Xi Zhicai was wearing a long robe, with a dark complexion and a haggard look. He was jogging gently on his horse. When he came to the moat, he stopped his horse and bowed to Zang Ba who was standing on the tower.
He cupped his hands and said loudly: "General Zang, are you okay?"
When Zang Ba saw Xi Zhicai arriving in person, he showed great respect. He bowed his hands to Xi Zhicai politely and said in return: "Everything is fine with Zang Ba. It's just that your husband seems to be worse than a year ago?"
Xi Zhicai smiled and said: "Thank you, General Zang, for your concern. I can still hold on for a few more years with my old bones."
Zang Ba was unfamiliar with Xi Zhicai. When Cao Cao's cavalry attacked Xuzhou to avenge his father, it was Xi Zhicai's strategy. Not only did he capture Xuzhou, he was also severely defeated. He saw Xi Zhicai.
He rode up in person and asked, "Sir, are you here not just to reminisce about old times, right?"
Xi Zhicai nodded and said slowly: "General Zang is right. I do have important things to do here. My lord wants to..."
Zang Ba didn't wait for Xi Zhicai to finish what he said, he directly interrupted Xi Zhicai's words and said loudly: "Sir, if you are here to persuade me to surrender, there is no need to waste your words. Please go back. I, Zang Ba, will not surrender."
.”
Xi Zhicai smiled and said: "General Zang, I am not here to lobby. I just want to tell General Zang that my lord wants to meet General Zang alone. I wonder if General Zang agrees?"
"Cao Cao wants to see me?" Zang Ba asked suspiciously.
Xi Zhicai nodded and said with a smile: "Exactly. My lord admires General Zang's character and says that General Zang is an unparalleled loyal man. He really wants to see the general's face up close and drink two glasses of wine.
Let’s reminisce about old times, and it’s not too late to start fighting again when the reminiscing is over.”
After hearing this, Zang Ba thought to himself: "What kind of medicine is sold in Cao Cao's gourd?"
"I have no friendship with Cao Cao, so there is nothing to talk about. If he comes to see me, he can come on his own and there is no need to hold a Hongmen banquet." Zang Ba replied firmly.
Xi Zhicai said: "Why does General Zang refuse people thousands of miles away? My lord is not hosting a Hongmen banquet, he just wants to get to know General Zang. My lord has said that this meeting is a private meeting, and neither party is allowed to bring weapons."
and your entourage, there are only two of you and my lord. General Zang,
Isn't this reassuring enough for you? Besides, my lord and your lord are brothers, and they have a deep relationship. The siege of Jinan City this time was also out of helplessness, and it was a misunderstanding. Therefore, my lord wanted to turn the war into friendship, and the two armies discussed
Wouldn't it be nice to stop fighting for a while and then each other?"
After listening to Xi Zhicai's words, Zang Ba thought: "Cao Cao has obviously gained the advantage. As long as we besiege the city for one more day, our army will run out of food. Isn't this exactly what he expected? Why does he want to see me for discussion at this time?"
?Could it be that my lord has led the army across the river and Cao Cao is afraid?"
Xi Zhicai saw Zang Ba thinking about the problem and asked again: "General Zang, what do you think?"
Zang Ba said: "Okay, you go back and tell Cao Cao that I, Zang Ba, have attended the appointment. I will be at the gate of Jinan at noon today."
After Xi Zhicai got Zang Ba's reply, he exchanged a few more pleasantries, then turned around and left.
Wu Dun looked at Xi Zhicai's retreating back, cupped his hands and said: "Brother, this should be Cao Cao's trap, you can't go."
Zang Badao: "Whether it's a trap or not, I can't let Cao Cao look down on me. It just so happens that I also want to know what he wants to say. If he is really willing to continue to be friendly with our army, and I refuse, it will undoubtedly be
Added one more enemy to the Lord."
After hearing this, Wu Dun stopped trying to persuade him and said with his fists in his hands: "We all listen to big brother."
…
After Xi Zhicai returned to the military camp, he informed Cao Cao of Zang Ba's answer. After hearing this, Cao Cao asked, "What else did he say?"
"No, that's all he said." Xi Zhicai replied.
Cao Cao sneered and said: "This Zang Ba, I like him more and more. If he had come to seek refuge with me, maybe Qingzhou and Xuzhou could be completely left to his guard. It's better now, I'd rather find it for myself."
Got into big trouble."
Dian Wei, who was standing beside Cao Cao, said: "My lord, that subordinate killed him."
Cao Cao said: "Haha, that's easy to say. If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely let you kill him."
Dian Wei remained silent and continued to stand by Cao Cao's side.
Cao Cao pointed at Xi Zhicai and said slowly: "Prepare a fine banquet and set up a table between the camp and the city. I want to see Gao Fei's real purpose in letting Zang Ba lead troops into Qingzhou.
What on earth is..."
Xi Zhicai said "Promise" and turned around to leave.
At nearly noon, Xi Zhicai had made arrangements according to Cao Cao's regulations and set up a banquet between Jinan City and the camp.
Zang Ba stood on the tower and looked into the distance, and saw Cao Cao walking out of the Wei army camp alone without any weapons.
"Brother, it's Cao Cao. He really came alone." Wu Dun pointed at Cao Cao in the distance and shouted.
Zang Ba looked at it carefully and immediately ordered: "Wu Dun, you guard this gate while I leave the city."
Wu Dun said: "Brother, be more careful!"
Zang Ba nodded, went straight down the city tower, disarmed all the weapons on his body, asked the soldiers to open the city gate, put down the drawbridge, then walked out of the city gate and walked straight towards Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was already sitting on the bench where the banquet was being held. Looking at Zang Ba coming from the opposite side, he cupped his hands and said, "I didn't expect that our first meeting at such a close distance would be on such an occasion. General Zang, don't leave."
Are you okay here?"
When Zang Ba occupied Mount Tai, Cao Cao sent people many times to recruit Zang Ba to surrender, but Zang Ba never surrendered to Cao Cao. He believed that Cao Cao was just taking advantage of the favorable terrain he occupied. He politely handed over his hand and said: "Thanks to the Marquis of Wei.
Thanks to his care, Zang Ba has been able to survive to this day."
Cao Cao heard what Zang Ba meant, because when Zang Ba occupied Mount Tai, he had sent people to recruit him to surrender. Zang Ba did not surrender, so he sealed Mount Tai in anger and wanted to starve Zang Ba to death on the mountain.
. He smiled and said: "General Zang, forget about the old things between you and me. They have all been written off!"
Zang Ba said: "I hope so. I wonder what the Marquis of Wei wants from me?"
"Just catching up on old times..." Cao Cao picked up a glass of wine on the table and handed it to Zang Ba, "General Zang, please!"
Zang Ba glanced at the food and wine on the table, and said coldly and expressionlessly: "Marquis Wei and I seem to have been enemies from the beginning. Marquis Wei should be very clear about our relationship with the enemy, right?"
When Cao Cao saw that Zang Ba didn't agree with him, he smiled, drank the wine into his stomach first, then picked up his chopsticks and tasted all the dishes on the table, and then said slowly: "Don't worry.
It’s not poisonous. General Zang and I can be considered good friends now, because I and your lord Yanhou usually treat each other as brothers..."
Zang Ba turned his head and sneered: "As brothers? If the Marquis of Wei and my lord are really regarded as brothers, how could he lead an army to surround this place?"
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding!" Cao Cao said with a smile, "I am actually protecting you. There are still some Yuan clan's old tribes in Qingzhou that I have not cleaned up, so I have no choice but to take this step. If I really want to
If we attack General Zang, with the speed of my troops, Jinan City will definitely be captured in less than a day. However, I have been besieging the city for five or six days in a row, but I have not taken a single attack. Doesn't this explain the problem?"
"The Marquis of Wei is so articulate that I cannot match him, but how should I explain Wei Yan's incident?"
"This is also a misunderstanding. I just asked the soldiers to go out to meet him, but he thought I was attacking him, so he ran and ran like this. Even now, I haven't found him. General Zang, please sit down, I still want to ask you
One thing, please forgive me General Zang. Once I get a perfect answer, I will immediately withdraw the soldiers here and stop harassing General Zang."
Zang Ba knew clearly that what Cao Cao said was sophistry, but he still sat down and asked, "Marquis Wei, I have something to ask."
Cao Cao said: "I promised to send troops to Qingzhou to contain Yuan Tan's 50,000 troops in Qingzhou for your lord. Your lord also swore that he would never interfere in Qingzhou affairs. Why did he send you to rob Qingzhou counties?"
Zang Ba said: "This matter has nothing to do with my lord, it was all done by me alone. I saw that the Marquis of Wei and Yuan Tan were fighting hard, and the Marquis of Wei's troops were slightly insufficient, so I sent troops to occupy it first, because I was afraid
The old Yuan clan is making a comeback."
When Cao Cao saw Zang Ba kicking the ball to his feet again, he laughed loudly and said: "General Zang is indeed a hero, and his words are impeccable. But if we continue talking like this, it seems to have lost its meaning. Why don't we get straight to the point?
Tell me, what do you think?"
Zang Ba saw Cao Cao's change of expression, and his somewhat submissive expression just now disappeared, replaced by a strong aura, and said: "Since the Marquis of Wei likes to make detours, then I have no choice but to follow the detours of the Marquis of Wei, as long as the Marquis of Wei gets straight to the point.
, then I will also speak out."
Cao Cao said: "Okay, then I will ask directly. You have already occupied half of Pingyuan County and are still guarding the Yellow River ferry, but why do you want to rob other Qingzhou counties? What is your purpose?
"
Zang Badao: "My lord's meaning is very simple. With Wei Hou's intelligence, as long as Wei Hou thinks about it carefully, he will definitely know what my lord's purpose is."
Cao Cao thought about it carefully and asked casually: "Do you want to row a river with me and control it?"
Zang Ba nodded: "My lord originally intended to exchange Jinan County and Le'an County for the nine counties of Dongjun north of the Yellow River under the rule of Marquis Wei. However, what I didn't expect was that Marquis Wei used his troops so quickly that he did not give our army any chance.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss with your army, we surrounded Jinan City with a large army..."
"Nine counties in the East County?" Cao Cao felt shocked, thinking of the information about Gao Fei's unknown whereabouts, he immediately understood it and knew where Gao Fei was going. He slapped his thigh and shouted, "What's wrong, Gao Fei?"
Flying around Wei to rescue Zhao, he must have gone to Dongjun..."
After listening to Cao Cao's speculation, Zang Ba also felt that this was the most effective way. He stood up and said sarcastically: "Thank you Marquis Wei for your hospitality. Since we can't exchange Jinan County and Le'an County, we can only use force to seize it."
The Lord's move of besieging Wei and rescuing Zhao was a very good move. I think the army should be approaching Puyang City now. Just as the Marquis of Wei besieged Jinan City.
In this way, Puyang City should also be surrounded by my lord. It’s just that Jinan and Puyang are more important. I think the Marquis of Wei knows better than me, right? My mission as a chess piece has been completed. If the Marquis of Wei wants to attack Jinan City, I
I will accompany you to the end. If you withdraw your troops, I will not pursue you. After all, my lord also wants to get along with Wei Marquis on a friendly basis."
A trace of murderous intent appeared on Cao Cao's face. He finally knew Gao Fei's true intention this time. His purpose was to cross the river with him to rule, and to send troops to occupy Jinan and Le'an County, he wanted to exchange Dongjun with him.
Jiuxian. He suddenly laughed out loud and said loudly: "Gao Fei, Gao Fei, if I had known this was the case, why would I need to use troops in Qingzhou?"
Zang Ba laughed when he heard that Cao Cao was not angry. He felt that he could not figure out Cao Cao, but he did not want to stay any longer, so he turned around and left.
"Zang Ba!"
Cao Cao suddenly called out from behind Zang Ba.
Zang Ba turned around, looked at Cao Cao sitting on the bench, and asked, "What else does the Marquis of Wei do?"
"You will lead your troops to withdraw from the south bank of the Yellow River today. When you return to Hebei, tell your lord that I agree to row the river with him to rule. In addition, after I have finished the little things in Qingzhou, I will send an envoy there.
To meet him and formally enter into a covenant with him, I hope he will be ready as soon as possible."
After listening to Cao Cao's words, Zang Ba was slightly puzzled, but he remembered Cao Cao's original words in his heart. He turned around and continued walking towards Jinan City.
Cao Cao also stood up, turned around and walked back, when soldiers came to remove the tables and stools.
Xi Zhicai, Cao Hong, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu were waiting in front of the village gate. When they saw Cao Cao walking over in a swaggering manner, with a trace of joy on his face, they all looked at each other, but they couldn't explain why.
Cao Cao stopped, stood in front of Xi Zhicai, and said loudly: "Military advisor, pass the order. The entire army will set up camp and go to Linzi. Qingzhou no longer has to worry."
Xi Zhicai asked hurriedly: "Lord, could it be that Zang Ba surrendered?"
Cao Cao shook his head and said: "The Yan Army in Hebei has always given me a headache, but now it seems that there is no need to worry about it anymore, at least for two or three years. I will not worry about the Yan Army as soon as possible within these two or three years."
Let Qingzhou and Xuzhou become prosperous and further lay the foundation in the Central Plains."
Xi Zhicai was a smart man. When he heard what Cao Cao said, he asked: "Does the lord want to make an alliance with the Yan army?"
Cao Cao nodded and then said: "Send people to rush to Dongjun non-stop. If you encounter the Yan army, you don't have to go to so much trouble. Directly inform Yanhou Gao Fei that our army wants to enter into an alliance with the Yan army.
I think he will be looking forward to forming an alliance with me."
Xi Zhicai said "Promise" and then asked: "My lord, Liu Bei and others are coming from Linzi. How should we treat them?"
There was a trace of murderous intent in Cao Cao's eyes, and he said coldly: "Liu Bei? This big ear has no use value anymore. He has already convinced most of Qingzhou and helped me achieve what I want. There is no use keeping it."
Already."
After hearing this, Cao Hong geared up and said: "My lord, leave this matter to me. I will definitely get Liu Bei's head back and present it to your lord."
Cao Cao said: "Xu Chu, Dian Wei, you two go with Cao Hong and lead two thousand tiger and leopard cavalry to rob and kill Liu Bei, but you need to be careful of Liu Bei's two sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei."
Dian Wei, Xu Chu, and Cao Hong clasped their fists together and said, "Promise! I understand!"
"Go for it!"
Cao Cao's orders arrived at each camp one by one. All the soldiers set up camp and gathered at the north gate. Then Cao Cao led the team and began to slowly march towards Linzi City.
Xi Zhicai looked back at Jinan City and asked, "My lord, do you really don't need to leave soldiers to garrison here?"
Cao Cao said: "Zang Ba is a general. If I leave my troops behind, he will think that I will attack him sneakily. After all our troops have withdrawn, it will not be too late to come back and occupy Zang Ba after he has withdrawn. The most important thing is to get to Linzi City as soon as possible."
He appointed Qingzhou Mu and then appointed county officials in Qingzhou. Only by working from top to bottom can Qingzhou be gradually stabilized."
Xi Zhicai said: "My lord is wise."
…
Wei Yan led his troops to rest fifteen miles north of Jinan City. Chen Shi had one of his hands cut off, twenty-three soldiers were killed, and more than fifty were injured. He was looking at the injured one by one.
Suddenly, Guo Ying galloped over on his horse. Before he could dismount, he shouted to Wei Yan: "General, Cao Cao...Cao Cao actually took the initiative to withdraw his troops..."
"Withdraw the troops? Why did he withdraw the troops? How will General Zang and others follow?" Wei Yan asked hurriedly.
Guo Yingdao: "Everything is fine with General Zang, but why Cao Cao withdrew his troops is not clear to my subordinates. I only saw Zang Ba and Cao Cao talking alone for a while, and then