Chapter 26 lost friend

The Yanzhou Army and the Yellow Turban Army from Qingzhou faced each other in Shouzhang County, Dongping County. Cao Cao and Bao Xin deployed the main force of the army here. At the same time, Li Qian also organized Li's armed forces to come to help. The Yellow Turban invasion this time was different from the situation of the previous year. Last time it was mainly Yu Du, Bai Rao, Sui Gu and other effective rebels, but this time it was a mob of millions.Because the Qingzhou army suffered a great loss from Gongsun Zan, and lost 100,000 people on the river bank, and since then Gongsun Zan's power has extended to Qingzhou, and even appointed his subordinate Tian Kai as Qingzhou governor, and then appointed Liu Bei as Pingyuan Prime Minister, Formed the base camp to suppress the Yellow Turbans.So this time the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans did not so much invade Yanzhou as they migrated to Yanzhou as a whole. A large part of the millions of people were desperate women, children, and children.

On the day Cao Cao was stationed in Shouzhang, he was quite unhappy. He was in Dongping County, only the county magistrate welcomed him, but Dongping prefect Xu Xi didn't come to support him. "Meng De, let's fight this battle well. As long as we get rid of the Yellow Turbans, the situation will improve. Who can refuse to accept by then?" Bao Xin kept reassuring him. However, Chen Gong said: "In my opinion, it's better for me to go for a walk. Knowing the benefits and disadvantages, I would like to ask General Xu Jun to send troops to help. After all, this is the land of Dongping. It is best to invite Xu Si and Wang Kai again. Waiting for the Ministry to come to respond, can everyone have something to talk about?"

Cao Cao hesitated, but when he saw Wan Qian and Bi Chen in a blink of an eye, they sat firmly in the big tent, thinking that they must see their own strength, so they politely declined: "The meaning of the public platform I understand. However, Dongping and the various tribes in the state are long-time warriors. The soldiers suffered another defeat in the previous battle. I am afraid that the soldiers are exhausted. It is better not to trouble them anymore. The governor will fight this battle in person. .” Cao Cao deliberately pronounced the words "Ben Cishi" very clearly, for fear that others would not hear him.

Chen Gong wanted to persuade him again, but Xun Yu grabbed him and muttered: "The general's intention has been decided, so there is no need to say anything. The general wants to demonstrate to others in this battle, so he will not ask for troops. Let's wait and see. Success or failure depends on adapting to the situation.” Chen Gong sighed. After all, he was a local official in Yanzhou, and he was not very happy to see Cao Cao acting like this.Bao Xin was still full of confidence: "Now the main force of the Yellow Turbans is sixty miles away from the county, and sometimes there will be a team of one hundred or eighty people to test us. I am thinking that since the troops are stationed in Shouzhang today, it is the enemy's front. We Let's take a look at the terrain in the east of the county, so we can plan the formation of troops."

"Yes." Cao Cao listened to his words very much, "dealing with these mobs can be determined by breaking up chaos and fighting. Let them suffer a defeat, and their morale will be low, and they will retreat. There is a saying in "Sun Tzu" The way of the land is the way of the land, and it must be observed when it is done." Cao Cao suddenly remembered something, and hurried to Shuai's case, unfolded his usual annotations on "Grandson", and turned to the volume about topography , picked up a pen and wrote after "those who are trapped", and wrote "The strong officials want to advance, and the weak are always trapped, and they are defeated." After writing, he threw the pen and continued, "The current situation is to trap the enemy. Although their leaders They are clamoring for a fight, but the mob lacks training and cannot advance and retreat effectively, and their weapons and supplies are no match for us. The only reason is that we have a large number of people. Therefore, we must adapt to local conditions, investigate the terrain, and win the first battle!"

As soon as this remark came out, even Wan Qian and Bi Chen couldn't help nodding: Cao Mengde is better than ten Liu Gongshans in fighting! "In that case, you should set off immediately and take some soldiers to check the terrain yourself." Bao Xin stood up as he spoke. "Wait a minute!" Xi Zhicai hurriedly stopped him, "Both of you are commanders in the army, so it's not appropriate to lead the troops in person." "It doesn't matter. The scouts have already found out that there is no major enemy within fifty miles east of the county. If it is a small group of thieves, it is not enough for my people to bite their teeth!" Bao Xin said with a happy face, "Meng De and I are both People who have been born and died several times, how can they take this little danger to heart."

"That's right! I'll go with Bao Xin, so we can discuss some tactical countermeasures according to local conditions." Cao Cao took the bag as he spoke, "Lou Yi, Wang Bi, let Zi and the tiger and leopard riding guards with me, let's go out together. Door." Seeing their vigorous and resolute style, Wan Qian stretched out his thumbs: "This is like a state general! I am optimistic about Cao Mengde." After leaving Shouzhang County, Cao Cao and Bao Xin each led their own soldiers.Seeing that the city was barren and messy, and the houses were demolished to repair the city walls, Cao Cao sighed: "This is the people, and that is also the people. Why bother to quarrel and plunder and fight endlessly!"

Bao Xin said with a smile: "This is a minister of the great man, and that is also a minister of the great man. Why should there be disputes?" Cao Cao was speechless. Bao Xin didn't have as many emotions as he did: "You, the biggest problem is that you don't rest your mind and think too much. Now that you're less than 40 years old, you are so cranky, and you will be depressed to death when you get old? Willful And Wei is the real man, you can't let go." Cao Cao turned to look at Bao Xin: he was in his early thirties, with broad shoulders and round waist, handsome figure, wearing a tiger helmet, pheasant tail inserted obliquely, wearing dark iron armor, and a scarlet war robe, lightly blown by the wind. Lightly brushed up; the eight-treasure exquisite lion belt is worn around the waist, a loose red jacket, leg armor, riding boots, a large painted sparrow bow and a leopard skin quiver on the back; a slightly dark and healthy complexion, with a big mouth, With a hooked nose, dragon eyebrows and phoenix eyes, big ears facing the bosom, a wide mouth smiles, showing white teeth; the mount is a dark gray tall horse with colorful tassels on the bridle, and jingling bells—this man is here Such a good general, such a handsome man, just fell from the sky!

Cao Cao couldn't help admiring: "I can't compare you to Bao Erlang in terms of chicness." He himself is short, fat, fair-skinned, with a flat nose, and a little turned nostrils.In terms of being handsome, Cao Cao only has a pair of eyes that are particularly beautiful, and he has a pair of thick eyebrows like wild goose wings, with a cinnabar mole on his eyebrows.Qiao Xuan said back then that a cinnabar mole on his eyebrows is a sign of great wisdom.This has also become a reason for Cao Cao to give himself peace of mind. "Meng De," Bao Xin called out, breaking Cao Cao's reverie, "There is something I've always wanted to tell you."

"Say it." "If I die in battle one day, I hope you can take good care of my wife and children." Cao Cao gave him a blank look: "I also said that I think too much, I think you all think more than I do! A few days ago, when Yu Fuluo was beaten in Neihuang, Zhang Mengzhuo said that if he died, he would entrust his wife and children to me. Today you Come on again, we are fighting a war here, don't say such unlucky words." "Yeah, I'm just talking nonsense." Bao Xin chuckled, "If this battle is over, what's your plan for the next step?"

"I don't need to hide from you. I plan to rectify the affairs of the state, and then stop the chaos in Qingzhou and Xuerzhou, and drive Gongsun Zan's people back to the north of the river. After securing the rear, I will immediately move westward and arrive at the city. Welcome to Xijing and return to the east." Cao Cao was triumphant. "Whether the emperor comes back or not, I think that's the case." Bao Xin curled his lips, "Now that the Kanto is in a mess, I'm afraid Yuan Shu and Sun Jian will come to kill you before you settle down in Yanzhou. How can this mess end? Woolen cloth!" "Yuan Gonglu is dead in the tomb, Sun Wentai is a brave husband, why should I be afraid!" Cao Cao's unruly energy came, "We put our tails in front of others, what can I say to you, as long as I stand in Yanzhou Steady, no one can beat me again, none of them are my opponents." "Hey! Your words are really big. Half a year ago, you were still under Yuan Shao's command. Today, when you are successful, you will say such cruel words. Don't forget that there are many heroes in the world. Today you can soar into the sky. Maybe someone else will suddenly become a blockbuster in the future, maybe it's under someone's account now, but it's just that they haven't had the chance to make their mark yet." "If he is a hero, I will do great things together with him!" Cao Cao said solemnly, "If it can't be used by me, then..." Then he didn't say what. "Meng De, do you want to be emperor?" Bao Xin asked lightly.Cao Cao almost fell off his horse, he pulled the rein tightly and said calmly, "Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?" "It's okay, I'll just ask. Both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu want to be emperors, I don't know what you mean..." Bao Xin saw him shaking his head, and quickly changed the embarrassing topic, "Yes, I will recommend someone to you." "who?" "His name is Mao Jie, his name is Xiaoxian, and he is from Pingqiu, Chenliu. He went to Jingzhou during the war, but he didn't like Liu Biao's style. He went to Nanyang again, and saw Yuan Shu was more eye-catching, so he simply came back." "It's not a big deal for such people to avoid chaos." Cao Cao laughed. "Don't underestimate this Mao Jie. I heard people say that this guy has wisdom eyes!" Bao Xin joked, "Maybe he will see you with those eyes, and you will become a great success." "Okay, I'll see you some other day." Cao Cao raised his eyes and saw that there were many mountains and hills among the wilderness. "The terrain in the east is different." "You grew up in the Central Plains of Yuzhou, so you don't know the situation here. From Dongping County to the east, there are mountains and plains. After passing the border of Qingzhou, most of them are mountains, one after another, especially the coast. In the area, if there are thousands of bandits scattered and hidden, they will not be found at all." As Bao Xin was speaking, his eyes lit up, and he pointed straight ahead with his horsewhip, "This place is good, not too far from the city, and we can deploy an army to face the enemy. Opposite It is also an undulating area, and the Yellow Turban Army does not know the art of war, so lead them to fight here, and then set up ambushes in the nearby mountains." "Not bad, not bad." Cao Cao was very satisfied, "With such a place to use troops, Liu Dai still can't win, he is really incompetent..." While talking, Lou Yi beside him suddenly shouted: "General! There is a thief over there." Sure enough, an enemy with a yellow scarf and turban loomed in the mountains in front of him, and he was also riding a horse, as if he was a scout for scouting.Seeing that Bao Xin regained his energy, he immediately took off his bow and arrow and held it in his hand, shouting, "Come down for me!" An arrow with carved feathers came out along the way.Seeing that a hundred steps away, the arrow hit the servant's neck. "Good archery!" All the soldiers praised. Unexpectedly, after this shout, a hundred enemies suddenly poured out from the mountain depression, all of them were wearing yellow scarves, holding machetes and wooden sticks.Cao Cao didn't dare to neglect: "The tiger and leopard rider listen to the order, give me..." "But there are more than a hundred people, how can you kill a chicken with a butcher's knife? Look at me!" Bao Xin urged his horse and rushed over with fifty soldiers.His cavalry waded into the Yellow Turban Thieves like a tiger into a flock of sheep, and immediately cut blood with guns and bayonets. Those thieves were panicked, more than 20 lay down in the blink of an eye, and the rest seemed to have stabbed a hornet's nest, making a mess, some rushed forward without fear of death, some lay down in the pit, some turned around and staggered of.Bao Xin became more and more courageous as he fought, he waved his spear and said, "Brothers, follow me!" "Don't chase the poor, come back!" Cao Cao shouted with a smile.Bao Xin didn't seem to hear, he led his small team straight to the east to chase and kill them, and there were dead bodies everywhere they passed.Suddenly, there was another cry of killing, and another group of thieves came out from the mountain depression, still more than a hundred people.Bao Xin didn't pay attention to them, he rushed left and right as if he was in no man's land, and once again upset the enemy. "Bao Xin is really a rare brave general!" Cao Cao couldn't help sighing as he watched him show his might.At this moment, the noise was wrong, the buzzing was heavy and loud, and the enemies emerged from the mountain depression one after another. "No, the scouts made a mistake...Bao Xin! Come back soon!" Where can I go back, all of a sudden I saw a yellow crowd rushing over like the wind blowing wheat waves, this time not only in the valley, but also all over the mountains and plains are full of enemies, some are on horseback, some are riding oxen, some are on foot, with swords, guns, sticks and hoes There were poles, Bao Xin was wrapped in the formation in an instant, and the Yellow Turban Army brigade suddenly came in front of them. "Come on! Save General Bao!" Cao Cao swung his sword and rushed forward. The tiger and leopard cavalry fought head-on, and the yellow turban soldiers fell to the next row like cutting wheat, but the enemy who followed immediately killed them again. .These desperadoes saw that Cao Cao had few people, but they became more energetic and stalked the tigers and leopards. Some even formed a team and stood in front of the horses to resist.There was no other way, and everyone raised their weapons to chop melons and vegetables like chopping vegetables.But the enemy did not retreat at all, and they gathered more and more densely.At the beginning, everyone fought bravely without fear, but after all, there were too many enemies. Everyone was so tired that the corners of their noses were sunken and their eyes were sweating. . Wang Bi raised his head and glanced at the overwhelming enemy group: "General, let's go! If you don't go, we are all finished!" "Where is Bao Xin? Where is Bao Xin..." "Let's go..." Wang Bi shouted, "General Bao is hopeless." "Bao Xin can't die!" Cao Cao still wanted to move forward, "Hurry up and save Bao Xin!" "It's too late, let's go!" Lou Yi grabbed his rein: "Retreat, retreat!" The yellow turban bandits had already surrounded them in the center of Gai, and the soldiers kept Cao Cao's life and rushed out. Many people were stabbed and fell off their horses, and they immediately rushed up and chopped them into pieces.Lou Yichong was at the front, brandishing a spear, acting like a stick, and barely opened a path; Wang Bibao held on to the dizzy Cao Cao, holding on to his reins; more and more people. Fortunately, the Yellow Turban Army was dominated by infantry and had no fixed combat formation, so it was finally rushed out by Cao Jun. Cao Cao and Bao Xin led a total of 1,000 people out of Shouzhang, and only half of them successfully broke through.The yellow turban soldiers reluctantly chased after them, arrows whizzed past their ears, and everyone dared not turn back and head west.After fleeing not far away, flags filled the sky, and the army stationed by Shou Zhang came to meet him.Cao Cao plunged into his team and fell off his horse with a "plop".Wan Qian and Xiahou Dun quickly helped him up, and the officers and soldiers in front had already met the Yellow Turban Army hand-to-hand. Cao Cao panted and climbed on his horse, raised his eyes and looked across.I saw yellow turban soldiers all over the mountains and fields, rushing towards their own camp a few times, and finally lost powerlessly, retreated like locusts one after another, trampling on countless dead.But Bao Xin in a red robe could no longer be found among them... The battle of Shouzhang cannot be said to be a defeat, because the losses of the Yellow Turbans were much greater than those of the officers and soldiers.But Cao Cao's best friend, Bao Xin, who has always been regarded as his arm, never came back.After the war, Cao Cao ordered his soldiers to inspect the battlefield countless times, but no one was alive or dead.Cao Cao even announced to the enemy that he would pay a lot of money to redeem Bao Xin's body, but there was still no news.The most reasonable explanation is that he has been torn to pieces by the enemy.In the end, Cao Cao had no choice but to ask a good craftsman to imitate Bao Xin's appearance with wood and carve a corpse into the coffin. Cao Cao looked at the coffin and kept thinking: how many heroes and talents have been drowned in such troubled times.Back then, Bao Hong was a lieutenant in the military academy and led the army to the expedition and was killed by the eunuch Jian Shuo; Bao Zhong helped Wang Kuang fight against Meng Jin and died in the chaos; Bao Tao fought fiercely in the Bian River and was trapped on the mountain and shot to death with random arrows; Now Erlang Bao Xin is gone to help him beg for the yellow scarf, and he can't even find the corpse... All the brothers of the Bao family are loyal to the big man... This world is really unfair, those ambitious lunatics are living well It's interesting, but it's this kind of loyal and righteous man who died... He suddenly remembered that more than ten years ago, Qiao Xuan had told Bao Xin, "If you are a general, you should not rely on your own bravery." This sentence was completely fulfilled today. Cao Cao suddenly leaned down and hugged the coffin: "Erlang, why didn't you come back when I called you? Why don't you remember what the old man told you! Speak up! Come out!" After shouting twice, he remembered that there was nothing in it. is a piece of wood.All the people present were horrified and thought he was crazy.Xiahoudun and Xi Zhicai quickly pulled him away from each other: "Meng De, what's wrong with you?" "I'm fine..." Cao Cao looked disappointed, "Bao Xin and I have known each other for 16 years, and we have never disagreed on a single thing. When we were in Luoyang, when we were in Bianshui, even when I was in Yuan Shao's account. When I was in the middle of the movie, he said, "The south of the big river" woke me up. Now that's it, what's the difference between cutting off my arm... Isn't this going to hurt me to death...Bao Xin... My good brother..." Unknowingly, tears flowed down, dripping on the thin coffin. "Report!" A small soldier ran over, "The Yellow Turban Bandits have arrived!" Chen Gong didn't want to worry Cao Cao again at this time, so he quickly grabbed it. "Give me the letter of war!" Cao Cao's sadness turned into anger. "General, this..." "Give it to me!" Cao Cao roared again.Chen Gong hesitated for a while, then handed it to Cao Cao.He wiped away his tears, and stared at the war letter with crooked handwriting in a daze, to see what kind of vicious language the yellow turban would use to insult him.But what is even more damning is that it was not a call to arms at all, but a "surrender" letter from the Yellow Turban Army to Cao Cao: 〖In the past in Jinan, the way to destroy the altar was to be with Mrs. Zhonghuang. It seems to know, but now I am even more confused.The Han line is over, and the Huang family is in charge.The great luck of the sky is beyond the ability of the emperor. 〗 This letter actually pointed out that when Cao Cao was Prime Minister of Jinan, he ordered the destruction of Zhu Xuhou and Liu Zhang's ancestral temples. This is in line with the teachings of the Yellow Turban Taiping Dao.Cao Cao yelled, threw the letter on the ground, and stepped on it again: "I will kill the person who comes!" "The two countries are fighting each other and don't kill each other." Chen Gong dissuaded. "Bah! Why are two countries fighting? They are beasts! They are evil thieves!" Cao Cao's eyes were bloodshot, and he shouted hysterically, "I will kill all these people and avenge Erlang! I will cut open the heart and use a knife Thousands of heads to pay homage to the dead." He hopped and cursed, his eyes gleamed fiercely, like a wounded wolf.All the people were shocked by this scene, and they all lowered their heads not daring to look at him again. After a long time, Xi Zhicai said in a low voice: "General, calm down, the yellow scarf thieves must not be killed." "What did you say? Say it again!" Cao Cao didn't care who he was, grabbed him by the neck and stretched out his hand to hit him. Xi Zhicai said without fear: ""Lv Lan" says, "Everyone who employs the people, justice is the most important thing, followed by rewards and punishments." The general still has to govern Yanzhou, and he must not kill too much." Cao Cao suppressed his anger and did not do anything, Xun Yu also came over to persuade: "General, if you want the people to return to their hearts, you can't kill the Yellow Turbans completely, because this will hinder your benevolence, don't you want to be equal to Gongsun Zan?" Is the cruel villain reduced to the first class? When we fight this battle well, we must make the rebellious people submit, so that we can win the hearts of the people in Yanzhou and then pursue the great cause of Han! Have you forgotten your lifelong ambitions?" Cao Cao slowly let go of Xi Zhicai, turned around and threw himself on the coffin, crying loudly: "Bao Xin... good brother... woo...I'm sorry, brother..." After crying heartbreakingly for a long time, a general suddenly walked up to Cao Cao and knelt down: "I am under the ban. It is General Baojun who served as Sima. I have followed him for many years. General Baojun told us many times before his death that the king You are righteous, wise and courageous. From now on, I am willing to follow the envoy and let you command and drive. Now that the enemy is in the face, I hope that the envoy will be very sad. The matter of suppressing the thief is important, and your body is important. If you are physically impaired, Baojun will not feel at ease under Jiuquan." These words really worked, Cao Cao wiped away his tears and said, "Okay...ok... bury the general, let's go and make arrangements for this battle." Xiahou Dun helped Yu Jin to lift him up, one left and one right, and comforted him.Cao Cao sighed, and took a special look at Yu Jin: Although this kid is a fighter, he is quite good at talking.