Chapter 15 A strategy for stabilizing the army

Cao Cao's trip to Wancheng can be described as pleasant. Not only did he take down Nanyang County without bloodshed, he also incorporated Zhang Xiu's troops, and even Zhang Xiu's aunt, Wang Shi, was also incorporated by the way.In order to deceive others, he asked Cao Anmin to prepare a small car to secretly lead Wang's master and servant out of Wancheng in the dark, and he himself claimed to prepare troops and horses and return to the camp to live. Since then, Cao Cao had been having fun with Mrs. Wang every day, one was full of ambition, the other was revived, and the two were in harmony. Later, even Zhou's maidservant was wrapped up in it.Ye County, Wuyin and other places in Nanyang County have not yet been properly incorporated, so Cao Cao took advantage of his leisure to pass the time in Wenrou Township.Without an airtight wall, how could two women be hidden in the barracks without being noticed?It's not easy for soldiers and generals to say anything, they just close their eyes and pretend not to see.Guo Jia's nature is free and easy, so he almost came to congratulate him when he was joking, and he didn't think it was a scandal at all.Cao Ang was quite dissatisfied, but as a son, he couldn't argue with his father because of this kind of style, but secretly blamed Cao Anmin for not doing good things.As for the two boys Cao Pi and Cao Zhen, they understand even if they don’t understand it, and they don’t understand it when they explain it plainly.Everyone is so confused, half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

After being together for a long time, Cao Cao found that Mrs. Wang was really extraordinary.Not only is she beautiful in appearance and gentle in temperament, but she is also well-versed in writing and ink.Among his wives and concubines, Mrs. Ding is the daughter of a prominent family in Peiguo, and Mrs. Bian is proficient in poetry and Fu because of her background as a singer, but she is far inferior to Wang's knowledge.Unexpectedly, Cao Cao, who has never paid much attention to the background of his wives and concubines, would steal a widow from a scholarly family.Although the husband and wife are happy and harmonious, Mrs. Wang still looks sad every day.

"Ma'am, why do you have a sad face every day? People say that beautiful women only love young men. Could it be that you have wronged you by relying on me, a half-old man?" Cao Cao asked this question, resting his chin on his hand and looking at her intently.It is strange to say that Cao Cao still likes the way she frowns, which is quite like the feeling that King Wu loved Xi Shi in the past. "Alas..." Mrs. Wang sighed before she could speak. It would be a lie to say that he is not too old. I am twenty-two and Cao Cao is forty-three. .What she cares about is her face: "Your husband is a three-legged lord, what do we sisters not be satisfied with? But there is a saying that 'a husband has the right to remarry, and a woman has no right to be different'. Since I married Zhang Ji , he should behave as a widow after his death, and now he is out of the relationship with the king, which is contrary to the virtue of a woman, it is really not a decent thing."

Before Cao Cao could speak, Mrs. Zhou, who was originally a maid, preempted the conversation: "My sister is very serious, what is decent or not, and she cares about things that are not painful or itchy. Back then Zhang Ji killed your family and occupied you. You were respectable when you were a wife? I think the Zhang family is not relatives, so it would be better if they were all dead." She was willing to go all out, and she was born in poverty, but now she has plunged her head into the honey pot.If you are a concubine, you will be a concubine. If you are barefoot, you don't care what shoes you wear. It doesn't matter if you are forty-three or fifty-three. In the future, if you have food and clothing, you can count yourself as half a master if you stop in Cao's house.

Mrs. Wang shook her head and said, "According to me, that Zhang Xiu is still a gentleman. At least he didn't lack any etiquette, and he took good care of food and clothing. Everyone has his own account, and his uncle's crimes can't be blamed on him. on the head." "My silly sister, how can there be a clear account in the world? You are born a lady of everyone, and it would be unreasonable to snatch it away. The old thief who suffered a thousand knives finally died. If you are tired, you will be a widow all your life. You live What's the point?" said Zhou, turning her face to look at Cao Cao, "As far as I'm concerned, getting rid of Zhang Xiu and keeping him is a disaster! It's been half a month. We two are alive, can we just ignore it? If we find out clearly, it is a disease!"

Cao Cao was quite contradictory: Zhang Xiu was brave and good at fighting, and the soldiers in his tent were elite. He believed that the country would open the door and surrender. This man would be his arm in the future. It would be a pity to kill a woman.But if he is not eliminated, if Xingshi comes to question him, things in Wancheng will change.The key issue is that it doesn't make sense to kill Zhang Xiu both emotionally and rationally.He surrendered without shooting an arrow, entertained him with delicious food, and finally married his aunt, and even murdered him. This is too insincere; One step, the first one to surrender to the court will be killed, who will dare to come in the future?

Cao Cao realized that he was wronged by drinking and sex, and the big loss was caused by small things. What is the most beautiful woman?For them, even the wish to unify the world has been delayed, the loss outweighs the gain!But now he is hugging left and right, looking at Wang's, then looking at Zhou's, and he is reluctant to send it back.Besides, Tangtang Sikongluo's reputation of being chaotic and abandoning is too bad, and he can't hide this matter even if he wants to.After thinking about it, Cao Cao found himself in trouble, and sighed, "What you said is reasonable, but I still want to have a good talk with Zhang Xiu to see if I can get the word out. We are fair and aboveboard, and there is no reason for a widow to remarry." Woolen cloth?"

Mrs. Zhou gave him a blank look, and said resentfully: "This matter definitely doesn't make sense. I know Zhang Xiu's temper. If you make up your mind, you won't be able to bring back ten cows. should be killed..." "Shut up!" Cao Cao got angry, and pushed Zhou Shi away, "Whether to kill him is a matter for the army and the court. Is it your turn to make irresponsible remarks in front of me?" Seeing Cao Cao get angry for the first time, Mrs. Zhou was so frightened that her face paled, and she quickly got up and hid behind Mrs. Wang.Mrs. Wang stroked her hair: "Sister, it's your fault." You choose your words, don't say harsh words, and then say them from time to time. You don't hate others, and you speak for women. You shouldn't interrupt these men's affairs. , Hurry up and apologize to your husband."

"No need," Cao Cao groaned angrily while glaring at Mrs. Zhou, "If you dare to intervene in my affairs in the future, I want your head!" After saying that, he got up and walked to the case to drink water. Mrs. Zhou was terrified, so she threw her head into Mrs. Wang's arms, wanted to cry but didn't dare to cry, and murmured in a low voice: "Sister, I'm afraid... Zhang Xiu is not easy to mess with, and he respects Zhang Ji, He’s still wearing a filial piety now. I’m afraid he doesn’t know about our matter. If we know that we must be fired, he must come here with a gun to kill him...I’m so scared..."

Wang comforted: "It was your idea at the beginning, but now I feel scared again. Let's see how our adults deal with it, and you don't want to talk nonsense anymore." Cao Cao stood in front of the case with his back to them, and he heard the whispers of the two women.Although Zhou Shi was severely reprimanded, her words also made sense.In the past, Zhang Xiu led more than ten cavalry to assassinate Zu Li's rebel general Qu Sheng, so we had to guard against him doing it again.People are harmless to tigers, but tigers are harmful to people. Zhang Xiu still has to kill him if he really can't.

At this time, there was a coughing sound through the curtain—this was a new rule added by Mrs. Wang after entering the camp, and those who are close to him must cough before entering the tent.Cao Cao winked, and the two women quickly got up and hid behind the screen beside the tent. "Who?" Cao Cao sat back on the couch. "Your Majesty must report something important." "come in." Since Wang Bi was sent to Xijing as an envoy, he has been transferred to the chief book of the march, responsible for the supervision and intelligence of the generals of the Cao camp.He carefully opened the curtain, came in and bowed his head to salute, not daring to look casually: "Report to the lord, Zhang Xiu ordered the soldiers to set up wooden stakes to the east of the Fei River and prepare to go down to the stronghold." "Oh?" Cao Cao was taken aback, "Is he going to withdraw from Wancheng?" Wancheng is now owned by Cao Ying, but most of Zhang Xiu's troops are still stationed in the city. pose a threat. After Wang Bi became a civil servant, he spoke more cautiously than before: "It seems that they want to completely give up the city and move to the east bank to build a stronghold." "I didn't tell him to withdraw so quickly." Cao Cao patted his forehead. "Could it be that he is afraid of my suspicion and intends to give up the city to show his sincerity?" "Maybe it is." Wang Bi added, "Also, he asked someone to bring you a box and asked you to open it yourself." "Bring it in, let's see what tricks this kid is playing." Following an order, Dian Wei and Xu Chu personally carried the big box in, and after putting it down, they didn't dare to stay in the tent, so they quickly retreated with Wang Bi.Cao Cao circled the box twice, and seeing that it was locked, he put the key on the lid of the box, and sealed it with Caihou paper, with the words "Designed by Mr. Cao, Sikong". Cao Cao tore off the seal, took the key to unlock the lock, lifted the lid to take a look, and couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha... my two beauties, come and have a look!" When Wang and Zhou heard the call, they turned out from behind the screen and saw the contents of the box at a glance: hairpin ring jewelry, hairpin skirt brocade box, silk threads of various colors, and clothes of the four seasons. "Oh, isn't this something my sister has in the city!" Zhou recognized it. Wang was also stunned: "He is..." Cao Cao curiously played with these women's things, and when he flipped to the bottom, there were even books, sieves, and game boards that he usually used to relieve boredom. Come here to show your acquiescence. It seems that this kid has figured it out and has agreed to this matter. He intends to send you out in a serious manner, and will not ask any more questions in the future." "I really didn't expect that the sun came out from the west, and Zhang Xiutou was so enlightened." Zhou stroked the hairpin and ring jewelry and was overjoyed, "Sister, look at these few jewelry that we didn't have before, maybe He sent it here specially, it can be regarded as a dowry!" Feeling sorry, Wang picked up the scroll and saw that it was "The Commandments for Women" written by Ban Zhao, her face flushed with embarrassment, "What is this called..." Cao Cao hugged one in one hand, looked up to the sky and laughed: "I said that Zhang embroidery is open, but you still don't believe it. A man doesn't care about trivial matters, and his ambition in life is to rule the world. In the past, Han Xin was humiliated, begging for food, and his aunt remarried. Big deal!" Before he could finish his sentence, there was another cough outside the tent.Anyway, the private salt has become an official salt, Cao Cao didn't let the two avoid this time, and asked loudly: "What's the matter, just say it!" Xu Chu's dull voice came from outside the tent again: "See you, Zhang Xiu." "Oh? I just want to meet him. Quickly ask him to wait in the tent of the central army. Please take care of him. I'll meet you right away." After finishing speaking, Cao Cao straightened his clothes. Mrs. Zhou tightened her grip for him, and said with a smile, "You have to thank him for us." "Hey, you don't understand this. It's all self-evident. He just knows what I know. It's meaningless to say it." Cao Cao hangs up the green sword and leaves the tent happily. Before leaving, he turns his head back He smiled and said, "You can wait for me at ease, and come back if you have anything to say." When he came to the tent of the Chinese army, Zhang Xiu had already been waiting, but he didn't dare to enter, and stood outside the tent with his head bowed in a respectful manner.Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder kindly: "Since the general is here, go in quickly." Zhang Xiu's expression was still a little shy: "How dare I presume that my lord is not here?" "There's no need to talk about these empty etiquette between us." Cao Cao said, pulling him into the big tent, without asking Dian Wei and Xu Chu to follow him, and letting him sit on the stool himself. Zhang Xiu didn't wait for Cao Cao to say anything, and said firstly: "My lord's soldiers have been stationed in Wancheng for some time, and the matters in Wuyin, Ye County and other places are almost settled. I should lead the troops out of Wancheng as soon as possible." "Not busy, not busy," Cao Cao quickly waved his hand, "The luggage in other places has not been transferred yet, so don't be busy for a day or two. Besides, there are some locals in your camp who suddenly asked them to leave. These soldiers also need to be appeased for a while." Zhang Xiu cupped his hands and said: "There have been some changes, and I really can't be at ease. It's better to come out early." He said some changes and couldn't be at ease. Naturally, he meant that his aunt Wang remarried Cao Cao, but it was not easy to point out. . Cao Cao was also a little embarrassed, but said: "Isn't it all over? I trust you to rely on you, and I won't be suspicious because of trivial matters. You are safe and secure. Let's be a model of mutual support and mutual respect. Yuan Shu, Lu Bu and the others take a look, and they will work together for the imperial court in the future to wipe out the smoke and revive the Han Dynasty, isn't that great?" Zhang Xiu, a wild horse from Liangzhou, is as gentle as a sheep today, and said with an apologetic smile: "I dare not back down when I serve the imperial court, but it is really inconvenient to stay in Wancheng. To be honest, I have ordered The soldiers are getting ready in the east of the Feishui, and I will move there in the afternoon, and the earlier I will hand over Wancheng, the sooner I will feel at ease." In fact, if he came out earlier, Cao Cao could live in peace, but he couldn't do things too reluctantly because of face.Now that Zhang Xiu took the initiative to leave, he was so happy that the river would not wash the boat!Cao Cao stopped persuading and said instead, "They are all from the court, and the general is too polite... Okay! Now that the general has made a decision, let's lead the troops out of the city." "No." Zhang Xiu got up to leave, retreated to the tent and turned around, "Cao Gong, I don't know if the wagon you sent to Ye County to transport the baggage yesterday has returned? I want to borrow some from you." "How can I come back so soon? I have to wait a day or two." Zhang Xiu clicked his tongue again and again: "Oh, I still have a lot of armor and weapons in my city! There are too few chariots, if the soldiers are asked to move them one by one, and then cross the river, it will take a lot of time." Cao Cao chuckled: "General Zhang, you are an old soldier. How can such things be difficult for us? You can ask the sergeants to hold up their weapons and put them on. They can carry them all at once." "This is impossible." Zhang Xiu quickly waved his hand, "Outside of Wancheng are all your troops, camp after camp. If my soldiers go out of the city armed, there may be a misunderstanding between the two sides, and there will be trouble." Cao Cao thought that he was too reserved because of Wang's affairs, so he comforted him: "It's okay, just move yours, I'll pass down an order to tell the soldiers not to panic." "Thank you, Mr. Cao." "Hey, you're too polite... We are all a family now, what's the difference between each other's generals? You can handle your affairs with peace of mind, and when I return to Xudu, I will definitely honor the court and give you an official position." "Thank you Mr. Cao for your support." Zhang Xiu bowed to the end, and went away beaming.