I have to admire Cao Cao's personal charm, it is indeed very high.
I have to admire that some people are really good at understanding people. For example, Bao Xin, Prime Minister of Jibei.
When Chen Meng learned that Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin had handed over his soldiers to Cao Cao unconditionally and expressed his willingness to assist Cao Cao, Chen Meng admitted that he was a little jealous.
You must know that Bao Xin had 20,000 soldiers, 700 cavalry, and more than 5,000 vehicles transporting grain and supplies at this time.
Bao Xin's move directly transformed Cao Cao from a newly established small start-up company into a powerful company that can be listed on the market; it also transformed Cao Cao from a newly established small boss into a powerful CEO.
Zhang Miao's subordinates Wei Zi and Bao Xin should be of the same type. As soon as Cao Cao returned to his hometown, Wei Zi helped Cao Cao raise a team of 5,000 people. Now that he heard that Cao Cao was going to occupy Sishui Pass, Wei Zi started from
Zhang Miao brought 3,000 soldiers and together with Cao Cao captured Sishui Pass.
With the joining of these two men, Cao Cao suddenly had about 28,000 soldiers. Cao Cao went to Yuzhou Governor Kong Niao to fool him, and then he got nearly 6,000 soldiers and horses from Yuzhou Governor Kong Niao.
When he set out for Sishui Pass, Cao Cao already had 34,000 soldiers.
And Liu Bei didn't make any comparisons here. For these princes, making you Liu Bei a prince is just for the sake of the Chen family in Yingchuan, but if you want us to give you soldiers, there is no way.
.
It’s really annoying to compare people to each other!
When Liu Bei saw this disparity, he couldn't help but sigh in the military tent.
"Brother, if there are no soldiers, there will be no soldiers! Don't we have four thousand soldiers now?" Guan Yu said.
"That's right! Even though Cao Cao has brought many soldiers, they may not be able to do well in a war," Zhang Fei said.
My second brother and third brother! Do you think the eldest brother is sighing here because he has few soldiers? The eldest brother is sighing that he cannot compare with Cao Cao!
Liu Bei was quite depressed. He was happy for a while because Cao Cao joined the alliance as a white man, but he was immediately slapped by the cruel reality.
The cruel truth told Liu Bei, now you are no match for Cao Cao.
"Eldest brother, second brother, and third brother are right. The soldiers must be good, not numerous. Of the four thousand soldiers in our hands, hundreds of them have followed us for so many years. With these people here, how can Cao Cao fight with us?
It can’t be compared.” Chen Meng said.
Liu Bei turned to look at the three of them, and then said:
"Brother Meng De has sent someone to tell me that we are scheduled to set out on March 10 to attack Sishui Pass."
"Brother, did General Fenwu tell you which way to take to attack Sishui Pass?"
"Take Yuanwu, pass Yingyang, and then enter Sishui Pass."
You can go to Sishui Pass. However, you must not go with Cao Cao. Chen Meng knew very well the consequences of the encounter between Cao Cao and Xu Rong in Xingyang.
"Brother, there is a place to the north of Xingyang called Aocang, which is the transfer station for grain transportation from Shandong to Luoyang. If we can capture this Aocang, it will not only directly threaten the food security in Luoyang City, but also
Taking the grain shipped from Shandong as your own is actually the lifeblood of Luoyang!"
"And Aocang is adjacent to the Yellow River to the north and Bianqu to the east. Its strategic location is extremely important. My eldest brother can propose to General Fenwu that he personally leads his troops to attack Aocang. After Aocang is captured, he can then march to Sishui Pass.
.”
Chen Meng's purpose was very clear, which was not to go with Cao Cao.
In history, Guan Yu was a strong man who could fight Cao Cao in the Battle of Xiangfan with the power of one county, and even defeated Cao Cao to the point of moving the capital. Naturally, he was very clear about the importance of Aocang's strategic location.
"Brother, I think what the fourth brother said makes sense. What we lack most now is food. If we can capture Aocang, we can also go down the Yellow River and transport Aocang's food to the plains."
Ever since Liu Bei became the magistrate of Pingyuan County and took in 30,000 civilians, he has missed food all the time! Now he suddenly heard that Guan Yu said that the food could be transported down the plains smoothly, and his eyes suddenly shone.
"Well...Second brother, fourth brother, what you said makes sense. Aocang is indeed very important. In this case, I will propose to Brother Mengde to lead the army to occupy Aocang."
An hour later, Liu Bei, who went to Cao Cao's military tent to discuss military affairs, returned.
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Chen Meng waited for an hour in Liu Bei's military tent. When they saw Liu Bei coming back, the three of them hurriedly stepped forward and surrounded Liu Bei. Zhang Fei asked:
"Brother, what do you think? Does General Fenwu agree?"
Liu Bei looked at the three of them with a strange expression.
"Brother Meng De has agreed to my proposal."
"Since I agree, why is eldest brother unhappy?" Guan Yu said.
Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu, then at Zhang Fei and Chen Meng, sighed, and then said:
"Although Brother Meng De agreed to my proposal, Brother Meng De has one request."
"What's the request?" Zhang Fei asked.
"Brother Meng De said that he wanted Cao Ren to lead a thousand soldiers to follow us to Aocang. In addition, brother Meng De also said that he wanted his second brother to lead a thousand soldiers to follow him to Sishui Pass."
After Guan Yu heard this, he was stunned for a moment and said blankly:
"General Fenwu asked me to lead a thousand soldiers to follow him. Why?"
At this time, Chen Meng looked at his mouth and said:
"Brother, is it possible that General Fenwu doesn't believe you?"
It's right to think about it, Aocang is an important grain transfer station, and there are countless grains stored in it. If Liu Bei doesn't go to Sishui Pass after occupying Aocang, wouldn't Cao Cao be blind?
But Liu Bei proposed that he would lead his troops to capture Aocang in person, and Cao Cao had no choice but to let Liu Bei go, otherwise it would appear that Cao Cao did not trust people. So to achieve both ends, Cao Cao sent his own sect, Cao Ren, to lead his troops to join Liu Bei.
Head to Aocang.
In addition, in order to prevent Liu Bei from harming Cao Ren and monopolizing Aocang, he also asked Guan Yu to follow him. Of course Cao Cao knew at this time Liu Bei's friendship with his third brother, and knew that Liu Bei would definitely not put Guan Yu in danger. Liu Bei was worried about Guan Yu, so he would definitely
He will not harm Cao Ren.
Chen Meng also thought about one thing. Cao Cao had specified that Guan Yu should accompany him to Sishui Pass. I am afraid he had some small plans to capture Guan Yu!
"Brother, how did you respond to General Fenwu?" Chen Meng asked.
"Hey! Everyone is here and I can't refute, so I agreed to Brother Meng De." After finishing speaking, Liu Bei sighed.
Liu Bei also knew that it was inappropriate to let Guan Yu accompany Cao Cao alone, but for the time being, he could not think of any good solution.
"Brother, don't sigh. Yu Quan will go to Sishui Pass with General Fenwu. When eldest brother defeats Aocang, he will come to Sishui Pass to find me."
When Chen Meng heard this, he shouted hurriedly.
"Brother, the one who can transport the grain in Aocang to the plains must be the second brother. General Fenwu was just worried that his eldest brother would monopolize Aocang, so he asked his second brother to follow him. In this case, General Fenwu is the one to follow.