Chapter 268: Hundreds of thousands of soldiers gather, and the generals are appointed [Subscribe]

After the Battle of Youzhou, Cao's troops returned south and stationed outside Yecheng.

After that, each state and county continued to draw elite troops and gathered them with Yecheng as the center.

By the time Cao Cao got married, he had gathered an army of 100,000.

Some generals came, met with Cao Cao, and then left with their troops.

Cao's army was taking the opportunity to complete the deployment and rotation of defenses in various states and counties and reorganize the defense.

For example, Yanzhou has now become the core area of ​​all provinces and counties, and there is no need to station a large army to guard the surrounding areas.

The generals from various departments came to see Cao Cao one by one, which was also a process of strengthening centralization and swearing allegiance.

"How many soldiers does Cao Mengde have?
Everyone says that he has more than 50,000 cavalrymen under his command?"

"He will not expose all his strength in front of others. When others think he has 50,000 cavalry, his actual cavalry must be more than 50,000."

"Where does he get the money to support so many cavalrymen when the world is in turmoil?"

"Didn't Yuan Benchu ​​say that in his manifesto before the Battle of Guandu?"

"You mean he digs graves?"

The speakers were Fu Ping and Kong Rong from the Fu family.

All the noble families came to Cao Cao's wedding.

The Fu family also wanted to maintain their relationship with Cao Cao on the surface, so they sent people to deliver gifts.

Fu Ping had been in Yecheng for some time, but Kong Rong had just arrived.

In the name of the emperor, Cao Cao collected grain from various noble families, and demanded especially much grain from the Kong family.

If the Kong family was given the amount Cao Cao asked for, they would be emptied out.

Upon hearing the news, Kong Rong rode west to meet Cao Cao.

Fu Ping and other nobles came out of the city to welcome Kong Rong.

At this time, the two of them were sitting in the car, looking at the gradually approaching Yecheng.

Outside the city were endless military camps with soldiers coming in and out, exuding a strong military might amid the solemnity.

Kong Rong had previously been in Beihai, Qingzhou, where he built cities, established schools, promoted talented people, and promoted Confucianism, achieving quite a few achievements.

He loved to make friends, discuss world affairs, and give guidance. He would also criticize policies that he considered to be bad without any scruples.

After all, he has the golden body of his ancestors to protect him, so he has always been fearless.

“There are other things besides digging graves.

Cao Mengde has been working hard to make money.

After Your Majesty returned to Luoyang, we slowly sorted out the details and learned some of the events of that year."

Fu Ping narrowed his eyes and looked at Kong Rong:

"In the early years, when the Ten Eunuchs were causing chaos in the government, Cao Mengde was the first to confiscate the property of the family. He took most of the valuables, and then he conspired with the Cao family in Qiao County to raise an army."

"You mean, he had rebellious intentions at that time?" Kong Rong's face was as cold as ice.

Fu Ping avoided answering and continued:
"Later, Dong Zhuo brought chaos to the world and allowed his troops to plunder Luoyang. The richest counties in the world, such as Nanyang, were almost completely plundered, and countless spoils were taken."

"Dong Zhuo also ordered Lu Bu to rob the imperial tombs in Beimang Mountain and plunder all the wealth in the world!"

"Back then, Cao Mengde went to kill Dong Zhuo and earn a good reputation, but in reality he was trying to get money."

"He took all the benefits, both open and hidden. With Dong Zhuo's money alone, he would have no shortage of financial resources to support his army for several years, even a dozen years."

"Cao Cao also made friends with the nobles and exchanged them for various resources, so Yanzhou became stronger and stronger and never had to worry about money shortages."

"Dong Zhuo, the Ten Eunuchs, Yuan Benchu, these people are also stupid. Their business operations have benefited Cao Mengde."

"After the Battle of Guandu, Cao Mengde's power increased again, and he already had the intention of conquering the whole world."

Fu Ping looked deeply worried.

In the past few years, the Fuji family has repeatedly deduced the process of Cao Cao's rise and figured out many things about it.

It's a pity that I can only worry, feel envious and jealous, but I can't do anything about it.

The Fu family did not dare to confront Cao Cao head-on, but Kong Rong... he seemed to dare.

During the Battle of Guandu, Kong Rong openly criticized Cao Cao, saying that Cao's army would lose, and secretly persuaded Xun Yu and other civil and military officials in Cao's camp to surrender.

Fu Ping: "Cao Cao has never been kind to clans like us that have some surplus wealth. Except for the few families that first attached themselves to him, everyone is in danger. He wants to seize the inheritance passed down by our ancestors. If we don't unite, I'm afraid he will wipe out our families one by one."

Kong Rong said: "Others are afraid of him, but not me!"

"He wants to be appointed as a general and given an official title?"

"Yes, tomorrow is the day to pay respect to the general."

"After he is appointed as a general, I will go to him in person and ask him to give up the grain collection."

Fu Ping whispered, "Your Majesty is about to do something, would Kong Beihai be willing to help him?"

Kong Rong said, "Of course I am willing."

----

The next day, it was still dark.

Cao Cao then stood up from the couch and conferred the title on the general, which was equivalent to a grand military review ceremony.

According to ancient teachings, one should bathe and purify oneself seven days before the wedding day.

Cao Cao has been sleeping soundly these days.

Early in the morning, Diao Chan and Wen Ji came together.

Diao Chan was wearing a rouge long skirt and she stretched out her innocent little hands to straighten his collar.

Cao Cao was wearing martial armor, and Diao Chan helped him check the buckles of the scarlet cloak on his shoulders.

Wen Ji was behind him, wrapping a metal waist brace around him.

"My husband, your waist is so heavy." Wen Ji was a little dumbfounded by its weight.

Cao Cao dressed himself like a master without lifting a hand, looking left and right, he saw two beautiful faces.

Diao Chan suddenly tilted her crystal ear and pretended to listen: "It seems like there is a roar, like thunder."

"The news came from outside the city. The soldiers got up in the middle of the night and lined up outside the city."

Cao Cao said: "What you heard is the sound of thousands of horses galloping."

The roar grew louder and louder, and could be heard clearly even in the city.

Hegufuyu, Piluoji and others, who were at the official inn where the Xianbei envoys were staying, were awakened by a thunderous sound outside the city.

"Cao's troops are gathering."

Envoys such as Hegufuyu and Piluoji caught up with Cao's army to pay homage to the generals, intending to take the opportunity to observe and understand the strength of Cao's army.

"The Han army is using the Great Wall to block our hunting. Their infantry is strong, but their cavalry relies on their equipment. Without their equipment, they are no match for our grassland light cavalry."

Piloki stroked the stubble at the corner of his mouth, looking proud. "Let's go and take a look. Put on some Han clothes, don't be too eye-catching."

Everyone changed their clothes.

The weather was still quite cold, so they wore thick hats that covered their necks, leaving only half of their faces and eyes exposed. They did not worry about being recognized as coming from the grassland.

The Xianbei people went out and followed the sound towards the south city.

There were already quite a few people walking on the street, all of them were common people who had heard about the gathering of troops and the appointment of generals and wanted to go and take a look.

When Cao Cao got married, there were strange signs in the sky. In addition, Zheng Xuan had traveled hundreds of miles to the south to welcome him, praising him as the one destined by heaven. The people of Yecheng had been in high spirits for several days and went to see the general's appointment spontaneously.

When Cao's troops gathered, the people were not prohibited from watching, but they were not allowed to get close.

There will be martial law in the periphery.

When Hegu Fuyu and others approached the city gate, they heard the sound of horse hooves outside the city.

The ground in the city was shaking.

After they approached the South City Gate and looked outside the city, they could vaguely see the energy and blood gathering like wolf smoke and rising into the sky like pillars.

As the sky was about to brighten, the city gate slowly opened.

At the moment the city gate opened, Hegu Fuyu listened attentively and heard a light sound similar to the collision of weapons in the air.

This was the movement caused by the gathering of veteran soldiers who had fought in battles and the interaction between their weapons and the heaven and earth.

Hegu Fuyu and others came outside the city, stood in the crowd and watched from afar.

Outside the south gate of Yecheng, on the vast open space, Cao's troops were moving back and forth.

They began to line up at midnight.

At this time, the military formation gathered outside the city had grown to a considerable size.

There were fifty to sixty thousand men with their spears held high, forming a square array.

The two wings are cavalry, and the middle is infantry.

In the rear, countless soldiers and horses were still gathering in formation like thousands of streams.

On March 19th, the sky was cloudy in Yecheng.

The morning light appears very late.

The pressure of Cao's army's gathering might make people feel heavy, and the air is filled with a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

Over the past few years, the swords of this Cao army that started from Yanzhou have been stained with blood.

Some soldiers' armor was covered with scratches from swords and knives, and the thin lines connecting the armor plates had long been stained dark red by blood.

Even the war horses bore scars from arrow wounds and spear attacks.

The clouds are getting lower and lower.

It was daybreak but it seemed as if it wasn't daybreak yet, and it was gloomy and gray.

In the city, people from noble families began to come out and were invited to watch the process of the military parade to confer the title of general.

There were more and more noble families, and more and more soldiers and horses gathered.

When it was bright, at a glance, Cao's army was like mountains and seas, with their raised spears and weapons pointing obliquely to the sky like a dense forest.

People began to appear on the city walls.

They were the Xun, Chen, Yang, Ma, and Yu families, who were the role models of the gentry throughout the world.

Suddenly, the Cao army in formation shouted loudly: "General Taishi! General Taishi! General Taishi!"

Taishi Ci rode out of the city on his horse, with a large bow slung on his back and his battle robe fluttering.

The shout came from a group of troops he led.

Then came generals Cao Chun, Cao Hong, Yu Jin, Qu Yi, Zhang He, Le Jin, Xu Huang, Gao Shun and others, who took their positions one by one and stood in front of the army.

When Zhang Liao appeared and came outside the city to join the army, the atmosphere became tense.

He was the first general to join Cao's army. He made many military achievements and had many supporters.

It was these Cao army generals who led their troops to victory time and time again, and therefore they were highly supported by their troops.

"Cao's army has so many talented generals!"

The person who spoke was Ma Chao.

He was also invited to watch the ceremony, and he stood on the edge of the city wall with Pound beside him.

"There are hundreds of officers above the rank of colonel. No wonder people say Cao's camp is full of generals and the troops are the most powerful."

Pang De was beside him and said with emotion: "I went to the streets of Yecheng last night and even the people were talking about it, saying that Cao's army always wins every battle and has never lost."

Ma Chao frowned subconsciously.

He always felt that the Liangzhou Army was the best army in the world.

This is based on facts. In the past few years, the Liangzhou Army has almost single-handedly been fighting against the entire world's troops.

Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Guo Si repeatedly invaded Chang'an relying on the powerful soldiers from Liang Province.

Liangzhou has produced strong armies since ancient times, and people all over the world fear it.

However, now that Cao's army had gathered, their powerful force put Ma Chao under great pressure.

How does he compare to these Cao army generals?

At this time, Cao's army shouted loudly again, shaking the sky.

It was Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun riding out of the city!

The two men held the reins with one hand, their bodies straight as guns, their sharp edges fully revealed!

On the top of the city wall, Cao Ang asked the two men on his left and right with a smug look on his face: "Are our Cao army's troops strong?"

Sun Quan and the young man on the other side, Gongsun Du's son Gongsun Kang, nodded together.

At this time, 100,000 Cao troops gathered outside the city, and even the air was filled with astonishing pressure from the troops, like a thunder hanging overhead.

Suddenly, all the Cao army, generals, and soldiers saluted together, with great momentum: "Greetings to the King of Wei!"

Cao Cao slowly climbed to the top of the city wall.

Behind him were Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Jia Xu and others.

The troops outside the city had a hundred thousand swords drawn, wielding halberds and spears, and using the handles to strike the armor on their bodies.

Bang, bang bang——

The army took three steps forward in succession, and with each step they shouted!
"King of Wei! King of Wei! King of Wei!"

At the moment Cao Cao climbed up the city wall, the dark clouds in the sky were suddenly dispersed by the impact of the soldiers, and the sunlight poured down, making the sky suddenly clear.

Cao Cao raised his right arm, and there was a sudden silence below, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

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(End of this chapter)