"Mr. Zhongde, I have one more question." Early the next morning, when Cheng Yu was about to say goodbye and leave, Chu Nan suddenly stopped Cheng Yu.
"Oh? What's your question, Zi Yan?" Cheng Yu looked at Chu Nan. This kid probably didn't hold it in well.
"Although our army failed to capture Yuan Shu and recapture the Jade Seal in this battle, our army first defeated Chen Deng, Sun Ce and other Yuan Shu's minions, and then defeated Yuan Shu in Shouchun. This is considered a great achievement, but I don't know how the imperial court plans to reward him this time.
My lord?" Chu Nan asked with a smile.
Cheng Yu looked at Lu Bu, but saw that Lu Bu was also looking at him, and said with a smile: "The imperial court will never treat meritorious soldiers ill, but it is up to your majesty to decide how to reward them. It is hard for me to say at this time, but Yuan Shu's remaining sins have not yet been paid."
It's clean, our army will cross south soon, and we hope Marquis Wen will let it go."
Although Yuan Shu is gone, he still has power, such as Liu Xun of Lujiang, and even Jiangdong can be regarded as a remnant of Yuan Shu. After all, although Sun Ce has drawn a clear line with Yuan Shu, Lu Bu had previously beaten Sun Ce into a remnant of Yuan Shu. If he killed Sun Ce, it would be counted as a remnant of Yuan Shu.
After destroying Yuan Shu's achievements, Jiangdong will naturally become Yuan Shu's remaining party.
"Of course, Duke Cao can cross the river at any time, and our troops will line up to welcome you!" Chu Nan said with a smile.
Cheng Yu looked at Chu Nan's hypocritical smile and nodded, clasped fists with Lu Bu again, said goodbye and left, crossing the river to the north bank.
"Zi Yan really wants Cao Cao to cross the river?" Wei Xu asked curiously, what if Cao Cao comes over and refuses to leave?
"Of course." Chu Nan nodded: "As long as Cao Cao dares to cross the river, our army will use all its strength to kill Cao Cao!"
Hiss~
When Wei Xu and others heard this, they couldn't help but gasped. The way Chu Nan and Cheng Yu looked before gave people the impression that they were close friends who met each other late. How could they want to kill each other as soon as they left?
[Since Ziyan learned Confucianism from Chen Gong, he has become more ruthless in his actions. I need to stay away from him!]
"Cao Cao can't cross the river." Chen Gong shook his head. Based on his understanding of Cao Cao, he would never cross the river at this time. What Cheng Yu said before was just a test.
After a few words of discussion, everyone went back. Lu Bu went to the palace to continue counting money, while Chu Nan mainly took care of the disaster relief. In addition, he just used the opportunity to spread the news to cause trouble for Yuan Shu's former ministers.
Yuan Shu has many aristocratic families all over the country. If these aristocratic families are not eliminated, it will be difficult to manage the Jianghuai area.
On the other side, after Cheng Yu returned to Cao Cao's camp by boat, he went straight to Cao Cao's camp.
"Failed to get the jade seal back?" Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu and sighed. The jade seal fell into Lu Bu's hands. God knows if this reckless man will become the second Yuan Shu.
Yuan Shu has already shaken the remaining power of the Han Dynasty. If Lu Bu comes again...
"Yuan Shu fled. I secretly asked the Shouchun nobles last night. Lu Bu did this deliberately..." Cheng Yu told Cao Cao what he saw and heard yesterday and the news he secretly found out.
"Do you know where Yuan Shu... will go?" Cao Cao pondered for a moment, then looked at everyone and asked.
"Yuan Shu has ordered Liu Xun to send troops many times before, but Liu Xun refused them all. I'm afraid he won't go to Liu Xun at this time, and it's difficult for Yuan Shu to be protected in Lujiang." Xun You said with a smile: "In my opinion, Yuan Shu
If you want to take refuge in others, look at the world... there is only one place to go."
When Cao Cao heard this, his face became a little dark. It was not because of Jiang Huai... there were some reasons, but what worried Cao Cao the most was Lu Bu's reaction during this period.
Everything seems to be normal, but if you connect what Lu Bu did during this time, you will find the differences.
First, he suppressed the gentry in Xuzhou. Looking at it alone, this was undoubtedly a stupid thing. This meant that it would be difficult for Lu Bu to win the support of the gentry in the world. For today's world, it is undoubtedly a waste of time to drink poison to quench thirst.
However, Lu Bu did not take back the acquired land for himself, but made new arrangements to appease the people's livelihood. According to Xuzhou's careful investigation, although the nobles all over the world were scolding Lu Bu, in Xuzhou itself, the people did not like Lu Bu.
However, he supported Lu Bu very much. At the same time, those small and poor families were also willing to serve Lu Bu.
When these two things were connected, Cao Cao discovered that Lu Bu was making a choice. He gave up the gentry and attracted small tribes to obtain talents, and benefited the people to stabilize the hearts of the people in the country. At this time, external forces tried to divide the gentry through the previous methods.
It was ten times more difficult under Lu Bu's rule than before.
Then, with Yuan Shu proclaiming himself emperor, he forcibly destroyed the Chen family and unified the entire Xuzhou. At this time, with the previous preparation, it became much easier to implement his new policy in Guangling.
In the end, he took advantage of the situation to acquire the land of Jianghuai. This seemingly biggest movement turned out to be insignificant in the entire year's plan. What really made a difference were the things Lu Bu did at the beginning, including fighting against the nobles, dividing the fields, etc.
When it came time to mobilize troops, Lu Bu didn't need to worry about chaos in the rear, and it would be quite difficult for outsiders to try to manipulate him from within.
As for the treatment of Yuan Shu, it doesn't matter.
The expansion of Lu Bu's territory is not scary. What is scary is that Lu Bu has a clear direction and his own way of doing things. If Lu Bu continues to follow this path, Cao Cao is really confident that he will destroy Lu Bu in a short time.
Even if Lu Bu is destroyed, Xuzhou will become Cao Cao's mess, because the people have become accustomed to Lu Bu's methods, and if Cao Cao gets Xuzhou, he will definitely compromise with the nobles, and the part of the benefits will be plundered by the people of Xuzhou.
After gaining wealth, even if he captures Xuzhou, it is foreseeable that there will be constant problems in the future.
Unless he followed Lu Bu in reforming and suppressing the noble clans, this would be tantamount to destroying his own foundation. Lu Bu's successful method might be poison to Cao Cao. If he did this, most of these people under Cao Cao's rule would rebel.
That reckless man actually has such courage?
Cao Cao felt that he had underestimated Lu Bu in the past.
Cao Cao sighed secretly in his heart, looked at Xun You and frowned: "Is it Yuan Shao who Gongda said?"
Xun You nodded, but his expression was not very good: "Now, I hope that Lu Bu will steal the imperial seal."
Everyone nodded after hearing this. Cao Cao's next step was to prepare to pacify Xuzhou. If Lu Bu got the Imperial Seal, they could just use it as an excuse to launch an attack on Xuzhou. But if the Imperial Seal got into Yuan Shao's hands, Yuan Shao would just hide it.
It's okay, but if Yuan Shao, like Yuan Shu, waits for the opportunity to become emperor, then Cao Cao will be numb.
The confrontation between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan is not over yet, but the dawn of victory has gradually turned to Yuan Shao's side. It is also a matter of time before Gongsun Zan is defeated. After Gongsun Zan's defeat, the pattern of the Central Plains will be different from now.
In the north, Yuan Shao dominates Qingyou and the four states of Hebei and lives in the north. Lu Bu alone controls Xuzhou and the Jianghuai area and lives in the east. Cao Cao leads the two states of Yan and Henan and lives in the west. This is a three-legged structure. If Yuan Shao is in control of Cao Cao,
Before destroying Lu Bu, he took out the imperial seal, which put Cao Cao in a dilemma.
To maintain the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty, he must go to war with Yuan Shao. However, with Lu Bu on his side, who would dare to give Yuan Shao a fight? At that time, if Lu Bu is like now and considers the righteousness, it would be better to join forces with him to destroy Yuan Shao. If Lu Bu hates his crusade,
If we join forces with Yuan Shao...
Cao Cao thought it would be easier to give himself a knife and wipe his neck by himself.
"If this matter was planned by Lu Bu, Yuan Shu should be in Xuzhou right now, sending spies to investigate along the way. Once he discovers Yuan Shu's whereabouts and waits for an opportunity to kill him, Yuan Shu must not be allowed to see Yuan Shao!" Cheng Yu bowed.
Cao Cao nodded. It may not be useful, but it is better than doing nothing. The most important thing now is to find out who holds the imperial seal.
"Since Yuan Shu has been overthrown, it is time to celebrate his victory. He sent people to Shouchun to deliver an invitation, inviting Lu Bu to come to celebrate his victory in three days. At the same time, he will also read out the imperial reward!" Cao Cao thought for a moment and said.
"I wonder how my lord plans to award the reward?" Xun You asked.
The imperial court's award is actually just an edict. Cao Cao can write it himself, but how to award it?
Lu Bu, the pastor of Xuzhou, would never let go. If he and Lu Bu were to play the trick of rising up and down secretly at this time, and Lu Bu would not respond to the edict, it would be like hitting him in the face.
"General Wei, what do you think?" Cao Cao asked.
"Although General Wei is good, I don't know why my lord invited Lu Bu here?" Guo Jia, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked.
Lu Bu is now the Mu of Xuzhou, and also holds the position of General of the Left. There are not many people who can be awarded the title of General of Guards, General of Hussars, General of Chariots and Generals. Generals of Hussars, Chariots and Generals of Guards are not permanent, but
Nowadays, in troubled times, there are not so many, and although they are higher and lower, they are all official positions comparable to those of the three princes, and it is most suitable to use them as rewards.
But with this alone, Lu Bu may not be willing to come.
So Cao Cao's purpose is very important.
"If Lu Bu can come, can you join forces to capture him?" Cao Cao looked at the generals and asked.
Lu Bu's bravery cannot be matched by one person, and even an army may not be his opponent. But now all the elite generals of Cao's army are here. If we can lure Lu Bu into the army, we can use the power of the army and the power of the generals to surround and kill him.
But it is not difficult for Lu Bu. As long as Lu Bu dies, all problems will be solved.
Guo Jia said with a smile: "If my lord wants to use this to capture Lu Bu, General Wei may not be enough. I don't think that Lu Bu will risk his life because of this small convenience. Forgive Jia for speaking frankly. This is not the time for a decisive battle with Lu Bu. If it happens, it will happen naturally."
Okay, but if Lu Bu is allowed to escape, there will be no room for change."
Of course, Lu Bu is the most powerful general in the world, and he may have the confidence to escape unscathed, but it is not enough for General Wei to invite Lu Bu here.
Guo Jia did not recommend taking action against Lu Bu at this time. It would be good to win, but if Lu Bu was allowed to escape, it would be difficult to relax with Lu Bu.
Cao Cao pondered for a moment and then said: "Then we will also add the position of governor of Yangzhou."
Guo Jia's suggestion was good, but Cao Cao felt that if Lu Bu was not eliminated, Lu Bu would probably become the last man to be defeated. If he missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to get a better one.
The plan has been decided, Cao Cao immediately ordered people to deliver the message, and at the same time sent people back to the court overnight to bring back the official seal of the Yangzhou Governor. It depends on whether Lu Bu is really that rational, and he can turn a blind eye to such benefits...
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
I'm going again, I decided to get the leader drunk tonight, and then...