Soon Zhang Liao beheaded Tadun under his horse. When others saw it, they all surrendered. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang continued towards Liaodong with thousands of cavalry.
Cao Cao gathered his troops into Liucheng and made Tianchou the Marquis of Liuting. As the governor of Liucheng, Tianchou refused and said: "I am a deserter who has betrayed his righteousness and escaped. I live because of my kindness. I already feel very lucky. How can I betray others in exchange for it?" There’s a reward! Even if I’m executed, I can’t accept this reward.”
Cao Cao admired his loyalty very much, so he worshiped Tian Chou Yilang, comforted Shan Yu and others, tamed tens of thousands of horses, and soon decided to retreat.
At that time, the weather was severely cold and dry, there was no water source for 200 miles, and the army lacked food and grass. They had to kill horses to make food, and sent people to dig the ground to a depth of thirty to forty feet before finding underground water.
After Cao Cao returned to Yizhou, he rewarded those who had previously warned him, and said to everyone: "I risked the expedition before and succeeded by luck. Although I won, it was God's blessing and cannot be used as a guideline. Everyone's advice to me The remonstrance is very correct, so I will give you a reward and don’t mention this matter again in the future.”
When Cao Cao returned to Yizhou, he realized that Guo Jia had died of illness for a long time and his body had not yet been buried. Cao Cao went to worship in person and cried loudly: "Guo Fengxiao is dead. God is going to destroy me!"
He turned around and said to everyone: "You are all as old as me, but Guo Jia is the youngest. I was originally going to entrust him with all my future affairs, but I didn't expect that he would pass away in middle age, which broke my heart."
The person responsible for taking care of Guo Jia presented a letter written by Guo Jia before his death to Cao Cao, saying: "Before his death, Mr. Guo personally wrote this letter and told us that if the prime minister follows the content of my letter, Liaodong The matter will be settled easily.”
Cao Cao opened the letter, read the contents, nodded and sighed. No one knew what it meant. On the second day, Xiahou Dun led everyone to report: "The governor of Liaodong, Gongsun Kang, has not surrendered for a long time. Now Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have taken refuge with him. It must be a disaster. It is better to take advantage of them. As long as we conquer them quickly, Liaodong can be pacified."
Cao Cao smiled and said: "There is no need to bother you about the expedition. In a few days, Gongsun Kang will send the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi to us."
After hearing this, all the generals did not believe it, but Cao Cao insisted on his idea and did not explain too much.
At this time, Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi took a thousand cavalry to defect to Liaodong. The governor of Liaodong was called Gongsun Kang, who was from Xiangping and the son of Wuwei general Gongsun Du. He heard the news that Yuan Shang and Yuan Xilai had defected to Liaodong that day, so he took his troops with them. People and horses come to discuss how to handle this matter.
Gongsun Gong said: "When Yuan Shao was still alive, he had the mood to annex Liaodong. Now that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang are defeated and about to perish. They have nowhere to go, so they have come to join us. They must be preparing to take our place. If we take them in If we kill them, they won't thank us, and I'm afraid they will plot against us later, so why not trick them into the city, kill them, and then give their heads to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will definitely treat us seriously."
Gongsun Kang sighed: "I am afraid that Cao Cao will come to Liaodong with his troops at this time, so it is better to let two Yuan come to our use and help us."
Gongsun Gong said: "This matter is very simple. If Cao's army comes to attack us, leave their lives. If Cao's army makes no move, then kill them and give their heads to Cao Cao."
Gongsun Kang agreed and sent people to track the progress of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. The two were indeed almost there, but they did not enter immediately. Instead, they secretly discussed together and said: "There are tens of thousands of troops in Liaodong. We can follow them." Cao Cao is trying to resist, we have no choice but to defect first, and when the opportunity is ripe, we will kill Gongsun Kang, seize his city, then recharge our batteries, and then slowly plot the Central Plains, and first regain our Hebei province."
The two of them made a plan, and then went to see Gongsun Kang. Gongsun Kang treated him well and sent him to the inn. He said that he was sick and not in good health, so he did not go to meet him.
One day later, the spy sent by Gongsun Kang also came back and reported: "Cao Cao annexed Yizhou and has no intention of attacking Liaodong."
Gongsun Kang was very happy after hearing this, so he asked the swordsman to ambush in the closet, and then personally hosted a banquet for Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi.
After saluting, he sat down. The weather was cold at that time. Yuan Shang saw that there was nothing to cushion the place where he sat, so he asked, "I hope there can be some cushion before sitting."
Gongsun Kang suddenly sneered and said: "Your heads will soon be separated from your bodies. Where will there be any mats! Yuan Shang was very surprised after hearing this and stood up suddenly."
Gongsun Kang shouted: "Don't take it down yet."
The axemen attacked from behind, and the two of them did not take too much precaution. They chopped off their heads from behind, put them in wooden boxes, and then sent people to Yizhou to see Cao Cao.
At that time, Cao Cao happened to be in Yizhou and had not mobilized troops. The generals did not know why. Xiahou Dun and Zhang Liao entered and advised: "If you don't attack Liaodong, just return to Xudu. Liu Biao will definitely attack Xudu."
Cao Cao disapproved and said: "We will go back when Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi's heads arrive."
Everyone laughed secretly after hearing this. As soon as they left, they saw someone coming to report the situation, saying that Gongsun Kang sent someone to deliver the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. Everyone was very surprised.
The envoy presented the letter, and Cao Cao smiled and said: "Sure enough, everything is as expected by Guo Jia!" After saying this, he rewarded the envoy generously, and then made Gongsun Kang the Marquis of Xiangping and General Zuo. Everyone asked: "What happened? Isn’t it as expected by Guo Jia?”
Cao Cao took out Guo Jia's suicide note. The content of the book was: "I heard that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were going to defect to Liaodong. Duke Ming must not use troops against Liaodong. Gongsun Kang had been afraid of Yuan Shao's annexation for a long time. They must defect to Liaodong." Doubts will arise. If we lead the troops to attack, they will definitely unite to face the enemy and be unable to attack for a long time; if we do nothing, Gongsun Kang and Er Yuan will definitely be suspicious of each other, and their situation will be ruined."
After everyone saw it, they all praised it and felt ashamed. Cao Cao led all the officials to worship in front of Guo Jia. Guo Jia was only thirty-eight years old when he died. He had followed him on the expedition for eleven years and made a lot of contributions. After the memorial service, Cao Cao took his troops and horses to prepare to return to Jizhou and sent someone to deliver Guo Jia's coffin to Xudu. Go to burial.
Cheng Yu and other generals came out and suggested: "Now that the north has been pacified, we can return to Xudu and think about ways to attack Jiangnan as soon as possible."
Cao Cao smiled and said: "I have had this ambition for a long time. What everyone said is exactly what I think. Now I am ready to return to Xudu."
