Chapter 378

Just at this moment,

Guo Jia came to report,

"My lord, Bu Zhi has killed the three Ruan brothers. Not only did he send one hundred thousand indigenous women, but he also sent Shi Xie's collection. It is rumored that this treasure can prolong life."

Liu Bei?

He took a flawless white jade stone from a wooden box.

Guo Jia explained,

"My lord, this jade stone was passed down from Zhao Tuo to the Shi family. Zhao Tuo was a general during the time of Ying Zheng and lived until the fourth year of the Jianyuan era of Emperor Wu, living to be one hundred and three."

What Guo Jia did not know was that Shi Xie could actually live to be over ninety, and Lu Dai also lived to be over ninety later on.

Liu Bei toyed with the jade stone, feeling wisps of energy seemingly "cleansing his marrow and cutting his meridians," improving his physique.

The effect could naturally prolong life, but it was indeed a good thing.

Liu Bei smiled.

"Good. Appoint Bu Zhi as Inspector of Jiaozhou to manage the lands of Jiaozhou."

Since his clansman was so capable, Liu Bei naturally went to reward Bu Bu Lianshi that night. This girl had recently been hanging out with Cao Jie and Cao Han Xian, studying medical skills, and had gained a lot.

In the days that followed,

Both Liu Bei and Cao Cao lived a leisurely and comfortable peaceful life.

Secretly, Cao Cao and Liu Bei were actually sharpening their weapons and horses, planning to find an opportunity to deal the other a fatal blow.

Cao Cao sent an envoy, Xin Pi.

Liu Bei received him.

Xin Pi cupped his hands.

"Liu Liu Xuande, the situation in the Central Plains is chaotic. The Wuhuan, entrenched in the northeast, have risen. The Wuhuan leader, Kill Tadun, has taken the opportunity to occupy most of Liaoxi Commandery. Now he is harming the Han people, and the Duke of Wei intends to lead an expedition against Kill Tadun."

Liu Bei nodded.

"The Wuhuan are an alien race with great ambition. Brother Mengde is leading an expedition against them; I naturally approve. Why come to ask me?"

Xin Pi cursed inwardly; wasn't Liu Bei playing dumb? Cao Cao was naturally afraid that Liu Bei would take the opportunity to attack Hebei.

"Liu Liu Xuande is righteous and protects the people of our Great Han. The Duke of Wei would like to ask Liu Liu Xuande to send troops to assist."

Zhang Fei laughed loudly.

"Is Cao Cao locked in the Bronze Bird Terrace? He needs my big brother's help to fight the Wuhuan?"

Liu Bei waved his hand.

"Zhang Yide, you cannot say that. The Wuhuan have bullied our Han border people for years; it is time to deal them a heavy blow."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Xin Pi, tell Brother Mengde that I will send troops from Yanmen Commandery, no fewer than eighty thousand cavalry."

Xin Pi was secretly delighted; he did not expect his mission to go so smoothly.

"Liu Liu Xuande is righteous; I admire you greatly."

Liu Bei invited Xin Pi to go drink. This Xin Pi was upright and incorruptible, with no lack of talent, and there was a talented woman in his family, Xin Xin Xianying, who was even more talented than he was.

Liu Bei did not intend to lead the expedition himself this time, but rather treated it as an opportunity to train his troops.

The Wuhuan naturally had to be dealt with; Liu Bei also wanted to take the opportunity to attack the Liaodong separatist force, Brother Gongsun Kang, as well as Goguryeo.

A few days later,

Liu Bei announced that he would send ninety thousand troops in three routes, with Zhao Yun as the commander-in-chief.

The first route was led by Zhao Yun, with Fa Zheng as the strategist, and Tian Yu and Guanqiu Sun Jian as assistants.

The second route was led by Zhang Zhang Liao, with Liu Ye as the strategist, and Pang De and Wen Qin as assistants.

The third route was led by Taishi Ci, with Zhuge Jin as the strategist, and Gao Lan, Wu Wu Anguo, and others as assistants. Taishi Ci had avoided disaster in Liaodong in his early years and was very familiar with the terrain.

The goal was to defeat the Wuhuan, take Xiangping in Liaodong directly, establish a base there, and conquer Goguryeo and the lands of the Three Han.

The country of Goguryeo also had an agricultural culture, originated in the northeast, and had long been separated from the Central Plains dynasties; it must be destroyed.

And those sticks from the Three Han tribes must be wiped out!

Liu Bei also had Xu Huang replace Zhang Zhang Liao to guard Jiyin Commandery.

Zhang He guarded Kong Beihai.

Zhuge Zhang Liang took Wang Ping, Guo Huai, Yan Xing, and others to guard Bingzhou.

Gao Shun, Ju Yi, and others continued to lead troops to garrison Xu County.

In Ye City,

Cao Cao did not expect that Liu Bei would not only send troops but also intended to send ninety thousand.

"Could this Liu Bei be trying to take the opportunity to seize my Youzhou?"

He thought about it and felt it shouldn't be the case.

Xun Yu cupped his hands.

"My lord, I suspect that Liu Bei not only wants to strike the Wuhuan this time but also wants to occupy the lands of Liaodong!"

"Liaodong?"

Cao Cao nodded.

"Liu Bei is indeed very ambitious. I only asked him to fight an alien race, and he actually..."

Cheng Yu cupped his hands.

"My lord, Liu Bei probably also has the intention of training his troops this time."

Cao Cao was very depressed; Liu Bei now had many soldiers and generals and could easily send out ninety thousand troops. Zhao Yun, Zhang Zhang Liao, and Taishi Ci were all great generals.

"I fear Liu Bei also has the idea of expanding his territory this time, occupying Liaodong, Goguryeo, and the lands of the Three Han."

Cao Cao held the bamboo slip.

"Liu Bei appointed Bu Zhi as Inspector of Jiaozhou, and after conquering Jiuzhen and Rinan commanderies, he continued to conquer the peninsula to the south, expanding our Great Han's territory by hundreds of miles to the south."

Cao Cao thought of the dozen or so indigenous women from Jiuzhen in the Bronze Bird Terrace and couldn't help but feel a bit sour.

"I heard he is also building sea ships, intending to conquer Luzon, Yizhou (Taiwan), and Zhuya Island."

When Cao Cao said this, he was completely sour. He had intended to do these things himself, but now Liu Bei had done them all, and he could only stare helplessly.

Cheng Yu sighed.

"With Liu Bei doing these things, his prestige will be extremely high. I fear he is not far from declaring himself emperor."

Cao Cao snorted.

"Declaring himself emperor? It is not yet known who will win the deer!"

He pondered for a while,

And decided to send forty thousand troops this time, with Cao Ang as the commander, Xiahou Dun as the assistant, Man Chong as the strategist, and Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen, and Xiahou Shang accompanying the army.

Anyone with a discerning eye knew that this was Cao Cao beginning to cultivate Cao Ang.

Lady Bian was a bit unhappy; her own sons, Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi, were all excellent.

Yet Cao Cao favored Cao Ang and Cao Chong.

Cao Chong was born to Lady Huan and was a concubine's son.

Cao Ang was born to a concubine, Lady Liu, but was adopted by Lady Ding and had the status of a legitimate son.

As Cao Cao grew older, he also had to face the infighting among his heirs.

In early July,

The armies of both sides gathered in Ji County and set off together for the Wuhuan's Liucheng.

The one hundred and thirty thousand troops soon arrived at Mount Wuzhong, preparing to take the Hangu Pass and cross the Liaoxi Corridor, this road along the sea.

Who knew that the heavens would not cooperate, and a torrential downpour began, making the roads muddy, while Kill Tadun sent troops to guard them strictly.

The allied forces were blocked.

Zhao Yun sat in the main seat.

"Everyone, the low-lying coastal areas are difficult to traverse, and the weather is bad. If we remain deadlocked like this until winter, our army will have no chance of victory and will have to retreat. Do you have any suggestions?"

Xiahou Dun's mouth twitched.

"General Zhao, you are the commander of the allied forces; we will naturally listen to you."

Zhao Yun nodded.

"Good. My lord had already anticipated this before we set out."