Outside the gate of Xudu Sikong Mansion.

With the sound of hurried horses' hooves, Cao Zhang, escorted by several personal guards, rushed back to Xudu and went straight to Sikong Mansion to see Cao Cao.

Cao Zhang stopped in front of the gate of Sikong Mansion, turned over and dismounted, handed over the horses to his subordinates, and instructed the people of Sikong Mansion at the door: "Go quickly to Sikong, and say that I ask to see you." ”

The subordinate hurriedly responded: "Go back to Gongzi Wen, there is an order, if you come back, you don't have to go to the study, go directly to the study to see him." ”

Cao Zhang heard the response of his subordinates, did not dare to delay, quickly entered the Sikong Mansion, and went straight to the study.

Cao Zhang came to the door of the study, did not dare to enter directly, first took off his shoes and put them on the table, and then said loudly: "Son-in-law Cao Zhang, I am ordered to return and meet Sikong!" ”

"I'm back, why don't you come in quickly, what are you doing with so much red tape?!" Cao Cao's loving and slightly resentful voice came from the study, beckoning Cao Zhang to come in.

Cao Zhang got Cao Cao's permission and entered the study.

I saw Cao Cao sitting in front of the bookcase, reviewing the chapters, and when I saw him walk in, his face was unconcealable with excitement and smiles, and he stood up directly to greet him.

Cao Zhang wanted to salute Cao Cao, but Cao Cao grabbed his shoulder: "Okay, don't be so polite, let me take a good look." ”

Cao Zhang straightened up, Cao Cao put his hands on his shoulders, looked carefully, and said lovingly: "It's dark, I'm thin, I don't eat well outside, and I don't sleep well." Are there any injuries? ”

"Back to my father, everything is fine with my sons, and the old injuries have healed." Cao Zhang responded respectfully.

"Okay, it's okay. Ziwen, the day before yesterday, Zhongquan came back with Li Dao, you kid, you really conquered Chang'an within 100 days and captured Li Dao, you have made a great contribution this time! Cao Cao excitedly patted Cao Zhang's shoulder and complimented him.

"My father has won the award, thanks to my father for receiving my letter, he played the Son of Heaven in time, sent Zhong Shizhong to recruit An, and explained in advance that he would send a letter to Xiliang Qunxiong with a fast horse. Erchen got the help of the princes of Xiliang and was lucky to complete the task. This is all the father's strategy, and the sons dare not take credit! Cao Zhang responded respectfully and modestly.

"Okay, between father and son, don't always say these vain words. Zhong Quan has already told me everything, if you didn't go to Tianshui in person, how could Ma Teng and Han Sui accept Zhao'an smoothly? was able to take Chang'an, and it was also your heart attack technique that played a great role. ”

"Ziwen, you led the army to fight this time, and you showed courage and resourcefulness, not only pacified Li Dao, but also recruited the Xiliang heroes by the way, and stabilized the northwest, your performance really made my father very pleased." Cao Cao did not skimp on his love for Cao Zhang, and continued to praise him.

"Let's go, go into the palace with my father, if the Son of Heaven knows that you have captured Li Dao, he will be very happy, and he will reward you heavily." Cao Cao stretched out his hand and took Cao Zhang's arm and walked out.

Cao Zhang didn't dare to disobey, and walked out with Cao Cao.

The father and son came to the palace gate and dismounted, and went to the Han Xian Emperor from the small yellow gate to pay tribute, and after being summoned, they came to the imperial study together to meet them.

Cao Cao and Cao Zhang walked in, knelt down in front of Emperor Han Xian, and shouted long live the mountain to see him.

Emperor Han Xian looked very excited, and hurriedly waved his hand and said, "The two Aiqing quickly calm down." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cao Cao and Cao Zhang thanked him and then stood up and stood with his head bowed respectfully.

"Sikong, this person next to you is Cao Zhang, who led the expedition to the northwest and captured Li Dao alive?" Emperor Han Xian pointed to Cao Zhang and asked Cao Cao.

"Back to Your Majesty, it's a dog!" Cao Cao replied respectfully.

Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty looked Cao Zhang up and down, his face was happy, and he said with admiration: "Aiqing is young and promising, and the issuance of Cao Gong Paper and "Thousand Character Text" has benefited the people's livelihood, and has increased the expenses of the royal family, and his loyalty is commendable. Now he has bravely crowned the three armies, and it only took 100 days to capture Li Dao alive, recover Chang'an, and pacify the northwest, which is really the pillar of my Han Dynasty! ”

Cao Zhang hurriedly responded respectfully: "Thank Your Majesty for your praise, the minister can only win the victory and extinguish the rebellion by borrowing His Majesty's blessing!" Ministers don't dare to take credit! ”

Emperor Han Xian nodded with satisfaction, and then asked Cao Cao, "Cao Sikong, where is Li Dao now?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister has escorted him to the heavenly prison and waited for His Majesty to fall!" Cao Cao hurriedly responded respectfully.

"Wipe out the three clans of Li Dao! Hang his head in front of the public! Emperor Han Xian gritted his teeth and gave his will ruthlessly.

When he was a child, he was controlled by Li Dao and Guo Yan for a long time, and he was even more wantonly humiliated, and he couldn't even get food normally. On the way back to the east, he was chased and killed several times and almost died, and he had long hated Li Dao.

Cao Zhang hurriedly spoke: "Your Majesty, when the minister was conquest of Li Dao, he once made a promise that those who captured Li Dao alive would not die, and they would be rewarded heavily. Li Dao was captured by his cousins Li Huan and Li Yingsheng, and I hope that His Majesty will be extra merciful and exempt the two of them and their families from the death penalty! ”

"No, these two are also Li Wei's accomplices, and they have also insulted me in every way, and I can't forgive them!" Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was furious and insisted on killing Li Huan and Li Ying.

Cao Zhang turned his head helplessly and looked at Cao Cao pleadingly.

Cao Cao hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the dog was a promise issued for the Son of Heaven at that time, if you kill these two people now, you will lose your trust in the world, and you will also cut off the hearts of the princes of the world to submit to the court, and please let Your Majesty calm your anger and be gracious!" ”

Although Emperor Han Xian hated Li Dao, he also understood that he was now dependent on Cao Cao, and he had already opened his mouth to plead, so naturally he couldn't help but give face, so he could only nod: "The two Aiqing are reasonable, since this is the case, according to Aiqing's performance, the two of them and their families will be exempted from the death penalty, and they will be rewarded for their merits!" But Li Dao and his family must all be killed to avoid future troubles! ”

Cao Cao hurriedly responded: "Your Majesty Shengming! Those who have merit are rewarded, and those who are guilty are punished, which is why the Son of Heaven is majestic! ”

After listening to Cao Cao's compliment, the anger on his face subsided slightly, and he said, "Sikong just said that those who have meritorious service will be rewarded. Ziwen has made such a great contribution this time, I deserve a heavy reward! Spread my will, and named Cao Zhang as the general of Beizhonglang, and there is another 10,000 gold reward! I also hope that Aiqing will make persistent efforts in the future and continue to make contributions to the imperial court! ”

Cao Zhang heard the reward of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, and hurriedly knelt down to thank him: "Weichen thanks Lord Longen!" ”

After Emperor Han Xian finished rewarding, he said to Cao Cao and Cao Zhang: "Two Aiqing, do you still have something to do?" ”

Cao Cao and Cao Zhang responded in unison: "The ministers are fine, the ministers are retired!" ”

Cao Cao and Cao Zhang respectfully exited the imperial study together and walked towards the outside of the palace.

"Ziwen, it seems that you arrested Li Dao this time, which really made the Son of Heaven very happy, and directly sealed you as the fourth rank of the North Zhonglang General, and I didn't expect it for my father." Cao Cao said to Cao Zhang with a smile.

Cao Zhang listened to Cao Cao's words, and secretly agreed.

The North Zhonglang General was placed in the seventh year of Zhongping (184 AD), and the person who held this official position at that time was a generation of famous generals Lu Zhi.

Emperor Han Xian was able to award this official position to himself who was white before, which is indeed a big reward.

"It's still that Li Dao bullied the Son of Heaven too much back then, which made the Son of Heaven accumulate too much resentment in his heart, so I arrested Li Dao, so I will give me such a heavy reward!" Cao Zhang calmly responded to Cao Cao.

Cao Zhang understood that Cao Cao sent 800 li to summon himself back, not just to accept the reward of Emperor Han Xian, but the etiquette of the Son of Heaven came first, so he took him to meet Emperor Han Xian first after he came back.

The next thing to do is the real purpose of Cao Cao to summon him back, so he said directly: "Father, the matter of Li Dao has been dealt with, and then you can talk about it, what is the matter of calling me back in a hurry?" ”

Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhang and smiled: "Sure enough, I can't hide anything from you, let's go, come with me to the school office, there is something you need to deal with......"