Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Rumored Information

The war was prolonged. Spring is getting stronger along the Yellow River.Yuan Shao's Hebei Army decided to move its position to the key point of Yangwu in order to take advantage of the geographical advantage.Cao Cao also returned to the capital for the time being. In addition to comforting the soldiers, he also held a celebration banquet.At the banquet, Cao Cao mentioned the past and said enthusiastically: "During the Battle of Yanjin, I deliberately adopted the strategy of using the ration team to lead the battle and lure the enemy into the bait. Only Xun You was aware of this strategy, but Xun You's mouth It's okay, it's not allowed."

At this time, the envoy from Runan rushed to the capital on a fast horse and reported an important news to Cao Cao. According to the report, there used to be two groups of bandits in Runan, Liu Pi and Gong Du, who were originally the remnants of the Yellow Turban bandits.These two groups of bandits joined forces and attacked Cao Hong's army.Cao Hong's army suffered heavy losses due to the fierce attack, and now had to retreat. The envoy from Runan added: "Please be sure to send powerful reinforcements to suppress it. If the Yellow Turban bandits in Runan are allowed to run rampant, there may be even greater troubles in the future."

At this moment, it is the time of the banquet.After hearing the news, there was an uproar in the audience, and people talked a lot.Guan Yu stepped forward and said to Cao Cao, "I hope the prime minister will send me there." Although Cao Cao was very happy to hear this, he still asked with some doubts: "Oh, if General Guan goes forward, I think these grassroots rebellions can be put down immediately. But you just made a great contribution this time, and I haven't had time to reward you yet. You want to go to the battlefield immediately, why is General Guan doing this?"

Guan Yu replied: "Guan is not used to staying in the Jade Palace for a long time. If you are idle all day long, your body will get sick. I heard that people will become weak if they leave their shovels and hoes. Now this kind of idleness is poison to the body." Cao Cao laughed out loud when he heard this, and he patted his knees and said "Zhuangzai" repeatedly.So he agreed to Guan Yu's request, handed him 50,000 soldiers and horses, and added Yu Jin and Le Jin as his lieutenants. Afterwards, Xun Yu made an opinion to Cao Cao, "If we don't pay more attention, Guan Yu may never return. Looking at his situation from the beginning to the end, he still seems to admire Liu Xuande very much."

Cao Cao agreed with Xun Yu's opinion, and reflected: "You are right. After Guan Yu came back from Runan this time, I decided not to use him too much." After Guan Yu led his army to approach Runan, he set up a camp in the courtyard of an ancient temple, and actively started preparations for tomorrow's battle.Unexpectedly, on that night, soldiers patrolling outside captured two suspicious-looking men who looked like spies. The sentries brought the two men to Guan Yu, and took off the veils covering their faces.Guan Yu took a look and found that one of them was Sun Gan, an old friend who had worked together under Liu Xuande's command.

"Ah, what's going on here?" Guan Yu was taken aback, and hurried forward to untie the two of them himself, and pushed back the soldiers on the left and right to relive the old relationship together. Guan Yu impatiently asked first: "You probably know the whereabouts of my brother? Where is he now?" "Well, yes. Since Xuzhou was separated, I fled to Runan by myself, and then wandered around. By chance, I met Liu Pi and Gong Du, two bandit leaders, and they had a good relationship, so I temporarily sent among thieves." "Huh? You were in the enemy's army?"

"Please wait for me to finish. I didn't expect Yuan Shao in Hebei to send a lot of supplies and money to the bandits. The condition he put forward was to ask the bandits to attack Cao's flank. For this reason, I can often hear Hebei Earlier, I heard from a reliable source that our lord is now attached to Yuan Shao and is in the Hebei camp. This news seems to be true. Now you can rest assured. Where to go, think carefully, because The lord is indeed still alive." After Guan Yu heard the news that the old master Liu Xuande was safe and sound in Hebei, longing was ignited in his piercing eyes again.Even so, he still stared at Sun Qian's face cautiously, and after a long time he let out a long sigh of relief, showing the great joy in his heart.

"Really? It's really rare to hear such news. But you have to think about it, will someone deliberately create these baseless rumors to make us happy?" "Don't be suspicious, General. I heard it from Yuan Shao's servants in Runan. There is absolutely no mistake." "It's a blessing from God!" Guan Yu closed his eyes as he said that, as if he was thanking heaven. Sun Qian lowered his voice and continued: "Because of the reason I just said, the bandit army in Runan and Yuan Shao are keeping in close contact...but when fighting tomorrow, both Liu Pi and Gong Du will pretend to run away when they see you , they want you to show mercy when you attack."

"Why are they so?" "Although they are all generals of the bandit army, they have always admired you in their hearts. So when they heard that you came to attack this time, they were not worried but happy. But on the other hand, due to their collusion with Yuan Shao, so I have to fight you too." "I understand. If they really want to, I will show mercy to them. I just need to complete the task of calming down." "After you return to the capital in victory, please protect the two wives immediately before coming to Runan." "Hey, this is a bit too urgent... I already know the whereabouts of the lord, so of course I want to meet up with the lord as soon as possible. It's just that he is in Yuan Shao's army now, if I go suddenly, there may be some unexpected changes Anyway, after all, the heads of Yuan Shao’s generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou fell into my hands, Guan Yu.”

"How about this, I'll go to Hebei to find out about Yuan Shao's situation and the surrounding situation, what do you think?" "Well, this is the perfect solution. I am not afraid of the accident. I am just worried about the safety of the lord who lives in Yuan Shao. Please, Sun Gan." "Please don't worry, I will definitely find out the situation there before contacting you. At that time, I will wait for you to escort the two ladies over halfway." "Well, how much I want to see the safe and sound lord as soon as possible. As long as I can catch a glimpse and relieve my pain of missing, I will be satisfied, even if I die."

"Then why don't you act now? It doesn't seem to be in your character." "What I said just now is in terms of my mood. It will take quite a long time for this wish to be realized." At this time, the night was already deep. Guan Yu quietly released Sun Qian and another accomplice through the back door. "Could it be a suspicious secret talk?..." Since the evening, the lieutenants Jin and Le Jin, who had been paying close attention to Guan Yu's whereabouts, hid in the hiding place while secretly watching, while muttering in their hearts.Because they were afraid of Guan Yu, they did not dare to interfere. The next day, Guan Yu led his army to fight the bandit army.But there is no suspense in this battle, it is just a pre-designed program.The thieves, Liu Pi and Gong Du, stood at the head of the battle heroically, but as soon as they fought Guan Yu, they immediately turned around and fled pretendingly.Although Guan Yu was chasing closely behind, he didn't intend to take his head directly, so he just bluffed blindly. During the pursuit, Gong Du turned his head and said to Guan Yu: "We all have a heart of loyalty, we will not grow up as bandits, and wait for the call of heaven at any time. The general will come back another day, and we will definitely give you the city of Runan." Therefore, Guan Yu easily recovered the prefectures and counties occupied by bandits, and returned to the court not long after.Of course, the damage to the soldiers and horses in this battle was minimal. Although the loss was small, the credit was great, so Cao Cao naturally rewarded him again.Yu Jin and Le Jin were secretly watching for the opportunity to complain to Cao Cao, but they saw that Cao Cao's trust and respect for Guan Yu had reached the peak, so they finally did not dare to interrupt and slander Guan Yu from the side without knowing the current affairs. At the celebration banquet, Guan Yu continued to drink the congratulatory wine offered by the guests, no matter whether it was a large cup or a small cup, he would not refuse.He finally felt intoxicated, so he moved his tall body staggeringly and retreated. Although he appeared to be very drunk, as soon as he got home, he went to the inner courtyard to greet the two ladies.Since they hadn't seen each other for a long time, after the usual greetings, they began to chat about homework. Guan Yu asked with concern: "I just returned from Runan triumphantly. When I was away, were the two ladies still in good health?" Mrs. Gan asked tearfully: "General, what concubines and others are anxiously waiting for is not commonplace. Did you hear about my husband Xuande during the battle? Did you get any clues about his whereabouts..." Guan Yu exhaled a strong smell of alcohol from his big belly, and said with some displeasure: "There is no clue about the lord. But with me, Guan Yu, the two ladies don't have to worry too much. What's the matter?" You can leave it to me Guan Yu to do it, let's wait for the opportunity slowly." After Mrs. Gan and Mrs. Mi heard Guan Yu's words, they fell to the ground inside the curtain and cried loudly, and then complained to Guan Yu: "Our husband must have died somewhere in the battle. The general kept this matter in his heart, probably because he was afraid Saying it will make the concubines sigh and wail? Yes, that's it. Ah, what should we do?" Women always like to think wildly, and once they think of the sad place, the tears can't stop falling.Madam Mi also cried bitterly with Madam Gan.As she cried, she rebuked Guan Yu's mouth full of alcohol tonight: "The general is also very different from the past. Now that Cao Cao favors him so generously, in order to repay Cao Cao's kindness, the concubines must have finally become the general's burden. .If that's the case, please just say it straight. It's better to be cruel and use the sword of the general to end the short life of the concubine and others." "Second ladies, please calm down." Guan Yu was so disturbed by the two wives that he immediately woke up from his intoxication.He sorted out the thoughts in his mind, and said to the two wives again: "Please understand my difficulties. Although Cao Cao has shown me great favor, I am enduring unspeakable pain in my heart. The whereabouts of the lord are very important to me. It’s like seeing the dawn in the dark. If I casually tell the two wives, if the subordinates inadvertently leak it, then the painstaking efforts I have spent so far will be in vain. In fact, this is a secret that must be hidden. Lu's secret." "Hey? What were you talking about just now?... Do you already know some clues?" "Since the two ladies want to know so much, let me tell the truth. I heard that the lord is now living in Yuan Shao's place in Hebei. During the Battle of the Yellow River, he used to guard the second-line positions of the Hebei Army. These are my vague thoughts. I heard about it, so it can only be said to be gossip, and it must be further confirmed.” "General, who did you listen to these things?" "I met Sun Qian and heard the news from him. Sun Qian and I have already agreed that if the situation is confirmed, he will meet us on the way." "Then are you going to abandon this inner courtyard and escape from Xudu?" "This……" Guan Yu suddenly turned his head and stared at the garden in the inner courtyard.Although there is no wind, the leaves are rustling there. Guan Yu solemnly exhorted: "It is not yet possible to talk about this matter casually. In order to realize the wish of reuniting with the Lord as soon as possible, please wait patiently and don't be impatient. Leave this matter to me, Guan Yu, you guys You have to pretend that you don’t know anything. Now it’s not like before, you have to know that walls have ears, and there are eyes hidden in the vegetation.”