Xuzhou was really not peaceful in the first year of Jian'an. It experienced several large and small wars, and suffered the most severe drought in several years. The crop harvest dropped sharply, and then diseases appeared in Huaiyin and Xiapi, which caused the population of Huaiyin city to drop sharply.
Fortunately, there were no dangers. Xuzhou returned to Liu Bei's hands. The army and the people were united, the food problem did not cause major problems, and the epidemic was effectively controlled.
The next day, Zhao Chen slowly got up from the bed with his dizzy head on his head.
The two ladies around him had already gotten up and washed up, Bu Lianshi had already gone to the common people's hall for a consultation, and Mi Luyun was worrying about family affairs.
Seeing Zhao Chen get up, Mi Luyun fetched hot water and came to help Zhao Chen wash up.
Although she was used to it on weekdays, now that she had a different identity, Mi Luyun felt a little different and her face turned red.
Zhao Chen stretched heartlessly and walked towards the door.
In the early morning in Xiapi City, the first snow fell.
As a southerner, Zhao Chen was so happy to see snow.
In a moment, heavy snow fell from the sky and covered the land of Xuzhou.
Zhao Chen happily walked back and forth in the snow, and Mi Luyun on the side looked very pleased.
Since Wanshi left, Zhao Chen has not shown a smile, and Liu Bei and others have not bothered Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen relaxed himself on the snow and breathed a long sigh of relief. He finally had to let go.
The snow gradually thickened on the handrails of the corridor.
Zhao Chen fiddled with the snow like ice cream, held Mi Luyun's hand, and said with a smile: "Nothing to do today, let's enjoy the snow by leaning on the railing."
That day, Liu Bei came to Zhao Chen with some food and wine.
Drinking alcohol is the best way to warm up in the winter.
When the two met, they looked at each other and smiled tacitly. It was a wedding night, so they naturally understood the sweetness in it.
Liu Bei placed a large piece of meat in front of Zhao Chen, and then went straight to the point: "Hude, I came here today to ask about the future."
Zhao Chen took a sip of wine and replied, "I wonder what my lord is referring to?"
Liu Bei stopped his glass and said slowly: "This year has been a sudden change. He took Lu Bu in but was attacked by Lu Bu. He fought against Yuan Shu but was defeated in Xutai. If Houde hadn't come to help him, I'm afraid Bei wouldn't have known where he was at this time. Where. Houde helped me when I was in trouble, and I followed Houde's strategy. After dozens of battles, I finally recovered Xuzhou. But reviving the Han Dynasty is by no means the same as recovering Xuzhou. I don't know what will happen to our army next. Enterprising?"
Zhao Chen suddenly realized that Liu Bei wanted to ask him how to conquer the world.
"Since the Lord is asking today, Chen will analyze the current situation with the Lord."
Liu Bei smiled and said, "Of course that's good."
Zhao Chen immediately ordered someone to take out the map of the Central Plains and put his finger on Yanzhou.
"Cao Cao of Yanzhou?"
"Yes. Cao Cao is entrenched in Yanzhou. He sent troops to Xuzhou twice but failed to gain any territory. Now is the most difficult time. Yuan Shao of Jizhou parted ways just because he and Cao Cao had different political views on holding the emperor to control the princes. The relationship between the two parties gradually deteriorated, and the dispute between Jizhou and Yanzhou It became increasingly prominent. Since Yuan Shu had the Jade Seal in the south, he was always ready to move. He couldn't defeat Liu Bei and Zhao Chen in the east, so he could only go north to compete with Cao Cao. In the west, Zhang Xiu, known as the spear king of the North, blocked his way. Always keep an eye on Cao Cao's three-acre land."
When Liu Bei heard this, he couldn't help but sigh. He had previously been envious of Cao Cao for sitting in the large state of Yanzhou, with a large population and abundant food and grass, and could compete with Yuan Shao, who had four generations and three princes in the north.
Now after listening to Zhao Chen's analysis, he found that Cao Cao's life was not easy.
Zhao Chen continued: "Although Yanzhou is a treasure land, it is surrounded by enemies on all sides. If you make the slightest mistake, you will be imprisoned. So Cao Cao has always wanted to make a breakthrough to avoid being attacked from both sides."
Historically, Cao Cao also took Xuzhou to eliminate hidden dangers in the east, and broke Zhangxiu to prevent those coming from the west. Yuan Shu in the south was left to his own devices and was not Cao Cao's opponent. In this way, he could concentrate on dealing with Yuan Shao in the north.
But now the arrival of Zhao Chen caused Cao Cao to put down Wancheng and seek Xuzhou in advance to curb Liu Bei's development.
But he didn't want to be defeated by Zhao Chen and let Dian Wei die a year early.
Liu Bei sincerely admired Zhao Chen. He knew Cao Cao's situation clearly at a young age and was dozens of times better than ordinary counselors.
"According to Houde, could it be that you want to seize Cao Cao from the west?"
Zhao Chen shook his head.
"Although Cao Cao experienced two defeats, he still has a hundred thousand troops, dozens of generals, and many advisers. Even if he lost before, with the current strength of our army, we are still no match for him."
Liu Bei stood up, walked to the map, pointed to Shouchun and asked: "Go west and ask Yuan Shu to take the city?"
"Yuan Shu has lived in Shouchun for a long time and has a heavy army. Although his advisers and soldiers are not as good as Cao Cao's, he still needs a hundred thousand troops to completely win. What's more, Cao Cao is keen. If our army comes out in full force to capture Yuan Shu from the west, Cao Cao will definitely take advantage of it. Come. By then it is very likely that Xuzhou will be lost and Yuan Shu will not be able to gain a city or a pond."
Liu Bei heard this, thought for a moment, and moved his hand down three inches: "Could it be that Houde wants to go south to Yangzhou? Confront Liu Yao and Sun Ce?"
Zhao Chen smiled and said: "My lord, we will face the same problem if we go south to take Yangzhou."
Liu Bei is in trouble now. Yuan Shao is no match for him in the north, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu in the west are not strong enough, and Sun Ce and Liu Yao in the south cannot be achieved. Is it possible that he is trapped in Xuzhou? How could the great cause of reviving the Han Dynasty stop here?
"Be kind, don't show off, just tell me."
Zhao Chen saw Liu Bei's sad face and quickly pointed his finger at Qingzhou.
Liu Bei was slightly startled and said with a smile: "Don't be ridiculous if you are kind enough. Yuan Shao, the Fourth and Third Duke, is even more powerful than Cao Cao. How can our army defeat him?"
Zhao Chen explained patiently: "Don't worry, my lord. Although Yuan Shao now claims to occupy the land of Qingyou and the four states of Hebei, a careful analysis shows that this is not the case. Gongsun Zan is still restraining Youzhou in the north, and Yuan Shao cannot withdraw his troops to the north and merge with Qingzhou. Although Yuan Shao was involved in both states, he did not fully control them, especially Qingzhou, which is adjacent to Xuzhou. As we saw when the lord and General Ziyi rescued Kong Rong in Beihai, Qingzhou's power was complex and it was difficult for Yuan Shao to fully control it. .”
Liu Bei was astonished when he heard this.
"Our army can first go north to capture Qingzhou, then wait for Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to compete, then seek to capture Jiyan Province, welcome the Holy Emperor to Xuchang, and be adjacent to Gongsun Zan, then march west, capture Xiliang, and then turn south to Sichuan. At that time, My lord, command your army to take Hefei and march south, send a general from Xuzhou to Yangzhou in the east, and take Jingzhou from the land of Sichuan and Shu in the west. If the three armies attack together, the south of the Yangtze River can be secured, and the Central Plains can be secured!"
Zhao Chen pointed from the east to the west on the map. The last three fingers came down together and crossed the land of Jiangnan. They closed them into fists and looked at Liu Bei with passion.
Zhao Chen's statement was completed in one go, with impassioned words and full of confidence. Liu Bei's words were so excited that he was eager to try. It seemed that as long as he followed Zhao Chen's ideas, the world would be at his fingertips.
"God loves the Han Dynasty and sends generous help to revive the Han Dynasty!"
Liu Bei raised his wine glass and said, "Hude, join me in honoring the Emperor!"
The two raised their glasses to the sky and toward the west, bowed slowly, and then drank.
Then the two of them feasted and enjoyed the snow together until noon.
Suddenly a guard came in at the door and presented a bamboo slip.
Liu Bei glanced at it, frowned, and then handed the bamboo slips to Zhao Chen and asked, "How do you think Houde should deal with this?"
Zhao Chen took the bamboo slip and slowly read the words on it.
Liu Bei waited quietly on the sidelines.
After a moment, Zhao Chen raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said with a smile: "My lord, Cao Cao still doesn't want to give up Xuzhou!"
