My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 35 Liu Bei, your abacus beads are falling on my face!

Cao Cao stood up suddenly and paced around the tent.

The counselors looked at each other and whispered to each other.

Just as they were debating, the Tiger Guards entered the tent and reported that Liu Bei's envoy Sun Qian had crossed the river and was now outside the camp, wanting to see Cao Cao.

The big tent suddenly became quiet.

A look of suspicion flashed across Cao Cao's eyes.

No sooner had he destroyed his navy and captured his general than he sent an envoy across the river to meet him.

What does Liu Bei mean?
Are you here to show off to him?
Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand and shouted:
"Send Sun Qian into the tent."

The tiger guards retreated.

After a moment, the curtain was lifted and a familiar face stepped into the tent.

"Sun Qian, a staff member under Liu Yuzhou, has met with Prime Minister Cao."

Sun Qian and Cao Cao were old acquaintances, so there was no awkwardness when they met. They bowed to each other in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

Cao Cao's eyes half-closed as he asked coldly:
"Sun Qian, what is Liu Bei's intention in sending you to see me? Are you trying to ask for peace or surrender?"

Sun Qian wanted to laugh.

I, Liu Bei, have just captured your general Yu Jin alive, and now you have the audacity to come and ask for surrender?

You are too inflated, you dare to think of anything good...

"Prime Minister Cao has misunderstood. Qian is not here to surrender."

Sun Qian coughed lightly, cupped his hands and said seriously:
"Qian is here on the orders of my family, Liu Yuzhou, to discuss with Prime Minister Cao the matter of exchanging Xu Yuanzhi and his mother for him."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the tent.

Cao Cao's half-closed eyes suddenly opened wide and he looked fiercely at Xu Shu.

Xu Shu's body shook violently, and he looked at his old friend Sun Qian in surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Sun Qian smiled at him and nodded in greeting.

Xu Shu suddenly realized, his eyes changed from surprise to joy, and a wave of emotion surged in his heart.

Liu Bei did not forget him.

Not only did he not forget him, he also never blamed him for leaving him. He was even willing to use the money to ban this "rare commodity" in exchange for him!
This affection warmed Xu Shu's heart and choked his throat.

"Liu Bei——"

After being shocked, Cao Cao clenched his fists and his eyes were filled with anger.

Exchange Yu Jin, who is unwilling to die for himself and is afraid of death, for Xu Shu, who is resourceful and wise!

Liu Bei's abacus beads were about to fall on his face even across the Han River.

Cao Cao angrily refused on the spot.

"Prime Minister!"

Cheng Yu interrupted in time and said hurriedly:
"Yu Wenze is a veteran general who has served the Prime Minister for twenty years and has made great contributions. Since Liu Bei has made the initiative, the Prime Minister may wish to show some leniency and return Yu Wenze."

Cheng Yu persuaded him while secretly winking at him.

Cao Cao suddenly understood and swallowed back the angry words that were about to come out of his mouth.

What are Yu Jin’s qualifications?
What prestige do you have in the army?
He is an old employee who has followed you for more than ten years and has gone through blood and fire for your Cao Group.

It would have been fine if Liu Bei had killed him, or even just detained him, but Liu Bei had come to the door on his own initiative to exchange Yu Jin back.

What would the soldiers think if this was rejected?
What will the other old subordinates who follow you think?
Heart-breaking...

Cheng Yu's words and eyes hinted at the reason behind this, so how could Cao Cao not think of it?

"Wen Ze has been with me for nearly twenty years, so I naturally cannot abandon him, but..."

Cao Cao changed the subject and looked at Xu Shu:

"Yuanzhi abandoned the dark and joined the light, traveling thousands of miles to Xudu to seek refuge with me. How could I bear to use him in exchange for Wen Ze?"

"Whether Yuanzhi is willing to exchange with Yu Wenzhe, I cannot force him. It is up to him to decide."

There was even a hint of anticipation in Cao Cao's eyes.

He hoped that Xu Shu could recognize the general trend of the world and understand that Liu Bei would be destroyed by him sooner or later. If he threw himself into Liu Bei's arms at this time, it would be like jumping into a fire pit.

"I am deeply grateful for the Prime Minister's kindness."

"But Lord Xuande treats me like a great man, and I should repay him with a great man. I am willing to go to Xiangyang and offer the chancellorship in exchange for General Yu."

Xu Shu did not hesitate at all and expressed his determination decisively.

Cao Cao was disappointed.

Extremely disappointed!

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, veins bulged in his forehead, and for a moment, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Prime Minister, since Xu Yuanzhi has volunteered to exchange Yu Wenze for your kindness, please grant his wish."

Cheng Yu was afraid that Cao Cao would do something extreme, so he hurriedly reminded him.

Cao Cao's murderous intent was finally extinguished in time.

After suppressing his anger, he waved his hand impatiently at Sun Qian:

"Go back and tell Liu Bei that I have agreed to his request."

"I will send someone to Xuchang to bring Xu Yuanzhi's mother over. Once she arrives, we can make the exchange."

Sun Qian breathed a sigh of relief, greeted Xu Shu with his eyes, and then said goodbye and left.

There was deathly silence in the big tent.

Cao Cao and everyone else's gazes were like knives, shooting towards Xu Shu.

Xu Shu also knew what was good for him and knew that he was no longer qualified to be in the tent.

So he stepped forward calmly, bowed and said calmly:
"Prime Minister, I'm afraid it's inappropriate for me to stay here and participate in the military discussion any longer. I beg to take my leave."

Cao Cao looked disgusted and was too lazy to look at him directly. He just waved his hand impatiently.

Xu Shu turned around and left.

"Liu Bei!"

Cao Cao slammed his palm on the table and gritted his teeth, saying:

"If I don't kill you, I will not withdraw my troops from this southern expedition!"

A fierce and domineering murderous aura instantly filled the tent, causing everyone to shudder and no one dared to speak easily.

After Cao Cao finished his harsh words, he still had to return to reality.

How can I kill Liu Bei!
"Wenhe's plan is a good one, but how can we lure Liu Bei across the river? Do you have any ideas?"

Cao Cao's thoughts returned to Jia Xu's strategy, and he glanced at his advisers.

"In terms of military strength, there is a huge disparity between Liu Bei and our army. Given Liu Bei's military experience, there is no way he would risk crossing the river."

"Unless the bait we offer is big enough, so big that Liu Bei weighs the pros and cons and decides to take the risk."

Liu Ye spoke first, breaking the dead silence in the tent.

Cao Cao nodded slightly, indicating that he should continue.

"As for this bait..."

Liu Ye coughed dryly a few times, obviously he hadn't figured it out yet.

Just as Cao Cao was about to frown, a gleam of light suddenly flashed in Cheng Yu's eyes, and he blurted out:
"forage!"

Cao Cao suddenly turned around and looked at Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu stood up, a look of confidence on his face.

"The most important thing for the army is food and fodder. Only with food and fodder can we lure Liu Bei out!"

Cheng Yu stepped in front of the map and pointed:
"Prime Minister, please take a look. Our army's food and fodder from Wancheng has been transported to the front lines of Fancheng by both land and water routes."

"The water route is from Chaoyang to the south via the Yu River, and the land route is from Rangcheng to Deng County, and then transferred to the front-line camp."

"Deng County is not near a river and is close to Fancheng. Liu Bei would never dare to attack it."

"Chaoyang is close to the Yu River, which would allow Liu Bei to sail north, bypass our main camp, and launch a surprise attack on our grain reserves."

"Chaoyang holds 60% of our army's food and fodder. If it is burned, it will be a severe blow to our morale."

"Such a large bait is enough to induce Liu Bei to mobilize all his forces and launch a risky surprise attack."

Cheng Yu revealed the whole plan with a smile on his face.

The tent was seething.

All the counselors stood up and gathered around the map to discuss it in detail.

Cao Cao stared at the map, his gloomy face gradually turning into a smile.

"Zhongde's plan is indeed a brilliant one to lure the enemy. Back then, during the Battle of Guandu, the Prime Minister defeated Yuan Shao by burning Wuchao."

"However, at that time, the Prime Minister had Xu You's support. It was thanks to Xu You's information about the Yuan army's defenses at Wuchao, including the strength of the defenses and the deployment of checkpoints along the way, that the Prime Minister dared to make a desperate move and launch a surprise attack on Wuchao."

"Without Xu You, even if Liu Bei wanted to launch a surprise attack on Chaoyang, he probably wouldn't have the courage to do so."

When Cao Cao was about to make the decision, Liu Ye keenly pointed out the flaw in Cheng Yu's plan.

The smile on Cao Cao's face suddenly disappeared, and he turned to look at Cheng Yu again.

Cheng Yu raised a strange expression on his face, stroked his beard and smiled:
"Prime Minister, Xu Shu is Liu Bei's Xu You."

(End of this chapter)