Cao Cao abandoned Wancheng and ran all the way to Wuyin, where he stopped. Defend against the danger and recruit the defeated army. When the generals heard that Cao Cao was dancing in Yin, they all came to vote. Within a few days, the army was revived. Zhang Xiu heard that Cao Cao was dancing in Yin, and re-introduced the army to fight. Defeated and returned to Wancheng.

Zhang Xiu retreated, and Cao Cao began to count losses. The news that Xi Zhicai and his nephew Cao Anmin both died in the chaos has finally been confirmed. Cao Cao's heart was unspeakable, and he cried with the corpse. After crying, he said to the generals: "I descended Zhang Xiu and others, and it was inconvenient to take its quality, so that I knew that I was defeated." Zhu Qing looked at it, and it will not be defeated from now on. ”

Cao Cao was really heartbroken, thinking that he wanted to show favor to Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu, so that the two of them could return to their hearts for their own use. He did not take their relatives as hostages at the first time, so that the army was defeated. Not to mention the death of the military advisor and nephew, the eldest son Cao Ang was hit by an arrow in the leg, and after Dian Wei was broken, he was hit by dozens of arrows in his body, and the iron arrows taken out were piled up in a pile. If Cao Chun hadn't appeared in time, he would have almost lost his life.

In this battle, Cao Cao was burned by Zhang Xiu, and the soldiers were killed and wounded, not to mention, and the materials, including grain and grass, were also burned by the fire. The losses were so heavy that Cao Cao had never had since he started his army. Cao Cao stationed in Wuyin and sent people to Runan to supervise grain. The congregation will be dissuaded. Cao Cao said: "If you are not defeated Zhang Xiu, I will not retreat." ”

Zhang Xiu defeated Cao Cao in Nanyang and recovered the counties of Nanyang, the news reached Liu Biao, Liu Biao was overjoyed, and he wanted to send an envoy to carry cattle and sheep wine to Yihe. Cai Mao was afraid that Zhang Xiuyi and Liu Biao would tell the past, so she said: "Zhang Xiu has betrayed and it is not appropriate to congratulate." Let's see how it behaves. ”

Liu Biao listened to it, and reminded him of the old things, so he didn't congratulate him. Zhang Xiu was in Wancheng and discussed with Jia Xu in the mansion. He surrendered Cao Cao before the battle, and rebelled against Cao again, although it was all helpless. But what to do next, he was also a little confused.

Vote for Liu Biao again? To be honest, even if Liu Biao accepted it, Zhang Xiu was not very happy in his heart. When the Liangzhou cavalry threw his head and spilled blood for Liu Biao, the Jingzhou soldiers were watching in the city. Zhang Xiu didn't want to experience this feeling again, it was too painful.

Cao Cao? As soon as he and Cao Cao turned their faces, a fire burned Cao Cao to a great defeat, and Cao Ying's men and horses didn't know how many died. At this time, he ran to Cao Cao and said that he would descend again, Cao Cao was afraid that his first reaction would be to catch himself and cut him, right?

But if you don't find a thigh hug, your own people will be swallowed up sooner or later. Not to mention anything else, even if he doesn't leave in Nanyang, Cao Cao will come again in the future, what can he do about it?

Jia Xu spoke at this time: "General, in your opinion, who is the strongest among the princes in the world?" ”

Zhang Xiu's heart turned, and he said: "Yuan Shao has Ji, and; Cao Cao has Yan and Yu; Liu Bei has Qing and Xu; These three people are the strongest in the world. ”

Jia Xu said: "Liu Xuande is famous in the sea, and he has the posture of a king. In the future, Kuang Yihai will be the only one. ”

Zhang Xiu was surprised: "Yuan Shao IV and the third duke, the world is important; Cao Cao is both civil and military, with many generals and generals; There are also Yang, You, Yi, Jing and other princes who are in their own affairs, how can Liu Bei annex the world? ”

Jia Xu said: "After the defeat of Gongsun Zan in Youzhou, Liu Yu is old and weak, and he can entrust the future affairs, who is Liu Bei?" If he can defeat Yuan Shao again, unify the north, and rejuvenate the Han family, it must be Liu Bei. Zhang Xiu nodded in agreement. If he were Liu Yu, he would also choose to entrust Youzhou to Liu Bei, who was also a member of the Han family, instead of Yuan Shao, who repeatedly led troops to attack Youzhou. If Liu Bei can really defeat Yuan Shao, seize Ji and Erzhou. Liu Bei does have the foundation and strength to set Dingding.

Jia Xu smiled again: "General, come and see, these are all Liu Bei's decrees, how does it compare with the princes of the world?" Zhang Xiu has long heard that Liu Bei is a good ruler in the territory and is admired by all the people. Let Jia Xu say it carefully this time, Zhang Xiu is a martial artist who only knows how to fight, and he also knows that Liu Bei is clever, and he is much better than the princes of the world.

Jia Xu was amazed several times in his heart, no less than Zhang Xiu. Although Jia Xu is an unscrupulous person, it is a means of self-preservation that he has no choice but to choose when the social order is in chaos. As a typical scholar, what he longed for in his heart was still the kind of Datong society and ideal world described by the ancestors. Who would want to be in a troubled world, rather than a peaceful and prosperous era with good social order, simple folk customs, and great rule in the world. In Liu Bei, Jia Xu saw a kind of quality and hope that none of the princes in the world had.

When Liu Bei was arguing in Taixue, he shouted out the four Confucian teachings, and Jia Xu, who was far away on the border at the time, listened to it, and he couldn't control his blood. If there is an opportunity to defect to Liu Bei, Jia Xu will definitely not miss it.

However, this is also Zhang Xiu's question: "Does Jia Gong want me to vote for Qingzhou?" Qingzhou has a long way to go, how can it get by? He offended Liu Biao and Cao Cao, and Jingzhou was destined to be a hot spot for the princes in recent years. He is weak, and if he is not careful, he will become cannon fodder. If he could really go to Liu Bei, he wouldn't mind at all. After all, over the years, Liu Bei's fame has spread all over the world, and he is known for his benevolence, righteousness and kindness. Thinking about it, Liu Bei will definitely not treat him badly.

Jia Xu said: "I have two strategies. The first is to return to Hongnong and wait for the changes in the world. The second is to take risks and go to Jizhou. This time Jingzhou was in trouble, and Liu Biao sent envoys to ask for help. Liu Bei did not move his troops in Qingzhou, but divided his troops into two ways to attack Yu and Yang. If you want to come to Qingzhou, you must have other plans. Who is Yuan Shao referring to? ”

"If the general can bring his troops into Hebei, after attacking Yuan Shao, he will help Liu Bei achieve this great achievement. In the future, Yuntai will discuss merit and write history, and the name of the general will be indispensable. ”

Jia Xu's analysis is correct. Liu Bei was in Qingzhou and was busy reorganizing and expanding the army. Now the territory has more than doubled, although there are two new departments, Tai Shici and Zhao Yun. But he still felt that the army was too small. Thanks to his cultivation in Qingzhou, Liaodong and Xuzhou, there is now plenty of grain and grass. Although part of the tax and land rent were exempted, the grain that the people could not use up was also willing to sell to the Qingzhou Pastoral Government. Liu Bei was also ruthless, on the one hand, he ordered the craftsman battalion to increase the production of weapons; On the one hand, the recruitment of non-commissioned soldiers began. He was ready to hold back a big move, not to mention destroying Yuan Shao in one fell swoop, at least to make him feel a pain in his flesh.

After listening to Jia Xu, Zhang Xiu fell into deep thought. After enjoying a good life in Nanyang for a few years, and then returning to Hongnong Shaanxi County to live a hard life where nothing was lacking, not to mention Zhang Xiu's unwillingness, how many of the soldiers under his command were willing? It has always been easy for those who are thrifty to enter luxury, and it is difficult for those who are thrifty to enter from luxury. Not to mention that now Liangzhou and Chang'an are in chaos, and Liangzhou cavalry is conquest each other every day. He didn't want to stir up this muddy water. Without much thought, Zhang Xiu gave up this path.

As for the detour to Jizhou, after attacking Yuan Shao. Zhang Xiu had to admit that Jia Xu's strategy was really bold. He was also shocked by Jia Xu's whimsical thoughts. However, Zhang Xiu and his uncle Jiuzhen Shaanxi County naturally knew that Luoyang was in danger and was sad. If you want to say that you and Jia Xu are two people, it's no problem, but it's a no-brainer to bring thousands of people to think about it.

There are so many passes along the way, not to mention. The road is so long, how to solve the problem of material supply? When Zhang Xiu raised this question, Jia Xu looked at Zhang Xiu with a surprised face, when did Liangzhou Qi worry about supplies, grain and grass? Unless there is no one to rob. Jia Xu said as a matter of course: "Naturally, according to the practice of Liangzhou, grain and grass ears are levied from the people!" ”

Zhang Xiu was looked at by Jia Xu, and he was a little weak-hearted, he was used to eating the grain and grass that Liu Biao had run, and he hadn't done anything about the barsons and plundering for several years, and he forgot about it for a while.

Zhang Xiu thought for a while and said, "Jia Gong, let me think about it deeply." ”

When Jia Xu heard this, he resigned and left the house.