"Oh, sir, what's your opinion?" Xu Da was quite interested.

"I haven't thought about it yet." Zhuge Liang said.

Everyone was disappointed, and Xu Da even looked suspicious. Of course, Luo Chen understood, Xu Da was a commander-in-chief general, and he was more pragmatic. Luochen couldn't help but think of how bold Zhuge Liang was in fighting against Confucian scholars in history. At that time, Cao's army of one million troops was overwhelmed, and Soochow seemed vulnerable, not to mention Liu Bei. But Zhuge Liang dared to say, "Sun Liu will win, Cao Cao will lose."

But this is also a political strategy. At that time, Liu Bei's group had only this choice. If Sun Quan chose to surrender to Cao Cao, Liu Bei would not be able to survive. In the famous Chibi War, Zhou Yu was the main commander after all.

Thinking of this, Luochen suddenly had a flash of inspiration... Instead of fighting with Cao Cao to death now, it is better to lead Cao to attack Jiangnan, fight against Jiangdong forces in the Chibi battle, and finally lose... Luochen's great advantage is that he is familiar with history. Now fighting with Cao Cao, the future is unclear, if Cao Cao and Jiang Dong fight, Luo Chen can foresee the development of each step.

680 "I propose that our army prepare for a **** battle with Cao Cao." Xu Da said solemnly. "There are only 200,000 defenders in Tongguan now, and half of them are new recruits, replacing some veterans from the last expedition. Now is an extraordinary period, I propose to immediately recruit another 200,000 soldiers from the Guanzhong area. I propose that Yizhou should also recruit additional soldiers. 200,000, start training and be ready to go north to support Tongguan at any time."

"You mean that Cao Cao will go all out, and we have to go all out to defend Tongguan?" Luo Chen asked.

"Exactly." Xu Da replied.

"In this case, Tongguan will inevitably bleed into a river, and the entire Central Plains will be in darkness for this." Xu Shu said worriedly. "The people's livelihood economy that we have finally recovered will be wasted again..."

"But it must be like this... or we will perish." Ma Chao also said firmly. "I am willing to lead the army to fight Cao's **** battle under Tongguan City again at any time."

"Thank you all." Luo Chen thanked him. "Everyone's will is firm, I can rest assured." Luochen said and stood up, pointing to the large (bafb) farmland in the Guanzhong Plain in the west of Tongguan. "Everyone, look behind us."

The Guanzhong Plain can not be seen at a glance, and is planted with green wheat. It seems that there are still farmers busy.

"Everyone knows that once the **** battle begins, all the peasants will be requisitioned, the farmland will be desolate, and the land will be greatly increased to be used for military rations... The people will be affected by the war."

Several civil servants and generals stood up and looked at the vibrant scene of the Guanzhong Plain, and everyone was silent.

"Report!" A messenger boarded the tower. "The Xiongnu Royal Court has replied."

"Read." Luo Chen said coldly.

"The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, Luchen, cannot agree to your request. In addition, the border trade cannot be stopped. This year, the Xiongnu royal court has borrowed 300,000-year-old coins from you, which must be paid in this month or the like, otherwise your border will usher in disaster. "

The staff behind Luo Chen were all shocked.

"Report!" Another messenger ran over, "Border report, I was attacked by Xiongnu cavalry yesterday in Shangjun. Cao Cao's borders in Jiuyuan and Yunzhong were also attacked by Xiongnu."

"The prime minister wrote to the Huns?" Xu Da asked. "This Huns is really rampant and utterly hateful!"

"Everyone, I have a teacher, do you know? Cai Yong. He is my teacher." Luo Chen said without changing his expression. All the ministers were quite surprised, Luochen had never mentioned the teacher in front of them, and Luochen even had a teacher...

"Cai Yong?" Xu Shu had some understanding. "Scholar from the Eastern Han Dynasty, I heard that Dong Zhuo suddenly lived in seclusion during the Rebellion. I don't know where he lives now and whether he is still alive. He has a daughter named Cai Wenji, a talented girl. It is said that he was kidnapped by the Xiongnu. Could it be..."

"Yes, finding Cai Wenji is one of the goals." Luo Chen said. "In addition, I want to build a strong cavalry base. I heard that the Huns have good horses and a strong cavalry regiment."

"But Prime Minister, now that Cao's army is under pressure, how can he still have the heart to take care of the Huns!" Xu Da was even more worried. "Although the Huns are hateful, now they have to compromise. When the war in the Central Plains is over, the minister is willing to lead the army to sweep the north. Take back the Hexi Corridor and restore my rule in the Western Regions."

"The general doesn't know something... My teacher may not be around for a few years, and he may not see his daughter in his lifetime." Luo Chen sighed. "And, what if I could make Cao Cao retreat?"

"Can Cao Cao retreat?" The ministers were shocked. "I mean, can you try negotiating with Cao Cao?" Luo Chen said thoughtfully. "Make Cao Cao understand that **** battles are useless, and retreat to fight Hebei."

The ministers were silent again. After a long time, Zhuge Liang said, "This is not impossible... But negotiation, this is very difficult..." Yan Bi looked at Xu Da. Xu Da also nodded: "This idea is indeed feasible, but it is very difficult..."

The words were divided into two parts and returned to Cao Cao's side.

Cao Cao was bored in the Chinese army tent. Now he rallied his army of conspirators and generals. Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Mao Jie, Xu You and others were all present. Generals such as Xiahou Dun, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Le Jin, Cao Hong, Dian Wei, Xu Zhu, etc. "I didn't expect the enemy's weapons to be so powerful." Cao Cao was a little dejected. "Everyone, what are your plans for the next step? Should you retreat? By the way, Mao Jie, I want you to check the enemy's new weapons. Is there any result?"

"There are results." Mao Jie sat at the end of the table with a gloomy face. He usually played tricks in the team of advisers, and his main job was to engage in spy agents and other activities. "The enemy's new weapon is called gunpowder, which is flammable and sometimes explosive. It's very powerful."

Cao Cao had seen it in Hongnong, and he pondered: "This thing is really unheard of, I don't know how Luochen came up with it."

"Master, don't you know?" Xu You hurried to speak, "There is a famous scholar Zhang Heng in Guanzhong. He was appointed as a military division-level civil minister by Luochen a few days ago, and he is one of the three important ministers of Luochen. People have come up with such a powerful thing." Obviously Xu You is a person who pays attention to the dynamics of the civil servants and advisers...

"There are such geniuses?" Cao Cao muttered. "Everyone has also seen that the enemy's weapons are really powerful, and our army will definitely suffer heavy losses if they fight again. But falling dust is a big problem for my rear, and in principle, it is a force that must be attacked.".

Chapter 54 Arguments

It is said that Cao Cao summoned civil and military generals in the camp of the Chinese army to discuss whether to retreat or continue to fight. Cao Cao said: "If we continue to fight, our army will suffer heavy casualties, but falling dust is a serious problem for the north, so we must fight in principle."

Na Xunyou said: "Looking from the last battle, it was the first time our army faced this gunpowder, panicked and left the battlefield earlier, and the losses were relatively large. At Tongguan, our army and the fallen army fought more than 100 times. , now that the fallen army is equipped with gunpowder, our army may not be able to handle it..." Although all the generals of Cao's army were all belligerents, they all suffered great losses in the war with the fallen army, and they all nodded deeply.

"I suggest to retreat immediately, clean up the remnants of Yuan Shao in Hebei, and accumulate strength." Xun You finally suggested.

"Then what if our army attacked Hebei and Luochen attacked us from behind?" Cao Cao asked.

The ministers were all silent. At that time, Cao Cao was on the front line in Hebei, and when he heard that Luo Chen personally led an army to attack Luoyang, he jumped up in fright. The ministers were all impressed. "Luochen came with an army of 200,000 people, equipped with gunpowder, how long can you hold the Luoyang line of defense?" Cao Cao asked Cao Hong.

"Uh..." Cao Hong was a little flustered, but he thought about it, "I can still hold on for a month or more. The defense line in Luoyang is strong.

"Can Hebei be wiped out in a month?" Cao Cao seemed to be talking to himself, and he seemed to be asking the ministers.

Then Xu You hurriedly stood up: "Gong Cao acts according to his plan, and in two months at most, he can take over the whole territory of the three provinces in Hebei."

"Two months? It's too long... and it doesn't include Liaodong." Cao Cao was obviously dissatisfied: "So, Luochen is a serious concern for my confidant, and must I give him a fatal blow before conquering Hebei?"

"Not necessarily," Guo Jiadao said. "Increasing the Luoyang defensive line can last longer. In addition, even if Luoyang falls, there are still passes such as Hulaoguan and Songshan, which can block Luochen for one to two months. In this way, we Those who have time to take down the three states in Hebei before Luochen advances to our core area can even go east and pacify Liaodong."

Cao Cao fell into deep thought and said: "Luochen is a serious problem for his confidants. At that time, he will have to fight a lot of people to defeat him. If you want to destroy the Luochen forces, it will be even more difficult! It's hard to do!" The speaker sighed, hesitating. Decide. Cao Cao is generally decisive in decision-making and is good at weighing interests. This is the first time that the ministers have seen Cao Cao hesitate so much.

"Guo Jia, what do you think?" Cao Cao asked.

Guo Jia still hesitated for a moment, and said: "I am just a counselor, and such a major decision cannot be made by a non-wise master of martial arts... However, I dare to put forward my own opinion: I suggest to lay down Tongguan at all costs, occupy Guanzhong, and put the dust in the dust. Forcing it to the south of Qinling and Hanzhong. It is recommended to recruit another 400,000 troops, prepare food and grass, and prepare for this war."

Guo Jia paused at every word, and all the civil and military members below were shocked when they heard that this weak scholar said such murderous words. And this murderous suggestion is not in a personal sense. Once it is implemented, it will be a **** battle for millions of people. At that time, the entire Central Plains will be mourning everywhere, and the blood will flow into rivers...

"This minister opposes!" Xun You shouted, "This is to use up all the national property and the people's manpower."

"The implementation of this plan is indeed a huge challenge for our country..." Xun Yu, who has been performing logistical work in the rear for a long time, also said worriedly. Most of the civil servants and military generals were obviously also worried about the huge damage caused by the decision, and they all expressed their disapproval.

To be honest, what Guo Jia said was exactly what Cao Cao thought! However, since Cao Cao is the leader of the group, he must consider it properly, understand the interests and interests, and can't act with anger. Therefore, Cao Cao had to consider the various worries raised by the ministers, and these worries were all justified, so Cao Cao hesitated.

"Everyone is afraid that blood will flow into rivers now, and the country may be divided in the future!" Guo Jia said solemnly. "It can be judged that Luochen's strength is getting stronger and stronger now, and he will definitely encroach on Jingzhou, expand his territory, and recruit fierce generals and advisors. Our overall strength in the Central Plains is still larger than that of the Luochen Group, so it is still possible to defeat him now. Wait for the Luochen forces. If we swell, we will no longer be able to deal with falling dust! No one will be able to deal with who at that time, wouldn't it mean that the country is divided!"

The ministers were shocked and fell silent. Obviously, this vision is too long-term, and most people do not consider it.

"Fengxiao said it well..." Cao Cao murmured.

·0 for flowers

"If you attack Luochen now, you will definitely lose both, the loss is immeasurable!" Xun You was indomitable. "How do you know that there will be no chance in the future? Take Hebei, solve Jingzhou, Jiangdong, and the barren west. Our army can still beat the dust group!" The ministers whispered again, obviously Xun You had some truth. No one here is a god, and it is impossible to predict the development of history. According to the plan proposed by Xun You, it seems feasible...

"Report! Major battle report!" Suddenly a sergeant shouted outside the door.

"Come in!" Cao Cao said hurriedly.