"The numerous vegetation and trees cling to each other in shame, and the luxuriant brambles and hazelnuts are waiting to be cut off." [Zhu Yuan Fu]
Liu Xi sighed leisurely and said, "Have you sent someone to Hua County?"
"We have already met Wang Bi." Xiao Jian raised his head and responded: "As long as Chang Xi dares to cause trouble in the country, Cao Gong will definitely send troops out of Mount Tai. After Chang Xi is eliminated, we can subdue Zang Ba and join forces with Cao Gong.
This time I cannot announce it to the world, but I can still make a difference with the support of Duke Cao."
"Cao Mengde." Liu Xi slowly read this man's name, and his mood suddenly relaxed after being oppressed by Chang Xi and other domineering bandits for many days: "His father took refuge in Langxie and took refuge under the rule of the late king. The late king repeatedly criticized him.
There is kindness, and Uncle Wang also gave him good advice in the court. The last time the late king was buried, Cao Mengde even sent his son to sacrifice. The friendship between the two families is deep, and he can really help me." He looked at Xiao Jian aside,
Then he said: "I only hope that Langye will be safe in the country and that there will be no more thieves near or far."
Xiao Jian lowered his head and praised: "Rule the small family first, and then the whole family. Your Highness cares about the common people, and you are truly a benevolent king. Qingxu and other places have suffered many disasters for decades, and they are in desperate need of a wise leader like Your Highness."
Liu Xi closed his eyes slightly and remained silent. He didn't have many forces at his disposal right now. He only had Xiao Jian, the Kaiyang order who followed him wholeheartedly, and Zang Ba, the Huaiyi captain whose attitude was specious and untrustworthy. As for the Prime Minister
Yin De always protects himself wisely, and he cannot reveal his ambition to him easily until the end. In such a situation, he can only deal with everything cautiously and walk on thin ice.
Taishan County, Fei County.
On the mountain road in the southeast of Feixian County, an army of horses was walking slowly along the river bank. The short and capable Pingdong General Cao Cao was riding on a black horse, walking with a serious expression. Beside him was a frail soldier.
The man, with a pale complexion and sunken eye sockets, coughed a few times on horseback from time to time.
"Zhicai, your illness has worsened again." Cao Cao said to Xi Zhicai, his closest and most valued advisor, "You don't have to come with me this time. Why bother coming on the vast mountain road?"
Xi Zhicai's face seemed to be a little more haggard than last year. His health was not good. During this period, he followed Cao Cao to lead the army to attack the bandits in Mount Tai. He slept in the open in the hills of Mount Tai, which was very destructive. Before
A few days ago, there was another cold mountain rain, which almost made Xi Zhicai collapse. He coughed a few times and said: "What happened in Xuzhou is extraordinary. Since I am a disciple of Mr. Cao, I can share the worries of Mr. Cao."
That’s it.”
Cao Cao said he didn't want Xi Zhicai to continue to follow him, but in fact he still wanted Xi Zhicai to be by his side to make suggestions. Compared with Xun Yu's unstable mind, Cheng Yu loved to take sides with his sword, and he could be impartial and completely side with Cao Cao.
The only one who was able to plan for him and be trustworthy in terms of his position was Xi Zhicai. In addition, he thought that rather than letting Xi Zhicai return to Yanzhou, it would be better to follow him from Feixian County to the closer Langzhou.
Xie, it is convenient to recuperate while analyzing the situation on the road. His thoughts changed quickly, he stroked his beard and said: "There is still a long way to go, and your body is the most important thing. When we get to Langxie, I will find some more skilled doctors."
The alchemists will diagnose and treat you."
Xi Zhicai cupped his hands and replied: "Thank you very much, Mr. Cao for your kindness."
After a few polite words, Cao Cao simply got to the point. He sighed softly: "The Xuzhou matter is actually not simple. I have been in trouble over this matter for the past few days. It seems that Liu Bei and Yuan Shu are fighting at the moment.
Behind the scenes, there is Cao Bao secretly rebelling against Liu Bei, Chang Xi secretly forming a secret alliance with outsiders, and now there is also King Langxie who is also restless." Xuzhou has attracted various forces to make complicated profit calculations here, and Cao Cao has to make the final profit.
A fisherman has to control the overall situation and take care of everything. But if he wants to do all this, he cannot do it by himself, so he turns his attention to Xi Zhicai, who is still coughing: "Zhicai can teach me a good plan."
?”
Having said that, Cao Cao felt a little exhausted when he saw the drama, so he waved his hand behind him, and as Li Feng Colonel Cao Ren agreed, he immediately restrained his troops to suspend their march and rest on the spot.
Cao Cao got off his horse first, walked to the side and helped the frail Xi Zhicai down with his own hands, and then helped him walk to the side of the big tree where his own soldiers had already laid a felt blanket. After the two sat down,
Cao Cao covered Xi Zhicai's legs with a thin quilt.
Xi Zhicai was deeply moved by the fact that the other party was attentive and considerate like a close relative. He was originally from a powerful family in Yingchuan. Although he was powerful, he only had more wealth than ordinary people. When it came to his family background
It is not comparable to the Xun family, Guo family and other big families, and the family has not produced any high-ranking officials with two thousand dan, or famous Confucian scholars. If Xun Yu had not made friends with him when he was young and recommended him to Cao Cao, I am afraid that
The world still doesn't know that there is an opera family in Yingchuan, where there are many powerful people.
Now, fortunately, he is in a troubled world that allows him to fully display his talents, and he has to meet a wise master who is good at appointing people. How can he not be complacent? As for his body, he no longer cares about it. As long as he can be his confidant, Cao Cao
It doesn't matter if you die young if you do something. Xi Zhicai thought about a lot in his heart, but didn't say anything for a while. After bumping on the mountain road for a long time, he took a breath under the tree for a long time before he calmed down. Just as he was about to speak, Cao Cao
He handed over a bowl of hot water that had been boiled for a while. People at this time all drank cold river water, not to mention that they were still on the march. However, Cao Ren was careful and knew that Xi Zhicai was cold, so he specially asked someone to boil hot water.
Xi Zhicai thought it was Cao Cao's thoughtfulness. He reached out to take it and took a sip. The hot water with some firewood and ashes seemed to pour into his internal organs instantly, as if it injected a burst of vitality into him.
He became much more relaxed when he spoke: "Cao Cao should not just focus on this corner of Xuzhou." Holding the bowl in one hand and supporting his knees with the other, he said to Cao Cao word for word: "There are Cao Bao, Chang Xi and other aliens in Xuzhou.
It is true that King Langxie is ambitious, but outside Xuzhou, the eldest son Yuan Tan, who has just won Qingzhou, Liu Ai, the prefect of Runan in the west of Xuzhou, and Tian Chou, the Prime Minister of Pei, are also paying attention to
The situation in Xuzhou, especially Liu Ai and Tian Chou, is not only supported by Zhu Jun, the governor of Yuzhou, but also appointed by the imperial court. They represent the emperor in every word and deed, so their attitude towards Xuzhou is crucial."
At this time, Cao Cao also picked up a bowl of hot water and marched in the field. He should not be too particular about everything. For example, just like the hot water that the general Cao Cao drank, there would inevitably be some ashes and dust from vegetation on it. If Yuan Shao, a member of the public family, might
He would sneer at it, but Cao Cao was a casual person, and he didn't care at this time. He just gently blew off the impurities floating on the water, and then took a slow sip.
He slowly swallowed the slightly scalding hot water, and then said: "Yuan Tan, my son, can only see the land three feet in front of me, and has no foresight. The last time I marched into Mount Tai to defeat the bandits, he thought I was going to take advantage of him."
Dao fought with him to seize Qingzhou. He not only asked Yuan Shao to write a letter to persuade me, but also privately consecrated Gongsun Du, Guo Zu and other bandits as Zhonglang generals and Xiaowei, and asked them to stop me on the mountain road. Fortunately, Lu Zike was beside me.
Advise me to show kindness and personally recruit the bandits on my behalf, so that they can surrender, and I can use this to select strong ones to supplement my elite troops."
Cao Cao looked at Xi Zhicai with sharp eyes and said softly: "I naturally don't pay attention to the side of Qingzhou. Yuan Tan is incompetent, and his defeated general Lu Bu is even more so. Unless Yuan Shao comes in person, I will not let him.
However, now that Yuan Shao is about to fight Gongsun Zan again, how can he spare the time to deal with Qing Xu? Wen Ruo is right. Yuan Shao has no time at this time and Yuan Tan is incompetent. They should take advantage of this opportunity to enter the land of Yanxu.
After that, we can calmly switch between the Yuan family and the imperial court. Otherwise, in another year, when the imperial court revives Guanzhong and starts to intervene in Guandong, we will not have such a good opportunity, let alone the room to protect ourselves."
Xi Zhicai lowered his head and thought for a while, then said softly: "Does Duke Cao know that Yuan Tan intends to follow Lu Bu and march into Xuzhou?"