Cao Cao was really anxious. He didn't even take time to appease the people in Yongqiu City. He now wanted to grab Zhang Miao's neck and punch him hard, and then ask why Zhang Miao betrayed him.

"Father, is Zhang Miao hiding in the woods in front?" Cao Ang saw a dense forest in front of him. Cao Cao led his troops out of the south gate and chased him for dozens of miles. Several horse hoof prints could be vaguely seen on the road.<

/p>

"Zixiu, send some people to guard the checkpoints on each road, and the rest will go in with me." This forest is the most suitable for hiding. Cao Cao thinks that Zhang Miao will probably hide in it. He has no horses to switch to, so it is difficult to escape.

Go to far away places.

"Father, it's pitch dark in the woods. I'm afraid it might be a little dangerous, so I'd better go." Cao Ang persuaded.

"It doesn't matter, I must catch him with my own hands." Cao Cao waved his hand, and Cao Pi followed Cao Cao into the woods.

The soldiers raised their torches and began to search the woods, but they still could not find Zhang Miao.

"Lord, no trace of Zhang Miao has been found."

"Keep looking."

"Father, we have found Zhang Miao's mount." Cao Ang ran to Cao Cao and said. Cao Cao knew that Zhang Miao was definitely hiding in the woods at this moment and was just hanging on for a breath.

"Zhang Mengzhuo! If you have the courage, come out! If you dare to attack my family, don't you dare to come out and meet me?" Cao Cao shouted into the depths of the forest.

Cao Cao only received the sound of birds and wild deer escaping in response. Cao Cao's echoes dissipated, and the dark forest fell into dead silence again.

"Your brother Zhang Chao hasn't been buried yet, don't you want to see him one last time?" Cao Cao continued to stimulate Zhang Miao who was hiding in the bushes, and Zhang Miao finally couldn't help but walked out of the bushes.

Zhang Miao was covered in dust, his eyes were blurry, his clothes were torn by branches, and he only had a short knife in his hand. The once outstanding figure now looked quite embarrassed.

"Take away!" Cao Cao did not look at Zhang Miao again. He did not expect that when he really caught Zhang Miao, his heart would be so calm.

Cao Ang waved his hand, and the soldiers grabbed Zhang Miao's hands, and everyone returned the same way.

The next day, Cao Cao took his two sons to inspect Yongqiu. It would not be an exaggeration to call Yongqiu a wasteland. The trees in the city had bare trunks. It was rare to see tree trunks with bark attached and ruined walls.

Wails and groans were heard one after another, and the whole city was filled with grief.

Is this still the Yanzhou of Cao Mengde? Cao Cao was so angry that his army entered the city and collected the corpses on the roadside, distributed grain and grass, and built the damaged city walls and residences.

"Zixiu, have all the victims in the city been resettled?" Cao Cao asked.

"The construction of the houses in the west of the city has basically been completed, and some victims have already moved in." Cao Ang replied.

"How is Zhang Miao?" Cao Cao said in a normal tone. Cao Ang was stunned when he heard this.

"He didn't say a word, and he didn't make any demands. He just sat quietly every day." Cao Ang continued to answer.

"Let's go see him."

The place where Zhang Miao was imprisoned was a private house. Although the environment was simple, it was still clean. Cao Cao locked Zhang Miao in it and did not abuse him. His food was no different from that of an ordinary soldier.

Cao Pi pushed open the courtyard door, and a dozen heavily armed soldiers stood in the courtyard. Cao Cao was not afraid that Zhang Miao would run away again, and Zhang Miao didn't want to run away again.

"It's Meng De who's here." Zhang Miao's face softened, and his clothes were changed into ordinary brown clothes and linen trousers.

Cao Cao ignored Zhang Miao. He walked straight into the room and sat on the main table. Cao Pi and Cao Ang were on opposite sides. Zhang Miao sat opposite Cao Cao, waiting for Cao Cao's trial with peace of mind.

"Have you seen Meng Gao's body?" Cao Cao asked in a cold tone.

"I've seen it. It was Zixiu who sent it. I'm very grateful to you for burying him." Zhang Miao replied with a smile.

"Hmph, you can still laugh." Cao Cao was very angry when he saw Zhang Miao's indifferent look, which was not in line with the fearful look Cao Cao imagined Zhang Miao had.

"Even if I cry and beg you for mercy, will you let me go?" Zhang Miao looked directly into Cao Cao's eyes and asked.

"Of course not. The people's livelihood in Yanzhou is in decline and war breaks out again. You are the culprit." Cao Cao said through gritted teeth.

"That's it, then why should I do something meaningless?" Zhang Miao said, stroking his hair.

"Don't act so calm there! How dare you face me! Don't think I'm trying to scare you. Even if we were close friends, I would definitely let you die." Cao Cao was furious.

He stood up, pointed at Zhang Miao's nose and cursed.

"I know. I had predicted it three months ago. I would definitely die in Yongqiu. It's just that Meng Gao hoped that I could leave Yongqiu. He died for me. Naturally, I can't live up to his expectations." Zhang

Miao said calmly.

"Then why do you want to live up to my expectations?" Cao Cao asked angrily.

"Mengde, after all, you and I are not from the same path. I am just a governor of a noble family who lives in a corner, and you are the mastermind of conquests from all directions. Do you know? All the Yanzhou nobles need is an obedient puppet.

" Zhang Miao replied.

"This is no excuse for you to betray me!" Cao Cao scolded.

"From the moment you killed Bian Rang, I knew that we would never be the same as before. Maybe by the time you control several states, I will be the one who dies by your sword."

Zhang Miao shook his head and smiled self-deprecatingly, "You are no longer the Cao Mengde you used to be. Am I right?"

"Of all the things I have done, which one is not for the people of Yanzhou?" Cao Cao asked.

"So your current ambition is still to be the Han general who conquers the west? Do you want to be the new Dong Zhuo! You just care about the people more than he does, but after all, the country needs to be governed by scholars like me." Zhang Miao

Said excitedly.

Cao Cao was startled when he heard Zhang Miao's words, but Cao Pi became extremely angry when he heard Zhang Miao's words.

"Why should the country be governed by you scholars? The country is a country for every citizen, not a country for you people who only talk about how talented you are." Cao Pi was frothing at the mouth and said in an passionate tone, "

You call people untouchables, you make people in counties and counties displaced, their families destroyed, and you still have the face to argue with such strong words!"

Zhang Miao did not refute Cao Pi's words. He just looked at the young Cao Pi with a complicated expression. He did not understand why Cao Pi could say something that was difficult for him to understand.

"Meng De, you are more cruel than anyone else, and you are also softer than anyone else. I suddenly remembered that Mr. Qiao asked us to go to Runan to look for Xu Zijiang."

Cao Cao remained silent, just looking at Zhang Miao quietly as he digested the words of Zhang Miao and Cao Pi.

"Jun Qingping is a traitor and a hero in troubled times. I thought that Xu Zijiang was just talking casually, and you just laughed it off that day. But now it seems that what you are laughing at is not his nonsense, but your true thoughts.

He saw it..." Zhang Miao recalled the past, his true feelings revealed in his vicissitudes of life.

"That's enough! What do you mean after saying so much?" Cao Cao interrupted Zhang Miao angrily.

"Kill me, and hang my head in the street for three days in Yongqiu City. This way you can win the hearts of the people and frighten dissidents." Zhang Miao said lightly, "This is what I can do for you Cao Mengde.

This is the last thing I did, and it can be regarded as my reward for taking care of my family."

Cao Cao's expression changed, and Zhang Miao's eyes changed from eager to dim.

"You actually hate me so much... Well, I'll go to the underworld and meet them again..." Zhang Miao murmured. He didn't look at Cao Cao and the others again. Cao Cao looked at Zhang Miao's dejected look and turned around to leave.<

/p>

The next day, Zhang Miao was beheaded in the city market. Cao Cao did not go. He sat on the floor in Zhang Miao's old mansion. He drank alone in the courtyard with a jug of wine. Dian Wei guarded the door of the mansion and refused to let anyone in.

Come in and disturb Cao Cao.

"General Dian, how long has my father been here? Has he said anything to you?" Cao Ang and Cao Pi asked standing outside the door.

"It has been three or four hours. My lord has not said anything. He just asked me to stay here and not let outsiders disturb him." Dian Wei scratched his head and said with a smile.

"Then let's go in and see father." Cao Pi pulled Cao Ang in. Dian Wei hesitated a little, but Cao Pi added with a smile, "We are not outsiders, so don't embarrass yourself, general."

The moon was bright and clear, and Cao Cao was shaking his wine bowl alone. Sometimes he was reciting poems, sometimes singing, sometimes dancing with his sword, sometimes crying and talking to himself.

"It's Zixiu and Zihuan who are here." Cao Cao wiped his tears and called the two of them to come to him, "Didn't I ask Dian Wei to stay outside to prevent outsiders from coming in? Oh yes, Zihuan, can you?

He's so eloquent, you must have deceived him again."

Cao Cao laughed loudly, Cao Pi lowered his head to apologize, and Cao Ang smiled helplessly.

"Tell me, father, are you telling the truth when you defended Zhang Miao yesterday?" Cao Cao was drunk and lost his temper. Although his words were unclear, this was the question he really wanted to ask Cao Pi.<

/p>

Cao Ang also wanted to know the answer. After all, these words were too shocking. Scholars and emperors rule the world together, which was what Emperor Gaozu said when he issued the order to seek talents. This is also the basis for the implementation of the imperial examination system.

"I do think so..." Cao Pi replied hesitantly.
Chapter completed!