When Xu Shao saw Liu Bei personally untying him, he just sighed heavily and said nothing.
Liu Bei said: "I have heard about Mr. Xu's name for a long time. It is Liu Bei's blessing to see you today. If you don't mind me, sir, are you willing to serve as the chief of our army?"
Xu Shao knew very well that this was Liu Bei, naked, naked, and he still didn't say anything. He just stayed there quietly, thinking constantly in his mind.
Seeing this, Guan Yu approached Liu Bei and asked in a low voice: "Brother, who is Xu Shao?"
Liu Bei said: "I don't know either. I don't have much contact with the Southerners, but if this person can be Du Xi's military advisor, he must have some wisdom, and Du Xi and others also respect him very much."
Guan Yu couldn't help but think: "My eldest brother is really good at winning over people. I have never heard of him, so I just win him over at will. It seems that my eldest brother is really thirsty for talents."
Seeing that the situation was deadlocked, Du Xi said loudly: "Commander Xu, General Liu sincerely invites you. If you refuse, I'm afraid it would be too unkind, right? Even if General Liu lets you go, you stand on Kuai's side."
How should I explain it in front of Yue? There are twenty thousand soldiers, and you are the only one going back. Even if Kuai Yue doesn't kill you, he will completely humiliate you."
Fu Xun immediately advised: "Yes, Mr. Zijiang, instead of going back like this, it is better for you to submit to General Liu and work under General Liu's account. When Jingzhou is pacified, your benefits will naturally be indispensable. You have always been able to know people."
, In the past, when I only saw Cao Cao once, I said he was 'a capable minister in governing the world and a traitor in troubled times'. Today, a hero like General Liu is placed in front of you, why don't you recognize him?"
After Liu Bei and Guan Yu listened to Fu Xun's words, they realized that Xu Shao was actually Xu Zijiang. They had also heard about Xu Zijiang's comments about Cao Cao. When they saw this person today, they immediately felt that he was very famous.
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a social trend, which was to conduct character appreciation, or character appraisal. If a person wants to become a character, stand out, and enter the upper class, he must have a famous character connoisseur write an appraisal for him, so that he can
Be recognized by society.
Xu Shao was a famous connoisseur. On the first day of each month, he would make a comment on the figures at that time, just like we hold press conferences now, on the first day of every month, so it was called Yuedan Commentary.
However, after Yuan Shu occupied Yuzhou, he sent people to hire him as an official. He knew that Yuan Shu could not achieve anything big, so he politely refused. After that, his family moved south, and then arrived in Xiangyang, Jingzhou. Although he also knew that Liu Biao was not a
He was expected to be an overlord, but he had no intention of becoming an official and just wanted to live a stable life, so he stayed in Jingzhou. At the same time, he no longer held monthly reviews and only lived a simple life.
"Mr. Xu, we know that you are very upright and unwilling to serve as an official. This expedition is also forced. You still have a family. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your children, right?
"He Qia advised.
Xu Shao, who is thirty-eight years old this year and has a son and a daughter, was startled after hearing He Qia's slightly threatening words.
"Mr. Xu, Bei is sincere and I hope you can agree." Liu Bei said very sincerely.
Xu Shao looked around and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, so he said: "Okay, let's leave it like this. I, Xu Shao, am willing to be the chief clerk for General Liu. However, I have a condition. If Liu
If the general does not agree, I, Xu Zijiang, will not seek refuge with General Liu even if I die."
"Mr. Xu, please speak!"
"The Marquis of Chu, Liu Qi, is still young, and he is quite generous. If General Liu captures Jingzhou, I only ask General Liu not to kill Liu Qi after capturing Jingzhou. If General Liu agrees, I am willing to rely on my three-inch indestructible
"I want to go to Jingxiang and persuade the people in Xiangyang and Jiangling to join General Liu," Xu Shao said.
Liu Bei knew very well that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. If he did not kill Liu Qi, the old troops in Jingzhou would definitely have doubts. But if he did not agree, it would not matter if Xu Shao did not surrender. The key was to quickly capture Xiangyang and
Jiangling and Jiangling are equivalent to having the capital to dominate Jingzhou.
When it was difficult to make a choice, Zhuge Jin came over, leaned close to Liu Bei's ear, and whispered: "My lord, Liu Qi is weak. Kuai Yue did everything alone. If Kuai Yue hadn't stopped him, my lord could have used other methods."
A way to steal Jingzhou, my subordinates believe that it doesn’t matter whether Liu Qi kills him or not, but Kuai Yue must be killed, and this person cannot be kept."
After Liu Bei heard this, he said to Xu Shao: "Okay, I promise you. But, I don't know how you are going to persuade Xiangyang and Jiangling to surrender to me?"
Xu Shao said: "Now that Jingzhou is in turmoil, it is difficult for Liu Qi to take charge of the overall situation. Although he has the assistance of Kuai Yue, it is not enough to withstand the general's offensive. The scholars and generals in Jingzhou all hope to get a hero who can truly lead them. General Liu is worthy of it."
A man of great power can intimidate the entire Jingzhou."
After saying that, Xu Shao glanced at Du Xi and others again, and said with a smile: "Of course, there are many people taking refuge in Jingzhou, and they also have their own thoughts. If we can successfully capture Xiangyang and Jiangling, General Liu will know how to be kind to others."
If he is allowed to pacify the four counties in Jingnan, Jiangxia will not be a problem. In this way, Jingzhou will be unified again, and it will become General Liu's majestic appearance to dominate the world."
After Liu Bei heard this, his heart was filled with excitement, and he no longer asked how Xu Shao persuaded him to surrender, but said: "Sir, do you need any help? My two sworn brothers, Yun Chang and Yide, are both brave enough to be worthy of any man..."
"
"I appreciate General Liu's kindness, but persuading surrender is not the same as fighting. If anyone wants to go with me, I only need two people!"
"Which two people? Sir, just ask, even if Liu Bei is asked to go with him in person, Bei will not hesitate."
Xu Shao smiled and said: "General Liu can't go. If he goes, he can't come back. I only want these two people."
Liu Bei saw Xu Shao pointing at Zhuge Jin and Tian Yu and said suspiciously: "Sir, these two people are still young. Sir, would you like to think more about it?"
"Don't worry, General Liu. I'm always very good at judging people. With these two people, we can defeat thousands of troops."
Zhuge Jin was full of confidence, he was very confident in himself, but it was the first time he heard such comments and praise from a celebrity, and he was still a little flattered.
Tian Yu was surprised that Xu Shao singled him out. In terms of force, he was not as good as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. In terms of intelligence, he was not as good as Zhuge Jin, Yi Ji, and Sun Qian. He said a little unconfidently: "
What...what can I do?"
Xu Shao smiled and said: "You can do a lot, you have to be more confident in yourself."
Liu Bei said: "Zhuge Jin, Tian Yu, you two will go to Xiangyang with Mr. Xu and be responsible for persuading Liu Qi to surrender."
Zhuge Jin and Tian Yu said: "No!"
……………………
Xiangyang, Chuhou Mansion.
Liu Qi is practicing calligraphy in the hall, his pen moves smoothly and his handwriting is beautiful.
The handwriting of Liu Qi is just like the person he is. Liu Qi's handwriting is just like his appearance. He wears gorgeous clothes and looks very noble.
"Lord... something bad has happened!" Kuai Yue shouted from outside the hall and walked in in a panic.
Seeing Kuai Yue's panic, Liu Qi asked, "Prime Minister, what happened?"
Kuai Yue said hurriedly: "The 20,000 troops and horses led by Du Xi were defeated in Nanyang. In the end, Du Xi and others all led their troops to surrender to Liu Bei."
After Liu Qi heard this, the brush he was holding suddenly stopped, he raised his head suddenly, frowned, and said: "Liu Bei got the soldiers and horses of Du Xi and others, like a dragon entering the abyss, I'm afraid there is no limit. "
When Kuai Yue heard Liu Qi's negative words, he said: "My lord, the most urgent thing is to send troops to attack Nanyang again. I am willing to lead the troops myself!"
Liu Qi put down his brush, shook his head, and said: "Liu Bei has been on the battlefield for a long time, and he has Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under his command. Now he has the troops of Du Xi and others. I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to deal with him again." Our army lacks generals. Without good generals, Liu Bei cannot be defeated. As the saying goes, a thousand armies are easy to get, but a general is hard to find. Looking at the entire Xiangyang and Jiangling, who can stop Liu Bei?"
Kuai Yue said: "Lord, please don't be negative. I will give you two more people who may be able to go with me to stop Liu Bei. These two people are from Zhijiang, Nanjun. They are brothers. They were young and vigorous. At that time, he had never been reused. His elder brother Huo Du and his younger brother Huo Jun were both courageous and brave..."
Liu Qi said: "Okay, let's send troops to attack Nanyang again. This time we will use all our strength. You will personally lead the troops, with Huo Du and Huo Jun as deputy generals. We will go to resist Liu Bei's offensive, and they will not be allowed to enter Xiangyang."
Kuai Yue said: "There are still 30,000 horses in Xiangyang. If we take them all away, my lord's safety will be in danger..."
"Well, then you take 28,000 people and leave 2,000 people to guard the city and advance by land and water," Liu Qi said.
"promise!"
After the discussion, Kuai Yue sent a letter to Nanjun to dispatch Huo Du and Huo Jun. On the other hand, he mobilized 20,000 naval troops and 8,000 horse infantry. Chen troops were at the border of Xiangyang. They only waited for Huo Du and Huo Jun to arrive before they launched an attack together.
In addition, Kuai Yue also personally sent Du Xi and Xu Shao's family members to death row, and waited until Liu Bei was defeated before asking for execution. He Xia, Han Song, Pei Qian, Liu Xian, and Fu Xun's family members were not in Xiangyang. , survived.
At the same time, Xu Shao took Zhuge Jin and Tian Yu to Xiangyang. When the news of Du Xi's defeat reached Xiangyang, they also entered the city. After hearing what Kuai Yue did, Xu Shao did not move. Sense, led Zhuge Jin and Tian Yu straight to the Chuhou Mansion.
Liu Qi was restless in the Chuhou Mansion, thinking that Liu Bei was too invincible and that he was no match at all.
"Master Hou, Xu Shao would like to see you!"
"Who? Who did you just say?" Liu Qi said in surprise.
"Xu Shao, Runan Xu Zijiang."
Liu Qi said: "Didn't he surrender to Liu Bei? Who else came with him?"
"Two young men, I don't know their names."
"Instruct fifty school swordsmen to ambush in the hall, and let all three of them enter the hall. Let the school swordsmen be ready for my orders at any time." Liu Qi felt something unusual.