In early June, just seven or eight days after Yuan Shao and Cao Cao reached an agreement on stolen goods (the division agreement was signed on May 24), the news of the two armies' ceasefire finally spread to the surrounding princes.

Yuan Shu, Liu Bei and Liu Biao received news almost at the same time, and Sun Ce, who was the farthest, would only know in two or three days.

The content of the agreement is confidential, but the fact of the armistice is public.

The princes from all sides had different reactions, but they were all surprised, and then they felt that it was reasonable, sooner or later.

It just came faster than expected, which made other princes who wanted to sit in the mountains and watch the tiger fight a little unhappy.

The most unhappy thing was Yuan Shu, because just the day after the truce, Cao Cao spread another news: he did not intend to continue to develop westward, nor would he care about other people's affairs that should not be taken care of. Instead, he formally announced his plans to move eastward, explore maritime trade, and even develop the three Koreans.

There are some things that need not be said explicitly, but Cao Cao at least took out real money and rewarded them with great rewards, discovered marine talents and shipbuilding talents, and traders who were proficient in maritime businessmen gave them all the best tax conditions, startup funds, and various support.

This kind of support actually started from the slack farming last winter, but I didn’t dare to invest thoroughly and fully, nor did I promote it. I just did it in a limited and secret manner, and I got some technical and talent reserves that didn’t have much money and grain.

Cao Cao was also worried that too early to strategically bet too much resources to move eastward would lead to the dispersion and weakening of his resistance when facing Yuan Shao's invasion. Now that Yuan Shao's armistice agreement has been completed, he has no worries, so he can do his best.

In the past six months, Guo Jia found some local Xuzhou and naval and naval talents from Yangzhou to the south. One of them was a very special talent, named Lu Xun, the grandson of Lu Kang, the former prefect of Lujiang who was killed by Sun Jian.

In addition, Sun Jian sold Changsha County to Liu Bei at that time, and Liu Bei also gave Sun Jian a large sum of money and grain so that Sun Jian could get rid of Yuan Shu's control of food and open up his territory. Therefore, the Lu family had a little hatred with the Sun family and Liu Bei, so they had no choice but to surrender to Cao Cao.

Of course, the Lu family's tribe members who stayed in Wujun later bought a lot of money to kill Sun Jian on the battlefield of the Danyang Battle. Most of the hatred between the two sides was vented, and many of the Lu clans in Wujun who were attacking were also killed by Sun Ce's revenge.

Lu Xun took the initiative to find an opportunity to recommend himself to Guo Jia when Guo Jia posted the "Search for Navigation Talents". He had also tried to contact other advisers under Cao Cao before, but because Cao Cao did not have the national policy of sailing to enrich the country at that time, Lu Xun was only thirteen years old and ignored him.

Guo Jia was also sick and went to the hospital this time. There was no talent in the nautical and navigatory army in the north. After Lu Xun recommended himself, Guo Jia assessed him and found that this young man was extremely talented and had no less talent than ordinary generals in the north. So he gave him a grassroots official position to practice his skills, and gave him some newly built imitation of Liaodong sand ships with stable fins. Let Lu Xun take it to try to explore the way for Cao Cao to do business, communicate goods from Guangling and Hebei, and train the seaship sailor team.

Considering that the sea was vast, Guo Jia didn't know where Lu Xun would take the merchant fleet, so for safety reasons, Lu Xun's eight-year-old uncle Lu Ji was taken hostage, and some descendants of the Lu family were also dealt with, and they all stayed in Juancheng, the base of Cao Cao.

After sending Lu Xun to help him manage part of the maritime fleet, Cao Cao increasingly felt that sailing was too fast and he had to rely on profits to expand the scale. It was really slow to develop, and it was difficult to catch up with pioneers such as Liu Bei and Mi Zhu and form his own competitive advantage.

Moreover, at the beginning of the exploration stage, one ship and two ships were lost in almost a month. Even the ships, cargo and sailors were buried in the sea, which was too risky.

This is not surprising. After all, in the Western world, the navigation industry was the first thing that gave birth to corporate and shareholding systems, because navigation risks are high and profits are large, and risks need to be shared.

In other eras, the princes and monarchs of China would never have moved their minds to sail and explore the country and strengthen the army, because the princes would all hate losses.

Cao Cao was forced to do nothing this time. Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce and Liu Biao still had room for exploration, but he had no such thing as the emperor, and he could not start a war. If he did not advance against the current, he would retreat, which forced Cao Cao to fight to the death on the sea and destroy resources and execution.

The previous losses have been borne and the experience has been accumulated. If you don’t invest, the navigation experience and skills obtained by the ship sank and the team trained will be in vain.

So Cao Cao drove the ducks on the shelves for this reason and embarked on an old path in history. He set up the Faqiu Duwei and touched the gold Sima. In the autumn of 195, he took the lead in secretly digging the tomb of King Xiao of Liang on Mangdang Mountain. From then on, he was out of control and began to find treasures to subsidize the construction of the nautical fleet.

At the same time, a sect was also announced to prohibit the burial of officials and civilians under their rule. Anyone who has used wealth to bury their property will be confiscated once discovered.

Considering that the people originally rely on filial piety and honest selection, many people still want to bury half of their property with their father to show that they are very filial, in order to show that they are filial, Cao Cao had to hurry up and issue a "talent order" and abolish the filial piety and honest selection system of various counties in Yanzhou and Xuzhou. Note that this is not abolishing the "result system", but only abolishing the subject of "filial piety" in the system of "result" in the "result system".

After all, Cao Cao was not qualified to directly reform the country to abolish the national talent selection system. In that case, he would definitely have a fierce excuse for the emperor to call on other princes to punish him. Cao Cao still insisted on advising, but from filial piety to sanctioning talents, it was also considered a verge. This reform later made Cao Cao's reputation among the scholars became increasingly unfair, but at least he did not incite a mutiny and his territory was stabilized.

In history, Faqiu was trying to get money to fight with Lu Bu in Xuzhou, causing the people to lose money and have no food to eat, so this was the worst strategy. In this life, Cao Cao unified Xuzhou earlier, and began to cleanse his heart and start farming in 194, so the tragedy of food shortage caused people to eat each other was more or less avoided. Let’s sail the money sent by Faqiu.

With such determination, Cao Cao finally relied on the profits of maritime trade to make the early investments and profits within two years of the truce of the princes of the world. He also opened up a route to Sanhan and trained a team of naval talent that was slightly visible.

Of course, after all, it was a century-old navy. Cao Cao was rushing to get on the horse and was weaker than Liu Bei and Mi Zhu within two or three years. There was still nothing he could do about it.

As for why he could only set up "Faqiu Duwei" and "Sima Moji" instead of "Faqiu Zhonglang General" and "Sima Mojiu", the principle is easy to understand - because Cao Cao in this life was not qualified to hold the emperor to command the princes, and the emperor was not in his hands, and the name of his entire camp was lower than two major points. Cao Cao himself was just a general in the east, and he was also a general in the two states, so it would be nice to have some stinky lieutenant.

...

On the third day of June, Wancheng, Nanyang.

After Yuan Shu learned about Cao Cao's latest series of operations, he was so angry that he was so angry that he was not allowed to do anything.

Cao Cao reconciled with Yuan Shao and began to recuperate. How could he take advantage of Cao Cao's weakness in the future?

In Yuan Shu's eyes, Cao Cao was Yuan Shao's younger brother. The fight between these two people was an internal friction against Yuan Shao's camp, and Yuan Shu couldn't ask for it.

Now that the enemy's internal friction is over, Cao Cao has announced that he has another way out for development. Isn't he the only one in the world who is left with Yuan Gonglu and his family who are sailing against the current will retreat if they do not advance.

He immediately recruited counselors Yang Hong and Yan Xiang to discuss countermeasures.

"If today's downward trend has become the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, all the princes dare not attack each other for no reason because Dong Cheng held the emperor to the superiors. All the princes have a way out, but we are the only ones who can live in Yuzhou, Jingbei, and Yangzhou Jiangbei and cannot stretch. Although Sun Ce obeys his name, as long as the emperor is in one day, Sun Ce will make various excuses not to help me with military, horses, money and food.

In the long run, our army can only occupy the two prefectures of Yu and Yang, and Nanyang, which is not as good as Liu Bei and Yuan Shao. What can we do? Yan Xiang, you sent my daughter to Luoyang in the first month of the year to serve as a concubine for the emperor. Now there is news? Is she favored in the Luoyang Palace? Is there anyone who is isolated from Dong Cheng's niece and compete for favor? As long as I get the handle, I will clear the emperor in the name of attacking Dong Cheng and take Sili! What do you think?!"

"Lord, no!" Yan Xiang advised with a sad face, "I heard that Your Majesty has been cautious recently. He has been treating the concubines sent to the palace by the princes of all sides, and no one dares to offend him. Under such circumstances, how can our army promote an unknown army?

What's more, Dong Cheng was a little domineering and autocratic during the Hongnong period last year. If I returned to Luoyang today, Dong Cheng also restrained his defense and military power around the capital, and promoted the general Zhu Ye as the leader. As long as Zhu Ye is still there, the lord will say that Dong Cheng is isolated from the internal and external deceiving the king, and no one in the world dares to believe it. At that time, Zhu Ye raises his arms and calls to prove the truth. I am afraid that our army will be the target of public criticism!"

I have to say that Yan Xiang still has some vision. Although he was abused by Zhuge Liang that time, his basic skills in judging the international situation are quite solid.

Yuan Shu was persuaded by Yan Xiang and Yang Hong to realize that the matter was indeed impossible at the moment, and even if he suffered a loss, he had to endure it.

Zhu Jun cannot start if he doesn't die! He calls him hatred! He watches others develop farming in vain.

After Yang Hong and other Yan Xiang endured most of the lord's anger, they also said a few words with great thoughts: "Lord, enriching the country and strengthening the army may not necessarily involve the war and opening up prefectures and counties. Yuzhou was originally the richest and populated land in the world. During the reign of Emperor Huan, Yuzhou had a household registration of 7.4 million, which was 200,000 or 300,000 more than Jizhou under Yuan Shao's rule.

But now Yuan Shao is governing Jizhou, and there are still six million people. Our Yuzhou is only half of the population of Yuan Shao and Jizhou. The Yingchuan Yellow Turbans, the Runan Gebi Yellow Turbans, Huang Shao, He Yi... were repeatedly tug-of-war, and the dead were gone, and they died of hunger and death, and there were more than three million in ten years!

As long as our army starts next year, we will learn from the military farming method implemented by Cao Cao in Xuzhou, Yanzhou last year, so as to appease refugees, resume farming, and store more food and grass. In the future, as long as there is enough food, we can recruit more people to join the army. That is also a strengthening of national strength. Why do we have to fight to plunder?"

Yuan Shu didn't like to listen to these words, but he still pinched his nose and admitted that the princes in the world were the least worthy of saying, "My own territory has been rectified, it's time to fight out, and there is no room for development and improvement."

Lianghuai was turned into a mess by him, and he still couldn't develop production well!

Yuan Shu closed his eyes compassionately and said unwillingly: "Then organize the people to farm and feed the land and feed the food. We will also stop the troops and support the people, so as to wait for Zhu Jun, the immortal, to return to heaven!"

From that day on, Yuan Shu wanted to make some wooden villains by himself, post Zhu Jun's famous post to do something about the witchcraft nightmare, and curse Zhu Jun to die soon.

...

On the same day when Yuan Shu was crazy in Wancheng, in Chang'an City and Weiyang Palace, Liu Bei also summoned some confidant advisers in Chang'an to discuss the "may impact of the Yuan-Cao Armistice Agreement" and discuss the countermeasures of his own camp.

To put it bluntly, since Liu Xie set out to Luoyang from Hongnong last year, the civil servants in Liu Bei's camp have reported less frequently about the emperor's affairs, and there is no need to ask for instructions as often as last year, even in name only.

Weiyang Palace is idle anyway, so Liu Bei no longer lives in Beigong for office and moved directly into Weiyang Palace to handle government affairs.

However, considering that the impact of the disaster year has not passed, until this year's autumn harvest, the people around Chang'an were very poor and hungry, so Liu Bei announced that he would still be frugal in life. Even if he lived in Weiyang Palace, he would still arrange guards and palace maids according to the original time in Beigong. Don't waste too much manpower, and the dietary standards are not allowed to be upgraded.

It is normal inside and outside Chang'an City, and does not think that living in Weiyang Palace is a violation of the situation. Anyway, Chang'an is no longer a legal capital, and Weiyang Palace is just some idle houses. (Last year, Hongnong's residence is considered "in" and not an imperial palace, so the nominal palace is still Weiyang Palace. Now the legal palace is already Luoyang Palace)

After reading the information, Liu Bei asked Jingzhao Yin Xun You: "The cease-up in Yuan and Cao was faster than Gu expected, and it seemed that it did not cause much consumption to Yuan and Cao. What impact does this matter have on us? Can we adjust the response?"

Xun You replied: "King, I think that Cao Cao's freeing of his hands will have no effect on us. I heard that Cao Cao is now focusing on developing maritime business, which will at most affect Mi Zhu. But once Yuan Shao frees up his hands and takes months to prepare, he may attack Guo Tai and Han Xian.

Although last year when the king secretly formed an alliance with Yuan Shao with Yang Xiu last year, he agreed that Hedong would be the one who belonged to our army to pacify. However, as long as Yuan Shao was completely idle and Cao Cao also surrendered with such a low attitude, it would inevitably not make Yuan Shao's ambitions expand and he became arrogant. Han Xian and Guo Tai were Baibo thieves after all. As a Han minister, it was natural for Yuan Shao to help pacify Baibo thieves.

Therefore, our army should order Xu Huang, General Taishi Ci to launch the last battle against Han Xian and Guo Tai, and strive to eliminate them before Yuan Shao, at least separate the border between Han Xian and Guo Tai’s rebellious area and Yuan Shao. In name, it was announced that Han Xian and Guo Tai’s thief’s nest had been broken, allowing foreign troops to enter Hedong and Pingyang without a name."

Liu Bei nodded and said with concern: "But, there are still at least two and a half months before the autumn harvest in Hedong, or even three months. Guanzhong was famine last year, and it is impossible to subsidize the front line before the autumn grain came down in August. Guyuan planned to wait for Yun Chang to take at least Wuwei County and come to Hedong to wipe out Han Xian Guo Tai. Yun Chang is a local native of Hedong and has a very high prestige there. It can achieve twice the result with half the effort, and the shortage of military food can also be alleviated.

Now, the latest Liangzhou front-line battle report I got yesterday is still saying that Yun Chang was besieging Jincheng, and Han Sui was besieged in the city. Yun Chang and Boya have not yet decided whether to bypass Jincheng, divide their troops and go deep into the enemy's rear to attack Wuwei, and directly find Guo Si's main force to fight. In this way, I am afraid that Yun Chang will not be able to quickly defeat Guo Si for at least a few months. Wouldn't our army fight against the food shortage and east-west? I am afraid that Yuan Shao will completely stop the Hedong grain trade by then, which will make it even worse."

Xun You sighed: "The king cannot bear to the suffering of the people, which shows his kindness. But if we should stop and stop, we will suffer the chaos. God will not take it, and there will be many disasters. The situation is so urgent that our army cannot make complete preparations.

If it really doesn't work, I will dispatch the General Pingxi to reinforce Xu Huang and Taishi Ci with a small amount of troops. If he can defeat Han Xian, he will minimize the damage caused by the crowding of military rations."

Zhao Yun is now in Jiaozhou, and among Liu Bei's confidant generals, Zhang Fei is still empty. Although Zhang Fei is not as good as Guan Yu's professional counterpart in the battle of Hedong, there is no way. Zhang Fei's qualifications are also weaker, which leads to the fact that even if Liu Bei wanted to represent Zhang Fei as the governor of Liangzhou at the beginning, the court was not good-looking and could not be approved.

"Well, I originally wanted to let Chang Yun return home in glory again, but the plan could not keep up with the variables, so I had to let Yide support Xu Huang with a small number of elite troops." Liu Bei thought about it again and again and approved the decision.

...

The report on the war in Xiliang that Liu Bei heard in Chang'an City was obviously at least ten days ago. After all, Guan Yu and Li Su would not rush to write to Liu Bei to report every day if there is any progress in the war. As long as no major incident happened, it would be normal to report every half month or every month.

Therefore, what Liu Bei knew was just the battle report issued by Guan Yu on May 25th.

As early as May 16, Guan Yu and Ma Chao came from Lintao County, with a main force of 35,000 people, headed north along the Tao River to Jincheng, and arrived at the city on May 22.

There is also a rear army of about 12,000 people, led by Li Su, who is surrounded by Dian Wei and Zhang Ren, who are preparing to advance in batches and provide logistics escort for Guan Yu and Ma Chao's main forces.

On May 24th, the third day after arriving in Jincheng, Guan Yu completed the siege of three missing one in the city, and built the first batch of siege equipment, including two catapults for work. Then, while preparing for firepower, Guan Yu wrote a letter and reported the news that "everything went smoothly in the early stage of the war" to his elder brother.

But in fact, after only a few days after siege, he prepared firepower every day, scolded and humiliated Han Sui, forced Han Sui out of the city to fight, and Guan Yu felt that there should be a better and faster way of fighting.

It just so happened that Li Su was about to arrive with a group of caravan convoy supplies, so Guan Yu planned to discuss with Li Su.

——

Today, the two updates are five thousand words, which is more than the third update. I will be able to pay the first update and pay the debt. Finally, I wrote down all the changes in the situation in the outside world in one breath and returned to the main line.

There is no way, I arrange the plot according to the timeline.
Chapter completed!