"You said that Yuan Shu dared to arrogate to the throne?"
Cao Cao blurted out.
Beside him, Xu Huang's expression also changed.
Liu Wu's words really shocked him.
It was a fact that the prestige of the Han court had declined, and the dukes were fighting for supremacy. However, even the strongest dukedom in the world, Yuan Shao, had to put on a show and submit to the Han court on the surface.
Yuan Shu, the third duke of the fourth generation, had received great kindness from the Liu family, yet he dared to proclaim himself emperor?
Wasn't he putting himself in the position of being the public enemy of the world!
How could Cao Cao believe it so easily?
Behind him, Xu Huang's eyes were filled with doubt, not believing that Yuan Shu had the guts to do so.
"Xuande, your words are truly shocking. However, do you really think that Yuan Shu has the courage to do so?”
A cold smile appeared on Cao Cao's face as he questioned.
"Yuan Shu has always been arrogant and ambitious. It's not surprising that he has the intention to usurp the throne when he saw the decline of the Han Dynasty.”
"Moreover, he has the entire Yangzhou, and the little tyrant Sun Ce is his subject. Now that he has Lu Bu's allegiance, his strength is even above Yuan Shao's.”
"Don't forget that he still has the Imperial Jade Seal in his hands.”
"Under such circumstances, his self-confidence swelled and he became too proud. It's not surprising that he overstepped his authority and proclaimed himself emperor.”
Liu Wu gave a reason with a mocking expression.
Cao Cao frowned, his eyes still filled with disbelief.
"Meng De."
Liu Wu changed the topic and said," You're using the Son of Heaven to command the princes. Yuan Shu claiming to be the Emperor is a slap to your face. Since that's the case, why don't you and I turn hostility into friendship and join forces to deal with Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu? That's the best policy!"”
His strategy was to temporarily become friends with Cao Cao.
After all, he had just taken over Xu Prefecture and his foundation was still unstable. If he were to start a full-scale war with Cao Cao, even if he won, he would suffer a great loss.
At that time, Yuan Shao would be able to lead his troops south and take advantage of the situation.
He would let Cao Cao attack Hebei while he went south to deal with Yuan Shu, annex Jiangdong, and occupy half of the southeast.
After that, he would have to contend with Cao Cao in the future.
Cao Cao sneered." Xuande, I haven't seen you for many years. You've become so sharp-tongued. Do you really think that I'll retreat obediently just because you say that Yuan Shu will become the emperor?"”
"No rush."
"Whether you believe it or not, we'll see in a month at the latest. Meng De, let's part ways here."”
After saying that, Liu Wu turned around and left.
"Sikong, do you want me to take action and take Liu Bei down?”
Xu Huang asked in a low voice.
"No!"
Cao Cao waved his hand.
"Since we agreed to meet, how can I go back on my word and let the world laugh at me!”
"Moreover, he can take two moves from Lu Bu. Even if you attack, do you have absolute confidence?”
Xu Huang was stunned and could only remain silent.
"This Liu Xuande's expression and bearing are very different from the Liu Xuande I knew back then.”
"I really didn't see wrongly. Is he really Liu De?”
Looking at Liu Wu's back, Cao Cao was deep in thought, his eyes filled with suspicion.
At the top of Xiaopei City.
Chen Deng, Zhang Fei, and the other civil and military officials were standing on the city wall, watching the meeting between Liu Wu and Cao Cao uneasily.
"This Liu Wu suddenly invited Cao Cao to meet for no reason. What is he up to?”
Zhang Fei muttered, full of suspicion.
At this moment, the meeting outside the city had ended, and Liu Wu had already returned.
Zhang Fei hurriedly opened the city gate. The suspension bridge was lowered, and everyone hurriedly went down to welcome him.
"Big Brother, what did you say to Cao Aman?”
Zhang Fei asked impatiently.
"Nothing much. I'm just advising Cao Cao to withdraw his troops and not to become my enemy, that's all."”
Zhang Fei was taken aback. He immediately smiled and said," Brother, you must be joking. That Cao Cao is not a three-year-old child. With just a few words from you, he will obediently retreat?"”
"I wasn't joking with him. I only told him that Yuan Shu would soon become the Emperor. He had no choice but to retreat.”
Liu Wu said casually.
"Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor?"
Zhang Fei and the people around him exclaimed in unison.
Zhang Fei immediately cried out in alarm,"Big brother, you still say that you're not joking? Yuan Shu, that dog, is just a silkpants. He still has the guts to arrogate to himself the title of emperor?"”
"My lord, General Yi De is right.”
"Yuan Shu may be arrogant, but he was born into the four generations of the Three Dukes and has received great kindness from the Han court for generations. Deng really doesn't believe that he actually dared to defy the world's condemnation and arrogantly claim the title of emperor, making himself the target of public criticism!”
Chen Deng also agreed with Zhang Fei, but his reasoning was much more reasonable.
"Yuanlong, you overestimated Yuan Shu's bottom line!”
Liu Wu patted Chen Deng's shoulder and said with a meaningful tone. He then rode his horse into the city.
"Yuan Shu, is it really as the lord said? Will he have no bottom line and arrogantly claim the title of emperor?”
Chen Deng looked at Liu Wu's back with a doubtful expression.
…
Cao Cao returned to Cao Cao's camp.
"I wonder what he said when he invited Sikong to meet?”
Guo Jia asked curiously as soon as they entered the tent.
Cao Cao didn't bother to hide it and told his generals about the meeting.
"He really predicted our defeat at Wan City!”
"This Liu Bei is really different from the past!”
Guo Jia clicked his tongue in wonder.
"However, he's certain that Yuan Shu dares to declare himself emperor, but he's speaking without thinking."”
Cao Cao nodded slightly." I also said that Yuan Shu did not have the courage to declare himself emperor. However, this matter cannot be underestimated. We should send more spies to Huainan to spy on information at all times."
"Understood."
Guo Jia cupped his hands.
At that moment, Cao Cao ordered the entire army to approach the city and not move.
He wanted to see if Liu Wu's main force was here, and if the empty Xutai City was as arrogant as Liu Wu had said, not afraid of Yuan Shu's army surrounding the city.
Cao Cao did not attack, and Liu Wu did not move. The two families lived in peace, forming a stalemate in Xiaopei City.
…
Unknowingly, a month had passed.
Cao Cao's camp, the main tent.
"Sikong, that Yuan Shu sent General Ji Ling to join up with Lu Bu's remaining troops and lead 30,000 troops to besiege Xutai for a month.”
"However, that Zhang Liao used some unknown method to defend Xutai with just 1,000 soldiers!”
Xu Huang read out the latest information sent from the south.
Everyone in the tent was surprised.
Cao Ren asked curiously," When Zhang Liao was under Lu Bu, he wasn't very strong. How did he become so good at defense under Liu Bei?"”
"A thousand men resisted a siege of thirty thousand men and defended for a month without losing anything. Such a battle record is enough for Zhang Liao to leave his name in history.”
Guo Jia couldn't help but sigh, a hint of admiration appearing on his face.
"No wonder he was so confident when we met that day. He claimed that Yuan Shu could not take down Xu Tai even with a million troops.”
"What kind of charm does he have to make Zhang Liao so strong under him?”
Cao Cao stroked his short beard, his eyes filled with doubt.
At this moment.
Li Dian rushed in and said with a solemn expression,""Sikong, an urgent report from Shouchun's spy. Something big has happened!”
Shouchun?
Yuan Shu's residence!
Cao Cao's heart shook and he immediately became alert, an ominous feeling rising in his heart.
Li Dian held the urgent report in his hand and said in a deep voice," Shouchun has an urgent report. Yuan Shu has already proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun a few days ago!"”
There was an uproar.
Guo Jia's expression changed as he turned around and looked at Cao Cao in shock.
Cao Cao gasped and looked at Guo Jia in shock.
"He was actually right!"
Cao Cao and his subjects exclaimed.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。