In November of the sixth year of Emperor Zhongping of the Han Dynasty (189 AD), Dong Zhuo proclaimed himself Xiangguo, and since then, the military and political power of Luoyang has completely fallen into the hands of Dong Zhuo.

In December of the same year, Dong Zhuo issued the "Reward and Punishment Order". It is said to be a reward and punishment order, but in fact it is a law of intimidation and severe punishment.

Among them, the nobles were the head, and if there were those who did not pay tribute to the court, they were to be whipped 40; Those who disobey, chop; The insults in the court, the death of the three clans for a while, the already scarred Luoyang people are even more miserable, complaining, resounding all over the world, Luoyang's scholars have transferred their assets and relocated their families to avoid the tyranny of Dong thieves. In order to appease people's hearts, Dong Zhuo also added officials to many people, including Cao Cao.

After this day, Cao Cao returned to the mansion depressed, and kicked the brazier with a "bang", and suddenly, the dots of fire charcoal jumped around.

Cao Cao quickly dodged the fire charcoal and shouted, "Someone! ”

"In!"

"Clean up and get a pot of charcoal!"

"Yes!"

At this time, Cao Cao was so anxious that he had not been in touch with himself for almost two months, saying that he had waited for too long.

"No, I can't wait any longer."

At this moment, the subordinates outside the door reported: "My lord, the immortal of the Situ Mansion outside the door has an appointment." ”

When Cao Cao heard this, his eyes lit up, and he didn't care about it anymore, and shouted loudly: "Please, please, please!" ”

"Hahaha" As soon as Cao Cao's words fell, Ma Xiaoquan strode in.

Cao Cao stepped forward, bowed down and said, "Lord Shangxian, I have missed the distance, and I hope that Lord Shangxian will atone for his sins." ”

Ma Xiaoquan waved his hand and said, "It's okay, Xiao Cao, I'm here today, I think, you also know what I mean, right?" ”

Cao Cao rolled his eyes and said, "Lord Shangxian means that I can go?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan nodded and said, "That's right!" ”

"This" Cao Cao was in trouble, and said, "Now that the scholars are running more, Dong Zhuo is tyrannical and robbing money, and all the city gates are all Xiliang iron horses, if you want to go out, I'm afraid it will be difficult." ”

Ma Xiaoquan smiled, his eyes rolled, Cao Cao understood, and retreated.

Ma Xiaoquan nodded and said, "Xiao Cao, have you forgotten jì, you are now the official lieutenant, and part of the Gyeonggi work in Luoyang City, you can interfere now."

When Cao Cao heard this, he suddenly opened his mouth, and hurriedly thanked him: "Lord Shangxian is clever, I thought that Lord Shangxian would ignore it for several days, and I thought I forgot to it."

Ma Xiaoquan said: "Hehe, I have already calculated this, but it is very vague, the so-called heavenly opportunity cannot be revealed, only at this point, I can say it." ”

Cao Cao's heart was surging, and he said in his heart: I can finally go, I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.

After bidding farewell to Shangxian, Cao Cao began to prepare his "escape plan".

First of all, Cao Cao followed Ma Xiaoquan's plan: he sang praises to Dong Zhuo during the court meeting, said Dong Zhuo flutteringly, and even promised to send his two female slaves on the spot; second, Cao Cao's identity as a school captain decisively replaced the guards at the north gate of Luoyang City with his own subordinates; Third, Cao Cao took the initiative to befriend Dong Zhuo generals such as Lu Bu and Guo Yan, paralyzing the other party and making them think that he and they were the ones who wore the same pants

That night, Cao Cao followed Ma Xiaoquan's meaning, led Lu Bu, Guo Yan and others, and went to the Xiangting Building to cool off, and when he went out, the drunken Lu Bu put his arm around Cao Cao's shoulders and said: "Meng~~ Mengde, you say, who is the most heroic today?" ”

Cao Cao smiled and said, "It must be Lord Xiangguo!" ”

Lu Bu hummed twice: "What else?" ”

Cao Cao was puzzled and didn't make a sound.

"Bohai guards Yuan Shao!"

Cao Cao pursed his mouth, a little disdainful.

"What? Does Mende believe it? ”

Cao Cao pretended to be very calm and shook his head.

"The fourth generation and third duke of the Yuan family, the Menke clan is mostly attached to him, and even the father-in-law is a little jealous of Yuan Shao"

Cao Cao listened to Lu Bu's nagging and did not interject, but he had secretly made up his mind in his heart that if he had the opportunity, he would definitely meet Yuan Shao on the battlefield.

After separating from Lu Bu and his party, Cao Cao did not rush back to the mansion, but went to Situ Mansion first.

After meeting Ma Xiaoquan, Cao Cao reported the progress of the matter to Ma Xiaoquan.

"Hmm~~" Ma Xiaoquan knocked on the desk, "Xiao Cao, you can go now, remember, if you meet Lu Bu, you know what to do!" ”

Cao Cao snorted and asked, "What about Lord Shangxian?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan waved his hand and said, "Ben Xian has other things to do, by the way, give you this white scroll, you can keep it well." The white roll is the one I need, if you find something similar, just let me know. ”

Cao Cao took the white roll, glanced at it, and put it away.

Ma Xiaoquan saw that Cao Cao had put away the white scrolls, and continued: "Xiao Cao, after you escape from Luoyang, which way do you want to go?" ”

Cao Cao thought for a moment and said, "I haven't decided yet!" ”

"Hmm~" Ma Xiaoquan listened and knocked lightly on the table.

Cao Cao was smart, and immediately saw a clue, so he asked, "Lord Shangxian, is there something wrong?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan glanced at Cao Cao, and said in his heart: It's not appropriate, there must be something wrong, you kid will be caught when you pass through Zhongmu County, of course, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" made the "catch and release Cao" section into Chen Gong and Cao Cao, in fact, there is no written person in the official history at all, only that it is a nameless person, and later arguments also prove that "catching and releasing Cao" is not Chen Gong's work at all.

Ma Xiaoquan asked: "Xiao Cao, there is another question for this immortal, if someone harms you on the road, what will you do?" ”

Cao Cao didn't think about it, and said directly: "Those who are in danger of my life, punish them!" ”

Ma Xiaoquan shook his head and said: "No, no, no, if you can escape, you will naturally escape, don't be too public, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble." ”

Cao Cao nodded yes.

After Cao Cao left, Ma Xiaoquan exhaled and said in his heart: I hope that Lu Bohao's family can survive

Cao Cao returned to the mansion and immediately began the final preparations non-stop.

"Shall I make the following escape path?"

Cao Cao looked at the night sky, his thoughts uncertain.

"Forget it, let's take one step at a time"

The next day, Cao Cao got up early as usual to discuss with the court, and also took the initiative to show goodwill with a cadre of civil and military affairs. The pro-Dong faction naturally welcomes Cao Cao, while the neutral faction is plain, while the anti-Dong faction, although they can't do anything big about Dong Zhuo, but standing in front of Cao Cao, the left one "bah" and the other "conspire with thieves", Cao Cao is also red-faced.

"Damn, these old things, wait for me to leave, see who you are still scolding!"

Cao Cao thought hatefully and withdrew from the court hall.

In the evening, Cao Cao summoned the deputy general to his side and asked the deputy general to lead all his men out to the south of Luoyang to patrol the city.

"My lord, this" The lieutenant general was a little timid.

Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "This is not in the way, you take my seal letter and lead the southern part of the human area to patrol the city, it has not been peaceful there recently, remember, you must give me a careful patrol." ”

"Yes!" The deputy general received Cao Cao's seal letter and went out happily.

After going out, the adjutant general gathered all his subordinates and thought happily: This fool Cao Cao actually gave me his seal, haha, then wouldn't I have become a captain

Cao Cao watched the deputy general lead a group of people and others gradually moving away, exhaled a long breath, and then immediately packed up the soft and ran to the stable, just stepped on the horse, Cao Cao remembered the seven gems that were deducted from the seven-star knife a few days ago, and had no choice but to get off the horse and go to the house to put the gems into the baggage.

After sneaking out of the back door, Cao Cao ran wildly along the path.

There are two gates on the north side of Luoyang City, one is the Xia Gate, and the other is the Valley Gate.

For the sake of insurance, Cao Cao replaced all the guards of the two gates with his cronies.

Cao Cao rode his horse and ran happily, seeing that he was about to reach the summer gate, he heard the sudden noise of weapons not far away, as if something had happened.

Cao Cao didn't dare to step forward to take a closer look, so he could only turn the horse's head and run towards the valley gate.

Not far to the right of the Gumen is Taicang and the arsenal.

In fact, the last thing Cao Cao wanted to come to was Gumen, because Taicang put grain and arsenal to store weapons, which were all important materials for the imperial court.

"I hope I don't find out." Cao Cao was anxiously sweating and driving his horse, feeling uneasy.

At this moment, a bright light suddenly cast in the darkness, and then a voice came: "The court is important, no intrusion, who, stop!" ”

Cao Cao was shocked, and his heart was broken.

As soon as he was about to turn the horse's head, he was surrounded by people.

"Heaven will die too" Cao Cao looked desperately at the valley gate that was still a hundred steps away, and sighed unwillingly.

"Huh? Are you" Before Cao Cao could react, he heard a familiar voice call him, "Meng De? ”

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, turned his head, and saw by the light of the torch that it was Lu Bu.

"This" Cao Cao's heart was suddenly shocked: That demon Dao is so powerful, and he is very clever, and he usually looks lazy ("Ah sneeze~" Ma Xiaoquan rubbed his nose and said to himself: "Who scolded me, why did you sneeze today?" Lu Bu drove the red rabbit horse and slowly walked to Cao Cao, and Lu Bu asked, "Meng De, it's so late, where are you going with your baggage?" ”

Cao Cao laughed dryly.

Lu Bu suddenly reacted and yelled, "Huh? Are you trying to escape? ”

Cao Cao was startled, remembering Ma Xiaoquan's warning, his eyes rolled, and he hurriedly said, "Do you remember the affairs of the side hall?" (Chapter 11 of this volume) Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered something.

"Boom" Lu Bu couldn't help but pull out his saber and slashed a few small soldiers around him with lightning speed.

"Fengxian, what are you?"

In the dark, Cao Cao couldn't see Lu Bu's expression clearly, but he heard Lu Bu say: "Meng De, if you want to go, go quickly!" Don't wait for me to regret it! ”

When Cao Cao heard this, was there any reason not to run? He immediately roared and rode his horse to the valley gate.

When he arrived at the door, Cao Cao's cronies had already opened the door and waited for him, and when they saw Cao Cao coming, they hurriedly stepped forward to answer.

"Your Excellency!"

Cao Cao waved his hand, took out two gems from his baggage, and handed them to this cronie: "Take the gems, hurry up and leave, this place is not suitable for a long time!" ”

The cronie took the gem and said respectfully, "What about the adults?" ”

Cao Cao said: "You don't have to worry about this!" If it's convenient for you, inform the guards of the summer gate and ask him to leave quickly! Those two gems, one for you and one for him! ”

The cronie nodded and retreated, and for a moment, darkness overwhelmed the cronie's figure.

Cao Cao couldn't stop, and drove his horse directly through the valley gate.