportunity for development that they can't ask for.

Therefore, at this time, the state of Wu was still in the midst of rapid internal reforms, and although it was growing stronger, it had no preparation and intention to raise troops.

This kind of situation is what Wang Xu wants, so he discussed with Guo Jia and decided to raise troops for the Northern Expedition.

Unexpectedly, this time it was Guo Jia who sincerely dissuaded him, telling him that although the Chu State was fully prepared, the Xiliang Ma family was ready to move, gathering troops, intending to attack Yongzhou.

It means that after making arrangements to deal with Xiliang and trying to further paralyze Cao Cao, the Northern Expedition will be carried out.

This time, Wang Xu thought about it for three days before approving his strategy.

On the same day, he also sneaked back to the palace of the king of Chu again, wandered quietly for a long time, and finally left quietly after a helpless sigh......

Subsequently, Guo Jia personally went to Wudu and mobilized half of Huang Zhong's Western Legion and Gao Shun's Xuanwu Legion, plus Wei Yan's entire Western Legion, a total of 160,000 elite soldiers, to take strict precautions and redeploy the border defense.

Immediately afterwards, Guo Jia's power in the court was hollowed out, and the royal family represented by Xu Shu and the power group composed of Tian Feng and Fu Zhu divided his rights respectively.

As a result, Guo Jia was deprived of his post as a lieutenant and reappointed as the governor of the Northwest Prefecture, and the head of the town border war.

The spread of this incident really made Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Ma Teng even more lighthearted, feeling that the Chu State had destroyed the Great Wall by itself, and it was not far from internal division.

For a time, all sides sent people who could speak well into the Chu State, and the detailed activities were frequent, intending to further provoke and win over and accelerate the division of the Chu State.

It's a pity that all their efforts are destined to be useless, because the heads of several so-called power groups are simply making a show. Always angrily express their dissatisfaction. But he always restrained his subordinates who relied on him. Although it is vacillating and makes people feel that there is an opportunity to take advantage of it, they will not make any real acts of division or betrayal after all.

These few people who know the truth of the matter, which one is not a human spirit, and now they are all looking forward to the realization of the great plan and the peace of the world, where can they be moved by those words?

In May 207 AD, Ma Yi wrote more than ten letters in a row. He also sent an envoy to Chen Cang to meet Guo Jia, only to persuade him to switch to Xiliang.

His words were sincere and moving, even Guo Jia couldn't help but smile and say many years later: If the situation at that time was true and not a scheme, if it wasn't for the lord's still existence, I am afraid that I would really be a little moved at that time!

But the actual result was that after spending countless efforts on Ma Yi, Guo Jia did reply and agreed to his warm invitation. He expressed his willingness to lead the soldiers under his control to surrender, and made careful arrangements.

Ma Teng, Ma Yi and others were overjoyed. felt that with the current situation, there could be no fake, so he personally led the troops to respond, and as a result, he ushered in a tragic battle.

On the way to the answer, they were killed by Wei Yan, Zhang Ren, Wu Yi and others, who had already been ambushed, and beat them to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Zhong, Gao Shun and other generals personally led the elite cavalry, raided the battalions of the Xiliang Army overnight, and the various departments cooperated closely, so that the Xiliang Army turned its head and turned around, and the whole line retreated without exerting any combat power, with heavy casualties and countless losses of grain, grass and ordnance.

It's just that Guo Jia didn't dare to march deep because of the problems faced by the Chu State and the strength of Xiliang itself, and after connecting several important cities and bringing huge losses to the Xiliang army, he decisively retreated. Xiliang suffered this defeat, although it did not hurt the muscles and bones, but it also greatly damaged the vitality, restrained the arrogance, stationed in danger, and waited for the opportunity.

After this dramatic battle, Guo Jia did not forget to do some face-saving work, and instructed those civil ministers and military generals who were attached to him to play with great fanfare, and did their best to restore his position as a lieutenant.

Xu Shu, who was sitting in Xiangyang, knew it well, and of course it was very cooperative, not only did he not say anything in front of the civil and military forces during the court discussion, but also announced the reinstatement of his position as the lieutenant in a resentful and helpless tone, but he still ordered him to continue to garrison Chencang in the name of the unstable war in Xiliang.

In this way, Guo Jia's scheming deception has become a means of forcing the palace with merit.

This kind of battle has been performed and continued, confusing everyone, and no one can debunk it, because those people don't know that Wang Xu is not dead!

After that, another two months passed, and there was no move from Xiliang's side to send troops, it seemed that he had learned a lesson, secretly prepared, and waited for a better opportunity.

In August 207 AD, after careful analysis, Wang Xu felt that the time was ripe and prepared to launch the Northern Expedition again.

Because Guo Jia was in Xiliang, he could only summon Zhuge Liang to discuss, which was also the first time the two met since they summoned Zhuge Liang to talk deeply and informed the whole plan.

The result disappointed Wang Xu again, Zhuge Liang seemed to have guessed his intention to summon, just met, and before he could speak, he had already spoken out to stop him: "Lord, Yue Wang Goujian can endure for several years, and finally destroy the Wu Kingdom, although everything is ready now, but there is further room for this plan, I beg the lord to endure it again, and there will be gains!" ”

"When?"

"When Cao Jun moves!"

"Why did it move for no reason?"

"Promotion!"

As Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan lightly and calmly said the word promotion, Wang Xu understood and was silent!

The next day, Wang Xu once again disguised himself and sneaked outside the palace of the king of Chu, silently staring at the familiar, but seemingly unfamiliar magnificent palace......

After passing through the door of the house three times and not being able to enter, staying in a deserted place for many years, suffering and tormented by loneliness, Wang Xu didn't know how he survived.

Of course, it's not just him, Zhou Zhi and Xiang Tian are also miserable, and Zhou Zhi also can't bear it, and Yi Rong returns to wander outside his house.

This is not seclusion, seclusion can also move around, gather friends and surrounding villagers to chat, they are simply isolated from the world.

The three difficult brothers and sisters insisted on with the belief of success, and even later, they couldn't find new words to say to each other, silent every day, you look at me, I look at you!

Maybe it's nothing if you don't talk for a day, it's nothing if you don't talk for three days, but if you don't have anything to say for a month or two, the pain is fatal.

In the end, the most words that the three of them could hear from each other were their silent chatter, as if encouraging each other and themselves.

The sentence is very short, as short as only thirteen words.

"For the world! For the brothers who fight side by side! (To be continued......)