Xuzhou in the first year of Jian'an was really not peaceful, experienced several large and small battles, and encountered the most severe drought in several years, the crop harvest plummeted, and then Huaiyin and Xiapi had epidemics, so that the population of Huaiyin City plummeted.

Fortunately, there was no danger, Xuzhou returned to Liu Bei's hands, the army and the people were concentric, the food problem did not cause major problems, and the epidemic was effectively controlled.

The next day, Zhao Chen slowly got up from the bed with his swelling head.

The two ladies beside her had already gotten up to wash, and the step trainer had already gone to the people's hall to sit for a consultation, and Mi Luyun was worrying about family affairs.

Seeing Zhao Chen get up, Mi Luyun took hot water and came to serve Zhao Chen to wash.

Although he has been used to it on weekdays, but now that he has changed his identity, Mi Luyun has a different feeling, and his face is flushed.

Zhao Chen stretched his waist heartlessly and walked towards the door.

In the early morning, the first snow fell in Xiapi City.

As a southerner, Zhao Chen was so happy to see the snow.

In a moment, goose feather snow fell from the sky and covered the land of Xuzhou.

Zhao Chen happily walked back and forth in the snow, and Mi Luyun on the side was quite relieved to see it.

Since Wan's departure, Zhao Chen has not shown a smile, and Liu Bei and others have not come to disturb Zhao Chen.

Zhao Chen relaxed himself on the snow, breathed a long sigh of relief, and finally had to let go.

On the handrails of the promenade, the snow slowly thickens.

Zhao Chen played with the ice cream-like snow, held Mi Luyun's hand, and said with a smile: "There is nothing to do today, enjoy the snow by the railing." ”

On that day, Liu Bei came to Zhao Chen with some wine and meat.

Drinking alcohol in the middle of winter is the best way to warm up.

When the two met, they each tacitly looked at each other and smiled, both of them were candles in the cave room, and they naturally understood the sweetness.

Liu Bei put a large piece of meat in front of Zhao Chen, and then went straight to the topic: "Houde, I came here today to ask about the road ahead." ”

Zhao Chen took a big sip of wine and replied, "I don't know what the lord is referring to?" ”

Liu Bei stopped the cup and said slowly: "This year is also a sudden change, taking in Lu Bu but being attacked by Lu Bu, and defeating Yuan Shu against Xutai, if it weren't for Houde to help prepare, I'm afraid I don't know where I am at this time." Houde helped to prepare for the difficult situation, and Beibei followed Houde's middle strategy, experienced dozens of large and small wars, and finally recovered Xuzhou. It's just that the revival of the Han dynasty is by no means like recovering Xuzhou, I don't know how our army will forge ahead next? ”

Zhao Chen suddenly realized, it turned out that Liu Bei wanted to ask him how to take the world.

"Since the lord asks today, Chen will analyze the current situation with the lord."

Liu Bei smiled: "That's naturally good." ”

Zhao Chen immediately ordered someone to take out the map of the Central Plains and dropped his finger on Yanzhou.

"Yanzhou Cao Cao?"

"Not bad. Cao Cao was entrenched in Yanzhou, and twice sent troops to Xuzhou without taking an inch of land, and now it is the most difficult time. Yuan Shao of Jizhou only parted ways with Cao Cao because of his political differences with Cao Cao about coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes, and the relationship between the two sides gradually deteriorated, and the dispute between Ji and Yan became increasingly prominent. Since Yuan Shu in the south has a jade seal, his heart is always ready to move, and he can't beat Liu Bei and Zhao Chen to the east, so he can only go north to compete with Cao Cao. In the west, Zhang Xiu, known as the gun king of the north, blocked the way, always staring at Cao Cao's one-third of an acre. ”

When Liu Bei heard this, he couldn't help but sigh, he was still envious of Cao Cao's presence in Yanzhou, with a large population and abundant grain and grass, which could compete with Yuan Shao, the fourth and third dukes in the north.

Now listening to Zhao Chen's analysis, he found that Cao Cao was not having an easy time.

Zhao Chen continued: "Although Yanzhou is a treasure land, it is surrounded by enemies, and the slightest mistake will lead to imprisonment. So Cao Cao always wanted to have a breakthrough, so as not to suffer from the enemy on his back. ”

Historically, Cao Cao also took Xuzhou to eliminate the hidden dangers in the east, broke the embroidery to prevent those from the west, and Yuan Shu in the south suffered by himself, not Cao Cao's opponent, so that he could concentrate on dealing with Yuan Shao in the north.

But now, because of Zhao Chen's arrival, Cao Cao let go of Wancheng and sought Xuzhou in advance to curb Liu Bei's development.

But he didn't want to be broken by Zhao Chen, and let Dian Wei die a year early.

Liu Bei sincerely admired Zhao Chen, he was very clear about Cao Cao's situation at a young age, and he was dozens of times better than ordinary strategists.

"Listening to Houde's meaning, is it to take Cao Cao from the west?"

Zhao Chen shook his head.

Although Cao Cao experienced two defeats, he still had 100,000 male soldiers, dozens of generals, and many strategists. Even if we lost before, with the current strength of our army, we are not yet an opponent. ”

Liu Bei got up, walked to Yutu, pointed his finger at Shouchun and asked, "Ask Yuan Shu to take the city to the west?" ”

"Yuan Shu has lived in Shouchun for a long time, holding heavy troops, although his strategists and soldiers are not as good as Cao Cao, but if he wants to win completely, he needs 100,000 male soldiers. What's more, Cao Cao is keen, if our army comes out of the nest and takes Yuan Shu from the west, Cao Cao will definitely take advantage of the weakness. At that time, it is very likely that Xuzhou will be lost, and Yuan Shu will not be found, and a city and a pool will not be found. ”

When Liu Bei heard this, he thought for a moment, and then moved his hand down three inches: "Could it be that Houde wants to go south to Yangzhou?" Against Liu Xuan and Sun Ce? ”

Zhao Chen said with a smile: "Lord, going south to Yangzhou will face the same problem. ”

Liu Bei made a difficult mistake this time, Yuan Shao was not an opponent in the north, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu in the west were not strong enough, and Sun Ce and Liu Miao in the south could not be realized, could it be that he would be trapped in Xuzhou? How could the great cause of reviving the Han dynasty stop here?

"Houde, don't sell Guanzi, although the Tao comes."

Zhao Chen saw Liu Bei's sad face, and hurriedly pointed his finger at Qingzhou.

Liu Bei was slightly startled and said with a smile: "Houdedon don't want to joke, Yuan Shao is the fourth and third dukes, and his strength is even higher than Cao Cao, how can our army be the enemy?" ”

Zhao Chen patiently explained: "Don't worry, lord. Now although Yuan Shao claims to occupy the land of Qingyu and Hebei Four Prefectures, but after careful analysis, this is not the case. Youzhou in the north, there is still Gongsun Zan to contain it, Yuan Shao can not withdraw the troops in the north, and Qingzhou, although Yuan Shao is involved, but not fully mastered, especially Qingzhou, which is adjacent to Xuzhou. When the lord and General Ziyi rescued Beihai Kongrong, they saw that the power in Qingzhou was complicated, and it was difficult for Yuan Shao to fully control it. ”

When Liu Bei heard this, he was like an initiation.

"Our army can first go north to take Qingzhou, and then sit and wait for Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to compete, and then seek to take Ji Yan Erzhou, welcome the saint in Xuchang, adjacent to Gongsun Zhan, and then go west, take Xiliang, and then turn south into Sichuan. At that time, the army of the commander will take Hefei to the south, send a general to the east, go down to Yangzhou from Xuzhou, and take Jingzhou from the land of Sichuan and Shu in the west. ”

Zhao Chen pointed all the way from the east to the west on the map, and the last three fingers went down together, crossed the land south of the Yangtze River, closed into a fist, and looked at Liu Bei with passion in his eyes.

Zhao Chen's exposition was done in one go, his words were impassioned, full of confidence, and Liu Bei was excited and eager to try, as if as long as he followed Zhao Chen's train of thought, it seemed that the world was at his fingertips.

"It is the heavens who love the Han and send Houde to help revive the Han family!"

Liu Bei raised his wine glass and said, "Houde, join me in respecting the Son of Heaven!" ”

The two raised their glasses to the sky to the west, bowed slowly, and then drank down.

Then the two feasted and enjoyed the snow together until noon.

Suddenly, a guard came in at the door and presented a bamboo slip.

Liu Bei glanced at it, frowned, and then handed the bamboo slip to Zhao Chen, and asked, "How do you think Houde should deal with this matter?" ”

Zhao Chen took the bamboo slip and slowly read the words on the bamboo slip.

Liu Bei waited quietly on the side.

After a while, the corners of Zhao Chen's mouth rose slightly, and he said with a smile: "Lord, Cao Cao still doesn't want to give up Xuzhou!" ”