He began to look at Liu Bei seriously, his eyes full of doubts and uncertainty.
Liu Bei did not avoid Cao Cao, he just straightened his chest and looked into Cao Cao's eyes naturally.
When I was young, I saw Cao Cao suddenly smiled and said: "Xuan De is indeed an honest man. As soon as he meets Cao, he speaks the truth to him. Compared to Xuande's frankness, Cao is indeed inferior."
After saying that, Cao Cao said to Tao Shang: "To be honest, looking at the world today, all the princes are destroyed, only you, me, and Liu Jiyu are still alive. And with the strength of the three of us, if we want to compete with Tao Shang, we can only
It is impossible to be afraid...the only thing is to protect yourself and hold on to it with all your strength. If there is a chance in the future, you may be able to counterattack the world. If there is no chance, I am afraid that you will have to spend the rest of your life here."
After hearing this, Liu Bei replied naturally: "The only place like this now is Xichuan."
Cao Cao nodded and said, "That's exactly it."
"However, I would like to ask Mr. Cao if he has ever thought about it. If you go to war with Ji Yu for the sake of Xichuan, a place that can protect you, looking back, who will be the winner?"
Cao Cao stroked his beard and did not answer immediately.
"It can only be a pottery merchant!" Liu Bei sighed and replied for him: "Your power is not weak, and Ji Yu's strength is not weak either. His father and son have been entrenched in Xichuan for many years. How can Duke Cao seize all the land in one day?
I’m afraid it’s very difficult.”
Cao Cao raised his eyebrows slightly.
"What do you think, Mr. Cao?"
Cao Cao took a deep breath and sighed: "That's true, but what do you think I should do? Should I just give up? After all, Xichuan is Cao's only hope."
"Can't we coexist in Xichuan?" Liu Bei sighed: "Gong Cao has captured Hanzhong. If we are willing, the two of us can unite to protect Xichuan and fight against the pottery merchants!"
"Coexistence?" Cao Cao was stunned when he heard this: "Is this possible?"
"Is it impossible?" Liu Bei said: "If it is impossible and we have to attack each other, even if Xichuan is twice as strong, it will definitely be conquered by the pottery merchants. If the pottery merchants capture Xichuan, I am afraid that none of us will survive.
"
Cao Cao remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he was thinking about something.
After a while, Cao Cao smiled and said, "What Mr. Xuande said makes sense, Cao has learned his lesson."
After saying these words, a big stone finally fell from Liu Bei's heart.
He gave Cao Cao a long bow and said, "Mr. Cao is so sensible. I am grateful."
Cao Cao smiled softly and said: "It's not Cao who is sensible, but Xuande is sensible... Xuande, please go back to the post house to rest first. Cao has sent someone to prepare a banquet. Let's get drunk tonight."
"
Liu Bei naturally understood that Cao Cao and Xun You had something to discuss, so he did not refuse and left immediately, returning to the posthouse to rest.
After Liu Bei left, Xun You immediately asked Cao Cao for confirmation.
"Sikong, do you really want to join forces with Liu Zhang?"
Cao Cao nodded and said: "Liu Bei is right. Xichuan must be the final destination for us people. However, Liu Zhang and his father Liu Yan have governed Yizhou for many years and have deep roots. Xichuan is also surrounded by many passes. If we really want to attack, it will
It doesn't happen overnight. If you don't do it well, you might get stuck in it and be unable to extricate yourself. If the potter really seizes the opportunity... Well, I'm afraid even this last piece of land will be lost."
Xun You frowned and said, "Then Sikong is really willing to guard Liu Zhang's courtyard in Hanzhong?"
Cao Cao smiled lightly and said: "Why not? Four hundred years ago, Emperor Gaozu started his business in Hanzhong and eventually became an emperor. Cao Cao didn't tell him, but he could still protect himself. Although the area of Hanzhong was not large, his subordinates
The twelve counties are quite prosperous and conducive to farming. In recent years, due to the Five Pecks of Rice Cult, many people from Guanzhong have flocked to Hanzhong. They are prosperous. We use this as a foundation to develop slowly and join forces with Liu Zhang to fight against Liu Zhang.
Wouldn't it be nice for a pottery merchant to look at the aftermath and look for opportunities to act?"
Xun You nodded suddenly and said, "Sikong Zhi's words are very true. I understand."
Cao Cao suddenly said: "There is one more thing."
"What's up?"
Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said: "If my prediction is correct, we will not be able to retain Guanzhong sooner or later, and even if we retain it, I am afraid that we will not be able to control the princes in Guanzhong in the future. The pottery merchants will definitely attack Guanzhong when they come back.
I went to stop him in person, and told me that you will try your best to move all the people from the counties around Weinan to Hanzhong. As long as we have enough population, even if we live in Hanzhong, we will always be able to turn around in the future.
opportunity, do you understand?"
Xun You didn't expect that Cao Cao would think so far and entrust him with such an important task. He didn't dare to neglect it, and then he handed over his hand and said: "I understand what Sikong said. I will definitely live up to Sikong's high expectations."
…
Liu Bei and Cao Cao met in Hanzhong and reached a consensus in a sense.
At the same time, Lu Bu from Wuguan was rescued by a group of men and brought back to Wancheng.
The pottery merchant heard that Lu Bu was injured in a duel with Pang De and immediately went to see it in person.
After all, he is his father-in-law. If something goes wrong, how will he explain it to Lu Lingqi later?
…
"Father-in-law, how are your injuries?"
Lu Bu smiled and waved his hand, saying: "It's just a trivial matter, why bother? It's just that Pang De is so hateful. He can't beat me, but he sneaks up on me with an arrow. He's really hateful!"
The pottery merchant nodded suddenly and said comfortingly: "My father-in-law, have a good rest, don't worry, my son-in-law will definitely help you avenge your hatred later!"
Lu Bu gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, turn around, grab that Pang De, and shoot him a hundred times with a crossbow! This thief!"
At this moment, the doctor who treated Lu Bu came to the pottery merchant and said to him: "Prime Minister, I have something I want to tell you. Please step aside."
Tao Shang was stunned, turned to look at Lu Bu, and felt a bad feeling in his heart.
He followed the doctor out of the room.
"What's going on?" the pottery merchant whispered.
The doctor said nervously: "Prime Minister, there seems to be something wrong with Marquis Wen's injury."
Upon hearing this, the pottery merchant hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with this?"
The doctor looked inside and saw that Lu Bu had not heard anything, so he immediately said, "The short arrow that hurt Marquis Wen's shoulder seems to be poisonous."
"Poisonous?" Upon hearing this, the pottery merchant suddenly became nervous: "How poisonous is it?"
"Judging from the following, although this poisonous eye will not cause death immediately, it will definitely become a serious problem sooner or later. We must find a way to treat it quickly, otherwise it will definitely endanger our lives."
The potter said nervously: "Do you have a way to cure it?"
The doctor whispered: "I've never seen this poison before, but the poisoned sleeve arrow was thrown away by Marquis Wen. With my ability, I'm afraid..."
"What do you mean?"
"Only by asking Divine Doctor Zhang or Divine Doctor Hua to treat me can we be saved."