Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3488 The Answer Under the Water

Zhen Zhen was still a little dazed until he left Cui Yan's manor. He had always kept his mouth shut, so he would not admit what Cui Yan said, but he was not sure whether Cui Yan had figured out the truth.

Perhaps it is an unintentional word, but it may lead to a huge change...

Even in later times, if there were no traces left on the Internet, it would not be easy to trace the origin of a rumor. With the advent of large-scale Internet servers, all traces are on the servers, and when the IP addresses are compared, sometimes it is not a question of whether to check or not, but whether you want to.

It is certainly difficult for the big man to investigate the rumors now.

Of course, Zhen Zhen didn't do such things personally, but if someone really wanted to investigate, it might be him who would be blamed.

Zhen Zhen would never admit that he was the one who said "cede Hebei", but at the moment, this did not seem to be the focus, but the attitude shown by Cui Yan.

This is very subtle...

Of course, it can also be assumed that Cui Yan became nervous after learning about the rumor.

As for why Cui Yan was nervous and specifically asked Zhen Zhen to meet him, Cui Yan didn't say anything.

But in fact, there are some things that cannot be said completely.

And sometimes, we can’t say it all.

At this critical juncture, the Zhen family sent him here, of course not only for the gold and silver, but also to investigate the changes in people's hearts in Yingchuan, Yuzhou.

Ever since the Zhen family secretly cooperated with Wei Yan, joining the Cavalry Army gradually became the mainstream of the Zhen family.

The failure of the Yuan family dealt a heavy blow to the Zhen family, almost causing them to fall from a prominent family in Jizhou to the bottom of the valley. There was no place for the Zhen family in the officialdom, and even the local officials began to boss the Zhen family around, always thinking about cutting a piece of meat from the Zhen family.

That was the most dangerous period for the Zhen family.

But fortunately, all this darkness will eventually pass.

However, before the light, there will always be more darkness.

In terms of ambition, Zhen Zhen naturally wanted to be a local official who was in charge of a region and was second only to the emperor. However, there were too many people who were more talented than him, so it was not his turn and there was no place for him. He was just a consul of a caravan now, but that did not mean he would always be a consul of a caravan.

However, there were always some problems with the way the Zhen family handled Zhen Mi back then, and it has now brought some bad effects.

Cao Cao was powerful back then, and Fei Qian did not have the reputation he has today, so it was understandable that the Zhen family, from top to bottom, was more inclined towards Cao Cao. Who could have imagined such a change today?

With the support of Zhen Mi, the Zhen family did improve a lot. However, due to the influence of how Zhen dealt with Zhen Mi back then, the Zhen family's descendants in Jizhou today might not be so easily accepted if they wanted to take the initiative to approach them again.

If possible, Zhen Zhenshi would prefer to go to Guanzhong...

After all, I heard that Guanzhong’s attitude towards merchants is more friendly than that in Shandong. The most important point is that as a merchant, you can also hold an official position in Guanzhong!

Officials who serve as businessmen!

Not an official who works part-time as a businessman!
This might be the preferential treatment given to Zhen Mi by the cavalry, but what does it matter? Zhen Zhen sometimes thought that he really wished he could be as beautiful as a flower, so that he could have more contact with the cavalry. Unfortunately, every time he looked in the mirror, he could only sigh.

Shandong is different from Guanzhong. His status prevented him from making further progress in the officialdom. This caravan consul might be glorious in the eyes of ordinary people, but he himself knew how illusory this glory was.

The problems of Dahan Shandong are complicated, long-standing and incurable. Such a patient may die at any time, but because the time of accompanying him is so long, many people are reluctant to let him go.

However, even if you are not a patient, a normal person will die sooner or later.

It was the time and fate that the Han Dynasty had Emperor Guangwu, and the name of Han continued for nearly two hundred years. But Zhen Zhen guessed how reluctant the Emperor Guangwu was to pay homage to the Liu family ancestors in Chang'an!

Because this Liu is not that Liu!

So what now?
Whether his surname is Cao or Fei, it is obvious that he will no longer be surnamed Liu.

Are you reluctant?

A little bit, but Zhen Zhen felt more excited in his heart!

Change the world!
Zhen Zhen looked up at the sky, looking at the sun behind the thick clouds, and an inexplicable look appeared on his face.

……

……

Since Dong Zhao's poor command and Sima Yi's breakthrough of Hengshan Rock, the Zhongtiao Mountain camp completely collapsed.

The soldiers of Cao's army simply abandoned their respective camps and fled madly towards Heluo.

During the attack on the Zhongtiao Mountain camp, Sima Yi successfully broke through the Huangshan Valley and penetrated the Hengshan Rock, directly attacking the core inner circle of Cao's army. He undoubtedly reaped the greatest fruit of this battle. Xu Chu, who had worked hard to move from the eastern line to the central line and then tried to break through from the central line, was naturally a little disappointed.

But Xu Chu soon regained his spirits. After a day and night of rest, he once again served as the vanguard and led his troops to clear out the remaining troops of Cao's army in Zhongtiao Mountain.

Cao's army was built on the mountainside of Zhongtiao Mountain and ran through the entire Zhongtiao Mountain along the mountain road. Although Dong Zhao retreated, Cao's army's ferry camp still remained at Huangshipo on the north bank of the river.

The first thing Xu Chu had to attack was the ferry camp, and then he could contact Pang Tong and others in Tongguan more conveniently.

However, it is obvious that the camp at the ferry cannot stop the cavalry for long.

Starting from Hedong, they defeated Cao's army all the way from Anyi to Zhongtiao. There were certainly casualties in several battles along the way, but the tempering of war undoubtedly eliminated the dross and retained the essence. Those who were careless, reckless, or unlucky in the battle would experience the tempering of life and death in repeated forging, and those who remained would naturally become fine steel.

These soldiers, who had a vague momentum at the beginning, have gradually developed a bit of military spirit. The "Long Victory for the Cavalry" they shout is no longer just a slogan, but they really believe that they will win.

The advantage of being a professional soldier is that they regard fighting as a way to demonstrate their self-worth, rather than being forced into it, or doing it temporarily as a helpless transition before having to go home and farm. So when these hussars think of fighting, it is like having a fire in their hearts that even the coldest wind cannot ignite or cool them down.

Fight and return home with honor or die heroically.

When the soldiers saw the clerks in the army counting the names of the soldiers again and again according to the roster while they were resting, confirming the injuries, deaths in battle, etc., and checking the merits and informing them of the gains, the hussars would naturally face the deaths and injuries in the war calmly.

Their requirements have never been high.

I just want to die as a "human being" instead of becoming a number that politicians say is sacrificed.

If in previous battles, some people responded passively, facing the orders given, swords, guns and death instinctively, then now the vast majority of these hussars are longing for the next fight and the next chance to gain merit.

At the same time, in this constant battle, the skills that were originally trained have slowly been integrated into their blood and become a part of their instincts. The team has a higher coordination efficiency. Everyone only needs to do their best to do their part, and the rest, the companions will naturally do it!
On this winter morning, Xu Chu stroked the hilt of his sword and squinted at the military camp at the ferry crossing at the foot of the mountain.

The Cao army camp at the ferry seemed to have discovered the arrival of Xu Chu and others. On the camp wall, Cao army soldiers were running around in panic...

"General!" The general at the side stepped forward and asked, "How should we attack?"

Xu Chu looked at the military camp, then looked around, thought for a moment and said, "How do you think we should attack?"

The military commander said, "This military camp has only two exits and six sentry towers... Let's just charge in and blow up the camp gate as quickly as possible! These guys will surely be scattered! Those who dare to resist will be killed on the spot, and then we will rush straight to the enemy's floating bridge!"

Junhou spoke very seriously, but simply, as if he was buying meat in the market.

Just this piece, right here, cut it off.

Xu Chu smiled and said, "This plan is good, but you forgot one thing. Cao's army set up so many traps in Zhongtiao Mountain. Do you think they won't set up traps here?"

The military marquis was stunned, "General, what should we do? Send people to investigate first?"

Xu Chu shook his head, "No need. Just fight. Just be careful!"

Xu Chu immediately divided the team. One team came down the mountain directly and attacked Cao's ferry along the mountain road. The other team was half a step slower and seemed to be going around behind Cao's military camp.

The soldiers of Cao's army camp at the ferry shouted loudly and started shooting arrows at the cavalry from a distance.

The arrow fell to the ground crookedly.

The first to approach Cao's military camp were the sword and shield soldiers, who soon discovered different traces of dirt in front of Cao's camp, and then blew a copper whistle to sound the alarm.

At the sound of the bronze whistle, the following soldiers immediately stopped and began to turn to the flank of Cao's military camp.

The soldiers in Cao's army camp at the ferry became more and more panicked.

"Oh no! They found the trap!" "It's over! All our efforts were in vain!"

"They went west!"

"The east! The east is coming up too!"

"Ahhhh..."

The Cao army sentry who was observing and sounding the alarm on the watchtower was shot down by Xu Chu's arrow and fell down with a scream.

Since it was certain that there was a trap near the gate of Cao's military camp at the ferry, the hussars simply did not go through the gate, but instead broke through the wooden camp wall directly from the flank!
A simply dug trench, even one that brought in water from a large river, could not stop the advance of the Hussars.

On the wall of the village, Cao's soldiers tried to show their heads and shoot at the Hussars who built simple steps to cross the trench, but they were shot to death by the Hussars' bows and arrows who had already set the shooting angle.

The Cao army soldiers were immediately in trouble.

If they rushed out to fight the Hussars, not only would the traps at the entrance to the camp become meaningless, but even the camp walls would not be able to protect them. If they exchanged fire with the Hussars' archers, the camp walls would probably collapse soon!

The Cao army guarding the military academy inside the village wall could only wave the double rabbit flag frantically...

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Does Cao's army have ambushes?"

Xu Chu sneered, handed the bow to his guard, and then drew his sword.

Chiseling open the small camp built by Cao Jun at the ferry was like prying open a small shell or smashing a small crab. Xu Chu was not very interested. The key point was that looking at the camp at the ferry, it didn't look like there were any Cao Jun soldiers who were good at fighting, so Xu Chu focused his attention on the periphery.

On the south side of Zhongtiao Mountain, due to glacial cutting in ancient times and erosion by rain over the years, there are many gullies in the southward direction from Zhongtiao Mountain.

Cao's reinforcements were hidden in these ditches.

The Cao army in the Zhongtiao Mountain camp was defeated and fled, and the Cao army garrisons in the periphery were naturally in a state of panic.

However, for these Cao army soldiers, even if they wanted to escape, they had to cross the pontoon bridge. The Central Guards stationed at the pontoon bridge were not so easy to talk to. Perhaps those with status could cross the river with a large crowd of people, but these shrimp soldiers and crab generals would not be treated so well.

Unless you're escaping...

But there is nowhere to go out on the south side of Zhongtiao Mountain. We can't just jump into the river and float downstream, right?
They couldn't escape, but they didn't dare to surrender either. After all, the soldiers who had been defeated in the Zhongtiao Mountain camp said that the Hussars ate human flesh and drank human blood!

If we surrender, will we become food for the Hussars?
Although Cao's army also ate some unorthodox meat, that was not the norm, and they were all "prepared" to some extent and eaten raw...

During this hesitation, the ambushing reinforcements saw the military camp at the ferry raising the double rabbit flag, and subconsciously rushed out from their hiding places.

Cao’s army didn’t want reinforcements coming, but what could they do, since the military order was so?
As a result, he ran into Xu Chu not long after rushing out!

……

……

When Xu Chu was killing people in the southern foothills of Zhongtiao Mountain, Fei Qian did not go to check the battle situation, but went to a hillside in Zhongtiao Mountain.

The clouds were so thick that there was little sunlight even during the day.

On the hillside, under a few pine and cypress trees, there is a solitary grave.

Guo Jia's tomb.

In this world, Fei Qian is alone.

His loneliness is inner, a kind of loneliness that transcends this world. There are only a handful of people who can understand Fei Qian a little, or even guess part of his thoughts.

Guo Jia is one of them.

Fei Qian reached out, took the wine bag of kumis from the guard beside him, and poured it in front of Guo Jia's grave with his own hands.

"The wine is not good, please forgive me..." Fei Qian said softly, "Next time I come, I will bring you some good wine... Guanzhong now has several new kinds of wine..."

The wine mixed with the mud and sand, making a sizzling sound, just like a drunkard smacking his lips.

The guards stepped aside, leaving space for Fei Qian.

Fei Qian was silent for a long time before he spoke slowly.

"then……"

Fei Qian recalled the events of his early years, "When I arrived in Yingchuan, the first person I thought of was not someone else, but you..."

"In Yingchuan, there are many people with extensive knowledge and talents, but not many people can truly understand the world..."

"I originally wanted to escape from the troubled times and stay away from the flames of war..."

"But later I found that there are many problems that cannot be avoided..."

Fei Qian spoke slowly, as if he was confiding to Guo Jia.

"Do you know, this great Han... After thousands of years, the Chinese still call themselves Han people... the great Han..."

"It was clearly a very good start, but it was ruined by some people's intrigues... Oh, there is no such word yet... But I also know that you can understand..."

"Fengxiao, do you think these people are smart?"

Fei Qian's sigh did not receive any response.

On the hillside, a cold wind blew, pulling at the branches of the pine and cypress trees, trying to shake off the few leaves they had, but the pine and cypress trees stubbornly clung to the remaining leaves, not giving the cold wind any chance.

"I heard that when Cao Mengde sent out his troops, you told him that there was a chance of victory in attacking Guanzhong..." Fei Qian smiled, "When I first heard it, I thought your chance of victory was somewhat false, but now I think about it... You didn't do it on purpose, did you?"

Before Cao Cao's march, whether it was ten wins and ten losses, or seven wins and seven losses, the news spread in Shandong. Perhaps it was to boost morale, or to win over the hearts of the people, or perhaps for some other purpose. In any case, Fei Qian heard the news soon after and knew Guo Jia's argument on the war.

At first, Fei Qian did think that Guo Jia's remarks were somewhat ridiculous.

But now, Fei Qian has a new understanding of Guo Jia's arguments and thought of another possibility...

Because Fei Qian has accumulated thousands of years of information, when facing these big men, he can't help but have a condescending attitude, as if I have guessed what you will do. However, this sometimes makes Fei Qian unconsciously fall into arrogance, and even if Fei Qian often reminds himself, it is difficult to avoid it.

If Guo Jia had not made these "must win" remarks, would Shandong have attacked Guanzhong?

Maybe, but there is also a high chance that it won't come.

Then, there is an answer vaguely floating under the water...

Guo Jia, as the top think tank of the Han Dynasty, could he really not see clearly the outcome of the battles in Guanzhong and Shandong? Was he just trying to please Cao Cao by saying something to deceive himself and Cao Cao?

If it was a deception, then Guo Jia could not be called a top think tank. Deceiving oneself and others is not what a wise man should do.

Judging from various signs, Guo Jia is not such a person. Just like when he suggested Cao Cao to fight against Yuan Shao, he said on the surface that it was not scary to fight against Yuan Shao, but then he changed the subject and said, "Let's go to the wild first and earn some equipment..."

But this time, there was no ambiguity at all, and he came directly to the line.

So now, Fei Qian feels that there should be another explanation for what Guo Jia did.

Moreover, only this explanation can make Fei Qian feel that Guo Jia is still the same Guo Jia.

Guo Jia, who is known for his cleverness.

After a long time, Fei Qian lowered his head slightly and cupped his hands.

"Then it will be as you wish..." Fei Qian sighed softly, "After this battle, the Han Dynasty...will be settled..."

The sunlight shines through the thick clouds, falls on the hillside, and illuminates a corner of the pine and cypress trees, showing a hint of green in the winter.

(End of this chapter)