Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 373 Cao Cao’s personal soldiers, their lives are worthless!
"Come on, all of you! I don't believe they won't be exhausted!"

Cao Cao roared that things had come to this point and they had to wait for Dian Wei to recover before they could attack Guan Yu and Zhao Yun in one fell swoop. He knew that the gap between his generals and Liu Bei's was too big, and it was a gap that could not be made up by numbers alone.

"Kill them all, no matter the cost!"

Cao Cao seemed to be crazy, completely losing his previous calmness. Think about it, your lifelong enemy suddenly becomes the king of eight states, anyone would go crazy.

Although Gu Rubing originally controlled eight states, it was not orthodox after all and was not recognized by the Han Dynasty. Therefore, Cao Cao always felt that there was still a chance. He just had to wait until he had recovered and then attack them one by one. But now it is different. Gu Rubing not only has been recognized by the Han Dynasty, but he also has legitimate control of the Heirloom Seal. Using the Heirloom Seal as the royal seal is something that has never happened before in the world.

"Where are the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and the Tiger Guards! Bring them all here!"

Seeing that the stalemate was getting to a standstill, Cao Cao had to dispatch troops again. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and the Tiger Guards were Cao Cao's personal soldiers. Similar to the Green Dragon Swordsmen and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, they all possessed the basic attributes of third-rate generals and were special troops that enjoyed the bonuses from their tribesmen. The two armies had a total of 6,000 people, which was Cao Cao's confidence.

"You really spent a lot of money. I wonder how you would feel if all your Tiger Cavalry and Tiger Guards died here today?"

Gu Rubing pulled the female sword out of a general's heart and looked at Cao Cao with a bright smile. At this moment, Gu Rubing was covered in blood, and his originally white jade face was stained with blood-red blood. Coupled with Gu Rubing's creepy smile, it made people shudder.

"Even if I kill everyone and let you die here, it will be worth it!"

"Oh? Really? Believe it or not, if I die today, someone will attack Xudu City tomorrow and let you be buried with me."

Gu Rubing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and said lightly that he had just fought three second-rate generals alone, and finally killed two of them and suffered some minor injuries.

"Liu Bei, have you panicked and started using these low-end tricks? Hahahaha, this just shows that you have no backup plan. You must die today. I want to see how Xudu City is destroyed tomorrow and how I die!"

The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and the Tiger Guards were already lying in ambush outside the palace, waiting for the order to be deployed at any time. As soon as they received Cao Cao's order, 6,000 people poured into the palace. At this time, the original guards and imperial guards had basically been killed. 6,000 third-rate generals who enjoyed the bonus of their troops joined the battle. Even Guan Yu, Zhao Yun and others were retreating step by step. Taishi Ci had put away the Zhuge Crossbow, holding a double halberd, and killed to the side of Gu Rubing, protecting Gu Rubing together with Zhang Fei.

Suddenly, a loud roar came from Guan Yu and his men. Dian Wei, who had been weak, had regained his strength and joined the battle. Seeing the balance of victory tilting towards him little by little, Cao Cao couldn't help but reveal a smile that was difficult to suppress.

Suddenly, a total of fourteen first-rate generals held back Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Taishi Ci. The four of them could not even protect Gu Rubing. Now they were like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to save themselves.

A captain of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry hid among the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, staring at Gu Rubing intently, leaning down to hide himself perfectly among the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. When Gu Rubing showed a flaw, the captain rushed out and killed Gu Rubing with a sinister smile on his face.

"Don't hurt my lord!"

A loud roar came from the palace gate, and a horseman rushed in directly at the gate. He then used the horse's force to jump high. With his left hand, he took out a spear head from his waist and threw it. The spear head flew into the air and hit the long spear directly, causing the spear that was originally stabbed at Gu Rubing to deflect and fly past Gu Rubing's shoulder.

The man used the momentum of the horse to bypass the battlefield opened up by Guan Yu and Zhao Yun, came to Gu Rubing, and then shot through the general who tried to sneak attack Gu Rubing.

"My lord, I am late."

Zhang Liao held a gun in his right hand and stood in front of Gu Rubing, facing the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry alone. There was no fear on his face. Gu Rubing smiled slightly.

"It's not too late, it's just the right time."

Gray Shadow understood human nature and shared Zhang Liao's thoughts. He jumped out of the crowd and came to Zhang Liao's side. Gu Rubing suddenly turned around, put Gu Rubing on the horse, and then patted Gray Shadow on the chest.

"Gray Shadow, you must protect the lord!"

After Zhang Liao finished speaking, he pointed his spear at the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Looking at Zhang Liao who broke into the encirclement, Cao Cao's heart suddenly skipped a beat. An ominous premonition suddenly emerged from the bottom of his heart. Two hundred roaming crossbow captains and two thousand Eighteen Riders of Yanyun poured into the palace one after another, followed closely by the Qinglong swordmen and Baili soldiers. The entry of more than 8,000 people made the already slightly crowded venue even more crowded, and even the main hall was full of people.

Gu Rubing, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and Taishi Ci were in the innermost circle. Cao Cao's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Tiger Guards, and fourteen first-rate generals surrounded them. The outermost circle was composed of more than 8,000 Bai Li soldiers, Qinglong swordmen and other special troops, forming a circle within a circle.

After seeing that the situation had stabilized, Zhang Liao took down the two objects wrapped in black cloth hanging on the horse's belly. He held them high so that Cao Cao, who was riding on the horse, could see clearly what he was holding. They were two heads dripping with blood.

Zhang Liao threw the two heads up and dropped them in front of Cao Cao. Cao Cao looked at the two heads that fell to the ground, veins bulged in his arms and his eyes turned red. Those were the two first-rate generals he sent to lead troops to stop Liu Bei's personal soldiers, Guo Huai and Sun Li. Both of them had followed Cao Cao since the beginning.

"Big-eared thief! I will fight you to the death!"

Cao Cao roared in grief. He had a total of sixteen first-rate generals under his command, but now only fourteen were left, and they were in a stalemate with Guan Yu and his men.

"Do you really think that with Zhang Liao and these 8,000 soldiers, you can get out of Xudu City? I tell you, I mobilized a full 100,000 troops yesterday and surrounded the entire Xudu City. Even if you kill all your soldiers and kill Guan Yu and his men, you will never be able to kill 100,000 people!"

"One hundred thousand people? Most of them should have only been trained for a short time. It seems that you are really at the end of your rope, otherwise you wouldn't have dragged all these people here to make up the numbers. You should know in your heart that as long as you kill a few thousand of them, they will collapse on their own."

Gu Rubing ignored Cao Cao's threats and said nonchalantly. Cao Cao's face changed. What Gu Rubing said was right. Half of the 100,000 men had just joined the army. They had no combat effectiveness and no discipline. Once they were defeated, it would be like a mountain collapsing.

"Even if there are only 50,000 people, you will die today!"

Cao Cao gnashed his teeth in hatred, every first-rate general was an indispensable force under his command, and now two of them were gone. Not to mention other things, the training of the new recruits would have to be much slower.

"Why bother talking big like that? You know you can't stop me today."

Gu Rubing continued to provoke Cao Cao. Cao Cao intended to kill Gu Rubing today. Gu Rubing thought the same thing. It depended on who showed weakness first and revealed the last trump card. That person would lose and die.

Cao Cao held the sword at his waist tightly in his right hand and just looked at Gu Rubing. His mind raced as he considered whether he should risk his life to kill Gu Rubing.

Cao Cao feared two things the most. One was that he would fail to kill Liu Bei and suffer heavy losses. By then, he might not be able to defend Xu Du. The second was that he would go to great lengths to kill Liu Bei, and then Liu Bei's subordinates would retaliate against him crazily, causing him to fall at a disadvantage in the subsequent battle for supremacy with Sun Jian.

Both situations were unacceptable to Cao Cao, but it was a pity that he did not bring Xun Yu with him. Otherwise, he would not have to be so embarrassed if Xun Yu was around. Just when Cao Cao was hesitating, a white dove suddenly landed beside him. Cao Cao's deputy general took the note from the dove's feet and handed it to Cao Cao. After Cao Cao opened it, his originally gloomy face became even darker.

"How about it, Prime Minister Cao, it's a surprise, right?"

Gu Rubing said with a smile that he could guess what was on the note by looking at Cao Cao's expression. Cao Cao had a gloomy face and tore the note into pieces.

The note contained a battle report sent by the garrison in the northern part of Sili Prefecture. It said that early this morning, Ma Chao led tens of thousands of cavalrymen to the border of Sili Prefecture and could attack Sili Prefecture at any time, so he requested support.

"Ma Chao is leading his troops to attack the border now only because you are still here and alive. If you were dead, would Ma Chao still firmly choose you?"

Cao Cao said this somewhat unwillingly. He was also saying this to comfort himself. Gu Rubing just raised the corner of his mouth and didn't say anything, because at this moment a white dove appeared in the sky and landed on the arm of Cao Cao's deputy general again. He took the battle report and the deputy general handed the note to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao snatched it away, and the moment he saw the contents, he almost couldn't help but swear.

"Jiangxia Governor Huang Zu is leading an army of 80,000 to attack Yuzhou. He may attack Yuzhou at any time. Please support me."

Another battle report asking for help came from the south. Liu Qi of Jingzhou and Ma Chao of Liangzhou actually sent troops at the same time to help Gu Rubing break the siege. Cao Cao now knew in his heart that it was impossible to kill Liu Bei in Xu Du. The best result for Cao Cao was to ensure that the two sides would not engage in war. However, Cao Cao still refused to accept it.

"You are now mobilizing troops from Jingzhou and Liangzhou, not your own. Is it because you were seriously injured in the battle in Yangzhou some time ago? After all, other people's soldiers belong to others, not your own. As long as you die, Ma Chao and Liu Qi will surely not avenge you."

Cao Cao snorted coldly.

"As long as you hand over the imperial seal, I will let you go and we can live in peace."

"Ha ha ha ha…"

Hearing what Cao Cao said, Gu Rubing burst into laughter.

"Prime Minister, have you not understood the current situation? I am not offering the Imperial Seal in exchange for my life, but you should think carefully about what you should offer in exchange for your life."

"That means there's nothing to talk about?"

Cao Cao drew the Qinggang sword from his waist, as if to cheer himself up.

"In that case, let's fight!"

Just as Cao Cao finished speaking, another white dove flew in the sky. The deputy general took down the battle report and handed it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was a little afraid to take it. The last time he took it, it was Huang Zu who was approaching the border, and the time before that, it was Ma Chao who was approaching the border. So who was it this time?

With a nervous mood, Cao Cao opened the note, and it clearly read:

"Zhang He, a subordinate of Liu Bei, has led an army of hundreds of thousands from Yanzhou and has entered Yuzhou, heading towards Xudu. I request your support to resist Zhang He's attack."

It was another battle report requesting support, and it was Zhang He who was leading a force of hundreds of thousands to attack the border. Cao Cao looked at the note and fell into deep thought. There wouldn't be another request for help soon, thinking of this, Cao Cao quickly forced himself to discard this dangerous idea, but the next moment, a white figure appeared in the sky in the northeast direction.

Cao Cao frowned slightly, and took the white dove from the deputy general's arm with some disbelief, then took out the information and opened it impatiently. However, after opening it, Cao Cao was completely stunned.

"Liu Bei's general Xu Rong is leading a large army from Bingzhou to the border of Silizhou. Please ask the Prime Minister to decide whether we need to deploy defenses!"

Another army, led by Ma Chao of Liangzhou, Xu Rong of Bingzhou, Zhang He of Yanzhou, and Liu Biao of Jingzhou, sent out troops at the same time.

"Well, Prime Minister Cao, is there anything you want to say now?"

Gu Rubing smiled and said that he had already arranged the people, and with the army approaching today, he would put Cao Cao under great pressure.

Cao Cao's eyes were dark and unclear, as if he was making up his mind, or as if he was staring at Gu Rubing, as if he wanted to kill him.

"You and I will withdraw from this, and the next time we meet, we will fight to the death."

After Cao Cao finished speaking, he turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by the Qinglong swordsmen at the palace gate. Gu Rubing said with a smile from behind.

"Prime Minister Cao, I have already said that now you have to pay for your life with something. You asked me to pay for my life with the Imperial Seal. I guess your life is more valuable than mine. So you should pay for your life with something more precious than the Imperial Seal."

"you?!"

Cao Cao was so angry at Gu Rubing's words that he almost got fumes out of his head. However, Gu Rubing still looked indifferent and tried to provoke Cao Cao.

"Or maybe Prime Minister Cao thinks that his life is not as valuable as mine? That's right, you are just a prime minister, your life is cheap, naturally it can't be as valuable as mine, then buy it with what you think the price of your life is, remember, you have to satisfy me."

"Big-eared thief, you're looking for death!"

Dian Wei roared, extremely angry at Gu Rubing's behavior. At the same time, he snatched the spear from the soldier next to him and threw it out, trying to stab Gu Rubing to death. However, Guan Yu and others had already returned to Gu Rubing. A spear could not threaten Gu Rubing's safety.

Guan Yu swung his sword, and the spear that was falling rapidly in the air broke into pieces. When it was still more than ten meters away from Gu Rubing, the spear had already broken into a messy powder. At the moment when Guan Yu swung his sword, Taishi Ci drew his bow and arrow, and shot three arrows at once, aiming directly at Cao Cao.

One of the arrows was blocked by Xiahou Yuan, another was caught by Xu Chu, and the third was shot in front of Cao Cao's horse, scaring Cao Cao's horse, which raised its hooves and snorted. Fortunately, Dian Wei was beside the horse, so the horse did not get out of control.

(End of this chapter)