Yu Jin's return made Cao Cao convinced that these two so-called surprise soldiers were completely destroyed in the mountains northwest of Xiangyang. This also made Cao Cao's strategic idea of ​​[after a small group of elite soldiers penetrated from the mountainous area into the Zhugu area, and attacked the Zhugu defense line inside and outside] went bankrupt.

Just when Cao Cao was frowning, Xun Yu came to see him.

"Lord, why are we pausing enough to move forward in Jingxiang? Isn't this giving Liu Bei and Sun Quan time to prepare for defense?" Xun Yu said hurriedly after seeing Cao Cao.

Cao Cao replied: "Well, Wen Ruo didn't know anything. I wanted to capture Lu Bu's city of Gucheng and then go east to fight against Liu Bei and Sun Quan. But I didn't expect that these two cities were so difficult to pull out, so I delayed so many days."

Xun Yu frowned and said, "Lord, didn't we settled our plan in Xu? The main purpose of the lord's southern expedition was to sweep across Jiangdong in Jingzhou. Lu Bu's two cities of Zhugu were to launch a partial army to try to attack. It would be better to fight, but it would be fine if it could not be defeated."

Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao who lowered his head and pondered, and continued: "Now, the main force of Lu Bu should have been attracted by the Huns, Xianbei and Liu Zhang from Yizhou. We must seize this time to take down Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Otherwise, when Lu Bu pacified the Huns and Xianbei, we really have to return to the army just in case. The lord spent time and energy on these two small cities, wouldn't it be because of the small loss of big things? We cannot give up the roots and forget the main purpose of this southern expedition."

In fact, the reason why Cao Cao was determined to capture the two cities of Zhugu was that he was thinking about the crossbows of Lu Bu's army, and he ignored the strategic goal of the army's southern expedition. Xun Yu's words woke up the dreamer. Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Xun Yu, slapped his thigh and said, "Wen Ruo, you are right, Gu was confused for a moment. At present, he should concentrate on extermination of Liu Bei and attack Jiangdong. When Gu has most of the country and the power of the world, can he still be able to deal with him, Lu Bu?"

After saying that, he immediately ordered the troops to summon Cai Mao to inquire about the training of the new naval army recently. Cai Mao reported: "Report to the Prime Minister, the new naval army composed of soldiers from north and south is now trained day and night, and the water battle is already skilled. Our army can advance eastward along the Yangtze River and sweep across Jiangnan and Jiangdong at any time." Cao Cao said yes, and immediately ordered someone to give Jiangdong Sun Quan an ultimatum, and ordered the army to set off and attack Jiangxia eastward first.

...

The government offices of Xiakou City, Liu Bei and others have learned of the news that the Cao army was advancing eastward. Although there are 20,000 soldiers in Jiangxia County at present, it is difficult to compete with the Cao army of more than 100,000, especially among the Cao army, there is also an elite new Jingzhou Navy.

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang with a look of help and said, "Military advisor, what should we do now." Zhuge Liang said with a smile and relaxed face: "It is indeed difficult to compete with Cao Cao alone, but our neighbor to the east Sun Quan still has considerable strength. We can convince Sun Quan to compete with us for the eastward advance of Cao's army."

"Look at the military advisor, who should send to Jiangdong?" Liu Bei asked again. Zhuge Liang bowed his hands and said to Liu Bei, "Let's go there in person."

...

In the yamen of Chaisang City, Sun Quan, who received Cao Cao's ultimatum, was hesitant. Among the civil officials and military generals, there were all the main war and surrendering, the main war was headed by the Grand Commander Zhou Yu, and the main surrender was represented by the Chief Secretary Zhang Zhao. Of course, the main surrender faction was more advantageous. Originally, when Cao Cao went south from Nanyang, Sun Quan was determined to resist firmly, but despite the surrendering of Liu Zong from Jingzhou, he began to shake.

At this time, another signal-transmitted army entered the hall to report: "Liu Bei from Jiangxia came to Zhuge Liang to ask for the meeting of the Marquis of Wu."

Sun Quan felt aroused in his heart and asked, "Where is the person coming now?"

"Report to the Marquis of Wu, the envoy has been arranged to live in the inn."

"Well, Gu will not see him for the time being, so I will tell him to wait patiently. Gu will summon him in the lobby on the day." After Sun Quan gave this, he ordered the army to inform Zhou Yu and Lu Su to come to see him.

Soon, Zhou Yu and Lu Su were summoned. Sun Quan told them the news that Liu Bei had come to the envoy. He wanted to hear their views.

The first person to speak was Zhou Yu. He snorted coldly and said, "Lord, Liu Bei must come to unite us to fight against Cao. But now they need us, and we don't necessarily need them. Even without them, I can give me 30,000 elite troops, and I can still defeat Cao Cao. So my opinion is that I don't have to like them. It's okay to unite, but I have to focus on me, and there are not so many conditions to talk about. After the war, Jingzhou should belong to me, Jiangdong."

Lu Su next to him heard this and shook his head and said, "Gongjin's words are wrong. Now the Cao army is in a huge situation. After taking over the troops from Jingzhou, it has tens of thousands of troops. We can get more strength to help us, and we have more chances of victory. This is one. The second is that if Cao A is deceived by Xiakou, we can only organize defense in Chaisang. At this time, the Cao army can also take a side-level army to go south from Huainan and attack us from the west and north, which will put us in an unfavorable situation. The third is..."

Speaking of this, Lu Su stopped talking, lowered his head and stopped talking. Seeing this, Sun Quan, who was sitting next to him, said, "Zi Jing has something to say, even if you say it directly, there are no outsiders here." Lu Su then said, "Thirdly, there are many people in my Jiangdong camp who advocate surrendering to Cao Cao. If we can unite Liu Bei and use Liu Bei's reputation and to make Zhuge Liang's verbal advantage, perhaps we can convince these people."

Zhou Yu asked in confusion: "How did Zijing know that Zhuge Liang has the advantage of verbal words?"

Lu Su replied with a smile: "Because Zhuge Liang's brother Zhuge Jin is the lord's subordinate, I am very familiar with it."

...

In the early morning, Zhao Yun paced back and forth in the yard in the inn in Caisang. This was a sign of boredom and anxiety. It had been two days since the Lord of Wu Sun Quan had not summoned Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was not impatient and knelt on the side of the desk, shaking his goose feather fan while drinking tea.

"Oh, military advisor, why are you not in a hurry? Two days have passed, and Cao's army is approaching Xiakou every day. Master Wu doesn't even see him." Zhao Yun shouted to Zhuge Liang in the courtyard.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Zilong, don't be anxious, there will be news now."

Sure enough, not long after he finished speaking, a middle-aged scholar in a soap robe and scholarly scarf appeared in front of the door. It was Lu Su who came in person and invited him to meet Sun Quan.
Chapter completed!