In Gao Shun's eyes, these ordinary soldiers of Cao's army could only be compared with the elites under Lu Bu's command.
After some comparison, Gao Shun felt a little frustrated.
After all, the pressure placed on him by Cao Jun was too great.
Cao Ang had already made preparations to send troops to Xuzhou. This time Gao Shun came to ask for help, which just gave him a reason.
Soon, the army marched towards Xuzhou.
Tao Qian of Xuzhou naturally received Cao Ang's letter.
However, his approach was similar to Cao Ang's guess.
The court messenger sent by Cao Ang came to Pengcheng and wanted to meet Tao Qian.
After the messenger informed him, he waited in the hall for Tao Qian to come out and meet him.
But Tao Qian and Chen Deng stayed in the study in the backyard, talking about how to deal with the messenger sent by Cao Ang.
"Yuan Long, why did the imperial court send a messenger at this time?" Tao Qian frowned and asked Chen Deng.
Ever since Chen Deng made a plan to trap Lu Bu in Xiapi City, Tao Qian had regarded Chen Deng as his chief adviser.
Chen Deng thought for a while after hearing this, and then expressed his guess: "My lord, do you think it is possible that something slipped through the net when Lu Bu asked his men to break out of the encirclement and ask for help from the imperial court?"
When Tao Qian heard this, he looked at Chen Deng and asked in surprise: "Yuanlong, are you saying that this messenger is here to ask me and Lu Bu to stop fighting and make peace?"
"I guess so. Otherwise, the imperial court would have absolutely no reason to send a messenger over at this time." Chen Deng said seriously.
After Tao Qian learned that it was the imperial court that asked him to stop fighting, he felt very irritable.
Tao Qian clapped his hands, frowned and said to himself: "This Cao Bao, I have told him, and asked him to search carefully to prevent any fish from slipping through the net, but someone still succeeded in passing on the news. Get out! It really pisses me off!"
At this time, Tao Qian was really angry.
When Chen Deng heard this, he said to Tao Qian: "My lord, please relax. Even if the court sends a messenger this time, we will have a way to deal with it!"
When Tao Qian heard this, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh? Yuanlong, what are your countermeasures? Tell me quickly!"
Chen Deng smiled and expressed his thoughts: "My lord, although this court agreed to send troops to assist Lu Bu, I feel that this court does not sincerely assist Lu Bu."
"Oh? Why did Yuan Long say that?" Tao Qian asked in confusion.
"My lord, if the court really wants to stop you from attacking Lu Bu, then the court must at least send someone from the palace instead of just sending a messenger from the army!" Chen Deng explained with a smile.
"That makes sense!" Tao Qian nodded thoughtfully.
Afterwards, Chen Deng continued to speak: "In addition, if the imperial court really wants to rescue Lu Bu, then it will definitely press the border with a large army. But this time it sent such an insignificant messenger, which is enough to explain the imperial court's thoughts."
"Okay, okay! After listening to Yuanlong's analysis, I was suddenly enlightened!" Tao Qian said with a smile, and then tried to ask: "Yuanlong, let's go meet this messenger?"
Chen Deng shook his head when he heard this: "My lord, although the imperial court is unwilling to interfere in Xuzhou's affairs, we must do things to give the imperial court face."
"I think it is better for you, my lord, to accuse this messenger of illness without seeing him. I will keep this letter on my lord's behalf. My lord will read this letter after Lu Bu is defeated."
"By then, the deal is done and Lu Bu is dead. Naturally, the court will not pursue you, my lord, because of a dead man!"
After hearing what Chen Deng said, Tao Qian immediately agreed: "Okay, then I'll leave all this to Yuan Long!"
"Yes, lord, I will deal with the messenger right now." After Chen Deng responded, he left the study and walked towards the hall in front.
However, Chen Deng missed one thing: the messenger was from the military!
As for the imperial army, they were all controlled by Cao Ang.
But Chen Deng didn't think of this, so he naturally ignored Cao Ang.
Chen Deng came to the hall to meet the messenger.
The messenger's identity was relatively ordinary. He was a cavalry captain under Cao Ang's account. After seeing Chen Deng coming, he greeted Chen Deng politely.
"Sir, may I ask where the governor is now?"
When Chen Deng heard this, he responded with a serious face: "Envoy Mingjian, my lord has been mentally and physically exhausted due to Lu Bu's harassment a few days ago. He is now ill and cannot receive the envoy."
When the messenger heard this, his expression on his face froze, and then he said to Chen Deng: "It doesn't matter, I'll give the letter to you, sir. When the governor's health gets better, you can hand it over to him." Give it to him.”
After saying this, the messenger handed Cao Ang's letter to Chen Deng.
After Chen Deng received the letter, he said to the messenger: "Messenger, your mission has been completed. Why not spend a few days in Pengcheng and let me show my friendship as a landlord?"
When the messenger heard this, he waved his hand hurriedly and said, "Thank you sir for your kindness. I will go back to you soon, so I won't bother you sir."
Then, after the two exchanged pleasantries, the messenger left directly.
After the messenger left, Chen Deng took the letter and found Tao Qian: "Lord, the messenger has left. This is the letter he left."
After Tao Qian took the letter, he opened it and read it.
When he saw the content of the letter, which indeed asked him to make peace with Lu Bu, he smiled.
"Yuan Long, as expected, the content of this letter is for me and Lu Bu to stop fighting and make peace!"
Chen Deng smiled softly when he heard this, and then said: "My lord, just treat this letter as if you have not received it, but on the other side of Xiapi City, General Cao must speed up the offensive to avoid a long night and many dreams."
"Okay, then send an order to Cao Bao and ask him to capture Xiapi City within seven days!" Tao Qian said firmly.
However, Tao Qian and Chen Deng both ignored who wrote the letter.
Cao Ang had no intention of ending the war in Xuzhou, so he didn't even sign his name. He just had someone stamp the official seal of the Luoyang Order, not even the jade seal.
…
After the messenger left Pengcheng, he rushed towards Luoyang.
As a result, he encountered Cao Ang's army halfway.
So, he hurriedly identified himself and found Cao Ang.
"Major General, the last general has sent the letter to Pengcheng, but Tao Qian complained that he was ill and gave the letter to Chen Deng!" (End of Chapter)
