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

Liu Zhang knew clearly that if the current trend continued, the next step would be an uprising.

But the power he has now is not enough to suppress any rebels.

"Forget it. I won't care about this matter and I'll just pretend I don't know. Liu Bei can't do anything to you anyway. As long as I don't interfere, Liu Bei won't be able to target us."

Meng Huo nodded.

After Meng Huo left, Liu Zhang looked at Meng Huo's back and felt quite dissatisfied.

Why did Meng Huo want to help Liu Xie? Liu Zhang understood Meng Huo's idea at a glance. Isn't this just a job change?
Every month he would send a bunch of young and strong men to Meng Huo to raise the Gu tribe. However, the people of the Gu tribe not only did not help him, but also wanted to extort money from him, which made Liu Zhang unbearable.

But if he drives the Gu tribe away, he won't have any legendary generals who can control the situation. No matter what, he can only endure it now.

after a few days.

Gu Rubing rushed to Yulin County.

He contacted Liu Zhang immediately and told him everything Meng Huo had done.

However, the enmity that Gu Rubing had imagined did not happen.

Both sides seemed to be very calm. According to the information sent back by the spies, it seemed that Liu Zhang did not even mention this matter to Meng Huo, as if he was completely unaware of it.

This made Gu Rubing a little depressed.

He came back excitedly and told Liu Zhang the news, but was met with indifference from the other party. Isn't this just a case of slapping a cold butt for your efforts?
Seeing that there was no war in Yulin County, Gu Rubing simply rushed to Jianmen Pass.

"My lord, you are back."

When he saw Zhuge Liang, Gu Rubing could not help but complain to him and told him everything that had happened in Xu Du.

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

Zhuge Liang immediately grasped the problem.

"My Lord, you are wrong. How can you tell Liu Zhang about this?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Gu Rubing looked at Zhuge Liang in confusion.

"My lord, the reason why the front line is so stable is entirely because Liu Zhang has the Gu Clan. It is difficult for us to take action in a short period of time. And it is precisely because of the Gu Clan that Cao Cao will form an alliance with Liu Zhang. So as long as the Gu Clan does not take away Liu Zhang's position, no matter what the Gu Clan does, Liu Zhang will not turn against them."

"But Cao Cao is different."

After hearing this, Gu Rubing became even more confused. What did this matter have to do with Cao Cao?
"We are not the only enemies of Cao Cao. Liu Xie is also a threat. Although Wang Yue is under Cao Cao's command, he has not really joined Cao Cao. Wang Yue still only has the emperor in his heart. Cao Cao knows this. But if Cao Cao knew that the emperor had joined forces with the Gu tribe, it would mean that Liu Zhang would be useless. At the same time, the emperor's strength has become stronger. How could he let Wang Yue go?"

"Without Liu Zhang of the Gu Clan, how could Cao Cao possibly form an alliance with him? Wouldn't their alliance be broken?"

After hearing this, Gu Rubing finally reacted. Whether Cao Cao attacked Wang Yue or Liu Zhang, it was a good thing for them. As long as their alliance was broken, they could gain the greatest benefit with the least loss.

"I understand. I will contact Cao Cao now and tell him about this. I want to see what choice he is going to make."

Soon, Cao Cao heard about Wang Yue's alliance with the emperor and the Gu tribe.

When Cao Cao heard the news, he immediately called Xun Yu.

However, the information Xun Yu learned was not just that. Even after Liu Zhang knew the news, he still acquiesced.

Doesn't this mean that Liu Zhang is also on the side of the emperor? Although the emperor is in name only, he still has a certain say, but he has no troops. But now Wang Yue and Liu Zhang will both become the emperor's soldiers. With power and troops, the emperor's strength has become a threat to them.

"My lord, we can't let this go on any longer. We can't keep Wang Yue. We are so far away. The emperor is in Xudu, and all the news depends on Wang Yue. As long as we get rid of Wang Yue, the emperor will become a puppet again."

"This emperor can fall into anyone's hands, but not into Liu Zhang's hands. In Liu Bei's hands, he is at least an external threat to us. But if he falls into Liu Zhang's hands, it will not only be an external threat to us, but an attack from both inside and outside. We will be kicked out of the Han Dynasty like Sun Jian."

Cao Cao also thought that what Xun Yu said made sense, but no matter what, Wang Yue, the top killer, was at least still useful to him now and could cause considerable trouble to Gu Rubing.

So now we just need to stabilize our relationship with Liu Zhang, and then everything will be easy.

As for how to stabilize the relationship with Liu Zhang, Cao Cao did have an idea.

Gu Rubing was able to stabilize his relationship with Sun Jian by marrying Sun Shangxiang, so why couldn't I follow suit?
In the end, Cao Cao set his sights on the daughter who was the most suitable age, Cao Hua.

Originally, Cao Hua was going to prepare something for Liu Xie, but unexpectedly, he was forced to leave Xu Du.

The rear residence of Prince Wei’s palace.

A burst of elegant piano music came from a room.

Cao Cao walked into the room.

The music of the zither stopped, and Cao Hua immediately bowed when he saw Cao Cao come in.

"Meet the father."

Cao Cao pulled Cao Hua to sit on a chair beside him, looked at Cao Hua with an awkward smile and said, "Hua'er, you are not young anymore. Your father wants to find a marriage for you. What do you think?"

"The daughter is completely dependent on her father."

"What do you think of Liu Zhang?"

When he heard the name Liu Zhang, Cao Hua looked at Cao Cao in surprise.

"What? You don't want to?"

"Father, although Liu Zhang is a local lord, he is a little too old for my daughter, isn't he?"

"This……"

Cao Cao didn't know what to say for a moment. The age difference between the two was indeed very large, but if he married Liu Zhang's son instead of Liu Zhang, it would not be a very stable alliance.

After all, only they know these things, and they are not from this world.

"I know I have wronged you, but I really need this marriage to stabilize the political situation. I..."

"Father, your daughter knows."

When Cao Jie entered the palace, Cao Hua already knew that the fate of her sisters would be the same as Cao Jie's, becoming tools of political marriage. She had been mentally prepared for this situation.

"Okay, I'll prepare it now."

After Cao Cao left, a tear rolled down Cao Jie's eyes.

The originally cheerful piano music turned into a low and mournful sound at this moment.

From the sound of the piano, Cao Cao could of course hear Cao Hua's mood at the moment, but there was nothing he could do. Now, with Gu Rubing in front of him and Liu Zhang behind him, he could neither move forward nor retreat.

Liu Zhang was worrying about food supplies and territory when he suddenly received a letter from Cao Cao, in which he mentioned a marriage proposal.

He thought he had seen it wrong and that it was a marriage arrangement with his son. After reading it carefully, he finally confirmed that it was a marriage arrangement with himself.

"Is Cao Cao crazy? He wants to marry his daughter to me? The age difference is huge." Although Liu Zhang said this, his brother was not a gentleman, so of course he agreed to this good thing.

However, Liu Zhang also knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, only traps.

Surena was immediately called in.

When Surena heard that Cao Cao was going to marry Liu Zhang, he thought about it and understood what Cao Cao meant.

"My lord, Cao Cao must have thought that it was not the Gu tribe that was in alliance with the emperor, but us, so Cao Cao wanted us to stand on his side. Obviously, Cao Cao didn't know our situation. In this case, we might as well make the best of it. Besides, aren't we short of food and grass? Then we will ask them for food and grass. We will get whatever we need."

"But Cao Cao has already sent us a daughter. If we still want food and fodder, isn't that a bit too much?"

"My lord, don't forget that we are now hesitating whether to stand with the emperor or Cao Cao, so the more we want, the more confident we are."

Liu Zhang laughed out loud when he heard this.

When Cao Cao saw that Liu Zhang was asking for a huge amount of food and fodder, he was completely stunned.

What Liu Zhang asked for was really too much. After giving him all the food and fodder, he would have nothing to eat.

In the end, Cao Cao decided to go to Yulin County in person to meet Liu Zhang. Some things are best discussed in person.

However, what the two did not know was that all their correspondence was being monitored by Gu Rubing.

"You want to meet? You also want a marriage? Cao Cao and Liu Zhang, you guys are really playing all kinds of tricks. But it's a pity, I want to have a share of this million grains."

Five days later.

Cao Cao came to Yulin County.

Before he could reach Prince Yi's Palace, he saw Gu Rubing appear in front of him at the same time.

"Liu...Liu Bei? Why are you here?"

Cao Cao widened his eyes and looked at Gu Rubing in front of him.

"Why, King Wei, are you surprised? This is a million grains and fodders. How can I not be tempted by such a big piece of meat placed in front of me?"

Hearing this, Cao Cao realized that their letter might have been read by Gu Rubing.

"King Lie is really good at this."

"Haha, King Wei is polite, but this is King Yi's territory. If you don't like me, you can kill me."

"Kill you?"

Cao Cao looked at Zhao Yun and Guan Yu who were following Gu Rubing. With these two people around, who could kill Gu Rubing?

"Hmph, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, let's go."

Cao Cao snorted coldly and swaggered into the city with two men.

And Gu Rubing followed behind Cao Cao.

"My Lord, is it okay for us to come here so rashly without informing the Prime Minister?"

"Yes, brother, if anything happens to you, what will we do?"

"Don't worry. With the Prime Minister's intelligence, he will definitely think of me when he sees me missing. And our spies are also here. I guess the news of my being here has already been sent to the Prime Minister."

Seeing Gu Rubing so confident, Zhao Yun and Guan Yu didn't know what to say.

When Liu Zhang learned that Cao Cao was coming, he walked out with Meng Huo and Miao Moqing smiling. However, when he saw Cao Cao's face was livid and Gu Rubing was following behind him, the smile on Liu Zhang's face froze instantly.

What's going on? Why is Liu Bei here? I didn't call him.

Liu Zhang walked forward and looked at Gu Rubing with a smile.

"King Lie, I wonder why you are in the mood to come and stroll around my place today?"

"It's okay. I heard you guys have a big deal. I came to see if I can get a piece of the pie."

"Big business?"

Liu Zhang looked at Cao Cao in confusion.

Cao Cao sighed helplessly.

Seeing this, Liu Zhang reacted instantly and his expression became extremely unfriendly.

If it weren't for the fact that Guan Yu and Zhao Yun were behind Gu Rubing, he would probably have had someone kill him.

"Since you are here, you are all guests, please come in."

Liu Zhang arranged several people in the living room, looked at Gu Rubing in front of him, and said in a somewhat unfriendly tone: "King Lie, King Wei and I have some private matters to discuss. I wonder if you can please step aside for a moment."

"No."

Gu Rubing took a sip of tea and said something that almost made Liu Zhang slam the table.

Cao Cao also grinned at Gu Rubing. He had seen shameless people and scoundrels, but this was the first time he saw someone who was both shameless and a scoundrel. The problem was that they were no match for Gu Rubing and could only let him play with them.

"You can talk about anything you want. How about I just watch and not say anything?"

Liu Zhang looked at Gu Rubing and immediately lost his temper. After all, this matter concerned his own food supplies. He couldn't just keep silent just because Gu Rubing was there. After all, so many people were ready to eat.

"King Wei, I agree with what you said, but the amount of grain and grass remains the same."

"No, one hundred is too much. The most I can offer is sixty."

"ninety."

"seventy."

After hearing the numbers the two said, Gu Rubing put the teacup in his hand on the table and looked at them.

"I told you guys to dither or not, I'll give you a number, eighty koku is the final decision."

They both looked at Gu Rubing.

It was Cao Cao who took the food and fodder, and it was Liu Zhang who collected the food and fodder. What does this have to do with you, Liu Bei? Why are you agreeing to this?
Both of them couldn't help but want to say these words, but seeing that Guan Yu and Zhao Yun were staring at them, they finally swallowed the words.

"King Lie, I have prepared a sumptuous dinner for you. Please go there. I will come to you after I have discussed things with the King of Wei, okay?"

"Dinner? That's great, but no, you've finished the discussion, but I haven't participated yet. You should understand the principle of sharing half of the food when you meet, right? I don't want half. How about this, give me thirty stones, and I will guarantee that your food and fodder can safely reach the other party's warehouse. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that with so much food and fodder, you can transport much to where you want to put it."

Hearing these threatening words, Liu Zhang slapped the table, stood up and glared at Gu Rubing.

"King Lie, don't go too far. We have food and grass here. If you push me too far, don't blame me for taking action. Don't forget that this is my territory." (End of this chapter)