Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 108

In the second year of Jian'an, June 197 AD, Xuchang.

This whole year has been a bad luck year for Cao Cao.

In other words, before the Battle of Guandu, any year was a difficult year for Cao Cao.

When he first entered Yanzhou, he defeated the Yellow Turban of Qingzhou with difficulty, and then conquered from east to west, defeated Yuan Shu and defeated Tao Qian, and defeated Runan to conquer Lu Bu.

After finally being stable, he had to fight Yuan Shu badly.

In just a few years, Cao Cao was either fighting or on his way to fighting.

Any war is full of dangers, and even the family members were almost sent to Yecheng as hostages at the worst time.

Fortunately, everything survived.

It's just that at the beginning of this year, the southern expedition to Zhang Xiu caused him to lose his troops and generals, which was the most tragic time in history.

In history, he only lost Dianwei, Cao Ang, Cao Anmin and 2000 troops, but this time he added Cao Renlejin and nearly [-] elites.

The strength was almost weakened by a quarter, which made Cao Cao put away the arrogance he had when he first welcomed Liu Xie, and began to keep a low profile.

In May, Cao Cao learned his lesson and decided not to fight against Liu Biao anymore, so in the name of Liu Xie, he named Liu Biao the general who conquered the south, which was regarded as a gesture of goodwill, and he did not send Cao Hong to continue south to conquer Zhangxiu.

The two sides are at peace now, Cao Hong is stationed in Ye County, Liu Biao sent Gan Ning to station in Biyang, while Zhang Xiu is much more cowardly, I am in Rang County, and only sent a small number of troops to garrison Wancheng.

After being named General Zhengnan by Liu Xie, Liu Biao really stopped being hostile to Cao Cao, and even sent an envoy Han Song to Xuchang again to worship the emperor.

The main reason is that in history, Liu Biao’s governor of Jingzhou was given by Dong Zhuo. Later, the positions and titles of Zhennan General, Jingzhou Mu, and Wu Chenghou were conferred by Li Jue. Although they were all in the name of Liu Xie, in terms of legal theory It's still a bit off.

So now that Liu Xie has personally named him General Zhengnan, it is considered to be a formal legal principle, and Liu Biao is naturally very happy.

And Cao Cao doesn't dare to underestimate Liu Biao now. In history, he personally conquered Nanyang several times and defeated Liu Biao's army.Therefore, Cao Cao never took him seriously, nor promoted him to an official position.

But this time he had to do so. When his strength suffered a great loss, he had to consider who could be messed with and who couldn't be messed with.

Under normal circumstances, Yuan Shu falls within the category of not to be messed with.

He just proclaimed himself emperor this year, and his strength is at its peak, with more than [-] troops. Cao Cao lost his troops and now has only [-] troops. The chances of winning a direct confrontation with him are definitely not too great. More importantly, we have to worry about Lu Bu's manner.

Once Lu Bu and Yuan Shu were mixed together, the threat to Cao Cao would be too great.

This made him very worried.

Xuchang Sikong Mansion, after returning from Nanyang in March, the originally thriving mansion seemed much deserted in just three months.

Cao Cao sat cross-legged on the wooden porch by the pond in the backyard alone, looking at the fish swimming in the pond, a little lost in thought.

It is summer, the sun is blazing, and the water is sparkling, making people feel warm and hot.

The servants and maidservants walking around tiptoed around, not daring to disturb him.

After the Battle of Nanyang, Cao Ang died in battle. Cao Cao's original wife, Mrs. Ding, was furious about this. She severed ties with Cao Cao and took some of her servants back to her hometown.

There is no original wife in the family, only a few concubines are left, and the inner house is empty, which seems to be a little less popular.

It will take another two years for Mrs. Bian, when Cao Cao tries to bring Mrs. Ding back but fails, and finally divorces Mrs. Ding, she will be established as the main wife.

Therefore, there is no owner in the inner house of the Cao family.

Usually when Cao Cao was bored, Mrs. Ding could persuade him a few words, but now no one dared to persuade him.

However, Mrs. Bian knew that Cao Cao was not in a good mood these days, and worried that he would suffer from heat stroke if he sat like this in the hot weather, so he prepared a plum soup to quench his thirst, that is, sour plum soup.

"Husband."

Mrs. Bian walked slowly to the corridor with the sour plum soup, waved her hand, and signaled the servants on the left and right who were already standing with sore legs to go down and rest first.

Then he knelt down beside Cao Cao, put the plate on the porch, and handed the sour plum soup to Cao Cao.

"Well, ma'am."

Cao Cao responded, took the sour plum soup from Mrs. Bian, held it in his hand, and said casually, "Where are Pi'er and the others?"

Mrs. Bian said: "The weather is too hot, they will feel drowsy after noon, and they have already fallen asleep."

"Is Cang Shu asleep too?"

Cao Cao asked.

Cang Shu is Cao Chong's nickname. Cao Chong is almost two years old this year.

Normally, children can speak when they are one and a half years old, and can read and write when they are three years old.

But Cao Chong was a child prodigy. According to historical records, his intelligence at the age of five was about the same as that of an adult. He could speak at the age of nine months, and he could read and write at the age of one and a half. Cao Cao loved him very much.

He once said that although Shen's children are precocious, they are still not as good as my family's Cangshu. Although there are suspicions of self-promotion, it also shows that Cao Chong is indeed intelligent.

"Cang Shu is asleep too."

Mrs. Bian said with a smile: "Before he went to bed, he said that he would recite an essay for Ye Ye when he woke up."

"Oh?"

Cao Cao was quite surprised and said, "Cang Shu already knows how to recite essays?"

"That's not true, I just know how to recite Chapter 1 of "Cang Jie Pian", 120 characters, but who can memorize so many characters before the age of two? I'm afraid that if you wait another two years, Cang Shu must have a brilliant literary talent."

Mrs. Bian picked up some nice things to tell Cao Cao, she knew Cao Cao liked to hear this.

After hearing this, Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed loudly: "Hahahaha, it would be great to be able to recite Chapter 1 of "Cangjie Pian". I have this unicorn, so why worry about our Cao family not being prosperous?"

After being coaxed by Mrs. Bian with Cao Chong, Cao Cao's depression of approaching Yingchuan because of Yuan Shu's capture of Chen Guoliang was much better.

The two chatted about other things, and at this moment, a servant came in and said, "Sikong, Lu Bu sent an envoy Chen Deng to Xuchang, and he is outside the door now."

"Oh?"

Cao Cao murmured, "Let him wait in the front hall first, and then send someone to invite the military officer to offer wine. When the military officer comes, call him to the middle hall."

"only."

The servant will arrange it.

Mrs. Bian said: "My husband has important matters to deal with, so my concubine has to go back to the inner house first."

"Ah."

Cao Cao nodded, stood up and went to the front hall.

After the conquest of Nanyang, many things happened in Kanto.

For example, last year when Gongsun Zan defeated Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao sent troops to attack Gongsun Zan and besieged him in Yijing.

Everyone can see the current situation in Hebei. Gongsun Zan is at the end of his battle, and it will be a matter of time before Yuan Shao occupies the north.

In addition, in May of this year, Yuan Shu went north to occupy Chen Guo and Liang Guo. In order to prevent Lu Bu from forming an alliance with him, Cao Cao quickly sent envoys to Lu Bu and promised to promote him to General Zuo.

What I didn't expect was that Lu Bu originally planned to form an alliance with Yuan Shu, and at Yuan Shu's request, he planned to marry his daughter to Yuan Shu's son.

However, Chen Gui, Chen Deng and his sons obstructed it and successfully persuaded Lu Bu to refuse to form an alliance with Yuan Shu, which was regarded as indirectly helping Cao Cao.

Now Lu Bu sent Chen Deng to Xuchang again, probably for this matter.

The reason why Guo Jia was able to be photographed by Cao Cao on such an extremely important occasion was that after the Battle of Nanyang, Cao Cao was defeated by Zhang Xiu and fled back to Yingchuan in despair.

Yuan Shao immediately sent someone to send a letter, the words were arrogant and humiliated Cao Cao.

This incident made Cao Cao furious.

However, because Yuan Shao was about to defeat Gongsun Zan and occupy the entire north, and his strength was strong, Cao Cao was very afraid and did not dare to respond.

Only Guo Jia put forward the theory of ten victories and ten defeats to him, which gave Cao Cao a lot of confidence, so since then, he has set up a military division to sacrifice wine, officially allowing Guo Jia to enter the core circle of advisers.

Later, Cao Cao's five great advisers have not yet formed.

Xun Yu has a cooperative relationship with him and is currently in charge of Shangshutai; Jia Xu is still following Zhang Xiu in Nanyang; Xun You is the prefect of Runan and helps Cao Cao stabilize Runan; Cheng Yu is the prefect of Jiyin and sits in Yanzhou.

Therefore, Guo Jia was the only one who was by his side, and when something happened, he really needed Guo Jia to help him analyze it.

Soon Cao Cao came to the middle hall. At this time, Chen Deng was waiting in the front hall. The servant is now looking for Guo Jia.

About a quarter of an hour later, Guo Jia came in a hurry. When he entered the hall, he saw that Cao Cao was reading some official documents on the master case, so he cupped his hands and said, "Duke Ming."

"Ah."

Cao Cao put down the official document and said to Guo Jia, "Sit down first, Fengxiao."

"Thank you, Mr. Ming."

Guo Jia sat just below Cao Cao's right hand.

After he sat down, Cao Cao said, "Lü Bu sent an envoy, Chen Deng, what do you think of Fengxiao?"

Guo Jia laughed and said: "I already know about this matter. Yuan Shu sent someone to contact Lu Bu at the beginning of this year, intending to marry Lu Bu's daughter for his son. Mr. Pei Xiang and his son Han Yu urged Lu Bu to thwart Yuan Shu's plan. It can be seen from this that they are people who have a heart for the imperial court, and Chen Deng is here to test it out, or it can be cited as an internal response."

If it is said that you can understand people's hearts, there is no one like Guo Jia in the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms.

In May, the envoy Cao Cao sent to see Lv Bu happened to meet Chen Gui and Chen Deng and his son, who thwarted Yuan Shu's plot to form an alliance with Lv Bu, so Lv Bu arrested Yuan Shu's envoy Han Yin, who was brought over by Chen Deng this time. To Cao Cao.

Everyone already knew about this matter, but Guo Jia judged from it that Chen Gui and Chen Deng and his son did not really want to work for Lu Bu, so he persuaded Cao Cao to win over the two and let them serve as internal support.

Cao Cao nodded and said, "I think so too. If Chen Yuanlong and his son really want the court, it would be great for the court."

While speaking, the waiter brought Chen Deng over from the front hall.

Chen Deng is eight feet tall, with a handsome face and a heroic demeanor. He walked into the hall calmly, and when he saw Cao Cao, he stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Deng, I have met Cao Cao."

"Ah."

Cao Cao said, "Your envoy, please sit down. Lu Bu sent you to see Gu. What's the matter?"

At the beginning of the year, Liu Xie granted Cao Cao the title of Marquis of Wuping, and the titles of the Zhou Dynasty were Gong, Hou, Bo, Zi, and Nan. Among them, those above the Marquis can call themselves orphans.

In the Qin and Han Dynasties, because of the prevalence of twentieth-level titles, the four nobles of Gong, Bo, Zi, and Nan were basically abolished, leaving the Marquis. Among them, the Marquis of Guannei was the lowest rank of Marquis, followed by Liehou.

The lieutenants are divided into three, six, and nine grades, which are Dutinghou, Tinghou, Duxianghou, Xianghou, and the highest is Countyhou. The land of a county is a Houguo.

Cao Cao's Marquis Wu Ping and Marquis Wu Cheng of Liu Biao are both at the first level of county marquis, so now when Cao Cao talks to outsiders, he calls himself "Gu".

"Thank you, Mr. Cao."

Chen Deng sat down and said, "At the beginning of the year, Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor in Huainan and sent his envoy Yin to marry Lv Bu. Did Mr. Cao know?"

Cao Cao noticed that what Chen Deng was talking about was Yin Jie Lu Bu, not Yin Jie my lord, he felt relieved immediately, nodded and said, "Of course I know, I would like to thank Lord Han Yu and Yuan Long this time, if it weren't for you, the court might be in danger gone."

He also spoke a little closer, laying the groundwork for wooing Chen Deng in the future.

Chen Deng said solemnly: "My father and I discouraged Lu Bu for the sake of the country and the world, and did not intend to invite credit. This time, I just wanted to tell Cao Gong that Yuan Shu's wolfish ambitions are based in Huainan. It is difficult to support him for a long time. The public is the first." Make good friends with Lu Bu and drive Yuan Shu back from Yuzhou, so as to protect the safety of Xudu."

Cao Cao said: "I know all these things. Yuan Shu has already entered Chen State and intends to attack Yingchuan. How can I tolerate him? However, Huainan brother owns the land in the east of the river, and Runan follows it. There are many soldiers and generals, and he wants to fight alone. , but we are invincible.”

Chen Deng immediately said: "I would like to urge Lu Bu to form an alliance with Cao Gong. Lu Bu killed Yuan Shu's envoy, and Yuan Shu was already annoyed. He must send troops to fight for it. You can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight."

"good."

Cao Cao nodded approvingly, and said, "I don't know how Yuanlong sees Lu Bu?"

Chen Deng said: "Lü Bu is brave and unplanned, and he is not a good minister of the country. After he came to Xuzhou, he attacked Liu Huangshu Yu Xiaopei, forced my father, and made everyone in Xuzhou renounce him. After the Duke conquered Yuan Shu, it is appropriate Picture it early."

Cao Cao sighed, "That's right. Lu Bu is a capricious person. Even if he is given a high salary today, he will definitely rebel in the future. You are by his side, and only you know the truth."

Chen Deng immediately stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Deng is willing to respond to Duke Cao."

Cao Cao was overjoyed and said: "With the help of Yuanlong, the imperial court can regain Huaibei as soon as possible. I want to play the emperor, and Biaoqing will be the prefect of Guangling. How about entrusting the affairs of the East to you?"

"Deng will never disgrace his life."

Chen Deng agreed to the matter, but he actually hated Lv Bu very much. Now he is serving as Cao Cao's internal support, naturally, so that the imperial court can recover Xuzhou one day.

Cao Cao was very happy to win over Chen Deng, and rewarded Chen Deng's father, Chen Gui. At the same time, he discussed with Chen Deng how to form an alliance with Lu Bu temporarily and attack Yuan Shu.

This time Lu Bu sent Chen Deng over with one of the biggest purposes, which was to get the imperial court to formally confer him the title of Xuzhou Mu.

When Liu Bei came to help Tao Qian before, Liu Xie was still in Chang'an, and Tao Qian played Liu Bei as the governor of Yuzhou. When he was about to die, he gave Xuzhou to Liu Bei. Did not accept the canonization of the court.

When Cao Cao welcomed the emperor last year, he was officially conferred the titles of General Zhendong and Marquis of Yicheng Ting.But Liu Bei was not listed as Xuzhou Shepherd, so his real name as Xuzhou Shepherd was not correct, and the prefects of all counties and countries did not listen to him.

After Lu Bu occupied Xuzhou by force, he asked for a seal on the table.At that time, Liu Xie was on his way to move east to Luoyang. He was still in Hedong, and he was not given the official position of Xuzhou Mu, but was given to General Pingdong.

At the end of the Han Dynasty, there were already generals of Sizheng, Sizhen, and Siping. General Pingdong was still under Liu Bei, the general of Zhendong. Of course, Lu Bu was not happy.

So after driving Liu Bei away again this year, he has always hoped that the court can formally confer him the title of Xuzhou Mu.

Cao Cao naturally knew what he was thinking.

Before Lu Bu occupied Xuzhou by force, because he did not have the position of Xuzhou Mu, he could not govern Xuzhou at all. Zang Ba, Xiao Jian and others ignored him at all. He couldn't integrate these forces, so naturally he couldn't grow in Xuzhou.

Now if he is really given the Xuzhou Shepherd, he can lead Xuzhou in a legitimate way, can appoint and remove county magistrates and prefects of various counties, and hold the power of personnel, finance and governance, and Lu Bu can unify the power of the five counties in Xuzhou. Get up, then it will be difficult to deal with.

Therefore, after discussing with Chen Deng, Cao Cao believed that Xuzhou Mu must not be given to him.

But he had to be reassured.

Cao Cao pondered for a long time, and finally gave him a letter written by himself in addition to the promised General Zuo, called "Handwriting and Lu Bu".

The content of the letter is different from that in history. In history, Cao Cao just told Lu Bu about the current difficulties of the court. Even Lu Bu’s left general’s gold seal and purple ribbon were rebuilt by him with his own gold and purple ribbon. I hope Lu Bu can know His sincerity.

But this time, apart from talking about the golden seal and purple ribbon, he also praised Lu Bu's "loyalty" and gave Lu Bu a little bit of sweetness. In addition to the official position of General Zuo, he was also given the right to open the government, and at the same time painted a big cake , Said that after Yuan Shu was eliminated, he would be given the post of Xuzhou Shepherd, so that he could lead Xuzhou in a legitimate manner.

This is already a sign of weakness.

The reason is that this defeat in Nanyang caused Cao Cao a lot of losses, so he had to be careful, and his gestures in his words made Lu Bu feel embarrassed to trouble him again.

After Chen Deng got the letter, he took Lv Bu's golden seal and purple ribbon, and set off to return to Xuzhou to report to Lv Bu.

Cao Cao personally sent him outside the city, and shook hands with him to say goodbye.

Since then, the alliance between Lu Bu and Yuan Shu has been completely divided, and Cao Cao can also send troops to attack Chen Guo and Liang Guo with peace of mind, and drive Yuan Shu's forces out of Yuzhou.

(End of this chapter)