Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 762: Old Friends Visit the Camp
Outside the city of Chenliu in Yanzhou, flags were flying everywhere, and an army of 250,000 soldiers surrounded the city tightly.

Although it was late at night, Gao Shun looked out from the city wall and saw that the enemy camp more than ten miles away was in good order, which was in line with the tactics of the army. In the camp, groups of moving flames could be seen faintly. It was obvious that the patrol guards were holding torches and investigating everywhere.

"Cao Mengde's use of troops is indeed extraordinary."

Gao Shun couldn't help but sigh, but he never showed his emotions on his face, and his tone of voice was very calm, so it was difficult for others to tell whether he was admiring Cao Cao or worried about the impending crisis in the city.

A general came over and said, "General Gao, Cao's army has just arrived at Chenliu City today. Why don't we take advantage of their unstable foothold and launch a surprise attack?"

Gao Shun shook his head slightly: "Cao's camp is well-organized and well-defended, and it is difficult to find any loopholes. If we attack rashly, we will definitely fall into a trap."

Several generals were not convinced. "It is extremely difficult to coordinate the entire army of Cao's 250,000 soldiers. Apart from your Majesty, General Guan, General Zhang and General Gao, I can't think of anyone else who can do it. The enemy has been outside Chenliu for less than two hours. How can they have such strict security in their camp? I think as long as we sneak in carefully and investigate carefully, we will be able to find the flaws."

"Yes, General Yan is right. I and others are willing to give it a try. Otherwise, when Cao's army launches a fierce attack tomorrow, we will inevitably be in danger. Please give the order, General."

"General, give the order. We have received great favors from the imperial court for a long time. We may be refugees, bandits, surrendered soldiers, or poor people. It is all thanks to your majesty and the general that we have not abandoned you, taught you carefully, and promoted you vigorously, so that we can have today's glory. If we go to launch a surprise attack tonight, if we are lucky enough to win, our army will be out of danger. If we fail, even if we die, we will be loyal to the country and have no complaints."

The words spoken by several people were sincere and powerful, and it was obvious that they were from the heart.

Gao Shun seemed indifferent, and continued to speak in a calm tone: "The enemy's three armies came from three directions, but they were able to arrive at the city at the same time. Within an hour, they successfully surrounded the city on all sides and built the camp under the harassment of our guerrillas. I am ashamed of my ability. You must not be reckless. Those who violate the military law will be punished."

When the generals heard this, they dared not speak anymore.

They were all veterans who had followed Gao Shun for at least three to four years, and at most eight to nine years. Naturally, they knew Gao Shun's temper very well.

This great Han general who was in charge of the southern expedition and a trusted general of the emperor usually spoke very little and was very frugal with words. However, once he spoke a long paragraph, it meant that he was extremely cautious about the matter. In addition, Gao Shun's army was the most strict in terms of military discipline. When he said that military law should be followed, he would never joke.

At the same time, in Cao’s military tent, Cao Cao and his generals were discussing the strategy for tomorrow’s siege.

Now, outside the four gates of Chenliu, Xiahou Dun and Xi Zhong attacked the south gate, Xiahou Yuan and Jia Xu attacked the west gate, Cao Hong and Cheng Yu attacked the north gate, and Cao Cao led his troops and generals to attack the east gate.

When the generals were discussing, a guard shouted outside the tent: "My lord, there is a man outside the camp who claims to be your old friend and came to see you."

"Oh? An old friend of mine?" Cao Cao's eagle eyes fixed their gazes, and he asked in confusion, "Which old friend of mine dares to visit me at this time? Do you know his name?"

The guard replied, "The visitor only said one sentence: Brother Cao, do you still remember what happened in Zhongmou County?"

"Chen Gong!" Cao Cao exclaimed immediately.

He quickly walked around the sand table, went outside the tent, and shouted to the guard with a happy face, "Quick, go and invite him in."

"Here."

When the guard was about to leave, Cao Cao suddenly called him.

"No, Cao will go to meet him personally."

After running a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around and said to the generals: "Quick, bring me my helmet."

A general quickly took out Cao Cao's helmet from the tent and handed it over with both hands.

Cao Cao put on his helmet, adjusted his armor, and then walked quickly out of the camp.

A general was very puzzled: "Who is this Chen Gong? Why did the lord get so happy when he heard his name?" Guo Jia explained to him: "You came late, so you don't know. The lord conspired to oppose Dong Zhuo in Luoyang that year, but the plot was exposed. He fled in a hurry and was wanted by Dong Zhuo. When he fled to Zhongmu County, he was recognized by Chen Gong, the county magistrate at the time. Instead of escorting him to Luoyang to receive the reward, he spent all his family property to help the lord start a rebellion. In the following years, he gave advice to the lord and ran around Yanzhou to prepare food and weapons. At that time, bandits suddenly appeared in Taishan County, looting villages and attacking cities. The lord was away on the expedition and could not take care of them. It was also this man who, as a counselor, personally ran around between cities and commanded the defenders to save the city. He made an indelible contribution. The lord can be where he is today, and his achievements are no less than those of General Xiahou and General Cao."

The general was even more surprised when he heard this: "Why is such a meritorious minister not being used by the lord now?"

Not only him, but also several new generals around him all had puzzled expressions on their faces.

Guo Jia smiled and said, "If he could have been retained until now, his position in the army would still be higher than that of Zhongde and others. However, back then..."

He was halfway through his speech when he suddenly stopped talking: "Forget it, the lord is quite taboo about this matter, so don't say too much."

Although the generals were curious, they had no choice but to give up after hearing what he said.

Cao Cao walked and ran all the way to the camp gate. Although the distance was not far, he felt that the camp was too big. He was the commander of the central army, but it was so far away from the camp gate.

After finally reaching the village gate, I saw a thin, middle-aged Confucian scholar standing outside the gate with his hands behind his back.

Cao Cao's eyes lit up and he quickly ran forward.

"Gongtai...Gongtai..."

In the excitement of the moment, Cao Cao tripped over a stone, stumbled and fell forward.

Fortunately, the guards around him supported him and he did not fall. However, Cao Cao seemed to think he was meddling and pushed the guard away.

"Gongtai..."

Chen Gong turned around, smiled at Cao Cao and bowed.

"Meng De, long time no see, how are you?"

Cao Cao ran up to him with a loud laugh and grabbed his hands as he was saluting.

"Good, very good. Oh no, not good, very bad. Ever since Gongtai left me in Luoyang, I have missed you every day. Today you are back. Even if I were given ten thousand gold coins, I would not be as happy as this. Come on, follow me into the military tent to talk."

Cao Cao took his hand and walked towards the camp. As they walked, he kept telling Chen Gong about what he had experienced in the past two years. He spoke with great joy and spit flying everywhere. When the soldiers around him saw this, they were all stunned and extremely surprised.

The two men walked into Cao Cao's tent, and the generals at the door finally believed what Guo Jia had just said.

"Military Advisor Guo, what you said is really accurate. The lord's attitude towards him is indeed unusual."

"Yes, I and others have only seen him being so intimate with General Xiahou Dun. Even Generals Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren have never received such courtesy."

"A strange man, this Chen Gong is really a strange man."

However, Guo Jia ignored their sighs and instead looked at Chen Gong in the tent with a serious expression.

"Why did he appear inexplicably at such an important time? What is his plan..."

Although he had many doubts in his mind, firstly, Cao Cao had not summoned him, and secondly, there was nothing unusual happening in the tent. According to military regulations and discipline, under such circumstances, no one was allowed to enter the tent without permission, not even Xiahou Dun. Therefore, Guo Jia could only wait outside the tent, prick up his ears, and try to listen carefully to what Chen Gong wanted to say to Cao Cao in the tent, so as to figure out the purpose of his sudden appearance here after betraying Cao Cao for many years.

(End of this chapter)