Cao Jun met Ma Jian in a side hall.

After experiencing the fiasco of the Lost Street Pavilion, the previous face that was full of vigor and reprimanding Fang Xuan was gone, and the dress in gorgeous clothes was also gone, replaced by a middle-aged scribe who was quiet and elegant.

There is a smell of washed lead.

Seeing that it was Cao Jun, Ma Tan's expression on his face fluctuated slightly, and he first knelt on the ground and made a big salute to Cao Jun.

"Thanks to the general's rescue, I was lucky enough to pick up a life, if there is any errand, please give me instructions."

Cao Jun nodded with satisfaction.

If there is anything else that makes him look down on this Ma Tan, in addition to his close relationship with Zhuge Liang, it is this scribe style.

From Ma Tan, who was lying on the ground, he vaguely saw the appearance of the scribe who died generously with his head held high in the big tent.

Ma Tan guessed that he came to the Prime Minister's Mansion not to ask to see Zhuge Liang, but to come to him on purpose, and there must be something.

Cao Jun didn't plan to hide it either.

He took out a bamboo slip directly from his arms and handed it over with both hands.

Ma Jian just glanced at it, and his face suddenly changed greatly.

He asked incredulously, "Does the general want me to present it to the prime minister?" ”

"Hmm." Cao Jun nodded, and emphasized: "In your name, hand it to the prime minister." ”

Ma Jian was suddenly a little embarrassed.

The hands holding the bamboo slips seemed to have a thousand pounds of burden, and they stopped in the air and kept trembling.

He glanced at Cao Jun and saw that the other party was staring at him stunned, and there seemed to be endless mockery in those eyes.

As if to say, "The promise I made just now is gone in a blink of an eye?" ”

The words of evasion were also swallowed by him.

He nodded effortlessly, "Since the general has been invited, Ma Jian will do his best." ”

"So, it's hard work!"

The two saluted each other, and Cao Jun didn't plan to stay for long, so he got up directly and said goodbye.

After Cao Jun left, Ma Jian picked up the bamboo slip again and looked at it again, and the surprise in his heart did not diminish by half at all.

It is said that he is now walking in the Prime Minister's Mansion with a white body that has made meritorious contributions, and he is conscientious every day, so he should act in a low-key manner, and it is absolutely inconvenient to hand over this bamboo slip.

In that booklet, Zhuge Liang was strongly persuaded to give up the Northern Expedition...... Oh no, it is to persuade Zhuge Liang to sit in Hanzhong, stabilize the government, dredge the grain road, and choose a general to lead the Northern Expedition.

The Northern Expedition is Zhuge Liang's lifelong heart disease, how can he be willing to take a back seat?

However, the reasons given in this booklet are very strong.

In connection with the facts of Shuzhong today, it can be regarded as reasonable and well-founded.

When this booklet was presented to Zhuge Liang's desk, it was conceivable that it was no less powerful than an atomic bomb.

This is the reason why Cao Jun did not choose to hand it over in person, but let Ma Jian take the blame.

After all, even if he is Ma Jian now, he is still one of the closest people around Zhuge Liang.

This pot can only be carried by him.

This is the reason why Cao Jun bypassed Ma Tan's life.

It's not that you don't report it, the time has not come.

Now, it's time for Ma Tan to make good on his promise.

Even if the actions in it can't hide from Zhuge Liang, Cao Jun can't play it in person.

Otherwise, there is a suspicion of snatching military power.

This is a big no-no!

Let him wait for a few years, wait for Zhuge Liang's second Northern Expedition to fail, and then it is okay to register in person, but ...... He couldn't wait.

If Zhuge Liang is that wise person, he must be able to see that the strategy proposed in Cao Jun's booklet is exquisite, and it perfectly hits all the key points.

As long as Zhuge Liang is really for the good of Shu Han, maybe he will agree.

This is the reason why Cao Jun dared to gamble once.

"Prime Minister, for the success of the Northern Expedition and for the good of Shu Han, please sit in the rear and give up leading the army in person!"

This is what Cao Jun wants in the booklet.

As for which general will be assigned to lead the Northern Expedition?

Now that the talents of Shu Han are withering, the only generals in the army who can meet the conditions of Wen Taowu's strategy are Cao Jun and Jiang Wei.

If it is based on seniority, it is headed by Zhao Yun and Wei Yan.

Jiang Wei is the new descendant, even if Zhuge Liang is optimistic, he must consider the resistance of the court and the army;

General Zhao Yun is now sixty and eight, although he has the courage of Lian Po, it is unknown whether the Second Northern Expedition can go into battle.

What's more, with Cao Jun's understanding, Zhao Yun died before the Second Northern Expedition, and there is no possibility of leading the army.

(Zhao Yun is 76 years old in the official history, and I focus on the timeline in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms)

Then the only ones left are Cao Jun and Wei Yan.

In terms of qualifications, Cao Jun is not as decisive as Wei Yan;

In terms of intelligence, Wei Yan is far inferior to Cao Jun.

It depends on how you choose in the end.

After Cao Jun left, Ma Jian sat alone in the room for a long time, and in the end it was the literati who prevailed.

Cao Jun saved his life at a critical moment, and this favor had to be returned.

He tidied up his appearance, held the booklet in both hands, and came to Zhuge Liang's study alone.

"It's a child! Come on, come on, I have a new volume, it seems to be written by everyone before, you come to help me take a look. ”

Zhuge Liang still treats him as before.

It's just that after returning from the Northern Expedition, perhaps it was the impact of the defeat in the war, or it may be the destiny of heaven, and now Zhuge Liang, his temples are as white as frost, and he seems to be a few years older.

This made Ma Jian more and more unbearable.

"Perhaps, it is also a blessing for the prime minister to retire from the front line as soon as possible!"

Ma Tan had a kinship, and for a while he was less resistant to Cao Jun's booklet.

"Sir, I have a copy too, please take a look."

"Oh, bring it up." Zhuge Liang saw that Ma Jian was cautious, and he was also interested.

After taking the booklet from Ma Yan's hand, he spread it out on the desk and quickly browsed it.

It was only after reading a few lines that his brow furrowed.

"Young! You wrote this booklet? ”

Ma Tan bowed and said: "It was written by the student, and I can't bear to be too tired, it is all the student's heartfelt words." ”

Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan noncommittally, and continued to look down.

The content in Cao Jun's booklet is simply summarized and has only 3 contents.

One is the reason for the Northern Expedition.

Since ancient times, the Han and the thieves have not been separated, the royal industry is not partial, the Shu Han is the orthodoxy of the Han family, the crusade against the thieves who usurped the Han Dynasty, and the support of the Han family is a matter of duty, so the Northern Expedition must continue;

Zhuge Liang thought this was true.

The second is to name the importance of Zhuge Liang to today's Shu Han.

It can be said that Zhuge Liang is here, Shu Han is here, Zhuge Liang is dead, Shu Han is dead.

That's why you can't do everything yourself.

It's about cultivating one's own nature and living well.

Now Zhuge Liang is only in his 40s, and if he is properly maintained, he can live to be in his twenties.

It can ensure that Shu Han has no worries for 20 years.

After taking a back seat, you can test and promote young generals by the way, and let Shu Han have successors.

This made Zhuge Liang deeply puzzled.

Third, the reasons that determine the success or failure of the Northern Expedition are pointed out.

The difficulty of the Northern Expedition was not all about whether the front line was properly commanded, but whether the grain routes were unblocked and whether the rear regime was stable.

According to Cao Jun's knowledge, Zhuge Liang's three Northern Expeditions (5 Northern Expeditions in the official history) were trapped by the grain road each time, and ten percent of his combat power could only be exerted sixty percent.

This is the key to the victory or defeat of the Northern Expedition.

Whether the regime in the rear is stable or not can also determine whether the front-line soldiers can kill the enemy wholeheartedly without worries.

At this time, although Zhuge Liang was in power, it seemed to be calm, but in fact there was a whirlpool.

The three political forces are intertwined.

The first is the local forces, also known as the 'Yizhou Group';

followed by Liu Zhang's old department, also known as 'Dongzhou Group';

The second is a group of people who followed Liu Bei into Sichuan, collectively referred to as the 'Jingzhou Group'.

The three forces are tilting against each other, and now they are intertwined, and if they are slightly unstable, they will shake the foundation of Shu Han.

Today's Shang Shuling, Li Yan, who is also Liu Bei's minister, is the representative of the 'Dongzhou Group'.

If you want to break it down a little more, there is actually a fourth faction, and that is the surrender faction.

Ma Chao, Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Jiang Wei and others are representatives.

These people have great hatred for the Cao Wei Dynasty, are more inclined to the Jingzhou group, have a high enthusiasm for meritorious achievements, and have a high enthusiasm for the Northern Expedition, and can basically be regarded as a vassal of the Jingzhou group.

After Zhuge Liang read it, his heart felt as if someone had stuffed a ball of chilled watermelon.

I picked up the bamboo slip and looked at it a second time, and then I was silent for a long time.

Ma Jian stood alone on the side, and his heart was also uneasy.

After a long time, Zhuge Liang let out a long sigh and asked with a serious face: "Youchang!" Tell me the truth, did you write this booklet? ”

Ma Tan shrugged his shoulders tangledly, then resolutely arched his hand, gritted his teeth and replied: "It is true that the students worked hard for three days before writing it, and I think it is beneficial to my Han and the Northern Expedition, so I presented it." ”

Zhuge Liang looked at Ma Jian silently for a moment, trying to detect a hint from his seemingly calm face.

After a while, Zhuge Liang suddenly smiled softly and changed his strategy.

Since you can't ask if you ask strongly, it's better to change your thinking.

"Young! You and I have known each other for more than ten years, and I know that you have a strategy in mind, but the advice in this booklet is something you can't write. ”

"It's not that I underestimate you." Zhuge Liang changed his tone and said: "After the defeat of the Street Pavilion, you have been silent most of the time, and you are more calm than before, and such a bold and bold content will definitely not come from your handwriting." ”

"If you don't say it, you will have a hard time, so I'll guess."

"But Shang Shuling Li Yan's handwriting?" Zhuge Liang guessed while observing Ma Yan's face.

Seeing that the expression on the latter's face was not shocked, he stood motionless in place, and he also felt that it was not Li Yan's handiwork.

Li Yan has always been at odds with him, and his attitude is arrogant, with his current status, even if he is dissatisfied with the Northern Expedition and has suggestions, he will directly submit them to His Majesty, and then His Majesty will transfer them to him.

categorically will not let Ma Tan hand it over, and he will lose his identity.

"It's not Li Yan, but Jiang Wan?"

Li Yan is Liu Zhang's old department and a representative of Dongzhou Group.

Jiang Wan is different, and he can be regarded as a faction in Jingzhou.

If he wants to submit the book, he will definitely present it to himself in person, and he will not let Ma Tan pass it on.

Who else but these two could have written such a comprehensive and systematic proposal as sharp as a knife?

"Could it be a general in the army?" Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up.

I silently estimated it in my heart.

If you come to the army, the range is much smaller.