Under Jimo City, the city walls were damaged everywhere, and the soldiers above and below the city were already red-eyed, and they only had one idea left: how to kill the enemy in front of them.
Seeing that it was getting late, Cao Jun had no choice but to withdraw his troops.
In the big tent.
Sitting at the top is Cao Cao, with several counselors sitting on both sides. At the bottom is Cao Chun, Xia Houyuan, and the generals.
Cao Cao looked calm and confident, and said to his generals: "Little Jimo, I have been attacking the city for five days, but I still can't get down. I'm very disappointed."
Cao Chun looked ashamed: "Cavalry can't attack the city, but they have to guard against the attack of the Taishan bandit generals. It's really powerless."
"Currently, our army's rations are not enough for ten days, and the morale of our army is also showing signs of instability."
Cao Cao snorted coldly, "That's why we attack Jimo and seize the food in the city!"
"Cao Ren sent an urgent report. He and Cao Hong captured Yangdu County of Langya Kingdom the day before yesterday!"
"The troops are divided into two groups, but we are blocked here. What a joke!"
No one dared to say anything.
Cao Cao turned to the counselor beside him and asked: "Zhicai, what do you think?"
Xi Zhicai was a native of Yingchuan, and he and the Xun family were both Yingchuan scholars.
Seeing Cao Cao asking questions, he said calmly: "Ming Gong, the sooner or later the city will be destroyed will only be in a day or two."
"But what happens after the city is broken is that we need to make plans in advance."
Cao Cao asked: "What is Zhicai's wisdom?"
Xi Zhicai immediately said: "Now that Yangping has been defeated first, it is no longer suitable for us to waste too much time in Jimo, lest we miss the time to cooperate with Cao Sima (Cao Ren is the Sima of another department at this time) and go south to capture Tancheng."
"So I think it's best to not waste time massacring the city and disperse the people after capturing Jimo, but to obtain food in the city as soon as possible, and step up the southward attack on Hua County, echoing Cao Simana all the way, so that Tao Qian can't divide his troops to resist.
"
When Yu Jin heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyelids.
He could tell that Xi Zhicai didn't seem to like massacring the city very much. This strategy was clearly to give the people in Jimo City a way to survive.
Cao Cao snorted coldly, "I understand what Zhicai means, but what about the promise to the Qingzhou soldiers if they only collect food but not talents?"
"How can I, Cao Mengde, be a person who doesn't keep his word?"
Everyone lowered their heads even lower.
Seeing that the atmosphere was stiff, Xi Zhicai had no choice but to stand up and say, "Mr. Ming, there is one more important thing."
Seeing Cao Cao nodding, Xi Zhicai just said: "There is news from Tancheng that Tao Qian sent Zhang Kai to escort Cao Gong's family from Langya County to Taishan County. It is very likely that they have arrived at Huafei."
"The prefect of Taishan County Ying Shao was sent by Ming Gong to greet him, but his march was slow. I heard that he has not reached Feixian County after half a month. If this continues, things may change."
As soon as Xi Zhicai said these words, the expressions of everyone present were a little subtle.
The Duke Cao he mentioned refers to Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, and among them Cao Cao's brother Cao De, and more than fifty family members.
This big family is not easy to worry about.
Cao Song is the adopted son of Cao Teng.
Legend has it that Cao Teng served six emperors successively after Cao Shen, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty. He was especially appreciated by Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty and was granted the title of Marquis Fei Ting.
Cao Teng was a good person and had a reputation for being honest. He had accumulated a deep network of contacts for the Cao family. Although he was a eunuch, he became the leader for many nobles to enter official careers.
The examiner was the same as his mentor and parents. Although the nobles looked down on eunuchs, they still recognized Cao Teng as the examiner in order to become an official.
But his adopted son Cao Song was not like his father. He was completely a corrupt official. He spent 100 million yuan to buy the post of Taiwei, one of the three princes, and he made a lot of money after taking office.
Cui Lie before him only spent five million to buy Taiwei, which proved that Cao Song was really not short of money.
Later Chen Lin's "Essay on Yuzhou for Yuan Shao" says this: (Cao) Song was brought up by a beggar (that is, a beggar, referring to the eunuch Cao Teng). Because of the stolen goods, he assumed the throne and was given the gold chariot and bi, and the right to transport goods.
Doors, stolen tripods, overturned heavy weapons.
This means that Cao Song is the most corrupt person in the world.
Cao Cao was actually quite embarrassed to have such a father.
In particular, Cao Song now brings his family of more than fifty people, and his family's wealth of gold, jewelry, shells, emeralds, jade and other valuables to more than a hundred carts, and comes to Cao Cao in a high-profile manner, which has caused great divisions among Cao Cao's subordinates.
What made Cao Cao even more troubled was that Cao De was also accompanying him.
Although Cao De is younger than Cao Cao, the ancients said that virtue comes before Cao, and Cao Cao should be ranked behind Cao De.
The reason for this is kept secret by the Cao family, but the nobles are speculating on a possibility.
Cao Cao was either an adopted son or a concubine.
Cao Cao's courtesy name was Meng De. According to "Li Wei": "The direct eldest son is called Bo, and the concubine eldest son is called Meng."
Moreover, Cao Cao's poem "Shanzai Xing" said: "I cherish my body and my humbleness, and I have been alone and miserable. I have never emigrated for three years, and I have never heard the words of the court."
He said that he had a humble status and had not been educated by his parents since he was a child.
Sanyijiao refers to the teachings of his mother, which can also be explained by the early death of Cao Cao's mother.
Court speech was taught by his father, but Cao Song was still alive, so why did he never teach Cao Cao?
If he were a legitimate son, how could he be treated like this?
That's why when Cao Cao was young, he could play well with Yuan Shao, who was also a concubine. The two of them were like Ren Xia, similar to the robber heroes and today's street robbers.
However, Yuan Shao was eventually adopted as his legitimate son. As time went by, he had the capital to compete with Yuan Shu. Of course, he did not forget Cao Cao later. After Cao Cao escaped from Chang'an, he was recommended by Yuan Shao as the prefect of Dongjun, and then he was able to have his own territory.
From the beginning of Cao Cao's military career and his military career for several years, Cao Song never cared about his son.
Even when Cao Cao initially raised his army, the money for recruiting troops and horses was supported by the Weizi and Xiahou families in his hometown, and Cao Song didn't even have to pay a penny.
Some people say that the idea to find Wei Zi came from Cao Song. The key point is that Cao Song himself was very rich, but he sent Cao Cao to ask for money from others. Is this reasonable?
His younger brother Cao De, although he did not hold an official position, is likely to inherit Cao Song's title of Feitinghou.
So on the surface, it’s hard to say what Cao Song and Cao Cao were like in private.
Now that Xi Zhi has just mentioned this matter, it's like he doesn't mention any pot. Everyone knows that Cao Song has brought Cao De here. Cao Cao has to be constrained in everything, so can he do big things?
Xi Zhicai's expression remained unchanged. As a counselor, what he had to do was to speak up for his lord at inconvenient times. Cao Song's problems were unavoidable.
After hearing this, Cao Cao made a worried look: "Tao Qian, my son, is very cunning. His subordinates are all yellow turban generals. They say they are escorts. Who knows what he is worried about?"
"Maybe my father has been captured by him and is threatening me!"
Cao Cao slowly looked around at everyone: "If this is really the case, what should you do?"
You ask us what everyone thinks?
Who wants to take the blame?
Xi Zhicai and other counselors all started to pretend to be stupid. This was Cao Cao's family matter. Why were they meddling in it?
They didn't say anything, and Yu Jin and other generals with foreign surnames were no longer trying to stand out, so they all lowered their heads and dozed off.
Seeing this, Cao Chun stood up and said, "It's useless for me to attack the city with hundreds of cavalry. Otherwise, why don't I set out now and take the road of Hua Fei to meet Duke Cao?"
Stupid bird!
Several counselors cursed in their hearts at the same time.
Sure enough, if a person charges on a horse for a long time, his brain will become stupid!
Xi Zhicai said: "General Cao's cavalry is indispensable for siege."
"If the enemy breaks through, how can we catch up without cavalry?"
"In my opinion, the city must be attacked, and Duke Cao must also be saved."
"It won't affect the siege, and we can't delay rescuing people."
"How about this, gather all the soldiers who are unable to attack the city, gather up two thousand, and set out tonight to meet Duke Cao."
"I think Zhang Kai doesn't have many troops, so it should be enough to suppress him."
"When Jimo is captured, the entire army will march to Hua County to meet Duke Cao."
Everyone is in a good mood, there are a bunch of wounded soldiers, and so many people have gathered together, they are worried that they will go too fast, right?
Cao Cao nodded and said, "This is a great plan!"
"That"
At this time, Cao Xiu said, "It's better for me and Miaocai (Xia Houyuan) to go."
Cao Cao's face turned cold: "You can't do that!"
"Miaocai, Wenze (Yu Jin), you two lead the troops!"
Yu Jin thought that was enough. He lowered his head and pretended to be asleep without even escaping. We really have to bear the blame for this!