"Fancheng burned like that, a ruined city, is it meaningful to rebuild?" Wang Baoyu asked.

"Fancheng and Xiangyang are originally horns, one can manage the nearby counties, and the other can also reject Cao Bing in the north." Mo Qianxun explained.

"Well, you can use the method of exempting agricultural taxes to make the people work harder." Wang Baoyu nodded.

"There is one more matter, please also ask Baoyu to decide." Mo Qianhiro's expression became a little solemn.

"What's the matter?"

"The three counties of Shangyong are not far from Xiangyang, can you send troops to take them?"

Wang Baoyu pondered for a long time, waved his hand and said, "Forget it!" This place is a bit sensitive. ”

"Once these three counties are owned by me, Xiangyang will be stable." Mo Qianxun said.

"I understand what you mean, you listen to me, the three counties will first belong to Cao Cao, and then to Liu Bei, because of Liu Feng's mistakes, and then to Cao Cao, if we intervene now, we will definitely offend both parties, and the gains outweigh the losses. It is good for Xiangyang to take more precautions, and Fancheng will also be rebuilt as much as possible, and development is the big plan. Wang Baoyu said.

Mo Qianxun didn't insist anymore, and retreated to continue to be busy with his own affairs. Half a month later, Liu Bei asked Ma Chao to lead an army of 100,000, and Peng Yi as a military advisor came to crusade against the three counties of Shangyong.

Liu Bei's purpose is self-evident, he is still not at ease with Wang Baoyu, hoping to capture the three counties and monitor Jingzhou's every move. Zhuge Liang did not agree with the war with Cao Pi at this time, and after Cao Pi took office, he suffered defeats one after another, and that was because the other party was Wang Baoyu. And if Liu Bei argues with Cao Pi at this time, Cao Pi will definitely go all out to win and save his previous face.

Zhuge Liang tried every means to persuade him, but Liu Bei made up his mind and couldn't stop it at all.

The three counties of Shangyong are still guarded by Meng Da, with only 30,000 soldiers and horses, Cao Pi heard the news and immediately sent Xu Huang to lead an army of 50,000 and quickly came to support.

Mo Qianxun can send troops to Nanyang to intercept Xu Huang's army, in case Ma Chao and Peng Yi are defeated, and Xu Huang and Meng Da join forces to threaten Xiangyang again.

Wang Baoyu didn't agree, they love to fight or not, just don't provoke each other, in short, as long as Cao Pi doesn't take the initiative to attack, he will never provoke Cao Pi first.

Mo Qianxun was very sorry, and couldn't help but secretly complain that Wang Baoyu missed the opportunity, it was always like this, how could he open up the territory and expand the territory. Now he has Xiangyang and Fancheng that needs to be rebuilt, but the crisis is bigger than at the beginning, although Wang Baoyu has no ambition, but all the heroes in the world don't think so, they are all guarding against him, and even have a plan to attack, the best way is of course to enhance their own strength.

Although Mo Qianxun no longer persuaded Wang Baoyu, he was born not to give up easily, and he would urge Wang Baoyu to take action again when the time came.

But it was said that Ma Chao led an army of 100,000 people, mighty, and went straight to Shangyong, and he was a little excited. Moreover, Ma Chao also has his own thoughts, he wants to take the opportunity to come to Yiling to see his sister Ma Yunlu, and mention her marriage to Wang Baoyu by the way.

Peng Yi, the military advisor who was traveling with him, was very happy at first, feeling that Zhuge Liang was snubbed, Fa Zheng died again, and it was finally his turn to show his talent. But after Liu Bei called him for a conversation, Peng Yi felt like a basin of cold water was poured on his head, and he couldn't laugh anymore.

Liu Bei said very tactfully and politely, and the meaning was very simple, if he took the three counties of Shangyong, Peng Yi would be the local official here, and he would be in charge of one side, so as not to disgrace his talent.

As a Xichuan official who defected to Liu Bei at the same time as Fa Zheng and Huang Quan, Peng Yi has always been ignored and is in a dispensable position. Now he has to stay away from Chengdu and become a local official, which makes him even more dissatisfied in his heart, he knew that he should have defected to Cao Cao in the first place.

Speaking of which, one of the reasons why Peng Yi is not valued by Liu Bei is that he is more than smart, his behavior is not disciplined enough, and his speech is even more casual, which is more trivial than a woman.

No, Peng Yi, who was on a par with Ma Chao, asked: "Meng Qi, how do you think I am better than Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng?" ”

"The public is talented, and the two of them are not comparable."

What Ma Chao can say, he can only be casually perfunctory, and Peng Yi also thinks so, and said angrily: "Liu Beibing is also a ruffian, it is really unreasonable to match me with mediocrity!" ”

Ma Chao was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "This is really the way to cause trouble, don't mention it again." ”

"Don't you have any complaints in your heart?" Peng Yi asked rhetorically.

"The lord has the grace of knowing me, why complain!" Ma Chao said immediately.

"Hmph, you must have forgotten that Liu Bei pretended to promise you the Northern Expedition to Cao Cao to avenge his father, but he has not fulfilled it to this day, how can he believe in righteousness?" Peng Yi still refused to give up, muttering non-stop.

"Cao Cao is dead, and I no longer have the heart to seek revenge." Ma Chao said resolutely.

"His son is still alive! The former general took refuge in Liu Bei, wasn't it because of filial piety and revenge? Cao Pizi inherited his father's ambition and his ambition was clear, what is the difference between Cao Cao and Cao Cao alive! ”

"It's really far-fetched, Meng Qi doesn't dare to agree!"

Seeing that Ma Chao didn't buy his account at all, Peng Yi finally shut up, but the stuffiness in his heart was not eliminated. Since then, in addition to discussing major military matters, Ma Chao hardly talks to Peng Yi, for fear that if he speaks carelessly, he will be listened to and cause unnecessary trouble.

Peng Yi even felt that Ma Chao was afraid of his hands and feet, how could he have the demeanor of a bloody general!

The army slept all the way, and finally came to Shangyong City. Ma Chao ordered the army to set up camp five miles away from Shangyong, and personally went to the city to call the battle, Meng Da, who was defending the city, knew Ma Chao's bravery, and closed the city gate, but refused to go out of the city to meet the battle, just waiting for Xu Huang's army to come.

"Strategist, what's the best way to take the city?" Ma Chao asked.

"This matter is very easy, wait for me to enter the city to persuade Meng Da to surrender with my incorruptible tongue!" Peng Yi is full of confidence.

"What if General Mengda is trapped in the city?" Ma was stunned.

"I have had a great fellowship with Menda, and it will not be so." Peng Yi waved his hand.

Of course, it is best to surrender without a fight, Ma Chao nodded in agreement. Peng Yi rode a horse alone and came to the foot of Shangyong City, and proposed to enter the city to meet Meng Da.

Meng Da thought about it again and again, but still opened the city gate, let Peng Yi enter the city, and held a banquet, and the two of them drank opposite each other, first reminiscing about the old days, and not mentioning the major events of the military aircraft, and they talked very happily for a while.

After three rounds of drinking, Peng Yi finally couldn't help but say: "General Meng, with all due respect, Shangyong Town, now that my army of 100,000 is coming, it will be difficult to defend it, why not abandon the city and surrender, so as not to cause disaster." ”

Meng Da sighed and said: "I once voted for Liu Bei, but his son Liu Feng suspected me and came to attack for no reason, and now I would rather die than vote again." ”

"Liu Feng is dead, which proves the heart of the lord." Peng Yi said.

"I don't believe it, Liu Bei is a fickle and suspicious person, and the death of his son has long been blamed on me, and surrender is self-defeating!" Meng Da was patient and did not turn his face with Peng Yi.