Chapter 65 Yuan Shao: Meng De, I want to run away [Seeking follow-up reading]

When Cao Cao received the news sent by Yuan Shao, he prepared his troops and left the mansion.

In the carriage, Cao Cao raised his arms and looked at his sleeves.

He was wearing a lightly ribbed military robe, with a belt tied around his waist, cuffs tightened, and arm guards, which made him look neat and tidy. With a sword hanging from his waist and a military cap on his head, he looked even more majestic.

This outfit of Cao Cao was matched by Diao Chan.

The girl has officially become his dressing officer.

Recalling the pretty look of Diao Chan who carefully helped him tidy up his clothes before leaving the house, Cao Cao couldn't help but smile. He picked up a scroll from the seat beside him in the car and started to read it.

This scroll was also selected by Diao Chan for him to read when he traveled.

The scroll is a military strategy written by Huo Qubing, the originator of blitzkrieg.

The content draws on the book of Wonderful Marching Methods by Bai Qi, the god of war of the Former Qin Dynasty, but it also has its own understanding and improvements to increase the marching speed.

This talented military strategist, who once traveled thousands of miles and defeated more than 20 large and small Hun tribes in one day and night and had a brilliant record of military success, wrote a book called "The Art of Marching" which explains various methods for generals to lead troops.

The "fog walk" method tells the generals that they can use their own military training to connect the energy of heaven and earth, making it impossible for the enemy to analyze and grasp your whereabouts and military intentions, which is similar to the secret crossing of Chencang...

As Cao Cao read, he used his legendary literary talent 'Insight' to analyze the true meaning of the book.

In his Dantian, the core of military power in the shape of a military talisman was operating on its own, emitting wisps of Qi that flowed throughout his body.

Imperceptibly, the military talisman split into countless imprints, gathering and dispersing like a military formation, presenting infinite changes, mysterious and unpredictable.

Outside the car, a layer of faint fog seemed to be spreading around the entire traveling team.

The team seemed to be obscured by the energy of heaven and earth.

My talent is unparalleled. Cao Cao felt the changes in himself and the team outside the car, and boasted about it.

"Dong Zhuo has allowed his people to commit such a heinous crime, so he will not die a good death."

The voice coming from outside the car made Cao Cao put away the letter in his hand.

Xun Yu arrived at Cao's mansion at noon and rode a horse beside Cao Cao's carriage.

In the other carriage at the rear was the Grand Marshal Cui Lie.

Cao Cao's traveling team was expanded to more than a thousand elite soldiers from Xiyuan.

After what happened last night, the number of troops and horses transferred to Cao’s residence from the east gate increased in the morning.

The people living in several houses around Cao's Mansion hurriedly moved away in the morning, staying away from Cao's Mansion, which was a place of trouble.

If I continue to live next to Cao's mansion and there is another battle like last night with thousands of troops, I might lose my life.

The new soldiers and horses of Cao's mansion lived in the vacant houses in the surrounding area.

As the emperor set out in his carriage, all he saw along the streets were traces of the looting by the Liangzhou soldiers last night.

Xun Yu outside the car had an ugly expression on his face and his whole body was shaking.

On the streets, soldiers from Liangzhou were openly pushing large carts.

What was hung on the car were actually the heads of people they chopped off when they committed the crime.

The thick blood solidified the axles and wheels, pressing on the long street, leaving streaks of blood.

There were so many heads on the car, they looked so hideous and terrifying, it was horrifying to the eyes.

There was also the naked body of a woman who had been raped, also in the car.

Luoyang, the largest city in the world, was transformed overnight, with houses on fire seen everywhere.

Overall, only the southern city, close to Ding Yuan's sphere of influence, suffered lighter losses.

The worst-hit areas were the North City and the West City, which were almost completely looted by the Liangzhou Army.

Xun Yu said sadly: "Lovely Luoyang has been invaded by the thief Dong. Heaven and earth mourn."

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage approached Yuan's mansion.

Cao Cao's residence was only three streets away from Yuan's mansion, not far away.

On the long street, the Liangzhou Army and the imperial guards brought by Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were facing each other, and the atmosphere was tense.

Dong Zhuo was about to leave when Cao Cao arrived.

The two of them went in and out and met at the gate of Yuan's mansion.

"Cao Cao."

Dong Zhuo stopped surrounded by a group of generals and stared at Cao Cao fiercely.

Li Jue, Guo Si, and Dong Min were all there, and someone had already placed his hand on the hilt of the knife.

Outside Yuan's mansion, the situation was tense.

Behind Dong Zhuo, a general with a rough and dark complexion suddenly took a step forward, and the murderous aura of his troops surged in the air.

He grinned, looking defiant.

Dian Wei took a small step forward beside Cao Cao and took out a cake from his pocket. The generals on the opposite side, including Dong Zhuo, were stunned.

Dian Wei said to the burly black general beside Dong Zhuo, "The man who came to our house yesterday also laughed the same as you at first. I beat him to death and exchanged his donkey meat for this pancake."

The general shouted angrily and tried to approach Dian Wei, but was blocked by Li Ru with his arm crossed.

"Cao Mengde, good tricks."

Dong Zhuo actually bowed his hand before leading his men away.

Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji were also put on the carriage and taken away together.

Cao Cao entered the Yuan family and came to the main hall of the Yuan mansion. He saw Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu sitting on the steps outside the study.

It took all of Yuan Shao’s courage to confront Dong Zhuo just now.

At this moment, he was sitting on the steps, feeling a little scared.

He was born into the Yuan family, a family of three officials for four generations. Although he was not a legitimate child, he was loved by his elders. He was appointed as the magistrate of Puyang County at a young age. He was honest and capable, and had a good reputation.

But he didn't care about the position of county head at all.

Because his mother died of illness, he resigned from his official position and returned home to attend the funeral.

When his mother was buried, people from all over the world came to celebrate, and there were as many as 30,000 people gathered behind Yuan Shao, which was unprecedented.

This is the Yuan family, which also represents Yuan Shao’s huge influence and serves as a role model for the gentry throughout the world.

That was why Yuan Wei felt incredible that Dong Zhuo dared to openly attack his mansion and use violence.

In the early years, people including Cao Cao, Zhang Miao, Xu You and others were all around Yuan Shao. They were the "friends on the run" centered around him. They were the most famous people of their generation, working hard for the affairs of the world and were famous far and wide.

Yuan Shao has lived a smooth life until now, and his demeanor and grace have earned him respect from countless people.

He had never been disobeyed or even threatened.

Just now, Yuan Shao saw Dong Zhuo attacking Yuan's house and talking nonsense about deposing the emperor, which made him furious.

Onlookers were shocked by his courage.

Dong Zhuo already controls half of the court and has a bad reputation.

If Dong Zhuo had used violence at that time, Yuan Shao would have been in great danger.

At this time, seeing Cao Cao entering the mansion, Yuan Shao stood up and pulled Cao Cao aside:
"Uncle doesn't know much about you. I didn't know anything about your plan last night. I just understood it after hearing someone talk about it. I know Meng De is always resourceful. You should have seen through what uncle did. Don't blame me."

This is Yuan Shao’s strength.

He is magnanimous to others, humble and generous, and has always been very open-minded.

To some extent, Cao Cao's current position should have belonged to Yuan Shao.

"I just confronted Dong Zhuo and we almost got into a fight. He didn't do it because he wanted to use his uncle to make the news known to the world through the Secretariat. But I know that this man is brutal and will kill me afterwards."

Yuan Shao: "I want to leave Luoyang and head east to Jizhou. What do you think, Meng De?"

A strange sense of historical overlap once again emerged in Cao Cao's mind.

He has changed many things.

But human nature does not change, and the choices made when encountering things will occasionally return to the trajectory of history.

In history, after Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo confronted each other, Yuan Shao fled Luoyang overnight.

It cannot be said that Yuan Shao was timid. Dong Zhuo was powerful and controlled the palace and the emperor.

It is not wrong for a gentleman to avoid danger, preserve himself, and plan for the future.

Even Han Xin had experienced humiliation, and those who can endure the humiliation for a while are mostly heroes.

Cao Cao: "It is wise for you to leave, Benchu. If you can make some arrangements outside, it will also be a restraint on Dong Zhuo, so that he dare not act recklessly. It is better than staying in Luoyang.

What do you need me to do?"

Yuan Shao was moved and said: "Meng De, you have always understood me. I will leave Luoyang first. If you encounter difficulties, you can come to me."

Cao Cao thought that since you were leaving, he might as well take advantage of you and said bluntly:
"Before you left, Benchu, please leave a token and a letter, and transfer your trustworthy connections and contacts in Luoyang to me. I may be able to use them in the current situation."

Yuan Shao said, "Dong Zhuo wants to depose the emperor, but he overestimates his own abilities. One day I will kill this villain. When I go out, I will gather people and denounce Dong Zhuo."

On the other side, Cui Lie also followed in and was talking to other people from the Yuan family.

At this time, the inner residence of the Yuan family was covered in blood.

Guan Ziqi's head was still on the low seat.

There were also many corpses in the yard, all of whom were guards of the Yuan Mansion who were killed when Dong Zhuo's troops attacked.

Cao Cao left Yuan's residence at 3 p.m. and returned home when the sun was about to set.

As soon as he came back, a waiter came forward and said, "After the young master left, someone broke into the mansion. He was covered in blood and fainted. He is still unconscious."

He handed Cao Cao two things and said, "The person who broke in specifically told me that these are for you. They are very important. I told you to give them to me when you come back."

(End of this chapter)