Since Cao Cao started his army, what he lacked most was money and food. Without Weitz’s help, he would have been unable to survive today. In desperation, Cao Cao even secretly sent troops to pretend to be robbers and robbed the tombs of the princes in Qing and Yan'er states. Taking the golden treasure to pay for the army, suddenly hearing these remarks, Cao Cao couldn't help but look up and saw that the person who spoke was Xun Yu's nephew Xun You. Both of these uncles and nephews were good at tactics, and Cao Cao leaned on as his right-hand man. After Xun You's words, Cao Cao said strangely: "Gongda, don't cultivate and plant, where does the military money come from?"
Xun You smiled and said: "Developing farming is certainly necessary, but it's not enough to quench the near thirst. Now there is a big piece of fat delivered to the lord's mouth. Why doesn't the lord take a bite?"
Standing aside, Chen Qun immediately understood, and said, "Did Gongda say Jingzhou?"
Xun Yu repeatedly gave high fives and said: "Yes, Liu Xin went to Sanguan to supervise the battle, which proved that the war there was not going well, and Dong Zhuo sent Zhang Ji out of Wuguan. The soldiers and horses of Jingzhou will definitely go to the enemy. Xiangyang must be empty. Make a general and lead the fine ride to take Xiangyang directly,"
Xun You further said: "Xiangyang is rich in the world. If it can be captured and taken, the money and food in the city will be piled up like a mountain. Even if it cannot be guarded, these money and food can meet the military needs of five or six years. Moreover, the Third Xiangyang Hospital is well-known in the world. The white porcelain is a specialty there, and it is a godsend to take it at this time."
Cao Cao's vision is relatively long-term. He has always focused on developing production and restoring the economy, but compared with Liu Xin and Ma Yun, he has less knowledge for thousands of years. In addition, he has not occupied Qing and Yan Erzhou for a long time, and is no better than Liu Xin and Ma Yun. Xin has been operating in Jingzhou for many years and has a solid foundation.
After listening to the suggestions of Xun You and others, Cao Cao couldn't help but fascinated. Xiangyang is a treasure land. Not only is there sufficient money and food in the treasury, but also rich people gather. When the time comes, they can copy him hundreds of thousands, don't say five. Years of munitions is enough for ten or twenty years. In addition to these, Liu Xin’s three wives, Ma Yun, Bian Yu, and Cai Yan have also made him a favorite for a long time. If they can capture Xiangyang, they will not have to Fall into your own pocket,
Cao Cao acted decisively, took the case, and said to everyone: "Okay, according to what you said, send troops to attack Xiangyang,"
Xun Yu got up and said, "I will tell the lord, the subordinates have one more plan, which can make Liu Xin uncomfortable. Since Wang Yun's letter is to escort the emperor to Luoyang, why not ask the emperor for a few edicts?"
Cao Cao asked suspiciously: "Oh, Wen Ruo means,"
Xun Yu continued: "My lord, my strategy is to serve the emperor's princes and not the ministers, and transfer the princes of the world to Liu Xin's plan. I can send an edict to Yuan Shu to send him to Jiang Xia, and an edict to Yan Baihu of Yu Zhang. Didn’t he claim to be the King of Soochow, then make him a Marquis of Wu and ask him to send troops to attack Changsha. As a result, Liu Xin and Dong Zhuo stalemate in Sanguan and Wuguan, and encounter me on three sides. He is undefeated,"
Cao Cao laughed loudly and said, "Mr. Wen Ruo really did a trick. If he can make a big break with Liu Xin, Mr. should remember the first merit."
Xun You said, "Lord Lord, wait a minute, and we still need to send another edict to Yuan Shao in Hebei Province, to grant him the post of general and make him general to conquer Gongsun Zan. In this way, Yuan Shao will become famous and will inevitably go all out to deal with Gongsun Zan. , And we don’t have to worry about Yuan Shao stabbing us from behind, so we can avoid the worry of the enemy."
Cao Cao looked at these capable ministers who worked hard to advise him, and at the military commanders who were gearing their hands. It was with the help of these people that he could rise to the top of the two states in just a few years. One of the princes, seeing them, Cao Cao felt confident about capturing Xiangyang, and said: "Okay, you can help me, so why don't you worry about it."
However, after the big strategy is finalized, there are still many details to be dealt with. Liu Xie is not under the control of Cao Cao. Asking him to issue the edict still needs to go through the hands of Wang Yun. It will inevitably take a lot of tongues to dispel the king. For the doubts of Yun and others, it will take some time for these edicts to be transferred to the princes, and the princes must communicate with each other in order to choose the best time to send troops. As for how to re-divide the interests after eliminating Liu Xin, now It is not yet time to discuss, but Cao Cao must first come up with an intentional plan to better persuade the princes to stand in the same camp with him.
In the past few days, Xiangyang has become more lively than in the past, because in a few days, Liu Xin’s first imperial examination will begin. This day has been set long ago. The reason why I chose to conduct it in summer is because of the hot weather at this time. People’s clothing is also relatively thin, and it is not easy to carry out private possession. The imperial examination has not been affected by the ongoing war against Dongs. Scholars from Jing and Yi have gathered in Xiangyang, and there are many self-reliant talents. People from other places are rushing in from other places after receiving the news. Of course, this news was sent out deliberately by Liu Xin through newspapers. His goal of recruiting talents is not limited to Jing and Yi, but for the whole world.
As the official of the Ministry of Etiquette and the director of Xiangyang Academy, he is Liu Xin’s old father-in-law. With multiple titles of family, university instructor, and great calligrapher, Cai Yong became the first examiner well-deserved. He was exiled twice, and finally got away. Cai Yong, who was on the four walls of his family, never thought that he would have the same scenery as he is today. All of this benefited from him finally choosing to stand with Liu Xin. Thinking of his past suspicions about Liu Xin, Cai Yong couldn’t help but feel ashamed. It is the imperial examination examination that puts all my thoughts into it, and is determined to make this examination the first grand event of all times.
For this imperial examination, Cai Yong mobilized officials from the Ministry of Etiquette and the gentlemen of the academy to prepare for more than a year. For this purpose, he also built a special building. Ma Yun named it "Gong Yuan". Cai Yong wrote the plaque in his own hand. During the three-day test time, all examinees will eat, drink and sleep in the Gongyuan. They are not allowed to go out of the Gongyuan before handing in the papers.
Different from the imperial examination system of subsequent dynasties, this time the imperial examination is divided into three subjects: liberal arts, martial arts, and engineering. The two subjects are easier to understand, and there are many kinds of engineering exams. As long as people with a good skill pass through the county and county levels. You can take part in the selection of syllabus. Those who can finally come to the Gongyuan to take the engineering examination. They have everything. There are traditional craftsmen such as carpenters, plasterers, blacksmiths, and stonemasons. There are also those who can grow flowers, domesticate animals, and even be good at Fishing, weaving, and farming were all selected and sent to Xiangyang. Many of these people hadn’t even read a book, and didn’t know the words. Cai Yong also specially arranged for some bookkeepers to give their oral narrations. Make some notes,
Just when Xiangyang City was busy for the imperial examinations, Lu Bu led the cavalry team of 3,000 people and quietly passed through the gap between Zhao Yun and Zhang Yun’s defense zone. In the era of cold weapons, it was impossible to divide the troops into Several teams set up their defenses. It is easy for the enemy to seize the opportunity to eat them one by one. Therefore, the gap between the defense areas is not the mistake of Zhao Yun and Zhang Yun.
Lu Bu always chose to act when there were few people, and set up camps in remote areas when there were many people. However, he has now reached the hinterland of Jingzhou. Facing the highly developed economic and social area of Jingxiang, he wants to completely cover his eyes. For the impossible task, Lu Bu also thought of a countermeasure. He fought under the banner of Xu Huang of the First Army. When someone asked on the road, he claimed that he was transferred back to Xiangyang from the front line of Sanguan.
Although Lu Bu tried his best to avoid marching in crowded places, it didn't take long for these Xiliang army who pretended to be Xu Huang's army to reveal their stuff. The reason why they showed up is not these Xiliang army who regard looting and oppressing the people as commonplace. What illegal deeds the soldiers did, which attracted the attention of the local people, but for another reason. Lu Bu also knew that Liu Xin's army had strict military discipline. If he wanted to pretend to be Liu Xin's army, he naturally had to be friendly to the people. Some, so Lü Bu repeatedly stated the discipline before setting off, not to harass the people along the way, and these soldiers also understand that Xiangyang is very wealthy, as long as they capture Xiangyang and grab a bit of it, it will be enough for half of their lives. Who cares about half of the journey. This little property,
However, Lu Bu did not expect that in Jingzhou, the military-civilian relationship had become so harmonious that he could not understand it. In other places, if the army did not trouble the ordinary people, it would be regarded as burning incense, but in Jingzhou, ordinary people saw their own army but Everyone would take the initiative to greet them. Since Lu Bu was playing the banner of Xu Huang, people would often send eggs, cold water and other items to condolences the soldiers along the way, making these Xiliang Army soldiers at a loss, and they would inevitably show up in response. In addition, these people don’t have many accents. The weapons used by the scarred young general at the head are also very rare, and Liu Xin’s army rarely has such scenes of cavalry operations. These phenomena are very fast. It aroused the suspicion of the local people and quickly reported to the government. Regarding all this, Lu Bu didn't realize it. He still thought it was a good idea. He concealed everyone's eyes and ears, and headed towards Xiangyang with enthusiasm.
An army of unknown origin sneaked into the territory of Jingzhou, and the target was directly at Xiangyang. The news was absolutely amazing. No one dared to neglect the officials who heard the report. That night, this piece of information was placed in front of Jushou as a phantom secret. The supreme commander of the spy, not only the intelligence sent by the local government, but also the clues discovered by the secret spy before him, all the evidence points to the bad behavior of Lu Bu's army.
When Jushou learned the news, he didn't dare to delay the slightest. While sending someone to inform Dianwei and Xu Chu to strengthen their guard, he rushed to the prefecture and animal husbandry overnight to report to Ma Yun.
After listening to Jushou's report, Ma Yun immediately concluded: "This cavalry is Dong Zhuo's army, and it is Lü Bu that leads them."
According to witness descriptions, Ma Yun can be sure that the young general used Fang Tian’s painted halberd. In Ma Yun’s impression, apart from Lu Bu in the early Three Kingdoms, no other person used Fang Tian’s painted halberd as a weapon. Other reasons are needed. Based on this alone, Ma Yun is sure that this person must be Lu Bu.
Jushou was still very calm. He was shocked to hear that it was Lu Bu, and said hurriedly: "Qi, Madam, Lu Bu is coming. The army is weak in Xiangyang and it is difficult to fight the enemy. Please take his wife to move his family to the mountains in the southwest. Avoid,"