Cao Zhang left Sikong Mansion and rode through the streets of Xudu. He was not in a hurry to release Cao Pi. Instead, he went to Dong Cheng's mansion first. He had to blackmail Dong Cheng first and then release him when he had the funds. .
The summer wind blew on Cao Zhang's face, which felt very comfortable, and he was in a very happy mood.
Guo Zhao's health is about to recover, and Xia Houjuan and Ma Yunlu are back. Now they have a proper way to accommodate Cao Pi, and they also help Cao Cao solve the problem of military rations. Everything is developing in a good direction.
"Spare me, stop fighting, Master, spare me!" Just when Cao Zhang walked near Dong Cheng's general's mansion, a miserable cry for mercy came, which shattered Cao Zhang's good mood.
Cao Zhang looked up, and the scene in front of him made him frown slightly.
Dong Cheng's nephew Yin Bi was holding a stick in his hand and was beating a servant in front of the mansion gate. The servant was covered in blood and kept begging for mercy.
Cao Zhang's eyes were locked on Yin Bi's face. His eyes were full of anger and dissatisfaction. He didn't expect that he was still so arrogant and domineering. It seemed that the lesson he gave him last time was not enough.
"Stop!" Cao Zhang shouted loudly, got off his horse and walked towards Yin Bi.
Yin Bi's eyes widened when he saw it was Cao Zhang, and his heart was suddenly filled with panic.
Cao Zhang's cold gaze directly met Yin Bi's horrified gaze.
Yin Bi had suffered from Cao Zhang and had always been frightened. He didn't expect that the other party would come to his door today, and he couldn't help but panic.
Yin Bi gritted his teeth and said pretentiously: "What are you doing? This is our Dong family's family matter, and outsiders have no right to interfere!"
"This is your family matter, so of course I won't interfere. But the place where you hit someone was on the street. For the crime of hurting someone on the street, have you forgotten how I punished you!?" Cao Zhang responded coldly. .
Yin Bi was speechless for a moment and backed away in fear. Big beads of sweat continued to flow from his face: "I, I..."
Seeing Yin Bi's scared look, Cao Zhang sneered and said, "I'm here to see Dong Cheng and I don't have time to pay attention to you. Go and inform General Dong that I, Cao Zhang, am here to visit!"
Yin Bi looked at Cao Zhang at a loss. He could feel the majesty and momentum emanating from Cao Zhang, which made him even more frightened. He didn't dare to say any more and ran into the mansion in a panic to report to Dong Cheng.
Dong Cheng was dealing with documents in the study at this time. He heard Yin Bi running in panting. He felt a little strange and asked in confusion: "Bi'er, what happened?"
"Cao, Cao Zhang is here. He said he wants to see you, uncle!" Yin Bi responded breathlessly.
Dong Cheng immediately put down the documents in his hand, feeling a little confused. He didn't know what Cao Zhang would do when he came to see him.
He immediately got up and walked out to meet Cao Zhang.
Dong Cheng walked out of the mansion and saw Cao Zhang face to face.
Dong Cheng hurriedly stepped forward and said respectfully: "I didn't know that Mr. Cao is here, but I missed him from afar. Please forgive me!"
"General Dong, you're welcome. Cao is here unexpectedly. It's really a confidential matter. I hope the general will stay away. We want to talk alone." Cao Zhang got straight to the point and explained the purpose of his visit.
Dong Cheng's face changed slightly, wondering what Cao Zhang wanted to do with him, but after all, he was also a veteran of the Han Dynasty and quite well-known. He immediately regained his composure and nodded with a smile: "In that case, please invite the young master to my study. Let’s talk.”
Dong Cheng quickly moved out of the way, and Cao Zhang followed him into the mansion.
Yin Bi looked at the solemn expressions of the two men and did not dare to follow them. He could only watch them walk in.
Cao Zhang and Dong Cheng came to the study and took their seats respectively.
Dong Cheng looked at Cao Zhang and asked with a little doubt: "Master Cao, what do you want me to do for you?!"
Cao Zhang coldly took out the letter from his arms and handed it to Dong Cheng: "General Dong, here is a letter for you. Please read it first, and then I will tell you what I am here to do."
Dong Cheng picked up the letter and opened it in confusion. As he read on, his expression became increasingly ugly.
Cao Zhang waited quietly without speaking, just watching Dong Cheng's expression.
Finally, Dong Cheng said in a trembling voice: "Sir, I did not collude with Li Jue at all. There must be something wrong..."
Cao Zhang looked at Dong Cheng coldly but said nothing.
Dong Cheng defended anxiously and said in a trembling voice: "Sir, please believe me, I really did not collude with Li Jue! He is cruel by nature and disrespectful to the emperor and officials. On the way we escorted the emperor back eastward, several people I almost lost my life at his hands once. Cao Sikong escorted the emperor and us to Xudu and gave me a comfortable life. I am grateful to him. How could I collude with Li Jue to harm the young master?!"
"But the letter is written by Li Jue, right? General Dong and Li Jue have been ministers of the same court for many years, so they can't recognize his handwriting, right? He wrote clearly in the letter that he wants to kill you together. Thief Cao, you are here to welcome the emperor back to the old capital! How do you explain this?" Cao Zhang finally spoke and asked Dong Cheng coldly.
Although Dong Cheng maintained his status as the head of the country, he was still frightened out of his mind and argued anxiously: "Cao, Mr. Cao, you have to believe me, I have absolutely no intention of rebelliousness. This, this is definitely a estrangement between Li Jue and Li Jue." He is deliberately trying to instigate a relationship between me and Sikong. He also asked the young master to report it to Sikong, and he will definitely investigate..."
"Provocation? How did this letter get into my hands? Do you know? It was handed over by your family member Dong Ji himself. He said personally that he found it in your study, and you still want to deny it!" Cao Zhang's tone was even sharper.
When Dong Cheng heard this, he was so frightened that he sat down on the ground, shaking like chaff and said: "This, how is this possible? This is absolutely not the case, young master. It is true that Dong Ji is my family, but He left without saying goodbye two months ago, and I don’t know where he went. This, this must be him colluding with Li Jue to frame me!"
"You are right about this. Dong Ji gave this letter to my father two months ago. Considering the importance of the matter and your status as General Dong, my father did not immediately treat you Carry out an arrest. Instead, leave this case to me for investigation. I have also been investigating and secretly investigating for a long time, and today I decided to come to you and ask you face to face." Cao Zhang saw that the time was almost right, and began to bring the topic to himself.
Dong Cheng was also a veteran. After hearing Cao Zhang's words, he immediately understood what he meant and hurriedly said: "Master, you have to believe me. I am absolutely loyal to the court and Sikong. This letter is absolutely consistent with It doesn’t matter to me.”
"Some time ago, I sent people to Chang'an to investigate, hoping to find the letter that betrayed military information to Li Jue. Unfortunately, this letter has been lost in the war. If there is this object as evidence, we can naturally identify clearly. Who is collaborating with the enemy? Now that there is no evidence, we can only rely on the evidence in front of us to close the case." Seeing that Dong Cheng had taken the bait, Cao Zhang began to further seduce him.
Dong Cheng begged in fear: "Don't, Master, if the case is settled like this, I will be unjustly accused to death. I beg you, Master, to think of a way to help me clear my injustice."
Cao Zhang frowned and said in a contemplative state: "This is a serious crime of treason. How can I have the courage to talk nonsense. Unless I tell my father that the letter has been found, but it has nothing to do with you, General Dong. Only then can I get away with it in front of my father.”
Dong Cheng was overjoyed: "Then please help me get a letter to help me tide over the difficulties."
"This rebellion was really not done by you, General Dong?" Cao Zhang stared at Dong Cheng with his eyes wide open.
Dong Cheng knelt on his knees and swore with his fingers to the sky: "Absolutely not. I am loyal to the court and Sikong, and the world can learn from it!"
"Okay, I will believe you. If I find out any clues again in the future, I will not let you off lightly!" Cao Zhang warned Dong Cheng fiercely.
"Don't worry, young master, there will definitely be no problem!" Dong Cheng promised again and again.
"Although this letter alone can play a certain role in this matter, I think General you need to show some more sincerity to prove your loyalty to the court to my father." Cao Zhang saw Dong Cheng had followed his own wishes and started to put forward conditions directly.
"Young master, if you want me to express my loyalty, please just say so. I will definitely cooperate with you!" Dong Cheng just wanted to save his life and agreed without hesitation.
