After receiving Cao Shuo's instructions, the steward of Lingyun Pavilion soon began to build a commercial ferry port on the shore of Huaishui.

Cao Shuo's order was also given.

Three or four hundred elite soldiers from all over the country also arrived at the place where the ferry port was built.

While Cao Shuo made these moves, Liu Bei, who was in Xiapi, was not idle.

Liu Bei was sitting in the room, and in front of him stood a general who looked no more than in his early thirties.

The general's face is white and bearded, and his face is shrewd.

He is none other than Mi Zhu, who Liu Bei joined his account when he came to Xuzhou.

He clenched his fists and said to Liu Bei: "Cao Zirong only sent Sima Zhongda to lead an army of 10,000 to guard Zhongli, beware of Uncle Huang's troops, as for other inconsequential matters. ”

"Cao Zirong is cunning, you can't just look at the appearance." Liu Bei asked, "In addition to allocating Sima Zhongda's troops and horses, what else did he do?" ”

"The scout reported that a ferry port is being built outside the city of Xia Cai." Mi Zhu said: "However, the ferry port is different from the one I have seen before. ”

"Different?" Liu Bei asked, "What's the difference?" ”

"It's not like a ferry for transporting troops." "They built a huge warehouse next to the ferry, which seemed to be used to transport supplies. ”

"You think it's for supplies?" Liu Bei frowned slightly, and asked Mi Zhu.

"Exactly." Mi Zhu said: "If it is used to transport soldiers and horses, you only need to build a granary, and you don't need to build such a large warehouse. From this, it can be concluded that Cao Zirong must not have built this ferry to transport troops. ”

"And." Mi Zhu continued: "He issued a decree, and the beautiful words should be written by Mi Heng. ”

"What does the decree say?" Liu Bei asked.

"The ferry port is used to transport goods to merchants from all over the world, as long as you do business in good faith, he will definitely do his best to protect it." Mi Zhu replied: "Anyone who dares to rob a businessman, regardless of the reason and reason, and no matter what kind of family background he has, will be beheaded." ”

"Cao Zirong discovered Huainan's fundamental weakness." Liu Bei said: "Yuan Shu has occupied Huainan for many years, and since he became emperor, taxes have increased, and the people in Huainan have been struggling to make a living. I can't understand why he didn't want Xuzhou in the first place, but asked for Huainan. ”

Mi Zhu said: "Cao Zirong has always done things without following common sense, he wants Huainan instead of Xuzhou, he must have his plans." ”

Liu Bei frowned, and said to Mi Zhu: "He should be too sure of getting Xuzhou, you must know that Cao Zirong is a very big hearted person, he can still gather so many soldiers and horses in Xudu, and now that he has arrived in Huainan, it will not take a few years, but I am afraid that the soldiers under his command will be more Cao Cao." ”

"Yuan Shu has been tossing in Huainan for several years, and the population there is not very large." Mi Zhu said: "Even if Cao Zirong has the heart to strengthen the soldiers and horses, where did he recruit many soldiers? Could it be that he will also be like the emperor's uncle, who recruited all the Ding Zhuang in Xuzhou? ”

"I don't think Cao Zirong will do that." Liu Bei said: "Sima Yi led 10,000 troops and camped in Zhongli, obviously guarding against me. Commander Pang led the troops back from Lujiang, and Mi Fang had already gone to Jingzhou......"

He frowned tightly, thought for a while and said, "I originally planned to send troops to Huainan after getting Liu Jingsheng's reply, but now that the situation is compelling, it seems that I can only advance." ”

"Uncle Huang is right." Mi Zhu asked, "It's just that if Sima Yi can't come out of the city, what should we do?" ”

"Cao Zirong's command is all elite soldiers, if Sima Yi does not come out of the city, we will definitely not be able to break Zhongli." Liu Bei said: "I have a way, I don't know if it's feasible or not. ”

Looking at Liu Bei, Mi Zhu didn't ask.

He knew that since Liu Bei said it, he would definitely not only say half of it, and the result would be the same whether he asked or not.

Sure enough, Liu Bei said: "We can bypass Zhongli, leaving five thousand soldiers and horses under the command of Yun Chang, blocking between Zhongli and Shouchun." ”

"General Guan is calm, and Uncle Huang left him to stop Sima Yi, which is just right." Mi Zhu said.

"If you see fit, we'll have to send troops as soon as possible." Liu Bei said: "Once Pang Tong leads the army back to Shouchun, with our soldiers and horses, it is likely that we will not be Cao Zirong's opponent. ”

"One more thing." Liu Bei said again: "I heard that Zang Ba and the others returned to Qingzhou, they followed Lu Bu and had no loyalty to the Cao family. Ke Yan sent people to them and promised benefits, and whoever was willing to cooperate with us could get half of Huainan. ”

"Huainan?" Mi Zhu asked in surprise: "In the withered land, who is willing to ask for it." ”

"No one was willing to ask for it at the beginning, don't forget, but now Cao Zirong is running there." Liu Bei said: "When we take Huainan, there are also some things worth asking for. ”

Looking at Liu Bei, Mi Zhu looked surprised.

He couldn't figure out what would be left of Huainan since the battlefield would be in Huainan.

Seeing that he didn't understand very well, Liu Bei grinned: "Have you ever heard of Lingyun Pavilion?" ”

"Lingyun Pavilion?" Mi Zhu said: "I have been there when I was in Xudu before, and I heard that Cao Zirong also built a family in Shouchun. ”

"Lingyun Pavilion is the place where Cao Zi melts his wealth. Lingyun Pavilion everywhere is just an empty shelf, where Cao Zirong is, all the goods are there. Liu Bei said: "What's more, there are a lot of beauties raised in Lingyun Pavilion, and if you take Huainan, if you share this place with others, how many of them will not agree?" ”

"I see!" Mi Zhu said: "I'll send someone to find Zang Ba and the others." ”

Liu Bei nodded: "You go first." ”

The news that Liu Bei's army was about to march to Huainan reached Sima Yi's ears in just two days.

In Zhongli City, Sima Yi convened his subordinates to discuss countermeasures.

"Childe let us sit in Zhongli, do you know what the intention is?" Sima Yi asked everyone.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what Cao Shuo's plans were.

"Gongzi told me that Huainan needs to develop, and it also needs to recuperate, and once the war starts, the battlefield must be controlled in Xuzhou." Sima Yi said: "I just got the news that Liu Bei plans to send troops to attack Huainan, and it is to bypass Zhongli. ”

"I have long seen that Liu Bei is not a good thing." A partial general scolded and said: "It's a pity that in Xudu, Gong Cao didn't listen to Gongzi and let Liu Bei run away!" ”

"Don't talk about the past." Sima Yi said: "As long as we can capture Xuzhou this time, Liu Bei still has no foundation, and there are still many opportunities to kill him in the future." ”

"What is General Sima going to do?" Someone asked.

Sima Yi said: "I plan to take the initiative to attack and take Pengcheng first, and then Pi, what do you think?" ”

"Let's go, if Liu Bei attacks Zhongli, how can we resist it?" Someone else asked him.

(End of chapter)