A crane feather arrow was placed on the bowstring of the deerskin. The arrowhead that looked like iron teeth reflected the sunlight. With a whoosh, the arrow whistled through the air, crossing a distance of more than 150 steps and hitting the red heart on the target. The white feathers were still buzzing and trembling.
Xiahou Yuan calmly put down the bow in his hand and slowly turned around. Cao Ang clapped his hands and praised,""Good! Uncle Shen Jian!"
The days passed quickly in peace and order. In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed. The weather was already late spring. The birds returning from winter flew across the sky, scattering a cheerful chirping sound.
Cao Ang's skills had improved a lot in the past two months. Xiahou Yuan's spear technique was extremely fast. After a month of hard work, Cao Ang had gained some skills. He should be able to protect himself on the battlefield.
"Uncle, your archery skills are really good." Cao Ang looked enviously at the feather arrow that was shot at the center of the steering target Zhu Xin and said enviously,""Uncle, Ang 'er's archery skills are really far from yours. Why don't you teach me archery?”
"What?" Xiahou Yuan said, amused. He had just gotten a better understanding of spear techniques, and now he wanted to learn archery? You can't even walk, and you want to run?”Hearing this, Cao Ang couldn't help but grumble in his heart. However, he still had an expression of humbly asking for advice.”
Xiahou Yuan was quite satisfied with Cao Ang's attitude.""The usage of the spear is just a few moves. Stab, stab, strike, strike, coil, circle, block, grab, pounce, point, poke, pick, dance. I've already taught you everything this month. No matter how strong a general's spear technique was, he could not jump out of these moves. The most important thing was strength, speed, and the dexterity of the application. From today onwards, you and I will spar every day and find out our shortcomings through actual combat.”
After saying that, Xiahou Yuan took out two long sticks from a wooden rack and threw one at Cao Ang. He then looked up and continued,""Come, you can attack me first!"
Cao Ang gripped his staff tightly and looked at Xiahou Yuan calmly.""Uncle, please be careful." Xiahou Yuan secretly praised Cao Ang for his thoughtfulness, but he still said disdainfully,""If you can hurt me, Xiahou Yuan will take you as his master!”
Cao Ang wasn't angry. He just smiled kindly and suddenly took a big step forward, stabbing the staff in his hand toward Xiahou Yuan's heart. Xiahou Yuan praised in his heart. Not bad! The army is not tired of fighting, and the same is true of martial arts. However, the difference between the two was still too great. Xiahou Yuan swung his wrist and blocked Cao Ang's way. Then, he moved backward and stabbed the back of Cao Ang's hand with the tip of his staff. Cao Ang's thumb and forefinger went numb, and the cudgel in his hand fell to the ground.
Xiahou Yuan put away his staff and stood upright. It's just that the spear technique focuses on speed, but you put strength first, allowing me to find a flaw. Secondly, your grip on the spear is unstable, and your hands are too forward. That is the technique of using a podao. Spear arts focused on distance. Whether it was stabbing, picking, stabbing, or dancing flowers, distance was the main focus. The back of the spear was secondary. Hold the spear tightly behind you and don't withdraw your hand! The front hand was used as a guide to guide the direction of the spearhead. As for the left and right hands, it was up to your own preferences!”
Cao Ang saw Xiahou Yuan's serious expression and patiently guided him. He knew that these were all his experiences on the battlefield. He didn't dare to be negligent and took note of them.
At night, Cao Ang walked out of Xiahou Yuan's mansion, exhausted. Yang Yuan was waiting for him outside with his horse. Seeing him come out, she hurriedly led her horse forward." Eldest Young Master, are you feeling better today?”Hearing this, Cao Ang smiled bitterly and pointed at his clothes, which were covered in dust and rod marks.""Yang Yuan, which eye of yours looks better at me?”
Yang Yuan looked at the exhausted Cao Ang and said,"Eldest Young Master, you have to go to the cavalry camp during the day and come to General Xia Hou's place to practice martial arts in the afternoon. If this continues, your body won't be able to take it.”Cao Ang mounted his horse and shook his head with a smile."My body can't take it? Uncle also has military duties during the day, which is much more than my mere 700 cavalry. If he can persist in teaching me, why can't I persist in learning?”Seeing that Yang Yuan still wanted to speak, Cao Ang gently shook his head and said,""Yang Yuan, if you don't make preparations now, it will be too late to regret it in the future.‘Yang Yuan, do you know what that means?”
Yang Yuan lowered his head and thought carefully for a long time before saying,"I don't know." Cao Ang rode his horse and said with a smile,"It would be strange if you knew."
After returning to the Sikong Residence, Cao Ang was about to return to his room to rest when he saw a famous servant rushing towards him and saying,"Eldest Young Master, why are you only back now? Lord Sikong has been waiting for you in the study for four hours.”
"Wait for me?" Cao Ang asked curiously. The servant hurriedly nodded and said,"That's right. After Lord Sikong returned to the residence, he sent a message saying that if you return to the residence, you can go straight to the study." It had already been four hours.”
Cao Ang felt helpless. He didn't know why Cao Cao had summoned him this time. Perhaps it was related to the cavalry camp? With that thought, he headed straight for Cao Cao's study.
When he arrived at the study room, Cao Ang slightly tidied his clothes and pushed the door open. Before he could see the situation in the room, he saw his father Cao Cao sitting firmly in front of the desk.
Cao Ang bowed slightly to Cao Cao and said,""Father, you were looking for me?" After a moment of silence, Cao Cao said,""You're back. I heard that you've been going to Miao Cai's place quite often recently.”
"Father, I am doing well. I am at Uncle's place to learn his spear and bow techniques. Uncle's martial arts are strong, and I have gained a lot recently.”Cao Ang answered obediently.
"That's good." Cao Cao paused for a moment before continuing,"Miao Cai is very skilled in martial arts. It is right for you to ask him for advice. However, no matter how good your martial arts are, you are just a man's courage.”"Alright," Cao Ang said.
"Don't just stand there, sit down.”Cao Ang nodded and sat down on the ground opposite Cao Cao. The wrinkles on Cao Cao's face became even more pronounced, but his eyes were still as bright as ever, as if he had nowhere to hide.
"Take a look at this." Cao Ang took a bundle of wooden slips from Cao Cao's hands and saw the words written on it: I, General Fenwei, wrote a letter to the emperor, saying that the monarch should be the first to respect the people. The difference between high and low, the emperor is the most important. In the past, there were great changes in Guanzhong, and Your Majesty was displaced. As a minister of the Han Dynasty, I should have sent troops to escort him to the North. However, Xuzhou was exhausted and remote, so it was difficult for me to return to the west. Every time I thought about it, I could only look west and sigh. When Your Majesty met Li Wei and Guo Si's rebellion, he was caught in the dust and handed over to Leyang. Later, when Your Majesty arrived at Hongnong, he was deceived and humiliated by Li Le. Fortunately, Yang Feng and Han Xian knew his plot and rescued Your Majesty and returned to the east. They were really the pillars of the country and the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty. Now the two of them are in dire straits in Xujun. I can't bear to lose my meritorious officials in the wilderness and my good generals in the marsh. I hereby submit a memorial to the throne to appoint Han Xian as the herdsman of Yidu and Yang as the herdsman of Langya. They will guard the southeast on behalf of Your Majesty and restore the stability of the country. Then the Han Dynasty will be lucky and the world will be lucky.”
"Vigorous General Bu?" Cao Ang's heart skipped a beat. He raised his head and asked Cao Cao,""Lu Bu sent this to the Emperor?”Cao Cao coldly nodded and said," After Yang Feng and Han Xian were defeated by me, they fled south to Huainan to submit to Yuan Shu. It is said that they have been suspected by Yuan Shu and have been depressed and frustrated. Now he has turned to Lu Bu, who has made a memorial to the throne to appoint them as Yidu Mu and Langya Mu. At present, Zang Ba, Changxi, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and other bandits all obey Lu Bu's orders. In the long run, Yang Feng, Han Xian and the bandits of Mount Tai will cause chaos in Shandong. At that time, I'm afraid Yanzhou will have no peaceful days.”
So that was how it was. Cao Ang thought to himself. It seemed that Cao Cao had reached a point where he would not be happy if he did not get rid of Lu Bu. The current Lu Bu was a thorn in his heart, constantly threatening Cao Cao's position. Moreover, it seemed like Lu Bu was quite ambitious. Just this matter alone showed that Lu Bu was constantly plotting against Cao Cao.
As for this letter, it was just a formality. Even if Cao Cao did not allow it, how could Lu Bu recruit Yang Feng and Han Xian to return to Xuzhou? In that case, he could only think of another way. However, Cao Ang felt strange. With Cao Cao's military tactics and the intelligence of his strategists, would he really be helpless against Lu Bu's strategy?
"This is testing me and helping me!”Cao Ang's mind was spinning as he said calmly,""Father, why don't you agree to Lu Bu's request?”Cao Cao's expression did not change and he asked,""Why?"
"Lu Bu is a tiger in Xuzhou, and he has many capable people under him. Now that he has a firm foothold, he is not easy to deal with. If father is not fully prepared, we should not have any conflict with him for the time being. Moreover, Yang Feng and Han Xian are ambitious but not talented. In the battle for the throne, they were not even a match for our army. Even if they were to be the governors of these two places, they would not be able to cause much trouble. Moreover, the bandits of Mount Tai are all brave but not resourceful. You don't have to worry too much for the time being.”
Cao Cao stroked his beard and said,""However, this is not a long-term solution.”"Father, why don't you make peace with Yang Feng and Han Xian?" Cao Ang asked. Changxi and Sun Guan might as well use the strategy of pacifying the enemy for the time being.”
"Oh? What do you mean?" Cao Cao was curious. Cao Ang carefully considered his words and said,"Father, Yang Feng was born as a White Wave Thief and later joined the Western Liang Army. Later, they had made great contributions to saving the emperor. They had hoped to be conferred the title of marquis and minister, but they did not expect the emperor to move the capital for their father. Presumably, this was also the root of their battle with their father. Now that the two of them were down and out, if his father could acknowledge his achievements in the name of the Emperor, the two of them would gradually leave Lu Bu and lean towards his father.”
Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang for a long time before saying,""You just said that Changxi, Sun Guan, and the other bandits of Mount Tai could be used to appease them. Why?" Cao Ang laughed." These thieves gather in one place. They are the kind of people who succumb to fame and fortune and fall with the wind. How could they sincerely help Lu Bu? Now that they were under Lu Bu's command, they had no choice but to join forces with Lu Bu because he was in Xuzhou and they were neighbors with Hu. If father enticed him with official titles and sent eloquent people to explain his power, I believe that Changxi, Sun Guan, Wu Dun and others would not be used by us, but they would not sincerely help Lu Bu.”
Cao Ang's words were not made up, they were based on facts. Mountain bandits were the easiest to go back on their words. In history, Changxi, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and other thieves did not take strong action to support Lu Bu after Cao Cao took over Xuzhou. After Lu Bu died, they immediately joined Cao Cao. Later, Changxi betrayed Cao Cao twice. Once, he did not know the situation and submitted to Liu Bei. In the end, he was defeated by Cao Cao's army and immediately submitted to Cao Cao. Later, during the war between Yuan and Cao Cao, Changxi saw that Cao Cao's attention was focused on Hebei, so he led his army to rebel again in 206 AD. However, he was defeated by Cao Cao's army in 206 AD. When the situation was dangerous, Changxi wanted to join Cao Cao again, but he was not tolerated and was killed by Yu Jin. How could these people who saw the situation be willing to sincerely help Lu Bu?
Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang and smiled,"Zixiu, I always thought that you were skilled in both martial arts and martial arts. Who would have thought that today, I would know that my son is really a hero. However, with your unique vision and grasp of the situation, I should have a new look at you.”
Hearing Cao Cao praise him, Cao Ang's face turned red and he felt a little embarrassed. Who knew that Cao Cao would continue to say,"However, although what you said is good, there are some loopholes."”
Cao Ang was stunned when he heard this. No matter what, his " report " was based on history. How could there be any loopholes? Seeing the confusion in Cao Ang's eyes, Cao Cao smiled and stood up. He took out a scroll of parchment from the carved wooden shelf behind him and slowly unfolded it on the table. He pointed at the two black dots on the map and said,"Look at Yidu. What are the mysteries of Langya and Langya?”
Cao Ang was slightly stunned. He leaned on the table and stared at the Second Bureau. Cao Cao was not in a hurry, he just stroked his beard and waited for a response. After a while, Cao Ang suddenly understood and said,"These two places and... Yuzhou…Adjoin "
Cao Cao laughed heartily,"That's right!" Zixiu, you're very insightful and focused on the overall situation. Just now, your idea of pacifying the bandits on Mount Tai and splitting up Lu Bu's forces was indeed good. However, although your plan was feasible for Yang Feng and Yang Ling, it was not the best.”
Cao Cao's eyes turned cold as he laughed mockingly,"" Yang Feng, Han Xian fought with me for the throne in the past. Now, he's just a vile man who has been attached to Lu Bu's camp. How can I pay attention to them? Now, Liu Bei is attached to our army and is guarding Yuzhou in the name of the Son of Heaven. Although I can't deal with these two thieves, I only need a letter from Liu Xuande. Han Liang is just a mere Yang Feng. Han Xian is nothing!"”
Cao Ang was speechless. He remembered what he knew in his previous life. After Yang Feng was instigated by Lu Bu to rebel, he was lured to death by Liu Bei because he harassed the people. At that time, he had only read through it and did not think much of it. Now that he thought about it carefully, although Liu Bei was the herdsman of Yuzhou, he was dependent on Cao Cao. He relied almost entirely on Cao Cao for the supply of money and food. If not for Cao Cao's instructions, why would he offend Yang Feng and Han Xian for no reason?
Thinking of this, Cao Ang couldn't help but sigh. Cao Cao was able to unify North China and build the foundation for Wei to replace Han. He was truly unfathomable. The only reason he could hide this from him was because he was his son! She had long gained his subconscious trust. Thinking of this, Cao Ang stood up and bowed deeply to Cao Cao. He sighed from the bottom of his heart,"Father, you have divine foresight, but I can't compare to you in a thousand ways.”
Cao Cao shook his head slightly and said," Zi Xiu, there's no need to belittle yourself. There's nothing wrong with what you said just now. It's just that you missed something." With your current vision and knowledge, you can wipe out the four bandits with me and help the world.”
Cao Cao stood up with a smile." Ever since you persuaded Zhang Xiu, I feel that you have changed. Not only have you become more tolerant of others, but you have also become more tactful." Today, hearing your words about power, I am truly gratified.”
Hearing this, Cao Ang couldn't help but feel a warm feeling in his heart. The eyes of the hero who was called 'evil hero' by the later generations were filled with pride, love, and emotion. No matter how cunning and treacherous Cao Cao was in the eyes of others, in his eyes, Cao Cao was a loving father who had waited for him for four hours just to test his strategic vision and guide his shortcomings with a well-prepared report. Thinking of this, Cao Ang's heart couldn't help but feel warm, and his heart became heavy. For the first time, a sincere smile appeared on his dry lips,"Father, thank you!"
(Yidu, Langya is a fictional place name in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The position of Langya does not match the geographical location of Zhuge Liang's hometown, Langya Yangdu, because the article needs to use it.)
November Book Group
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]