At night, in the military camp in Shimoben Prefecture, another round of siege drills was in full swing under the moonlight. War drums were beating loudly, fires were burning on the top of the city, and ladders were put up on the top of the city. The soldiers were fighting in the dark night.

Soldiers were constantly being pushed down the city and fell into the pond below the city.

Further away in the camp, five thousand soldiers were also practicing night fighting in the dark. The fighting was fierce and the shouts of killing were loud. These days, the Han soldiers have obviously accelerated their war preparation training.

Liu Jing stood on the high platform with his hands behind his hands, looking a little worried. He had just received the news that Huang Zhong had captured Qishan Fort and was about to send troops to the west city. There were 30,000 Cao troops in Guanzhong, led by Xu Huang, heading towards Hebei Province.

The city quickly came to support.

Obviously, his small-scale march northward and the step-by-step strategy have been expanded, and it is very likely to trigger the second round of the battle for Tianshui County between the Han and Cao armies. What makes Liu Jing embarrassed is that his war preparations have not been completed. If he rushes prematurely,

A decisive battle would probably be detrimental to his future fight for Longyou.

But the opportunity in front of him is very tempting. Cao Cao has returned to Yedu, and Cao Cao's army in Longyou is not very strong. If he captures Tianshui County, even if Cao Cao counterattacks, it will take several months to prepare. At that time, his war preparations

Also completed.

It is this ambivalent mentality that has both advantages and disadvantages that has made Liu Jing restless for the past two days and has always found it difficult to make a formal decision.

At this time, a soldier ran up to the high platform, knelt down on one knee and reported: "Report to the Zhou Mu, Military Advisor Jia is here, and the big tent is waiting for the Zhou Mu!"

Liu Jing was startled as to why Jia Xu was here. As soon as he thought about it, he realized that it must be Jia Xu who came to report the negotiation situation to him. However, Jia Xu's arrival still made him very happy. He was worried and had difficulty making a decision. Jia Xu

The arrival of Liu Jing undoubtedly gave him a glimmer of hope. Liu Jing immediately got off the platform and walked quickly to the big tent.

In the big tent, Jia Xu stood in front of the sand table with his hands folded and observed a worker who was changing the signs on the Qishan Road. Both Licheng and Qishan Fort were replaced with the red flags of the Han army. A castle seemed to be under construction. It seemed that this was a step-by-step process.

The strategy is quite effective.

"When will the military advisor arrive? What a surprise!" Liu Jing's hearty laughter came from behind.

When Jia Xu turned around, he saw Liu Jing walking in quickly. He quickly bowed and saluted, "I am here to see you, Zhou Mu!"

"You don't have to be polite, military advisor. Please sit down quickly!"

Liu Jing asked Jia Xu to sit down and winked at the manager, who quickly withdrew. At this time, the soldiers brought them two more cups of tea. Jia Xu then smiled and said, "I came with Jiang Gongyan."

In Hanzhong, he went to Ju County to appoint Xun Zhi as the county magistrate, and at the same time appointed the county magistrate and county captain. I continued north to Xiabian County to meet with the state pastor and talk about the negotiations."

"How are the negotiations going?" Liu Jingxiao asked. In fact, he knew that the negotiations would have no results, but he still wanted to know what Chen Qun said in the end.

"Cao Cao promised to make Zhou Mu the King of Han, and agreed to assign Jiangdong to us. At the same time, he could send troops to Hefei to assist. The condition is that we are not allowed to go north to Guanzhong and Longyou within five years."

"As I expected."

Liu Jing nodded and said: "If we listen to his words and attack Jiangdong, we will really not be able to escape within five years. By then, when he has recovered his strength, he will take advantage of us to be trapped in Jiangdong and go south in a big way. Cao Cao has indeed thought very carefully.

"

"But there is something that must be beyond Zhou Mu's expectation?"

"What's up?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Cao Cao expressed his willingness to marry his daughter to Zhou Mu as his wife, and wait for him to recommend Zhou Mu as the prime minister in a hundred years and inherit his mantle."

Liu Jing was shocked, Cao Cao actually wanted to recruit him as his son-in-law? After a while, he smiled bitterly and said: "Back then, I told my uncle that my ambition was to marry Sun Quan's sister, Cao Cao's daughter. At that time, it was just an excuse for not wanting to marry the Cai family. I didn't expect it.

, it’s really going to become a reality step by step, it’s really a bit funny.”

Jia Xu smiled and said: "Actually, marrying Cao Cao's daughter is not a bad idea. At least it will be very beneficial to gain Cao Cao's power in the future. And I know that Cao Xian is beautiful and dignified. She is the most beautiful woman in the Cao family. Zhou Mu will not be disappointed."

"The military advisor wants me to agree?"

"No!" Jia Xu Yaoyao said with a smile: "If you want to agree, it's not now. I suggest you consider it after we capture Guanzhong. After all, we need a period of stability at that time, and the marriage can make Cao Cao admit the reality of our occupation of Guanzhong."

Liu Jing nodded and asked: "Are they still in Chengdu now?"

"I have already gone back. I clearly hinted to them that I do not accept their plan. However, they have also gained something. They have obtained the imperial edict. We do not rebel against Cao Cao, and they do not accuse us of being rebellious. I think this should be within their expectations.

Yes, I think Cao Cao will be satisfied with this result."

Liu Jing nodded silently, and the two sides gave in to each other. This was also a political compromise. Although he recognized Cao Cao's legitimacy, he no longer had to worry about the unknown.

But what makes Liu Jing even more gratified is that Jia Xu finally calls Cao Cao by his name instead of calling him Prime Minister Cao. This shows that Jia Xu has stepped out of the shadow of the past.

Liu Jing laughed and said, "The military advisor came just in time. I was just about to talk to the military advisor about the Northern Expedition. Now I have encountered a dilemma that is difficult to make a decision. I hope the military advisor can help me solve the problem."

Jia Xu smiled slightly, "It seems that the harvest from going north has been great, exceeding expectations. I would like to congratulate Zhou Mu."

"The question now is, how should I fight this battle?"

Liu Jing sighed softly and said: "I really can't make up my mind. Should I stop here and wait until the preparations are completed next spring before launching a large-scale attack? Or should I take advantage of the east wind and take over Tianshui County in one go? I am very conflicted now and want to ask for advice.

military adviser."

"I actually considered this issue on the way. I personally think that it is not difficult to capture Jicheng. The key is that we have to face the main force of Cao's army. Can we stand firm in Tianshui County? The first Northern Expedition failed because

Food transportation is not smooth. In this case, even if we capture Jicheng, we may not be able to save it."

Speaking of this, Jia Xu looked at Liu Jing and said extremely sincerely: "So the meaning of this Northern Expedition is not to occupy Tianshui County, but to establish a fast, sufficient and stable food supply line. This requires time and concentration, and cannot be

Let Cao's army massacre, this transportation line will be the key to our control of Longyou in the future, in fact, it is also the key to connecting Longyou, Hanzhong and Bashu."

Liu Jing nodded, "I understand what the military advisor means. We will stop heading north after taking Xicheng County."

"I suggest releasing Xiahou Ba and the prisoners of war of Cao's army, and negotiating peace with Cao Ren. In this way, Cao Cao will reduce the intensity of our Northern Expedition, and he will not massacre and buy us valuable time to build a castle.

.”

Jia Xu thought for a while and then smiled and said: "We must not only capture Xicheng County, but also capture Xicheng with lightning speed. If I am not mistaken, Cao's army from the west should be on the way.

Capture the west city before arriving so that the reinforcements will not retreat, otherwise once the battle expands, Cao Cao will personally rush to Tianshui County, and then it will no longer be a step-by-step approach."

Although Jia Xu's suggestion was not a new plan, it was just one of Liu Jing's two choices. However, it was the advice of Jia Xu, a heavyweight, that made Liu Jing finally make up his mind to give up the idea of ​​blindly advancing, and still

Fight steadily and advance northward step by step.

He stood up and said: "The military advisor is right, time does not wait for us. I will lead the army to Xicheng early tomorrow morning, and we must capture Xicheng in one go."

Jia Xu walked to the sand table again, pointed to the Shenyuan Valley in the north of Xicheng and said: "The terrain of this valley is very dangerous. I suggest that after Zhou Mu goes south to Xicheng, he builds a camp like the Qishan Fort on the top of the Shenyuan Valley to serve as the Xicheng

A barrier to slow down Cao's army's attack on Xicheng, and it is also recommended to build a military camp on the official road to the east of Xicheng."

"I understand, just follow what the military advisor said."

...........

After meeting with Jia Xu, Liu Jing did not go back to the tent to fall asleep. Instead, she got up and went to the county seat. She found Sun Shangxiang at the back house of the county government office. Sun Shangxiang was tired from the journey these two days, and the weather in Wudu County was cold and humid.

I fell ill all of a sudden and stayed ill for three days in a row. I only felt a little better today.

Liu Jing was busy with military affairs these two days and had no time to accompany her. He only came to visit her at night. Sun Shangxiang had already gone to bed. When the maid reported that the master was coming, she got dressed again. At this time, Liu Jing walked into the room and saw her.

With a haggard face, he couldn't help but hold her in his arms with pity, complaining a little: "What are you doing when you get up? This will make her condition worse."

Sun Shangxiang was carried to the bed by her husband and covered with a quilt. She held Liu Jing's hand and refused to let go. "Today, Dr. Zhang came to see me again and said that my condition was stable. He gave me a pair of nourishing medicine."

, He said that he would be fine after just a few days of rest. The past two days have been very hard for my husband, running from both ends of the county camp."

Liu Jing stroked her face and smiled: "She has lost a lot of weight. I won't let you follow her out next time."

"No! This time it was just an accident. You promised to take me to my grassland. You are not allowed to make excuses to break the bill." Sun Shangxiang said angrily.

"It depends on your performance."

Liu Jing took off her clothes and got into the quilt. As soon as she lay down, she felt that all the bones in her body were loose. Her eyes suddenly felt sleepy and she was about to fall asleep. He quickly bit his lip and cheered up. Sun Shangxiang tightened his grip.

She hugged her husband tightly and nestled her head on his chest. She was weak and only at this time did she rely on her husband extra for fear of losing him.

Liu Jing held back her sleepiness, gently stroked her hair and said: "I will go north to Qishan Road early tomorrow morning. It will probably take about ten days to come back. You can patiently recuperate here, and we will go home together when I come back."

Although Sun Shangxiang was reluctant to leave her husband, she also knew that the north was currently fighting. As the commander-in-chief, her husband had to go to the battlefield to boost morale. She sighed softly and said: "It's a pity that I am sick, otherwise I would accompany you to the battlefield to comfort the injured."

Soldier."

"You take good care of yourself and don't worry about anything. We have the upper hand and I won't be in danger."

Sun Shangxiang nodded slightly, "I'll wait for you to come back!"

At this time, she remembered something again, and said with a shy smile: "We have been working hard every day for more than a month, and it is very likely that I already have a child. Guess if I have a child, whether it is a girl or a boy, which one do you like?

"

After talking for a while, she saw that Liu Jing didn't answer her, so she couldn't help but look up at him and found that her husband had fallen asleep.
Chapter completed!