Chen Liu.

"Alas, Meng De is determined to attack Xuzhou, and it seems that Gongtai's plan can only be frustrated." Looking at the letter sent by Cao Cao, Zhang Miao sighed. He and Chen Gong were both famous people in Yanzhou, and after Cao Cao entered Dongjun, they became close friends and friends. Now, although Zhang Miao didn't know that Cao Cao had almost made Chen Gong's attitude clear, seeing Cao Cao's letter, Zhang Miao could also guess Cao Cao's attitude.

"Heh, Cao Song's murder obviously has another inside story, even if it was really Tao Qian's doing, it must be inseparable from that Zang Ba. But now that Cao Mengde is only thinking about Xuzhou, I'm afraid what he is doing is not just to avenge his father, right? Hearing Zhang Miao's sigh, a slightly mocking voice next to him sounded.

The owner of the voice is a man in his forties, whose name is Bian Rang, and he became famous as a young man, on the same level as Kong Rong in Qingzhou. Later, he was conquered by the general He Jin, and he became He Jin's subordinate in Luoyang.

Wen Li's words are too arbitrary, although Miao has not investigated the inside story, but according to the current circulating news, Tao Qian's suspicion is indeed the greatest. He and Yuan Shu previously sent troops to attack Yanzhou, and later Meng Delian took more than ten cities in Xuzhou to settle grievances. Although Tao Qian lost his rule over the Lang Evil Kingdom because Zang Ba took the opportunity to become self-reliant, there may not be no Tao Qian's people under his command...... "Hearing Bian Rang's words, Zhang Miao subconsciously wanted to defend Cao Cao.

Meng Zhuo thought too simply, although his father's hatred was shared with the sky, but Cao Mengde didn't do much investigation at all after hearing about it, but just asked the public station to go to Lang Xie to inquire about Zang Ba, and then directly sent troops to Xuzhou. The so-called, I'm afraid it's more about trying to plot Xuzhou......" Bian Rang said with a chuckle when he heard this.

"Now Li Wushuang occupies the state and the division, Yuan Benchu in Jizhou and Gongsun Zan to compete for Youzhou, it is inevitable that although Yuan Highway in Yuzhou has just been defeated, Nanyang was captured by Liu Jingsheng, and there are rebellions in many places in Yuzhou, but with Yuan Highway's current strength, as long as he does not underestimate the enemy, it is not that Cao Mengde can defeat. In this way, if Cao Mengde wants to expand his power, he can only start from Xuzhou. Bian Rang kept explaining, his tone full of confidence.

Hearing this, Zhang Miao was silent, because he didn't know how to refute it. Because Bian Rang said it so bluntly, and he Zhang Miao was also a famous man in Yanzhou, it was naturally impossible not to understand.

After a long while, he sighed and said, "Wenli is so talented, if he can serve Meng De......"

But before he finished speaking, Bian Rang laughed and said, "There is no need to say more about this matter, Jean will definitely not serve that Cao Mengde." In the past, although Cao Mengde was a eunuch, he was also a loyal army and a person who loved the people. But now? What is the difference between it and Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and other ambitious people? ”

"You ......" Zhang Miao heard this, stood up abruptly and glared at Bian Rang, but his mouth opened, and finally he sat down weakly, but he couldn't say a word of rebuttal.

Seeing this, Bian Rang looked at Zhang Miao and sighed, "Let Meng Zhuo and that Cao Mengde have known each other for a long time and don't want to believe it, but if today is no longer the world it used to be, he Cao Mengde doesn't know the Cao Mengde that Meng Zhuo is familiar with." ”

Then, without waiting for Zhang Miao to speak, Bian Rang shook his head and sighed, "Actually, this is not to blame Cao Mengde, after all, who is really for the imperial court today?" Even if it is Li Wushuang, he may not really want to support the Han family. It is precisely because of this that Jean chose to live in seclusion......"

As he spoke, Bian Rang looked at Zhang Miao and said, "With Meng Zhuo's talent, I don't think I will not be unclear about this, although I don't know why Meng Zhuo still believes in that Cao Mengde so much, but let me think that instead of being disheartened because of the truth in the end, it is better to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests earlier, but it is also at ease." ”

Hearing Bian Rang's words, Zhang Miao opened his mouth, and after a long while, he sighed, "If everyone in the world is like Wenli, then the big man ...... It's really over. ”

Hearing this, Bian Rang was stunned, and suddenly sighed, "Meng Zhuo's words, let me really be ashamed of myself......" After speaking, Bian Rang turned around and left, looking from the back, it was so gloomy.

Obviously, he was stabbed by Zhang Miao's words to the weakness in his heart that he didn't want to be touched. After all, who is a talented person like him who is really willing to spend the rest of his life in seclusion in the mountains? Except for people like Sima Hui and Zheng Xuan who are simply for the purpose of studying knowledge, most of the people who live in seclusion are just to escape.

They are dissatisfied with what is happening in reality, but they can't do anything about it, so they have to choose to live in seclusion, out of sight.

After this incident, Zhang Miao also had no intention of recruiting Bian Rang, but according to Cao Cao's order, he sent someone to Guangling to persuade his brother Zhang Chao.

Just a few days later, a piece of news about Bian Rang stunned Zhang Miao, "What, Wenli was asked?" Who did this to you? Why?! Zhang Miao stood up abruptly and looked at the soldier in front of him in shock and asked.

"Returning to Fujun, it is General Cao's order." The soldier hurriedly explained what had happened.

"Impossible! How could Boon Lai do such a thing?! Someone must have deliberately framed him! Check it out for me! Be sure to find out! Zhang Miao ordered sharply.

It's just that when the soldier was ordered to leave, Zhang Miao suddenly sat back in his position weakly, "Alas, even if the truth is found out, what can I do?" Mengde, Mengde, why are you doing this?! ”

"Why did the lord kill Wen Li and the others on the spot?! Even if they are at great fault, they should go to prison to ask for the crime first, and then execute them after the investigation is clear......" Chen Gong looked at Cao Cao and said loudly, his tone was full of dissatisfaction, and even with a hint of questioning. The reason why this is so is because he and Bian Rang have also been friends for many years.

"Humph! Let's take a look at this! When Cao Cao heard Chen Gong's words, he just snorted coldly and handed him a copy of Jian Ce in his hand.

Chen Gong took it and looked at it, and after a while, he exclaimed, "Impossible!" Wen Li is not such a person! But it was on the simple policy, but it was written that Bian Rang made all kinds of slanderous remarks against Cao Cao in Chen Liushi's circle. What is the hype Cao Cao is after the eunuch, so it should not be believed. Or Cao Cao's troops to Xuzhou are just coveting the land of Xuzhou, not to avenge his father at all. It was even mentioned that Bian Rang seemed to be inciting Yanzhou scholars and officials to defect to Li Yi, because in his mouth, Li Yi was the one who could help the Han family.

At the same time, it was also written on Jian Ce that not long ago, Bian Rang also went to Chen Liu to have a long talk with Zhang Miao in detail. Although Jian Ce did not write what he said to Zhang Miao, it was very easy to guess in combination with the above words.

"What's impossible? People's hearts are unpredictable, and Wenli's disrespect for me here is not a day or two. It's just that he was just quick to talk about it before, and I didn't bother to investigate it, but now when he was preparing to attack Xuzhou, he jumped out and spread these remarks......" Cao Cao looked at Chen Gong and explained lightly.

"Yes...... But even so, what evidence is there?! In case it is a traitor slandering ......" Chen Gong said as he looked at Cao Cao and trembled, and he didn't know if it was because Bian Rang's death was too excited, or because Cao Cao's rash behavior made him angry.

"I know that Gongtai is good friends with Wenli over there, but this matter is indeed conclusive, and many people have heard Wenli's remarks slandering me over there......" Cao Cao looked at Chen Gong and said lightly, "As for inciting everyone to join Zikang, although there is no clear evidence, but now I am preparing to send troops to Xuzhou, but I really don't dare to take risks......"

"That's it?" Chen Gong looked at Cao Cao in disbelief, for some reason, Cao Cao was so strange in his eyes at this moment.

"Not bad." Cao Cao looked directly at Chen Gong and replied very directly, "It is not unreasonable for Bian Rang to slander me in public and slander my reputation, and to be sentenced to death according to the criminal law." It's just that I pity his talent and hope that he can repent and change his ways, serve the court and benefit the people. But he didn't understand my hard work at all, and continued to spread these rumors, in this case, shouldn't I kill him? ”

"Now I am ready to send troops to Xuzhou, but he is spreading rumors again at this time, and even preparing to win over the scholars and officials to join Zikang. Although there is no real evidence, is it unjust killing to execute him with his past words and deeds? In the end, Cao Cao looked at Chen Gong and asked rhetorically.

Hearing Cao Cao's rhetorical question, Chen Gong didn't speak, because he didn't know how to answer. Bian Rang has also heard a lot about Cao Cao's remarks. But he didn't care, because many unsuccessful scholars in this era like to comment on celebrities in the world, such as Xu Shao and Xu Zijiang. It's just that the people who let the comments are more focused on Cao Cao.

Seeing this, Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay, let's go down and get busy, now that the conquest of Xuzhou is imminent, there are many affairs, but I still need to worry about the public platform." ”

"Alas......" Chen Gong sighed when he heard this, put down the Jian Ce, and left after a gesture to Cao.

In June, Cao Cao, who was well prepared, sent 60,000 troops to attack Xuzhou again, but to Cao Cao's dissatisfaction, Zhang Chao of Guangling and Zang Ba of Lang Evil Kingdom did not act.

"Humph! Such a child, after I take Xuzhou, I will definitely not be spared! Cao Cao snorted coldly.

"Lord, now there are two less reinforcements from Guangling and Langxi, but with the strength of our army, I'm afraid it will be ......," Xun Yue said respectfully when he heard this.

"Humph! Even if there are no soldiers and horses on those two roads, can't I, Cao Mengde, capture Xuzhou?! Cao Cao snorted coldly again when he heard this.

Hearing Cao Cao's words, Xun Yue felt a little disagreeing, but he didn't say it, just silently retreated. Unlike his nephew Xun You, Xun Yue's personality is more introverted, and he is also very low-key, and he never takes the initiative to conflict with others. So seeing Cao Cao like this at this time, he didn't plan to continue to persuade more. Because he knows very well that even if Cao Cao is hard-mouthed now, when he really falls into a stalemate, he will still retreat.

In fact, just as Xun Yue thought, in the face of Tao Qian's stubborn defense, Cao Cao's offensive was completely unable to make any progress for a while, which made Cao Cao extremely anxious. Yes, anxious, because Cao Cao has no way not to be in a hurry.

Since repelling Yuan Shu, Cao Cao has gradually had the idea of separating and fighting for hegemony. On the one hand, this is because the hope of supporting the Han family has become smaller and smaller with the passage of time, and on the other hand, it is also because after the expansion of the territory, Cao Cao has bred something called ambition in his heart.

It's just that how easy it is to compete for hegemony? Now in the north is Yuan Shao, who occupies Jizhou and is attacking Youzhou, in the west is Li Yi, who occupies Bingzhou, as well as Sili and Jizhou, and in the south is Yuan Shu, who is rapidly recovering his strength, and in the east, there are Liu Bei in Qingzhou and Tao Qian in Xuzhou.

If you want to divide one side under the encirclement of everyone, it is obviously impossible to rely on Yanzhou alone. Although Cao Cao once defeated Yuan Shu, he knew very well that if Yuan Shu made a comeback, the greatest possibility would be that he would gradually encroach on it and eventually lose all his territory. So Cao Cao finally chose Xuzhou, because Tao Qian of Xuzhou is undoubtedly the weakest among all in many aspects, and there is also the best reason.

Therefore, Cao Cao wants to take Xuzhou as soon as possible, and only in this way can he get a lot of development time. But now, Xuzhou has changed from a soft persimmon in Cao Cao's eyes to a hard bone, the first time he didn't gnaw, and now the second time, he still hasn't gnawed, so how can Cao Cao not be in a hurry?

After besieging for several days, but still unable to capture the city in front of him, Cao Cao immediately gathered everyone and ordered, "Send people to spread the news in the city, and say that if they continue to resist to the death, once the city is broken!" I will slaughter all the people in the city and avenge the soldiers who died in battle! ”

"Lord?!" Hearing this, everyone was stunned, after all, this kind of city slaughter, who has done it over the years except the yellow turban thief?

"That's it!" Cao Cao waved his hand and signaled to everyone not to say more, "I originally came to avenge my father, but these people don't know how to help that old thief of Tao Qian!" And I didn't give them a chance, and ordered the siege of the eastern gate to be removed, and if the people in the city wanted to flee, they didn't care! Hearing Cao Cao say this, the rest of the people respectfully accepted the order.

Cao Cao's idea is also very simple, to scare the people in the city, but he knows Tao Qian's situation in Xuzhou very well, so he doesn't believe that how many people will really work for Tao Qian.

And the situation developed as he expected, in the face of Cao Cao's declaration of slaughter, the resistance in the city began to weaken, especially when it was discovered that Cao Cao had released a door and ignored the people who had sneaked out, the resistance in the city almost collapsed.

Soon, Cao Cao captured the city, and after pacifying the people, he continued to march to Xia Pi.

"Humph! A group of people who are greedy for life and afraid of death! Tao Qian reprimanded angrily after learning the news.

"Lord, what now? If it goes on like this, I'm afraid it won't be long before the Cao thief will be able to come to the next Pi. Cao Hong asked anxiously.

"Heh, isn't it just the slaughter of the city? It's just the Yellow Turban Thief's remaining means. Hearing this, Tao Qian muttered with a sneer, and then whispered to Cao Hong.