Ji Han Grand Commander

Chapter 553 547. Serious Illness
"Commander-in-chief, the scouts from the general's side have arrived. They said that the general is almost in Hongnong and is expected to return to Luoyang soon. However..."

In the camp outside Luoyang City, Xiahou Mao volunteered to take on the task of defending Luoyang, and was appointed by Cao Li as the Governor of Henan, the Governor of Luoyang and surrounding troops, and was specifically responsible for the defense of Luoyang.

The scouts sent back by Cao Zhen naturally had to inform Xiahou Mao, so when they learned the news about Cao Zhen, a military officer immediately came to report to Xiahou Mao.

"Just what? Don't be so hesitant. The Han army in the south is eyeing us covetously. I don't have time to play guessing games with you."

Xiahou Mao glared at the military officer viciously. As the son of Xiahou Dun, although he did not have his father's ability, he still had a bad temper and was equally violent. He scolded the military officer below so hard that he trembled in fear.

"Yes, yes. Governor, the general said that they set fire to Chang'an in order to delay the Han army in Sichuan. This matter is of great importance and I must inform you."

"I thought it was nothing. If the general can delay the Han army in Guanzhong, it will be a good thing. If the Han army in Guanzhong follows the general, I am afraid our army will have to divide its forces to defend against it. Now if the general comes, our army is as strong as Feng Xi's kid. We may be able to fight with the advantage of the pass."

Xiahou Mao had no feelings about Cao Zhen's burning of Chang'an. He thought that it was good to burn it, as it could stop the Han army for a while. As for the civilians, Xiahou Mao thought the same thing, that is, if they died, they died. It was a good use of their waste if they could delay the 100,000-strong Han army.

"Commander-in-chief, I heard that the general's army will arrive soon. How should we resist the Han army?"

As soon as Xiahou Mao sent away the military officer, Xiahou Heng and Xiahou Wei came over. The fact that Cao Zhen had returned to Luoyang was known to everyone in the world. They heard that Cao Zhen had sent scouts, so they found out Cao Zhen's location and hurried to see the commander Xiahou Mao to ask for countermeasures.

The two were somewhat confused about Xiahou Mao's current deployment. Xiahou Mao just kept sending more troops to Yique Pass and Dagu Pass, and the rest of the army was just stationed in the south of Luoyang City without any other actions.

"Haha, you two should be patient. This governor has carefully studied the capabilities of the Han army and found that they are well-equipped. If we fight in the field with an army of 20,000 or 30,000, we will never be their opponent. It is better to rely on the dangerous passes and block them layer by layer. As long as we delay until the arrival of the general, the terrain around Luoyang is narrow and the Han army will not be able to attack the city. At this time, the general will attack from the side and the Han army will definitely win in one battle."

Xiahou Mao proudly told his strategy to the Xiahou Heng brothers. They looked at each other and nodded. What Xiahou Mao said made sense. Now the enemy was numerous and we were few. More than 20,000 troops were not enough to fill the gaps in the Han army's teeth. It was better to drag it out.

Anyway, according to the distance calculated, Cao Zhen will definitely be able to return to the vicinity of Luoyang within three days. By then, there will be 100,000 available soldiers in Luoyang. Luoyang is a large city with high walls, so it may be able to fight against the Han army.

Not to mention that Feng Xi began to attack the north, Guangcheng Pass was in danger, and Cao Zhen was also very anxious. After knowing that the Han army behind him was stuck in Chang'an City, Cao Zhen hurried on his way, and now he has arrived in Hongnong City in just over two days.

"General, the military supervisor Sima is ill."

Just when Cao Zhen was planning to ask Sima Yi to come over to discuss strategy, he didn't expect his subordinates to give him such a reply.

"sick?"

Cao Zhen frowned.

"Yes, it seems that General Sima has caught a cold since leaving Chang'an. He was holding on before, but now he can't get out of bed."

The guards who came to report naturally found out about Sima Yi's situation.

"Let's go and see for ourselves."

Cao Zhen didn't quite believe it. After all, he knew how Cao Pi was on guard against Sima Yi. Sima Yi's illness was just too coincidental, so he couldn't help but be suspicious. "Ahem... I'm not feeling well right now, so I can't stand up to greet you. I hope the general will forgive me."

When Cao Zhen went to visit Sima Yi, he saw that he looked haggard, but his face was ruddy due to the high fever; he coughed from time to time, and there was a strong smell of medicine in the room. All these behaviors showed that Sima Yi was indeed seriously ill.

"It's okay. Mr. Sima is an important official of our Wei Dynasty. I heard that Mr. Sima was ill, so I naturally came to visit him..."

Seeing Sima Yi's weak and feeble appearance, Cao Zhen chatted with him for a few words and then left.

"Hmm... someone, go and call the doctor who is treating Sima Jianjun."

Cao Zhen seemed to be still a little unsatisfied. He stroked his beard and thought for a while, then called his guards and asked them to go and call someone.

"My humble servant, meet... meet the great general."

The doctor who treated Sima Yi was a doctor from Hongnong City. He was a well-known doctor, but he had only seen the highest official, the governor. When had he ever seen a general? When he saw Cao Zhen, he was immediately frightened by his murderous and domineering aura and fell to his knees, not daring to look at Cao Zhen.

"Get up. Are you the doctor who treated Sima Jianjun? Sima Jianjun is a pillar of our Wei Dynasty. I want to know what disease Sima has, how serious it is, and whether he can recover in a few days."

Cao Zhen did not restrain his aura at all. Facing these slick little people who mingled in the market, he naturally had to use different methods.

"Yes, yes, General. According to my observation, Lord Sima is bedridden because of physical weakness, overwork, and the long journey that caused the evil wind to enter his body. This illness is not serious, but I'm afraid Lord Sima will have to stay in bed for ten days or half a month. I'm afraid he can't do any strenuous activities in the short term, otherwise his condition may worsen."

Even after standing up, the doctor was still trembling with fear under the pressure of Cao Zhen's aura, and he told all the details about Sima Yi like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.

"Is this true? If you dare to deceive me, don't blame me for being rude to you!"

Cao Zhen suddenly slammed the table and spoke harshly, scaring the doctor so much that he immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"General, General, please spare my life. I am not lying. This is serious, this is serious!"

Seeing that he had scared the other party and he still hadn't changed his words, Cao Zhen assumed that was the case, nodded, and let the other party leave.

"Since Sima Yi is really ill, then leave two hundred soldiers to take care of Sima Jianjun. As soon as his condition improves, bring him to Luoyang."

Now that it was confirmed that the other party was not faking illness, Cao Zhen was too embarrassed to let him continue to rush to Luoyang with his sick body. He could only let Sima Yi recuperate in Hongnong and catch up after he recovered.

However, Cao Zhen still kept some caution and left a group of soldiers, ostensibly to protect Sima Yi, but actually to monitor Sima Yi's situation.

(End of this chapter)