Summary of the previous chapter: Ma Xiaoquan used Green Spirit Fire to explore Cao Cao's head and discovered that Cao Cao's head wind was actually a brain tumor. Unfortunately, Cao Cao was currently living in the late Han Dynasty, and Ma Xiaoquan was not a doctor, so there was nothing he could do.
....In view of this, Cao Cao had no intention of continuing to spend time with Liu Bei. After Yang Xiu recklessly said that "it is a pity to throw away the food if it is tasteless", Cao Cao decided to withdraw his troops...
Cao Cao's retreat order was undoubtedly an invisible manifestation of surrender. As soon as the order was given, Cao Hong immediately withdrew from Xiabian. Cao Cao also personally led a large group of troops to abandon Hanzhong.
After Liu Bei learned the news, he was extremely happy and immediately accelerated the pace of occupying Hanzhong.
Without the resistance of Cao Jun, Liu Bei's Shu army was almost invincible within the boundaries of Hanzhong.
In late May of the 24th year of Emperor Xian's reign of the Han Dynasty (AD 219), Cao Cao evacuated Hanzhong and went to Chang'an. At the same time, Liu Bei occupied Hanzhong, proclaimed himself the King of Hanzhong, and ordered Wei Yan, the general of the Shu army, to be the prefect of Hanzhong.
...
Ma Xiaoquan followed Cao Cao's retreating team. Seeing Cao Cao's somewhat depressed expression, he smiled and consoled him: "Xiao Cao, I think you are a little bit advantageous and still be good!"
Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Ma Xiaoquan and responded: "Why did Master Shangxian say this?"
Ma Xiaoquan said: "Although you gave up Hanzhong, but...you successfully deceived most of the residents by using the bait of going to the north to work in the fields and winning prizes for those who came first. Do you think you lost money?"
Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, then he chuckled and said: "Sir, you are indeed a master. I did it so secretly that even the master can figure it out, hehe..."
Cao Cao paused and continued: "Yes, I did do this. Master Shangxian, do you still remember? You told me this idea of robbing human resources!"
Ma Xiaoquan coughed twice and blushed. The idea of robbing human resources was indeed told by Ma Xiaoquan to Cao Cao. However, Ma Xiaoquan mentioned it casually at the time. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao took it seriously, and the effect of the execution was pretty good. According to
Cao Cao said that a house can be built in one month, but a person cannot grow up in one month. Rather than taking advantage of Liu Bei and allowing him to gain 50,000 people for no reason, it is better to let me, Cao Cao, take him away...
In June of the 24th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao and Ma Xiaoquan returned to Yecheng together.
It was midsummer at this time and the weather was hot.
Yecheng is close to the Zhang River. Whenever it rains, the Zhang River will always burst its banks. As soon as Cao Cao returned to Ye City, he hurriedly rectified the Zhang River, while Ma Xiaoquan returned to the Ma Family Courtyard.
began his final preparations.
At night, Ma Xiaoquan called Ma Xiao and Ma Zheng to the study, and the father and son discussed strategies to deal with Lu Xian and Mao Gang.
Ma Zheng expressed his thoughts passionately, while Ma Xiao listened without saying a word. Ma Xiao is a father and is more calm mentally than his younger brother Ma Zheng. After listening to Ma Zheng's thoughts,
Ma Xiao suggested to Ma Xiaoquan: "Dad, third brother's idea is very good, but it's a bit risky. If we want to implement it, I'm afraid it will be a little difficult on dad's side."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Yes, Zheng'er's idea is very good, but if this idea is to be implemented, being a father is the most critical place."
Ma Zheng'en said: "Dad, although this method is the most risky, you have been waiting for so many years. It's time for us to take the initiative!"
Ma Xiaoquan said: "Take the initiative? Haha, Zheng'er, you know dad's thoughts very well. Yes, for so many years, dad has been passively guarding against Lu Xian and Mao Gang. At this time, it's time for dad to take the initiative. "
Ma Zhengdao: "Dad, I have a small request!"
"Say it!"
"Dad once said that we would leave Mao Gang to deal with it, so..."
Ma Xiaoquan chuckled, patted Ma Xiao and Ma Zheng on the shoulders, and asked: "Do you two have the confidence to uproot Mao Gang after dad leaves?"
Ma Xiao hesitated for a moment and nodded, while Ma Zheng nodded firmly.
Looking at his two sons, Ma Xiaoquan felt sad in his heart.
The family tree of the uncle's family clearly stated that the head of the family after Ma Xiaoquan was Ma Zheng, and the description of Ma Xiao was only an understatement.
No matter how he thought about it, Ma Xiaoquan felt that it was wrong. After all, Ma Xiao was now the head of the Ma family. This fact was known to everyone in Yecheng. Even if the descendants of the Ma family were poor at compiling family trees, they should have known about Ma Xiao. Yes, but why is there no description of Ma Xiao in the family tree?
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head. He really couldn't figure it out and could only give up temporarily.
Raising his head and looking at his two sons, Ma Xiaoquan decided: "Xiao'er, you are responsible for guarding the house. Dad and your third brother will go to Nanyang to destroy Lu Xian's lair..."
Ma Xiao nodded and patted his younger brother on the shoulder. The two brothers nodded in agreement.
...
The father and son discussed for a while before Ma Xiao and Ma Zheng left.
The moment the study door closed, Ma Xiaoquan's left eye suddenly spoke: "Ma Xiaoquan, are you sure you want to take the initiative?"
"Yeah." Xiao'er had carefully explored the outskirts of Yecheng before, and Lu Xian was there. He happened to pull out all his Nanyang roots while he was away from Nanyang.
"Aren't you even going to spare children and women?"
Ma Xiaoquan sneered in his heart: "Yuan, when did you become like a human being? Are you actually compassionate?"
Yuandao: "It's not that I'm sympathetic, I'm just curious, why do you humans single out children and women when you kill the same kind? In my understanding, you humans should be equal! "
"Equality?" Ma Xiaoquan responded, "There has never been a theory of equality in this world. The so-called equality is actually the seemingly equal charity given by those in power to those who expect equality."
"Well, okay, what do you mean, you won't let anyone go?"
Ma Xiaoquan did not respond again. Children? Women? At special times, they will become more terrifying weapons than men. This is true in ancient times, now and even in the future. There is no special situation.
...
Early the next morning, Ma Xiaoquan led his horse towards Nanyang County.
Because he was afraid that others would know his whereabouts, Ma Xiaoquan announced to the outside world that he would practice in seclusion.
At the same time that Ma Xiaoquan started taking action, Lu Xian also started the final preparations.
The outskirts of Yecheng.
Lu Xian put down the Book of Emperor Wu in his hand and hummed a few times.
In front of Lu Xian, a shadow guard stood quietly, waiting for Lu Xian's order.
"Pa" Lu Xian subconsciously patted the table, raised his head and asked, "How are you preparing?"
"In reply to Master, we have already started working on it. We are just waiting for a word from you, Master, and we will start taking action immediately!"
Lu Xian nodded affirmatively: "It is said that the evil Taoist master Ma Xiaoquan is in seclusion. Do you want to check again to see if he is really in seclusion? Use all your strength to find out."
"Yes! It's just Master... We have invested all our manpower. What will Cao Cao do?"
Lu Xian sneered and shook the Book of Emperor Wu in his hand twice, "There is no need to worry about Cao Cao anymore. A dying person has no great meaning." After that, Lu Xian actually tore up the Book of Emperor Wu.
The expenditure was burned on the candle.
The shadow guard watched Lu Xian burn the Emperor Wu's book, and couldn't help but ask: "Master, you said that Cao Cao is about to die. With such a good opportunity, if the demon is not at home, wouldn't the Ma family compound be completely exposed?"
In front of us? Then we can let go and massacre..."
Lu Xian rolled his eyes at the shadow guard: "Do you need to repeat what you already know?"
"I know I'm guilty, I deserve to die, I'm talking too much!"
Lu Xian waved his hand: "Okay, no need to say any more, go down and check whether the demon is at home!"