In Fenggao City, Zang Ba was teaching his sons Zang Ai and Zang Shun in martial arts, when he suddenly reported that Xiahou Dun had sent someone to send an order, and he hurriedly asked Sun Kang and Yin Li to receive the envoy together.
Since the battle of Shouchun, where his brothers Sun Guan and Yin Li were killed, Cao Cao ordered him to return to defend Mount Tai, so he led his old troops back to their hometown, taught the disciples to become talented, and guarded the area with peace of mind.
Unexpectedly, in just two or three years, the situation in the world suddenly changed. Cao Cao went to the north and Liu Qi conquered Wu. Cao Pi was afraid of himself. When he moved the capital to Yecheng, he sent people to take his family to Handan.
The euphemistic name is to protect civil and military relatives, and to ask famous scholars and great scholars to teach them so that everyone can fight the enemy with peace of mind. In fact, everyone knows that this is to use the heirs as a pledge to prevent the story of Zhang He and Yu Jin from happening again.
Zang Ba was angry, and Sun Kang and Yin Li strongly opposed it, but they were helpless due to the situation. Just when he was hesitating, Cao Cao's troops returned to the court, and the matter was settled.
I thought that the Prime Minister's return and personal visit to Xuzhou would be able to turn the tide and turn things around. Unexpectedly, news came that he had been killed in battle. Zang Ba couldn't believe it and personally sent his confidants to Xiapi to inquire about the news. Only then did he find out that Cao Cao had indeed been killed.
I was filled with emotion for a while, thinking that he was originally an official of the imperial court, but due to the corruption of the government, he was not reused. Coupled with the Yellow Turban Rebellion, thieves were everywhere, so he gathered righteous people to Mount Tai to protect themselves.
He only wanted to abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side, get rid of his bad name, go through Tao Qian and Lu Bu, and witness the rise and fall of Xuzhou. I thought that Cao Cao was a wise master who could make great achievements and honor his ancestors. Who knows that now Cao Cao has also been ruined and his future has become bleak.
What makes Zang Ba even more uneasy is that Cao Pi's fear of him has never disappeared. Although he was entrusted by Cao Cao with the important task of protecting the east and clearing Haidai, he was once the emperor and his ministers. Now that Cao Pi has succeeded the king of Wei, his own good life may also be difficult. It's over.
After seeing off the envoy, Zang Ba discussed with the two of them: "Liu Qi has captured Xuzhou. How can he send troops to Xiaopei without peeking at Mount Tai? There are tigers on the side, but he wants us to support Jinan. Liu Qi will definitely take the opportunity to come. However, if he does not send troops , and it is suspected of disobeying the order, what do you two wise brothers have to say?"
Sun Kang was already dissatisfied with the Cao family because his brother was killed, and said angrily: "After Cao Cao's death, many of his brothers have left without permission. Who will obey orders when we send out troops again? Cao Pi's son is dissatisfied with us, so why should my elder brother still do it for him?" Working hard?"
Yin Li said, "The King of Wei has been dissatisfied with us for a long time. If we disobey the order, we may cause great trouble. How can we survive in this small place like Mount Tai?"
Sun Kang said loudly: "As the saying goes, those who understand the current affairs are heroes. Brothers have died and dispersed over the years. Cao Cao was defeated. Cao Wei's situation is over. We should have made plans in advance."
"Don't talk nonsense." Zang Ba shouted coldly, frowning and silent.
When Cao Cao died, his Xuzhou army and some Qingzhou soldiers believed that the Cao family would be defeated and the world would be in chaos. Many people left without authorization. After Cao Pi came to the throne, he ordered Xiahou Dun to be the governor of the Central Plains and questioned this matter.
But no matter what, Cao Cao was kind to him, so how could he be ungrateful?
For a moment, Zang Ba suddenly felt that the hero was in his twilight years, and he was even a little tired of such trade-offs and fights. More than ten years of bloody troubles, in the end, turned out to be in vain.
After a long while, Zang Ba said to the two of them: "If there were no Prime Minister Cao, we would all be like Lu Bu, buried in Xuzhou! Although my fame is not obvious now, I am still a marquis and a general. Since I have been ordered by the imperial court, I will eat the wealth of the country. , An De can’t disobey orders?”
Sun Kang sneered and said, "Although eldest brother is determined to serve the country, he doesn't know that Cao sees us as his pawns, just for his use."
Zang Ba sighed: "Since ancient times, the destiny of a successful king or a defeated enemy is unpredictable. A true man should be clear about his grudges and have a beginning and an end. This dispatch of troops is considered as a contribution to the country and to repay Prime Minister Cao's kindness. After this battle, you can go and stay as you please. , I should also resign and retire."
Yin Li said worriedly: "It's not that we are unwilling to send troops, but Liu Qi is in Xuzhou, how can we turn a blind eye? Even if Xiahou Dun has a general, he should know the situation in Mount Tai, surrounded by powerful enemies, how can he go out lightly? If he heard that we were sending troops, , will definitely attack, I'm afraid..."
Zang Bayan said: "Brother Sun Xian led 3,000 troops to increase troops in the Mengshan and Sishui areas. The terrain here is dangerous and it is difficult for a large army to move. It is not enough to stop Xuzhou's troops. If Liu Qi really sends a large army, I can return to Fenggao in time." , even if he could not go to Jinan at that time, Xiahou Yuanrang had nothing to say."
Sun Kang was still unhappy, and after being persuaded by Yin Li, he reluctantly accepted the order and led his troops to Mengshan.
Zang Ba left his two sons to guard the city, and he and Yin Li led 10,000 elite troops to support Jinan. These subordinates were all former subordinates. They knew the terrain of Mount Tai very well and were able to march at night with ease.
Along the way, Zang Ba's thoughts were racing, and he looked at his troops behind him. He had suffered countless casualties over the years, but he never gave up. He once claimed to have a hundred thousand soldiers, but now only one or two tenths are left.
Thinking back to the grand words of sharing glory and wealth, I felt inexplicably ashamed of Zang Ba. Except for the old and disabled, everyone was still on the road to war, and he couldn't even give them a home and a career.
After the troops left Mount Tai, they headed towards the territory of Jinan. Zang Ba sent scouts to inquire about the news ahead, and ordered the soldiers to rest on the spot and prepare for battle.
Yin Li complained: "Zhou Yu made a surprise attack on Qingzhou and defended it for two years. He actually gave this place to Lu Xun. I'm afraid he had colluded with Liu Qi. Today, Mount Tai has become an isolated land. We are also in danger of being overturned. We have too much time to take care of ourselves. Why bother?"
Zang Ba said resolutely: "It is a matter of loyalty to others when you are entrusted by others! How can you not repay Duke Cao's kindness?"
Yin Li said worriedly: "Zhou Yu is not an easy person. He is proficient in strategy and knows the art of war. The prime minister used to be quite afraid of him. I'm afraid this trip may not go smoothly."
Zang Ba's face was as dark as water, and he said slowly: "A real man must do what he has to do. No matter whether he wins or loses, he just wants to have a clear conscience."
Yin Li was silent for a long time, and then suddenly asked: "Brother, are you really going to abandon Mount Tai and retire in the future?"
Zang Ba sighed with emotion: "Fate has no time to wait for us! Judging from the current situation, Han Zuo should not be eliminated. This battle is exactly what I want to end with the Cao family."
Yin Li asked: "Why not surrender Liu Qi and build his reputation again?"
"How can a certain noble husband be a villain?" Zang Ba couldn't help but get angry and helplessly sighed: "I didn't choose Liu Xuande at the beginning. This is my fate!"
Not long after, scouts came to report that Zhou Yu was leading troops to besiege Jinan. Only the west gate was left to allow the defenders to escape. The other three places were suppressed by weapons. Many parts of the city wall had been destroyed and were in danger.
Yin Li said: "Zhou Yu has many soldiers, and there are generals such as Zhou Tai. How easy is it to break the siege of Jinan?"
Zang Bayan said: "The Wu army has been besieging it for two days. We are definitely not expecting a surprise attack from the mountains. We can contact Tian Yu first and cooperate with each other inside and outside to defeat the enemy."
Although Yin Li complained constantly along the way, he obeyed Zang Ba's orders. He immediately summoned soldiers from each battalion to convey the order, cooked and fed themselves in the mountains after dark, and prepared for the expedition in the middle of the night.
Zang Ba also sent people down the mountain and sneaked into the city after dark. He made an agreement with Tian Yu to rob the camp at the fourth watch and use the signal of raising fire to fight back the Wu soldiers inside and outside and relieve the siege of Jinan.
