In the Xiangfan Chamber, Xu Shu, Gan Ning, Guan Ping, Pang De, Yang Yi, Xiang Lang, Zhao Lei, Liao Hua and Deng Ai are all lined up.

Liu Bei said to everyone: "Nanyang has fallen, and of course, Cao Mengde has also died of illness." As a bridgehead for the northward march into the Central Plains, I estimate that I will not even be able to muster together 30,000 soldiers and horses, which is not conducive to our future use of troops. ”

When Liu Bei said this, Pang De shook his way to get out of the ranks.

Liu Beiyi raised his hand to stop it: "I have to review the use of troops this time, I am a little proud of taking Xiangfan, Nanyang, Longyou, and Liangzhou."

Alas, this is also because I have been too smooth and expanded too fast in the past few years, resulting in ignoring Cao Cao's overall strength. The mediocrity is in front of me, and I threw it away. In several major battles in Jingzhou, how serious the consumption of soldiers and horses and the people was, I didn't pay attention to it and immersed myself in victory.

Cao Cao, who is it, gave me a stick on the spot, and woke me up! I led the army to be unable to reach Nanyang within half a year, Nanyang did not have a single soldier to arrive, held on for half a year, if it was not for the traitor betrayal, Nanyang is still standing now.

Therefore, the fall of Nanyang is not about others, it is caused by me, and again, I want to reward a few people! Lingming! Pound made a promise.

Liu Bei said: "Pang De held on to the lonely city of Nanyang, and Cao's army suffered several times more casualties than our army, so Cao Cao did not dare to go south." Because of his merits, Pang De was crowned as the general of the captives, and he led Nanyang Taishou and garrisoned Fancheng. ”

Pang Debai said: "The last general lost his land and lost his army, how can he have the face to be sealed, and I hope that the lord will take back his fate." ”

Liu Bei got up and helped Pang De up and said, "Ling Ming, I have already made it very clear, don't shirk again." Cao Jun's next step is either Longyou or Xiangfan, the first city of Jingzhou is the most important. Ling Ming, I promise, I will never let you fight alone next time! We must not only defeat Cao's army, but also recapture Nanyang! ”

Pang De clenched his fists and said, "Thank you for your trust." ”

Liu Bei said again: "Second brother, Xingba, Yuan Zhi and Tan Zhi, you have been fighting with Xu Huang for several months, and you can still steadily counterattack when the Cao army has cavalry, so that the Cao army does not dare to underestimate Jingzhou." Therefore, each person was rewarded with 500 gold, 500 Shu brocade, and two good horses as a reward! ”

Everyone didn't even dare to say it, but Liu Bei insisted on accepting it.

Liu Bei said: "What should we do next?" ”

Xu Shu said: "Lord, we only have one thing that is most important at the moment, recuperate. Replenish the forces lost in the war and train the new army. Sowing grain? Mend the wounds of war! ”

Liu Bei said: "Yes, it should be like this!" ”

Gan Ning said: "Lord, please expand the Han Water Channel." ”

Liu Beiqi said: "Xingba, what did you say?" ”

Gan Ning said: "Lord, Cao Jun Falcon is the cavalry, then we will divide the Cao army cavalry by waterway." Expand the Han River waterway and increase the volume of water, so that large ships can move flexibly.

Relying on the waterways made it impossible for the cavalry to keep up with our speed, and they were exhausted and took the opportunity to break it. ”

Liu Bei said: "Okay, it's a way!" I'm just afraid there is a problem with manpower! ”

Liu Bei looked at Xu Shu, and Xu Shu made a slight calculation and said: "Lord, we can build mainly with soldiers and horses, supplemented by the people, and expand the waterway between Xiangyang and Fancheng first." And then expand on the others! ”

Liu Bei said: "Okay, if this matter is beneficial, then carry it out step by step." In addition, 6,000 soldiers and horses from Jiangdong were from Jingzhou, and they had surrendered.

Kong Ming trained a little, and it was almost there. It will be dialed to Jingzhou soon. In addition, when entering Sichuan, there were 10,000 soldiers and horses from Jingzhou, and 10,000 soldiers and horses from Jingzhou were also transferred to supplement Jingzhou's soldiers and horses. ”

Jian Yong and Guan Ping were ordered to go to Xuchang to pay tribute to Cao Cao, and the two dressed as ordinary entered Xuchang and rushed to Cao Cao's mourning hall.

The guards saw several people approaching and drove forward, Jian Yong took out the post and said, "You send the post in, and I will naturally be able to go in when the time comes." ”

The guards took the report to Cao Pi. Cao Pi took it, and Hua Xin next to him saw Cao Pi's face very strange, and couldn't help but say, "King, what's wrong?" ”

Cao Pi handed over the post and said, "Outside the door are Liu Bei's people, Jian Yong and Guan Yu's son Guan Ping, who are coming to pay tribute to their father." ”

Hua Xin looked at it and said, "What does this mean!" ”

Cao Pi pondered for a moment and said, "Please come in!" ”

Hua Xin said: "King, I'm afraid there are ghosts!" ”

Cao Pi said: "If you don't invite you to show cowardice, don't let Liu Bei look down on you." ”

Hua Xin said: "Since you are invited, you must use Liu Bei to come and build momentum for the king." King, when Liu Bei's envoy comes in, we will read Liu Bei's official position aloud, so that everyone knows that Liu Bei sent someone to pay tribute to the king.

In this way, everyone in the court knew that Liu Bei was afraid of the prestige of the king, which caused Liu Bei to use the illusion that he had come to beg for peace, which disappointed the people who were counting on Liu Bei in the court, and the people did not dare to respond to Liu Bei again. ”

Cao Pixi said: "Very good, but we also have to prevent something from happening." Zhong Kang, you take two hundred guards to be secretly vigilant to prevent Liu Bei's envoy from causing trouble! Xu Chu promised.

Jian Yong and Guan Ping took off their outer clothes, revealing the solemn clothes inside, dressed in white.

Entering the gate, I heard one person shouting: "General Zuo, Yidu Pavilion Marquis Liu Bei came to pay respects!" ”

Jian Yong looked back outside the gate, the man shouted a few times, Jian Yong just didn't go in at the door, and the people who came behind were blocked behind. Seeing this situation, Cao Pi asked Hua Xin to inquire.

Hua Xin shouted: "Who is the person sent by Liu Bei, why haven't you come in yet?" Dare to make a living here! ”

Jian Yong said: "Where is the envoy of General Zuo Liu Bei, I heard that it was not me, so I will find someone for you, do you see it, I am stretching my neck to help you find it, but I didn't find it!" ”

Hua Xin said angrily: "Aren't you? ”

Jian Yong said: "No, no, I am Liu Bei's messenger, not General Zuo's messenger." ”

Hua Xin's eyes rolled and said, "It's all the same, come in quickly!" ”

Jian Yong said: "What's the same, please take a good look at the post, do you have an official title?" ”

Cao Pi took a look, and sure enough, it was written on it that it was Liu Bei of Zhuojun who had no official position.

Jian Yong said loudly: "Liu Bei's hair is small, that is, I Jian Yong, on behalf of Liu Bei, it is Cao Mengde who is private." Zuo general Liu Bei paid tribute to Cao Mengde, the king of Wei, this is the duke.

Is this the same? What did Emperor Gaozu say when he beheaded the white horse? On behalf of Liu Xuande, I, Jian Yong, am grateful to Cao Mengde for his help in the original predicament.

If you insist on business, then there is nothing to say. Cao Mengde violated the ancestral teachings of the ancestors, my lord Xuande Han clan relatives, can he violate the ancestral teachings, how can he still pay tribute? What does it mean that you are asking more, sir? ”

Hua Xin walked to Cao Pi's side and whispered: "King, the people who come are not good, it is better to take them down now, so as not to cause trouble!" ”

Cao Pi saw that everyone on the left and right was quietly discussing, and it was not easy to do it in this public after all, Cao Pi said: "By the way, just now he said that his father had helped Liu Bei in a difficult situation, which means that Liu Bei admitted that he had received help from his father.

This invisibly shows that Liu Bei doesn't dare to do anything out of the ordinary! And what I have taken them has caused speculation among men, and it is not good for me to secure my throne. Fish please! ”

Hua Xin received the order and said loudly: "The King of Wei has an order, and Liu Bei's relatives and friends Jian Yong will be allowed to pay tribute on his behalf." Jian Yong entered.

Jian Yong paid tribute according to the etiquette with a serious face, set the sacrifice in front of the spirit, personally poured the wine, returned to the ground, and took out the sacrificial text written by Liu Bei and said: "

Liu Xuande paid tribute to Cao Mengde. Think twice and write the sacrificial text carefully. The writing is not good, and the picture is a joke. Meng De Wencai, a world-famous article, unattainable, the class has an axe, and if the public ignores it, he hides his mouth and laughs.

Reading the military strategy, fighting in the south and the north, usurping the Han and Yuan arts, swept away, and was unstoppable.

Nian Jun helped, helped each other from the chaos, and broke Lu Bu together.

Nian Jun acquainted, green plum boiled wine, and talked about heroes.

Thinking of the king's arrival, talk and laugh freely, and sway freely.

Nian Jun elegant, majestic and heroic, overview of the world.

'The heroes of the world are only the kings and the ears! ’

What you said is still in your ears. The political path is different, and they do not conspire with each other.

Compete in the world, each showing its warp and weft. The public achievements of the king have been passed down for thousands of years.

The ferocity of the king, later generations commented. Friends and foes, very fast! ”

After Jian Yong finished reading, he burned the sacrificial text. Hua Xin asked, "Liu Bei wrote this kind of sacrificial text?" ”

Jian Yong said: "Well, what's wrong?" ”

Hua Xin said: "You are raising Liu Bei's prestige!" ”

Jian Yong said: "If you are not convinced, you can ask Xuande, I have no friendship with Cao Mengde!" ”

Hua Xin was about to say something, but Cao Pi stopped and said: "Liu Bei also acquiesced in his father's Wen Taowu strategy, admitting that he was willing to bow to the upper hand, we don't need to fight for anything!" Hua Xin retreated unwillingly.

Then Guan Ping stepped forward and took out the sacrificial text written by Guan Yu and said: "

Guan Moubai, Guan Moufu, is valued by the public, and he is kind and affectionate, which is grateful.

I have no choice but to have a trust in my heart and refuse to deviate.

Remember the public mind, let it go, fulfill loyalty, never forget, and keep it in your heart. Thank you!

I hope that the public can feel Guan Mou's heart, and Guan Mou bows three times. "Guan Ping burned the memorial text. Bow to Cao Pi.

Cao Pi also saluted: "Come on, please go and rest, don't slack off in the slightest!" "The men are commanded.

That night, Hua Xin and Cao Pi plotted, Hua Xin said: "King, today's Liu Bei's sacrificial text, 'The heroes of the world are only the kings and Cao Er!'" This sentence has to be guarded against, this is to tell the world through the mouth of the first king, now I am the only hero in the world, Liu Bei!

It is equivalent to saying that Liu Bei did not look down on the king, this is a blatant demonstration. ”

Cao Pi said: "So what should I do? ”

Hua Xin said: "I have already come up with a plan, we will crown Liu Bei as a duke in the name of the imperial court." As soon as Liu Bei sent an envoy to pay tribute to the first king, we added his title, and people will think that this is a deal between Liu Bei and us! His Liu Bei's coming to pay tribute is tantamount to asking for peace, and we are also generous to give him an official.

The people don't know the ins and outs of the matter, and those chaotic people who count on Liu Bei and welcome Liu Bei will be disappointed! Liu Bei accepted the title, the position was under the king, and he did not accept disobedience to the imperial court, which was rebellion. The king's prestige was established, and Liu Bei's limelight was also suppressed! ”

Cao Pixi said: "It's a good move, so do it!" Let Jian Yong and Guan Ping go back first, and we will send someone to follow. The messenger will send Chen Jiao! Hua Xin took the order.

While he was talking, there was a sound outside the door, and someone came to report that his son Cao Zhang led the soldiers and horses to the funeral.

Cao Pi rubbed his forehead and said, "Ziyu!" Cao Zhi and Cao Xiong don't come, Cao Zhang is here, this is a two-hearted one, my throne is not easy to do! ”

Hua Xin said: "Don't worry, the king, Cao Zhang's courage is not enough to be a deer, you can send Jia Kui to persuade Cao Zhang to surrender!" ”

Cao Pi said: "Okay, just according to what Ziyu said!" ”

Jian Yong and Guan Ping returned and told the general situation.

A few days later, his subordinates reported to Liu Bei: The imperial court has sent an envoy! Liu Bei set up a ceremonial reception, and Chen Jiaofeng Liu Bei Zhengdong General Zhuo Gong.

Liu Bei thanked him and left the messenger. After discussing with everyone, Liu Bei will give a general explanation.

Pang Tong couldn't help but say: "What a Cao Pi, let's pay tribute to Cao Cao is to ask him for a title!" ”

Fa Zheng also said: "Cao Pi is calculating us and pressing us!" Lord, you can't ask for this title! ”

Liu Bei said: "Reasonable, I won't let Cao Pi fiddle!" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Lord, it's better to be the king directly, let's write the fold and send the messenger back to bring it back!" Zhuge Liang just finished speaking.

Fa Zheng immediately said: "Yes, lord, Cao Pi didn't expect us to dare to be king, so it is equivalent to being on an equal footing with him, and we don't have to be under Cao Pi's children!" ”

Liu Bei said: "Although it is a good thing, it is just that we have newly failed, and the soldiers, horses, and people have not fully recovered." ”

Pang Tong said: "The title of lord is just inspiring and exciting!" It can also make Cao Pi's calculations useless! ”

Liu Bei looked at everyone and thought: Cao Cao is dead, the enemy is gone, and now is the time to be king. No matter how you say it, Cao Cao ranked me as the person who was on a par with him. An Neng lives under Cao Pi and makes the kid inexplicably famous! Good!

Liu Bei thought about it and said, "Okay, how can I let Cao Pi gain power." Everyone was overjoyed and began to plan.

Liu Bei specially arranged for someone to go to Jincheng to persuade Su Ze, and Longyou persuaded Xu Miao to see their attitude, and the two did not have strong resistance. Liu Bei was very happy.

Zhuge Liang coordinated Ma Chao, Xu Jing, Guan Yu and other 120 people to write a copy of "The King of the Han Dynasty on the Emperor of the Han Dynasty", and sent Chen Jiao to bring it back.

Chen Jiao angrily pointed at Liu Bei and said, "You are plotting rebellion!" ”

Pang Tong said strangely: "Why didn't Cao Cao hear you pointing and scolding when he was the king of Wei?" Emperor Gaozu is not good at talking! Cao Cao said what is what!

My lord openly expands his territory, crusades against traitors, works hard and is a member of the Han family, how to do it is not the king, you don't take it, we will send it ourselves! Chen walked away angrily.

Liu Bei sent someone to send it to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, calculated the date, and took the stage to be sealed. Guan Yu was crowned as the former general, Zhang Fei as the right general, Ma Chao as the left general, and Gan Ning as the rear general. The rest of the people were rewarded in turn.

Liu Bei appointed Huang Quan as the assassin of Liangzhou, commanded the affairs of Liangzhou, and urged Huang Quan to form a cavalry as soon as possible.

Issued more than 50 letters of appointment to the tribal leaders of Liangzhou and Longyou, and sent his son Liu Chan to oversee the army and go with Ma Chao to recruit people from the Qiang tribe who are good at riding and good at fighting to join the army.

Before Ma Chao left, he left his son, Ma Dai and others in Chengdu and took them hostage.

Zhao Yun was appointed general of Pingxi and inspected the five counties of Longyou.

Liu Bei said that Wang Zhong Wenwu was very happy, and Liu Bei was naturally the same, but the sad thing is that Fa Zheng died of illness a few months later, and Liu Bei cried bitterly and was sad.

Pang Tong came to comfort, Liu Bei said: "My sadness is that filial piety died at the age of forty-five, and Huo Jun also died at the age of forty before the time.

Running with me, such as the second brother, Xianhe and others, have grown old. I am deeply afraid that I will not be able to complete the great cause of reviving the Han Dynasty! Hence the sadness! ”

Pang Tong said: "What the king said is reasonable, life and death are in the sky, and people can't predict how long they can live!" Cao Cao's status is supreme, and his prestige is high. The king should take care of his body, and the virtuous and talented will inevitably be famous, and they will not stop after all. ”

Liu Bei said: "Now that the school has been open for several years, I am going to hold an exam to see if there can be talents, so as to comfort my heart!" ”

Commander Pang ordered Zhuge Liang and Zhang Song to prepare. Liu Bei posthumously named Fa Zheng as the Marquis of Wing, and gave his son Fa Miao Jue as the Marquis of Guannei.

Liu Bei was called queen, Sun Quan sent Zhang Wen to congratulate, and Liu Bei received him with courtesy. Zhang Wen congratulated Liu Bei on becoming the prince and presented gifts.

Liu Bei said politely: "Sir, I understand what's going on!" I have treated Pan Zhang and others very well, and now the arrangements are in place, and Mr. can take them back. ”

Zhang Wenxi said: "Thanks to the king's magnanimity, my lord is grateful!" ”

Liu Bei said: "The king I am calling is not to suppress Duke Wu, but everyone is gracious and difficult to resist, and they have no choice but to enter the knighthood." In this war, the power of the Cao family can be said to be fully displayed, and our two families still need to work together to survive after all! ”

Zhang Wen said: "The king can rest assured, my lord also wants to continue to maintain the good relationship between Qin and Jin with the king." Now that Hefei has fallen, Cao's attack will inevitably be fierce in the future, and the king will have to help when the time comes. ”

Liu Bei said: "Naturally, I, Liu Bei, will not sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight when my allies are in trouble. I would like to swear here today that I will never fail each other. Liu Bei discussed with Zhang Wen and prepared to send back Pan Zhang and the others.

Fa Zheng died of illness, and told Liu Bei how to toss Lu Xun and see if he could leave Lu Xun.

Fa Zheng meant to give Lu Xun medicine, take the kind of medicine that was weak and seemed to be seriously ill, so that Pan Zhang and other Jiangdong generals could see it, and delay the accommodation time in the future.

After Pan Zhang and the others returned to Jiangdong, Lu Xun was left to grind slowly, and persuade him well, if Lu Xun surrendered, then it would be declared that Lu Xun was not accustomed to the soil and water and died, and he would find a corpse that was similar to Lu Xun's and had already decomposed, and give Jiangdong an explanation.

Fa Zheng's meaning is very clear: it is better for Lu Xun to stay, and if he can't keep the fake show, he will directly toss to death, so as not to leave future troubles.

Liu Bei thought about it for several months and gave up this method. Liu Bei thinks that this is detrimental to benevolence and righteousness, and even if Lu Xun stays, it is difficult to ensure that he serves sincerely. Another reason is that Lu Xun did not achieve such achievements in history, in Liu Bei's view now, Lu Xun is a manufacturable material, after all, it is impossible to predict that Lu Xun will become a world-famous general who supports Jiangdong in the future.

Liu Bei came to see Lu Xun that night, and Lu Xun was semi-house arrest in a private house, so that it was convenient for Liu Bei to come to see Lu Xun.

Lu Xun is also used to it, Liu Bei has revealed the intention of solicitation in recent years, and Lu Xun has long known how smart he is. Lu Xun welcomed Liu Bei in, put the wine pot utensils, and Liu Bei and Lu Xun sat opposite each other.

Liu Bei said: "Bo Yan can pack up and prepare to return to Jiangdong tomorrow!" I'm afraid we'll never see each other again! ”

Lu Xun was silent, the whole room seemed to be quiet, and after a while, Lu Xun said: "The king's heart, I understand it very well. I admire the king's grace and I thank him for his sincerity.

I'm not as good as General Guan, the three generals, they gave up their family property, turned their backs on their hometowns, and ran around with the king, what a hero!

I, Lu Xun, can't turn my back on my homeland and give up the Lu family. The Lu clan has suffered many catastrophes, and they can no longer toss. I know that the Sun family has hurt our Lu family, so what can we do, the lord of Jiangdong is the Sun family, and in order to survive, we can only bow our heads.

This taste is not pleasant, half of the Lu family was killed, I can only bury these in my heart and serve the lord sincerely! This is the family's way of survival! Your Majesty is considerate! ”

Liu Bei said: "You are for your family, and I am for my dream." If you want the Lu family to rise again, I want the Liu family to rise again. In the end, we are all running for the family! ”

The two of them each drank a glass of wine, and Liu Bei said: "Bo Yan go back, your talent will be revealed soon." I don't want to use it on my Liu Bei like last time! ”

Lu Xun said: "How could the king give such an emotion to a captured person!" ”

Liu Bei said: "Your indifference, don't be surprised, let me see that you have Zhou Yu's shadow!" When Zhou Yu was there, Sun Zhongmou stabilized me, Liu Bei. ”

Lu Xun said: "Your Majesty, you have forgotten one thing, the strength of the Governor of Gongjin gives him an advantage, and he can naturally suppress the king, but now it is different, the king's strength is probably slightly better than Jiangdong!" ”

Liu Bei said: "This is what I am afraid of, I can't judge whether Jiangdong is on my side, I won't be afraid of fighting alone with any party, but it's really difficult to fight one against two!" ”

Lu Xun said: "Your Majesty, in fact, to put it bluntly, this matter is simple, and what Duke Wu sees is profit." Whoever gave the benefit Da Jiangdong is on that side! ”

Liu Bei said: "That's right! Bo Yan, you have a high opinion on what I want to do next! ”

Lu Xun said: "Your Majesty, Kong Ming and Shi Yuan are all talents for a while, so I don't need to say much." ”

Liu Bei said: "Take everyone's strengths, and listen to them!" ”

Lu Xun thought for a moment and said, "Does the king know the difference between Jiangdong and the king!" At least thirty percent of Jiangdong were private soldiers of various warriors who participated in the war! Including my Lu clan, such an army may give up once it encounters a slight setback in an aggressive battle, and on the contrary, it will lose its strength to defend the territory.

In addition, now Wu Gong has not finished integrating Jiangdong! Our way of fighting is very different from the king's enterprising way, and I can't give him advice! ”

Liu Bei knew in his heart that Lu Xun had been like this every time over the years, and he was interested in Lu Xun in various battles, but he could keep his mouth shut about the strategy of using troops, so as not to fall into the hands of others, and usually discussed more about literature and knowledge. Lu Xun can say tonight, there are already a lot of words.

Liu Bei stood up, pulled out the sword at his waist and said, "I'm thinking about whether to give this sword to you, I'm afraid that giving it to you will make Zhong Mou suspicious!" ”

Lu Xun said: "The sword killing is too heavy, it is not in line with my Lu Xun's personality, why don't you send me an elegant one!" ”

Liu Bei looked at Lu Xun, and Lu Xun said: "I boldly ask the king to give him the "New Book of Mengde". ”

Liu Bei smiled: "What a Confucian general, good!" I'll give it to Boyan! Ziqiao never forgot and cheated Cao Mengde. Cao Mengde burned the book angrily, but we were reading! Let's drink! ”

Lu Xun raised his glass and drank with Liu Bei.