A spring rain fell silently, scarlet blood accumulated into a pool, horses' hooves trampled past, mirror-like pools rippled, armor collided in motion, and under the helmets, the tired faces of the soldiers.

Xiang Qing had stubble on his face, raised his head, let the rain wipe the enemy's blood away from his face, let the gentle wind blow away the fierce smell on his body, from the apprehension before the start of the war, to the blood boiling in the war, and then to the loneliness after the war, as if he had long been accustomed to war.

Turning around, the soldiers held their chests high and tried their best to straighten their backs, Xiang Qing wanted to relax them a little, but he didn't say anything.

When he looked ahead, Cao Cao had already led everyone to meet him at the gate of the city, there was no cheering, although the battle was over, but the war had just begun, and the power of the Yellow Turban Army had grown stronger and stronger, and they only had 5,000 men.

Looking at Cao Cao's smiling face, Xiang Qing turned over and dismounted, threw the reins of the horse to the soldiers behind him, and walked towards Cao Cao.

"How about Junhyuk? Didn't get hurt, did you? Why is there so much blood on the body. Cao Cao asked with concern.

Xiang Qing was exhausted, and he was so sleepy that he couldn't open his eyes now, but he still barely squeezed out a smile and said, "It's okay, it's all the blood of thieves." ”

Cao Cao also saw Xiang Qing's exhaustion, he asked Xiang Xu to help Xiang Qing go back to rest, Xiang Xu held Xiang Qing's arm, and felt that the weight of Xiang Qing's whole body was pressing on him, making him stumble two steps, but he quickly stood firm.

"Brother, are you alright?"

Xiang Qing touched Xiang Xu's head with a smile and said with a smile: "It's okay, let's go." ”

Xiang Qing walked inside the city gate, Wang Shu, Liu Hu, Xu Shu followed Xiang Qing's footsteps and walked in, Xu Chu arched his hand to Cao Cao, and also followed Xiang Qing.

Cao Cao looked at the back of Xiang Qing leaving, called one of the centurions in the tiger and leopard cavalry, and asked, "His state is not quite right, can you tell me about this battle." ”

This centurion is Yun Cheng on the Cao Mansion, and Yun Cheng replied with a vivid voice: "The eldest prince, this time the thief army attacked the city, there were nearly 10,000 people, but most of them were peasant bandits, and they had little combat effectiveness, but they won in the crowd, they attacked the city three days ago, and it took Xiang Erye three days to disintegrate this group of thieves." ”

Cao Cao frowned and said, "Be specific." ”

"No." Yun Cheng continued: "Three days ago, the thief army suddenly killed, they directly began to attack the city, I didn't expect the second master to have already arranged, the second master single-handedly, even picked three thief generals, the thief army was frightened, did not dare to attack the city, to the second day, we were well prepared, relying on bows and arrows and hot oil to repel them, the second master has been standing on the city tower command, never took a step back, and then the second master said, our tiger and leopard riding advantage lies in the field, can not be trapped in the lonely city, so he led the brothers of the tiger and leopard riding out of the other city gate, On the third day, when the thief army attacked the city, we covered up from behind, and the brothers in the city should fight together with the thief army by surprise, the second master rushed to the front, just one person, the commander of the thief army was cut under the horse, the enemy army collapsed almost instantly, we were chasing and killing behind, the second master is really brave and invincible. ”

Cao Cao laughed and said, "He's not really brave and invincible. ”

"Huh?" Yun Cheng asked suspiciously, "Isn't this invincible?" I don't understand, eldest son. ”

Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder and said, "He just didn't want his brothers to suffer more casualties, so he used this style of play." ”

After speaking, Cao Cao turned around and entered the city, followed by Xiahou Xuan, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Chun.

The five thousand men and horses have finally converged, and the largest thief army around Qian County has been defeated by Xiang Qing, and there are no worries about the remaining stragglers, so it is time for them to consider the next step.

After Xiang Qing rested for a day, Cao Cao asked him to come to the living room to discuss together.

Cao Song has retired from the imperial court, Cao Cao has also started a family, the official residence is a captain, and the head of the Cao family has been smoothly transferred to Cao Cao, and they don't need to discuss things in the study, but in the living room of the Cao Mansion.

Cao Cao Xiang Qing sat on the left and right main seats, on the right hand side sat Xiahou Yuan Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren Cao Hong Cao Chun, on the left hand side are Xiang Xu, Wang Shu, Liu Hu, Xu Shu, Xu Chu, the whole living room is full, and it can be called a fierce general.

Just as Cao Cao was about to speak, the butler ran in.

"Sir, there is a person outside the door who asks to see you."

Cao Cao asked, "Who wants to see you?" ”

The housekeeper replied, "He said, don't you remember your old friend in Luoyang?" Other than that, nothing was said. ”

"Call him in."

"No."

After a short time, a person came into the living room, dressed in green clothes, his hair tied with a green ribbon, full of scholarly life, with a sword at his waist, an angular face, and a fair complexion, which was a standard Confucian scholar.

"Zhicai!" Cao Cao and Xiang Qing shouted at the same time.

"Haha, Meng Dejunhe, long time no see!"

The person who came was Xi Zhicai, when he was in Luoyang, after the incident of the eldest princess of Yang'an, Xi Zhicai suddenly got a letter from home, his mother had died, Xi Zhicai returned to his hometown, and kept a vigil for his mother for three years.

Cao Cao asked happily: "Zhicai, it has been three years since Luoyang was farewell, how are you doing recently?" ”

"It's been good recently, I've been filial piety for my mother's soul, and I have studied a lot during the period, and I have achieved a little success, I heard that the Yellow Turban thieves are huge, I think Meng Dejunhe is definitely not a person who stands by, so I came here to help you!"

Xiang Qing patted him on the shoulder: "It's good to come, don't just stand, sit." ”

Most of the people in the hall didn't know each other, Cao Cao introduced him one by one, and everyone sat down again after exchanging names.

"Zhicai, we just want to discuss today, what should we do next, I see that you are already confident, then tell everyone."

"Meng De, you and Junhe already have the answer in their hearts, why do you have to ask me?" Xi Zhicai said: "Our next step must be where to go. ”

Xiang Qing smiled: "Then let's talk about it together." ”

Next to the living room, there was the military map, and the three of them stood in front of the map and said in unison: "Yingchuan." ”

Cao Hong stood up and asked suspiciously, "Why did you go to Yingchuan?" ”

Xi Zhicai asked, "Brother Zixiao, how many people do we have?" ”

Cao Hong replied: "Two thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry." ”

"And how much grain and grass do we have?"

Xu Shu stood up and said: "At present, it is sufficient, but if you march for a long time, it is estimated that it can support a month." ”

Xi Zhicai smiled: "We only have 5,000 soldiers and horses, and we don't have enough food and grass, so if we want to fight the Yellow Turban Thieves alone, I'm afraid we will be a little powerless."

Xu Shu smiled: "I understand your thoughts, we are fighting alone with the Yellow Turban Thief, and our strength is insufficient, so we have to find a person with sufficient strength, and there are only three people with sufficient strength." ”

"That's right, the imperial court appointed the general He Jin as the commander, and sent three generals, Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi, to exterminate the Yellow Turban thieves in three ways, of which General Zhu Jun's route is the closest to us, so we will set off to Yingchuan now, just to meet General Zhu Jun."

These two people have a pretty tacit understanding, Xiang Qing thought to himself, there are very few records about Xi Zhicai and Xu Shu in the history books, but these two people are definitely great talents, and it is really interesting to see the cooperation of these two people.

Cao Cao made a decision: "Okay, let's go to Yingchuan." ”

"Wait, there's an important question." Xu Shu said: "If we leave Qian County with 5,000 soldiers and horses, then Qian County is basically an empty city, if the Yellow Turban thieves come to attack, what should we do?" ”

Cao Cao smiled: "I have been prepared for this question, Cao Chun!" ”

"I'm here." Cao Chun stepped forward.

"I can only leave you five hundred infantry, can you defend the county!"

"I can, but-" Cao Chun smiled slyly and said, "Big brother and second brother, you have to leave Xiang Xu and Xiang Yan to me, otherwise it will be boring for me to stay in Qian County alone." ”

Xiang Qing smiled helplessly, called Xiang Xu and Xiang Yan over and asked, "Xiao Xu, Ah Yan, are you willing to stay and guard Qian County with Ah Chun?" ”

Xiang Yan replied neatly I do, Xiang Xu hesitated for a while, but nodded, Xiang Qing saw through his thoughts, touched his little head with a smile, and said gently: "I know you want to be with me, but this road will be very dangerous, so you have to stay in Qian County, I promise you, I will definitely come back to you." ”

Xiang Xu nodded heavily, smiled happily, when he laughed, he showed two little tiger teeth, don't look at Xiang Xu's smile cute, but his swordsmanship will definitely surprise the Yellow Turban Thief.

Cao Chun's expression became serious, and he clenched his fists and said: "Don't worry, big brother, Qian County will hand it over to me, and I guarantee that not a single yellow turban thief will be able to enter!" ”

"Good!"

After everything was ready, Cao Cao Xiangqing met Cao Song, when he left home to fight, he must inform his parents, the parting of this era is always sad, they don't know that they led the army to go out this time, will it be gone forever, they just want not to waste their ambitions, Cao Song also supports them, as a big man, how can he stay at home and be a turtle with a shrunken head?

On the way out of Qian County, Xiang Qing was preoccupied, and anyone could see that he was actually very uneasy about leaving Xiang Xu in Qian County.

"What's wrong? Regretted it? Cao Cao asked.

Xiang Qing shook his head and said, "I either regret it, or I'm a little worried, he has already left me twice, will he think I'm ...... Alas! Not to mention, it's hard to guess what a child thinks. ”

"Don't worry, Xiao Xu will definitely be fine."

"I hope so."

At this moment, Wang Shu rode back on his horse, and said breathlessly: "Lord, eldest prince, there is Chen County in front, but there is a group of Yellow Turban thieves in Chen County, about 5,000 people, they are attacking Chen County, and the leader is named Zhang Mancheng, who is the commander of the Yellow Turban Xiaoqu all the way. ”

Xiang Qing and Cao Cao glanced at each other, and Cao Cao said: "Then let's kill it, the Yellow Turban breaks the city, and the people will definitely suffer." ”

"Okay, kill it! Save Chen County! “