Chapter 100 Chapter Thirteen: Meng De Laughs at Wen Yun’s Three Affairs (6)

Cao Mengde led his army straight to Xiaopei, and when they reached a mountain pass, suddenly there was a strong wind, and the horses neighed, and they could not stop. Cao Mengde heard another "click", and a banner was broken by the wind. "This is an ominous sign. The wind is coming from the southeast, and it is fierce, accompanied by flying sand and rocks." Xun Yu said, looking at the dusty sky. Cao Mengde didn't really believe in the idea of ​​the counselors predicting good and bad luck according to the astronomy.With more than 20 years of experience in the South and North Wars, he had already anticipated Liu Bei's motive for robbing the village. "When an army travels thousands of miles, you can take advantage of the situation to rob it while its foothold is not stable." The truth stated in "Sun Tzu's Art of War" is too simple. In order to prove his judgment, Cao Mengde asked Mao Jie: "Just now there was a sudden gust of wind in the southeast. What kind of omen do you think this is when the green and red tooth flag was blown off?" Mao Jie said, "I guess someone must come to rob the village tonight."

Cao Mengde looked up at Haotian and said: "Just now there were dark clouds and strong winds, but now the sky is clear and clear. This is God helping me." After saying this, he waved his horsewhip, and the brigade rushed towards Xiaopei. Xiaopei is adjacent to Qingzhou in the north and Xuzhou in the east. It is the throat gateway to Xuzhou. If Xiaopei is conquered, Xuzhou will have nothing to rely on.Cao Mengde took a map of Xiaopei, and after detailed planning, he ordered the small team to set up a village about two miles away from Xiaopei. The remaining army was divided into eight teams.

It was another night with a twilight moon and few stars. From time to time in Cao Mengde's camp, the soldiers' shouts of guessing fists and orders could be heard. With Liu Bei on the left and Zhang Fei on the right, the soldiers sneaked into the camp in two groups, leaving Sun Qian to guard Xiaopei. Zhang Fei had already entered the camp, but there were not many soldiers and horses. Under the dim light, there were only two or three sergeants talking loudly drunk.Zhang Fei was wondering, when the flames blazed all around, and the shouts of killing shook the sky.Knowing that Zhang Fei had hit the trick, he hurriedly withdrew from the camp, and was already surrounded by Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and other generals who had withdrawn from Liyang.The troops led by Zhang Fei were originally Cao Mengde's old army. Seeing that the situation was over, they all surrendered.Zhang Fei charged from left to right, even with eighteen martial arts skills, he was outnumbered, and managed to cut a bloody road, and retreated to the small hill in the northeast, only a few dozen people remained.He wanted to kill Xiaopei, but his way was cut off. He wanted to go to Xuzhou and Xiapi, but was intercepted by Cao Mengde's army.When Zhang Fei looked back, Cao Jun's shouts were everywhere.

"Brother, I'm sorry!" Zhang Fei was about to draw his sword to commit suicide, but was persuaded by the sergeant.Zhang Fei recalled the promise of "not to live together, but to die together" made by the three brothers when they were sworn brothers in Taoyuan, and shouted in a long voice: "Brother, take care!" Running towards Mangdang Mountain. Liu Bei's experience was roughly the same as Zhang Fei's.Just as he was leading the army to plunder the village, at the moment when he approached the gate of the village, he suddenly shouted, and a group of Cao troops rushed out from behind, intercepted half of the troops, and rushed out to face Xiahou Dun, Liu Bei turned back and retreated, Xiahou Dun chased after him, and he Only a few dozen riders followed.When he recovered his breath, he saw that Xiaopei City was already on fire, and the red light reflected the inside and outside of the city like daytime.He wanted to vote for Xuzhou and Xiapi, but was blocked by Cao Jun who was everywhere. Liu Bei remembered the words Yuan Shao entrusted Sun Qian to him: "If anything happens, you can come and vote for me." So he fled to Qingzhou Road in the north.

Cao Mengde took Xiaopei without any effort.At dawn the next day, troops attacked Xuzhou again. Mi Zhu and Jian Yong resisted and had to abandon the city. Chen Deng surrendered Xuzhou. The city of Xuzhou, which has suffered several wars, is devastated.Liu Xuande, Liu Xuande, it is said that you are deeply supported by the people of Xuzhou, and you only know how to let the people work for you. Your false name is built on the basis of the hunger and cold of the people in Xuzhou.Cao Mengde boarded the tower, full of emotion. "Xuzhou has always been prosperous, how is the livelihood of the people now?" Cao Mengde asked Chen Deng.

"After Liu Xuande came to Xuzhou, he recruited a large number of young and middle-aged men. The common people all admired Liu Xuande's reputation, and they felt at ease to train troops and fight for him. It's just that this large area of ​​land was barren." Chen Deng said. "Do the common people hate me?" Cao Mengde suddenly asked such a question. Chen Deng didn't know how to answer for a while. Cao Mengde didn't seem to want Chen Deng to answer, so he sighed alone: ​​"All over the world, there are many people who are dignified for fame and reputation. How many people are down-to-earth and considerate of the people of the world."

On the one hand, Cao Mengde settled the people, and on the other hand, he planned to seize Xiapi. Xun Yu said: "Guan Yu protects Liu Bei's wife and children, and defends Xiapi to the death. If we attack by force, we will lose our troops and lose our generals. Guan Yunchang has unstoppable courage." Cao Mengde said: "Obviously you can't attack by force, you can only attack by outsmart. If I can persuade Guan Yu to surrender, it will be my blessing." Guo Jia said: "Guan Yu is an upright and righteous man, and it may not be easy to persuade him to surrender. If we send someone who has a good personal relationship with Guan Yu to persuade him to surrender, we may succeed."

Zhang Liaoman said confidently: "I have a good relationship with Guan Gong, and I am willing to give it a try!" Cheng Yu whispered something in Cao Mengde's ear, and Cao Mengde said repeatedly, "It's a wonderful plan!" Cao Mengde sent dozens of soldiers to surrender, and fled to Xiapi in Xingye to surrender to Guan Yu.Guan Yu thought they were old soldiers and took them in. The next day, Cao Mengde ordered Xiahou Dun to lead 5,000 soldiers to Xiapi City to challenge. Guan Yu closed the city gate tightly and let the archers stand around the city gate. From scolding in the morning to noon, Xiahou Dun's throat was full of smoke, and Guan Yu was still sitting on the city wall. Xiahou Dun really wanted to kill Guan Yu with a cold arrow, but Cao Mengde had an order first not to hurt Guan Yu, so Xiahou Dun had to return disgruntled.

Cao Mengde said: "This is easy to handle. Guan Yu has always valued benevolence and righteousness. He loved Liu Bei more than his own brothers and feet. You might as well cut off the head of the dead soldier, trim it into Liu Bei's appearance, and hang it on the horse's head. Guan Yu was furious. We must abandon the city and fight to the death, we will take the city first, and when he is desperate, we will send Zhang Liao to persuade him to surrender."