In the Nanyang Prefect's Mansion, Liu Bei and Xi Zhicai sat opposite each other, and there was a map in front of him.

While suppressing his cough, Xi Zhicai pointed to the map and carefully planned for Liu Bei.

"General Zuo, now Jingxiang's troops have conquered Wancheng, and the cities that had fallen before have been recovered one after another. However, if you want to fight against Cao's army and defend Nanyang, you still have a long way to go. You should not indulge the Southern Army to slack battles."

"General, please see, Nanyang is surrounded by mountains, and to the north are Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain. However, although the mountains are blocked, there are many forks between the two mountains that can lead to the Central Plains, with a thoroughfare between the north and the south, and there is no danger to defend. Therefore, Nanyang has been a place where wars between the north and the south have been fought. If you get Nanyang in the north, you can see Xiangyang and Jiangling, and if you take Nanyang in the south, you can advance to Xuchang and Luoyang."

"In the pre-Qin period, in order to defend Jingchu, the Emperor Zhou emperor divided the Hanyang masters such as Sui, Tang, Yun and other Hanyang in Nanyang. Later, Chu State was strong and took Nanyang to the north, and built a square city to resist Qi and Jin countries. At the beginning of this dynasty, Emperor Guangwu raised an army in Nanyang and destroyed the pseudo-Xin. Heshuo raised his troops to swallow the south to the north, and he also used troops here many times."

"So if the general uses troops to the north and builds a strategy, he can first divide the troops into multiple routes, along the Fangcheng Road, harass Yingchuan, Runan and other places, and instigate the Zongshen and the thieves in the territory, causing the Cao army to go back and forth and exhausted to deal with it. The general commands the elite troops and defeats them one by one, and then sends a side army to take the Three Crow Road directly to the rear of the Cao army in Henan, which makes the Cao army's army shaken."

"In this way, General Left and Yan Cavalry attacked each other from north to south, and Cao's thieves were exhausted. How could they resist? The Central Plains could be determined by fighting."

After saying so much in one breath, Xi Zhicai, who had just stopped, even before he could even take a sip of tea, he coughed violently.

He felt his throat sweet, and he quickly took out a towel from his sleeve, covered his mouth, and quickly wiped away the coughed blood, not wanting others to notice.

Liu Bei, who was listening attentively, coughed when he saw Xi Zhicai and was a little worried. He quickly asked the guards outside the hall to remove the tea soup and replace it with ordinary hot soup.

Liu Bei attaches great importance to opera aspirations.

Before, Xi Zhicai led the craftsmen in Guanzhong to supervise the construction of the "Xiangyang Cannon" and planned to capture the entire territory of Nanyang, and made great efforts. Now he knows that he is from the north and has fought in Qingxu and other places before. He is not familiar with the mountains and geography of Yingchuan, Runan and other places. After traveling to many counties in the Central Plains, he took the initiative to go north to use troops to make suggestions.

Although Liu Bei knew that everything Xi Zhicai did was not loyal to him, he did so because of the temporary alliance between Guanxi and Jingxiang, and because the victory of Jingxiang's troops would help Guanxi Yan Yan repel Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's coalition forces.

But Liu Bei still attached importance to and cared about Xi Zhicai, and listened to his strategies in the army at all times.

Seeing his pale face and bloody lips that stopped coughing, Liu Bei was very worried about Xi Zhicai's body, and he advised with a warm voice:

"Zhicai, in the cold winter, we go north to use troops, which is extremely difficult. If you are sick, why don't you stay in Nanyang and don't follow the army to plan anymore, so as not to worsen your condition and drag your body down."

"General Zuo, I'm fine. This is just an old disease. I've been doing this for many years. I've been through it. Just take a break and it won't be a problem."

Xi Zhicai, as always, delayed Liu Bei's kindness and slowly stood up. Although he knew that the middle-aged man in front of him was Hongya, righteous, and outstanding, and a wise ruler in troubled times, he was his own master and had a very clear understanding of his physical condition. He was determined to be loyal to the General Yan Xing, the Cavalry, and to fulfill his mission to the death.

Seeing this, Liu Bei had to nod, get up and see Xi Zhi before leaving.

After Xi Zhicai left, Liu Bei returned to the hall and saw that Xi Zhicai had not taken a sip of hot soup on the desk. He pondered for a while and sent someone to summon Sun Gan, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong and others.

Although Xi Zhicai was outstanding ingenuity, he was a counselor who served Yan Xing in Guanxi after all. Liu Bei could only plan some things with his confidant aides.

Although Jingxiang's troops are invincible in Nanyang, Liu Bei, as the main general, is increasingly majestic in the army, but in fact he is still living under someone else's roof, he already vaguely feels that after capturing Wancheng, deputy generals Wen Pin, Wang Wei and others intentionally or unintentionally secretly restrained them.

Moreover, Liu Bei could feel that this constraint did not come from Cai Mao, who had an ambiguous attitude, or Deng Yi and others who firmly opposed sending troops to fight against Cao's army, but directly from the instruction of Liu Jingsheng, the leader of Jingxiang.

Yes, Liu Biao was right to be afraid. Liu Bei was a hero in troubled times. Although he was humble and polite, and was grateful to Liu Jingsheng who accepted him, Liu Bei's ambitions were never tortured by suffering and setbacks. He always wanted to defeat Cao Cao, welcome the emperor, wipe out all the heroes, and revive the Han Dynasty like Emperor Guangwu.

This time, he went north to use troops was a rare opportunity for Liu Bei.

He was able to establish his prestige in the war, spread his benevolence and righteousness, train and expand his loyal soldiers and horses, support him, and install his civil and military confidants, seize his foothold, rely on Liu Biao in the south and draw the Central Plains in the north.

Sun Gan, Jian Yong and Mi Zhu soon rushed over. The three of them took off their shoes outside the hall, stepped into the hall, and after greeting their lords, they sat down one after another.

Liu Bei looked at his confidant adviser and smiled. He pointed to the map and repeated the Jiance of Xi Zhicai just now with the three of them.

"Ming Gong, according to the following, the strategy offered by Mr. Xi is indeed a good strategy to advance the Central Plains. However, I heard that the Cao army attacking Henan had already captured Luoyang and was confronting Yan Yan's Guanxi soldiers and horses. The battle was in a stalemate. Xi Zhicai offered to take the Three Crow Road at this time and attacked the dangerous strategy behind Cao Cao's army. I am afraid that he had selfish intentions and wanted to use Jingxiang's troops to lead Cao's army to retreat and unravel the siege of Henan."

Jian Yong, an old friend who had been with Liu Bei for a long time, sat on the felt carpet. Although he was a little lazy, he was always loyal in his work and tried his best to give advice to Liu Bei.

When Liu Bei heard this, he nodded and said with regret:

"The King of Xi is indeed loyal. He took the Three Crows Road to take the Luoyang strategy. Gu saw that he intended to let Yide lead his troops, but this strategy was a dangerous plan. It is not conducive to our plan too early to lead Cao Cao's army to Nanyang. Besides, Gu's command has lost Yunchang, and Yide cannot be separated easily. Therefore, Gu also felt that Xi's strategy could only be adopted by half."

Mi Zhu, Sun Gan nodded in agreement. When Sun Gan heard Liu Bei talk about Guan Yu, he remembered something and immediately said:

"Ming Gong, I learned something from the captive Cao army soldiers that Xuzhou fell, and Guan Jun did not seem to have died in battle, but was captured alive by Cao Cao, and he had already turned to Cao army to serve Cao Cao. Previously, Cao army attacked Henan, and the army was beheaded by Zhai Hao, and the general who was surrendered first to break through Hulao Pass was mentioned as Guan Jun!"

Mi Zhu also heard about this matter, but it was not possible to confirm the authenticity of the matter for the time being, so he never talked about it with Liu Bei.

After all, if the long bearded general was Guan Yu, Liu Bei, who was betrayed by his brothers and feet, would be in pain.

When he heard this suddenly, Liu Bei's expression on his face, who had always been happy and angry, changed suddenly, but he finally calmed down. Looking at Sun Gan and others, he said confidently:

"It is very likely that Xuzhou has fallen, Yun Chang cannot escape and is captured by Cao's army. But it is absolutely impossible to say that Yun Chang turns to others and serves Cao's army. Gu is unbelievable. Gu knows Yun Chang's temperament well. If he stays in Cao's camp, he may serve in Cao's army in order to repay Cao Cao's grace of not killing him. But once he learns that Gu is in Jingxiang, he will definitely leave Cao's camp regardless of his safety and return thousands of miles."

“…”

Mi Zhu, Sun Gan and others looked at each other. Although they were a little suspicious of Liu Bei's tone, as subordinates, even if they were old friends or in-laws, they would not dare to say anything else and were speechless for a while.

On the contrary, Liu Bei cheered up and encouraged them and said:

"Okay, please ask Gongyou to find out the truth from all over the world. The real and false will be known in the future. Now the army has won consecutive battles and its morale is not to be extinguished. Gu is about to take advantage of the opportunity when Cao Cao's army is out to march into Yingchuan, Runan and other places. You must not relax. You should go north with Gu to defeat the enemy."

"promise!"

Jian Yong, Sun Gan and others were solemn when they heard this and bowed to take the order.

···

In the winter of the fifth year of Jian'an, the left general Liu Bei, despite the cold weather and the constraints of the deputy general, resolutely divided his troops to go north to haunt Yingchuan, Runan and other places.

After the fall of Nanyang, the road to the Central Plains was unobstructed. As soon as the troops of Jingxiang headed north, they immediately caused various riots in Yingchuan and Runan.

Liu Pi of Runan, Gong Du and other surrendered Yellow Turban troops immediately responded, attacking cities and killing officials, causing a wave of turmoil.

At the same time, under the inspiration of Liu Bei's envoy, some of the Zongshen and thieves who were resentful of Cao's family, such as Qu Gong, Jianggong, Chen Cheng, Zhang Chi, etc., gathered hungry and cold people and desperadoes, and under the banner of Liu Bei, they slandered the counties and besieged cities.

During this rebellion, the south of Xudu was completely in chaos. War spread everywhere, and the guards Li Tong, Zhao Yan and others divided their troops to fight. They were exhausted and faced the huge threat of Liu Bei's troops. They were struggling and had to send envoys to ask Xudu and the Henan front for help.

Under such circumstances, Cao's army, which was in the confrontation between the troops and horses of Guanxi in Henan, still did not retreat.

Cao Cao knew very well that the key to the victory and loss of this Henan battle lies in who can last. If he retreated first regardless of the strong enemy in front of him, he would definitely be taken advantage of by the infantry and cavalry in Guanxi. At that time, the army was chased by Yan Xing's troops in the snow, and there would be more danger.

Therefore, Cao Cao did not draw troops from the front line to rescue Yingchuan and Runan at this critical moment, but instead sent the general Cai Yang from the rear to lead his troops to join forces with Li Tong, Zhao Yan and others to resist the troops from Jingxiang who were fighting north.
Chapter completed!