Cao Cao is not ready to go to a full war with Liu Zhe, so he did not send any soldiers to Cao Ren, with the purpose of preventing the expansion of the battle.

He only asked Liu Bei to take people to reinforce Cao Ren, and he also wanted to indulge in trouble. He hoped that Liu Zhe would take his anger and divert Liu Zhe's attention.

However, Cao Cao did not expect that Liu Bei would suffer such a big loss. All three generals under his command were injured, and his soldiers suffered heavy losses, with 6,000 soldiers and less than 2,500 people returning to Xiangyang in the end.

Zhu Huan, Wei Yan and Ji Ling were forced into the mountains. It took the three of them and their soldiers half a month to come out of the mountains. When they came out, they were like beggars and almost abandoned.

When such generals and soldiers returned to Xiangyang, it was reported that Liu Bei burst into tears on the spot.

Then he immediately sent someone to Xudu to ask Cao Cao for an explanation.

"Liu Bei is really a waste. All the three generals sent by him were defeated and returned. They are useless." After receiving the detailed results of the battle, Cao Cao did not hide at all and despised Liu Bei in front of his confidant.

"Liu Bei naturally cannot be compared with the King of Wei."

Yang Xiu was the first to speak out: "Liu Bei is just a foot seller. How powerful can his men be? How can Liu Bei's generals compare with those of the King of Wei?"

Although Yang Xiu is usually arrogant and speaks annoying, and is not very popular among Cao Cao, Yang Xiu's words made everyone here feel comfortable, and he thinks that Yang Xiu can finally say something nice.

"King of Wei, how do you reply to Liu Bei's people?" Cheng Yu asked out loud.

Liu Bei sent someone to ask for an explanation. If it were the past, Cao Cao would not even bird him, so he would just bombard him.

But now it’s different. Cao Cao has already planned to form an alliance with Liu Bei to deal with Liu Zhe. If Liu Bei doesn’t give an explanation, it will inevitably give the two sides a gap in the future and can win the trust of each other in the future.

"Well, what do you think you have agreed?" Cao Cao asked.

Cao Ren left Zhu Huan and Wei Yan and ran away directly. In this regard, no matter what, Cao Ren is in a disadvantage.

"Just say that General Cao Ren knew there was an ambush behind him, so he had to retreat?" Jiang Ji said.

“It’s useless.”

Cheng Yu shook his head and said, "This statement cannot convince Liu Bei."

Then, he said to Cao Cao: "King of Wei, Liu Bei sent someone to ask for an explanation, but in fact, he had another purpose."

Have another purpose?

Cao Cao was stunned, and his eyes looked at Cheng Yu were full of questions.

"King of Wei, the angel who was named king is still in Ye County." Cheng Yu said lightly.

Cao Cao and many of the people here immediately understood.

One of the conditions for Cao Cao to support the enthronement of Liu Bei as king was to send people to reinforce Cao Ren.

In order to be the king, Liu Bei finally arranged Zhu Huan and others to reinforce Cao Ren.

After knowing that Liu Bei agreed to send someone to reinforce, Cao Cao asked the emperor to send envoys to Xiangyang and prepared to enthrone Liu Bei as king.

The envoy sent to Xiangyang was nothing but someone else, but Xi Lu, the censor who had been sent to enthrone Liu Zhe for the first time.

After Xi Lu arrived in Ye County, he refused to go south after he died. His reasons were very good. He was fighting in front of him and he had to wait until the battle was over before going.

But in fact, the battle between Cao Ren and Zhang He was in the northwest of Ye County, very far from Ye County, but Xi Lu still dared not go.

Cao Cao didn't urge him. Anyway, he wasn't the one who made Liu Bei anxious for a while, so he agreed to let Xi Lu stay in Ye County.

At the same time, he also arranged people to go to Xiangyang to help Xi Lu explain, so that Liu Bei could feel at ease.

Now the battle is over, but Xi Lu still did not set off for Xiangyang.

This annoyed Liu Bei. I have sent someone to help you Cao Cao, but you didn’t fulfill your promise?

So, this is the real reason why Liu Bei sent someone to Xudu.

"Well, so that's it." Cao Cao smiled on his face after he understood.

"King of Wei, why not send someone to let the Censor leave."

Cheng Yu suggested: "Avoid Liu Bei feel resentful."

Cao Cao nodded. Indeed, if he continued, it would be of no benefit to him.

"Tell Liu Bei that I am giving him a big gift."

Cao Cao said: "Help him deal with Liu Zhe."

Cao Hong and others may not know it, but Cheng Yu and Jiang Ji and other advisers understood what Cao Cao meant.

Liu Bei's subordinates suffered a great loss under Zhang He, which was not a good thing for Liu Bei, at least he lost a lot of face.

At this time, the court enthroned him as king would greatly enhance Liu Bei's reputation. Liu Bei's title of king was enough to offset the influence of Liu Bei's defeat by Liu Zhe.

At the same time, there is a deeper meaning.

Liu Zhe's men had just defeated Liu Bei, and the court here appointed him Liu Bei as king. It is obvious who the court helped, which would make the people of the world think that the court was biased towards Liu Bei and were afraid of Liu Zhe.

Letting the people have this idea is definitely a generous gift for Liu Bei. That's why Cao Cao said so.

"The lord is wise." Cheng Yu couldn't help but exclaim.

As long as Liu Bei understands the deep meaning, not to mention that Liu Bei only lost thousands of soldiers and generals and was slightly injured, even if he lost one or two generals, Liu Bei would probably be willing.
Chapter completed!