Not to mention, because it has not yet been determined whether the dedicated diplomatic liar Yang Hong's mission to Jizhou will be successful, Tao Ying and Lu Su are really tempted by the armistice conditions proposed by Xun Yu on behalf of Boss Cao, and feel that this is indeed a sure profit.

For the business, he first made a truce with Cao Lao and formed an alliance, and then Lu Bu overthrew him.

After the destruction of Xuzhou's northern line, there is no need to worry too much. If Boss Cao comes forward to promote the alliance between Tao, Yuan and Cao, then Xuzhou's northern line will be double insurance, and the Xuzhou army, which is steadily recovering in overall strength, can also free up its hands.

Let’s take a stab at those rookies on the southern front.

And there is another point. Compared with the famously capricious Lu Bu, Cao Boss, who is known as the traitor in troubled times, at least has some rules, principles and credibility. At least he is not like Lu Wenhou who often gets water in his head and can do things for no reason.

Being cruel to allies makes it impossible for people to figure out and guess Lu Wenhou's principles of life. Therefore, forming an alliance with Boss Cao is undoubtedly a hundred times better than forming an alliance with Lu Wenhou.

Seeing that Tao Ying and Lu Su remained calm but their eyes were moving wildly, Xun Yu rarely felt a little nervous, and he smiled and said: "Mr. Tao, please forgive me for slandering others behind their backs. I hope that we will form an alliance with Marquis Lu Wen and establish an alliance with me."

My lord, Mr. Cao, is very good at making alliances. I'm afraid Tao Shijun will be more practical, right? At the very least, my lord, Mr. Cao, will still worry about being reviled by the world. Whether Marquis Wen will care about this reputation, Tao Shijun should know better than me."

Tao Ying did not answer. He tapped the table in front of him with his fingers and made nervous calculations. After a long time, Tao Ying suddenly smiled and said: "People say that Meng Degong is treacherous, and now it turns out to be true. It's a good way to delay the attack. If I agree to Meng Degong's offer,

The conditions are the same as those of Meng Degong

Good alliance. Meng Degong may actually send Yuan Gong to come forward to broker an alliance between the three families of Cao, Yuan and Tao - but during this period, if Meng Degong takes Changyi City with all his strength, then Meng Degong fails to bring the three alliances together, and I will only suffer the loss of being dumb.

Already."

"Indeed!" Lu Su's heart trembled, and he secretly said that the lord's words are reasonable. If the lord breaks the war with Cao Cao and forms an alliance now, Cao Cao may keep his promise and come forward to bring the three alliances together, but during this period, our army is limited by the alliance. That is,

There is no way to stop Cao Cao from attacking Marquis Lu Wen with all his strength. Once Lu Bu is destroyed, the initiative will immediately be transferred to Cao Cao. The alliance between the three families cannot be achieved, and our army has nothing to do with Cao Cao.

“Haha.”

Mr. Cao can add a clause to the covenant - before my lord, Mr. Cao,

Before the alliance between the three families of Tao, Yuan and Cao is formed, our army promises to only besiege Lu Wenhou but not attack. Then, if the alliance of the three families can be achieved, Tao Shijun, you will withdraw our troops and attack the city. If the alliance of the three families cannot be achieved, Tao Shijun, you have the right to tear up Guiwu.

The two families have made an alliance to send troops to rescue Marquis Lu Wen."

Tao Ying and Lu Su looked at each other again, and each saw the satisfied expression in the other's eyes, secretly thinking that Cao Cao could even offer such favorable conditions to our army. It seemed that this time he was really sincere.

"Tao Shijun, do you still need to hesitate?" Xun Yu asked slowly: "If Shijun has any additional conditions, you can just put them forward, and my lord Cao Gong can do his best to satisfy them. The five counties of Xuzhou are now free of internal worries. In order to

To eliminate the last hidden danger within the eight counties of Yanzhou, my lord Cao Gong can show all his sincerity."

Tao Ying did not answer, but turned to look at Lu Su. After thinking for a long time, Lu Su finally nodded slightly and expressed his agreement to accept the peace treaty. However, Deputy Director Tao's cunning and cautiousness was not for nothing, and he thought for a long time.

Finally, Tao Ying still replied: "Mr. Wenruo, Meng Degong's conditions are indeed very tempting, but I must consider it carefully before giving a reply to Mr. Wenruo and Meng Degong."

"Your Majesty is really cautious."

We greet each other on bare feet. Well, thank you for the wine, envoy Tao. The military affairs are busy, so Xun Yu will take his leave first."

Seeing that Xun Yu was about to leave, Tao Ying and Lu Su certainly did not dare to force him to stay, and they just tried to persuade him to stay. However, Xun Yu insisted on leaving, and Tao Ying and Lu Su had no choice but to send Xun Yu out of the camp in person and surrendered to Xun Yu.

Farewell. However, when Xun Yu mounted his horse and set off, Tao Ying suddenly

He also said: "Mr. Wen Ruo, I have heard for a long time that the Xun family in Yingchuan has many talented people, and they are all highly valued by the princes. However, Xuzhou has not found any outstanding Xun people. Tao Ying is bold enough to talk about it. I would like to ask Mr. to recommend one or two people from the family.

If you want to serve as an official in Xuzhou, you should be treated kindly, I wonder if that’s okay?”

Xun Yu reined in his horse and thought to himself that this boy is really smart. He actually saw our Xun family's plan to place bets separately to ensure the long-term prosperity of the family. Then Xun Yu turned the horse's head again and smiled at Tao Ying on the horse: "

Your Majesty, please rest assured that your Majesty is seeking talents like this.

Ruo Ke, who is so young and promising, and has a far-reaching reputation, if he can take advantage of the prosperity of Xuzhou to feed the officials, pacify the people, and make them live and work in peace and prosperity, I believe that within a few years, when the time is right, he will not need Xun Yu's recommendation.

There are people in the Xun family who take the initiative to surrender to the emperor."

"In other words, my strength in Xuzhou has not caught the attention of your Xun clan?" Tao Ying muttered in his heart, and smiled on his face: "Thank you Mr. Wenruo for your guidance, Tao Ying will definitely work harder and strive to obtain it as soon as possible.

Xun Yu is favored by people from the famous Xun family." Xun Yu smiled and handed over his hands, and stopped talking. He turned his horse and headed north. Tao Ying and Lu Su saluted in front of the gate of the camp and did not return to the Central Army until Xun Yu had gone far.

Negotiate the big account.

After returning to the Chinese army's tent, Lu Su, who was very calm, asked Tao Ying: "My lord, Cao Cao sent Xun Yu to ask for peace and alliance. His intention is very sincere. If my lord agrees, Yang Hong will ask Yuan Shao for help."

If the alliance is not allowed, Xuzhou's northern line can also temporarily maintain peace. This matter is in the interests of Xuzhou. My lord has always acted decisively, why is it so unusual today that he must hesitate to consider it."

"Zijing, you only saw the strategic level, not the tactical level." Tao Ying sighed and explained: "Actually, this is Cao Cao's tactic to delay the attack. Cao Cao's words are nice, and he is promoting the three families of Tao, Yuan and Cao.

Before the alliance, we will never attack

If the attack on Changyi City fails, we will exchange tactics with our army - but during this period, after Cao's thieves took the opportunity to transport a large amount of grain and grass and military supplies from the rear, what else can our army do to seize the tactical initiative? How many of our troops do we have in a frontal decisive battle?

Are you sure you can rescue Lu Bu?"

"And Cao's thieves are besieging the city. The food and grass in Changyi City are also constantly decreasing. In fact, it does not delay the siege and consumption tactics that are most beneficial to Cao's thieves. By then, our army will not be able to defeat Cao's thieves in a frontal attack, and it will be useless to cut off Cao's thieves' food routes.

, in Changyi City because of

Because of the problem of food and grass, we cannot persist for a long time, and the tactical initiative is still firmly in the hands of Cao Cao. If I agree immediately at this time, it will be equivalent to handing over the tactical initiative on the Changyi battlefield. That's why I am so hesitant.

"

After hearing Tao Ying's explanation, Lu Su, who was not good at tactics, came to his senses. He exclaimed, "What a danger. If my lord hadn't been astute and saw through Cao Cao's scheme, our army's greatest advantage would have been given to others.

All the arrangements made by my lord before will be in vain."

"No, it's not that I'm smart, it's that I know very well what Thief Cao wants." Tao Ying shook his head and said with a gloomy expression: "If Thief Cao made a fuss in other aspects, maybe I wouldn't be able to see through his tricks. It's a pity that he just

Having to make a fuss about Yuan Shao made me not believe anything Xun Yu said from the beginning."

"My lord didn't believe anything Xun Yu said from the beginning?" Lu Su asked in surprise.

Tao Ying nodded and snorted: "The Cao thieves are located in the gap between our army and Yuan Shao. He dare not provoke Yuan Shao in the north now. Luoyang in the west has experienced the Yellow Turban and Dong Zhuo's rebellion, and its vitality has been damaged to the point where it can no longer be hurt.

, there is not much profit to be gained after defeating them, and as long as Li Jue and Guo Si have no internal problems, the Cao thieves may not be their opponents. Only Xu in the south

The five counties in Xuzhou are rich in oil and water and relatively important. They are the first choice for the Cao thieves to expand their territory in the next step. If our army forms an alliance with Yuan Shao, once the Cao thieves send troops to Xuzhou, they may be attacked from the north and the south. The situation is extremely unfavorable for the Cao thieves.

You’re not stupid. How can you really promote an alliance between our army and Yuan Shao? If you don’t do your best to destroy it, Cao Cao will have water in his head!”

Lu Su nodded silently, feeling that Tao Ying's words were reasonable. He also felt that compared with such naughty men as Cao Cao and Tao Ying, he was just like an honest child. After nodding, Lu Su asked again: "My lord, since you have seen through Cao Cao's thief

Trick, what should we do next?”

"I really have to think about this." Tao Ying frowned and replied: "This matter involves too much and the situation is too complicated. I have to carefully weigh the pros and cons before I can make up my mind. Otherwise, I will make a mistake now.

If you take one step forward, the consequences will be disastrous."

God finally made things difficult for the hateful Deputy Director Tao. It took him a long time to sort out the various connections. He was just beginning to figure out how to get the most benefit from it, when a messenger came in from outside the account to disturb him.

He said that there was another envoy from Cao Jun asking to see him.

He said that he had something urgent to report to Tao Ying. Hearing this, Tao Ying and Lu Su inevitably looked at each other. They both wondered why an envoy from Cao's army had just sent away, and another envoy from Cao's army came in less than an hour? Within an hour?

, it’s impossible for Xun Yu to send the news to Cao Jun’s camp a hundred miles away?

Surprised, Young Master Tao Ying had no choice but to summon an envoy from Cao's army. This time, the envoy sent by Boss Cao was a typical unknown person. Neither Tao Ying nor Lu Su had ever heard of his name. After saluting Tao Ying, the unknown person immediately took the

He wrote a letter and said mysteriously: "Mr. Tao, this is the letter that my lord Cao Gong ordered the envoy to dedicate to you. My lord has said that as long as your envoy reads this letter, you will understand everything."

Already."

With Tao Ying's permission, the guard in the tent forwarded the letter to Tao Ying. After opening the letter and taking a quick look, Tao Ying was shocked at first. When he looked at the content of the letter carefully, Tao Ying's face gradually became serious.

, but there is no

The soldier was secretly nervous, and even an honest man like Lu Su was a little surprised by his guilty conscience and cowardice. "Why did this Cao Jun envoy secretly clenched his fists and then relaxed? The Xuzhou army had no precedent of killing an envoy, so why should he be nervous?"

"

After carefully reading the letter, Tao Ying did not hand it to Lu Su, but closed his eyes and carefully considered it. The unknown soldier was even more nervous, and even his legs were shaking slightly. Fortunately, Tao Ying did not order to be executed.

After a long time, Tao Ying opened the letter again, turning it over and over to read it carefully. After a long time, Tao Ying suddenly slapped the table in front of him and shouted angrily: "How dare you do this, Lu Bu!"

"Lord, why are you so angry?" Lu Su asked in surprise.

"Look!" Tao Ying angrily threw the letter to Lu Su and roared: "I came here to save his fellow Lu Bu with good intentions, but this common man dared to secretly beg Cao Cao for peace, and even prepared to trick me into leading an army to rescue him under the pretense of breaking through.

He then stabbed me to death with a halberd on the battlefield! Take my head and exchange it for the two counties of Donghai and Langya in Xuzhou!"

Roaring. Tao Ying was so angry that he flipped over the desk in front of him and roared wildly: "Old man Lu Bu, you are so shameless. If I don't kill you, I swear you won't be a human being!"

It was rare to see Tao Ying so angry. Lu Su was inevitably surprised and nervous. He quickly picked up the letter and read it carefully. He also immediately discovered that this letter was actually a peace letter written by Lu Bu to Cao Cao! Moreover, in the letter, Lu Bu repeatedly provoked Cao Cao.

The eldest brother and the old Tao family, who had the revenge of killing their father, begged Cao Cao in a very humble tone to let Lu Bu's army go. They said that as long as Cao Cao spared Lu Bu's army, Lu Bu would be willing to do so.

He intended to deceive Tao Ying into saving Changyi, and when the two armies were joining forces, he thrust out a halberd and stabbed Tao Ying to death. Then Lu Bu said that as long as Tao Ying died, the five counties of Xuzhou would be within easy reach for Cao Cao. Lu Bu also

He was willing to fight for Cao Cao and seize the five counties of Xuzhou. After that, Lu Bu only used the two counties of Donghai and Langya to gain a foothold. The three richest counties in Xuzhou, Pengcheng, Xiapi and Guangling, were owned by Cao Cao.

"Zijing, have you seen it?" Tao Ying roared again, "How did I treat him, Lu Bu, and what did he, Lu Bu, do to me? This time we came to save Lu Bu, and we were simply blind.

It’s so eye-catching!”

"My lord, wait a minute. Please calm down." Lu Su quickly stopped Tao Ying's roar and turned to look at the envoy sent by Cao Cao. He found that not only was this unknown person no longer nervous, but he also had a secretly happy look on his face that could not be concealed by anything.

, Lu Su suddenly became even more suspicious. He shouted: "Do you have any position under Cao Cao? What is your identity certificate?"

The unknown soldier was startled by Lu Su's fierce shouting, and his face turned a little pale, but Tao Ying next to him yelled, "Zijing, do you care what kind of job he has? Mr. Lu Bu repays kindness with vengeance. He intends to harm me, what do you say?"

manage?"

"Lord, this letter..." Lu Su turned to Tao Ying again, and was about to remind Tao Ying to carefully identify the authenticity of the letter, but when the words came to his mouth, Lu Su, who had been completely spoiled, suddenly changed his words and said: "Lord,

, I wonder what the purpose of Cao Cao’s sending people to deliver Marquis Wen’s letter to our military camp?”
To be continued...