Chen Xi's intuition was very good. In fact, when he learned that Cao Cao had joined Sili, Chen Xi had a feeling that Cao Cao would get the emperor. But what he was curious about was how Cao Cao got the emperor. After all, Cao Cao was too weak now.
As for what trouble Cao Cao will cause to Liu Bei if he wins the emperor, Chen Xi can only say that unless Cao Cao and the emperor can be like Emperor Ai and Dong Xian of the Han Dynasty, they will issue imperial edicts sooner or later. Since ancient times, powerful officials have not had a good end. The one who escapes unscathed is not because of the emperor's generosity. It means that the ministers are capable.
[Whether Cao Cao succeeds or fails, it actually has no impact on me. As long as he doesn’t commit suicide like Yuan Shao did in history, there is basically no possibility of losing. ] Chen Xi silently looked away from Liu Bei and sighed in his heart.
It can be said that both Liu Jingsheng and Cao Mengde can be called the heroes of the world, but neither of them had a good life in this life. Cao Mengde was defeated because all the veterans were wiped out, and Liu Jingsheng was defeated because there were few people under his rule. Although he had great ambitions, he also had fierce generals and good plans. , but can only watch the mediocre people sitting in the Central Plains.
Sometimes Chen Xi thought of what Cao Cao kept saying all day long, that an army of thousands is easy to get, but a general is hard to find. But in the current situation, Cao Cao does not lack advisers or generals, but what he lacks is something he has never taken seriously. Soldiers.
"Zichuan, what are you muttering about?" Liu Bei asked curiously when he saw Chen Xi's lips moving but no sound came out.
"As the saying goes, a thousand troops are easy to get, but a general is hard to find. I think of Cao Mengde's situation." Chen Xi said calmly.
"An army without a backbone of veterans is no different from a plate of food. Even if Yun Chang leads the new soldiers, it has no meaning. Even if the Danyang soldiers and our city management troops are not led by generals, they will master the battle from life to death. Experience will also let them know how to fight." Liu Bei also smiled, "But such soldiers are very rare."
"The number of veterans in the first-line army must not be less than half. Having said this, I feel a little pity that the tens of thousands of veterans captured from Cao Cao have probably lost their strength to our second-line army after two years of no blood." Chen Xi said with a pity look on his face. , those soldiers cannot be killed or released, which is really a pity.
"Cao Mengde really did something wrong back then. The Han Dynasty used filial piety to govern the world, and it was not about letting people vent their anger on others in the name of filial piety. Fortunately, he knew his mistakes and could change them. I hope this kind of thing will not happen again in the future." Liu Bei said with emotion, "Cao Mengde is sometimes too extreme and too paranoid."
"Can you correct your mistakes after you know them?" Chen Xi looked at Liu Bei puzzled and asked, "Has he admitted his mistakes? Why didn't I know?"
"You don't know?" Liu Bei was just about to tease Chen Xi when he lost his mind again, but when he saw the confused expression on Chen Xi's face and simply said a few words about what Cao Cao admitted wrongly last year, Chen Xi was suddenly surprised.
"Is there still such a thing?" Chen Xi frowned, "It shouldn't be. Not to mention that I didn't hear any rumors. How could there be no response to such a big matter? Cao Mengde sent private messages to various governors and reported to the emperor?"
"Cao Cao sent a message." Liu Bei's words completely shocked Chen Xi.
"How could it be such a good time? We should seize the opportunity to pursue the victory. At least we should make the people of Xuzhou share the same hatred with us and completely integrate the people under the rule into a unified group. What's more, how could Er Yuan and Er Liu not respond?" Chen Xi looked in disbelief. .
Chen Xi was surprised while recalling the situation at that time. His face turned pale for a while before he realized what was going on.
"Zichuan, do you remember?" Liu Bei asked as he saw Chen Xi's expression recover.
"Xi Zhicai..." Chen Xi spit out a name, and then sighed, "That's all, there's no need to argue with a dead man. I fell into his scheme. That jade bi was really given to me! You really have a good grasp of people’s hearts!”
"What's wrong, you fell into Xi Zhicai's scheme?" Liu Bei also thought of the man who came to Mount Tai to visit, wearing green clothes, with a yellow face, but shining eyes.
Chen Xi selected some of the things he analyzed and told Liu Bei, and then smiled bitterly, "This person is also shrewd. I am afraid that even Xun Wenruo and others are not clear about his calculations before his death. Cao Mengde may not act in the future if he has made this oath." I will make this outrageous mistake again."
Liu Bei nodded repeatedly and sighed with emotion. He also admired such a loyal minister who wanted to help his lord before he died.
[I'm afraid Cao Cao doesn't know the true role of that memorandum. He is indeed a top adviser who has personally contacted Liu Bei. Is this a way out? But if people like Cao Cao, Xun Yu, and Xun You knew about it, they would probably be ashamed! ] Chen Xi thought with a calm expression, [If Cao Cao knew the truth in the end, I'm afraid he wouldn't know whether to cry or get angry. 】
[Sure enough, these people are not economical. What I hate most is this kind of calculation without intention. I am afraid that neither Cao Cao nor Xun Yu thought that Xi Zhi would scheme against them. 】 Chen Xi looked at the sky. If Liu Bei hadn't mentioned it accidentally, I'm afraid this matter would have been hidden in history.
[Forget it, let’s not pursue Wen He’s problem. He made this choice when he saw that the benefits outweighed the harm. Similarly, Cao Cao has no way to pursue the issue. Things have gone too long, and more importantly, ambition. As expected, Is there no way I can pursue it when I find out? 】
Chen Xi looked at the sky. Liu Bei's ambition was too great. He could no longer accomplish it by himself. He could only borrow external force. And the message from Cao Cao would become an external force as time goes by, and it was such a powerful external force. .
Chen Xi smiled bitterly, it was really a big temptation. If Cao Cao had just issued the message, Chen Xi might not have understood it, but now he understands it.
"Mr. Xuande, I dare to ask, if there is a talented person in the world who can help you fulfill your original vow, do you dare to invite him?" Chen Xi raised his hands and cupped his fists, bowed to Liu Bei, and asked a question.
"If you dare to do this, I will definitely invite him, not once, not twice, not three times. As long as he is really capable, I should invite him, not for myself, but for the sake of the Han Dynasty." Liu Bei glanced at him. Chen Xi, when he said this, he just added, "Isn't this nonsense you asked?"
"Oh, that's good. What if this person has a grudge against Xuande Gong?" Chen Xi looked at Liu Bei and asked.
"It's just a personal grudge. You don't understand what it means to distinguish between public and private. As long as it is really beneficial to the Han Dynasty and the people of this world, then it should be invited. I should not block the opportunity of the prosperity of the Han Dynasty because of my personal grudges. Duke Huan of Qi I can still tolerate Guan Zhong who almost killed me, who do I have a mortal feud with?" Liu Bei said in a proud tone, it was obvious that he had a high level of awareness in this regard. (To be continued.)
