"Prime Minister, in addition to the two points he just said, there are two more benefits." Sima Yi continued.

"oh?"

After hearing Sima Yi's words just now, Cao Cao was much less angry. When he heard Sima Yi say that there were two benefits, he became curious and urged: "Tell me quickly."

"The third point is that although Liu Bei asked the Prime Minister to hand over Xiangyang, he did not say that he wanted other cities. According to his subordinates, Xiangyang could be handed over to Liu Bei, but Fancheng must be firmly held in his hand. In this way, even if he wants to attack Xiangyang in the future, he just needs to cross the river from Fancheng to attack him."

Fancheng is located in the north of Xiangyang, opposite Fancheng across the river.

When Liu Biao was still there, because Xiangyang did not have much threat from foreign enemies, he still regarded Fancheng as his northern barrier.

Before Cao Cao went south, when Liu Bei was facing Cao Ren, he used a trick to seize Fancheng and persuaded Liu Biao to hand it over to Liu Bei.

But not long after, Liu Biao regretted it and tried every means to regain it, so that the crack between the two became bigger and bigger. In the end, when Liu Bei was chased by Cao Cao, none of Liu Biao's subordinates agreed to send troops to rescue Liu Bei. This shows the importance of Fancheng, which made Liu Biao rebelliously against Liu Bei.

After hearing Sima Yi's words, Cao Cao's eyes flashed.

Xiangyang gave Liu Bei, as long as Fan Cheng had his own control. For Liu Bei, Fan Cheng's existence was like a knife facing him all the time.

Cao Cao was almost thinking about how to rebuild Fancheng and strengthen Fancheng.

Hold the grass! What am I doing? Cao Cao woke up immediately. I didn’t plan to hand over Xiangyang to Liu Bei. Why should I consider such a thing?

He hurriedly strangled the thought in his heart to hand over Xiangyang to death, and then slowly asked, "What about the fourth point?"

“Fourth point.”

A strange light flashed in Sima Yi's eyes, and he slowly spit out two words: "Yizhou."

"Yizhou?" Cao Cao was slightly stunned, not understanding Sima Yi's words.

"If Liu Bei had Xiangyang, he wanted to expand, and there was only one place to satisfy him." Sima Yi said.

"Yizhou?" Cao Cao understood a little at this time.

Although Liu Bei seems to be very majestic when he threatens him now, Cao Cao knows how miserable Liu Bei is. Even if Liu Bei has gained a firm foothold and can obtain the three counties of Jingzhou, his strength is undoubtedly the weakest in the world.

Even Gongsun Zan, who only has one county, is better than him. After all, Gongsun Zan has been huddled in Guangling for many years and has a deep foundation.

Having gained a firm foothold, Liu Bei had to expand if he wanted to strengthen his strength.

But to the north, it is Cao Cao's place, and to the east is Sun Quan's place. Sun Quan and Cao Cao's strength are far superior to Liu Bei. As long as Liu Bei has no brains, he will not take the initiative to cause trouble.

As for going south, there is Jiaozhou, but there is a high mountain and far away. The emperor has a small population and a difficult road to walk. Unless it is forced to do so, Liu Bei will not develop southward.

There is only one last place, which is Yizhou in the west, under Yizhou under Liu Zhang, who is also a relative of the Han Dynasty.

Although Liu Zhang is in Yizhou, he has long heard of Liu Zhang's weakness in the world, and Liu Bei will definitely pick this soft persimmon to pinch it.

But Cao Cao was very unhappy. Why did he ask Liu Bei to attack Yizhou for Liu Bei, but I can't go by myself?

"Hmph, even the orphans of Yizhou can get it." Cao Cao snorted coldly.

"Prime Minister, the roads in Yizhou are rugged and difficult to walk. If you want to conquer Yizhou, it will not work within a year or two." Sima Yi said tactfully.

Less than a year before you went south to Jingzhou, Xudu was in trouble. If you went to Yizhou for a year or two, would you still want Yizhou?

After hearing Sima Yi's words, Cao Cao also reacted and his face darkened.

"I can send my generals under my command to go there." Cao Cao continued to snort coldly and refused to admit defeat. I can't go by myself, but it does not mean that my subordinates cannot go.

"Prime Minister, if you obtain Yizhou, you may face the Taiwei." Sima Yi said.

"What does it mean?" Cao Cao's face changed. Liu Zhe was the one he feared the most.

"Will Liu Zhe send troops to rescue Liu Zhang?" Cao Cao asked.

Sima Yi shook his head and said, "Hanzhong."

As soon as he heard Hanzhong, Cao Cao's mouth twitched, he understood.

If Fancheng is the barrier to Xiangyang, then Hanzhong is the barrier to Yizhou.

Hanzhong is condescending, and you can easily enter Yizhou. On the contrary, if Yizhou wants to seize Hanzhong, it is more difficult. The mountain road is rugged and it is difficult to attack a hundred times from bottom to top.

It is definitely very uncomfortable to occupy Hanzhong, but Yizhou is in the hands of others. It is like someone is holding a knife at any time and will not sleep well.

Cao Cao believed that if he captured Yizhou, he would not tolerate Hanzhong in the hands of others, and he would definitely send troops to snatch it back.

But the problem is that Hanzhong is now in Liu Zhe's hands.

Cao Cao knew his strength and was temporarily unable to fight against Liu Zhe. Once he met Liu Zhe, he was most afraid that it would evolve into a full-scale confrontation. In the end, he would definitely be himself who failed.

"Damn it!" Cao Cao couldn't help but become thrilled.

After thinking about it, everything was caused by Liu Zhe.
Chapter completed!