In June of the fifth year of Jian'an, Yuan Jiang Guo aided Hedong County. A few days later, the Southern Xiongnu who responded to Guo's aid went south to capture Pingyang Pass at Huchuquan. The successive falls of the important towns of Sili made Cao Cao, who had planned to recuperate for a while, have to readjust his strategy, shrink the front, and then divide his troops to rescue Xisili.

Under the bright June sun, Cao Cao rode his horse and stood on top of the high post, looking at the Cao army retreating from outside Chaoge City with a cold gaze. Although dismantling the camp tent and packing up made Cao Jun look a little chaotic, the Yuan army in the city just hid behind the battlements and looked around, without the slightest intention of opening the city to attack Cao Jun. It's just some guinea dogs~~~ Cao Cao sneered contemptuously in his heart, and at the same time drew the first guard of Chaoge City out of the recruitment list. He Cao Cao is indeed thirsty for talent, but he never accepts incompetents.

"Lord, Zhong Xuan is Guo Yuan's uncle, is it inappropriate to send him to lead the troops to rescue and rescue the department?" Xiahou Yuan's question interrupted Cao Cao's thoughts. Zhong Xuan, whose character is Chang, is the lieutenant appointed by Cao Cao, and he is also the uncle of Guo Yuan, the Taishou of the puppet Hedong County. It is precisely because of the consideration of this level of relationship that Xiahou Yuan and others are quite worried that Zhong Xuan will lead the troops to rescue Xi Sili. In case Zhong Xuan defected before the battle, then Guo Yuan could use Hongnong County to go south to Yuzhou to threaten Xu Du. Therefore, in Xiahou Yuan's opinion, even if Cao Cao did not send himself to quell the rebellion, he should let Xiahou Dun or Cao Chun and other henchmen go north. It's more reassuring than using Zhong Xuan.

But who knew that Cao Cao admired Zhong Yuan very much, and directly waved his hand at Xiahou Yuan and said, "Zhong Yuan is always gentle and prudent, and he is good at discerning talents." When Lone and Yuan Shao confronted each other, he sent the horse to an emergency, which was really Lonely. Therefore, the character of Yuan Chang will not be attached to Yuan's. ”

"That being said. But Zhong Xuan is just a scribe after all, how can he resist the three-way army of Guo Yuan, Hu Chuquan, and Ma Teng? Xiahou Yuan said unwillingly. In fact, it is no wonder that Xiahou Yuan looks down on Zhong Xuan so much. Although Zhong Xuan was born in a prestigious family. He once served as Shang Shulang, Yangling Ling, and Huangmen Shilang, but he was known for his erudition. Especially in calligraphy, Zhong Xuan is quite accomplished, and in later generations he is not only called "Zhong Wang" with the Jin Dynasty calligrapher Wang Xizhi, but also the founder of regular script. Therefore, in Xiahou Yuan's impression, Zhong Xuan seems to be just a Wenchen who writes well, and has little to do with the battlefield.

Cao Cao laughed when he heard this, "Don't underestimate the scribes. There is a way, and success is also Xiao He. Defeat is also Xiao He. In the past, Han Xin was conceited and unparalleled, and he was not destroyed at the hands of scribes? ”

Xiahou Yuan thought to himself. Han Xin was deceived by Xiao He and died at the hands of a woman, but it was a palace fight, how could it be compared with the battlefield fight of real swords and guns. So although he didn't refute it, the expression on his face clearly said, "That's the case? ”

Cao Cao saw that Xiahou Yuan was still suspicious, so he couldn't help but raise his hand and point to the retreating soldiers and horses and asked, "Miaocai, you said that Gu is advancing?" Or are you retreating? ”

Xiahou Yuan didn't expect Cao Cao to suddenly change the subject. After a moment of sluggishness. Without thinking, "Withdrawing troops is naturally retreating." ”

Faced with Xiahou Yuan's brainless answer, Cao Cao asked with a wry smile. "Miaocai really withdrew his troops because of the rebellion of the subordinates?"

"What do you mean?" When Xiahou Yuan heard Cao Cao say this, he seemed to have thought of something. But for a while, I couldn't say why.

Seeing this, Cao Cao further analyzed Xiahou Yuan and said, "It has been more than a month since Chaoge was besieged alone, but Yuan Shang refused to go out of Yecheng to rescue Chaoge. As time passed, our army ran out of food and grass again, and there was no way to continue. Therefore, Gu took advantage of Guo Yuan's attack on Hedong and pretended to show the weak soldiers to retreat from the court, in order to lead Yuan Shang out of the city to pursue. Yuan Shang is just a child, and he has left the high wall of Yecheng, and he is not ravaged by Ren Gu. ”

"What a trick to lure the snake out of the hole! The lord is wise. Xiahou Yuan bowed to Cao Cao with pleasure and convincing.

Cao Cao half-jokingly swiped his beard and said, "It seems that the book of wonderful talents has not been read in vain." However, it is the way of the famous general. Stealing must not be self-sufficient, and ignore the scheme. ”

"The lord also knows how to scheming." Xiahou Yuan said frankly.

Cao Cao sighed angrily when he saw this, so he had to temporarily give up preaching to his brother-in-law, and returned to the analysis of the battle situation in Guanzhong, "Miao Cai knows that people have their own strengths and weaknesses. The scribes should not be taken lightly. Zhong Yuan has been an official in Guanzhong for many years and has always had dealings with Guanzhong Haoqiang. It is led by the troops, the rescue department is subordinate to the security department, and the people's hearts are subordinate. What's more, Lone believes that with Yuan Chang's wisdom, he will be able to calm down the rebellion of the subordinates! ”

Cao Cao's words dispelled Xiahou Yuan's concerns. And then the battle report from Si Li made Xiahou Yuan admire Cao Cao so much. After Zhong Xuan led his troops to Sili, he immediately used his relationship with Guanzhong Haoqiang to recruit 5,000 Qubu locally. Together with the Cao soldiers he brought, a total of 8,000 soldiers and horses were gathered, and they went straight to Pingyang Pass. Southern Xiongnu Shan Yu Hu Chuquan originally planned to take advantage of Guo Yuan's plan to disrupt Si Li's plan to fish in troubled waters, but he didn't expect Cao Jun to kill so quickly. Caught off guard, Hu Chuquan was blocked by Zhong Xuan in Pingyang Pass and attacked fiercely, so he had to flee into Pingyang City and wait for Guo Yuan's reinforcements to come to rescue.

Guo Yuan didn't let Hu Chuquan wait too long. Only on the third day of Zhong Xuan's siege of Pingyang Pass, Guo Yuan led his 10,000 men and horses to the north of Pingyang Pass. At the same time, Ma Teng also appeared west of Pingyang Pass with 5,000 elite horsemen. In this way, Guo Yuan, Ma Teng, and Hu Chuquan formed a situation of encirclement of Zhong Xuan's department.

Seeing the sharp reversal of the situation, a cadre of generals under Zhong Xuan's tent had the heart of retreating. After some private discussions, the generals finally elected Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan, two powerful generals, to go to the big tent of the Chinese army to convey to Zhong Xuan the willingness of everyone to retreat. Although Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan are local heroes and are in a state of semi-alliance and half-subordinate with Zhong Xuan, they are still worried about the withdrawal of the army because of Cao Junwei.

When the two walked into the tent, Zhong Xuan was sitting in front of the desk and concentrating on practicing calligraphy. Seeing this, Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan couldn't help but wink at me, I bowed my mouth at you, pushing each other and encouraging each other to speak first. However, just when the two of them were stealing glances, Zhong Xuan put down the brush in his hand, raised his head and generously raised his hand to the two and invited, "The two generals, please take a seat." ”

"I've seen Zhong Shuai." Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan hugged Zhong Xuan in embarrassment, and immediately sat down.

At the same time, Zhong Xuan followed and asked the two. "I don't know what the two of you are anxious to see the old man?"

Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan exchanged glances again, and finally gritted their teeth and took the lead in speaking. "Zhong Shuai, now that Guo's aid is strong, our army only has 8,000 soldiers and horses, it is better to avoid its edge first, withdraw from Pingyang Pass, and then make a decision."

"Retirement?" Zhong Xuan pondered for a moment, and then asked Zhang Yan again, "General Yan also thinks so?" ”

Zhang Yan hurriedly echoed, "Zhong Shuai Mingjian." When we have enough soldiers and horses, it will not be too late to return to Pingyang Pass. ”

Zhong Xuan looked at Zhang Chen. I looked at Zhang Yan again. I know that Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan are not the only ones in the army who have the intention of retiring. These local heroes have always valued the preservation of their own strength. If the war goes well, they are brave in battle, but once the war is unfavorable, the heroic Qubu will often choose to retreat at the first time. Therefore, if this matter is not handled well, it is very likely to cause mutiny. But seeing Zhong Xuan at this moment, he smiled loudly, waved his hand and said, "Why are the two generals like this." Yuan's Fang Qiang, Guo Yuan attacked, and the princes of Guanzhong communicated with him. And now there are no traitors who collaborate with the enemy. are all intimidated by Cao Gong's prestige. If we abandon Pingyang and go. Show weakness to Guo Yuan, and the people of Guanzhong will definitely switch to the Yuan family. If I want to return, how can I get it? This is self-defeat before fighting. And Guo Yuan is stubborn and competitive. We will despise our army, and if we cross the Fen as a battalion, and if we fail to attack it, we can be defeated! ”

Zhong Xuan's reasoned and well-founded analysis made Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan, who originally wanted to withdraw from the army, couldn't help but be a little shaken. After pondering for a moment, Zhang Chen cautiously said to Zhong Xuan, "Zhong Shuai is reasonable. Although Guo Yuan was not afraid, Ma Teng also stationed troops west of Pingyang Pass. Xiliang Jingqi has always been good at fighting, how should we deal with it? ”

"Yes, Ma Chao, the son of Ma Teng, Yongguan Xizhou, is known as Jin Ma Chao. This person is not easy to deal with. Thinking of the prestige of "Jinma Chao", Zhang Yan couldn't help but shudder in his heart.

"Rest assured. The old man has his own way to deal with Ma Teng. Zhong Xuan said soothingly. Seeing that Zhang Chen and Zhang Yan both showed suspicious looks, Zhong Xuan confidently added, "Ten days, within ten days, the situation in Pingyang will definitely change. ”

Just when Zhong Xuan swore to his subordinates that there was a way to deal with Ma Teng. The Ma army camp west of Pingyang ushered in a lobbyist - Xinfeng Ling Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji, the word Derong, Feng Yi Gaoling, this time entrusted by Zhong Xuan, came to the Ma army camp to lobby Ma Teng to join Cao. A dignified county magistrate gave up a privileged and stable life and ran to the enemy camp to lobby the enemy generals, which seemed to many people to be a crazy thing. But for Zhang Ji, it is a rare opportunity to make a name for himself. It is said that Zhang is not only from a poor family, but also from a concubine, and his humble status makes him often have to work ten times or even a hundred times more than others in order to be recognized by the world. At the age of sixteen, Zhang Ji served as a subordinate official in Feng Yijun, and was later promoted many times until he was promoted to the current Xinfeng Ling. can be Zhang Ji's background and background, and the order of a county is the extreme. If he wants to rise again, he must make a real contribution. Therefore, as soon as Zhong Xuan proposed to lobby Ma Teng, Zhang Ji took on this dangerous and challenging errand on his own initiative.

"My lord wants to see you. Come with me. A burly Lieutenant Xiliang interrupted Zhang Ji's thoughts.

But Zhang didn't care about the other party's rudeness, but arched his hand, and generously followed the lieutenant straight to Ma Teng's Chinese army tent. At present, although soldiers and horses from all walks of life are gathered in Pingyang, making tension inside and outside this ancient pass, but at this moment, Ma Teng's military tent is another scene full of spring. But in the huge military tent, two orchids dressed in tulle were dancing to the sound of the glamour. In one corner of the tent, two small men were concentrating on roasting a half-cooked lamb, and the aroma of meat filled the entire tent, making people salivate.

Ma Teng sat at the head of the military tent and enjoyed wine, beauty and food. On his left hand sat a fair-skinned, handsome-looking young general, who should have been rumored to be Ma Teng's eldest son, Ma Chao. On the right-hand side sat a middle-aged man about forty years old and with a thin build, who looked like Ma Teng's henchman. However, Ma Teng's father and son and others were familiar with Zhang Ji, who was led into the military tent, and there seemed to be only those two graceful orchids in the eyes of the two sharp Danfeng.

Zhang Ji knew that this was Ma Teng's father and son deliberately giving himself a horse. In order to grasp the initiative in the negotiation, he immediately walked to the roast sheep, took a dagger for himself, cut off a piece of roasted mutton and ate it, and praised it repeatedly, "Good meat." ”

Seeing that Zhang was acting like this, Ma Teng's father and son finally stopped watching the song and dance, and exchanged glances instead. Zhang Ji ignored the reactions of the two, walked straight to a dining table, sat down with a big grin, and raised his wine glass to the waiter next to him and shouted, "Serve the wine." ”

Seeing that the waiter did not react, Zhang Ji directly took the wine jug from the other party's hand, poured himself a glass, tasted it and smacked his tongue and said, "Good wine!" ”

Seeing that Zhang Ji looked like a madman, Ma Teng couldn't help but snort coldly, and opened his mouth to ask, "Zhang Lingjun, has the old man ever eaten meat?" Drink? ”

"Don't be stingy." Zhang Ji held the ear cup in his hand and smiled leisurely, "If that angel gentleman's head falls to the ground, I am afraid that I will never be able to eat such good meat and drink such good wine." ”

"Bastard! How dare you curse my daddy! Ma Chao got up as soon as he slapped the food table, as if he was going to kill Zhang Ji.

But Zhang Ji was not afraid of Ma Chao's threat at all, and replied with a stiff neck, "Your father and son are in trouble. It's ridiculous to still drink and have fun here! ”

With a dragon groan, Ma Chao had already pulled out his sword and was about to cut the head of the madman in front of him in two. But he was stopped by the subordinate next to Ma Teng, "The young master's subordinates are merciful." ”

"Get out of here!" Ma Chao glared at the general and scolded.

In exchange for Ma Teng's loud shout, "Suddenly get up and be rude!" ”

Ma Chao was drunk by his father like this, so he had to give up the idea of killing Zhang Ji, and took the sword back. But he looked at Zhang Ji's eyes with a strong killing intent. Zhang Ji originally wanted to enhance the atmosphere for his lobbying, but he never thought that Ma Chao would have such a hot temper. Thinking that he had just walked in front of the ghost gate, Zhang Ji only felt that the clothes on his back were already soaked. But the more times like these, the more we can't retreat. Therefore, Zhang Ji forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, and turned to Ma Teng and asked, "Ma Yuanjun also wants to kill him?" ”

"The two armies do not fight each other, although the old man is from Xizhou, he also knows the rules of the Central Plains." Ma Teng raised his hand and motioned for Zhang Ji to sit down, "Zhang Lingjun, please take a seat." The old man would like to hear about it. ”

Ma Teng's attitude made Zhang Ji feel a little relieved, but when he saw him sit back in his place, he said to Ma Teng with his hands, "The ancients said: 'Those who are virtuous prosper, and those who are against virtue perish. 'Cao Gong served the Son of Heaven to punish the riots, and the law was clear and the government was zhì, and he used his life up and down, which can be described as a smooth way. Relying on its strength, the Yuan clan turned his back on the king's order and drove Hu Lu to China, which can be described as anti-morality. Today's general has a way to do things, and he wants to sit and watch success or failure; I am afraid that success or failure is predetermined, and I will be blamed for the crime, and the general will be the first to be punished! ”

Small Theatre Hours:

Cao Cao looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle: In fact, Lone is a poet, and conquest is just a way of life.

Zhong Xuan held the pen and stared: Actually, the old man is a calligrapher, and fighting is just a hobby.

Zhang Ji: Actually, I am an actor, and what I lobby for is just a part-time job.

Brother Chao debuted~(≧▽≦)/~Lalala~~~Scatter flowers to celebrate~~~ Although this gentleman's character is not good, but Yan is still superior~~~ (to be continued)