Chapter 157 Chapter 25 Cao Cao’s Feast on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace (2)

Xun You said: "Now Sun Quan and Liu Bei are famous because of the Battle of Chibi. Zhou Yu is in Jiangling, Cheng Pu is in Jiangxia, Lu Meng is in Xunyang; from Jingzhou to Yangzhou, passing along the river, all are Sun Wu forces. The prime minister may not know: Just now I received a secret report that Liu Qi, the shepherd of Jingzhou, died of illness recently, Sun Quan has declared that Liu Bei is the shepherd of Jingzhou, lent Jingzhou to Liu Bei, married his younger sister, and the nine counties of Han Dynasty all fell into Liu Bei's hands!" Cao Cao was taken aback, then regained his composure, and said slowly: "Sun and Liu colluded with each other, but both sides have different intentions. Liu Biao's son Liu Qi is a mediocre person, and it is difficult to keep his position if he is not dead. Sun Quan wooed Liu Bei It's normal for Liu Bei to respond accordingly. They have good ideas and want to put me in a desperate situation. But I dare to say that they will turn their backs in a short time. Hmph, Jingzhou, if you get it and control Xichuan, how can Sun Quan really give it up? Give in?"

After listening to Cao Cao's words, Bing Yuan frowned for a while.After a while, he raised his eyes to look at Cao Cao, and asked word by word: "Prime Minister, if Liu Bei really has the help of Zhuge Kongming and Guan, Zhang, Zhao and others, and takes Xichuan according to Jingzhou, what will be the situation in the world?" When Cao Cao heard this, he felt great grief, and said, "Hugh! This situation is bound to form a three-point situation in the world. What is the great cause of me sweeping Liuhe and unifying the world?" After saying this, tears fell like rain. Everyone was taken aback.Cheng Yu took a step forward, held Cao Cao's arm with his hands and said, "Don't worry. With Zhou Yu's wit, it is impossible to just sit back and watch Liu Bei occupy Jingzhou. Liu Bei and Sun Quan's alliance, on the surface, is to resist us on the western front, but in reality The above is to take Xichuan. If our army remains still, Liu Bei may focus on destroying Liu Zhang in Xichuan, and Zhou Yu will stop him. At that time, the prime minister will send his troops to the south again, and Jingzhou will not be in my hands. Or , if our army goes south, Sun and Liu will temporarily ignore the gains and losses of Jingzhou, and the coalition forces will fight against me, which seems to be at our disadvantage. However, our army's current navy training has not been completed, and the general situation in Hanzhong is still uncertain. It is better to avoid it first and wait. They kill each other. And the theory of one-third of the world is not conclusive."

Cao Cao held back his tears and looked at the sky for a long time before waving Cheng Yu's hand and saying, "Don't talk too much. These days I have been thinking about an extremely important issue, but I have never made it to the point. Victory or defeat is a common thing in military strategists." , How can the defeat of Chibi linger in my heart? The death of Chonger is not enough to make me meditate for a month. Since I dominated the north, I have fought many times in the south. Why, with my powerful army, I am still defeated by Zhou Yu The hands of soldiers? The Northern Army did not practice water warfare, and it was just one end. In fact, because Sun and Liu Ju were both soft and strong, they were definitely not waiting for nothing. Bing Yuan’s words awakened me: I have always thought about the world The direction of the general trend is the great cause of unifying China. I know in my heart that it cannot be done, but I still do it, but I just can’t bear to say it. The so-called "martyrs are old and full of ambition" refers to this. But it’s good to point it out now. I can face it head-on. My recent premonition has been matched by clearer facts. The world is three-pointed, and I am afraid that its fate will be like this!"

No one answered.Cao Cao was also silent for a moment, and continued: "I have always regarded myself as a hero, but now that I think about it, I have underestimated the heroes of the world. Thinking about Sun and Liu, they have already maintained the three-point situation in the world. ?I wanted to unify the country, but I kept myself in the dark. Now it's all right, it's time to prescribe the right medicine!" Bing Yuan, Xun You, Cheng Yu and the others all turned pale, and they all bowed and said, "Your Prime Minister is truly a man!" Cao Cao waved his hand: "Let's talk about the situation. Just now, what Cheng Yu said is that our army should wait for work and reap the benefits. This is the best strategy. However, if you don't move at all, you will show cowardice. Morale cannot be weakened. We I would like to personally lead the navy to go south, from the Weishui to the Huai River, to the Feishui area, and set up an army in Hefei. After our army arrives, we will not take the initiative to attack the enemy for the time being, and watch the fire from the other side, and carefully see what tricks Zhou Yu and Liu Bei are going to make. ...Of course, there will be no good results. At that time, our army will make a decision. What do you think?"

Everyone is good.So, Cao Cao, who was full of worries, led his army to Hefei and set up formations along the river. On this side, as expected by Cao Cao, great friction arose between Sun and Liu. After the Battle of Chibi, Zhou Yu wholeheartedly wanted to deceive Liu Bei to Soochow on the pretext of marrying Sun Quan's sister, and at the same time tried to make Guan Yu and Zhang Fei side with each other, while Zhou Yu himself "coerced to attack" and made a major event.But Lu Su held the opposite opinion and opposed Sun Quan's suggestion. Taking advantage of Liu Qi's new death, he went to Jingzhou in person, persuaded Liu Bei and Sun Quan to fight against Cao together, and married Sun Quan's sister to Liu Bei.Liu Bei judged the situation and naturally agreed one by one.For a while, the two families had a good relationship and were beaming.Of course, there was also a secret deal after that: the two families fought against Cao together, and Liu Bei took Xichuan and Liu Zhang's land by himself, and returned Jingzhou to Soochow after taking it.The so-called "borrowing" Jingzhou is exactly what it means.

Seeing that the development of the matter was completely contrary to his intention, Zhou Yu was naturally angry.He decided not to wait for Liu Bei to enter Xichuan, but to take it first.However, Zhou Yu was seriously ill and died in a place called Baqiu on the way to send troops to Xichuan.The army also withdrew because of his death.Before his death, he left a last word to make Lu Su his successor.And Lu Su is mature and prudent, and his bearing is quite magnificent. The anti-Cao alliance he formed with Liu Bei is strong and powerful.Seeing that the timing was wrong, Cao Cao had to station his troops in Hefei, while he returned to Xudu.

In the spring of the fifteenth year of Jian'an (AD 210), Cao Cao built the Tongque Terrace in 148.On this day, he summoned all civil and military officials to give lectures. He first analyzed the possibility of three points in the world, and then said: "Wow, Confucius said 'you know the destiny at fifty', and now I know it. I have made up my mind: In the past year, I temporarily gave up the hegemony of going south to unify China, and turned around with all my strength, focusing on the management of the entire northern and Guanzhong regions. Now that Tongquetai has been completed, a banquet should be held to celebrate. During the meeting, everyone should be open and honest, and discuss the general management of the northern region !"

The Tongque Terrace is on the bank of the Zhang River, and there are two towers built on each side of the high platform. The Yulong Terrace is on the left and the Jinfeng Terrace is on the right.From Yulong Terrace to Tongque Terrace, from Jinfeng Terrace to Tongque Terrace, there is a bridge connecting them.The two bridges are connected, and there are thousands of households, resplendent with gold and jade. Cao Cao wears a gold crown inlaid with jade on his head, a green brocade robe, jade belt and pearl shoes, and sits on his height.Civil and military officials are all seated on the side.

After the banquet began, first there was a group of beautiful girls singing and dancing softly; then, there was a group of warriors fighting.The sound of soldiers and horses and drum music sounded together on the field, while water and land played together during the banquet.The civil servants and military generals take turns to hold the cups, and the cups are staggered.