Chapter 215 Cao Cao's Conspiracy

After the New Year, Emperor Xian of Han Liu Xie issued an edict, in order to reflect the joy of eliminating Dong's thieves and promoting peace in all the seas, the first Ping was changed to Xingping, which was the first year of Xingping.

The aftertaste of the New Year can still be seen in Moling City. The snow melts, and the streets are coming and going, making it very lively. The Spring Festival couplets posted in front of every household reflect the joy in the hearts of the people.

Some Spring Festival couplets read: "The times of a hundred generations are good, and the world of eternity is new today." This is clearly a compliment to Zhou Yu's new policy.

Some Spring Festival couplets read: "Happy to live in a treasure land for thousands of years, and blessings shine on the prosperity of the family." This is a yearning for a better life and reflects the satisfaction with the current life.

Some Spring Festival couplets read: "A hundred years of heaven and earth return to vitality, unify the peace between mountains and rivers." The meaning of this is self-evident.

Zhou Yu's move to vigorously support industry and commerce has begun to show results. The supply of materials in Moling City has become more sufficient, and many small shops have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. Although the commercial tax paid by each household has been reduced by half, with the prosperity of business, the taxes falling into the government have not decreased at all, but have gradually become more and more.

A middle-aged man with an ordinary face was dressed as a vendor, carrying a load of goods, quickly walked out of the city gate, and went to a dense forest outside the city to find a dead locust tree. His eyes flashed, he observed around, and then quickly took out a secret letter wrapped in kraft paper from his arms, put it into the tree hole, and then quickly left.

Two days later, the secret letter was sent to Cao Cao of the Jinan Kingdom of Qingzhou. At this moment, Cao Cao had already included most of Qingzhou in his sphere of influence, only Beihai County and Pingyuan County were still in the hands of Kong Rong and Liu Bei. These two counties were the largest and richest counties in Qingzhou. Cao Cao had the intention to do so, but Kong Rong and Liu Bei had joined forces to fight against Cao Cao. For a while, Cao Cao had not yet defeated the two counties.

However, at this time, Cao Cao was no longer the same as when the Kwantung Alliance Army attacked Dong Zhuo. After hard work, Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou, selected 50,000 young and strong, and organized the brave and fighting Qingzhou soldiers. In addition to the soldiers he recruited on his own, a total of 80,000 troops were found.

Cao Cao also imitated Zhou Yu to promote the military farm system. With the military rations guaranteed, the attacks on cities and villages in the front would have the guarantee and confidence. Moreover, Cao Cao was respectful to the wise and the nobles, and many elites from the Central Plains defected to Cao Cao's tent, among which the outstanding ones were Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Xi Zhicai, etc. Especially Xi Zhicai, who was recommended by Xun Yu to assist Cao Cao. He was proficient in military tactics, had a deep understanding of strategy, and was wise and thoughtful, and was especially superior to the talent of gods and ghosts. Cao Cao's series of victories in Qingzhou were inseparable from Xi Zhicai's careful planning.

In terms of military generals, Cao Cao can also be said to be the star of generals. Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, Cao Ren and others are all children of Cao Cao's family, and the combat power is quite strong. In Qingzhou, there were Li Dian, a native of Shanyang, and a native of Yangping, who came in and surrendered. Both of them were brave generals of the world. Later, Bao Xin, the prime minister of Jibei, defected to Cao Cao, and the poor Taishan people, Yu Jin, were both wise and brave, and were the generals who could stand alone.

With so many powerful generals and think tanks to help, and with his own territory and a powerful army, Cao Cao's mind began to become active. He began to have new ideas and judgments about the situation in the world. Cao Cao had heard of Zhou Yu's development in Jiangdong area. As early as in Luoyang, Cao Cao thought that Zhou Yu was a rare talent in the world. Later, the Kanto Alliance Army attacked Dong Zhuo, and Zhou Yu led his troops as a vanguard and killed the generals all the way, especially the defeat of Dong Min at night and the capture of Xingyang. Wang Yue defeated Lu Bu in front of Hulao Pass, which left an indelible impression on Cao Cao. In Cao Cao's mind, Zhou Yu had already vaguely listed his strongest opponent in the future.

In order to spy more information from Zhou Yu and other states, inspired by Zhou Yu's establishment of the "Jingwuwei", Cao Cao commissioned Xun Yu to secretly form a spy unit called "Ghost". It is said that Cao Cao is worthy of being a hero of a generation and has a strong learning ability. As long as other people's things are good, he can immediately learn and use them for himself.

Cao Cao tore off the seal on the secret letter with his hand and pulled out a thin piece of bamboo, with many small words engraved on it. After reading it carefully, Cao Cao couldn't help but take a breath. According to the letter, Zhou Yu would soon use troops to Yuzhang County. The geographical location of Yuzhang County is very important, especially the area of ​​Chaisang, which firmly stalked the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. If Zhou Yu captured Yuzhang, he could attack Jiangxia by land and water at the same time, and also attack Changsha from Nanchang to the west, so that Jingzhou would be in danger.

"I didn't expect that Zhou Gongjin had just annexed the three counties in Jiangnan and could continue his western expedition to Yuzhang. It seems that his strength must not be slighted!" Cao Cao sighed, his small eyes closed slightly, and he was thinking fiercely in his mind.

When Xi Zhicai saw Cao Cao's expression on the side, he knew that he was very worried. After Cao Cao told Xi Zhicai about the situation in the secret letter, Xi Zhicai's eyes turned for a while and attached it to Cao Cao's ear and said, "Lord, don't worry, I have a plan. Although Yuzhang is far away, we cannot directly interfere, but we can use the strategy of driving tigers and swallowing wolfs..."

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with brilliance, he quickly sat upright, and asked anxiously: "What is a tiger? Who is a wolf?"

Xi Zhicai bowed and replied: "Yuan Shu is a tiger, a wolf, so naturally it is Zhou Yu!"

"Haha," Cao Cao suddenly burst out with laughter and said repeatedly, "This plan is very wonderful! This plan is very wonderful! I also thought of another person, that is... Liu Biao!"

Xi Zhicai's face was immediately filled with a smile and said, "The lord is far more intelligent than me. But... winter has passed, and we can continue to expand our territory."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "You are right. According to the latest news conveyed by the ghost, the governor of Yanzhou Liu Dai has always been incompatible with Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun. Recently, Liu Dai is preparing to attack Qiao Mao!"

Xi Zhicai said: "The civil strife in Yanzhou is just an excuse to send troops. Besides, the lord and Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, were familiar with Qiao Mao, and Qiao Mao would definitely ask for help from the lord. We happened to enter Yanzhou from Dongjun!"

After Xi Zhicai left, Cao Cao ordered people to invite Xun You and Cheng Yu, and asked them to set off immediately. Xun You went to Xiangyang to meet Liu Biao, and Cheng Yu went to Nanyang to meet Yuan Shu. Cao Cao gave the opportunity face to face and asked them to persuade Liu Biao and Yuan Shu to launch an attack on Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu was in Moling City at this moment, preparing to attack Yu Zhang in full swing. He still didn't know the hidden arrows Cao Cao shot in secret.

According to the combat plan agreed by Zhou Yu and Jia Xu, the battle of this Western Expedition to Yuzhang County was mainly completed by Gao Shun's Danyang Corps, supplemented by Zang Ba's cavalry regiment. In order to deal with the enemy's possible strategy, Zhou Yu asked Jia Xu to go to Gao Shun's army to be the right to march the advisor.

Zhou Yu knew that continuing to consolidate the four counties of Jiangdong and the four counties of Jiujiang were the most important tasks at present. In the battle of Yuzhang, with Gao Shun's calmness, Zang Ba and Zhao Yun's courage, and Jia Xu's wisdom and tricks, Zhou Yu did not have much to bear.

In Zhou Yu's heart, he was a little worried about Yuan Shu and Liu Biao. With his understanding of these two people, Liu Biao was not ambitious, but his ears were soft and easily persuaded by others. However, if others violated his vital interests, the soldiers and horses under Liu Biao's Jingzhou were not vegetarians; Yuan Shu was just the opposite. He was stubborn and always had the fantasy of ascending the throne to become an emperor. He had always been eyeing the six counties in Jiangdong. How could he tolerate his rise?
Chapter completed!