Han Xiang

Chapter 591 Guo Jia’s illness admonishes Cao Cao

"My lord's teachings should be remembered for the rest of your life."

Ma Chao nodded frequently after hearing this. He was brewing a sentence along the way.

Even now, I am still hesitant to say it or not. After enduring it for a long time, I finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

"The general's father, brother, and family were all massacred by bandits. I sincerely request my lord to send troops to Liangzhou to fight against the thieves. I would like to be the vanguard."

"Uh"

When Liu Bei frowned and thought, Zhuge Liang immediately spoke up.

"General Ma doesn't know something. Although we have a rift with the generals in Liangzhou, the enemy has always been Cao Cao. The emperor is now suffering in Xudu. We are preparing to send troops to the Central Plains to 'welcome the emperor and restore the old capital.' It seems unjust to attack Liangzhou."

Ma Chao was stunned when he heard this, and quickly clasped his fists to explain:

"The military advisor is wrong. As a clan member of the Han Dynasty, my lord should punish traitors, eradicate evil, and help the weak. Han Sui and others have rebelled against Cao Cao's thieves and tortured the people. This is not just a personal enmity of the generals. The main reason for sending troops to Liangzhou is for On the border of the country, since Han Sui and others are traitors who rebel against Cao Cao, how can they lose their righteousness?"

"If you say so"

Zhuge Liang deliberately lengthened his tone and waited for Liu Bei to cooperate.

Liu Bei nodded knowingly: "Since it is for the country and the people, I think we can send troops to Liangzhou. Meng Qi is also a common man of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty rules the world with filial piety, so why can't we avenge him?"

"Thank you, my lord."

Ma Chao was overjoyed when he heard this. He quickly clasped his fists in thanks and asked, "I wonder when we can send out troops?"

"For planning, it depends on the military advisor."

Seeing Liu Bei pouting at Zhuge Liang, Ma Chao followed him with his eyes.

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan lightly, frowned and twirled his beard and said: "Han Sui and others are not ordinary grass bandits. To defeat them, we need detailed planning. We must have sufficient food, grass, clothing, weapons, and intelligence. Yide can take General Ma to settle down first." , we will send troops when the opportunity is sufficient."

"only."

Zhang Fei and Ma Chao echoed in unison, and then beat their horses and left Zhangtai Street.

Watching the two people leaving, Liu Bei curiously asked Zhuge Liang: "Zhang Gongqi surrendered after all his troops were surrendered. You asked me to treat him favorably, but Ma and Mengqi came to see each other from afar. What did the military advisor do just now?"

"The situation is different."

Zhuge Liang frowned and shook his head: "Zhang Gongqi is like a deer, and Ma Mengqi is like a tiger. If you don't beat and suppress it, you may hurt people. There is no difference between surrendering when you are exhausted and surrendering when all the troops are exhausted."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment after hearing this, and then replied: "Ma Mengqi is a young hero. Even though he has come to seek refuge today, he should be treated with courtesy. Moreover, he is familiar with the terrain of Liangzhou. With him as the vanguard, he will get twice the result with half the effort. If he wants to avenge his family, it will be even better." Work hard.”

"What my lord said is true. Liang had no intention of treating Ma Chao poorly. He just wanted to observe and test him more, and it would not be too late to reward him gradually. Don't be like Zhang Gongqi."

Before Zhuge Liang finished speaking, Liu Bei knew what he meant.

"Haha, that's what the military advisor meant. I thought you were biased against people from the border areas. I will spend time observing and testing you."

Liu Bei has been working hard from the bottom to now, and his ability to recognize and employ people has become top-notch.

Among the three princes of Wei, Shu and Wu, Liu Bei is also the most capable. He is not as good as Cao Cao in terms of troops, resources, and weather, and he is not as good as Sun Quan in terms of location and family background. Only his core competitiveness of knowing and employing people can lead him Step by step to the top.

At this time, Ma Chao had no stains and was very different from the one in history. The reason why he could not survive in Wudu was because his family and his family were in danger.

The local Han officers and soldiers in Wudu, as well as the leaders of the Hu, Qiang, Di and other foreign tribes, were worried that Ma Chao would attract Han Sui and others, so they all showed an unwelcome attitude.

After careful consideration, Ma Chao finally chose to leave Wudu and join Liu Bei, the enemy he had fought against twice.

He knew that Liu Bei had many talents under his command, and he could no longer be as dazzling as he was in Longyou, but he had matured after experiencing so many things.Not only can you enjoy the shade by leaning against a big tree, but you can also take revenge on your family.

As for the poor young general, he was worthless to Ma Chao who had lost his family and territory.

Ma Chao brought all his wife and children to Chang'an, including his third brother Ma Tie, his half-brother Ma Dai, who had escaped from death, and his clan brother Ma Dai, who were considered hostages to Liu Bei.

After a period of investigation, Liu Bei confirmed that Ma Chao was sincerely like-minded, so he assigned Ma Chao to Zhang Fei's command as a deputy general, Pang De to Zhao Yun's command as a deputy general, and Ma Dai to Wei Yan's command as a deputy general.

We are going to take advantage of the civil strife in Liangzhou in winter and divide our troops into three groups to capture it in one go.

In mid-October, as Zhuge Liang expected, melee broke out again in Liangzhou.

Hou Xuan and Cheng Yi were originally weaker, and they did not benefit enough from the war to grab territory and people. Finally, they encountered the problem of food shortages in winter, and many tribes fled to Han Sui and Yang Qiu with their slaves. .

With the fuse set, Hou Xuan and Cheng Yi took the lead in stabbing Han Sui and Yang Qiu in the back, looting Han Sui and Yang Qiu's population, cattle and horses, and then triggered a full-scale melee.

In November, Liu Bei divided his troops to attack in three directions. He personally led Wei Yan and Ma Dai to capture Anding and Beidi; Zhao Yun and Pang De led an army to capture Wudu and Longxi; Zhang Fei and Ma Chao captured Hanyang and Jincheng.

In the same year, Cao Cao's troops entered Youzhou. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were defeated in several battles and fled to Wuhuan in western Liaoning.

Occupying Youzhou marked the complete replacement of the Yuan family by Cao Cao, taking control of Qingyou and the four states of Hebei.

At that time, Cao Cao's army was stationed in Jixian to rest and recuperate, and his generals and soldiers were slacking off. When news came from Xudu that Liu Bei had captured Hanzhong and Xiahou Dun had defeated Wancheng again, Cao Cao had the intention of marching south.

Cao Cao immediately gathered his generals in the big tent and said to everyone with a solemn expression:

"In the past few years since he regained Hebei, Liu Bei quietly captured Guanzhong, but he was able to quickly capture Hanzhong after resolving the crisis, and Guan Yu and Xu Shu also won battles in Jingzhou. When did he become so powerful?
I'm worried that if the big-eared thief is not curbed, he will swallow up Jingzhou and Liangzhou in the future. How many states are there in the world?So I had to return to the army and go south, but the remnants of the Yuan family fled to Wuhuan. The prefectures and counties in Hebei may not only rebel, but also face Wuhuan attacks. I wonder who can stay in Hebei? "

Everyone was silent after hearing this, and all looked at Cao Ren and Xia Houyuan in unison.

I thought that a general like this who was not named Cao would not have a chance.

Cao Ren and Xia Houyuan looked at each other in confusion. Finally, Xia Houyuan stood up first and pointed to himself.

"The final general is willing to share the worries of the lord."

"Ah."

Cao Cao nodded in affirmation and said with encouragement: "You are called Miaocai, so don't let the word Miaocai pass you by."

"Don't worry, my lord, I will ensure that Hebei is safe in the end."

Xia Houyuan was overjoyed when he heard it. It felt like being praised in public, so he patted his chest as a guarantee.

Cao Cao stroked his beard happily, and while scanning the generals in the tent, he said to himself: "The brilliant talent is going to stay in Hebei. I will pick a few helpers for you. The first one is Lian Zi Jing (Lian Zhao)."

Qianzhao was about to clasp his fists in response when a hoarse shout suddenly came from outside the tent.

"My lord, wait a minute, no, no, no"

Xia Houyuan and Qianzhao were both startled, wondering who on earth are you opposing?
As soon as the harsh sound subsided, two sergeants carried Guo Jia into the tent. He contracted an illness during the expedition to Youzhou and was now haggard and unable to leave the field.

When Cao Cao saw that it was Guo Jia who came to remonstrate, he hurriedly got up and trotted forward and squatted down, with distress written all over his face.

"Why don't Fengxiao stay in the tent to recuperate?"

"Ming Gong, you cannot retreat!"

Guo Jia suddenly grabbed Cao Cao's hands and added tremblingly: "If you cut the weeds without removing the roots, they will grow again with the spring breeze!"

(End of this chapter)