Almost when Liu Bei was preparing to go south to attack Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, who was licking his wounds in Chen Liu, was also making plans of his own.

Although Cao Cao led his troops south, he still left Xia Houyuan and Xi Zhicai behind with 10,000 men to guard Jiyin, while he led his own troops and Liu Bei's army to attack Runan in a mighty manner.

As Lu Bu was confronting Cao Cao on the front line, he was naturally very keenly aware that Cao Cao's troops had been reduced by more than half, so he once thought about whether to take advantage of this opportunity to directly attack Jiyin and recapture Yanzhou.

But soon, the news from Yingchuan dispelled Lu Bu's idea. The imperial court actually sent 20,000 troops, led by Guan Yu, also heading south, and had already entered Yingchuan County.

Now the arrangement of forces between the two enemies is actually very clear. In the entire Central Plains, except Liu Biao who was sitting on the mountain watching the fight between tigers, all other princes were involved.

The Luoyang court sent Guan Yu to lead an expedition with 20,000 troops, with Zhu Jun and Zhao Yun to guard Hanoi. Liu Bei led 30,000 troops southward, with Chen Mu guarding the plains.

Cao Cao led 20,000 troops south, Sun Jian was sent to Qingzhou for treatment, and Sun Ce led the Sun family's army of 40,000. If we include the 10,000 troops of Cai Yang in Xuzhou, then the total force mobilized by the three alliances of Liu, Cao, and Sun was more than 12 Ten thousand.

Yuan Shu's current total military strength is only 150,000 or 60,000. Although it looks like a lot, he still has to leave some of his troops in Lujiang to deal with Liu Biao of Jiangxia, so the actual troops that can be used are only about 100,000.

Therefore, in terms of total military strength, the alliance of Liu, Cao, and Sun families has surpassed Yuan Shu.

The most powerful thing is that Yuan Shu can actually make the three three kingdoms in history work together to deal with it. He is worthy of being the dead bones in the grave, and he has accomplished something that is difficult for ordinary people to do.

However, in history, all three of them had defeated Yuan Shu, but not at the same time.

For example, Cao Cao was in Yuzhou, driving Yuan Shu out of Runan, then Liu Bei was in Xuzhou, and Lu Bu fired a halberd at the gate to make both sides stop. Finally, Sun Ce was in Jiangdong, driving Yuan Shu's forces out of Wu.

Now, with the fluctuation of the historical line, the original three families attacking at different times have become attacking together.

Old Yuan Shu is out of luck.

However, with Yuan Shu's move, all forces concentrated on the battlefield in Runan, Yuzhou, and Chen Liu's Lu Bu was embarrassed.

Chenliu is located directly behind Runan, and is only separated from Runan by the state of Chen.

Now Guan Yu is leading his troops south, and Yingchuan connects Chenliu and Runan. If Guan Yu attacks in the northeast at this time, he will be attacking Lu Bu. Since Lu Bu only has less than 10,000 troops left, how can he resist it? Can you live in it?

Therefore, Lu Bu was shocked when he heard the news. He went to Wei Ji and said, "Bo Ji, I have clearly declared my submission to the imperial court. Why does the imperial court attack me?"

Wei Jian saw Lu Bu's shocked look at the news. While helping Lu Bu sit on the mat next to him, he comforted him and said, "Don't worry, general. The imperial court is not sending troops to attack the general this time, but to attack Yuan Shu."

"Attack Yuan Shu?"

Lu Bu sat on the banquet and frowned: "Now I am about to raise troops to respond to Yuan Shu. At this time, the imperial army comes, wouldn't it?"

Wei Jian said: "Now, we can only rely on Yuan Shu. Before the imperial army officially attacks us, we should immediately abandon Chenliu and move the entire army south to join Yuan Shu and annihilate Sun Jian before we make further calculations."

"Damn it, if that happens, the court will probably label us as traitors."

Lu Bu gritted his teeth.

Wei Ju sneered and said: "If Yuan Shu had gone north with us to attack Sun Jian and Cao Cao as agreed, then most of the land in Yanzhou and Yuzhou might be in our hands now, and the imperial court would never dare to label us as traitors. It is a pity that Yuan Shu

Short-sighted, betrayed the general, and now we are at a loss."

"It's useless to talk about Yuan Shu's affairs. Now my daughter and his son are engaged by marriage and have become in-laws. Now we still need to rely on his strength."

Lu Bu thought: "Bo Chu, you are an official from the imperial court and represent the imperial court's attitude. Can't you tell the imperial court that I have no intention of disobeying the imperial court's will, but I am in these troubled times and have no choice but to wander around.

There was no intention to cause trouble."

Wei Jian shook his head: "It's not that simple. The imperial court needs generals because they can deal with Cao Cao. I have told the general a long time ago that Cao Cao is lawless and has always disrespected the imperial court. It was just because he had to challenge Dong in the first place.

Because of his merits and his lack of blatant resistance to the imperial court, the emperor could not take action against him. Now that we have been defeated again and again, in the eyes of the imperial court, I am afraid..."

When he first lobbied Lu Bu, Wei Ji had already told him that the imperial court wanted him to restrain Cao Cao and did not want Cao Cao to grow stronger.

In today's world, many princes clearly respect the imperial court, but in fact they don't take Liu Yu seriously at all.

The areas of Qingzhou and Yuzhou were relatively good. Both Liu Bei and Sun Jian were supporters of the imperial court, and they respected the imperial court's opinions on all matters including government decrees, taxation, and official appointments.

On the surface, Cao Cao, Liu Biao, Gongsun Zan and others respected the Luoyang court, but they appointed their own officials and did not turn over taxes. They only openly rebelled and established themselves as kings.

As for Jizhou, Yangzhou, Yizhou and other places, needless to say, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Zhang and others have already dominated the sky with one hand. They appoint officials, collect taxes from various places, and almost all are taken over by them, becoming emperors of the same place.

Therefore, Lu Bu also knew very well that his mission was actually to split Cao Cao's power on behalf of the imperial court and prevent Cao Cao from developing.

But now he was defeated one after another by Cao Cao, and he secretly colluded with Yuan Shu, who was fighting against the imperial court. He could no longer check and balance Cao Cao, and he had even stepped into the ranks of rebels. Obviously, in the eyes of the imperial court, he had no value.

Can be abandoned at any time.

Lu Bu knew very well that even though many people did not respect the court's orders, once the court characterized him as a rebel like Yuan Shu, he would die without a burial place in an instant.

The surrounding princes will be like sharks that smell blood and have legitimate reasons to attack him and take away his remaining territory.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Therefore, even if he knew that he had colluded with Yuan Shu, he had to please the court and not go against the court.

So how can we avoid being attacked by the imperial court?

Naturally, it makes oneself valuable.

With Lu Bu's intelligence, he was not that smart to figure this out.

He only has two thoughts now.

First, do not offend the court and do not become the target of public criticism.

Second, get a stable territory, at least stop wandering around like before.

So when Wei Jian said that in the eyes of the imperial court, he might change, Lu Bu stood up from the mat and asked anxiously: "What will happen in the eyes of the imperial court?"

"If we cannot show the value of our existence, there will naturally be no need for our existence."

Wei Qian said calmly.

Lu Bu sat back on his seat and said in despair, "Is this destiny for me to die? The world is so big, where can I find my place?"

"There is a place where you can get it."

Wei Jian thought.

"where?"

Lu Bu suddenly showed hopeful eyes.

"Xuzhou."

"Xuzhou?"

"good."

Wei Jian said: "Xuzhou only has Langya Kingdom in the north, Donghai Kingdom belongs to Qingzhou, and most of the rest is owned by Cao Cao. Now Cao Cao's main frontline force is in Runan, and Yuan Shu has also sent troops to attack Xuzhou, so we can just take it.

"

Lu Bu wondered: "In that case, why don't we just attack Yanzhou?"

Wei looked at Lu Bu like a fool and said: "General, please think clearly. Now Liu Bei's tens of thousands of troops are marching south, and we are surrounded on three sides. Once the general attacks Yanzhou, and Cao Cao joins forces with Liu Bei to destroy the general first, then we will die without a burial."

land.”

Lu Bu then remembered that Liu Bei's army went south and went straight to Runan because the situation in Runan was urgent. But if he attacked Cao Cao, Guan Yu's 20,000 troops might come directly to kill him.

He only has 10,000 men now, and Cao Cao still has some men in Jiyin. If he is attacked from two sides, even if Liu Bei's main force does not move, he will not be able to compete.

In the final analysis, Yanzhou still has a big geographical problem.

If you are from Liu Bei's camp, it doesn't matter, you are surrounded by allies.

But once you are from Yuan Shu or Yuan Shao's camp, you will find that there are enemies everywhere and it is difficult to move forward.

This is the result of Chen Mu's layout.

Now Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou and other Central Plains areas are a dead land, surrounded by everyone. No matter who wants to be the enemy of Qingzhou, there will be no good end.

Even Cao Cao now only dares to defy Liu Bei and does not dare to openly challenge Liu Bei.

Lu Bu was caught in it, so naturally he felt very uncomfortable.

But the good thing about Lu Bu is that he is not a person who wants to save face and suffer. Even if he has enmity with Liu Bei, he will not be able to surrender to Liu Bei in a desperate situation. Even at the critical moment, he will not accept a new adoptive father.

impossible.

The problem is that he is not in a desperate situation yet. He still has troops and horses that are capable of fighting. If he can't surrender, it is naturally better not to surrender as much as possible.

Thinking of this, Lu Bu also gradually came to his senses: "You mean, if I go to Xuzhou, I won't make enemies on all sides. As long as I declare my vassalage to the court, Liu Bei will not attack me. Even if Yuan Shu is defeated and is

Even if I fight back to Huainan, he won't do anything to me?"

"The general is wise. Although Xuzhou is the place of the Four Wars, if the general takes it, neither Liu Bei in the north nor Yuan Shu in the south will be at odds with the general."

Wei Jian finally showed a happy smile: "After all, as long as the general is loyal to the court, the emperor will protect the general. Liu Bei dare not disobey the emperor's order. And Yuan Shu's son has been engaged to the general's daughter and they have become in-laws. Due to his face, Yuan Shu also

Instead of attacking the general, he will form an alliance with the general. At that time, the only person who can compete with the general in Xuzhou will be Cao Cao."

This brings us back to the original starting point, which is that Chen Mu hopes that Lu Bu will be a nail firmly embedded in the hinterland of the Central Plains and hinder Cao Cao's development.

Chen Mu was still very afraid of this tycoon, who was also the largest overlord of the Three Kingdoms.

So keeping him unable to gain momentum is one of the southern strategies.

To put it nicely, Lu Bu is brave and foolhardy; to put it harshly, he is stupid and full of muscles.

It might be possible to let him kill a few adoptive fathers, but to let him engage in conspiracy and strategy would really make things difficult for him.

Therefore, Chen Mu is confident that he can firmly control him and become the most important bargaining chip against Cao Cao.

Hearing Wei Ji's words, Lu Bu nodded in agreement: "Bo Ji is right. It seems that Xuzhou is the place I should go to. So should I set off now?"
To be continued...