Chapter 3425 Star and Heart
Fei Qian felt that something was wrong, but for a while he couldn''t figure out what the problem was. As he thought about it at night, the more he thought about it, the more depressed he became. He immediately got up with his clothes on and wanted to patrol the camp.
After walking out of the camp gate, Fei Qian''s head, which was a little heated with thought, finally felt a little cooler under the night wind.
In fact, since the capture of Cao Jun''s Anyi camp, the Hussars basically felt that victory was in their grasp.
This was indeed true, Cao Cao''s army was indeed at a disadvantage, but Fei had a vague feeling that Cao Cao should not be so weak.
Fei Qian was walking slowly, and suddenly remembered something, and asked, "How is Xiahou Yuanrang today?" 』
"Nothing unusual. ” the guard replied from the side.
"Nothing unusual?" Fei Qian pondered.
Fei Qian asked for some more details. Hearing the guard say that Xiahou Dun was eating well and sleeping soundly, he couldn''t help but burst into laughter, and then he became more and more confused.
Logically speaking, now that Xiahou Dun''s old friend, er, old partner is seeing defeat, shouldn''t he be worried and unable to sleep?
Even if you can''t help Cao Cao now, you shouldn''t act "happy and unhesitating", right?
If it were anyone else, they would probably think that Xiahou Dun looked like he was disheartened and ready to surrender to the Hussar, but Fei Qian knew very well that even if others surrendered, Xiahou Dun would not surrender as long as Cao Cao did not fall!
"The day before yesterday, Pingyang sent a batch of supplies..."
Fei Qian slowly cleared his mind.
"Yes, according to the Lord''s request, in addition to food and grass, there are also accompanying doctors and herbal medicine..." the guard replied, "The doctors have already begun to carry out treatment as required, and are gathering to treat the sick and injured..."
Fei Qian nodded, "Let''s go and take a look." 』
"Lord, this is not good. ” The guard quickly said, “Diseases and diseases... do not distinguish between friend and foe...”
Fei Qian waved his hand and said, "Take a look at the outside and don''t enter the injury camp." 』
The guard stopped blocking him.
Fei Qian led the people to a hill.
Beyond the hill is the injured camp.
Even though Fei Qian had made plans and preparations for the mess left by Cao Jun, it was still difficult to deal with it.
Two days ago, several Cao troops surrendered and made a fuss out of nowhere, saying they were being treated unfairly. They gathered to cause trouble and were shot dead on the spot by the patrolling cavalry.
Fei Qian frowned slightly when he thought of this.
At first, Fei Qian didn''t care much about this matter. After all, it was difficult to trust people. Even within the same family, some children will always wonder if their parents are trying to kill him or her every day. Then several peers gathered together and talked about the words "original family", and they burst into tears.
Chicken babies are obviously not a good thing, but neither are chicken parents.
Just do what you don’t want.
So Fei Qian originally thought that it was quite normal for a few weirdos to appear among the large number of Cao Jun prisoners who surrendered...
Even though Fei Qian did a lot of work, most of the captives of Cao''s army were able to settle down.
But now that I think about it, something seems wrong.
Binh Duong’s transport team will come again tomorrow…
Fei Qian was patrolling the injured camp and suddenly said: "Go and ask the staff of the Youwen Department to come over." 』
The guard was shocked when he heard this.
The three words "You Wen Si" often mean something big.
…
…
Under the same night sky.
Chen Bin, who was in Jixian County, exhaled a long breath.
Now he felt that if he could take one more breath, it would be an extra breath of money.
Among the many generals and military academies in Youzhou, Chen Bin has always kept a low profile. He neither performs particularly well nor fights recklessly. If he can''t be on the front line, he will never rush to the front.
In Cao''s army, generals with different surnames are too capable and often do not end well.
Fortunately, Cao Chun was focused on how to deal with the Northern Territory and how to defend Youzhou. He did not pay special attention to personnel matters, so Chen Bin often just messed around with military affairs. Even if he goes into battle to kill the enemy, he only has to deal with horse thieves and bandits. Moreover, when the battle begins, they will swarm forward. Chen Bin only supervises the battle from behind, and he can still command the entire army.
Just hanging around, it''s impossible to continue to be promoted anyway, as long as Cao Chun feels that Chen Bin is obedient and useful, he can continue to hang around...
As a result, Chen Bin''s "obedient" and "easy to use" attributes may not bring any good results.
Can I not do it?
Give it up and quit!
Actually it works.
As long as you dare to let go of your own family''s elderly, children, wives and concubines.
Chen Bin looked down at his hands.
It doesn’t seem too dark…
I heard that when Emperor Gaozu was running for his life, he pushed his wife and children out of the car with his own hands...
Later, when Empress Lu killed those Gaozu''s left and right arms, Gaozu also gave in.
Today, it''s just average.
If Chen Bin was cruel and evil, he could simply kill the governors left behind by Cao Chun and then defect to the Hussars, which would more or less avoid death.
But for my own family, I’m afraid I have to...
My own child is now around 13 or 14 years old this year. He is half a boy and can pass on the family business.
So, the question now is, should you live by yourself or by your family?
If you want to push your family into a pit of fire in order to survive, should you push them or not?
Everyone has the instinct to survive, but Chen Bin still couldn''t make up his mind in the end...
After hesitating, the soldiers on the lookout on the city wall spotted the fire dragon coming from a distance, and quickly rolled and crawled away, shouting in panic: "Hussars!" The Hussars Northern Territory Army is coming! 』
…
…
In the darkness, will you sink with the darkness, or will you still have the light of hope in your heart?
Cao Cao wouldn''t say that black eyes are for looking for light, but he still believed in some people and some things.
And most Chinese races don’t have pure black eyes...
Just dark brown.
Therefore, what many people say may not be true, and what many people agree may not be correct.
"Now there are rumors in the army that it is General Xiahou...and General Zilie..."
After listening to the report from his subordinates, Cao Cao put down the writing in his hand and rubbed his shoulders.
As autumn and winter alternate, Cao Cao''s shoulders and knee joints will inevitably experience some soreness and pain.
This is "military disease".
Cao Jun suffered heavy losses.
There is nothing to doubt about this, but among the lost soldiers and manpower, at least two-thirds were miscellaneous soldiers and civilians. The combat power of the mixed soldiers and civilians cannot be said to be completely absent, but it is approximately zero.
It''s like later generations think that snake oil is good, and snake oil can be used for this or that, but they never think about how many snakes are needed to survive the so much snake oil consumed and sold every year? Are you sure it''s not salad oil with some high technology?
The huge number of Cao''s troops is actually like salad oil with some high technology added. Only those with armor can be considered regular soldiers, and the rest can be considered very good if they have long spears.
This is not because Cao Cao intended to do this, but since the first year of Zhongping, the military system of the Han Dynasty has been like this.
A general must not only support himself, but also support a large group of subordinates under him, and then use these subordinates to control other lower-level ordinary soldiers and serve the common people. This kind of structural system seems to be very powerful, and it has an overwhelming momentum when fighting against the wind. However, if it really wants to fight a tough and protracted battle, it may not have any good results.
And it''s not all Shandong people, there are also people from Heluo.
The household registration statistics of Heluo are a confusing book.
Half of the people Cao Cao captured from Heluo were put into the battlefields of Hedong and Tongguan, and the other half was sent back to Yuzhou.
In the early years, Heluo had a very dense population.
The city of Luoyang alone has a registered population of more than half a million, plus those who have temporarily arrived in Luoyang and the "unregistered" population around Luoyang, there are millions of people...
Although the past few years have been war-torn, when Yang was running Heluo, the taxes were much lower than in other places...
Of course, the main reason is that the Yang family does not have that many manpower, and many places are simply unattended, so some people who fled secretly settled in Heluo. As a result, they could escape the first day of the junior high school, but could not escape the fifteenth day. Cao Cao followed suit again Cut a batch of leeks.
However, how many people have to be sacrificed before the suffering comes to an end?
Cao Cao didn''t know, and he didn''t want to know.
He has his own reasons.
Shandong’s principles.
As the representative of the Shandong political group, he naturally needs to follow Shandong''s rules. Even Cao Cao himself is reluctant to do so. Cao Cao was also willing to see the unification of the Han Dynasty, but it needed to be unification under his own leadership, otherwise it would be meaningless to the Cao family''s entire political group. sacrifice…
Didn’t the people of the Cao family and the Xiahou family sacrifice themselves?
So if people sacrifice more and suffer for a longer period of time, what’s the problem?
Cao Cao is no longer in front of the Zhongtiao Mountain camp, but has moved to the south side of Zhongtiao Mountain, in a dry plateau gully. Some information on the front line was delivered to Cao Cao every few hours by specialized soldiers.
Cao Cao originally wanted to wait for the Qingqi Fei Qian to arrive at the Zhongtiao Mountain camp...
As a result, he was stabbed in the chrysanthemum by Changchun, who was so frightened that the generals in the Zhongtiao Mountain camp were unwilling to let Cao Cao stay in the forward position no matter what. They had to evacuate Cao Cao, and some even knelt down and remonstrated with death.
Zhongtiao Mountain runs east-west, and the distance between north and south is actually not that big. It is not as steep as the Kunlun Mountains or the Qinling Mountains. While Guo Jia was stationed at the Zhongtiao Mountain Camp, he had already discovered several evacuation routes.
The ancient salt road of Cynomorium Pass, which has always been attacked, is one of them.
So there is a reason why the generals are nervous...
Cao Cao also understood what this was for.
Because at this moment, the generals and advisers who can be in the Zhongtiao Mountain camp are basically deeply tied to Cao Cao, and they will lose both, so they must protect Cao Cao no matter what.
Protecting Cao Cao is equivalent to protecting themselves.
"How is the battle at Suoyang Pass?" 』
Cao Cao asked.
The guard whispered, "Prime Minister, Zhang Sima attacked recklessly and neglected to take precautions at night. He was attacked by the hussars at night. In the panic, he lost his subordinates..."
Cao Cao was silent for a long time after hearing this.
Why is it that under the Hussar, it seems that no matter who he pulls out, he can take charge of his own role, but on his own side, he uses this person, this person is messed up, and that person is used, and that person is messed up?
Are there not many that can be formed? !
If there are really a few people who can lead an army alone, I won''t be able to join Yuan Rang...
and Zilie.
Cao Cao also knew what the problem was.
The employment system in Shandong is completely different from that in Guanzhong.
In Guanzhong, it is more or less based on talent, but in Shandong, it is based on connections!
Regardless of whether you have the ability or not, you must have a leader who says you can do it. Otherwise, even if you squeeze into the ranks of officials, you will only be at the bottom for the rest of your life, repeating boring tasks every day, and working until you die.
Although there seems to be little difference between officials and civil servants, the gap in between is something that many children from poor families or ordinary families in Shandong cannot cross in a lifetime, or even in two or three generations...
Anyone with some connections can find a place to hang out at any time. It’s not a problem to have a popular and spicy drink, and it’s also relaxed and pleasant. You can order a cup of tea in the morning, and then you can go to the stadium club to meet customers...
Well, I went to observe the public sentiment, and the annual Diligence Award for Outstanding Advancers must be indispensable...
Then those who are truly capable will never have a chance.
This recommendation system in Shandong is really killing people!
"This Sima..." Cao Cao frowned and asked, "Who recommended it?" 』
The confidant guard hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "It seems to be General Zilian..."
"Well…"
Cao Cao seemed to be choked by his breath and was speechless for a while.
"Tell General Zilian to be more careful next time, otherwise you will miss something important sooner or later!" ” Cao Cao waved his hand and put the matter aside.
The Han Dynasty''s rotten ship originally had few people working on it. Not only did most people not work, but they also opposed Cao Cao, the captain, and sabotaged it. So what else could be done?
"Then..." The confidant guard looked at Cao Cao''s face and said hesitantly, "Then about General Xiahou and General Zilie..."
Cao Cao closed his eyes.
There are very few pleasant things, and there are nine out of ten unpleasant things.
"Yuan Rang... Zi Lie..." Cao Cao was silent for a moment, "I believe Yuan Rang and Zi Lie are by no means greedy for life and afraid of death!" 』
"But..." the confidant guard said, "Someone said that they saw General Xiahou among the Hussars..."
Some things, no matter how blocked, imprisoned or shielded by the upper levels, will still be revealed under the seal.
It''s like holding it in and farting secretly, the sound is controlled, but the smell still reveals something.
"If you see it, you will see it..." Cao Cao said, "Don''t pay attention to it, and there is no need to deny it. We will find out after the war!" 』
…
…
Cao Cao believed in Cao Xiu and felt that Cao Xiu was his child.
Cao Xiu didn''t believe his child.
This is a very interesting question.
According to biological theory, parents and children are the most similar individuals, both genetically and in terms of living environment. Normally, they should trust, depend on and support each other, but in fact , there are too many parents and children who simply cannot trust, rely on, or support each other. Instead, they hate each other, and there are not a few.
Especially in troubled times, positive emotions such as trust, dependence and support are undoubtedly the most precious things, just like real gold in the yellow sand. Even if there is, it is often submerged in the yellow dust and never revealed.
Cao Xiu only had the most basic set of armor and weapons left, and the rest were handed over.
As a "reduced general", Cao Xiu could still retain some "respect" and followed the transportation brigade, marching slowly.
Hussar is not in Pingyang!
His child is not in Pingyang either!
Xiahou Dun is also not in Pingyang!
Even if Cao Xiu is really in Pingyang, what''s the point of causing something?
So Cao Xiu came to see Hussar.
I also want to meet Xiahou Dun.
besides…
His children.
Cao Xiu''s mood was complicated and heavy.
He knew that what he was about to face was not only a life-or-death battle, but also a test of his faith.
His child, the once innocent and hopeful life, the continuation of his bloodline, has now been involved in this whirlpool of power and desire, becoming elusive to him and making him afraid to continue trusting him.
And he himself seems to be walking further and further on this road of no return, unable to turn back.
As night fell, the transport team set up camp according to the rules.
There were only two bonfires and two tents assigned to Cao Xiu and Cao Xiu''s dozen or so soldiers to guard them.
This also made Cao Xiu heartbroken and even despaired for a time.
He thought that his soldiers, who could at least follow him to Pingyang, were all warriors who had looked down on life and death and faced the end of their lives calmly. However, Cao Xiu never expected—
These "warriors" rebelled against Cao Xiu after eating a bowl of oil-soaked soup cakes!
Under hunger and cold, when there is no hope, people will have no choice but to accept death. But when there is food in the stomach, they will naturally have the desire and motivation to live.
So Cao Xiu''s original "fake surrender" almost turned into a "real surrender". In addition to more than a dozen close guards, even Cao Xiu''s original troops also betrayed him...
Fortunately, Cao Xiu didn''t tell these people too many plans before, so after these people surrendered, it didn''t expose Cao Xiu, but brought some additional benefits.
It''s like the tent in front of you and the armor on your body.
Retaining more than a dozen guards is the last dignity of a general. Even Linghu Jijiu and Huang''s guards in Pingyang felt that reducing Cao Xiu''s men would be too petty...
The bonfire is burning.
Cao Xiu stared at the bonfire, but his thoughts were far away.
Those happy times spent with children, those innocent smiles, those carefree days...
However, all this seems to have become an unattainable luxury.
Now, that familiar face felt an indescribable alienation.
Maybe he should give up?
Give up your position, give up your persistence, give up your pride...
Kneel down.
Then you can live.
Haha, what''s the difference between that and dying yourself?
Cao Xiu took a long breath and looked up at the sky.
The stars in the sky remain the same, and the true love on earth is no longer there.
Soon, he will see Hussar, and he will also see his last bloodline and his final answer.
(End of chapter)