"My lord, Wancheng was defeated and Zhong Kang died fighting!"
Cao Cao, who had already pointed his finger at the door, was shocked and speechless by these words. His eyes were as wide as copper bells as he stared at the door, and the gloomy expression on his face turned into astonishment...
Guo Jia and the other three people on the side also looked shocked at this time. Who is Xu Chu? He was one of the best generals around Cao Cao. How could he die so easily or die in a fierce battle? Who in Jingzhou can kill Xu Chu?
Cao Ren, who was standing at the door, sighed in his heart when he saw the expressions of everyone. Even when he heard the news, he had a look of disbelief. If it hadn't been confirmed, he would never have believed that Xu Chu would die in Jingzhou, just a mere one.
Who in Jingzhou could be Xu Chu's opponent? But Cao Ren only believed it after seeing the news from Fancheng Kuaima on the bamboo slips.
"What did you say?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Ren in shock and asked. If the person in front of him was not his clan brother, he would immediately come down and drag this person out and kill him.
Xu Chu! That was his bodyguard. Even Dian Wei at the time could only compete with him. How could Liu Biao of Jingzhou be so virtuous? He could send people to kill Xu Chu. Besides, he knew Xun Wenruo's talents very well. How could he?
It would put Xu Chu in danger.
"My lord, this is the news Mr. Wen Ruo sent back from Fancheng." Cao Ren handed the bamboo slips to Cao Cao without any explanation.
Cao Cao wanted to laugh a little. This was simply impossible. What was the use of looking at the bamboo slips? However, when Cao Cao took the bamboo slips and saw the words "guilty minister" on the bamboo slips, Cao Cao's heart sank. Only when Xun Wenruo was defeated
Let’s talk about the guilty minister again. Is what Cao Ren said true? Did Zhong Kang really die after fighting hard?
Cao Cao hurriedly looked down, and then the content on the bamboo slips made him more and more uneasy. Until he saw the sentence "General Xu died in battle", Cao Cao suddenly exploded, and Xu Chu really died in battle.
! And he died fighting hard, even while standing!
Cao Cao held the bamboo slip in his hand and didn't know what to say. He looked at the bamboo slip in his hand with blank eyes. If Xun Wen wouldn't lie to him, then the content on the bamboo slip was true. Xu Chu really died in the battle!
Snap!
The bamboo slips slipped from Cao Cao's hands, but Cao Cao did not react at all. Who is Xu Chu? Those are his personal guards and the people he trusts most. It can be said that the people he trusts most in Xudu are Dian Wei and Xu Chu.
Yes, Dian Wei died fighting to stop the pursuing troops, and now Xu Chu also died fighting hard!
Moreover, both of them died fighting in Wancheng. At this time, Cao Cao seemed to think that Wancheng had become a restricted area for him. The two most brave and trustworthy generals under his command both died in Wancheng and died fighting hard.
"Wancheng"
"Wancheng"
…………
Cao Cao kept murmuring Wancheng's name as if he was possessed. He looked at his empty hands with blank eyes. His mind was filled with scenes of Dian Wei's fierce battle in Wancheng, and Xu Chu's in his mind.
He died fighting in Wancheng.
"Lord!"
Guo Jia and others on the side looked at Cao Cao as if he was in a nightmare. They were all shocked and rushed forward to shout. But Xun You eagerly picked up the bamboo slips on the ground and looked at it. If Xun Wen was his uncle, even Xu Chu would fight.
If he died, what happened to Xun Wenruo?
"Fortunately." Xun You looked at the bamboo slips and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up and saw Cao Cao and others hurriedly passing the bamboo slips in their hands to Guo Jia. At this time, Cao Cao had already woken up, but he had a gloomy face and said nothing, and his body was cold and cold.
You could tell from his breath how furious he was at this time.
"This is actually true!"
Guo Jia and Cheng Yu looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes. It was true that Xu Chu died in a fierce battle. No wonder Cao Cao's reaction just now was so strong. Until the two of them saw the report written in Xun Wenruo's handwriting
Only then did the two of them believe this fact.
"Pfft!"
Cao Cao on the side finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, and then fainted to the ground.
"Lord!" everyone exclaimed as they helped Cao Cao up.
"Go and call the imperial doctor quickly!" Guo Jia shouted to Cao Ren with a serious face: "Don't let anyone know that my lord has fainted. Even the matter of asking the imperial doctor cannot be known. Just say that I fainted."
Sikong Mansion."
At such a critical juncture, it would be such a blow to Cao Cao's soldiers if there was news that Cao Cao had fainted. Originally, the news of a decisive battle with Yuan Shao spread these days, and the soldiers were already showing signs of instability and disorganization. If it weren't for the generals sitting in command.
The army was suppressing it, and I am afraid that the news of Cao Cao's defeat has already spread. If news spread that Cao Cao vomited blood and fainted, then Cao Cao's army of hundreds of thousands would probably collapse overnight.
Several other people were obviously aware of this problem and rushed forward to persuade Cao Ren.
"General Cao, you must not show the slightest urgency when you go out for a while. In addition, the Sikong Mansion is tight on the outside and loose on the inside. You can only go in but not go out. We will wait until the lord wakes up." Xun You warned.
"Don't worry, gentlemen, this matter will not be leaked." Cao Ren also realized the seriousness of the matter at this time and said solemnly. He walked out of the study calmly.
"Fengxiao, please put the lord on the couch first." Cheng Yu pointed to the sleeping couch beside him.
"Yes." Guo Jia nodded and Cheng Yu helped Cao Cao to the couch.
After helping Cao Cao to the couch, the three of them were silent for a long time. Guo Jia looked at Xun You who looked worried: "Gongda, Wen Ruo is your uncle, what do you think of this matter?"
Xun You felt pain in his heart. This matter was so shocking that the entire Xun family might be involved. He took a deep breath and raised his head and said, "This matter is decided by the Lord."
Guo Jia was about to say more when he heard a cough. The three of them turned their heads and saw that Cao Cao had woken up on the couch. Cao Cao's originally rosy face had now turned extremely pale.
"Lord." The three of them hurriedly stepped forward and said.
"Yeah." Cao Cao hummed slightly and raised his eyes to look at the three of them: "You all read it and tell me what to do?"
"My lord, the most urgent task now is to send generals to Fancheng immediately. Jingzhou's move is so big this time, I'm afraid it's a big deal. My lord, we must not take it lightly." Guo Jia was the first to speak.
"I know, what I'm asking is what should Wen Ruo do?" Cao Cao said in a deep voice.
"This..." Guo Jia hesitated for a moment and did not speak.
"My lord, does Wen Ruo really have a secret message from my lord? Did he really follow my lord's order to mobilize troops?" Cheng Yu, who looked serious at the side, suddenly asked.
Cheng Yu's words frightened Guo Jia and Xun You. If nothing happened if Xun Wenruo mobilized his troops, it would be easy. But if such a big thing happened now, it would be troublesome to investigate. At this time, the three of them looked nervous.
Looking at Cao Cao, they all knew that Xun Wenruo had no power to mobilize troops, but this matter was just a matter of Cao Cao's words.
Cao Cao nodded, which meant that Cao Cao still cared about Xun Wenruo, so he could be given a lighter punishment. Cao Cao shook his head, that means all official matters were done in public, and what should be done was done as it should be. Xun Wenruo's life and death could depend on Cao Cao's words.
But Xun You, who had been silent all this time, had an eager look on his face at this time. His hands were already together with me. Cao Cao's attitude was not only related to the life and death of Xun Wenruo, but also the life and death of hundreds of members of the entire Xun family.
ah.
"Yes!" After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, Cao Cao's voice sounded again in the silent study.
The three people who were originally nervous after hearing Cao Cao's words couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The three of them and Xun Wenruo had the highest status among Cao Cao, so it was naturally impossible for them to watch something happen to Xun Wenruo!
"Lord, the imperial doctor is here." Cao Ren's anxious voice came from outside the door.
"Wait outside." Cao Cao glanced at Guo Jia and others and said outside the door.
"No." Upon hearing Cao Cao's voice, Cao Ren breathed a sigh of relief and motioned to the imperial physician behind him to stand where he was.
"My lord, although Wen Ruo is wrong about this, victory or defeat is a matter of military strategism. Since Wei Yan was able to kill Zang Ba with just one hand, his method must have been strong. General Xu's death in battle had nothing to do with Wen Ruo, but Xu
The general has made outstanding contributions and the lord should reward him!"
"As for Wen Ruo, he will be demoted to the third level and his salary will be fined for one year." Cheng Yu thought for a while and said.
Hearing what Cheng Yu said, Xun You glanced at Cheng Yu gratefully and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Cheng Yu had always been impartial and selfless, but now he could say that he was being partial to Xun Wenruo.
After Cheng Yu finished speaking, the three of them looked at Cao Cao, waiting for Cao Cao's decision.
"Well, let's do what Zhongde said." Cao Cao closed his eyes and thought for a long time before he said.
"Thank you, Lord." Xun You bowed and saluted.
"Tomorrow Gongda will petition the emperor to confer Xu Chu the title of Marquis of Guannei, and his son will be transferred to me," Cao Cao said.
"Nuo." Xun You knew that this was Cao Cao trying to ease the relationship between the Xun family and the Xu family. After all, Xun Wenruo was partly responsible for Xu Chu's death.
"Tell me who is the most suitable person to garrison Fancheng?" Cao Cao asked as he looked at several people.
"My lord, the special status of Fancheng requires a general to guard Liu Biao. The original guard, Man Chong, who was resourceful and resourceful, is the most suitable to guard Fancheng. However, now that Wancheng has fallen into the hands of Jingzhou, a senior general should be appointed.
The general can guard it, General Cao Ren is both civil and military, and his ability to lead troops is rare, so guarding Fancheng will be foolproof." Xun You thought for a while and said, Fancheng needs both a strong general and a wise general, and among all Cao Cao's men, he has only one
Cao Ren can do it.
"Lord, since Wancheng's treatment can defeat Wen Ruo, it must be extraordinary. If Chang Wen (Chen Qun) can be assisted as a military advisor, Fan City will be safe." Cheng Yu said with some worry, even Xun Wenruo failed.
Although Cao Ren is extraordinary, he cannot be foolproof.
"My lord, the current situation in Jingzhou is unclear. Let Zixiao and Changwen rush to Fancheng first just in case. Wait until Wenruo comes back and ask about the situation in Jingzhou in detail before making a decision. Jingzhou's current extraordinary strength can no longer be displayed.
Don't take it seriously, if Jingzhou really has different intentions, my lord should severely damage Jingzhou before fighting Yuan Shao." Guo Jia suddenly said.