In 221 AD, the third year of Zhangwu, the first month.

In the palace, Liu Bei holds a pen and writes a towel and silk.

Since Pang Rou returned to the court, Ma Chao wrote many letters to Lu Xun, detailing the disadvantages of attacking in the depths of winter, as well as the unpreparedness of the sergeants, and suggested that it be postponed to spring and summer.

Sending troops in winter and spring is not only inconvenient for Ma Chao, but also inconvenient for the Southern Han Dynasty. In winter, the water level dropped, making it inconvenient for boats to be transported, and the war only ended a year ago, so it was not suitable to use troops continuously.

With the need for time adjustment on both sides, with Liu Bei's approval, Lu Xun and Ma Chao agreed to start troops in March and build the Northern Expedition together.

As soon as the New Year passed, Liu Bei issued an edict for the preparation of grain and grass, and ordered the sergeants to step up their training and be ready to go on the expedition at any time.

"Yuan Xun, send this letter to Hefei!"

Liu Bei dried the letter, handed it to Zhuge Ke, and said: "Tell Huo Du that Yan's army may set off in March and let him decide to use his troops." The Central Plains soldiers, let them use their troops carefully, if it is difficult to go on a northern expedition, they can defend Jianghuai. ”

In this Northern Expedition of the Southern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei decided to pour out a large army and lead Wu Chu 100,000 soldiers and horses. Huo Jun led 50,000 troops for the Jianghuai garrison and battle. Lu Xun and He Qi led 40,000 soldiers and horses from Bashu, and the two armies were divided into two armies out of Hanzhong.

Because Liu Bei's target is Guanzhong, there may be a large army of Huo Jun in the Kanto region, so for Liu Bei, Jianghuai cannot afford to lose. If Huo Jun's troops are defeated, the Wei soldiers drive straight in, and the Jianghuai troops are few, it will not be enough to hold on. He may have to lead his troops to retreat, and the Northern Expedition to Jianghuai fell short at that time.

"No!"

Zhuge Ke was obese and stepped forward with a round belly.

Seeing Zhuge Ke's figure, Liu Bei frowned slightly and said, "Yuan Xun's body is getting fatter, so you can't indulge yourself." ”

Zhuge Ke's expression remained unchanged, and he said with a smile: "The minister hears the rich house, and the virtue runs the body." The minister does not dare to entertain himself, but only cultivates himself. ”

"Yuan Xun should be a clever answer!" Liu Bei smiled helplessly and said.

Zhuge Ke is young and intelligent, and his adaptability is unparalleled, and he is praised by many scholars in Beijing. Today, Liu Bei criticized Zhuge Ke for getting fatter and fatter, and Zhuge Ke replied with the cultivation of virtue and the enrichment of the body.

Zhuge Ke took the letter, bowed and retreated, with a lot of pride in his expression.

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Ke's back and frowned slightly. In his eyes, Zhuge Ke is smart and smart, but he is too clever to play tricks. Small wisdom is not as good as great wisdom, and it is clever rather than talented!

"Now you can find an opportunity to release Yuan Xun and sharpen your mind!" Liu Bei said secretly.

After a while, Wang Cang hurriedly came and said, "Your Majesty, General Huang unfortunately fell off his horse when he was practicing on the horse. ”

"What?"

Liu Bei got up from the couch abruptly, looked anxious, and asked, "How is the situation of Hansheng today?" Can I send a doctor to visit? ”

Wang Cang shook his head and said, "General Huang Lao has fallen into a coma, and Doctor Du has gone to rectify it. As for whether there is a danger to life, it is not up to the minister to know. ”

"This?"

Liu Bei sighed and said, "Han Sheng is more than seventy years old, and he suffered from cold illness last year, and his strength is gradually declining. I originally wanted to let him stay in Beijing to recuperate, how could I let him practice now? ”

In the autumn of last year, Huang Zhong suffered from a high fever due to cold, although he was treated by Du Du and recovered. But the old man's body collapsed, and after that, Huang Zhong's body was weak and weak, and he had no style of fighting in the past.

In this Northern Expedition, Liu Bei took Huang Zhong's health into account and prepared to let Huang Zhong stay at home to support his old age, and ordered his adopted son Huang Xu to take care of Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong couldn't obey him, he had to get on the horse to practice, ready to show his ability with riding and archery. Unexpectedly, Huang Zhong, whose physical function declined, fell off the horse directly during the exercise.

Liu Bei paced for a while, sighed and said: "In the past, most of the generals who fought with me in the world have gray hair, Yunchang, Xingba, and Junyi died of illness, Han Sheng is old and useless, and now only Yide, Zilong, Shuzhi, Zhongye, etc., will gradually wither. It was the Northern Expedition or another general, for the purpose of future succession. ”

The death of Cao Cao and Guan Yu can be seen as the end of the late Han Dynasty. Those who can still fight today are all yellow-haired old men. Even Liu Bei is sixty-one years old, his beard is more white and less black, and his face is full of wrinkles, which belongs to the old man.

As he spoke, Liu Bei pointed to the outside of the hall and said, "Zhong Xuan, let the crown prince go to visit the old general Huang on my behalf today, and tell the old general to recuperate from his injuries." ”

"No!"

Pacing, Liu Bei walked to the gate of the hall, looking at the blue sky, his expression was slightly gloomy.

After half a ring, Liu Bei asked, "Is there any movement in Luoyang?" ”

"Your Majesty, according to the scout's letter, Cao Zhang's big break in Liaodong, Gongsun Gong surrendered, and Cao Zhang's victory returned to the dynasty. Cao Pi ordered the establishment of Pingzhou, which governed four counties. And Sima Yi, the assassin of Jingzhou, was transferred back to Beijing, and his successor, Xiahou Shang, ordered to build Wancheng and store military food and equipment, thinking that it was far ahead. ”

"Huh!"

Liu Bei was melancholy, and said with emotion: "In the past, when I went to Xuchang, Xiahou was still a child, but now the child has grown up. ”

Saying that, Liu Bei stroked his beard and sighed, and said: "Light taxes are banned, open up the state, go down to the Shi clan, and go to Yue Zhuqing." Looking at what he did, Cao Pi seems to have the style of a virtuous monarch. Now he is in the prime of life, and I am afraid that I will not be able to reach it. ”

When the cronies heard this, they couldn't answer silently.

In the silence, an attendant spoke out and said with relief: "In less than ten years, Cao Pi should not have his life, Your Majesty should not worry, the Central Plains may be profitable at that time." ”

Liu Bei looked for prestige, but saw that it was Shangshu Kan Ze who spoke.

Liu Bei was curious and asked, "How does Kan Qing know about it?" ”

Kan Ze said with a smile: "In words, not ten is Pi, this is the principle of the number of words." According to this, Cao Pi lived for less than ten years. ”

The Han Dynasty Pi is different from later generations, the middle is 丨, and the shape is not lower than ten. Not ten is Pi, that is, a combination of Pi, after splitting, combined with Cao Pi's name, which means that Cao Pi lived less than ten years.

"Haha!"

Listening to these words, Liu Bei was amused by Kan Ze's words, and said: "It's really like Kan Qing's words, Cao Pi died in less than ten years, and this should be the credit of Qing!" ”

"Please write it down on the scarf, so that your Majesty will not forget it in ten years!" Kan Ze smiled with a smile.

"Ten years from now?"

Liu Bei shook his head and smiled, looked at Wang Cang, and asked, "I Wenqing wants to repair the history book, I don't know if there is such a thing?" ”

"Don't dare to deceive, the minister has this intention!"

Wang Cang's expression was calm, and he replied truthfully: "Since the end of the Han Dynasty, Gongsun Bogui, Yuan Benchu, Yuan Highway, Sun Wentai, etc., are all heroes of the moment. However, the world has been divided for a long time, the classics have been burned, the country has no history, the ministers miss the heroes and heroes, no one has recorded their history, and I am afraid that future generations will not know, it is a pity! ”

After deep thought, the minister wanted to imitate Sima Gong's private historiography, record the life of the heroes and heroes of the late Han Dynasty, and make shallow comments on them, so as to pass them on to future generations. Before reporting to His Majesty, the ministers should be afraid. ”

Liu Bei carried the back of his hands and waist, and said with emotion: "Zhong Xuan recorded the affairs of the Han Dynasty in a text, which is to have a heroic spirit. Today, I Zhun Qing wrote history, not the history of the country of Ji Han, but a private history book, full of the life of Zhu Hao, not to be biased. ”

As he spoke, Liu Bei pointed to Kan Ze and said with a smile: "Zhong Xuan, I am a hero, and when I am in the life of this Qing, I must record Kan Qing's words." ”

"Your Majesty's order, the minister does not dare not do it!" Wang Cang smiled and received the order.

"The history of Qing Xiu, is it famous?" Liu Bei asked.

Wang Cang hesitated for a moment and said, "It's not famous yet!" ”

Liu Bei pondered and said with a smile: "If you want to carry a hero's life, why not call it "Hero"!" ”

"Heroes?"

Wang Cang tasted it a few times, thanked him, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your name!" ”

"Heroes: The Chronicles of the Ancestors of the Han Dynasty": At the beginning, Cao Pi ascended the throne, and the ancestor calmly asked the ministers: "Cao Pi ascended the throne in his prime, am I afraid that I can't reach it?" The ministers were not right, and Shangshu Kan Ze said: "Less than ten years, Pi Qi is nothing, Your Majesty should not worry." ”

Zhongzu said: "How do you know? Ze said: "In words, not ten is Pi, and this number is also." Zhongzu laughed for it, and said: "Qing should remember it, in order to test Zeyu." "Shi Cangchu wrote a private history, and the ancestors allowed it. As Ze said, Piguo died in seven years.

(End of chapter)