Chapter 141: Surrender, New Direction [Subscription Request]

Twilight.

Cao Cao got up early and walked around in the yard, with a child in his early ten years old following him.

"Father, I want to go to war with you, too."

The child raised his face with eager eyes: "I have been practicing martial arts for several years, but unfortunately my father is often busy outside and rarely sees my bravery."

Cao Cao smiled and looked back at his son Cao Ang:

"At your age, it's time for you to learn how to do something."

"You should ask for my advice. In three or four years, I hope you can help me with some things."

Cao Ang agreed loudly. When he saw his father walk into the study, he stopped outside the study and looked back at Dian Wei and Xu Chu, who were as strong as iron towers:
"I heard that you followed your father to fight and were able to defeat thousands of enemies alone. Can you teach me?"

Xu Chu said honestly: "Master said that my practice depends entirely on the harmony between my talent and the technique. I can do it right away, not by learning."

Dian Wei said: "He can't teach, but I can teach well. You can learn from me."

Cao Ang said excitedly: "Okay, then teach me quickly."

Dian Wei: "Do you have a donkey?"

Cao Ang was puzzled: "Do you need a donkey to learn martial arts?"

"Well, one is not enough. Go find a donkey and exchange it for martial arts." Dian Wei said.

Cao Ang was full of doubts, but after thinking for a while he went anyway.

Xu Chu: "Young Master, you dare to lie?"

Dian Wei: "Learning martial arts requires the use of donkeys, how can you be cheated?"

Xu Chu sneered, "Your master taught the donkey martial arts, and you learned it?"

"Teaching skills with a donkey is a magical skill. It can circulate qi and increase strength. I can't explain it to you." Dian Wei said seriously.

Cao Cao entered the study and began to send and receive information from all aspects.

During the time he was pursuing Yuan Shu, a lot of things had accumulated in Yanzhou, and they all came together at this moment.

After a while, Jia Xu, Zhang Zhongjing and Bian Mei came in one after another.

Zhang Zhongjing was visiting Yanzhou to see a doctor and had passed through Chenliu, not far from Qiao County.

"The governor asked me to visit Yuzhou. This is the record of the grain production in the past few years." Bian Mei handed over a scroll.

"In recent years, locust plagues have occurred frequently, causing damage to farming and having a great impact on grain production."

If Cao Cao wanted to control Yuzhou, in addition to occupying and controlling it militarily, he also needed the cooperation of the gentry and the recognition of the people. Only by letting them see the benefits could he quickly lay the foundation.

In March, spring ploughing has begun.

In the past few years, locust plagues have caused great harm to crops.

At present, locust plagues are considered natural disasters. There are millions of locusts, covering the sky and the earth. Neither the people nor the government have good means to control them.

Locusts only eat grain.

The year before last, grain production in Yuzhou was reduced by nearly a quarter due to a locust plague. In some places, the locusts swarmed up all the grain as soon as it was born.

Farmers from the entire village sat on the ridges of the fields and cried until they fainted.

Not only will the hard work of farming be wasted, but the lives of the entire family will starve to death due to a failure to harvest.

The insects are fighting for their lives with humans.

The scroll that Cao Cao was reading was the one that Bian Mei had asked to investigate the situation of grain disasters in Yuzhou and Yanzhou in the past few years. It was not difficult to find out.

In the past three years, there have been two locust plagues, and the damage can only be described as enormous.

"Zhongjing, you are proficient in medicine and have shown miraculous results in treating plague many times."

Cao Cao said, "Do you know of any medicine that can scare away locusts? Even if it can only slightly suppress the locust plague, it can save countless lives."

Zhang Zhongjing pondered for a moment and said, “This is the first time I’ve encountered a locust plague.

I do know a few potions that are quite effective against insects, animals, rats and ants."

"But all of these drugs are slightly toxic and cannot be used on a large scale. It is also uncertain how effective they are against locust plagues."

"It doesn't matter. Just make arrangements early and you'll know the effect after you give it a try."

"In addition, if the locusts break out in a concentrated manner, they will surely lay a large number of eggs and leave them there. Paying close attention and clearing them out early is also a method. I will send a team of people to your command. You can try to see if the medicine works."

Controlling locust plagues is a good deed that saves countless lives.

Zhang Zhongjing was quite interested and went with Bian Mei.

Jia Xu said, "Han Sheng has also sent news that Xuzhou has strengthened its defenses, and Tao Qian has invited Qingzhou Governor Tian Kai and Liu Bei to assist in the defense."

"Under Liu Bei's command, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were both brave generals capable of defeating ten thousand enemies.

Han Sheng selected the best troops and marched them at high speed, hoping to launch a surprise attack on Tao Qian's troops, but they were defeated by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

"The situation in Xuzhou is currently at a stalemate and it is difficult to advance."

The two Liu Bei brothers drifted from Pingyuan to Xuzhou... Cao Cao was quite relaxed.

The second battle of Longcou between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan is about to begin.

If Gongsun Zan loses again, Yuan Shao will start to take off.

Yuan Shao’s ability to seize territory was extremely strong.

Once the Battle of Longcou breaks out, Tian Kai will be unable to protect himself and will soon be swallowed up by Yuan Shao.

"Let Han Sheng slow down his offensive. We want to seize Yuzhou, so strategically, we should slow down.

If we capture Xuzhou now, I'm afraid everyone will unite and attack us." Cao Cao said.

Jia Xu nodded. The attack on Yuan Shu was already high-profile enough, and it was indeed time to back off.

At this time, Dian Wei was outside, saying, "Governor, Zilong has arrived."

Zhao Yun also brought Zhang Yan, the leader of the Black Mountain bandits.

In order to show his sincerity in surrendering, Zhang Yan left all the Black Mountain bandits outside Yanzhou.

He followed Zhao Yun alone to meet Cao Cao, which showed some courage.

If it were Cao Cao or Jia Xu, they would never dare to put their lives in the hands of others.

Zhang Yan followed the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry led by Zhao Yun to Qiao County. It was a thousand miles away, and Zhao Yun only rested for two hours on the way.

Over the past half month, Zhang Yan had witnessed with his own eyes the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's ability to sustain battles, their raiding capabilities, and their combat effectiveness against the Southern Xiongnu.

The bandits under his command formed an army, and victory and defeat were commonplace. They had an extremely low sense of shame and would surrender if they lost, and would rebel again if they had the chance.

So when he was defeated by Zhao Yun, Zhang Yan took the initiative to surrender just to save his life.

But for the past half month, Zhang Yan was led by Zhao Yun to attack the Southern Xiongnu again and again. He saw with his own eyes that there were generals like Zhao Yun who were willing to fight bloody battles to defend the land and the honor of the generals even in troubled times, go deep into the enemy camp, and overwhelm the Southern Xiongnu with the power of thousands of troops.

Bandits also have qi and blood, and Zhang Yan was unconsciously affected.

This was also one of the reasons why he took the initiative to ask to meet Cao Cao.

It was only after he followed Zhao Yun into battle that he truly began to consider joining the army.

He followed Zhao Yun into Qiao County.

But in front of Cao’s mansion, soldiers and horses were like thousands of streams converging.

There is a lot of people coming and going, it's quite lively.

Some people were just like them, having just arrived and gathering outside Cao's mansion, covered in dust.

There are still more troops arriving.

Zhang Yan was quite surprised by the prosperity of the scene.

In troubled times, everyone wants to rely on a powerful country, and Zhang Yan is no exception. He couldn't help but become more determined to serve.

After tea time, he followed Zhao Yun into the study.

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Zilong has fought for thousands of miles this time, defeated seven tribes of the Southern Xiongnu, and killed four leaders. Well done."

Zhao Zilong was always modest: "I lead thousands of troops to fight, so the governor can rest assured to hand over the northern line of Yanzhou to me. It is the governor's arrangement that is good."

As the two were exchanging strategic boasts, Zhang Yan bowed and said:

"General Zilong is a mighty general. I fought him and was defeated. At that time, I thought, the general is a mighty general, what about his master? So I asked for permission to come to see the governor. After seeing him, I realized that the only one who could spread his name throughout the world and control Dong Zhuo was the governor.

Please accept my surrender, Governor."

Cao Cao's sights fell on Zhang Yan. By controlling the Black Mountain Army, he could extend his influence into Bingzhou.

In a sense, Zhang Yan and his Black Mountain Army are related to Cao Cao's plans for the future.

You should know that further west of Bingzhou is the Hexi Corridor.

Throughout history, the most important trade route is Hexi.

Only by taking Hexi can the collapsed world economy be restored more quickly.

----

Changan.

Wang Yun came to the palace to see the emperor.

Liu Xie was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty.

He is eleven years old.

Later generations generally evaluated him as shrewd.

If it were a prosperous time, he might have achieved something.

Unfortunately, he was helpless throughout his life, never truly gained the power of an emperor, and always lived in the shadow of more powerful people.

At this time, Liu Xie was wearing a crown and sitting on the throne.

The eleven-year-old boy, because of his special living environment, has become shrewd and knows how to think carefully before making any decisions.

He doesn't show his emotions easily, he has a serious face and bright eyes.

He still trusted Wang Yun. After all, when Dong Zhuo was around, Wang Yun often provided him with support in secret.

The two of them have a friendship of sharing weal and woe.

Under the terrifying threat of Dong Zhuo, any little kindness Wang Yun showed him would be magnified doubly.

"What do you want from me, Situ?"

When the little emperor saw Wang Yun, his voice became a little lighter.

"Your Majesty asked me to keep an eye on the developments of all parties. I have some news and I am here to report it to Your Majesty."

Wang Yun handed the emperor a memorial.

The emperor opened it and took a look. It was a list of names of provincial governors and governors, their identities, and even an introduction to the conditions in each place.

Wang Yun said, "Yuan Shu's recent defeat is known to everyone in the world.

But before Yuan Shu was defeated, in addition to the governor of Nanyang, the governor of Yuzhou and the governor of Yangzhou were all recommended by Yuan Shu. "

"This time, it was actually Yuan Shu who led the attack and attacked Yanzhou.

Your Majesty, think about it, if he really gets Yanzhou, he will be in control of Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Yangzhou, and Nanyang County. What kind of situation will that be? His power will be unmatched in the world.

To the north of Yanzhou is Jizhou, headed by Yuan Shao.

"If Cao Cao had not defeated Yuan Shu, the two Yuan brothers would have been able to move Jizhou southwards, combining the four states, and half of the thirteen states in the world would be in their hands."

Wang Yun stopped talking.

But the subtext is clear.

What the little emperor cared about most and desired most was to take back the imperial power.

And who is the biggest threat to imperial power now?

"What do you think, Si Tu?" Liu Xie frowned.

Wang Yun thought: It’s a bit hasty to say it now, but it’s appropriate: “Your Majesty, you can see clearly that Cao Cao’s ancestor in Yanzhou was the Marquis of Feiting and the Grand Chamberlain, and he has always been the most loyal to the royal family.

It was only because of his cooperation with me that we were able to kill Dong Zhuo and eliminate a great threat for Your Majesty."

Liu Xie's thoughts flashed: Whether Cao Cao is loyal or not is not certain. But supporting him and driving away the wolf and swallowing the tiger is beneficial to me.

……

After Jia Xu left, Cao Cao found that the entry had pushed a message.

[You are good at using troops, winning battles one after another. Your military luck is rising, all the generals have gathered, and your military strategy is concealed from the world (stealing through Chencang secretly). The fifth heavenly stem is 'Ji', and your military strategy skill value is +1, +98]

[Surpassing the Ji level, you will enter the sixth heavenly stem, 'Wu', and your skills will undergo special changes]

The effects of these military strategies became more and more significant as the level increased, and Cao Cao had already gained a deep understanding of them.

This time, he fought against Yuan Shu because he was good at using strategic tactics.

However, an important reason was that although Yuan Shu borrowed the luck of the Book of Changes to bless himself, he was still unable to discover the hiding of Cao's army in advance.

[The Xunzhu you desire is in the mausoleum of the First Emperor, but you cannot enter]

[There is another place with a set of pearls. In the Qin Dynasty, a Taoist priest went out to sea and encountered a giant deep-sea clam, from which he got seven pearls. They were scattered around the world and eventually found by Xu Yu, the master of the Mohist school, who made another set of pearls. They are now also in the tomb, burial sequence 104]

When Cao Cao saw the content of the entry, he was surprised and remembered something else.

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(End of this chapter)