Chapter 639

Everyone frowned a bit. Hefei is a military fortress. If the Cao army defends it to the death, it will be time-consuming and laborious to take it down.

Liu Bei knew that Sun Quan attacked it several times, not counting the time he was scared out of his wits by Zhang Liao, there were many other times when he besieged it for a long time and couldn't break it.

Lu Su pointed to the map.

"My lord, our army has another path to take."

He pointed to Jiangdu.

"Our army can go from the Yangtze River to Jiangdu, and when going north along the Han Canal, use Gaoyou Lake and Baima Lake, etc., to enter the Huaihe from the end of the canal, use the navy to control the waterway, and Shouchun south of the Huaihe will become an isolated city."

Everyone's eyes lit up. Then the navies of Jiangdong and Jingzhou would have a place to use their skills.

Pang Tong said again,

"The Huaihe connects the Si River, the Wo River, and the Ying River. Our army can use the navy to penetrate deep into the Central Plains, making Cao Cao unable to attend to both ends."

Liu Bei nodded. Isn't this part of the later Grand Canal!

"From the Si River directly to Peng Cheng, take the important cities in the west of Xuzhou, and the east of Xuzhou will have no defenses."

Zhang Zhao frowned.

"My lord, the entire territory of Xuzhou is almost flat, with no defenses. Even if our army takes it, we will have to face threats from Cao Cao from Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Zibu's words are very true. Xuzhou is a land of four battles, and besides our Jiangdong, Cao Cao can send troops from three places."

"However, the situation is different now. Our army doesn't just have Jiangdong; we also have Jingzhou, Bingzhou, and other places that can send troops against Cao Cao. He has many places to defend. Xuzhou, a land of four battles, can also become a place to attack from all sides. We can use offense instead of defense!"

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Now it is Cao who is weak and Liu who is strong, so we can completely turn Xuzhou's disadvantages into advantages.

Lu Xun cupped his hands.

"The Jiangdong army is not good at land warfare, but my lord has many cavalry, which the Cao army cannot compare to at all. Our southern army controls the water, and our northern army fights on land. Coordinating with each other will surely make the Cao army unable to resist!"

Zhang Fei was very excited.

"Good, Boyan is right! Let's attack by water and land, and make Cao Cao miserable!"

Zhang Zhao and the others also realized that Liu Bei didn't just have a navy; on the contrary, the land for raising horses far exceeded that of the Cao army.

Liu Bei stood up tall.

"Everyone, go back to sharpen your weapons and prepare grain and fodder. In half a month, our army will march to the Central Plains!"

"Yes!"

Liu Bei smiled at Zhang Zhao.

"Zibu, this time you can return to your hometown of Peng Cheng."

Zhang Zhao was also extremely excited. It is hard to leave one's native land, and he had also missed his hometown for a long time.

After discussing with everyone, Liu Bei ordered Zhang Ren, Cai Zhong, and Cai He to lead the Yizhou and Jingzhou navies to come to Jiangdong to listen to orders.

He also ordered Zhang Zhao and Lu Su to be the logistics commanders of Jiangdong, responsible for the supply of grain and fodder.

Liu Bei also began to write furiously, needing to write letters to many people.

The first letter he wrote to Guan Yu, the gist of which was: Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists. I know you wanted to occupy Yecheng for your brother. It's fine, we'll fight back next time!

Liu Bei ordered the Chang'an and Liangzhou troops to march out of Hongnong Commandery and wait for Guan Yu's orders.

The second letter was written to Kongming, expressing his trust in him, guessing that Zhuge Liang had already led troops out of Nanyang, wishing him success in taking Ye County, and arranging to meet in Xu County. All troop movements in Jingzhou were left to Zhuge Liang to act according to circumstances!

The third letter was written to Zilong, commending him for being able to bring Yuan Xi and the Youzhou people back to Yanmen this time, ordering him to act according to circumstances, and ordering Jia Xu to go and provide advice!

The fourth letter was written to his family in Chang'an,

Cai Yan, Diao Chan, the Two Qiaos, Beauty Feng, Zhen Mi, Zhen Jiang, Lady Zou, Dong Bai, Lady Gan, Mi Zhen, Huang Yueying, Fu Shou, Lady Dong, Lady Yi, Lady Yuan, etc.,

Telling them to be at ease at home, and that he would return after fighting this battle, so don't worry.

Bai Yuekui and Hua Mulan also received one letter each, telling them to take good care of their daughters, and that he would return to see them, and they must be plump and white.

After writing the family letters, Liu Bei's hands were sore; there were simply too many!

"This is what you call painful and happy!"

Pan Shu kneaded Liu Bei's shoulders, Bu Lianshi ground ink for him, Lady Cai and Lady Fan held lamps for him. The little life was still very good.

In the courtyard,

Zhu Rong, Ma Yunlu, Lu Lingqi, and Sun Shangxiang were sparring there, dancing with knives and swords. With the company of these sisters, Sun Shangxiang also walked out of the Sun Quan affair, and of course, there was no lack of Liu Bei's comfort.

Liu Bei stretched and looked around.

"Pan Shu, you've made several sets of bellybands recently. Did you share them with your sisters?"

Pan Shu giggled.

"Husband, everyone was preparing a surprise for you, I didn't expect you to know already."

Liu Bei laughed heartily.

"My nose is especially sharp; I even smelled the fragrance."

"Wives, I'm tired from writing letters, come and loosen my muscles and bones for me."

Everyone's faces turned slightly red, and they all said in charming voices,

"We obey Husband's orders!"

The netizens in the broadcast room were naturally envious and jealous, and were about to crack!

"Brother Bei is living the life I've dreamed of!"

"This little life, I wouldn't trade it even if I were made an immortal!"

"Just give me one, and I'd be very satisfied!"

The next day, Liu Bei continued to write letters in high spirits.

This time he wrote to the gentry of Xuzhou and Qingzhou. These people had borrowed grain from him before, counting as his creditors, so the relationship was naturally much stronger than that of ordinary people.

Some gentry sent people with IOUs to Chang'an to take goods for business,

Some gentry had always kept the IOUs.

Liu Bei wrote to them to reminisce about the past and arrange to drink next time, which meant: I'm coming to Xuzhou and Qingzhou soon, creditors, prepare yourselves mentally, it's time to get together.

These letters were not sent out now; they would be sent out around the time of the expedition.

Yecheng,

Cao Cao sat in the main seat in high spirits.

"This time we were able to unify Hebei, everyone has great merit!"

Yuan Shao's son was not promising. This time Cao Cao increased his territory and population by double in one fell swoop, and also received more than one hundred thousand troops in Hebei. How could he not be happy?

Cao Hong cupped his hands.

"My lord occupies Hebei and the Central Plains and defeated Guan Yu, establishing world-shaking merit. Please declare yourself King!"

Xia Houyuan and others also urged,

"My lord has the territory of six provinces, all of which are densely populated, with more than thirty thousand armored troops. Only Liu Bei can compare. My lord should declare yourself King!"

Cao Cao occupied Yecheng and also inherited the Emperor (the original Prince of Hejian) supported by the Yuan clan.

Cheng Yu cupped his hands.

"My lord, Liu Bei eliminated Sun Quan and obtained the Imperial Seal. He is unwilling to return it to the Emperor, but instead spreads rumors everywhere that he has dragon energy and is the choice of heaven."

Meaning, Liu Bei has already started to build momentum. Even if Cao Cao took Yuan Shao's General-in-Chief, he was still a head shorter.

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu, who was silent, and sighed in his heart.

"Xun Wenruo is still more loyal to the Great Han."

Sima Yi stepped out.

"My lord is now the master of Jizhou, and Yecheng in Wei Commandery is the center of Hebei. Your subordinate requests my lord to be enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei."

"My lord being enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei will also make the newly attached people of Hebei more convinced."

Cao Cao nodded inwardly. This Zhongda is still very powerful. First be enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei, and the resistance will be much less. 0......

Soon,

The puppet Emperor "issued" an edict, granting Cao Cao the right to be praised without being named, not to hurry when entering the court, and to enter the hall with sword and shoes, following the story of Xiao He, the Marquis of Zuo Wen-zhong.

In fact, this three-piece set is more like one person: Dong Zhuo, the Marquis of Mei!

After Cao Cao was enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei, he naturally feasted his officials and won their hearts.