The people sent by Liang Xing traveled under the stars and nights, and they arrived at Tongguan in less than a day.

When he came to the Tongguan Pass, he shouted to Cao Jun at the pass: "I am a messenger sent by General Liang, open the door quickly, I want to see the son of the Cao family." ”

The gate did not open.

It didn't take long for Cao Shuo to get the news.

He asked the guards who reported the news, "Which Liang general?" ”

"It should be Liang Xing under Han Sui." The guard replied.

"Han Sui sent someone to me?" Looking at Pang Tong, Tian Feng and the others on the side, Cao Shuo asked, "What do you think his intentions are?" ”

"The intent couldn't be more obvious." Pang Tong said: "Gongzi broke through Tongguan, and the news must have spread to Xiliang a long time ago." Han Sui was afraid, so he asked Liang Xing to send someone to sue for peace. ”

"Why did Han Sui send people, not Ma Chao?" Cao Shuo frowned slightly: "I want Ma Mengqi to send someone over." ”

"Ma Meng rebelled, first to serve the Cao family, and then to be rebelled by Liu Xuande, how could he have the face to ask for peace with his son?" Pang Tong said: "Gongzi can meet the envoy sent by Liang Xing first, as long as the plan is right, this time Xiliang will not need to continue to fight." ”

"You think so, too?" Cao Shuo asked the others.

"Shi Yuan is right, we all think so." The crowd agreed.

"Bring the messenger first." Cao Shuo instructed the guards.

"Wait a minute." The guard was just about to leave, but Sima Yi stopped him.

"What's Zhongda's plan?" Cao Shuo asked.

"I only ask Gongzi, do you want Han Sui or Ma Chao?" Sima Yi asked.

"Ma Chao is brave and crowns the three armies, of course it would be great to recruit him under his command." Cao Shuo said: "But he was hated by his father, I'm afraid it's really not easy to do this time." ”

"There are a lot of people who Cao Gong resents, and there are many people who keep Gongzi." Looking at the people present, Sima Yi said: "How many of the people sitting here have been hated by Cao Gong, and they have all come to Gongzi's command?" ”

"Childe." Tian Feng opened his mouth and said: "Let's let Zhong Da talk about his plan first, if he can convince Ma Chao to work, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?" ”

Cao Shuo nodded and said to Sima Yi, "Tell me about your plans." ”

Sima Yi replied: "Liu Xuande's use of Ma Chao has already been recognized by him, unless he is forced to do so, he should not go to Yizhou easily." And Han Sui, Liang Xing and others are plotting against him, and Xiliang has no place for him. Although Ma Chao still has soldiers and horses under his command, he has long been a lost dog. As long as Childe gives him a way to live, how can he resist to the end? ”

"What does Zhongda mean ......" Cao Shuo had already understood Sima Yi's intentions, and still asked.

"Ask Ma Teng and his son to come here and let them hide behind and listen." Sima Yi said: "What they say, Ma Chao should be able to listen to it." ”

"Zhongda means to let Ma Teng and his son hear what the messenger says, and then I will put one more person back to see Ma Chao." Cao Shuo asked, "If you tell Ma Chao everything the messenger said here, he will throw it into my account?" ”

"Exactly." Sima Yi replied: "Ma Chao has no way out, if he doesn't vote for his son, who else can he vote for?" ”

"If Ma Chao refuses to vote for me, won't even Han Sui and Liang Xing be folded in?" Cao Shuo smiled slightly and asked Sima Yi.

"Liang Xing is just a mediocre talent, and Han Sui is also old." Sima Yi said: "It's not impossible for Gongzi to worry about something, but what Gongzi has to do at this time is to choose Han Sui, Liang Xing, or Ma Chao." ”

"By Zhongda." Cao Shuo didn't think much about it and immediately agreed.

He instructed Deng Zhan: "General Deng invited Ma Teng and his son, asked them to change into the clothes and armor of the guards, and stood in the corner of the tent so that no one could see their faces." ”

Deng Zhan was about to leave, Sima Yi said: "Be careful, no matter what you hear or see, don't get into trouble because of anger, Gongzi has his own plans." ”

Deng Zhan, who was about to arrive at the door, looked at Cao Shuo.

"According to Zhongda's explanation." Cao Shuo nodded.

Deng Zhan left.

After a while, Ma Teng and his son arrived.

They have changed into the armor of the guards.

After entering the house, the father and son made a big salute to Cao Shuo, and Ma Teng asked: "Dare to ask the prince to ask us to dress like this, what are the instructions?" ”

"I don't have any orders, it's just that I invite General Ma to watch a good show." Cao Shuo smiled slightly, and said to Ma Teng: "General Deng should have explained just now, no matter what you see or hear, you must deal with it calmly, and don't mess up because of anger." ”

"Don't worry, Childe, we have measure." Ma Teng replied.

Looking at Ma Tie and Ma Xiu behind him, Cao Shuo asked, "How are the two little generals?" ”

"Since Childe has commanded, no matter what, we will definitely forbear." The two bowed in response.

"Please stand in the corner." Cao Shuo instructed the father and son.

They walked into the corner and deliberately turned their faces to the side so that the people in front of them could not see their faces.

Cao Shuo then instructed the guards: "You can go and bring people." ”

The guards who reported the news retreated.

It didn't take long for him to bring a man.

This person was wearing the armor of the captain of the Xiliang Military Academy, and when he walked into the room and saw many people sitting, he was stunned for a moment, and then bowed to Cao Shuo: "Dare to ask Gongzi, can there be fewer people here?" ”

"These are all my men." Cao Shuo said: "No matter what you say, they will not spread it, if you have anything to say, just say it with confidence." ”

Cao Shuo said this, and the messenger had to say, "I am a ...... sent by General Liang."

"I already know." Cao Shuo interrupted him: "What did General Liang send you to do?" ”

"He sent me here to make friends with the Cao family." The messenger replied: "Now the people in power in Xiliang are none other than the Han family and the Ma family, a few days ago Ma Chao found General Han and asked him to march into the Central Plains together to make enemies of the Cao family. Although General Han refused, Xiliang still had to win over Ma Chao after all, so he agreed to him. Unexpectedly, Ma Chao actually led the army to attack Tongguan a few days ago, and after capturing Tongguan, he trapped Cao Gong in Chang'an. General Han repeatedly persuaded him to withdraw from the army, but he just refused to ......"

"Don't say so many official words." Cao Shuo interrupted him: "You said that Liang Xing sent you, what are you going to do?" ”

"General Han and General Liang have already agreed." The messenger replied, "If Duke Cao and Gongzi allow them a way to live, they are willing to capture Ma Chao and sacrifice his head." ”

"Ma Chao bravely crowned the three armies, and the two generals wanted to capture him, I'm afraid it won't be so easy." Cao Shuo shook his head in disbelief and said.

"Although Ma Chao bravely crowned the three armies, the two generals were able to trick him into the barracks." The messenger replied: "Once he is trapped in the camp of the two generals, even if he is full of ability, it is impossible to escape. ”

"The messenger should be tired after walking a long way." Knowing that if he let him talk again, Ma Teng's father and son would definitely be unable to hold back, Cao Shuo said: "Go back and rest first, and I'll see you alone tomorrow." ”