"Lord, Liu Bei has arrived outside Xu County..." Cao Cao was discussing military affairs with several counselors when Dian Wei strode in and reported.
"Oh, I'll go out of the city to meet you..." Cao Cao raised his thick eyebrows and stood up.
"Wait a minute..." Cheng Yu suddenly spoke and asked Xiang Dianwei: "Who did Liu Bei bring on this trip? How many troops are there?"
Dian Wei was startled and replied truthfully: "Well, Liu Bei is bringing his second brother Guan Yu with him, and he is accompanied by five hundred soldiers and horses."
Cheng Yu added: "My lord...the matter discussed with Liu Bei this time is of great importance. Liu Bei is a man with great power and ambition. If he doesn't agree, what will he do?"
Cao Cao thought for a while and said: "Liu Bei, the great hero of the world, is not as ambitious as me. I know this, but just because he is ambitious, he should not refuse."
Cheng Yu said: "It's best to be careful in everything. Since my lord is willing to give it a go, he should be more careful when planning..."
Cao Cao cupped his hands and said: "What Mr. Zhong De said is exactly what he said. Cao Cao was rash, and it was in accordance with Mr. Zhong De's opinion."
Cheng Yu's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said coldly: "My lord, my lord can hold a banquet in the palace to entertain Liu Bei, and ask Guan Yu and the accompanying soldiers to set up another place to rest in the military camp outside the city. If Liu Bei is willing to cooperate with my lord, then that's it. If you don't want to... My lord can hide in the corridor with swordsmen and axes, and throw cups as a signal during the banquet... Then I will take the opportunity to get rid of Liu Bei and annex Xuzhou myself, so as to avoid another disaster in the future..."
Cao Cao looked hesitant and said: "Liu Bei has a reputation as a virtuous man. If I kill him, I'm afraid no one will join him in the future..."
Just when Cao Cao was hesitant, Xun Yu stood up and said: "Xun Yu thinks that what Zhong De Gong said is true. If Liu Bei refuses to cooperate, he has second thoughts and will become his enemy sooner or later. Why not take advantage of this situation?" opportunity removed,"
Seeing that even Xun Yu said this, Cao Cao pondered for a while, nodded and said: "In that case, Duke Zhongde immediately made arrangements for me to go to meet Liu Bei now."
At that moment, Cao Cao left Xu County and met Liu Bei outside the city. Cao Cao ushered Liu Bei into the city, but ordered Li Dian and Yue Jin to invite Guan Yu to a banquet at the military camp outside the city.
Something went wrong on the spot. Guan Yujian refused to leave the military camp and insisted on going into the city with Liu Bei.
Cheng Yu said from the side: "My lord, Guan Yu is so brave that he cannot be put into the city. Otherwise, he may be disadvantageous to my lord."
Cao Cao nodded and walked towards Guan Yu.
This is not the first time that Cao Cao and Guan Yu have met. When Guan Yu warmed up wine and killed Hua Xiong when he was fighting against Dong Zhuo, it left a deep impression on Cao Cao. It can be said that Cao Cao wanted to recruit the tiger general under his command the most. However, Cao Cao made several subtle hints that Guan Yu was He was unmoved and loyal to Liu Bei. Liu Bei was famous for his benevolence and righteousness, and his ability to control people was also the reason why Cao Cao took a high look at him.
Cao Cao twisted his beard and smiled and said: "Chang Yun, the army has already set up a banquet. Chang Yun has come all the way to work hard, why don't you go and have some food and wine to rest."
Guan Yu resolutely said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Cao, for your kindness. My brother and I are one body. Wherever my brother goes, so and so will go. We will never be separated until we die."
Cao Cao frowned slightly, pretending to be displeased and said: "What are you talking about, Chang Yun? I kindly arranged a banquet to work for the army, but it seems to be malicious in your mouth. I respect Liu Xuande as a benevolent and righteous hero, so I took him in Yuzhou, so what?" Will cause harm, Mr. Xuande, what do you say?" After saying this, he threw the problem to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei also hesitated for a while and said: "My second brother is too worried, so let's go have some food and drink to rest. Cao Gong was a hero at that time, how could he use such a ridiculous trick?"
Guan Yu wanted to say more, but after all, this was in public, and he couldn't harm his eldest brother's face, so he was reluctant in every possible way, but was finally pulled over by Li Dian Lejin.
"Xuan De Gong...please," Cao Cao rode on his horse and asked Liu Bei to enter the city. The two of them rode together and went straight to the Prefectural Mufu in Xu County.
On the way, Cao Cao said: "Mr. Xuande, now the plums are ripe and can be used to make wine. How about you and I go into the back garden of my house and talk about the wine together?"
Liu Bei was originally a little worried about being plotted by Cao Cao, but now that he had entered the city, he could only let Cao Cao manipulate him. He simply felt relieved and calmly said: "Wonderful, just listen to Duke Cao's orders."
A flash of admiration flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, and he thought: "If it weren't for Zhang Liao, this person would definitely be my lifelong rival."
The two of them went straight into the back garden, sat in a pavilion, shaded by green bamboos, and drank fine wine. However, outside the courtyard, Dian Wei had already ordered a hundred sword and ax hands to lie outside the wall, waiting for Cao Cao's order before he rushed out with a loud noise. .
During the dinner, Cao Cao never mentioned what he was planning. He just talked loudly and kept toasting to Liu Bei. At first, Liu Bei was a little reserved. After a few bowls of wine, he seemed to gradually relax and began to have some exchanges with Cao Cao.
Halfway through the wine, suddenly there were overcast clouds and heavy rain was coming. Someone pointed out from afar and said there was a dragon hanging. Cao Cao and Liu Bei leaned on the railing to watch, and they saw a cloud in the sky that looked like a dragon.
Cao Cao was so excited that he said, "Can Xuande know whether the dragon has changed?"
Liu Bei said: "I don't know, but I would like to hear the details."
Cao Cao looked at the dragon hanging in the sky, and he was full of pride and chanted: "The dragon can be big or small, it can rise or disappear; if it is big, it can stir up clouds and spit out mist, if it is small, it can hide and hide its form; if it rises, it can fly in the universe, if it can hide, it can hide its form. Lurking in the waves, the spring is deep now, the dragon rides on the changes of time, just like a man who has achieved his will and traversed the four seas, the dragon is an object, comparable to the heroes of the world."
Liu Bei listened with emotion and thought to himself: "Cao Mengde, what a heroic and heroic figure."
Cao Cao said again: "Xuande, you have been around for a long time, please give me a try."
Liu Bei said hurriedly and humbly: "Be prepared to see the mortal body, so as to recognize heroes safely."
Cao Cao frowned and said, "Xuande can't be too modest."
Repeatedly, Liu Bei finally couldn't resist the demands of Cao Cao, who was already in high spirits. He casually said: "Yuan Shu from Huainan is well equipped with troops and food, but he is a hero."
Cao Cao sneered disdainfully: "Sooner or later I will capture the dead bones in the grave."
Liu Bei knew that he could not deal with Cao Cao, so he said more seriously: "There is a man named Bajun, who is powerful in all nine states: Liu Biao and Liu Jingsheng of Jingzhou can be heroes."
Cao Cao shook his head and said: "Liu Biao has only a false name and is not a hero."
Liu Bei thought about it again and said seriously: "There is a man with a strong spirit and a tiger in the east of the Yangtze River. Sun Bofu can be a hero."
Cao Cao thought for a while and then shook his head and said: "Sun Ce has the courage of an ordinary man, borrowing his father's name, so he is not a hero."
"Liu Jiyu of Yizhou is a hero for guarding Yizhou."
"Although Liu Zhang belongs to the clan, he is the dog's ear that keeps the household, so how can he be a hero?"
"How about Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, Ma Teng, Han Sui and others,"
"Why should such mediocre people be of any concern?"
"..."
Liu Bei said so many things in succession, and Cao Cao just shook his head. However, although Liu Bei's enumeration was overturned by Cao Cao, Liu Bei was not angry at all, because he vaguely thought so.
And somehow, the heroes Cao Cao criticized all resonated with Liu Bei. Those people just mentioned are not worthy of being heroes. Although the two have only a small friendship, Cao Cao actually made Liu Bei feel like a confidant. Gradually, Liu Bei was also infected by this feeling and began to let go of his restraints.