In the first month of the second year of Jian'an, Cao Cao raised an army of 30,000 and attacked Nanyang.

Now Cao Cao's army is actually very considerable, and in history, from the beginning of entering Yanzhou Dangdong County Taishou, there were only a few thousand people at the beginning.

However, Bao Xin, the minister of Jibei at that time, had a lot of men and horses, and after Bao Xin's death, his troops were taken over by Cao Cao.

Like Yu Ban, he was Bao Xin's subordinate at that time, and he followed Cao Cao as soon as Bao Xin died.

With Bao Xin's troops as the foundation, Cao Cao set up an ambush day and night, took the initiative to attack, and finally defeated the million yellow turbans attacking from Qingzhou and incorporated them into his command.

Since then, from about 10,000 or 20,000 people at the beginning, to about 30,000 or 40,000 elite yellow turbans in Qingzhou, there is finally a good team.

Now after the capital of Xuchang, it broke the remaining yellow turbans in Runan and exterminated the thieves from all directions, and moved a large number of people to Tuntian.

The food crisis was initially resolved, Cao Cao rectified the soldiers, eliminated the old and weak, and let Yu Ban train elite soldiers, and now there are more than 50,000 elite soldiers and horses, and the strength is very strong.

In fact, the current Xudu is prosperous, after Liu Xiedong returned, a large number of family valves have run to Xuchang, during this time Cao Cao gathered a large number of teams, but also brought a lot of materials, expanded the treasury.

With the soldiers, horses, food, grass, weapons and equipment, and money supplements, he was finally able to start the war again. And this time it was pouring out of the nest, because I was afraid that Liu Biao would send troops to help Zhang Xiu, so I must do my best.

By the end of January, Cao Cao's army had already arrived in Ye County, Yingchuan was close to Nanyang, and after he prepared the grain and grass, he had already killed the outside of Nanyang Gate in just two days.

It was only at this time that Zhang Xiu knew that Cao Cao was coming to attack him, and he was very uneasy for a while. After all, his strength was still too far behind Cao Cao, so he immediately found Jia Xu and asked about the enemy's strategy.

Wancheng Taishou Mansion, in the middle hall, Zhang Xiu anxiously walked around the hall, and after a while, an old man of about fifty slowly walked in outside the door.

He had a thin face, a slender body, a goat's whisker on his chin, and a pair of eyes that seemed to reveal a fine light.

Seeing him come in, Zhang Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to greet him: "Uncle is finally here, sit down quickly." ”

Historically, Zhang Xiu gave a tribute to Jia Xu's sons and grandsons and respected him very much.

After Jia Xu entered the door, he sat aside and said to Zhang Xiu: "The general asked me to come, what's the matter?" ”

Zhang Xiu's face was anxious and said: "Cao Cao has raised tens of thousands of troops to attack Nanyang, I want to ask my uncle, how should I fight the enemy?" ”

Jia Xu frowned slightly, then soothed again, and said, "The general might as well obey Cao Gong." ”

Zhang Xiu was shocked: "Why is this so? ”

Jia Xu said: "Does the general think that with Nanyang's troops against Cao Cao, can he win?" ”

"This ......"

Zhang Xiu hesitated: "I'm afraid not." ”

Jia Xu said again: "What if you ask Liu Biao to help?" ”

Zhang Xiu sneered: "Liu Biao's soldiers and horses are just strong outside, and in the field, I can break him by 20,000 or 30,000 in the field." ”

Jia Xu said again: "How is the general compared to Lu Bu? ”

"It's not as good as that."

"Lu Bu is brave and unmatched, he is still defeated under the hands of Cao Gong, and now he welcomes the Son of Heaven, and the world returns to his heart, he really should follow it."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Xiu pondered for a moment, nodded slowly, and said, "Uncle is right, maybe I should indeed surrender to Cao Cao, so I will immediately repair a letter and ask him to surrender." ”

"Good."

Jia Xu praised.

At that moment, Zhang Xiu was not ambiguous, and immediately wrote a letter of surrender and sent someone to Cao Cao to send it over.

A day later, Cao Cao's army had already arrived near Bowang County, and it was getting late at this moment, so he planned to first station next to the water in Bowang County, and gather his generals to discuss the matter of attacking Wancheng tomorrow.

You must know that 30,000 people are stationed in a small number, and the tents are connected on both sides of the river, and the flags are displayed to cover the sky and the sun, and you can't see the end at a glance.

The generals from all walks of life were summoned by Cao Cao and came to his commander's camp, and one by one they entered the camp, lined up left and right.

There are not many generals he brought with him on this expedition, in addition to the personal guard Dian Wei, there are only Cao Hong, Cao Ren, Yu Ban, Le Jin, and the eldest son Cao Ang, nephew Cao Anmin, and Li Tong is the general of Zhenwei Zhonglang, stationed in Ye County to respond.

In fact, he still has a lot of generals and strategists, but his territory is bigger, and there are many places that need to be defended. Therefore, Xiahoudun was appointed by Cao Cao as Henan Yin and stationed in the Luoyang area to guard against Yuan Shao.

Xiahou Yuan is the Taishou of Yingchuan, controlling the rear nest. Cheng Yu is too guarded by Jiyin and supervises Yanzhou affairs. Lü Qian guarded Mount Tai to guard against the attack of the enemy in Qingzhou and Shandong.

In addition, Xu Huang surrendered to Cao Cao after Cao Cao defeated Yang Feng last year.

But as a general, his current status is not high, and it will not be until next year when Cao Cao conquers Lu Bu again in the third year of Jian'an, because of his meritorious service in defeating Fu Yangyuan, he will be worshiped as a general.

And Xun You.

Cao Cao wrote to him last year, calling him back to Xuchang and appointing him as the Taishou of Runan, and sat in Runan County with Li Tong and Liu Bei.

Originally, before Cao Cao got Liu Xie, there were more than ten civil and military generals, but after getting Liu Xie, his strength expanded rapidly overnight, and a large number of celebrities came to defect, and he was already full of talents.

Like Wang Lang, Kong Rong, Du Xi, Zhao Yan, Xun You, Guo Jia, Li Tong, Xu Chu and others, they were all Cao Cao who defected from the end of 196 to 198 AD after Cao Cao welcomed the Son of Heaven.

It can be seen how much benefit Liu Xie's golden signboard has brought to Cao Cao.

It's just that militarily Cao Cao still trusts the Xiahou family and the Cao family more, so Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Yuan are one in Henan and the other in Yingchuan, and Cao Hong and Cao Ren are with them and control the army.

At present, almost all the troops are controlled by the Cao clan and the Xiahou clan, and the foreign surname is a general, so only Yu Ban can lead an army alone, and he ranks behind Cao Ren and Cao Hong in terms of status.

After everyone sat down, Cao Cao looked around and said, "Everyone, tomorrow we are going to attack Wancheng, but in order to prevent Liu Biao from coming to help, I plan to let Cao Hongnan attack Huyang, and Le attack to fight Anzhong, so as to cut off Liu Biao's reinforcements, what do you think?" ”

Cao Ren unconsciously touched one of his broken ears, stood up and said, "Sikong, I heard that the Deng Shen Er clan has moved to the Xinye area, and I want to lead the troops to attack Xinye." ”

He would call Cao Cao the eldest brother in private, but when he arrived in the barracks, he would call him an official position, which was what Cao Cao meant, to prevent specialization.

Cao Cao groaned: "Xinye is too close to Xiangyang, if Liu Biao comes over, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with." ”

"Liu Biao doesn't practice military affairs, I'm not afraid of him!"

Cao Ren is colorful.

Cao Cao thought for a moment and knew that this was a knot in Cao Ren's heart, so he nodded and said, "Well, then it's up to you, but you have to be careful in everything, first investigate and then do it, don't act recklessly." ”

"Yui!"

Cao Ren sat down with joy in his heart, remembering the shame that Shen Chen had given him at the beginning, he was very angry.

Although he was ordered by Cao Cao to sneak attack Huangmen Pavilion, he happened to meet Liu Bei and almost died there, but what he was most angry about was not that he almost died, nor that his ears were cut off, but that he was played by a child.

Cao Cao messed up the task he was given, which made his sense of mission extremely frustrated.

What's more, he couldn't retaliate against Liu Bei.

The person who cut off his ear was Zhao Yun, Zhao Yun's brother died of illness the year before last, so he left Liu Bei and returned to Zhongshan.

At the end of last year, after Liu Bei arrived in Xudu, Liu Xie entrusted him with an important task and entered it into the royal family tree, calling him the imperial uncle.

As a result, Liu Bei's political status skyrocketed, and at the moment when Cao Cao and Liu Xie could not be opposed, it was impossible for Cao Cao to kill Liu Bei for one of Cao Ren's ears and anger Liu Xie.

So this matter can only be put down.

But the failure of the mission and the loss of the ear reminded him of his defeat at the beginning, so this time he must wash the Yellow Gate Pavilion in blood and wash away the shame.

Seeing Cao Ren sitting down happily, Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang and Cao Anmin again and said, "Zi Xu, An Min, tomorrow you will follow me and fight outside the city." ”

"Yes, father (uncle)."

The two of them should have given up.

This time, I brought Cao Ang and Cao Anmin here to do training.

Cao Ang intends to be his heir, and Cao Anmin can be Cao Ang's help, in the final analysis, Cao Cao's most trusted person is still the Cao clan.

After arranging everything, Cao Cao arranged the vigil again, then broke up the meeting and let the soldiers go to their respective duties.

Before dawn on the second day, Cao Ang's voice suddenly came from outside Cao Cao's tent.

"Father, father!"

Hearing this voice, Cao Cao's sleepy eyes rose.

If he had changed to a close attendant, he would probably have been killed in his dream, but it was Cao Ang who came, so he said, "Zi Yu came in." ”

"Father, I am very happy."

Cao Ang walked in quickly, took a roll of bamboo slips in his hand, and said happily: "Zhang Xiu has surrendered." ”

"Oh?"

Cao Cao was surprised: "Is this true?" ”

"This is a letter of surrender."

Cao Ang handed the bamboo slip in his hand and said, "Zhang Xiu is already waiting for us outside Wancheng. ”

"Hahahaha."

After reading the letter, Cao Cao laughed and said: "Those who know the times are Junjie, and they can set off to set off outside Wancheng and set up camp to make fires and make meals." ”

"Okay."

Cao Ang immediately went to deliver the order.

Soon when Cao Cao changed out of his silk pajamas and walked out of the camp in a black silk robe, the three armies were ready to kick out.

Dian Wei was eight feet tall and extremely burly, standing outside the tent like a door god, and when he saw him come out, he bowed his head and bent down and said, "Sikong." ”

"Hmm."

Cao Cao nodded: "Let people open their tents and set off for Wancheng." ”

"Yui."

Dian Wei took the order and left.

The 30,000 men he brought were each led by Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Yu Banling, and the rest of the soldiers and horses were led by himself.

In addition to Lejin, the middle and lower-level generals also included Han Hao, Shi Lian, Zao Yi, Li Quan, etc., as well as Cao Chun and Cao Xiu, who were his Praetorian Guards, helping him control about 15,000 troops.

The soldiers received the order and immediately set out from the camp.

Bowang was very close to Wancheng, and by the time it was after noon, they had already arrived at the sunset north of Wancheng, on the left bank of the river.

Just near the river bend, it was originally a village, perfect for a large army.

Cao Cao stationed a large army here.

At this moment, Zhang Xiu led the generals and Jia Xu out of the city to greet them, came to Cao's army camp, and surrendered to Cao Cao.

Zhang Xiu's surrender was still very sincere, he placed the army in the west of the city, and he and all the generals of the whole army came over, which was equivalent to entrusting his life to Cao Cao.

Seeing this situation, Cao Cao was very satisfied, it was the early spring of January, the cold wind was fierce, and Cao Jun had not yet built the camp, but only set up some tents.

Cao Cao himself, Dian Wei, Cao Ang, Cao Anmin and others rode on a small hillside outside Cao's camp, protected by hundreds of guards around him, and saw Zhang Xiu and more than a dozen generals in the army coming from a distance.

After they approached, Cao Cao's soldiers led them to the bottom of the hill, Cao Cao dismounted and walked downhill, Zhang Xiu bowed and said: "Xiu, I have seen Cao Gong, and I ask Cao Gong to forgive me." ”

"Hahahaha."

Cao Cao laughed and stepped forward to help Zhang Xiu up and said, "The general was able to lead his troops to surrender to me, it is really a great blessing, what is there to forgive." ”

Zhang Xiu hurriedly said: "Xiu has already asked the soldiers to be stationed in the west of the city, and Cao Gong can let the soldiers enter the city and go to Wancheng to rest together." ”

"Okay."

Cao Cao nodded, then turned on his horse again and ordered his soldiers to enter Wancheng.

Although Wancheng is the Nanyang Governor's Office, it has been slightly dilapidated after years of war, so there are not too many soldiers and horses stationed in the city, so Cao Cao only brought 5,000 people and controlled the four city gates.

After entering the city, there were really no soldiers of Zhang Xiu in the city, and when the entire city was controlled by Cao Cao, he was relieved and went to the Taishou Mansion with Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu.

At this moment, the gate of the Taishou Mansion opened, and the whole mansion was welcoming Cao Cao's arrival, and the group quickly arrived outside the gate of the Taishou Mansion, and turned over and dismounted one by one.

Cao Cao raised his head and looked at this Nanyang Taishou Mansion, which was enclosed by a wall outside, and the Zhumen High Courtyard was paved with bluestone slabs on the ground.

Although this courtyard is built luxuriously, there are still a large number of traces of knives and axes on the beams and walls, and the bluestone slabs on the ground can still see the blood stains that have long been dark red and withered.

From the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the present, there have been wars in Wancheng more than once, and the vicissitudes of history have brought countless turmoil to the city.

"The general can be hearted to the court, it is really the luck of the general, the luck of the people, and the luck of the court."

At this time, Cao Cao sighed sincerely, grabbed Zhang Xiu's hand and patted it gently.

If Zhang Xiu hadn't chosen to surrender, maybe Wancheng would have ushered in another catastrophe today, and his own soldiers and the people of Wancheng didn't know how many people would have been killed or injured.

Zhang Xiu hurriedly said: "This is all because Cao Gong is broad-minded and willing to accept homeless people like us, and we are also grateful." ”

"yes."

Hu Che'er said loudly: "We don't want to fight either, we have no choice but to do it." ”

Cao Cao's eyes lit up when he saw Hu Che'er, because Hu Che'er's physique was extremely majestic, and he had a fight with Dian Wei, so he suddenly fell in love with his talents, and said, "Who are you?" ”

Zhang Xiu smiled and introduced: "This is Hu Che'er, a strong general in my army, who is brave and brave in the three armies." ”

"Such warriors should be rewarded."

Cao Cao beckoned, and someone came over with a plate of gold, he took the gold, put it in Hu Che'er's hand, and said with a smile: "This plate of gold will be given to you." ”

"This ......"

Hu Che'er glanced at Zhang Xiu, and saw that Zhang Xiu's face was expressionless, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Thank you Sikong." ”

"Hahahaha."

Cao Cao patted Hu Che'er's hand, turned his head and walked into the Taishou Mansion.

At this moment, the mansion is full of pressure, and they are all family members and servants in the Taishou Mansion, and they go out to greet Cao Cao together.

This was also a kind of etiquette at the time, and when you greeted a distinguished guest, the whole mansion had to come over.

The person at the head was a woman, and she bowed slightly and half-squatted: "I've seen Sikong." ”

"I've seen Sikong."

Many Zhang Xiu's family members and servants saluted at the same time.

The woman stood at the front, and there were several other women and several children, both men and women, to the left and right.

Zhang Xiu said: "Sikong, this is my aunt, as well as my wife and children. ”

Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "Well, let's all get up." ”

As he spoke, he went inside.

At this time, according to the rules, everyone should be scattered left and right and let Cao Cao pass.

Then the master took Cao Cao into the hall to discuss the matter, and the family members and slaves also returned to the backyard.

And so did the people.

The woman had lowered her head, stood up as she scattered left and right, and walked backwards.

Cao Cao glanced out of the corner of his eye as he passed by her.

Just a glance.

And then......

Then he quickly turned his head and stared at her intently with a scrutinizing look.

I saw that the woman was about twenty-seven or eighteen years old, and she looked like a flower and a moon, and she was captivating the country and the city.

In addition to his stunning appearance, his figure is also very good.

The plump place is plump, the skinny place is thin, and the butt is also very curvy.......

What a beautiful woman.

Cao Cao thought to himself.

When the woman saw Cao Cao coming over, she thought she was nodding to her, so she bowed slightly and walked to the backyard with Zhang Xiu's children.

Cao Cao looked at her departing back, slightly distracted.

I like her.

He thought to himself.