Before Cao Hong and the others returned to Chang'an, the news of the loss of Tongguan reached Cao Cao's ears.

In the hall, everyone was talking, and many staff members were persuading Cao Cao to cure Cao Hong's crime.

"Zixiao, what do you think?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Ren.

Cao Ren and Cao Hong are brothers, of course he doesn't want Cao Hong to be punished, but Cao Hong really did make things bad this time.

Thousands of Cao soldiers were buried on the battlefield, the pass was lost, and the Central Plains were directly exposed in front of Ma Chao and Han Sui.

"Zilian did something wrong, and he should be punished." Cao Ren said: "I just ask Cao Gong to leave him a way to live." ”

"Cao Hong was so greedy that thousands of soldiers died on the battlefield." Cao Ren asked Cao Cao to pardon Cao Hong's capital crime, and some people immediately objected: "If you don't behead you, how can you deal with the soldiers who died in battle?" ”

I had the intention to say a few words for Cao Hong, but Cao Ren really couldn't find a reason or excuse.

Listening to everyone gossiping that Cao Hong should be killed, he could only sigh and sigh that there was nothing he could do.

"Zilian is young and doesn't know how to march dangerously." After everyone talked for a while, Cao Cao quieted them down: "It's not that I protected him, it's just because it was my decision to keep him in the first place, if I blame him, I should be the first to be asked about the unknown person." ”

Cao Cao opened his mouth, and everyone immediately understood that he did not intend to punish Cao Hong too much.

Since Cao Cao didn't have any plans, the staff didn't want to offend the Cao Ren brothers too much.

After all, Cao Ren has a lot of prestige in the Cao family's army.

If you offend him, you won't have a good time in the Cao family in the future.

"Who else thinks Zilian should be killed?" Looking at everyone, Cao Cao asked.

There was silence, and everyone in the hall was silent.

After a while, a person stood up and said, "What Gong Cao said is that General Zilian is young, and he has to wait for the army to fight. It is better to punish him for a capital crime than to ask for a living crime, so that he knows the harm of violating military orders, and he will never dare to do it again in the future. ”

As soon as the wind direction changed, everyone changed their tone, and Cao Ren suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wait for him to come back and confinement for three months." Cao Cao said to Cao Ren: "Zixiao execution!" ”

"Thank you Cao Gong for not killing." Cao Ren bowed and said with a thousand thanks: "I must urge Zilian to think about it, so that he will not dare to make the mistake of being greedy for merit again." ”

On the evening of the day Cao Cao got the news, Cao Hong and others came to Chang'an.

Knowing that the Xiliang Army would arrive soon, Cao Cao didn't feel sleepy at all, and was discussing countermeasures with Xun You and others.

Xu Chu entered the house and said to Cao Cao: "Gong Cao, General Zilian, they are back. ”

"I'll be back soon." Cao Cao nodded and said, "Let them in." ”

Xu Chu retreated, and after a while, he led Cao Hong, Xu Huang, and Zhong Xuan in.

The servants entered the house, and Xun You and the others got up to leave.

Cao Cao didn't leave them behind either, and let them go.

After Xun You and the others left, Cao Cao's gaze fell on Cao Hong's face.

Xu Huang and Zhong Xuan, who were standing next to Cao Hong, also lowered their heads, and Cao Hong even lowered his head to his chest.

"Cao Gong ......" Zhong Miao peeked at Cao Cao: "We are ...... Tongguan"

"Needless to say, I know it all." Cao Cao interrupted him, his gaze still on Cao Hong's face: "Zilian, what are you not going to say?" ”

Cao Hong took a deep breath, raised his head and said, "I forcibly sent troops, and it has nothing to do with General Xu and General Zhong, please ask Cao Gong to cure me for the crime of being alone." ”

"That's not what I want you to say." Cao Cao said: "I already know what happened to you in Tongguan. I ask you, why did you rush to send troops? ”

"The military discipline of the Xiliang Army was scattered at the beginning, and the smoke only rose twice in the barracks for three consecutive days, I felt that they must have lost all their military rations, so they planned to take advantage of the unstable morale of the enemy army to attack, but they fell for a trick." Cao Hong replied: "If Gong Cao is punished, just punish me." ”

"Just punish you?" Cao Cao glared at him: "Can you take responsibility?" ”

Cao Hong lowered his head again, not daring to say more.

"Today's court meeting, many people asked me to treat you to death, and Zixiao's intercession was also very shameless." Cao Cao asked, "What do you think should be done with this matter?" ”

"I made the big mistake." Cao Hong raised his head and showed a look of generosity to death: "It's okay for Cao Gong to kill or chop up, I will never frown." ”

"What's the use of killing you?" Cao Cao's tone was abruptly stern: "Can the soldiers who died in battle come back to life?" Can Tongguan return to the hands of our army? Can Ma Chao and Han Sui come to Chang'an? ”

was stopped by Cao Cao's barrage of questions, but Cao Hong didn't dare to say more.

"I've given you an order to wait for you to come back and be confined for three months, and I've thought about it." Cao Cao said: "Think about it, what can't be done to intercept the Xiliang army this time." ”

Many people begged to kill him, but Cao Cao only punished him with three months of confinement, and Cao Hong was stunned.

Looking at Cao Cao, he licked his lips in astonishment, wanting to say something but didn't say anything.

"Zilian is messing around, you two have not been dissuaded." Looking at Xu Huang and Zhong Xuan, Cao Cao said: "After three days of confinement, think about it, what is wrong with this matter." ”

Before the servants came to Chang'an, they didn't expect Cao Cao to punish them so lightly.

After being stunned for a moment, the servants who came back to their senses hurriedly bowed to Cao Cao and said in unison: "Thank you Duke Cao for not killing." ”

"You all go." Cao Cao waved his hand at them.

Cao Hong and the others retired.

After going out, all three breathed a sigh of relief.

Cao Cao's hair fell much lighter than they expected.

Falling like this is almost the same as no punishment.

Walking out of the room, Xu Huang patted Cao Hong gently.

Looking at Xu Huang, Cao Hong didn't say anything, just sighed.

The three of them left, and Xu Chu asked Cao Cao, "Will Cao Gong's punishment of them so lightly make others dissatisfied?" ”

"I'm too dissatisfied, how can I be all-encompassing?" Cao Cao said: "It's easy to kill them, but they are all generals who can lead troops." The world is still in chaos, I need talents to lead troops in the future, who can solve my worries? ”

Xu Chu thought for a while and didn't say anything more.

"I heard that Zirong has sent troops?" Looking at Xu Chu, Cao Cao asked.

"It's been a few days since I sent troops." Xu Chu replied: "In another month, we should be able to reach Chang'an." ”

"When Zirong comes, it will be easy to do." Cao Cao sighed: "When Zirong asked me, do you want him to send troops to attack Xiliang." I told him not to ask, but I didn't expect to have to use him in the end. ”

"Gong Cao has suffered a big loss in Xiliang, even if Gongzi comes, it shouldn't be too smooth." Xu Chu said: "When Ma Chao and Han Sui come to Chang'an, it will be their turn to have food and grass to continue, and Cao Gong only needs to take the opportunity to break through." ”

"If I let Zirong come early, maybe it won't be as difficult as it is now." Cao Cao sighed.

(End of chapter)