The light rain in March kept falling, and the turbid water in the river kept flowing.
The light rain after spring is as precious as oil, but for Ma Chao, it is like adding fuel to the fire. Just as he is preparing to show off his talents in spring, it has been raining for days and days, and he is anxious.
Since the ice subsided in February, Xu Shu ordered his horses to march out of Mengjin, Wu Yi out of Chenggao, and Zhang Ren out of Guangwu. They crossed the river at three places, but Xu Huang led troops to defend them all.
Since Xu Huang arrived in Hanoi, he mobilized 30,000 soldiers and horses from Xiuwu and other places to guard the main roads along the river. He took advantage of the ice wall to build forts and formed a hundred-mile defense line along the north of the river.
Xu Shu ordered people to rush to build warships in Luoyang and mobilized the Jingzhou navy to help in the war. However, seeing that the war in the Central Plains was raging and the shipbuilding would take more than half a year, the generals were impatient.
Ma Chao was even more eager for revenge. He returned to Luoyang to see Xu Shu and complained: "A year ago, the bank was covered with ice and snow, and next year the river thawed. With your wisdom, is there no way to cross the river?"
Xu Shu knew what Ma Chao was thinking and advised: "A gentleman takes revenge, and it is never too late in ten years. Meng Qi must not be anxious. I am sending troops in three directions today. It is not without purpose. We have already had countermeasures!"
Ma Chao was overjoyed and asked hurriedly: "Sir, do you have any good ideas?"
Xu Shu smiled and said: "All the generals thought that I had no plan to cross the river and wanted to mobilize the water army to go north. I guess the Wei army did the same! Xu Huang retreated to Hanoi and sent troops to patrol day and night. The men and horses were nervous. Hearing this news, they will relax their vigilance. When a surprise attack occurs, it is unprepared to attack!"
Ma Chao said: "I will go back and mobilize troops to cross the river."
But Xu Shu shook his head and said: "General, just call your bluff in Mengjin. I have already made arrangements for crossing the river. In less than half a month, I will have the Xiliang army cross Hebei."
"Seriously?" After making many promises, Ma Chao began to distrust Xu Shu.
"Seriously!" Xu Shu nodded solemnly.
Ma Chao was satisfied and left. Xu Shu ordered people to invite Xin Pi and asked, "How are the preparations for Shen Gu?"
Xin Pi nodded and said, "I don't care, I'm going to report. After receiving the letter from Duke Yang, Shen Gu has decided to abandon the dark side and join the bright side. However, he is afraid of Xu Huang's strict military law and dare not act rashly."
It turned out that although Luoyang had not moved its troops in the past six months, Xu Shu and Xin Pi had secretly sent people to instigate Hanoi officials to rebel. Anyone who had connections or was dissatisfied with Cao Cao's ascension to the throne of Wei secretly wooed them, knowing their interests.
This Shengu was from the same county as Yang Jun. He was born in the army and was recommended by Yang Jun to be promoted to captain. However, Sima Yi and Chang Lin, who he recommended at the same time, had already been made marquises and generals and served as high-ranking officials in the Palace of Wei. Therefore, in his heart He had always been resentful, but now he was persuaded by Yang Jun, and he succeeded in instigating rebellion.
Xu Shu sighed and said, "Shen Gu is timid. He is too self-sufficient and not enterprising enough. Therefore, it is difficult for him to achieve great things. I have no choice but to go and preside over them myself."
Xin Pi was shocked and said: "The Ming Dynasty holds the important responsibility of being a lieutenant and is highly regarded by the general. How can we risk it ourselves?"
Xu Shu said with emotion: "I am nothing more than a hero in the world. Fortunately, my lord never abandons me, so I am where we are today. When a man encounters a troublesome master, he will not hesitate to do anything even though he is a mess."
Xin Pi frowned and said, "If Mingfu leaves, who will be in charge of Luoyang's affairs?"
Xu Shu laughed and said: "There is a man who can be ten times better than me. He will arrive in Luoyang soon and he will be able to hold important positions."
"Could it be that Wolong is being sent here?" Xinpi was startled, then shook his head and said, "Kong Ming is deploying troops in Puyang, how can he leave the front line so lightly?"
Xu Shu smiled and said: "This person and sir are old friends. We will know each other when we meet."
Xin Pi couldn't guess. Apart from Crouching Dragon and Phoenix, he had never heard of anyone who could be praised so highly by Xu Shu. How many people in the world could be ten times more talented than Xu Shu?
After a few days of rain, the sky cleared up, a layer of new green appeared on the ground, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth. Amid the chirping of birds, a carriage entered the gate of Luoyang Palace.
Xu Shu had already led all the officials to greet him outside the mansion. Everyone was looking up. Liu Qiyuan was in Huainan. Who on earth asked Xu Shu to greet him in person?
The carriage slowly stopped, the sedan curtain was opened, and a person slowly stepped out of the carriage. Everyone's curious eyes instantly turned to shock, and then were filled with suspicion, confusion, and dumbfounded eyes.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Xun." In astonishment, Xu Shu had already clasped his fists to greet him.
The man was tall and graceful, with a face like a crown of jade. Looking from a distance, he gave people a sense of elegance, depth, and ease in the world. He was none other than the world-famous Xun Lingjun of Yingchuan, Xun Yu.
"How dare you!" Xun Yu raised his head and glanced around the palace with a look of emotion on his face. Today's imperial capital is very different from the past, but when he thinks of all the things in the past, he can't help but sigh with emotion.
Especially since he has experienced life and death, and now he has to serve again and serve the Han Dynasty, and then thinks about Cao Cao actually ascending to the throne of Wei, his mood is even more complicated.
After a long time, Xun Yu clasped his fists at the officials and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Xun Yu is polite!"
Everyone was in an uproar and greeted each other. They couldn't believe it. Not to mention Xun Yu's prestige among the world's scholars, his sudden appearance in Liu Qi's army today was enough to shock the world.
Xin Pi came up quickly, looked Xun Yu up and down, and said, "Mr. Xun Yu, are you... really still alive?"
"If it hadn't been for General Liu, would I have been able to see the light of day again?" Xun Yu smiled gently, nodded and said, "I am very relieved that you can judge the situation and cast aside darkness for the light!"
Although Xun Yu was about the same age as Xin Pi, he was of high seniority and prestige in the family, and Xin Pi was a disciple of the Xun family. When they met again, they were particularly cordial.
"The sky has eyes!" Xin Pi couldn't help but burst into tears. He remembered that when he heard that Cao Cao gave Xun Yu an empty food box to force him to death, he was filled with grief. Unexpectedly, he was saved by Liu Qi. He wiped his tears and said with a smile, " If Ming Gong had received the news earlier, why would I have to defend Xingyang?"
"If you eat the emperor's salary, you should fulfill your responsibilities, and there will be no fault in the government!" Xun Yu sighed with emotion, and it was hard to look back on the past.
Xu Shu introduced the officials one by one, and took out the official documents sent by Liu Qi, saying that Xun Yu was appointed as the minister and the director of the general's office. , led Luoyang soldiers and horses to take Hanoi.
A banquet was held in the mansion, and everyone cheered for Xun Yu. They recovered from the shock and confirmed that Cao Cao had indeed sent someone to murder Xun Yu.
Xin Pi hated Cao Cao more and more, and gritted his teeth and said: "Now Cao Cao, the thief, is king, and his ambition is clear! Your comeback will shock the world, why not write a petition to repel the thief, so as to show the hope of the people of Fu?"
Xun Yu nodded and said with a smile: "I have already prepared, please take a look!"
His son Xun Yun ordered someone to bring a box of brochures, and each person distributed one copy. There were three words written on it: "Han Monthly". When he opened the first page, he saw "A Letter to Punish the Treacherous Minister Wei King Cao Cao" written by Xun Yu. , followed by more than ten other large and small articles, some of which were about Jingzhou's political decrees. One of them was Xun Yu's self-report of being persecuted by Cao Cao, which made everyone feel indignant.
Xin Pi browsed through it, took the anthology and asked: "The Xiangyang Report has opened our eyes. I wonder what...what is the name of the Han Monthly?"
Xun Yu smiled and said: "This is also the merit of a great general. It can be called a magazine. One volume per month can be the leader among scholars!"
Xin Pi was stunned for a long time, he had never seen Liu Qi before, and murmured: "General Liu is really a god!"
