Huan Fan led his men, controlled his facial expressions forcibly, and finally walked out of the periphery of Sima Yi's army. Only then did he dare to breathe a little relieved.
It was a crisp autumn day, and after walking only a short distance, his chest and back were already soaked to the skin.
Now that he was able to escape, he couldn't wait to say to Si Fan and Buqu:
"The matter is urgent. I must rush to Xuchang to report to the general. You and others must also hurry up."
"I expect Sima Yi will react soon, and he will definitely send people to chase him when the time comes. Don't be careless."
It's not that Huan Fan didn't know that taking these people to Xuchang personally was the most appropriate way.
But now that things have come to a point, Sima Yi will definitely not let him and others off easily.
When so many people walk together, it will not only slow down the journey, but also easily expose the target.
The lesser of two evils, even if he knew that leaving these people behind would be a flaw in his plot.
But right now, we can only protect ourselves first.
Although the mouth of the dead is naturally the safest.
But Huan Fan was not a general who led the army. Since he became an official in Cao Wei, he has basically been regarded as a civilian official.
After arriving in Jizhou, although he was appointed as the general of Zhenbei as usual, he was still unfamiliar with military matters.
Under the circumstances at that time, without the cooperation of Si Fan and other cronies, how could they barely stabilize the morale of the army under the pressure of Sima Yi's army?
Not to mention that without the assistance of Si Fan and others, it would not be so easy for Cao Shuang to wipe his ass with his own servant Ding Buqu.
So now we can only try our best to get these people to Xuchang.
After arriving in Xuchang, everything is easy to say.
Therefore, before Huan Fan left, he specifically said to Si Fan:
"If Sima Yi knew about what happened in Yecheng, it would be difficult for him to do anything good. So now you and I can be said to be in the same boat."
"If you are lucky enough to reach Xuchang safely, I will definitely tell the general about your achievements. Why worry about a reward when the time comes?"
After drawing a big piece of pie, Si Fan and others' eyes lit up.
After appeasing everyone, Huan Fan got on his horse, and with a few of his most trusted cronies, they galloped towards the south.
It's just that although the flatbread is delicious, if you want to eat it in your mouth, you have to go to Xuchang.
The most fatal problem facing Si Fan and others is that they are too close to Yecheng, or in other words, too close to Sima Yi.
But it is too far away from Xuchang, or in other words, from the general.
More importantly, the people sent by Taifu Sima to chase them were much faster than expected.
In order to catch up with Huan Fan as soon as possible, Sima Yi even sent out his precious cavalry.
Moreover, these elite cavalry were modeled after Ji Han's cavalry, equipped with a three-piece cavalry suit.
"Where is Lord Huan?"
Facing more than a hundred menacing Jingqi, Si Fan, who at this time still wanted to rush to Xuchang to receive his reward, although he wanted to resist.
But after taking a look at his side, he was immediately discouraged and simply ordered his men to abandon their weapons and surrender.
In order to get out of the city safely without being suspected, they all pretended to be Huanshi Jun's servants.
The one who holds it is no more than a sword, and the one who wears it is no more than cloth armor.
How can we fight against these arrogant elite knights in front of us?
Not to mention that Huan's servants, who only knew how to deal with weak women who were unable to resist, immediately dispersed when they saw the pursuers coming.
And I don’t know if they had received the order long ago, but these people actually scattered and ran away.
"Master, spare your life!"
It should be said that Si Fan is also a sensible person.
As soon as he was brought to Sima Taifu, he saw the Taifu's face that was so gloomy that it was almost dripping with water.
Before the Taifu could say anything, he immediately begged for mercy.
Huan Fan has already run away, so in the Yetai incident, he will have to take the blame and become the main culprit.
If you don’t beg for mercy now, when will you wait?
"Where are the talented people that Cao Shuang sent to Tongque Garden?"
Sima Yi asked in a low voice, staring at Si Fan.
Although Si Fan had long expected that the Tutor would ask about this matter, and the Tutor sent people to chase him and others, it was most likely because of this.
But when he heard the Taifu's question, cold sweat still broke out on his forehead, and his mouth started to stutter:
"Return to the Taifu's words, those, those..."
"Say it!"
Sima Yi shouted.
"Yes, yes," the villain said. Sweat flowed into his eyes, and Si Fan did not dare to reach out to wipe it. "Long before Taifu entered the city, Huan Shijun took the villain and others to bring the late emperor's talents to the city. , all, all..."
At this point, Si Fan didn't dare to continue talking.
"Shuzi wants to die!"
Sima Yi, who was usually very good at cultivating qi, no longer cared about his demeanor and demeanor at this time. He just drew his sword and looked like he was about to cut.
"If you don't say anything, believe it or not, I will let you sharpen your sword?"
"I can't help Huan Pifu. Do you really think I can't help you?"
"Even if your wife and children live in Xuchang, do you believe that I can still bully your entire family?"
"Believe it, believe it! The villain believes it!"
Si Fan's face was pale and his head felt like pounded garlic.
"Now I want you to tell me what Huan Fan did to the late Emperor's talents!"
Sima Yi was so angry that he passed by with his sword, and Si Fan's bun was immediately cut off.
"Yes, yes..." Si Fan felt a slight chill on his head and was frightened. He quickly said, "They were killed by Commander Huan. They were all killed by Commander Huan!"
Sima Yi had already guessed this answer, so he was not too surprised. He continued to ask:
"Where is the body? Where is the body buried?"
"They didn't bury them. Huan Shijun asked the villain to put the corpses, stones and iron tools in sacks and sink them in Zhangshui..."
"A common man! This is worse than a beast!"
Sima Yi cursed angrily and ordered:
"Where is Shen Yu? Lead the way there quickly!"
Although the water in Zhangshui in Yecheng was not too urgent, Huan Fan had people sink the corpses for several days. It was not easy to fish them up again.
Sima Yi sent a large number of men to search along the waterside.
A few days later, I tried my luck and picked up two sacks.
It's just that the corpse inside was already swollen and rotten by water, and was beyond recognition, making it difficult to identify.
Sima Yi had no choice but to let others restrain and bury him.
The talents of the late emperor sent by Cao Shuang to Yetai were not found in Ye City, which made Sima Yi's plan not so perfect.
He might even give Cao Shuang some truth in the future.
But the matter has come to this, and there is no use in regretting.
However, Cao Shuang has always kept things secret, and the Three Dogs in Taichung are even more rampant.
The fact that the late emperor's talents were secretly hidden in the general's palace has become an open secret in the court.
Even if Cao Shuang is not caught this time, it does not mean that Cao Shuang has not done those things.
Not to mention that he still has Si Fan and others in his hands.
The only thing to worry about is how to cover up the army's unauthorized entry into Yecheng in order to block Youyou's mouth?
Alas, I'm afraid it will take a lot of effort!
Just when Sima Yi was trying to figure out how to take over Jizhou at the minimum cost.
Huan Fan was already running all the way, crossing the river from Baimajin, traveling day and night, entering Chenliu, and then ran from Chenliu to Xuchang.
Cao Shuang was shocked when he heard that Huan Fan had arrived, and hurriedly came out to greet him personally.
When he saw Huan Fan's appearance, he couldn't believe that the man in front of him was his fellow countryman:
"But in front of Yuan Zejun? You, how did you become like this?"
But when he saw the man in front of him, his head was disheveled and his long hair covered half of his face, and the exposed face was covered with gray and black dirt.
The clothes on his body were all stained with mud. If it weren't for the fact that the fabric and the jade pendant used to hold the clothes could not be identified, they belonged to a powerful person. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the person in front of him was a refugee fleeing famine.
When Huan Fan saw Cao Shuang, he quickly stepped forward and said three words: "General..."
Cao Shuang felt a stench coming from his nose. He quickly covered his nose and took a few steps back:
"You, are you really Yuan Ze?"
Although Cao Shuang and Huan Fan were from the same hometown, it seemed that Cao Shuang treated Huan Fan quite politely.
Otherwise, he would not be allowed to serve as the governor of Jizhou.
But in Cao Shuang's heart, he was not very close to Huan Fan.
Normally, Cao Shuang would be able to hide his inner feelings, but at this time, the stench emanating from Huan Fan's body really made him nauseous.
This action of covering the nose and retreating is a subconscious behavior.
Huan Fan finally came to his senses when he saw Cao Shuang acting like this.
Although he knew it was him who was a little embarrassed, Cao Shuang's actions made him feel uncomfortable.
At this time, Cao Shuang also reacted and put down the hand covering his nose.
"Yuan Ze, this is, what is going on with you?"
"Forget it." Huan Fan was a little downcast, "Sima Yi is good at leading troops across the state border. He surrounded Yecheng and Jizhou. He has already fallen into the hands of an old man."
"What!" Cao Shuang's face changed drastically when he heard this, "Why do you do this?"
Huan Fan ran all the way without stopping, and his speed was faster than the speed at which the news spread.
Not long after Cao Shuang received the news that Jizhou was besieged, he heard from Huan Fan that Jizhou had been lost. He was really shocked and angry.
There was even some intention of blaming Huan Fan in his heart.
Seeing Cao Shuang's extremely ugly look, Huan Fan smiled bitterly and told Sima Yi's plan.
After hearing this, Cao Shuang was shocked into a cold sweat again.
But he gritted his teeth and said:
"This old thief Sima Yi is really vicious. He wants to kill me!"
Originally he was a little angry that Huan Fan had lost Jizhou, but now he heard that Huan Fan had done so many things for him before escaping from Yecheng.
My heart has turned from anger to gratitude.
"General, the old thief Sima crossed the state border without permission, surrounded Yecheng with troops, and openly slandered the general. His rebellious intentions are clearly exposed."
Seeing Cao Shuang's behavior, Huan Fan quickly suggested:
"The general should immediately report to the emperor, issue an edict to remove him from the post of Taifu, denounce him as a treason, and summon a large army to conquer him."
"That's natural!" After Cao Shuang blurted out, he seemed to think of something again, his face changed, and he was a little embarrassed, "Oh, actually, I have wanted to kill the old thief for a long time."
"It's just," he said, shaking his head with a troubled look on his face, "Oh, the Western bandit is very powerful. I want to use his hand to stop the bandit, so I have to keep him for now."
"Besides, it's not like you don't know, Yuan Ze, that over the past few years, the country has been in crisis, and the Wu bandits from the south have invaded the north every year, making it increasingly difficult to control them. Alas!"
"For the sake of the overall situation, I have been holding back. I didn't expect that old thief to be so disregardful of the safety of the country!"
Huan Fan frowned when he heard Cao Shuang's nagging words.
In fact, how could he not know the current situation of Da Wei?
If we really want to attack Sima Yi immediately, will we make the Western bandits and Southern bandits laugh out loud?
At that time, it will only lead to the overthrow of the Wei Dynasty and the loss of the country's title.
Therefore, his real intention is just to ask:
"General, did the Wu invaders really capture Xiangyang this time when they invaded the north? How much did the Wei army lose in the south?"
Cao Shuang's face became increasingly ugly:
"That guy Sun Quan is really cunning and cunning. He actually used his body as bait to attack Hefei, Shouchun and other places."
"But Lu Xun was sent to attack Xiangyang secretly. What's even more disgusting is that the Western thief Feng Yong actually went to Chencaoqiao Pass to cooperate with Lu Xun."
When Cao Shuang said this, he sighed, "Guanqiu Jian, the governor of Jingzhou, focused on one thing but not the other, and was at a loss of what to do. Xiangyang was finally captured by Lu Xun."
This was one of the reasons why he did not blame Huan Fan directly.
One lost Yecheng and the other lost Xiangyang.
The eldest brother does not talk about the second brother.
"How big is the loss of Jingzhou's troops?"
"Guanqiu Jian led the main force of Jingzhou and went to Caoqiao Pass to defend against Feng's thieves. Although there are many defenders left in Xiangyang, in general, it is better to lose some vitality than to wipe out the entire army."
Not to mention Xiangyang, Cao Shuang became more and more irritable when he mentioned Xiangyang.
In the past few days, there has been a lot of discussion between the government and the public, and many veterans have taken the opportunity to make trouble and have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with themselves.
All he had to do was point out directly that he, the general, was a person of "poor virtue and respectability" and "drinking and sex was poisonous".
In order to appease both inside and outside, Cao Shuang already felt a little anxious.
No matter how stupid he is, he still knows that this is definitely not the time to openly attack Sima Yi.
Otherwise, there is no telling whether the Western bandits and Nan bandits will take advantage of the situation.
Even within the Wei Dynasty, if I send a large army to the north today, someone might raise troops to respond to Sima Yi tomorrow.
After all, the impact of losing Xiangyang is too great.
This was the first time since the founding of the Wei Dynasty that the territory was taken away by the Wu invaders.
Not to mention the importance of Xiangyang to Jingzhou.
Without Xiangyang, Nanyang will be unstable.
If Nanyang is unstable, Xuchang will be uneasy.
After losing territory externally, it would be strange if the government and the opposition did not fall into discord if they used troops internally again.
"The general has the overall situation in mind, so he has concerns. I naturally understand that Sima Yi will not think about Wei."
Huan Fan knew that Cao Shuang's concerns were not entirely unreasonable, but he still had to remind him:
"Sima Yi was outside Ye City. He listed many crimes and slandered the general. He made it clear that he was at odds with the general."
"Even if the general wants to fight Sima Yi for the sake of the country, he must make preparations as soon as possible."
Cao Shuang frowned after hearing this: "What can I do?"
"If the general wants to put the overall situation first, he must try to stabilize Sima Yi and prevent him from looking south."
Cao Shuang sighed: "Can Sima Yi'an comply with my wishes?"
Huan Fan had already thought of a way to escape, and he immediately said:
"General, Sima Yi can't find the late emperor's talented daughter in Yecheng, and most of his righteousness has been lost."
"The general should rebuke him to show his innocence, and then order him to guard all the towns in Taihang to prevent Western thieves and make meritorious deeds."
"If Sima Yi wants to annex Jizhou, he will definitely follow the trend and pretend to obey the general's orders in order to control Hebei."
"When the world saw Sima Yi acting like this, they naturally thought that the general's rebuke to Sima Yi was justified, and those who are righteous will be righteous themselves."
After hearing this, Cao Shuang nodded secretly and asked again:
"Old thief Sima is very scheming, I'm afraid he may not be fooled."
Huan Fan said:
"Unless Sima Yi is really dedicated to serving the public good and has no desire to invade Jizhou, if he ignores the safety of the Wei Dynasty and sends his army south."
"In this case, the general can issue an edict from the emperor to remove him from the position of Taifu, and then accuse him of slandering important ministers and violating the laws of the Wei Dynasty. His intention is to commit rebellion."
"When the time comes, he has no great righteousness in his hands and does not care about the overall situation. How can he fall into disrepute? How can the knowledgeable people of Wei follow him?"
When Cao Shuang heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Wonderful!"
If Sima Yi obeyed the order, how could he have the dignity to oppose himself with righteousness in the future?
If you don't obey orders, you will fall into disrepair. Why should you be afraid?
Wonderful, really wonderful!
