Chapter 14 where to go

Cao Cao would never have imagined in his dreams that when he returned to Suanzao County after the catastrophe, what he saw was that the herdsmen of the various families gathered here to gather for a high-level banquet and talk freely, and what they said was discouraging words like the failure of the Warring States Period.Everyone's faces were full of joy, and there was no sense of worrying about the country and the people. He quietly walked into the big tent, and no one noticed. Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, personally filled wine for Liu Dai, Yuan Yi, and Zhang Chao, and filled his mouth with chopsticks of vegetables. He chewed and said, "Let's continue what we just said. That Gongsun Yan is Minister of Wei, Expel Zhang Yi, promote the alliance of the five kingdoms, respect King Huai of Chu as the leader, Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, and Chu jointly attacked Qin, but they were still defeated by Qin..." He raised his head inadvertently in the middle of speaking, and then saw Manchu Cao Cao with a dusty face.Everyone saw that Qiao Mao's face changed drastically, and they followed his gaze, and they all saw Cao Cao - they thought that this man had already died in battle by the Bian River.

Cao Cao looked at these sanctimonious faces, and disgust and anger welled up in his throat. He sneered and said, "Brother Gongwei, do you know why Hezong lost? It's because the five countries have different ideas and don't want to make progress. It will let Bao Qin take advantage of the loophole!" Qiao Mao's face turned red and turned white, and he smiled dully for a long time: "Meng De, you're finally back. It's a blessing to survive the catastrophe, and it's not in vain for me to worry about you day and night. Come! Brother Yu respects you One." He held up his own wine and brought it to his eyes.

Cao Cao wanted to give him a slap in the face, but he felt that his internal organs were rolling, so he quickly took the wine and drank it dry, suppressing his anger, and said solemnly: "Wei Zixu died in Bianshui, and Bao Xin and I were killed and injured. Do, if I hadn’t met Ren Jun and Ren Boda to rescue me halfway, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to come back, so what’s the point of retreating? You don’t even dare to accept the day and night worries of the gentlemen!” Liu Dai was stinging in his obedience, fearing that he would lose his temper, he hurriedly teased: "Victory and defeat are common matters in military affairs, why is Meng De unwilling to let go of it? Let's rest for a few days, and I will send troops to help in the next day, and then we will fight Dong Bandit to the death. "

"May I ask Mr. Liu, what day are you talking about?" Liu Dai was speechless, and the others didn't dare to say anything, and each lowered their heads to drink. "While you are drinking, I'm afraid Dong Zhuo has forced the emperor to reach Chang'an. There are mountains and rivers in Guanzhong, which are even more difficult to conquer. You are so wise to protect yourself, are you waiting for the thunder to kill Dong Zhuo?" Cao Cao glanced at them again. Said: "If you still think you are an official of my great Han, listen to me and write to Yuan Benchu ​​immediately, asking him to lead all the soldiers from Hanoi to Mengjin. You immediately attack Chenggao, occupy Aocang, block Yuan, The two passes of Taigu are all based on the dangers of Henan; let Yuan Gonggong lead the army of Nanyang to pass through Danshui and Xixian County, enter Wuguan, and attack the three auxiliary passes. I, Cao, dare not bother you to take the lead. I will handle dangerous things At that time, you will have deep trenches and high fortifications, and instead of fighting the enemy, you only need to set up suspicious soldiers on the main roads in the central pass of Henan Province to show the menace of the world. It can be decided immediately. Now you are holding the banner of righteousness, but you are hesitant to go in. Gathering here, you will lose the hope of the world, and you will be ashamed of you!" Qiao Mao and others lowered their heads even more. , Salivating face only to drink.

"How is it? Can you act according to this plan?" Seeing that they did not respond, Cao Cao asked again. Qiao Mao suddenly raised his head and drank the wine, and changed into a contemptuous tone: "Meng De, you are conceited that you can use soldiers, but you were defeated before you reached the revolving door. With your great talent, how can I win the victory?" Gao? Don’t you think so?” This time, Liu Dai was quite cooperative. He took the words and said with a smile: "Meng De, I have dissuaded you before you sent troops this time. But you didn't accept my favor, and led the army in a rash advance, which resulted in a big defeat. Who will lose the army? However, it’s fine if we don’t talk about it. You don’t want to talk about marching anymore, and go back to the camp to rest and wait for the order of the chariot general.”

"Of course," Yuan Yi also said, "Nowadays the military rations are in short supply, and the matter of marching into the army still needs to be considered in the long term..." "Long-term plan, long-term plan, can you kill Dong Zhuo just by talking?" Cao Cao didn't want to talk to these people anymore, pointed at their noses and said with a sneer: "Puzi is not enough to plan!" With a livid face, he turned and stepped out of the big tent. In front of the tent of the Chinese army, Bao Xin was leaning in front of the carriage, pulling out the arrows from his brother's body one by one.After Cao Cao left that night, everyone continued to fight. Bao Tao and his soldiers were besieged on the top of the mountain, relying on their high security to beat the Xiliang soldiers with stones, and killed countless enemies.Seeing that Xu Rong could not conquer it, he was so angry that he ordered his soldiers to shoot arrows around the mountain at any cost. The brave and fearless Bao Sanlang died with thousands of arrows.

At this moment, Bao Tao fell there like a hedgehog, because he was covered in arrows and couldn't even lie flat. The arrows pulled out from his body were already enough; and not far away, Bao Zhong, who died in battle a few days ago, was still standing. .The three brothers came side by side, but now only Bao Xin is left alone. "Don't be too sad." Cao Cao comforted in a low voice. Bao Xin pulled out an arrow and looked back at him, his eyes were swollen like bells: "The eldest brother was killed by Jian Shuo, and now the younger brothers are gone. Fortunately, it is the honor of the husband shrouded in horse leather... All three brothers died for the country , My Bao family is worthy of the country and society of the great man! My brother owes no one! I think the world is going to be chaotic, and the building will be unsupported, so there is no need for me to follow the muddy water. Tomorrow... no, a while! After a while, I will take my younger brothers and go back to my hometown to bury them properly. From now on, I will guard my Jibei and protect the people on my side, and let these useless things make troubles in the world..."

Seeing that he was discouraged, Cao Cao wanted to comfort him, but there were two bloody corpses in front of him, so what else could he say?I had no choice but to pat him on the shoulder and said: "Take care of yourself, if the big thing fails, brother Yu will have nowhere to go, and then I will go to Jibei to find you." Bao Xin stared at the corpse and nodded. Cao Cao returned to the camp dejectedly, and saw Zhang Miao and several people wiping Wei Zi's body. His mood became more and more melancholy, and he stepped into his tent. Xiahou Dun and Ren Jun were sitting silently, also with sad faces.Now I only have a few hundred soldiers left, and the people Ren Jun brought couldn't pick out a few who could fight. Bian Bing, Ding Fei, and Lou Yi were all wounded. This situation really couldn't last.When he looked up, he saw Xi Zhicai was sitting by the desk with "Lu Shi Chunqiu" in his hand, he hurriedly saluted and said, "It's really dishonorable, I didn't listen to Mr.'s words, so I lost this, I am ashamed and ashamed."

Xi Zhicai was suffocated because he didn't accept the good words, but now seeing his face full of shame, he closed the book and comforted him: "There is a saying in "Lv Lan" that 'disasters come from blessings, and blessings come from misfortunes. What the sage sees alone, how can everyone know it', it is a bad thing for the general to learn this lesson, but I hope you will act cautiously in the future." "Understood." Cao Cao sat slumped, his mind was empty, "But what should we do now? Should we just let Dong Zhuo do as he pleases?" Xi Zhicai sneered: "The general is really a loyal person. You are not safe yet, are you still worried about the affairs of the court? You have no soldiers and no horses, and you have broken with Qiao Mao and others. This place has already become a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. , are you not afraid that someone will rob you of your food and eat you?"

"I know that," Cao Cao lowered his eyelids, "but where can I go after leaving here? No name, no title, no place to stand." "The general now has three options." "Appreciate further details." "This is the first road. The dispatched people will hurry to Xuzhou to find your father and son. The father and son will reunite and guard the farm to wait for the right time." "I have the ambition to serve the country, how can I be so mediocre?" Cao Cao squinted at him. "Okay, then the second way. Are you willing to lead the remnant soldiers back to Chenliu and become Zhang Mengzhuo's general?" Xi Zhicai asked with a smile.

Cao Cao shook his head. "The reason why I protect you is that I understand that if you refuse to take these two paths, then there is only one path left." "Sir, please tell me!" Cao Cao became interested. "Lead the troops to join Yuan Shao." "Hmph! Aren't you going to be a servant?" Cao Cao turned his head away. "No and no! Excuse me, general, where is your current foundation?" Cao Cao thought for a while, his hometown Qiao County was already in ruins, and Chen Liu was just a temporary residence. He shook his head and said, "A tree without roots, without a source of water, without a foundation." Xi Zhicai laughed again: "There is a saying in "Lu Lan" that 'the dodder has no roots. The dodder is not without roots, and its roots do not belong to it, but Poria is'. Now you are like the dodder grass. Look at it. It seems to have no roots, but actually there is, and that is Yuan Shao." "How did you see that?" "Regardless of whether he was ordered or not, Yuan Benchu ​​is now a chariot general. He is the commander-in-chief of Dong Dong in name. The four generations and three princes look forward to it. Although you have some soldiers and horses, you are also deployed by others. You must admit this." Xi Zhicai's words made Cao Cao's heart sour, but he still nodded and said, "Okay, I admit it." "When you first arrived in Suanzao County, Yuan Shao sent Xu You to win you over and gave you the title of General Fenwu. The reason why he gave you this position is to distinguish you from Zhang Miao. I hope you can rely on To his side, but you just didn't go over." Cao Cao nodded: "Zhang Mengzhuo took in my Xiaoman family, how can I abandon him." "It's not too late for you to vote now." "I go to be Yuan Shao's subordinate, isn't it the same as going back to Chen and leaving Zhang Miao as a subordinate?" "Wrong!" Xi Zhicai said decisively, "It's very different. You didn't vote for Yuan Shao, you voted for the chariot and cavalry general of the Han Dynasty. Delegating to him means that you don't belong to any power, but only belong to the court of the Han Dynasty. It’s just that he returned to the coach because of the unfavorable situation in the war.” Hearing his analysis, Cao Cao's heart brightened up a lot: "What about after defecting to him?" "After that? What do you want in the future?" Xi Zhicai looked at him with a smirk. Cao Cao was stunned. Some words about his ideals and ambitions cannot be said.Xi Zhicai stood up, coughed slightly, and said vaguely: "Chen Li will be on the list, and those who can't be stopped. If the king is not the king, the minister can still be the minister, let alone a chariot general who has no official orders." If you agree, stay or if you don't agree, go!Cao Cao figured out what Xi Zhicai meant, and his thoughts immediately extended: Why not I live under Yuan Shao's command temporarily?Let's see what plots he will make if he stays still.If it is really profitable, you might as well just do it and share a piece of the pie with him.If you can occupy a city in the future, it is not too late to work hard to find a future for yourself... Thinking of this, Cao Cao felt that he saw some hope, but he sighed deliberately, looked at Ren Jun beside him and said tentatively: "Oh... ...God fails to fulfill people's wishes, it seems that from now on we will all be Yuan Benchu's people." "What is Yuan Benchu?" Ren Jun retorted immediately, "I didn't see Yuan Shao fighting in Bianshui. I voted for you, Cao Mengde." Cao Cao almost had the urge to marry his sister to him, so he suppressed his excitement and sighed: "It's really hard for you, you still have high hopes for me." Xiahou Dun had been lowering his head and fiddling with his sword, and then he interrupted: "Meng De, besides Zhang Miao and Bao Xin, do you have any good friends in other states and counties? Since we are going to vote for Yuan Shao, we can't just carry it on our shoulders." Head. Anyway, you are also a Fenwu general, and you must not let him look down on you! We have to find a place to recruit more soldiers." "High!" Xi Zhicai stretched out his thumb repeatedly, "Yuan Rang's words are right. If there are soldiers, we will become a new force under Yuan Benchu's tent, and he will not dare to underestimate us." Cao Cao lowered his head and recalled his official career experience, and suddenly his eyes lit up: "Chen Wen and Chen Yuanti are now serving as the governor of Yangzhou. I have a close relationship with him as Yilang. Why don't you ask him for soldiers? It just needs to go south. It seems a little far away. " "Who said you want to go south?" Cao Hong suddenly stepped into the tent, "I also want to go south. I still have more than a thousand brothers in Jiangxia!" "I forgot that you still have a team." The haze in Cao Cao's heart was swept away, "Okay! Let's leave Suanzao tomorrow and go south together. Yuan Rang and I will go to Yangzhou to recruit troops, and Zilian will go to Qichun to recruit his old troops." "There are hundreds of remnants here, what should we do?" Ren Jun asked. Cao Cao smiled slightly: "Boda, you might as well take these hundreds of people, as well as the common people, food and grass to Hanoi to help me make a first stop." "Wouldn't it be a waste of money for Yuan Shao?" Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder: "You don't know Yuan Benchu. He has eyes on the top of his head, and he is not so easy to deal with. Is he not happy to send him food and grass before I arrive? Besides, he has always had a good face, you Leading a group of Henan people with their families and mouths to flee, how glorious is his face as a chariot general! Give him fame and fortune first, and when I arrive, he will have to greet me from afar. present." Ren Jun nodded again and again: "Wonderful..." "I'm only worried about one thing now," Cao Cao turned his head to look at Xi Zhicai, "It will take at least three or four months to go to Yangzhou. During the time we are going south, will Yuan Shao mobilize all the soldiers and horses to move westward in one fell swoop? What about eliminating Dong Zhuo?" "You think too highly of these people." Xi Zhicai sneered, "Don't talk about three or four months, don't even think about three or four years!" Cao Cao felt relieved for a while, and then felt uneasy again: Didn't I always want to save the people from fire and water?Why am I afraid that others will rush ahead of me to fight for the king and destroy the thief?Forget it, don't be hard on yourself, some things are better not to think too deeply, just take one step at a time...