Jia Xu rarely offered suggestions, but when he did, he offered Cao Cao strategies that were enough to change the current situation.
Cao Cao was wearing mourning clothes and a white scarf on his head, and his beady eyes were red and swollen from crying. It was obvious that Xiahou's death had given him a big blow.
Cao Cao's eyes were red and swollen, and he looked at Jia Xu seriously: "What did Wen He mean?"
Jia Xu said calmly: "Sikong took advantage of the funeral for General Xiahou and secretly mobilized his troops with the intention of attacking Tao Shang for revenge. However, in Lao Cao's view, this method was not advisable. Tao Shang had many talented people under his command. This kind of tactics could not be achieved by Lao Lao.
You can see it, and the pottery dealer must also be able to see it.”
Cao Cao took a deep breath: "Then according to your statement, shouldn't Cao avenge Yuan Rang? Shouldn't Cao take the land in Hebei?"
Jia Xu said respectfully: "Sikong misunderstood. It is natural to avenge the relatives, but it also depends on whether they can be repaid. The fertile land must be taken, but it also depends on whether it can be taken."
When Cao Cao heard this, his eyebrows almost stood up: "You think I can't compete with the pottery merchant?"
Jia Xu pondered for a moment: "As far as the current situation is concerned, the Heishan army has fallen to the pottery merchants, the southern Xiongnu has surrendered, Wuhuan has surrendered, and the old tribe of Youzhou has surrendered... Under all the disadvantages, I believe that Sikong really can't compete with the pottery merchants, even if he has.
Well, the losses involved are too great, and it’s really not worth it.”
Cao Cao understood what Jia Xu said, but from a certain perspective, he was unwilling to admit it.
He didn't want to admit that he had lost, especially the pottery merchant.
Jia Xu continued: "Since Jizhou cannot be conquered, Sikong should take a longer-term view and leave here, withdraw troops from Luoyang, seek to merge the state, and attack Guanzhong, which can also increase his strength."
Cao Cao sneered and laughed at himself: "If the pottery merchants really capture Jizhou and annex the people of the Yan Dynasty, what will be the use of Cao's attack on Guanzhong? By then he will be strong enough to dominate the world."
Jia Xu pondered for a moment and said: "I asked Sikong to temporarily withdraw from the Hebei battle, which is also a plan for Sikong to win."
Cao Cao turned to look at him and said, "What is the sure-win move?"
"Sikong withdrew from Hebei and went south to unite with the Three Lius, so that he would have the strength to fight against the pottery merchants."
…
After a while, I saw Jia Xu walking out of Cao Cao's tent with a tired look on his face.
Jia Xu's eldest son, Jia Mu, now follows Jia Xu and takes care of his life as a white body. After all, Jia Xu is nearly sixty years old and his health is not as good as before, so he needs relatives to take care of him.
It was getting late and a little cold, so Jia Mu put the cloak on Jia Xu.
"Father, why did you rush to Sikong to advise him to leave Hebei and attack Guanzhong and unite the Three Lius? Such behavior is not like what you usually teach me."
Jia Xu looked around and saw no one, so he whispered to Jia Mu: "Child, if you think about it carefully, this is just to find a way out for our Jia family... At least it can make the Jia family invincible."
Jia Mu looked at Jia Xu curiously and said: "Please ask father for advice."
Jia Xu said calmly: "I helped both Cao and Tao... What's the explanation? Go back and figure it out for yourself."
After hearing this, Jia Mu really stopped asking, lowered his head and thought deeply.
This is how Jia Xu treats him and trains him.
After a while, Jamu probably figured it out.
Jia Xu offered advice to Cao Cao, asking him to leave Hebei and attack Guanzhong. For Cao Cao at the moment, it was indeed the best way to retreat, because under the current circumstances, he would continue to fight against the pottery merchants.
, is not the best policy.
In addition, asking Cao Cao to withdraw his troops at this moment and give the opportunity to the pottery merchants is also a disguised show of goodwill. If the pottery merchants really gain power in the future... this may also be a clear retreat for the Jia family.
…
The pottery merchant arranged an ambush in his camp and was ready to fight Cao Cao at any time.
But after waiting and waiting, Cao Cao's troops never appeared.
Finally, the school affairs office brought news that after Cao Cao paid homage to Xiahou, he set off overnight, marching his troops westwards and leaving the territory of Jizhou.
After the potter learned the news, he had some doubts.
He immediately sent school officials from the School Affairs Office to the direction of Cao Jun to conduct a careful investigation.
Finally, the school officials brought back the definite news that Cao Cao's troops had indeed been divided into two groups and moved to the border of Luoyang and Sanhe.
"So, does Cao Cao withdraw from the Jizhou war? Did he withdraw so easily?" Zhuge Liang was in the commander's tent, looking at Pi Tu and saying to himself in confusion.
Tao Shang clenched his chin, also looked at Pi Tu, and said: "The school officials from the School Affairs Office came to report that Jia Xu, the head of Yingshe Mansion who was assisting Zhong Yao in Luoyang's strategy in Guanzhong, came to Cao Cao's camp in person...
...If nothing unexpected happens, it was he who persuaded Cao Cao to leave Jizhou."
Zhuge Liang was very curious: "Teacher, who is this Jia Xu?"
Tao Shang explained: "Jia Xu, who is nearly sixty years old, is in charge of the Eagle Snake Mansion for Cao Cao. Although he doesn't talk much on weekdays and doesn't often offer suggestions, when he does it, it must be a clever plan. Ordinary people
I can’t understand his train of thought.”
Zhuge Liang was surprised when he heard this and said: "Listen to the teacher, this Jia Xu... is a very difficult person to deal with? If so, then why has this person not gained a reputation under Cao Cao over the years?"
Tao Shang sighed, not knowing how to explain to Zhuge Liang.
When the school affairs office first discovered Jia Xu's affairs and reported it, if the pottery merchant hadn't been particularly sensitive to this name, he might have ignored this person.
Forget it, let’s study it later.
"Kong Ming, since Cao Cao has withdrawn his troops, our next step is to start attacking Jizhou."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "After Sima Zhongda, Mr. Guo and others from Northern Manchuria have settled down, all the troops can attack Jizhou in separate groups."
The pottery merchant turned around, picked up the pen and slips on the table, and said: "Kong Ming, how will the various armies attack this time, how to agree on the time, how to attack Jizhou, all are up to you to formulate the strategy, you write the letter and send the order
, I will stamp it with a seal and ribbon and spread it everywhere."
Zhuge Liang was shocked when he heard this. He looked at the potter in surprise: "Teacher, if you do this...is the student overstepping your bounds?"
Tao Shang dipped his pen in ink, handed it to him and said: "You have so many worries, I'm here to support you, just put your hands down and do it. Command all the troops to seize the Yuan family's banner in Runan. This is not every day."
If something like this happens, you may only encounter it once in your life. If you don't want to do it, you won't have the chance!"
Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, but finally his face showed determination. He reached out and took the pen handed to him by the pottery merchant, and wrote it down one stroke at a time in front of the potter...
In the third year of Jiankang, the Jinling Army, the Southern Xiongnu Army, the Old Youzhou Army, the Heishan Army, and the Wuhuan Three Kings Army were all in force. The troops were divided into five groups. Under the command of Tao Shang and the instruction of Zhuge Liang, they began to launch an attack on the Yuan family in Jizhou.