The morning sun at noon shone a crimson red in the western sky. The rising sun spread its golden light over the Cao camp, as if it was draping a red coat over each camp. In the distance, a horse carriage approached under the protection of a group of cavalry. The noisy hooves of the horse collided with the ground, making a loud sound.
When the group of people arrived at the tent, Cao Ang got off the carriage and led a middle-aged scholar who got off the horse behind him to the central commander's tent. He walked into the main camp of Cao's camp, which was heavily guarded. He saw rows of strong northern men in leather armor standing on both sides. The soldiers who came and went saw that the person was the son of Lord Sikong. They all lowered their heads and dodged for Cao Ang.
Before the commander's tent, Cao Ang turned his head and revealed a kind smile."Mr. Jia, please wait here for a moment. Cao Ang will first enter the account and introduce you to my father.”Jia Xu lightly nodded and said,"Please go ahead, Eldest Young Master."”Cao Ang smiled slightly, then turned around and went in first.
The layout and furnishings of the tent were slightly more tidy than the last time Cao Ang came. It seemed that it had been carefully tidied up. At this moment, there were more than twenty civil and military officials standing on both sides of the tent. In the middle was a green smoke incense burner. Cao Cao sat high in the middle seat with a solemn expression. His eyes were half-closed as he looked down at the crowd. Dian Wei stood beside him like an iron tower. It seemed that he was discussing military matters.
Seeing this, Cao Ang hurriedly bowed and placed his fists in front of his chest. He slightly knocked his forehead and said loudly,"Cao Ang greets father." With so many people standing or sitting, it really gave off a heavy sense of dignity and oppression.
Cao Cao was currently discussing the southwest army with the others. When he saw Cao Ang return, he nodded and said,"Mhm, you're back. You've just recovered, so there's no need to be so polite.”
Cao Ang stood up and saw Cao Cao stroking his long beard. He smiled and said,"My son has been through a lot, it really isn't easy. I wonder if you have persuaded Zhang Xiu to surrender?”
Cao Ang calmed down and replied calmly,""When Zhang Xiu heard that father was magnanimous enough to surrender, he was overjoyed and prepared to submit.”As soon as he finished speaking, all the generals in the tent smiled. Xiahou Dun nodded and said,""Zixiu persuaded Zhang Xiu to surrender and made a great contribution.”
"It's just that Zhang Xiu seems to be quite afraid of our army, so I implore Father to order him to guard Wan City on behalf of the Emperor.”As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Ang immediately felt an invisible pressure pressing down on him, and a chill spread through his body.
After a moment of silence, Cao Cao said,""Forget it, Zhang Xiu's actions are understandable. He sent his son to the court to serve the emperor, and I allowed him to stay in Wan City.”Cao Ang was silent for a while before he slowly said,"Father, Zhang Xiu's son is still young. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to enter the court as an official…"
Before he could finish his words, Cao Cao snorted coldly. Cao Ang's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time in his life that a person's aura could give off such pressure and fear. He had no choice but to force himself to endure. However, Cao Cao said,"He has a good plan. Could it be that he thinks that there's no one in the Central Plains?”The word " no one " was spoken in a heavy and long tone. It was obvious that he was extremely dissatisfied with Cao Ang's slow return.
Seeing Cao Cao's anger, no one dared to say a word. Cao Ang looked down at his feet, feeling uneasy. He was waiting for the temperamental Cao Cao to calm down first. The atmosphere in the tent became extremely heavy.
After a while, Cao Ang raised his head and said calmly,""Although I couldn't tell father that Zhang Xiu sent a hostage, I did bring back a person for father. I can guarantee that if father can get this person to submit, he will win ten Wan Cities.”
Hearing this, not only Cao Cao, but the others were also curious. No one knew who could be praised so highly by the usually cold and arrogant Eldest Young Master.
What kind of person was Cao Cao? When he first heard Cao Ang indulging Zhang Xiu, he was naturally extremely unhappy. Now, his heart sank. He knew that his son, who had changed a little, must have invited some important person. He softened his expression and said softly,"Zixiu, don't keep me in suspense. Who exactly did you invite to join the lone army?”
Cao Ang raised his head and forced a smile."When father rescued the emperor and welcomed him to the capital, have you heard of Jia Xu and Jia Wenhe from Wuwei County?”
Before anyone could react, Cao Cao suddenly stood up and said,""Jia Xu!" How could Cao Cao not know about Jia Xu? During the chaos in Chang 'an years ago, Wang Yun had used a series of schemes to drive a wedge between Dong and Lu, killing Dong Zhuo in one fell swoop. Li Jue, Guo Si, and other former subordinates of the Xiliang Army wanted to be pardoned, but they could not. They were in constant fear. At this time, Li Jue received Jia Xu's advice and led his troops into the capital to force Wang Yun to die. He held Emperor Xian hostage and took over the Guanzhong army. His momentum was no less than Dong Zhuo's. Jia Xu not only had a unique vision, but he was also second to none in the art of war. First, he offered a plan to expel Lu Bu, and then he made a plan to force Ma Teng to retreat. It could be said that the last hope of the Han Dynasty was defeated by Wang Yun's stubbornness and destroyed by Jia Xu's subversive plot.
With Cao Mengde's character, he instantly understood the crux of the matter. Cao Cao looked up at the sky and laughed. He asked Cao Ang,""Where is Mr. Jia now?" When Cao Ang saw this, he sighed in his heart. Cao Cao was indeed like what the history books said. No matter what your background was or what you had done before, as long as you were talented and brave, you would be welcomed.”Cao Cao hurriedly stood up and said,"I will personally go out to welcome you, Mr. Jia."”
After that, everything went as Cao Ang had expected. After Cao Cao personally met Jia Xu, he treated him as a distinguished guest. Jia Xu also lived up to expectations. Although he did not speak much, he answered Cao Cao's questions fluently. When he entered Cao Cao's camp, he offered Cao Cao two strategies: to reduce taxes externally, to widely promote five baht coins in the name of the emperor, to calm down the actions of disrupting currency prices since Dong Zhuo's tyranny. The external strategy was to first sweep the southeast, then lead the army north, and build a water canal south to block the Jianghuai River. After a few years, the north would be pacified. You can go south along the canal. Attack and defense were decided in one fell swoop. Jia Xu's proposal was highly praised by Cao Cao, and he immediately announced that Jia Xu would be made the Guardian of Gold. When he returned to the capital in the future, he would be given a seal. After that, Cao Cao chatted with Jia Xu day and night, which was exactly what Cao Ang wanted. Cao Cao valued Jia Xu and naturally would not put too much effort on him. This way, he could survive for a while.
As for Zhang Xiu, after Cao Cao had obtained Jia Xu, he naturally would not put too much effort on him. However, in order to test Jia Xu, Cao Cao still insisted on asking for Jia Xu's opinion. Jia Xu was also completely thinking for Cao Cao. He suggested that Cao Cao send his trusted aides to guard Nanzhao, Zhenping, Fangcheng, and other counties attached to Wancheng. This would curb the ownership of money and grain in Wancheng and slowly disperse the power of Wanyu. In this way, even if Zhang Xiu wanted to rebel in the future, he would be powerless. Jia Xu's plan was greatly praised by Cao Cao, but it made Cao Ang shudder.
In the second year of Jian 'an, in March of 197 AD, Cao Cao recovered Zhang Xiu and still appointed him as the prefect of Wancheng. He ordered his governor Wan Yu to drive away the road and conferred Jia Xu the title of Zhijinwu. After everything in Wancheng was settled, he returned to Xudu.
As the old saying goes, there must be a residence pass to the capital, and there must be a rooster crowing on the road to the residence pass. At this moment, Cao Cao's army had already reached Chu County, 60 miles away from Xudu. Like Baima, Yanjin, and Gucheng, they were important barriers to protect Xudu.
It was March now, and the first signs of spring had appeared. The snow and ice had melted. Although the mountains in the distance were still frozen by Bai Kaikai, the plains were already covered with green grass. Today, the spring breeze blew gently and swept across Cao Ang's face, who had returned with the army. It was extremely comfortable. Cao Ang rode on the Dawan horse that Zhang Xiu had given him and looked at the white clouds floating in the blue sky. He was also in a comfortable mood.
The large group of people walked slowly. In a short while, they could already see the capital. Under the weak sunlight after winter and early spring, they could see the towering city tower that reached into the clouds. It was extraordinary.
Cao Ang couldn't help but click his tongue." So this is how Xu Du is like. It's really impressive!"”Yang Yuan, who was behind him, hurriedly smiled and said,"Eldest Young Master, Xuchang is an important place in the Imperial Capital. It is magnificent and extraordinary. When I first saw the prosperity of Xudu, what I wanted to do the most was to stand on the city tower and jump."
Cao Ang couldn't be bothered to listen to his nonsense. He just quietly looked at the bustling Xu Capital and thought with a complicated heart,"From today onwards, I am the Di son of Cao Sikong of the Great Han Empire. I wonder what kind of life I will face in the future…"
When he arrived at the gate of Xudu City, Cao Ang looked up and saw a fiery red flag waving in the wind on the city wall. There was a large word embroidered on the flag with a black and red border…"Han!"
As Cao Ang was looking around, he saw a soldier of the Tiger Guard galloping over. When he arrived in front of Cao Ang's horse, he saw the Tiger Guard nimbly dismount and bow to Cao Ang respectfully."Reporting to Eldest Young Master, Lord Sikong has ordered that Eldest Young Master doesn't need to count the soldiers. You can just go back to Sikong Manor to pay your respects to Madam.”
"What is it? Mother?" Cao Ang couldn't help but be tongue-tied when he heard this. On the other hand, Yang Yuan smiled at Cao Ang and said," Sir Sikong is really considerate of Young Master. As soon as he entered the city, he allowed Young Master to return to his residence. This is an unprecedented precedent."
"Shut up!" Cao Ang turned to Yang Yuan and shouted angrily. He couldn't help but feel frustrated. He had not even passed Cao Cao's test, and he had to visit Cao Ang's mother in Sikong Mansion. As the saying goes, no one knows their son better than their mother. What should he do this time?
Cao Ang was helpless as he thought about this. He could only take things one step at a time. Cao Ang, Yang Yuan, and the rest of his followers traveled west. Soon, they arrived at a magnificent mansion. Cao Ang had sharp eyes and saw a sign hanging on the gate of the mansion with the word "Cao" written on it. He should not have known the ancient language, but he did not know whether it was because Cao Ang still had some remnant knowledge or something else. He was very familiar with the Han Dynasty language and some basic etiquette. He still had some impression of it.
Just as Cao Ang was carefully observing the Cao Residence, Yang Yuan jumped off his horse and shouted at the guard of Sikong Residence,""Quickly inform Furen that the Eldest Young Master has returned from the southern expedition and has arrived at the residence. Tell everyone in the residence to come and receive him as soon as possible!”
November Book Group
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。