Chapter 36 Burning black nest

It was past Haishi when the five thousand elite left Cao Ying, and they were so wrapped up in horses that they dared not even light a torch. Fortunately, at the end of the month, there was a hazy crescent moon, and Cao Jun tiptoed away from the main battlefield of Guandu under the cover of the night. .After walking in the dark for more than ten miles in fear, nothing unusual was found, so I gradually slowed down.The northeast direction is the rear of Yuan’s camp, and there will inevitably be scouts on patrol. In order not to arouse suspicion, Cao Cao ordered the soldiers to light a few torches. .These clothes and flags were captured from Yan Liang in the battle of Baima, and they are now in use.

After walking steadily for a while, one or two light soldiers did pass by, and they didn't see any flaws in the darkness.Later, several scouts came to investigate, and the tiger and leopard riders wearing Yuan Jun's clothes had already made up their excuses: "Mr. Yuan is afraid that Cao Cao will rob food and grass, so he sent us to Wuchao to assist General Chunyu in the garrison." Yuan Jun's scouts thought it was reasonable, but vaguely Seeing that Xu You was among them, he stopped asking and let them pass by. Cao Cao led his soldiers and horses to stop and go, did a few rough checks, and greeted a few enemy troops coming and going. After walking for about four or five miles, there were no more scouts patrolling and checking.Guessing that they were far away from Yuan Shao's camp, everyone started speeding up again, heading northeast.The weather was cool and it was easy to drive, and Zhong Yao's footwork was all Liangzhou's good horses. Cao Jun marched very fast, and it seemed that half of the distance had passed, and he had just made a fool of himself.

A large group of cavalry galloped on the road, turned over a high slope, and suddenly saw a trance of torches in front of them, it seemed that there were troops patrolling here.Cao Cao hurriedly ordered to slow down, intending to pass the interrogation again.Not long after, the group of people blocked the way, and a fast horse galloped towards them, shouting: "Where did the soldiers and horses come from? Don't come forward at will!" Cao Bing took the medicine according to the prescription: "I will go to Wuchao to assist General Chunyu under the order of my lord. Tell your general quickly to make way for us to go over."

The scout still didn't go: "Which one of the soldiers and horses, report the name first!" "We are under the command of the Lord's Central Army, and Xu You is temporarily dispatched by joining the army." Even though the scout drove away after hearing this, he still hesitated and shouted: "I will report to my general, you stand where you are and don't move...don't move..." Cao Cao pretended to be a lieutenant general and stood behind Xu You. He heard it clearly, and hurriedly asked in a low voice, "What's going on? Did he suspect us?"

"Doubt is not enough. Most likely we have to confirm our identity before passing." Xu You's face sank, "Chun Yuqiong's subordinate also has the deputy governor Sui Yuanjin, and the three lieutenants Han Juzi, Lu Weihuang, and Zhao Rui (rui). Maybe that's the case. Which of them is patrolling here." "There are at least a thousand soldiers in this team." Cao Cao was a little worried, "How far have we traveled?" "It's about twenty miles away. If you go a little further, you can see the Wuchao from a distance after passing two mountains." Xu You became more and more nervous, but he still cheered himself up, "It's okay, we will make it through. ...no problem...no problem..."

Cao Cao saw that Xu You's face was pale, his brow was in cold sweat, and his hands were shaking anxiously, which showed that he had no idea.Having already come here, Cao Cao hurriedly told Zhang Liao, "Don't listen to that scout, we can't wait, tell everyone to move forward slowly, just a little bit forward, at worst, charge over." After finishing speaking, he turned back and told Xu Chu, "You will keep Mr. Xu in the past for a while, and play by ear if there is any accident." After the order was passed on, Cao Jun slowly moved forward.Seeing that they were not in a hurry, they didn't take it seriously, someone yelled loudly: "My Sui Governor asked Mr. Xu to come out and speak, and verify the military order by the way!"

"It must be Sui Yuanjin," Cao Cao pulled out a command arrow and stuffed it into Xu You's arms, "Go and deal with him." "I'm going?" Xu You's face turned green, and he stammered, "I, I...I..." Cao Cao frowned: "What are you afraid of, Zhong Kang will protect you." "Hey..." Xu You tremblingly agreed, and wanted to whip the horse, but he just couldn't use his strength, and his hands and feet couldn't control it. Xu Chu became very angry: "Don't you still want to keep the lord's flag and win the victory immediately? You've been bragging for a long time in the camp, that's all you have the guts to do!"

"I, I dare to follow." Cao Cao was angry and funny, so he simply raised his whip and hit his horse's ass. "Oh my god..." Xu You's mount jumped out.Xu Chu followed closely behind. Seeing Xu You reining in his horse after walking a few steps, he hurriedly urged in a low voice, "Hurry up!" "I'm not walking anymore." Xu You muttered. "Hurry up." "Not soon! My hands are shaking." "I'm keeping you." "You protect me, who protects you?" "I'm still afraid of your idea." "It was my idea, but I have never done it..."

"Look at your virtue, if it wasn't for the lord's friend, I would stab you to death with a spear!" The two of them dawdled and muttered, the other side couldn't wait any longer, a rider jumped out from the dark crowd - it was the deputy governor Sui Yuanjin.He rode up to the two of them, and said sarcastically, "Hey! Isn't this Mr. Xu? Why did you send us to be a partial teacher?" Seeing that he led the troops here, he did not suspect fraud, but thought that he had sent Yuan Shao down to serve in a partial division. "Sui, Sui Dudu." Xu You bit his tongue and agreed.

Sui Yuanjin was used to seeing Xu You's arrogant and domineering appearance, and thought he was depressed when he was demoted, so he laughed even more: "Why are you so messed up? Bring Ling Jian and ask General Ben to have a look." Trembling, Xu You took out the command arrow, and when he knew it, he revealed his secrets, so he didn't dare to pass it forward, and threw it over from a long distance: "Go on!" "I'm joking with you, why are you angry?" Sui Yuanjin caught Ling Jian and gave Xu You a white look, but Ling Jian couldn't see clearly because it was so dark, and touched the handwriting pattern on it.But the more I feel, the more confused I get. Why is the shape and handwriting of this order different from the usual distribution?He was blind and illiterate, and he couldn't recognize the word "Cao" after touching for a long time. The clothes, the people behind look like Cao Jun in terms of clothes!

Sui Yuan advanced fiercely, pulling his horse and wanting to escape, how could Xu Chu tell him to go away, he picked up the big iron spear and hit the back of the head with his life——thousands of peach blossoms bloomed immediately! Yuan Jun behind was startled and before he woke up, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Le Jin rushed over with the cavalry.What's the point of fighting if the main general is gone?These more than a thousand soldiers had no intention of fighting back, and threw down their torches and fled in all directions. Cao Bing killed melons and vegetables, and the lights of knives and sparks flew in the dark.Cao Cao hurriedly stopped: "Don't kill any more! It's pitch black, and you can't kill them cleanly. Let them escape. We have been exposed. Pick up more torches to light the way, and run to Wuchao at full speed!" Looking back, Xu You was so frightened that he fell off the horse, "Zhongkang picked him up on the horse, we have to leave quickly!" Halfway through the journey, Sui Yuanjin was killed again, so he could only advance but not retreat.Cao Cao no longer needed to use Xu You as a cover, and rushed forward with Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, leading 5,000 cavalry on horseback, leaving the fleeing infantry far behind, and went straight to Wuchao with iron hooves and dust. .After galloping at full speed for half an hour, they bypassed two hills, and saw more than ten scouts coming towards them with torches. This time, Cao Bing didn't even answer a word. Hurry up.At this moment, the sporadic lights of Wuchao Dazhai can be vaguely discerned, but there are at least ten miles to go to Wangshan to run dead. Cao Cao turned his head and sent another order: "Form up and go straight to the camp, no matter who stands in the way, kill anyone!" The five thousand cavalry adjusted their formation as they galloped, forming a sword edge, with Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Le Jin acting as the tip of the sword, tigers and leopards Riding around Cao Cao, Xu You gradually retreated to the back. After running for a while, there were more and more scouts and rangers facing us. Some of them were shot to death by Cao Bing, some scattered and fled, and some turned their horses and rushed back to deliver letters.Seeing that the outline of the Wuchao camp has gradually become clear, I can only see the stockpiling of cars and cars, and countless grain, grass and sacks piled up like a hill.And Chunyu Qiong had obviously just gotten the news, the lanterns and torches were shining like daylight, and the soldiers in the battalion had just assembled, with the cavalry in front and the infantry behind, and they were setting up their formations—at least five or six thousand people! The distance is getting closer and closer, and the soldiers on both sides are riveting.Zhang Liao suddenly swung a big sword in his palm: "Kill!" Cao Jun shouted up and down, and Yuan Jun on the opposite side also shouted, and the black pressure swept over like a wave.When the cavalry of the two armies met, they almost collided with each other. Everyone's helmets were crooked, and if they reined in their horses and swung their weapons, they would hit them indiscriminately!However, after all, Yuan Jun was in such a hurry that he failed to form an formation, and most of them were infantry. They were attacked and dispersed after three sudden and two sudden attacks, and fled back to Dazhai in a panic. Although Cao Jun came here risking his life, if Yuan Jun loses food, he will surely fail. The three generals, Han Juzi, Lu Weihuang, and Zhao Rui, are well aware of the advantages and disadvantages, and they rush to the front line to fight. Fighting on their own, brandishing a big knife to fight hand to hand, they would rather die than hold back Cao Jun's progress.Seeing that many of the defeated soldiers had already returned to the camp, and the gate of Wuchao's village was about to be closed, but he was blocked by the enemy in front of him, so he shouted anxiously: "Shoot the arrows! Shoot the arrows! Scatter them all. !" The tiger and leopard cavalry swept by with a shower of arrows, but those Yuan Jun fought desperately and did not disperse.After three shots and two shots, the three generals Han Juzi, Lu Weihuang, and Zhao Rui were all lost in the battle, and they were still clinging to Cao Bing's horse's legs when they were dying-because they sacrificed their lives to cover, Wuchao Dazhai had been closed. Cao Cao's eyes were about to bleed, and he shouted loudly: "Attack the stronghold! Continue to attack me!" Cao Bing swarmed up, hacked down the wall of the village and shot Qiaolou. Yuan Jun fought back through the wall of the village and stabbed Cao Bing's horse's neck with a long spear and halberd. "Set it on fire! Burn their food!" Xu You almost broke his throat.Cao Bing each carried a bundle of firewood, lit it with a torch and threw it across the wall of the village. Yuan Jun did not dare to neglect, some put out the fire and some continued to fight. Although the food army tent was saved, the gate of the village had burst Full of tongues of flames, pieces collapsed, the two armies changed from fighting across the wall to hand-to-hand combat, and Yuan Jun still gritted his teeth and fought hard without retreating! When Cao Cao and Xu You were anxiously commanding, suddenly a few tiger and leopard cavalry came rushing from behind: "Hebei reinforcements have arrived, and thousands of cavalry have arrived, and they are about to kill them." "There is a strong enemy in front and there are pursuers behind, what should we do?" Xu You panicked, "Let's quickly divide our troops to resist the enemy." Cao Cao closely watched the battle ahead, and casually said: "There are less than 5,000 soldiers in total, how can we divide them?" Xu You held the reins desperately: "How about we retreat first?" "Where are we going to retreat now? Soldiers will surely die if they are separated." Cao Cao snatched his flag from his own soldiers, waving it while shouting, "Everyone is not allowed to turn back, continue to charge forward! Wait for the enemy's reinforcements to catch up behind us before Turn around and fight back, it all depends on my commander's flag command!" After he gave the order, another big spear came, and the flag was tied to the tip of the spear.The big lance was more than one foot long, and with a flag, it stood up to three feet. Cao Cao and Xu You held it with four hands, and poked it into the army and stretched it above the wall of the village, so that their soldiers could see it. . "Can this work?" Xu You didn't know what to do. Cao Cao held the big lance tightly: "If it's okay, it can only be like this, put it to death and live!" The sound of charging at the back of the conversation became louder and louder, and a bright torch gradually approached, illuminating a "Jiang" banner—Hebei general Jiang Qi personally led five thousand cavalry to arrive! Xu You was trembling with fright, tears came down, and he could hardly lift the flag: "My mother! Jiang Qi is here! I can't do it anymore, who will help me..." The three soldiers hurried up , together with the strength of five people, they held the super long flag.Seeing that Jiang Qi's team was clearly identifiable, Cao Cao just stood there and did not react. Now not only Xu You was trembling, but all five of them were trembling nervously. The banner was shaking up and down in the wind. Burned by the flames on the wall. "The flag is on fire, let's run..." Xu You burst into tears. Cao Cao gritted his teeth with hatred: "Hey! If you catch it, you will catch it. Look at your prospects, and you haven't improved after so many years! I won't take you to send troops next time!" "Can we have a next time?" Xu You was almost in a diaper. "Don't talk nonsense, hold it well!" The flames of the banner burned bigger and bigger, and it has become a big fireball, but Cao soldiers are still fighting bravely below.I don't know who yelled: "How much firewood is there, throw it in and burn these sons of bitches to death!" Everyone really responded, and countless firewood was thrown into the Wuchao camp in a mess. The tents were ignited, some burned the grain stacks, and some were simply thrown into the crowd, and immediately burned the clothes of Yuan Jun's soldiers. Fight again. Cao Cao, however, focused all his attention on the enemy behind him. In the blink of an eye, the pursuers were within a stone's throw away. He shouted: "Turn around and kill!" The five men waved the banner vigorously at the same time, and waved a big fireball to point at the enemy behind.Cao Jun's generals had already had red eyes, and it was impossible to fight the enemy before and after. When they saw the signal and threw down the burning and screaming enemy in front of them, they pulled their horses and rushed back.No matter how many times he comes, kill him hard, today either you die or I die! Jiang Qi's soldiers came from the darkness. They saw bursts of flames in front of them, and they couldn't distinguish the enemy from the shadows. However, Cao soldiers took advantage of the light to see the dark place, and they saw it clearly-the Yuan Jun ate it before they understood what was going on. Big loss.The brigade of cavalry suddenly turned around and rushed forward, unstoppable under the rush, Yuan Jun's formation was in chaos immediately, and you stepped on me and stepped on it into chaos.Jiang Qi took the lead and rushed to the forefront, and was knocked off his horse in the chaos, and was trampled into a muddy flesh in a daze! Cao Jun saw that the enemy had lost their organizational system, and they all fought like blood gourds. Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Le Jin, and Xu Chu all rushed to the front. Cao Cao also showed his old strength today and fought together holding a large spear. The heart, the soldiers have no greed for life.Jiang Qi's soldiers couldn't find the main general, and when they saw Wuchao was covered in flames, 70% to 80% of the men and women scattered in shock. Cao Cao stabbed down a small soldier with his spear. Seeing that the 5,000 enemy troops had scattered and fled in all directions, he suppressed his excitement and shouted: "Don't chase! Don't chase! Come back and burn the Wuchao!" The torch should be thrown towards the Wuchao camp first. For Yuan Jun who was trapped in Wuchao, the reason why he could persist for so long was because he hoped for Guandu's rescue.Seeing that Jiang Qi's men had been defeated at this moment, their psychological support completely collapsed, and they left their swords and guns to scatter.Cao Bing flocked to Dazhai, regardless of the deserters, brandishing torches, first ignited all the tents, grain carts, and grain stores.The westerly wind was fierce, and there was a lot of food and grass. The vicious and cruel fire dragon swept from west to east, and the flames were so hot that the sky was unbearable.The running Yuan Jun caught fire, rolled and struggled on the ground, screamed endlessly, and eventually died, and the smell of burnt human flesh rose straight to his nose.The fire was getting bigger and bigger, and Cao Bing had to retreat outside the camp to surround Yuan Bing who had escaped. The whole Wuchao Dazhai seemed to be a sea of ​​flames... The fire burned for more than an hour, and when the flames gradually turned to embers, the due east was already dimly lit.Cao Cao's face was blackened by the thick smoke, and he couldn't help coughing.Xu You was as black as a living monkey, exhausted from scratching his ears and cheeks.Le Jin suddenly galloped over: "My lord, I have robbed and killed in the east for a while, and there are nearly a thousand Yuan soldiers who have nowhere to escape and surrender, how to deal with them?" "Bah!" Cao Cao spat a mouthful of filthy saliva, "First hand over their weapons, and then cut off their noses!" "Cutting off the nose?" Le Jin was taken aback, "Isn't this too much?" "This is a strategy to attack the heart." Cao Cao's ruthlessness came up again, "Cut off their noses and send them back to Guandu. I want Yuan Jun to see their miserable appearance with their own eyes, and see who dares to resist our army!" Le Jin had no choice but to follow the law. Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to carefully monitor the fire scene to find out if there was any unburned food, and asked the soldiers to take some away with them, and burn the rest.While he was busy, he heard heart-piercing screams again. Many Yuan Jun crawled over, their hands were tied, and their faces were covered with blood—the nose had been cut off alive! Seeing this group of people wailing in pain, Cao Cao secretly sneered, and suddenly a person jumped in front of his horse and yelled loudly: "Cao Mengde, how shameful you are! If you want to kill you, why do you insult people!" Because he lost his nose, his voice was muffled. . Xu You has sharp eyes: "Yes, yes...Chunyu Zhongjian?!" With disheveled hair and blood all over her face, Chunyu Qiong fell in front of Cao Cao's horse and kept cursing: "You can be killed, you can't be humiliated! You are a cruel and unrighteous traitor. I wish I could cut you into pieces. I will kill all the thieves in your family with swords and knives..." Seeing his miserable state, Cao Cao felt mixed emotions: This Chunyu Qiong is also a friend from the past. Thinking about this, they wanted to get off the horse and help him, but the positions and identities of each other imprisoned him again, and he calmed down and asked: "Zhong Jian, you are also considered a good general of the Han Dynasty, and you did not expect to protect Yuan Benchu ​​by mistake Will there be today?" Chunyuqiong stared at him fiercely, without any sign of remorse and submissiveness: "Victory or defeat has its own destiny, so what is there to say! If you still have half a conscience, kill me quickly!" "Alas... after so many years, you are still so violent." Cao Cao sighed, and turned to Xu You, "I want to let Zhong Jian go, what do you think?" Xu You was frightened during the war, but now his brain is working again, and he said angrily, "What are you letting him do? Make him look in the mirror every day and keep cursing you?" A severed nose cannot grow back, and a severed bond cannot be healed! Cao Cao shook his head: "Come here! Take him down and kill him, and keep the whole body for a proper burial." Chunyuqiong was dragged by the soldiers, and burst into a strange laugh, "What the hell is it if your head is off? I will be a good man again in twenty years, and then I will find your surname Cao desperately, so that you, a thief, will never live in peace." Hahaha...hahaha..." After all, it was an old friend, Cao Cao couldn't bear to see him die, and turned his head to look east. The defeated Wuchao army cursed and wailed, were driven out of the camp with their bloody faces covered, and staggered towards Guandu; while the black-faced Cao Jun behind him was cheering, laughing, and applauding.In the midst of cursing and cheering, Cao Cao's fluctuating mood gradually calmed down.The red sun has gradually risen on the eastern horizon, and a new day has begun again, but the land of the Central Plains has been turned upside down... Cao Cao turned his horse suddenly and shouted to the cheering soldiers: "Go back to Guandu, there is still a decisive battle waiting for us!"