Chapter two hundred and eighty eight disaster is imminent
Early morning, Xuchang.
Since last night, defeated troops have been returning one after another. Those like Cao Chun who formed a military formation with tiger and leopard cavalry have returned in the middle of the night. By early morning, defeated troops from all walks of life have returned to Xuchang one after another, standing
Looking around the city wall, towards the south, there are figures of Cao's army defeated, and it really feels like the end is coming.
In Sikong Mansion, Cao Pi, who was only thirteen years old, knelt down at the foot of his father's seat with a solemn expression. After his brother Cao Ang died in Nanyang, Cao Cao did not establish an heir, but his teaching and supervision to Cao Pi were obviously better than in the past.
Much stronger, and Cao Pi is considered the best among his peers in terms of origin and ability, and he is also favored by everyone. Now that the Cao family has undergone great changes, Cao Pi, the oldest and most capable, naturally becomes Cao Pi.
The backbone of the home.
However, as a person involved, Cao Pi's solemn expression at the moment was full of confusion and uneasiness. No one expected that the bad news would come so suddenly, that his father would die in battle? When he woke up, the sky seemed to have changed.
"Brother." The young Cao Zhi walked in from the door. He first saluted Xun You, Xun You and Cao Chun who were sitting nearby, then looked at Cao Pi and called out in a sweet voice.
"How is mother?" Cao Pi reluctantly nodded, looking at his young brother, Cao Zhi, who probably didn't even understand what death was, and was still a bit confused at this time, Cao Pi pulled him to his side and asked softly.
Hearing the news of Cao Cao's death in battle, Bian fainted on the spot. The other women of Cao Cao were also grief-stricken. Whether it was true or not, the entire Sikong Mansion was immersed in an atmosphere of grief, but Cao Pi did not
He only worries about his own mother when he cares about these women.
"The imperial doctor said that my mother is not seriously ill. She was just frightened and will wake up later." Cao Zhi knelt down and looked at Cao Pi in confusion: "Brother, why did my mother suddenly fall asleep?"
How do you ask Cao Pi, a thirteen-year-old boy, to explain this kind of thing? His mind is in chaos now, but things suddenly hit him and he had to face it.
Cao Pi did not answer, but turned to look at Cao Chun: "My son and uncle? What should we do now? Do we want to defend Xuchang?"
In his opinion, it seems that it is safest to stick to Xuchang. No matter how strong the enemy is, they can't get past the high city wall of Xuchang, right?
Now Cao Ren and the others are still resisting the invasion of the Xuzhou Army in Xuzhou. Among the Cao family members who stayed here, it seems that only Cao Chun can give Cao Pi a sense of security. When something happens, he naturally wants to ask Cao Chun to come and give advice.
Cao Chun looked at Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, and finally there was some expression on his somewhat numb face. He twitched the corners of his mouth and showed an ugly smile, and said softly: "Our army was defeated by Lu Bu in this battle. Its morale is low and its morale is disorganized. Lu Bu is far away from
It's not far away. If we set out now, Lu Bu will surely arrive at Xuchang City today... Zihuan, we may not be able to hold on!"
Although he now wanted to kill Lu Bu with his own hands to avenge Cao Cao, even if he couldn't kill him, he would still bleed him like a river to live in this world in vain. However, looking at the dependent eyes of Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, the two sons and daughters of Cao Cao, Cao Chun
My heart couldn't help but soften.
This is my brother's flesh and blood. If I don't care about it, what kind of bullying will I suffer in the future?
Cao Pi was a little distracted, couldn't Xuchang hold on?
Thinking about it, it seems reasonable. Even my father died in the battle. Now the people in Xuchang are panicked and the morale of the army is low. How can we defend it?
"Zihuan, I'm going to take you to Pei County to find your uncle Zixiao. How about we discuss the future then?" Seeing Cao Pi not speaking, Cao Chun said with an ugly smile on his face. Now the power of the Cao family is outside.
, he also wanted to discuss this matter with Cao Ren.
future?
Cao Pi seemed a little confused. After this battle, how much future does the Cao family still have? Or...does it still have a future?
Cao Pi nodded silently, then looked at Xun You and Xun You who were standing aside, Cao Pi said: "Two gentlemen, I don't know..."
It would be best if Xun or they were willing to go together.
Xun You thought for a while, then looked at Cao Chundao: "The bandit army will arrive at any time. General, please take the lord's family out of the city first."
"What about the two gentlemen?" Cao Chun nodded and looked at Xun You and asked.
"I need to go to the palace and ask your Majesty if he is willing to go with us!" Xun You stood up and said with a smile: "My lord died for your majesty. Now that my lord has gone, your majesty must have an explanation no matter what."
After Cao Chun stared at Xun or for a long time, he nodded silently and said to Cao Pi and Cao Zhi: "Let's go. Try to bring as few people with you as possible."
This trip is an escape, so naturally the fewer people there, the better.
Naturally, the Bian family has to take them with them. They are Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang's mother. Regardless of her background, she can now be regarded as Cao Cao's official wife, but there is no need for others. They will take a lot of women on the road.
I'm afraid he was caught up by Lu Bu before he had gone very far.
"Yes." Cao Pi nodded, took Cao Zhi's hand and hurriedly woke up his mother and packed some soft things.
Cao Chun asked his deputy to gather men to escort Cao Jiajia out of the city this time. There should not be too many people, just tiger and leopard cavalry are enough. As for other people, he can't control them!
The Cao family here did not care about mourning the death of Cao Cao. Cao Pi asked the generals to pack their bags and wake up his mother to accompany them. Except for a few of his mother's personal maids, Cao Cao did not take any of Cao Cao's women with him, leaving these women to cry and fuss.
.
"Where is Ziwen?" Cao Pi searched for a long time and found that his third brother Cao Zhang was missing. He grabbed a servant and asked.
"I didn't see anyone just now." The servant shook his head and said.
"Go and look for it quickly!" Cao Pi was secretly worried. Why are you still running around at this time?
"Zihuan, we are all ready, come with me quickly!" When Cao Pi was anxious about not being able to find his brother, Cao Chun came to the door with his tiger and leopard cavalry and shouted to Cao Pi.
"Uncle, Ziwen..." Cao Pi wanted Cao Chun to wait, but Cao Zhang hadn't been found yet. However, before he finished speaking, he was shocked to find Cao Zhang following Cao Chun, with a helmet on his head and a spear in his hand.
Although he is only ten years old, at first glance, he seems to have some qualifications as a military commander.
"Brother, get on your horse quickly!" Cao Zhang looked at Cao Pi with a serious face and said, "I will protect my brother when he leaves the city!"
Cao Pi wanted to hit him and walked away without saying a word, but in the end he endured it and nodded silently. He helped his mother onto the carriage and asked Cao Zhi and several personal maids to get in and take care of her in the carriage. Everything was arranged.
Finally, he got on a horse and followed the team.
Many women in the mansion wanted to go with them. One of Cao Cao's concubines came to pull on Cao Pi's trousers, but Cao Pi kicked him away. Now that there were more people, there would be no hope of escape, not to mention that he had no regard for these women.
Even if there is compassion, this is not the time for compassion to overflow. Cao Pi knows this very well.
A group of people rushed to the north gate, but along the way they saw a large number of common people and nobles rushing out of the city with their families, making the streets and alleys crowded.
"Uncle, how come there are so many people?" Cao Pi was pulled to his side by Cao Chun. The tiger and leopard cavalry around him violently separated the crowd. Those who were in the way were whipped directly with their whips. Those who couldn't be whipped were directly hacked to death. Life and death
A passage was opened for them to move forward. Cao Pi was somewhat uncomfortable with this, but he did not stop. At this moment, his own escape was obviously the most important thing. He just frowned in confusion and asked Cao Chun why there were so many people suddenly.
"The news was not locked. Someone deliberately spread rumors in the city, causing everyone to know that something happened. The soldiers who returned could not control it immediately. Things spread more and more outrageously. It was said that the city of Xuchang was about to be destroyed. The bandit army today
We are about to enter the city." Cao Chun explained as he walked.
He didn't expect this scene.
"That's not what it is!" Cao Pi looked at the bustling crowd around him. No matter what, they wouldn't all run out at once. Now it felt as if the entire Xuchang City had run into the streets.
"The main reason is that the nobles in the city want to leave." Cao Chun said with a bit of disdain on his face: "Lü Bu has always been ruthless towards the nobles. If he really entered Xuchang, many nobles would have no way to survive. Now that my lord has died in the battle,
These nobles also felt that Xuchang had no hope, and naturally wanted to leave to avoid Lu Bu's sharp attack, but it didn't matter if they left. It was just that such a large number of nobles agreed to leave the city at the same time. Although ordinary people did not know what happened, those rumors were among these
Under the background of the scholars, the truth naturally became true, and even the prominent families in the city began to flee, and the ordinary people naturally did not want to be left behind, so they had no choice but to follow!"
After all, after the city is broken in this era, it is likely to be followed by the massacre of the city. When Cao Cao massacred tens of thousands in Xuzhou, the butcher's knife was not all directed at the common people. When he heard that the city was about to be destroyed, those ordinary people at this moment
But they are even more panicked than those big families, which is why they are in this situation now.
"How can Xuchang be defended like this?" Cao Pi frowned when he heard this. After saying this, he seemed to have thought that he was also walking out now, and he was not qualified to criticize others. He smiled bitterly and felt sad in his heart. He was fine yesterday.
Why is it like this today? What will happen in the future?
Although Cao Pi was sad about his father's death, he was more confused and uncertain about the future.
Under the protection of the tiger and leopard knights, the group of people quickly left the city. They looked at the sky and saw that it was already three o'clock in the morning. Cao Chun looked at Cao Pi and said, "Zihuan, Lu Bu may come to kill you at any time. I have to rush on the road in a fighting formation."
, just stay with me and don’t move!"
Cao Pi nodded and said, "Uncle, don't worry."
As Cao Cao's key training target, Cao Pi was naturally no stranger to the art of war, but he had never had the opportunity to lead troops to understand the Nine Secrets of the Imperial Army.
"Let's go!" Cao Chun waved his hand, and the tiger and leopard cavalry spontaneously formed a battle formation, surrounding Bian's carriage in the center, and then began to move forward, faster and faster, and soon disappeared from the visible end of Xuchang City.
.
At the same time, in the south of Xuchang City, streams of beacon smoke were rising, indicating that the enemy troops had arrived. Xuchang City's already chaotic command system had no one to take charge of the overall situation, and it became even more chaotic...