In the Battle of Xiangshan, Marshal Cao Cao of the Wei and Han Dynasties managed to escape from the siege and returned to Wuyuan after he led his elite troops to attack Xiangxian County. However, he immediately suffered from a headache and fell ill. But even so, he did not withdraw easily.
, but still confronted the Western Army camp. During the period of recuperation, he dispersed the wounded soldiers slightly, and handed over the military affairs to Bao Xin, Chunyu Qiong, Ju Shuo, and Cao Ren to discuss together.
A few days later, Cao Cao moved to the Zhonghuang Taiyi Temple in the north of Lanling City to recuperate. In addition to a dozen servants and thirty guards, those who moved to the temple together this time also had more than a thousand soldiers and books.
His clothes and hats were old, but they were just two or three sets of daily necessities for winter and summer. There were also two sets of arrow-scarred iron armor and a few hunting uniforms. The Taoist priests in the temple were surprised when they saw it.
It is said that Marshal Cao, a noble man like this in the world, is so simple.
The only thing that could be considered as luxurious clothing was an old silk brocade robe and cloak, which was given to him by his father Cao Song during his lifetime. When Cao Cao entered the officialdom, he was recommended by Sima Fang to be the Northern Lieutenant of Luoyang. Cao Song was extremely pleased, so he
Before taking office, he took off his cloak and tied it for his son. Cao Cao always kept this in mind and carried his cloak in his luggage no matter where he was.
Cao Cao rested in the temple for more than a month, and his body gradually recovered a little. He originally lay on the couch to warm himself by the fire all day long, but later he was able to stay on the bed and read and walk in the winter. With nothing to do, he took out the bow string that he had taken off.
The strong bow was re-strung, and the bow was drawn in the air every day to restore its strength. After more than ten days of this, his spirits gradually improved, and he often chatted with Dian Wei about the past events of the Luoyang dignitaries. The entourage was very happy, saying that the marshal would recover soon.
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One evening in the depth of winter in December, Guo Jia, who had been staying in Linzi City to recuperate, suddenly came over. Guo Jia was wearing an indigo fox fur robe, wearing wooden clogs at his feet, and was riding a maroon red horse.
Cao Cao came over. Cao Cao was very happy to see his rosy face, and the two played chess together on the couch. After talking for a few games, Guo Jia talked to him about the current war.
Guo Jiaxian said: "The current confrontation between the East and the West is between Ji and Zu. They only defend but not attack, and waste money and food. I am afraid it is not a long-term solution. During these days of rest, has Ming Gong thought about the follow-up?"
Cao Cao smiled bitterly and said: "I am also worried about this matter. People like Zang Ba in Qingzhou have no kindness at all. If I retreat and Liu Bei takes advantage of the situation to pursue me, I am afraid that I won't have anything south of the river. But if
When it comes to confrontation, Liu Bei and I are both powerless, so we can only wait for change."
Guo Jia nodded slightly. He held the chess piece in his hand and tapped the chessboard: "Our army has many factions. If we wait for change, we may have a greater chance of change."
Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh a little when he saw that he was in control of everything. He asked, "What's the best way to practice filial piety?"
Guo Jia said slowly: "Ming Gong, please don't forget that in addition to me and the Western Thief, there is also Wu'er here in Xuzhou!"
Wu Er? Guo Jiayu made Cao Cao puzzled. After all, it was well known that Sun Ce served as the leader of the Western Dynasty. In the previous battle of Pengcheng, Zhou Yu was also considered a powerful opponent and bought time for the Western Dynasty to mobilize troops. How could he use Wu
Will his son win? Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia's expression and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and he said in his heart: "You can lure him with benefits and lure him to another place."
Guo Jia immediately agreed and said: "Of course. Since the war in Pengcheng, Wu'er has not seen any movement in Xiapi, which shows that he is not sincere to the Western thieves and has no aggressive intentions towards the Central Plains. In my opinion, you can be gentle.
Winning him over and forcing him to retreat without a fight. Once Wu Er retreats, the Western bandits will lose their flank. How can they still gain a foothold in Xuzhou?"
Cao Cao was greatly moved, but after pondering for a moment, he asked again: "It's probably difficult to make Wu'er abandon his land easily. What should I do to make him return south?"
Guo Jia waved his hand and said, "It depends on what Wu'er says. I'll wait and see. The most urgent task is for Duke Ming to choose an envoy to discuss the interests and benefits with Zhou Gongjin in detail. If Zhou Gongjin can promise, everything will be done in the future.
I don’t need to worry anymore.”
After hearing this, Cao Cao was convinced. When it came to choosing the candidate, he originally wanted to send Zheng Hun as an envoy. After all, he had served under Yuan Shu before and was a colleague of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce. But when the words came to his mouth, he suddenly remembered
During the Battle of Huo Shibu, Sima Yi came out to advise Guo Jia, and asked Guo Jia: "I want to use Sima Zhongda as my envoy. What do you think?"
Guo Jia closed his eyes and thought, and then said: "There are many young talents in Sun Ce's mansion. It would be appropriate to send Sima Zhongda to him. He is quite courageous and good at both civil and military affairs. It can also help Wu'er not think that there is no one in Duke Ming's mansion." After hearing this, Cao Cao made up his mind to send Sima Yi as an envoy to Xiapi, and immediately summoned Sima Yi to meet him in Lanling. He asked Sima Yi: "The Wu people have been stationary in Xiapi for a long time. What do you think?" p>
Sima Yi heard what Cao Cao said and asked why he had already guessed it. So he replied: "Now the East and West are facing each other, just like two tigers fighting. The people in the south of the Yangtze River can't compete with them. And the Wu people were invited by the Western Dynasty.
, went to Xuzhou to join the battle, although he won the county, but he was in the east-west formation, and the fish and shrimps were lying beside the swimming dragon, and they would be afraid that they would not be able to find a place to stay. I think Zhou Yu defended Xiapi, in the name of assisting defense, but in fact he had been planning to retreat for a long time.
It’s just a nameless suffering.”
Cao Cao smiled and asked: "Then do you think Wu Er can be an alliance?"
Sima Yi replied: "If Ming Gong sends an envoy to inform us secretly, Xuzhou will be able to gain it easily!"
Cao Cao asked back: "Then Zhou Yu will retreat without gaining anything? I'm afraid it's not enough to just profit and harm!"
Sima Yi slapped his forehead and said: "What the marshal said is true! From what Yi sees, we can first promise him money to provide food and fodder, and then promise him chariots, horses and soldiers, and let him move the people south. I only want the land, and I will definitely succeed!"
”
Cao Cao was very satisfied after hearing this and said to Guo Jia: "Sima Zhongda is an outstanding martial artist, unmatched by anyone of his generation!" So he made up his mind to appoint Sima Yi.
At this time, in order to paralyze the Western Army, Cao Cao returned to Wuyuan, intensively organized and trained troops, and extensively mobilized troops between the East China Sea and the State of Lu, making it appear that he was about to fight the Western Army again. The Western Army also paid close attention to the Eastern Army's movements.
According to the trends, scouts are constantly traveling between Yanzhou and Qingzhou, speculating on the latest military intentions of the Eastern Army.
On the other hand, Cao Cao transferred a large amount of gold and silver from Linzi, appointed Sima Yi, the counselor of the Marshal's Mansion, as the army Sima, and was given the important task of uniting the Wu people. At the same time, Cao Cao also ordered Xun or, who was in Xindu, to gather people to go south and make a plan.
The illusion of crossing the river from Puyang and attacking Chenliu further confused the Western Army.
Chen Chong and Liu Bei discussed privately and actually concluded that these actions of the Eastern Army were most likely a sheep move and were not intended to lead a real decisive battle. However, it was difficult to guess Cao Cao's true intentions for a while, so they could only maintain the original strategy for the time being:
Step up preparations for war, wait and see what happens, and strike later. This also gives Cao Cao time to make calm arrangements.
He first sent ordinary envoys to the area of Quyang, which was far away from the main formations of the Western Army and Wu Army, and shot a letter of arrows into the city to show their friendship and friendship. When the people of Wu received the letter of arrows, they remained calm and did not reply.
He did not notify the Western Army, but after three days, he quietly changed the flags on Quyang City Gate, adding two more Polu military flags used by Sun Ce among the ordinary crimson Han military flags.
When Cao Cao saw that there was no movement from the Western Army and saw the change of flags in Quyang, he knew that the Wu people were indeed willing to negotiate peace. He couldn't help but feel happy, so he sent Sima Yi officially as an envoy. Sima Yi still went to Quyang, and he was indeed accepted by the Wu people.
The person who greeted him was none other than Sun Ce's younger brother Sun Quan.
When they met for the first time, Sun Quan and Sima Yi hit it off. Speaking of which, both of them were tall and had very strange looks: Sun Quan had a big mouth and a purple beard, and his palms were wide. People at the time said he had the appearance of a supreme being, while Sima Yi looked like a wolf and looked down on his bones.
With his profound eyesight, the villagers regarded him as an extraordinary minister. While talking, they both advocated the importance of both civil and military affairs, which was quite similar. The two sat down and chatted, starting from the customs and customs of Jiangzuo, Hebei Province.
When they came to the shogunate's talents to comment on the merits and demerits, they unknowingly chatted from noon to late at night, until the rooster crowed at dawn, and the two stopped talking.
The next day, Sun Quan led Sima Yi from Quyang to Xiapi to formally meet Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu was quite forthright. He directly blocked the others and asked straight to the point in the room: "Zuo Chaqi has sent an envoy. What do you want?" In order to show his equal status, he did not recognize Cao Cao's self-appointed position of marshal, but called him the title of marshal.
The Zuo Chaqi previously given by the imperial court.
Sima Yi did not argue with this and replied slowly: "The marshal wants the land in Huaibei."
After Zhou Yu heard this, he was obviously not surprised by Cao Cao's request, so he continued: "Our army is entrusted by the imperial court, so how can we abandon the country's land and give it to the rebels? Zuo Chaqi is a bit of an idiot."<
/p>
Sima Yi smiled and said: "General, why don't you mean what you say? Now the two heroes are fighting in the Central Plains. It's like a huge stone passing through a hall, and all those who stand are turned into powder. The enemy of the east of the river is not stable, but they enter the chaotic land of the Central Plains. How can you speak wisely? It's not like this.
Taking advantage of the unrest in the Central Plains, seizing the seven counties of Jingchu and then entering Ba to seize Shu and cutting off the southern territory is the best strategy!"
These words were exactly what Zhou Yu was thinking. He had always opposed Sun Ce's premature intervention in the affairs of the Central Plains, and thought it would be better to shift his strategy to the Bashu lands in Huainan. Now that he had witnessed the battle between the Eastern and Western armies with his own eyes, he felt that time was tight, so he expressed his disapproval of Cao Cao's talk.
He was very moved by the request. After pondering for a long time, Zhou Yu said to Sima Yi: "Although the wealth is attractive, for Jiangdong, it is just a common thing. If you want to exchange for the city of Huaibei, I am afraid it is not enough."
Sima Yi heard the song and understood its elegant meaning, and immediately said: "I heard that the bandits roaming the east of the Yangtze River all rely on riding and fighting. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of horses in the east of the Yangtze River, so it is difficult to show off. It is said that BMWs are given to heroes, and the marshal is willing to give thousands of war horses as gifts. I wonder what the general thinks?" Zhou Yu was extremely satisfied with this and said with a slight smile: "In that case, let's discuss some details. I hope that after the spring, the people in both places can take a break."
The two talked about the matter for three days and put the relevant matters on paper. On the twelfth lunar month of Renzi, Sima Yi returned to Wuyuan with the treaty and recounted the details of the peace talks with Cao Cao. Cao Cao was extremely satisfied and gave Sima Yi a hundred gold coins on the spot and promoted him again.