Chapter 31 Section five

The two generals led several entourages on horseback and galloped to the gate of Xiangfu, stopped and dismounted.As soon as the two arrived at the gate, they said to the guards: "Please report to the prime minister quickly, Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, the deputy generals of the Xuzhou attack Yuan Shu army, have important matters to report to the prime minister." Cao Cao was discussing matters with dozens of civil and military officials in the lobby. As usual, the civil and military groups stood and lined up on both sides, and Bai Shao sat on the side as usual as the secretary.The gate guard reported urgently: "Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, the deputy generals of the army that attacked Yuan Shu in Xuzhou, are in a hurry to see the Prime Minister and report something important." Cao Cao's eyes widened when he heard that, "How did these two come back? Let them in quickly." Cao Cao stood up at once. : "This matter is more ominous than good." The left and right groups looked at each other in blank dismay.Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao hurried into the lobby and kowtowed to the ground: "I want to report to the Prime Minister that Yuan Shu's army has been defeated and Yuan Shu is dead. Going to Xuzhou to attack Yuan Shu is already a great success." Cao Cao stood there and looked down coldly: "The military situation has already been reported. I've arrived, I already know this. I ask you two what are you doing when you come back?" The two knelt there, you looked at me, and I looked at you, making excuses.Cao Cao said: "Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, report it truthfully." Zhu Ling said: "Uncle Liu Emperor General Liu has written a letter in his own hand and presented it to the prime minister." He took out a letter from his arms and presented it with both hands.Cao Pi came up to take it and presented it to Cao Cao.Zhu Ling went on to say: "Uncle Liu Huang wrote another petition to the court and reported his achievements." Cao Cao said, "I ask why you two came back?" Lu Zhao knelt there and answered, "Uncle Liu Huang, General Liu ordered us two Go back to Xudu, leave the army and horses behind, he will lead himself, and protect Xuzhou." Cao Cao was furious: "You two trash, I sent you to control Liu Bei and prevent any changes, but you are so stupid, let him send him back." He said and watched Without looking at it, he tore Liu Bei's letter into pieces and threw it at the two of them, "What use are you for? Come here, pull it down and chop it up!"

There was an ear-splitting response from inside and outside the hall, and seven or eight swordsmen came up, cut the two arms behind their backs, pressed them there, pulled them up and pushed them out.Xun You came out and said to Cao Cao: "Report to the prime minister, Liu Bei has the seal of the general, and the power is in hand, Zhu and Lu are helpless." Guo Jia also came out, and said to Cao Cao: "This is Liu Bei's change. Ling and Lu Zhao really have nothing to do. Please calm down, prime minister, and leave him under the knife." Cao Cao sat down angrily, and said to Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao: "For the sake of the two military advisers, I have the right to write down your two heads. In the future, you will pay for your meritorious deeds." Cao Cao waved his hand, and the knife and axemen let go of the two of them and retreated.

The two knelt there and kowtowed several times: "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your forgiveness." Cao Cao waved his hand impatiently again.The two retreated despondently.Cao Cao said: "In terms of ability, Liu Bei is the best candidate to lead the army to conquer Xuzhou. The lonely expedition is a bit of a sledgehammer, and sending others may not be competent; but in terms of loyalty, Liu Bei is not completely reliable. Gu Yuan wants to trust and reuse him. Maybe it can win its heart, and then win the hearts of people all over the world." Cao Cao stood up and took a few steps, and said: "I didn't expect that Liu Bei was really happy and angry, and he was secretly tricked. I really took it for granted." He pointed to Guo Jia and Xun You and said: "Unfortunately It was confirmed by the two military advisers." He also pointed to Bai Shao, "and was told by the master: Liu Bei watched more carefully than Gu." Cao Cao sat down, looked up to the sky and laughed again: " However, Gu still listened to your suggestions and made arrangements in advance. He has already sent a secret letter to inform Xuzhou Governor Che Zhou that if Liu Bei obeys his orders, he will assist him; Liu Bei will definitely be plotted secretly. This arrangement, Liu Bei never imagined."

At this time, two cavalrymen rode two horses and galloped through the streets of Xudu, holding yellow triangular flags in their hands, and the road was unimpeded.When they arrived at the prime minister's mansion, the guards were about to stop them. They raised the yellow flag and said unstoppably: "Xuzhou is 800 miles away, and the military situation is urgently reported to Prime Minister Cao. There must be no mistake." The guards stepped aside, and two messengers entered the prime minister's mansion. , went straight to the lobby, knelt down in front of Cao Cao, took out the letter from his arms, and reported: "Liu Bei's mutiny has killed General Che Zhou, the governor of Xuzhou. Lieutenant General Lei Zhen escaped from death and issued this urgent military report." Hands high to present the urgent letter.Cao Cao and everyone were stunned.Cao Cao took the letter, unpacked it, glanced at it briefly, and said, "You killed Che Zhou's family, young and old?" He threw the letter on the table in front of him, "And recruited all Che Zhou's subordinates. This Liu Bei is so cruel. Got it!"

Cao Cao was furious this time, and he stood up as soon as he patted the case: "Gu really let the tiger go back to the mountain! I don't believe that I can't beat this villain who shows no emotions." He paced around, his eyes shot gloomy Eyes: "All things are temporarily released. We must first attack Xuzhou and kill Liu Bei. You are ready to conquer Xuzhou immediately. Last year, you conquered Xuzhou and strangled Lu Bu. This year, you will never let Liu Bei go." Guo Jia said: "My lord wants to conquer Xuzhou, first Don't make a big show, that will force Liu Bei to join Yuan Shao. You must prepare secretly, attack suddenly, and attack him by surprise." Xun You also said: "What brother Guo Jia said is very true. You also think that if you want to attack Liu Bei, you must not attack him. Be the first to let the wind out."

Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "I'm not afraid of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao joining forces. I'm going to conquer Xuzhou and attack Liu Bei. Not only will I not strictly guard the rumors, but I will let them out. Come!" There was a response from outside, and four or five messengers came .Cao Cao ordered: "Notify the garrison headquarters in the outskirts of Xudu, and the lone general will go there to announce the order to conquer Xuzhou and attack Liu Bei to all the four-level generals." .Cao Cao said: "Guo Jia, Xun You, Li Dian, Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, you and other important civil and military officials will go to the base camp with Gu!"

In the base camp of the garrison on the outskirts of Xudu, a high platform was set up in front of the tents of the Chinese army, with streamers hanging on the high flagpoles beside the platform, and colorful flags fluttering all around. Hundreds of generals of all ranks stood neatly in front of the platform.Three cannon shots rang out, and Cao Cao boarded the high platform surrounded by the crowd.Guo Jia, Xun You, Xu Chu, Li Dian and dozens of civil and military dignitaries stood around Cao Cao. Cao Cao glanced at the array of generals with bright armor below: "Gu's lecture today, there are only a few sentences as follows: 1. Liu Bei was ordered to lead the army to Xuzhou to attack Yuan Shu, but he turned his back on his promise and led the army to betray him. This despicable villain must be killed. 2. He actually killed the whole family of General Che Zhou with his lonely love, don't you hate him?" Everyone shouted loudly: "Hate!—Hate!——" Cao Cao said: "Should Liu Bei be killed?" Shouted in unison: "Kill! Liu Bei should be killed!" Cao Cao said: "In the third sentence, Gu decided to lead troops to Xuzhou to attack Liu Bei, with an army of 200,000, which is the same as the scale of attacking Lu Bu last year. Fourth, whoever wins Liu Bei's head The reward is five million, and I will ask the imperial court to grant him a title. The last sentence, since the last winter expedition to Xuzhou to destroy Lu Bu, the army has been repaired for more than half a year. From today onwards, it is time to prepare for the second expedition to Xuzhou to kill Liu Bei. Do you understand?" All the generals shouted in unison: "Conquer Xuzhou! Kill Liu Bei!"

Shouts shook the barracks. After getting off the high platform, he entered the tent of the Chinese army, Cao Cao was seated among them, dozens of important civil and military officials were still lined up on the left and right, and Bai Shao served as the secretary as usual. Xun You sighed and said, "Prime Minister was overwhelmed by Liu Bei this time." Guo Jia said: "With so much momentum, Liu Bei will be forced to join Yuan Shao after hearing the news. Liu Bei had 50,000 troops, but he attacked Yuan Shu and collected Yuan Shu's remnant troops. One hundred thousand soldiers and horses. Attacking Liu Bei is already very difficult, now add Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao claims to have millions of soldiers, and we are far from ready to attack Yuan Shao. If Yuan and Liu merge, our strategic disadvantage is obvious."

After listening to Xun You and Guo Jia's speech, Cao Cao glanced at the crowd, and suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed.Everyone is baffled.Cao Cao said: "You said that you are too lonely. It is true that you are angry, but you are not too angry. You are just using it to make a real article." He looked up to the sky and laughed.Then he said: "When you talk about strategy, you only know one strategy, not the other. You say that if you attack Liu Bei with a big fanfare, you will force him to vote for Yuan Shao. If the two combine, I will be at a disadvantage. But this is only one. The other Second, I just want to force Liu Bei to vote for Yuan Shao. Otherwise, he, as Uncle Liu, would have merit in destroying Yuan Shu, but killing Chezhou and seizing Xuzhou might be suspected of internal conflict with Cao Cao. The points are reasonable. The former is very reasonable. I trust you, Liu Bei, and hand over the soldiers to you. You are a treacherous villain. If you confuse right and wrong, once you vote for Yuan Shao, everything will be clear. This is the so-called strategy. The second is morality. I made a big fanfare, and my teacher came from a well-known and well-known teacher. I am attacking Liu Bei now, and the momentum from top to bottom is high. Could it be that Liu Bei is not Feel hypocritical?"

Bai Shao hummed lightly. Cao Cao turned his head and glanced at Bai Shao: "I know the master will say that Liu Bei only weighs interests and does not change his temperament. But no one in the world is thick-skinned and bottomless. Does he not feel wronged at all? I have said that there are first and second strategies, and there is still a third, and you don’t even know.” Cao Cao stood up and walked around, stopped, looked at the crowd and said, “Gu is so grandiose and threatening to attack Liu Bei, forcing Liu Bei to attack Liu Bei. The combination of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao is actually forcing yourself to fight to the death. You are afraid of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao's alliance, but you are not afraid. Let me tell you, to rule the world, the biggest military opponent of Gu is undoubtedly Yuan Shao. After destroying Lu Bu, Gu still can't make up his mind to fight him Declaring war, why? It’s also a hesitation. Now that Liu Bei and Yuan Shao are forced to unite, they will inevitably bully others to swallow me. I will die and survive. I will fight it out. Why did the ancients fight with their backs? They commanded their own army and issued an order Isn’t it enough to say ‘no retreat’? But as long as there is a way to retreat, when the two armies confront each other, some will retreat and flee. Only when there is no way to retreat, the army is forced to fight to the death. I understand this truth since I was a child, pigs can’t fight wolves, It is because it runs away when it sees a wolf. But if a pig is cornered by a wolf and has no way out, and it grins its teeth and fights a wolf to the death, the wolf is often no match for the pig.” Cao Cao sat down and looked at the crowd, “Command a team The army and the commander alone sometimes have to fight with their backs like this. Gu can let go of this big talk, and within two years, even Yuan Shao and Liu Bei will be defeated by Gu. If you don't believe me, I can write documents and make written evidence." He looked around Bai Shao on the side, "The master book will record this statement, and it can be kept for two years, so as to verify today's statement!"

Just at this time, a sergeant came in and said, "I would like to inform the prime minister that there is a person who claims to be the prime minister who saved his life. His surname is Yang and his name is Gang. He wants to see the prime minister." Cao Cao said, "Yang Gang?...is it the one who sent a secret letter to Yang Biao?" Yuan Shu's messenger, please come in." Cao Cao said to Bai Shao: "The master once said that the prospect of him surrendering and repaying his kindness is slim, but he came today." Guo Jia said: "The prime minister wants to save the lives of his family, young and old, from being killed by Yuan Shu. I caught him and pretended to let him escape." Li Dian said: "I also sent people to chase him all the way and escort him all the way out of the border." Just as he was talking, Yang Gang entered the tent of the Chinese army in civilian attire, with a tattered bag on his back, and prostrated himself in front of Cao Cao: "Yang Gang pays his respects to Prime Minister Cao." Cao Cao said, "How come you Yang Gang, who is not feminine?" Alone?" Yang Gang said, "Yuan Shu was destroyed, so I came here to vote for the prime minister." Cao Cao asked, "Are you here alone?" Yang Gang said, "With parents, wife, and family." Cao Cao nodded, "It looks like a true surrender." Yang Gang said: "The villain has a meeting gift to present to the prime minister, which is a rare thing in Huainan." As he said, he untied the torn bag that was slung across his shoulders.Cao Cao smiled: "What good things can be contained in such a broken bag?" Yang Gang said: "You can't judge a person by his appearance, and this bag can't just look at the appearance. How do you know what's inside?" Cao Cao said: "It can't be Yuan Shu. Your head?" Yang Gang said: "Is Yuan Shu's head still worth money to the Prime Minister?" He opened the broken bag, took out a decent bag from it, and raised his hands: "Please open it yourself, and you will know." Cao Pi came up to take it and put it on the table in front of Cao Cao.Then, he helped to open the bag and took out another luxurious leather bag from inside.He opened the leather bag again, and took out another gorgeous carved wooden box from inside.Opening the carved wooden box revealed a gold box. Cao Cao looked at the golden box, and before opening it, he was pleasantly surprised: "This is the Jade Seal of the Han Dynasty!" Yang Gang knelt there and said, "Exactly. When Yuan Shu wanted to join Yuan Shao, he sent this jade seal together with the emperor's title to Yuan Shao." Cao Cao carefully opened the golden box, took out the jade seal from inside, and looked at it again and again in full view.After reading it, he said with a smile: "This is the jade seal carved by Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, and it has been handed down for four hundred years. I have never seen it before, and you can come here to feast your eyes on it." Said putting the jade seal on the Taiwan table superior.Everyone came up, leaned over to watch one after another, then spread their admiration, and stood on both sides again. Cao Cao asked Yang Gang to get up.Cao Cao asked: "Yuan Shu is dead, you got this jade seal, you could have given it to Yuan Shao, why didn't you go?" Yang Gang said, "Yuan Shao is a big and worthless man, and he will never win the world." Cao Cao asked again: "Why didn't you give it to Liu Bei? Liu Bei's occupation of Xuzhou and the destruction of Yuan Shu are right in front of your eyes." Yang Gang said, "Liu Bei's small favor is a big mess." Cao Cao became interested: "What is a big mess?" It can be said that there is no way." Cao Cao nodded: "Then why don't you just present the jade seal to the emperor?" Yang Gang smiled and said: "It goes without saying." Cao Cao nodded, stood up and took two steps, stopped and said: "This is passed on The jade seal of four hundred years, whoever gets it will increase the orthodoxy. Yuan Shao can hold the jade seal and become king. If Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty gets it, he will have a full inheritance of being emperor. If you don’t call yourself emperor today, you don’t use it, but I will not let anyone use it alone, and if I hide it, it will not be used by the whole world." He pointed at the crowd, "Those who are present today, hope that the matter of Yuxi will be tight-lipped." Yang Gang said: "The villain can swear that Yuxi will never be handed over to the prime minister. Don't spread it to outsiders." Cao Cao said, "I, all the civil and military officials, can be trusted." He sat down again, pointed to Yang Gang and said, "Why did you dedicate the jade seal to me, because I let you go and saved the lives of your whole family?" Yang Gang replied, "It's because of this, and not only that. It's also because the prime minister must win it." The world." Cao Cao said: "You can see far." Yang Gang continued: "But it's not only that, but also because villains don't want to serve moody people, Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are all such people; and they don't want to serve moody people A person who does not show his appearance is like Liu Bei. The villain met him in Xuzhou, but he did not see his true temperament, and his heart was unpredictable. The prime minister treats others with a heroic attitude, clear rewards and punishments, and rules and regulations, which is clear at a glance. Follow the prime minister, and you will be sure." Cao Cao smiled: "This flattery is not bad. Some people here say that Gu may not be able to beat that Uncle Liu Huang." He turned his head and glanced at Bai Shao. Bai Shao disagrees. Yang Gang said: "In the end, it must be the heaven who becomes the prime minister." Cao Cao leaned back and laughed loudly: "With your words, you will have no regrets in attacking Xuzhou alone and punishing Liu Bei. Yang Gang, you will be in the staff of Gu Gu from now on, and participate in secrets with Guo Jia and Xun You. "Yang Gang quickly kowtowed: "The villain will do the work of a dog and a horse, and he will not be worthy of the prime minister's promotion and reuse." Cao Cao waved his hand: "Go home." Back at Xiangfu, Bai Shao accompanied Cao Cao to walk in the garden. Cao Cao frowned.Bai Shao glanced at him and said, "The prime minister was so proud when he was in the base camp, why is he so worried when he comes back?" Cao Cao said, "I can't back down after the big talk, but after the big talk, I'm still afraid of difficulties. Liu Bei is indeed not a fighter, and Yuan Shao is the number one enemy at the moment, if you really open up a confrontation, Gu is not without fear." Bai Shao said: "Then why do you push yourself so hard? It's really hard to fight for the world." Cao Cao said, "It's hard to ride a tiger alone." At this time, Cao Pi hurried over and said, "I want to tell my father..." Cao Cao stopped.Cao Pi went on to say: "Dong Cheng hastily entered the palace again today, and the excuse is that Concubine Dong is ill, so I went to visit." Cao Cao nodded to show that he knew.Cao Pi left.Cao Cao pinched his temples with his hands and said, "Gu has a headache again." After a while, he sighed: "There are two great enemies outside, Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, and there is such an emperor with ulterior motives inside. big trouble." Bai Shao looked at Cao Cao sympathetically, and still walked slowly with Cao Cao. Cao Cao said: "Tell me, how does the emperor feel when he goes to court to see me every day?" Bai Shao said: "It is probably like Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty seeing Huo Guang, his back is like a thorn." Cao Cao nodded: "He must be very happy to see me. Frightened, I know how he feels; but does he know how I feel when I go to court with him?" Bai Shao said: "He sees that you are showing off your power, that you have real power, and you are not arrogant. Something happened." Cao Cao said: "Although you are considerate, you don't know this unless I tell you: I am a little apprehensive when I go to court every day." Bai Shao was a little surprised.Cao Cao went on to say: "Although he is the emperor I supported, but he is supported there. The emperor is the emperor, and the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty suppresses me. I am not very majestic. Besides, he is not simple. He was proclaimed emperor by Dong Zhuo at the age of nine. He has experienced many changes and hardships, and he has also sharpened his mind and is not very aggressive. Every time I go to court, I have to be prepared and go, not lightly. You didn’t expect these things, did you?” Bai Shaoyao shook his head.Cao Cao said: "This is Gu's top secret, and you have never told anyone except you. If others know that I have this weakness, such as a loophole in the inner armor, they can attack Gu here." Bai Shao looked at Cao Cao: "It's really not easy to see you." Cao Cao said: "It's not easy. It's not easy for your Majesty either. It's not easy to live in this world, big or small. Some things only you know." Bai Shao said: "You say it's not easy for him, but neither are you. Let him." Cao Cao shook his head: "It's not that you don't give in at all, it's that you give in and don't give in. If both sides don't give in, they won't be kings and ministers in one dynasty long ago. But if you give in too much, he will be greedy and greedy." Bai Shao said: "You need each other." Cao Cao said: "There is such a meaning, so fight and make peace, guard against each other, and never cross the boundary between each other." When Cao Cao said this, he pinched the left and right temples with his hands: "Talking about the headache in this way, the headache seems to be relieved a lot." He continued, "In this lonely life, success or failure depends entirely on this Two years." After a pause, he added, "Fortunately, I have you to accompany me, and I have a place to talk. You have no complaints, right?" Bai Shao sighed: "I resign myself to fate."