"Why are you still here?"
As soon as Lu Bu walked out of the gate, he saw Zhang Liao coming towards him, obviously waiting here.
"Hou Cheng is back from Xiaopei." Zhang Liao said in a low voice.
"How about it?"
Zhang Liao made an inviting gesture, led Lu Bu to a quiet part of the alley, and then said in a deep voice:
"The situation is not good. Liu Bei has recruited nearly ten thousand people. The speed is too fast."
"How can this be!"
Lu Bu's eyes widened with disbelief on his face.
Two months ago, Liu Bei's troops were less than 3,000, but now they are close to 10,000. Where did he get the food, grass, and weapons?
"Marquis Wen, the richest man in Xuzhou, the Mi family, spent all their financial resources to support Liu Bei and brought thousands of serfs with him."
Lu Bu punched the wall with his right fist angrily, "How could Liu Bei be so lucky? The Mi family voted for him but not me!"
"Not only the Mi family, but all the powerful local families in Xuzhou are alienating us."
Zhang Liao frowned and sighed: "Zei Rong complained behind closed doors that he was ill, Zang Ba was hiding in Langya, Zhao Yu went to the East China Sea, and the Zhang family and the Lu family. Which of these families did not have thousands or even tens of thousands of serfs in captivity to avoid taxes? Not to mention hiding the money, he is also treating Wen Hou differently."
This issue is tricky.
Princes, it does not mean that you truly become the master of this place once you obtain a certain city.
If you want to take the title of Lord of Xuzhou, you must get the support of these powerful families.
Even in many cases, the relationship between these powerful families and the princes is not necessarily a subordinate relationship, but more like a partnership.
Lu Bu rubbed his swollen eyebrows. After a while, he suddenly thought of something and looked at Zhang Liao, "Where's Xiao Jian? Didn't he say that he would do his best to support me?"
Zhang Liao sighed and shook his head, "Not long ago, Zang Ba took people to Jucheng and wiped out the Xiao family's assets on charges of collaborating with the enemy."
"It's Zang Ba again!"
The veins on Lu Bu's forehead bulged, "I will chop him sooner or later!"
Originally, it was pointed out that his defection would expand his strength and at the same time drive the powerful local families. This was great.
"Marquis Wen, I thought the problem still lies with Chen Deng."
Zhang Liao's words made Lu Bu nodded, "I understand."
They all know that in Xuzhou, a three-thirds of an acre of land, powerful families actually look to the Chen family as their leader. As long as the Chen family joins their ranks, others will surely follow.
What is hateful is that the Chen family and his son are really cunning. On the one hand, Chen Deng was allowed to serve as counselor in the government, but in the end he was just talking. When the Chen family really wanted to help, he could always find reasons to stall.
At this moment, Lu Bu had a deeper understanding of Lin Mo's words, "Chen Deng prioritizes the interests of the family when doing things."
Seeing that Lu Bu had no further words, Zhang Liao asked tentatively: "Marquis Wen, did you send that boy away just now?"
Lu Bu knew what Zhang Liao wanted to say. If the situation in Xuzhou could not be improved, not to mention Cao Cao, even Liu Bei might counterattack.
Under such circumstances, marrying the Yuan family is not only the best choice, but also the only way out.
"I'll try starting with the Chen family again."
Lu Bu didn't say anything more and left the alleyway.
In the next half month, Lu Bu really had intentions to deal with Chen Deng. He wanted to use his personality charm to win Chen Deng into surrendering to him sincerely, instead of just talking.
Chen Deng's mind was already spinning very fast, and with the old fox Chen Gui guiding him behind his back, every time Lu Bu punched, it was like being hit on the quilt and being neutralized.
He was also helpless.
On this day, Chen Gong, who was dressed in Confucian attire and had a goatee, hurried into the prefect's mansion.
"Marquis Wen! Marquis Wen!"
Chen Gong held a bundle of bamboo slips in his hand and came to Lu Bu without even bowing, saying: "Just now, when the sentry cavalry inspected the outer city, they captured a suspicious person and found a secret letter from his body! "
Secret message?
At this time, in the prefect's palace, Lu Bu was sitting in the main seat, the elegant Chen Deng was sitting on the left, and on the right were Gao Shun and Zhang Liao. The four of them were all staring at the bamboo slips in Chen Gong's hands.
"read!"
"Beibai paid homage to Sikong. Lu Bu really has the heart of a wolf, and if he stays, he will definitely become a serious problem for the court. Now that Bei has the financial support of the Mi family, and the help of Sikong's weapons, Xiaopei Tun has over 10,000 troops, which is enough to fight a battle.
Ask Sikong to lead the royal army to the front line on the 28th of this month, and be ready to attack Xuzhou with Sikong from north to south and kill the giant thief Lu Bu! "
After Chen Gong finished reading the contents on the bamboo slip, everyone's faces were dull, and the hall was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Liu Bei asked Cao Cao to jointly attack Xuzhou. This is definitely bad news.
With their current strength, food, and ordnance supplies, they may not be able to survive even a month.
boom!
Lu Bu slapped the handsome desk with his palm, and the four-inch-thick desk broke into two pieces, causing sawdust to fly.
"The big-eared thief has no faith! If I hadn't saved him by shooting a halberd from my camp, he would have been killed by Ji Ling, and now he has repaid me with kindness! If I don't kill him, it will be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!"
Lu Bu's eyes were wide open and his fists clenched loudly.
Everyone seemed to have reacted. Gao Shun was the first to bow and said: "Marquis Wen, since Liu Bei wants to collude with Cao Cao to plot Xuzhou, the general recommends sending troops to Peicheng!"
"Marquis Wen, we must not combine these two forces. We should surprise Xiaopei and kill Liu Bei before Cao Liu can react, and then we can concentrate on dealing with Cao Cao!" Zhang Liao also agreed.
After the two of them finished talking, Chen Deng walked to the middle of the hall calmly, bowed and said angrily:
"Liu Bei is a rare hypocrite throughout the ages. He hated Marquis Wen for taking away Xuzhou and was unable to fight, so he had no choice but to seek refuge with Cao Cao.
I can even conclude that after the incident is completed, Liu Bei will be named Xuzhou Mu. This is a deal.
He also asked Marquis Wen to quickly assemble his troops and catch him off guard. This move would not only crush Liu Bei's conspiracy, but also scare Cao Cao! "
At the end of the day, he did not forget to add, "By the way, I am willing to support Marquis Wen with five thousand stones of food and grass."
Everyone is against the same enemy, how can Lu Bu not be moved, not to mention there is food and grass to support him.
He glanced at Chen Gong, who had a sad look on his face and didn't make any statement. He probably hadn't made up his mind yet, but that didn't matter anymore.
"Wenyuan immediately sent people to Xiapi to recall Song Xian and Wei Xu. Boping quickly organized his troops and prepared to attack Liu Bei!"
After Lu Bu, who sat down again, gave the combat order, Gao Shun and Zhang Liao turned to go out, and Chen Deng followed behind them.
Chen Gong's mouth moved, wanting to say something, but in the end he didn't speak.
"etc!"
Just when the three of them walked to the door, Lu Bu suddenly stopped them.
A name flashed through his mind.
Lin Mo.
The content of this letter is exactly the same as what Lin Mo said before!
Just because I was too angry at the beginning and because I hadn't visited Lin Mo in the past half month, I forgot about it.
Could it be said that this is really Cao Cao's conspiracy?
Or is it just a coincidence?
Lu Bu couldn't make up his mind for a moment, but because of what Lin Mo said before, he instinctively calmed himself down.
You can't make the wrong choice in this kind of thing, otherwise you'll be doomed.
Seeing everyone looking at him suspiciously, after pondering for a moment, Lu Bu finally asked what was in his mind.
"Do you think this could be Cao Cao's conspiracy?"
