Liu Bei persuaded everyone to delay the title of queen, and then talked about the relationship with Sun Quan.

Liu Bei said: "There is one more thing, I am not going to drag on the relationship with Sun Quan!" When we repair the alliance with Sun Quan in order to relieve our pressure, it will be too difficult for our strength to deal with Cao Cao alone! ”

Zhuge Liang said: "The lord is very worried, Sun Quan's defeat is a sensitive period, and the candidates must be appropriate, and they must change freely." ”

Liu Bei nodded, thought for a while, and suddenly said: "These days, the county guards have come to see me, and the Guanghan Taishou Deng Zhi has impressed me a lot, and he hasn't returned yet, I think he can let him try!" ”

After that, he said to Zhang Fei: "Third brother, you immediately send someone to spread the word that Guanghan Taishou Deng Zhi is coming." Zhang Fei promised to send someone to go.

Liu Bei said: "In Liangzhou, Yan Jun and Huang Hua, who occupy the four counties of Wuwei and Xihai, who responded to us, to put it bluntly, are mostly local heroes who take the opportunity to cause trouble, and they want to divide one side, and they may not be really of the same heart as us."

It is necessary to teach Huang Quan to eradicate it as soon as possible, it is a scourge to keep it, and you can't do it openly, so as not to end up with a reputation of unloading the mill and killing the donkey! ”

Pang Tong said: "Rest assured, Huang Gongheng's ability is enough to deal with them." ”

Liu Bei said: "I'm not worried that Gongheng can't cope with it, I'm afraid that if it drags on for too long, there will be changes, and the cavalry also needs to be formed as soon as possible!" Anyway, since Liangzhou is temporarily managed by him, leave it to him, Gongheng will not let me down. ”

Fa Zhengdao: "My lord, when it comes to forming cavalry, I remember that there is another important matter, to get married. Qiang Di is a double-edged sword, to gain their trust, that is, there will be a steady stream of soldiers, cattle and sheep and other military supplies. Otherwise, it would be a scourge that will drag us into the quagmire of rebellion. ”

Liu Bei said: "What Xiaozhi said is, I have thought about it. I had rewarded the Qiang tribe that had responded to Ma Chao and met with many Qiang leaders, who asked for an exchange of trade with them.

I think that the Qiang people's constant rebellion is nothing more than oppression and exploitation, and the Qiang people have a lot of courage and good riding skills, and of course they will rebel if they are not even.

Huang Gongheng has already opened a mutual market and Qiangqi mutual market in Jincheng County, and I am going to set aside a few more places to send honest and virtuous people to govern and intersect with them on an equal footing, so as to gain their trust. Look how it is. ”

After Liu Bei finished speaking, Zhuge Liang said: "What the lord said is very true, but there are still some shortcomings. ”

Liu Bei said: "Just say it!" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "First, in addition to showing our sincerity in the mutual market, necessary means also need to be used, Qiang people are aggressive and fierce, so they also sincerely admire the strong, Ma Chao is an example." We need to show our strength to deter them.

Second, persuade and induce the Qiang chieftains, gather them, and appoint them to some official positions. Induce the elite of their tribe to join the army, increase their combat power, and weaken the hidden dangers.

Third, when the time is ripe, divide the territory for each tribe, and we will manage and regulate the relationship between the tribes in a unified manner. If that tribe starts a war without authorization, it will be exterminated immediately, so as to avoid the emergence of a unified tribe with too much strength. ”

Liu Bei was overjoyed and said: "Kong Ming's words are very much in line with my wishes. ”

After pondering for a while, he said, "Does Kong Ming have any good candidates?" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "My lord, Mi Zhu can manage the mutual market. As for making friends with Qiang, it is better to send Jiang Wan and Guo Youzhi to handle it! ”

Liu Bei heard this: "Okay, it's a good candidate." However, the weight is not short, in this way, let Liu Chan go on my behalf, and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao will also go to experience and experience! ”

Zhuge Liang hurriedly said: "Lord, this is too dangerous. ”

Liu Bei said: "I have to go in danger, whoever makes him my eldest son and my heir, I can't bear this crime, don't do it as soon as possible." By the way, the order Chen is close to protect them.

Zhao Yun assisted in completing this matter, and Huang Quan also paid more attention. That should be fine! ”

Liu Bei's tone was firm, Zhuge Liang didn't want to say anything, Liu Bei said again: "Kong Ming, you bother more, you select another batch of talents as soon as possible, take me through it, and send it to Liangzhou, after all, the counties under the county also need someone to govern." Zhuge Liang promised.

Liu Bei said: "The mutual market with Qiang Yi needs to formulate some regulations, and this matter mainly allows Jiang Wan, Guo Youzhi and Liu Chan to discuss the regulations with Liao Li, and Kong Ming and Yongnian also bother to assist in drafting the regulations." Everyone agreed.

As soon as the words fell, someone outside the door reported that Guanghan Taishou Deng Zhi arrived, Liu Bei smiled and said: "People are here, you all help me check to see if this person can be qualified for the role of Lian Sun." ”

Then the order came in. After Deng Zhi went to the court to pay homage, Liu Bei said: "Bo Miao, I recruited you here because you have extraordinary knowledge and want to hear your opinion." ”

Deng Zhi said: "Listen to me." ”

Liu Bei said: "Sun Quan, this guy is too deceitful, he actually reneged on the covenant and attacked my Jingzhou, I am ready to send an envoy to break the alliance with him, looking for an opportunity to take revenge on this guy, what do you think?" ”

Deng Zhi said: "Lord, we have won a big victory, and the momentum is very strong. But my lord, this is an illusion, Cao Cao's losses are similar to ours. Overall, we won. Comparing Cao Cao's foundation with ours, it can be seen immediately.

Cao Cao didn't hurt the roots, and we struggled to lose it. At the moment, the battle with Cao Cao will become more and more intense.

Sun Quan is hateful, but it is not yet time to break the covenant with him, so please calm the wrath of the thunder and renew friendship with Sun Quan, induce him to attack Cao Cao, and share our pressure.

Otherwise, in addition to facing Cao Cao, the great enemy, we will also be dragged down by Sun Quan, and Cao Cao will be in the arms, and the lord must not think twice. ”

Liu Bei smiled slightly after hearing this: "Bo Miao's words are reasonable, I have been thinking about it for a long time, and I also want to continue to be friendly with Sun Quan, but I am afraid that the person who sent it will not understand my intentions, so I don't know who to appoint, and now I have finally found it." ”

Deng Zhi asked carefully: "What the lord said is below. ”

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Yes, it's you." ”

Deng Zhi immediately bowed down and said: "Thank you, Lord Gong, I will not disgrace my mission in the future." ”

Liu Bei said: "I believe in you." If the covenant is reached, I will return the captured generals of the Jiangdong Army and the Jiangdong soldiers and horses who have not yet surrendered. I don't think Sun Quan will disagree with this article alone. ”

Deng Zhi took the order. Fa Zheng opened his mouth and said: "Does the lord really want to release Lu Xun and Pan Zhang? ”

Liu Bei said: "It's useless to keep it, and they won't surrender." ”

Fa Zhengdao: "My lord, we must appropriately weaken the strength of Jiangdong Sun Quan, so as not to become a disaster in the future!" ”

Liu Bei said: "Is there any good plan for filial piety? ”

Fa Zheng said: "May I ask my lord, who do you think is the most knowledgeable and talented among the several people captive?" ”

Liu Bei said: "Pan Zhang, this person is irritable and fierce, and he is a fighting general. Li Yi is slightly inferior to him, and it is enough to be a partial general. Ding Feng and Zhu Huan are calm and slightly young, and if they have been trained for a long time, they will become a general.

Lu Xun, I feel the most jealous, because when I talk to him, I have always been talking, he rarely speaks, just smiles, and does not say anything valuable, as a prisoner, he has this calmness and such a bearing, which cannot be underestimated. ”

Fa Zhengdao: "In this case, let Lu Xun stay in Yizhou!" ”

Liu Bei said: "Lu Xun is a disciple of the Lu clan of the Jiangdong clan, and he will not surrender!" ”

Fa Zheng said: "Lord, I just left him behind, and I didn't say let him surrender." ”

Liu Bei said happily: "What is the trick of filial piety. ”

Fa Zheng said: "If this thing is to be done beautifully, I'm afraid it will toss Lu Xun." ”

Liu Bei smiled slightly and said, "Okay! Let's do it with filial piety! By the way, to make peace with Sun Quan, the second brother should also inform him, after all, Sun Quan almost made us doomed. ”

Fa Zhengdao: "Who is the lord going to send?" ”

Liu Bei said: "Bo Miao go by the way, if even my second brother can't be convinced, there is no need to go to Sun Quan." Deng Zhi took the order and left.

Since the defeat of Jiangling, the Jiangdong army, which had lost more than half of its vitality, was greatly damaged, and the governor Lü Meng was angry and worried, and regretted. led the troops to recover Baqiu, but it was also a long time to attack, and he had no choice but to retreat.

Only ten days after returning to Xiakou, Lü Meng died of grief, and Sun Quan ordered Zhu Ran and Xu Sheng to temporarily take charge of the soldiers and horses.

After the war between Cao Cao and Liu Bei stopped, Sun Quan learned that Liu Bei not only got Nanyang and Xiangyang, but also took the five counties of Liangzhou and Longyou. In this war, Jiangdong did not gain an inch of land, and lost the three counties of Hanchang, Changsha and Guiyang.

Jiangdong's generals and soldiers and horses are in Liu Bei's hands, and he has the intention to ask for peace and come back, for fear that Cao Cao will know that he will anger him, and Liu Bei's attitude is still unknown. The result was cautious, sandwiched between Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

Deng Zhi's secret visit made Sun Quan really happy and worried, happy that he and Liu Bei still had room to maneuver, worried that Liu Bei was afraid that Liu Bei had come to Xingshi to ask for guilt, and ordered Deng Zhi to be temporarily taken to the post station to rest.

Deng Zhi saw that he was not received, and knew that Sun Quan was suspicious, so he asked his entourage to bring a message to Sun Quan: I, Deng Zhi, were ordered to come and restore the alliance with General Sun, and General Sun treated me like this, I privately thought that this was a rejection or rejection of our friendship.

In that case, I should return to my lord. It's just that this time I came not only because I was ordered, but also for the situation of your Jiangdong Sun Quan, I'm afraid that the general will regret it at that time.

When Sun Quan heard about it, he sent someone to invite Deng Zhi and meet him. Sun Quan lined up hundreds of axe men on both sides, and his armor stood distinctly on both sides.

Zhang Zhao persuaded: "Since the lord also wants to make peace, why bother to put on such a formation!" So as not to provoke Liu Bei! Sun Quan said: "Liu Bei sent a messenger, although our army is defeated, we can't show cowardice, showing cowardice will only make Liu Bei despise us!" ”

Deng Zhi entered the main hall and saw that the sword and axe hands on both sides did not change their color, and they were extremely open. After Sun Quan saw Deng Zhi, he shouted: "You are Liu Bei's envoy, what official position do you hold?" ”

Deng Zhi said: "There is only one Taishou in the next place, and I went to report to the lord about the governance of the county, and the lord saw that I was okay, so he sent me here." ”

Sun Quan said angrily: "You dare to see me with a little county guard, you really don't know whether you live or die!" ”

Deng Zhi laughed and said: "I originally came sincerely, but General Sun is like this, how is it the way of hospitality, you and I have been in Jiangxia Alliance, agreed to beg for thieves, you and I sit in the place where the four states are owned, the general is a world-famous hero, and my lord is also a contemporary hero."

It is natural common sense that we have heavy dangers to be secured, generals have three rivers to block, and each other has become a state of lips and teeth, and we can seize the world by advancing and retreating, and we can stand on our feet.

In order to deal with my lord, Cao Cao tried his best to send Zhang Liao to help, which was a godsend to Huainan and the general. The general attacked from behind, and should have cooperated with the thieves, but abandoned the alliance and swords, and as a result, he was burdened with the name of unbelief and injustice, and he lost his troops and generals.

If the general wants to commit to Cao Cao now, he will not only pay tribute to Cao Cao, but once Cao Cao's energy recovers. At the very least, the general is required to send a proton to show his sincerity, if the general does not obey the order, he is a half-hearted traitor, and Cao Cao will think that the general has deceived him and will inevitably crusade.

When the time comes, we will definitely go down the river, and in this way, the land of Jiangdong will not belong to the general. ”

Sun Quan pondered for a long time before saying, "What you said is very true! I am also terrified because I was bewitched by Cao Cao, and I am afraid that your lord will be angry! ”

Deng Zhi said: "If the general has the heart to unite, my lord will naturally welcome it." ”

Sun Quan said: "Since Xuande Gong has such a mind, I am naturally willing. ”

Deng Zhi said: "This time, my lord ordered me to come secretly, just for the sake of the general, but the general put on a posture of fighting to the death with my lord." Why did the general insist on going all the way with Cao Cao?

My lord gave up Jiangxia, Changsha, and Guiyang, what did Cao Cao give to the general? By the way, I heard that the general was awarded the title of Marquis of Wu, congratulations, 50,000 soldiers and horses, and several generals. Well, change to Wu Hou!

It's like Jiangdong was not a general in the first place, but he Cao Cao gave it to the general! ”

Sun Quan was ashamed, and said with a sword and axe: "I have a new and Xuande Gong to continue the previous good, don't doubt it, sir!" ”

Deng Zhi said: "If the general has the heart to unite, he can secretly ally with me, and when Cao Cao fights me again, the general has the opportunity to learn from it, so it is naturally not a problem." It's just that when the time comes, it will be up to the general whether it is friend or foe. ”

Sun Quan said: "Xuande Gong treats me like this, I can not keep my promises." Laughed at by the world. ”

Then he drew out the golden arrow, and broke the arrow as an oath. Deng Zhi said: "In this case, the general can send someone back with me to meet my lord, resolve the misunderstanding between the two families, and repair our relationship." ”

Sun Quan was overjoyed and sent Cheng Bing to reply secretly.

Cheng Bing went to Hanzhong Nanzheng to meet Liu Bei and said: "My lord Sun Quan, because of Cao Cao's divisive plan in the past, so that there was some misunderstanding with Liu Yuanjun, fortunately thanks to the generosity of the envoy, my lord is deeply grateful, so I want to marry Qin and Jin with the envoy again, and fight Cao together." ”

Liu Bei looked at Cheng Bing, listened to what he said, and couldn't help but say in his heart: This is my luck to succeed and defeat you, otherwise, Sun Quan would be so humble. Now he has brushed aside the matter of swords and soldiers.

Thinking of this, Liu Bei said: "Why is your lord so confused, breaking the covenant, since you regret it, why don't you take the initiative to send a messenger, and ask me to send someone?" ”

Cheng Bingdao: "Why did you say this, my lord is the hero of the hero, the master of the Ming, the lord of the male, and the lord of benevolence, not confused!" ”

Zhang Song suddenly laughed and said, "What did Sun Quan do to dare to be so praised." It is unkind to form an alliance with others and betray an alliance, it is unclear to meet a thief and secretly ally with a thief, it is not heroic to return without a sneak attack, and it is not heroic to not know the destiny of heaven. ”

Cheng Binglang said: "My lord Sun Quan Chibi Cao Cao has a million soldiers, and everyone is saying that the main battle is Qiying." Na Zhou Gongjin, Lu Zijing and others sit in Jiangdong is its clear. Committed to Cao and wants to be based on Jing Chu, and it is his hero to fight for the world with the envoy and Cao Cao. So that the king has no place to garrison troops, and borrowing Nanjun and the envoy is his benevolence.

Although the envoy is now powerful, there are still two losses in Xuzhou, defeated when the sun is gone, and when he wanders around, the monarch has been defeated for 20 years but he is so calculating, my lord is just a defeat, so does the monarch not have the ambition to annex the world? ”

After hearing this, Liu Bei was not angry but laughed: "Sun Quan sent you as an envoy, which shows that he is a wise lord." Maybe my two families re-aligned, but I don't know if Sun Zhongmou's intentions are sincere? ”

Cheng Bingdao: "How can my lord rebel three times and twice, if Cao Cao attacks the envoy, the envoy can look at my lord's actions." ”

Liu Bei looked at Pang Tong next to him, and Pang Tong immediately picked up and said: "Since this is the case, I have nothing to say, you Jiangdong 30,000 soldiers, except for the 6,000 soldiers and horses who surrendered to me, I can release the remaining 24,000 people."

Your Jiangdong generals can only let Pan Zhang, Li Yi and half of the partial generals go back first, and after General Sun has a convincing action, I will send Lu Xun, Zhu Huan and the others and the rest of the partial generals back. You have any objections. ”

Cheng Bingluo sighed and said: "I'll thank Liu Envoy Jun first, but since we have become allies again, do we still need to guard against each other like this!" ”

Pang Tong said slowly: "Since the Warring States period, there has been a rule of sending protons to each other, which is not a sign of distrust, but a reflection of the trust between the two countries that can entrust each other's lives, and I think General Sun will also understand the meaning." ”

Cheng Bing couldn't say anything after listening to it, so he had to agree for the time being. That night, Liu Bei set up a banquet to entertain Cheng Bing, and when he left, he personally said goodbye, and ordered Deng Zhi to go to Jiangdong again, bringing 100 war horses and 3,000 Shu brocade.

Cheng Bing returned to Chaisang and told Liu Bei's words to Sun Quan as they were, and Sun Quan understood that no matter how he said it, the alliance would definitely not be as stable as before, and it was not easy for Liu Bei to make such concessions, so he agreed to leave Lu Xun and the others with Liu Bei for the time being.

Sun Quan met with Deng Zhi, Deng Zhi presented horses and Shu brocade, and discussed with Sun Quan how to quietly send 14,000 soldiers and horses back to Jiangdong, and finally decided to transfer from Wuling and Lingling to Jiaozhou, and then return to Wu County.

Sun Quan sent Cheng Bing to bring porcelain and swords as a return gift. Cheng Bing met Liu Bei in person, offered gifts, determined the covenant, and swore an oath. Agree on a date for the delivery of the captives.

When Cheng Bing was about to return, Liu Bei gave him a hundred horses of Shu brocade and wrote a letter to Sun Quan, praising Cheng Bing for his generosity and unflattery, which can be called a talent in Jiangdong. Since then, Liu Bei and Sun Quan have secretly become friends.