Uncle Emperor, I am really not Wolong Zhuge!

Chapter 147 Cao Cao attacks Hefei, Sun Quan fights against him
"When I take Jingzhou, the taxes in Jingzhou will be levied ten times! The people of Jingzhou have been slaves for generations and they will not be able to stand up for 50 years!"

Cao Cao's right hand holding the sword was trembling slightly, he was breathing heavily, and his originally red face turned pale with anger.

The five counselors all lowered their heads and sat quietly on the left and right sides, not daring to say a word or make a slight movement.

They originally hoped that if Fancheng ran out of food and grass, they would be in chaos.

At that time, the southern barbarian soldiers rebelled and invaded Jingzhou, or Wancheng sent out debaters to recruit Meng Huo with a large sum of money and made him the vanguard to conquer Jingzhou.

But he didn't expect that Zhuge Wende planned to capture Zhang Liao alive and robbed a large amount of food and grass.They even sent people to hunt down Fancheng and shoot Cao Xiu!

The elite Lightning Tiger Cavalry of the three armies collapsed!
What made Cao Cao even more intolerable was that the food and fodder used to finance Fancheng turned out to be the military rations he transferred from Wancheng to Hefei!
The enemy who could not coexist in life and death, the enemy who saw his food exhausted and disintegrated, actually regained his life because of the delivery of his own food and grass!
This made him furious!
But Cao Cao is not an ordinary person after all. After a period of venting, his mood gradually stabilized.He inserted the Heavenly Sword in his hand into the scabbard at his waist, slowly stepped on the broken wood chips on the ground, walked up the high steps, looked down at the five counselors, and remained silent without saying a word.

"Prime Minister..."

As the leader of the five great counselors, Xun You had to break the silence and ask questions after much hesitation.

"The 20 soldiers and horses that have been transferred from Hefei have been robbed by Guan Yu of Jiangxia. Now there is no food in the army in Hefei, and the general Zhang Liao has been captured and imprisoned in Xiangyang. Seeing that the morale of the army has fluctuated, chaos will soon occur. I still ask the Prime Minister to make a decision."

Cao Cao returned to his seat, but unfortunately he had already overturned the table and smashed it to pieces. At this moment, he could only hold his head with his hands and massage his temples.

After a while, Cao Cao raised his head, with a look of exhaustion on his face, and looked around at the five counselors: "What do you think of this?"

Cheng Yu was prepared and stood up first and said: "Wei Chen believes that Hefei's plan will not be abandoned just because Zhang Liao was captured. Otherwise, it will be defeated before the battle, which will be detrimental to the army. It will also fall on the court's pretext. . He said that the Prime Minister was disturbing the country and marching troops indiscriminately."

Zhong Yao stood up and echoed: "Zhang Liao was captured and the food and grass were robbed. It was all an accident. Now there are more than [-] soldiers and horses ordered to be recruited from various places to go to Hefei. These soldiers have not received the order from the Prime Minister to change the plan. , still in accordance with the established policy, continuously gathering from various places to gather fertilizer. If the Prime Minister suddenly changes and cancels the strategy of launching the Battle of Hefei, these local soldiers will return to various places and spread it, which will not be good for the reputation of the Prime Minister and even the court..."

Xun You cupped his hands and said: "It is easy to get a thousand armies, but it is hard to find a general. Wenyuan is trapped in Jingzhou and it is difficult to come back day and night. As for Hefei, it is necessary to select other talents to stabilize the morale of the army."

Cao Cao remained silent and listened to everyone's opinions, neither agreeing nor objecting.

After seeing the three people finish talking, Cao Cao looked at Chen Qun and Jia Xu: "What do you two think? Let's talk about it too!"

While Jia Xu was pondering, Chen Qun stood up.

"Prime Minister, in my opinion, it seems that it is not appropriate for Hefei to increase troops and launch a war..."

Jia Xu's expression changed drastically, and it was too late to stop him.Secretly, he complained endlessly for Chen Qun.

Cao Cao had no expression on his face and said lightly "Oh":
"Everyone thinks that the Battle of Hefei cannot be abandoned. Why do you think it is not feasible?"

Chen Qun bowed and said, "I and Jia Wenhe are in charge of the grain depot and know the most about the army's logistical supplies. Liu Ye raised grain in Jizhou, and after it arrived in Xuchang, Xun Lingjun distributed it to Wancheng. Now. It is the spring planting season, when the harvest is slow. The grain and grass are gradually decreasing every month. If the troops are divided into two places, not only will Hefei be without a general, but the grain and grass will also be stretched. It is better to concentrate the troops and attack Fancheng. As long as we capture Jingzhou and go down the river, Pushing Jiangdong flatly is also a good strategy."

Cao Cao said softly "Oh" and turned to look at Jia Xu: "You and Chen Changwen have the best friendship. Is what he said also your opinion?"

The voice was extremely cold and devoid of any emotion.

Jia Xu was trembling, stood up, bowed his hands, buried his head between his arms, and said in a trembling voice: "I have neglected my duty, I am guilty..."

"Although I am in charge of the grain depot, I don't know that the supplies in the rear have gradually weakened..."

Jia Xu, who had always been taciturn and kept his secrets to himself, now looked like a student who had been caught cheating, with a look of fear on his face, as if he was afraid that Cao Cao would behead him on an order.

"Wenhe..."

"you……"

Chen Qun saw that Jia Xu was uncharacteristically different, as if he had changed into a different person. He was thoughtful and shrewd, but he suddenly pretended to be stupid and deliberately acted clumsily.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside the door!
Cao Cao frowned. Although his mood had calmed down slightly at this moment, he was still in a terrible mood.Who dares to be so presumptuous as to disturb the tranquility of the Prime Minister's tent at this moment?

Suddenly, the door of the big tent was opened by someone, and then a man walked in covered in sweat.

This man is tall and not very old.The originally fair face has been covered by dust, and the brocade clothes are also torn in pieces. The whole person looks like a beggar!
The visitor hurriedly broke into the big tent, staggering a few times and almost falling.He hurriedly touched the tables on both sides of the counselor's seat, steadied himself, looked around, and his eyes suddenly fell on Chen Qun!
"Prime Minister!"

"Chen Qun is unfaithful and the seller seeks glory. He cannot be trusted!"

Chen Qun was shocked and looked carefully. The other counselors and Cao Cao also stared at the visitor with surprise.

Xiahou Mao!
The person coming is none other than Xia Houmao, who escaped from the Xiangyang Stone Prison!

"General Xiahou?"

"Weren't you captured by Jingzhou and imprisoned in Xiangyang?"

Chen Qun panicked and blurted out.

"Hmph! I really should be imprisoned in Xiangyang, and it would be better to die in Xiangyang!"

Xiahou Mao said with a sneer, while picking up a kettle from the counselor's seat and drinking a gulp of it.

After he escaped from the Xiangyang Stone Prison, he was fiercely pursued by the pursuers. He did not dare to stay and fled north desperately.Fortunately, he has had excellent nutrition since he was a child, and he has been in the military camp for many years. Although he has never gone into battle to kill the enemy, his body has been trained to be extremely strong.

So after traveling a long distance and enduring the torment, when I arrived at the camp, I felt thirsty and my throat felt as if it was smoking.

"I……"

"I……"

"Why did the young general say this?"

Chen Qun didn't understand how Xiahou Mao escaped from prison and returned to Wancheng, let alone why he started targeting him as soon as he arrived at the camp.

After Xia Houmao drank a pot of water, he threw the teapot heavily in front of Chen Qun. He turned around and came to the foot of the steps, knelt down and saluted: "Xia Houmao, my lord, pays homage to the Prime Minister! I have something to report, please allow me to attend the meeting." Make it clear." Cao Cao had a gloomy look on his face and said coldly: "I discussed national affairs with my advisers. You broke into the Chinese army's tent and disrupted the meeting. It is a capital crime! I will allow you to defend yourself. If what you say is unreasonable, you are guilty of the second crime. And punished!"

When Xia Houmao was in the Xiangyang Stone Prison, he had firmly memorized every word of the private discussion between the two arrested prisoners in the stone prison next door. On the way to escape and on the way back to the camp, he also thought about it repeatedly and organized language exercises. I have read it many times, now I am decisive, and there is no need to hesitate for a moment.

Xia Houmao suddenly turned around, pointed at Chen Qungao and said: "He went to Jiangdong on the order of the prime minister, but he was afraid of Zhou Yu. In order to save his life, he leaked military information to Zhou Yu. He also cooperated with Zhou Yu and deliberately attracted Zhang Liao's ships. Zhang Liao was captured because of this. He did it all by himself!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the audience was shocked. Even Cao Cao couldn't help but change his color and looked at Chen Qun unconsciously.

Chen Qun suffered a sudden change, his face turned pale, and he retorted tremblingly: "Young General... you... you are so slanderous!"

"How could I... betray the Prime Minister for the sake of my personal safety... in vain to protect the Gu family!"

"General Zhang Liao... I... met by chance..."

Xia Houmao ignored Chen Qun and continued: "You and Zhou Yu conspired to lead Zhang Liao's warships into the waters of Guan Yu in Jiangxia. The intention was to make Guan Yu and Zhang Liao fight each other and lose both sides. Zhou Yu took the opportunity to send troops in the name of aiding Guan Yu. Occupy Jiangxia. But you didn’t expect that although Zhang Liao’s ships were many, most of them were carrying food instead of soldiers and horses!”

"After you were captured by Guan Yu, you surrendered at all costs, and then told the truth about our Wancheng soldiers and horses, begging for your life! Although you escaped, the entourage following you was detained by Guan Yu. As evidence to restrain you! What else do you have to say!"

Chen Qun was stunned and speechless by what he said.For a moment, I just felt that my mind was full of mush. I knew that I had been wronged, and that every word Xiahou Mao said was false, but I didn't know where to refute it to clear myself of the grievances.

"My lord, what are you going to do with such a traitorous person who is afraid of death? How about beheading him as a warning to others?"

Xiahou Mao turned around and bowed, then bowed to Cao Cao and said.

"Prime Minister, I am wronged!"

Only then did Chen Qun realize that he was clumsy with his mouth and had poor ability to adapt to situations. He had become completely passive in the conversation with Xia Houmao!
"Prime Minister, since the Major General believes that I surrendered to Zhou Yu and obeyed Guan Yu, and also said that he has witnesses, please ask the Major General to bring out witnesses!"

Before Chen Qun finished speaking, Jia Xu, who was sitting silently by the side, couldn't help but close his eyes again, unable to bear to look directly at his old friend.

Xia Houmao sneered: "You clearly know that I will never return to Xiangyang, but you asked me to bring out the witnesses of your betrayal. Isn't it teasing the prime minister's shortcomings? Besides, those two witnesses were killed by Jingzhou soldiers on their way out of prison. Now, There is no proof, so you can deny it to the end!"

Xiahou Mao was born into a family of generals, but he had never faced an enemy. He originally planned to go to Hefei, where he could fully display what he had learned and develop his ambitions.As a result, before arriving in Hefei, he became Guan Yu's prisoner halfway and was sent to Xiangyang for detention. You can imagine the anger and suffocation.

Ever since he heard the news of Chen Qun's betrayal, he had made up his mind that as long as he found out about Chen Qun's cancer, he would be able to make a great contribution and eliminate tens of thousands of elite soldiers.After all, Chen Qun was one of the five great counselors and a famous literary figure in the dynasty. His status in both the court and the Prime Minister's Palace was extraordinary!
"presumptuous!"

Xiahou Mao was about to slow down and launch a new round of offensive against Chen Qun.Suddenly I heard a shout behind me!
"Uncle...nephew..."

Xia Houmao turned around and saw Cao Cao looking at him with an angry look on his face. He was so frightened that his knees weakened and he knelt on the ground with a thud. The arrogance he had when facing Chen Qun instantly disappeared without a trace.

"You are so brave!"

"Changwen is an official of the imperial court, and he is a loyal minister who was personally promoted by Lonely. How dare you humiliate and slander wantonly in public!"

"Uncle, my nephew heard it with his own ears and saw it with his own eyes. How can it be false? It was just those two witnesses... The child was so eager to escape that he left them behind and was slaughtered by the Jingzhou soldiers..."

Before Xia Houmao came here, he originally thought about how brave he was, how he fought hard, how he took the road, how he showed his power, how many Jingzhou soldiers he killed, etc., to praise himself.

Unexpectedly, under Cao Cao's majesty and intimidation, the rhetoric he had prepared suddenly disappeared. In panic, he had no choice but to confess the truth.

"Since there is no evidence, it is a false accusation! Come on, push him out and kill him!"

Two swordsmen broke in outside the door and held Xiahou Mao on his left and right sides, but they did not go straight out.

How could they not have any knowledge after following Cao Cao for a long time?As soon as he leaves the door of the Chinese Army Hall, Xiahou Mao will undoubtedly die!
But how could they dare to kill Xiahou Mao?That is the prime minister's future son-in-law!

Jia Xu hurriedly looked at Chen Qun. Chen Qun reacted sharply. He took two steps forward, came to the foot of the steps, and knelt down on the ground: "Young general, you are not always good at things, and it is possible for you to be deceived and used by others. No matter what, young general, He is also dedicated to serving the public and has no selfish motives. He begs the Prime Minister to forgive his sins. Waiting for the day when the matter will be revealed, he will give justice to the humble ministers and the young general."

Xia Houmao was being held by two swordsmen and axemen, and he yelled: "Shameless old thief, hypocritical benevolence and righteousness, how can I accept your favor!"

Cao Cao had no intention of killing him. At this moment, he was just walking down the slope. He shouted angrily: "Take him down and imprison him! No one can let him out without my order!"

"Here!"

The two swordsmen and axemen took the order, took Xiahou Mao out of the tent, and went to a suitable place to place Xiahou Mao under house arrest.

When Cao Cao saw Xiahou Mao being taken away, he slowly turned around and said to Chen Qun in a warm voice: "You are Gu's important minister, how can Gu doubt you? If you hadn't begged for mercy, I would have killed him to set an example to others." !”

Chen Qun was about to kneel down and thank Cao Cao when he suddenly heard Cao Cao change his subject. He stared into his eyes and asked calmly: "Hefei has selected a general to replace Zhang Liao. What do you think?"

Chen Qun was startled and then understood.He originally did not agree with Hefei launching a war, but since the prime minister asked this question, his intention was obvious. Let's see if he still insists on his opinion!

"He first surrendered to Zhou Yu and revealed the details of Wancheng in order to survive. After being captured by Guan Yu in Jiangxia, he betrayed the prime minister again and leaked military plans in order to survive!"

Xiahou Mao's words just now rang in his mind again, echoing repeatedly and unable to stop.

"Our army is also short of food and grass. Jiangdong and Jingzhou shouldn't know that at this time, right?"

Cao Cao continued to ask.

Did the Prime Minister really think that I told Zhou Yu and Guan Yu the secrets of the general in order to save my life?

Chen Qun was trembling, his face was pale, and he said in a trembling voice: "In my opinion... Xu Huang is the leader, and General Xiahou Mao is the assistant, we can go to Hefei..."

Cao Cao laughed loudly, stroking his palms and said, "The meaning of the long article coincides with my plan!"

"Do they think that without Zhang Liao and without food and grass, their arms are broken and they can no longer do anything?"

"Gupian must do the opposite. Let them see the great courage of fighting on both sides and winning both sides!"

(End of this chapter)