Cao's army built a camp on the north bank of the Huai River, confronting the Han army camp on the south bank of the Huai River. The first heavy snowfall came unexpectedly. Snowflakes covered the sky like ticks. The earth quickly covered with thick snow jackets. The whole world turned into a gray area. The heavy snow blocked the sight, and even the Huai River, a hundred steps away, could not see clearly.

Amid the flying snowflakes, Cheng Yu hurried to Cao Cao's tent. Xu Chu stepped forward, shrewd his index finger on his lips, and invited Cheng Yu to the side and whispered: "The Prime Minister did not sleep all night last night. He just fell asleep. The military advisor will come back later!"

Cheng Yu nodded and sighed in his heart. Although he finally saw through Liu Jing's real strategy, he was still one step late. Taiyuan was finally lost. The Bingzhou government surrendered. The prime minister was hit hard and had been locked in the tent for two days.

He asked again: "Then can the Prime Minister eat?"

Xu Chu smiled bitterly, "I took a few sips of porridge. I heard from the guard who delivered the porridge that the prime minister seemed to have grown ten years old overnight."

Cheng Yu shook his head. The prime minister was old and it would not work. He said to Xu Chu again: "If the prime minister wakes up, I will inform me immediately and I will persuade the prime minister."

"I understand, I will notify the Prime Minister."

As soon as Xu Chu finished speaking, Cao Cao's tired voice came from the tent, "Is it Zhongde outside?"

Cheng Yu and Xu Chu looked at each other and smiled bitterly helplessly. Cheng Yu had to go forward and said, "It's the empress!"

"It's cold outside, please come in!"

"Prime Minister, please rest for a while! I will come back later."

"Zhongde, please come in!"

Helplessly, Cheng Yu had to walk into the tent, and Xu Chu followed in with no confidence. Cao Cao was wearing a cloak, sitting next to the brazier, fiddling with the charcoal fire with a fire stick. Under the reflection of the charcoal fire, his eyes were red and his expression was exhausted, especially his hair became even more gray. It was obvious that he was indeed much older.

Cheng Yu hurriedly bowed and bowed, "See the Prime Minister!"

"Zhongde, please sit down!"

Cao Cao asked Cheng Yu to sit down and said to Xu Chu again: "I suddenly wanted to drink some chicken soup and stew a chicken! Stew it a little harder."

"Go now!"

Xu Chu ran out with a tent, Cao Cao shook his head, sighed and said to Cheng Yu, "Let's tell me, why are we always so passive? Liu Jing led us to the nose."

Cheng Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Liu Jing took the Yangtze River and Han River as a harm, the Bashan and Qinling Mountains as an obstacle, and the powerful navy as a supplement. His defense foundation was very solid. In addition, Jingzhou had the foundation laid by Liu Biao, and Yizhou was generous and gentle, not harmful to the interests of Shu people, and was well-employed. Although there were conflicts between Jing and Shu, under the temptation of this great benefit of the world, the forces of Jing and Shu were able to be at peace for the time being, and worked together to help the Han army in the north. Weichen believed that this was Liu Jing's greatest foundation."

"What about me?" Cao Cao asked again: "Where is my weakness? Where is the foundation?"

Cheng Yu knelt down and bowed, "The Prime Minister forgives me for not being guilty, but I dare to say it."

"I forgive you for being innocent. Just tell the truth. I want to hear the truth now."

Cheng Yu sighed and said, "The Prime Minister suffered three defeats, which led to today's passive situation."

"To be more detailed, what three defeats?" Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu with a serious expression.

"The first defeat was that the southern expedition was too early. I was eager to fight the southern expedition just after I destroyed the Yuan family, but I didn't know that Yuan Shao was kind to Hebei. The senior officials were extremely grateful to the military and civilians in Bingzhou. It was nothing wrong for the Prime Minister to destroy the Yuan family and kill the senior officials. However, he should completely stabilize Hebei and Bingzhou and then fight south. As a result, the Prime Minister was too anxious. Once the Red Cliff was defeated, the north would be unstable."

"I also know that it is necessary to stabilize Hebei and Bingzhou, and even move the capital to Yecheng, reduce taxes and exempt them. It took six or seven years to start a large-scale southern expedition. Isn't that enough?"

"Although the Prime Minister gave mercy to Hebei and exempted from duty in Bingzhou, a southern expedition doubled its exploitation of Bingzhou and Hebei. In order to build a ship to cross the river, the houses along the Yellow River were almost completely demolished. The levy was collected and the levy was ten times more, and the 100 times more were retrieved. Therefore, the remnants of Yuan's family were together, and Hebei was whistling and reconciling. This is the reason. The Han army attacked Taiyuan, but the various parts of Bingzhou surrendered. Before the Han army arrived, the county and county had changed their flags. Do the Prime Minister understand the reason? The people of Bingzhou have been dissatisfied with the Prime Minister for a long time!"

Cao Cao nodded. Although Cheng Yu spoke frankly and pointedly, he was not angry, but silently accepted Cheng Yu's accusation. He sighed, "Zhongde is right. Although I unified the north, the north is not stable and hastily fought south, so that Liu Jing became a big shot. It can be said that he is wrong in one step, and every step is wrong. Please Zhongde will say that he will lose the second time."

"The second defeat of the Prime Minister was the defeat of the poor Legalists. The Prime Minister established a poor family and derogated the family, admired the Legalists, suppressed the Confucians, killed the border, and killed Kong Rong, which made the famous family disappointed. In fact, Liu Jing did not do well. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that he advocated the Legalists as much as the Prime Minister, but he was a little implicit. Confucianism was the skin and the law was the bone. However, he was very disgusted with the famous family. However, he made a little more flexible. On the basis of taking care of the aristocratic family first, and then fairness, and slightly won the hearts of the aristocratic families. In addition, after the Battle of Red Cliff, he released more than 100,000 prisoners of war, winning the gratitude of the northern clans, which laid the foundation for his attack on the north today."

Cao Cao sighed, "You are right. I am indeed a mistake in killing Kong Rong. It's too late to regret it now."

At this time, the curtain was opened, and Xu Chu led several guards to bring in a can of chicken soup and brought a few side dishes. Xu Chu acted very quickly. Without waiting for Cao Cao to object, he placed bowls and chopsticks and dishes, and served Cao Cao a full bowl of thick chicken soup.

Cao Cao took the chicken soup and took a sip, nodded, and said to Xu Chu: "Pour a bowl for the military advisor."

Xu Chu also poured a bowl for Cheng Yu, and Cheng Yu took a sip and said with a smile: "General Xu is very considerate!"

Xu Chu's face turned slightly red. Cheng Yu saw through his thoughts. This was no longer pure chicken soup. It was mixed with yam and ginseng. Cao Cao also understood in his heart that he was not in the mood to eat, but after Cheng Yu untied some knots for him, he also had an appetite and felt really hungry. He drank a bowl of soup and another bowl of porridge, and then ordered Xu Chu to take away the things.

At this time, Cao Cao asked again: "Please tell me that the third defeat."

Cheng Yu hesitated for a long time, "I don't want to say this third defeat."

"You must say it, I want to hear it!" Cao Cao said solemnly.

Cheng Yu nodded silently and said, "This third defeat is the Prime Minister's political defeat."

"Is Zhongde saying that I am granted the title of Duke of Wei and add Jiuxi?"

"Not only that, the Prime Minister used the emperor to command the princes to command the princes, but lost in morality. At the beginning, the heroes rose up and the world was divided. The Prime Minister respected the king and expelled the barbarians, attacked all directions in the name of the emperor, and unified the north. At this time, the Prime Minister used the emperor to command the princes to command the princes, and everyone could accept it and supported it. It was considered to be a move of power, but it was not possible for a long time. Especially after unifying the north, the Prime Minister defeated the royal family Liu Bei and Liu Biao in the name of the emperor. In fact, he lost politically. Now Liu Jing has raised the banner of reviving the Han Dynasty, also known as his army as the Han army, with clear flags and clear goals, and has an advantage in politics. If not, how could the Han army be able to kill to Taiyuan so smoothly? Did the people in the government along the way resist harassment?"

"Zhongde is right!" Cao Cao sighed helplessly.

"In fact, it was only after I realized the humble position that I slowly realized. At that time, I was also confused. Isn't it just that I strongly advocated it? I also regretted it and could not persuade the Prime Minister to conquer Jingzhou a few years later."

"What's the use of saying these regrets now? The key is how should I face the current dilemma. Liu Jing conquered Taiyuan, Bingzhou was in danger, Yedu was in danger, but I couldn't withdraw my troops. Zhongde taught me, what should I do now?"

Cheng Yu smiled and said, "Does the Prime Minister still remember the incident of having sex with Liu Jing on the floating bridge for a while?"

Cao Cao nodded, "Of course I remember, so what?"

Cheng Yu said meaningfully: "I thought about it over and over again, and I feel that Liu Jing is actually hinting at the Prime Minister that he hopes to end the dispute with the Prime Minister through negotiation. I have also said that Liu Jing has been fighting for many years, and he may not be able to support him. This time, the attack on Taiyuan, including the alliance with Jiangdong to the Central Plains, I think his real purpose is to force the Prime Minister to negotiate. Of course, he is to get the greatest benefit."

In fact, Cao Cao also realized that Liu Jing wanted to bargain with him. With Liu Jing's current strength, he could not attack from three sides, so he pulled Jiangdong into the water. Attacking Taiyuan was also a sneak attack method, and it might not be able to truly occupy Bingzhou.

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said, "I can give him Guanlong, but he must withdraw from Bingzhou. Does the military advisor think it is possible?"

"I don't know either, but I can try it. If the Prime Minister agrees, I am willing to negotiate with Liu Jing on behalf of the Prime Minister."
Chapter completed!