Lu Meng led 300 soldiers to the outside of the city and stopped. He ordered his soldiers to take out their crossbows, then mounted the crossbow arrows with paper strips tied on them, and aimed them at the majestic and huge city wall.
"Let go!" Lu Meng shouted.
In an instant, one after another crossbow arrows were shot through the air, with a sharp and sharp whistle, and they were shot into the city wall of Ye City. Many crossbow arrows even shot into the city, fell into the Wengcheng, and were picked up by the soldiers in the city. Three rounds of crossbow arrows were shot out,
Lü Meng and his soldiers moved their positions again and ran towards the south gate. Next, Lü Meng appeared at the south gate, west gate, and north gate, and fired crossbow arrows into each gate.
In this way, the news spreads faster.
The soldiers guarding the city learned the news, and even if the generals guarding the city wanted to control the situation, they could not.
Lü Meng completed the task and walked towards the camp triumphantly, humming a tune in his mouth, very happy. Zhang Hu followed Lü Meng and said with a smile: "Boss, let's shoot the crossbow arrows into the city. We got the news that we are only guarding Yecheng."
It is impossible for the soldiers, people and officials to get the news in a short time, and it is difficult for the whole city to know!"
"stupid!"
Lu Meng glared at Zhang Hu and said, "Huzi, do you think these are the only methods His Majesty has?"
Zhang Hu asked: "What else?"
Lu Meng said with a smile: "We fired crossbows to deliver the news, and Shi A also flew pigeons to deliver the message, so that the people lurking in the city could spread the news and expand the scope. Even if Cao Cao would find out, this is the last battle and his identity would be exposed.
Not surprising. By the time the news spread throughout the city, Cao Cao was already powerless and could not reverse the situation."
Zhang Hu nodded and returned to camp with Lu Meng.
When Lu Meng left with his army, the news that Cao Ang and Xia Houyuan were captured soon spread in Ye City. Not only the soldiers in the city, but also the people in the city got the news.
Royal palace, in the main hall.
Cao Cao sat cross-legged and listened to Man Chong report the news spreading in the city.
Man Chong's face was full of sorrow, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, there are rumors everywhere in the city that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Governor of Xiahou have been captured, which makes people panic and the army's morale unstable. This must be someone from Shu who is creating rumors to cause trouble. I think
We must thoroughly investigate what is going on in the city, catch those lurking in the city, and then severely punish them to deter those in the city who are ready to take action."
Cao Cao frowned and said, "Bo Ning, what do you think the news is true or false?"
Man Chong's eyes flashed for a moment, and then he said loudly: "Your Majesty, I think it is false. The Governor of Xiahou and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are stationed in Qingzhou, so they will not fail. Wang Can stationed troops outside the city, but was unable to break through Ye City, so his plan shook the morale of the army.
"
Cao Cao chuckled and shook his head slightly.
Man Chong said: "Your Majesty, you must believe in His Majesty the Crown Prince."
Cao Cao mocked himself and said: "Even the upright Man Boning has learned to tell lies. It's incredible!"
Man Chong's cheeks turned red, with a look of embarrassment on his face.
Cao Cao said seriously: "There are people from Shu in the city spreading news and expanding their influence. This is indeed Wang Can's plan. But Lu Meng brought people to deliver the message, it must be true. Think about it, we are at Hulao Pass with the Shu army
We have already encountered such a situation during the confrontation. Now that Lu Meng is sending a message, it must be the fall of Qingzhou that makes Wang Can do this."
After Man Chong heard this, he stopped talking.
After all, Manchong also believed in his heart that the news was probably true and could not be false.
"Your Majesty, it's not good."
Suddenly, a eunuch ran in from outside the palace. The eunuch hurriedly said with a panic on his face: "Your Majesty, all the ministers in the court are here and waiting outside the palace. They are all clamoring to see Your Majesty.
"
Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and waved his hand: "Xuan, let them all come in."
"promise!"
The eunuch hurriedly ran out and disappeared from Cao Cao's sight.
Man Chong had an angry look on his face and said sternly: "Your Majesty, the ministers must have known about the capture of their family members. Now the ministers are coming to see you in a swarm in order to coerce your Majesty into leaving the city and surrendering. I thought that I must use thunder to
The method is used to intimidate the courtiers so that they dare not act rashly."
Cao Cao said: "Don't worry Boning, I understand."
After a while, there were dense and panicked footsteps outside the hall, and officials ran in quickly.
"Your Majesty, my mother, wife and children have been captured by the Shu army and their lives are in danger. Please save them." An official looked sad and knelt on the ground and said with a cry.
"Your Majesty, my old father was captured by the Shu army. Please make your decision."
"Your Majesty, my only youngest son is also in the Shu army."
…
The ministers in the court all asked Cao Cao to take action. However, Cao Cao did not have the power to rescue the captured people. The only chance to rescue them was for Cao Cao to surrender. In other words, these officials called for help, but they were coercing Cao Cao. The so-called punishment is not
All the officials did this. Cao Cao was angry and could not punish the officials.
However, the officials who came to see him were not Cao Cao's confidants. Xun Yu, Chen Qun, Liu Ye and others were not among them. The people standing in the hall were all insignificant people.
Seeing Cao Cao's troubled expression, Man Chong glanced at the ministers with cold eyes, and shouted sternly: "Your family members were arrested, didn't your Majesty feel affected? Did your Majesty say that the prince was arrested?"
When the officials in the court heard this, they immediately fell silent.
Cao Cao glanced at the officials in the hall and shouted in a deep voice: "My dear friends, I will give you an explanation. Everyone, please go down and let me think about it carefully."
"Your Majesty, please leave!"
Everyone left just as quickly as they came, and quickly disappeared from the hall.
Man Chong looked at Cao Cao and asked in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, do you really intend to agree to them? You can't!" At this point, Man Chong didn't know what to say. The meaning of Cao Cao's words made Man Chong feel in his heart.
A bad feeling arose, because he felt that Cao Cao was ready to surrender.
Cao Cao said: "Bo Ning, if you continue to resist, how long do you think you can last?"
Man Chong thought about it carefully and didn't know how to answer. With Yecheng's strong defense, he might be able to hold on, but when the food and grass are exhausted, what should he do at that time?
Cao Cao continued: "If there is still a chance to win, even if it is just a tiny bit, I am willing to persist. But now it is unsustainable and I cannot hold on. As long as I continue to resist, the first person who disagrees will be the DPRK and China.
officials, is the Wei State still the Wei State without its courtiers?"
Man Chong said: "Your Majesty, don't let those sycophants go."
Cao Cao sighed and said: "Bo Ning, I know you are loyal, but I have failed you. I also know that Wen Ruo, Zi Yang and others are loyal to me, but I have failed you who are willing to serve me.
people."
Man Chong said: "Your Majesty, your talent is no less than Wang Can, your ambition is no less than Wang Can, and your courage is no less than Wang Can. It's just that Wang Can is lucky and has recruited countless talents. This is not your Majesty's fault.
It’s God who doesn’t bless Wei.”
Cao Cao sighed and said, "Yes, God will not bless the Wei Kingdom."
After a pause, Cao Cao said: "Bo Ning, I want you to do one last thing, are you willing to do it?"
Man Chong cupped his hands and said, "Please give me your Majesty's orders!"
Cao Cao took a deep breath and said word by word: "Go to the Shu army camp immediately and tell Wang Can that I will meet him outside Yecheng and invite him to the meeting."
"His Majesty!"
When Man Chong heard this, he immediately tensed up.
Cao Cao sighed, waved his hand and said: "I have made up my mind, let's go." At this moment, Cao Cao seemed to be older, and his already gray temples were even more gleaming with a faint silver light, giving him an old and haggard look.