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Yecheng, once one of the important material transfer places for the Cao army. The huge Cangcheng to the west of the county was destroyed by Jiangxia cavalry a year ago and burned into ruins. However, the Cao army quickly rebuilt Cangcheng and raised the garrison from 1,000 to 5,000 to strictly defend Yecheng.

This time, when Cao's army marched south, Yecheng once again showed its importance. The warehouse was filled with a large amount of grain and weapons, and a large amount of grain and food were transported from here to Nanyang County or Runan County every day.

Early this morning, when Yecheng people woke up, many people were shocked by the scene outside the city. They saw that the wilderness north of the county was covered with dense tents, just like mushrooms grown after a night of spring rain. At first glance, a flag that was several feet high fluttered in the wind.

In addition to the spectacular tent, there were also a large number of Cao army soldiers, and teams of cavalrymen were running outside the camp, driving the at a loss of merchants and pedestrians out of the official road.

This is Cao Cao who personally led 170,000 main army to Yecheng. If the troops in Anlu County, Wancheng, Fancheng, Shangyong and others were added, there would have exceeded 100,000. This is almost the outbreak of Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao was bound to win this battle in the south.

At this time, a team of horses came from the west, about twenty people, each riding a horse. He was a man over teenager with a medium figure and a thin face, and looked quite smart and capable.

A few steps away from the Cao army camp, this group of people was intercepted by the Cao army patrol. The patrol chief saw that the person he was looked elegant and did not look like an ordinary person. He did not scold him, but warned: "There is a military important place ahead, so you must not move forward. Please take a detour elsewhere."

The man stepped forward and bowed with fists and smiled, "I am the envoy of Bashu. I come to visit the Prime Minister by orders from the governor of the state. Please take us to the camp."

The patrol commander heard that they were Bashu envoys, so he nodded and said, "Since they are Bashu envoys, please follow me."

The patrol cavalry escorted the envoys toward the camp gate.

.........

In the central army's tent, Cao Cao was listening to Sima Yi's report on the battle of Anlu County. Zhang Liao's capture of Anlu County was as expected by Cao Cao, and there was no surprise. On the contrary, it was a bit regretful that he could not be forced to surrender and hired.

"Purchase is a famous general I have been thinking about for a long time. Unfortunately, you missed the best opportunity. I feel very sorry."

Cao Cao's tone was very gentle, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction with Zhang Liao in regret. Before Zhang Liao left, he had already told him to capture Pin alive, but in the end he was rescued. He was rescued by Jiang Xia army at the last moment. If it weren't for his identity, Cao Cao would have thrown the report to the ground long ago.

Sima Yi was a little surprised. He didn't expect Cao Cao to take such a heavy recruitment. Zhang Liao did not tell him in advance. He came to meet Cao Cao to report back to the Jiangxia cavalry.

At this time, Cao Cao didn't care about the cavalry at all, but he focused on the engagement, forcing Sima Yi to answer according to Cao Cao's thoughts.

"At that time, General Zhang really wanted to capture Renjian alive, hoping that Renjian could surrender, but Renjian would never surrender."

Cao Cao seemed to have no patience to listen to him. He opened the battle report and asked: "The battle report said that in the end, there were only less than five soldiers left. Is that true?"

“It’s true”

"But you have a 50,000 army, one person is enough to deal with one person. The army rushed forward and could catch them all in an instant, but in the end they were rescued. How do you explain it?"

Cao Cao was as careful as he found some unreasonable points in the military newspaper, but Zhang Liao did not explain, which made Cao Cao very dissatisfied. He would never allow his subordinates to fool him.

Sima Yi had a cold sweat on his back. He didn't expect that Cao Cao was so smart. Of course, he knew what the reason was, so he had to bite the bullet and tell the truth.

"The key is that the besiege did not put in full force, and only used 20,000 troops."

"Why don't you go up?" Cao Cao asked coldly with his hands behind his back.

"This is because we want to use gui as bait to attract Jiangxia naval warships to rescue. We can trap Jiangxia warships to death in the water. But we didn't expect that Liu Jing actually sent cavalry to rescue. The cavalry came suddenly and was very sharp. In just a moment, he killed the encirclement and rescued them. Prime Minister, this cavalry is very powerful, and it is really no less than Gao Shun's cavalry in the trap camp."

Cao Cao's thoughts were not taken away by Sima Yi. He looked up at the roof and said slowly after a while: "In the Battle of Xinye, Jia Xu also wanted to use Liu Jing to lure the army, but he was trying his best to capture Liu Jing. Later, I asked him, since he was luring the enemy, why did he desperately arrest the bait Jia Xu said, "Catch Liu Jing first and arrest the net for peace. As for luring the army, you can use a fake Liu Jing to be surrounded."

Speaking of this, Cao Cao glanced at Sima Yi with a sharp look and said lightly: "Zhongda, you still have to be cheated on soldiers. It's a pity that Cao Ren is stupid and gave my adviser to Liu Jing for free. It's still a pain in my heart. As long as Jia Xu is not lost, even if all five thousand cavalrymen are killed, what's the point?"

Sima Yi looked ashamed. He understood Cao Cao's words. Jiangxia cavalry was nothing, and Jiangxia warships were nothing. Not having to capture a living was the biggest mistake.

He lowered his head, "I am humble and stupid, and I failed the Prime Minister's trust."

"This matter has nothing to do with you, you don't have to blame yourself, the responsibility lies with the general Zhang Liao."

Cao Cao said coldly again: "Zhang Liao was not strong enough to fight, so he took the enemy's chief general and dismissed his position as chief general of the central army. Zhao Yan replaced him, and Zhang Liao returned to the camp to obey orders."

Sima Yi sighed deeply, and even he felt regret for Zhang Liao when he was rescued. He now deeply realized how much Cao Cao valued talents.

At this time, guards came from outside the tent, "Report to the Prime Minister, the governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, sent an envoy to come, and now I will ask for a visit."

Cao Cao nodded, "Let the messenger come in."

He said again Sima Yi: "You go back first, I believe you should say something to Zhang Liao, and you are very clear."

"It's a humble position to give up."

Sima Yi bowed and retreated. Cao Cao looked at his back and walked away. The anger in his heart gradually faded a little. In fact, recruitment was not so important. Cao Cao was just dissatisfied with Zhang Liao's failure to implement his orders. More importantly, he wanted to leave a feeling of seeking talents in Sima Yi's heart.

Soon, several guards led the envoy Liu Zhang to come hurriedly. The envoy knelt down and bowed and said, "The envoy of Yizhou Fa Zheng paid homage to the Prime Minister."

Cao Cao thought for a while and said with a smile: "It turns out that you are Fufeng Fa Xiaozhi. I have long admired your name."

Fa Zheng was hailed as a magical power and talented. He was very famous in Fufeng County. In the early years of Jian'an, he went to Sichuan with his friend Meng Da to avoid disasters and famines, but he was excluded by the bureaucratic faction in Shu and was never valued, which made him quite depressed.

This time, Cao's army was supposed to be not a leader of Zhang Song, but Zhang Song was temporarily sick and recommended him to come on his behalf. However, Cao Cao could say his own words, which surprised him and said quickly: "Fa Zheng dare not be praised by the Prime Minister."

Cao Cao only heard about Fazheng's talent more than ten years ago. Since Fazheng did not have the opportunity to display his talent, Cao Cao didn't know his true talent, so he just laughed it off and didn't take him to heart.

Fa Zheng quickly took out Liu Zhang's handwritten letter and presented it to Cao Cao with both hands, "This is my handwritten letter from the governor of my family. Please check it out."

Cao Cao took the letter and read it. In the letter, Liu Zhang said that he would send Xu Du to the rank of the country and would provide military rations for Cao Cao to conquer the south. If Cao Cao wanted, he could write to heaven and respect Cao Cao as Duke of Wei. His words were quite flattering.

Cao Cao couldn't help but sneer, could he give him the quality and provide military rations, and his army will never destroy Bashu?

The pastor of a dignified state is so short-lived that it is despised. However, Liu Jing and Sun Quan trained troops to fight against the enemy together. In contrast, Liu Zhang did not want to unite Jingzhou and Jiangdong, but only wanted to protect himself. He was indeed a mediocre person and was not worth worrying about.

Cao Cao closed the letter and asked Fa Zheng with a smile: "Fa Xiaozhi is in any position in Yizhou official position."

"The lower official serves as the military lieutenant."

"With his talent of Xiaozhi, he has been a military lieutenant for more than ten years. This shows that Liu Zhang is a foolish person and has no knowledge of others. If Xiaozhi is willing to serve me, I recommend you to the governor of Fufeng County, how about it?"

Fa Zheng bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but since Fa Zheng is an envoy, he should be loyal to his mission and not talk about personal affairs."

"If Xiaozhi is unwilling to be loyal to me, he can actually choose Liu Jing. This person is a talented and stubborn, not inferior to me. He is the proud phoenix of heaven, my lifelong rival of Cao Mengde, and Liu Jiyu is just a grass chicken that inherits his father's sacredness."

Fa Zheng was silent for a moment and replied: "The Lord is the prime minister's chest, why are his words so mean?"

Cao Cao was not angry and still smiled slightly, "Do you know what Liu Zhang wrote in the letter?"

Fa Zheng shook his head, "The lord's trust is not something that the minister can see at will."

"You are the messenger, of course you can see it."

Cao Cao handed him the letter, and Fa Zheng hesitated for a moment. Cao Cao was right. He was an envoy, not a messenger. He should have known the purpose of the mission. He took the letter and read it quickly.

Fa Zheng's face suddenly turned red. He didn't expect that Liu Zhang was so servile. No wonder Zhang Song said he couldn't come to his illness, which was a great shame.

"How about it"

Cao Cao looked at his expression and smiled, "It's better not to be loyal to such a lord."

Fa Zheng sighed in his heart, stood up and bowed deeply, "It is for official business to go on an envoy, and I wish to hear the Prime Minister's opinion."

Cao Cao looked at him for a moment and said lightly: "I have no written reply, only one verbal reply, please tell Liu Zhang for me."

...........
Chapter completed!