Four months ago:

Lu Bu attacked Yanzhou three times, but was repulsed by Cao Cao. There were several tug-of-wars. It was about to survive the winter. His own supplies were not enough to support the attack, so he looted everywhere in Yanzhou to support the war. He took away nearly 20% of Cao Cao's supplies and retreated to Yanzhou.

Xuzhou.

Lu Bu first arrived outside Xuzhou City, just as Tao Qian was passing away. Liu Bei was worried about Tao Qian's enmity with Cao Cao. When he saw Lu Bu's army of more than 30,000 people waiting outside the city, the God of War was famous, so he immediately grabbed a life-saving straw and personally

Go out of the city to welcome him.

As early as outside the city, Chen Gong repeatedly reminded Lu Bu that if Liu Bei wanted to surrender the city, Lu Bu would never accept it.

Lu Bu was confused when he heard this. How could such a good thing happen in the world? He just thought Chen Gong was telling a joke.

However, after entering the city, Liu Bei wanted to form an alliance with Lu Bu to control Xuzhou and form an alliance to deal with Cao Cao, who was about to come to seek revenge. He even handed over the talisman and was willing to give up the post of Xuzhou Shepherd to Lu Bu. Chen Gong's face changed greatly and he was determined.

Not allowed.

Lu Bu tried to give in several times, but failed and accepted the seal.

That night, Lu Bu mocked: "How did I know that Liu Bei was going to send Xuzhou to me?"

Chen Gong looked solemn and paced in the tent: "To be honest, my lord, I talked about this with Qilin before the year..."

Lu Bu frowned.

Chen Gong turned a blind eye and continued: "Qilin believes that Liu Bei values ​​reputation and despises wealth and power, and he is more self-aware. He knows that if Cao Cao's army comes, he will not be able to stop it. Xuzhou after Tao Qian's death is nothing more than a mess. Who can

Whoever succeeds will be unlucky, even if Xuzhou Mu doesn't do it."

Lu Bu sat beside the general's couch, leaning on Fang Tian's painted halberd on his shoulder. He wiped it with a cloth and muttered dissatisfiedly: "I don't know where I went. I'm still just looking for information...like a god."

Chen Gong looked at the official seal on the table and was silent. After a moment, he said: "According to Gongtai, the Lord has thirty thousand Bingzhou troops. If Xuzhou is captured, it will be a good place to stay."

"It's just that Liu Bei's people are deep in the city and he stays in the city. It would be very unpredictable if he turns against Cao Cao and collaborates with the enemy in the future."

Diao Chan opened the curtain and entered. Lu Bu said, "What? I don't have any money to pay you back."

Diao Chan said: "We have packed up everything at home, are you ready to move in now?"

Lu Bu put the halberd aside casually and said, "I'm not busy. You go out first. The Marquis is discussing business."

Diao Chan had no choice but to turn around and leave, and Lu Bu said again: "Qilin, if you have anything else to say, tell me and let the Marquis hear it."

Chen Gong thought for a while and said: "No, Qilin mentioned Baimen Tower at the beginning... and didn't talk about Xuzhou anymore."

Lu Bu was silent for a long time, and finally said: "Then let's go to Xiaopei, leave the official seal here, and leave tonight." After all, Yan had not taken off his helmet, armor, and the 40,000 soldiers had not fed their horses, so he got up again and stayed overnight.

Leave Xuzhou City and head to Xiaopei garrison ten miles away.

Before Chen Gong could think through Qilin's words long ago, Yuan Shu's army arrived at the beginning of spring.

After Tao Qian's death, the whole city mourned. Ji Ling's troops pressed Xuzhou, Liu Bei's men only had Guan, Zhang Er's sworn brothers, and Zhao Yun came to surrender, but Hannan's army was very few.

The soldiers and horses of the Xuzhou army were restless and had not fought for a long time, and there were no more than ten thousand people. Liu Bei had no staff, and only two counselors, Jian Yong and Sun Qian, were in the tent. When they heard that Ji Ling was leading an army to attack the border, there were a hundred thousand soldiers.

Then you know that your ambition will be achieved.

Although the city of Xuzhou was easy to defend but difficult to attack, Tao Qian's troops were made up of old, young, women and children, and Cao Cao and Lu Bu were watching eagerly from the side. Liu Bei absolutely did not dare to open the city to fight, so he had to summon two counselors, Jian and Sun, to discuss the matter.

Jian Yong said: "At first, my lord wanted to surrender Xuzhou to Marquis Wen, but Marquis Wen refused to take it. When he left overnight, Chen Gong said that the two armies were at an angle and could support each other. Why not ask Xiaopei for help?"

Liu Bei thought carefully and sent a messenger to Xiaopei quickly.

Lü Bu had already known about this, so he let Liu Bei's messenger wait outside the palace and summoned Chen Gong to inquire about the plan.

"Yuan Shu's advance army is approaching Xuzhou City, and there are more than 100,000 troops in the rear. Liu Bei has asked for reinforcements. What should we do now?"

Chen Gong frowned and thought again and again, and said: "My lord, if you are willing to fight Yuan Shu, you must not underestimate the enemy. According to my current opinion, if we want to resist the powerful enemy together, we must move the entire army into Xuzhou City and lead them to attack the fortress. The battle on the plains will be

This is a bad idea. If you persist like this for several months, Yuan Shu's army will retreat during the rainy season..."

"Report——"

Chen Gong was still analyzing the pros and cons, but the defenders outside the city had received the news and quickly handed in the document: "Yuan Shu sent a messenger with the promise of bringing generous gifts and asked to see the lord outside the city!"

Lu Bu's heart moved and he asked: "Messenger?"

Lu Bu was dressed in a military officer's robe, but had not yet changed his armor. He strode out of the mansion. Standing at the door was a young silver-helmeted military general, who was looking at the reward notice posted on the wall in front of the mansion. When he saw Lu Bu striding out, he hurriedly said: "Master Hou!

"

Lu Bu said: "Are you a messenger? What delicious food have you brought?"

Silver Helmet General: "..."

Chen Gong had a black line on his head: "Back to my lord, this person is the messenger of Xuzhou Mu Liu Bei."

The general clasped his fists and bowed: "General Zhao Yun, the city of Xuzhou is in dire need right now. I hope Marquis Wen will send troops as soon as possible to relieve the danger of the people of Xuzhou."

Lu Bu looked at Zhao Yun indifferently for a moment, nodded, and noticed that Zhao Yun was looking at the reward notice. On it was a smiling Qilin, which was lifelike. Lu Bu then explained to him: "If you find this man, you will get half of Yuan Shu's generous gift."

.”

Zhao Yun: "..."

Lu Bu said no more, got on the red rabbit and headed towards the city gate.

Zhao Zilong was just a lieutenant under Liu Bei at this time, and his official position was completely different from that of Marquis Wen. Besides, Liu Bei had requests from others and repeatedly told him to act with caution. Zhao Yun didn't have much to say, so he jumped on another horse.

Followed behind Wen Hou.

Zhao Zilong's mount was Liu Bei's favorite horse, Lu. The wind was blowing under his hooves, and he was such a powerful horse that he followed Lu Bu without being thrown away. He reached the gate of Xiaopei City before Chen Gong arrived.

Lu Bu jumped up to the city gate in three or five steps, and Zhao Yun followed closely. He saw nearly three thousand soldiers and horses lined up densely outside the city, wearing Shouchun military armor and carrying a big flag: Sun.

Another horse was riding in the open space.

"Is this Marquis Wen on the city tower?" The man laughed loudly and said, "I am Zhou Gongjin of Danyang, and I am here to see you with a letter from my lord."

Lu Bu said: "Let him enter the city."

Zhao Yun hurriedly said: "Absolutely not!"

Lu Bu said angrily: "How presumptuous! How can a mere lieutenant care about my affairs?!"

Zhao Yundao: "Marquis Wen, please listen to me!"

Zhou Yu shouted outside the city: "There is no need to open the door, just ask someone to come and pick up the letter."

Zhao Yundao said: "Yuan Shu is a treacherous person who cannot be trusted easily. Now he is trying to drive a wedge between Duke Xuande and the Marquis. We just need to defeat each one..."

Lu Bu was instantly struck by the word "alien". Just as he was about to retort, Zhou Yu said again: "Please accept the letter from Marquis Wen!"

At that time, a man in the formation bent his bow and set an arrow, and flew to the door in an instant. Zhao Yun's expression changed, and he stopped in front of Lu Bu with his gun, shouting: "Be careful!"

Zhao Yun twisted his silver spear, but before Lu Bu could react, the arrow had already turned a corner in full view of everyone.

Lu Bu: "..."

Zhao Yun: "..."

The wooden arrow flew lightly, flying left and right, as if spying on Lu Bu's movements. Zhao Yun frowned and raised his gun to point it. The arrow twisted proudly, turned around and flew towards the pillar, and nailed in with a soft "thud".

"Monsters—" The guards at the city gate scattered in fright.

The wooden arrow was not nailed firmly and fell down, then flew up. I nailed it to the pillar a few times again and finally it was firmly inserted.

The corners of Lu Bu's mouth twitched and he asked Zhao Yun: "Just now... did you see it too?"

Zhao Yun's palms were full of sweat and his eyes widened: "Yes, it seems..."

Lu Bu folded off the arrow with his hand, took out the paper at the end, opened it, and saw only one line of words on it:

After persuading peace, talk to Zhou Gongjin.

Zhou Yu cupped his fists and said, "Sorry! See you again if we are destined!"

Another horseman came out of the crowd, took Yuan Shu's bribe list, and handed it to Xiaopei City Guards.

Persuade peace.

Lu Bu and Chen Gong thought about taking advantage of the chaos to capture Xuzhou, about attacking Yuan Shu's base camp Shouchun, and about moving their troops to Xuzhou, but they never thought about persuading peace.

However, this solution was exactly what Lu Bu wanted. Yuan Shu promised in the letter that as long as Lu Bu did not help Liu Bei, he would give Lu Bu a thousand bolts of silk, a hundred thousand stones of rice, a thousand cattle and sheep, and a thousand taels of gold.

One winter passed and Lu Bu was short of money. He planned to lead his army back to Yanzhou to rob it, but Cao Cao was prepared.

It would be great if Yuan Shu sent money. However, we could not just sit back and watch Xuzhou fall, but also want Yuan Shu's bribes. The only way was to persuade peace.

In Lu Bu's logic, as long as you don't help Liu Bei in the war, you are "not helping"; but Yuan Shu's logic is that before Xuzhou is captured, Lu Bu should not intervene. The two sides have different standards, which leads to a lot of trouble in the end. Unfortunately, Yuan Shu is

Lu Bu, who was angry to collect debts, beat him up all over his head. This is a story for later, so I won't mention it for now.

The words on the note were written by Zhou Yu, and Chen Gong couldn't make out the meaning. The master and servant had to put it aside and set up banquets on a high ground in Xiaopei and Xuzhou cities. They sent letters to both parties, inviting Liu Bei.

Get together with Ji Ling.

The place where the banquet is held is called Yuanmen.

On that day, when the Bingzhou army was encircling, there was no tent set up, only a low altar, and three seats were set up. Yuan Jun was on the left, Liu Jun was on the right, and Lu Bu was wearing a warrior armor and a pheasant tail crown.

He had to run away in a panic, looking completely different from the other two.

Zhou Yu led hundreds of people, followed by Qilin dressed as a soldier. Qilin deliberately wore a large helmet to hide his face so as not to be recognized by the Bingzhou army. His broken hair was pressed down under the helmet, revealing his fair and clean neck.
To be continued...