Chapter 5 Chapter Five: Two Tigers Competing for Food

One of Yang Feng's subordinates informed him, saying: "Xu Huang has let the enemy personnel into his tent, and is now having secret talks." Yang Feng immediately became suspicious and said: "Catch and interrogate!" After speaking, he sent dozens of horsemen to surround Xu Huang's big tent.So Cao Cao's ambush soldiers mobilized, repelled him, rescued Man Chong and Xu Huang, and withdrew back to Cao Cao's stronghold. Cao Cao got Xu Huang as he wished, and said, "This is the happiest thing I've done recently." Cao Cao loves men more than women, so it goes without saying how to treat Xu Huang well.

Yang Feng and Han Xian tried to attack by surprise, but because Xu Huang fled to the enemy and had no chance of winning, they fled to Nanyang (Nanyang, Henan) and went to Yuan Shu there. In this way, Emperor Xian's chariot and Cao Cao's army soon came to the gate of Xuchangdu. There are old palace gates and pavilions here, and there are ready-made streets under the city.Cao Cao first established the central palace, built the ancestral temple, and added the official offices of the Siyuan to make Xudu look new. At the same time, thirteen old ministers were granted the rank of marquis, and he himself served as a general and Marquis of Wuping.

In addition, Dong Zhao was soon adopted as the Luoyang order.He was Dong Zhao (word Gongren) who had come here as an imperial envoy and was valued by Cao Cao for his character. Man Chong was promoted to Xu Duling because of his meritorious service. Xun Yu served as Shizhong and Shang Shuling. Xun You is the military adviser. Guo Jia served as Sima Jijiu. Liu Ye served as Sikongcang Cao Cao. Mao Jie and Ren Jun were the generals of Diannong Zhonglang, who urged and supervised the money and grain. Xiahoudun, Xiahouyuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong and other close ministers were all promoted to generals, Le Jin, Li Dian, Xu Huang and other brave generals were all called school lieutenants, and Xu Chu and Dian Wei were named captains.

When Cao Cao went in and out by himself, he was often guarded by three hundred armored soldiers, with bows, arrows, spears, halberds, and swords and swords.In contrast, the old courtiers only had a name. Although they were called ministers and elders, their influence declined.Moreover, these people are now completely awed by Cao Cao's prestige, and are used to reporting to Cao Cao first on any political affairs, and then reporting to the emperor. "Ah, get rid of one person, and get another one up. Is the fate of the Han family dying?" Those who sighed did not dare to speak out, and could only let their lifeless, dull eyes shed tears silently, standing beside Emperor Xian like a wooden sculpture.

Military division, counselor.There are also clanking behind the scenes, partying and drinking. In the center of the crowd is Cao Cao.His face was like a rainbow, and he was chatting freely about the world, occasionally talking about Liu Xuande. "I don't know when, he also became the prefect of Xuzhou in a serious manner. I heard that he put Lu Bu in Xiaopei to support him. The combination of Lu Bu's bravery and Xuande's strength is a worry for the future. If the two are in harmony Cooperate and concentrate our forces to attack, even if we fight with our current strength, it will be very troublesome. Is there any good way to prevent problems before they happen?" Cao Cao said.

"This matter is easy. Please send 50,000 elite soldiers to me, and hang the heads of Lu Bu and Xuande on both sides of the saddle when you come back." Xu Chu said. So someone laughed and said, "Hahahaha...it's not a wine jar..." It was Xun Yu who spoke.While putting the wine into his smiling mouth, he squinted at Xu Chu with his slender eyes like a counsellor. Xu Chu was ridiculed by Xun Yu and remained silent.He knew that he was but a savage in the company of wise men. "Is my plan not working?" "What you are talking about is not a strategy, but just a verbal display of courage. It is extremely dangerous to use such a shallow method to attack enemies like Xuande and Lu Bu."

Cao Cao turned his face away and said, "Xun Yu, let's listen to your thoughts. What's the best way?" "Yes, there is." Xun Yu straightened up and said, "For a while now, I advocate no war. Because after the capital was moved, the palace gates and other places took shape with great difficulty. Moreover, the huge buildings and military facilities have just It costs a lot." "Um, oh...continue." "Therefore, to deal with Xuande and Lu Bu, we should always use diplomatic tactics, and it is the best policy to lead them to kill each other and destroy them."

"I feel the same way. It means pretending to make friends with them." "With such an old-fashioned method, I'm afraid it will be used by Xuande. What I'm considering next is the plan of two tigers competing for food." "What is the plan of two tigers competing for food?" "For example. Suppose there are two fierce tigers, each roaring at the mountains and the moon, controlling the situation, and they are both hungry. At this time, if food is thrown from other places, the two tigers will definitely show their viciousness, and they will bite each other fiercely. Although One will win and the other will lose, but both of them will be covered with bruises. In this way, it is not easy to seek the skin of these two tigers?!"

"Well, it makes sense." "Although Liu Xuande is the Xuzhou herdsman, he has not been formally recognized by the imperial edict. Now we use this as bait to issue an imperial edict to him, with a secret order ordering him to kill Lu Bu." "Ah, makes sense!" "If you can use Xuande's hand to fully realize this plan, it will be like making him chop off the other with one hand. And if it fails and the situation becomes difficult, it will definitely anger Lu Bu and make him violent , and then drove Xuande to death." "Ok!" Cao Cao nodded deeply, and did not talk about it again.

However, Cao Cao has made up his mind.A few days later, he asked the emperor to send an imperial edict to Xuzhou.It is not difficult to imagine that he asked the emissary to bring his secret letter along with him. Liu Xuande welcomed the imperial envoy into Xuzhou City, held an imperial obeisance ceremony, and then invited the imperial envoy into another room, and returned to the pavilion where he usually lives. "What did you write?" Xuande quickly opened the secret letter quietly handed to him by the emissary. "Kill Lu Bu?!" He was dumbfounded. He read it over and over again, and Zhang Fei and Guan Yu standing behind couldn't help asking: "What did Cao Cao say?"

"Oh, you can read this letter." "This is the secret order to kill Lu Bu." "yes." "Lü Bu is fierce and brave, but he was originally a ungrateful person. Taking advantage of Cao Cao's good opportunity, wouldn't it be good to kill him now?" "No. He is a poor bird who has nothing to rely on and threw himself into my arms. Killing him is like strangling a poultry, but people will say that Xuande is an unrighteous person." "But raising unrighteous people, there will be future troubles. If there is harm to the country, who will be responsible?" "You must guide him with tenderness to gradually become a righteous person." "Can he become a good person so easily?!" Zhang Fei always advocated that Lu Bu should be killed, but Xuande had no intention of obeying. At this juncture, Lu Bu came to Xuzhou City from Xiaopei the next day. Judging by Lu Bu's appearance, he didn't know. He just heard that Liu Xuande received the imperial edict and formally paid homage to Xuzhou Mu, the seal leader, and came here to meet and express his congratulations. He chatted with Xuande for a while, then took his leave, walked through the long corridor, and exited leisurely. "Lv Bu leave!" At this moment, Zhang Feiyue, who was waiting in the dark, stepped forward and said, "Save your life!" It was too late to say it, but then it was too fast, he drew out his big sword and slashed at him.In that battle, even Lu Bu's tall body was cut in two. "what!" Lu Bu stomped his feet on the brick-paved corridor floor, and his tall body of nearly seven feet jumped to the back lightly, impeccable. "You are Zhang Fei." "You'll know it when you see it." "Why kill me?" "Remove the evils of the world." "Why am I the scourge of the world?" "You are ungrateful and capricious, but you have half-baked martial arts, which is not good for the country. Therefore, Cao Cao entrusted my elder brother Xuande to kill you. Even if this is not the case, in Zhang Fei's eyes, you have always been arrogant. Not pleasing to the eye. Look at the sword!" "I'm talking nonsense! How can I give the head to you!" "The guy who doesn't give up!" "Wait, Zhang Fei!" "Wait!" The great sword swished again in the air. Missed. Someone held Zhang Fei's elbow from behind and hugged him. "Cough—who is it? Don't make trouble!" "You, still not calm! Fool!" "Ah, it's Big Brother!" Xuande scolded sharply: "Who asked you to kill Mr. Lu Bu when?! Brother Lu is an important guest of my Xuande. Using a sword to my guest is the same as using a halberd to my Xuande." "Cough! I don't understand why the elder brother is afraid of such a bad eater and cherishes him so much!" "Shut up! Hugh is rude!" "Who are you being rude to?!" "You are rude to Mr. Lu Bu!" Zhang Fei turned his face away and spat.But he didn't forget that facing Xuande, he was definitely his younger brother and subordinate.Being stared at by the elder brother, he was full of discontent, and walked away immediately, his footsteps made a sound. "Forgive me!... He is so self-willed, as innocent as a child." While apologizing for Zhang Fei's rudeness, Xuande welcomed Lu Bu into his room again, and said, "It is true what Zhang Fei said just now that Cao Cao secretly ordered me to kill you, but I have no such intention. I kept silent because of this. It won't do you any good to talk about it. But since you've heard it, I'll make it clear." Xuande showed Cao Cao's secret letter to Lu Bu to solve the mystery. Lu Bu showed a look of gratitude to Xuande for his sincerity, and said, "Ah, I understand. It seems that Cao Cao is trying to drive a wedge between you and me." "Exactly." "Please trust Lu Bu! Lu Bu swears that he will not be unjust!" Lu Bu retreated gratefully.Cao Cao's envoy was watching secretly, and when he saw this, he said bitterly to himself: "It's a failure! In this way, the plan of two tigers competing for food will be meaningless."