Soldiers come to the world

Yecheng, which used to be one of the important material transfer places for Cao Jun. The huge Cangcheng to the west of the county was destroyed by Jiangxia cavalry a year ago, and it was burned to ruins. However, Cao Jun quickly rebuilt Cangcheng and put The garrison was increased from 1000 to 5000, and Yecheng was closely defended.

During Cao Jun's southern expedition, Yecheng once again showed its importance. The warehouses were filled with a large amount of grain and ordnance, and a large amount of grain was transported from here to Nanyang County or Runan County every day.

In the early morning of this day, when the people of Yecheng woke up, many people were shocked by the scene outside the city. They saw densely packed tents in the wilderness north of the county seat, like mushrooms born after a night of spring rain. Out of sight at a glance, a flag several feet high fluttered in the wind.

In addition to the majestic tents, there are also a large number of Cao Jun soldiers and teams of cavalry galloping outside the camp, driving the bewildered merchants and pedestrians from the official road.

This is the arrival of Cao Cao's 17 main army in Yecheng. If you add the troops from Anlu County, Wancheng, Fancheng, Shangyong, etc., the number will exceed 30. This is almost Cao Cao's army pouring out. This time, Cao Cao is bound to win the Southern Campaign.

At this time, a group of army horses came from the west, about twenty people, everyone was riding a horse, the leader was a man in his thirties, with a medium build and a thin face, he looked quite smart and capable.

There were hundreds of steps away from Cao Jun's camp, and the group was stopped by Cao Jun's patrol. The patrol chief saw that the leader was elegant and not like ordinary people, so he did not reprimand him, but warned: "The front is Do not go forward in an important military area, please detour elsewhere!"

The man stepped forward to salute with fists in his hands and said with a smile: "I am the Bashu envoy, ordered by Zhou Mu to come to meet the Prime Minister, please take us to Daying."

Hearing that they are envoys from Bashu, the patrol chief nodded and said, "Since they are envoys from Bashu, please follow me!"

The sentinel cavalry escorted the emissary team to the gate of the camp.

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In the big tent of the Chinese army, Cao Cao was listening to Sima Yi's report on the battle of Anlu County. Zhang Liao's capture of Anlu County was expected by Cao Cao, and he was not surprised.

"Wenpin is a famous player I have been thinking about for a long time. Unfortunately, you missed this best opportunity. I feel very sorry."

Cao Cao's tone was very gentle, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction with Zhang Liao in his regret. Before Zhang Liao left, he had told him to capture Wenpin alive, but in the end, Wenpin was rescued, unexpectedly at the last moment He was rescued by Jiang Xia's army. If he hadn't taken his identity into consideration, Cao Cao would have dropped the report to the ground long ago.

Sima Yi was a little stunned. He didn't expect Cao Cao to value Wenpin so much, and Zhang Liao didn't tell him beforehand that he wanted to meet Cao Cao to report something about the Jiangxia cavalry.

At this time, Cao Cao didn't care about the cavalry at all, but focused on the matter of Wenpin, so Sima Yi had to answer along Cao Cao's train of thought.

"At that time, General Zhang really wanted to capture Wenpin alive, hoping that Wenpin would surrender, but Wenpin would never surrender..."

Cao Cao seemed impatient to listen to him, so he opened the battle report and asked, "The battle report says that Wenpin has less than [-] soldiers left in the end, is that true?"

"Indeed!"

"But you have an army of 100, and [-] people are enough to deal with one person. When the army swarms up, you can catch them all in an instant, but you were rescued in the end. How do you explain it?"

Cao Cao was meticulous and found some unreasonable things in the military newspaper, but Zhang Liao didn't explain it, which made Cao Cao very dissatisfied, and he would never allow his subordinates to fool him.

Sima Yi's back broke out in cold sweat. He didn't expect Cao Cao to be so shrewd. Of course he knew the reason?Up to now, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell the truth.

"The key is that the siege of Wenpin did not go all out, and only [-] troops were used."

"Why don't you go up with all your troops?" Cao Cao asked coldly with his hands behind his back.

"This is because we wanted to use Wenpin as a bait to attract Jiangxia's warships to rescue, so that we could trap the Jiangxia's warships in the Weishui, but we didn't expect that Liu Jing would actually send cavalry to rescue them. Suddenly, it was also very sharp, and it only took a moment to break through the encirclement and rescue Wenpin, Prime Minister, this cavalry is very powerful, it is really no less than Gao Shun's trapped cavalry."

Cao Cao's thoughts were not taken away by Sima Yi. He looked up at the roof and said slowly after a while: "In the Battle of Xinye, Jia Xu also wanted to use Liu Jing to lure Wenpin's army, but he went all the way. I focused on catching Liu Jing, and then I asked him, since it was to lure the enemy, why did he desperately catch the bait? Jia Xu said, first catch Liu Jing, and he will be caught in peace. As for the lure, use a fake Liu Jing to be surrounded That's it."

Having said that, Cao Cao took a sharp look at Sima Yi.He said lightly: "Zhongda, soldiers are never tired of deceit, you still need to learn more! It's a pity that Cao Ren was so stupid that he handed over my counselor to Liu Jing for nothing. It is still a pain in my heart. As long as Jia Xu doesn't lose it, even if it is five thousand The cavalry are all killed, so what's the matter?"

Sima Yi was ashamed, he understood Cao Cao's words, Jiangxia's cavalry were nothing, and Jiangxia's warships were nothing, the biggest mistake was not capturing Wenpin alive.

He lowered his head, "The humble position is dull, and I have failed the prime minister's trust."

"This matter has nothing to do with you, you don't have to blame yourself, the responsibility lies with the general Zhang Liao!"

Cao Cao said coldly again: "Zhang Liao's ineffectiveness in the battle, let Wenpin, the leader of the enemy army, be removed from his position as the leader of the Central Route Army, and Zhao Yan will replace him. Zhang Liao will return to the camp to listen to orders."

Sima Yi sighed deeply, Wenpin was rescued, even he felt sorry for Zhang Liao, he only realized now how much Cao Cao valued talents.

At this time, a guard came from outside the big tent to report: "Report to the Prime Minister, Yizhou Mu Liuzhang sent an envoy to come, and now I am asking to see you."

Cao Cao nodded, "Let the envoy come in!"

He said to Sima Yi again: "Go back first! I believe you already know what to say to Zhang Liao."

"Yes! Resign from the humble position."

Sima Yi saluted and retreated. Cao Cao watched him go away, and the anger in his heart gradually subsided. In fact, Wenpin is not that important. Cao Cao is only dissatisfied with Zhang Liao's failure to carry out his orders. , he wanted to leave an impression in Sima Yi's heart that he was thirsty for talent.

Not long after, several guards led Liu Zhang's envoy to come in a hurry. The envoy knelt down and bowed: "The envoy of Yizhou Fazheng pays homage to the prime minister!"

Cao Cao thought for a while, then smiled and said, "It turns out that your Excellency is Fu Feng Fa Xiao Zhi, and I have admired your name for a long time."

Fazheng has been hailed as a supernatural power since he was a child, and he is very talented. He is very famous in Fufeng County. In the early years of Jian'an, he went to Shu with his good friend Meng Da to escape the famine. feeling depressed.

This time Cao Jun was supposed to come here without driving Zhang Song, but Zhang Song was temporarily ill, so he recommended himself to come here on his behalf, but he was surprised that Cao Cao could say his own name, and he hurriedly said : "Fazheng dare not be praised by the prime minister!"

Cao Cao had only heard of Fazheng's talent more than ten years ago. Since Fazheng had no chance to display his talent, Cao Cao didn't know his true talent, so he just laughed it off and didn't take him seriously.

Fazheng quickly took out Liu Zhang's autographed letter, and presented it to Cao Cao with both hands, "This is a autographed letter from my family's Zhou Mu, please read it!"

Cao Cao took the letter and read it again. In the letter, Liu Zhang expressed his willingness to send his son to Xudu as a pledge. At the same time, he was willing to provide military rations for Cao Cao's conquest of the south. If Cao Cao was willing, he could write to the emperor and respect Cao Cao as Wei Gong. Quite flattering.

Cao Cao couldn't help sneering, could it be that his army would not destroy Bashu by sending his son as a hostage and providing military rations?

It is contemptible that the shepherd of a dignified state is short-sighted, but Liu Jing and Sun Quan are training troops and fighting the enemy together. In contrast, Liu Zhang does not want to unite Jingzhou and Jiangdong, but only wants to protect himself. The mediocre are nothing to worry about.

Cao Cao closed the letter and asked Fazheng with a smile, "Where does Fa Xiaozhi hold an official position in Yizhou?"

"The next official will serve as the lieutenant of the Military Council."

"With the talent of Xiaozhi, it took more than ten years to get mixed up with a lieutenant in the military council, which shows that Liu Zhang is a mediocre person who has no understanding of people. If Xiaozhi is willing to serve me, I recommend you as the prefect of Fufeng County, how about it?"

Fazheng leaned forward and said, "Thank you Prime Minister for your kindness, but since Fazheng is an envoy, he should be loyal to his mission and not talk about personal matters."

"If Xiao Zhi doesn't want to be loyal to me, he can actually choose Liu Jing. This man is a great man, not inferior to me. He is the phoenix of heaven and my lifelong rival of Cao Mengde. Liu Jiyu is a mediocre man, but he is just a grass chicken in the shadow of his father." That's all."

Fazheng was silent for a moment and replied: "You are the prime minister's chest, why are your words so harsh?"

Cao Cao was not angry, but still smiled slightly, "Do you know what Liu Zhang wrote in the letter?"

Fazheng shook his head, "My lord's letter is not something that a minister can read at will."

"You are an envoy, of course you can watch!"

Cao Cao handed him the letter, Fazheng hesitated, Cao Cao was right, he was an envoy, not a messenger, and he should know the purpose of the mission, so he took the letter and read it hastily.

Fazheng's face suddenly turned red. He didn't expect Liu Zhang to be so servile and humble. No wonder Zhang Song claimed that he would not come back from illness, which was simply a great shame.

"How about it?"

Cao Cao looked at his expression and said with a smile: "Such a lord, it doesn't matter if he is not loyal!"

Fazheng let out a long sigh in his heart, got up and gave a deep salute, "The official mission is for the official business, I hope to hear the prime minister's opinion!"

Cao Cao looked at him for a moment, then said calmly: "I don't have any written reply, only a oral message, please convey it to Liu Zhang for me."

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[Historically, it should be Zhang Song’s envoy to Cao Ying. Because of the need of the plot, it was changed to Fazheng. In fact, Fazheng was excluded by Yizhou Group and was not reused by Liu Zhang, let alone Liu Zhang’s confidant, and his status was not high. For an important mission, Liu Zhang will definitely not send him, so Fazheng's mission to Cao Ying is a bit illogical. 】