Chapter 19 I choose Cao Cao, the greatest man of the time [Please read and vote]

The setting sun, wrapped in golden afterglow, shines down from the sky.

Cao Cao returned home with his men.

His personal guard consisted of eighteen people.

However, after the group entered Cao's residence, the team of personal guards had somehow grown to nineteen people.

Someone sneaked into the royal army without anyone noticing, and the strange thing was that he appeared calm and his methods were very sophisticated.

Cao Cao and Xiao Xiang didn't seem to notice that there was an extra person in the team returning home.

After the other guards came back, they dispersed and returned to their residences.

Only Xiao Xiang, accompanied by four close followers, passed through the pavilion and the house and returned to the inner courtyard with Cao Cao.

Those who sneaked in secretly also followed quietly.

When the young tiger heard Cao Cao's footsteps, it staggered out of its den to greet Cao Cao.

Cao Cao picked it up casually, strode to the study, sat in the main seat, and stroked the tiger casually.

The little tiger cub squinted his eyes comfortably, twitched his chubby body twice, adjusted his position, and lay in Cao Cao's arms, enjoying himself very much.

At the door, Xiao Xiang turned around and looked at the strange figure following them: "Prince Xun, the young master is waiting in the study."

The extra person turned out to be Xun Yu.

"When did you find me?"

“In my spare time, I have studied the lineage of a novelist. By writing about the scenes in Cao’s mansion and your guards in advance, I can substitute myself into your midst and exert a subtle influence on you, causing you to ignore my existence.

I thought I could fool you guys."

Novelists emerged in the Spring and Autumn Period and were one of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

"Prince Xun underestimated us. If someone can easily enter the mansion, how can you be safe?"

Xiao Xiang was serious and made a gesture of invitation.

Xun Yu felt quite bored.

Dong Zhuo's army may arrive at any time, and Luoyang and even the whole world may be facing changes. He actually wants to ease his emotions and find something to do that he doesn't usually do.

It's his habit and it helps him relax.

I didn't expect it had been discovered so early.

Xun Yu entered the study and said, "I just came back from Ding Yuan's place. This man is quite righteous."

Cao Cao laughed: "But not much, more for personal gain."

Ding Yuan once followed the arrangement of General He Jin. In order to have a legitimate reason to deal with the eunuchs, he disguised himself as a thief and set fire, burning many civilians to death.

How much righteousness can such a person have?
Xun Yu glanced at Cao Cao and was surprised at his insight into people's hearts.

"Which strategy did Ding Yuan choose to deal with Dong Zhuo?"

Xun Yu smiled bitterly: "The third one, as you said, has great righteousness, but not much."

"He was worried that we would use him, and thought the first and second ones were too dangerous and involved too much. In the end, he decided on the third one."

The so-called three strategies to deal with Dong Zhuo, the first one is to send troops directly to defeat and kill Dong Zhuo.

He joined forces with Ding Yuan's troops and once again attacked Dong Zhuo's camp of 3,000 troops stationed on the outskirts of the city.

By then, with the full strength of Lu Bu, Zhang Liao and Ding Yuan, the possibility of killing Dong Zhuo would obviously be very high.

If this plan succeeds, taking Dong Zhuo's life will be of great significance, and only Cao Cao knows how many people will benefit from it. It will completely change the course of history.

This strategy was Cao Cao's decision to turn the table and kill him.

Unfortunately, Ding Yuan didn't have the courage.

If he really wanted to raise an army privately and kill Dong Zhuo in the suburbs of Luoyang, under the watchful eyes of the public, it would be tantamount to rebellion, so he didn't dare to do that.

The current Dong Zhuo has not really disrupted the government and has not incurred the wrath of heaven and the people.

He only showed this sign, and even the incredibly wise Xun Yu could see that Dong Zhuo had ulterior motives.

The current imperial power still retains the final authority.

Under such circumstances, Ding Yuan did not have the courage to mobilize his elite troops to attack and kill Dong Zhuo, the governor of Bingzhou. He also did not think it was a good idea and even sneered at it.

The second method is to let Ding Yuan dispatch troops to the route where Dong Zhuo is coming and try to intercept his follow-up troops.

Regardless of success or failure, as long as the two armies encounter and confront each other, some people will see Dong Zhuo's true face.

This was like cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron. While everyone's attention was focused on Luoyang, Cao Cao and Xun Yu were considering other directions, trying every possible means.

As long as Ding Yuan agrees, it will at least bring huge variables to Dong Zhuo's plan.

However, secretly mobilizing a large army to fight against Dong Zhuo was completely different from the last time when more than a thousand people attacked Dong Zhuo's fake camp outside the city.

Troops, food and money cannot be obtained just like that.

Firstly, it might not be too late, and secondly, mobilizing a large army to fight Dong Zhuo to the death would be a gamble, but Ding Yuan still chose to refuse.

So Xun Yu went to find Ding Yuan and offered him three strategies, and he chose the third one.

The only remaining way is... to let Dong Zhuo come to Luoyang and mediate and confront him in Luoyang.

"Ding Yuan agrees. If Dong Zhuo really does act in a disloyal way, he is willing to fight him with all his strength."

Xun Yu sighed, "What a pity! If Dong Zhuo's troops come, the government will be in danger! Your previous efforts to block them from entering the city at the city gate have also been in vain." "It's not that serious."

Cao Cao said: "Dong Zhuo has ambitions but no talent for governing. If his army comes, we still have room for mediation. It is not that scary."

Xun Yu thought for a moment and said, "What you did before was to stop Dong Zhuo from entering Luoyang, right?

Ding Yuan did not dare to send out troops, and all previous plans were wasted. "

Cao Cao was optimistic and said, "How can it be in vain? You, Wang Yun, even Lu Shangshu and Jingzhao Yin Gai Xun will all stand with us and we can do a lot. Dong Zhuo is a cruel man and he is not popular. He will not last for many days."

Cao Cao has a very notable characteristic, which is his ability to handle situations in adversity, which is a level that is extremely rare throughout history.

Most of the battles he won were fought under adverse circumstances and when he was at a disadvantage, such as the Battle of Guandu.

In fact, he knew from the beginning that it would be difficult to deal with Dong Zhuo outside Luoyang.

Mainly because the time is too short.

The original body did not know the direction of history. He had only been here for a few days and had acted hastily, so he had done a lot.

Even if Dong Zhuo came, there would be no way to deal with him.

"Is it possible to persuade other people to get involved and act together?" Xun Yu said.

"There are less than 20,000 imperial guards in Luoyang now, scattered among different generals. Most of them are former subordinates of General He. After his death, they will fight for power and become like a pile of loose sand, and are no longer useful.

In addition, there are 8,000 Xiyuan troops. Only Ding Yuan has a large number of troops near Luoyang, which can be used, and the rest are too late. "

Cao Cao considered the current situation repeatedly.

In fact, even if Ding Yuan agreed to attack, he might not be able to stop Dong Zhuo in time.

"Ding Yuan arrested those people in the city. Did he come up with any results from the interrogation?"

"There are hundreds of people, so they must have an explanation. According to their confessions, they only knew where to meet up after entering the city, but they were not told how to proceed until they reunited in the city."

Xun Yu: "We caught these people, but didn't find out much from the interrogation. Dong Zhuo can easily shirk responsibility."

"Guo Si, who entered the city, has disappeared. Dong Zhuo is more difficult to deal with than we expected, and his arrangements are meticulous."

Cao Cao thought to himself that if Dong Zhuo didn't have any skills, how could he have caused chaos in the court and controlled the government for two or three years.

It was because of Dong Zhuo that all the princes started to rebel together.

I don't know what Grand Tutor Yuan Huai relied on to dare to trust Dong Zhuo so much and think he could control him to do his orders.

----

"Master Zi, you said that Dong Zhuo concealed the number of his troops from me and wanted to cause chaos in Luoyang?"

The residence of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei.

He looked at Wang Yun opposite him and laughed, "Are you guessing, or do you have evidence? You waited until now just to tell me this?"

Wang Yun frowned: "Whether it is speculation or not, we cannot be unprepared. If something changes, who can bear the consequences?"

Yuan Wei: "If I wasn't sure, why would I agree to Dong Zhuo coming to Luoyang?"

"I am no longer an official, so I cannot go to the palace to look for you. I sent people to look for you many times during the day, but you just told me to wait in your house."

Wang Yun asked: "Why do you trust Dong Zhuo?"

"It's not trust, but I know there's nothing wrong with him, so you can rest assured." Yuan Wei said.

It was already dark, and Wang Yun left the Taifu Mansion after his persuasion failed.

After he left the house, he let out a long sigh.

The next day.

Cao Cao got up early in the morning.

I went to the palace to see the Queen Mother in the morning, and met Lu Zhi when I left the palace.

Lu Zhi was also worried about the situation in Luoyang.

Because of this, he attached extra importance to Cao Cao's rescue of the Young Emperor Liu Bian and treated Cao Cao in a friendly manner.

The two exchanged opinions on the current situation before separating.

Cao Cao went outside the city to train his troops again. After Lu Zhi separated from him, he was summoned by Empress Dowager He and came to Yongle Palace.

"Your servant Lu Zhi greets the Queen Mother!"

Empress Dowager He smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite, Minister? I asked you to come here because I want to hear your opinion on something."

"Now there are imperial guards and Xiyuan Army in Luoyang, but the military power of Xiyuan Army lacks a leader. Two days ago, Cao Cao rescued the emperor's son and wanted him to take charge of Xiyuan Army, but the Grand Tutor said that it might be worth considering again.

What does Minister Lu think?

Lu Zhi pondered for a moment, "I agree with the Queen Mother. Cao Mengde entered the palace alone on the night of the palace coup. His quick reaction, bravery and decisiveness show his talent. He can be a good minister and a good general. There are few people in the court who can match him. He is a hero of the time."

Empress Dowager He was a little surprised.

She had never seen Lu Zhi praise someone like this before.

"In addition, he deserves a generous reward for his great contribution in rescuing Your Majesty. I choose Cao Cao as the commander of the Xiyuan Army!" Lu Zhi said.

Empress Dowager He let out a long sigh. She currently trusted Lu Zhi the most.

(End of this chapter)