Big Ear Thief Selling Straw Sandals

Chapter 271: Taking the son of Zhou Mu to order Bashu
The east of the Yangtze River is raging with war, and the situation in Bashu has reached its peak.

Compared with Cao Cao, who was vigorous and aggressive, Liu Biao, the shepherd of Yizhou, who could be called a humble gentleman from a scholarly family, also realized that military chaos was about to occur.

So he called in counselors to discuss countermeasures, and sure enough he came up with two clever ideas.

The first is to mobilize heavy troops to guard the passes between Bashu and Sichuan, and try to delay the attack speed of Cao's army in order to delay the change.

The second is to send an urgent report to the imperial court for help and ask for help from princes from all over the country, using external pressure to force Cao Cao to change his mind.

However, during the implementation of Article [-], all the land and water messengers were intercepted by Cao Jun, which further stimulated Cao Cao's determination to cut through the mess quickly.

In November of the Republic of China 1032, auspicious snow fell from the sky.

The land of Bashu is covered with snow, traffic is interrupted, and business travel is at a standstill.

Zitong is connected to Brazil County and is one of the two front lines that the Shu army focuses on defending.

Once Cao's army captures Zitong, they can directly attack Guanghan County and march to Chengdu.

Another defensive focus is Jiangyang County, which is connected to the Bajun River. Once Cao's army captures Jiangyang, they can rush along the river to the south of Chengdu, or they can go west to Jianwei County and steal the Shu army's retreat.

Therefore, these two strategic points were supervised by Liu Biao's relatives, and they both uttered harsh words, "Swear to live or die with the city."

Since ancient times, marching and fighting have always been about the right time, right location, and harmony.

The Shu army defended the city and had a favorable geographical location, with auspicious snow falling from the sky and good timing.

Therefore, everyone in the Shu army breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the goose feathers fluttering in the snow.

The weather was so cold that one could fall to death even if he walked. Cao Jun would only attack if he was crazy.

Besides, we don’t have to be afraid when we come. We can eat and drink comfortably at the top of the city. When Cao Jun comes, he will shoot his mother with arrows!
Sure enough, when the day passed, no trace of Cao Jun was found, so the generals went home with peace of mind and went back to their wives and children to warm up on the kang.

At night, the snow had not stopped yet, and the Zitong defenders had never experienced such hardship. They all huddled around the fire, drinking wine and eating meat.

The squad leader heard a faint movement and kicked his subordinates.

"Go and see what's going on outside?"

The subordinate stood up reluctantly, held the torch and walked to the crenel. After shaking it twice, there was nothing unusual in the vast snow.

"Captain, there's nothing!"

"Really not?"

"It's true, if you don't believe it, come and see for yourself, a ghost would come out in such bad weather!"

The team leader thought about it. If Cao's army attacked the city, three or two hundred people would definitely be nonsense. One thousand or eight hundred people would not be able to leave any traces at all.

I am too sensitive!

They are all Paoze brothers, and their subordinates will not lie.

"Okay, come back and have a few sips!"

After a short while, the strange sound sounded again, and the team leader frowned.

What a lingering ghost, is he a human or a ghost?

This time, he ran to the crenel with a torch and looked down. The wind and snow were howling, and the visibility was really not high.

But as my subordinates said, it was clear whether there was anyone on the snow.

I read it twice and still found nothing.

However, by some strange combination, this guy took a rocket, lit it, and shot it into the darkness below the city.

The place illuminated by the fire was still covered in white flowers.

"Fuck, he must have drunk too much and is suspicious!"

The squad leader shrank his neck, stamped his feet, ran back to the fire, and took a swig of white wine.

"call!"

It's finally warm.

However, the team leader didn't notice that a bright red color seeped out from underneath the rocket.

Xiahou Dun personally led the troops and made a surprise attack on Zitong City on a snowy night.

The [-] warriors of the commando team, draped in white cloth, reached the bottom of the city. Just as they were about to climb the wall, they were shot by the defenders.

It happened to hit Xiahou Dun's bodyguard. The bodyguard who was hit by the arrow bit the wooden pole in his mouth and was stunned without saying a word.

When the fire on the wall left, Xiahou Dun rushed over to check, only to see that the arrow had entered the back of his heart, and his bodyguard had already died.

"Good brother! I swear, I will chop off a hundred heads and bury you with you tonight!"

Putting down the body of his personal guard, Xiahou Dun shouted in a low voice: "Go! Kill without mercy!"

Dozens of flying claws holding soft cushions were thrown to the top of the city, almost silent in the howling wind and snow.

At the top of the city, the Shu army guards who were drinking heavily even sang a folk tune, causing a lot of men to laugh and laugh.

When the two armies confront each other, they will win by coincidence and by surprise.

Xiahou Dun arrived at the city with a white cloth and took advantage of the snowy night like a ghost, and successfully attacked the head of Zitong City.

Whether you are prepared to attack or not, you will win this battle no matter how you fight it.

After successfully capturing the east gate, Zitong's defenders also noticed the enemy attack and organized a counterattack in panic. However, Xiahou Dun took the lead and defended the city gate firmly without fear of death.

When a large group of cavalry from the rear of Cao's army came quickly, the morale of the Shu army collapsed and they were defeated like a mountain.

"96, 97, 98, 99..."

Xiahou Dun, who was covered in blood, had already changed three swords, and was still fighting bravely to kill the remnants of the Shu army.

And his bodyguards also knew that the general was fulfilling his promise to his dead bodyguards and intended to give the head to Xiahou Dun.

But the Shu army was frightened by this murderous god, and they all threw down their armor and knelt down to ask for surrender.

Looking at the kneeling enemy soldiers in front of him, Xiahou Dun raised his sword, put it down, raised it and put it down.

The surrendered soldiers on the opposite side were so frightened that they trembled.

"General, the military regulations of your Cao army are: Do not kill prisoners! Your Excellency is in large numbers, please spare us!"

In Cao's army, Chen Gong came on horseback and listened to his men telling the reason.

Seeing that Xiahou Dun was upset, he said: "As long as Yuan Rang's intention comes, the brothers will understand. There are more important military affairs ahead, and Yuan Rang needs to lead the troops."

A word wakes up the dreamer. Military regulations are righteousness, and promises are personal relationships. Military regulations cannot be destroyed because of brotherhood, leading to the failure of the battle plan.

"Dangdang!"

Xiahou Dun dropped the steel knife and kicked over the Shu soldier who saved his life.

"Your fortune is good, get out!"

It only took one night for Zitong to fall, and the entire army was wiped out, with not even a messenger left.

The snow was too heavy and the city gates were closed. Cao Jun suddenly broke through the city. A few soldiers were captured by the cavalry before they even made it ten miles out of the city.

Chen Gong was very satisfied and discussed with Xiahou Dun to "steal" Guanghan.

Xiahou Dun was brave and cautious and felt that the risk was worth taking.

So the next day, they used the captured Liu Cousin clan members as hostages, disguised themselves as Shu troops and drove to Guanghan, followed by a large group of Cao troops.

Liu Biao's clan member was a weak scholar and could not ride a horse. Xiahou Dun watched with a cold face as he got into the carriage and used a knife to lift the curtain.

"You'd better be smarter. If you reveal any flaws later, I'll be the first to chop your head off!"

"General Xiahou, I don't dare, I don't dare!"

As the second line of defense, Guanghan City has a peaceful and happy scene.

On a snowy day, the most important thing is food and fuel. Therefore, after the snow stops, there is an endless stream of vehicles entering and exiting the city gate loading food and firewood.

Five hundred Cao Jun, disguised as Shu troops, followed the carriage and arrived at the gate of Guanghan City.The gatekeeper immediately stepped forward and shouted: "Hey, stop, where are you from? Do you have any documents?"

Xiahou Dun hid in the car with Liu Biao's relatives because his single eye was too conspicuous.

He patted the other party with his knife: "It's up to you! You don't need to tell me what to do, right?"

"Yes, I understand, little one!"

The man nodded like a fool, immediately lifted the curtain of the car, and cursed without even looking: "Are you blind? Can't you see the car logo? Don't blame me for demolishing the Sheriff's Mansion if you keep blabbering!"

The gatekeeper was startled when he saw the unique logo of the State Shepherd's Office hanging on the car.

It turned out to be the one who was supervising the troops on the Zitong front line, but why did he come to Guanghan?

But the other party was cursing and cursing, and even the eighteen generations of ancestors were quick to greet him. He really couldn't afford to offend him. After all, he was just a little gatekeeper.

"Let go!"

In this way, the five hundred death squads easily stepped onto the suspension bridge and entered the city. Then they divided into two groups and rushed straight to the Guanghan County Governor's Mansion, seizing the city gate along the way.

When Chen Gong arrived, the governor's mansion had been occupied, and the governor of Guanghan was already a prisoner.

The battle was unbelievable, but it was true, because all the elite troops in Guanghan were transferred to Zitong, and it was too empty at the moment.

After easily capturing Guanghan, looking at the Chengdu Plain in the distance, Chen Gong smiled at Xiahou Dun and said: "The country of abundance should be inhabited by the virtuous!"

On the northern front, Cao's army first made a surprise attack and then a sneak attack, and captured two counties with more than a hundred casualties, which can be regarded as a model of both wisdom and courage.

Cao Ren and Cai Mao, with the cooperation of the navy, launched a strong attack on Jiangyang.

The renovated warship had multiple artillery pieces and aimed at the Jiangyang city defenses with a barrage of fire. In just half a day, two hundred cannons smashed through, frightening the defending Shu army.

Cao Cao, Cao Ren, Xu You and Xu Chu rushed into the city, killed more than [-] people and captured nearly [-] people. By the next morning, they were able to capture the governor's mansion.

In this battle, Xu Chu broke the city first and killed two enemy generals, laying the foundation for victory.

Unfortunately, he was hit by seven or eight arrows. Although it was not fatal, his whole body was wrapped like a rice dumpling.

According to Xu You's words: All this good stuff needs is a good coffin.

At this time, Cao Cao made a decision. Cao Ren led 3000 men to take a detour to capture Jianwei and block Liu Biao's retreat. He led the main force and drove straight into Chengdu.

Due to delays due to heavy snow, Liu Biao did not receive the news until the third day that Cao's army was attacking Chengdu from the north and the south and was continuously attacking the city.

The losses of Zitong, Guanghan, and Jiangyang left Chengdu undefended.

Liu Biao was worried all day long, and when Liu Qi and Liu Chong were arguing, his wife Cai refused to help her relatives and spoke harshly to Liu Qi. As a result, the two sides fell out, and Cai actually kicked her eldest son Liu Qi out of the house.

When Liu Biao learned that the back house was restless, his wife was unkind and his son was unfilial, and Cao Cao's thieves were powerful outside the city, he simply had no love in his life.

He was so depressed that he vomited blood and fainted.

Liu Biao fell ill, and the doctor's diagnosis and treatment was not satisfactory.

After all, Liu Biao was already over fifty, and it was the coldest month of winter, so he just prescribed two qi-tonifying decoctions to cope with it.

When Cai found out, he immediately used tricks to secretly contact Liu Biao's disciples and former officials to support Liu Chong in his rise to power.

However, there was an order of hierarchy between seniority and junior, and Liu Biao's position was that the first heir was Liu Qi. Therefore, quite a few people did not recognize Liu Chong.

Cai Shi refused to do anything and decided to kill first and then report later.

When the killer sneaked into Liu Qi's courtyard, he heard Liu Qi talking with his wife, crying sadly that he could not serve his father at home because of his illness. He believed that Liu Qi was a filial son, and came forward to remind Liu Qi: Your stepmother is going to kill you, so Liu Qi should run away quickly.

Faced with a threat to his life, Liu Qi had no choice but to take his wife and escape from Chengdu overnight, but was captured by Cao Cao's scouts.

Xu You learned that Liu Biao was seriously ill and Liu Qi was threatened by Cai, and he immediately came up with a plan.

The next day, Liu Qi, with his head wrapped in white cloth, appeared at the gates of Chengdu, under the banner of "crusade against the unfilial son" Liu Chong.

Claiming that Cai was unruly and interfering in the government and family affairs of the state and pastoral government, it was clear that she was evil-hearted, and she even went so far as to say that Cai had attempted to kill Liu Biao several times, but this time she finally succeeded in poisoning him, causing Liu Biao to become seriously ill.

Therefore, Liu Qi avenged his father, and Cao Jun suddenly became the rebel army of "King Qin saved him".

Originally, Chengdu had high walls and thick defenses, and the army and the people had plenty of food and grass. It would not be easy to fight.

But Liu Qi muddied the waters at this time, and the political forces in Chengdu immediately became divided. What was like this at the top was even worse below.

There are countless versions of rumors spread all over the world, and Cai is even compared to Daji, King Zhou of Shang Dynasty, who used her beauty to seduce Liu Biao and realize his evil intentions of bringing disaster to the people.

In a siege, what the defenders feared most was disunity. Being disturbed by Liu Qi made everyone panic. The generals in charge of the city defense would be replaced every one or two hours, which led to a rapid decline in morale.

People with insight have already understood that whether Liu Biao dies or not, the city of Chengdu will belong to Cao Cao sooner or later.

That being the case, smart people are often one step ahead.

Starting from the second day, I don't know how many people sent messengers out of the city to contact Cao Cao. In addition to showing goodwill, they also expressed their loyalty. On the one hand, they believed that Liu Qi should be in charge, and on the other hand, they believed that Cao Cao had the merit of rectifying the source.

Cao Cao laughed and said: "In less than three days, Chengdu will be defeated."

Sure enough, on the third day, seeing the situation in danger, Cai fled from the west gate with Liu Chong and his best friends.

At this time, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and opened the city gate openly to welcome Liu Qi and Cao Cao.

Liu Qi was very sensible and asked Cao Cao to advance into the city.

Cao's army has many generals and high morale, and he has no chance to fight against it.

However, Cao Cao believed that it would be better for Liu Qi to take the lead. He said that King Qin would come to the rescue and must not overwhelm the guest.

Liu Qi looked at Cao Cao in disbelief: Are you addicted to acting?

Cao Cao was a traitor through the ages, and Liu Qi was far behind him.

"Good nephew, I, Mr. Cao, have made it clear that you are the one to be the pastor of Yizhou, and I will not recognize anyone else! Please!"

Perhaps due to the blessing in his heart, Liu Qi suddenly understood what Cao Cao was going to do.

Immediately he said: "Cao Gong is an unparalleled genius in both civil and martial arts. I leave it to you to govern and revitalize Bashu from now on!"

"Haha, this is my job, I don't dare to resign!"

So, the two negotiated terms, and both entered the city and went straight to the governor's mansion.

In front of Liu Biao's bed, Cao Cao swore to heaven that he had no intention of replacing him. He even smiled and asked Zhou Mu to take care of his illness, and left everything else to Liu Qi.

"Brother Jingsheng is a great Confucian, so the issue of respect for elders and younger ones cannot be circumvented, right?"

After being told by Cao A that he used his spear to attack his shield, Liu Biao opened his mouth and had nothing to say. He had to hand over his authority to his eldest son Liu Qi in front of his disciples and old officials.

At this point, Liu Biao's era ended.

In the land of Bashu, the political drama of the counties and counties in Bashu started with the son of Zhou Mu.

Because Liu Qi was smart enough and kind enough, and Cao Cao was not a reckless person, the two sides cooperated happily.

Cao Cao held Liu Qi in high esteem and gave him lots of money and beautiful women, but Liu Qi reciprocated the favor and handed over all the government affairs of Bashu to Cao Cao, while he only took care of the good state and animal husbandry.

Just when Chengdu was in harmony and about to celebrate the New Year, a big melon suddenly broke out within Cao Jun.

Xu Chu beheaded Xu You in the street.

It is said that Xu You's head rolled several feet away.

Cao Jun present was dumbfounded.

After receiving the letter, Cao Cao was stunned.

Chen Gong, Xia Houdun and Cao Ren hurried over and asked the soldiers present about the reason, but they didn't hear a word about Xu Chu.

Is this so weird?

But after all, Xu You was the second military advisor of Cao's army, second only to Chen Gong, with a rank of two thousand stones. Even Cao Cao did not dare to deal with him easily.

When Cao Cao saw Xu Chu, he was extremely angry.

"How dare you kill Commander Xu? What happened? If you do whatever you want, I will never forgive you!"

(End of this chapter)