Chapter 308 If You Don’t Die with One Step, You Won’t Be Alone.

Chapter 308 Unless you die with one step, you will never be alone——

Because of the defeat of Feishui Camp, Shouchun City was heavily guarded, with countless soldiers and horses displayed at the top of the city, and bows, crossbows and arrows.

There are also many watchtowers several feet high standing on the city tower. These tall watchtowers are like giants, guarding the last bottom line of Huainan - Shouchun City!

Outside the city gate, countless antlers and horses are intertwined with each other. They are intricate, numerous, and tightly furnished. Any enemy who sees them will feel scared and retreat.

Beyond these antlers and horses are deep trenches. There is no water in the trenches during the dry season.

However, Cao Wei's soldiers and horses were ambushed among them. They looked around vigilantly, fearing that there would be another tragedy like the "burning of the company camp" last night.

If you take a hard time, you still have to gain wisdom!

At the top of the city, thousands of large flags with the word "Wei" fluttered in the wind, stretching their bodies wantonly in the high air.

A gust of wind blew by, and all these flags were unfolded, covering the sky and the sun.

The tight protection of Shouchun City seems to be to tell Soochow that the Wei Dynasty has been defeated for a while, but the power of the Wei Dynasty is still not something that you can covet and challenge!

certainly…

Such a battle, when Zhang Liao was missing and Cao Cao had a headache and fainted, seemed to be a cover-up and bluff.

Even Soochow can see...

At this moment, Cao Wei's control over Huainan has reached its weakest point.

…

Cao Cao has woken up, as if overnight, he has aged ten years...

He was immersing his head in warm water to relieve the excruciating pain caused by a headache.

Cao Zhi has been guarding Cao Cao for a long time...

He didn't dare to say a word, so he waited quietly for Cao Cao.

Finally, Cao Cao's head was taken out of the warm water. The maid on the side dried his hair and combed his bun. Cao Cao asked lightly: "Wen Yuan? Haven't you found it yet?"

Cao Zhi quickly replied: "Reporting to my father, no... However, General Zhang was not among the burnt corpses in Feishui Camp."

"If there is no news, then that is good news! Wenyuan alone will not fall so easily." Cao Cao showed a different kind of open-mindedness. He then asked: "Who is stationed in Shouchun City now?"

"It's Zidan..."

Zi Dan is Cao Zhen, whose father died in battle for Cao Cao. Cao Zhen was adopted by Cao Cao as an adopted son since he was a child. He has always taken him by his side and taught him by words and deeds. He is the most outstanding general among Cao Wei's younger generation, except Cao Xiu.

After Cao Chun's death, the remnants of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and the newly recruited Tiger and Leopard Cavalry were placed under the command of Cao Zhen.

However, Cao Zhen is still young. How can his command be comparable to that of Zhang Liao and Zhang Wenyuan?

"It only took one day or one night...the direction of the wind changed." Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh: "Jiangxia, Gu defeated General Le Jin, General Dong Heng, and General Dong Chao, then Hou Yin and Wei Kai rebelled, and that Zhu Ling and his son don’t know what’s going on? A total of 80,000 people, Jiangxia lost 80,000 people in one day!”

After talking about Jiangxia, Cao Cao changed his subject, "On the battlefield of Jiangling, Xu Huang set up camp and hung up his exemption card. He was trying to contain Guan Yu. I really couldn't figure it out. With his camp, I couldn't attack Guan Yu. How could I How come General Xu Huang fainted from the fire?"

"There is also the Feishui Camp. Gu knew that Gan Ning of Soochow would not be left alone. Gu specially laid ten ambushes for him. It was this damn fire that caused Gu... Gu's hard work to be destroyed in one day, and even Gu's Wen Yuan also...also..."

Speaking of which…

Cao Cao's expression became more and more tragic. He had never suffered such a blow since his defeat in Chibi.

"My father's headache has just improved, so it's not appropriate to worry too much..."

Cao Zhi quickly advised him, fearing that his father Cao Cao would have a splitting headache because of this again.

Cao Cao took a deep breath and was about to speak, but at this moment.

"Prime Minister, we have identified the fire starter." Cheng Yu walked in from the door, bowed his hands in salute, and wanted to continue speaking, but seeing that Cao Cao was not in good spirits, he quickly swallowed everything he wanted to say.

"Tell me! What is that kindling?"

"It's flint!" Cheng Yu said truthfully: "Last night, when Gan Ning attacked the camp, each soldier was carrying a clay pot on his back, and there were two things hidden in the clay pot. One was fish oil, and the fish oil was filled with eggs. Among them, the second was flint powder... It was these two objects hidden in the clay pots. As Gan Ning rushed forward, he ordered the cavalry to smash the clay pots along the way. The flints and fish oil were scattered on the ground. It was precisely because of this... In the end, the flints met The fire stirred up flames that soared into the sky and spread throughout the military camp! The entire fire process was completed in a blink of an eye!"

Cheng Yu's words suddenly cleared up the huge doubt in Cao Cao's mind.

"It turns out it was flint and fish oil..." Cao Cao squinted, "So that's it. Now that I know, Xu Huang and Yu Jin were probably defeated like this..."

Speaking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but have a new doubt in his mind.

"But where did Soochow come from so many flints?"

yes…

Not only flint, but also all ignition materials in this era, such as rosin, asphalt, fire oil... these are all valuable but not marketable.

Even on the black market, if you want to buy it, it is extremely scarce.

Otherwise, in the Chibi water battle, the two sides would not be shooting ordinary arrows, but fire arrows.

This is the most puzzling thing for Cao Cao. He, Cao Cao, could not produce these "ignition objects" from nine mines. How could he produce so many flints in this corner of Soochow?

Of course, "Anlu City" is not the only place where "Bailin" can be dug out.

For example, Xiangyang under Cao Cao's jurisdiction is listed as one of the "three major phosphate rock" producing areas in China, along with Jinning in Yunnan and Kaiyang in Guizhou, and is known as the "Three Yang Kaitai"!

It's a pity that there are so many mountains in these places. How could Cao Cao know where to dig?

Today, the only place with an exact location is Sifang Mountain outside Anlu City.

Only Guan Lin was left digging and digging in that small square mountain!

"Prime Minister..." Seeing Cao Cao's doubts, Cheng Yu continued, "According to the detailed reports in Soochow, it seems that these pottery pots were sent from Jiangxia? It was sent by that...that Guan Lin."

Well…

Hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes condensed. He quickly looked at the location of Jiangxia on the map. His eyes widened and he said loudly: "Is this Guan Jia Shi Lang Guan Lin again?"

The worst loser in this battle, the one with the heaviest losses was Jiang Xia and Guan Jia Shilang.

This couldn't help but make Cao Cao daydream, and he couldn't help but treat this Guan Lin Guan Yunqi seriously!

"Hahaha, hahaha..."

Cao Cao suddenly laughed, and his laughter shook the heavens and the earth.

Cheng Yu quickly asked: "Why is the Prime Minister laughing?"

"I remembered a dream I had just now. When I lay down, I only felt the roar of the tide, like thousands of horses galloping. I looked around hurriedly and saw a red sun rising in the river. Its brilliance shot into my eyes. I looked up to the sky. There were two more suns contrasting each other, and suddenly the red sun in the center of the river flew directly up and fell into the mountains in front of the village with a sound like thunder."

"I thought before that the red sun that competed with Gu Yi was Sun Quan and Sun Zhongmou. The red sun predicted that he would become an emperor in the future. But I just recalled that the direction of the red sun rising was in the northwest, not the southeast, but in Jiangxia. , not in Jiangdong, haha, it turns out that the red sun is this Guan family Shiro, this guy Guan Lin! Hahahaha!"

While laughing, Cao Cao added a bit of bitterness to his words: "I never thought that Gu Yi would be so old today, and even Yunchang's son could compete with Gu Yi for the sun and the moon!"

Speaking of which…

"Prime Minister..." Xu Chu strode into the room with a letter in his hand, "The Biyan'er sent an envoy to give the Prime Minister a letter."

While speaking, Xu Chu handed his hands to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao took it, opened the letter and looked at it. He saw in the letter: "I and the Prime Minister are both ministers of the Han Dynasty. The Prime Minister did not want to serve the country and the people, but went to war, moved the people of Huaisi, and tortured the living beings. Is this a benevolent thing?" In the past, there was Zhuge Kongming, and now Guanjia Yunqi, and now the fire is burning, it is to remind the prime minister not to do anything that angers the sky and people. He also retreats quickly and gives way to Huaisi to avoid the disaster of Red Cliff again. The prime minister still needs to think clearly. .”

Seeing this, Cao Cao noticed that there were words on the back of the letter, and he turned around and took a look.

There are only eight words here:

——"If you don't die with one step, you will never be alone"

"Hahahaha..." After reading this letter, Cao Cao laughed again...

Hand the letter to Cheng Yu and ask him to read it out.

As Cheng Yu read out, Cao Zhi became indignant, "This Jiangdong blue-eyed man is so arrogant that he relies on human power. If it weren't for the clay pot sent by Jiangxia, how could he be allowed to be so rampant?"

"Sun Zhongmou did not deceive Gu..." Cao Cao sighed with squinting eyes: "Since Jiangxia was defeated, Gu will not be able to fight this battle. If we continue to fight forcefully, we may only follow in the footsteps of Chibi!"

"In the past, Zhuge Kongming caused great turmoil in the Wei Dynasty. Today... there is Guan Yun Banner again, and Sun Zhongmou reminds me that my biggest problem is not Soochow, but Guan Yun Banner, but Jingzhou!"

Cheng Yu has already heard that Cao Cao has decided to quit...

I can even hear a bit of Cao Cao's fear of Guan Lin.

A month ago, Cao Cao would have regarded Guan Yunqi as a low-grade horse in Jingzhou, but now... the low-grade horses are banned, not Lejin!

well…

Cheng Yu sighed deeply in his heart. He knew better that Cao Cao was no longer young now. He did not have too much energy to spend here. He could no longer fight any protracted war.

In the imperial court and within the Wei Dynasty, there are still countless and intricate matters that need him to deal with...

Da Wei has come this far, and is only one step away from the final step.

That’s where the Prime Minister should focus his energy!

"Let's break up..."

Having said this, Cao Cao laughed and regained his former exhaustion.

The Duke of Wei, who had tried to cheer himself up, finally couldn't resist the great sadness in his heart. He sat down heavily on his seat and murmured: "Let me think about it, let me think about it again."

Cheng Yu knew that what Cao Cao meant was that if he retreated this time, who would be left to garrison Xiangfan, who would be left to garrison Nanyang, who would be left to garrison Shouchun...

These...are his bottom line, and also Wei's bottom line!

The offensive and defensive dynamics are different...

Cao Cao had to switch from offense to defense, but Wei's territory could not be lost in his hands!

At this moment, Cheng Yu, who was supposed to resign, suddenly turned around and raised his hand to Cao Cao, "Prime Minister, there is actually one more person available. This person has 30,000 soldiers! And he is a soldier who is extremely good at mountain warfare. He is so brave. Very useful!”

Well…

Cheng Yu's words made Cao Cao immediately raise his eyes, and he became more energetic.

"who is it?"

Cheng Yu recited his name loudly: "Zang Ba, the leader of the Langya Kingdom and the leader of the Taishan Army!"

"--It's him! 』

With the appearance of Zang Ba's name, Cao Cao's heart palpitated and wavered...

This is a righteous man, a righteous man who can rival Guan Yunchang in terms of righteousness and justice!

Cao Cao knew very well that Zang Ba and his Taishan Army were independent.

Cao Cao knew better that it would not be easy for him to take action!

…

…

Langya Kingdom, a simple official residence.

In the study room.

Zang Ba is forty-five years old this year. At this age, if Lu Bu was still alive, he would be just a little younger than him, enough to be Lingju's father. And because he and Lu Bu had not known each other since they were young, they eventually became sworn friends to Jinlan. .

Zang Ba has always regarded Lingju as his biological daughter. Lingju has been helped by him during the years when he established Parrot, and he calls Zang Ba "uncle".

It can be said that except for Zang Ba's clear reputation and being unable to help Lingju assassinate Cao Cao, this righteous man has done his best in everything else he can do.

At this moment, the morning light is dim.

Zang Ba and Lingju were in the study room of the official residence. Because of Lingju's arrival today, Zang Ba put aside everything and made a special trip to wait for her.

Speaking of which, this uncle and niece both like to drink...

Over a bottle of light wine, the two of them had been chatting for more than an hour.

Zang Ba is sighing:

"I never thought that your mother would still have such an opportunity while your mother was still alive...it would be a waste of your father's spirit in heaven!"

Having said that, before Baimenlou died, Zang Ba promised his sworn brother Lu Bu to take good care of Diao Chan and his daughter.

It was just fate, Cao Cao's beauty trap, Guan Yu's horizontal knife insertion, and Diao Chan's sudden disappearance, which cast a thick haze on Zang Ba's plan to rescue Diao Chan's mother and daughter.

This is how the story of Diao Chan was secretly released by Guan Yu, and Lingju was secretly stolen by Zang Ba...

It can be said to be a mistake.

At this moment, Lingju narrated the story told by his mother Diao Chan to Zang Ba. Zang Ba sighed with emotion: "I never thought that it was me, Zang Ba, who was kind enough to do bad things for Yunchang and Bo Yuntian!"

"Uncle Zang, please don't say that..." Lingju pursed his lips, "Mother knows that it was Uncle Zang who helped me these years, and she is very grateful to Uncle Zang..."

"Forget it... let's talk about you again. Tell me about the person you mentioned as the benefactor of you and your mother, Mr. Yun Qi." Zang Ba continued to ask.

The reason why he mentioned "Master Yunqi" was because Lingju mentioned it many times in the story.

And every time he mentioned it, Zang Ba could feel it in his tone and words that Lingju had some affection for the Young Master Yunqi that transcended the relationship between men and women.

They are all people who have been here before... who doesn’t understand?

Next, Lingju told in detail how she cried with joy after seeing her mother Diao Chan.

After a heart-to-heart talk with Guan Lin, Guan Lin agreed to help him "avenge his father"...

Later, when Lingju goes north again, he will help Guan Lin with some things and encounter all the encounters along the way.

This includes Lingju first going to Luoyang to arrange for Parrot's men to secretly act as coolies to rebuild Luoyang.

Including, Lingju later went to Nanyang again, and met the somewhat "compassionate" Nanyang Prefect Hou Yin more smoothly than expected.

Handed Guan Lin's letter to him...

Through the delivery of "parrot", the two exchanged letters until the battlefield in Jiangxia was deployed.

As for what will be the outcome of the Jiangxia battlefield?

Lingju didn’t know!

After arranging all this, Lingju has completed the two tasks assigned by Guan Lin.

Next, she wanted to go to Langya Kingdom and have a good chat with the uncle who raised her up.

Of course, Lingju was not worried that Zang Ba would leak her words to Cao Cao.

Over the years, Lingju had grown up with the help and support of Uncle Zang Ba. He trusted the uncle in front of him too much and understood too well what the word "righteousness" meant in his mind.

He would never do anything to disgrace his father, Lu Bu, or her, Lingju.

Lingju can be sure of this!

Finally, Zang Ba heard all this.

While sighing with emotion, he mused: "In other words, you helped Guan Yunqi 'build' Luoyang City, dug a secret tunnel, and helped him successfully instigate Hou Yin, the governor of Nanyang, and instigated 20,000 Nanyang soldiers. All of Cao Cao's arrangements in Jiangxia have reached Guan Yunqi's ears! Is that right?"

"Yes!" Lingju nodded heavily. When she mentioned this matter, her heart was inevitably palpitating. "But we still don't know what the final outcome of this Jiangxia battlefield will be? Master Yunqi... did he win the battle?" "

In fact, more than a day had passed since what Lingju was talking about. If we took the water route, there should be information coming over.

"Don't be busy, the news will come soon." Zang Ba sighed quietly, changed the subject, stared at Lingju, and asked meticulously: "Then what is the purpose of your visit to Langya Kingdom this time?"

this…

Suddenly asked this most critical question, Lingju hesitated.

Zang Ba seemed to have seen through Ling Ju's mind and shook his head slightly.

"If it's still the same thing, don't mention it..."

Ling Ju pursed his lips slightly and said softly: "I know that my uncle had an agreement with Cao Cao. Cao Cao allowed my uncle to take over his father's old troops and family members... and place them all in Mount Tai and Langya Kingdom. My uncle used this as an excuse to be loyal to Cao Cao. Therefore...my uncle will not help me assassinate Cao Cao and avenge my father..."

Speaking of this, Lingju bit his lip slightly, "But the current situation is forcing me to fight for it. The situation has changed now. If Jiangxia can win, the situation in the entire battlefield from Xiangfan to Huainan will be completely reversed, and Then Cao Cao is no longer young, and there will be huge problems with Cao Wei's troop deployment. This is the best opportunity to counterattack, and also the best... opportunity to avenge his father!"

Lingju blinked his big eyes and looked at Zang Ba with longing eyes, "Uncle has more than 30,000 soldiers and horses, many of whom are Bingzhou soldiers who were loyal to my father in the past. If...if my uncle can bring them to join him, Mr. Yun Qi, then...that must be a relief for them..."

As Ling Ju blurted out his words, Zang Ba sighed "Alas..." as usual.

He stood up slowly, turned his back to Lingju, and said with emotion: "I thought you wouldn't beg me for this matter again, but this time, because of Guan Yunqi, you did it knowing you couldn't do it..."

"I'm still saying the same thing. I promise Cao Cao a thousand pieces of gold. I promised Cao Cao not to betray him, so I won't betray him. What's more, Lingju? Do you know how many opponents your Master Yunqi has? Terrible? Do you think that just with a few victories in Jiangxia, Xiangfan, and Shouchun, you can push Cao Cao into despair? Take it for granted... Take it for granted! Cao Cao is far more powerful than you think... He is just old, not He’s dead!”

As Zang Ba poured out a basin of cold water.

Lingju also stood up. She stood in front of Zang Ba again. She met Zang Ba's determined eyes and spoke meticulously.

"Master Yunqi knows how powerful his opponent is! He also knows that defeating Cao Cao and disintegrating Cao Wei will not take a few battles or tens of thousands of people, so he...so he..."

Got to the end…

Because of his ultimate trust, Lingju completely exhaled Guan Lin's plan.

"So, the Jiangxia battlefield was never his purpose. His purpose from the beginning was... to save the emperor from Xudu to Jingzhou!"

"If there is a great victory over Jiangxia, then there will be an opportunity to mobilize as many soldiers and horses as possible from Xudu. Only when Xudu is empty will there be a chance to rescue the emperor -"

Tell it all.

Lingju had already told her all the secrets between the two of them based on what Guan Lin had told her.

…

…