Liu Zhang did not explain too much in detail, but only told Xu Shu about the huge gap between expectations and reality.
The key point is two words, time.
Xu Shu also completely understood all the reasons why Liu Zhang was so sad.
Cao Cao saved four years of taking Hebei, which in turn gave him four more years of recovery time.
This is eight whole years!
In troubled times, everyone knows what eight years means!
Eight years ago, Liu Bei seized Xuzhou and it was the time when the spring breeze was triumphant.
Eight years ago, Cao Cao was still competing with Lu Bu for the base camp of Yanzhou, and almost became a lost dog.
Eight years ago, Yuan Shao had just secured Jizhou, and Yuan Shu was still dominating Huainan!
Eight years ago, who would have thought or believed that Liu Zhang, who was in the chaos of Yizhou, would be able to proclaim himself public and found the country?
Eight years of time were lost inexplicably. No one would be able to accept it for a while.
"Is Duke Qin worried that after Cao Cao takes Hebei, he wants to take advantage of his great victory to take us down in one fell swoop?"
After a long time, Xu Shu asked Liu Zhang again after careful consideration.
Compared to Jia Xu, Xun You, and Liu Ye, Xu Shu's eyes were obviously much less worried.
"Cao Cao is not an arrogant person. Even after a great victory, he will take a short rest to recuperate."
"What I'm worried about is that Cao Cao's strength has suddenly increased significantly and has surpassed our Qin state."
"As time goes on, I'm afraid the gap will get wider and wider..."
At this time, Liu Zhang did not need to calculate too much.
What about the commander's ability, the mastermind's strategy, the general's bravery, the elite soldiers, etc.
None of this makes sense.
Liu Zhang prides himself on being wise, is Cao Cao a fool?
Xun You, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu are extremely intelligent. Are Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, and Sima Yi idiots?
Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, and Tai Shi Ci are brave and unstoppable, but Cao Cao also has brothers Xiahou, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Zhang He, Le Jin, and Xu Zhu!
Liu Zhang knew very well that the future battle with Cao Cao would have to be about national strength.
Who has more elite soldiers and horses, who has more abundant food and grass, and who has more complete logistics.
There are more people who can't live without each other than in the end!
At present, Yizhou, Yongzhou, and Liangzhou have a population of more than 10 million. They naturally have an overwhelming advantage over Jingzhou Liu Bei and Yangzhou Sun Quan.
But compared to Cao Cao, who completely occupied Hebei, there was no advantage at all.
Liu Zhang even conservatively estimated that the population of Cao Cao's men who occupied Hebei would be more than 15 million, or even 20 million!
Is this exponential gap really so easy to make up for?
"Hey...Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shaogu without any surprise, but I didn't expect that he won them all in one go."
"Originally I thought that after four or five years of cultivation, our Qin country's national power would be restored to its peak state."
"Then while Cao Cao was recuperating, he captured Jingzhou and Yangzhou in one fell swoop, forming a confrontation between the north and the south!"
"It seems difficult now..."
This is difficult because Liu Zhang did not tell the worst situation.
What if Cao Cao gets a headache and attacks Guanzhong with a victorious army?
Not only would Qin be unable to recuperate, it would also be dragged into the quagmire of war.
Thinking of this, Liu Zhang couldn't help but feel a headache secretly.
If I had known this situation, Xu Huang should not have been allowed to enter Xin'an in the first place.
Liu Zhang's cunning operation directly gave Cao Cao a reason to attack.
Who made you take the lead in not keeping your promise?
Even Liu Zhang couldn't help but wonder, shouldn't he let Yuan Shao be eliminated by Cao Cao? Would it have been better to intervene in the war in Hebei earlier?
It's a pity that it's too late. The only thing not sold in this world is the regret medicine!
Just when Liu Zhang was helpless and filled with regret, Xu Shu's voice sounded again.
"Mr. Qin, I understand what you mean."
"It's just that we are worried that in four or five years, Cao Cao will also restore his national strength and we will not be able to successfully occupy Jing and Yangzhou."
Liu Zhang nodded. Although it was not comprehensive, this was also part of the main reason.
"If we fight Cao Cao on the one hand and deal with Liu Bei and Sun Quan on the other, the situation will be very unfavorable for us!"
Xu Shu looked at everyone first, then chuckled several times.
The laughter also attracted everyone's attention.
To be able to laugh out loud in this situation is either an arrogant and ignorant person, or someone who has a real strategy!
Obviously, the chance of the former being valued so highly by Liu Zhang is very low.
"Yuanzhi, do you have a solution?"
Liu Zhang's eyes lit up, full of expectation.
Xu Shu, who was exchanged for hundreds of thousands of people, should he be surprised at this time?
Xu Shu nodded first, but before speaking, he shook his head.
"I would like to inform Duke Qin that if we are to deal with Cao Cao, I have no good strategy for the time being."
"But if Duke Qin is worried about occupying Jing and Yangzhou, I have some humble opinions."
Unexpectedly, Xu Shu really had a way, and Liu Zhang was even more surprised!
"Yuanzhi, speak quickly!"
Xu Shu waved his hand, indicating to the waiter to bring the map closer, and then pointed at the Weihan Ancient Road.
"Please see, Mr. Qin, our Qin State has excellent strategic depth. Back then, Qin Shihuang relied on Hangu Pass to defeat the millions of armies of the Kanto countries."
"Although Hangu Pass is abandoned, the rise of Tongguan is no less than that of Hangu Pass."
"With Tongguan, Wuguan, and Puban Ferry as our support, fifty thousand soldiers can defeat two hundred thousand, and one hundred thousand soldiers can defeat five hundred thousand!"
"So for the guardian of Guanzhong, there is no need to worry at all."
Xun You, who had been silent all this time, showed admiration.
It seems that Xu Shu said some nonsense, but it is not easy to see this.
At that moment, he also opened his mouth to answer Xu Shu.
"Mr. Xu is right! Unless Cao Cao immediately sends his troops to the west, the longer the delay is, the less crisis there will be in Guanzhong."
"It's just that the problems in Jingzhou and Yangzhou are more difficult. I believe this is where everyone is worried."
Xu Shu first agreed, and then continued to express his thoughts.
"Xun Shangshu's words are reasonable, so the focus of my consideration is also Jingzhou."
"The strategic depth of the Weihan Ancient Road is two-way. Whoever is the logistics will have a natural disadvantage. It is also the same reason to attack Sizhou from Guanzhong."
"Since Qin Gong wants to confront Cao Cao from the north to the south, he will naturally not want to use Guanzhong as the main attack direction for a while."
"How to successfully eliminate Liu Bei and capture Jingzhou under Cao Cao's obstruction has naturally become our difficulty!"
Xu Shu paused, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly again.
"It's very simple, let Cao Cao go first!"
