Cao Cao Surrender to Cao Bao and Liu Bei Support Liu Bian
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Cao Bao's sleepiness was gone all of a sudden. He cursed angrily,"Chen Deng, you shameless scoundrel. Governor Tao has treated you with great kindness. Instead of repaying him, you want to defect to the enemy.”
Chen Deng smiled sinisterly and said in a strange tone,""Since you are so loyal to Tao Qian, I will give you to Cao Cao to fulfill your loyalty.”
"Shameless! Despicable! F * ck your ancestors!" Cao Bao cursed Chen Deng.
Chen Deng ignored Cao Bao and commanded his 800 servants. Half of them took care of the soldiers around Cao Bao while the other half hacked open the city gate and lowered the suspension bridge.
Cao Cao's army rushed in. Xiahou Dun was the first to enter the city. Wherever his spear was raised, none of the Xuzhou soldiers could withstand it and retreated.
Without much effort, Cao Cao's army completely occupied Xuzhou and captured Tao Qian.
A small portion of Xu Prefecture's soldiers were killed, and most of them surrendered.
Cao Cao entered the prefect's manor and his subordinates pushed Tao Qian in and pressed him to the ground.
"Tao Qian, I came here with good intentions. Why did you order people to guard the city gate and shoot down the arrows?”Cao Cao reprimanded, looking very confident.
No, strictly speaking, he was a man of great ambition and was often good at twisting black and white and confusing right and wrong.
" Tao Qian is willing to surrender. Please show mercy," Tao Qian kowtowed.
At this moment, Chen Deng was escorting Cao Bao in and happened to see this scene.
"Tao Qian, you are a coward. If a real man dies, so be it. Why are you so spineless and actually kneel down to beg for surrender?”
"To think that I, Cao Bao, risked my life for you. Who knew that you would be so servile!”Cao Bao was furious.
" Tao Gongzu, you're a celebrity after all. I won't make things difficult for you. I'll let you continue to wear the prefect's seal and go to Yanzhou to live." Cao Cao had a compassionate expression.
"As for Xu Prefecture, under your rule, the people have become so incompetent. "For the sake of the common people, I'll reluctantly help you govern." Cao Cao sighed.
"Tao Qian thanks Ming Gong for not killing me." When Tao Qian heard that Cao Cao had spared his life and even made him wear the seal of the prefect, he kowtowed like a hen pecking at rice.
Cao Bao couldn't bear to look anymore. He turned his head away, feeling deeply ashamed.
After dealing with Tao Qian, Cao Cao turned around and shouted,""Cao Bao, since you have been captured by me, why don't you kneel down and surrender?”
Cao Bao spat and rebuked angrily,"In Xuzhou, there are only generals who die standing. There are no villains who live kneeling."”
Cao Cao laughed and stepped forward to untie Cao Bao. He patted Cao Bao's shoulder and said,""What a good general who died standing. This Cao respects loyal people the most in his life. Just now, I was just joking with Brother Cao.”
"Tao Qian can't use a loyal and brave person like General, so how can Xu not hand over the position?”
He didn't expect Cao Cao to treat him like this. Cao Bao's heart was filled with warmth. He was only a third-rate general, and Tao Qian didn't usually put him in an important position.
Comparing the two, Cao Bao finally knelt down and shouted,""Since Duke Ming values Cao Bao so much, Cao Bao is willing to work for Duke Ming and die without regrets.”
" Brother Cao, please rise. From now on, you are my trusted aide." Cao Cao extended his hand to support him, looking very touched.
This was the crafty side of an evil man.
Cao Bao was just a nobody, yet Cao Cao was able to win him over like this. Once his reputation of being polite and courteous spread, there might not be any generals with both wisdom and courage who would join him.
Chen Deng saw that even Cao Bao was appreciated. He had helped Cao Cao break through Xuzhou and made such a great contribution. He was wondering how Cao Cao would reward him.
As expected, Cao Cao looked at Chen Deng and smiled,""Chen Deng, if it weren't for your counterattack, it would have taken me a lot of effort to take down Xu Prefecture. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Chen Deng was overjoyed. He put on a humble expression and said obsequiously,"How would Chen Deng dare to ask for any reward? He only admires Ming Gong and is willing to serve Ming Gong.”
"From now on, as long as Ming Gong has an order, Chen Deng will follow Ming Gong even if he has to sacrifice his life.”
" Hehe, Chen Yuanlong, it's rare for you to be so loyal." Cao Cao was delighted and laughed loudly," If I don't fulfill your loyalty, wouldn't I be letting down your passion?"”
"Lord Ming, please take note that Chen Deng's words are true. My loyalty to Ming Gong is as bright as the sun and the moon. Heaven and earth can prove it.”
" Alright, since you're willing to sacrifice your life for me, I'll fulfill your wish." Cao Cao was still smiling, but his gaze turned cold." Men, push Chen Deng out and behead him."”
"Yes." He lifted Chen Deng up and walked out.
" Duke Cao, you can't treat a meritorious minister like this. Others will say that you're a dog that escaped death and that you're hiding your bow when the bird has run out," Chen Deng shouted hoarsely.
" Traitor, Tao Qian has treated you with great kindness, yet you betrayed him in the blink of an eye. What use is there for me to keep you alive?" Cao Cao laughed sinisterly and said in disgust.
" Cao Cao, you ungrateful scoundrel. I can't eat your flesh while I'm alive. Even after I die, I'll turn into a malicious ghost and seduce your soul." Chen Deng let out a mournful roar. He was filled with regret.
Cao Cao waved his hand, not wanting to see Chen Deng again. His subordinates carried Chen Deng and quickly left the residence. Not long after, they presented Chen Deng's head.
" Hang this thief's head on the city gate and let those who betray their master take it as a warning," Cao Cao said coldly, his tone seemingly filled with endless hatred.
After being betrayed by Zhang Liao, Yu Jin, Gao Shun, and Dian Wei, Cao Cao hated those who betrayed his master.
Especially Dian Wei. Back then, in order to make him betray Zhang Miao and join him, Cao Cao had spent a lot of effort to win him over.
His love was deep and his hatred was intense. After being betrayed by Dian Wei, Cao Cao's hatred for him inexplicably shifted to Chen Deng.
Chen Deng didn't know that Cao Cao would encounter such an unforeseen event. His mentality changed drastically, and he became a ghost under Cao Cao's blade.
Tao Qian wore the Prefecture Overseer's Seal and brought a few personal followers to Yanzhou.
Unfortunately, not long after they left Xuzhou, Cao Cao secretly sent people to catch up and cleanly kill them.
Cao Cao was in a good mood after obtaining Xuzhou. He wanted to invade the territories of other vassals.
In the past few months, Cao Cao had been training his army, following Liu Xun's example, opening up wasteland, and issuing the order of " only talent is selected ", selecting talents without holding back.
Sima Yi from Hanoi came to seek refuge, and Xun Yu from Yingyin, Yingchuan, also came to rely on Cao Cao. Cao Cao's power gradually grew.
At this moment, a subordinate came to report that Liu Bei had supported the deposed Emperor Liu Bian as Emperor, known as Emperor Han Xing, and Liu Bei himself as the regent of the Imperial Uncle.
Now, Liu Bian's messenger was in Xuzhou and had come to confer the title of Governor of Xuzhou on Cao Cao.
"Liu Bei, that big-eared thief, secretly escaped last time because he secretly kidnapped Liu Bian. He was afraid that I would fight with him and cause me to be defeated by Liu Xun.”
" This time, he still wants me to acknowledge his puppet emperor. He must be dreaming." Cao Cao could not suppress the resentment in his heart. He only felt a nameless flame rising.
"My lord, please calm down. We might as well temporarily acknowledge Liu Bian as the Han Xing Emperor. This way, we can use this opportunity to contend with Liu Xun. Secondly, Liu Bei will definitely become the person Liu Xun wants to destroy the most. "When the snipe and clam fight, we'll be the fisherman who benefits," Sima Yi advised.
"Sima Zhongda's words are reasonable," said Xun Yu."Please reconsider, my lord.”
Cao Cao knew that Sima Yi and Xun Yu were right. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to welcome Liu Bei's messenger and accept the title of Xu Prefecture's herdsman.
There were quite a number of people who had the same thoughts as Cao Cao.
Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Yuan Shao of Jizhou, Sun Ce of Jiangdong, Zhang Xiu of Wancheng, and Ma Teng of Xiliang all acknowledged Emperor Xing of Han.
As a result, the vassals of the world were divided into two factions.
One faction recognized Emperor Xian of Han, who was under Liu Xun, as the ruler of the world, while the other faction recognized Emperor Xing of Han, who was under Liu Bei.
The strength of the two factions was roughly equal, and the situation became even more chaotic.
Liu Xun was the first person to know that Liu Bei had kidnapped Liu Bian. He felt a little regretful. With a thought of kindness, he had spared Liu Bian's life, resulting in chaos.
He gathered Pang Tong, Jia Xu, and the others to discuss the matter of Liu Bei establishing another court.
Pang Tong's attitude towards this matter was different from the others, he was extremely optimistic.
"On the surface, Liu Bei has Liu Bian as the Emperor. On the surface, it looks like he is holding the Son of Heaven to command the vassals.”
"Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and the others support Liu Bian because they want to fight against us. In reality, these people have their own ulterior motives.”
"Cao Cao, on the other hand, cannot be underestimated. Now that he has obtained Xu Prefecture, his power will grow stronger and stronger. As time passes, he will definitely become a threat to us.”
" Cao Cao and Liu Bei are currently in cahoots. It's not the time to attack them now. My lord, why don't you use the strategy of befriending those who are far away and attacking those who are close to you? We can split them up and destroy them one by one."
"What a good way to befriend and attack from afar. Brother Shiyuan, tell me, who should we befriend and who should we attack?”Liu Xun asked with interest.
"People like Yuan Shao, Kong Rong, Gongsun Yuan, Governor of Liaodong, and Liu Yao, Governor of Yangzhou. Since we can't get them for the time being, we have to find a way to win them over.”
" For those who are close to us, such as Zhang Xiu of Wan City, Liu Biao of Jing City, and Ma Teng of Xi Liang, we'll think of a way to destroy them," Pang Tong said.
" That makes sense. Yuan Shao already has two prefectures. We should ally with him first and let him and Cao Cao restrain each other," Jia Xu interjected.
" Looks like Brother He already has a plan." Liu Xun knew that Jia Xu had an idea when he saw his expression.
"I heard that Emperor Xian's younger sister, Princess Yangping, has long reached the age of marriage, but she is struggling to find a suitable family.”
"Does Brother He mean to marry her to Yuan Shao? Yuan Shao was too old to study. Could it be that he wanted Princess Yangping to be his concubine?”Liu Xun guessed.
"Yuan Shao is too old, but it is said that his three sons have yet to marry. As a princess, Yuan Shao is a person who cares about his face and would definitely be more than happy to marry.”
" As long as Yuan Shao's son marries the princess, he can only fall out with Liu Bei," Jia Xu said with a smile.
" However, this way, we'll have a strong ally for the time being. But as time goes on, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be any future troubles," Liu Xun said worriedly.
"My lord's worries are not without reason. With the Xian Emperor's strong support of Yuan Shao, it's hard to guarantee that he won't have second thoughts. "However, Emperor Xian is still in our hands. Even if he has any intentions, so what?" Pang Tong agreed with Jia Xu's words.
"Currently, Yuan Shao is plotting against Youzhou and Bingzhou, so he can't care about us for the time being. As long as the princess married into the Yuan family, the lord would summon him in the name of Emperor Xian. How could he dare to disobey?”
"As for the future, as long as our strength is strong enough, there's no need to be afraid of Yuan Shao. "In this day and age, in the end, whoever has the bigger fist has the bigger reason," Jia Xu said boldly.
" What a good saying. The bigger fist, the bigger reason," Liu Xun said heroically." According to Brother He, we are still the most powerful people in the world.”
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