His daughter Cao Xian did not send troops, but instead allowed Ma Chao and Wang Shuang to sneak attack Zhang Liao's rear, resulting in Zhang Liao's defeat and the loss of Hulao Pass, the gateway to Kanto, which made Cao Cao faint for the second time.

Civil strife broke out in Jiangdong, which was in danger. Seeing that one of the three pillars was missing, Cao Cao fainted for the third time.

After fainting three times, Cao Cao's health deteriorated and he became weaker and weaker.

Cao Cao got up from the bed, his face pale, as if he had aged dozens of years.

"Lingju, do you think I'm going to die?"

Lingju stroked the piano, and the music came out slowly without any fluctuations. He said softly: "People will die when they die, so why bother thinking so much."

"Hehe, hehe." Cao Cao laughed dryly: "Yes, people will eventually die. If you are afraid of death or anxious to death, you may die faster."

Cao Cao said twice with a smile, then suddenly heaved a long sigh with sadness on his face: "But I don't want to die, I'm really afraid of dying.

I, Cao Cao, started out as a heroic cavalry captain. I fought against the Yellow Turbans, assassinated Dong Zhuo, issued a campaign against the traitors, defeated Lu Bu, destroyed Yuan Shu, traveled across the Central Plains, and swept across Hebei.

At that time, I clearly felt that I should be able to do something great and become a successful person in history.

But in the Battle of Guanzhong, I was defeated, and I made Liu Zhang rise to power. After that, Xuchang and Yingshui were defeated one after another. This time, the Six Route Army besieged the Sichuan Army and was completely defeated, with the loss of more than 200,000 troops.

They were all defeated by Liu Zhang. I, Cao Cao, dominated the world for the first half of my life, how could I die in defeat? I am not willing to accept it."

"Liu Zhang is a hero. He is a hero of the same age as you, but he is domineering and restrained. He has more principles and goals. You can't defeat him." Lingju said lightly while stroking the piano.

"You even said that?" Cao Cao looked at Lingju, there was no anger on his face, but there was countless unwillingness.

"I have only met him once, and only for one night. When I evaluate him like this, it's up to you whether you believe it or not. I know you won't believe it, because your domineering power has been revealed, and you will lose based on this alone.

"

What came to mind in Lingju's mind was the night when he was taken away by the Huns to repay Liu Zhang's favor by playing the harp.

Because of the impression that night, Liu Zhang, a king who was seriously ill, did not care too much. Instead, he cared more about his own ideals and the continuation of his own decrees. Not many kings can do this, at least not Cao Cao.

Do it.

In Lingju's heart, Cao Cao was a tycoon, but he was too fierce. However, even though he was fierce, he didn't stick to his principles that much.

Liu Zhang seemed to be much more reserved than Cao Cao. He did everything and sacrificed everything. No matter what he faced, at least on the surface he seemed calm and calm. His principles and persistence for his ideals were incomparable to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao also suppressed the aristocratic clans at the beginning, but he had no intention of suppressing the aristocratic clans who trusted the civil and military forces. As far as Lingju knew, Liu Zhang's brother and children were beheaded.

There was a large-scale rebellion among the families, but they never compromised or gave up on the New Deal.

On the other hand, Cao Cao initially suppressed the no-nonsense meritocracy among the noble families. To put it nicely, not only were the close family members not suppressed, but those who served as officials from poor families, including Guo Jia, were ostracized.

Even though Cao Cao wanted to re-employ Han Clan, he still turned a blind eye to the suppression due to the influence of the family, which was very different from Liu Zhang.

Later, when the Guanzhong army was defeated, all clans were fully activated. Although there were many difficulties, Lingju thought about it. If the Sichuan army was defeated, would Liu Zhang change his new policy?

Lingju didn't care about political affairs and only made comments about people. Liu Zhang was just a passerby to Lingju, but this passerby was very good. If compared with Cao Cao around him, he would indeed be better than him.

Lingju didn't answer Cao Cao, but Cao Cao already knew Lingju's answer. Cao Cao felt very sad that Lingju didn't believe him.

"No, it's not the last moment yet. It's not yet certain who will win and who will lose."

At this time, Guo Jia came in from the outside. Since Cao Cao's army was defeated, Cao Cao and Cao Chong's plan failed, the Sichuan army has not been weakened, and it is still the biggest threat to Cao Jun. The family and the core of Cao Jun must unite, so there is nothing wrong with using Guo Jia.

.

"Lord, the army has been reorganized without encountering any major obstacles." Guo Jia reported to Cao Cao.

The last time Cao's army was defeated, the Yuyang Tuqi army was almost wiped out, and half of the 450,000 army was lost. Now Cao's army has once again reduced its strength to less than 400,000, and the gap with the Sichuan army is even greater.

When the Sichuan army entered the Central Plains, Cao Cao planned to give up Yanzhou and withdraw across the Yellow River. However, the Sichuan army did not enter Yanzhou. After looting Yanzhou, they retreated to Hulao Pass and Yingshui.

Cao Cao nodded slightly. With this defeat, Cao Cao's army was weakened again, but it was not without its benefits.

The 450,000-strong army was mostly composed of aristocratic armies. The system was almost completely dismantled and had to be reorganized. Cao Cao took the opportunity to let core generals fill the vacancies.

Because the Sichuan army was now strong, the Shi clan did not dare to split with Cao Cao anymore, so they could only obey. Cao Jun successfully reorganized the Shi clan army, and now most of the new armies were under the control of Cao Cao's trusted generals.

Coupled with the original hundreds of thousands of direct troops, Cao Cao finally regained control of power.

With these 400,000 troops under his control, Cao Cao finally felt that he had some capital.

Guo Jia added: "But my lord, the family didn't resist. I'm afraid it's just because of the Sichuan army. They must be resentful in their hearts. We need to take precautions."

The family spent all their wealth, and each family was mobilized to build an army of more than 400,000. Half of them were lost in the first battle, and then they were reorganized by Cao Jun's trusted generals. It would be strange not to be resentful.

Nowadays, all the properties and people of the Central Plains and Hebei families are considered to be given to Cao Cao free of charge.

"Precaution is for sure, but I don't believe that when the Sichuan army is strong, they will dare to do anything, unless they want to die together. If the Sichuan army dominates the world, and I, Cao Cao, die, they will all be buried with me." Cao Cao said bitterly, in fact,

Shang Cao Cao has been putting up with those descendants of the aristocratic family for a long time.

It was only because he had to rely on that he kept compromising. Sometimes when Cao Cao saw those officials and generals from the family who were obviously acting for personal gain but pretended to be righteous, he wanted to order their execution.

"Liu Zhang led an army of 100,000 to conquer Hetao. Where are they now?" Cao Cao frowned and said, "Fengxiao, do you think Cao Zhang can stop the Sichuan army?"

Guo Jia reported: "The Sichuan army has arrived to the west of Luoyang and is marching north. Along the way, both the defenders and the noble families have abandoned the city and fled. From Hanoi to Pingyang, there are people from the migrating noble families everywhere, because most of the strong men have joined the army, leaving the old ones.

Weak women and children, and a large number of members of the family died on the way.

On the other hand, the ordinary people in Hetao heard some rumors, worked with the Sichuan army to persuade them, and welcomed the arrival of the Sichuan army. In addition to the 100,000 expeditionary force, Liu Zhang left Fan Lixiang, the commander of the Shenwei Army, to lead his army to cooperate with the civilian officials to take over the city."

"The common people did not run away from the noble families, the common people did not become refugees, and the noble families died in the mountains. It is an eternal anecdote." Cao Cao said casually, but after saying this, Cao Cao suddenly felt something.

Cao Cao himself could understand why this situation occurred. In addition, he had always been tied to the family and was deeply aware of the dangers of the family. Cao Cao suddenly felt in his heart that what Liu Zhang did was really right.

If Liu Zhang did the right thing, what did he do?

Cao Cao remembered the Jiangzhou massacre. When the news came, he laughed a lot. He and other civil and military officials felt that Liu Zhang was seeking his own death.

But looking back now, my mentality at that time was just because I felt that because the noble families were so powerful, those in power should compromise, give in to them, and turn a blind eye to their monopoly on officialdom, suppression of poor families' land annexation, and so on.

It is ridiculous enough for a person who is afraid of strength and laughs at those who resist strength.

What's even more ridiculous is that now the person who resists the powerful has risen, while the person who fears the powerful has suffered a complete defeat after being tied to the world for so many years. Isn't this a huge irony?

Thinking back to the massacre in Jiangzhou and the entire massacre in Jingyi and Yizhou, I felt that Liu Zhang was childish every time. Other clans were angry and felt that Liu Zhang was seeking his own death.

When it came to the massacre in Xuchang, both Cao's army and the people in the world could only tremble with fear, but in fact this massacre was no different from the previous massacres.

"If Liu Zhang is right, am I wrong? If the Land Order of the Four Civil Service Examinations is right, then is it wrong for me to confront the Sichuan army? Then am I hindering the development of the Han Dynasty?"

Cao Cao had never thought about this problem before, but after this defeat, Cao Cao became depressed both physically and mentally.

This is not a fight for hegemony between princes, but a war caused by a man who stands at the forefront of history to eliminate the stubborn forces that hinder the development of history. It is the same as the war when the Qin Dynasty swept across the country and spread Shang Yang's new policy to the world.

The transition from slavery to feudalism.

And Cao Cao sadly discovered that he had become the stubborn force that hindered the development of history.

"No, no one can say who is right until the outcome is decided." Cao Cao suddenly shook his head, trying not to let himself get stuck, and trying to tell himself to regain his fighting spirit.

This battle at Xiahetao is a new beginning.

Guo Jia continued: "My lord, this battle of Lower Hetao is very important. I have guessed the purpose of the Sichuan army sending troops to Lower Hetao this time. Liu Zhang is paving the way for unification. After the battle of Lower Hetao is over, the Sichuan army will launch a unification campaign."

The war of the world.

Xia Hetao is close to Bingzhou, and Bingzhou has no dangerous defense in the direction of Xia Hetao. The Sichuan army's capture of Xia Hetao is equivalent to the capture of Bingzhou. In this way, the Sichuan army will not only avoid the trouble of crossing the Yellow River.

Moreover, stationed in the Taihang Mountains, we can advance, attack, retreat or defend, directly threatening our capital, Yecheng. This is Liu Zhang and Huang Yueying's strategy to determine the world in one fell swoop. It can be said to be right on target and extremely sharp.
Chapter completed!