When news reached Xinye that Liu Qi had taken Chen Dao as governor of Jiangxia, Zhang Xi was confused.
"Brother Yuanzhi, why are you here?!" Zhang Xi thought for a long time and couldn't figure it out. He had to go to Xu Shu to clarify his doubts and asked, "I haven't seen what kind of trick Mr. Kong Ming used. How come Jiangxia changed so quickly, and Young Master Liu Qi was able to Become the governor of Jiangxia?!"
This is what Zhang Xi can't figure out the most.
Before and after the Huang Zu incident, Zhang Xi did not see Zhuge Liang in any important place.
It was Huang Zu's idea to go north to surrender to Cao Cao. It was Jiangdong's army that attacked Jiangxia. It was Liu Biao's decision and army that suppressed Huang Zu. The underlying game of interests is that the cooperation between the Huang family and Liu Biao has nothing to do with Zhuge Liang.
How did he make the final result most beneficial to Liu Bei and place Chen Dao next to Liu Qi? !
"Kong Ming's tactics are like an antelope hanging its horns. It moves above the nine heavens and listens to the thunder in a silent place." Xu Shu said the words of praise with a proud look on his face.
Get over it quickly, Zhang Xi, who never brags like this, doesn't want to hear this.
We are all in the same camp. I don’t object to you bragging about Kong Ming, but if you brag too much, it’s a bit too much.
Besides, even if everything is Kong Ming's plan, it is Kong Ming's credit, not yours, so why are you so proud? !
Xu Shu smiled when he saw Zhang Xi's disgusted expression, and then explained to Zhang Xi.
"Kong Ming is taking advantage of the situation to guide his efforts this time!" Xu Shu said, "Liu Jingsheng has wanted to control Jiangxia for a long time, but he has never been able to do so. Huang Zu has been in Jiangxia for a long time, has a headstrong temperament, and has long been self-reliant. However, the roots of Jiangxia are not Huang Zu is the Huang family of Jingzhou. Kong Ming's plan is to first make the Huang family of Jingzhou fall to the lord and cut off Huang Zu's roots. Huang Zu has become a rootless duck and does not want to sit back and wait for death, so he must have other intentions. And the person Liu Jingsheng is worried about is not Huang Zu. , it’s the Huang family, if the Huang family doesn’t help Huang Zu, Huang Zu is nothing more than a dolphin and a dog, so what’s the point of fear?!”
Zhang Xi nodded as he listened, but was still puzzled.
"According to what my brother said, Huang Zu is indeed nothing to worry about. But what happened to the young master Liu Qi?!" Zhang Xi continued to ask, "Aren't my brother and Kong Ming afraid that Liu Jingsheng would send his confidant to serve as the prefect of Jiangxia and directly control Jiangxia?! "
"Liu Jingsheng is not such a decisive person!" Xu Shu also shook his head and continued to explain, "Liu Jingsheng's entry into Jingzhou was all due to the power of the Jingzhou family. He has been the master of Jingzhou for more than 20 years, but he has not restricted the powerful people at all. This person does not have such courage. Although Jiangxia is under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou, most of the events in Jiangxia are caused by the Huang family in Jingzhou, otherwise Liu Jingsheng would not have tolerated Huang Zu for many years. Although Huang Zu has been defeated, the Huang family still exists, Liu Jingsheng must I will not turn against the Huang family because of the Jiangxia incident. Therefore, the lord recommends the young master Liu Qi to be the governor of Jiangxia, and the Huang family recommends Huang She to be the chief administrator of Jiangxia. This is Liu Jingsheng's wish, and Liu Jingsheng is just following the trend."
This is the truth, but I don't know why. The more Zhang Xi thinks about it, the more terrifying he feels.
This Zhuge Liang had already clearly calculated the reactions of all parties when planning.
He knows the interests and needs of all parties in Jingzhou so well, and he also understands the character weaknesses of all parties. He even calculated when and at what key nodes he should give a little push, and the rest will fall into place. Occurs naturally.
The most terrible thing is that Zhuge Liang was able to handle such an important matter without letting Liu Bei stand in the forefront or arouse Liu Biao's suspicion of Liu Bei.
Until now, Huang Zu thought that he had lost because of bad luck, and Liu Biao still thought that he had decisively won Jiangxia, without realizing that Liu Bei had a hand in the matter.
But, there is one last point.
"Then, have you considered Jiangdong's aspect?!" Zhang Xi asked cautiously.
Xu Shu shook his head and smiled bitterly at this, and said, "Jiangdong was not included in the calculation. To be honest with Yuan Chang, I did not calculate that Jiangdong would send troops in the middle of winter. I thought it was cold this year, and if Jiangdong wanted to take action, it would be plowing in the spring next year. Later, this matter was quite unexpected by Kong Ming. If Jiangdong takes over Jiangxia, our plan will be in vain."
Hearing what Xu Shu said, Zhang Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief, otherwise Zhuge Liang would be too scary.
The reason why Zhuge Liang was able to plot against Liu Biao and Huang Zu was because he had lived in Jingxiang for a long time and had a complicated network of relationships in Jingzhou. He was well aware of the conflict of interests between these aristocratic families and Liu Biao, and it was reasonable to use this as a scheming plan.
But if Zhuge Liang stayed in Jingzhou, he could command the Jiangdong army, attack when he was asked to attack, and retreat when he was asked to retreat. This would be a bit incredible.
Fortunately, fortunately, Zhuge Liang is not that evil.
From this incident, Zhang Xi once again appreciated Zhuge Liang's wisdom, but finally understood that Zhuge Liang was also a human being, not a god or a monster, and there were things he couldn't account for.
Fortunately, Jiangdong sent troops this time with heavy thunder and light rain. The troops were sent out suddenly and the troops retreated simply.
Otherwise, if Jiangdong really occupies the four counties east of Jiangxia and refuses to leave, even if Liu Bei secretly controls Jiangxia through Liu Qi, Liu Bei's power will be greatly reduced.
Even so, the three northern counties of Jiangxia are still under Cao Cao's control, and Zhuge Liang has some ideas about these three counties.
The purpose of Yu Jin is to be used here.
Originally, they wanted to capture Xiahou Dun, but Xiahou Dun escaped through the forest. Although he was in a miserable state, he finally got out of the forest under the protection of the guards and returned to Wancheng.
Xiahou Dun's weight was heavier, but there was nothing he could do if he didn't catch it. Fortunately, the weight of the ban was not light.
This time Xiahou Dun was defeated and broke the ban. Of course, this matter had to be reported to Cao Cao.
Although Cao Cao was angry, it was impossible for Cao Cao to really punish Xiahou Dun. Since he could not punish the general Xiahou Dun, then as the deputy generals Li Dian and Yu Jin, Cao Cao could not punish him either.
What's more, although Xiahou Dun was not very good at fighting, he still behaved like a general and was very responsible.
He took all the responsibility for the defeat on his own. Li Dian persuaded him not to advance rashly. He also told Cao Cao without any concealment about how he desperately directed the rear army to respond after the front army was trapped, and when Yu Jin risked his life to cut off his rear. .
In this way, Cao Cao not only did not pursue the problem of Li Dian's unfavorable rescue, but instead rewarded Li Dian.
As for the ban, Cao Cao could only write a letter and have it delivered to Liu Bei quickly.
Yes, Cao Cao wrote to Liu Bei personally.
Although Cao Cao and Liu Bei both want to get rid of each other, it does not mean that the two people are really inseparable.
On the contrary, Liu Bei and Cao Cao still maintained their last feudal dignity, and there would be some correspondence.
Just like when Liu Bei died in Baidi City, Cao Pi, who had usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang to persuade him to surrender. Zhuge Liang did not say that Cao Pi was a usurper and a traitor, so he tore up the letter and did not reply. Things above still need to be maintained.
Cao Cao wrote to Liu Bei, hoping that Liu Bei would release him because he was forced by Lu Bu and had to rely on him alone.
As for Liu Bei, he quickly replied with a letter, including a private message written by Yu Jin to Cao Cao.
Liu Bei's letter was full of official remarks. He first accused Cao Cao of being uncivilized, and then accused Cao Cao of abusing weapons and attacking his colleagues, which was a statement of position.
Then he told Cao Cao that as Liu Biao's guest general, he must obey the instructions of Liu Biao, the herdsman of Jingzhou, and he did not dare to release enemy generals privately.
Cao Cao would be an idiot if he believed this.
But Yu Jin's private letter is full of useful information.
In the letter, Yu Jin first expressed his loyalty to Cao Cao and his determination not to surrender. Then he helped Liu Bei pass on the message and stated Liu Bei's real condition - to return the three counties in northern Jiangxia.
Cao Cao looked at Yu Jin's private message and began to think about whether he should use it to make a fuss.
Liu Bei, a guest general living in Xinye, so far away from Jiangxia, could be so kind as to ask for the return of the three counties of Jiangxia for Liu Biao? !
I heard that there have been some changes in Jiangxia recently. Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, was promoted to the post of Mu Sima of Jingzhou. Could Cao Cao not see this kind of promotion and secret demotion? !
I also heard that the new governor of Jiangxia is Liu Biao's son. What do you, Liu Bei, want to do? !
Cao Cao wondered whether he should make some fuss here to drive a wedge between Liu Biao and Liu Bei.
But after thinking for a while, Cao Cao gave up the idea.
The reason is very simple. He, Cao Cao, has pacified Hebei and Wuhuan in the north, and will soon return to the court.
Next, Cao Cao will plan to go south to Jingzhou and take his elite troops to meet Liu Bei and Liu Biao in person.
At this time, Cao Cao was very proud.
He defeated Yuan Shao, his biggest rival in his life, and conquered Hebei.
He went on an expedition to the north and destroyed Wuhuan, the biggest border threat in the north. Cao Cao was now full of confidence in his own strength.
Cao Cao didn't care about Liu Biao.
Liu Bei, whom Cao Cao cares about, is now trapped in Xinye with only a few thousand soldiers and horses. He is even more embarrassed than when he was driven out of Xuzhou by Lu Bu and defected to him.
Although Liu Bei did defeat Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, Cao Cao didn't think it was a big deal.
On the one hand, Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun were not very outstanding generals. At least Cao Cao thought there was still a big gap between them.
On the other hand, Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun led the garrison troops who stayed in Wancheng, and Cao Cao brought all the real elites to the north.
If Liu Bei could be easily defeated by the garrison led by Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, then Cao Cao would not regard Liu Bei as another major enemy after Yuan Shao.
But things will be different next. Cao Cao will personally command his elite army and go south to find Liu Bei and Liu Biao to "talk about life." After his army goes south, defeats Liu Biao and captures Liu Bei alive, the entire Jingzhou will be his, and Why should we care about the three small counties of Jiangxia County now? !
Cao Cao was very confident in his hard power, so he didn't care whether the three counties of Jiangxia were returned, let alone whether Liu Biao and Liu Bei were wary of each other or close.
In Cao Cao's view, with the righteousness of the court in his hands and the overwhelming power of his elite army, Liu Bei was definitely doomed this time.
Therefore, Cao Cao simply gave Liu Bei face and wrote a letter to Zhang Liao asking him to withdraw his troops from the three counties of Jiangxia. At the same time, he wrote a letter to Liu Bei and asked him to release him from the ban as soon as possible.
Yu Jin was capable, and he was captured only to defeat Xiahou Dun. So Cao Cao must save him, and he must be reused when he comes back. This will also be of great benefit to Cao Cao himself.
After receiving Cao Cao's secret message, Zhang Liao decisively commanded Cao Cao's army to withdraw from the three counties of Jiangxia.
At this time, Liu Qi, the governor of Jiangxia, was full of hesitation after receiving the detailed report.
Huang Zu tried his best but failed to take back these three counties from Cao Jun. Now Cao Jun has taken the initiative to evacuate these three counties. There must be something wrong. Could it be an ambush? !
Liu Qi did not dare to act rashly. He was afraid that he, the governor of Jiangxia, would suffer a big defeat before he could take his seat.
However, Chen Dao, who had received the information from Liu Bei in advance, stood up at this time and made an impassioned speech stating that he was willing to be the vanguard and test Cao Jun's reaction for Liu Qi.
If he wins, he can successfully take back the three counties. If he loses, Liu Qi's dignity will not be harmed.
Liu Qi was so moved that he immediately worshiped Chen Dao as a vanguard and gave him three thousand troops to attack the three northern counties of Jiangxia.
Although Su Fei, Huang She and others were not as easily moved as Liu Qi, they still admired Chen Dao's courage without knowing it. They should have done this kind of thing.
In this way, Chen Dao successfully took back the three counties of Jiangxia in ten days with almost no bloodshed. Therefore, Chen Dao officially became another general under Liu Qi who could lead the army in battle.
Liu Qi also benefited. As soon as he took office, he recovered the three counties lost from Huang Zu, which could be regarded as an initial establishment of his prestige as a prefect.
Only Su Fei and Huang She didn't see anything fishy, they just regretted it.
If he had known that this matter was so simple, he should have invited Ying to fight in the first place. This is simply a clear achievement.
(End of chapter)
