The afterglow of the setting sun was sprinkled on the rammed earth walls of Maocheng, adding a bit of majesty to the fortress under the Taihang Mountain. Xiao Xiao, in the cold wind, several Yuan soldiers were curling their necks with the barrels of their guns, waiting for the next group of comrades to come and change the guard. Suddenly, a series of small dots appeared on the official road in front of the city, and as the string of small dots moved closer and closer, the defenders of the city finally saw the identity of the comer, but it was a group of caravanserais. It is said that Maocheng was originally the main traffic route between Shangdang and Yecheng, and the business exchanges here in the usual season are also very lively. However, with the melees of Yuan, Cao, and Cai, Guanzhong and Jizhou cut off trade, and even Maocheng was depressed a lot.

Dare to return to Wei County at this time, it is really a person who wants money and does not want to die! - The colonel guarding the city shouted to the city in a high-spirited voice to the city while sneering at the caravan that suddenly appeared, "Stop! Who's coming? ”

But seeing a middle-aged man galloping out of the caravan on his back, he said to the junior colonel in the city, "Shangdang businessman Jia Wangguang has seen the military master. It's not early......"

Before the man who called Wang Guang made a request to enter the city, the junior colonel guarding the city was already one step ahead of him, and waved his hand impatiently, "General Yi has an order, and no one without a document is allowed to enter the city." Wait for it to disperse as soon as possible! ”

When the man in the city heard that he wanted to enter the city, he frowned and retreated to the horse team, followed him with a few furs and then smiled at the little colonel, "The clerk is here, and I also ask the military master to make it convenient." ”

In the face of such a straightforward bribe, the little school guarding the city was familiar with sending someone to put down a basket from the city. Wang Guang hurriedly stepped forward and put the furs in the basket. After a while, the closed gate of Maocheng suddenly opened, but the defenders who received the "documents" on the city did not notice that there were several pairs of eyes on a hill near Maocheng who were paying attention to the movement of this place.

"Yu Sikong, General Xu has entered Maocheng."

The scouts who galloped back brought Cao Cao the news that Xu Huang and the others had infiltrated Maocheng. But Cao Cao, who was the initiator, only nodded and waved his hand to signal the scout to retreat, and his eyes never left the battle report on the case, "Cai Anzhen refers to the giant deer?" ”

"Yes. According to the spies' report, Cai Anzhen had swung his army north two days ago and is now stationed in Qiuqiu. Gao Fan responded cautiously.

Cao Cao, who had been confirmed by Xun You, got up and walked to the cowhide map and stretched out his hand to compare the location of the rebuke, and his eyes suddenly narrowed into a line, "Cai Anzhen's picture is not a giant deer, but Handan!" ”

"Handan? Then Cai Anzhen didn't rob Zhao Jun with the lord! Gao Fan's expression changed.

Cao Cao thought farther than Gao Fan. In his opinion, once Zhao County was taken by Cai Ji, Cao Jun's northward journey from Jizhou would be blocked. If Cao Cao wanted to attack Zhongshan and Changshan counties, he had to take a detour and merge the states. In this way, it is equivalent to Cao Cao's hard work for most of the year, and only half of Wei County was won, and the other counties in Jizhou were all in Cai Ji's pocket. Think about it, how could Cao Cao not be in a hurry.

In fact, Cao Cao did not ignore Zhao Jun. Maocheng is not only the grain road of Yecheng, but also the grain road of Handan. Taking Maocheng is equivalent to cutting off the grain route from Yecheng and Handan to Guanzhong at the same time. It can be said to be the prelude to Cao Jun's attack on Handan. For this reason, Cao Cao not only personally led his troops to attack Maocheng. He also set up a plan to send Xu Huang to mix into the city and move, in order to take Maocheng as much as possible, so as to turn around and return to the east to attack Zhao County.

But now it seems that Cai Ji's march speed is not only faster than Cao Cao's, but the situation is also better than Cao Cao's. At least Cai Ji has taken Liyang and can concentrate on besieging Handan. And the Cao army has not yet captured Yecheng. With Cao Cao's current strength, it was obviously impossible to attack two large cities with heavy garrisons at the same time. Even if he orders someone to rush to occupy a seat outside Handan City now, if he can't beat Handan City, he will only leave a laughing stock for Cai Ji.

However, the rapid return of the Qi army made Cao Cao can't help but think of the rumors that Cai Ji has the art of landslide and earth splitting. It must be known that according to Cao Cao's original prediction, Cai Ji will have to rest for a while after taking Liyang. After all, Liyang is also an important town, and the Qi army will have to pay a certain amount of death to conquer this city. But seeing that Cai Ji is now busy going north, the Qi army does not seem to have suffered much loss in Liyang. Could it be that Cai Anzhen really used the technique of heaven and earth to crack the sky to take Liyang, but he didn't release it?

Come to think of it. Cao Cao's brows couldn't help but lock tighter. He knew that the so-called Heaven and Earth Splitting Technique was neither a demon art, nor an immortal art. Because after Liu Ye's analysis and verification, the black wood chips brought by Xu You from Yuan Ying were attached to sulfur, nitrate, charcoal and other substances. According to the warlock in Cao's mansion, this seems to be an alchemy thing, which has the effect of ambushing fire. From this, Cao Cao judged that the technique of heaven and earth splitting, which had been rumored to be miraculous by the outside world, should be some kind of magic. It's no surprise that Cai Ji knows how to do this. Considering that the Qi army might use the Heaven Collapse Technique against him in the future, Cao Cao couldn't help but secretly resolve that he must let the warlocks in the palace do their best to find out the secret of the Heaven Collapse and Earth Splitting Technique.

However, now Cao Cao's most important consideration is how to stop Cai Ji from blocking his way north. So Cao Cao set his sights on the map again. After a while, his tightly knit brow finally loosened, and a confident smile appeared on his face again. But he resolutely turned around and ordered. "There will be a fire in Maocheng tonight. The herald ordered the three armies to take this as a letter and besiege Maocheng! ”

"What about Cai Anzhen?" Gao Fan asked.

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "As long as Yiyang and Quliang counties are in the hands of a lone person, what can Cai Anzhen do if he takes Handan!" ”

Yes, as long as he, Cao Cao, can capture other prefectures and counties of Zhao County before Cai Ji, and throw Handan to the Qi army to gnaw. Even Yuan Shang of Handan was able to hold back the Qi army, giving Cao Jun enough time to open up the road to the north. Of course, before that, Cao Cao's top priority was to take Maocheng first.

And when Cao Cao's soldiers arrived in Maocheng, Xiao Jian also led his troops to join Cai Ji as promised. The army in the city also quickly swelled to more than 20,000 people. Even if the Qi army prepared its own military rations, such a large number of soldiers and horses could not be received by a small city like Qiuqiu. Therefore, after the round with Xiao Jian, Cai Ji set off non-stop and headed towards Zhao County, the destination of her trip.

As Cao Cao speculated, Cai Ji did have the heart to attack Zhao Jun when he went north this time. However, her target is not Handan, but Yi Yang. In Cai Ji's opinion, instead of spending time and troops on the high walls of Handan, it is better to take the surrounding prefectures and counties of Handan first. Anyway, after Cao Cao conquered Yecheng, he would also go north to Handan. However, although Cai Ji was thinking about picking the meat clean, leaving a bone for Cao Cao to gnaw. But the Qi army is not unimpeded at the moment. It must be known that although Liu Xun and others have already surrendered to Cai Ji. Affected by the handshake between the two brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, most of the prefectures and counties in Julu County were still under Yuan Shang's substantive control. In particular, in order to keep Handan's flanks, Yuan Shang specially appointed his confidant Ma Yan as the giant deer to guard Quliang. Therefore, if Cai Ji wants to capture the periphery of Handan, he must first pull out Quliang, Julu and other cities.

Cai Ji rode a gray mare surrounded by a large group of men and horses and marched across the plain, his black cloak fluttering in the wind. There was a powerful crackling sound. In front of her, he was dressed in a bleached leather vest, covered with gray chain mail, with a long knife and dagger hanging from his waist, and a long lance in his hand. Jia Xu and Liu Xun rode war horses on both sides of Cai Ji on left and right. Behind them were Cao Pi and Cui Lin, who were also dressed in military uniforms, and two rows of brightly armored cavalry.

"Can Liu Fujun be familiar with Ma Yan?" Cai Ji asked Liu Xun about Ma Yan's situation as he walked. Cai Ji is actually not ignorant of this person. According to the records of the historical books. Ma Yan was a general of Yuan Shangdu, and in the Battle of Yankou, he defected to Cao Cao along with Zhang Yi, another of Yuan Shang's generals, causing Yuan Shang's troops to collapse. However, this alone does not guarantee that the current Ma Yan has two hearts. After all, in the battle of indiscriminate mouths in another time and space, Yuan Shang was exhausted. And now Yuan Shang is not exhausted. Therefore, Cai Ji wanted to hear the opinions of Liu Xun and others, so that he could choose whether to attack by force or send someone to plot against Ma Yan.

"Back to the Lord. Although Ma Yan is brave, he is greedy for money and lustful, and he is not a good general. Liu Xun's words were full of disdain. Obviously, he despised Mayan's character very much.

"Greedy for money and lustful? This general Ma is a man of temperament. Cai Ji said half-jokingly, and at the same time had a plan in his heart. saw her turn around and greet Cui Lin, "Deru." Prepare a letter to General Ma for Gu. ”

"Whoa." Cui Lin, who understood, immediately clenched his fists and took his life.

It is said that not long after Cui Yan sent Cai Ji away that day, he took a group of his disciples to Donglai to see what Cai Ji said about the Zunjing Pavilion. However, he did not take Cui Lin away, but recommended Cui Lin to Xiao Jian, who was stationed in Qinghe. Xiao Jian knew that Cai Ji valued Cui Yan a lot, so he naturally didn't dare to snub Cui Lin. not only arranged a good position for Cui Lin in the army, but also took him north with him this time. Facts have proved that Xiao Jian's arrangement is very much in line with Cai Ji's wishes. Seeing Cui Lin, who had already joined the army, Cai Ji promoted him to the literary position of Qihou Mansion without saying a word. The "literature" mentioned here does not refer to art that uses language and writing as a tool to vividly reflect the objective reality, but an official name in the Han Dynasty. The full name is "Literary Peng". To put it bluntly, it is a secretary who plays a pen for the chief officer and drafts documents.

In fact, Cai Ji also has a competent literature, that is, You Heng. But although You Heng is literate, his temper is too stinky. Cai Ji can bear it, but the civil and military retainers around Cai Ji may not be able to bear it. In case one day You Zhengping is cut down by a certain Qiu Ba because of his stinky mouth, Cai Ji's black pot of mutilating the talented man will be condemned. So in the spirit of thinking about the safety of Youheng's life and his reputation, Cai Ji finally asked Youheng to take the title of literature and stay in Donglai to be responsible for sorting out the books of the Zunjing Pavilion. And Wei Zhuang and other staff members are rich in miscellaneous learning, but they lack literary brilliance. Cui Lin is a teacher of Cui Yan, and his writing is good. His arrival undoubtedly solved Cai Ji's urgent need.

Seeing that Cui Lin had taken over the task, Cai Ji looked at Cao Pi who was following behind him, and suddenly said with interest, "Deru is a teacher of Mr. Ji Jue, and he is familiar with the classics. In the future, in the army, Zihuan's studies will be entrusted to you. ”

Cao Pi glanced at Cui Lin and lowered his head silently. Obviously, he didn't agree with the new master that Cai Ji had found for him. And Cui Lin was also taken aback by the new task assigned by Cai Ji. Who is Cao Pi? It was Cao Cao's son, Cai Ji's fiancé. It's not good for people to be approached because of their awkward identity, and it's not good to be approachable. It's not a good thing that he just entered the Qi camp and got involved with Cao Pi. However, since Cai Ji has already opened Chrysostom, Cui Lin can't presumptuously excuse himself.

So after sorting out the wording. Cui Lin humbly bowed to Cai Ji, "The Lord is enlightened. Pi Gongzi Bogu Tongjin, eight years old can write, is a prodigy in the world. Lin Cai's shallow learning is afraid that it is difficult to take on a heavy responsibility. However, Lin knows someone who can give him some pointers. ”

Cai Ji couldn't help but laugh dumbly when he saw Cui Lin wearing a high hat for Cao Pi on the one hand, but on the other hand, he couldn't wait to refuse to be Cao Pi's master. Still, she asked with interest, "Oh? Who is it? ”

"Beihai Xu Gan." Cui Lin unhurriedly said who he had chosen.

Cao Pi'er heard that Cui Linti's candidate was Xu Gan, a native of Beihai, and his originally disapproving face showed a little expectation. It is said that Cao Pi had heard his father mention this person as early as when he was in Xu Du. It is said that Xu Gan was a diligent teenager and devoted himself to classics. At the end of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the children of the family formed a party and competed to chase fame, Xu Gan closed his door, was poor in the alleys, and did not follow the customs. His father seemed to appreciate this person, but because Xu Gan was under Yuan Shao's rule, he had no chance to recruit him into Sikong Mansion.

But the person who was even more surprised at this time was Cai Ji, but when he saw her, he hurriedly asked, "But Xu Weichang?" ”

"It's Xu Weichang. The Lord has heard of him, too? Cui Lin nodded.

"Not only have I heard of it, but Lone has sent someone to find it." Cai Ji blurted out. The Xu Gan mentioned by Cui Lin is one of the seven sons of Jian'an in history. The Seven Sons of Jian'an refers to the collective name of seven literary scholars during the Jian'an period, including Kong Rong, Chen Lin, Wang Cang, Xu Gan, Ruan Yu, Ying Ling, and Liu Zhen. These seven people generally represent the writers of the Jian'an period except for Cao's father and son, and are the treasures of ancient Chinese literature. Cai Ji currently only knows that among the seven people, Kong Rong and Ying Ling are in Xudu, Chen Lin is in Yecheng, Wang Cang is in Xiangyang, and Liu Zhen is still a teenager. As for where the others were, Cai Ji didn't know.

"It's not surprising that the Lord didn't find Wei Chang, who had already left Beihai to study as early as the reign of Emperor Ling. Now he is living in seclusion in the territory of Qinghe. Cui Lin explained to Cai Ji with a smile.

"I see." Cai Ji nodded suddenly in realization, thinking that these talented people of the Eastern Han Dynasty could really run, and they hid in the deep mountains and old forests to play seclusion at every turn. I don't know that Ruan Yu, who asked Cao Cao to set fire to the mountain, is now hiding in that ravine. But it is also interesting for the seventh son of Jian'an to be Cao Pi's master. Anyway, Cai Ji's purpose is just to find a talented teacher for Cao Pi to develop his literary and youthful temperament, and the goal is achieved.

And just as Cai Ji and Cui Lin were discussing how to invite Xu Gan out of the mountain, a rapid sound of horses' hooves interrupted the conversation between the two. But seeing a messenger galloping towards him, "Your Majesty, General Zhao and Prime Minister Xiao have taken Gecheng, killing more than 800 enemy soldiers and capturing more than 2,000 people. ”

"How much did our army lose?" Cai Ji asked.

"Less than a hundred." The messenger replied, looking up.

However, before Cai Ji could show a pleased smile, another messenger rushed over. Unlike the good news brought by the previous messenger, this person knelt down and exclaimed when he saw Cai Ji, "The Lord is not good!" Qinghe was attacked! ”

Small Theatre:

Turf: Pi is also a third Cao, how can it be child's play to find a master.

Xiao Cai: Who do you want?

Turf: Can you ask for Wu quality?

Xiao Cai glanced coldly: Why don't you find Qi Siyou + Second Concubine to make a table of Three Kingdoms to kill?

Turf Bow: ...... (To be continued)