August 27, 19th year of Jian'an, Nanyang County, Jingzhou, Wancheng.

Shen Chen, who is twenty-seven years old this year, is under the corridor of the backyard of Nanyang Taishou Mansion, it is the Mid-Autumn Festival to the late autumn, and the yard is full of fallen leaves.

There are many trees planted on both sides of the pond on about half an acre of land, rockeries are lined up, and fallen leaves drift into the pond with the wind.

Under the veranda of a house on the north side of the pond, Shen Chen sat cross-legged, with several students listening to the lecture beside him, and a young scholar sitting cross-legged opposite Shen Chen.

】

In his spare time, Shen Chen likes to teach in Wancheng, Xinye, Xiangyang and other places, and now there are more than a thousand disciples under him? They are widely scattered all over Jingzhou, or they are township officials or county officials, and in Jingzhou officialdom, Shen Chenmen has already become the largest force.

At the same time, there are many of his students in the army, such as Shan Yi, Huo Yang, Wu Dang, Wu Tao, Xie Hui, Zhang Li, Hu Wei, Li Qiu and dozens of others have gradually become junior officers in the army.

The students who are now with him are all extremely talented young scholars, and several of them are from the family, such as the sixteen-year-old Huang Su, who is from the Huang family. The nineteen-year-old Pang Xuan came from the Pang family. There was also a seventeen-year-old stammer, his name was Deng Ai.

Because Nanyang was defended, Deng Ai was not moved to Yingchuan by Cao Cao. As a side branch of Xinye Deng's disciple, he was fortunate to be able to enter the Deng School for free, and he was not called Deng Ai at first, but named himself Deng Fan, and the word Shize.

As a result, there was also a person in the clan named Deng Fan, who had the same name, so he changed it to Deng Ai, his father died early, and he didn't need to take the word at the age of twenty, so he took the word Shizai, and he was fifteen years old at that time.

When Deng Ai was studying in Deng's Academy, he was ridiculed since he was a child because of his stuttering, so he was silent.

Shen Chen went to the Deng Academy less often, and he still took a big class, and there were often hundreds of people in a class, so he didn't know about his existence at first.

The main reason is that Shen Chen has never taken the initiative to look for it, he thinks that everything can be left to chance, and taking the initiative to find it is easy to pick up the seedlings and help them grow.

It wasn't until later that Deng Ai once plucked up the courage and got up to ask him a question.

He was asking a question of political system.

Shen Chen was quite surprised by his acquaintance, and after asking his name, he accepted him as a disciple of his disciples, and let him follow him for the past two years.

After noon, the weather was neither hot nor cold, and the dead leaves swirled and fell lightly, and Shen Chen played chess with people there.

Some of the disciples next to him were reading books, some were watching the battle, and some were sleeping.

The young man arched the pawn forward.

I'm rubbing.

Pawn five into one!

Playing with me?

Shen Chen immediately chose to be the head gun.

Scholars.

The two of them went back and forth, and in an instant, they took more than ten steps back and forth, and the layout was dazzling.

At this moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the park, and a young general about twenty-four or five years old walked in and arched his hand: "General, Cao Cao personally conquered Huainan, and the lord has already gone to Jiangxia." ”

"Pro-expedition to Huainan?"

The chess piece in Shen Chen's hand didn't move for a long time, and after a while, he put down the chess piece and said in a deep voice: "Go to the war room." ”

They got up and went to a hut on the west side of the pond.

In the past few years, Shen Chen has not been idle, as an excellent architectural designer, drawing is professional, a few years to run all over Nanyang, Huainan, and even occasionally disguise to go deep into Runan, check the terrain, draw drawings.

In addition, the Han Dynasty already had maps of various states, and he made a small war room, which included maps, sand tables, brushes, cartographic tools, etc., almost everything.

When a few people came to the war room, they were greeted by a large rectangular table in the center, surrounded by wooden planks, which was filled with sand, which was used for small-scale battles.

The wall facing the gate is covered with maps, roughly sketched with charcoal, and the maps of Nanyang, Runan, Yingchuan, and Huainan are placed around.

Shen Chen walked to the wall, hung the map of Huainan on the wall, turned around and asked the young general, "Bo'an, where is Cao Jun?" ”

That young general is Zhou Tai, the word Bo'an, that year he saw Shen Chen lead the Yellow Gate to defeat Cai Mao's army, and his heart was shocked, so he chose to join the army, because of his military exploits and outstanding knowledge by Shen Chen, he has been promoted to the governor of the Guards.

Zhou Tai replied: "General Lu said that Cao's army has arrived in Qian County. ”

Like Jingzhou Yizhou, Cao Cao also carried out the restructuring of the north, and the original Runan County and Peiguo in Yuzhou, plus Lujiang County and Jiujiang County in Yangzhou were re-changed, and Geyang County, Anfeng County, Qian County, Lujiang County, Huainan County and other places were divided.

This county is composed of most of the original Peiguo and a small part of Runan County, which is roughly located in the area from Bozhou City to Suzhou City in the later generations.

Shen Chen heard the movement of Cao Jun, turned his head to look at the map, and when he went to the county, he went to Huainan County obtained by Cao Cao, Jiujiang County in Yangzhou of the Han Dynasty, what can Cao Cao do when he goes to Huainan?

First, attack the small part of Lujiang County to which Liu Bei's group belongs.

Second, attack Sun Quan.

Zhou Tai said: "It is reported that in the past six months, Wen Hui, the governor of Yangzhou, has been training sailors in Huaishui, Chaohu Lake and Shaobei (Quebei), and Cao Cao's army has moved south, which seems to have the intention of attacking Jiangdong. ”

"Interesting."

The young scholar beside Shen Chen said with a smile: "Cao Cao is dizzy, and he actually chose to fight Jiangdong." ”

"I don't think he's dizzy, but he has ulterior motives."

Shen Chen pondered: "From Cao Cao's point of view, attacking Jiangdong is completely a strategy, but he still chooses to attack, there is only one possibility, and that is a suspicious strategy." ”

The young scholar took out a map of Xiliang from the corner of the ground, which was sent by Xu Shu, the current Taishou of Hanzhong, he hung the map next to it, pointed to it and said: "If Cao Cao wants to transfer all the lord's troops to Jingzhou and then raid Xiliang, then it is reasonable." ”

Shen Chen said with a smile: "Although it is reasonable to say this, it is clear that you have not considered a question. ”

"Is it the way?"

The sensible scholar replied immediately.

Shen Chen laughed and said, "No doubt, no doubt, you are really very reasonable." ”

The scholar is none other than Zhou Budo, the current general of the town army, Cao Peng.

Zhou Budo has studied with Shen Chen since he was a child, because he is talented and intelligent, and his comprehension is superb, not only does he do well in learning, but he also dabbles in the art of war and military affairs, and he can be called an all-round talent in civil and military affairs.

This rational word was taken by Pang Degong, and it is undoubtedly from "Chu Ci", so there is no doubt about it, and Mingli is naturally the same.

He said with a smile: "Cao Jun went to Huainan with great fanfare, and the main force rushed to Xiliang Guanzhong, and it would take two months to travel alone, and Han Sui and Ma Chao could not be defeated so easily, for such a long time, the lord should be able to react." ”

"Hmm."

Shen Chen nodded: "No matter how bad Han Sui Ma Chao is, it should always be okay to persist for half a year." Although it is not fast for the river to go upstream, within two months, the Jingzhou army can appear in Hanzhong, not to mention that we still control Wuguan, and we can go north from Wuguan to support Guanzhong. ”

"Unless he just wants the lord to suspect that he is attacking the east and west, so he transferred a large number of soldiers and horses to Guanzhong, and led our main army to fight him in Guanzhong. At the same time, he sent people to raid Jingzhou...... But where did he come from? ”

Zhou Budo's eyes searched on the map, and finally fixed on Huainan, and said, "Could it be Sun Quan?" ”

"That's not right."

On the side, Zhou Tai raised an objection and said: "This time Cao Cao attacked Huainan, Sun Quan was also very nervous, he had already reorganized his troops and horses, and stationed troops at the mouth of the Xukou, if Cao Cao united with Sun Quan, then he had to come to Huainan to do something, pretend?" ”

"It's not like pretending, I'm afraid I'm going to fight with Sun Quan."

Zhou Budo said.

"This."

The other disciples, including Zhou Tai, Huang Su, and Pang Xuan, were confused.

Only Deng Ai looked thoughtful.

Shen Chen also raised his head and stared at the map, thinking quickly in his heart.

Cao Cao's trick is a brilliant shot.

If it weren't for the fact that Shen Chen had always known that Sun Quan was not a good thing, and had been instilling in Zhou Budo the idea that Sun Quan would inevitably be backstabbed, it is estimated that no one would have thought of this.

Because the premise of thinking of this is that it must be determined that Sun Quan will inevitably be backstabbed.

On this basis, we can figure out what Cao Cao is doing.

Shen Chen pointed to Yutu and said: "Cao Cao's current actions are very unwise, but if this is understood as a suspicious tactic and attacking the west, is it reasonable?" ”

"Yes."

Pang Xuan said: "Shijun, although it is inconvenient due to the long distance, Cao Cao can also send soldiers and horses to Bingzhou first, and then enter Hedong from Bingzhou. ”

"And the Southern Xiongnu also attached to Cao Cao, Cao Cao deployed a large number of soldiers and horses in Hedong itself, when our main force is all in Jingzhou, it will be much easier for Cao Cao to send troops to Guanzhong."

Huang Su also said.

This is indeed something that can be seen on the surface, and it is a clue that only smart people can see.

Quite simply, stupid people will only think of the first layer.

That is, Cao Cao chose the next strategy, and actually planned to attack Jiangdong and force Sun Quan to Liu Bei's group.

And the smart man thought of the second layer.

That is, Cao Cao shook a shot and attacked the east and west, which seemed to be attacking Jiangdong and Huainan, which caused Liu Bei's group to be nervous, and transferred the main force to Jingzhou, but in fact, he raided Guanzhong and Xiliang.

Bai Juyi once said that it only took one to two days for the Tang Dynasty to pass through thirteen post stations from Chang'an to Luoyang.

The Han Dynasty was naturally a little worse, and it took about two to three days to complete.

But the fast horse is not the movement of the army, Cao Cao from Yecheng to Luoyang, and then from Luoyang to Guanzhong Chang'an, more than 600 kilometers, the army plus grain and grass baggage, fast is one month, slow at least two months.

And Jingzhou Jiangling to Jiangzhou, and then from Jiangzhou north to Hanzhong, and finally from Hanzhong through Chencang Road, Bao Slope Road into Guanzhong, the whole journey is more than 1,000 kilometers, and there are large sections of mountain roads, rugged areas are difficult to travel, and the time to take is more than two to three months.

Therefore, people with a little wisdom would think that Cao Cao could not be really so stupid, so it is very likely that his actions were to cover for the raid on Xiliang Pass, so that Liu Bei could not react to support Han Sui and Ma Chao, so as to pacify Xiliang in Guanzhong in one fell swoop and cut off Liu Bei's horse source.

However, Shen Chen thought that things could not be so simple.

He felt that Cao Cao had other plans.

So he pointed to the map above and said, "Hypothesis, I mean hypothesis." Cao Cao came to Huainan, fought with Sun Quan and us, and suddenly attacked Guanzhong at this time, what will happen to us? ”

"Naturally, it is to send troops and horses to Guanzhong to rescue."

Zhou Tai said without hesitation: "Didn't the general say it? Han Sui Ma Chao has a self-reliant heart and will not submit to any party. If Cao Cao attacked them and forced them to defect to the lord, how could the lord not accept it? ”

"Yes."

Shen Chen nodded: "Accept Han Sui and Ma Chao, and the lord can justifiably send troops to Xiliang and Guanzhong." These two people have a very high prestige among the Qianghu, and wherever the lord's army goes, with the help of the Qianghu, the Cao army must be indispensable. ”

Zhou Tai laughed: "Then it seems that even if Cao Cao set up this suspicious plan, he would not want to hide it from the general." As long as we arrange in advance, Cao Cao will inevitably be defeated. ”

"You'd be wrong to think so."

Shen Chen said with a grim face: "If we really do this, then we will have to lose Jingzhou." ”

"Lose Jingzhou?"

Several disciples were in an uproar.

Huang Su even said: "Master, this is impossible. If Cao Cao transfers the main force to Guanzhong, where will he get the soldiers and horses to compete with us for Jingzhou? Even if Cao has a large number of troops and we take a defensive position, he will need at least 200,000 troops to break through Nanyang! ”

"Sun Quan."

Zhou Budo said lazily: "Didn't I say it just now? If Sun Quan joins Cao Cao to raid at this time, one attacks Nanyang head-on, and the other enters from Jingnan and Dajiang, at this time our main force will compete with Cao Cao's main force in Guanzhong, and Cao Cao only needs to send 50,000 partial divisions to attack Jingzhou with Sun Quan. ”

"Sun Quan?"

Zhou Tai was surprised: "Is he really so bold to raid Jingzhou?" ”

Shen Chen carried his hands behind him, his eyes scanned the map of Huainan, and said softly: "This guy's courage is very big." ”

He remembered the battle of Yixian that year.

Although Sun Quan was flooded enough in that battle, this guy was also bold, and he dared to take a boat to his ambush circle to show off his might.

When Cao Cao attacked Huainan, he personally took a boat to Cao Jun outside the camp to observe the enemy's situation, and was shot indiscriminately by Cao Cao, and the historical prototype of the grass boat borrowing arrows came from him.

It's a pity that it's one thing to be bold, it's another thing to be capable. With 100,000 battles and 800 warriors, they were beaten and fled, and this guy can be regarded as the first person in history.

According to the words of later generations, Sun Quan is a man who is addicted to food, and loves to eat and play.

But it is undeniable that no matter how poor his ability is, he still has the courage to sneak attack Jingzhou, even greatly.

It's just that Pang Xuan was puzzled and said: "But the chief of Mingli just said that Cao Cao will fight with Sun Quan." If Cao Cao really came to discuss with Sun Quan to conspire with Jingzhou, then what would he do when he came to fight. ”

"Because only if they fight a battle, can they deceive the lord. At least on the surface, the lord and Sun Quan were married, and the army overwhelmed Jiangdong, and Cao Cao also attacked Sun Quan, which seemed to be forcing Sun Quan to let him move closer to the lord's side, but it was precisely in this way that he could confuse others. ”

Shen Chen said: "Who would believe that the enemy who was still fighting to the death one moment would become a close comrade-in-arms the next moment? This is Cao Cao's killing move, to cause the lord to die. Even if Sun Quan won most of Jingzhou, he did not hesitate, as long as the lord could not unify the south, no one in the world could stop his great cause. ”

When everyone heard this, they were only frightened.

If all this is really as Shen Chen expected, Liu Bei only thought of the second layer, thinking that Cao Cao was in the old doubtful formation, but in fact, Kou Luoxi Liangguanzhong, and immediately transferred the main force to Hanzhong, then Jingzhou would indeed be in danger.

Because although the Jiangdong Sun clan was disabled before, but now after four years of recuperation, there are more than 100,000 soldiers and horses, plus Cao Cao sent a partial division to attack Jingzhou, which has no troops, Jingzhou can't resist at all.

At that time, Cao Cao occupied Nanyang, and Sun Quan got half of Jingzhou. Liu Bei only had Yizhou left, and with the strength of a state, he would no longer have the ability to expedition north to the Central Plains and restore the Han dynasty in the future.

If Cao Cao's plan is true, it cannot be said that it is not ruthless.

Only Shen Chen walked to the window, opened the curtains, and stood with his hands in his hands, looking at the east from afar, his eyes slightly distracted.

Cao Mengde, Cao Mengde.

Your strategy is indeed powerful enough.

He would rather give Jingzhou to Sun Quan than unify the south, so as to cut off the possibility of Liu Bei and Sun Quan's Northern Expedition.

At least in terms of pattern and strategy, it is unique and can be described as the hero of the world.

But alas, they met me.

The corners of Shen Chen's mouth suddenly showed a smile.

North-South confrontation.

Now for Liu Bei Group, isn't the most lacking thing to find opportunities and excuses to attack Sun Quan?

If you succeed in this plan, the best result will naturally be three points of the world.

But.

You'll never succeed.

And he will also give Han Sui, Ma Chao, and Sun Quan to me.

Cao Gong's clever plan to settle the world, lost Sun Quan and folded his troops!

If only I had done it.

I have to thank you.