Just as Gao Lan's soldiers and horses were encamped, Cao Ren, who had returned from defeat, galloped wildly and returned to Dongjun City.

As soon as he entered the city gate, he shouted at the full pet who came to greet him: "Close the gate, close the gate quickly." ”

Seeing the soldiers who were still entering the city, Man Zhong hurriedly reminded Cao Ren: "General Cao, we still have many soldiers outside the city, if we close the city gate, I'm afraid it will disperse." ”

"Close the gates, close the gates quickly." Cao Ren, who had already become a frightened bird, continued to shout: "Otherwise, the soldiers and horses of Jizhou will rush into the city." ”

Man Zhong knew that Cao Ren had just been defeated, and he was terrified, and if he didn't see the city gate closed, he would definitely not be at ease. Hurriedly ordered a team leader beside him: "General Cao will give the order to close the city gate immediately." ”

After receiving the order, the team leader immediately shouted to the soldiers in the city gate: "Pass General Cao's order to close the city gate immediately." ”

The soldiers guarding the gate said yes and immediately began to close the gates. However, the rout outside the city was entering the city in a steady stream, and when they saw that the city was closing the city gates, they were afraid that they would be locked out of the city, so they hurriedly rushed over to grab the gates, and the two sides were crowded together at the city gates.

Seeing that the rout could not enter the city, and the city gate could not be closed, the team leader hurriedly asked Man Zhong for instructions: "Mr. Man, the rout army is blocking the door, and the city gate cannot be closed." Don't know what to do? ”

If Man Pet is a ruthless person or something, he will definitely order the city head to throw rolling wood and stones, and smash to death a group of rout soldiers who try to enter the city, so as to achieve the goal of killing chickens and monkeys. However, Man Chong couldn't make such a ruthless move, he glanced at Cao Ren, who was sitting next to him drinking water, and ordered the team leader: "You go to the city quickly and see if the Jizhou army pursues and kills." ”

When the team leader heard Man's command, he hurriedly ran towards the city. Not long after, the team leader shouted at the head of the city at the top of the city to the full pet on the street below: "Back to Mr. Man's words, except for our rout, no Jizhou soldiers and horses have been found." ”

"General Cao," I heard that there were no Jizhou soldiers and horses chasing after him, so he said to Cao Ren: "There are no Jizhou soldiers and horses coming outside, so you might as well open the city gate and let the defeated soldiers enter the city, right?" If they were allowed to stay outside the city, they would probably harm the people around them, and once the lord learned about it, he would definitely blame the general. ”

When the team leader said at the head of the city that he had not found the Jizhou soldiers and horses, Cao Ren had actually heard it a long time ago, but he was worried that the Jizhou army would enter the city in the midst of the rout, and he was very resistant to opening the city gate. But when he heard Manzhong mention his eldest brother, Cao Ren had to be cautious.

For him, it doesn't matter if these soldiers and horses are all lost, as long as the recruitment flag is erected, they can all be replenished in ten days and half a month. But if you leave a bad impression on your eldest brother because of this, your future future will be affected. Thinking of this, he waved his hand at Manchu and said, "That's it, that's it, open the city gates, and let those routs enter the city." ”

Man Zhong and Cao Ren returned to the Taishou Mansion and found Ma Riyan waiting at the door.

Seeing the two of them coming back, Ma Riyan suddenly had a seizure: "General Cao, Chen Gongtai is the newly appointed Taishou of Dongjun by the imperial court, you led your troops to intercept him, don't you think that the army will not be able to rebel?" ”

Cao Ren had just returned from defeat, and he was unhappy in his heart, when he heard Ma Riyan's reprimand, he was even more angry, but he thought that the other party was a master sent by the imperial court, so he could only hold back the anger in his heart and walk away.

"Matthew, you're mistaken. General Cao did not lead his troops to attack the new Taishou. After waiting for Cao Ren to leave, Man Chong hurriedly explained to Ma Riyan: "General Cao led the troops out of the city to meet Chen Taishou, but the soldiers and horses in Jizhou were arrogant and unreasonable, and when they saw General Cao, they fought hard, and General Cao had no choice but to lead the troops back." ”

Seeing the sincere look on his face, Ma Riyan was a little confused, he just listened to the report of his entourage, saying that Cao Ren led 10,000 troops to appear, and was going to go to the Chen Palace and his party to be unfavorable, so he went to the Taishou Mansion to ask the teacher, but was detained here by the guards of the Taishou Mansion and could not leave. At this moment, I heard that Cao Ren led his troops out of the city to welcome Chen Gong, and he couldn't help but be a little confused.

After a while, he asked, "Berning, are you telling the truth?" ”

"Really, of course it's true." Man Zhong replied without a red face and a heartbeat: "How dare the lower officials use lies to deceive the superiors? Of course, what is said is true. ”

"Boning, since you said that General Cao led the troops out of the city to meet Chen Taishou, then why did the guards of Taishou Mansion detain Ben Taifu here and not allow Ben Taifu to leave?"

"Taifu, some of the subordinates must make their own opinions, and wait for the subordinate to express their grievances for you." After Man Zhong finished speaking, he ordered the team around him: "Come on, take down the chief of the Taishou Mansion and have twenty rods." ”

The team leader agreed, led people to arrest Shi Chang, dragged him aside, and began the execution with a crackling sound, beating Shi Chang screaming again and again.

Ma Riyan was a soft-hearted person, and he couldn't hear such a movement, so he waved his hand at Manzhong, "Berning, this matter is over here, and this official doesn't want to pursue it." Tomorrow, you will personally lead people to meet Chen Taishou outside the city. ”

"The subordinate obeys!"

After sending Ma Riyan away, Man Pet came to the inner hall and saw Cao Ren who was sulking.

"That old ghost is gone?" Cao Ren asked angrily.

"Back to General Cao's words, he has already returned to the post house."

"Although after the victory of the soldiers and horses in Jizhou today, they did not take advantage of the victory to catch up, but they will definitely arrive at the city of Dongjun tomorrow." Cao Ren asked with a sad face: "Mr. Man, tell me, what should we do?" ”

"The defenders in the city have lost their fighting spirit after today's worship." Man Zhong shook his head lightly and said, "If you wait for the Jizhou army to arrive tomorrow, I'm afraid it will collapse without a fight." ”

Cao Ren has no doubts about this statement of full favor. When he first set up the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, he felt that it was just a gesture to let the Jizhou soldiers and horses be wiped out, but after the formation was broken, Cao Ren became pessimistic, not to mention that there were only three or five thousand soldiers and horses left in the city, even if there were one or two thousand, he didn't think he could hold the city.

He grabbed Man's arm and asked anxiously, "Mr. Man, what should I do?" ”

"I can only abandon the city overnight and go to Chenliu to join the lord."

"Abandon the city?" Cao Ren was taken aback by Man's favored words: "My eldest brother handed Dongjun into my hands, if he loses it, how can I explain it to him?" ”

"General Cao," seeing that Cao Ren was still hesitant at this moment, he said with a straight face: "Chen Gongtai is the new Taishou appointed by the imperial court, if the general doesn't want to bear the infamy of a traitor, he can't close the door when he arrives tomorrow." Rather than not being able to keep the city then, it is better to leave early and rush to join the lord. ”

"If my brother blames, what should I do?"

"The general can excuse himself." Man Zhong said: "The lord is benevolent, and he will never embarrass his brother, and you will be able to save the day when the time comes." ”

After listening to Manzhong's words, and thinking about his brother's personality, Cao Ren stood up suddenly, called a confidant, and told him to pack up immediately and prepare to leave Dongjun overnight.

At the third watch, Cao Ren and Man Chong quietly left the Taishou Mansion with more than 20 henchmen, and ordered the gatekeepers at the south gate to open the city gate and disappear into the night.

At noon the next day, the soldiers and horses led by Chen Gong and Gao Lan arrived outside the city of Dongjun, thinking that Cao Ren would hold on behind closed doors, but who knew that the four gates of the city were wide open, and the Taifu Ma Riyan took the officials of the Taishou Mansion of Dongjun out of the city to greet him.

Chen Gong hurriedly dismounted and saluted Ma Riyan: "I've seen Mrs. Ma!" ”

"Chen Taishou," Ma Riyan helped Chen Gong up, and said with a smile: "Cao Ren and Man Chong have escaped in the night last night, and this Taifu will personally take someone to take you into the city to perform your duties." ”