Three Kingdoms: Take care of Lady Gan on behalf of Liu Bei at the beginning

Chapter 57: Liu Wu is promoted to General of the Cavalry, Pang Tong realizes Cao Cao's intention

"Fengxiao, you, what did you say? Abandon Yuzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou and half of Yangzhou, three and a half states?"

Inside the big tent, although Cao Cao knew the situation was bad, he still exclaimed in disbelief when he heard Guo Jia's plan of cutting off an arm to survive.

All the generals suddenly changed color.

Guo Jia also looked serious. He knew Cao Cao could not accept it, but he still advised Cao Cao:

"My lord, if you don't make a decision, you will suffer the consequences. Guandong Liu Biao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi and other princes are eyeing us covetously and attacking us from the north and south. The three states are all plains, with no strategic locations to defend. If you don't retreat, you will only be eaten by jackals."

"Now that the emperor has been kidnapped, the land of Guandong is really like chicken ribs. We can retreat to Guanzhong. There are the eight passes of Luoyang to defend. Guanzhong has a fertile plain for thousands of miles. As long as we can deal with Gao Gan, Ma Teng, and Han Sui, we still have a foundation."

Guo Jia had to persuade Cao Cao strongly.

The three counselors Xun You, Jia Xu, and Cheng Yu also nodded, looking at Guo Jia with eyes full of admiration and respect.

It must be said that Guo Jia's strategy was indeed unconventional and bold, enough to allow them to survive from a desperate situation.

When Cao Cao heard Guo Jia's persuasion, his face became gloomy.

Cao Cao didn't say anything, but Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Xu Chu, Le Jin, Zhang He and other generals in the big tent could no longer sit still.

"Sikong, no, the land of Guandong is our foundation."

"Sikong, the elders of our Pei State are all waiting for us to return home in glory. We cannot abandon them and go far away to Guanzhong."

"My lord, what is there to be afraid of these princes? Sun Quan is just a child, and Liu Biao's soldiers guarding the city..."

"Brother, ..."

A group of military generals were quite anxious and tried to persuade Cao Cao, fearing that he would give up the three and a half states of Guandong.

It’s no wonder they are reluctant to leave. In fact, these territories were conquered bit by bit by them through battles fought all over the country.

"enough!"

Suddenly, Cao Cao slammed the table, and the tent immediately fell silent.

"Everyone get out."

Cao Cao shouted angrily.

It was not until Cao Cao shouted three times in anger that all the generals and counselors realized that Cao Cao wanted to be alone, and they all left.

"Twenty years of hard work, all gone in one day?"

Cao Cao lay on his back, his old eyes filled with tears, filled with deep reluctance and helplessness.

……

That night.

Just when Cao Cao was hesitating over a major decision in his life.

The north gate of Wancheng, which faced away from Cao's army camp, burst open.

A large number of soldiers poured out and stood on both sides for protection.

Liu Wu, along with Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong and others, personally went out of the city gate and waited.

step, step, step
At this moment, footsteps were heard in the distance, and Zhao Yun was seen leading loyal and brave guards, escorting more than ten people and walking quickly towards them.

"We, Liu Wu and Liu Zihao, respectfully welcome the Holy Emperor!"

When Liu Wu saw Zhao Yun and Yang Biao escorting a young man towards him, he shouted and saluted without hesitation.

Zhao Yun and the others immediately dispersed. Liu Xie looked at Liu Wu, who was saluting respectfully from afar. He felt touched, and hurried forward, pulled Liu Wu up, and said excitedly:
"Uncle, please don't be so polite. I have wanted to see you for several days. Today I finally get to see you. Congratulations, congratulations."

Liu Xie looked excited and happy. Although Liu Xie was almost the same age as Liu Wu, he directly addressed Liu Wu as "imperial uncle".

This made Fu Wan and Yang Biao behind him, as well as Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong and others around him all nod their heads.

Undoubtedly, when Liu Xie saw Liu Wu, he called him the Emperor's uncle, and he was counting Liu Wu and Liu Bei as being of the same generation.

This is a message of goodwill to Liu Wu.

Liu Wu also looked excited. He shook Liu Xie's hand and said:

"The Han Dynasty fell, and the emperor fell into the hands of traitors. Today, he finally escaped. It is the fault of us, the ministers. However, from today on, Your Majesty will no longer suffer from the traitors and will not have to worry."

Liu Wu congratulated Liu Xie, but secretly expressed his attitude to Liu Xie in person.

Liu Wu looked at Liu Xie, waiting for Liu Xie's attitude.

He expressed his position to Liu Xie, but if Liu Xie thought he was weak and could be bullied and wanted to be the emperor and give orders to him, he was wrong.

The key lies in whether Liu Xie has this awareness and whether he wants Liu Wu to give the other party face.

In fact, Liu Wu felt that he had done his best for Liu Xie.

Considering the tragic situations in history, it was not excessive for Liu Wu to ask Liu Xie to be grateful to him.

Historically, in the second year of Xingping (195 AD), the emperor returned eastward. During the journey to escort the emperor, the generals abused their power, attacked each other, and acted recklessly, which eventually led to the court being controlled by Cao Cao in the first year of Jian'an (196 AD).

In the same year, the capital was moved to Xu County, and Cao Cao officially held the emperor hostage to command the princes.

In the first month of the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD), the secret of the secret letter was exposed, and Dong Cheng and others were executed by Cao Cao. Concubine Dong was also about to be executed. At that time, Concubine Dong was pregnant. Liu Xie pleaded with Cao Cao many times, but still could not save her life.

In the 208th year of Jian'an ( AD), Liu Xie dismissed the three officials and appointed Cao Cao as prime minister, and later named Cao Cao Duke of Wei.

In the 214th year of Jian'an ( AD), Liu Xie made Cao Cao a position above the princes and granted him the Golden Seal, the Red Shield, and the Far Traveling Crown. Later, Cao Cao, in the name of the emperor, ordered the death of Empress Fu and exterminated the Fu family.

In the 215th year of Jian'an ( AD), Liu Xie appointed Cao Cao's daughter Cao Jie as his queen.

In the 216st year of Jian'an ( AD), Liu Ai, the chief of the imperial clan, appointed Cao Cao, the Duke of Wei, as the King of Wei.

In the 220th year of Jian'an ( AD), King Cao Cao of Wei died. Crown Prince Cao Pi forced Liu Xie to abdicate and formally established Cao Wei. Liu Xie was deposed and became Duke of Shanyang.

In the second year of Qinglong (234 AD), Liu Xie died and was posthumously named Emperor Xiaoxian. He was buried in Chanling with imperial rites.

In history, Liu Xie, the emperor of the late Han Dynasty, was extremely miserable.

Being able to arrive in Wancheng today can be said to be the one who gave the other party a second life.

However, whether it is a new life or a new hell depends on Liu Xie's own grasp of the situation.

Seeing that Liu Wu was speaking so earnestly, Liu Xie felt a sense of crisis quietly rising in his heart.

Because he remembered that when Cao Cao first met him, he expressed the same attitude.

"I was able to escape from the traitor Cao Cao, and my uncle saved me, but unfortunately I can't give anything. The Han Dynasty fell into decline, and only then can we see more clearly which are the loyal ministers and which are the treacherous ministers. I just arrived in Wancheng, and if I have done anything wrong, I still need my uncle to remind me."

Liu Xie hurriedly said to Liu Wu.

In fact, on the way, what Liu Xie thought most about was how to face Liu Wu.

In the end, thinking about his life experiences in the first half of his life, Liu Xie still realized that he was just an emperor in name only, just like the Zhou emperor during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

If the princes regard you as the emperor, then you are the emperor.

If the princes do not regard you as the Son of Heaven, then you are not the Son of Heaven.

Dong Zhuo was like this, Cao Cao was like this, and I'm afraid Liu Wu was the same.

It is no surprise that ambitious people abound in troubled times.

Therefore, Liu Xie was able to recognize the situation and find his own position.

Liu Wu smiled. He understood what Liu Xie meant and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, it's not safe outside the city. I'm afraid there are Cao's scouts in the dark. Let's go into the city first. The temporary palace has been arranged. Besides, my brother also wants to see Your Majesty."

"Okay, I'll listen to my uncle. I've been worried for a long time when I heard that Uncle Xuande was seriously injured." Liu Xie said obediently.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Liu Wu led Liu Xie and others into Wancheng. The Cao army scouts who were watching the whole process from a distance hurriedly passed back the news that Liu Xie had just entered the city.

……

Early the next morning.

Cao's army beat drums to gather their generals.

In the big tent, all the civil and military officials including Guo Jia, Xun You, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Xu Chu, Le Jin, Zhang He, etc. gathered together. They all understood that after a night of deliberation, Cao Cao had made a decision.

Cao Cao, looking frail, sat in the main seat, looking at the civil and military officials in the big tent staring at him, took a deep breath, and said:

"I, Cao Cao, have fought on the battlefield for twenty to thirty years and have never faced such a situation. However, the art of war says that we don't have to worry about the gains and losses of a city or a place. I, Cao Cao, believe that this is also true today. Feng Xiao is right. We can only survive by cutting off our arms and leaving the Guandong territory to the princes of Guandong, such as Liu Biao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Xi, and letting them fight each other. Only then will we have a chance to breathe."

"Guanzhong is a fertile land and the foundation of hegemony. It is no worse than Guandong, which has no strategic location. When Dong Zhuo occupied Guanzhong, the Guandong princes had to form a coalition to attack in order to drive him away. If we occupy Guanzhong, we will be stronger than Dong Zhuo, not worse. One day, when we organize hundreds of thousands of troops and march east, the Guandong princes such as Liu Biao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Xi will all kneel down and beg for mercy."

Cao Cao became more and more powerful as he spoke, his voice rising and falling, causing the civil and military officials to look at each other in surprise. It also boosted their morale a little, but they still felt pain in their hearts when they thought about the loss of the three and a half states in Guandong.

Everyone knows that Cao Cao has made his decision.

At the top, Cao Cao took a deep breath and said loudly:

"Immediately send a message to Cao Zhen in Xuzhou, asking him to gather Xuzhou's wealth and troops, abandon Xuzhou and immediately march west into Guanzhong."

"Immediately send a message to Xiahou Dun and Zhang Liao in Hefei to abandon Hefei and lead the army westward into Guanzhong."

"Order Xun Yu to relocate the noble families of Xudu, the families of the generals and soldiers, and their relatives to the west into Guanzhong."

"Order Xu Huang to lead the Puyang army as the vanguard army to attack Luoyang to rescue Zhong Yao and resist Gao Gan, Ma Teng, and Han Sui."

Orders came out one after another from Cao Cao's mouth, and all the civil and military officials in the big tent held their breath. There was no doubt that Cao Cao had decided to retreat westward into Guanzhong.

"promise!"

Inside the big tent, no one tried to persuade Cao Cao anymore. For them, the Guandong area was like a burning fire. If they retreated too late, they would end up being burned to death.

Although they were reluctant, as long as they occupied Guanzhong, they could still fight their way back to the east.

Yes, not only Cao Cao had the belief that he could fight back, but all his civil and military officials believed that they were just hiding temporarily and would fight back one day.

……

Even though Gao Gan, Ma Teng, Han Sui and others in Guanzhong rose up to attack Zhong Yao.

Although Liu Biao and Sun Quan launched their armies one after another.

However, Cao Cao in Wancheng remained firmly on the throne and did not retreat, nor did he show any signs of attacking the city.

Neither Wen Pin's army stationed in Xinye nor Liu Wu in Wancheng took any action.

In fact, Cao's army was still powerful, and whoever attacked first would suffer heavy casualties.

Pang Tong, the Phoenix, was certain that Cao Cao would definitely withdraw his troops, and the princes from the Guandong region would also rise up to attack Cao Cao. Liu Wu believed in Pang Tong's judgment and did not want Wancheng to be the first to be attacked.

After all, compared with Liu Biao, Sun Quan, or Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan in the north, Liu Wu has fewer troops in Wancheng.

More than ten days passed, and Cao's army was still stationed outside Wancheng without taking any action.

The civil and military officials in the city were indeed a little anxious.

Inside Wancheng, in the residence of the General of Cavalry, the meeting hall.

After Liu Xie entered the city, he appointed Liu Wu as General of Cavalry, Marquis of Guannei, and gave him a fief of 10,000 households on the second day, which was higher than Liu Bei's Left General.

In the hall.

Liu Wu sat in the main seat.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Yang Xiu and others gathered together.

"More than ten days have passed, and Cao's army has neither attacked nor retreated. What is he going to do? Does he really think we can't defeat him? General, Guan is willing to be the vanguard and go out of the city to fight against Cao's army!"

Guan Yu challenged Liu Wu to a battle.

Guan Yu was full of confidence when he said this. Wen Pin, who was stationed in Xinye, could respond at any time, and the soldiers in Wancheng were well-equipped and might be able to fight against Cao's army.

Liu Wu listened to Guan Yu's words but did not say anything. Instead, he looked at Pang Tong and Xu Shu. Zhuge Liang had not returned from Guanzhong yet, and Pang Tong and Xu Shu were the two with the best strategies in the camp.

Pang Tong shook his head and said firmly:

"When Liu Biao of Jingxiang sent 100,000 troops to help, Cao Cao's attack on Wancheng failed. But now, Cao's army neither attacks nor retreats, but stays where it is. It must be that they have made some moves, but there is too little information, so we don't know what Cao's army has done for the time being."

Pang Tong's words left everyone scratching their heads.

However, Pang Tong did not think that Cao Cao would give up the three and a half states of Guandong and move towards Guanzhong to survive by cutting off his arm.

Because this matter is too absurd and too unbelievable.

That is the territory of three and a half states, not three counties or three prefectures, but three states and half of Yangzhou.

Although Pang Tong felt that something was wrong with Cao Cao and that he was making some moves, he ultimately did not think about it that way.

At this time, a scout hurried into the hall and reported to Liu Wu: "General, I just received news that Xu Huang, who was guarding Puyang, led a large army to Luoyang."

"Xu Huang led the army to Luoyang?" In the hall, Liu Wu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Xu Shu, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Yang Xiu and others did not care when hearing this military intelligence. They thought it was just ordinary military intelligence. After all, Zhong Yao was the Inspector of the Capital Region and was stationed in Guanzhong for Cao Cao. Guanzhong was also Cao Cao's territory. Now that Gao Gan, Ma Teng, Han Sui and others had risen up to attack them, Cao Cao would naturally send troops to rescue them.

However, Pang Tong, who didn't care at first, took a look at Guanzhong. Suddenly, Pang Tong stopped moving and stared at the map of Guanzhong in the hall.

"How many troops did Xu Huang lead to Luoyang? How many troops were there in Puyang?"

Suddenly, Pang Tong asked the messenger in a shocked and anxious voice.

In the hall, Liu Wu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Xu Shu, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Yang Xiu and others looked at Pang Tong who stood up suddenly in confusion, not understanding why Pang Tong suddenly became so excited?
The messenger did not dare to neglect and said hurriedly:

"Reporting to the military advisor, Lieutenant General, Xu Huang led an army of 40,000 to attack Luoyang, while the garrison of Puyang only had 45,000 troops, with 5,000 troops left behind."

"Forty thousand troops? Xu Huang took away forty thousand troops? This is an all-out attack. Doesn't he want to defend Puyang? Isn't he afraid that Yuan Shang will lead the Jizhou army southward?"

When Pang Tong heard the number of troops Xu Huang had sent out, he was even more shocked. He hurried to the map and drew an arrow from Yecheng to Puyang in the south.

At this time, Liu Wu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Xu Shu and others also felt something was wrong.

"Cao Cao's goal is actually Guanzhong. He actually gave up the Guandong area. This, this, he cut off his arm to survive!!"

Pang Tong looked at the map and finally understood, but he was also shocked by Cao Cao's courage.

Who would dare to give up the three and a half states of Kanto?

The former Lu Bu?
Yuan Shao?

Yuan Shu?

Liu Bei?

Zhang Xiu?

No, no prince would have such courage, but Pang Tong keenly realized that Cao Cao was keeping his troops in place to attract the attention of the princes in Guandong, but in fact he had already taken action to fully enter Guanzhong.

In the hall, Liu Wu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Xu Shu and others were all shocked when they heard Pang Tong say that Cao Cao actually gave up the Guandong territory.

(End of this chapter)