Cao Cao, a traitor of a generation, is mobilizing all his troops and preparing to defeat his old rival Liu Bei in one fell swoop in Hanzhong.
Recalling the Yellow Turban Rebellion, one of the two men was a Han cavalry captain and the other was a volunteer leader.
Just like their origins, they took different paths.
Relying on the accumulation of three generations of the Cao family and the support of his friend Yuan Shao, Cao Cao had the capital to raise an army and was able to attract wise men to invest.
On the other hand, Liu Bei, a member of the Han clan who weaves mats and sells shoes, sounds like a joke.
But who would have thought that after Liu Bei sought out Zhuge Liang, he felt like a fish in water and finally ushered in his own glorious moment.
Now occupying the four counties of Jingnan, Yizhou and Jiaozhou, the clan members selling straw sandals, who were looked down upon at the beginning, have become heroes of a generation.
During the Battle of Tongguan, Cao Cao was forced into the water by Liu Mang, and Cao Cao's headache became more and more severe.
At that time, the news of Xiahou Yuan's defeat at Dingjun Mountain was concealed by Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Pi.
He was afraid that the murder of Uncle Miaocai would give Cao Cao greater stimulation.
"Who wrote the letter and why didn't you report it?"
When Cao Cao saw his attendant holding a piece of letter nervously, he couldn't help asking curiously.
"Back to the King of Wei, this is Mr. Pi..."
Cao Cao signaled, and Xu Chu snatched the letter and handed it to Cao Cao.
"The Great Han Dynasty Duke Cao Qinqin."
The place where the signature was signed was none other than Liu Changqing.
Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh and said: "Everyone in the world says that I want to usurp the Han Dynasty, but Liu Mang is the only one who knows me!"
Xu Chu was a little confused. He was better at wielding a sword than thinking about problems.
"Zhongkang, I would like to ask if Gu is now usurping the Han Dynasty. What good will it do to Gu's reputation?"
Cao Cao smiled and said: "I am not a good person, but I will not do such a disobedient thing."
"Dong Zhuo regards His Majesty as a plaything. I just want to give him a hand."
"It's a pity that we can't help this Han Dynasty!"
Xu Chu nodded blankly. He didn't know whether the Han Dynasty should help him or not. He was more concerned about whether the dinner would have a big elbow.
"Liu Bei and Gu are both willing to fight to unify the world."
"I thought that the world was bound to experience war! In order for future generations to enjoy the relief, I would not hesitate to cause more killings."
"Xuande is willing to plead for the lives of all people in the world. How can he rule the world with such cowardly behavior?"
Cao Cao laughed and said: "Zhongkang, go and call everyone here. I want to see what tricks Liu Changqing is up to!"
After hearing Cao Cao's summons, all the ministers came to wait.
Sima Yi was now prosperous, and Cao Pi relied heavily on him, even taking him with him wherever he went.
During this Hanzhong battle with Liu Bei, all three of Cao Cao's sons arrived.
Cao Zhang was brave and good at fighting, and he defeated Wuhuan. Cao Cao wanted to let him lead troops to help in the battle.
Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were competing for the throne and were eager to show off their military exploits in front of Cao Cao.
Two identical sons, in Cao Cao's eyes, were quite different from Liu Mang.
Regarding the attitude of the gentry, Cao Cao has always suppressed and used it. On the other hand, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi have both compromised with the gentry.
If this continues in the long run, the Cao family will become the plaything of the noble clan.
"Mr. Cao personally entrusted me, Liu Changqing, in the name of Yizhou Mu, canonize Huang Zhong as General of the Western Conquest!"
"Don't blame me, Mr. Cao. What happened to Xia Houyuan was not intentional, but he was killed intentionally!"
After reading this, Cao Cao's eyes burst into flames.
"Miaocai was killed in battle?"
"Why don't you tell Gu!"
The ministers looked at each other in shock, and Cao Pi immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Father! This is the fault of my son! Father's illness cannot withstand any stimulation!"
Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi could not kneel down either.
"Father, please calm down, my three brothers did this together!"
Xia Houyuan was defeated and killed, which had already made Cao Cao very anxious. Only now did he understand the sinister intentions of Liu Mang in appointing Huang Zhong as the General of the Conquest of the West!
Cao Cao's dream in his youth was to become a general of the Han Dynasty in conquering the West.
After he gained power, he named his good brother Xia Houyuan as the General of the Conquest of the West and asked him to fulfill his youthful dream on his behalf.
Liu Mang's move can be described as a knife's mouth and an axe's heart!
Kill your Cao Cao brothers and take away your Cao Cao dream!
Cao Cao felt a splitting headache, and Cao Pi quickly stepped forward to help him.
"Father, don't look at it anymore!"
"Liu Changqing is a cunning son. He is deliberately irritating his father!"
Cao Cao shook off Cao Pi's hand and said angrily: "Take it here, I want to continue watching!"
"Cao Gong was wise and martial, good at employing people, and he made great use of the Cao family and the Xiahou family."
"It's just that the Cao family and the Xiahou family are not a big family, and their inheritance is limited. It is inevitable that future generations will encounter a talent gap."
"Gong Cao said before that people should be promoted only by their talents, but in fact, they are only appointed by their relatives. No wonder Zhang He abandoned the secret and turned to the bright side."
Zhang He took refuge with Liu Mang?
Cao Cao felt a chill in his back. If generals like Zhang He were dissatisfied, what about Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Yu Jin, Le Jin and others?
Cold sweat soaked his back, and Cao Cao had to reconsider how to distribute the military power between the clan generals and the foreign generals.
"Father..."
"Zihuan, don't worry about being lonely."
Cao Cao suddenly stood up and said coldly: "Liu Changqing is really powerful! Even Zhang He was instigated by him to rebel!"
"It's a pity that Gu still thinks that with Zhang He's character, he will definitely become the last general!"
Cao Cao then looked down, trembling all over and excited.
"Like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, Duke Cao is a withered bone in the grave! Don't blame Zhang He for abandoning his secrets and turning to the bright side. All the lieutenants and generals of Cao's army who have a way to advance can come to serve in the Han army!"
"The 38th vertical and horizontal is the 24th year of Jian'an. The yellow pig meets the tiger, which is the first month of Jihai. The south of Dingjun is the south of Dingjun Mountain. A broken branch means that Yuan and Cao Gong are brothers.
It’s family affection.”
"I interpret the hexagram for Duke Cao and collect one of the heads of Xia Houyuan and the famous general Zhang He. Don't be polite, Duke Cao!"
Bang!
Cao Cao slapped the table angrily, his whole hand feeling raw and painful.
"Order your troops! I want to avenge Miaocai!"
"Zihuan! Ziwen! Zijian! The three of you will also go out with Gu!"
"Take a good look at your future opponent—Liu Mang!"
Cao Cao threw the letter towards Cao Pi, who suddenly saw the last line.
"Now that there is not much difference in strength between the two sides, my father has wasted half his life and will definitely be able to defeat you, the eunuch! If you are a man, come to Hanzhong to make a date!"
Cao Pi sneered and handed the letter to Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi.
"Ziwen, you have the best martial arts skills and experience in leading troops. You can protect my father."
"Zijian, I know you have always been dissatisfied with my elder brother!"
"But we are facing a formidable enemy, and we still have to share the same hatred."
Cao Zhi cupped his hands and said: "Eldest brother is joking, brothers will naturally listen to his words."
Cao Cao was furious now, and the officials dared not say a word.
Everyone found that King Wei's current character was even more unpredictable.
"King Wei!"
Sima Yi took one step forward and said with a smile: "I have a plan that can make Liu Bei collapse without attacking, and our army can easily win!"
Cheng Yu watched coldly, thinking that this Sima Yi was becoming a celebrity in Cao Cao's eyes.