As Liu Bei and Cao Cao drank the wine in their hands to each other, it represented that the "Hanshui Covenant" mentioned by Cao Cao officially took effect.

Perhaps this agreement to temporarily divide the boundaries of the two families and to strike the troops together was not put into writing, let alone stamped with the royal seal of either side.

But Liu Bei and Cao Cao both knew that what could determine whether the "Hanshui Covenant" was valid was not the credibility of those words and ethereal, but the situation.

As Cao Cao said, in today's situation, if the fight continues, the last two will only lose both.

And as long as the situation remains unchanged, then this "Hanshui Covenant" will naturally remain in effect.

But once the situation changes, the time for the two families to fight again will not be far away.

After reaching the "Hanshui Covenant" with Liu Bei, Cao Cao secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but he was silent on his face.

He felt that the rainstorm was coming, and he also felt a little unwell, so he already had the intention of leaving.

Cao Cao showed a smile on his face, and he said to Liu Beiyan: "Xuande, today you and I are cooking wine and discussing ambitions, or it will become a good story in the future." ”

"But unfortunately, you and I can't convince each other today."

"You and I are like a bronze mirror, each reflecting the other side of each other."

"It's just that this is interesting, in life, friends are rare, and opponents are also rare. With you, the life won't be so boring. ”

"Whether you and I are right or wrong will be left to future generations to judge."

"Today, the rain is coming, I should return to the north, and on the occasion of parting, I will say goodbye to you as an old friend for the last time."

"I'm going first."

After finishing speaking, Cao Cao got up from the bow of the boat and bowed to Liu Bei.

Cao Cao's worship reminded Liu Bei of the time when he was by the Weishui River, and there was also a Cao Sikong who was determined to support the Han family to worship him and welcome his arrival.

Time flies, how did Cao Sikong, who was full of enthusiasm back then, become today's thief Cao Cao?

Liu Bei got up and returned a salute to Cao Cao, just like Liu Xuzhou thanked Cao Sikong for welcoming him.

After the two kings worshiped each other, the two cloud dragons in the sky seemed to feel something, and they all dissipated into the sky.

seems to be reflecting the final ending of the two kings, after all, there is no winner or loser.

After Liu Bei returned to pay his respects, Cao Cao immediately turned around and stepped into the cabin, ordering Xiahou Shang to support the boat and return to the north shore.

At this time, Cao Zhen followed Cao Cao back to the cabin, Cao Cao looked at him and asked, "Have you remembered that Mi Yang?" ”

Cao Zhen nodded cautiously.

Cao Cao put his hands behind his back, looked at the already dark world, and he instructed Cao Zhen:

"Remember him, he will be your great enemy in this life in the future."

There are talents in the world, but it's a pity that he Cao Mengde has no chance to fight with this talent in this life.

...

After Cao Cao took the lead in leaving, Liu Bei ordered Guan Ping to go to support the boat, leaving Mi Yang by his side.

Liu Bei ordered Mi Yang to sit in front of him, and Mi Yang sat down as ordered.

Liu Bei looked at Mi Yang, who he had trained with one hand, and Liu Bei asked, "Do you know why Cao Cao deliberately only brought his nephew out to meet today?" ”

Faced with Liu Bei's question, Mi Yang thought for a while and replied: "Cao Cao is hinting that there is a successor to his Cao family?" ”

Mi Yang's answer brought a smile to Liu Bei's face.

"You're smart. lived up to Lone's expectations of you. ”

"It's just that you're not right about one thing.

Cao Cao's move was intended to tell Gu that in order to calm the current troubled times, the strength of one generation is not enough, and the relay of future generations is needed. ”

"Although Lone has always wanted to calm down this troubled world with his own hands, Lone is sixty this year."

"In the year of the sixtieth year, I don't know how many more years I can fight."

"Among the ministers who are lonely and important, it is Kong Ming, who is also forty this year."

"And the crown prince is only fourteen."

"The years have passed through the white horse, and it is irretrievable, and the future of the Han may fall on the shoulders of your next generation."

"Among the next generation, you have the highest talent, the most meritorious military achievements, and the closest relationship with the crown prince."

"The prince is young, but you can assist the left prince for a long, long time."

"Even if the world can be pacified in the lonely generation, it is difficult to fight the world, and it is even more difficult to defend the world."

"Zicheng, are you willing to inherit Lone's ambition and bring true peace to all the people in this world?"

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he looked at Mi Yang with clear eyes, looking forward to his answer.

In the face of Liu Bei's attention, Mi Yang was moved in his heart, maybe Liu Bei met Cao Cao today and felt something to say this.

Maybe Liu Bei is taking precautions.

But in any case, Liu Bei's respect and expectations for him are profound.

Mi Yang bowed to Liu Bei, and solemnly promised: "The minister will die to fulfill the king's ambition!" ”

Mi Yang's Kang reply made Liu Bei laugh, Cao Cao has a successor, how could he not be Liu Bei?

When Liu Bei was talking to Mi Yang, Guan Ping had already returned to the south bank with his ship in his arms.

When the ship stopped, Mi Yang helped Liu Bei get up and stepped ashore together.

After Liu Bei and the others went ashore, Guan Yu and others, who had been guarding the shore for a long time, surrounded them one after another.

Seeing that all the ministers were there, Liu Bei remained silent, and he ordered the ministers to return to the tent to discuss matters.

After Liu Bei and the ministers returned to the tent, Liu Bei informed the ministers of the "Hanshui Covenant" that he had talked about with Cao Cao.

When the ministers in the tent heard this, their expressions were different.

But they all agreed with the joint strike of the two families, including Guan Yu.

Since the Battle of Hanzhong, Yizhou has been seriously injured, if Liu Bei had not insisted on rescuing Guan Yu, Yizhou would not have moved troops for at least a year.

Not to mention Jingzhou, which has experienced several major wars, its national strength and people's livelihood have been seriously damaged.

If it weren't for Guan Yu breaking Xu Huang last year and harvesting a large amount of grain and grass, I'm afraid that the tens of thousands of troops would have run out of food by now.

Moreover, it has now slowly entered the spring, and the spring ploughing time is approaching, and the spring ploughing of a year is related to the grain harvest of a year, and it cannot be delayed at all.

It's just that although we want to withdraw from the army, we can't be sloppy about how to retreat.

After all, Cao Cao has always been deceitful and can't completely listen to his side of the story.

Liu Bei first looked at Zhang Fei and ordered him to lead his troops and horses back to the three eastern counties, and temporarily supervise the important affairs of the three counties.

Previously, in order to stabilize the three eastern counties, Zhang Fei brought the local Haoqiang Shen brothers together, which was an expedient measure after all.

The three eastern counties lost two Taishou at once, which is not conducive to the development of local people's livelihood after all.

After Liu Bei issued the order, Zhang Fei immediately went out to receive the order.

It's just that before Zhang Fei left, Liu Bei specially instructed Zhang Fei again: "Qing's torture and killing are not only bad, but also whipping Laos athletes, and the order is left and right, this is the way to take trouble." ”

"Don't do it again!"

Liu Bei is good at knowing people, and he knows that although Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both famous generals, they both have shortcomings in their personalities.

Guan Yu is kind to the soldiers and is proud of the scholars, and Zhang Fei loves and respects the gentleman and does not care for the villain.

Although most of the reasons for the difficulty in Jingzhou this time lie with Sun Quan, Guan Yu's character is also an inducement.

So now, before facing Zhang Fei, Liu Bei specially instructed him.

In the face of Liu Bei's admonition, Zhang Fei's face was moved, and then he bowed to Liu Bei and left.

I don't know how many times Liu Bei's similar exhortations have been said to Zhang Fei, but Zhang Fei has always not changed.

For this, Liu Bei is also quite helpless.

After arranging the affairs of the three eastern counties, Liu Bei did not give any more orders.

After all, the 100,000 Wei troops on the opposite side had not withdrawn, and it was impossible for him to transfer too many soldiers and horses away.

At this time, Ma Liang bowed to Liu Bei and said: "If the two sides withdraw their troops, then what should be done with the Wei army captured by our army?" ”

As soon as Ma Liang said this, Liu Bei's face also appeared embarrassed.

Originally, according to common sense, if the captured soldiers were young and strong, then they could be disorganized into their own army, and if they were old and weak, they would move into sparsely populated areas to reclaim wasteland.

But this method can be done to the Wu army, but it can't be done to part of the Wei army.

Because there is an innovative invention in Cao Wei's military system, that is, the "wrongful service system." ”

In the early years of Jian'an, in order to prevent the betrayal of his soldiers and strengthen his control over military power, Cao Cao adopted a policy of staggered forced labor in the newly conquered areas and border areas.

Dingfu is not requisitioned locally, but is dispatched from other places; The same is true for military service, where a soldier must be separated from the place where his house is located.

That is, the so-called "human service households live on one side", and it is called "wrongful service". It is aimed at preventing families from fleeing and mutiny.

This move was very unreasonable, but it was a good way to prevent the defection of the soldiers.

In history, when Xiahouba surrendered to Ji Han, with his identity, he didn't take many soldiers to follow him.

Another example is Muqiu Jianshi in the "Huainan Three Rebellions", during the Shouchun Rebellion, most soldiers did not want to rebel with him.

Moreover, later Zhong Hui wanted to stand on his own under the instigation of Jiang Wei. Who knows, Zhong Hui was killed by his subordinates before he succeeded.

There are many similar examples, but it can be seen from these three typical examples that because of the talents of these three people, they are unable to encourage their subordinates to advance and retreat with them.

Of course, any historical event is caused by various reasons, but from the above three examples, the role of the wrongful service system can also be fully demonstrated.

What's more, around the sixteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao imposed heavier punishments on defectors.

For example, from the previous only examination of the soldier's wife, to the traitor's parents, brothers, and wives are all killed.

Twenty years after Jian'an, Cao Cao even planned to increase the punishment, "If a soldier in the army sees one person fleeing, he will punish the general and himself", and carry out a company against the entire army of defected soldiers.

Under such high-pressure punishment measures, it was difficult for the tens of thousands of Wei troops who surrendered to be used for their own use.

I'm afraid that as soon as they are released, these people will all run back to the north because they are worried about their families.

This is also the reason why even if Mi Yang recruited barbarian soldiers, he did not need those Wei troops to surrender.

Even if they were tempted by heavy profits, in the face of the safety of their families, most of the Wei soldiers must have wanted to return to the north.

Even if the Wei army surrendered was released, if Yu Ban took advantage of the Wei army's escape psychology to make a counterattack, then Mi Yang would become the second in the Zhong Society.

This is also the reason why Liu Bei's face is embarrassed.

Because of the long-term hostility with Cao Cao's side, all the ministers in the account were very familiar with Cao Wei's wrongful service system.

When Ma Liang asked what to do with the Wei prisoners, everyone knew that Ma Liang was worried about the wrongful service system.

It's impossible to let it go in vain, isn't that strengthening the strength of the Wei army?

But if you can't take them for your own use, it's not a way to keep them locked up.

There is a good way to address this concern.

That is, it is better to kill the mistake, not to let it go, and kill all the Wei troops who are in their families and are from Hebei, and the ones left behind are naturally available.

But no one would mention this method, after all, with Liu Bei's character, it is impossible to do such a cruel thing.

Just when all the ministers in the tent were in trouble, Mi Yang thought of a good solution.

Mi Yang said to Liu Bei: "The minister remembers that Cao Cao also captured many people in Jingzhou and went to Tuntian near Ruying. ”

"Now the king is worried about nothing more than the Wei army's soldiers and the safety of their relatives, and they can't be used by our army wholeheartedly, and they will flee back to the north in the later period."

"But in the same way, many of the people that Cao Cao took away from my Jingzhou back then, of course, they will also feel homesick."

"The relocation of the land is the nature of the people; Flesh and blood are attached, and people are willing to do it. ”

"Because of the invitation of homesickness, because of the feeling of homesickness, those people will not be at peace in Ruying and other counties."

"In this case, why don't the king discuss with the envoy and Cao Cao, our army can surrender part of the Wei army, and exchange it with the people who were moved from Jingzhou back then."

"In this way, the matter of the Wei army's surrender can be easily resolved, and the population of Jingzhou can also be replenished."

In ancient China, people's sense of the countryside was very strong, and only when they encountered serious natural and man-made disasters and there was really no way out in the local area, people would be forced to leave their hometowns and separate their flesh and blood.

Otherwise, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, people will still stay in their homeland.

Nostalgia for hometown is a common emotion of all people, and it is also the psychological appeal of human nature.

In the fourteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao planned to forcibly relocate the people of Huainan in order to guard against Sun Quan, and Jiang Ji advised Cao Cao about this.

But Cao Cao did not listen, and still decided to forcibly relocate the people of Jianghuai, as a result, more than 100,000 people in Jianghuai fled to the territory of Eastern Wu because of fright.

With this experience, I think Cao Cao will not refuse this proposal, after all, this proposal is a good thing for both parties.

After Liu Bei listened to Mi Yang's advice, he was overjoyed.

"The best way to do it."

After adopting Mi Yang's suggestion, Liu Bei immediately ordered Ma Liang to send an envoy to discuss the matter with Cao Cao on his behalf.

It's just that what Mi Yang didn't expect was that he not only solved Liu Bei's problem, but also recruited a great talent for him.

...

When Cao Cao returned to the north bank, he immediately summoned his ministers to tell him about the "Hanshui Covenant" with Liu Bei.

When Cao Wei's ministers heard this, they all breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

After Sun Quan's defeat, they had long wanted to withdraw from the army.

After informing the ministers of this, Cao Cao immediately issued two orders.

One is to order someone to immediately go to Guanzhong to order Zhang He to withdraw his troops.

The second is that he ordered Cao Ren to go and arrange the withdrawal of the army.

Just after these two orders were issued, Jiang Ji, the prime minister's chief secretary, asked Cao Cao what to do with the tens of thousands of Wei troops captured in Jingzhou.

Jiang Ji's question made Cao Cao feel embarrassed for a while.

Of course he wants to come back with the tens of thousands of surrendered troops, but will Liu Bei easily put them back?

Just when Cao Cao was in a dilemma, Sima Yi, who had returned from the public security not long ago, came out of the class and said to Cao Cao: "The king can exchange people with Liu Bei." ”

Then Sima Yi said his opinions one by one, which was not much different from what Mi Yang said in front of Liu Bei.

And after Cao Cao listened to Sima Yi's suggestion, he looked hesitant as if he was thinking.

When Cao Cao hesitated, Jiang Ji also supported Sima Yi's suggestion.

"The king should not forget the migration of the people of Huainan back then."

Under Jiang Ji's reminder, Cao Cao finally made up his mind to adopt Sima Yi's suggestion.

But at this moment, someone outside the tent came to report that it was Liu Bei's envoy who asked to see him.

Cao Cao ordered someone to bring Liu Bei's envoy Ma Liang in, and after Ma Liang came in, he conveyed Liu Bei's meaning to Cao Cao.

But to Ma Liang's surprise, Cao Cao and the other Cao Wei courtiers all had strange looks on their faces after listening to them.

In the end, Cao Cao asked Ma Liang, "Can you tell me who offered this advice to your lord?" ”

Although Ma Liang didn't know why Cao Cao was concerned about this, there was nothing to hide.

Ma Liang bowed slightly to Cao Cao and said, "It is offered by our army's partial general Mi Yang." ”

After Ma Liang said this, Cao Cao looked at Sima Yi with interesting eyes, and he said meaningfully:

"Zhongda today, why is it late?"

And after Sima Yi heard that Mi Yang was the same as what he thought, a strange emotion flashed in his heart.