In the spring of the fourth year of Jian'an, Jiangling City, Jingzhou.
Sun Ce looked at the fresh green in the courtyard through the window, with a faint smile on his face: "It's another spring season, and the spring in Jingzhou is the most intoxicating. If I stay here for a few more years, I'm afraid I will fight for hegemony." The world¡¯s ambitions will also be wiped out.¡±
"Brother is joking again." Zhou Yu fiddled with the terrain sandbox and siege equipment models on the table, "Training soldiers, reforming the military system, and selecting talents. Brother has been very busy this year."
Sun Ce scratched his head and smiled awkwardly: "Gong Jin, you are really boring. Ever since Jiangdong raised troops, you have always been like an arrow on the string, tense all day long. Even when you play the piano, you are scheming against others. You were not like this back then.¡±
Zhou Yu said calmly: "A few years ago, my brother and I were both unknown. If we couldn't afford the yellow turban and my uncle didn't die, you and I might be filial and honest, and then become small local officials, marry a wife and have children, and live an ordinary life. For the rest of my life.¡±
Zhou Yu calmed down and looked at the sand table on the table in trance.
"At that time, my brother and I never thought that we would become famous generals, nor did we think that we would stand on the stage of fighting for hegemony in troubled times. We can only say that it is destiny, and we cannot disobey it." Zhou Yu sighed lowly, "Now I feel heavy , Everything must be calculated, and it is also forced by the current situation and cannot help itself."
"Gong Jin has worked too hard on state affairs, and I am really ashamed of him." Sun Ce was a little moved, patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder, and said sincerely: "In ancient times, famous ministers were able to be generals because they knew how to use people and commanded them properly. Gong Jin might as well Leave some things to your subordinates to do. You work so hard and laboriously, but after all, it is not a long-term solution."
Zhou Yu smiled, with a hint of fatigue on his face: "Brother, it is the master's duty to employ people properly. Since I am serving as an official in Jiangdong, I must fulfill my responsibilities."
Sun Ce fell into silence. He suddenly thought that next year would be the fifth year of Jian'an. Historically, he was assassinated in April of this year. Now that Xu Gong had been sent to Xuchang, he would probably worship Yu Ji as a god when he met him. , and after seizing the land of Jiangdong and Jingzhou, he practiced martial arts and cultivated literature. The people's hearts have gradually come to him, and he should be able to escape the twenty-six-year-old deadline. Sun Ce secretly made up his mind that if he could survive next year, he would find a way to prevent Zhou Yu from dying young.
Zhou Yu, of course, didn't know what Sun Ce was thinking. Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, he said, "Thank you for your concern, brother. I will take good care of myself."
"Well, that's good." Sun Ce nodded and looked at the sand table on the table, "Gongjin, what do you think of the current situation in Hebei?"
"Cao Cao has been besieging Yecheng since the beginning of autumn last year. Apart from recruiting Zhang Yan to surrender, he has not made any offensive moves. Yuan Shao's old troops in Qingzhou are not sure of Cao Cao's intentions, and they are also stopping their troops to wait and see. According to what I see, the troops in Hebei The key to the trend lies in the ownership of Yecheng." Zhou Yu pointed at Hebei in the sand table and analyzed.
Sun Ce nodded: "What Gong Jin said is true, but Cao Cao has stationed troops under Yecheng and has not taken action. What is he waiting for? Although his farming in Yanzhou and other places has made him not in danger of food shortage for the time being, but the encirclement Not fighting, just wasting money and food is not in line with Cao Cao's consistent method of using troops."
"The way of using troops is to pay attention to the right time, location and people. At this time, Liu Bei held the city firmly and raised the banner of the Miao descendants of the Han Dynasty and the loyalty to the emperor to assist the country. He had the right location and half of the people. Cao Cao was assisted by Zhang Yan and succeeded again. By scaring Qingzhou's reinforcements, it can be regarded as winning half of the troops." Zhou Yu said with a smile, "But if he wants to conquer Yecheng, Cao Cao still owes him some time. I'm afraid this is what he is waiting for at this time."
Sun Ce shook his head and sighed: "Cao Cao has so many tricks and tricks, but he still believes in the time of heaven. It's a shame."
"Although Cao Cao used deception in battle, he was very strict in running the army. Cao Cao's army is no less capable than ours." Zhou Yu paused and added: "Cao Cao is indeed a powerful enemy."
At the same time, Cao Jun¡¯s military camp was at the foot of Yecheng.
The patter of spring rain has been falling for several days. Cao Cao moved a stool and sat at the door of the tent, stretching out his hand to catch the rain from the sky: "I didn't expect that Hebei is just like the south. The spring rain will never stop after it starts falling."
Cao Ang stood behind his father and bowed: "Father, the sergeants are all in the water now and are exhausted, so why not"
"Why don't you retreat?" Cao Cao shook his head and smiled, "Zixiu, my son, the battle to destroy the city is about to begin. Do you want to persuade me to retreat?"
Cao Ang said in surprise: "Is it going to be a decisive battle?"
"We will defeat Yecheng within three days." Cao Cao nodded, looked at Yecheng in the distance in the rain, and said faintly: "I first met Liu Bei in the Chinese army tent when he was fighting against the Dong coalition army. He He was just a classmate and friend of Gongsun Zan, an unknown person who ranked last because of his royal bloodline.But from him, I smell the flavor of a hero, and I firmly believe that one day, this person will play a decisive role on the stage where heroes compete for hegemony. It's a pity that he is my enemy, but as my old enemy, Liu Bei has done a good job, and all the grudges will be settled in this battle! "
Cao Ang said excitedly: "Father, I am willing to be a pioneer and climb to the top of Yecheng to kill Liu Bei for my father!"
Cao Cao shook his head and sighed: "Zixiu, in my memory you are not a warlike and murderous person. Why did your temperament change so much after Jin Yang and his party?"
"Father, I am no longer a child. I thought for a long time on the way to Jinyang, and finally realized that benevolence and humility cannot calm the disputes in troubled times. Only power and an iron fist can stabilize the world!" Cao Ang said in a calm voice, his face There is no interesting expression on the face.
Cao Cao stared at Cao Ang for a long time, lowered his head and sighed: "Zixiu, if you fall, it will be God's punishment for me."
The father and son were silent for a long time. Cao Cao raised his head and said, "Zixiu, since you have grown up, my father has something to ask of you."
Cao Ang knelt down on the ground and kowtowed: "My son is scared! But according to his father's instructions, my son will obey everything and will definitely do his best to complete it."
Cao Cao gently dragged Cao Ang's arm to make him stand up, and said solemnly: "The outcome of this battle is still unknown. Although I am confident that I will force Liu Bei out, but the trapped beast is still fighting, the final outcome may be that both sides will suffer. If I Unfortunately, if he dies in battle, the situation in the DPRK will be turned upside down. The current emperor seems to be cowardly and incompetent, but in fact he is very tolerant. If he leads the ministers and asks you for guilt, I, the Cao family, will die without a burial place."
Cao Ang said loudly: "If my father dies and my son fights for his life, we must preserve the dignity of the Cao family!"
"You bastard!" Cao Cao shouted in a low voice, "How much great things can be achieved with the courage of an ordinary man! If I die, you must follow the arrangements of Guo Jia, Xun Yu and others. They are loyal to me and will definitely help you stabilize the situation. Inherit my power."
Cao Cao stared into Cao Ang's eyes and emphasized his tone: "Remember! You must not show off your courage for a moment. I can reach this position only with my brain. Don't forget, don't forget."
Cao Ang calmed down and knelt down to salute again: "My son understands, my son has remembered."
"Okay!" Cao Cao nodded happily and said with a smile: "The decisive battle is about to begin. Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, is he so proud? Then let me help him calm down!"
Cao Cao stood up, put on the red cloak that had been with him for a long time, lifted the tent curtain and walked out.
The rain had stopped, and the counselors and generals were standing on the water-filled ground. Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao and said with a smile, "My lord, Tianshi has indeed failed you!"