After all, he was one of the Eight Captains of Xiyuan, and Cao Cao also had a house in Luoyang.
It's just that I haven't lived there for more than a year, and now the weeds in the yard are half as tall as a man, and all the servants in the house have run away cleanly.
Cao Cao also knew that when he left, people's hearts were scattered. It would be strange if these servants didn't run away. It would be nice if the house was not demolished by him.
I had someone buy some maids and boys, and after sorting them out for a few days, I moved them from the inn.
Should I say it or not, it is indeed the former Taiwei Mansion.
The Cao family's house in Luoyang is quite large. If it hadn't been too remote and abandoned, it would have been occupied by someone long ago.
At this time, the sound of carpenters hammering was still echoing in my ears. There were many places in the house that needed to be repaired. This was not something that could be done in a day or two.
Cao Cao was sitting in a pavilion in the backyard. In front of him were Guo Jia, the Xiahou brothers, and Cheng Yu.
The five people stared unblinkingly at the [Small Map of Mountains and Seas] on the table, which made the maid waiting beside them look puzzled.
After a while, Cao Cao raised his head and asked: "Where do you think it is better to start?"
When the Xiahou brothers heard this, they all looked at Guo Jia, and even Cheng Yu shook his head, saying that he couldn't make a choice.
Guo Jia frowned slightly, unconsciously picked up the wine bottle and took a sip, coughed twice, and then said: "There are Wuhuan to the north of Yanzhou. Unfortunately, Gongsun Zan is currently fighting with them, so it's not good for us to intervene.
foot."
Cao Cao nodded slightly and said with some taste: "This Gongsun Zan got a big advantage. The Wuhuan clan only has a few hundred thousand people. Even without the help of the Wei family, it would be easy for him to win. Now with the addition of those magical weapons, it is simply
It’s like adding wings to a tiger.”
Hearing this, Xiahou Dun said in a deep voice: "If you ask me, this Wuhuan is the weakest among the five barbarians. Why can't we fight even though he, Gongsun Zan, can defeat him? With our current troops, we can definitely defeat him."
Seize food."
Xia Houyuan also said: "That is, we are far away from each other. If we miss Wuhuan, we will have to fight Xianbei and Xiongnu. It will be a thankless effort, and we may have to involve many people. Xianbei and Xiongnu are not easy to get along with."
and."
Everyone knows that persimmons are only soft when pinched.
But there is only one soft persimmon, and now Gongsun Zan has taken the lead. It doesn't matter if he grabs it. They are just afraid that Gongsun Zan has already captured Wuhuan over there just as they are preparing.
Instead of fighting for a soft persimmon that others eat, it is better to quickly pick a harder one and plan for it, so that you can eat your fill later.
"The location of Yanzhou is too far south. I wish I had chosen Youzhou or Liangzhou."
"Oh, Youzhou and Liangzhou are bitterly cold places. Who would have thought so much at the beginning? At least Yanzhou still has large areas of fertile land."
The Xiahou brothers were beeping beside them, while Cao Cao frowned and focused his eyes on a corner of the map.
Cheng Yu seemed to be aware of it and frowned: "My lord, do you have thoughts about Japan Island?"
Cao Cao nodded slightly and said to him: "What do Zhongde (Cheng Yu) think?"
Cheng Yu pondered for a while, pointed to the location of Qingzhou on the map, nodded and said: "I met some Japanese in Qingzhou in the early years. It is said that the environment there is not bad, but it is a bit wild and uncivilized.
And it’s a bit troublesome to cross the sea.”
Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia, who also nodded and said: "It is indeed troublesome to cross the sea. It is also a disadvantage that our soldiers are not familiar with water warfare. If we encounter any bumps on the sea, I am afraid that the gain will not be worth the loss."
Cao Cao twisted his beard and smiled and said: "You don't have to worry about this. There is one thing I haven't had time to share with you. Wei Jun has already built sea ships in Xuzhou. It is said that each ship is a hundred feet long and can carry five hundred people and thousands of stones at the same time.
goods."
"Oh!" Guo Jia's eyes lit up and he said hurriedly: "If there are ten such large ships, Japan Island is a good choice, and... Japan Island is far away from the Central Plains, which is also convenient for us..."
There was something in Guo Jia's words that he didn't finish, but Cao Cao understood it instantly and couldn't help but his eyes lit up.
Looking at the Japanese islands on the map, the phrase "the sky is high and the emperor is far away" comes to mind, and the more I look at it, the more ambitious I become.
"Then it's decided, we'll choose Japan Island!"
···
Zhang Mansion.
Zhang Fei has been so busy these two days that he can no longer take care of Hulao Pass and has given full control to Jia Xu.
"Damn it, I only have two thousand people under my command. This one wants one thousand, that one wants five hundred. It's hard to refuse."
"Eldest brother, second brother, you guys can give me some advice. Don't you think I'm so worried that I can't even eat?"
Zhang Fei picked up a leg of lamb, took a deep bite, looked at Liu Bei and Guan Yu and said.
Liu Bei's eyes twitched twice, he looked at Guan Yu who was also speechless, and said angrily: "The current situation is also a good opportunity for us. I came here today to borrow someone from you, third brother."
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt that the mutton in his mouth no longer tasted good.
After glancing at the two eldest brothers, Zhang Fei put down the leg of mutton and said helplessly: "Eldest brother, second brother, do you also want to get involved?"
"I have also learned a little bit about the situation in Jingnan. It seems that you don't have many people, and they are all good and bad militiamen. Many of them don't even have decent protective gear. Is it too much to participate in it rashly?
?”
Zhang Fei felt that he had tried his best to speak tactfully, but his words still made Liu Bei and Guan Yu blush.
That's right, they really have nothing except the five thousand sets of stab-proof suits they earned from Wei Cheng. Jingnan doesn't have any smelting industry. The bows are all made of bamboo. They have a short range and insufficient lethality.
.
If it weren't for the geographical advantage of Jingnan's mountains and rivers, Sun Jian would have driven them all out long ago.
As for Sun Jian's death, it was Guan Yu who was lucky enough to lure him into the woods. Sun Jian was capable of commanding an army, but his personal combat power was a bit lacking.
Seeing Zhang Fei's troubled look, Liu Bei began to increase his attacks.
"Third brother, please help me as a brother. It's not easy for the people of Jingnan. Everyone is an indomitable hero. But everything has to be trained from scratch. It will definitely not work in three or two years. When that time comes, I'm afraid
Nothing will happen to us."
"You can find a way to lend me a thousand men of Longshan Army, seven or eight hundred. First, help me clear out the indigenous people south of Jiaozhou. As long as we go a hundred miles south, we can get the first batch of material assistance from Wei Jun. When we arrive,
Then you will be able to retire with success.”
"Of course, my brother will not treat you badly. When the time comes, my brother will personally hang the flag of your [Fighting God of War] on the front army. Naturally, you will have a share of the credit for the expansion of the territory. What do you think?"
Liu Bei burst into tears, and there was no selfish thought in the exchange of interests. Lending Zhang Fei to him was not only a brotherhood, but also an exchange of interests. Liu Bei hung the [Xiao Meng] flag in the army, which could also promote Zhang Fei.
reputation.
It kills two birds with one stone.
Zhang Fei looked hesitant. If it had been half a year ago, he might have agreed directly.
But now he is not the Wu Xia Amen back then, he knows more, and he also knows that the two thousand people under him can actually get more benefits.
Not to mention anything else, if Huangfu Song lent his troops to Huangfu Song, Huangfu Song would be able to drive out the Qiang people in just one month. By then, Zhang Fei would gain not only fame, but also other hidden benefits.
The most direct point is that the Qiang people are good at raising horses. Zhang Fei can make a lot of money just from war horses.
Now he is not alone. He still has the interests of two thousand people under his command to consider. Although the benefits provided by Wei Cheng are good, people's hearts are not satisfied. Who doesn't want more benefits?
The most important thing is that just two days ago, Gongsun Zan and Lu Bu borrowed two thousand tiger soul troops to attack Wuhuan, and they had already set off.
Gongsun Zan also promised that as long as he captured Wuhuan, he would give Lu Bu three iron mines and a pasture of no less than 10,000 acres.
These incomes will all belong to the Hupo Army in the future, which makes the officers and soldiers of the Longshan Army extremely envious.
Think about it for a while.
Zhang Fei took a deep breath and said: "Brother, you have said this, so I can't justify not borrowing it. However, I have a suggestion and a condition. If you agree, I will lend you two thousand people."
If you don't allow it..."
"Say, you say!"
Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard this. With two thousand Longshan troops, he would have to march more than a hundred miles south, hahaha!
Zhang Fei hesitated for a while, glanced at Guan Yu, gritted his teeth and said: "Let's talk about the conditions first. I want my second brother to help me, not only this time when I go south, but also in the future."
"Uh~"
The smile on Liu Bei's face disappeared instantly.
Guan Yu, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and did not refuse or express his position.
Liu Bei didn't look very good. He glanced at Guan Yu and said in a deep voice, "What about another suggestion?"
Zhang Fei glanced at Guan Yu again, and then said with a guilty conscience: "I can't say what the suggestion is. Maybe it's the second condition, which is that my brothers can't be treated badly. If possible, I hope that the eldest brother can divide the proceeds into five pieces."
...No, three will work."
Liu Bei opened his mouth.
At this moment, I suddenly felt that the Zhang Fei in front of me, my good third brother, was so strange.
Gongsun Zan asked Lu Bu to help, but it only cost him three iron mines and a pasture.
Good guy, his precious third brother actually wants 30% of what he gets... And from what he just said, he wanted 50% at the beginning. Haha, Liu Bei had mixed feelings in his heart.
But what can he do? If he doesn't agree, he won't even get the remaining 70%.
Liu Bei raised his head and looked at Zhang Fei, then at Guan Yu beside him. He didn't know why, but suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Second brother, what do you think?" Liu Bei wanted to make a final struggle.
Unfortunately, Guan Yu was still angry with him for meddling in other people's business. He shook his head and said, "I don't quite understand. However, the south of Jiaozhou is a barbarian land. Even 30% of the income seems to be nothing. It's nothing more."
It’s just a piece of land.”
What this means is that Zhang Fei's request is not excessive and he can definitely agree to it.
Liu Bei still couldn't tell that these two good brothers had reached a tacit understanding, and they wanted to be with him.
Yaoshou!
Liu Bei suppressed the pain in his heart and nodded: "Okay, I can agree to your terms, brother."
Zhang Fei seemed to feel guilty and said with a smile: "Brother, you can rest assured. I will be the vanguard when going south this time. Your people only need to be responsible for the aftermath, hahaha."
···
The Yuan Family Manor of the Fourth Generation and Three Dukes.
Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and other elders of the Yuan clan came forward in person.
The people they invited were quite impressive, including Xu Huang, the commander-in-chief of the Longshan Army, Lu Bu, the commander-in-chief of the Hupo Army, Huang Zhong, the commander-in-chief of the Longxi Guard, and Hua Li, the commander-in-chief of the City Guard... The Yuan family has such face.
The top talker present today is none other than his legitimate son Yuan Shu.
When Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu launched an alliance to attack Dong, more than twenty direct descendants of the Yuan family in Luoyang were all captured by Dong Zhuoka.
But an emaciated camel is bigger than a horse. Although the Yuan family was liquidated once by Dong Zhuo, the population was still prosperous.
"These are all well-known figures in our country. Yuan is very grateful to be invited here today. I would like to show my respect by doing it first."
Yuan Shu raised the wine bottle, gestured, and drank it down in one gulp, which was quite satisfying.
Xu Huang, Lu Bu and others looked at each other and raised their glasses to meet him.
After three glasses of wine, Yuan Shu said: "You guys should know that I, the Yuan family, have gathered troops and will go north to Liangzhou in the near future. This time, I have united with the Huangfu family to teach the Qiang people a profound lesson.
.”
Lu Bu raised his eyebrows and said loudly: "The Yuan family wants to move westward, which is a good thing, and Wei Jun is also very supportive, otherwise we wouldn't be here together today.
It’s just that you should also know that we, the Han Dynasty, are surrounded by enemies on three sides. Not only are we marching westward, but also the Huns, Wuhuan, and Xianbei in the north, and the barbarian natives in the south all need to be looked after.
If you want to borrow someone, you can, but not many people. Lu Mou made this clear in advance so that Brother Yuan would not feel unhappy."
Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao and others looked at each other.
Yuan Shao clasped his fists and said with a smile: "What Fengxian said is very true. It's good for everyone to talk about it, so as not to feel unhappy. However, you can first listen to my sincerity, Mr. Yuan, before making a decision."
!”
"What does Yuan mean?" Xu Huang looked at Yuan Shu, the leader.
Yuan Shu picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and said: "I, the Yuan family, don't want anything from this westward march. I only want people, or to be more precise, prisoners. As for other things, land, war horses, minerals, gold and silver treasures
, it will all be divided between you and Old General Huangfu, what do you think?"
"You only want prisoners of war?"
Xu Huang and others looked at each other, wondering what trick Yuan was playing.
Yuan Shu nodded solemnly and said with a smile: "Yes, I, the Yuan family, only want prisoners of war. Of course, you can rest assured that there are many people in this faction. This is what I, the Yuan family, should do, and I will definitely not let you bother."
"this……"
Xu Huang looked at Lu Bu, who also looked confused.
On the other hand, Huang Zhong and Hua Kun looked at each other. Both of them were quite worried and felt that they should go back and ask Wei Cheng before making a decision.
Yuan Shu seemed to have noticed their thoughts, and bowed his hands in the direction of the palace, saying: "Of course, if you have any doubts, you can go back and discuss it with Wei Jun. There is no hurry. Let's not talk about it today. It's time to eat.
, it’s time to drink and have fun.”
Snap!
Yuan Shu clapped his hands, and a group of graceful dancers and singers swarmed into the side hall, all of them charming and smiling...