May is the hottest time of the year, but for Cao Cao, his heart was as cold as ice.
Now he is sitting in the military camp in Yangping. There is a flag hanging in front of the camp gate. The words on the flag were handwritten by him last year, "The army is always weak, and it shrinks and follows the enemy." In eight thick Chinese characters
Qiu, showing the extremely heroic spirit when writing. However, due to the influence of wind and rain for more than half a year, the pride and arrogance of the spring breeze that originally appeared in the lines have become vaguely different.
Since he took office as the captain of Dongjun at the beginning of the second year of Chuping, he first fought against the Black Mountain Army going south. There were six battles, big and small, and he defeated Du Chang and Tao Sheng with 6,000 people, and about 40,000 people from the third tribe of Du. Later, he was elected as the commander-in-chief.
The prefect of Dongjun was then invited by Zhang Miao to resist the 20,000 troops of Sun Bi and Xu Kun who were heading north. These 20,000 people were the strong force left by Sun Jian, but they could not conquer Chenliu. After a stalemate for three months, they had to return to Yuzhou. One after another.
Yanzhou's victory made everyone in Yanzhou look at Cao Cao with admiration. Gradually, there were signs that Cao Cao was respected in everything in the state, while Liu Dai, the former governor of Yanzhou, was ignored. Presumably if this continues for a while, all military and political power in Yanzhou will fall to Cao Cao.
However, just this year, things have changed dramatically.
Liu Dai was unwilling to have his power taken away in this way, and forcefully ordered him to stick to Dongjun. At the same time, he summoned the main forces of the prefectures and counties to gather in Jibei. On one side, he monitored Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin to prevent him from contacting Cao Cao, and on the other side, he started to attack Qingzhou.
The Yellow Turbans tried to strengthen their authority. It happened that the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans consecrated Mount Tai again, so Liu Dai led his troops to try to regain Mount Tai. He followed Chang Shi's strategy and divided his troops into two groups. They confronted the enemy at Liangfu and tried to bypass them.
Crossing Youlai Mountain to attack the enemy's back, he was bumped into the Guan Hai tribe who came for reinforcements, and was severely defeated. Liu Dai died on the spot. Yanzhou's 60,000 troops lost 40,000 in this battle.
When Liu Dai died, Cao Cao was temporarily elected as the new shepherd of Yanzhou with the support of Chen Gong, Zhang Miao and others. However, the situation was bad at this time. The Yellow Turbans took advantage of the situation and captured half of Yanzhou. Cao Cao could
The troops mobilized are only ten thousand people.
He first ordered Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and others to station in Dingtao and Chengwu, where they contained the main force of the Gengcang army attacking the city. He led three thousand troops to Yangping, crossed the Yellow River and repeatedly attacked the rear of the Gengcang army. Once Gengcang army was attacked,
After the Cang army sent troops to pursue him, he crossed the Yellow River and returned to Yangping. After several attempts, Geng Cang's army failed to cross the river to pursue him, so he simply retracted his defense line and retreated to Kangfu Shouzhang area. Cao Cao was able to temporarily regain Shanyang County. But Geng Cang's army could not cross the river to pursue him.
They still had no intention of retreating, so they announced that they would go from Pingyuan County to Hebei and fight with Cao Cao in Dong County.
This can't help Cao Cao being careless. Dongjun is his base camp. Once Dongjun is lost, the hearts of other counties will probably be shaken. Whether he can stay in Yanzhou is hard to say.
He had no choice but to write letters to Guan Yu and Yuan Shao for help at the same time. In his letter to Yuan Shao, he suggested that Yuan Shao negotiate peace with Gongsun Zan first, and then work together to repel the Gengcang army. Otherwise, the Gengcang army would become more powerful in capturing Yanzhou, fearing that the generals in the world would be defeated.
Uncontrollable.
The letter to Guan Yu was much simpler. Cao Cao only said that he was in many difficulties at the moment and hoped that Guan Yu would come to resist the Geng Cang army since they were both Han ministers.
Within five days, he received replies from both.
Yuan Shao wanted him to shrink his troops, abandon the counties in Henan, and focus on defending the Gengcang Army in the East County. The war in Hebei had reached a critical juncture. He was about to capture Xiang Kingdom. After he captured Xiang Kingdom, he would negotiate peace with Gongsun Zan.
It won't be too late, by then, he will lead his army south to support, and make Cao Cao defend Dongjun. There is neither the strength nor the time to reinforce, and the words seem to be Cao Cao's lord rather than his friend.
Cao Cao was greatly disgusted.
Guan Yu's reply was simpler than Cao Cao's letter. He replied: "We are already ordering our troops. Please wait a moment." On the fourth day after the letter was sent, Guan Yu led 30,000 sergeants stationed in Henan across the river bridge.
, arrived at Dunqiu via Hanoi, and will arrive at Yangping soon. This news made Cao Cao breathe a sigh of relief, but Cao Cao was not sure how much effect it would have on the overall situation.
"Ming Gong?"
"Oh, why are Wen Ruo here?"
While Cao Cao was lost in thought, the guards brought in a man. He was about thirty years old, handsome and well-mannered, with a body as slender as a pine. His whole body exuded a refreshing fragrance, so that as soon as he entered the army tent,
There seemed to be a breeze flowing inside the tent. This is Xun Yu, Xun Wenruo, the current patriarch of the Xun clan in Yingchuan, and the later leader recognized by the party members.
Since the Luoyang coup, he first fled Luoyang with his seal, and then moved his family to Jizhou for refuge. By last year, Cao Cao had made great achievements in Yanzhou, and Xun Yu left Yuan Shao again and came to join Cao Cao. Cao Cao's inner feelings about the general party
In fact, people have a contemptuous attitude, especially those like Xun Yu who like to dress up, which reflects Cao Cao's ugly appearance. However, he sincerely admired Xun Yu and often said to his staff: The world can live up to its name.
There are only a few of them, but Xun Wenruo is called a talented person of the king, but he is worthy of the name. So he was appointed as Sima of the other department. Now he was promoted to Yanzhou Mu, and he also promoted Xun Yu to work as a subordinate.
Xun Yu was a sincere man. Even if there were no outsiders around, he would lift up his clothes and pay homage to Cao Cao respectfully.
Cao Cao smiled, lifted him up, and said, "Why should Wen Ruo be so polite?" Seeing that Xun Yu had a bamboo slip in his hand, he patted his forehead and said, "Wen Ruo, you came to me, do you have any information?"
In the year since Xun Yu arrived in Yanzhou, in addition to sorting out various personnel affairs under Cao Cao's government, he also organized the construction of an intelligence system to collect military and political information from all over the world. With this, Cao Cao was invincible in Henan.<
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Xun Yu handed the bamboo slips in his hand to Cao Cao, and then stood aside silently. After Cao Cao read it, he said: "Xizhong and I have already checked. The rebels have gathered their troops in Mount Tai and Jinan.
The rebels in the plain area are collecting boats and claim that they will cross the river soon. These news are absolutely true. But I feel something is wrong."
Cao Cao put the bamboo slips on the table aside and asked, "Wen Ruo thinks something is wrong?"
"The rebels pretended to be crossing the river, but they didn't see any military supplies and baggage crossing the river. Isn't it strange?"
Cao Cao paced back and forth and said slowly: "Wen Ruo is right. Since ancient times, water transportation has been the top priority and land transportation has been the bottom priority. However, the rebel army has gathered in Mount Tai and Jinan. It can be seen that the military supplies are also here.
Any abnormality must be a deception! In my opinion, the rebels' attack on Dongjun must be false. They probably want to take advantage of me to send troops to take over Shanyang, so they can attack again!"
Unexpectedly, Xun Yu shook his head slightly and said: "Ming Gong, it is natural for the rebels to attack Dongjun, but they may not want to attack me."
This was beyond Cao Cao's expectation, and he asked: "What is Wen Ruo's advice?"
"The rebels can claim to have changed the Yuan Dynasty, which shows that there must be a master plan among the thieves, and the Ming Gong should not be ignored by the petty thieves. Now the rebels first broke Liu Gongshan, and then occupied four counties. Even though there are more than 100,000 troops, although they are many,
Its power has also been exhausted. As for our army's new reinforcements from Guanfujun, although their troops are few, their strength is also strong. In addition, the weather is extremely hot, and the attackers will not be able to fight for a long time. It can be said that the right time, place and people are on our side. If the rebel army is wise
, now it’s time to tidy up the new soil and wait for next year.”
Cao Cao understood what Xun Yu meant: "Wen Ruo said that the rebels were bluffing and wanted to intimidate me. If I were timid, I would naturally surrender to him. Even if I still have the will to fight, I can only defend the city and dare not act arrogantly.
Go to war."
Seeing Xun Yu nod, Cao Cao thought for a moment and said: "This idea is quite shrewd. Logically speaking, if he wants to end the war, not only should I not make a truce, but I should take the initiative. But now I see through his plan,
But it is even more difficult to regain Rencheng and Dongping. If the rebels have any other plans, our situation will be too passive."
Speaking of this, he had a flash of inspiration and thought of a strategy that might change the situation. But the details had yet to be polished, so he left Xun Yu to have a meal in the camp. The two of them ate soup cakes while discussing the next military plan.
Plan. As a result, the two of them were so absorbed in the discussion that they put dinner aside, and the discussion did not end for nearly half an hour.
At this moment, a burst of rapid footsteps came, stopping not far in front of the camp.
Cao Cao was still immersed in his own imagination and was unaware of it. However, Xun Yu was keen on etiquette and looked up calmly. It was Cao Cao's brother-in-law Qin Shao who came. He looked anxious and made several moves in succession.
Xun Yu knew in his heart that Qin Shao must have something urgent to report, so he didn't panic. After Cao Cao finished telling his idea, he coughed at the right time and said: "Ming Gong, I have to deal with this again.
Send someone to the plain to determine the location, and wait until I receive the news before reporting it to Duke Ming!"
Cao Cao was interrupted by this, but he didn't rush to speak. He went through the plan in his mind again, and then said: "Then there will be Lao Wenruo." His eyes turned slightly, and then he noticed Qin Shao, and he sank.
With a look on his face, he said to his wife's brother: "Bonan, didn't I tell you not to disturb Wen Ruo and I when we were talking! What's the matter with you?"
Qin Shao hurriedly came up and handed over a letter, saying: "I have an urgent report from the west!"
Cao Cao unfolded it, couldn't read a few lines, and stood up suddenly. This startled Xun Yu, and he quickly stood up from the chair and stood aside. Thousands of words are not as good as silence. He felt strange in his heart, but he didn't ask any questions.
Cao Cao turned around, looked carefully twice, paced back and forth in the camp, and sighed: "Dong Zhuo was so heroic, but he was burned to death like this!"
Without waiting for Xun Yu to inquire, he took the initiative to hand over the letter and said: "Situ Wang Yungong and Lu Bu suddenly launched a rebellion and actually attacked and killed the Dong thief. Now the court is free again!"
"Wang Situ?"
It has been two years since the world was in chaos. Xun Yu has not heard any news from the Chang'an court for a long time. More news is from the attacks of the governors from various places. Almost everyone agrees that in the current situation, the prestige of the court has been lost.
, if not, how could the Yellow Turban system be changed to the Yuan Dynasty?
"If what I have predicted is correct, Wang Situ's execution of the Dong thieves this time is just the beginning. Dong Zhuo has been in power for three years and has more than 100,000 soldiers under his command, distributed throughout Guanzhong. There must be some unwilling ones among them. But there is no leader, and the court
With great justice in hand, the situation is still under control."
"Ming Gong is saying that Wang Situ can appease the people? Not necessarily."
"If Wen Ruo doesn't know, I once worked with Dong Zhuo in the shogunate. Most of Dong Zhuo's subordinates were warriors who were good at fighting but not good at controlling people. The only ones who can be called wise are Li Ru, Xu Rong, Duan Xuan, Jia Xu, and Yang Ding. Now. Now
Li Ru and Yang Ding are both dead. Xu Rong was originally from the Liao Dynasty. Jia Xu was not allowed to reuse him. Duan Xuan was cautious. As long as Situ comforted him and promoted him a little, they would not cause any trouble."
After speaking, Cao Cao laughed, and Xun Yu also smiled. Cao Cao continued: "As long as Wang Situ appeases the rest of the people, and then spreads the edict to the world, we will jointly suppress the Linzi rebels. The world will encircle and suppress the rebels, and the rebels will be defeated, especially the imperial court.
As! We in Yanzhou can breathe a sigh of relief!"
When he was happy, he turned back to look at Xun Yu. Unexpectedly, Xun Yu's smile disappeared, and he turned to look sad. He thought carefully and said: "Ming Gong can be said to have made up his mind about Dong Zhuo, but he doesn't understand."
Situ."
"Situ?" Cao Cao was puzzled.
"I have been in contact with Situ for a long time, and I am very familiar with him. When he succumbed to being a thief, he could still be tolerant for a while, but Situ was narrow-minded, overly cautious, and could not tolerate a petty thing in his eyes. When the emperor is here, he still can't tolerate it.
As a loyal and upright official, if he were to serve as an auxiliary minister, he would definitely be the best in Liang and Ji!"
Liang Ji was obsessed with corruption and corruption, so he both dethroned the emperor and murdered virtuous ministers. Xun Yu compared Wang Yun to Liang Ji, which was obviously an exaggeration. The morals of the two were not the same, but this was obviously a reminder to Cao Cao.
, Wang Yun governed as he pleased and would not consider the overall situation. Therefore, according to Xun Yu's view, Dong Zhuo's remaining troops would rebel, and there would be war in Guanzhong.
After Cao Cao realized this, his face turned livid, and he whispered: "Guanzhong is about to be in chaos again, but Guandong is unable to intervene. Do we have to sit back and watch the opportunity to revitalize the Han Dynasty be lost again?"
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He suddenly thought of Liu Bei, and then thought of Chen Chong. He had already received news. How could there be no news that they were in Bingzhou? Looking at the world, they are probably the only ones who can intervene in the situation in Guanzhong. Although Bingzhou's military strength is far inferior.
Guanzhong, but when he thought of them, Cao Cao's uneasiness quickly disappeared. He believed that they would succeed, so instead, he felt a sadness that his beloved things were taken away.
He looked to the west in the tent and said: "The clouds are moving in the sky, and the waves are moving in the river."
For a moment, my chest was filled with excitement, and I actually drew my sword and started dancing it in front of everyone. The sound of gold and iron in my chest turned into the stern murderous intent of the sword tip. The guards beside me felt that it was too much, shuddered, and quietly took a few steps back.
When Cao Cao swung his sword three times, it stopped again. He turned to test the edge of the sword with his fingers. He was so generous and passionate that he was moved by the scene, and a bit of poetry came out, causing him to recite in a low voice: "Drinking the horse across the river."
Water, water is cold and a strong man's sword. Especially when fighting in the plains, it is dark and gloomy." Xun Yu heard that his poem was talking about Liu Daiwen's defeat in the water battle, but what he was thinking about was how he would overcome the ups and downs he faced.
.
Unexpectedly, Cao Cao suddenly changed his mind: "In the past, Qianqiu happened, and I talked about restoring the Holy Dynasty. The bones are piled up in the past..." He was recalling the Qianqiu Pavilion massacre. At that time, everyone said that the Yellow Turbans were extinct, so that they changed to Yuan Zhongping, but
Unexpectedly, the war is getting worse now, bones are lying in the wild, and the grief has gone too far. Cao Cao thought of this, took away his finger, raised the knife and slashed, with a bang, the table was broken into two pieces, he turned to excitement, and said
He concluded by saying: "Peng Yi ascends Fuyao!"
Xun Yu took in his decisive gesture of reciting poems and thought in his heart: "Only such a person can end the troubled times."