The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 66: It’s not good for Cao and Lu to win, let them both lose (Please read!)

Li Yi took Liu Bei's letter and scanned it quickly.

It turned out that Cao Cao and Lu Bu next door were fighting fiercely.

Originally Cao Cao was troubled by food shortages and was once so distressed that he planned to go north to seek refuge with Yuan Shao.

But Cheng Yu helped him get food and resolved Cao Cao's crisis.

Cao Cao would then be able to free up his hands to deal with Lu Bu head-on.

When Yuan Shao saw that Cao still had some strength, he generously gave him 5,000 elite troops to support him.

By the way, he also sent General Zang Hong to attack Dongjun and help Cao Cao recapture Dongwuyang.

Lu Bu's situation suddenly went from being in a favorable situation to being in a very unfavorable situation.

"...Lü Bu is no match for Cao Cao and will be defeated by Cao Cao sooner or later."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and could already foresee Lu Bu's defeat.

Although this did not concern him much in Xuzhou, he understood that no matter who won or lost between the two, it would have a profound impact on the situation in the Central Plains.

Li Yi put away the silk book, fixed his eyes, and asked Liu Bei seriously:

"If, as my lord says, Lu Bu is defeated, where will he go?"

……Um.

Liu Bei paused for a moment, "Since Lü Bu fled Chang'an, he first joined Yuan Shu and then Yuan Shao, and wandered around in Henei, with nowhere to stay."

"We have finally secured Yanzhou. If we are defeated again, I am afraid we will not be tolerated by the princes of the world."

There was some sympathy for Lu Bu in Liu Bei's tone.

Because at this time, he still had a good impression of Lu Bu.

First, Lu Bu killed Dong Zhuo and made a contribution to the country.

Second, Liu Bei did benefit from Lu Bu's surprise attack on Yanzhou.

Third, Lu Bu was a famous general in the world, and Liu Bei admired his bravery very much.

Li Yi immediately saw what Liu Bei was thinking and asked:

"Since the princes do not tolerate Lü Bu, if he comes to surrender to you, how will you deal with him?"

Liu Bei was slightly startled, and then said:
"If they come to me in desperate situation, there is absolutely no reason to refuse them."

Look, Old Liu’s old habit of loving talent has come back again.

Love is a good thing, but it should be loved in moderation.

"My lord, do you remember what Chen Biejia said to you before you took over Xuzhou?"

Chen Qun?
Liu Bei thought back and remembered Chen Qun's words when he urged him not to take over Xuzhou:

——"Yuan Shu is still strong. Now that he is in the east, we must fight with him. If Lu Bu attacks the general from behind, even if the general can obtain Xuzhou, he will not be able to accomplish anything."

If Lu Bu attacks the general...

Liu Bei pondered over this sentence carefully. He didn't take it seriously at first, but now he came to his senses and realized how far-sighted Chen Qun was thinking.

Did he predict so early that Lu Bu would launch a surprise attack on him?
"Sir, do you agree with what Changwen said? Do you think Lu Bu will launch a surprise attack on Xuzhou?" Liu Bei asked.

"It's unknown." Li Yi answered without thinking.

The implication is already very clear. Old Liu, you know exactly who Lu Bu is. I don't need to explain it to you, right?
Faced with Li Yi's rare riddle-teller, Liu Bei did have some doubts in his heart.

In fact, there were two main reasons why he accepted Lu Bu.

One reason is that Liu Bei wanted to accept heroes from all over the world and did not want to lose the hearts of heroes by rejecting Lu Bu alone.

This is the same reason why Cao Cao did not kill Liu Bei later.

Second, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. Even though Lu Bu was defeated, his foundation was still good.

The two most powerful legions at the end of the Han Dynasty were the Xiliang Legion and the Bingzhou Legion.

Because these two legions are located in the border areas and have been fighting with foreign races for many years, their combat effectiveness is far from comparable to that of the inland legions.

In his early years, Lu Bu served Ding Yuan and later served Dong Zhuo.

There were people from both Bingzhou and Liangzhou in the army.

He also has many strong generals under his command.

This means that even if he was defeated, he still possessed a force that could not be underestimated.

Liu Bei hoped to use Lu Bu's power to help him resist Yuan Shu and Cao Cao.

"Although Lü Bu made contributions to the Han Dynasty, he killed his former master twice, was fickle, forgot his loyalty when he saw profit, was brave but not wise, and was nothing more than a living beast."

"How can a man of honor associate with a villain? I think working with such people would be a laughing stock for the world."

"I hope my lord will think twice!" Li Yi advised earnestly.

There is a joke on the Internet called, How to discredit Lu Bu?
Answer: Just tell him what he did.

To be honest, Liu Bei treated Lu Bu very well.

When Lu Bu was at his wit's end, the princes from all over the country refused to accept him, only Liu Bei took him in.

Moreover, he showed respect and personally went out of the city thirty miles to greet him. Isn't that enough face?

But Lu Bu was, after all, a warrior from the borderland, with low emotional intelligence and lack of political acumen.

He tried to get close to Liu Bei and invited him into his tent.

He also asked his wife to come out and meet him.

According to the rules of scholars, this is not in accordance with etiquette.

But among ordinary people, such as rangers, they like to use this to build closer relationships and show familiarity and closeness.

Liu Bei was a knight-errant, so of course he didn't mind.

As a result, Lu Bu made Liu Bei sit on his wife's bed again.

This confused Liu Bei, and he thought to himself, I am Liu Bei, not Cao Cao, so Old Lu, please don’t mess around.

That’s not all. Lu Bu got drunk and started calling Liu Bei “brother” all the time.

He also asked his wife to salute Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was completely dumbfounded.

I didn't even nod in agreement, so how come I become your younger brother?
I am the governor of Xuzhou!

I'm here to take you in. Do you think this is appropriate?

Fortunately, Liu Bei was a person who never showed his emotions.

Faced with Lü Bu's erratic words, Liu Bei was "satisfied on the outside but unhappy on the inside."

It was not until this time that Liu Bei realized that taking in Lu Bu might be a mistake, so he sent him to the west to resist Cao Cao and Yuan Shu.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But he didn't expect that he would be stabbed in the back and lost Xuzhou.

In the end, Lu Bu turned the tables and made Liu Bei his subordinate.

I guess if Old Liu knew about this now, he would be furious.

"Well, according to the military advisor's advice, if Lu Bu really comes to surrender, we will not accept him."

Liu Bei readily accepted Li Yi's suggestion.

Li Yi then added:
"My lord, perhaps you feel that if you do not accept Lu Bu, who has come to you at the end of his rope, it would be disrespectful and unheroic."

"If that's the case, why not give him a hand?"

"Oh?" Liu Bei raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean, sir?"

"Lü Bu fought a great battle with Cao Cao in Puyang. Although he is currently at a disadvantage, he has not been defeated."

"If we can secretly help him and make him and Cao Cao fight each other, we can reap the benefits. Isn't this a win-win strategy?"

Since you don't want to accept Lu Bu, and are afraid that not accepting Lu Bu will make you appear narrow-minded, you might as well prevent Lu Bu from having to rely on others.

Let him fight with Cao Cao in Yanzhou.

"Sir, what do you think is the chance of Lu Bu winning against Cao Cao?"

"Less than 10%."

"……hiss."

Hearing this, Liu Bei couldn't help but feel shocked and sighed:
"Sir, do you look down on Lu Bu, or do you respect Cao Cao?"

"It's not that I look down on Lu Bu, nor do I look up to Cao Cao."

"But the battle between Cao and Lu was not about these two people. The decisive factor was Yuan Shao in Hebei."

If Yuan Shao had not intervened in the war in Yanzhou, it would be hard to say who would win or lose.

After all, Lu Bu and Cao Cao did have their share of wins and losses.

Lu Bu even almost killed Cao Cao with his own hands, but he accidentally escaped.

As long as Yuan Shao is gone, Lu Bu will have absolutely no chance of winning.

……

……

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(End of this chapter)