Huangfu laughed and said: "Runde, you are a bit of a woman's benevolence, the Yellow Turban soldiers are brutal and brutal, rape - adultery and plunder, and they can do all the things that lose their conscience, we are soldiers and officials, and they fall into their hands, that is not the one who was skinned and cramped and lit the sky lantern, if we are moved to let the tiger return to the mountain today, and meet on the battlefield on a different day, is it possible that they will show mercy to their subordinates?" On the battlefield, you are my life, and there is no room for half of it. What's more, the Yellow Turban rebellion is a great crime of rebellion, if the thief is allowed to surrender, is it not conniving at the rebellion, making the thief more rampant, when he is proud, he will plunder wantonly, and when he loses, he will surrender to avoid death, which is tantamount to the ambition of the thief. ”

Liu Ze was about to say more, but he saw Cao Cao secretly giving himself a look, as if he was preventing himself from saying more, his heart moved, thinking that Huangfu Song's mind had been decided, and he had no intention of changing it, and it was useless for him to say it in vain, so he led his troops to return to Changshe first. Since he was unable to decide the fate of these Yellow Turban soldiers, Liu Ze naturally did not want to watch the bloody slaughter scene again.

Cao Cao also returned to the city afterwards and went straight to Liu Ze's station. Liu Ze ordered someone to serve tea, and the two of them said a few words. Liu Ze said: "Brother Meng De looked at it with his eyes, and it seemed that he had the intention of persuading the younger brother not to say more, I don't know what Brother Meng De meant?" ”

Cao Cao said with a smile: "How many words does the foolish brother have, I don't know if I should say it or not?" ”

"The younger brother is young and dull, and he is ignorant of the world, if Brother Meng De has any teachings, the younger brother is willing to listen to them."

"Runde is serious, you and I are from the same school, love is more than siblings, how can we talk about the word teaching? How old is the foolish brother who is older than you, relying on the old and selling the old, if there is anything you don't like, please also ask the virtuous brother Haihan. ”

"I want to hear about it."

"Runde knows that Zhuojun has won a great victory, why didn't the court seal your official position?"

Liu Ze was stunned, didn't he say that Zhang Rang was a hindrance and a personal vendetta, could it be that there was any other reason?

Cao Cao said: "Such a great achievement, no one dares to be greedy, but there are rumors in the court, saying that you secretly released the Yellow Turban captives under Daxing Mountain, Zhang Rang and others took this as a handle and asked the emperor to treat your crimes. ”

Liu Ze couldn't help but let out a cold sweat, he couldn't imagine that his thought at that time was benevolent, and he almost brought death to himself, thinking about it, it was not 30,000 pigs that were released, but 30,000 mouths, so that 30,000 mouths were tight-lipped like bottles, I am afraid that it would be better to try to reach the sky, so it is not surprising that rumors have spread to the court, but Liu Ze can't imagine that Cao Cao is not a big official, and the news is quite well-informed.

As everyone knows, Cao Cao himself has always flaunted his identity as a Qingliu scholar, but his grandfather Cao Teng was a powerful servant in the world, no matter how Cao Cao is also inextricably linked with the eunuch group, based on the fact that he can be like a fish in water in the two major factions, it is not surprising that Cao Cao can get inside information about the court.

Cao Cao then said: "Runde is benevolent and righteous, gentle and pure, and honest and respectable. However, in this turbid world, many things cannot be decided by our will, and a careless word is enough to bring disaster to the nine clans. Only then did Runde feel compassion and wanted to persuade General Huangfu to let go of the 50,000 Yellow Turban prisoners of war, but did Runde ever think that if General Huangfu released these 50,000 prisoners of war according to your words, how would the court explain it? I'm afraid that the Ten Standing Attendants will use this as a handle to impeach General Huangfu. Even if General Huangfu didn't deal with it personally, escorting these 50,000 people to the Beijing Division, wasting money and food in vain, could there be a difference in the result? ”

Liu Ze couldn't help but be a little embarrassed, and said: "The junior brother is not thoughtful, only considering the life and death of these 50,000 people, and not considering the difficulties of General Huangfu. ”

"The virtuous brother is still young, and it is reasonable that many things have not been thought out thoroughly. In fact, such a careless human life, the foolish brother also strongly disapproves of it. But we are not superiors, and these issues are not on our radar. If one day we have the ability to decide the life and death of others, we will never slaughter so hastily, after all, the world is still people-oriented, if we really kill them all, what is the point of leaving ourselves alone? ”

Liu Ze bowed and said: "Listening to your words, it is better to read for ten years, and Ze has been taught." ”

Cao Cao smiled: "We are just brothers talking, why should Runde salute." I view the benevolence and righteousness of the virtuous brothers, and they will be great weapons in the future. ”

Liu Ze said with a smile: "Brother Meng De has won the award, Brother Meng De's future is limitless, I have long heard that the famous man Xu Shao once said, 'the son of the world's capable ministers, the traitor of the troubled times', now the troubled times are coming, Brother Meng De will be a hero, and when we meet on the battlefield in the future, I hope that Brother Meng De will read it for the sake of our friendship, and his subordinates will be merciful." ”

Cao Cao also laughed and said: "The words of the warlock are all vain, and the virtuous brother still believes this?" ”

At this time, Guan Hai came in to report that Huangfu Song sent the officers to invite Liu Ze and Cao Cao to the celebration banquet. Cao Cao said: "Brother Xian, please." Liu Ze looked at each other and smiled, it was out of the account.

That night, a large row of celebration banquets in the city of Changshe, the soldiers were elated, and today they broke the yellow scarf heartily, and swept away the depression that had been suppressed by the yellow scarf in the city of Changshe for many days.

Zhu Jun is even more happy, since the defeat of Yingchuan, he has almost lived like a year, like a thin ice, he raised his glass to Liu Ze and said: "Today to break the yellow scarf, Runde is a great contribution, if there is no timely west wind, how can you win a big victory, come on, Zhu first toast you a cup." ”

Liu Ze said politely: "General Zhu praised it falsely, and he was able to win a complete victory today, all thanks to the command of General Huangfu and General Zhu, all the soldiers worked together, how dare Ze take credit." ”

Huangfu Song smiled and said: "Runde, you don't have to excuse yourself, know the heavens, break the yin and yang, this is the ability to seize the heaven and the earth, and the unfathomable power of the ghosts and gods, if there is no such gale, even the most clever command is in vain." Today's victory, the whole world celebrates, please drink this cup to the fullest. I have asked the court to ask for credit for you, and I believe that at this time, the 600-mile urgent document has been delivered to the capital, and you should wait in the camp for good news, and the court's reward will arrive soon. ”

The generals were even more jubilant, this big victory, needless to say, was also a great achievement, and the court's reward would never be light. Liu Ze secretly sighed in his heart, this Huangfu Song's way of being an official is much more clever than Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi killed 100,000 enemies in Guangzong, forced Zhang Jiao back, and did not ask the court for credit on the grounds that he had not done his full work. With the same record, Huangfu Song couldn't wait to ask the court for credit, and compared with the two forms, Huangfu Song was naturally more supported by the soldiers. What is the reason why those who are born and die come out to fight, isn't it just to fight for a wife and a son, and seek to become an official and become a knight? Lu Zhi has the arrogance of a clear stream and the pedantry of Confucianism, but Huangfu Song, who was born in the army, is a straightforward soldier's temper, victory is victory, defeat is defeat, and if the battle is won, it is natural to seek benefits for the soldiers who sacrifice their lives and work hard.

Seeing Liu Ze's indifference, Huangfu Song thought that he was still angry about the previous Zhuojun meritorious service, and smiled at him: "Runde, don't worry, this time you have made the first contribution, I have strongly recommended it to the court, I believe that no one will dare to bury your merits anymore." ”

Liu Ze came back to his senses and smiled indifferently, it seemed that Huangfu Song had misunderstood, thinking that he was thinking about Zhuojun killing the enemy for meritorious service but not receiving a reward. Liu Ze said: "Thank you General Huangfu for joining the army in the next place, just to kill the enemy and serve the country, and return the people of the world to a peaceful and prosperous world. ”

Huangfu Song laughed and said: "Runde's high style and brightness are admirable, and the temper of Brother Zi is also somewhat similar. But our credit is fought with a knife and a gun, and it is exchanged for life and blood, and whoever dares to bury it, I will fight for my life and have a long time with him. ”

Three days later, the court's reward really came as scheduled, Huangfu Song was promoted to Dongzhong Lang General, Fengdu Xianghou, Cao Cao was promoted to captain, Liu Ze was promoted to cavalry captain, Sun Jian was appointed Sima of other departments, and other battalion generals were promoted, but Zhu Jun was not rewarded, and also held the position of right Zhonglang general. Although he was not promoted, Zhu Jun was still very happy, obviously the court no longer pursued the responsibility for his defeat in Yingchuan, and this time it was even if he atoned.

As the supreme commander of the Southern Route Army, Huangfu Song's reward is undoubtedly the thickest, although the position has only been promoted by half a level, but it is already at the same level as Lu Zhi's Beizhong Lang General, not to mention that he was directly named a liehou, obviously the court is still quite satisfied with the victory of the Changshe War.