"The reason why Cao Cao agreed to my request should be for these two reasons." After walking a hundred miles to the southwest, Ma Chao and the others entered Changyi County, the seat of Shanyang County, and after a rest, everyone immediately spontaneously convened a military meeting.

At the beginning of the military discussion, Lu Bu intentionally or unintentionally asked about Ma Chao's forcing Cao Cao to exchange hostages. And after Ma Chao glanced at Lu Bu, he skillfully replied to Lu Bu with a grateful look: The soldiers are taboo, the most taboo generals are unknown, and the orders are different. Lu Bu had already recognized Ma Chao as his lord in front of everyone before, and now, he endured the pain and took the lead in raising the issue of Ma Chao saving the soldiers, which obviously showed that he was willing to let his subordinate soldiers be dispatched by Ma Chao.

However, on the other hand, Ma Chao also felt that Lu Bu's move seemed to be deliberately hinting at Chen Gong. And along the way, Ma Chaoyue felt that the relationship between Lu Bu and Chen Gong was strange: no matter how the two looked at it, they didn't look like the relationship between the lord and the strategist. Even, Chen Gong, a scribe, even personally led troops to fight? ………

However, before Ma Chao completely figured out the relationship between Lu Bu and Chen Gong, he could only remain silent and wait and see what happened.

"One is that Cao Cao / He can't wait, after seeing Gao Ran's early withdrawal of troops back to Jizhou, his overall strategy has been chaotic, and he must immediately redeploy to deal with Yuan Shao in Jizhou. In addition, the Ma family had captured Yingyang County, which also forced Cao Cao to think more carefully about the grain route. Speaking of this, Ma Chao spread out the map he carried and spread it on the military conference hall, and then said meaningfully: "At present, the two armies are probably still fighting a war of grain and grass. And Cao Cao, the most important soldier with heavy baggage, under internal and external troubles, naturally had to return to Zhencheng as soon as possible to rest and recuperate, and think about it in the long run. ”

After saying this, Chen Gong stroked his chin and long beard and nodded, especially when he heard Ma Chao finally talk about 'grain and grass', he sighed helplessly. However, at this time, although his mouth moved, he still didn't say anything in the end.

Ma Chao looked at Chen Gong's expression, and couldn't guess what Chen Gong was thinking, so he had to open his mouth and continue: "Second, Cao Cao and I are not only princes of both sides, but also qualified politicians. In terms of the trade-off between yin and yang, they both know each other. Today, if Cao Cao does not agree to return the Fengxian soldiers, he will take the path that politicians should not take. ”

"Which way?" Hearing Ma Chao talk about the wrists of the princes at this time, Lu Bu couldn't help but ask: In martial arts, Lu Bu is definitely Ma Chao's senior. But on the way to being a politician, Lu Bu has deep respect for Ma Chao, not to mention that during his time in Yanzhou, he did become a leader, so he was naturally interested in such topics.

And Ma Chao looked at Lu Bu and smiled, and didn't mind explaining at all: "Among politicians, the last thing that should be left is to do things without leaving some room for maneuver when they are not in the dagger of the poor, forcing the enemy to fight to the death!" ”

When these words fell, even if it was the far-reaching Chen Gong, he couldn't help but be stunned. Obviously, Ma Chao's rhetoric is a psychological secret that has been felt in the hearts of the princes for many years but never leaked. Therefore, Chen Gong couldn't help but take his eyes off the map and look at Ma Chao, waiting for Ma Chao's next sentence.

"Those captured generals are of no use to Cao Cao in their hands, and even keeping them will waste grain and grass. Cao Cao's only choice was to cut the grass and eradicate the roots. However, for us, these captives are our children, and we need to rely on them to make a comeback. Therefore, instead of choosing to kill and kill the last resort, Cao Cao prefers to return these soldiers who waste food and grass to us! ”

"Politics is always a game of mutual compromise! Cao Cao's talented people will definitely not do anything to leave no stone unturned, forcing him and us to a dead end. Therefore, when the wise princes do things, they often leave some room for maneuver in things, and they will not do things absolutely! In this way, even if everyone is already stiff, they will not immediately lose both sides and break the net. ”

After saying this, Ma Chao sighed leisurely, and finally returned to the topic, and said: "Because, Cao Cao and we both know that everyone needs a time to adjust to each other. This time, it seems that I insisted on returning the captives, but in fact, it was just me and Cao Cao taking what we needed........."

"Wonderful!" As soon as the words fell, Chen Gong couldn't help but clap his hands, and then got up and said to Ma Chao: "The hussar general has not yet reached the age of the weak crown, and he has known the princes' hearts so thoroughly, even the palace prides itself on knowing the world, and he can't help but be convinced, seriously, .........seriously."

"Gongtai, what are you hesitating about today?" Lu Bu looked at Chen Gong's demeanor, and after chuckling lightly at the corner of his mouth, he also got up, patted Chen Gong's shoulder and said: "Lu is not talented, and he has never let the public platform be convinced, even if he has joined forces several times, he has been defeated by Cao Cao and turned into victory. However, seeing my son-in-law like this today, doesn't the public still think that he has finally found his favorite master? ”

Ma Chao was stunned when he heard Lu Bu's words, and couldn't help but be surprised: he guessed well before! Lu Bu and Chen Gong are really not the relationship between the master and the minister as recorded in history!

After thinking about it carefully, Ma Chaodang even knew better: Zhang Miao, Lu Bu, and Chen Gong seemed to be dominated by Lu Bu, but in fact, they did not belong to each other. It's just that a loose alliance was formed in order to crusade against Cao Cao, and because Lu Bu's name is the best of the Han Dynasty, the world thinks that Zhang Miao of Chen Palace is against Cao Cao, so he helped Lu Bu to be the lord of Yanzhou!

But in fact, Fu Lu Bu is the lord of Yanzhou, and it does not necessarily mean that Zhang Miao and Chen Gong will worship Lu Bu as the main prince. In fact, with Zhang Miao's foundation in Yanzhou and Chen Gong's reputation as a celebrity, the two of them have basically been using Lu Bu's martial arts and prestige as a cover! And Lu Bu got such a big bargain out of thin air, and he didn't do it for nothing, which caused the misunderstanding of the world.

At present, it seems that between the three people, it is more of an equal cooperative relationship than a subordinate relationship between the master and the minister.

Naturally, it may also be that later, Chen Gong has been assisting and following Lu Bu, and it makes sense that Lu Bu recognized him as the master after he entered Xuzhou. However, at present, it seems that this possibility is almost zero.

"This? ........." Chen Gong listened to Lu Bu's suggestion, and was suddenly stunned. After his face changed for a few minutes, he did not respond immediately. Seeing this, Lu Bu was not annoyed at all, but further said: "What? My son-in-law is young and promising, and he has more than 100,000 Xiliang iron riders under his command, and controls the three states of Liang, Yong, and Si. Under the rule of the rich Kangtai, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the feat of being benevolent and helping millions of victims, such a person with a deep Confucian mind, is it not a person who cares about the public platform? ! ”

Hearing this at this time, Ma Chao couldn't help but glance at Lu Bu twice: It seems that Lu Bu has really had an unexpected insight and leap in people and things during this time, which is impressive!

No matter from the history books or from the preliminary impression, Chen Gong and this person are definitely people who advocate Confucianism and benevolence, and their loyalty and righteousness can be called the defenders of Confucianism in this era. In response to this, Lu Bu lightly brushed over Ma Chao's prestige, and then directly mentioned the people under the Ma family and the rescue of the victims, which is in line with Chen Gong's Confucian thoughts.

Sure enough, after these words, Chen Gong's face gradually softened, and he looked at Lu Bu's deep and clear eyes. The pride in his heart was also aroused, and he couldn't help but smile and said: "Feng Xiangong deceived me!" ........Today, first the military discussion, then the inquiry, and then the persuasion at this time, this step and three strategies, interlocking, it turns out that they are all for my Chen Palace to descend to the lord!" ”

was exposed by Chen Gong, Lu Bu didn't care at all, but laughed with Chen Gong: "Gongtai Yingqi is great, Bu knows that he is not blessed as the main minister, and then retreats to the second, and the same palace is a minister, which is also a blessing that Bu can't ask for!" ”

Listening to Lu Bu say this, Chen Gong also knew that there was no other choice today. After solemnly concentrating, he immediately bowed down in front of Ma Chao, and exclaimed: "The palace is willing to recognize the hussar general as the master, and from then on he will work hard for the foundation of the Ma family until death!" ”

"Hurry up," the matter has come to this, Ma Chao was naturally full of joy and picked up the bargain and sold it, also sat in a correct posture, and said solemnly: "From today onwards, Yuezhang will be the general of the Ma family, and he can freely appoint his subordinate generals, and the governor of Yanzhou will be the military and horse affairs." Gongtai is a scholar from Majiashu Province, assisting in the strategy of the Yanzhou War. ”

When he said this, Ma Chao glanced at the blazing eyes of everyone in the military conference hall, and got up and said: "I will stay in Yanzhou for a few days today, and I must be sure to get rid of Yanzhou Cao Cao's henchman!" ”

"The last general (Weichen) takes the order!"