Before coming here, Cao Zhi was fully mentally prepared to capture a city. He had experienced several other battles. In the defense battle of Cao Mansion and the Battle of Jilong Mountain, an ambush was unexpected, so that the battle could be won quickly. Although the military strength was
It is many times better than the opponent, but it is not that easy to capture a city in ancient wars. It is normal for it to take several years or at least a few months.
This morning, when the guards reported that the white flag was hoisted on Danyang City, Cao Zhi really couldn't believe it. He didn't know that Mr. Xu was desperate and had no outside help.
It was only a matter of time before the city was destroyed. In order to avoid being massacred, Mrs. Xu had no choice but to sacrifice the city to save his life.
Cao Zhi stood on the city tower, watching the neat groups of soldiers marching into the city. He took a deep breath, and just as he was withdrawing from his complacency, he scanned the officials behind him, all of whom had gloomy faces.
Uncertain, worried about gains and losses, full of bitterness.
Cao Zhi didn't understand why, so Ni Heng hurriedly walked into Cao Zhi's side and whispered a few words. Cao Zhi nodded slightly, looked at it briefly, called over a military guard, took out three arrows from his quiver, and stepped onto a
At the arrow stack, he pulled down the arrow clusters, bent his bow and set the arrows, shot three arrows down the city, and said loudly: "Generals and soldiers, listen, after entering the city, anyone who dares to kill himself, hurt the people, and robs all of them will be killed."
Beheading, no tolerance!"
Thousands of soldiers under the city shouted in unison: "Follow the captain's order!"
A group of officials from Danyang looked up at Cao Zhishen's majestic appearance and admired him so much that they couldn't help but kneel on the ground and shouted in unison: "General, be merciful!"
Cao Zhi jumped down from the arrow stack, looked at the officials in Danyang, and asked them to stand up and answer. After the officials got up, they looked at each other for a while, but no one dared to stand up and answer.
Cao Zhi's eyes flashed, his face was serious, and he said sincerely: "Although Cao is a military general, he is not a bloodthirsty person. Don't worry, everyone, as long as you perform your duties while Cao is stationed in the army and continue to maintain the order of Danyang,
Cao is not interested in what you have done in the past, let alone kill innocent people indiscriminately."
When the officials in Danyang heard Cao Zhi's assurance, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly responded with words such as "The captain is generous." "The general is kind."
Cao Zhi was too lazy to pay attention to them, dismissed them, and asked them to go back to their posts. Now the city was in chaos, with fleeing soldiers and panicked people. Without these officials who were familiar with Danyang to take care of them, the few people around Cao Zhi were completely open-minded.
blindness.
This group of demoted officials did not dare to neglect them. After they dispersed, notices posted by the government regarding the peace of the people could be seen everywhere in the city. Some of the refugees who had fled into the city before the war started were also centrally controlled, which prevented many troubles.
After the Danyang officials dispersed, Cao Zhi went down to the top of the city, changed his horse, and walked towards Danyang County Mansion with the support of everyone.
Before the first batch of troops stationed in Danyang, Cao Zhi reiterated an order: after taking over the important facilities in Danyang, the family members of all captured officials would be temporarily placed under house arrest in private homes, and soldiers and civilians would not be allowed to intrude. In this way, one can
After protecting the families of the captured officials, he also wanted to meet Xiao Cui. He had many things to ask face to face about the person who started this war.
Cao Zhi just sat on his horse and took a few guards to the prefect's mansion. Cao Zhi was already familiar with the roads here. Although the last time he broke into the prefect's mansion was at night, Cao Zhi still found it quickly.
The East Chamber was located. The closer he got to the East Chamber, Cao Zhi couldn't stop his heart from wheezing and screaming, and he couldn't stop the memories from pouring out.
Finally arrived! Xu Chu had already been waiting at the door in front of a courtyard. This should be the place where Xiao Cui lived in the prefect's mansion. However, a strange look appeared on Xu Chu's face, which made Cao Zhi's heart skip a beat, and he immediately felt something.
He had an ominous premonition. He held his breath, and deep down in his heart he was actually afraid of hearing that something had happened to Xiao Cui. What he wanted most at this time was to hear Xu Chu say, "Xiao Cui is inside," but unfortunately, nothing came out of Xu Chu's mouth.
What is said here is that she is missing!
"What? Missing? How is this possible?" However, how is this impossible? Not to mention that there was chaos before Danyang presented the city, and no one cared about anyone. Many people in the city were also afraid of "massacre".
They fled one after another, and Xiao Cui might have disappeared at that time. This is at best, but at worst, Xiao Cui may have been killed long ago. In the inner courtyard of this deep mansion, everyone was killed without a name or a trace.
It is also an easy task for people.
Cao Zhi was stunned for a while and then asked: "She won't commit suicide, right?"
Xu Chu blinked and shook his head.
Cao Zhi sighed deeply, got off his horse, stepped up the steps, and entered the courtyard gate. The first thing that appeared in front of him was dirt and mud. On the muddy ground were pieces of cloth, shoes and socks, and people's or horses' clothing stuck to them.
Footprints. Then I saw a thick catalpa tree, covering most of the yard with its old branches and new teeth. This yard is well taken care of, making it a nice and quiet place.
Through the drooping branches, there is a house. The entire courtyard is now lifeless and full of a suffocating smell of decay, as if no one has lived in it for a long time.
Cao Zhi really wanted to take a look at Xiaocui's room, but the moment he was about to cross the threshold, he changed his mind and pulled his leg back.
"Go and have a look at the meeting hall!" Cao Zhi said. Why mention the past again? His life has been full of storms. Even if the memory cannot be erased, love and hate are still in his heart. He really has to let go of the past and let tomorrow
Just carry on, the past is past, why bother asking again.
Accompanied by his personal guards and Xu Chu, Cao Zhi and his entourage arrived at the county council hall. As soon as Cao Zhi stepped into the hall door, he saw the spacious tiger-skin chair, which incorporated the ambitions of Zhou Xin I——
To be the overlord of one party, it is a pity that he failed to achieve it.
There was no one in the meeting hall, so Cao Zhi casually sat down on a stool. Xu Chu went to the back to look for someone to question.
Not long after Cao Zhi sat down, bursts of crying came from behind. Just when Cao Zhi was surprised, Xu Chu took out an old man in his fifties from the back of the house. When he saw Cao Zhi, he looked at him like a mouse before a cat.
Xu Chu and Cao Zhi both knew this person, and he was Zhou Xin's steward.
Cao Zhi asked: "Why are you crying behind me?"
The housekeeper knelt on the ground and hurriedly replied: "Madam, she overflowed herself." The lady he was referring to was naturally Zhou Xin's married wife, Mrs. Xu.
Cao Zhi said "Oh" and said to himself: "Why are you so confused?" He turned around and asked the housekeeper: "My soldiers didn't disobey her, right?"
"No, no! Madam just can't think about it." The housekeeper replied with fear.
"Oh! The housekeeper has been in this mansion for many years, right?" Cao Zhi suddenly asked after thinking about it.
"Ah...oh, some years, some years." The housekeeper was not sure. Cao Zhi's purpose in asking this question could only be vague.
"Haha! Cao wants to ask the housekeeper about someone in the house?" Cao Zhi saw the housekeeper's caution.
"General, please speak." The steward returned respectfully.
Cao Zhi stood up, faced the hall door, and asked quietly: "Is there a young lady named Xiao Tao living in the east chamber?"
The housekeeper immediately broke out in a cold sweat. How could he not know that he was the one who made the connection between Zhou Xin and Xiao Tao? He also knew the relationship between the person in front of him and Xiao Tao. He warned himself in his heart, "Don't say anything now."