Chapter 741: Bet before the Soul
It is said that Yang Xiu cut Xia Houchen's throat with a knife in front of the soul, but at this moment, facing Cao Pi's eyes, he remained silent. Cao Pi shouted "Dezu", which made Yang Xiu's heart skip a beat, and he walked up to Cao Pi.
Cao Pi looked at this world-famous bachelor with a faint look. Yang Xiu is the great-great-grandson of Yang Zhen and the son of Yang Biao. He comes from a family with hairpins for generations. He is known as "Since Zhenzhi Biao, the Fourth Taiwei". Now it is still nominally the court of the Han Dynasty, and the emperor has settled here, so Cao Cao can use the emperor to control the princes. If Yang Xiu was killed like this, it would probably cause turmoil in the court, and his father would not let him go.
Just when Yang Xiu was shocked by the sight, Cao Pi finally put his hand down from the hilt of the sword, suddenly patted Yang Xiu's shoulder affectionately, and said, "Dezu, please listen to me."
Yang Xiu nodded blankly, not daring to look up at Cao Pi. Cao Pi said slowly: "Although what Dezu did today is reckless, it is very satisfying. Even I can understand Dezu's loyalty to the Cao family. I know that you feel sorry for the tragic death of my grandfather and eldest brother. If fate is right in the future, My family has someone to rely on, and the Cao family will definitely not treat you badly."
This sentence has a double meaning. I won't treat you badly, and it also means that I will settle the accounts after the fall. Yang Xiu could not help but nod in approval, saying "fearful" as beads of sweat oozed from his forehead. Cao Zhi was slightly surprised. Yang Dezu had always been bold, but today he seemed a little weak. However, he didn't know that since Cao Ang's death, Cao Pi, as the eldest son of Cao in reality, had gained some authority. This bit of authority naturally made Yang Xiu, who was usually extremely arrogant, feel a little more in awe.
After Cao Pi said that, he was no longer interested in watching Yang Xiu's performance, and turned to comfort the panicked Xia Houheng. After all, Xia Houheng was a mature and prudent man, unlike his younger sister Xia Houjuan, who had a fiery temperament. He did not dare to say much and claimed to be guilty. He only asked Cao Pi to give Xia Houcheng a complete body and to be buried in the family tomb. After receiving Cao Pi's permission, Xia Houheng asked his family to collect the body for Xia Houcheng, said goodbye and left, and sent people to look for Xia Houjuan without mentioning it.
Besides, Cao Pi had finished appeasing Xia Houheng, and many people at the scene said goodbye and dispersed. The three Cao Pi brothers were supposed to be waiting at the mourning hall, so they all wore plain clothes and white hats and squatted in order on the mourning hall. After a long silence, Cao Pi finally broke the silence and said to Cao Zhang: "Third brother! How is the battle on the front line going?"
Cao Zhi also cast a concerned look. After all, it was war time, and military merit was the most important thing. Cao Zhang said: "Although Yang Feng and Han Xian were conferred heads, they hated the old ghost Yuan Shu for allowing his men to plunder, which caused heavy losses to the family. My father has made up his mind this time and will never withdraw his troops until Yuan Gongluo is beheaded."
Cao Pi nodded slightly, and Cao Zhang continued: "Currently, heavy troops are gathered on the road to Yuan Shu's hometown, Luoyang. As for how the troops will be divided, my father must have some plans. As far as I know, there will be a large-scale attack in the south of Luoyang. There is a battle, so it’s hard for my father to be away from home, and he may not even be able to attend my grandfather’s funeral in time.”
Sima Yi and Yang Dezu behind him both disagreed. Although Cao Zhang was strong in military force, his intelligence was average. How could he accurately figure out Cao Cao's thoughts. I am afraid that for Cao Cao, he deliberately left this mourning hall to the three sons of the Cao family, opening up the first battlefield for them to compete for the reserve position.
Cao Zhi flicked the sword on his waist and sighed: "I really want to get on horseback and gallop to the front line, so that I can lead a group of surprise troops and share my father's worries."
Cao Pi shook his head and said: "Fourth brother, you have too little experience in fighting. If you just want to move forward bravely, a third child is enough." After saying this, he knocked on his head and said: "In this world, although the Cao family occupies the central plains, Shuo, but there are Guan Yu and Yuan Shao in the north, Sun Ce and Huang Zhong in the south, and the powerful Qinglong Army in the west. If they take advantage of the situation to rob me, I'm afraid my father's base area will be threatened by the enemy before the battle is over."
Although Cao Zhi doesn't know how to fight, he is not stupid. He just felt it. After listening to Cao Pi's analysis of the world situation, he tried to say: "If there is nothing to do, why not think about it, what should be done if the second brother comes to unify this chaotic world?" ?”
Although this topic is a big one, Cao Pi and Sima Yi talked about the world every day, and they have deduced this matter countless times. So he happily said: "Yuan Shu occupied Luoyang in the middle, and the surrounding forces all wanted to get rid of him quickly. But no one wanted to take the lead, lest they become the target of public criticism. Now that God has given us the opportunity, it is a great opportunity for us to capture Luoyang. But if we pull the trigger, we will be able to seize Luoyang. Using our whole body, the first thing we have to guard against is when Yuan Shu goes to his younger brother Yuan Shao for help."
Cao Zhang heard that he was surprised and said: "Yuan Shao was suppressed by Guan Yu of the Qinglong Army, and was attacked from the north and south by Gongsun Zan. He is already on the verge of death, and his power is only one city. How can he stand up again?"
Cao Pi shook his head and said: "Lao San, use your brain. Although Yuan Shu is a piece of fat, who is more fertile compared to our Cao family's territory?"
Cao Zhang said without thinking: "Qingzhou and Yanzhou are thousands of miles away with fertile fields, and the people are prosperous. Luoyang has suffered several disasters, and has long since run out of gas. How can it be compared with our homeland that we have managed for a long time."
Cao Pi said: "Exactly. Therefore, in the eyes of the surrounding wolves, the Cao family is a piece of fat meat, and everyone is eyeing it. If our black-armored army had not defeated all the invincible enemies in the world, and it was not easy to form an alliance, I am afraid that the surrounding forces would have attacked them long ago. Of."
Hearing this, Cao Zhang nodded and said he had been taught, but still asked: "Then why are we worried about Yuan Shao?"
Cao Pi nodded and said: "Although Yuan Shao is dying, if brothers Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao use Luoyang as bait and join forces with Zhou Buji and Guan Yu of the Qinglong Army to send troops from Juancheng and Yecheng, our Chenliu and Taishan counties will be in danger. Base camp If he wavered, how could my father not withdraw his troops and return to camp?"
Cao Zhang nodded slightly, and Cao Pi said again: "You and I, my brothers, are here and can't go to the front line. If you want to help my father, you must lead troops to defend the city. Why don't you and I make a bet here?"
Cao Zhi also became interested and immediately asked: "What bet?"
Cao Pi said: "The three of you and I will wait until the funeral is over and go north immediately. Each of us will defend a city and see who can resist the coalition forces of Yuan Shao and Guan Yu. How about it? If we can succeed, my father will no longer have to worry about looking north."
Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi understood and couldn't help but exclaim loudly. Cao Zhang worriedly said: "The plan is a good one, but my father may not agree with it, so what can I do?"
Cao Zhi said: "Since it is a bet, if anyone loses and fails to keep it, how should he be punished?"
The two of them each asked a question. Cao Pi sighed slightly, shook his head and said something. The three brothers would eventually fall apart from now on.
If you want to know what happens next, listen to the explanation next time.
