The so-called diplomacy is often about establishing common interests. Everyone has the same interests and makes a profit, so they join forces. When everyone finds conflicts in their interests, they turn against each other.

Yu Yan's head was running at full speed, calculating various interests...

The Nanman is now like an arrogant hunter, facing the siege of three evil wolves.

What he wants to do may be as simple as throwing out a piece of meat.

So, the Southern Barbarians entered another crazy diplomatic rhythm.

On the 19th week, on the third day, Cao Cao personally conquered the army and arrived at the city of Hanzhong.

Although there was still a large banner of the Southern Barbarians hanging on the top of the city, only a gust of cold wind blew over and there was no trace of popularity.

This is nonsense, it is a cemetery city?

Cao Cao's body shape is not as bloated as imagined. The bloated one is an official like Zhang Lu. People like Cao Cao who have a sense of urgency pay great attention to physical exercise.

In addition, he looks very peaceful and has no domineering spirit, which is also a must-have temperament in the officialdom.

He frowned and looked at the city, falling into deep thought.

The one-eyed general looked at his distant cousin and knew that he had started to make the worst calculation again.

This cousin was suspicious and his first reaction to Kongcheng was definitely not to be happy, but to be suspicious.

Cao Cao thought for a while, then turned around and asked, "When was the last time the pigeon came?"

Cao Cao was extremely cautious in sending troops and knew that intelligence was the top priority. Previously, the Southern Barbarians defeated Zhang Fei's army and took Hanzhong, which were all intelligence blind spots for attacking surprise troops. He naturally could not make such mistakes. It was very obvious that he could use surprise troops on the small road of Chang'an to cut off Cao Cao's army's retreat. Just as the Battle of Red Cliff would be attacked by fire.

Cao Cao suffered a loss, so he was naturally cautious and cautious during the war, and was extremely vulgar and trivial. He sent a pigeon or something in half a day to report the situation to the front line, the Southern Barbarians, Sima, and Liu Bei at any time as long as there was a slight change on the three sides, he would withdraw his troops at full speed without hesitation.

Xiahou Dun looked at the wrinkles of his cousin in the distance and felt that he was too overthinking.

"Return to the lord, the military advisor just came to report two hours ago. The three parties were in a stalemate, and there was no abnormal movement. The lord can quickly take Hanzhong."

"Well..." Cao Cao looked at the empty city and laughed at himself, "It's me that I'm too worried, the whole army will enter the city!"

Cao Cao was indeed worried that there was no sign of a zombie here. After recruiting all the troops, the Ma family did not know where to escape. In short, such an important place as Hanzhong was occupied so easily.

But he still couldn't be happy. His intuition over the years made him feel very uncomfortable.

This time he went on the expedition, he only brought Xiahou Dun, a general, Guo Jia, who stayed in Xudu, and other generals, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and others, stationed in Zhucheng to prevent accidents.

After occupying Hanzhong, the first thing he did was to enter the conference hall and hold a meeting of staff.

Guo Jia had already calculated the time and happened to come to the Xuchang Conference Hall, waiting for Cao Cao's call.

Several generals also arrived as promised.

Everyone said that their territory was very stable and there was no trouble.

Cao Cao rubbed his stubble and his eyebrows were deeply locked.

Guo Jia naturally knew what to say at this time. He was basically the person who knew Cao Cao the most and was Cao Cao’s most caring strategist, but unfortunately he died young.

He had witnessed Cao Cao's hesitation again and again, including when he was fighting Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao always wanted to win again when he was determined to win, and he was always hesitant when he was not fully sure.

Every time, Guo Jia used clear logic to strengthen the lord's confidence.

In fact, those who are the king are particularly persuasive. All choices are made by themselves. The pressure is great. The smarter the lord, the greater the pressure. Even Cao Cao is not sure. At this time, a smart guy needs to persuade him to clear his blind spots of thinking.

"Lord, the situation is very good now, so you can go south and go straight to Chengdu." Guo Jia began to cheer up his lord with his confidence.

"Some, it's too smooth." Cao Cao was not so easy to be told this time. "Huābian, Sima Yi, Kong Ming, who is not smart enough to the bone? Can you watch me swallow Western Shu so naturally?"

"The lord is worried too much, because they are smart, so he chooses to wait and see." Guo Jia is full of confidence. "The foundation of our alliance is interests. In order to eliminate the enemy, everyone divided the territory of the Southern Barbarians. After all, Liu Bei and Sima are the main force of the Southern Barbarians, and they dare not act rashly; the Southern Barbarians expect that the lord is suspicious and wants to slow down the pace and lead our alliance to ruin the situation. At this time, it is better not to think too much. If our army continues to fight along the way and breaks a gap, the Southern Barbarians will definitely not be able to help them. They will divide the lords into a fight. At that time, Liu Bei and Sima will open up the situation."

"It's different." Cao Cao sighed and pointed at the map. "Our army is alone and deep into Shu. This is a taboo for military strategists. The southern barbarians surrounded the rear route, and they may have cut off their support."

At this time, Guo Jia's eyebrows turned and suddenly became angry.

"Does the lord not believe in us generals?!"

“…”

"How can the Southern Barbarians' mobs compete with General Xiahou who has experienced many battles? The Southern Barbarians come to cut off my retreat. If you fight, why are my Great Wei afraid?!"

"Fengxiao is so happy!!!" Xiahou Dun also burst out with passion. The military advisor's words helped him to strengthen his courage. "Lord! I, Xiahou, followed my lord for two lifetimes, have never fought any battles?! The lord has always wanted to avoid the main force of the Southern Barbarians. I, Xiahou Dun, was so unbearable? Can't even beat a bunch of barbarians who had never met before?!"

Xiahou Dun seemed to express the aggrievances of the heavy generals. Cao Hong, who was far away in Runan, Cao Ren from Xinye, and Xiahou Yuan from Xuchang were also in great spirits of fighting.

"Lord, we have been snatching the empty city and avoiding the enemy's main force, which has swayed the majesty of our army!"

"No matter how terrible the barbarians are, how terrible the Shu army is? No matter how resourceful the man is, how smart the Kongming is? No need to doubt it anymore! If we unify Western Shu, we will be sure to guard the vital points!"

...

Obviously, the soldiers of Wei were all hungry and thirsty. They were all generals who had experienced great life and death. It was always uncomfortable to be so vulgar now.

When Cao Cao saw the generals asking for battle, his heart was slightly shaken.

Yes, what are you afraid of? The world has been defeated, why are you afraid of the Southern Barbarians?

Seeing this, Guo Jia advised: "My lord is afraid that he will fight too hard with the Southern Barbarians. Let others take advantage of the loopholes?"

Cao Cao agreed and smiled bitterly: "I know my heart by filial piety. Sometimes, it is not that I am suspicious, but that the enemy is too resourceful. Zhongda and Kongming are our ultimate enemy. Although we are united in to attack the barbarians, these people have to be careful."

Guo Jia was obviously confident about this: "Since that's the case, the lord can avoid a hard battle. He forced Zhongda and Kong Ming to start a war."

"How do you say this?"

"If the main force of the Southern Barbarians sends troops to rescue them, the lord will not fight with him. He will seize the city all the way. If the Southern Barbarians sends the Northern Army to come, we will fight all the way south; if the Southern Barbarians sends the Southern Army to fight, we will fight the Northern Expedition. If the Southern Barbarians make this strategy, they will cut off their arms to survive. Chang'an and Yong'an will have a loss. At that time, Liu Bei and Sima will advance. If they attack the Barbarians all the way, they will be unable to design our Great Wei."

Cao Cao thought about the battle situation at that time and exclaimed: "In this way, our army will not go deeper into Shu? We will restrain the main force of the barbarian army. Instead, we will let the two families get the barbarians' advantage."

"Hahaha, if you get a good advantage or suffer a loss, it's just a line." Guo Jia laughed and expanded the map, "Lord. We are located in the Central Plains, surrounded by enemies. If we occupy the city of the Southern Barbarians, we will be like the current Southern Barbarians, and we will not be able to take care of each other at the beginning and end. Therefore, our battle should not be the primary purpose of seizing the city. The conquest of Shu is just a warning to the Southern Barbarians and force the Southern Barbarians to weaken their anger. When the Southern Barbarians are in a mess, they can make peace with the Southern Barbarians and squeeze out huge tribute compensation. In order to survive, the Southern Barbarians have to accept it."

"Well, it's not bad, this is equivalent to paying some money and buying an ally."

"At that time, the Southern Barbarian Front will change from three to two, and we will definitely counterattack Sima and Liu Bei. As for our army, after receiving the compensation, if the Southern Barbarians attack Sima, we will attack Sima's retreat; if the Southern Barbarians attack Liu Bei, we will attack Liu Bei's retreat!"

"Wonderful!" Cao Cao slapped the table and shouted, "If you hadn't been to the early days of your life, Cao might have seen the day of unification in his lifetime!"

Guo Jia said humbly: "This is a dangerous plan. You can die and live. So please be sure to march quickly. With the power of the Great Wei army, I can negotiate with the other party faster. Please be sure to be as fast as possible!"

Cao Cao laughed and said, "It seems that my concerns have delayed our army's fighter planes. I have taken this crime and all the generals can curse me."

The ministers bowed repeatedly: "Lord is wise."

"Okay." Cao Cao was successfully brainwashed by Guo Jia again. "The whole army obeyed the order and went south to Chengdu to pacify Western Shu in one fell swoop!"

The generals cheered and finally waited for a day of pride.

The soldiers were very fast, and Cao Cao marched quickly and captured Zitong empty city again.

After quickly taking over the two cities of Nanman, the other three parties remained unmoved.

Whenever Cao Cao was suspicious, Guo Jia and the generals would encourage him to eliminate Cao Cao's doubts.

In this way, Cao Cao's army left Zitong and continued to move south.

Half a day later, the carrier pigeon came to report, and Deng Aijun abandoned Yong'an and rushed to Chengdu.

After seeing it, Cao Cao sighed: "Sure enough, Chengdu still can't bear to lose it."

So, according to Guo Jia's previous plan, the entire army turned around and attacked north, with the goal of stability.

Just one hour later, the second carrier pigeon arrived.

Cao Cao knew something was wrong only when he saw this pigeon.

The previously missing Ma Tengjun suddenly emerged from the shadow of the map and quickly took Hanzhong.

In this way, Cao's army was completely isolated.

However, Cao Cao was not panicked just this. This kind of thing was almost certain. Guo Jia gave Cao Cao a reassurance again. The Nanman had already taken the initiative to contact Xuchang and discussed a ceasefire. Both sides were discussing conditions such as compensation and city compensation.

So, Cao's army rushed back to Zitong while waiting for news from behind.

At this time, the situation became a diplomatic battle between several giant strategists.

After the troops retreated back to Zitong, Guo Jia still did not have a successful negotiation. Guo Jia asked Cao Cao to go north again and put pressure on the Southern Barbarians. At the same time, Liu Bei (Jin Xuan) had taken Yong'an. Deng Ai's return to defense caused the eastern defense to collapse instantly. If he dragged it down, the Southern Barbarians would lose all Western Shu.

Cao Cao knew very well that he would not doubt the use of people and did not use them. At this time, he could only hand over the rear to Guo Jia.

Cao Cao fought all the way, but at this time he had to retreat all the way. In his eyes, the defenders of Hanzhong were just a group of rats. Now the main force is here, there is nothing to be scary.

In this way, it took a week and he finally returned to the city of Hanzhong...!~!
Chapter completed!