In the spring of the twelfth year of Jian'an, the whole country attacked Cao.

All the troops in Xiliang gathered in Chang'an, and except for the generals who stayed behind, all the advisers arrived in Chang'an.

The dragon throne was vacant, and a black gold chair was set up beside it. Lu Bu was sitting on the black chair. He was richly dressed, with his left ankle resting on his right knee. He was elegant and of the highest rank.

Lu Bu put his slender fingers together and looked at the court officials indifferently.

On the dragon case is a jade seal passed down from the country.

Among the civil servants in the palace: Cai Yong was old and ranked first, and was given a seat. They were Qilin, Cai Wenji, Zhen Mi, Chen Gong, Jia Xu, Fazheng, Kong Rong, and then down, dozens of civil servants were lined up according to their official positions, as if they were again

The pomp of the Han court was restored.

The generals were led by Gao Shun, Zhang Liao rushed back from Yizhou, Gan Ning, Ma Chao, Zhang Jia, Tai Shi Ci, Ling Tong and Wei Yan.

This is a court without an emperor. Just like Dong Zhuo controlled the government in the past, now there is a new person on the regent chair.

Lu Bu said indifferently: "We are finally declaring war on Cao Cao. It is not in vain that you have followed me for many years."

A civil servant came out of the procession, knelt on the ground, and said excitedly: "Master Hou has been loyal to my Han Dynasty for ten years, and his sincerity can be seen! Now..."

Lu Bu sneered: "For your Han Dynasty, for whose Han Dynasty?"

The civil servants were stunned, and Lu Bu said: "We will send troops in ten days. What do you think?"

"My lord already knows the estimation of the strength of both sides. Now I will explain it in detail to you."

Qilin stood out from the crowd, and the civil servants returned to the team in a wise manner.

Qilin: "Our food and grass are enough to support five years of operations, but our troops cannot be fully concentrated in the early stage. There are two areas outside Hangu Pass whose intentions are still unclear."

"The first is Hanzhong, and the second is Liaodong. Zhang Lu is in charge of Hanzhong, and Taiping Road has been its own business since the Yellow Turban Rebellion. It does not involve the war in the Central Plains. We have passed through Hanzhong many times, going back and forth between Jingyi and Jingzhou, and Zhang Lu has never stopped us."

Hua Xin said: "Who is Zhang Lu? He is just a low-class person pretending to be a god and a ghost. If the Taoist priests had not caused chaos back then, the Han Dynasty would have declined to this point?!"

Fazheng said in a deep voice: "This is inappropriate. Sir Situ, now that we want to attack Cao Cao, we need to put aside the grudges of the past. Otherwise, if the marquis sends troops and we are surrounded by enemies from both sides, how can we win?"

Qilin nodded slightly and said: "Yes, if you want to win over Zhang Lu, you must recognize the orthodox status of the Tianshi Sect. Isn't it the principle of the Five Dou Rice Sect to raise troops to save the people from fire and water? What's the difference with us? In my opinion

, before sending out troops, sent an envoy to Bazhong City to worship Zhang Lu as the national advisor."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the palace, and several civil servants said: "It is impossible to decide!"

Qilin said: "I think that when the two emperors of Han Dynasty and Jing Dynasty were in power, they all governed the country according to Huang Laowei's way, light on corvee and low taxes, and cultivated and lived with the people. Later, although Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism, Yin and Yang, Zongheng and other families were running in parallel.

Governance, in the end, is nothing more than 'the overlord's way is mixed with others', so why not? If Confucianism and the classics are great principles, why should you be afraid?"

"What's more, the National Preceptor is just a vacant position and does not interfere in political affairs. There is nothing more cost-effective than exchanging this position for Hanzhong and avoiding the difficulties behind the scenes." Qilin continued: "If you, your lords, want to veto my proposal,

Please come up with a better way."

There was silence in the hall. After a while, Kong Rong said: "It is not a bad way to convince him as a king's master."

Cai Yong, who was already eighty years old, sighed tremblingly: "Kong Situ—"

"When things come to a head, all false reputations are useless. After these few years in Xiliang, if it weren't for Marquis Wen's thundering methods, how could I, the ministers of the Han family, have survived?"

Kong Rong nodded and said, "The master taught me that."

Cai Yong stood up, and several people rushed to help him. Cai Yong said to Lu Bu: "I am willing to give up the post of Grand Tutor. I only hope that Zhang Lu can surrender and return to the emperor."

Qilin was moved. Cai Yong's proposal this time came true. If Zhang Lu could be worshiped as the emperor's master, it would really be an honor that would not be seen in a century for Taiping Road.

Cai Yong said slowly: "I was promoted as a filial and honest person when I was sixteen years old. During the Jian'an period, I and Wang Yun worshiped as Zhonglang General, and later promoted to Taifu. I have read the scriptures in these many years, and I know that when the Yellow Turban Army was first formed, the military purpose was

To punish the people and relieve the danger of famine is not what Cao Cao, He Jin and others call them rebels."

Qilin nodded and said: "Now Zhang Lu is in a corner. If he doesn't want to surrender to Cao Cao, he should take a wait-and-see attitude. On the Lantern Festival, he sent his daughter to propose marriage, which is just a test."

Cai Yong said: "In this case, it doesn't matter if I give up the position of Taifu to him. I am getting old. I only hope that I can see the emperor come to Chang'an again in my lifetime, but I have fulfilled one wish. I wish Marquis Wen a successful war horse."

Lu Bu wanted to get up and see him off, but Cai Yong used his hands to stop him and staggered out of the Weiyang Palace.

Chen Gongdao: "In this case, my lords must have no objections. Who is willing to be a lobbyist and go to negotiate with Zhang Lu?"

Lu Bu said calmly: "I'll go."

The counselors all frowned: "No, my lord needs to send troops to fight..."

Qilin smiled knowingly: "Are you going? Are you sure?"

Lu Bu said: "I can't control this matter. Besides, I still have something to ask him."

As soon as Qilin opened his mouth, the ministers were silent. Qilin thought for a moment and said, "What do you have to ask him?"

Lu Bu seemed a little irritable, and after a moment he said, "I'll tell you when I get back."

Qilinfang nodded.

Chen Gong opened the book in his hand and said: "In seven years of rest in Liangzhou, except for the casualties of more than 10,000 people in the Battle of Chibi, there are still more than 38,000 soldiers and horses left in Chang'an City."

"We recruited soldiers from all over Xiliang, and got 50,000 soldiers. Yizhou came to rely on the new soldiers, and there were another 20,000. When we were full, after excluding the three armies and providing food and grass support, we had a total of 110,000 elite soldiers."

"Among them are 50,000 Xiliang cavalry, 40,000 infantry, and 20,000 naval troops."

"To sum up, we only have 110,000 people." Qilin said: "We still need to leave 10,000 to guard Chang'an, for fear of chaos. When Cao Cao occupied the Yangtze River in the Battle of Chibi, he claimed to have an army of 800,000, but 70% of it was burned to death.

"

"Dian Wei and Cao Hong led their troops to join Cao Cao in Julu. At least 200,000 people were stationed at Julu - Hulao Pass - Yecheng."

"Two hundred thousand!" the officials exclaimed.

Qilin said calmly: "Including the additional troops that Cao Cao recruited after his return, it is estimated that there are far more than this number. According to our estimates, the maximum strength that Cao Cao can mobilize is 350,000 for a last-ditch battle and a counterattack in danger."

The civil servants turned blue.

"One hundred thousand versus three hundred and fifty thousand." Qilin said calmly: "This battle is difficult to win."

"Why don't you... take some more time to recuperate?" The scholar who had first flattered Lu Bu said cautiously.

Chen Gong sneered and said: "Our army is recuperating, but Cao's army is also recuperating? In ten years, each side will gather an army of 500,000 and a million soldiers, and fight in front of the pass until rivers of blood flow and corpses litter the fields. What's the difference?"

Lu Bu said: "The best strategy is to divide your troops, disintegrate them, and defeat them one by one."

Fazheng stroked his beard and said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Chen Gong said again: "If my lord can successfully persuade Zhang Lu to surrender, he will have 20,000 more soldiers and horses in his hands..."

Qilin and Jia Xu said at the same time: "You can't put too much hope in Zhang Lu."

Qilin said: "Ma Chao and I led a large force out of Hangu Pass and started marching. My lord led eight thousand people to Bazhong City. After sending out the troops, we marched from Hangu Pass to Julu, Hulao Pass and the Qianli Plain of Yecheng.

It’s the front line.”

"We must be prepared for a long-term tug-of-war, and at the same time, we must strictly prevent Cao Cao from colluding with the horse thieves outside the pass and cutting off our supply of food and grass."

Jia Xu said: "We must be more careful with Guo Jia. Xun and others are using the strategy of strengthening the wall to clear the country, which will consume our morale and lengthen the supply line."

Qilin nodded slightly and said: "The specific tactics cannot be formulated until my lord and I meet again."

The ministers talked a lot, and finally Kong Rong asked uneasily: "It is said that military advisors have wonderful plans and are well versed in heaven's secrets. In your opinion, can we win?"

The most important issue finally came. Lu Bu convened this court meeting to stabilize the morale of the army.

Qilin sighed and said: "I can't predict whether we can win, but one thing I can tell you clearly is: if we lose this time, we can only return to Hangu Pass and live an ignoble existence, waiting to be killed by Cao Pi.

Sima Yi swept away the fallen leaves in the autumn wind. He will never be able to defeat Cao Cao in this life."

Lu Bu said: "Situ, don't worry, we can win."

Everyone focused their attention on Lu Bu. Qilin was a little surprised and looked at him expectantly.

Lu Bu stood up, walked down the steps, and said in a deep voice: "Have you, my lords, ever noticed that in the two battles of Guandu and Chibi, or even earlier, the eighteen princes allied themselves against Dong."

Chen Gong teased in a low voice: "How long did you have to recite this endorsement?"

With a look of joy in his eyes, Qilin replied in a low voice: "I didn't teach him...I haven't taught him these words since the Battle of Guandu."

Chen Gong frowned in disbelief and listened to Lu Brown's voice: "When Dong was attacking Xiliang, he had an army of 100,000 men. Sun Jian first marched with only 20,000 men and forced Dong's thieves back outside Hangu Pass. Yuan Shao's army of 200,000 men was in the hands of Cao Cao.

With only 50,000 soldiers and horses, they chased Yuan Benchu ​​all the way to Chang'an, but Yuan Shao was defeated! He died at the hands of this lord."

"Red Cliff! Cao Cao claimed to have an army of 800,000, but my three families had less than 180,000 troops. Cao Cao's army was defeated in the first battle and fled north in panic. From then on, he did not dare to cross the Yangtze River again."

Lu Bu asked in reply: "Which battle is not a victory of more with less?"

There was silence in the hall, and Lu Bu said again: "What supports them to continue fighting without hesitation and face an enemy five times or even ten times more powerful? I hope you all know this question without mentioning it first."

Qilin cheered and said: "Well said, now that Cao Cao's imperial banner has fallen, righteousness is on our side. In the name of rescuing the emperor and helping the Han Dynasty, the whole world echoes, and we will definitely win this game!"

Lu Bu said indifferently: "Exactly, I can't leave any regrets."

Lu Bu walked to the front of the palace, faced Qilin face to face, raised his hand and touched his ear, and said: "Start gathering the army tomorrow and leave the customs in ten days."

Yecheng.

Emperor Xian was sitting in front of the emperor's case. The regent's chair beside him was vacant and Guo Jia was not there.

In front of the palace, Cao Ying's generals and advisers were divided into two rows, with Xun at the head and behind him the newly promoted censor Sima Yi.

Emperor Xian looked sick and weak, and said in a low voice: "Xiangguo... where is the prime minister?"

Cao Cao complained that he was ill and did not go to court. Xun sighed and said: "Your Majesty, Marquis Wen and Lu Feng have raised their troops first, and the Prime Minister is ill. We are waiting for your Majesty to issue an edict from the emperor to inform the world and order the princes to attack."
To be continued...