Chapter 16 Gift [Seeking follow-up reading]

The Praefectus Urbi, originally named Lieutenant, had a rank of Zhong Erqianshi.

The duties of the Prefect of the Imperial Guards were to patrol the capital, prevent thieves, arrest criminals, and investigate and handle prison cases. They had considerable power in garrisoning the capital and conducting temporary expeditions.

After Ding Yuan arrived in Luoyang, he was granted the title of Prefect of the Guards from Wumeng Duwei.

When he received the news from Cao Cao's personal army that Dong Zhuo's men had secretly sneaked into Luoyang, he was immediately cheered up.

If it were someone else, it would be almost impossible to find the secret agent who had infiltrated the city.

Only the Praefectus Urbi not only has this authority, but also, because of his position, has connections with all kinds of people in the city, both the black and white worlds.

He grinned and said, Dong Zhuo, let me see how you explain it this time.

He withdrew his troops from outside the city and returned to the camp, and immediately began to make arrangements.

In Luoyang city, all the people, including some idlers, hooligans, and numerous spies who usually provided information to the Praefectus Urbi, were mobilized.

You have to know that some scoundrels' 'job' is to squat at various city gates, observing people coming and going, to see who is a fat sheep who can make a fortune.

Let them find people who are professionally matched.

Soon the news was summarized in Ding Yuan's hands.

He didn't conduct any investigation and just arrested all the suspects.

……

In an alley on Luoyang East Street, several guards under the command of the Praefectus Urbi suddenly rushed out and arrested the two men without asking why.

If the other party showed any resistance, the Praefectus Urbi et Guardiola would beat him up with fists and kicks and then take him away.

Similar scenes were happening everywhere in Luoyang City.

Because it is public law enforcement, no one finds it strange and interferes.

Ding Yuan returned to the government office and sat in the main seat. He asked his attendants, "What's going on?"

"The news is correct. We have arrested over a hundred people. There must be some who slipped through the net, but at least we have caught half of them. We have sent people to guard the city gates. When the enemy enters the city later, we will catch more. We will catch as many as possible."

Ding Yuan was extremely happy: "Well done, conduct a strict interrogation, it's okay to kill a few of them, just say they were plotting something bad, find out what they were going to do in the city."

The troops immediately followed the order.

The city of Luoyang appears calm on the surface, but there are actually undercurrents.

A lot of things are happening beneath the surface.

Dong Zhuo came out of the palace and, escorted by his personal guards, took a carriage back to the military camp outside the city to reunite with his soldiers.

"How many of our people have entered Luoyang?"

As the carriage passed through the city gate, Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru who was getting on the carriage.

"Don't worry, my lord. More than two hundred people have entered the city, and it's going relatively smoothly," said Li Ru.

Dong Zhuo smiled with his big fat mouth.

The car drove out of the city gate and soon returned to the temporary camp outside the city.

Dong Zhuo was thinking all the way in the car. The ideas that were not very clear when he was planning before were now expanding.

The turmoil in the court and Yuan's planning actually paved the way for him and provided convenience.

When the army arrives, he will first control the city defenses and the palace defenses. Once the emperor falls into his hands... When Dong Zhuo got off the car, there was still a smile on his ferocious face.

Yuan Wei thought he could control him and allowed him to be reinstated after being dismissed. He should be grateful.

But Dong Zhuo felt that the two sides were using each other, and it just depended on who was more skillful.

Soon, he will have the final say.

He and Li Ru looked at each other and smiled.

At this time, a personal guard from the Luoyang direction approached quickly: "There is something to report."

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru looked at the approaching troops together.

The soldier dismounted, approached quickly, and said anxiously: "Many of our people who entered the city have lost contact."

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru were both stunned.

"The people who entered the city did not gather at the fixed location at the agreed time. We are short of manpower in Luoyang, and in order to maintain secrecy, we dispersed after entering the city, so we have not yet found out why the people who entered the city did not regroup as agreed."

Dong Zhuo's heart sank. "I remember Ding Yuan entered Luoyang and was appointed as the Prefect of the Guards?"

"Your Excellency suspects that he has seen through our arrangement?"

Li Ru pondered: "Ding Yuan's reaction is too fast. We have known Ding Yuan in the past. Is he so powerful?!"

Dong Zhuo was breathing heavily and his face was gloomy.

The plans that had been discussed repeatedly in advance were repeatedly obstructed.

Especially the personnel who secretly enter the city are crucial.

The plan they had discussed in advance was carried out closely and quickly.

Once it was launched, it should have taken the lead.

However, when he arrived in Luoyang, everything went wrong and he was constantly beaten by reality.

Dong Zhuo said angrily, “Go and find out what happened to the people who entered the city.”

----

Cao Cao was thinking about Fatty Dong coming to Luoyang, and his two plans were blocked.

He should be very suspicious now, and unable to tell the truth from Luoyang.

Military strategists never fight a battle without confidence. Dong Zhuo is well versed in military tactics, so he should be able to calm down a little.

His first priority now is to wait for the follow-up troops to arrive. Once the army arrives in Luoyang, all opposition will be crushed by him, and then they will be unstoppable.

But at least Luoyang can take a breather for now. In history, Dong Zhuo entered the city directly and took control of the palace with the credit of saving the emperor.

But now the early advantages he had gained in Luoyang had been completely destroyed.

This round of plan was implemented quite well, Cao Cao concluded in his heart.

The Zhen sisters left with a heavy heart. Zhen Xin was a bit like an eggplant hit by frost, feeling depressed.

After Zhen Yan got off the car, she couldn't help but look back at the carriage. Her face was slightly moist, and she walked away with her slender waist twisted.

After the two women left, the carriage also left the dark alley.

Xun Yu in the car looked at Cao Cao and suddenly asked, "What other arrangements do you have? When Dong Zhuo came, you made arrangements to use the Xiyuan Army to line up outside the city and borrow Ding Yuan's strength. You obviously also noticed these people who secretly entered the city, but have you taken steps to deal with them?"

His question was more of a reflection, and he answered it himself: "Ding Yuan was the Prefect of the Guards. Did you team up with him to secretly capture Dong Zhuo's troops who entered the city?"

As expected, it’s Xun Yu!
Being able to keenly find the truth of things among the limited and confusing clues is an essential ability for a top strategist.

Cao Cao: "The current situation in Luoyang could change at any time. I have some things to do and cannot show up. How about you take charge of the running?"

What this means is to push Xun Yu to the front and make him responsible for contacting and planning some things.

Doing this would be very dangerous if discovered by Dong Zhuo... Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao in shock.

You feel it is dangerous and want to hide in the dark, leaving me to run around in the open. What kind of person are you?
In the afternoon, Cao Cao returned to his residence.

Xun Yu said he would consider it.

But Cao Cao knew that he would definitely do it and get involved in the secret plan to deal with Dong Zhuo.

It was not for Cao Cao, but for Luoyang and for Xun Yu's own loyalty to the Han Dynasty.

The Cao Mansion covers a vast area and is located southeast of the Imperial Palace. It is a large courtyard with four entrances and exits.

Each stacked courtyard is composed of two or three independent small courtyards, surrounded by two high walls.

The alley between the two walls has visible and hidden checkpoints set up by the personal guards, which ensures high privacy and security.

Given Cao Cao's current official position, it is a bit excessive for him to live in a house like this. This is a house of the Three Dukes level prepared for him by his father, the former Grand Commandant Cao Song.

Because the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out nationwide, Cao Song took the blame and retired, and all political resources were used on his son Cao Cao.

At this time, he returned to the backyard and saw the servant taking a small basket covered with bedding outside.

The newly born little tiger cub was lying in the den basking in the sun, its eyes half open and chubby.

"Is there enough milk?"

"There are many farms outside the city that raise various livestock, and animal milk is not difficult to find." The servant in the palace bowed.

Cao Cao asked someone to get some animal milk, put some on his finger, and let the tiger cub suck it.

This is to make it familiar with the smell. Otherwise, even if it is raised from a young age, it will still be retaliated if the beast's savagery erupts in extreme situations.

Only by eating and sleeping with the tiger and taming it with targeted methods can you raise it well.

The little guy closed his eyes and sucked it with relish.

Cao Cao only fed it a little and then stopped it from eating.

The beast must always remain hungry.

Young animals cannot have full meals every day, otherwise their hunting ability will be weakened.

How to raise tigers is a very delicate science.

After feeding the tiger and playing with the cub for a while, Cao Cao went to the study and took out a brocade box.

This was the gift that Concubine Yu had sent to him as a token of gratitude.

I returned home last night and haven't watched it yet to deal with Dong Zhuo.

Open the brocade box.

There is a round sea pearl in the box.

……

A bedroom in the imperial palace.

Yu Qing, wearing a dark red Han-style skirt with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on her cuffs, sat by the window. On the wooden plate in front of her was a small red fruit.

She supported her chin with one hand and picked up a fruit with the other hand from time to time and put it into her mouth. Her white cheeks bulged. After chewing a few times, she spit the fruit core into a large jar outside the window.

There were several colorful carps in the tank, fighting over the fruit cores.

It looks like a quite leisurely scene.

But Yu Qing was not happy, and there was a sad look on his little face, which had brought disaster to the country and the people.

At this moment, she suddenly felt something, opened the wooden grid beside her, and took out a bead.

"Finally, you checked the things I sent." Yu Qing said to himself.

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and stared at the beads in front of him.

He was somewhat surprised at how precious the bead was.

The spiritual charm of heaven and earth has become perceptible, and with practice, every family is undergoing subtle changes.

This kind of bead is a secret treasure made by the Mohist school.

It is said that it requires sea clams, or old turtles, and it has to be the same turtle or clam. The beads formed in the body can be refined through secret methods, and a spiritual connection can be created between the beads.

Write something on a bead and it will appear on the bead at the other end that is connected to it.

These beads are extremely rare.

Cao Cao guessed that the one given to him by Yu Qing might have been given to her by the late emperor Liu Hong.

At this time, words appeared on the bead: "Cao Dianjun? Can you help me get out of the palace? I can repay you."

(End of this chapter)