Chapter 2 Battle of the Frontiers

The waves along the coast of Qingzhou are surging, and the tide is bursting.Especially in this late autumn season, the violent westerly wind blows, complementing the rolling waves. From time to time, a few huge waves are stirred up between the reefs, climbing several feet like water dragons, and then slamming on the beach... But today at the beach The fierce battle that was going on was far more thrilling than the surging scenery. Although Yuan Tan has been killed, the flames of war in Qingzhou have not been extinguished.Gongsun Kang, the prefect of Liaodong, was no less ambitious than his father, Gongsun Du. He took advantage of Cao Cao's attack on high-ranking officials in the west and sent his general Liu Yi to collaborate with the pirate leader Guan Cheng to send troops across the sea in an attempt to snatch Qingzhou.The remnants of the Yellow Turbans took advantage of the fire to loot Jinan, and Changba, the prefect of Changli who surrendered and rebelled several times, also rebelled.Several rebels supported each other intensified, and finally angered Cao Cao.He personally led the army to conquer and suppress, and won three battles and three victories, and now he has forced the main force of Liu Yi and Guan Cheng to the seaside.

This seems to be a decisive battle. The Cao army is winning again and again, and the Liaodong army is fighting with its back. Everyone raised their weapons and fought hard, and the blood mist that burst out from time to time drifted away with the wind, casting a tragic look on the entire beach.The sound of shouts, howls, and clashes of weapons can be heard endlessly, mixed with the sound of distant waves, like a soul-stirring elegy... Xing Yong sat with Cao Cao on a small hill to the west of the battlefield, seeing the fierce fighting in front of him made his heart skip a beat.Where has a literati seen such a battle?Xing Yong's palms were already sweating, he was startled and frightened, and he still felt a bit of excitement, which was the first time he felt in his life.In fact, it is not only today, since saying goodbye to Tian Chou and leaving the mountain for the second time, every day is like a dream.

He left Xu Wushan and went to Yecheng first, but because Cao Cao's army was away, he couldn't meet him as he wished.However, the eldest son Cao Pi who stayed behind was really hospitable, he gave banquets and gifts, he insisted on staying for more than half a month, and finally sent someone to escort him to Qingzhou. It was even more remarkable when they arrived at Qingzhou Daying. Military advisor Xun You, Jijiu Guo Jia, admonishment doctor Dong Zhao, and army joiner Zhong Changtong led all their subordinates to line up to welcome them.Xing Yong lived in the deep mountains for many years, he thought that outsiders had forgotten him long ago, but he didn't expect that someone in Cao Ying still remembered him, and they still regarded him as a guest of honor, and he was so touched that he couldn't express it.Living in the camp at leisure, eating and drinking is not a worry, but unfortunately I have not seen Cao Cao, until this morning Dong Zhao came to say that Cao Gong wanted to summon him, so he was sent to the battlefield in a daze, and accompanied him to watch the battle.

Xing Yong felt both weird and wonderful about the "thoughtful" arrangement of the three princes of the current dynasty, and he became more interested in it. Robe, with a red tassel on the top of the head, and a bronze sword on the waist; looking at the face, he has a long pale beard, a fair skin with few wrinkles, and a slightly flat nose, but a pair of thick eyebrows like wild goose wings, and a pair of eagle eyes. Shrewd and tough from top to bottom. However, just to the left of Cao Cao, there was another "honored guest" who was invited to watch the battle. His feeling was much worse than that of Xing Yong.This man's name was Yin Pu, who worked under Liu Zhang, Yizhou Shepherd, and was ordered to meet the emperor in Xudu. He said he came to see the emperor, but he was actually paying homage to Cao Cao.Since Liu Zhang's father, Liu Yan, in central Shu, began to separate and defend itself, there has been no communication with the imperial court for more than ten years, and Cao Cao never came to congratulate him when he moved his capital to Xu County and restored the imperial court.But it’s too late not to come now, Cao Cao has unified Hebei, if he doesn’t show up again, it’s no joke to annoy Lord Sikong.However, Cao Cao was obviously dissatisfied with this temporary behavior of worshiping gods. Isn't it a demonstration to meet the envoys on the sidelines of the battlefield?Therefore, Yin Pu was uneasy, looking at the Cao Jun soldiers fighting hard in the distance, he felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles.

But at this moment, Cao Cao said, "How does your esteemed envoy see the momentum of our army?" Of course Yin Pu boasted: "Duke Cao's leadership is the royal teacher of the imperial court, and the heroes are unstoppable!" "Oh? You also know that this old man represents the imperial court?" Cao Cao rolled his eyes at him, and asked coldly, "Why didn't Liu Zhang send envoys when the capital was moved? Why didn't you send troops when you issued a call to crusade against Yuan Shu? When you are a poor official, you are in danger. Why don't you come? Now that Hebei is stable and stable, you have this court again in your eyes. Do you care about the country and worry about the emperor, or are you afraid of the old man's soldiers?"

Yin Pu was ashamed and afraid, and hurriedly explained: "It's not that Liu Yizhou despised the imperial court, it's just because Shu is remote and there are rice thieves blocking the road in Hanzhong, so it's delayed..." "Huh!" Cao Cao became more sarcasm, "In the past, when Ma Teng and Han Sui invaded Chang'an, Liu Yan colluded with them and sent 5,000 soldiers to serve as minions, and ordered Liu Fan and Liu Dan's two sons to be the internal response. Why didn't Mi Thief decide the way back then? Could it be that there are evil spirits on the roads of Shu, and only those who rebel are allowed to pass, but those who have an audience with the Son of Heaven are not allowed to pass?"

It is an indisputable fact that Liu Yan colluded with Ma and Han. Yin Pu did not dare to quibble, but told the truth: "At that time, Zhang Lu, the rice thief, had not yet rebelled." "What a rebellion! But I don't know who the rebellion is?" Cao Cao had already investigated the affairs in central Shu clearly. It was Mi Thief who broke the way. He actually guarded the Shu Road for Liu Yan and blocked the soldiers of the imperial court. However, in the past few years, he has turned against Liu Zhang, and only then did he separate himself from Hanzhong. Do you think that the old man is far away in the Central Plains, so he doesn’t know the tricks?”

Cao Cao exposed Liu Yan's old background, and Yin Pu couldn't sit still any longer, and he knelt down at his feet: "Minggong dare not refute what he said about his humble position, but the old state shepherd has passed away for many years, Liu Yizhou has a pure nature, and his successor Since then, I have treated the common people kindly and never dared to go to war. It is out of sincerity to send a humble official to meet the emperor and make friends with Duke Ming. Please forgive me!" It is true to say that Liu Zhang is pure in nature, but he did not dare to go to war without conscious guilt, but rather It's because he is cowardly and incompetent, he doesn't have the ability to make trouble like his father.

"These few words are worthy of conscience... Get up!" Cao Cao looked directly at the battlefield, but said to him in his mouth, "I will show you a clear way. The ancients said that 'the way is near and seek far away. What is easy is difficult, as long as Liu Zhang respects the court and advances and retreats with the old man, why not worry about a good home? Tell him for me after you go back. , As long as you obey the orders of the imperial court, when the world is peaceful, you can advance and divide the grass, and you can retreat without losing the position of feudal lord. I will protect the wealth of his children and grandchildren, and I will also protect the future of you scholars in the middle of Shu."

"Yes." Yin Pu promised emphatically, "I will keep this firmly in my heart, and I will definitely live up to Minggong's trust." After saying that, he was about to leave, and he didn't dare to stay in this place for a moment. "Wait a minute!" Cao Cao stopped him, and changed his tone of kindness, "It's not easy to travel a long way, I can't let you go in vain. I will present Liu Zhang as General Zhenwei, and give his brother Liu Mao as Ping Kou General, you go to Xudu to get the seal of the imperial edict, and you can go back and return to your order in a good time."

It's really a world of ice and fire, just now he was punished and his life was in danger, but now he will be rewarded again.How can Liu Zhang refuse to reward these two big seals?Yin Pu was overjoyed, and kowtowed again and again for the second time: "Thank you Mr. Cao, I will definitely persuade my lord to return to the imperial court when I go back next time, and the tax and duty servants are endless every year..." "Okay, okay, let's go back and talk to Liu Zhang." Cao Cao waved his hand and dismissed him impatiently. When the two of them were talking, Xing Yong was always watching from the side. Seeing Yin Pu happily leaving the mountain, he raised his thumb and said, "Mr. Cao is brilliant!" Cao Cao smiled slightly: "Oh? Sir, I'm too proud of you." "I'm not flattering you, Ming Gong is a seasoned man who seeks the country." Xing Yong said, "Liu Yan, Liu Zhang and his son have been separated for a long time. How can Yin Pu put his heart to his heart when he comes here? It is too obvious to let the past go, in order to eliminate the grudge, so that this person can go back and advocate the kindness of the court, so as to promote Liu Zhang's submission." "Hahaha..." Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "Sir, you can clearly see the tricks of this old man, so you can see that you are a master." "Don't dare to be." "Actually, Liu Zhang in Yizhou is a mediocre person after all, and he has no ambitions. That's why I tried to win over him. If he plots evil and intends to bring chaos to the world, then I won't bother to talk about it. How about dealing with such a madman..." Cao Cao said Halfway through, he suddenly raised his finger and pointed to the battlefield. Only then did Xing Yong notice that the stalemate had changed.The Liaodong Army retreated steadily under the strong offensive of Cao Bing. A group of heroic Cao Jun cavalry crashed into the enemy group.Someone shouted in horror: "Liu Dudu has been beheaded!"How could it be so easy to escape?Cao Jun swarmed up and raised the butcher's knife at the same time, dividing the Liaodong Army into several pieces, hacking and killing wantonly.All of a sudden, there were bursts of red light, and there were pools of blood everywhere, and the corpses with decapitated parts were trampled to a bloody mess.Seeing that the encirclement circles are getting smaller and smaller, until Cao Jun gathers together and gives out a burst of cheers - the enemy has been killed! Xing Yong was already sweating profusely, and he couldn't help muttering: "I'm really a master of tigers and wolves!" Cao Cao just stretched his waist, stood up and patted the shoulder of Xing Yong, who was still in shock, and said: "It's time to go back to the camp, sir, please walk with me." Only then did Xing Yong regain his senses, and he got up quickly: "The grassroots dare not." After all, he is white, how can he be tied with the three princes of the current dynasty. Cao Cao grabbed his wrist involuntarily: "Ordinary people are content with old customs, while heroes act rashly. How can the etiquette and laws of the world be determined by my generation, you are my distinguished guest!" Xing Yong's wrist hurts from his grip, but his heart is flattered.