Three Kingdoms: Wolong's brother-in-law, tricking Liu Bei into seizing Jingzhou

Chengdu, in the Qin Emperor's Palace.

Inside the palace, there was singing and dancing, and the air was filled with the smell of wine.

As usual, Cao Cao was living a life of singing and dancing, and was drunken and dreaming.

Even though Liu Bei had hundreds of thousands of troops coming to the country, even though Hanzhong was under fierce attack from the Han army, even though the situation at Yangping Pass was tense.

However, Cao Cao continued to indulge in wine and sex all day long, and seemed to take the Han army's attack to destroy his country seriously at all.

When I was half drunk.

The palace door was suddenly knocked open.

Xiahou Dun, Cheng Yu, Huang Quan, Cao Pi and others entered the hall with serious expressions.

Cao Cao's mood was disturbed and his face suddenly darkened and he looked displeased.

"Your Majesty, something has happened. Something big has happened in Hanzhong!"

Cheng Yu's voice became hoarse from running, and his expression was extremely solemn.

Cao Cao's expression changed slightly, and he swallowed back the angry words that were about to come out of his mouth.

"Urgent news just arrived from Hanzhong."

Cheng Yu calmed down his breathing a little, but he could not hide the panic and grief in his eyes. He trembled and bowed:

"General Miaocai was killed by Ma Chao, Dingjun Mountain was lost, and nearly 20,000 of our Yangping Pass defenders were killed or wounded. Our army suffered a heavy blow!"

"Yan Yan, Yan Pu and others have no one to lead them. They claim that Yangping Pass and even Hanzhong can no longer be defended. They request Your Majesty to allow them to abandon Hanzhong and withdraw to the south of Jiange!"

Cheng Yu's voice trembled, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. With endless despair and fear, he announced the bad news.

Then, he held the urgent report in his hand high in front of Cao Cao with both hands, as if he was holding a heavy stone.

Cao Cao's head buzzed, as if a thunderclap exploded in his mind.

He was so frightened that his body staggered and he almost fell off the dragon throne.

Upon seeing this, Xiahou Dun, Cao Pi and others' expressions changed drastically. They hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to support Cao Cao.

"Miaocai actually...actually died?" Cao Cao's lips trembled, and his voice was filled with disbelief and surprise.

"This is impossible, this is impossible--"

His voice was hoarse, as if he had heard the most incredible thing in the world.

That’s Xiahou Yuan, who grew up with him and they are like brothers!

Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Chun...many brothers of the Cao family have died at the hands of Liu Bei.

Now, is it finally the Xiahou family’s turn?

Cao Cao was shocked. He pushed everyone away, staggered up, and snatched the urgent report from Cheng Yu.

He clenched the urgent report tightly in both hands, his knuckles turned white from the force, and his eyes stared at every word on it.

An urgent report was submitted, saying that Liu Bei had sent Ma Chao to attack Dingjun Mountain and lure Xiahou Yuan to his death...

The whole process is written clearly.

Every word was like a sharp dagger, stabbing Cao Cao's heart.

The glimmer of hope he had in his heart was finally shattered at this moment by the information written in black and white.

Xiahou Yuan is really dead.

Died by Ma Chao's gun.

Died in Xiao Fang's trap!

Cao Cao gritted his teeth, his expression changed from shock to surprise, and gradually turned into endless anger, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Liu Bei, Xiao Fang, Ma Chao——"

"You have killed so many of my brothers, and today you have killed my talented person. I will cut you into pieces—"

"If I don't kill you, I swear I'm not a human being~~"

Cao Cao roared and cursed like a madman towards Hanzhong.

The Cao and Xiahou families are from the same clan. Cao Cao grew up with Xiahou Yuan since childhood and they experienced countless ups and downs together, and they were as close as brothers.

Now, seeing his brothers dying again because of Xiao Fang's "evil plot", Cao Cao had completely lost the calm composure that an emperor should have under this stimulation.

"Your Majesty!" Xiahou Dun knelt on one knee, tears of grief and anger welling up in his eyes, and said angrily:

"Please give me tens of thousands of elite soldiers and allow me to go to Hanzhong to provide assistance. I will kill Ma Chao and avenge Miao Cai!"

Xiahou Dun asked for battle in grief and anger.

Although Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan were as close as brothers and Cao Cao regarded the Xiahou family as members of the royal family, he and Xiahou Yuan were not blood brothers after all.

But Xiahou Dun is different. Xiahou Yuan is his cousin, and they are real blood brothers!

Seeing his own blood brother die at the hands of Ma Chao, how could he not be heartbroken and angry? He wished he could rush to Hanzhong immediately to avenge Xiahou Yuan!

Cao Cao slammed the table and was about to approve Xiahou Dun's request.

The words came to my lips, but I stopped at the last moment.

The remaining rationality pulled him back from the brink of impulse.

"Zhongde, what do you think? Should I allow Yuan Rang to lead his army to reinforce Hanzhong?"

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and slowly turned his gaze to Cheng Yu.

Obviously, he wanted Cheng Yu to speak out against reinforcing Hanzhong and speak for him.

Because he knew very well that once Xiahou Yuan died, the Hanzhong Army would suffer a heavy blow and it would be impossible to defend Yangping Pass or Hanzhong.

The wisest choice is to abandon Hanzhong and withdraw the remaining tens of thousands of troops to the south of Jiange.

But he couldn't say this.

If you refuse to avenge Xiahou Yuan, what will happen to Xiahou Dun and what will the royal family think?
People's hearts are so cold.

Cheng Yu wanted to advise him, but when his eyes swept across Xiahou Dun's angry face, he took back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He knew that persuading Cao Cao not to send more troops to Hanzhong and not to avenge Xiahou Yuan would be tantamount to offending Xiahou Dun, the great general and head of the royal family.

"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I am confused and it is difficult for me to make a decision..."

Cheng Yu had no choice but to play it cunningly, neither opposing nor agreeing.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Cao Cao's face.

In the end, Cheng Yu failed to understand his boss's intention and stood up to take the blame for him.

This is no way.

Who made him indulge in wine and women recently? He no longer has the bearing of a heroic ruler as he once was. This made Cheng Yu disheartened and he dared not give him any more honest advice, let alone take the blame for him.

Cao Cao sighed and fell into a dilemma.

Of course he wanted to avenge Xiahou Yuan.

He even wanted to leave the peaceful land of Chengdu and lead his army into Hanzhong to fight a decisive battle with Liu Bei.

Even if it means his death and the destruction of his country for his brother Xiahou Yuan, he would not hesitate.

But reason told him that he couldn't do that.

Sending troops to Hanzhong now will do nothing but sacrifice the lives of our soldiers.

But he couldn't say this himself; his subjects had to say it.

But Cheng Yu pretended to be confused at this critical moment. How could he not be disappointed?
"Prince, what do you think?"

Cao Cao had no choice but to turn his gaze to his son, his eyes full of expectation.

Cao Pi was undecided and glanced at Sima Yi.

Sima Yi nodded slightly, indicating that he would obey Cao Cao's hint.

Cao Pi hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and said:

"Father, I believe that Yangping Pass is no longer safe and the loss of Hanzhong is inevitable. We must not lose any more soldiers in vain!"

"I ask the emperor to order Yan Pu and Cao Zhen to lead the remaining troops in Hanzhong and retreat to Jiange in the south."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiahou Dun's face changed immediately.

He turned his head suddenly and glared at Cao Pi.

His eyes were filled with disappointment and confusion. (End of this chapter)