Outside the gate of Xudu Sikong Mansion.
Accompanied by the rapid sound of horse hooves, Cao Zhang, escorted by several personal guards, rushed back to Xudu at starry night and went straight to Sikong Mansion to see Cao Cao.
Cao Zhang stopped in front of the gate of Sikong Mansion, got off his horse, handed the horse to his subordinates, and told the servants of Sikong Mansion at the door: "Go and report to Sikong quickly, and tell him that I want to see him."
The servant hurriedly responded: "Report to Mr. Ziwen, Sikong has orders. If you come back, you don't need to report, just go to the study to see him."
When Cao Zhang heard the servant's response, he didn't dare to delay. He quickly entered Sikong Mansion and went straight to the study.
Cao Zhang came to the door of the study, but did not dare to enter directly. He first took off his shoes and put them away, and then said loudly: "My son, Cao Zhang, was ordered to return and pay homage to Sikong!"
"I'm back, why don't you come in quickly? What are you doing with all the red tape?!" Cao Cao's loving and slightly angry voice came from the study, calling Cao Zhang to come in.
Cao Zhang got Cao Cao's permission and entered the study.
I saw Cao Cao sitting in front of the desk, reviewing memorials. When he saw him walking in, he couldn't hide the excitement and smile on his face, and he stood up to greet him.
Cao Zhang wanted to salute Cao Cao, but Cao Cao held his shoulders: "Okay, don't salute so much, let me take a good look."
Cao Zhang straightened up, and Cao Cao held his shoulders with both hands, looked at him carefully, and said lovingly: "He's darkened and thin. He didn't eat well outside and didn't sleep well. Are you injured?"
"Father, everything is well with you and all your old wounds have healed." Cao Zhang responded respectfully.
"Okay, it's fine. Ziwen, Zhongquan came back with Li Jue the day before yesterday. You guys can do it. You really conquered Chang'an and captured Li Jue within a hundred days. You have made a great contribution this time! "Cao Cao excitedly patted Cao Zhang on the shoulder and praised him.
"Father is very grateful. Thanks to my father receiving my letter, he reported it to the emperor in time, sent Zhong Shizhong to recruit people, and told him in advance to use fast horses to deliver the letter to the heroes of Xiliang. With the help of the princes of Xiliang, I was lucky enough to complete the task. This is It's all my father's strategizing, and I dare not take the credit!" Cao Zhang responded respectfully and modestly.
"Okay, between us father and son, don't keep saying these vain words. Zhong Quan has told me everything. Without you going to Tianshui in person, how could Ma Teng and Han Sui successfully accept the recruitment? Can they? Your mind-attacking skills played a big role in capturing Chang'an."
"Ziwen, you led the army in this battle and showed bravery and strategy. Not only did you pacify Li Jue, but you also recruited the heroes of Xiliang and stabilized the northwest. Your performance really made my father very happy." Cao Cao He did not hesitate to show his love for Cao Zhang and continued to praise him.
"Let's go and go to the palace with my father to meet the emperor. If the emperor knows that you have captured Li Jue, he will be very happy and will reward you heavily." Cao Cao reached out and took Cao Zhang's arm and walked out.
Cao Zhang did not dare to disobey and followed Cao Cao out.
The father and son came to the palace gate and dismounted, and went through the Xiaohuang Gate to report to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. After receiving the summons, they came to the Imperial Study Room to have an audience.
Cao Cao and Cao Zhang walked in and knelt down in front of Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty, shouting "Long live the mountain" to pay their respects.
Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty looked very excited and hurriedly waved his hand and said: "My dear friends, please get down quickly."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cao Cao and Cao Zhang thanked each other and stood up, bowing their heads respectfully.
"Sikong, is this Cao Zhang beside you the one who led the expedition to the northwest and captured Li Jue alive?" Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty asked Cao Cao, pointing to Cao Zhang.
"Your Majesty, it's Quanzi!" Cao Cao responded respectfully.
Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty looked Cao Zhang up and down, his face was filled with joy, and he said with admiration: "Ai Qing has made great achievements at a young age. He issued Cao Gong Paper and the Thousand Character Classic to benefit the people's livelihood, and increased the expenses of the royal family. His loyalty is commendable. Now he is brave enough to win the title. It only took the three armies a hundred days to capture Li Jue alive, recapture Chang'an, and pacify the northwest. They are truly the pillars of our great army!"
Cao Zhang hurriedly responded respectfully: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. I only relied on Your Majesty's great blessings to win the victory and annihilate the rebellion! I dare not take credit!"
Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty nodded with satisfaction, and then asked Cao Cao: "Cao Sikong, where is Li Jue now?"
"Reporting to your majesty, I have escorted him to Tianlao, waiting for your majesty's fate!" Cao Cao responded quickly and respectfully.
"Exterminate the three tribes of Li and Jue! Hang his head in public display!" Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty gritted his teeth and issued the decree fiercely.
When he was a child, he was controlled by Li Jue and Guo Si for a long time, and they were even more wantonly humiliated. He was even unable to receive normal meals. On the way back east, he was chased several times and almost died. He already hated Li Jue deeply.
Cao Zhang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, when I was conquering Li Jue, I made a promise that whoever captures Li Jue alive will be spared death and will receive a heavy reward. Li Jue was captured alive by his cousins Li Huan and Li Ying. I hope your majesty will be especially kind to you." , sparing the two of them and their family members from death penalty!"
"No, these two are also Li Jue's accomplices. They have also insulted me in every possible way. I cannot forgive them!" Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was furious and insisted on killing Li Huan and Li Ying.
Cao Zhang turned around helplessly and looked at Cao Cao for help.
Cao Cao hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Quanzi made a promise on behalf of the emperor at that time. If he kills these two people now, he will break his promise to the world and will also destroy the hearts of all the princes in the world to submit to the imperial court. Please calm down and be merciful!"
Although Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty hated Li Jue, he also understood that he was now dependent on Cao Cao. He had already asked for mercy, so naturally he had to give face. He could only nodded: "The words of the two beloved ministers are reasonable. In this case, let's follow what the beloved minister said." Memorial, we will spare the death penalty for the two of them and their family members, and reward them according to their merits! But Li Jue and his family members must be killed to avoid future troubles!"
Cao Cao responded quickly: "Your Majesty is wise! Those who have meritorious service will be rewarded, and those who are guilty will be punished. This will show the majesty of the emperor!"
After hearing Cao Cao's compliment, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, the anger on his face subsided slightly, and said: "Sikong just said that those who have meritorious service will be rewarded. Ziwen has made such a great contribution this time, I should reward him heavily! According to my will, Cao Zhang will be granted the title General Beizhong, I will also give you a reward of ten thousand gold! I hope Aiqing will continue to work hard and make contributions to the court in the future!"
When Cao Zhang heard the reward from Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, he quickly knelt down and thanked him: "I thank you, Lord, for your kindness!"
After Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty finished awarding the rewards, he said to Cao Cao and Cao Zhang: "My dear friends, do you have anything else to report?"
Cao Cao and Cao Zhang responded in unison: "I have nothing to do with you. Please leave!"
Cao Cao and Cao Zhang respectfully exited the imperial study and walked outside the palace.
"Ziwen, it seems that you captured Li Jue this time, which really made the emperor happy. He directly made you a fourth-rank Beizhong Lang general. My father didn't even think of it." Cao Cao said to Cao Zhang with a smile.
After hearing what Cao Cao said, Cao Zhang secretly agreed.
Beizhonglang General was appointed in the seventh year of Zhongping (AD 184). The person who held this official position at that time was Lu Zhi, a famous general of the generation.
It was indeed a relatively large reward that Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty could confer this official position on his former self.
"It's because Li Jue bullied the emperor too much back then and caused too much resentment in the emperor's heart. That's why I caught Li Jue and gave me such a heavy reward!" Cao Zhang responded calmly to Cao Cao.
Cao Zhang understood that Cao Cao had rushed eight hundred miles to summon him back, not just so that he could accept the reward from Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. However, the emperor's etiquette came first, so he took him to see Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty first after returning.
The next thing to do was the real purpose of Cao Cao calling him back, so he said directly: "Father, the matter of Li Jue has been dealt with. Now you can tell me why you are so anxious to call me back." "
Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhang and smiled: "As expected, I can't hide anything from you. Come on, follow me to the school affairs office. There is something you need to handle..."
