Yecheng, outside the East Gate. （_）

Lü Meng came to a stop outside the city with three hundred soldiers, ordered his soldiers to take out their bows and crossbows, and then mounted the crossbow arrows tied with paper strips on the crossbow arrows, aiming at the towering and huge city wall.

"Put!" Lu Meng shouted.

In an instant, one after another crossbow arrows shot out of the air, with a piercing roar, and shot into the walls of Yecheng. Many crossbow arrows were even shot into the city, landing inside the urn city, and were picked up by the soldiers in the city. Three rounds of crossbow arrows were fired, and Lü Meng took the soldiers to change positions and ran towards the south gate. Next, Lü Meng appeared at the South Gate, the West Gate, and the North Gate, and each gate had crossbow arrows shot into it.

In this way, the news spreads faster.

The soldiers defending the city learned the news, and even if the generals defending the city wanted to control the situation, they could not control it.

Lu Meng completed the task and walked towards the camp triumphantly, humming a small tune in his mouth, very happy. Zhang Hu followed behind Lu Meng and said with a smile: "Boss, let's shoot the crossbow arrows into the city, and the news is only the soldiers guarding Yecheng, and it is impossible for the people and officials to get the news in a short time, and it is difficult to make it known to the whole city!" ”

"Stupid!"

Lu Meng glared at Zhang Hu and said, "Huzi, do you think that His Majesty's means are only these?" ”

Zhang Hu asked, "What else?" ”

Lu Meng smiled and said: "We will send crossbow arrows to deliver the news, and Shi A will also fly pigeons to transmit the message, so that the people lurking in the city can spread the news and expand the scope." Even if it will be found out by Cao Cao, this is the last battle, and it is not uncommon for his identity to be exposed. When the news spread all over the city, Cao Cao was already weak and could not turn the situation around. ”

Zhang Hu nodded and returned to the camp with Lu Meng.

When Lü Meng left with the army, the news of Cao Ang and Xiahou Yuan being captured soon spread in Yecheng. Not only the soldiers in the city, but also the people in the city got the news.

The Royal Palace, in the main hall.

Cao Cao sat cross-legged and listened to the news spread in the city.

Full of sorrow on his face, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, there are rumors everywhere in the city that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Governor Xiahou have been captured, which has made people panic and unstable. This must be a rumor made by the Shu Kingdom, and the minister believes that it is necessary to thoroughly investigate the affairs in the city, catch the people lurking in the city, and then severely punish them to deter the people who are ready to move in the city. ”

Cao Cao frowned and said, "Berning, what do you think of the truth of the news?" ”

Manzhong's eyes flashed for a moment, and then he said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks it's fake." The Governor of Xiahou and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sit in Qingzhou and will not fail. Wang Cantun troops outside the city, but he could not break through Yecheng, so the plan shook the heart of the army. ”

Cao Cao chuckled and shook his head slightly.

Man Zhong said: "Your Majesty, you have to believe His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

Cao Cao said self-deprecatingly: "Even the upright Man Boning has learned to tell lies, it's incredible!" ”

Man's cheeks flushed, and his face showed embarrassment.

Cao Cao Zhengse said: "There are people from Shu in the city who spread the news and expand their influence, this is indeed Wang Can's strategy. But Lü Meng brought someone to deliver the message, and it must be true. Think about it, when we confronted the Shu army at Tiger Pass, we had already encountered such a situation. Now that Lu Meng is spreading the news, it must be the fall of Qingzhou, and Wang Can will do this. ”

After hearing this, Man Pet stopped talking.

After all, the full pet also thinks that the news is likely to be true, and there will be no falsehood.

"Your Majesty, it's not good."

Suddenly, a eunuch ran in from outside the main hall. The eunuch was in a hurry, his face showed a panicked look, and he said in a lost voice: "Your Majesty, the ministers of the court are all here, waiting outside the palace, and they are all clamoring to see Your Majesty. ”

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows, waved his hand and said, "Xuan, let them all come in." ”

"No!"

The eunuch hurriedly ran out and disappeared from Cao Cao's sight.

Full of anger on his face, he said sharply: "Your Majesty, the ministers of the court must have known the news that their family members were captured, and now the courtiers are flocking to see Your Majesty in order to coerce Your Majesty and make Your Majesty go out of the city and surrender." The ministers thought that they must use thunderous means to deter the courtiers, so that they would not dare to act rashly. ”

Cao Cao said: "Don't worry, I understand. ”

A moment later, there was a dense panicked footstep outside the main hall, and officials rushed in one by one.

"Your Majesty, the minister's mother, wife and children have been arrested by the Shu army, and their lives are not guaranteed, please save them." An official said with a sad face as he knelt on the ground and sobbed.

"Your Majesty, the minister's old father was captured by the Shu army, please call the shots."

"Your Majesty, the minister's only youngest son is also in the Shu army."

……

The ministers of the court and the central government all asked Cao Cao to take action. But Cao Cao did not have the strength to rescue the captured people, and the only chance to save them was for Cao Cao to surrender. In other words, these officials called for help, but they coerced Cao Cao. The so-called punishment is not to blame the public, all the officials do this, Cao Cao has anger in his heart, and it is difficult to punish the officials.

However, the officials who came to meet were not Cao Cao's henchmen, Xun Yu, Chen Qun, Liu Ye and others were not among them, and the people standing in the hall were just insignificant people.

Seeing Cao Cao's embarrassed face, Man Chong's cold gaze swept over the ministers of the court, and shouted: "Your family members have been arrested, isn't Your Majesty affected?" The crown prince was arrested, did Your Majesty ever say? ”

When the officials in the court heard this, they immediately fell silent.

Cao Cao's gaze swept over the officials in the hall, and he shouted in a deep voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, I will give an explanation." Let's all go down and let me think about it. ”

"Wait for the resignation!"

The crowd came and went as fast as they came, and soon disappeared into the main hall.

Man Zhong looked at Cao Cao and asked in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, do you really plan to promise them, can't!" Speaking of which, Man Pet didn't know what to say. The meaning of Cao Cao's words made a bad feeling rise in Man Chong's heart, because he felt that Cao Cao seemed to be preparing to surrender.

Cao Cao said: "Berning, if you continue to resist, how long do you think you can hold out?" ”

Man Pet thought about it carefully, but he didn't know how to answer. With Yecheng's sturdy defense, he may be able to hold on, but when the food and grass run out, what should he do at that time?

Cao Cao continued: "If there is still a chance to win, even if it is only a slight, I am willing to persevere. But now it's unsustainable and can't hold on. As long as I continue to resist, the first to disagree is the officials in the court, and the Wei State without the courtiers is still the Wei State? ”

Man Zhong said: "Your Majesty, those flatterers, don't do it. ”

Cao Cao sighed and said, "O Berning, I know that you are loyal, and I have failed you. I also know that Wen Ruo, Ziyang and others are loyal to me, and it is I who have failed you who are willing to serve me. ”

Man Zhong said: "Your Majesty, your talent is no less than Wang Can, your mind is not inferior to Wang Can, and your courage is not inferior to Wang Can." It's just that Wang Can was lucky and recruited countless talents. This is not His Majesty's fault, it is the heavens that do not bless the Wei State. ”

Cao Cao sighed and said, "Yes, the heavens do not bless the Wei State. ”

After a pause, Cao Cao said, "Berning, I finally told you to do something, are you willing?" ”

Man Zhong arched his hand and said: "Please command Your Majesty!" ”

Cao Cao took a deep breath and said word by word: "You immediately go to the Shu army camp and tell Wang Can that I will meet him outside Yecheng and invite him to the meeting." ”

"Your Majesty!"

When Manpet heard this, he immediately tensed.

Cao Cao sighed, waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind, let's go." At this moment, Cao Cao seemed to be even older, and his already pale temples were even more faintly silver, giving people a feeling of old and haggard.