November, Qian County.

Cao Pi, who returned to his hometown from Huaibei camp, led the civil and military forces to worship the ancestors of the Cao family from Cao Shen, and then solemnly sacrificed to Cao Teng, Emperor Cao Gao, Cao Song, and Cao Cao, Emperor Wu of Wei.

Emperor Cao Teng of Wei Gao was a eunuch during the period of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty, and then he was meritorious to Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, and was able to be named the Marquis of Ting, and then ascended to the throne of Dachangqiu.

After Cao Cao and Cao Pi's father and son became emperors, although they were ashamed of their ancestor Cao Teng as a eunuch, they were posthumously crowned Emperor Gao because of etiquette.

After sacrificing his ancestors, Cao Pi followed the example of Han Gaozu and returned to his hometown, met with the villagers of Qiaoxian County, feasted on the fathers and elders in the township, and set up an altar in his hometown. Then let the messenger drive to the surrounding area to help the poor people who were suffering from the disaster.

After a few laps in Qian County, Cao Pi deeply felt that his hometown of Qian County was sparsely populated and had no imperial township, so he discussed with his ministers whether to move people to Qian County.

Cao Pi sat on the couch, and the courtiers sat on the left and right of the Cao family's ancestral house headed by Chen Qun, Bao Xun, and Xin Bi.

"Now in the county, the people are withered, and the township is empty. I want to move the people of Hebei to Qian County, I don't know what you think? Cao Pi asked.

"Your Majesty, there are few good fields in the county, and there are many bad waters. The reason why the former emperor did not move the people to Qian County was because of this! Chen Qun said: "The people of today do not want to live in it, and they cannot force it. If Your Majesty moves to it, the people will flee more. ”

Although it is located in the Central Plains, it is not a fertile county. Except for a few areas within its jurisdiction that are suitable for farming, most of the land is barren and prone to drought and flooding, which is not suitable for the common people to cultivate.

When Cao Cao carried out the work of Tuntian, the reason why he chose Yingchuan and Chenliu Counties instead of his hometown of Tuntian was that the land in Qiaoxian County was not fertile enough.

Due to the barren land in Qian County, Cao Cao could hardly rely on his hometown Qiao County when he started, but wanted to attach himself to Yuan Shao and serve as the Taishou in the eastern county in the south of Hebei.

Even during the period of Yuan Cao's struggle for hegemony, Peijun needed to rely on celebrities to appease Cao Cao. Instead of being like Runan County, because Yuan Shao's hometown was there, many big clans rebelled and shouted for Yuan Shao.

Hearing Chen Qun say that his hometown was not good, Cao Pi's face sank, he was a little unhappy, and asked again: "I don't know what you think?" ”

"Your Majesty!"

Xin Bi arched his hand and said: "The people of Hebei are happy to work, and they have moved to Qian County, and they are resentful. If the people's livelihood is in turmoil, they may throw themselves into the water thieves in the south, and their people will let the water thieves benefit in vain. And now the battle with the thief, the victory is not decided, and it is too early to talk about the relocation of the people! ”

Cao Pi's face was not very good-looking, but he could barely understand what Xin and Chen meant, and asked, "What is the battle like today?" ”

"The military report has not yet arrived~" Chen Qun said.

Before Chen Qun's words fell, the attendant hurriedly entered the hall and said, "Your Majesty, there has been a change in Jianghuai, Cao Zhendong came in vain, and today I am asking to see you outside the hall!" ”

"Cao Zhendong hangs white?"

Cao Pi was stunned, couldn't believe it and asked, "But Da Sima passed away?" ”

"I don't know!"

Knowing that Cao Tai was in vain, Wei Chen who was present didn't know what was going on, and they exchanged their heads and ears to each other and asked about the situation, but everyone had no special information channel, how could they know what happened in Zhongli City.

"Quickly invite Cao Zhendong into the hall!" Cao Pi hurriedly greeted.

"No!"

After a while, Cao Tai entered the hall with a white belt, his eyes were red, and his face was sad. Seeing Cao Pi, Cao Tai threw himself on the ground, knelt on the ground, and cried.

"Zi'an, but what if Da Sima has it?" Cao Pi asked nervously.

"Your Majesty!"

With tears in his eyes, Cao Tai wept and said, "Two days ago, my father oversaw the siege of the city and was unfortunately hit by a bed crossbow. The arrow wounded the lower abdomen, and the wound was severe, bleeding profusely, and he died that night. Now the body is parked in the camp, and the generals have blocked the news. ”

The crossbow bolt as thick as a spear shot through Cao Ren's lower abdomen, as if someone had pierced him through the abdomen with a spear. In modern society, there is still hope for survival in timely treatment, but now in the late Han Dynasty, there is no cure for military doctors.

The bolt pierces through the body and is difficult to pull out. And even if it is pulled out, it is likely to bleed profusely and die due to excessive bleeding. Cao Ren was in pain for a long time, and he wailed for a long time.

When he was carried back to the camp, Cao Ren was so injured that he was close to a coma. Then he met his son Cao Tai, and Cao Ren died on the spot.

Compared to Xiahou Yuan's painful stab by Huang Zhong, Cao Ren's death was the most painful!

"How?"

Cao Pi couldn't believe it, and said: "Da Sima is commanding the sergeants in the Chinese army to fight, how can he be injured by the bed crossbow. The bed crossbow is only three or four hundred steps, and most of them are exhausted and can't hurt people, how can they hurt Da Sima? ”

Cao Tai wiped his tears and said, "Your Majesty, the water thief has a big crossbow, and its arrows are like spears, which can shoot more than 800 steps. In order to motivate the armies to break through the city, Da Sima then moved Daxu to 800 steps away, but unfortunately was injured by thieves! ”

Hearing what happened, Cao Pi sighed in grief: "The great Sima is martyred and mourned, and it hurts my heart!" ”

Saying that, Cao Pi said left and right, and said sadly: "This should be like Guangwu Fa Ziyang (Gongsun Shu), the general Cen Peng was assassinated and went to the disaster!" ”

Pulling Cao Tai up, Cao Pi comforted and said: "Zi'an should take care of his body, don't mourn too much." Now he stays in his hometown, and lets the sergeant carry Sima's body here and bury him for his good life. ”

"No!"

Cao Pi and Cao Tai exchanged grief for a long time, and then asked the attendants to help Cao Tai down.

Cao Pi wiped his tears with his sleeves, a little at a loss, and said: "Today, Da Sima died of serious injuries, but I don't know what Zhu Qing thinks is good at the moment?" ”

"This~"

Everyone looked at each other, but they didn't know what to say.

Bao Xun hesitated a little, and then arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty led the king to the south, and the labor army attacked for several months, but Zhongli did not have any restraints, and the daily cost was a thousand gold, and China was wasted. Now the loss of the general is not a good omen. In the opinion of the ministers, His Majesty might as well stop his troops and return to the country. ”

"Returning home?"

Cao Pi was furious and said: "I don't avenge Da Sima today, but I will stop my army and return to the division, if the world knows, I will laugh at Da Wei!" ”

"Your Majesty, how can a soldier raise an army out of anger? Now Huo Jun has not yet arrived in Huai, and Lu Xun's soldiers are enough to resist me, I am afraid that there is a treacherous scheme, I hope Your Majesty will think twice! Bao Xun persuaded.

"Stand down!"

Cao Pi took the case and said angrily: "Uncle Bao, after I respect you for Bao Jibei, your father has made great contributions to the first emperor, and now I will spare you this time!" ”

After Bao Xun was the prime minister of Jibei, Bao Xin fought with Qingzhou in the past, and Bao Xin was killed on the spot to cover Cao Cao's breakthrough, and even the body could not be found.

Cao Cao remembered Bao Xin's merits, and after Cao Pi became the prince of Wei, Bao Xun was appointed as the prince's concubine to assist Cao Pi. Later, when Bao Xun was promoted and served as the western governor of Wei County, Queen Guo's younger brother was arrested by Bao Xun for stealing official cloths, and regardless of Cao Pi's face, he reported to Cao Cao.

Since that time, Bao Xun has been hated by Cao Pi. Later, Cao Pi used his power to demote Bao Xun. Because of the founding of the Cao family, Bao Xun was an old man of the Wei State, and he was gradually promoted.

And under the recommendation of Chen Qun and Sima Yi, Cao Pi had to appoint Bao Xun as the middle of the imperial history, responsible for supervising hundreds of officials.

Although many years have passed now, during which Cao Pi retaliated against Bao Xun, it stands to reason that he should be relieved, but Cao Pi is difficult to let go, and he still can't change Cao Pi's disgust and hatred of Bao Xun.

Don't look at Xin Pi's ability to persuade Cao Pi, in fact, Cao Pi uses many people to act because of his preferences, and people who have a good relationship with him persuade him, even if Cao Pi is angry, he will not kill; Those who have a bad relationship with Cao Pi are very easy to be targeted by Cao Pi and find excuses to die.

Seeing Cao Pi's anger on his head, Bao Xun didn't dare to say more, so he had to retreat to the seat.

"Ahem~"

Chen Qun coughed a few times, eased the atmosphere and said: "Your Majesty, Bao Zhongcheng has such words today, mostly because of the death of Da Sima, and there is no commander in the army. In the opinion of the ministers, His Majesty might as well go south, summon the generals to discuss matters, and then issue an edict to compensate the Great Sima. ”

"Yes!"

Cao Pi said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow I will go south, and the edicts will be righteous and successful!" ”

"No!"

——

The next day, Cao Pi was in no mood to wander around his hometown, but went south with his cronies.

On the way south, Cao Pi hated Bao Xun, found a fault, and belittled Bao Xun to enforce the law. Although the ministers had advice, Cao Pi did not listen to the words of the people and insisted on his own ideas.

After three or four days of traveling, when Cao Pi arrived in Yicheng, all the generals were ordered to arrive.

In the big tent, Cao Pi sat on the couch, looked at the generals in the tent on the left and right, and said angrily: "I have only been gone for a few days, and now I have not completely broken the city, and I have also lost the generals." What's going on today? ”

As he spoke, Cao Pi looked at Cao Xiu and Xiahou Ru and asked, "Wen Lie and Junlin, can you tell me why?" ”

"The moat outside Zhongli City has been filled, and our army is besieging Zhongli City from all sides, and it is gradually effective, but Da Sima was injured by a strong crossbow." Cao Xiu lowered his head in shame and said.

Cao Piwei leaned on the platform, looked at the generals, and asked, "I don't know what you think about the current situation?" ”

Man Zhong hesitated for a few moments and said: "Your Majesty, in November this year, there are still two or three months before the spring water rebirth, if the city cannot be broken by the first month, it is advisable to discuss the return of the squad to the army." lest the spring rain be damp and make my Central Plains soldiers sick. ”

After a pause, he said with full favor: "And from the perspective of the current situation, Shaoyangzhou is the top priority, and the pontoon bridge on it connects the north and the south, and there must be no loss." ”

"Hmm!"

Cao Pi nodded with satisfaction and asked, "When the Jianghuai is in winter, will the river freeze?" ”

"Your Majesty, it is difficult for the water to freeze, but if it is a ditch, when the weather is cold, the ditch will freeze, and it will be difficult for the boat to go!" Liu Ye said.

"Good!"

Cao Pi bowed his head slightly, and asked: "Wen Lie, Da Sima unfortunately died of an arrow, and I want to hand over the Huainan military to you, I don't know if I am willing to break the shame at the moment?" ”

Cao Xiu stood up from the chair and said with high morale: "The minister has long been ashamed of the enemy, and now His Majesty is willing to entrust him with a big responsibility, how dare he not serve his death?" ”

"Good!"

Seeing Cao Xiu's spirit, Cao Pi said with satisfaction: "This time the southern requisition of troops, I want to break Zhongli, and then take advantage of the freezing of the ditch to break the Huaiyin water thieves, sweep the Jianghuai, drink the Yangtze River and return to Luoyang." The most crucial part is whether the monarchs can capture Zhongli as scheduled. ”

As he spoke, Cao Pi picked up the cup containing honey water on the desk and asked, "Can I wish you success?" ”

Xiahou Ru straightened his back and said in a deep voice: "Zhongli is only three or four thousand people from Xu Sheng, and our army has tens of thousands, more than ten times the enemy, can it not be broken?" ”

Cao Xiu replied loudly and said, "Your Majesty, now that the moat has been filled, there is no moat. I have ordered to build a mountain barrier under Zhongli City, which is on par with Zhongli City. When the earth and mountain are completed, the retired sergeants will climb the mountain and fight, this time they will be able to conquer Zhongli and behead Xu Sheng to present his majesty. ”

"If Zhong Licheng is not broken, and His Majesty is not bothered to punish the crime, Hugh will die of shame!"

"Good!"

Cao Pi looked at the three of Yuzhou Assassin Jia Kui, Yanzhou Assassin Wang Ling, and Zhijin Wu Zangba, and said: "Today, Zhongli has three helpers in the war, in addition to sending troops to assist in the siege, see if you can find an opportunity to defeat Lu Xun." ”

"The last general commands!" The three said.

"Today, the military of Huaibei is under the command of the hussar general, and the military of Huainan is under the responsibility of Cao Zhengnan. Cao Pi emphasized.

"No!"

Speaking of the back, Cao Pi looked at Liu Fang and asked, "Now Boren is besieging Xiapi, is there any news?" ”

"Your Majesty, General Xiahou led Surabaya to irrigate Pi, and the guards abandoned the outer city and retreated to the inner city. This Xiahou's general is ordering Hu Zhen, Sun Li and other generals to besiege the inner city to see if they can break the city as soon as possible. Sun Fang replied.

"Good!"

Cao Pi smiled and said, "I want to tell Boren that I want to join him in Sikou and sweep Jianghuai!" ”

"No!"

(End of chapter)