When Cao Shuo arrived in Xinye, it had become an empty city.

The city was full of scorched earth.

Houses collapsed, and occasionally charred corpses could be seen, and a strong, pungent smell permeated the entire Shinno.

"This fire is really not small." Walking on the street, Pang Tong said to Cao Shuo: "I don't know how many people were burned to death." ”

"It doesn't matter how much you burn to death." Cao Shuo said: "We can only admit that the city gate was blocked, and the firewood and grass were ordered by Liu Bei, and this fire may also be because there are too many firewood and grass piled up, and it was inadvertently lit." What does it have to do with us? ”

Cao Shuo's words made everyone behind him full of black lines.

Obviously, he ordered Fire Dance to set fire to Shinno City, but now he has pushed it clean.

What's worse is that no one can refute the reason he said.

Firewood and grass were indeed put by Liu Bei, so much firewood and grass, it is also possible to be accidentally ignited.

After the fire of Xinye spreads, I am afraid that everyone in the world will think that Liu Bei is to blame, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Cao Shuo......

"Childe, where are we stationed tonight?" Sima Yi asked.

"There's no way to be stationed in Shinno City." Cao Shuo said: "The army is stationed outside the city. ”

He then instructed Sima Yi: "When Liu Xuande leaves, he must go straight to Xiangyang." Zhong Da led 5,000 soldiers to go, and he must assist Cai Mao and others to hold Xiangyang. ”

"Order!" Sima Yi complied.

Lu Bu said to Cao Shuo: "Childe, I am willing to go with General Sima." ”

"General Lu can go." Cao Shuo said: "I just must remember that whoever obeys Zhongda's orders, no matter what, he must not be greedy for merit, let alone disregard his life because he is in a hurry to take Liu Xuande's head." ”

"Don't worry, Childe." Lu Bu said: "I understand all this. ”

"Zilong, Wen Chang." Cao Shuo said to Zhao Yun and Wei Yan again: "You two also go with Zhongda, take the Flying Bear Camp, even if you can't intercept and kill Liu Xuande, you must make his life not easy." ”

"We get it!" Zhao Yun and Wei Yan responded.

Sima Yi took Lu Bu and the others to turn around and leave.

Including the Flying Bear Battalion, 5,000 soldiers rushed to Xiangyang overnight.

Cao Shuo instructed the others: "Pass the order, the army will be stationed outside Xinye City tonight, and it will continue to march early tomorrow morning." ”

Cao Shuo led his army into the hinterland of Jingzhou, and Cao Cao also led his soldiers and horses into Jingzhou.

Along the way, the cities they passed through were hung with the Cao family flag.

After passing through four or five cities, Cao Cao said to Xun You and others on the side: "I thought that there would be a fierce battle when I came to Jingzhou this time, but I didn't expect Zirong to advance to the hinterland of Jingzhou with only 30,000 soldiers and horses. ”

"Jingzhou is afraid of Gongzi, and Cao Gong is not unaware." Xun You said: "When Gongzi came here, Jingzhou was already panicked, where did he dare to resist at all?" I'm afraid that Jingzhou has already sent someone to negotiate peace with Gongzi at this time, but Gongzi has not yet informed Cao Gong. ”

"If Jingzhou sends someone to negotiate peace with Zirong, he shouldn't let me know." Cao Cao said: "Continue to march, send more men, and see that there are still a few places in the surrounding cities that have not been attached." ”

Cao Cao's order was given, and he galloped over on a fast horse.

Xu Chu, who was following behind Cao Cao, saw that he was coming and rode a fast horse, and hurriedly greeted him.

After a while, he led the cavalry to Cao Cao.

"Gong Cao, Gongzi really sent someone." Xu Chu arched his hand and said.

The cavalry following him saluted Cao Cao and said, "I am the dragon pattern rider under Gongzi, Gongzi has occupied Xinye, and Liu Xuande led the army to flee south." Jingzhou sent Cai Mao to negotiate peace with Gongzi, as long as the Cao family did not kill Mrs. Cai and Liu Cong, they were willing to surrender to the Cao family. ”

"I just said that Jingzhou may have surrendered to Zirong, but I didn't expect to get the news so quickly." Cao Cao smiled slightly, and said to the people beside him: "I led hundreds of thousands of troops to Jingzhou, but I didn't expect to fight without fighting, but I actually took it." ”

"Cao Gong can't be careless." Xun You reminded: "There is still Liu Xuande in Jingzhou, although he has now become a lost dog, but this person has always been treacherous, if he can't cut the grass and eradicate the roots, I'm afraid it will bring big trouble to the Cao family." ”

"Zirong once said the same thing to me." Cao Cao sighed and said, "When Liu Xuande was in Xudu, I should have followed Zirong's advice and got rid of him." Now that I think about it, I often regret it. ”

"Don't worry about Gong Cao, Gongzi will pursue him personally, and Liu Xuande can't do anything in Jingzhou." Jia Xu next to him interjected: "If Liu Xuande is the most afraid of anyone in the world, I am afraid that except for Cao Gong, he is the son." ”

"Wen He said this, just to let me listen to Shutai." Cao Cao said: "Liu Xuande is afraid of Zirong, I'm afraid he is even more afraid of me than he is afraid of me." ”

He instructed the dragon rider who came to report the news: "Tell Zirong, if you have the opportunity, you must kill Liu Xuande." I only need a human head, not a living person. ”

"Order!" The dragon rode in response, turned the horse and left.

Cao Shuo was stationed in Xinye for a day and led a large army to continue to pursue Liu Bei.

The dragon pattern rider who went to report to Cao Cao caught up within two days.

After receiving Cao Cao's order, Cao Shuo asked the dragon pattern rider to retreat first.

He said to Pang Tong and the others: "Father finally understands the danger of Liu Xuande, and giving such an order will make it easier for us to do things." ”

"Childe thinks we have more chances to destroy Liu Xuande this time?" Pang Tong asked.

"If you want to talk about chances, at most thirty percent." Cao Shuo said: "Liu Xuande has always been deceitful, and he does things well, so you can't find a chance to kill him if you want to." If my father hadn't protected him in Xudu, I would have let his head fall to the ground. ”

"Cao Gong must also be very annoyed." Xu Shu said on the side: "Now that the opportunity has come again, Gongzi may be able to kill Liu Xuande this time." ”

"It's easier said than done." Cao Shuo smiled and shook his head: "I think Liu Xuande may escape death in the future." What I want to know is how he managed to escape. ”

He then asked Pang Tong and Xu Shu: "You two are familiar with Zhuge Kongming, do you think Sima Zhongda has a chance of winning against Kong Ming?" ”

"Sima Zhongda is good at using soldiers." Pang Tong replied: "If Kong Ming lets him govern the place, he is a good hand, but if he wants to lead troops to fight, it is just ordinary. Against Sima Zhongda, Kong Ming had no chance of winning at all. ”

"It's not to say that there is no chance of winning at all." Xu Shu said: "It's just that the odds of winning are not high." ”

"The odds aren't high, I'm satisfied." Cao Shuo smiled slightly and said: "Let Zhongda lead the troops to go first this time, I don't really want much, I just want Liu Xuande not to get Xiangyang." ”

"If Childe just wants this, Sima Zhongda is completely competent." Pang Tong said: "Maybe he can catch up with Liu Xuande to a dead end." ”