Chen Cang, Cao's army's rear camp.

"Ba~" Cao Cao threw the bamboo slips on the commander's case, closed his eyes, and silently pondered the situation in the world over the past two years, probably... Let's start with Liu Bei's attack on Hanzhong. At that time, Cao Cao, including the strategists under Cao Cao, did not think that Liu Bei would attack Hanzhong. At that time, everyone thought that Liu Bei would take Yizhou first and then Hanzhong. After all, if only Hanzhong was taken, Xiangyang would be in Cao Cao's hands, and Hanzhong was an enclave for Liu Bei, and it would be useless to get it.

But everyone was wrong. Liu Bei took Hanzhong and then counterattacked Yizhou with Hanzhong as the foundation. Although Cao Cao responded in time, he was one step slower after all. After this slow step, he fell into a passive position. From the 17th year of Jian'an to the current twenty years of Jian'an, it was definitely four years of taking off for Liu Bei, and it was not so wonderful for Cao Cao or Sun Quan.

Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong fell on the battlefield in Hanzhong, but failed to capture Hanzhong. They were originally planning to use Xiangyang as bait to unite Jiangdong, capture Jingzhou, and suppress Liu Bei's forces, at least cut off his arm. It was the final result. Jiangdong failed to conspire, but was instead tricked by the defenders of Jingzhou. The final result has not yet been reported, but from Cao Cao's perspective, Sun Quan may still compromise with Liu Bei in the end.

After this battle, Liu Bei's general situation was already completed, and Cao Ren was still leading his army to attack Xiangyang. However, with Guan Yu's return, it was unlikely that Cao Ren would capture Xiangyang. Yu Jin also broke into Xiangyang. The news sent back from the front line, did Yu Jin surrender?

Cao Cao was unwilling to believe this result, but what if he didn't believe it, at least Yu Jin was captured.

Liu Yi!

Looking at the name in the information, Cao Cao frowned. This was not the first time he saw this name. At least during the Battle of Hanzhong, although Liu Yi was not the commander of any All-Road Army, he had been the prefect of Hanzhong for a period of time and appeared very frequently.

For example, the Yangping Pass was designed by Liu Yi, and the crossbow tools that showed great power on the passerines. During the battle on Shangyong, the levels that hindered Cao's army were also Liu Yi's means, and Cao Hong's death was directly related to Liu Yi. In the Battle of Yizhou, Liu Yi seemed to be Liu Bei's counselor for a period of time. Although it was not long, it was during that time that Liu Bei completely captured Shuzhong and became the lord of Yizhou in the actual sense.

After that, Liu Yi disappeared for a while, and this person did not appear on the battlefield after Hanzhong. However, this battle in Jingzhou appeared again, Guan Yu's siege weapons and the rear-level layout against Jiangdong.

There were not many people who stayed in Jingzhou. Judging from Cao Cao's perspective, it seemed that only Liu Yi might have this ability.

Although he did not appear on the battlefield as the head coach or the head general every time, Cao Cao found that it seemed that every more critical battle of Liu Bei's army would not be missing.

The levels he built can make people desperate. The name of Tiangongfang has begun to spread in the Central Plains. The exquisite equipment in Liu Bei's army, the range of thirty or forty steps, is just a headache to think about.

It turns out that the role of craftsmen can really influence the direction of the battle situation!

Although Cao Cao also valued craftsmen, there were absolutely no craftsmen like Liu Yi who could rank high in the Cao army. If he had known this, he would have taken down Mocheng at all costs and captured Liu Yi alive. Even if he could not use it for himself, he would not have helped Liu Bei gain a foothold step by step and eventually became an existence that could compete with Cao Cao.

Cao Cao regretted many times in his life. For example, Wancheng was obsessed with the moment, not only lost the city, but also lost his beloved son and general Dian Wei. For example, the Battle of Red Cliff, but now, I am afraid that another one will be added. He regretted that Liu Yi had no energy at the time. Although he had expressed enough sincerity at that time, it now seems that if he had come out to invite him in person, would the consequences be different? If that were the case, would the situation today be different?

"Prime Minister!" Xu Chu came in to report, and saw Cao Cao in a daze, he couldn't help but call out softly.

"Zhongkang, what's the matter?" Cao Cao threw away the strange mood. There is no medicine for regret in this world. People cannot overly regret the past. This has no meaning. Cao Cao has not had such a mood for many years.

"Mr. Zhongde is looking for a meeting outside." Xu Chu bowed.

"Please!" Cao Cao nodded.

Soon, Cheng Yu walked in quickly, his face looked a little ugly, and he looked at Cao Cao and said, "Prime Minister, Ma Chao has exceeded Didao and attacked Ji County again."

"It's another trouble!" Cao Cao smiled: "But it's just a trouble."

Compared to Liu Bei, and Liu Yi, who had already begun to influence the world situation quietly, Ma Chao was brave, but it was just a trouble. Now he was not even a threat.

"Notify Gongming to go." Cao Cao handed the bamboo slip to Cheng Yu and said, "Zhongde, what do you think of Liu Yi?"

"It's a genius!" Cheng Yu said in a deep voice: "The identity of the descendants of the Mo family is mostly true, but the Mo family is not just proficient in craftsmanship. This person's strategy and vision are not inferior to others."

Cheng Yu’s scope is not wide. This is just a comparison between Liu Yi and first-class strategists, and Liu Yi is indeed qualified now.

"Prepare to withdraw the army." Cao Cao nodded and did not discuss it anymore. He was going to make some corrections after he went back. It was time for him to pay attention to the craftsman's abilities.

Now the gap between bowstrings has emerged, and the distance between thirty or fifty steps can be afforded, but what if it is a little farther? Liu Yi's appearance has forced everyone to pay attention to the craftsman industry.

"Retreat?" Cheng Yu looked at Cao Cao in confusion. Now they may not have no chance.

"Jiangdong has been defeated, what's the point of staying here again?" Cao Cao said casually: "Liu Bei won this battle. I don't want to fight him to the death in Hanzhong. Let's find another opportunity."

Among the three monarchs, Cao Cao is definitely the one who can afford to lose the most. It has most of the world as its foundation. Although Liu Bei occupied the two states, Cao Cao had nine states, and he was the one who was least afraid of failure. He was not short of both population and territory. Now, Sun Quan had no choice but to take Liu Bei because of the advantage of the location.

Hanzhong is now guarded by Liu Bei like an iron barrel. If you continue to fight, you will only waste money and food. Now Liu Bei is in a prosperous situation and cannot compete with him head-on. Cao Cao is preparing to re-plan the defense line after he goes back and wait for the opportunity to turn the tables again.

Unwilling to accept it... there are still some things. After all, he has had many opportunities to completely kill Liu Bei but missed it. But now that things have come to this, the confrontation between the two major forces is the most unhappy.

Cheng Yu was naturally unwilling to accept it. In recent years, in the wars between Liu Bei and Sun Quan, he basically did not gain much advantage. This time he even lost three generals, and even lost Xiangyang. The only remaining dividends in the Battle of Chibi were gone. How could this be reassured?

But if we continue to fight, judging from the current situation, it is difficult to attack Hanzhong. Cheng Yu could only nod in silence, turn around and leave to prepare for withdrawal. Then, if Ma Chao sent troops this time, Didao did not know if there was Liu Bei's shadow behind him. This character, which was not taken seriously in the past, was unexpectedly difficult this time.

In the winter of the 20th year of Jian'an, the war in Hanzhong, which lasted for three years, came to an end with Cao Cao's order to withdraw his troops. However, following Cao Cao's series of actions, the world knew that Cao Cao had not really given up.

First, he ordered Xiahou Dun to be in charge of Chang'an and preside over the war in the Sanfu area. Zhang He was in charge of Ji County and intimidated the land of Longxi, which completely blocked Liu Bei's possible counterattack route. Then, he ordered Cao Ren to guard Wancheng and Li Dian stationed troops in Xinye, and made a stance of ready to counterattack at any time, so that Liu Bei would not dare to act rashly.

It was precisely these arrangements that delayed Cao Caoliang's withdrawal until winter.

Even if Liu Bei wanted to take the opportunity to counterattack, he would not have the confidence to come out of Hanzhong when facing Cao's army, and once he lost the dangerous terrain of Hanzhong, he would not know who would eventually die if he fought in the Guanzhong Plain. Moreover, Liu Bei is obviously not urgent to get Guanzhong immediately. His more important task now is to consolidate the hearts of the people of Yizhou.

However, what is surprising is that after Ma Chao failed to attack Ji County, he went to Hanzhong without hesitation and directly joined Liu Bei's command. This undoubtedly further encouraged Liu Bei's momentum. He was a person who could kill Cao Cao so hard that he had his beard and abandoned his robe. Liu Bei's command has added another general, and his momentum is growing. Many wealthy families in Nanyang who took advantage of the emptiness of the Cao army to make trouble. Seeing that Cao's army was returning and unable to occupy Wancheng, they moved south to Xiangyang, or joined Hanzhong from Shangyong. Liu Bei's momentum also rose to a higher level. Guan Yu successively captured the two cities of Xiangfan, defeated Cao's army on the front battlefield, and smashed the conspiracy of Jiangdong. His reputation was greatly shocked, and the land of Jingzhou became more stable.

...

Chengdu, Lu Su finally saw Liu Bei, with a look of excitement. This was his third time to come to Chengdu. In the first two times, although he had a preliminary intention, because Liu Bei was away and Zhuge Liang proposed several conditions that were quite harsh, he had been reaching an agreement. But now it is winter, even in the south, the temperature is also falling sharply. If this matter is not resolved, the Jiangdong Army trapped in Dongting Lake may be frozen to death, so this time was also the most urgent time for Lu Su.

Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded at Liu Bei. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang changed their eyes, then looked at Lu Su and said with a smile: "Zi Jing, don't want this. In fact, the land of Jiangxia was given to Jiangdong. However, this time Zhongmou attacked so fiercely. If Jiangxia continues to stay in Zhongmou's hands, Bei feels deeply frightened, so this land of Jiangxia..."

"My lord has agreed and is willing to return Jiangxia to the emperor's uncle." Lu Su looked at Liu Bei with a wry smile. He could see that it was easy to say anything else, but Liu Bei would not let go of the Jiangxia problem this time.
Chapter completed!