Article 24: Homecoming Thieves Murder Noble Consort and Imperial Uncle Defeated and Left to Surrender to Yuan Shao

 Article 24: Homecoming Thieves Murder Noble Consort and Imperial Uncle Defeated and Left to Surrender to Yuan Shao

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But when Cao Cao saw the edict on clothing and belts, he consulted with his advisors and decided to depose but offer himself as emperor, and instead chose someone with virtue to establish him. Cheng Yu advised, "The reason why the Duke of Ming was able to dominate the four directions and command the world is because of the name of the Han family. Now that the feudal lords have not yet been pacified and are suddenly carrying out the act of deposing and establishing, they will surely rise up in rebellion." Cao Naizhi. Only five people, including Dong Cheng and his entire family, were escorted to each household for execution. More than seven hundred people died. All the officials and citizens in the city shed tears upon seeing it. Later generations wrote a poem lamenting Dong Cheng, saying, "The secret edict was passed down, and heaven's words came out of the forbidden gate. I once saved my driver, and today I am even more grateful. I was worried about my country and fell ill, and my heart was filled with dreams. Loyalty will last forever, and success or failure will be judged by anyone." There is also a poem lamenting Wang Zifu and four others, saying, "The title of the book is based on the principles of measurement, arrows, loyalty, and strategy, generously thinking of repaying my father. I donated a hundred mouths with my red courage, and my heart will be for generations to come

It can be said that after killing Dong Cheng and other people, Cao Cao's anger did not dissipate, so he brought his sword into the palace and came to kill Empress Dong Guifei. The Noble Consort is the younger sister of Dong Cheng. Fortunately, she is five months pregnant. On that day, the emperor was in the harem and had a private discussion with Empress Fu about the matter of Dong Cheng, but there has been no news yet. Suddenly, Cao Cao brought his sword into the palace with an angry expression on his face, which shocked the emperor greatly. Cao said, "Does Your Majesty know that Dong Cheng is plotting rebellion?" The emperor replied, "Dong Zhuo has been executed." Cao shouted loudly, "It's not Dong Zhuo! It's Dong Cheng!" The emperor trembled and said, "I really don't know." Cao said, "Did you forget to break the finger and revise the edict?" The emperor couldn't answer. The commanding warrior captured Empress Dong. The emperor said, "Empress Dong is five months pregnant. I hope you can see her and show mercy." Cao said, "If it weren't for the defeat of heaven, I would have been killed. How could I keep this daughter again? It would be a future trouble for me!" Fu Hou said, "I will be demoted to the cold palace and wait for childbirth. It's not too late to kill her." Cao said, "Do you want to keep this reverse seed to avenge your mother?" Empress Dong cried and said, "I beg for the entire body to die, and do not let it be exposed." Cao ordered Bai Lian to come before him. The emperor wept and said to the empress, "Your Highness, under the Nine Springs, do not blame me for bowing!" After finishing his words, tears streamed down his face. After the fall, she also cried loudly. Cao angrily said, 'You still behave like a child!' The warrior pulled him out and strangled him outside the palace gate. Later generations wrote a poem lamenting Empress Dowager Dong, saying, "The gratitude of the Spring Palace is also in vain. It is a pity that the dragon seed was donated at the same time. It is difficult for the dignified emperor to save him, and only those who hide their faces and see tears welling up." The imperial censor instructed, "In the future, if there are any relatives or clans who do not obey my orders and enter the palace gates at will, they will be beheaded and the guards will not be strict, and they will be punished with the same crime." He also assigned three thousand trusted aides to join the imperial forest army, and ordered Cao Hong to lead it as a defense.

Cao said to Cheng Yu, "Although Dong Cheng and others have been executed, there are still Ma Teng and Liu Bei, who must be counted here and cannot be eliminated." Yu said, "Ma Teng stationed his army in Xiliang and cannot be taken lightly; but he should be comforted with a letter and not be doubted or lured into the capital. Liu Bei is now in Xuzhou and has a strategic position, so he cannot underestimate the enemy. In fact, Yuan Shaotun's troops and officials often have the intention of planning for the capital. If I were to launch an expedition to the east, Liu Bei would surely seek help from Shao. Shao took advantage of the situation and attacked, how could we do it?" Cao said, "No, Bei is a talented person. If we don't attack him now, how can we do it? When his wings are fully formed, the urgent and difficult task is at hand. Although Yuan Shao is strong, he has many doubts and cannot make decisions, so there is no need to worry!" During the discussion, Guo Jia entered from outside. Cao asked, "I want to launch an eastern expedition against Liu Bei, but I have concerns about Yuan Shao. How about that?" Jia replied, "Shao is slow and suspicious, and his advisors are jealous of each other, so there is no need to worry. Liu Bei has reorganized his army, but the hearts of the people are not satisfied. The Prime Minister has led troops to launch an eastern expedition, and a battle can be concluded." Cao exclaimed, "It's exactly what I want." He then raised a large army of 200000 and divided them into five routes to Xuzhou. Carefully investigate and report to Xuzhou. Sun Qian first went to Xiapi to report to Guan Gong, and then went to Xiaopei to report to Xuande. Xuande and Sun Qian discussed and said, "We must seek help from Yuan Shao to solve the crisis." Therefore, Xuande wrote a letter and sent Sun Qian to Hebei. Qian was the first to meet Tian Feng and speak about his affairs, seeking his introduction. Feng introduced Sun Qian to Shao and submitted a letter. I saw Shao looking haggard and disheveled. Feng said, "Why is your lord like this today? Shao said, 'I am about to die!' Feng said, 'Why did your lord say this?' Shao said, 'I gave birth to five sons, but the youngest one was extremely quick. Now that I am suffering from scabies, my life has been ruined. What is my intention to talk about other things?' Feng said, 'Now that Cao Cao is attacking Liu Xuande in the east, Xuchang is empty. If righteous soldiers take advantage of this opportunity, the emperor can be protected and the people can be saved. This is not an easy opportunity, but it can only be seized by Ming Gong.' Shao said, 'I also know that this is the best, but I am confused in my heart, and I am afraid it will be unfavorable.' Feng said, 'What kind of confusion is there?' Shao said," Among the five sons, this one has the most unusual birth. If there is any danger, my life will be suspended. "Therefore, he decided not to send troops and said to Sun Qian," You have returned to Xuande, and there is no reason for it. If there is any dissatisfaction, we can come together and help each other. I have my own place to assist Tian Feng struck the ground with his staff and said, "At this difficult time, I missed this opportunity due to the illness of a baby! The great thing is gone, and I can feel sorry for it!" He fell and let out a long sigh.

Sun Qian saw that Shao refused to send troops, so he had to go back to Xiaopei at night to meet Xuande and discuss this matter. Xuande was greatly surprised and asked, "What's the point of being like this?" Zhang Fei replied, "Brother, don't worry. When Cao Cao's troops come from afar, they will inevitably be exhausted; take advantage of their initial arrival and go to rob the fortress first, which can defeat Cao Cao.

Let's say Cao Cao led his army to Xiaopei. In the middle of the journey, a strong wind suddenly arrived and a loud sound blew a tooth flag. Arrange for the soldiers to stay and gather a group of strategists to inquire about good or bad luck. Xun Yu asked, "Where does the wind come from? Is it blowing colorful flags?" Cao replied, "The wind comes from the southeast and blows the ivory flag on the corner. The flag is blue and red." Yu replied, "Don't worry about anything else. Liu Bei will come to rob the fortress tonight." Cao nodded. Suddenly, Mao Jie came in and said, "Just now, the southeast wind has risen, blowing the blue and red toothed flag. What do you think is the auspicious or inauspicious fate of the lord?" Cao said, "What is the public opinion?" Mao Jie said, "I foolishly thought that someone from the lord would come to rob the fortress tonight." Later, there was a poem that sighed, "The emperor's armor was lonely and poor, relying entirely on the division of troops to rob the fortress. There is a sign of the breaking of the Naiya flag. Why did the heavens allow the treacherous?" Cao said, "Heaven will repay me, and we will immediately defend against it." So we divided the army into nine teams, leaving only one team to move forward and ambush the remaining soldiers on all sides.

It's a faint moonlight at night. Xuande on the left, Zhang Fei on the right, divide the troops into two teams to advance; Only Sun Qian is left to guard Xiaopei. Let's just say that Zhang Fei thought he had a plan and led his light cavalry to break into the camp, but he saw scattered places with few people and horses. The flames on all sides were bright and the shouts were raised in unison. Flying knows the trick and rushes out of the camp. Zhang Liao in the east, Xu Chu in the west, Yu Jian in the south, Li Dian in the north, Xu Huang in the southeast, Le Jin in the southwest, and Xiahou Dun in the northeast and Xiahou Yuan in the northwest were all killed by eight armies. Zhang Fei rushes left and right, covering in front and acting behind; The troops led by him were originally the old army under Cao Cao's command, but seeing that the situation was urgent, they all surrendered. Feizheng was killing in the midst of Xu Huang's fierce attack, and later Le Jin arrived. Flying to kill a bloody path and breaking through, only dozens of riders followed. To return Xiaopei, the road has been cut off. I want to defect to Xuzhou and Xiapi, but I am afraid that the Cao army will intercept me; There is no way to think, only to look towards Mangdang Mountain.

But Xuande led his army to rob the fortress, approaching the gate, when suddenly there was a loud shout and a force rushed out from behind, intercepting half of the troops first. Xiahou Dun has arrived again. Xuande broke through and left, while Xiahou Yuan came from behind. Looking back at Xuande, there were over thirty riders following him; I was eager to run back to Xiaopei, but I had already seen the fire rising in the city and had to abandon Xiaopei; I wanted to join Xuzhou and Xiapi, but I saw the Cao army flooding the mountains and blocking the way. Xuande thought to himself that there was no way back and thought, "Yuan Shao once said, 'If things don't go as planned, we can come together.' Now, let's not temporarily go to Yiqi and make a good plan." He then looked towards Qingzhou Road and was stopped by Li Dian. Xuande's horse fled north from the wilderness, while Li Dian's captured general rode away.

Let's talk about Xuande riding a horse into Qingzhou, traveling three hundred miles a day, and rushing to the outskirts of Qingzhou to call for his door. The gatekeeper asked for his name and came to report to the governor. The governor is Yuan Tan, the eldest son of Yuan Shao. Upon hearing the arrival of the horse, Tan Sujing immediately opened the door to greet him and entered the public office to inquire about its cause. Xuande's words were in line with the idea of military defeat. Tan Nailiu stayed in the inn with Xuande and sent a letter to his father Yuan Shao; Send local troops to escort Xuande. At the boundary of the plain, Yuan Shao personally led the crowd thirty miles out of Ye County to welcome Xuande. Xuande thanked him, and Shao quickly replied with courtesy, saying, "Yesterday, I was sick for my child and had to be rescued, which made me feel uneasy. Today, I am fortunate to have met him, which greatly soothes my longing for a lifetime." Xuande said, "I am alone and poor, Liu Bei, and I have long wanted to join my sect, but unfortunately, I did not encounter the opportunity. Now, I am under the attack of Cao Cao, and my wife has been captured. I want the general to accommodate the people from all directions, so I am not shy and have come to meet you. I hope to be included. I swear to repay you." Shao was overjoyed, treated very well, and lived together in Jizhou. Let's say that Cao Cao captured Xiaopei that night and immediately launched an attack on Xuzhou. Mi Zhu and Jian Yong couldn't hold on, so they had to abandon the city and leave. Chen Deng presented Xuzhou. Cao Cao's army entered the city, and after pacifying the people, he summoned his advisors to discuss taking down Xiapi. Xun Yu said, "Yunchang protects Xuande's wife and children and will defend this city to the death. If we don't take it quickly, it may be stolen by Yuan Shao. Cheng Yu said, "Although Wen Yuan has an old relationship with Yun Chang, from my perspective, this person cannot be described in words. Someone has a plan to make this person have no way out, and then use Wen Yuan to say it, that he will return to the Prime Minister." It is precisely: prepare a bow to shoot tigers, arrange fragrant bait to fish for turtles. I don't know what its plan is, let's listen to the following breakdown.