Chapter 35 Beijing Shock

One night at the end of July in the first year of Guangxi (189 A.D.), half of the sky was illuminated red by the flames soaring into the sky.The source of the fire is Mengjin in the northeast of Luoyang, which is one of the Eight Passes, the most important crossing of the Yellow River, and it is only separated from Luoyang City by Mount Mang, so close at hand! The capital suddenly fell into chaos, and the officials and people were at a loss.Some timid officials thought there was a rebellion, so they packed up their things overnight and prepared to abandon their officials and return home.Everyone on the street lowered their heads and went back and forth worried. They seemed to have a premonition that a catastrophe was coming.

Because the matter was urgent, Cao Cao didn't mention He Jin's plan to anyone when he returned home.As a result, Mengjin became angry, and the family was in chaos.Old Cao Song went to Louyi on a business trip to inquire about it, but if he didn't know Louyi, he went in, and was confused after scanning it. "My lord, Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou, has turned against him. I heard that the court appointed him Captain Wumeng. He didn't want to take up the post, so he brought a hundred thousand troops from Bingzhou to kill him..." "How many soldiers?" Cao Song interrupted, "How can there be 100,000 armored troops in Bingzhou?"

Lou Yi knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "I can't say exactly how much. Some people on the street said 100,000, and some said 200,000. I don't think 200,000 is very credible, so I said..." "One hundred thousand is not credible!" Cao Song stomped on his crutches and glared at him, "Then what?" "They crossed the river and set Mengjindu on fire. I heard that they wanted to enter the capital and establish themselves as emperor. They wanted to change the dynasty!" "Nonsense!" Cao Song was not confused, "Is he Ding Jianyang a fool? If he wants to rebel, he should go straight to Luoyang. If a forced surprise attack is not possible, is he stupid enough to set fire to Mengjin? Isn't this telling everyone to rebel?"

Lou Yi didn't understand either, and murmured, "Everyone on the street is saying this, and I don't know if it's true or not." "I can't believe these words, Meng Jin is so close to Luoyang, if he really turned his back on him, he would have killed his mother in Duting by now." Cao Song sighed, turned to look at his son, "Meng De, have you received the battle report? " Cao Cao's heart was in his throat, and he was afraid that his father would ask him something, so he teased: "No, everything is fine." "Damn it! Could it be that the soldiers guarding the pass have escaped? It's outrageous. The eighth pass is the most important point of defense. How can you be so negligent and let such an important..." Cao Song felt that something was wrong: so How could the imperial court and the shogunate be ignorant of the important military situation?He stared at his son fiercely and shouted, "No! Tell me the truth, what's going on?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it anymore, Cao Cao sent Lou Yi away and told Yuan Shao's plan in detail.Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, his father spat on his face: "Bah! You useless bastards!" Cao Cao didn't even dare to wipe his face, and fell to his knees in panic. "Are you dumb? What did you do when that little bastard Yuan Shao came up with this idea! Let them mess around? What is he doing? He dares to agree to such a bad idea, and you still slap them!" Cao Song was so angry that he couldn't choose what to say, "I resigned all the officials for you, so you just got rid of the eunuchs? Ding Jianyang is also a fool who has no brains. He really listened to your nonsense and burned Meng Jin Yes. Who the hell thought this was?"

"No one suggested burning Mengjin. They said it was a fire to intimidate each other. I am afraid that Ding Jianyang did not do enough to restrain his subordinates and caused the fire." "Hmph! The restraint is not effective before arriving in the capital. What will it be like when you arrive in the capital? Don't you think about it? You are so fucking incompetent. They are all a bunch of men in their thirties. Why do you still do this?" What a fool!" Cao Song raised his crutches and patted his son's buttocks, "Get out! Get out! Get out! Go to the shogunate."

"do what?" "Hurry up and call He Jin to withdraw the troops. Enough is enough, don't continue to make trouble. If a large group of people comes to Luoyang, the world will be in chaos! He Jin can deceive people, but not heaven, and Ding Jianyang is leading the Huns, Tu Ge, what should we do if we can’t restrain ourselves after passing through Duting? Don’t forget, Henan is not peaceful, and Yu Fuluo is bringing a group of Huns with him! Borrowing troops cannot be borrowed, and when Ding Yuan comes, they will The two soldiers will fight one family all the way. Isn’t it the end of the Han Dynasty? You said just now that there is Dong Zhuo, that dog doesn’t pay attention to him. What do you provoke him? It's even more lively! Your little miscellaneous soldiers can't hold back at all."

"This, this..." Cao Cao was also a little flustered, he had never considered these issues deeply. "What are you dawdling about? Go! You useless things." Cao Cao left the house with a look of gloom on his face, and rushed to the General's Mansion holding his breath.When I arrived at the door, I saw Cui Jun arriving on horseback, and he was also very angry.Both of them came for the same purpose, and the gate guards saw that their expressions were not straight, so they let them in without even daring to say hello. The two rushed to the hall and saw He Jin and Yuan Shao sitting together talking and laughing, they didn't seem to be in a hurry.

Cao Cao became angry for no reason: "You guys stay here! What's going on with Meng Jin?" Yuan Shao looked at him and said with a smile, "Meng De, don't worry, last night Ding Yuan led 3,000 people across the river, and in order to frighten the eunuchs, he just set a fire in Mengjin." "Light a fire... just pay it back?" Cao Cao became more and more angry as he listened, "Mengjin is the land of eight passes, how can it be said to be burned? This is not only to deter the eunuchs, but the whole city of Luoyang is shaking! You go up now Take a look around the street, the gold market and the horse market are all gone.”

"This is only temporary." Yuan Shao persuaded, "When Ding Yuan Qing's side Shangshu arrives, everyone will settle down. Everything is fine and there is no trouble." "What's the matter? I'll tell my dad." Yuan Shao frowned: "How can you leak the secret?" "Is this still a leak?" Cao Cao looked at him contemptuously, "My father will understand this trivial matter once he guesses it." "My father is too." Cui Jun complained, "This method can't deceive anyone at all! If you really want to see the king's side, you will have already fought a war by now. This is a fake."

He Jin also felt that something was wrong, and looked at Yuan Shao: "At first, this will not hinder anything, right?" "Ouch! It was my negligence." Yuan Shao clicked his tongue repeatedly, "These soldiers and horses should not be notified at the same time. If there is something first, there will be no momentum. It would be fine if we planned in advance, notifying in advance when the far ones are far away, and the last ones that are near. .” "You're smart now, what were you doing!" Cui Jun sat down. "I think it's time to withdraw the troops while the chaos is not getting bigger." Cao Cao suggested, "Go back where you should go, don't let them make a fuss. I didn't agree with this method at first. Those barbarian soldiers in Dingyuan really did What should I do with Duting?" "What kind of trouble can 3,000 people cause? Our battalions will be flattened as soon as we charge." Yuan Shao dismissively said, "Besides, the general's letter didn't ask him to go to Beijing. Would he dare to come here for no reason? Everyone Don't panic, this is temporary, and it will be easy to deal with when people from all walks of life start to make trouble." Cao Cao and Cui Jun looked at each other, and persuaded softly: "At first, let's stop taking risks, and tell them to disperse." "No, the general's handbook has already been circulated, so what's the matter now? The matter has come to this point, and there will be no change." Yuan Shao cupped his hands and said, "Please go to the palace quickly to inquire about the news, maybe the queen mother has died. Changed my mind." "Okay, okay! I'm going to the palace to ask the Queen Mother for instructions. My sister wants to save face. She may be smart now, and I'll be fine if I try to persuade you." He Jin couldn't help but be overjoyed. Yuan Shao said again: "One more thing, you'd better send someone to talk to General Cheqi, don't tell him to protect those eunuchs, he has caused enough troubles. You two brothers reconcile, and we will work together in the future Bingzheng, don't make trouble with eunuchs." "Yes yes yes." I don't know who is the general, but He Jin seems to be Yuan Shao's subordinate at the moment.Seeing him go back to the back hall to change clothes, Yuan Shao walked up to Cao Cao and said, "Meng De and Yuan Ping, don't worry. Since we are planning with He Jin, let's follow his temper. Go back and persuade him." Advise the two old people, please don't panic, this matter must not be publicized, it will pass soon. In a few days, the call for action will come from various places, and they will be asked to take the lead in proposing the impeachment of eunuchs in Shangshu !" "My father has already resigned, so why bother?" Cao Cao flicked his sleeves. Cui Jun also said angrily: "If you continue to make trouble like this, my father will soon resign." Yuan Shao made a deep bow to the two of them: "You two virtuous brothers! I, Yuan Shao, beg you. We have known each other for many years. For the sake of the imperial court and our country, please help Brother Yu this time. At most It's just a month's work, and everything will be fine. We still have bigger things to do..." The two were helpless, at this moment, what else could they say? When Cao Cao returned home, his father had already started packing up the gold and silver.He hastily knelt down in front of Cao Song, kowtowed and said, "My child is incompetent, I can't restore the hearts of He Jin and Yuan Shao." Cao Song didn't criticize him any more, and sighed, "This is what we call a disaster that cannot be avoided!" "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, my child. I watched with cold eyes. Na Ding Yuan was restrained in staying still. This matter may not cause trouble." "There may not be troubles, but military affairs cannot be relied on by chance." Cao Song looked at his son, feeling pitiful and angry, "Whether it is a blessing or a disaster, I don't want to take any more risks. I'd better go back to my hometown and hide." Cao Cao wanted to stop him but couldn't say it out loud. "Ah, my father is already at this age. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to come to Luoyang after this time. From now on, you have to take care of yourself. In terms of talent and knowledge, Dad can trust you. But you can't be self-righteous, this is what you grew up with A problem that can’t be corrected.” Cao Song’s face was filled with worry, “Actually, you’re already in your thirties, so it’s not up to me, an old coffin, to teach you a lesson.” "No. What Dad said is right, my child will remember your lesson." "Ah...Fan Ling and Xu Xiangzhen are mediocre people, and none of them have a son like me!" Cao Song smiled gratifiedly, "But I have to tell you, no matter when, you must never give up your military power! Whoever is in power, you have the military power, you have the command, and you can go forward or backward. If someone outside the court wants to take your military power, you have to get out quickly." "The child understands." "There's nothing to say. Go see your wife and children. You'd better go with me." Cao Cao quickly turned into the back hall, and saw that Mrs. Bian was still holding Pi'er as if nothing had happened. "Wife, why don't you pack up your things and return home with your father?" "Hush... Keep your voice down, our son is asleep." Bian smiled sweetly, "If you don't leave, why should I leave?" Cao Cao also laughed, stroked her temples and said, "Now Luoyang is turbulent, so go back and avoid it for now, and come back when the wind calms down." Unexpectedly, Mrs. Bian covered her mouth and giggled. "why are you laughing?" Mrs. Bian poked him on the forehead: "I laugh at you for being a big man with too little knowledge. The capital is under our feet. If this place is really in chaos, won't the whole world be in chaos? Where else can you hide then?" Cao Cao couldn't help sighing: "Yes...the world is in chaos and there is nowhere to hide." Mrs. Bian smiled, but crystal tears flashed from the corners of her eyes: "It's dangerous here, but at least the situation is clear, and good and bad can be seen. If you go back to Qiao County, your eyes will be darkened, and you won't know anything. How can I treat you?" Can you rest assured? Husband, I have been looking forward to you in Qiao County for so many years, and now we are finally together, and I can't be separated from you anymore..." She plunged into her husband's arms. "If you don't leave, then don't leave... Tell Huan'er to go back with Dad." "Sister Huan'er won't leave either. You've already taken her as a concubine. What did she say when she went back to see A Bing?" When she said this, Bian's eyes showed complaints. Cao Cao patted her on the shoulder: "If you don't want to leave, forget it. Our family lives and dies together!" His voice was a little loud, and little Cao Pi woke up with fright, and started to cry. "Look at you, you scared my son to tears." Mrs. Bian scolded him, patted her son and coaxed, "Pi'er, Pi'er, go to bed, mother, I will sing nursery rhymes for you...Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, Qian Take ten thousand rides to Beimang..." Cao Cao saw that Mrs. Ding coaxed a lot of children, and Mrs. Bian, the mother, only gave birth to this one child, and she was not very skilled in coaxing the child, so she said with a smile: "Is it okay to leave it to his nanny?" Is it done?" Mrs. Bian pouted: "I quit! I packed up my things and ran away." Cao Cao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and hugged his son, "Let me coax him!" "A gentleman embraces grandchildren but not children." "I'm not a gentleman, I'm a villain who specializes in stealing singers." "Fuck you!" Mrs. Bian spat at him, "I'd better sing a ballad to my son... Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, ride a thousand rides to Beiman..." "What song are you talking about?" "Cough! His nanny taught it, and it is said that the children in the streets and alleys of Luoyang are singing this song now... Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, ride thousands of rides to Beiman..." Cao Cao shook the child, the more he listened to the song, the more ominous he felt.