In the city of Xuchang, Cao Cao was so angry with Liu Qi that he had a headache and rolled on the bed.
Cao Chun and several doctors were anxious, but there was nothing they could do. Hua Tuo, the only one who could relieve pain, went out to practice medicine and disappeared.
The next day, he summoned Xun Yu, Cheng Yu and others to come to discuss the matter. Cao Cao looked gloomy and asked, "Liu Qi's child has bullied others too much. How can we rescue Zi Xiao?"
Cheng Yu had already thought of a countermeasure and replied: "Since ancient times, hostages have been rescued by exchanging pledges or redeeming people with property. It has never been heard of exchanging a city for a person. Although General Cao has a high position, he is not enough to redeem a city, let alone a city. Liu Qi did this deliberately because he was unable to compete with the Emperor. The first was to slow down his troops and allow him to deploy Nanyang calmly. The second was to demand high amounts of property. He could send envoys to negotiate and redeem General Cao with property, which would surely succeed."
"Is it tolerable or intolerable?" Cao Cao gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I vow to break through Nanyang."
Being plotted and threatened by a cowardly and incompetent junior, Cao Cao, who was the prime minister, felt extremely insulted.
Now there is nothing that can be done about it, but Cao Cao's anger is no less than when he massacred Xuzhou.
After sending an envoy to Nanyang for the second time to negotiate, Cao Cao sent an additional 30,000 troops to Runan to prepare for a southern expedition.
At this time, Niu Jin reported that the person who planned for Liu Qi was named Shuang Fu.
After Liu Qi got rid of Cai Mao, he went to Shuijing Villa and chased Shan Fu under the moon, which became a good story in Jingzhou.
"Chasing the virtuous under the moon? This is the story of Xiao He chasing Han Xin, just to gain fame and reputation!" Cao Cao smiled coldly and asked, "Who is Shan Fu?"
Niu Jin shook his head and didn't know. He only knew that this person stayed in Xiangyang for two months and went to Shuijing Villa without Liu Biao's favor. He was most likely Liu Qi's guest.
Xun Yu frowned and said: "There are many famous people in Jingzhou, but I have never heard of Shan Fu. This person is frequented by Shuijing Villa. He is proficient in strategy and may be a hidden master!"
When everyone was confused, they heard Cheng Yu suddenly smile and say: "I just remembered something. This person is not just a blessing, but a famous person! When he was young, he was a knight who liked to learn fencing. He changed his name because of killing people and started to learn it. Now The person is Xu Shu from Yingchuan, and his character is Yuan Zhi."
"Oh? Zhongde knows this person?" Cao Cao asked, "How is Xu Shu's talent better than yours?"
Cheng Yu replied: "Ten times as good as Yu."
"How could Liu Qi be so virtuous and capable that he should be helped by such a talented person?" Cao Cao frowned and said in a deep voice, "This person cannot be retained."
Cao Chun cupped his fists and said, "I will immediately send someone to assassinate Xu Shu. If this person is eliminated, Liu Qi will have nothing to fear."
Cao Cao was about to nod when he heard Cheng Yu laugh and say: "Xu Shu is good at fencing and has great talent, how can he succeed easily? Why doesn't the Prime Minister recruit him to his subordinates and use him for his own use?"
Cao Cao pulled off the towel on his head and asked urgently: "Zhongde has a plan?"
Cheng Yu twisted his beard and nodded slightly, signaling to wave away the people on the left and right, and discuss with Cao Cao alone.
At the time of spring plowing, Nanyang is full of life. As far as the eye can see, there are fertile fields, beautiful houses, and endless traffic.
As the largest county, Cao Cao has been promoting farming here for several years, and it has begun to take shape, but Liu Qi picked the peach.
Population is the first strategic resource, and Liu Qi also attaches great importance to people's livelihood. Nanyang is not only an imperial hometown, but also known as the "Granary of Zhongzhou". He has issued an order to exempt taxes this year, allowing the people to have children and support their families with peace of mind. If there are more than three children, regardless of gender, an additional There are rewards.
In just half a month, a wedding craze has set off in various counties in Nanyang. After busy farming, there are singing and dancing everywhere, and people are busy marrying wives and having children, and they are extremely busy day and night.
During this period, Yang Jun recommended several talents. Among them, Guo Youzhi and Du Ji were deeply impressed by Liu Qi and they were reused.
Guo Youzhi was recognized by Zhuge Liang. Although he had almost forgotten his debut as a teacher, Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun still remembered him clearly.
Yang Jun was good at criticizing, and every recommended person had a comment on the list, praising Guo Youzhi for his knowledge, talent, and fair-mindedness, so he was sent to Fancheng to arrange money and food.
Du Ji was from Duling, Guanzhong. Although he came from a famous family, it had long since declined. He fled to Nanyang to escape the chaos. He was a Gongcao of Jingzhao and the Prime Minister of Hanzhong. He was a filial man, good at prison litigation, and served as a legal officer and a member of the military.
"The dignified General Cao Ren is only worth this little money?" In the government office, Liu Qi looked at Cao Cao's letter and sneered.
The envoy said hurriedly: "General Cao is a prisoner of his own rank now. We cannot treat him the same as before. I hope the general will be accommodating."
"Thirty thousand dollars, five hundred pieces of cloth, it seems that the Prime Minister doesn't want anyone anymore!" Liu Qi's face darkened, he slapped the letter on the table, and sneered: "This is just a piece of property, I don't take it seriously. Take the general’s head back!”
"General, absolutely not!" The envoy was startled and hurriedly knelt down and said: "The Prime Minister told me that if the general does not agree, he can deliver it separately. The villain will send a letter to discuss it again, but he will have to give it some time."
"Tell Boss Cao that since you want to use property to redeem people, you must show sincerity!"
Liu Qi smiled gently and said: "Remember: 300,000 stones of grain and grass, and 2,000 war horses. I only need grain, but no coins or cloth."
"This..." The messenger looked at Liu Qi in astonishment. Although he didn't understand Boss Cao, he felt that this smile was not a good thing.
"Why don't you get out of here?" Liu Qi waved his sleeves and said, "If there is no reply within ten days, just wait to collect Cao Ren's body!"
The envoy got up and left in embarrassment. Liu Qi gave the letter to the soldiers: "Give this letter to Cao Ren and let him know that it is not of great importance in Cao Cao's heart."
The soldiers went out, and Huang Zhong came in dressed in casual clothes, clasping his fists and saying, "The military advisor is waiting outside the door of the mansion."
"Let's go!" Liu Qi left the mansion, and ten people including Xu Shu left Wancheng and headed south.
Now that Cao Cao was afraid to send troops, the training was concerned about Zhang and others. Liu Qi had nothing to do, so he wanted to take advantage of this free time to go to Longzhong.
Zhuge Liang had already sent people to conquer once before, but Zhuge Liang had no response. This was already expected. This time he came to visit in person. I wonder if he can see anyone.
I believe Zhuge Liang already knew about the battle in Nanyang. Liu Qi showed his prowess for the first time and had a stronger foundation than Liu Bei. Couldn't he still be impressed?
The spring breeze was so proud that the horse's hooves were ailing, and Liu Qi's mood fluctuated with the horses. He was thinking about how to deal with it if Zhuge Liang also built a Sangu Thatched Cottage for himself.
When I came to Longzhong one day, I saw that it was surrounded by mountains and the green mountains and green waters were very beautiful. It was indeed far away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
Xu Shu pointed to the distance: "In front of you is Wollongong, where Kong Ming built a hut and farmed at the foot of it."
Liu Qi looked around and saw that the mountains were winding and undulating. The white clouds on the mountains were like a dragon sleeping among them. It was elegant and quiet.
After urging the horse to reach the top of the hill, there is a small village at the foot of the hillside, with a clear stream and orderly bamboo forests and fields.
On a warm spring day, farmers are walking among the fields, busy cultivating, plowing cattle and sheep, chickens crowing and dogs barking. They look leisurely and relaxed, but they don't know whether they pay taxes in this place.
The appearance of natural beauty becomes vulgar once it involves worldly matters, like underwear hanging among flowers.
Liu Qi's eyes stopped in the green bamboo forest, where a thatched cottage loomed with a large courtyard. He pointed and asked, "This must be Wolong's residence."
