Xiahoudun wrote down the details of the battle with Liu Bei and reported it to Cao Cao for guilt.

After receiving it, Cao Cao said in his heart: "At the moment, Yecheng is difficult to overcome, and Liu Bei will not stop." ”

The generals under the tent didn't know what was going on and asked, "Lord, what's the matter?" ”

Cao Cao laughed and said: "What's the matter, Liu Bei is making trouble again, and he has been repelled by Yuan Rang." This flea, it's really annoying. ”

After that, Cao Ren came out and said: "Lord, the last general let him run away, and this time he will definitely slaughter this guy." ”

Cao Cao laughed and said: "No need, in this battle report, only Liu Bei sent troops to commit crimes, and Liu Biao did not act." ”

Cao Ren couldn't help but say: "Lord, what do you mean by this."

Cao Cao said with a smile: "Liu Bei, although he has been defeated repeatedly, but it cannot be denied that he has a vicious vision, sometimes sees things very accurately, and knows people well, if he has Jingzhou or Liu Biao reuses him, every time we attack Hebei, we must guard against him from attacking Xuchang and copying our old way."

In this way, we will not be able to attack the Yuan brothers with all our might, and I am afraid that within ten years, we will not want to pacify Hebei.

Now it seems that I am too worried, although Liu Bei is a masterpiece, but he has no foundation, although Liu Biao has a foundation, but he is a dog guarding the land. No worries. ”

Guo Jiakou said: "The lord Gao saw that Liu Bei quickly marched into Runan, and after nearly forty days, Liu Biao didn't even move, which shows that the two are not in harmony.

Liu Bei won, Liu Biao will be jealous of his talent, afraid of being replaced, and will inevitably guard against Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was defeated, and Liu Biao was afraid that we would be strong and would not dare to fight easily. Even if Liu Bei has the ability, what is the use of being in a dilemma? ”

Everyone laughed, and Cao Cao said: "What Feng Xiao said is extremely true, but now Yecheng is difficult, what is the best plan." ”

Guo Jiadao: "The lord can deceive the south to exterminate Liu Bei and attack Jingzhou, Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang have always been at odds, our army is coerced, and at the moment of life and death, the two can only unite together."

We retreat, the crisis is lifted, the two will fight for who is the lord of Hebei, the two tigers will fight each other must have an injury, when we sit on the mountain to watch the tiger fight, when the two are exhausted, suddenly return to the division, and the pacification of Hebei is a matter of course.

Coercing Jingzhou can also scare Liu Biao, telling him to be honest, and he will make trouble in the province, as long as he is honest, Liu Bei's current strength, coupled with Liu Biao's secret suppression, can't make any big waves, killing two birds with one stone.

After the pacification of Hebei, when the time comes, the south will attack Liu Biao, Sun Quan, etc., with the threat of the army outside, and the people's hearts will be bought inside, and the world can be determined. ”

Cao Cao's blood boiled when he heard this, and he stood up and said: "Feng Xiaozhen is the words of Jinshi, okay, the generals will listen to the order and immediately withdraw their troops to the south, there must be no mistake." ”

The people took the command. Pack up and go south without mentioning.

Liu Bei defeated Xiahoudun and escorted two thousand captives to retreat south, Liu Pi and Gong both persuaded several small forces around them to vote, and Liu Bei's troops couldn't help but decrease, but increased by eight or nine hundred.

Xiahoudun did not take any more action, Liu Bei led the crowd to retreat back to Xinye, and sent someone to report to Liu Biao, who asked Liu Bei to see him in Xiangyang. Liu Bei and Zhao Yun led 500 people forward. When he arrived in Xiangyang, Liu Biao welcomed Liu Bei into the mansion.

After sitting down, Liu Biao said: "I heard that the virtuous brother won the banner and defeated the Cao army, so I congratulate the virtuous brother here." But the elder brother was supposed to support the virtuous brother, but he didn't have time to go to answer, and he was very uneasy, looking at the virtuous brother Haihan. ”

Liu Bei said: "Brother, don't say that, the transfer of the army is not as convenient as the transfer of thousands of soldiers and horses, it involves too wide, and the sudden gathering cannot be completed in a hurry."

It's me who is in too much of a hurry. What's more, this time the troops were dispatched, but they relied on surprise and won by luck, Cao Jun reacted, took precautions, and kept gathering, so I could only withdraw my troops.

My brother is still very knowledgeable, and he once warned me that Cao's army is not easy to attack. The foolish brother didn't take it to heart, and only then did he realize that I was underestimating Cao Jun too much. ”

Liu Biao laughed and said: "You can't say that, no matter what, the foolish brother has broken his promise." ”

Liu Bei hurriedly said: "Brother, if you say this, where does the foolish brother still have the face to be here, and he will leave." ”

After saying that, he got up and was about to leave, Liu Biao got up and grabbed Liu Bei and said, "Why should the virtuous brother be like this." ”

Liu Bei said: "This time I sent troops, because the foolish brother did not think about it and did not listen to the good words of the elder brother, the elder brother is like this, how can the foolish brother be at ease." ”

Liu Biao said: "Okay, since that's the case, our brother won't mention this, come, I have prepared a banquet for the virtuous brother." ”

After that, he pulled Liu Bei to the banquet. The two talked and laughed, and they were very harmonious, and the guests and hosts were happy.

Liu Bei stayed in Xiangyang for more than ten days before returning to Xinye. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei welcomed Liu Bei back. Liu Bei went to the court to sit down, Guan Yu stood under the court, and Liu Bei breathed a long sigh of relief.

Guan Yu said: "Big brother's trip can be regarded as smooth. ”

Liu Bei responded: "On the surface, it's fine. Liu Bei smiled slightly and continued: "Second brother, from today onwards, the people who restrain us cannot relax for a moment. Don't cause trouble. ”

Guan Yu said: "Big brother, Liu Biao is difficult to be a big brother!" ”

Liu Bei said: "That's not true, he is too polite, so polite that I feel a different feeling, this time we defeated Cao Jun, I'm afraid Liu Biao has a heart to guard against us." ”

Guan Yu said: "Big brother means that Liu Biao is afraid that we will take his Jingzhou." ”

Liu Bei said: "To be precise, I am afraid that we are plotting against Jingzhou." We send people under the fence, everything is careful, and there will be no mistakes. ”

Guan Yu frowned slightly and said, "Got it, big brother." ”

Liu Bei said: "Second brother, if you can endure it, you can endure it, and the eldest husband can bend and stretch." When the third brother comes, I will tell them too. ”

Guan Yu promised. Liu Bei muttered again: "Be patient." ”

In October, Fu Wei, a native of Yiyang, led hundreds of people to come to vote, Liu Bei was still in a predicament, and some people were overjoyed to defect, and treated each other well, appointing Fu Wei as the leading captain, and incorporated into his own guard, and returned to Chen to moderation.

After Cao Cao withdrew his troops and returned to Xuchang, he soon pressed to Jingzhou and declared that he would crusade against Liu Biao, who did not respect the imperial court. Liu Bei hurriedly arranged defenses, and Liu Biao also mobilized troops and horses to prepare for a big battle.

As a result, there was no movement for several months, and then, Cao Cao withdrew his troops and fought back against the brothers Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang who were fighting in the nest.

As soon as Cao Cao's army withdrew, Liu Bei rushed to Xiangyang to plead guilty.

Guan Yu persuaded: "Liu Biao himself was already at odds with Cao Cao, and it was normal for Cao Cao to conquer him, and the eldest brother should not take this on his head." ”

Liu Bei said: "How can I not know the words of the second brother. But we still have to take care of what should be done, after all, we are outsiders. Don't worry, Liu Biao has a good name, and he still wants to use us to resist Cao Cao. and will not embarrass me. ”

When he went to Xiangyang to meet Liu Biao, he asked for guilt: "Foolish brother Liu Bei, he didn't listen to his brother's good words, angered Cao Cao, and attracted Cao Cao's army to punish his brother." ”

Liu Biao helped Liu Bei up and said: "What did the virtuous brother say, Cao Cao has long coveted my Jingzhou, and this time it's just an excuse to attack us." Virtuous brothers don't have to take it to heart.

Besides, the virtuous brother was stationed in Xinye, and Cao Cao did not dare to go south easily. Come, I have prepared a celebration banquet to invite Jingzhou civil and military, and the virtuous brother came just in time, lest I send someone to invite the virtuous brother. "At the moment, don't mention the feast.

After the banquet, Jingzhou Cai Mao and Zhang Yun stayed to see Liu Biao, the Cai family and the Kuai family are local clans in Jingzhou, controlling the power of Jingzhou, Liu Bei entered Jingzhou, and there are generals and horses, Kuai Yue has always been self-contained, did not show it, Cai Mao is Liu Biao's brother-in-law, very resistant to Liu Bei, and said that Liu Bei was plotting against him and hiding evil intentions.

This time, he took the opportunity of Cao Cao's soldiers to press the realm, saying that Liu Bei was a broom star and recruited Cao Cao. Liu Biao is not an easy person, so naturally he will not just listen to Cai Mao's words.

Liu Biao saw that the two of them stayed, and already knew what they meant, Cai Mao was about to speak, but Liu Biao had already said: "Why, don't you want to count Liu Bei again." ”

Cai Mao listened and said, "Hmm." The lord is wise. We are not counting Liu Bei, but stating the facts to avoid Jing Xiang falling into a catastrophe. Then he began to prepare to start talking about Liu Bei.

After listening to this, Liu Biao sighed and said, "What have you been thinking about all day long, I haven't seen you so attentive to business."

Jiangdong Sun Quan, Xuchang Cao Cao, who doesn't care about our Jingzhou, if you can train the soldiers well, do I still use outsiders like Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao for me? I can't do it myself, and I don't let others do it. ”

Cai Mao smiled after hearing this: "It turns out that the lord treats Liu Bei as an outsider, I thought it." ”

Liu Biao interrupted Cai Mao and said, "Why, do you think I'm confused?" There is no distinction between intimacy and alienation. Liu Bei has some skills, and we use them, but it depends on how to use them. ”

After a pause, he continued: "I will grasp this degree, you just do what you have to do." Cai Mao said yes again and again.

Liu Biao said again: "Heterogeneous knowledge is extraordinary, you learn more, don't know how to ask." You two don't mess with it. With a wave of his sleeves, he left. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun also left happily.

The next day, Cai Mao went to visit Kuai Yue, told Kuai Yue what Liu Biao said, and said: "It seems that the lord doesn't want to reuse Liu Bei, so I'm relieved." ”

Kuai Yue glanced at him and didn't say anything, and snorted.

Cai Maoqi said: "Xeno, why don't you speak." ”

Kuai Yue sighed and said, "What are you anxious about?" Liu Bei is currently a lost dog, with no foundation and connections, we have been rooted in Jingzhou for a hundred years, and we are still afraid of him.

To put it bluntly, the lifeblood of Jingzhou is not in the hands of our scholars, as long as we are stable, those who can only talk will not be able to make any big waves with them.

As for the reuse of Liu Bei by the lord you are worried about, it is even more nonsense, Liu Bei is not clear about the lord, and you still have to worry about it. With the lord in his place, Liu Bei has no real power. Nearly half of the military power is in your hands.

Now, what I'm worried about is that he may get together with Liu Qi, some scholars in Jingzhou who pursue the succession of their eldest son are what we should be afraid of, and once they and Liu Bei get together, it will be a big trouble. ”

Cai Mao listened: "What do you have in mind?" ”

Kuai Yue thought for a while and said, "If Liu Bei stays in Xinye honestly, we won't move him." If he is not honest and breaks our bottom line, then we can only find a way to get rid of him. ”

Cai Mao nodded and said, "Gongzi Liu Qi really wants to guard against it." ”

Kuai Yue raised his head and narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't worry about the lord." He didn't dare to raise troops, for fear that he would make a fuss about his son Liu Qi. ”

When Cai Mao heard this, he immediately understood: "Xeno, then we have to make arrangements as soon as possible." ”

Kuai Yue said: "The lord is getting old, so he has to guard against it." Only Gongzi Liu Cong is the next lord of Jingzhou. It is not appropriate for Liu Qi to stay by the side of the lord. ”

Cai Mao was overjoyed and said: "It's exactly what I want, what Yidu said is right, how can Liu Qi lead Jingxiang Nine Counties, according to what Yidu said, I will find an opportunity to let Liu Qi get out of Xiangyang." ”