Xu Rong defeated the Cao army in Rongyang, and had lost the opportunity to sneak attack the Kwantung princes, so he led the troops back, and the corpses were all over the Bian Shui River, most of the Cao army's corpses were in the wilderness, and they couldn't even enter the earth for safety, vultures circled around, and some jackals rushed into it, biting the corpses and feasting on them.

From time to time on the empty battlefield, there was a dark wind, and the rich bloody aura that could not be erased continued to drift with the wind, and many corpses piled together, broken battle flags, broken blades, and shields were scattered all over the ground, and the dried blood gradually became viscous.

Until Xiahoudun and Xiahouyuan, who were covered in blood, led the remaining more than 200 horsemen back to the battlefield, and searched for Cao Cao's traces in the corpse with their bare hands for the first time, but they couldn't find it at all.

Now I can only hope that Cao Cao was not captured by the Xiliang army, and has returned safely to the Kwantung Righteous Army station, and soon ordered his soldiers to bury the corpses, Xiahou Danqiang went to pursue the impulse of the Xiliang army, led the only remaining defeated soldiers, and slowly returned in the direction of Luoyang.

Between the wide roads, Gongsun Yi led nearly 6,000 armor soldiers to gallop and march, although he had the intention to pursue quickly, but the main cavalry of the Xiao cavalry army all went to Qingzhou with Tian Yu, and now there are only 1,000 cavalry from Sun Jian.

If the cavalry force with a small number of cavalry troops catches up with the Xiliang army, there is not much chance of victory, not to mention that Gongsun Yi led the superior forces, nearly three times that of Xu Rong, and still suffered a crushing defeat in the wilderness.

Coupled with the difficulty of traveling at night, although the pursuit of Dong Zhuo was urgent, he could only order the cavalry to be divided into two wings and carefully probe the surrounding situation, Gongsun Yi knew very well that Cao Cao led the army to chase and kill, and it was around Rongyang that he was ambushed and defeated, and under caution, he led the cavalry army to pursue slowly.

As the twilight faded, the cloudless sky turned a deep purple like a bruise, and soon disappeared into darkness, and the crescent moon slowly rose, casting a mesmerizing moonlight.

Through the hazy moonlight, vaguely saw more than 200 cavalry coming slowly in the distance, Gongsun Yi immediately ordered the army to unfold, the cavalry formed a battle formation to face up, more than 200 cavalry in the distance followed the firelight, saw the Gongsun banner in the army, first stunned, and then galloped.

The cavalry approached quickly, and Gongsun Yi fixed his eyes to see that the generals who led more than 200 cavalry were actually the two Xiahou brothers under Cao Cao, and Gongsun Yi did not hesitate to step forward to greet them.

Xiahou immediately stepped forward, and saluted with a fist of great joy: "Lord Gongsun, I don't know if you have seen my father-in-law!" His words trembled slightly in anticipation.

Xiahoudun was full of anticipation to see the lord Cao Cao here, when the cavalry was chased by the Xiliang army led by Xu Rong all the way, almost annihilated, Xiahoudun and Xiahouyuan rushed all the way to kill, fought for a long time, and finally escaped with more than 200 people.

It's just that when Xu Rong withdrew his troops and Xiahoudun led the army back to the battlefield, except for many corpses of Cao Jun, he did not see any trace of Cao Cao, and buried the corpses of Cao Jun, Xiahoudun carefully looked at the corpses of Cao Jun's armor soldiers, and was glad that there was no corpse of Cao Cao.

Xiahoudun didn't dare to think that Cao Cao had been captured, and now he could only hope that the lord had crossed the turbulent waters and returned to the Kwantung Righteous Army garrison, where he met the hussar general Gongsun Yi, and Xiahoudun was full of expectant inquiries.

"I haven't seen it." Gongsun Yi groaned slightly and responded truthfully, seeing that the Xiahou brothers were full of worry, he casually comforted: "However, our army is not from the Kwantung Righteous Army garrison, Cao Gongji people have their own natural appearance, and they must have returned safely." ”

Seeing that Cao Junjun was disheartened and sleepy, Gongsun Yi immediately whispered to the guards beside him: "Send food and fresh water, quickly!" ”

Xiahoudun knew that Cao Cao was not in the army, and couldn't help sighing slightly, seeing that Gongsun Yi was coming with a whole army, he straightened up slightly, and saluted Gongsun Yi with a fist and asked respectfully: "Thank you Gongsun for your auspicious words, thank you for your gift, I don't know where Gongsun wants to go?" ”

Xiahoudun asked knowingly, since Gongsun Yi led the army here, it must be to pursue Dong Zhuo, the combat effectiveness of the Xiliang army is amazing, these 6,000 men and horses are not the opponent of the Xiliang army at all, Gongsun Yi and the lord Cao Cao have always been friends, so he naturally can't bear Gongsun Yi to repeat the mistakes of the past, and naturally intends to persuade not to lead the army to pursue.

Gongsun Yi was naturally insightful of Xiahoudun's thoughts, and did not answer directly, but smiled heartily, and replied in a non-asked manner: "Two generals, dare to follow me and chase Dong Zhuo again!" ”

The Xiahou brothers glanced at each other, they all laughed out loud, Xiahou dun hugged his fists and saluted: "Born in troubled times, the seven-foot man should make meritorious contributions to his career, and what is there to fear of rushing to the battlefield, if Lord Gongsun does not abandon us and others, he will be the general of the defeated army, and he should follow and pursue Dong Thief together!" "The words are categorical, and the breath is deep.

"The last general is also willing to go on the expedition together!" Xiahou Yuan was also resolute.

The Xiliang army exclaimed that the Cao army was annihilated, Cao Gong did not know where to go, Cao Hong and Cao Ren did not know the life and death, and the army led by the Xiahou brothers was only more than 200 people.

"Strong, bring the wine!"

The three of them drank three cups of each other, looked at each other and laughed, Gongsun Yi said: "I will hand over all the cavalry to the two generals, but our army is mostly infantry, and we need to pursue slowly and fight together with foot and cavalry, otherwise the labor division will never be able to defeat it." ”

The Xiahou brothers thought that one of the reasons for the previous defeat of the Cao army was that they were far away from the army, and they had not yet been recuperated, and they were greedy for merit and recklessness, and Xiahou regretted that he did not follow Cao Ren's advice at the beginning.

It's just that there is no regret medicine to take in this world, and now that Gongsun Yi has ordered the army to be banned, the Xiahou brothers naturally have nothing to say.

Gongsun Yi ordered to set up camp and rest and prepare for departure, Luoyang is far away from the road of Chang'an, the Xiliang army escorted many people to Chang'an, and it was only thirty miles a day, even if Gongsun Yi pursued slowly, it was easy to catch up with the Xiliang army within two days, patience, and sometimes it was one of the opportunities for victory.

*****

In the camp of the Kwantung Righteous Army, a group of princes are eating the food on the table, admiring the graceful dancing of the dancing girls, and on the fire in the tent, the lamb that exudes a burst of fragrant smell is baking, a scene of singing and dancing.

"Report!" Suddenly, a guard rushed into the big tent and hugged his fist and said: "Alliance leader, Cao Cao led the crowd to pursue Dong Zhuo, and was ambushed in Rongyang and returned defeated!" ”

When all the princes heard that Cao Cao was defeated, their eyes flashed, and they didn't know whether they were more afraid of the powerful Xiliang army, or they were amused by Cao Cao's inadequacy, and some people were even glad that Cao Cao failed to defeat Dong Zhuo and successfully welcomed His Majesty back, so as not to steal their limelight.

Yuan Shao, who was sitting in the main seat, pondered for a long time, casually put the wine glass on the table, looked around and sighed: "Meng De didn't listen to me, and he was greedy for merit and rushed to pursue Dong Zhuo, and he was defeated!" ”

Yuan Shao's heart is mixed, happy that the emperor has not been rescued, now Luoyang has been destroyed, the Han court has been burned, the original imperial power has existed in name only, Yuan Shao can take this opportunity to support the new monarch, in order to order the world, Liu Yu and other Han clan relatives, has been Yuan Shao's support for the emperor's consideration of the target.

Yuan Shao knew very well that the Kwantung Righteous Army was in name only, and if Dong Zhuo led the army to kill at this time, there were a few people willing to stay and defend Luoyang, which was already a pile of ruins.

It's just that the biggest threat to Yuan Shao now is Yuan Shu, who has left a few days ago, and his strong military strength, coupled with abundant land and abundant grain and grass, will inevitably become a powerful opponent for Yuan Shao to compete for the world in the future, and he must be guarded against.

Yuan Shao then looked at the land of Jingzhou, and Liu Biao, a relative of the Han clan who was gradually controlling the land of Jingxiang, might be able to form an alliance to drive the tiger and devour the wolf to attack Yuan Shu.

As for the burned ruins of Luoyang, and the little emperor who was kidnapped and went to Chang'an, Yuan Shao has long been out of his mind, as long as Dong Zhuo's old thief does not come to the Central Plains to attack and disturb, he is also too lazy to pay attention to it.

Yuan Shao, as the leader of the alliance, naturally wants to show the world, no matter what, Cao Cao's pursuit of Dong Zhuo is also for the righteousness of the world, and he can't help but treat each other with courtesy, Yuan Shao looked around and said loudly: "Withdraw the banquet and re-set the banquet, we will be shocked by the hero Cao Mengde." ”

Cao Cao returned to the military tent, the wound had just been bandaged not long ago, and he couldn't drink, but the pale Cao Cao drank several glasses in a row, and his originally pale face showed a little redness.

Yuan Shao stepped forward, personally took out the warm wine from the warm wine barrel, and personally poured a glass for Cao Cao and said: "Meng De doesn't have to be irritable, victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, don't worry about it!" He bowed slightly, and then drank the warm wine in the cup.

Cao Cao drank a few cups again and staggered in the center of the military tent, looked around left and right, and said in a deep voice: "I, Cao Cao, have been righteous and righteous for the country, and the princes can gather volunteers to come, and Cao is very grateful in his heart." ”

"I want to ask you to lead the army to control the enemy's danger, enter the military pass to shock the three auxiliaries, as long as the deep ditch is high, and the suspicious soldiers are set up to deter Dong thieves, a battle can determine the world, but it is a pity that the fighter plane has been delayed."

"I Cao Cao led the army to pursue, fought on the side of Bian Shui, almost defeated and died, the Xiliang thieves set up an ambush in Rongyang, if the army led the pursuit again, the Xiliang thieves would never think that there would be another pursuit after a pursuit, and if the enemy was not prepared, they would be able to win a big victory!"

Cao Cao looked around at the silent princes, stepped forward to drink another glass of warm wine and said sadly: "You don't want to enter the army today, hesitate, and disappoint the world's expectations. ”

The disheartened Cao Cao Langlang staggered towards the outside of the tent, and now the army was defeated, only Cao Hong withdrew together, the Xiahou brothers lost their traces, Cao Ren did not know whether he was alive or dead, Cao Cao saw through these so-called princes at the same time, and had no respect for the Han family.

Cao Cao already had the intention of going in his heart, but he was afraid that Xiahoudun and others would return to find him, and maybe he would lead the remnants of the army to Dong Zhuo to take revenge, and he could only return to the empty military tent lonely and wait for a miracle to happen.