Chapter 21 Chapter Eighteen
Jiangling City is full of noise. Cao Jun will return to Xudu tomorrow. After the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Chibi, Cao Jun is eager to return. Hearing that tomorrow he will leave for the north, many soldiers are crying.The military order to return to the north has not yet been officially issued, and all the battalions have packed their bags and bags. They only waited for an order, and immediately set off in full gear and flew back to the lair in the north.They never wanted to come to the south of the Yangtze River again, and even when they heard the sound of the river in the middle of the night, they thought it was sparks exploding in the sky above Chibi.
But only half of the soldiers were able to go back, and the other half were left to guard Jingzhou. Although the flames of the battle in Chibi were extinguished, the war was not over yet. The first line was directed by Sun Quan himself.On these two fronts, the soldiers of the Cao Army guarding the Jianghuai River ran back and forth, sometimes saving Hefei and Jiujiang on the eastern front, and sometimes saving Yiling and Jiangling on the western front. white mist.
The soldiers of Cao Jun stood on guard every day, so busy that they turned upside down day and night, had trouble sleeping and eating, and were forced to feel angry by Soochow's endless challenges.Cao Bing was so angry that a soldier once pointed at the Soochow army on the dock and scolded: "Sun Quan, your mother will never stop!"
The raging fire in Chibi seems to be declaring something. There is no invincible army in the world, and the weak will defeat the strong.Soochow at this time is very similar to Cao Cao eight years ago, but Cao Cao is like Yuan Shao eight years ago.Both the Battle of Guandu and the Battle of Chibi have become classic battles in which less is more.
After defeating Yuan Shao, Cao Cao almost became a myth. After that, where he commanded his troops, he was invincible. The people of the world were horrified, and the pace of the unification of the world was set back for an unknown number of years.For the first time, Cao Cao felt the sadness of growing old. He lost to the thirty-four-year-old Zhou Yu.Thirty-four years old, really high-spirited, full of ambition, full of passion, just leaning on the railing in the turbulent spring tide, watching the spring breeze and green mountains and rivers, listening to the ointment rain fattening the bananas in the garden, walking alone in the wind and rain with a sword, visiting friends Lin Quan, Zuiwo Yeshi, said one or two arrogant and frivolous words without any scruples, and no one would make fun of you.
Cao Cao really thought he was old. He sat in the room like a dead wood, holding a moving puppet in his hand.It was Cao Chong's doll, he touched it pityingly, it was cold, like the last warmth of his son in his arms.
There was a miserable wind rushing by outside the door, he would think it was Cao Chong calling him, so he turned his head happily, but the wind had gone far away, and a wisp of gray smoke clung to the lintel, like a child's mischievous touch. laugh.
He sighed in frustration, still stroking the puppet in a daze, he thought it was aging, holding a child's doll in his hand, thinking about the past family happiness in his heart, laughing or crying like a fool, wanting to find someone When I was talking, I was still so miserable and lonely.
He is really lonely, even if he is wearing scales and standing among thousands of armies, he also feels isolated from the world, and the hustle and bustle that is as enthusiastic as the flame of youth has nothing to do with him.In fact, what he wanted most was to hold his son's hand, stroke his hair, his face, listen to his son reciting poems with a smile on his face, and then fall asleep peacefully.
"Prime Minister..." Someone called him softly, the voice was like a ghost passing by his ears.
Cao Cao raised his head sluggishly, and it was Yang Xiu who came. He agreed in a daze, but he also felt that he didn't make a sound, but his throat squirmed.
Yang Xiu hid his tears and sighed: "The prime minister is sad, the young master died early, it is a pity, but people cannot be resurrected after death. If the prime minister is indulging in grief and unable to extricate himself, what will the country's society be, and what will the three armies rely on!"
With the big hat off, Cao Cao couldn't cheer up even if he didn't want to. He suppressed his sadness and said calmly: "Thank you Dezu for your comfort. I can't be alone in my reverie. I will definitely not delay the big event because of something wrong."
Seeing Cao Cao's relief, Yang Xiu said, "Prime Minister, the special envoy of Yizhou has been waiting in Jiangling for three days. Would you like to see him?"
When Cao Cao heard about Yizhou's special envoy, he became annoyed.Before he fought Soochow, Liu Zhang dispatched Zhang Su to send 300 old soldiers and donated countless sundries. The etiquette was thoughtful, but in the end it was a gesture of watching success or failure, neither explicit support nor blunt refusal. , exactly the same as Liu Biao during the Battle of Guandu.He also wanted to gain benefits from the court and share the benefits, but he didn't want to make any effort. He wanted to sit back and enjoy the success without bleeding. In order to ensure peace on the western front, Cao Cao endured his anger and appointed Zhang Su as the prefect of Guanghan.Now that he has lost the battle at Chibi, Liu Zhang's group of envoys should have left Chengdu before the outbreak of the war. If they knew that he had suffered a great defeat, they might have retreated. God knows what kind of plan they had when they came to Jiangling for an audience. , Cao Cao's first thought was that he didn't want to see him.
Yang Xiu could see Cao Cao's disapproval, and carefully persuaded: "Prime Minister, Eastern Wu is not in a good position in the war. If you can get aid from Yizhou, you can also hinder Jiangdong. Let's see."
Cao Cao pondered for a while, then said flatly, "Please invite him."
After a while, the envoy came in slowly, stopped in the room, did not bow down, just bowed lightly, with a voice like cotton stuffed in his nostrils: "Yizhou special envoy Zhang Song has seen the prime minister!"
The etiquette is so simple, Cao Cao felt disgusted in his heart.Then look at the emissary Zhang Song, with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, eyes only the size of rice beans, but they seem to be fitted with pistons, turning endlessly, the head of the nose is pressed with a mallet, and collapsed into two flat semicircles, the mouth cannot be closed, the two The rabbit teeth are quite eye-catching, pressing the lower lip aggressively, poking forward as if pecking at rice when speaking, it looks like a groundhog.
The more Cao Cao looked at it, the worse he felt. He wished he could cover his eyes with a handkerchief, so he simply turned his eyes away: "Is there something else for the special envoy to visit the orphan this time?"
Zhang Song is a person who has experienced in the secular world. He saw Cao Cao's impatience at first glance, and when he heard that Cao Cao didn't even say polite words, the first sentence was torture. He sneered twice in his heart, neither cold nor not He said hotly: "Song pays tribute to the prime minister's ears for my lord. My lord heard that the prime minister sent troops to the south, and prepared a small gift to reward the three armies."
Cao Cao always felt that Zhang Song was laughing at him. He was defeated in Chibi, but Liu Zhang sent envoys to reward the three armies with gifts. Isn't this a joke for Cao Cao?
He said coldly: "Thank you Liu Jiyu for your concern. He even sent envoys to reward the battle between Gu and Jiangdong. You go back and tell Ji Yugong that there is another war next time, so don't be so polite!"
Zhang Song heard the rejection in Cao Cao's tone, and the displeasure in his heart grew stronger, and he said in a mocking tone: "Don't dare, the prime minister is going to fight for the country, how dare we not send a cup of wine to you. The prime minister is invincible, As the banner points out, the enemy has broken his nerve, we admire him so much, how can we not go thousands of miles to watch the battle, and think that we should follow suit!"
Cao Cao stood up suddenly, pinching the puppet in his hand and making a "clack" sound, which made Yang Xiu break out in cold sweat. He anxiously gave Zhang Songfei a look, but it was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, without any ripples.
Cao Cao gritted his teeth and sneered softly: "Gu will return to Xudu tomorrow, there are still important matters to be dealt with, you step back!" He raised his head, threw his sleeves and left without looking at Zhang Song.
Yang Xiu was so panicked that he blamed Zhang Song: "Brother Yongnian, what are you talking about? The prime minister just lost in Chibi, and he couldn't hear others mentioning the defeat. Why don't you mess with which pot you don't open and which pot you carry? Made the prime minister angry!"
Zhang Song said disdainfully: "Mr. Cao is so generous and narrow-minded, who doesn't win a battle? He hides his ears when he loses a battle. I don't think he will be undefeated in the future?"
Yang Xiu sighed: "Prime Minister has just been defeated by the army and his son died. He is in a bad mood, and it is inevitable that there will be rifts because of a disagreement. Yongnian should speak slowly, the prime minister is not an unreasonable person."
Zhang Song eased his tone: "Dezu, I came to Jingzhou, fortunately I have you in many ways to take care of me, but I have suffered a setback, and I have failed the king's hope!"
Yang Xiu said sincerely: "Although Xiu didn't have much acquaintance with Yongnian, he thought that Yongnian was a talented person and wanted to recommend him to the prime minister. Yongnian should not be reckless, let me persuade you slowly."
"It doesn't matter whether you recommend it or not, but I have the mission of my lord, and I can't understand it now, what can I do!" Zhang Song sighed.
Yang Xiu planned: "It's okay, there is still a change in this matter. Please stay in Jingzhou temporarily for Yongnian. The war in Jiangling is urgent, or you can move to Xiangyang. When I explain to the prime minister, I will definitely understand you."
Zhang Song bowed gratefully: "Thank you Dezu!"
He bid farewell to Yang Xiu, and went to rest in the preaching house. This time, he brought a delegation of more than fifty people from Chengdu, and a dozen or so carriages as presents.He didn't want to go to Jiangling, but he was left hanging for three days, not to mention seeing Cao Cao, and he was kicked out by Si Yan when he delivered a letter to Gongmen. If it wasn't for the master Yang Xiu who took care of him, no one would take care of him. State envoy.He is like a moth on the window pane, seeing the bright light in the window, but he can't find the gap to enter the house.
Zhang Song closed the door, took out a roll of cloth from the bamboo basket in the back room, carefully placed it on the desk, stroked it lightly, with a look of love on his face, as if facing a rare treasure.
He gently opened a corner of the scroll, revealing the ink-colored official script of "Yizhou Tutu". He stared at the words and smiled meaninglessly, then slowly closed the scroll, holding it tightly with both hands, His squinted eyes were like a resurgent candle, gradually brightening up.
The four printed ribbon boxes were neatly placed on the table, Liu Qi stretched out his hand tremblingly to caress, a smile appeared on his sickly face, and the smile wriggled around the edge of the deep dark eye bags, as if crying. "Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling..." he murmured, feeling a little dreamy in his heart, as if this was a corner of sunshine seen through the fog.In less than three months, all the four counties in the south of the Yangtze River in Jingzhou were taken back, and the prefects of the four counties unanimously surrendered their armor. What was originally imagined as a difficult siege turned into an easy effort. It was almost bloodless, the soldiers seemed to have just slept, and the next morning, the prefects of the counties opened the gates of the city, bound their faces and asked to surrender. He looked at Liu Bei tremblingly, and said, "Uncle, you have worked hard." Liu Bei's smiling face looked like a peony flower: "My lord, I have submitted my petition to the imperial court and asked you to be the governor of Jingzhou!" Liu Qi coughed anxiously: "No, no, what am I capable of? I dare to take on the important task of Jingzhou. The four counties in the south of the Yangtze River were taken by my uncle. The post of governor should be taken by my uncle!" Liu Bei said without doubt: "Young master is Jing Sheng's son-in-law. Jingzhou is originally the son's family business. It is only natural for the young master to control Jingzhou. How can I do it for you!" Liu Qi was gasping for breath, clutching his chest but unable to speak, he had no choice but to look at Zhuge Liang.There was no expression on that face as calm as water, and the eyebrows were raised slightly, as if there was a breeze blowing. Liu Bei stepped forward and rubbed Liu Qi's chest and beat his back in person: "Young master, you should feel at ease to recuperate from your illness. Don't worry about other things. I will definitely help you with all my heart. In the future, he will go north to the Yangtze River and regain the territory of Jingzhou." Liu Qi murmured in response. He leaned on the table, with his arms resting on the four printing boxes, and the printing boxes moved out an inch. He felt that he could not hold the four printing boxes.The printing box was too heavy, like four mountain peaks. His weak and sick body could only lie on the bed and linger on his last breath, instead of being responsible for the country. "This time we took the four counties and regained our territory in Jingzhou. We should, we should celebrate!" Liu Qi finally coughed out a few broken words. Liu Bei said humbly: "But listen to your son's instructions, if you want to celebrate your achievements, we will celebrate your achievements." Liu Qi stammered and said: "Okay, that, that Qing..." He was speechless, his waist was bent due to a violent cough, and he buried himself, his eyes darkened. Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei left Liu Qi's residence, and they led the horses to walk slowly. The verdant green of Linzheng in spring is like a jasper, and the soft Xiangshui is like a daughter's deep shyness.The light mist on the water created a curtain like skirts and skirts, and the mournful and soothing singing sounded in the wind, just like the song Xiang Jun chanted by Qu Zi thousands of years ago: The heartbroken lament floats eternally over the Xiangshui River, stained by the water vapor for thousands of years, becoming moist and heavy, sticking to the clothes of passers-by. The two listened to the chanting quietly, perhaps infected by the emotion of the poem, they did not speak for a long time, and each other felt in a trance, thinking that the land under their feet was not real. "How long can Kong Ming endure the son's illness?" Liu Bei worried. Zhuge Liang shook his head: "It won't last this year." Liu Bei stopped walking and sighed, "Young master is really sad. Jingzhou is full of dangers. Cao Cao is in the north and Dongwu is in the east. If you are destroyed at this time, you don't know how many accidents will happen!" Zhuge Liang knew what Liu Bei was thinking. With Liu Qi around, he was famous for attacking Jingzhou. If Liu Qi died, the shield of justice standing in front of Liu Bei would collapse into dust.This time, taking advantage of Soochow's inextricable battle with Cao Cao on the north bank, they quickly led their troops south, and captured the four counties in the south of the Yangtze River in a short period of time. After going out, these old officials under Liu Biao bowed their heads and surrendered.If Liu Qi is gone, Liu Bei will have to face the newly attached Jingzhou alone, and also have to guard against the coveted hearts of Soochow and the North. Although Southern Jingzhou has been stepped on, the hidden crisis is like a fire, and it will burst out at any time. Zhuge Liang thought about these various dangers, and said: "Although Jiangling is still in the hands of Cao Cao, I think it will be taken by Soochow in the near future. This place is the pass of the Yangtze River in the north of Jingzhou. Liang thinks that he will take it back no matter what in the future. If there is no Jiangling, then the natural moat that Jingzhou relies on will be gone, and if you want to go north to the Yangtze River or go west to Yizhou in the future, you will have to borrow other people's territory, which is difficult." Liu Bei nodded: "The territory of Jiangling must belong to me, and I cannot let others hold my throat. The most important thing at the moment is, where should I set up temporary state governance first?" Zhuge Liang raised his feather fan and raised it lightly: "Just be in Linzheng. This place is the junction of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang counties. The four counties in the south of the Yangtze River are newly acquired. You need to calm down the hearts of the people first. Only by going deep into the heart can you understand. civil." Liu Bei laughed: "Kong Ming sent the son to come to Zheng the day before yesterday, so does that mean that he will set up a state here?" Zhuge Liang lowered his feather fan and bowed: "My lord is wise, and Liang's heart cannot be hidden!" Liu Bei laughed loudly. He looked up at the shining fragments of sunlight all over the sky, pieces like bright petals, jumping vigorously on the white and tender skin of the sky: "Kong Ming, I will appoint you as a general in the army, and you will be here in Linzheng." Stationed, the governor of the three counties pays taxes for the people's livelihood, and supports my rear!" He raised his horsewhip and swung it forcefully to the north, "I am facing the Yangtze River to the north, and I want to dig an open space between Cao Cao and Sun Quan, just wait and see me , one day move the state government to the North Shore!" Zhuge Liang raised his voice in conviction: "Liang firmly believes that the Lord will achieve great things!" Liu Bei laughed happily, and suddenly chanted loudly: "Fuck Wu Ge, I was caught by a rhinoceros armor, and the car was wronged, and the short soldiers received it. The left horse is dead, the right blade is wounded. Two rounds of haze, four horses, and Yushu, beating drums..." Zhuge Liang heard that Liu Bei was reciting Qu Yuan's "National Martyrdom". Liu Bei's chanting was rough and majestic, just like the eager drums on the battlefield, urging the morale without fear of life and death.His mood was agitated, and he couldn't help but sing in unison with Liu Bei: "The weather is fierce and the spirit is angry. Strictly kill and abandon the wilderness. You can't go in and out, and you can't go back. The plain is so far away. Bring a long sword and hold a Qin bow. The first body is separated and the heart is not punished. Sincerity is both brave and martial, and finally strong and invincible. The body is dead and the spirit is spirit, and the soul is resolute and is a ghost." The soul-stirring chanting is the black armor stretched by the soldiers, and the mournful chant that floats over the Xiangshui River. The sorrow that has been accumulated for thousands of years collapses in an instant, but the heroic heart expands infinitely, burns up, and will be reflected. Brighten the sky of Jingzhou.
The four printed ribbon boxes were neatly placed on the table, Liu Qi stretched out his hand tremblingly to caress, a smile appeared on his sickly face, and the smile wriggled around the edge of the deep dark eye bags, as if crying. "Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling..." he murmured, feeling a little dreamy in his heart, as if this was a corner of sunshine seen through the fog.In less than three months, all the four counties in the south of the Yangtze River in Jingzhou were taken back, and the prefects of the four counties unanimously surrendered their armor. What was originally imagined as a difficult siege turned into an easy effort. It was almost bloodless, the soldiers seemed to have just slept, and the next morning, the prefects of the counties opened the gates of the city, bound their faces and asked to surrender. He looked at Liu Bei tremblingly, and said, "Uncle, you have worked hard." Liu Bei's smiling face looked like a peony flower: "My lord, I have submitted my petition to the imperial court and asked you to be the governor of Jingzhou!" Liu Qi coughed anxiously: "No, no, what am I capable of? I dare to take on the important task of Jingzhou. The four counties in the south of the Yangtze River were taken by my uncle. The post of governor should be taken by my uncle!" Liu Bei said without doubt: "Young master is Jing Sheng's son-in-law. Jingzhou is originally the son's family business. It is only natural for the young master to control Jingzhou. How can I do it for you!" Liu Qi was gasping for breath, clutching his chest but unable to speak, he had no choice but to look at Zhuge Liang.There was no expression on that face as calm as water, and the eyebrows were raised slightly, as if there was a breeze blowing. Liu Bei stepped forward and rubbed Liu Qi's chest and beat his back in person: "Young master, you should feel at ease to recuperate from your illness. Don't worry about other things. I will definitely help you with all my heart. In the future, he will go north to the Yangtze River and regain the territory of Jingzhou." Liu Qi murmured in response. He leaned on the table, with his arms resting on the four printing boxes, and the printing boxes moved out an inch. He felt that he could not hold the four printing boxes.The printing box was too heavy, like four mountain peaks. His weak and sick body could only lie on the bed and linger on his last breath, instead of being responsible for the country. "This time we took the four counties and regained our territory in Jingzhou. We should, we should celebrate!" Liu Qi finally coughed out a few broken words. Liu Bei said humbly: "But listen to your son's instructions, if you want to celebrate your achievements, we will celebrate your achievements." Liu Qi stammered and said: "Okay, that, that Qing..." He was speechless, his waist was bent due to a violent cough, and he buried himself, his eyes darkened. Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei left Liu Qi's residence, and they led the horses to walk slowly. The verdant green of Linzheng in spring is like a jasper, and the soft Xiangshui is like a daughter's deep shyness.The light mist on the water created a curtain like skirts and skirts, and the mournful and soothing singing sounded in the wind, just like the song Xiang Jun chanted by Qu Zi thousands of years ago: The heartbroken lament floats eternally over the Xiangshui River, stained by the water vapor for thousands of years, becoming moist and heavy, sticking to the clothes of passers-by. The two listened to the chanting quietly, perhaps infected by the emotion of the poem, they did not speak for a long time, and each other felt in a trance, thinking that the land under their feet was not real. "How long can Kong Ming endure the son's illness?" Liu Bei worried. Zhuge Liang shook his head: "It won't last this year." Liu Bei stopped walking and sighed, "Young master is really sad. Jingzhou is full of dangers. Cao Cao is in the north and Dongwu is in the east. If you are destroyed at this time, you don't know how many accidents will happen!" Zhuge Liang knew what Liu Bei was thinking. With Liu Qi around, he was famous for attacking Jingzhou. If Liu Qi died, the shield of justice standing in front of Liu Bei would collapse into dust.This time, taking advantage of Soochow's inextricable battle with Cao Cao on the north bank, they quickly led their troops south, and captured the four counties in the south of the Yangtze River in a short period of time. After going out, these old officials under Liu Biao bowed their heads and surrendered.If Liu Qi is gone, Liu Bei will have to face the newly attached Jingzhou alone, and also have to guard against the coveted hearts of Soochow and the North. Although Southern Jingzhou has been stepped on, the hidden crisis is like a fire, and it will burst out at any time. Zhuge Liang thought about these various dangers, and said: "Although Jiangling is still in the hands of Cao Cao, I think it will be taken by Soochow in the near future. This place is the pass of the Yangtze River in the north of Jingzhou. Liang thinks that he will take it back no matter what in the future. If there is no Jiangling, then the natural moat that Jingzhou relies on will be gone, and if you want to go north to the Yangtze River or go west to Yizhou in the future, you will have to borrow other people's territory, which is difficult." Liu Bei nodded: "The territory of Jiangling must belong to me, and I cannot let others hold my throat. The most important thing at the moment is, where should I set up temporary state governance first?" Zhuge Liang raised his feather fan and raised it lightly: "Just be in Linzheng. This place is the junction of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang counties. The four counties in the south of the Yangtze River are newly acquired. You need to calm down the hearts of the people first. Only by going deep into the heart can you understand. civil." Liu Bei laughed: "Kong Ming sent the son to come to Zheng the day before yesterday, so does that mean that he will set up a state here?" Zhuge Liang lowered his feather fan and bowed: "My lord is wise, and Liang's heart cannot be hidden!" Liu Bei laughed loudly. He looked up at the shining fragments of sunlight all over the sky, pieces like bright petals, jumping vigorously on the white and tender skin of the sky: "Kong Ming, I will appoint you as a general in the army, and you will be here in Linzheng." Stationed, the governor of the three counties pays taxes for the people's livelihood, and supports my rear!" He raised his horsewhip and swung it forcefully to the north, "I am facing the Yangtze River to the north, and I want to dig an open space between Cao Cao and Sun Quan, just wait and see me , one day move the state government to the North Shore!" Zhuge Liang raised his voice in conviction: "Liang firmly believes that the Lord will achieve great things!" Liu Bei laughed happily, and suddenly chanted loudly: "Fuck Wu Ge, I was caught by a rhinoceros armor, and the car was wronged, and the short soldiers received it. The left horse is dead, the right blade is wounded. Two rounds of haze, four horses, and Yushu, beating drums..." Zhuge Liang heard that Liu Bei was reciting Qu Yuan's "National Martyrdom". Liu Bei's chanting was rough and majestic, just like the eager drums on the battlefield, urging the morale without fear of life and death.His mood was agitated, and he couldn't help but sing in unison with Liu Bei: "The weather is fierce and the spirit is angry. Strictly kill and abandon the wilderness. You can't go in and out, and you can't go back. The plain is so far away. Bring a long sword and hold a Qin bow. The first body is separated and the heart is not punished. Sincerity is both brave and martial, and finally strong and invincible. The body is dead and the spirit is spirit, and the soul is resolute and is a ghost." The soul-stirring chanting is the black armor stretched by the soldiers, and the mournful chant that floats over the Xiangshui River. The sorrow that has been accumulated for thousands of years collapses in an instant, but the heroic heart expands infinitely, burns up, and will be reflected. Brighten the sky of Jingzhou.