I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

The day before his strategist Shan Fu was to plan the campaign against Cao Cao, he sent Mi Zhu and Mi Fang eastward to Guangling to meet their old friend Chen Deng.

The two traveled by boat along the Ru River into the Huai River, passed through the Han Canal, and sailed downstream to Guangling. By this time, half a month had passed since they set off.

However, after the news reached Guangling and reached Chen Deng, Chen Deng merely sent someone to take the two to the post station to rest, then made excuses to avoid seeing them, and there was no further news.

"Brother, how dare Chen Deng treat us so disrespectfully? Why don't we return and report to the strategist?" On the third night, Mi Fang was already getting restless.

"At that time, we were all making a living in Xuzhou, while Yuanlong is Cao Cao's reliance in Xuzhou. We each serve our own master."

"It is understandable that Yuanlong would avoid meeting us if he had his reasons for coming so abruptly."

After finishing his sentence, Mi Zhu took a sip of tea and stopped explaining to Mi Fang. He was thinking about who else he could find in Xuzhou besides Chen Deng to carry out the strategist's plan.

Two soft knocks sounded on the door.

Just as Mi Fang was about to open the door, Mi Zhu waved his hand and walked slowly forward. Seeing that there was only one person outside the door, he opened the door.

"Yuanlong?" Mi Zhu asked in surprise.

"Zizhong, Zifang, how have you been?" Standing at the door was a handsome scholar, none other than Chen Deng, the Prefect of Guangling.

"Please come in quickly!" Mi Zhu looked around and, seeing that there was no one else outside the door, quickly invited Chen Deng into the house.

"Why did Yuanlong refuse to see me during the day, but come to visit me late at night?" Mi Fang was clearly still somewhat unhappy.

"Haha, now that we are each serving our own masters, there are too many people around during the day, so I dare not presume to see you two. I apologize to you both!" Chen Deng said with a smile, bowing to Mi Zhu and Mi Fang.

"How dare I!" Mi Zhu quickly returned the greeting and invited Chen Deng to sit down at the table.

"Why are you two here instead of assisting the governor in Runan?" Chen Deng asked bluntly.

The two Mis exchanged a glance, and Mi Zhu spoke up: "Although the magistrate is in Runan, he has always kept Yuanlong in his thoughts and often talks about him to us. Yuanlong's literary and martial talents and courage are something to be sought in the ancients; it is difficult to find someone like him in such a short time."

These words even made Chen Deng a little embarrassed, and he bowed, saying, "Your Excellency's kindness is too much for me, Yuanlong is unworthy of it!"

Taking the opportunity, Mi Fang said, "We have come here today because we need something from Yuanlong."

Chen Deng nodded, sat up straight, and said, "Please speak freely, both of you."

"Has Yuanlong received the proclamation and edict sent by the magistrate against Cao?" Mi Zhu asked.

"I have read it." Chen Deng smiled slightly.

Before Mi Zhu could speak, Chen Deng countered with, "Who came up with the strategy of winning hearts and minds and minds and uniting against the Prime Minister?"

When Chen Deng saw the proclamation and the imperial edict, he concluded that, given Liu Bei's situation in Xuzhou at the time, he must have hired a master behind the scenes.

Sending a proclamation to the world and launching a high-profile attack on Cao Cao was not something Liu Bei would do.

Mi Zhu said, "Yuanlong is very insightful. Our lord met a gentleman named Shan Fu in Jingzhou and appointed him as his military advisor. The grand plan to attack Cao Cao is precisely the strategy of the military advisor."

"Oh... Jingzhou has many eminent scholars coming and going, so it's not surprising." Chen Deng seemed to be talking to himself.

Although I've never heard of the name Shan Fu, the level of competition among famous scholars and luminaries in Jingzhou, Nanyang, and Xiangyang, is no less than that in Yingchuan.

"My lord earnestly requests Yuanlong, for the sake of the world, to obey the imperial edict, raise an army, march west out of Xiaoguan, and directly attack Qiao State." Mi Zhu went straight to the point, stating the purpose of this mission.

"Upon hearing that Your Excellency has raised an army, the people of Xuzhou, mindful of Your Excellency's benevolence, have all sent their prayers to you from afar." Chen Deng first went around in circles, praising Liu Bei.

"However, I must apologize that I am powerless to assist in the matter of sending troops." Chen Deng's tone unexpectedly changed immediately, and after refusing Mi Zhu, he still maintained a calm and composed expression.

"Why is Yuanlong so certain of his words?" Mi Fang asked.

"May I ask, what is your purpose in raising this army, my lord?" Chen Deng ignored Mi Fang and instead asked Mi Zhu without hesitation.

"To support the Han dynasty above and save the people below."

"Yuanlong knows that the magistrate is a benevolent and righteous man who cares about the people. It is precisely because of the people that Chen Deng is powerless to help." Chen Deng's words silenced Mi Zhu.

"Yuanlong, you might as well explain yourself. We are all ears." Chen Deng's reaction was indeed reasonable, but Mi Zhu still hoped to hear Chen Deng's explanation so that he could go back and report.

Chen Deng stood up and slowly said, "There are two reasons. First, I am but a humble talent and do not possess the grand strategy of Your Excellency. My only wish in this life is for the peace and tranquility of this corner of Xuzhou."

"The former advised Tao Gong to welcome the magistrate to Xuzhou to help the prime minister eliminate Lü Bu. Now, he leads the small army of Guangling and defends against the two Sun brothers of Jiangdong, all because of this."

These words were not mere pretexts, but rather Chen Deng's heartfelt words.

Whether it was helping Tao Qian clean up the mess left by Zhang Kai's ambush and killing of Cao Song, or helping Cao Cao and Liu Bei defeat Lü Bu, protecting the people of Xuzhou was always Chen Deng's sole purpose and the source of his great righteousness.

"Secondly, now that Xuzhou is under the Prime Minister's control, Zang Ba commands troops in Qing and Xu in the north, and Jiangdong frequently invades our territory in the south. If we rashly start a war now, I fear the people of Xuzhou will never have a peaceful day again."

This is also true. After Cao Cao defeated Liu Bei, he completely entrusted the east to Zang Ba. Although the main purpose was to contain Yuan Shao, if there was any change in Xuzhou, Zang Ba would definitely be the first to go south and take action.

The invasion of Guangling by the Jiangnan forces was not long ago.

Taking advantage of Cao Cao's stalemate with Yuan Shao and his inability to attend to the east, Sun Ce ordered his brother Sun Quan to lead ten times the number of troops defending Kuang Qi, but they were defeated twice by Chen Deng.

Sun Ce died while waiting for military supplies to continue the offensive.

Chen Deng had long ago decided that he must not allow Xuzhou to become a battlefield for Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Zang He, and Sun Quan, and to repeat the previous nightmare.

Although he still deeply appreciates Liu Bei's help in relieving the siege of Xuzhou and is grateful for Liu Bei's high regard for him, he would never agree to anyone trying to drag Xuzhou into the battlefield.

"Because of these two reasons, I am powerless to grant your request, Your Excellency." Chen Deng's two reasons left Mi Zhu and Mi Fang with no way to refute him.

To put it another way, these two natives of Xuzhou understood Chen Deng's intentions better than anyone else.

Mi Fang was speechless with disappointment and looked at Mi Zhu, hoping that Mi Zhu could persuade her again.

Mi Zhu pondered for a long time, then stood up and said, "Since that's the case, how dare we force you? We will return to Runan and report back to the military advisor."

"I apologize for the inconvenience caused, Yuanlong." Mi Zhu's voice was not loud, but it was very decisive.

He had known Chen Deng for a long time, and now that things had come to this point, Chen Deng would not offer any further room for compromise.

Just as Mi Zhu and Mi Fang were about to leave and return late at night, Chen Deng called them back.

"Zizhong and Zifang have been traveling all this way; they probably don't even know that disaster is about to befall them?"

Upon hearing Chen Deng's words, Er Mi froze on the spot.

"Why does Yuanlong say this?"

"The Prime Minister has already formed an alliance with Sun Quan and Zhou Yu of Jiangdong, and is using the Emperor's edict to order Jiangdong to raise troops and launch a surprise attack on Runan." Chen Deng's words instantly threw Mi Zhu and Mi Fang into a state of panic.

"This...we really don't know." Mi Zhu sat back down in his original seat and began to stare blankly.

Before setting off, the strategist did mention Jiangdong, instructing the two to pay attention to Jiangdong's attitude on this trip. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao's actions were faster than anticipated.

However, Mi Zhu quickly realized that Chen Deng must have a special reason for stopping him, and asked, "I wonder what good strategy Yuanlong has to teach me?"

Chen Deng smiled and said, "I am still grateful for the sincerity and earnestness you showed me in the past. Although I am unable to send troops to help you now, I am willing to share your burdens."

At almost the same time, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang bowed solemnly to Chen Deng: "We eagerly await your insightful opinion, Yuanlong!"

Chen Deng waved his hand and said with a smile, "You two don't need to be so polite."

"Before coming to see you two tonight, I had already prepared a good plan to protect you, my lord—"

No worries about the future!