Chapter 30 Is this the reason why Lord Xuande wants to take Shangxiang away in advance?
“Feng Xiao’s proposal is a brilliant one. In this case, I would like to ask Your Majesty to confer titles on Yuan Tan and Sun Quan. In this case, you should have no objection to my personal expedition to Wancheng, right?”

Cao Cao was quite satisfied with the strategy proposed by Guo Jia. He stroked his beard and said with a smile.

After hearing what Cao Cao said, counselors such as Xun You, Xun Yu, Jia Xu, and Cheng Yu in the hall looked at each other, but this time no one stood up to object.

However, Xun Yu thought for a moment and bowed to Cao Cao, saying:
“Since Sikong has made such an arrangement, there will be no problem for him to personally lead the expedition to Wancheng. However, Hefei is an important town in the north of Jiangbei heading toward the Central Plains, and Puyang is also an important town to resist the troops from the direction of Yecheng. Both places are strategic locations, and we still need to send generals to guard them.”

Xun Yu’s words made all the civil officials nod their heads.

Although Guo Jia’s strategy was enough to eliminate the threats from Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang and Sun Quan, they still needed to build another line of defense.

Cao Cao listened to Xun Yu’s words and did not object. Both Hefei and Puyang were important cities. Now that he was leading a large army to attack Wancheng, he really needed to arrange generals to garrison the two places.

However, compared with the importance of attacking Wancheng, Puyang and Hefei suddenly seemed to have retreated to the second line.

“What Wen Ruo said makes sense. Puyang and Hefei are both important towns. Are there any of you willing to station troops in both places?”

Cao Cao’s voice echoed throughout the hall, and generals including Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Cao Zhen, Li Dian, Le Jin, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao were all in an uproar.

You looked at me, I looked at you, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Cao Zhen and other generals from the same clan as Cao Cao all shook their heads. They were not willing to go.

They wanted to avenge Cao Ren, so why would they station troops in Puyang and Hefei in the rear?

None of the generals from the Cao clan were willing to do so, and neither was Li Dian. He was a defeated general who had escaped from Wancheng, and he hoped to redeem himself by making meritorious contributions.

Generals such as Le Jin, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao did not have a strong urge to go to Wancheng.

Zhang Liao thought for a moment, then stepped forward and bowed to Cao Cao, saying:

“Sikong, Zhang Liao is willing to guard Hefei for Sikong to prevent Sun Quan from invading!”

As soon as Zhang Liao opened his mouth, he immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

Even Cao Cao looked at Zhang Liao in surprise.

He was also a surrendered general like Zhang Xiu. When Lu Bu was defeated, Zhang Liao surrendered while protecting Lu Bu’s family.

In Cao Cao’s heart, he still attaches great importance to Zhang Liao.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cao Cao said:

“Wenyuan is willing to guard Hefei and defend Jiangdong. Cao will be relieved. Wenyuan will lead the army to station troops in Hefei.”

“Gongming, you will guard Puyang and guard against Yuan Shang in Yecheng!”

After Cao Cao appointed Zhang Liao, he directly named Xu Huang to guard Puyang.

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang looked at each other, and both bowed to Cao Cao and shouted:

“promise!”

After Cao Cao finished discussing matters with the civil and military officials, he began to take action.

Soon, two groups of imperial envoys, one to the south and one to the north, went to Qingzhou and Jiangdong respectively.

Just as the imperial envoys were setting out from Xudu to Jiangdong.

Xu Shu had already arrived in Wu County and became Sun Quan’s guest of honor.

Jiangdong, Wu County.

County Magistrate’s Mansion, meeting hall.

Sun Quan, dressed in black brocade, with purple beard and blue eyes, sat in the main seat, smiling as he looked at Xu Shu who was sitting down.

In the hall, Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Lu Xun, Yu Fan, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang and other civil and military officials gathered, giving Xu Shu enough face.

“Mr. Yuanzhi, I missed you so much after not seeing you for several months. We in Jiangdong are raising money and grain and mining iron ore in the hope that you will come back.” Sun Quan said to Xu Shu with a smile, directly pointing out the desire of the people of Jiangdong for the iron-cutting weapons produced in Nanyang.

It’s not that Sun Quan is anxious.

It was really snowy and the mountains were blocked, so it was difficult to trade iron-cutting weapons between Jiangdong and Wancheng. However, Xiangyang was close to Wancheng.

Knowing that Liu Biao traded with Wancheng every month, and that the number of iron-cutting swords and knives he bought might have exceeded that of Jiangdong, Sun Quan naturally became uneasy.

During the past few months, they had summoned craftsmen to study the iron-cutting sword and iron-cutting knife in detail. However, they finally concluded that it was not the change in weapon style that brought about the sharpness, but the steel itself. Nanyang had mastered a steelmaking method that surpassed that of the Han Dynasty today.

“Hahaha, of course. Three months have passed. Based on the monthly transaction rate of 800 weapons, Nanyang has prepared 2,400 iron-cutting weapons for Jiangdong. This time, Xu Shu came to Jiangdong to trade weapons.” Xu Shu said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Hearing Xu Shu’s words, everyone in the hall was overjoyed.

“But!” Suddenly, Xu Shu changed the subject. The smiles on everyone’s faces froze and they all looked at Xu Shu.

“My Lord, before that, let Master Liu Wu and Miss Sun Shangxiang get married. Once they are married, the two families will become one family. Two thousand four hundred weapons will be presented to you immediately!”

“My master said that when I come to Wu County this time, I can take Miss Sun Shangxiang away!”

Xu Shu said to Sun Quan and others with a smile.

“Take Shangxiang away this time? The time is too short and too hasty, isn’t it?” Sun Quan frowned.

Zhang Zhao below also frowned and said:
“The six ceremonies: one is to accept the bride price, two is to ask for the bride price, three is to accept the bride price, four is to accept the bride price, five is to ask for the date, and six is ​​to welcome the bride and groom, which means the marriage. None of them are performed. Is this what a local lord should do?”

Sun Quan, Zhang Zhao and others were all puzzled and surprised about Xu Shu’s intention.

Xu Shu’s smile did not diminish.

“In fact, I have come to Jiangdong this time to tell you something good for the general who is suppressing the enemy!”

“Oh? Mr. Yuanzhi, do you have any good news for Jiangdong? You might as well speak frankly.” Seeing that Xu Shu did not answer his question, but instead said that there was good news, Sun Quan could only suppress his dissatisfaction and asked.

Facing everyone’s gaze, Xu Shu did not hesitate and just threw a heavy bullet at all the civil and military officials of Jiangdong.

“My lord wants to raise a large army in Nanyang and join forces with the princes of Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Jiangdong to attack Cao Cao and destroy the traitor Cao Cao. At the same time, he wants to help Jiangdong take over the counties north of the Yangtze River in Yangzhou. I wonder if this is a good thing for the general who is suppressing the enemy and for Jiangdong?”

Xu Shu smiled, stroked his beard, and said.

“What? The four princes will attack Cao Cao and help Jiangdong take Yangzhou and the counties north of the Yangtze River?” As Xu Shu’s words fell in the hall, everyone from Sun Quan to the civil and military officials became agitated.

Xu Shu stood up and said passionately without waiting for the reaction of the people in Jiangdong:
“Cao Cao defeated Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, and Zhang Xiu, and then defeated Yuan Shao, the overlord of the north. He held the emperor hostage to command the princes. All the princes were afraid that Cao Cao would come to the city. I am afraid that the General of Suppressing the Rebellion is no exception. This time, my lord wants to raise an army of 40,000 equipped with iron-cutting weapons and armor to attack Cao Cao. I specially invite Yuan Tan of Jiangdong, Qingzhou, and Yuan Shang of Jizhou to fight Cao Cao together and support the Han Dynasty. If the General of Suppressing the Rebellion is willing to send troops, my lord says that he will ask Your Majesty for permission to confer the title of Governor of Yangzhou on the General of Suppressing the Rebellion. At that time, it will be no problem to confer a title of nobility and become a general!”

Sun Quan, Zhang Zhao, Zhou Yu and other civil and military officials of Jiangdong were all shocked by Xu Shu’s tone.

An army of 40,000 equipped with iron-cutting weapons and armor, marching to attack Cao Cao!

While Sun Quan was shocked, his heart began to beat.

It is undeniable that he was attracted by Xu Shu’s description of the four princes attacking Cao Cao together and promising him that Sun Quan would be the governor of Yangzhou.

Sun Quan took a deep breath, suppressed his inner excitement, pondered for a moment, and asked Xu Shu:

“Is this the reason why Lord Xuande wants to take Shangxiang away early?”

Xu Shu smiled and nodded, saying, “I just said that as long as Miss Shangxiang goes to Wancheng, the Liu and Sun families will be one family. Whether it is the iron-cutting weapons made in Nanyang or various benefits, Yangzhou Mu will certainly not be left out!”

Xu Shu’s words made Sun Quan’s eyelids twitch slightly, but Sun Quan still said:
“I still need to discuss this matter with the civil and military officials. Mr. Yuanzhi, please go down and rest first?”

Xu Shu smiled and bowed to Sun Quan, saying, “Yes!”

(End of this chapter)