Three Kingdoms

Winter is deep, and heavy snow is falling, covering the inside and outside of Xu County with a blanket of silver.

Except for the rich and wealthy, ordinary people have no appreciation for snowy weather. Even the most heartless children will feel pain due to the cold in such snowy weather. .

Once it starts to snow, it is almost the most difficult time to endure. Especially in the past few years, winter has been freezing every year. Everyone hopes that the next year will be better, but often when winter comes, hope is gone. Disillusionment once again.

Rural farmers in many places may not even have basic warm clothes. When winter comes, the whole family can only wrap themselves in quilts and suffer. Every time they get out of bed, it is a torture. Some don't even have decent quilts, so they can only use hay to keep out the cold. And they don't even have a brazier, so they don't dare to light it, for fear that people and the grass will be lit on fire...

In this way, when winter comes, it is not uncommon for people to freeze to death. As long as there is not a large area of ​​​​frozen to death, basically the government will not deal with it, and naturally there is no need to talk about comfort and disaster relief. As for the frail elderly and children, it is not a strange thing if they cannot survive the cold weather. They are all thin anyway, so they will die if they die.

Of course, no matter how heavy the snow is, there will still be no hindrance to big households. Several of the best restaurants in Xu County are still doing a prosperous business. The lights are brightly lit every day, and the aroma of wine and meat can be smelled two streets away. Thick brocades are hung on the doors and windows, and the best silver charcoal is burned inside. The singing girl is graceful and the beauty is lovely. If you are drunk and want to take a mandarin duck bath or something, there is also hot soup available at any time, so you can It’s expensive, but it’s also full of regulars.

Life is only once, happiness is just one word.

As for the troubles, leave them behind for the time being and just feel good now!

Food smells good, beauty smells good...

It smells good!

But there are still some people who are not addicted to pleasure...

In the general's mansion.

Cao Cao held the latest Guanzhong intelligence in his hand. He didn't know whether he should be happy, scared, or some other emotion.

Xun Yu and Guo Jia are also there.

This period of time is approaching the end of the year, and both local finances and official positions need to be reviewed and evaluated at the end of the year. There are so many things as if they were the hair of a cow, and they need to be counted one by one, which is tedious and complicated.

"My lord..." Xun Yu saw that Cao Cao's expression was slightly abnormal, so he couldn't help but ask, "But something happened?" 』

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Riding on the three assistants of Chang'an, strictly arresting corrupt officials, tracking down the heroes...killing the rebels, more than 520 people, with the capital watching on the roadside..."

"Well..." Guo Jia on the side also raised his head and said, "More than five hundred people?" 』

Xun Yu also looked at Cao Cao.

More than five hundred people are nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of people in Chang'an. Just like if Cao Cao didn't like the manor and sent soldiers to clear it out, it would probably be more than this number.

Cao Cao sighed and said: "There are more than five hundred people, all of whom are wealthy and powerful, and are children of country gentry..."

Xun Yu's eyes widened.

Guo Jia's mouth couldn't help but twitch, "Sure enough..."

If more than five hundred people are all wealthy squires, then it is a numerical value in a completely different sense. In many cases, ordinary people are just a number in the thinking of the ruling class in feudal society, and they are not even willing to make detailed statistics.

What makes these feudal rulers feel heartbroken is always seeing the death of their own people. As for the life and death of ordinary people, they are not very concerned. The percentage that falls on the paper.

"What's true?" ”Cao Cao turned around and asked Guo Jiadao.

Guo Jia sighed, recounted the bet he made with Fei Qian when they first met in Yingchuan, and then said slowly: "Now... the Qiusi has really taken action..."

Cao Cao pinched his beard and was silent.

Xun Yu frowned, as if he still couldn't believe it, "Are you not afraid of the world's turmoil with this move?" Even if it is in the name of treason, so what? How can we prevent the world from talking about it? 』

Cao Cao nodded. To be honest, Cao Cao also wants to recruit these big noble families. Yuzhou Yingchuan Xunyu and others are better off. After all, they stand with Cao Cao, but the gang of old and young people in Jizhou...

Hum.

Nowadays, there are more wars, and the consumption is naturally greater, and more food, grass and corvee are needed. Isn't this normal? However, the area in Yuzhou is more or less okay. Jizhou is just screaming like ghosts, as if its own father is dead. Just like my mother, she even screamed more fiercely than my own parents after they died.

They always said "not caring about the sufferings of the people", or said "tyranny is stronger than a tiger", etc., which made Cao Cao want to drag these guys in front of him one by one and slap their mouths, so that these guys understand what real suffering is and what talent is. It's a real tiger...

As for why they didn’t do it, it wasn’t because they were worried about the implication.

But Qiusi just did it like this.

Cao Cao really didn't know whether he should call Qiusi Niubi or laugh and say Qiusi will die...

Otherwise, as usual, laugh three times?

The information came into the hands of Xun Yu and Guo Jia, and after Xun Yu read it, he exchanged a look with Guo Jia, and was discovered by Cao Cao.

Um? You two...

"My lord Mingjian, this hussar's skills..." Xun Yu cupped his hands and seemed to be quite touched, "It's really impressive..."

"oh? how do I say this? ” asked Cao Cao.

Guo Jia clicked on the sentences in the intelligence and said: "In the name of "honest soldiers and clean officials"... and on the grounds of "rebellion", the people of the big family were tracked down, and Wei Shi was the leader... Naturally there are restrictions. , if it is not widened but expanded, even though there will be surprise, there will be no fear..."

Cao Cao groaned, then took the information and came back to read it again, and then moved his brows a few times.

"What if..." Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu and then at Guo Jia, "How about it?" 』

"inappropriate. Guo Jia shook his head and said, "Now in the three auxiliary areas of Chang'an, there are the soldiers of Longyou in the west, Hussar in Wuguan in the south, Taishi in Tongguan in the east, and Yinshan and soldiers in the north. They are as solid as gold. If... wouldn't it be so? Are you seeking your own death? 』

Xun Yu also nodded.

Similarly, this is also the reason why the three auxiliary nobles in Guanzhong endured some pain and could not make a fuss in this situation.

When Cao Cao heard this, he couldn't help but sigh slightly. It's not that Cao Cao didn't understand, he just felt that it was a pity that he couldn't take advantage of the situation. This hussar, Fei Qian, why can't you neglect it for once?

"Big family..." Cao Cao pinched his beard and narrowed his eyes, "Big family... Qiaoqi's move... may be something we can learn from..."

"Ming Gong! ” Xun Yu opened his eyes wide.

Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Just like a hussar, limited to a certain place..."

By setting up a big business, you can basically get local money and food for a year or even for many years. This business seems feasible...

"Mr. Ming, this is tantamount to killing the goose to retrieve the eggs!" Xun Yu cupped his hands and said, "Please Ming Gong think twice!" 』

Cao Cao nodded and said: "I also know it...but these eggs...have not fallen into my hands. So, what's the harm in killing them?" "Of course you can't kill your own chickens indiscriminately, and you have to protect them and lay eggs. But the question is if the chickens always go elsewhere to lay eggs, and then eat your own food and grass, should you keep them for the Chinese New Year?

Xun Yu turned to look at Guo Jia.

If Guo Jia had not been to Guanzhong Sanfu, he might have followed Xun Yu to dissuade Cao Cao, but now Guo Jia has some different ideas. After all, if the hussar did not open a way first, maybe he would stand on the ground. Everyone in the thorns is blocked, and there is no way out, but now...

"Maybe we can wait a moment..." Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, "Ming Gong is not in a hurry..."

Cao Cao rolled his eyes and nodded, "What Fengxiao said makes sense. We'll just have to wait and see how Guanzhong changes..."

The discussion in Xu County has come to an end temporarily, but the chaos in Jiaozhi has just begun.

After Shi Xie found that Liu Bei and others could not be defeated either on the frontal battlefield or with a sneak attack from the side, he raised his last trump card and slapped it on the table...

Make peace!

Shi Xie also showed considerable sincerity in order to negotiate peace. Of course, Shi Xie has also made two preparations. On the one hand, if Liu Bei is willing to negotiate, then he can take a breath and recover. But Liu Bei has come a long way, and supplies are not smooth. If it drags on, Shi Xie's side will obviously recover. get more.

On the other hand, if Liu Bei does not agree to the peace negotiation, then Shi Xie will use the benefits originally intended for Liu Bei to sell them to the Southern Barbarians in the Jiaozhi area, and coordinate a violent attack on Liu Bei...

"Is Mrs. Liu willing?" Shi Xie sat in the middle, looking at the map, his brows furrowed.

The land of Jiaozhi is mostly mountainous, but there are also flat lands. The most ideal ones are the two larger alluvial plains. One is the Pearl River Delta Plain, which includes the place where Guangzhou later was located. It is currently under the jurisdiction of Nanhai County, and Hanoi, the later capital of Vietnam. The Red River Delta Plain where it is located belongs to Jiaozhi County, so Shixie actually controls two centers, but now Shixie said that he can give up one, the Pearl River Delta Plain to Liu Bei.

Shi Yan shook his head slowly. As an envoy to Liu Bei's army to deliver the peace treaty documents, although Shi Ma was not treated badly, he could still get some clues about how Liu Bei and others treated the matter.

Liu Bei was obviously unwilling to negotiate peace.

One is that although the Pearl River Delta plain area ceded by Shi Xie and others can be regarded as a land of abundant water and grass, it is in the east and west of the Jiaozhi area controlled by Shi Xie and others. If Liu Bei accepts it, then even if The next time I want to come to Shixie, I have to cross the mountains of Cangwu and Hepu counties, which is naturally not that convenient.

On the other hand, although the Pearl River Delta plain is good, it is also the support point of the South Vietnam strategy that Sun has always wanted to obtain. When Liu Bei gets there, he will inevitably come into contact with Sun Quan's forces. When the time comes, Shi Xie will have to be used. If he takes action, Sun Quan can kill Liu Bei on his behalf...

Of course, these ideals seem unattainable today.

After all, Liu Bei is not a fool. Whatever others say is what he says. For Liu Bei, there is no problem in accepting the peace treaty with a smile, and then continuing to attack with his troops. There is also no psychological barrier.

"Fourth brother, when you go to the Liu family's army, what do you think of it?" ’ Shi Xie asked.

Shi Xie mainly wanted to know whether Liu Bei had the strength to conquer Jiaozhi.

Shi Xie somewhat avoided Shi Xie's gaze, but after all he couldn't avoid it. He could only raise his hands and said: "My lord, although the people of the Liu family do not know the scriptures, their soldiers are very brave, and their generals... are very powerful..."

To put it simply, Liu Bei is a group of bandits, very vicious...

Shi Xie couldn't help but feel suffocated, then he forced a smile and said, "If the Liu family refuses peace talks and sends an army to attack, how long can Yongji Pass... be held?" 』

Shi Fu pondered for a long time, and then said: "The Yongji place is sandwiched between two mountains. If the Liu family wants to attack, they will only have one chance... After all, the mountain road is steep and transportation is inconvenient. The art of war is cloudy. If you go all out, then..."

Shi Xie interrupted Shi Ma's book bag and said, "Regardless of the art of war, I just want to ask, if the Liu family comes to attack, can it be stopped?" How long can we keep it? 』

Shi Ma coughed, and then said: "Yongji Pass...how many days we can hold it, it's hard to say clearly...If we look at the amount of food and grass hoarded alone, our five thousand soldiers and Guanzhong can eat A year of worry-free...』

Shi Xie's face couldn't help but become a little ugly.

Anyone who lives up to this point is not a fool. Shima refused to say anything, just said that it was okay to just eat. So the subtext actually means that compared with the soldiers at Yongji Pass and the soldiers of Liu Bei and others, that is……

"How can the hero of Yongji Pass not be conquered?" ” Shi Xie still couldn’t believe it, “If we can stop it for half a year, there will be a turning point...”

Since Liu Bei came south, Shi Xie began to hoard a large amount of food and grass. However, because he did not expect that Liu Bei's offensive would be so strong, he sent people out to collect food and grass, and contacted people from various southern barbarian tribes who did not come back in time. In addition, Although the land of Jiaozhi is extensive, many areas are mountainous and not easy to walk, so Shi Xie cannot say for a while that he can immediately gather all his soldiers to fight against Liu Bei.

"If you want to use Yongji Pass as your base..." Shi Fu sighed, flexed his fingers and said, "When you are in need, you might as well... strengthen the walls and clear the fields... demolish all the surrounding houses, obtain wood, iron tools, firewood... cultivate more arrows as soon as possible, Objects such as wood, rolling stones, kerosene, horses, deer villages, hanging spleens, thorns, wooden stakes, etc..."

Shi Xie frowned and said, "A strong wall clears the field?" 』

If you really do this, it will be equivalent to giving up all the area east of Yongji Pass to Liu Bei. Even if Liu Bei is defeated in the future, Shi Xie will have to return to the east of Yongji Pass if he wants to. A rather difficult thing to do.

"Of course..." Shi Fu said, "Move all the people and demolish all the houses. If you can't get them, burn them with fire... until everything outside Yongji Pass and within a hundred miles is reduced to ruins!" If we can hold Yongji Pass and defeat Liu's army, it won't be too late to rebuild... If... What's more, if the Liu army comes to attack, the enemy outside Yongji Pass is also a threat, so it is better to leave as early as possible... …』

"But is it too early to implement the strategy of strengthening the wall and clearing the wilderness now?" Shi Xie said with a frown.

This is the truth, but if his side did this, wouldn't Liu Bei not even have to consider peace talks? Seeing that Shi Xie was ready to fortify the wall and clear the country, then the peace talks must be fake. Wouldn't they immediately attract Liu Bei and others?

"Peace talks..." Shi Xie looked at Shi Xie, raised his hands and said, "Liu's people are like tigers and wolves, how can there be any room for negotiation?" Now, he has no choice but to move his troops south, intending to sneak attack on us... My lord, please don't hesitate, if you fight to the death, there may be a glimmer of hope..."

Silence fell in the room.

Shi Xie sat behind the desk, bowing his head in thought.

After a while, Shi Xie raised his head and said, "If the walls are fortified and the country is cleared, where will the people go?" 』

"Repair the city and dig trenches..." Shi Fu said, "Now the weather is cold and the land is hard. Without enough manpower, it may be difficult to repair the fortifications..."

Shi Xie nodded, and then said: "But if there are too many people...Guanzhong will inevitably consume food and grass..."

Shi Ma said: "It doesn't matter. Keep it for the time being to repair fortifications, and then abandon it in front of the pass when Liu Jun attacks! If Liu Jun kills him, he will share the same hatred with the enemy. If Liu Jun keeps him, his food will be consumed... Isn't Liu Xuande rumored to be benevolent and lenient to the people? 』

Shi Ma smiled, and then said, "Liu Xuande will probably close it...but the weather is cold and freezing, and it is inconvenient for us to transport food and grass, and the same goes for Liu Xuande!" How many of Liu's troops have food in store? Supportable geometry? 』

Shi Ma said, "If my lord wants to refuse, this is the only way... Firstly, it can secure Yongji Pass, secondly, it can burden Liu Xuande, and thirdly, it can alleviate our difficulties. It's all right in one fell swoop... 』

Shi Xie said: "If...it triggers public anger..."

Shi Fu replied: "You can contact the nearby big family in advance and get their help, then you will have no worries." What's the big deal if there's no one to control the resentment of the people? 』

Shi Xie thought about it for a long time, and finally decided to agree with Shi Miao's plan, and began to set up a place near Yongji Pass. He sent people to notify the large households and tribal villages near Yongji County, asking them to evacuate quietly immediately. Covering everything up, it was said that Shi Xie was considering the blindness of weapons and weapons and could not bear them to face the military disaster...

Then at the same time, he said that anyone who is willing to demolish their houses and clear the walls will get double rewards. In the future, after Liu Bei and others are defeated, Shixie will not only help them rebuild their homes with money, but also give them a certain amount of land as compensation. Of course, anyone who disobeys the order will be guilty of collaborating with the enemy and will be severely punished.

Shi Xie originally thought that this method might be a bit unsatisfactory. If it aroused public anger, it would be easy to cause trouble, but Shi Xie's words made him forget about this worry.

Shi Ma said, if Yongji Pass is lost, what else will the lord get? Will these people come to protect the lord? Can the Lord still drive Liu Bei away with the support of the people?

People are like cattle and sheep. They may be angry for a while, but they don't have much memory. So even if you humiliate them, scold them, drive them away, or kill them, as long as they are fed and clothed, they will forget their past grudges. Not only that, they will also follow behind them to pray for alms from their lord and pray for more food. …

Public outrage? What does public outrage mean?

When will people remember what happened before?

Why compromise on other things and ultimately choose to eat something that tastes so good?