However, it is said that after Cao Cao's defeat at Chibi, he adopted the strategy of waiting and watching the changes, consolidating the rear, and taking the opportunity to re-plan, promulgated the "Order to Seek Talents", and took the opportunity of the completion of the Tongque Terrace in Yecheng to parade and worship the military and consolidate the military group; Gather talents to contribute to the formation of Ye Wenren Group; Recruit governance talents and promote the economic development of the regions under their control.

In order to realize the grand ambition of unifying the world and helping the world and the people, Cao Cao devoted himself to the study of military affairs.

After returning to Xudu from Yecheng, Cao Cao carefully reviewed the experience of the wars in which he had participated, summed up the lessons and lessons of the previous wars, especially the victories and defeats of Guandu and Chibi, and elevated tactical tactics to military theory.

In terms of strategy and tactics, Cao Cao advocated the concept of war of "soldiers acting with righteousness", emphasizing that the division is famous, conforms to morality, sets up surprises according to events, defeats the enemy, and is not tired of deceit, and is flexible and changeable.

In terms of the art of war, since he was a child, he was familiar with the works of Sun Wu, Wu Qi and other military strategists of the previous generation, and on this basis, he wrote a "Summary of Military Books" and discussed it in combination with his own war experience. The "Brief Explanation of Sun Tzu" created a precedent for sorting out and commenting on the thirteen articles of "Sun Tzu".

In terms of the use of troops. Cao Cao's marching division, mostly according to Sun Wu's law, in a series of battles against Lu Bu, Zhang Xiu, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei and a series of battles, often used tactics such as attacking the east and attacking the west, avoiding the real and making the false, ambushing, outflanking, raiding, dividing, robbing grain, attacking this to save the other, abandoning things to lure the enemy, etc., to win the enemy, turn the weak into strong, and make these tactics more than 100,000 words into a military book, requiring the generals to conquer, "all to engage in the new book, and to change the situation", the result is that most of the people who follow the order are defeated, and those who violate the religion are defeated.

In terms of leading troops, he governed the army strictly and ordered strictly. In addition to formulating strict military laws, military orders were issued before each war, such as the "Wei Wu Military Order", "Wei Wu Boat Battle Order", "Wei Wu Bu Battle Order" and so on.

In terms of imperial generals, Cao Cao was drawn out of the ban, Lejin was in the march, and Zhang Liao and Xu Huang were among the prisoners, all of whom made meritorious contributions and were listed as famous generals. Cao Cao was able to use his strengths according to the characteristics of the generals. Xu Chu and Dian Wei were strong and powerful, loyal to the law, and Cao Cao let them fight as the front of the army, and rest to command the soldiers; Zang Ba had a trust in the eastern soil, and Cao Cao entrusted Qing and Xu Erzhou to him, so that he could concentrate on dealing with Yuan Shao, and he did not have to think about the east; The general Wen Ping was originally a general under Liu Biao's account, and he was quite powerful in the Jianghan area, and Cao Cao appointed him as the Jiangxia Taishou, and entrusted him with side affairs to make the imperial grandson right.

Although Cao Cao suffered a crushing defeat at Chibi, he was able to comfort himself while "victory and defeat are the norm of soldiers", summed up lessons, learned from the other party's strengths, and further sublimated his military talents.

On this day, Cao Cao was chatting with Xun Yu, Xun Yu, Mao Jue, Jia Xu and other strategists about military affairs. Then Jingzhou came to report: "Zhuge Liang went to Chaisang to hang filial piety and connect with Eastern Wu." Liu Bei also had Pang Tong as a strategist, and together with Zhuge Liang, he recruited troops and horses, accumulated grass and grain, and intended to go on the Northern Expedition. ”

Cao Cao heard the news and consulted with the people.

Xun You said: "Zhou Yu is newly dead, you can take the opportunity to take Sun Quan first, and then attack Liu Bei." ”

Xun Yu said: "Sun Liu is a lip and tooth, and he can only wait for him to change before he can take advantage of the gap." There are Han Sui and Ma Teng in the west, so they should be calmed down first to avoid worries. ”

Xun You said: "Since the prime minister coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, why not rely on this advantage to send an edict and seal Ma Teng as a former general, lure him into the capital and get rid of him, so as to solve the trouble of the southern expedition?" ”

Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately sent Zhong Xuan to persuade peace.

Zhong Xuan, the character Yuan Chang, was a native of Changshe County, Yingchuan County, Yuzhou (now Changge, Henan). When he was young, he was extraordinary, intelligent, and his uncle Zhong Yu went to Luoyang together, and met a face-to-face person on the way, and when he saw Zhong Yu's appearance, he said to Zhong Yu: "This child has a rich face, but he will have the bad luck of being flooded, please walk carefully." ”

Sure enough, when he crossed the bridge after traveling less than ten miles, the war horse that Zhong Miao was riding suddenly panicked, and Zhong Miao was overturned into the water, almost not drowning in the water.

When Zhong Yu saw what the person said, he admired Zhong Yu more and more, provided him with money, and let him concentrate on reading and practicing calligraphy.

Zhong Miao grew up slowly, was investigated as filial piety, served as Shang Shulang, Yangling County Order, and resigned due to illness.

Later, because of his good calligraphy and good handwriting, he was recruited by the three governments to serve as the court captain and the Huangmen squire.

At that time, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was in Chang'an, Xijing, and the generals Li Dao and Guo Yan were in power, blocking the connection between Emperor Xian and Kwantung.

At that time, Cao Cao, the pastor of Yanzhou, sent an envoy to Chang'an to write a letter.

Li Dao, Guo Yan and others believed: "Kanto wants to establish himself as the Son of Heaven, and now although Cao Cao has sent an envoy, it is not out of his true intentions. So they discussed detaining the envoy and preventing Cao Cao's communication with the imperial court.

Zhong Xuan persuaded Li Dao and Guo Yan and said: "Today's heroes are rising together, each pretending to rule one side under the emperor's order, only Cao Yanzhou still thinks about the royal family in his heart, if he refuses to communicate with the court, won't he resent the general?" ”

Because of Zhong Xuan's words, Guo Yan and others gave preferential treatment to the envoy, so that Cao Cao could get in touch with Emperor Xian.

Previously, Cao Cao had heard the strategist Xun Yu praise Zhong Yu many times, and heard that he persuaded Li Dao and Guo Yan to help him, so he was full of eagerness for him.

After that, Li Dao coerced Emperor Xian, and Zhong Xuan and Shang Shulang Han Bin jointly plotted to escape from Emperor Xian. It can be said that Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty escaped from Chang'an and successfully returned to the east, Zhong Xuan played a certain role, and was worshiped as the middle of the imperial history.

Ma Teng and Han Sui generals lived in Guanzhong by force.

Cao Cao was very worried about this, and upon Xun Yu's recommendation, he ordered Zhong Xuan to lead the lieutenant of the division as a servant, supervise the troops in Guanzhong, entrust him with rear affairs, and specially grant him the power not to be bound by the system.

After Zhong Xuan arrived in Chang'an, he sent a letter to Ma Teng, Han Sui and others, stating the pros and cons, and Ma Teng and Han Sui both sent a son to the imperial court as a hostage.

During Cao Cao's tenure with Yuan Shao in Guandu, Zhong Miao sent 2,000 horses to supply the army.

Cao Cao said in a letter to Zhong Xuan: "I got the horses that were sent to meet the urgent needs of the troops. The pacification of the Guanyou region and the fact that the imperial court did not worry about the west are all meritorious deeds, which can be compared with the achievements established by Xiao He Zhen guarding the Guanzhong, with sufficient grain and grass, and even the victory of the army. ”

The Southern Xiongnu rebelled in Pingyang, and Zhong Miao led all walks of life to encircle and suppress, but failed to capture it.

At this time, Guo Yuan, the Taishou of Hedong appointed by Yuan Shang, arrived in Hedong and was numerous.

There are many discussions of the generals giving up and leaving, Zhong Miao said: "When the Yuan clan was strong, Guo Yuan took advantage of the situation, although the generals of Guanzhong secretly colluded with them, but did not dare to openly rebel, the reason is just because they are afraid of my prestige and reputation." If we give up our retreat and show weakness to them, the people here will see us as enemies. Wouldn't it be a loss of the majesty of our army to retreat on our own before the war began? Moreover, Guo Yuan is stubborn and self-serving, competitive and competitive, and will definitely despise our army, if he crosses the Fen River and camps, he can attack it halfway, and he will definitely be able to win a complete victory. ”

Zhong Xuan boosted morale and prepared to attack; While writing a letter in person, he sent Zhang Ji to persuade Ma Teng and asked for troops to attack Guo Yuan.

Ma Teng sent his eldest son Ma Chao to lead more than 10,000 people into Guanzhong to aid Zhong Xuan.

The imperial court appointed Ma Chao as the captain of the school to supervise the army, and crusaded against Guo Yuan, Gao Gan, etc.

When Guo Yuan led a large army to cross the Fen River, Ma Chao led his army to intercept and kill Guo Yuan halfway through the river.

During the battle, Ma Chao was wounded by an arrow in the foot, but he did not flinch at all, wrapped the wound with a cloth, took the lead, and marched forward bravely to break the enemy.

Ma Chao's general Pang De beheaded Guo Yuan, Guo Yuan was originally Zhong Yuan's nephew, Zhong Yuan saw Guo Yuan's head, and it was inevitable that he would cry sadly.

After Pang De found out, he knelt down to Zhong Miao and apologized: "I really don't know below, I have offended a lot." ”

Zhong Miao hurriedly helped Pang De up: "Don't say you don't know, just know that such national thieves should also be beheaded, what is the crime?" ”

Zhong Miao defeated Guo Yuan with the aid of Ma Chao, and the Southern Xiongnu surrendered to Huchuquan to show Ma Chao's merit.

When Cao Cao served as prime minister, he wanted to recruit Ma Chao to join the court as an official, but Ma Chao did not go to the post.

After the crusade against Guo Yuan, Cao Cao borrowed the edict of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty to worship Ma Chao as the assassin of Xuzhou, but Ma Chao still did not go to the post, so he changed the title of Ma Chao to the counselor.

It was out of trust in Zhong Xuan and the relationship between Zhong Xuan and Ma Teng to jointly conquer the Southern Xiongnu and thwart Guo Yuan, that Fang sent Zhong Xuan as an envoy to persuade Ma Teng.

And said that Zhong Xuan was ordered to see Ma Teng, first expressed the help to conquer the Southern Xiongnu and kill Guo Yuan in the Pingyang War, and then recounted the loyalty to the emperor and the emperor's feelings, and praised Cao Cao for advocating martial arts and literature, painstaking efforts, and the merits of ruling for the people, and then conveyed the emperor's thoughts, and worshiped Ma Teng as the former general, changed to Tunhuaili (now Xingpingnan, Shaanxi), sealed Huaili, and faked the festival. persuaded to enter the court as an official and accompany the emperor.

Ma Teng knew that although Zhong Xuan also belonged to the royalist party, he remembered that since he and Dong inherited the edict, he made an appointment with Liu Bei to fight for thieves, but unexpectedly the secret was leaked, Dong Cheng was killed, Liu Bei was repeatedly defeated, and he was in Xiliang in seclusion, and it was difficult to sing alone; Seeing that although Cao Cao monopolized the power, he purged the dynasty and did the right thing for the sky, as stated in the "Let the County Self-Ming Benzhi Order", there was no intention of harming the Eastern Han Emperor, so he hesitated.

Ma Chao heard Zhong Xuan's intention, and said to his father in private: "Cao Cao summoned his father with the edict of the Son of Heaven, if he doesn't go, he will be blamed for disobeying the holy order." When he is called, go to the capital division, accompany the driver, and take things from it. The children guarded Xiliang, with Han Sui to help, and the Qiang soldiers to help each other, echoing each other from afar, in order to show the ambition of eliminating the traitor and protecting the emperor. ”

Ma Teng asked Zhong Miao to go back first, saying that he would arrive later.

After Zhong Xuan left, Ma Teng took Ma Xiu, Ma Tie's two sons and their families to lead 2,000 soldiers and horses to Xudu.

Ma Chao was not relieved, and ordered Ma Dai to lead 3,000 troops to respond.

Ma Teng was twenty miles away from Xudu and lived in military horses.

Cao Cao heard the report and played the emperor to dedicate himself.

Offering the emperor's great joy, Huang Kui, the servant of Xuanmen, went to the palace, and according to Cao Cao's opinion, went out of the city to Xuanzhao: Feng Ma Teng was the captain of the guard, his son Ma Xiu was the captain of the car, and Ma Tie was the captain of the horse, and they entered the court together; He also worshiped Ma Chao as a partial general, sealed the capital Tinghou, commanded the troops on behalf of his father, and lived in place.

Huang Kui is the son of Huang Wan, who is the third prince of the emperor, and after his father was brutalized to death by Li Dao and Guo Yan, he was very trusted by Emperor Xian, and was named a servant under the door, and he has been emulating his father and loyally protecting the emperor.

Huang Kui was edicted to go out of the city and meet Ma Teng.

Ma Teng saw Huang Kui and treated each other with wine.

When the wine was half-drunk, Huang Kui said: "The emperor has been held hostage by traitors many times, and he can't help himself." Li Dao and Guo Yan bullied the monarch and brutalized Zhongliang. Since his father was brutalized by him, he has hated the traitors more and more. I don't want to meet the thief of the king again. ”

Ma Teng was shocked: "Who is the thief who deceives the king?" ”

Huang Kui said: "The bully, Cao Cao also." Everyone knows it, but doesn't the public know it, but they come to me and ask me? ”

Ma Teng knew that Cao Cao had a lot of belly in the center, and he was afraid that Cao Cao was tempting, so he hurriedly stopped him and said: "The prime minister is loyal to the king and worried about the people, and he has to talk nonsense." ”

Huang Kuiqi said: "Has the prince forgotten about the edict? ”

Ma Teng saw Huang Kui and said the central matter, but he told the truth.

Huang Kui said: "Cao Cao's summoning of the public into Beijing must not be well-intentioned, and he must not enter the tiger's mouth lightly, so as not to fall into the trap." ”

Ma Teng said: "The matter has come to this point, what is the point of not entering? ”

Huang Kui said: "In the coming day, Cao Cao went out of the city to meet him, and he was killed by his unpreparedness, which can be a big deal." ”

The two of them have agreed on it.