Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

Liu Zhang knew that the current situation was not suitable for him to take the mountain road, so he chose the sea route, which would perfectly allow him to avoid Gu Rubing's eyes.

On the boat, Liu Zhang finally had time to communicate with Meng Huo and Miao Moqing.

"What do you two want? As long as I, Liu Zhang, can afford it, I will definitely give it to you."

"My Lord, we need you to provide five days of strong men every month. Of course, don't ask me what we do. I think Lord Shi Xie should know our purpose!"

Strong men? The only people who could agree to the Gu tribe's request were the soldiers in the military camp.

Five thousand a month, how many people do I have? If I continue to pay like this, I won't be able to hold on for long.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhang immediately shook his head.

"You two, what you want is a little, how about three thousand a month?"

"can!"

Meng Huo knew clearly that neither Liu Zhang nor anyone else would agree to 5,000 men a month. He was just asking for an exorbitant price and waiting for the other party to bargain.

Seeing Meng Huo's reaction, Liu Zhang knew that he had given too much.

But now that he has already said it, given Liu Zhang's status, he will not change his words.

Surena on the side looked at the two people in front of him with confusion.

He didn't understand, what did the Gu tribe want people for? Was it to hide a private army? If so, let alone in the Anluo Empire, even in the Central Plains, this behavior would be a serious crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the clan. How could Liu Zhang agree to it?

Although he had doubts in his mind, Surena did not dare to say anything. The man in front of him was a legendary general. If he made him unhappy, he would be beaten into pieces with just a wave of his hand!
Gu Rubing sent a letter to Sun Jian, hoping to meet him, but after the messenger sent it, it was like a stone sinking into the sea and never came back.

In desperation, Gu Rubing sent another messenger over.

Just one day later, the messenger was rescued and received the news that Sun Jian did not want to see them.

This made Gu Rubing a little angry.

Now Sun Jian is doomed to lose. It is a fight like a trapped beast. I gave him a chance, but he didn't cherish it and wasted my time in vain.

But this time, Gu Rubing wronged Sun Jian.

Sun Jian was extremely frustrated at this moment.

The Gu tribe left the military camp, and no one knew where the two legendary generals had gone. His own fighting power was suddenly greatly reduced. Once Cao Cao learned that his strength had been weakened so much, Sun Jian didn't know whether Cao Cao would still support him.

Sun Jian not only refused to see Gu Rubing's people, but also rejected people sent by Cao Cao.

"My Lord, we have been searching for a long time, even going to the ancestral land of the Gu tribe, but there is still no news."

Zhou Yu was also a little confused about the current situation. Although he had always been arrogant, he had to lower his proud head when facing the current situation.

Sun Jian still can't figure out why the people of the Gu tribe just left like that. Did he disappoint them in some way?
Three days have passed at this time.

Gu Rubing wanted to minimize casualties and had not launched any offensive, while Yulin County welcomed a guest.

Liu Zhang and others finally arrived.

However, the first person Liu Zhang went to see was Cao Cao.

When Cao Cao saw the Gu tribe members behind Liu Zhang, he instantly guessed the current situation.

"King Yi, you are really good at this!"

This time, Cao Cao called Liu Zhang "the King of Stranger" from the bottom of his heart. It was just polite words before. After all, the strength of both sides was there. But now Cao Cao had to face Liu Zhang squarely.

Liu Zhang also noticed the change in Cao Cao, and couldn't help feeling a little proud.

"King Wei, why did you call me here?"

"Now Liu Bei's army is at the gates of the city. Although we have 300,000 troops stationed here, I am not sure we will win if the two sides really fight. I would like to ask King Yi to send troops from Xiliang to contain Liu Bei and force him to fight on two fronts. I will also find an opportunity to take action in Ba County and force Liu Bei to open up a third battlefield. With three fronts, I don't think Liu Bei will be able to hold out for long."

Hearing this, Liu Zhang did not say anything, but looked at Surena beside him.

Cao Cao's method is indeed a good idea, but it means that the Anluo Empire has to mobilize all its national strength. Under the current circumstances, paying so much for Sun Jian is not worth it no matter how you look at it.

Sun Jian also received the news that Liu Zhang was coming, and Liu Zhang was accompanied by people from the Gu tribe.

Upon hearing this, Sun Jian immediately stood up, a surge of anger suddenly rising in his heart, and even a hint of murderous intent in this anger.

Just as Liu Zhang was talking to Cao Cao, Sun Jian and Sun Ce rushed into Cao Cao's room in a menacing manner.

"King Yi is really good at this. He actually found me when he tried to poach someone."

Seeing the murderous look in Sun Jian's eyes, Liu Zhang was so scared that he couldn't help but take a few steps back.

Although his strength is now stronger than Sun Jian, Liu Zhang still has some fear in his heart when facing Sun Jian.

Seeing Liu Zhang being threatened, Meng Huo knew that it was time for him to stand up.

"King Wu, leaving you is our own choice. It has nothing to do with you, my lord!"

It would have been fine if Meng Huo didn't speak, but as soon as he spoke, Sun Jian looked at Meng Huo.

"I won't say how good I am to you Gu people, but at least I haven't treated you unfairly. Why do you treat me like this?"

"King Wu, a good bird chooses a tree to roost in, and it is human instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm. You are very good to us, but we helped you to capture cities and strongholds along the way, which is also a way of repaying your kindness. Now, in order to follow you, we have even lost our ancestral land. We are disappointed in you, so please let us leave."

When Sun Jian saw this scene, he couldn't help but clench his fists, and the murderous look on his face became more and more intense.

Miao Moqing was also standing beside Meng Huo at this time. She did feel a little guilty towards Sun Jian, but it was impossible for her to watch her king in danger because of this guilt.

Seeing this, Sun Ce hurried to Sun Jian and protected him behind him.

"Father, the situation is not favorable for us now, it is best not to conflict with them!"

Sun Ce's voice sounded in Sun Jian's ears. After hesitating for a moment, Sun Jian suppressed the murderous aura in his body.

Feeling the murderous aura disappear, Meng Huo and Miao Moqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Cao Cao originally wanted to watch a good show, but he didn't expect that at this critical moment, Sun Jian actually calmed down. He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, but he still stood up.

"Well, now that the three of us are in an alliance, it doesn't matter who this person is under!"

"Humph."

Sun Jian snorted coldly and sat aside, sulking.

"King Wei, we can indeed agree with what you said, but if so, I'm afraid our Anluo Empire will have to be mobilized, and our losses will be huge. We can't just work in vain..."

Surena didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

"Okay, what do you want?"

"This... I haven't thought of it yet. I'll tell you when I think of it!"

"it is good!"

After everyone finished discussing, Cao Cao invited everyone to gather together. After eating, he asked someone to send Liu Zhang and others downstairs to rest.

Sun Jian always felt that Surena had something to say, but he didn't say it out loud. It was obvious that he was avoiding someone.

Without absolute strength, Sun Jian's sense of crisis increased a lot, and he felt that Surena was targeting him.

late at night.

Cao Cao was resting in his room when there was a knock on the door.

"My Lord, Surena is here to see you!"

Cao Cao frowned slightly, put on his clothes, stood up and opened the door.

Then he saw Surena standing alone at the door, and Xun Yu was also standing beside him.

"come in."

After the three entered the room, Cao Cao looked at Surena.

"What's going on?"

"King Wei, King Wu was here just now, so I can't say some things. According to your plan, our Anluo Empire will probably suffer heavy losses. I know that the Central Plains is rich in resources and fertile land, and our king has always wanted to settle in the Central Plains again. I know this, so I hope that Yulin County will be given to us, and you can send people out to assist in the defense!"

"Yulin County?"

Yulin County belongs to Sun Jian, and Surena's intention is obviously to kick Sun Jian out.

If it were in the past, he would definitely not agree, but now the status of the major princes has changed. No matter how you look at it, Liu Zhang's strength is far greater than Sun Jian's.

"As long as you follow our plan, I can give Yulin County to you!"

Yulin County is the gateway to resist Gu Rubing. The stronger the gatekeeper is, the happier Cao Cao will be.

The two men thought that Sun Jian didn't know about their plan, but with his suspicion in the morning, Sun Jian asked Sun Ce to ambush quietly around them.

The legendary general had very good hearing, and Sun Ce heard the secret conversation between the two in the room.

"Cao Mengde, you villain!"

After muttering to himself for a while, Sun Ce immediately rushed to Sun Jian and told him everything they had discussed.

Hearing this, Sun Jian smashed the teacup beside him with a slap.

"Someone, bring Zhou Yu here."

"Yes!"

The soldiers guarding the door immediately turned around and left.

"Father, since Cao Cao is so unkind to us, don't blame us for being unjust. We should surrender to Liu Bei now, and with the help of both of us, we can defeat all of their forces in one fell swoop."

After listening to Sun Ce's words, Sun Jian suddenly hesitated.

Now that the two sides have been fighting for such a long time, he is not sure that Liu Bei will really spare his life. After all, he only has one legendary general in his hand, and he is the weakest legendary general at that. If Liu Bei really wants to kill him, he will not even have the means to save his life. His goal is to stay alive. As long as time is enough, with his own characteristics, he may even surpass the legendary general in the end.

Soon, Zhou Yu walked in from outside.

"My Lord, you are looking for me?"

Sun Jian nodded and told Zhou Yu everything.

Zhou Yu did not expect that Liu Zhang would be so ruthless, and he did not expect that Cao Cao would give up on them so easily.

"Gongjin, what do you think? Ce'er wants us to surrender to Liu Bei!"

"No, my lord, you cannot surrender. All of us can surrender to Liu Bei, except you. Because your existence is of no use to Liu Bei, and we will not surrender sincerely if you exist. Killing you is the best option for Liu Bei."

Zhou Yu's words made Sun Jian react immediately.

Yes, because of my identity, I absolutely cannot surrender.

"Then Gongjin, what do you think we should do?"

After thinking for a while, Zhou Yu immediately laughed.

"My lord, doesn't Liu Zhang want our Yulin County? If so, let's give it to him."

"What did you say?"

Sun Jian's face suddenly changed when he heard this.

Yulin County was the last territory in his hands. If he gave it to Liu Zhang, where would he go? Surrender to Liu Zhang? What a joke! This is simply a humiliation.

"My lord, don't worry. If Liu Zhang wants Yulin County, we will give it to him. We can take our people and leave completely. Now most of the people in the Anluo Empire are in Yulin County. It seems that there are only Shi Xie and a few famous generals in their country. The eldest son is a legendary general. It is not easy to deal with a few famous generals. Besides, we have the Dongwu fleet. It is not a problem to take us away."

Hearing this, Sun Jian immediately laughed.

Exchanging Yulin County for the Anluo Empire, this deal is a win no matter how you look at it.

"But how can we escape from Cao Cao's sight?"

"We need Liu Bei's help. Liu Bei's envoys are still with us, right? Please let them come. This plan must have Liu Bei's participation, otherwise it will be difficult for us to succeed."

"it is good!"

Soon after half a month of waiting, Gu Rubing's envoy finally met the long-lost Sun Jian.

When the messenger saw Sun Jian, he was about to say something but was interrupted by Sun Jian.

"I want to meet Liu Bei."

"what?"

The envoy did not expect that it would be so smooth. Gu Rubing's purpose was also to meet Sun Jian.

"Then please, King Wu, meet me at the foot of the city tomorrow night."

"it is good!"

After the messenger left, Sun Jian looked in the direction of Cao Cao.

"Cao Cao, Liu Zhang, since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust. I don't want this Yulin County anymore. If you want to defend it, you can do it yourself."

The two men didn't know that their plan had been discovered by Sun Jian. The two discussed for a long time before Surena left Cao Cao's room satisfied.

Gu Rubing had not expected that Sun Jian actually agreed to meet with him. Gu Rubing believed that Sun Jian must understand his purpose. Since he agreed to meet with him, there must be room for discussion on this matter.

Early the next morning.

Cao Cao immediately found Sun Jian.

"King Wu, now both sides are ready. Liu Zhang has also agreed to the request to send troops. Liu Zhang will set out to return to the Anluo Empire in two days. Shall we go together to see them off in two days?"

"Okay, everything is up to the King of Wei!"

Cao Cao looked at Sun Jian. This was the first time in such a long time that Sun Jian spoke to him so respectfully.

However, Cao Cao did not think much about it. After all, Sun Jian's strength was greatly reduced now, so it was reasonable for him to lower his posture.

Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction, patted Sun Jian on the shoulder, and left with a smile.

"Humph!"

Sun Jian looked at Cao Cao's back and snorted coldly. This was the last time he would tolerate Cao Cao.

Late at night, Sun Jian, escorted by Sun Ce, arrived at a woods outside the city under the moonlight.
.
(End of this chapter)