When Ji Han and his men traveled to the Three Kingdoms crew

Chapter 561 Cao Cao: Damn, I've become Zhang Liao too (Four Thousand)
"The Li family is too much! We kindly asked Li Qian and Li Zheng what they had discussed with Cao Mengde. But the father and son kept making excuses, saying that they were just chatting about poetry!"

"I am so angry! Listen to what they are saying. Are they talking about poetry? Who would believe that they are just talking about poetry?"

"Yes, yes, who doesn't know the relationship between Cao Mengde and Li Qian?! Cao Mengde wants to use Li's hand to eliminate us, so that he can return to the court with his political achievements!"

"So what do you think we should do?"

At the gathering of the major noble families in Shanyang County, the nobles who were originally filled with righteous indignation and made impassioned speeches suddenly fell silent after hearing this question.

Even when someone excitedly shouted about sending troops, all the representatives of the major clans remained silent.

Although they all have their own private soldiers, the strength of the Li family cannot be underestimated. None of the nobles present dared to pat their chests and guarantee that they would be able to defeat the Li family.

It would take a lot of effort for each family and clan to take down Li's stronghold.

There is no hope unless we unite.

This is easier said than done. Normally, when the nobles met each other, they would call each other "Lord" or "Brother".

On the surface, they seem to be extremely close, as if they are closer than brothers.

Behind the scenes, everyone is more cunning than the other. If anyone dares to truly trust each other, and then ends up becoming someone else's wedding dress, there will be no place to cry.

After some discussion, the nobles reached a consensus that "we must be on guard" and then left in a hurry.

Shanyang County Government.

"Lord Cao, why haven't they started fighting yet?" Zhang Xiu asked puzzledly.

Cao Cao shook his head and smiled faintly, "Military Advisor Jia said that we should not be impatient in everything. There is only one last step left. We will have soldiers of similar body shapes pretend to be you and me and go to the provincial capital. We will stay in Changyi County to gather troops, and send a soldier to deliver a letter to Li Qian in a few days."

"letter?"

When Zhang Xiu was wondering, Cao Cao handed him a letter. He took it and was surprised. The letter talked about some ordinary things, but there were corrections in many places.

"What is this..." Zhang Xiu looked at Cao Cao in confusion.

Cao Cao smiled proudly and said, "This confirms the rumors we spread. Captain Zhang, you might as well think about it. Once the previous rumors were released, the major noble families would definitely be on guard against the Li family. If they knew about this letter..."

Zhang Xiu continued to ponder over Cao Cao's words, and the more he thought about it, the more he was shocked. He began to admire Cao Cao. At the same time, he looked at Cao Cao with a strange look, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart: Lord Cao has always been kind and generous, and is a good friend of the general. I didn't expect him to be so shrewd!
"Hmm? Captain Zhang, why are you looking at me with such strange eyes? Is there some mud on my face?" Cao Cao reached out and touched his face.

Zhang Xiu came back to his senses and flattered, "No, no. I admire Lord Cao's plan. I admire it!"

"Captain Zhang, your words are too much praise. I am just learning from you. Captain Zhang, I have to trouble you again this time. Let's leave early."

"promise!"

A few days passed in a flash, and Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu's move to the provincial capital was tantamount to a death warrant for the major aristocratic families.

In their eyes, Cao Cao had obviously gone to the provincial capital to borrow troops in order to secretly collude with Li to help them with internal and external support.

However, they still had hope. You know, the governor of Yanzhou was Chen Yuanlong. What was the relationship between Chen Yuanlong and Cao Mengde? The general? The general did not speak up for Cao Mengde to dissuade the emperor. Would Chen Yuanlong help Cao Mengde?

However, the last bit of luck was shattered by the sound of horse hooves of the cavalry rushing from the provincial capital.

"Something terrible has happened! Li Qian received a letter from Cao Mengde!"

The sudden news caught all the nobles off guard. Even the most calm and composed nobles could not remain calm at this moment.

They all stood up and stared at the person who delivered the message with their big eyes.

"A letter?! What letter? What's written in the letter?!"

"According to the bribed servants, the letter only contained some common things."

After saying this, the man presented a letter.

"The usual things???"

The nobles looked at each other, and saw deep suspicion on each other's faces.

Cao Mengde sent a fast horse to deliver an ordinary letter?
Is it Cao Mengde who has a problem with his brain, or is it them? !

Full of doubts, everyone gathered around to read the letter.

The letter was indeed as the man said. It only talked about ordinary past events and seemed quite boring.

But soon someone noticed something was wrong. "Why are there so many traces of alterations on this letter?!"

As soon as this was said, everyone noticed it.

Yes, why are there so many traces of erasure?
Someone speculated: "Could it be that these traces of erasure are Cao Mengde's real intention?"

"That makes sense, that makes sense." A group of nobles affirmed it.

As for what Cao Cao’s real intention was?
Isn't this self-evident?

Rushed to the state capital, hurried on horseback, read the corrections
Combined with previous rumors, doesn’t this just show that the Li family has already colluded with Cao Cao?
Cao Cao must have borrowed soldiers from the prefecture! He wants to join forces with Li to attack them from both inside and outside!

"My lords, this is a critical moment for our survival. If you and I make the wrong choice, I'm afraid we will be doomed and bring disaster to the entire clan!"

"Then what should we do?"

Faced with this problem, someone put forward his own idea, "Can we send someone to the state capital to inquire about the news?"

"Ask for information? Let's not talk about whether it's too late. Chen Yuanlong is now arresting Yuan's former subordinates, and he is lenient in admitting but strict in expelling them. Putting aside the notices and government orders, we will have to wait for ten days or half a month to get the news from the state government. I'm afraid we are not just facing the Li family."

Everyone fell silent. They couldn't wait, nor didn't wait.

Finally, a group of respected elders from the noble families stood up and said, "Perhaps Cao Mengde deliberately provoked a fight between us and the Li family. Perhaps Cao Mengde really colluded with the Li family to attack us from both inside and outside."

"If it's the former, we can just keep the status quo, and Cao Mengde's scheme will fall apart. If it's the latter, staying still will lead to our own death."

"I am old, and I dare not gamble. If we act immediately, the worst possible outcome is that the land transfer will succeed, and our power will shrink dramatically, but we can still preserve our clan."

The old man’s words touched everyone’s heart. The old man didn’t dare to gamble, so did they dare to gamble?

If the Li family and Cao Cao cooperated internally and externally, they would definitely aim to annex them and would definitely be preparing to throw dirty water on them. By then, not to mention the land, even the family education would have to be handed over to others.

What's the point of being called a gentry if they don't have family education?
If we take advantage of Li's unpreparedness and give her a surprise.

Once the surprise attack was launched, the worst that could happen was that both sides' power declined. Cao Cao completed the land measurement, but his family tradition remained.

Someone immediately expressed his opinion when he thought of this: "Li is unkind, don't blame me for being unjust! I will count the followers right now and teach Li a lesson! Are there any of you willing to join me in the uprising?!"

"I want to go with you!" "Me too!"

In just a blink of an eye, all the major clans reached a consensus.

Li was completely unaware of this and was even preparing to hold a banquet to entertain talented and famous people from various noble families.

However, the major noble families suddenly rose up in arms and captured several of their fortresses without them being prepared.

Naturally, Li would not sit idly by and wait for death. He immediately nominated Li Zheng to lead a group of private soldiers to resist. At the same time, he sent Li Qian to contact Cao Cao and ask Cao Cao to come and preside over and mediate.

However, there was no news from Li Qian who rushed to the provincial capital, and Li became angry with a group of gentry.

The war intensified, both sides were bloodthirsty and treated each other as enemies.

Cao Cao, who had seen all this, laughed heartily. He pointed his whip towards Changyi County in Shanyang Commandery and said, "Captain Zhang, it's time for us to take the stage!"

"Lord Cao, this is what I've been waiting for!" Zhang Xiu gripped the reins tightly, his voice trembling with excitement. He asked Cao Cao, "Lord Cao, please give the order to send out the troops!"

Cao Cao whipped his whip fiercely, "All officers and men, listen to my order, march out! Put down the rebellion in Changyi County!"

"promise!"

At Cao Cao's command, five thousand veteran soldiers rushed out in droves. The fighting nobles were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the five thousand veteran soldiers.

No matter whether it was Li's private soldiers or other private soldiers, they were not as good as these old soldiers. What's more, they had been fighting for a long time and their strength and spirit had been exhausted.

They were completely unable to withstand the old soldiers who were full of energy, and what was worse was that the generals of the nobles made frequent mistakes.

The battle situation was almost one-sided.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the major aristocratic families who had united decisively surrendered to Cao Cao.

After General Li came to his senses, he looked around and was shocked to find that the nobles who had been fighting with them fiercely before were nowhere to be seen.

"Who am I waiting to fight?"

When Li Zheng saw the flags fluttering in the wind, his eyes widened, his face suddenly turned pale, and his head was buzzing, as if he had seen something horrible. He trembled and uttered intermittent words, "Lord Cao Cao? It's Lord Cao Cao's men!"

How could they have the ability to fight against Cao Cao's troops?
Li's private troops collapsed at the first blow, and Li Zheng and Li and others surrendered one after another.

In the Changyi County government office, the hearts of the nobles who had become prisoners were pounding and beads of sweat were beating on their foreheads. They never expected that Cao Cao would sweep their private soldiers into the garbage dump like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.

Lord Cao, if we knew you were so powerful, we wouldn't have the courage to send troops!
By now, it's too late to say anything.

In the tense and uneasy atmosphere, Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu came out.

Although Cao Cao was born short, he looked very imposing, walking like a dragon and a tiger, as if a mountain was crushing down on him, and no one dared to look down on him.

Cao Cao looked down upon everyone. His expression was very bad, extremely ugly.

"I'm very disappointed. I was only away for a few days and you guys started fighting."

"How can you help me manage the county if you are so absurd?"

"If someone doesn't know, they would think you are traitors!"

When these words were spoken, everyone's heart trembled. If they were labeled as a traitor, that would be terrible!

Won’t the heads of those who led the rebellion fall off?

Even if the current emperor is benevolent and magnanimous, the side branches may be able to save their lives, but the entire clan will be banished to a bitter and cold place!
If it were other noble families, they could still make some comments, but Cao Cao was obviously targeting the Li family!
Li Zheng rolled and crawled in front of Cao Cao, crying, "Lord Cao, Lord Cao, my father once helped you to defeat the Yellow Turban bandits! I hope you will show mercy, show mercy!"

Cao Cao helped Li Zheng up. "Nephew, please stand up quickly. What are you talking about? Brother Li is my best friend. How can this matter be related to Brother Li?"

"Ah?" Li Zheng didn't know what Cao Cao was up to for a moment, so he asked, "In that case, may I ask, Lord Cao, where is my father now?"

Cao Cao smiled and said, "I sent Brother Li to Chang'an to enjoy a good life."

Li Zheng's eyes widened as he looked at Cao Cao in disbelief. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, and his mind was filled with the word Chang'an.

To put it nicely, Li Qian was sent to Chang'an to enjoy a good life. To put it bluntly, wasn't it sending his father to Chang'an as a hostage?!

What a vicious heart!

"Nephew, do you want to go to Chang'an to reunite with Brother Li?"

Hearing these words, Li Zheng's expression changed drastically and he shook his head like a rattle.

It wasn't enough that his father wanted to put him under house arrest? !

Li Zheng said firmly: "I am a member of the Li family!"

"." Cao Cao let go of Li Zheng's hand. Since Li Zheng didn't want to, he didn't force him. In Cao Cao's view, Li Qian, as the eldest of the clans, had family lands spread across several counties. He didn't kill Li Qian because of their previous friendship.

What's more, his plan for the Li family was to disperse them and move them to Bingzhou or Jizhou to cultivate land. It would be better to stay in Chang'an and have no worries about food and drink than to cultivate land, right?

Since Li Zheng doesn't appreciate it, there is no point in saying more.

Cao Cao then announced how to deal with the Li family. They would be punished for raising an army to cause rebellion. The ringleaders who had reached adulthood would be sentenced to death, and the rest would be demoted to Bingzhou and Jizhou to farm.

This result made the big families tremble in fear, and they were glad that Cao Cao did not kill them all.

The price is that they are not allowed to hide people, and all hidden people must be registered and their land must be returned one by one.

He even gave the classics annotated by Zheng Xuan to the first nobles to surrender.

This made the nobles ecstatic.

Cao Cao sneered in his heart. He was naturally aware of the thoughts of the nobles. It was nothing more than linking classics with official selection. But classics would not be rare in the future. He wondered how long these people could keep laughing.

The chickens have been killed and the monkeys have been warned.

Cao Cao was just about to take a rest when Zhang Xiu came rushing in with bad news, "Lord Cao, someone is resisting Dutian Ling!"

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows. The heads of various clans were currently in prison. How dare someone disobey his orders?!
Cao Cao took a quick step and took down the sword hanging on the wall. He pulled out the cold blade with his hand holding the hilt, and said in a low voice through his teeth, "It seems that not everyone can understand the truth. Since you resisted Dutian Ling, it's no wonder that I came to visit you in person!"

At this moment, the cold sword light reflected his cold expression and highlighted his murderous aura.

"Captain Zhang, call the troops!"

Since then, a saying has been circulated among the big families in Shanyang County. Whenever a child cries and refuses to go to bed, his mother will say that if he cries again, Cao Mengde will come and knock on the door! This frightens the child so much that he dares not cry.

(End of this chapter)