"Quick, speed up!" Cao Cao shouted at the soldiers who ordered the march. Five days have passed since he learned that Lingbi was attacked by the Han army, and Cao Cao does not know whether Lingbi is still in his own hands now, and whether Cao Ren was killed or defeated. The only thing Cao Cao knew was that he would not rush to Pengcheng for a day, and with his understanding of Cao Ren, Cao Ren would defend the spirit until he died.

Cao Cao attaches great importance to Cao Ren, who followed him when he started his family and accompanied him on his expedition to the east and west, and he didn't want Cao Ren to have any mistakes. Therefore, after learning that the Han army was attacking Lingbi, which Cao Ren was stationing, Cao Cao ordered to speed up the march. What annoyed Cao Cao was that the Youjun who had confronted him was like a hounds that smelled rot, pressing on him step by step.

Cao Cao also wanted to set up an ambush, simply solve the chasing army first, and then rush to Pengcheng, at least he couldn't let You Yijun continue to follow behind him. But the Youyi army seems to be very patient, always keeping a distance of thirty miles from the Cao army, and the trailing Cao army is always a small force, not waiting for the Cao army's ambush to eat this small force, the main force of the Youyi army can arrive, but if the number of ambushes is too large, it is easy for the Youyi army to find a flaw.

In this way, the two armies maintained a "tacit understanding" and rushed to Xiaoguan. Xiaoguan is located between two mountains, with Jiuli Mountain to the north and Mangdang Mountain to the south, and at the foot of Jiuli Mountain, it is Cao Cao's temporary camp station. Cao Cao had already sent someone to contact Xiao Guan's guards and ordered him to open the gate and let him pass, but before that, Cao Cao intended to deal with the Youyi army that was always following him, even if he couldn't be completely annihilated, it would be a heavy blow to reduce Xiao Guan's pressure.

Zhang Liao was a good opponent, but Cao Cao was confident that he could outperform him. But just when he dispatched his troops to prepare to ambush the Youyi army in the mountain road between Jiuli Mountain and Mangdang Mountain, he received a rather strange news from the scouts. Zhang Liao's guerrilla army did not follow up the mountain road as before, but stationed a large camp between the two mountains and put on a defensive posture.

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment when he heard the scout's report, and then he broke out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly asked the deputy general beside him: "How long has my son been going to Xiaoguan?" ”

"It's been almost half a day since I returned to my lord."

"How far is it from Xiaoguan?"

"It doesn't take an hour to ride a horse."

Cao Cao sat back in place, he suddenly thought of a terrible possibility, through the unusual behavior of the Youyi army, Cao Cao guessed that Xiao Guan had fallen into the hands of the Han army at this time, at this time the Youyi army blocked the back road, unless he led the army over the mountain and ridge, it was possible to escape, otherwise, he was a fish and turtle in the urn at this time, and could only wait for the Han army to catch.

"Quick, quickly send someone to Xiaoguan to inquire about the situation and report back as soon as possible." Cao Cao hurriedly ordered the deputy general.

There are three masterminds under Cao Cao, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, and Lu Su, now Guo Jia is seriously ill, Lu Su is in Xuzhou, and the rest of Cheng Yu was also sent by Cao Cao to Pengcheng to assist Xiahoudun, at this time Cao Cao was only Liang Xi and Jiang Ji, two civil officials who were good at governance. When Cao Cao first started the army, because of the limited circumstances, he had to worry about everything, and after getting first-class strategists such as Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia, and Cheng Yu, Cao Cao has transitioned from thinking of ideas to taking ideas, and I have to admit that Cao Cao has become "lazy", so that Cao Cao's "business" has become less proficient during this time, and as a result, the Han army has taken advantage of the loopholes.

The bad news of Lingbi has not come, which makes Cao Cao have a delusion, thinking that the road from Ningling to Pengcheng is still under his control, but Xiao Guan's "surrender to the enemy" is beyond Cao Cao's expectations. The Han army controlled Xiao Pass, which was equivalent to cutting off their own way back, and if they wanted to return to Pengcheng, they had to take a long detour, but the devil knows if there were also Han troops in other places who had already taken the lead and waited for themselves to throw themselves into the net.

"Who is Xiao Guan's guard?" Cao Cao asked casually.

"Back to the lord, it's Qin Yilu." The adjutant replied truthfully. But it was such an answer that made Cao Cao sure that Xiao Guan had indeed fallen into the hands of the Han army now.

Cao Cao knew about Qin Yilu, and he had an enmity with Qin Yilu. People often say that there are two major enmities in this world that are difficult to resolve, the hatred of killing his father and the hatred of taking his wife, and the enmity between Cao Cao and Qin Yilu is the latter. Qin Yilu has a wife surnamed Du, and gave birth to a son named Lang for Qin Yilu. Originally, Qin Yilu was Lü Bu's general, but later Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu, and Qin Yilu surrendered to Cao Cao. But Cao Cao didn't know where to hear about Du's beauty, and snatched Du from Qin Yilu's side.

Originally, Cao Cao also knew that he was not doing this authentically, so in order to get rid of the troubles forever, he instructed Zang Ba to find an excuse to get rid of Qin Yilu. didn't expect Qin Yilu to have a big life, Zang Ba was unwilling to do such a lack of virtue for Cao Cao, and Qin Yilu was also smart and asked his ex-wife to intercede with Cao Cao. People often say that a husband and wife are a hundred days a day, Du Shi is Qin Yilu's wife, and the husband and wife have a deep relationship, but Cao Cao is strong, and the husband and wife have to bow their heads. And Cao Cao was also at a loss, and in order to prove his innocence after being cried by Du, he promoted Qin Yilu to be the guard of Xiao Pass.

At that time, Cao Cao was in the Central Plains, Xiao Guan was in the center of the Central Plains, and Xiao Guan was a suitable position for the elderly, but Cao Cao never expected that Qin Yilu would become the key to his own life.

"Ziwen ......," Cao Cao muttered distressedly.

……

Xiao Guan

Cao Zhang, who was ordered to take over Xiao Guan, had already called people to tie up, and was angrily glaring at the "villain" standing in front of him. Qin Yilu was very unaccustomed to this kind of look, and turned his head unnaturally.

"Qin Yilu, my father treats you well, why did you betray?" Cao Zhang asked aloud.

Don't hit people in the face, and don't expose their shortcomings when scolding. Cao Zhang is also a person who can't speak, and it is inappropriate for him to question others if he is okay, but it is inappropriate to use it to question Qin Yilu. Qin Yilu has a weak personality, otherwise he would not have remained silent when he was robbed of his wife by Cao Cao. But now, being questioned by Cao Zhang in public, Qin Yilu couldn't help it. At the beginning, you Lao Tzu was so powerful that you had to admit it for the sake of your own life, but now you Lao Tzu is about to be unlucky, and you still dare to pretend in front of Lao Tzu?

"Cao Zhang! You said that your immoral old man didn't treat me badly? Don't you feel sorry for what you say? The Aunt Du you have been calling all these years was snatched from me by your old man back then. She was originally my wife, but she was occupied by your immoral old man, and you still dare to say in front of me that he treats me well? Qin Yilu was like an enraged jackal, and asked Cao Zhangdao angrily.

Cao Zhangzhen didn't know about this, firstly, he was obsessed with martial arts, and he was practicing martial arts all day long, how could he have the time to inquire about these gossips, and secondly, this matter was related to his old son, Cao Cao just had no brains, and he would not tell his son about the glorious deeds of robbing his wife back then.

"You talk nonsense!" Cao Zhang shouted in disbelief.

"Am I talking nonsense? Hmph, then why do you think Qin Lang's surname is Qin but not Cao? ”

"This ......" Cao Zhang was asked, the Du family has a son, Qin Lang, who is indeed not surnamed Cao.

"Okay, Captain Qin, don't be sad. The lord has always been benevolent, and now most of Cao Cao's family members have been captured in Xudu, and when this battle is over, I believe that the lord will reunite your husband and wife, and father and son will recognize each other. ”

"Thank you, General Xu, for your words." Qin Yilu hurriedly thanked him.

"Are you...... Xu Gongming? Cao Zhang looked carefully at the Han general who was talking to Qin Yilu, and suddenly shouted.

"Oh? Do you know so-and-so? Xu Huang asked with some surprise. He met Cao Zhang for the first time, but he didn't expect Cao Zhang to recognize him.

“…… Xu Gongming, aren't you afraid that Yuan Xi of Hebei will lead an army to attack Puyang? ”

"Hahaha...... That Yuan Xi is busy fighting with Gongsun Du for Youzhou, and he has no time to care about the life or death of your Cao family. And even if you lose Puyang, it doesn't matter, the lord said, it's more important to deal with your Cao clan now. Xu Huang laughed.

"Hmph, don't be proud, my father has been through a hundred battles, how can you wait for Xiaoxiao to defeat?"

"Hmph, out of the mouth. Now your father is trapped here, with Xiao Pass blocking the way in front of him, and a ranger army blocking the retreat route, unless he finds another way to make a living on the mountain path, even if our army does not attack, he will starve to death. And how can you be sure that our army did not send people to ambush and wait for your father in the path? Xu Huang said this, sneering and looking at Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang was angry and anxious, and he couldn't wait to return to the camp immediately to remind Cao Cao, it's just that people are swordsmen, and I am fish and meat, and now Cao Zhang has been a prisoner of the Han army, and his freedom no longer belongs to him, and it is impossible for him to go back and report at this time.

"Come on, take them down, and they will be locked up with the few people who were captured before." Xu Huang commanded, and someone immediately stepped forward and dragged Cao Zhang down. When he arrived at the place, Cao Zhang knew who the people Xu Huang was talking about were now.

"Wen Lie, Zidan, you ......" Cao Zhang looked at Cao Xiu and Cao Zhendao in surprise.

"Ziwen, you're here too." Cao Zhen smiled reluctantly.

“…… When did you end up here? What about Guo sacrificial wine? Cao Zhang suddenly thought of Guo Jia as he spoke, and hurriedly asked. At the beginning, Cao Cao ordered him to take Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen to escort Guo Jia back to Xuzhou first, but Cao Zhang was not worried about his father, so he asked Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen to escort Guo Jia, while he continued to stay by Cao Cao's side. Cao Cao felt Cao Zhang's filial piety, so he didn't stop it, but he didn't want his brothers to meet here today.

"Guo Saijiu was placed elsewhere, and when our brothers escorted Guo Saijiu to Xiaoguan, Guo Saijiu fell ill again, and almost went like this. Fortunately, the military doctor of the Han Army was a senior disciple of Huashen Doctor, which stabilized Guo Xijiu's condition......"

"Wen Lie, the Han army and us are mortal enemies, how can you praise the enemy?" Cao Zhang frowned and interrupted Cao Xiu's words and asked.

"Ziwen, the enemy belongs to the enemy, but the Han army did save Guo Xianjiu's life, if according to what you said, the Han army doesn't have to care about Guo Jia's life or death, then how will you and I represent the lord at that time?" Cao Xiu argued.

"Okay, okay, don't make a noise, let's think about our future." Cao Zhen saw that Cao Zhang and Cao Xiu seemed to be arguing, so he hurriedly interrupted. Now that the brothers are all captives, what else is there to quarrel about?

"I see that this place is unguarded, why don't we find a chance to escape? Even if only one escapes, it would be good to inform my father of the situation. Cao Zhang thought about it after hearing this, and then lowered his voice and said to Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.

Cao Zhen shook his head with a wry smile when he heard this, seeing that Cao Zhang was puzzled, Cao Xiu explained for Cao Zhen: "Ziwen, do you think the two of us didn't think about escaping?" But you see that Zidan and I are still here now, what do you think is the reason? ”

"Uh...... Is the Han army prison meal more delicious? ”

"Ziwen, don't laugh. To tell you the truth, Zidan and I have escaped from here almost ten times, but every time we just got out of this gate not far away, we called the Han army to block back. ”

"You're not going to resist, are you?" Cao Zhang frowned and asked.

"Who says we don't resist? But the problem is that those Han soldiers don't fight you at all, they directly cover you with fishing nets. Cao Xiu explained with a wry smile.

“…… I don't believe it. Cao Zhang shook his head, turned around and walked out the door. Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu shook their heads in unison, they also knew Cao Zhang's temperament, and knew that if they didn't let him experience the taste of being used as a fish, they didn't believe Cao Zhang.

Without a while, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu heard Cao Zhang's angry roar outside: "It's a good man, let the horse come!" ”

The two sighed at the same time, walked towards the door, and as soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Cao Zhang being pushed in with more than a dozen fishing nets on his body.

"Big brothers, you have to work, our brother just came, I don't know how powerful, please Haihan." Cao Zhen clenched his fists and arched his hand to the humanity who would escort Cao Zhang in.

"Hmm...... Since he's new, spare him. But if it happens again, then don't blame me for waiting. The soldier waved his hand, and his own subordinates came over to take off the fishing net on Cao Zhang's body. As soon as he was free, Cao Zhang clenched his fists and wanted to fight with others, but Cao Xiu took the first step to stop him and hug him. Seeing this, Cao Zhen hurriedly said, "Brothers, my brother will leave it to us to persuade, don't work for your eldest brothers." ”

"Well, let's not take this as an example."

When Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu were left in the small courtyard, Cao Zhang angrily questioned Cao Zhen: "Cao Zidan, when did you become so timid and afraid?" And you, Cao Wenlie, in vain my father praised you as a thousand-mile horse of my Cao family, where did you have the courage to come thousands of miles back then? ”

"Ziwen, you calm down first." Cao Zhen said softly.

"Calm down what?"

Seeing that Cao Zhang was still yelling, Cao Zhen was also angry, and couldn't help but shout and ask, "Cao Zhang, I told you to calm down!" Even if you can beat the guards outside the door, can you single-handedly fight out Xiao Pass? ”

How else to say that honest people are angry and scary, Cao Zhen has always been an easy-tempered person in Cao Zhang's impression, but now seeing Cao Zhen angry, Cao Zhang really didn't dare to provoke Cao Zhen at this time. And Cao Zhen saw that Cao Zhang was suppressed by himself, and immediately lost no time in explaining: "At present, there are Han troops inside and outside Xiao Pass, and now you and I are bare-handed, not to mention that Guo Saijiu is still in the hands of the Han army, as long as the Han army stops the treatment of Guo Saijiu, then Guo Saijiu will die." Do you know all this? ”

"You can't sit still, can you?" Cao Zhang said unwillingly.

"Are you willing to do it? It's not impossible. At the beginning, my father monopolized the Central Plains, and I thought that sooner or later this world would be my Cao family, but I didn't expect the Han family to win the hearts of the people, but in a few years, it has grown to such an extent. Ziwen, to be honest, I have almost no confidence in the future of our Cao family. ”

"Zidan ......"

"Okay, don't talk about that, let's think more about the present." Cao Xiu interrupted Cao Zhang's conversation with Cao Zhen.

"Wen Lie, what else is there to say? After you left, my father led his army to Pengcheng, and the Han army's Youyi army followed, pressing forward step by step. At present, Xiao Guan let the Han army take the first step, and the You Yi army following behind his father may have blocked the retreat of our army at this time. Our army is left and right Jiuli Mountain and Mangdang Mountain, you say, how can our army return to Pengcheng safely? Cao Zhang said what he knew in frustration.

Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu left early, they really didn't know what Cao Zhang said, the two looked at each other, and Cao Zhen said: "I mentioned it yesterday when I overheard the guards' chatter, saying that the Han army had taken Lingbi and captured Uncle Cao Ren, and it would be here in a few days." If what those guards said is true, it won't be long before the son of today will come to Xiao Guan in person, and at that time, I'm afraid it will be time to decide the fate of my Cao family. ”

“…… Zidan, are you sure that Zi will come to Xiaoguan today? Cao Zhang was silent for a while, and suddenly asked Cao Zhendao.

"I heard the guards say that the Han army that attacked Lingbi was led by the son of today, and after the Lingbi was broken, as long as there was no accident, it was impossible for the son not to come here today. After all, there is only Uncle Xiahou in Pengcheng, but there is a father here. Ziwen, what do you want to do? After Cao Zhen finished speaking, he realized that Cao Zhang's expression was wrong, and hurriedly asked.

"What do I want to do? Let me ask you, are you willing to sacrifice your life for the future of the Cao family? Cao Zhang looked at Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu and suddenly asked.

Ziwen shut up, be careful that the wall has ears...... Go in and talk. Hearing this, Cao Zhen hurriedly signaled Cao Zhang to shut up, and then pulled Cao Zhang into the house, while Cao Xiu was left behind, and only after making sure that there was no one left and right did he enter the house and close the door.

……

Knowing that Xiao Guan had changed into the banner of the Han army, Cao Cao couldn't help but lead his troops to the front of the pass to see it with his own eyes. Looking at the city wall of Xiao Guan, Cao Cao stepped forward and asked loudly, "Who is the guard of Guan?" ”

Not long after, Xu Huang appeared to meet Cao Cao, looking at Cao Cao under the gate, Xu Huang smiled loudly, "I have long heard the lord praise Cao Mengde as a capable minister in the world, a hero in troubled times, and when I saw it today, it really deserved its reputation." ”

"Dare to ask the general's name?" Cao Cao asked loudly.

"This general Xu Huang and Xu Gongming are the main generals of the Han army. Cao Mengde, now that Xiaoguan is occupied by me, and your back road is also blocked by Zhang Wenyuan's Youyi army, why don't you get off the horse and surrender at this time, and you and I will have a chance to be ministers in the same palace in the future? ”

Cao Cao didn't answer Xu Huang's words, and continued to ask, "Is my son Cao Zhangke okay?" ”

"Meng De rest assured, the virtuous nephew is all right. Not only Cao Zhang's well-being, but also Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen's fine. ”

Hearing Xu Huang's words, Cao Cao was shocked and blurted out, "Is Fengxiao okay?" ”

"Uh...... He's in a bad situation, and although he's still alive right now, there's no guarantee that he will be able to see you for the last time. Cao Mengde, what a certain party just said, can you think about it? ”

"Thank you for your good intentions, but Cao still has a state of land at the moment, and he has 100,000 male soldiers, so he surrendered, wouldn't it make the world laugh?" Cao Cao pulled out his horse and left after dropping this sentence, not giving Xu Huang a chance to continue to shake the morale of the army. 10