"Failed!"
Liu Bei looked at Mi Zhu in surprise, with a hint of disbelief in his eyes.
Although he knew that Taishan thief Chang Xi was definitely no match for Lu Bu, he was still a little surprised that he was defeated so quickly.
Mi Zhu gritted his teeth and said, "Lü Bu sent troops to pretend to be remnants of the Yellow Turban Army, took the opportunity to take away the food, and set up traps and ambush. He is really a despicable person."
At this point, Mi Zhu paused and bowed her hands to Liu Bei, "Shijun Liu kindly took in Lu Bu and kept him in Xiaopei, but he had evil plans and led troops to the East China Sea. His intentions are to be punished."
Hearing this, Liu Bei frowned and said, "Zizhong, are you saying that Lu Bu wants to plot something in the East China Sea?"
Mi Zhu cupped his hand and said, "Lu Bu has always been ambitious. Otherwise, how could he leave Xiaopei without permission? He must have some agenda."
Chen Gui raised his hand forward and said, "Liu Shijun, Lu Bu is so ambitious that he may not only plot the East China Sea, but he may also plot the entire Xuzhou.
It is better to get rid of it as soon as possible to avoid future troubles! "
Mi Zhu was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly handed over his hand, "Mr. Liu, what you said makes sense. To deal with such ambitious people, we must use thunderous means to eradicate them."
Liu Bei frowned when he heard what the two said. After thinking for a long time, he turned his head to look at Jian Yong.
"Xianhe, what do you think about this matter?"
Jian Yong is his old friend, so what he says is naturally worthy of trust.
Jian Yong stepped forward and said slowly, "Liu Shijun, Xuzhou is the place of the Four Wars. There is Yuan Shu of Huainan in the east, Yuan Tan of Qingzhou in the north, and Cao Mengde who has not given up yet."
At this point, Jian Yong raised his hand and said, "Lü Bu is famous for his majesty and he is definitely not someone to be taken lightly. If our army sends troops, if the war does not go well, we will lose our troops and generals.
By that time, even if Lu Bu is defeated, if the enemy takes this opportunity to attack Xuzhou, how will he resist it? "
After hearing this, Liu Bei nodded secretly. This was what he was worried about, but he couldn't say it out loud, so he could only let Jian Yong tell everyone.
Not to mention Yuan Shao and Cao Mengde in the distance, just Yuan Shu in neighboring Huainan is already eyeing Xuzhou, and if he is not careful, he will lead his troops to invade.
Yuan Shu is not comparable to Lu Bu. Not only does he have a distinguished family background, but he also occupies the land of Huainan and has hundreds of thousands of troops under his command.
Once Yuan Shu wants to plot Xuzhou, even if he has all the troops and horses, he may not be able to resist it, let alone when he loses his troops and generals, he will be unable to resist it.
Thinking of this, Liu Bei raised his head and looked at Mi Zhu, and said slowly, "Zizhong, the current situation in Xuzhou is critical, and it is indeed difficult to send troops. Is there any other way?"
Hearing this, Mi Zhu frowned and was about to speak when Chen Gui suddenly said, "I have an idea. Is it feasible?"
Mi Zhu was immediately overjoyed and said with a smile, "Mr. Chen, please speak."
Chen Gui cupped his hands and said slowly, "The method mentioned below requires two steps, first!"
Having said this, Chen Gui turned to look at Mi Zhu and said with a smile, "The first step I'm talking about is to ask Mi Biejia to support the Taishan bandits again."
After hearing this, Mi Zhu's expression changed and he said with a wry smile, "But I have already paid 6,000 shi of food, and there is really no extra food. Please forgive me."
After saying these words, Mi Zhu sneered in her heart and wanted to let me get food and dream!
The Chen family is also involved in Xiaopei's affairs. Why should I come to get the food?
Chen Gui just smiled slightly and said slowly, "Mi, don't drive away. Don't be impatient. It won't be too late to make a decision after I finish what I have to say."
Mi Zhu nodded, "Mr. Chen, please speak."
Chen Gui turned to Liu Bei, cupped his hands, and said slowly, "Liu Shijun, Lu Bu attacked Yanzhou, Cao Mengde must be filled with hatred, why don't we send someone to explain the matter and send him to send troops to Xiaopei.
When the time comes, Xiahou Dun and the Taishan bandits will attack from both sides, and Lu Bu will definitely be defeated. "
As soon as he heard this, Jian Yong waved his hand and interrupted his words, "Mr. Chen, it's easy to talk about the Taishan bandits, but luring Cao Mengde to Xuzhou is tantamount to luring a wolf into the house. You must not do it."
Liu Bei nodded, "There is indeed something wrong. Once Cao Mengde comes with his troops and our army is unable to drive them away, Xuzhou may be in danger."
When Chen Gui heard what the two said, he just smiled and said, "Liu Shijun, you are worrying too much. I have already inquired clearly. Cao Mengde has led his troops back to Juancheng, and only his general Xiahou Dun is stationed in Dingtao.
Dingtao has about 8,000 soldiers and horses. Even if they come to Xiaopei, they will not be worried. "
Jian Yong frowned, "But if Xiahou Dun doesn't leave and our army drives him away, wouldn't it just offend Cao Mengde and make it even worse?"
Chen Gui waved his hand and said with a smile, "This matter should be explained in advance. As long as Lu Bu is driven away, we can give him more food and property."
At this point, Chen Gui's tone paused, and then he continued, "Although Cao Mengde won the battle of Yanzhou, his vitality was severely damaged, and food and other supplies were in short supply."
At this point, Chen Gui's tone paused, and then he continued, "Cao Mengde's strength in Yanzhou has not yet recovered. If I predict correctly, he does not have the strength to attack Xuzhou now. Therefore, as long as he is given some food and property, he will I will definitely agree to this request.”
After hearing this, Liu Bei's heart moved, and he felt a little bit in agreement.
If you do what Chen Gui said, it might be possible.
The reason Liu Bei came up with this idea was because he was suddenly afraid of Lu Bu.
The last time Jian Yong went to Xiaopei, Liu Bei asked about Xiaopei's situation in detail.
Lu Bu has now recruited a large number of refugees, reclaimed local land, and designed to rob the land of the gentry. Now almost all the land in Xiaopei is under Lu Bu's control.
The most important thing is that most of the people who cultivate the land are refugees. Even if there is a harvest of food, Lu Bu will get more than half of it.
By then, Lu Bu had obtained a large amount of food, and the Prime Minister also had many refugees, so it would be easy to restore his strength.
What Liu Bei is really worried about is that once Lu Bu regains his strength, Xuzhou may be his first target.
He has always wanted to drive away Lu Bu, but as Jian Yong said, he cannot move at this time. Once he loses his troops, Yuan Shu will inevitably lead his troops to attack Xuzhou. By then, even if he drives away Lu Bu, he will probably be very weak. Will soon follow suit.
If the method mentioned by Chen Gui really works, then Lu Bu can be driven away. Although he has to pay some food and property, compared with the threat of Lu Bu, he would rather give up food and property.
Liu Bei raised his head and looked around at everyone, but the person he really wanted to look at was Cao Bao standing at the bottom left.
It seems that the soldiers and horses in Cao Bao's hands must be taken back as soon as possible, otherwise it will be too late.
After Chen Gui finished speaking, he turned to look at Mi Zhu and asked with a smile, "Mi Biejia, do you think my method is feasible?"
Mi Zhu did not dare to answer this question, but looked at Liu Bei.
He dared to speak about matters within Xuzhou, but when it came to Yanzhou Cao Mengde, he did not dare to say a word.
As a successful businessman, he knows very well that some things are better left unsaid.
It would be a good thing to attract Xiahou Dun and if he is willing to leave after Lu Bu is eliminated.
But if you lure him here, it will lead to a wolf entering the house. No one can bear this responsibility.
Liu Bei frowned, turned to look at Chen Gui, and asked slowly, "Mr. Chen, what you just said is true?"
Chen Gui hurriedly handed over his hand, "Liu Shijun, it is true. Cao Mengde has left Dingtao and rushed to Juancheng. This news is absolutely true. The person guarding Dingtao now is Xiahou Dun. There can be no mistake."
After hearing this, Liu Bei nodded, and then said slowly, "Everyone, let's stop here today, and we will discuss it tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, everyone knew that Liu Bei was going to consider this matter, so they hurriedly handed over their hands and turned to leave.
Just as everyone was about to walk to the door, Liu Bei's voice suddenly sounded, "Gongyou, please wait a moment."
Sun Qian paused and stopped. After everyone left the room, he came to Liu Bei and cupped his hands. "Liu Shijun, what do you want to say about Ding Tao?"
Liu Bei nodded, "Gongyou, what do you think about Xiaopei?"
Hearing this question, Sun Qian frowned, and then said slowly, "Lü Bu has always been ambitious. There is no doubt about this. Now, he is recruiting a large number of refugees in Xiaopei. It is already clear what his intentions are. Therefore, there are conditions." , it is the best policy to drive them away as soon as possible.”
Liu Bei nodded and said with a smile, "Gongyou, you are right, so this time I am going to let you go to Dingtao to see if the situation there is as what Mr. Chen said."
Sun Qian was a smart man and immediately understood Liu Bei's intentions, so he handed over his hand and said, "I am willing to go. If it is indeed as Chen Gong said, should I adopt his strategy?"
Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, nodded, and suddenly sighed, "If the situation is true, then it can only be like this."
…
Lu Bu military camp.
The refugees in the camp were already led by someone and sent to Xiaopei to reclaim land. As for the captured Taishan bandit soldiers, they were taken away and sent to the east of Xiaopei City to dig mines and burn kilns.
There are still some selected refugees left in the camp. They leave early every day and return late every day, looking for traces of refugees in various places.
Everything is in order, and Xiaopei is like a huge reservoir, attracting refugees around it.
The population of Xiaopei was originally not too large, about 20,000, but due to geographical reasons and after many wars, the population has been reduced to more than 10,000.
Now Xiaopei's population has not only recovered, but has increased to about 50,000, which can be said to be unprecedentedly prosperous.
In this time of war, it can be said that no one except Lu Bu can do this.
Even the prosperous Xuzhou is seeing its population decrease every year as natural disasters and man-made disasters continue.
Only Xiaopei, with the injection of food from Lu Bu, has gradually increased its population and become more prosperous.
…
After Lu Bu read the letter sent by Yang Huai, he immediately looked up to the sky and laughed, "Haha, that's great!"
"Zhang Hu, please invite Mr. Gongtai to see you immediately."
"I obey my orders."
Not long after, Chen Gong came in a hurry, and when he saw Lu Bu, he hurriedly handed over his hands, "Marquis Wen, is there any news from General Yang?"
Lu Bu smiled and nodded, "Gongtai, I didn't expect you to guess right. It's true."
Hearing this, Chen Gong's eyes lit up, "Marquis Wen, is it food?"
Lu Bu handed the letter in his hand to Chen Gong, "Gongtai, you are right, it is true."
Chen Gongzi read the letter carefully. After reading it, he couldn't help laughing, "I didn't expect that Xuzhou has so much food. This time, another 3,000 shi were sent. But he didn't expect that it was It gives us an advantage, haha!"
Lu Bu nodded, "Gongtai, I am now considering whether to snatch the food like last time?"
Chen Gong nodded, "Of course we have to grab it. As long as we grab the food, they won't doubt Yang Jiangjun's side. When the time comes, it will be easier for us to control the East China Sea."
Lu Bu nodded, "It's just that although Yang Huai knows that he wants to deliver food, he doesn't know the route. This is a bit difficult."
As soon as he finished speaking, there were hurried footsteps outside the door, and then Zhang Hu's voice sounded outside the door.
"Marquis Wen, someone in Xuzhou wants to see you."
Hearing this, Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. He was overjoyed and hurriedly waved his hand, "Let him come in quickly."
When a visitor from Xuzhou walked into the tent and saw Lu Bu, he hurriedly handed over his hand and said, "The villain Cao Fu has met Marquis Wen."
The person who came was none other than Cao Fu, whom Cao Bao sent last time.
Lu Bu was overjoyed and waved his hand, "Cao Fu, General Cao sent you here this time, but do you have something important to say?"
Cao Fu hurriedly handed over his hands and lowered his voice and said, "Marquis Wen, General Cao said that Xuzhou has another batch of grain to give to the Taishan bandits, and he wants to use them to deal with Marquis Wen."
Chen Gong's eyes lit up and he asked hurriedly, "Cao Fu, do you know the transportation route?"
Cao Fu nodded, "Originally, this operation was very covert, but for the sake of safety, we sent soldiers from the army to pretend to be servants of the Mi family.
He also sent General Lu Youlu, a subordinate of our general, to lead troops to escort the grain.
General Lu is my general's subordinate, so naturally he will not bury my general. Therefore, my general knows the route of transporting food this time. "
Hearing this, Lu Bu looked up to the sky and laughed, "I didn't expect that General Cao would ask you to bring this good news. When you go back and tell General Cao, you will say that I will not forget his benefits."
Cao Fu was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly handed over his hand, "Thank you Marquis Wen."
When Cao Fu said this, he paused and then said, "My general knows that Marquis Wen's martial arts skills are unparalleled in the world, and General Lu is my general's subordinate, so can you please be merciful to Marquis Wen and not harm General Lu?"
Hearing this, Lu Bu laughed and nodded, "Cao Fu, go back and tell General Cao that since General Lu is his subordinate, I will naturally not hurt him. Just ask him to rest assured."
Cao Fu was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly handed over his hand, "Thank you Marquis Wen."
At this point, Cao Fu paused and lowered his voice and said, "Marquis Wen, in addition to this matter, there is another important matter that I want to tell Marquis Wen."
Lu Bu looked at Cao Fu's cautious face and asked hurriedly, "Cao Fu, what's the big deal?"
Cao Fu lowered his voice and said, "Marquis Wen, Xuzhou has sent people to Dingtao to persuade Xiahou Dun who is stationed in Dingtao."
