Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 385 Zhuge Liang's Brilliant Plan
Sima Yi went home after having dinner in the palace.

The first thing he did after returning home was to lock himself in the study and begin to study tactics to deal with Ma Chao.

Just as he was frowning and thinking about Sizhou's geomancy map, a sound of footsteps came from behind him.

"Who?"

Sima Yi's eyes suddenly became alert, and he did not relax his vigilance until he realized that it was his wife Zhang who walked into the study.

"I've told you so many times, remember to knock on the door when you enter the study, don't just come in like that."

"And I don't like to be disturbed when I'm in my study."

Sima Yi said somewhat displeased.

Hearing his words, Zhang couldn't help but say aggrievedly: "I just saw that my husband hasn't slept yet so late, so I brought you some porridge."

Sima Yi heard this and then noticed that his wife Zhang was holding a food box. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Thank you, Madam."

Although he had dinner in the palace, he was preoccupied at the time and didn't eat much, so he was indeed a little hungry now.

Zhang's face looked better. She stepped forward and put the food box on the table. While helping Sima Yi to serve porridge, she asked, "My husband, why are you still not resting so late today? Is there another war?"

Although Sima Yi was busy on weekdays, he would not usually continue to be busy after returning home. He would only be busy when encountering a war, so Zhang made such a guess.

"Well, we are going to send troops to suppress the rebels."

Sima Yi did not deny it, but nodded and replied: "The traitor Ma Chao is extremely rebellious, and he has threatened that he will not surrender until Your Majesty appoints him as the King of Liangzhou."

"Your Majesty was furious and issued an order to attack Ma Chao. I will be joining the army soon... I don't know if we can win this battle."

Although he had always hoped to be entrusted with an important task by the emperor, when the emperor really gave him such an important task, he felt tremendous pressure.

It is not an easy task to defeat Ma Chao.

Zhang was stunned after hearing Sima Yi's words. She asked in confusion, "The imperial army is so powerful, and there is an unparalleled general like Lord Wen. How can a mere Ma Chao be able to compete with them?"

Zhang found it very strange. In her opinion, Ma Chao was just a traitor. With the strength of the imperial court, shouldn't it be easy for them to defeat him?

"War is never that easy."

Sima Yi shook his head, then said leisurely: "Ma Chao has 100,000 Xiliang cavalry, which is comparable to the imperial court in terms of military strength."

"It will be a very difficult battle to defeat Ma Chao. Even if Lord Wen leads the troops, the outcome is still unknown."

Sima Yi's military level was extremely high, and the analysis he made was undoubtedly very accurate, without any exaggeration or falsehood.

"this……""

Zhang was very surprised when she heard this. If she didn't know that her husband would not talk nonsense, she would definitely not believe that this was true.

The imperial court had won great victories in every war over such a long period of time, which made her feel that the imperial court's troops were simply invincible. Could there be any rebels in the world who could rival the imperial court?

"Ma Chao should not be underestimated."

Sima Yi said in a deep voice that his pressure came not only from Ma Chao's strength, but also from the emperor.

Whenever he thought of the feeling when he faced Long Wei in the Xuan Room today, he couldn't help but feel a little fear in his heart.

This is a battle that cannot be lost.

Just as Sima Yi was talking to Zhang, there was a knock on the study door, and the housekeeper's voice came: "Master, Madam, Minister Zhuge is here."

When Sima Yi heard that it was Zhuge Liang who came to visit, he was slightly stunned.

Why would Zhuge Liang come so late?

Although he felt puzzled, he could not refuse to see a guest, so he stood up, opened the door, and asked, "Where is he now? Take me there."

"Tell my master what I have said. Minister Zhuge, please wait in the hall. I have asked someone to serve tea."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi went straight to the lobby.

……

In the lobby.

Zhuge Liang was sitting in the hall, and servants beside him served him the best tea and various cakes.

After a while, Sima Yi walked into the hall. When he saw Zhuge Liang, he couldn't help but frown and asked, "Why are you here?"

He and Zhuge Liang did not have a close relationship, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were rivals. Why did the other party come over here in the middle of the night?
"I just came out of the palace."

Zhuge Liang took a sip from the tea bowl, then waved his feather fan and said with a smile: "I felt thirsty when I passed by Zhongda's mansion, so I came to ask for a cup of tea."

Hearing this, Sima Yi snorted coldly: "Ask for tea? Are you here just to laugh at me?"

With Zhuge Liang's vision, it was impossible for him not to see how difficult the war against Ma Chao would be, and this proposal was first put forward by Zhuge Liang.

As a result, this matter did not fall on Zhuge Liang's head, but instead fell on him, and he was completely unprepared for it.

"Why would I come here to see a joke?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said sternly: "With Zhongda's talent and Wengong's courage, Ma Chao is nothing but a chicken and a dog in front of you two."

"It's a pity that I have many things to do and cannot go with the army to fight against the bandits. It's a pity."

Although Zhuge Liang's words were all flattering, they were extremely harsh to Sima Yi, and his impatience became even stronger.

"What do you want? If you just want to drink tea, I'm sorry I can't keep you company."

Sima Yi prepared to get up and leave the hall.

He had a lot of things to do, so how could he have the time to chat with Zhuge Liang here?

"Zhongda, please be patient."

Zhuge Liang smiled, stopped beating around the bush, put down the tea bowl in his hand and said, "I came here to tell you the strategy to defeat Ma Chao."

"shut up!"

Sima Yi was furious when he heard this. He stared at Zhuge Liang and said, "Zhuge, you country bumpkin! How dare you humiliate me like this?"

"Even if I am ultimately defeated by Ma Chao and held accountable by Your Majesty, that is what I deserve. It has nothing to do with you!"

"I don't even need your help!"

Sima Yi had a very strong self-esteem, and he had suffered a great blow when Zhuge Liang broke the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation that blocked him.

Now Zhuge Liang actually said that he would tell him the strategy to defeat Ma Chao. This clearly showed that he was sure that he could not defeat Ma Chao by his own strength!
It's simply looking down on him!
Zhuge Liang also stopped smiling and frowned, saying, "The matter of conquering Ma Chao is extremely important. If we fail, the impact will be huge."

"Although I believe in Zhongda's wisdom, I want to tell you my plan for the sake of the court and your majesty."

"Why is Zhongda so excited?"

Sima Yi laughed angrily and said, "Zhuge, a country bumpkin, I admit that you are indeed very intelligent, but don't look down on me so much!"

"You don't have to be so hypocritical here. I will use this battle to prove to you who is the most important counselor to His Majesty!"

"Come here, see the guests off!"

Sima Yi actually issued an order to expel the guest and called the housekeeper to send Zhuge Liang out. This action was already very rude.

Zhuge Liang was not angry. He just took out a brocade bag from his sleeve, put it on the table in front of him, and said calmly: "This brocade bag contains a strategy to defeat Ma Chao."

"I'll leave it here. It's up to you whether you want to read it or not."

"But I hope Zhongda can put Daju first. If you really have no other options, don't forget this great plan."

"Farewell."

After saying this, Zhuge Liang stood up and left. Sima Yi's face turned pale, and after Zhuge Liang left, he grabbed the brocade bag and threw it into the stove used for heating in the hall to burn it.

But when his hand was raised in the air, he stopped and looked at the brocade bag in his hand with a changing expression.

"Hmph, leave it here for now!"

"When I defeat Ma Chao and return triumphantly to the court, I will throw this brocade bag in Zhuge Villager's face!"

"Let's see what he can say then!"

Sima Yi gritted his teeth and thought that he would use this brocade bag to constantly motivate himself and not forget this humiliation!

Putting the brocade bag into his sleeve, Sima Yi strode towards the study with extremely firm and powerful steps.

This time, he must win no matter what!
Outside Sima Mansion.

Zhuge Liang looked back at the mansion behind him, his eyes flashing with wisdom. He smiled slightly and turned to get on the carriage.

"Zhongda, I will wait and see."

……

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

With the deaths of Liu Cong and Cai Mao, Cao Cao gained the support of major families and officially entered Jingzhou and became the new lord of Jingzhou.

He then moved most of his troops and staff from Jiangdong to strengthen his control over Jingzhou.

Outside Xiangyang City, a carriage slowly stopped.

Then the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a scholar with shackles on his hands and feet was carried down.

This person is Xu You.

He had been under house arrest in Jiangdong, and now that Cao Cao had moved his base to Jingzhou, he was brought along as well.

"Ziyuan, long time no see."

Cao Cao walked forward, took Xu You's hand, pointed at Xiangyang City behind him and said with a smile: "Look at my newly acquired city, how is it?"

Xu You knew that he was showing off. Hearing this, he raised his eyelids and said, "The city is nice, but it's a pity that the means by which it was obtained were not very glorious."

"Now that you have taken Jingzhou and can compete with the imperial court, why not just let me go?"

"Anyway, I am no longer important to you now. Considering that we are old friends, please give me my freedom."

Cao Cao spared his life because he wanted to leave him a way out.

However, now that Cao Cao occupies a large area including Jingzhou and Jiangdong, his strength has expanded unprecedentedly, far exceeding when he occupied Yanzhou and Yuzhou. There is no need to keep him around anymore.

"Haha, Ziyuan, you really know how to joke."

Cao Cao shook his head and said with emotion: "It is precisely because you and I are old friends that I am reluctant to let you go."

It was definitely impossible to let Xu You go, because he would definitely go to Yecheng to surrender to the emperor, which would be tantamount to giving a great helping hand to the opponent.

There is no need to kill him. Xu You is no longer a threat to him. House arrest is the best option.

Upon hearing this, Xu You snorted coldly and said nothing more.

But it is inevitable to feel disappointed.

After being imprisoned for such a long time, he had become somewhat desperate, and only the last thought of returning to the court kept him going.

But in the end it is just wishful thinking.

"take away."

Cao Cao waved his hand, signaling Xu Chu to take Xu You into the city and keep him under good care, and then continued to wait there.

Not long after, another carriage drove up, and getting out of this carriage were uncle and nephew Xun Yu and Xun You.

"Sikong!"

Xun Yu and Xun You got off the carriage and saluted.

They have been handling internal affairs in Jiangdong for such a long time and have only come here now.

"Gongda, Wenruo!"

Cao Cao smiled, stepped forward, grabbed their hands and said, "Come here, I can sleep soundly."

"Especially Gongda, your strategy helped me to successfully capture Jingzhou this time, and the credit goes to you!"

The strategy of letting Emperor Xian of Han launch a military rebellion and then taking the opportunity to kill Liu Cong and Cai Mao and seize Jingzhou was exactly what Xun You came up with.

"Sir, you are overpraising me."

Xun You cupped his hands and said modestly, "It was the Sikong who was so brave and courageous that he personally went to Xiangyang to win the trust of Liu Cong and Cai Mao, and secretly arranged things, which made my plan successful."

"Everything is Sikong's credit. My contribution is insignificant."

Cao Cao laughed out loud and said, "You don't have to be so modest. I will hold a grand banquet tonight to welcome you."

"Come, come, follow me into the city first."

As he was about to go into the city with the two of them, Xun Yu said, "Sikong, I heard a piece of news on the way here. Does Sikong know about it?"

"what news?"

Cao Cao stopped.

Xun Yu said: "Liangzhou Ma Chao openly rebelled against the false emperor. Now the false emperor has labeled Ma Chao a traitor and wants to send troops to attack him."

It was no longer a secret that after Ma Chao refused to surrender, the decree to label Ma Chao a traitor was issued from Yecheng and spread throughout the world.

"Of course I know about this."

Cao Cao nodded slightly and raised his eyebrows and said, "But I didn't expect that Ma Chao would betray the false emperor."

"The false emperor said he wanted to rebel and become king, I don't know if it's true or not."

Ma Chao's betrayal was beyond his expectations. After all, the one in his hand was the real fake emperor, and the one in Yecheng was the real emperor.

Since Ma Chao had surrendered long ago, why did he betray again?
Xun You said: "This matter is not simple, there may be other hidden reasons... But Sikong, this is our chance."

"Perhaps we can try to win over Ma Chao."

"Ma Chao has 100,000 Xiliang cavalrymen at his disposal. If we can win him over, our chances of winning against the false emperor will increase significantly."

One hundred thousand Xiliang cavalrymen, this is a terrifyingly huge force that can directly determine the outcome between them and the false emperor!
"I've been thinking about this, and was just about to discuss it after you two arrived."

Xun You's idea hit Cao Cao's heart, and he continued: "But I still don't know why Ma Chao betrayed the false emperor. How can I win him over?"

"If he really wanted to split the land and become a king just as the false emperor said and then rebelled, we can't join forces with him."

No matter whether it is starting an army or rebelling, the two words "righteousness" and "just cause" are indispensable.

If Ma Chao chose to rebel because he wanted to divide the land and become a king, there would be no basis for cooperation between the two sides.

Because he was also fighting under the banner of the emperor.

The emperor and the imperial court would not allow a person of a different surname to divide the land and become a king. This was not allowed.

Xun Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Sikong, why don't you write a letter first to test the waters and see Ma Chao's response before making any plans."

"In short, don't give up such a powerful help easily."

Cao Cao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)