Huo and Pang had a hasty meeting in Lujiang, and after Huo Jun was familiar with the situation between the DPRK and China, he took a boat into Wuhan. Pang Tong followed the river water to fatten and replaced Huo Jun as the governor of Jianghuai.

In fact, Huo Jun returned to Wuhan this time, even if there was no Huainan Wang, he had to return to Wuhan due to military problems.

Guan Yu saw that he had offered the Northern Expedition to Xiangfan for a long time, but he did not see Liu Bei give an accurate reaction, and once took a boat into Wuhan and asked Liu Bei for the Northern Expedition.

However, Liu Bei took into account the southern Jiaoling and the chain reaction that the Northern Expedition to Xiangfan might cause, so he temporarily appeased Guan Yu with words, and said that he would give approval after Zhengdan, and let Guan Yu return to Jiangling first, and secretly prepare for the steps of the Northern Expedition to Xiangfan.

Under such circumstances, Liu Bei wrote to consult Huo Jun. At that time, Huo Jun was distracted by the matter of the 'King of Huainan', and he didn't know the specific situation, so he couldn't give more reply, so Huo Jun replied, saying that when he returned to Beijing to report on his work, he presented his thoughts to Liu Bei.

Rushing against the river, Huo Jun arrived in Wuhan late at night and rested at the house for the night.

At noon the next day, Liu Bei summoned him, and Huo Junfang entered the palace to pay respects.

Wuhan, Han Palace.

In the side hall, Liu Bei sat on the couch, and Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng sat on their sides to discuss important matters.

Liu Bei put his hand on the stove and asked, "The two gentlemen have already read the "Huainan Treatise", I don't know what Shi Zai's plan to do?" ”

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan and praised it: "The Huainan Treatise is a strategy for the rejuvenation of Huainan, and the number of books written by the scholars is rigorous, with 30,000 soldiers, two laborers and one rest, and rice and wheat rotation cultivation. Under the wind and rain, it will be self-sufficient and save Jiangdong rice. ”

Saying that, Zhuge Liang bowed his hand to Liu Bei and said: "Hoarding for several years, the soldiers are good and the food is sufficient, Jianghuai can look forward to the Central Plains, and retreat can protect Huai Land, and I will not be worried about the king." The Jiangdong rice in the province can be used for hoarding and requisition, and it can also be requisitioned by conscription, and there is no need to transfer grain and grass for thousands of miles. ”

Liu Bei put his hand up and said, "What Kong Mingzhi said is what Gu Zhi thinks. This year, 100,000 people will go on a northern expedition, Jiangzuo will supply grain for thousands of miles, and the people of Jiangdong will serve more conscription, which is not a long-term solution, and it is advisable to let Jianghuai be self-sufficient. ”

Fa Zheng hesitated a little and said: "Although it is a good thing for Jianghuai to be self-sufficient, Jianghuai is isolated from weight. Now, if Jianghuai is allowed to be self-sufficient, I am afraid that it will have the fundamental meaning of being strong. ”

"No!"

Zhuge Liang stroked his fan and smiled, and said: "Filial piety is too late to see things, Huo Du is loyal to the king, why do you suspect that he is lonely." And Jianghuai really has different intentions, can the grain make him loyal? ”

Compared with Zhuge Liang's broad vision, Fa Zheng is politically narrow. As Zhuge Liang said, grain and grass can't restrain Huainan from rebelling, so naturally there is no need to restrict it from this aspect.

"Good!"

Liu Bei bowed his head slightly and said: "Jianghuai, Bashu, and Hanbei are all used by orphans, so they should be treated calmly." What is conducive to the Northern Expedition today should be done with all our might, not too late! ”

"Kong Ming, for Gu Wei Jianghuai to deploy Jiangzuo sergeants, this year's wasteland farming, next year's harvest of rice, must follow the "Huainan Theory"."

Liu Bei didn't have the heart to learn from Sun Quan's intrigues, he didn't want to think about the great cause of the Northern Expedition, and he played spiritual internal friction with his courtiers every day. forced the general to death, and made the two sons kill each other.

"No!"

"King Qiqi, Huo Du is asking to see you outside the palace."

"Please!"

After a while, Huo Jun walked into the hall, and when he wanted to give a salute, he was supported by Liu Bei, who was staying, and did not let him salute.

Without waiting for Huo Jun to speak, Liu Bei hugged Huo Jun's arm and said, "You are more wronged!" ”

It was only six words, but it made Huo Jun feel uneasy, and he felt ashamed for a moment because he was the 'King of Huainan'.

"Jun, thank you for your love!"

Liu Bei took Huo Jun's hand and said: "Cao Cao's strategy is insidious, and rumors are spread in Wuhan. Wangjun doesn't have to take it to heart to hurt the feelings of his colleagues. ”

Huo Jun's expression was relaxed, and he said with a smile: "Confucius said: 'People don't know and are not ashamed, and they are not gentlemen? Although Jun is difficult to be a gentleman, he is envious of him. The king is Xinjun, and the ministers are enough! ”

Liu Bei pulled Huo Jun to sit down and said with a smile: "You have to have Zhong Miao's words, and loneliness is enough!" ”

As he spoke, Liu Bei changed his words and asked: "The theory of Shizai's book, Lone, Kong Ming, and filial piety all think so. Therefore, Gu has ordered Jianghuai to open up acres of land and accumulate grain. ”

"Although Jianghuai is a matter of decision, but the four counties of Jiaoling, and the two matters of the Yunchang Northern Expedition to Xiangfan, the ministers have different opinions, and they are very suspicious. Today, I would like to listen to Zhong Miao's opinion. ”

Huo Jun looked at Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng in the hall, and said with a smile: "Jun Chu returned to Wuhan, and I don't know much about the current situation. ”

Liu Bei glanced at Zhuge Liang and motioned for him to introduce the current situation to Huo Jun.

Zhuge Liang understood his meaning and said: "General Guan wants to order the soldiers to surrender to Cao Ren, and Lu Meng invited himself to be the general, offering Dangyang City and Cao Ren, luring Cao Ren to advance lightly, and then let General Guan set up an ambush in the middle of the road to attack him. ”

Ran Liang thought that Lu Meng was not enough to convince Cao Cao, and that it was difficult to set up an ambush in Dangyang City. When Cao Ren encounters an unfavorable situation, he can easily withdraw to Xiangyang, and when Cao Cao sends troops to help, this will not be conducive to seeking Xiangfan. ……”

"The four counties of Jiaoling, Shixie have been in possession for decades, equipped with prestige, Han and Yi are all subdued, and they are dangerous and rebellious. Everyone thought that they needed to send heavy troops to Jiaojiaoling, otherwise it would be difficult to get off to Jiaozhou. …… In this way, most of the ministers thought that Xiangfan and Jiaoling were difficult to have both, and there should be a priority. ”

Through Zhuge Liang's detailed introduction, Huo Jun also made the problem clear.

The four counties of Jiaoling are far away and difficult to peace, and the chain reaction of Xiangfan is large, and I don't know if it can succeed. In this context, the ministers of the court and China have different opinions, that is, there is a priority, either to conquer Jiaoling first, or to support Guan Yu's northern expedition to Xiangyang.

Those who support the first expropriation of the state have different views on the strategy of the conquest; Those who agreed with Guan Yu's Northern Expedition to Xiangyang had objections to Lü Meng's deception of Cao Ren and the dedication of Dangyang City.

For example, Zhang Zhao, Liu Ba and others, they supported the first expedition to Jiaoling, and then the attack on Xiangfan.

Or such as Fa Zheng, Ma Liang and others, they supported Guan Yu to attack Xiangyang, and then conquered Jiaoling.

As for Zhuge Liang, he did not belong to any side, and he had objections to Guan Yu's plan to conquer Xiangyang, and he did not approve of sending heavy troops to deal with Lingling.

For example, Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng thought that Guan Yu's strategy of luring and surrendering was afraid that Cao Cao would not be able to deceive, and when the area around Yangcheng was not conducive to setting up an ambush, they hoped to change places to set up an ambush.

There are arguments with each other, and there are many opinions, which makes it a little difficult for Liu Bei, who is decisive, to make a choice.

"What is Zhong Miao's different opinion?" Liu Bei asked.

Huo Jun pondered for a while and said: "The minister and Kong Ming have the same opinion, Jiaoling is not suitable for heavy troops, and General Guan is not suitable for setting up an ambush in Dangyang. ”

"Huh?"

Liu Bei pondered and said, "How can the second gentleman see this? ”

"Kong Ming might as well be a prophet?" Huo Jun said politely.

"Good!"

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan and said: "Although Dangyang has the terrain of mountains, you can ambush soldiers. But when Yang is only two or three hundred miles away from Xiangyang, Cao Renli advances and retreats, and it is not a place to use soldiers. And when Yang is close to Xiangyang, the deployment of the sergeants cannot escape the detection of the Cao army scouts. ”

"As for the four counties of Jiaozhou, as the king and Zhong Miao said in the first time, they need to go down to Jiaoling as soon as possible. However, if you lift heavy troops, alarm Shixie, and fall deep in the mountains and forests, how can you easily win. ”

Saying that, Zhuge Liang frowned and thought, and said: "Let General Guan rethink the ambush place and find the right person to deceive Cao Cao." The four counties of Jiaozhou may be able to cut off Shixie's wings, annihilate his army, and swallow Jiaozhi from Zishan. However, the specific deployment needs to be discussed in depth. ”

Liu Bei looked at Huo Jun and asked, "Does Zhong Miao have a different opinion?" ”

Huo Jun touched his mustache and said thoughtfully: "Jun thinks that the matter of conquest of Jiaoling and the plan of the Northern Expedition to Xiangfan may be planned at the same time, and there is no need to have a priority. ”

Liu Bei lifted his spirit and asked, "Please speak carefully!" ”

Huo Jun sorted out his thoughts and said: "If you want to seek Xiangyang and lure Cao Ren to fight, you should be afraid that Cao Cao will beware of our army." Why might it be better for our army to pretend to take Jiaoling with heavy troops, but in fact it was taken with few soldiers, thinking that it was for the purpose of confusing Cao Cao. ”

"When Cao Cao thought that our army was in the south, and there was a great coming, he would let Cao Ren raise troops to respond. At that time, let General Guan set up an ambush to cover Cao Ren's army and encircle Xiangyang. ”

"The situation in Xiangfan changed drastically, Cao Cao raised heavy troops to the south, and the king could raise troops to the north, thinking that it was for containment, and secretly cooperated with General Guan's previous plan. As for the place of ambush and the person who surrenders, it is advisable to deliberate deeply to ensure that nothing goes wrong. ”

"Wouldn't it be better to pretend to take Jiaoling with heavy troops, so that Shixie would be prepared?" Liu Bei asked.

Zhuge Liang pondered and replied, and said: "Zhong Miao's intention should be to use the widow with a strategy to take Jiaoling, with the words of Liang and Zishan, cut off Shixie's wings, annihilate his army, and swallow Jiaozhi." ”

"Raise troops to Jiaoling, conspire with Xiangfan, although this strategy of attacking the east and the west is good, but Cao Cao is suspicious and does not believe that our army is going south to Jiaoling, how should this be?" Liu Bei asked.

Huo Jun touched his mustache and said with a sneer: "Cao Cao is the king of Huainan and me, and his heart must be proud." Why might as well go along with his wishes, feign Cao Cao's strategy, transfer a certain person from Jianghuai, and entrust him with his position, in order to show that he has no heart for the Northern Expedition! ”

(End of chapter)