When Cao Pei left, Cao Meng looked at the marching map and sighed slightly: "Speaking of which, this has to be blamed for Gu Qian, if it wasn't for Gu who decided to divide his troops and move forward, he would not have been taken advantage of by Sun Boling, maybe today he can really take advantage of the situation as you said, and take them by surprise." ”

Liu De smiled slightly and said, "The lord of the country has noticed it?"

Cao Meng slapped his thigh and scolded with a smile: "Nonsense, what you can see, can't you see it?" The Mo family army won a battle in front, and knew that our army was short of food and grass, so it could have taken advantage of the victory to press our southeast side and cut off the last grain road of our army, but now the Mo family army can't shrink, and even takes the initiative to shrink the battle line. ”

"The Mo family army has no leader, so it is natural to turn the offensive into a defensive position. ”

Although the second point Pei'er said was reasonable, after all, he was still young, and he didn't see the stability of the Mo family's court, not only because of Zhong Ni, but also because Sun Boling led the army. While Sun Boling is not in the army, is there really no chance in this battle......

"Lord, this battle ...... It shouldn't have been hit. Liu De said softly.

Cao Meng nodded and sighed: "Yes, there is a chance, but it is tantamount to gambling." Although there is no danger in the matter of fighting, there is no victory, but at the moment the morale of our army is not high, and if we force the war, the loss will be too great. ”

"If it is changed to a lonely year when he goes north alone, it is nothing to lose, anyway, there is nothing, only the life and death of a lone person, but this time is about the fortune of the sea, about whether the world can be unified in the future, I have to be careful. ”

"In that case, what is the Lord of the Kingdom going to do?"

Hearing this question, Cao Meng couldn't answer it, just closed his eyes and pondered, and said after a long time: "Liu De, how many days are left for our army's food and grass?"

"The lord of the country must be very clear in his heart......" Liu De said: "Although we have cleverly set up a name to get a lot of grain and grass from those big gentry over the past few days, but the army moves, food is the top priority, and everyone in the army is a pot-bellied man, it is estimated that ...... It didn't last five days. ”

"Five days ......" Cao Meng stroked his beard and asked, "What about the 50,000 captives?"

Liu De's tone was very flat: "According to the meaning of the lord of the country, two meals a day, one bowl of vegetable soup per person, and three pieces of bread, this is the most food that our army can give." ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Yi suddenly became angry, slapped the table with a slap, and scolded and said: "Lord, my old Zhang still has to say a few words, the 50,000 captives have eaten better, you see that we are now half hungry and half full, and we have to give them food, why bother? ”

"Zhang Yi, you are presumptuous!" Guan Changyu saw that the expression on Liu De's face was getting darker and darker, and immediately scolded: "The matter of sharing food is the decision of the lord of the country, how can you be abused here!"

"It's fine. Cao Meng waved his hand, "I know that everyone has some resentment in their hearts these days, so it's okay to talk about it...... However, Zhang Yi, you don't really use a spear to kill people, otherwise...... Don't blame Lone for being ruthless. ”

Zhang Yi muttered in a low voice: "If the second brother hadn't stopped me that day, I would have killed ...... a long time ago."

Then he was punched in the back by Guan Changyu, and then he stopped.

Cao Meng thought for a long time, and finally sighed: "Liu De, it seems that I am still lonely and wrong, and I didn't listen to your strategy earlier." Now it is obviously impossible for us to conquer the Mo family again, and we can't hold this flood pass anymore. ”

Liu De did not speak.

Cao Meng also knew that Liu De was giving him face, so he smiled and said: "Since this is the case, it is time to make a decision, while we are not out of food now, it is always too late to withdraw the army." ”

"Withdrawing troops?" As soon as these words came out, they immediately attracted the sideways glances of the three generals.

"Where are you going?" asked Guan Changyu.

Cao Mengdao: "Naturally, we will withdraw from Hongguan, and the places we occupied before will not be wanted, leaving 30,000 troops to garrison Pangdong, and there will always be two counties, so it's better than a trip for nothing." ”

Zhang Yi's eyes immediately widened: "So much land, don't you want it?"

Liu De calmly explained: "It's useless to come, our army's food and grass are simply not enough to supply 250,000 troops, and the larger the place to be defended, the more manpower is needed, but it is easy to fall into Sun Boling's tired enemy strategy." ”

Cao Meng nodded: "Yes, if that's the case, not to mention the place we occupied before, even the land of the two counties is not guaranteed, Sun Boling will not give us a chance, once he gains the power, our army will definitely be tight, and we will not be able to leave when we want to." ”

Liu De looked at Cao Meng and asked a crucial question: "What about the 50,000 captives?"

"What do you think?" Cao Meng asked for Liu De's opinion.

"Why should the lord ask more?"

"I see. Cao Meng sighed slightly: "Let them go, let them go...... Go home. ”

"Let it go?" Guan Changyu suddenly got up in shock, "That's 50,000 people, once they are allowed to go back, it will be an army, big brother, lord of the country, could it be that you have drunk too much......"

"Haha. After figuring it out, Cao Meng laughed, "On the contrary, Lone is now more sober than ever." Since it is difficult to blackmail the Mo family with captives, and you can't kill the captives and lose the hearts of the people in the world, it is better to let them go back. In fact...... What is 50,000 people? The Mo family would rather be strong and clear, but also protect the pass and thoroughly, which is unkind. It is unjust not to care about the life and death of these captives. And it is a great benevolence and righteousness to let these captives go. Lonely with great benevolence and righteousness to the injustice of the Mo family, these 50,000 people will definitely let the people know what kind of person I Cao Meng is after I go back. ”

He said in a deep voice: "And there are thousands of people in this world, if there is a name of "righteous teacher", when the time comes, there will only be more people who come to join Lonely, how much more than 50,000?"

"The lord of the kingdom is wise. ”

Liu De stood up straight, his hands and broad sleeves swayed with the movement, and he slowly lowered his waist with his face like a crown of jade, burying his head in the overlapping sleeves.

This is the person he chose, if he didn't have such a bearing, how could he give everything to repay him with blood?

However, at this time, Cao Meng sighed and said, "Speaking of which, I regret not letting Zhi'er go with the army, otherwise I can listen to his thoughts and see if it is the same as Pei'er's." ”

Liu De lowered his head and closed his eyes slightly.

Of course, he knew that Cao Meng had always disliked Cao Pei's son, but preferred the third son, Cao Wei.

This third son of Cao is not only highly accomplished in literature and Taoism, but also has a prodigal and free atmosphere, and in comparison, Cao Pei seems to be overly cautious, which is indeed incompatible with his father's temperament.

However, it is this prodigal intention of Cao Wei that makes him reckless, difficult to control the overall situation, and it is not a good choice for the prince.

On the contrary, Cao Pei is cautious and serious, and seems to be more able to carry the beams of the entire sea.

"The third prince is brilliant, but then he ......" Liu De said in a low voice: "Military and political affairs, I am afraid that it is not his strength." ”

Of course, Cao Meng knew that Liu De had always been more interested in Cao Pei, but he could follow Liu De in other things, including Liu De's strategy of releasing the prisoners.

But in this matter, he felt that he could not back down.

It is precisely because he has shortcomings in military and political affairs that he should have more experience and experience, broaden his horizons, and increase his knowledge. ”

Despite the countless thoughts in his heart, Liu De still took a deep breath and said indifferently: "Yes, but it is up to the lord of the country to decide." ”

Cao Meng stared at Liu De for a long time, and naturally noticed his apparent obedience, and even more aware of the persistence in his heart, and sighed and said, "That's it, let's not talk about this matter for now." Now that the strategy has been decided, let's start as soon as possible. When the sea iron rider came, he swallowed thousands of miles like a tiger, and when he left, he must not let people catch the slightest tail!"

n.