Traveling 100 miles a day is not the limit of the marching speed in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and it is clearly recorded in the Book of Jin that when Sima Yi packed up Meng Da, he still walked the rugged mountain road in the eastern section of the Daba Mountains, which created a march record of 1,200 Han miles in eight days! The area of Chang'an north of the Qinling Mountains is an open terrain of Pingchuan, and it is naturally no difficulty for the Huangshu army to complete the journey of 100 miles in one day, so before the sunset of August 29, the main force of the 30,000 Huangshu army still successfully arrived at the city of Chang'an, and finally joined forces with the anti-Tao ally Cao Jun's team.

Cao Ang and Xun Yu and other Cao Jun decision-makers were very helpless to welcome the arrival of the imperial army, although Cao Ang and Cao Jun's old ministers knew very well in their hearts that Uncle Liu, who had a chaotic aura, went there and first considered swallowing the lord with a guest, and this time he personally led the army to reinforce the Cao army It was also clear that he was uneasy and kind, but there was no way, the critical situation was placed here, Cao Ang wanted to surrender to the Xuzhou army and no one supported him, and the old ministers of the Cao army wanted to avenge Cao Lao and had no soldiers and no food, so they had to rely on the support and help of Uncle Liu Huang, who occupied the granary in Hanzhong, So knowing that it was a cup of poisonous wine, Cao Jun's old ministers could only drink it hard, and they also dragged Cao Ang to drink it together.

Cao Xing cautiously implored the imperial uncle army to garrison outside the city, and did not dare to let the famous Uncle Liu who likes to fight back to settle in the city, fortunately, Uncle Liu did not want to force the dragon to suppress the snake as soon as he came to Chang'an, not only agreed to let the army be stationed in the school field outside the south gate of Chang'an, but also clearly told Cao Ang and Xun Yu and others, saying that he only planned to rest for two days, and he would lead the army to continue to march eastward on the second day of the first day of September. Rushed to Tongguan and the Yellow River to assist Cao's army to meet the enemy, Cao Ang, Xun Yu and others were somewhat relieved when they heard the news, and hurriedly invited Uncle Liu Huang into the city for a banquet.

Uncle Liu Huang, who knew Cao Ang's kind character, happily accepted the invitation, first ordered Pang Tong, Wang Ping, Meng Da and others to lead the army to be stationed outside the city, and led three hundred elite soldiers into the city with Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng.

The Cao army defenders in Chang'an City actually only had more than 10,000 people, and most of them were second-line troops drawn from all over Guanzhong. The elite team, even with the Tiger Ben battalion brought back by Dian Wei from Hangu Pass, was less than four thousand. The combat effectiveness is far inferior to the elite of Tongguan, but the main force of Hanzhong brought by Uncle Liu Huang is enough to have 30,000 people, and the overall strength is far more than that of Chang'an Cao's army, plus the Xuzhou army is overwhelming. Cao Ang, Xun Yu and others invited Uncle Liu Huang into the city this time, but they didn't dare to play any tricks. So overall. The boss of the Cao and Liu families had a very pleasant gathering in Chang'an on the whole, and Cao Zhi, who had already booked Uncle Liu's daughter as his wife, finally met his future father-in-law and had a very happy conversation with Uncle Liu. was also extremely respectful to Uncle Liu Huang, and the two of them held hands and said something alone for a long time.

Uncle Liu Huang first wept bitterly and counted the various sins of Deputy Director Tao, especially emphasizing Deputy Director Tao's recent rebellious crime of killing Weng with his son-in-law, and swore to fight with Deputy Director Tao to avenge his long-time friend Cao Lao, and then patted his chest and said: "Zi Xiuxian's nephew, Mr. Wen Ruo, Cao Jun's princes, you can rest assured, you are prepared to be the enemy of that Tao Ying traitor for more than ten years, and know his various tactics and tactics. In response to General Cao Ren, you can guarantee that Tongguan is as stable as Mount Tai! ”

Speaking of this, Uncle Liu Huang waved his hand with tears in his eyes, and said in an astonishing voice: "And if Zi Xiuxian's nephew lets Bei lead the army to be stationed in Tongguan City, and uses your army as a backup to assist Bei to defend Tongguan, then Bei will not only guarantee that Tongguan will not be lost, but will also wait for the opportunity to attack, and break the pottery thief outside Tongguan!" ”

"What?!"

After listening to Uncle Liu's generous words, Cao Ang, Xun Yu, Guo Jia and others, who knew that Uncle Liu had always been noble, were inevitably a little stammered, and in surprise, Cao Ang hurriedly asked: "Xuande Gong, what did you mean just now, did you mean that you want to garrison the city of Tongguan and resist the front of Tao Ying's blade for our army?!" ”

"Exactly!" Uncle Liu Huang nodded vigorously, his face was not red, and his heart did not beat: "Bei has long wanted to compete with Tao Ying's traitors, but Bei has always been a small soldier and a weak general, and his strength is not good, and he can't fulfill his wish. ”

Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu and other old foxes of Cao Jun looked at each other, all suspecting that Uncle Liu Huang had taken the wrong medicine or drunk today, and he could actually say that he would make himself suffer and let Cao Jun take advantage of it? Surprised, Xun, Guo, and Cheng inevitably had doubts again, and secretly said together: "Can a big-eared thief have such a good heart? Isn't it some kind of hesitant idea again? ”

Cao Ang's stomach is not as twisted and twisted as Xun Yu and Guo Jia, listening to Uncle Liu Huang's volunteering, Cao Ang was surprised and inevitably very moved, and said secretly: "If it is really deployed like this, it will be a good thing for our army, let the team of the big-eared thief be at the forefront, and the big-eared thief carried to the Tao Envoy Jun's retreat and was greatly injured, and he was at the mercy of our army, and he lost his vitality and was greatly injured. ”

Thinking about this, Cao Ang hurriedly nodded vigorously and said loudly: "Since Xuande Gong is so confident, the little nephew will be disrespectful, so I will invite Xuande Gong into the ......." ”

"Lord!" Xun Yu, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu interrupted together in shock, and then Xun Yu quietly glanced at Cao Ang, and said quickly: "Lord, although Xuande Gong's discussion is good, but the enemy is current, the army of pottery thieves will arrive in Tongguan in a few days, Xuande Gong has little understanding of the geography of Tongguan, and changing the guard in the battle will cause a big disaster. ”

Seeing that Xun Yu hinted that he didn't agree, and seeing Guo Jia and Cheng Yu killing chickens and wiping their necks, they didn't have any military generals such as Dian Wei and Cao Hong to support him. Cao Ang, who was not in charge, had no choice, so he had to follow Xun Yu's words, and reluctantly rejected Uncle Liu's kindness, and decided to put the matter on hold for the time being, but Uncle Liu Huang did not refuse, but sneered in his heart: "Shi Yuan is wonderful, Cao Ang's boy is really tempted, Xun Yu and Guo Jia, the old foxes, really dare not rest assured, they are tempted, and it is good to refuse." The next move is good to go. ”

In fact, only this passage was said at the whole banquet, which was more nutritious. The other words are either nonsense or empty words, and after these nonsense and empty words are finished, the banquet is considered to be used up, and Uncle Liu Huang proposes to leave. Cao Ang and the others pretended to save a few words. Then he personally sent Uncle Liu Huang, who was tired from afar, out of the south gate of Chang'an. It was also after Uncle Liu Huang walked away. Cao Angcai asked Xun Yu and the others: "Several uncles, Liu Xuande volunteered to take over Tongguan and confront Tao Ying's army head-on. There is no harm to our army, and the little nephew wanted to agree to the situation, but I don't know why a few uncles stopped it? ”

"Lord, don't underestimate Liu Xuande, since this traitor dares to take the initiative to suffer such a big loss, he must have other plans, and we can't take it lightly before we find out his real plans." Xun Yu replied in a low voice: "Besides, for our army, Tongguan is already the key to life and death, so it is better to hold it in your hands with confidence." ”

Cao Ang was silent, and Xun Yu said again: "Lord, let's go and summon Sima Yi, and see what happened on the way when he accompanied the second son to meet Liu Xuande a hundred miles away this time." Cao Ang nodded weakly, and continued to be at the mercy of the auxiliary ministers left by his father.

Returning to Cao Jun's self-proclaimed Liangzhou Assassin's Mansion, Cao Ang immediately summoned Sima Yi to inquire about the situation, and Sima Yi replied: "My lord, today on the way to the east, the big-eared thief did have a secret conversation with Wei Chen, and he asked his subordinates to continue to lurk beside the lord, and inform him of the internal situation of our army at any time. Other than that...... other than that, other than that, ....... ”

"What else is there? But it doesn't hurt to say that. Xun Yu hurriedly asked.

"In addition, the big-eared thief also hinted at his subordinates, saying that there are important ministers in our army who are secretly in contact with him." Sima Yi replied truthfully: "So the big-eared thief reassures his subordinates, at the critical moment, in our army, there are naturally unexpected important ministers of our army who come forward to help me, and they are still important ministers in our army. ”

Cao Ang was not too surprised, and quietly glanced at Xun Yu and the others - these are all masters of Cao Jun's word. Xun Yu and Guo Jia and other old foxes scolded together, Guo Jia coughed and said angrily: "This traitor! Obviously, I haven't fully believed you, so I deliberately fabricated a non-existent internal response of our army's important ministers, so that you know about it, so that if you really surrender, you can receive the effect of giving you courage, and if you surrender by fraud, you can use your hand to disturb our army's sight, and even cause our army to have civil strife, so that he can take things from it! ”

Sima Yi hung his head and was silent, but he snorted coldly in his heart: "You still need to guide this joint?" When the big-eared thief had just fabricated a powerful minister's internal response, I knew he hadn't really believed me! But I just want to say it, so that the son of Cao Thief will have some bitterness towards you! ”

"Of the words that the big-eared thief said to Zhongda, there is probably only one sentence that is true, and everything will be said after the pottery thief is repelled." Cheng Yu analyzed: "At present, Tao Ying traitors are pressing the border, and Tongguan is in the hands of our army, if the big-eared thieves start to annex our army at this time, they will force our Tongguan defenders to the side of the pottery thieves. So I think it's best for us to pretend not to know the ambition of the big-eared thief for now, secretly watch out for him, and wait until we repel the invasion of the pottery thief. ”

With the jackal of Deputy Director Tao peeping around, Xun Yu and Guo Jia did not dare to take the initiative to provoke infighting among the allies and cheapen Deputy Director Tao for nothing, so they could only agree with Cheng Yu's proposal and ask Cao Ang to stay calm for the time being, first work together with the Imperial Uncle Army to kill Deputy Director Tao, and then consider how to get rid of the white-eyed wolf of Uncle Liu. Cao Ang, who barely spoke, finally spoke, and said somewhat resentfully: "A few uncles are in charge, and the little nephew just does it." ”

Hearing Cao Ang's words, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu's hearts inevitably grunted, understanding that Cao Ang already had resentment in their hearts, but Guo Jia and Cheng Yu had a clear conscience, and they thought that they were acting like this for the sake of Cao Boss's foundation, so they pretended not to hear it, but Xun Yu didn't notice it. was just concerned about another more important matter, and after seeing Cao Ang nodding in agreement, Xun Yu immediately asked Sima Yi again: "Zhongda, you greeted the big-eared thief with the second son this time, can you find that the second son has signs of private contact with the big-eared thief?" ”

"Nope."

Xun Yu's words are considered to be asking the wrong person, although Sima Yi, who hates the old Cao family so much, knows that just last night, Cao Pi had left the sleeping tent when he was pretending to be asleep, and came back after a short time, but Sima Yi still concealed it for Cao Pi: "Weichen has always been by the side of the second son, and occasionally leaving for a moment also let others secretly stare at the second son." It can be confirmed that the second son did not meet with the big-eared thief alone. ”

"What's wrong?" Cao Ang, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu all hurriedly raised their heads. Together, they asked Xun Yu suspiciously, "Mr. Wenruo, why do you care about this?" ”

Xun Yu hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "It's nothing, just ask." I guess I misunderstood. That incident could just be a coincidence. ”

Seeing that Xun Yu refused to answer. Guo Jia and Cheng Yu closed their mouths and stopped asking, just waiting for the opportunity to ask Xun Yu again in the future, and Cao Ang was angry. understood that Xun Yu deliberately arranged for Sima Yi to accompany Cao Pi to meet Uncle Liu Huang, it must be because he quietly suspected that he was very respectful and obedient to his second brother Cao Pi, and under dissatisfaction, Cao Ang yawned and said: "It's late at night, several uncles are old, go and rest, the little nephew is also tired and wants to rest." ”

"My lord, please wait a moment, there is one more thing." Cheng Yu hurriedly said: "Now that Liu Bei's reinforcements have arrived in Chang'an, it is urgent to determine the candidate for the commander ......of Tongguan. ”

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, the little nephew will go to rest first."

Cao Ang, who was already extremely angry in his heart, got up and left, not wanting to argue with the auxiliary ministers about the matter that had not been decided for many days, and by the way, he silently protested his dissatisfaction with the dictatorship of Xun Yu and others. Looking at the back of Cao Ang leaving in a hurry, Sima Yi secretly sneered in his heart, knowing that his private provocations these days had had taken effect, and the contradictions between Cao Ang and Cao Jun's old ministers had gradually intensified, but Xun Yu, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu had helpless expressions, and they didn't understand why Cao Ang couldn't understand his own painstaking efforts? Isn't it for the sake of Cao Ang's stable position and the foundation left by Cao Boss?

………………

The night passed quickly, and the next morning, Uncle Liu sent Fa Zheng into the city, inviting Cao Ang, Xun Yu, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu to go out of the city and go to the camp of the emperor's army to have a banquet and drink.

Xun Yu and others did this, of course, because they were loyal to Cao Lao's father and son, and the kind-hearted Cao Ang also understood that Xun Yu and others were thinking about their own safety, although they were a little dissatisfied with Xun Yu and others' direct refusal, but they also received their kindness, under the pretext that they were preparing to join forces with the emperor's army to meet the pottery thieves, and refused Uncle Liu's good intentions, and sent Cao Pi and Cheng Yu to go out of the city to the banquet on his behalf, and ordered Cheng Yu and others to bring more gifts to apologize.

Uncle Huang's hot face was attached to the cold buttocks, and the envoy of the Emperor Uncle Army, Fa Zheng, didn't mind, but just bowed his hand to Cao Ang and said: "Cao Envoy Jun is busy with official business and has no time to go to the banquet, so he should tell the lord truthfully and convey Cao Envoy's apology, but my lord has another important question, I forgot to ask the envoy yesterday, I asked the envoy, and I hope the envoy will make it clear." ”

"Mr. Xiaozhi, please speak up." Cao Ang replied.

"Dare to ask Cao Yuanjun, who is the commander of your army Tongguan and Huayin's soldiers?" Fa Zheng said with some doubts: "Almost all the main forces of your army are stationed in Tongguan, but our army still doesn't know who is the commander-in-chief?" How can our army join hands with your army to fight against pottery? ”

Xun Yu, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu The faces of the three old foxes of Cao Jun suddenly became gloomy, and they began to suspect that Uncle Liu Huang had already discovered the internal contradictions of the Zijun and deliberately sent Fa Zheng to sow discord, but Cao Ang was full of anger and replied with gritted teeth: "Mr. Xiaozhi, you should ask a few of my uncles about this issue, and they have the final say." ”

"What?!"

Hearing Cao Ang's answer, Xun Yu and the others' faces suddenly changed even more, but Fa Zheng screamed in surprise, and looked at Cao Ang and Xun Yu and others whose faces were more ugly than those with surprised faces, Fa Zheng seemed to have woken up, and hurriedly hugged his fist to Cao Ang, and apologized repeatedly: "I am losing my words, I am losing my words, I am taking the liberty!" If you offend, please don't blame you. ”

Cao Ang refused to say anything with a straight face, Xun Yu gritted his teeth, got up and said: "Mr. Xiaozhi, please return to Xuande Gong, the commander of our army's Tongguan is General Cao Ren Cao Zixiao!" If your army has something to do, you can directly contact and negotiate with General Zixiao! ”

Cao Ang's face was so gloomy that he was about to drip, but Fa Zheng was full of horror, and hurriedly confessed to Cao Ang, Xun Yu and others, and then said that he would go back and wait for the second son and Mr. Cheng Yu to take over, and he would slip away immediately. And after Fa Zheng left, Xun Yu also immediately strode in front of Cao Ang, knelt down on his knees to kowtow again and again, and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty is good at dictatorship, please punish the lord, but your subordinates are loyal to the lord, and I hope that the lord will investigate it clearly, and don't fall for Liu Bei's traitorous plan!" ”

After finishing speaking, Xun Yu hurriedly put his forehead on the ground again, waiting for Cao Ang's thunderous anger with bated breath, but after a long time, Xun Yu never heard Cao Ang say a word, and when he was secretly strange, his two hands suddenly stretched out to support Xun Yu, and Guo Jia, who was supporting Xun Yu with Cheng Yu, coughed and said weakly: "Mr. Wenruo, the eldest prince has left, get up." ”

Looking up at the empty Cao Ang's position, Xun Yu didn't realize that tears were raining down, and he choked up: "Lord, why did you choose him?" Why did you choose him? ”

"Hey." Guo Jia and Cheng Yu sighed, shook their heads together, and unconsciously burst into tears, sighing that fate made people, and the Cao army team became such a situation after the death of Boss Cao.

Xun Yu, Guo Jia and others wept in the lobby, but they didn't know that at the same time in the Cao Boss Spirit Hall, Cao Ang knelt in front of the Cao Boss Spirit and cried loudly, kowtowing and choking, "Father, why do you want to make me your heir?" Why do you put this burden on my shoulders? Why do you want me to avenge you? You know that the child is incompetent, the child can't do it, why do you want to make me an heir?! ”

The breeze blew into the mourning hall, and the spirit flag in front of Cao Laoda's coffin fluttered slightly, and the horns of the banner gently swept over Cao Ang's head, as if Cao Laoda knew under the spring, caressing and comforting his beloved son Cao Ang.

………………

Cao Ang and Cao Jun's old ministers were crying bitterly, and after Fa Zheng brought the news back to the imperial uncle's army camp, Uncle Liu Huang was laughing loudly, and praised repeatedly: "Shiyuan's clever plan, filial piety and straightforward plan, I didn't expect that just by asking the question of Ang Gongzi Tongguan in person, I could receive such a miraculous effect!" Such a clever plan can simply surpass all the previous divisive poisonous schemes of Tao Ying's traitors! ”

"If Cao Apu Quan's subordinates knew that his appointment of Cao Ang as his heir would cause such serious consequences, I am afraid that he would have to regret why he didn't choose other sons." Pang Tong smiled equally happily, and urged: "Lord, without further ado, it's time to take the next step." ”

"Don't worry." Uncle Liu Huang replied with a smile: "Tomorrow during the day, I will take the next step, and then Gongzi Ang will write to me tomorrow night to help him eradicate the traitor, isn't it more logical?" ”

"Lord Shengming." Fa Zheng nodded, and then suggested: "My lord, it is best to send the letter forwarded by Gongzi Zhi to the city today, and ask Gongzi Zhi to do it tomorrow, so as not to cause extraneous branches, and the letter cannot be sent to the city in time." ”

"No need." Uncle Liu Huang smiled gently: "The letter, I have already handed it over to Gongzi Zhi by hand last night, and I have already told the future virtuous son-in-law in person when I did it." (To be continued......)