Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 763 Chen Gong Leaks Secret
Chen Gong listened to Cao Cao talking about his experiences in a rather proud tone, and he kept smiling and did not interrupt him.

Finally, Cao Cao stood up suddenly and pointed at the huge military camp outside with high spirits.

"Now, Cao's great cause is about to be accomplished. In the future, I will conquer the world, wipe out the barbarians, and achieve eternal achievements. Although Gongtai had some misunderstandings that day and was angry and left Cao, he has finally returned today and can work together with Cao to achieve great achievements."

Chen Gong suddenly sighed.

"Alas...Mingsong, what you said is wrong. In my opinion, you are about to face a great disaster, and you are even unaware of it. Gong came here this time because he remembered our past friendship and came to rescue you."

"Hmm?" Cao Cao's eyes narrowed, and his originally excited mood instantly cooled down.

He turned around, looked Chen Gong up and down, and then suddenly laughed.

"Hahaha... Gongtai is such a high-ranking official in Luoyang."

Chen Gong's expression froze. "Meng De, what is the source of this? Since I left Luoyang that day, I have never been to the capital again, and I have never held any official position in the court. You are so suspicious of me, isn't it damaging the friendship between us for many years?"

"Hmph, friendship between old friends?" Cao Cao snorted coldly.

"You saved my life in Zhongmou County and spent all your wealth to help me start an army. Cao has always been grateful to you. After occupying Yanzhou, I will allow you to enter and leave the cities of Yanzhou at will. You can mobilize troops, collect grain, and even appoint and dismiss local county magistrates. You can do it first and report later. In my army, your position is second only to one person. Even Yuan Rang, Miao Cai and others are not as good as you. Is what I said false?"

His question sounded somewhat aggressive, and Chen Gong couldn't help but be intimidated by his aura and leaned back.

"Yes, everything you said is true. During those two years in Yanzhou, you treated me with openness and trust."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Cao pressed him again, "But how did you repay me? When you were in Luoyang, my army needed people, but you abandoned me and disrupted my army's morale. Not only did I not pursue you, I let you go. Cao has endured humiliation and endured humiliation. I have been dormant until now, and only then have I gained such power. I was about to wipe out Gao Shun and press on Luoyang, but you came to lobby for Liu He's son, and you kept saying that you came to save me. How can a shameless villain like you have the face to mention our old friendship in front of me?"

"you……"

Chen Gong was also so angry at what Cao Cao said.

"Cao Mengde, how can you say such a thing against your will? You treated me well, but forget about my life-saving grace. In those two years, I traveled all over Yanzhou, suppressing bandits, collecting food and grass, making weapons, and recruiting soldiers. No matter how urgent your front was or how strict your military orders were, Chen Gong never delayed his journey for a day or lacked a pound of food. I supported your army of more than 100,000 people by myself, and even sold my ancestral home and land to purchase military food and iron ore. Have I ever failed to live up to your trust?"

"As for my betrayal of you, it was because you were presumptuous and killed people indiscriminately, punished people on behalf of the emperor, and coveted the sacred artifacts and plotted evil. I, Chen Gong, have been loyal for generations, and I don't want to be a disloyal and unrighteous person like you, so I left. Even so, I never surrendered to the emperor, and I didn't reveal any of your plans. I have done my best."

Chen Gong spoke until his face turned red and his voice was hoarse, but Cao Cao just watched coldly.

"Hehe, you didn't reveal a single thing. When we were in Luoyang, how could Liu He, who was still the general at the time, see through my plan and make Xun Yu, Zhang He and others work together to defeat me easily?"

"You... Cao Cao, you are going too far!"

Chen Gong was so angry that he almost fumed. His lips trembled for a long time, as if he wanted to curse him, but in the end he didn't say anything. He just flicked his sleeves and walked out of the tent angrily.

"If we are on different paths, we cannot make plans together. I have heard some of the emperor's movements and have some guesses about his strategies. I know you will fail this time, so I came to rescue you. You don't want to believe me, what else does Chen Gong have to say? Farewell!"

Cao Cao's half-closed eyes suddenly opened, and he quickly chased after him.

"Gongtai...Gongtai..."

He grabbed Chen Gong, and the anger and resentment he had just shown had long since disappeared, with only a flattering look on his face.

"Hey, Gongtai, after not seeing you for many years, you are still so straightforward and impulsive. I was just joking with you just now. Why do you take it seriously?"

As he spoke, he took Chen Gong's hand and was about to walk back into the tent. Guo Jia and the generals who were waiting outside the tent were a little confused for a moment.

Chen Gong shook off his hand and said, "No need to keep me. I am a traitor. I came to you, Cao Cao, just to seek wealth and glory. How can such a shameless and despicable person have the face to sit in the same account with you, my lord?"

"Why can't Gongtai stand the teasing? Well, it was Cao who made the mistake, Cao Cao apologizes to you."

Cao Cao actually straightened his clothes, put his hands together, and bowed respectfully to Chen Gong. Seeing him like this, Chen Gong seemed to have lost most of his anger and followed him back to the tent.

Cao Cao wanted to ask, but he seemed to be unable to open his mouth. Then he rolled his eyes and said, "It's not that I don't believe what Gongtai said just now, but Gao Shun has only 150,000 soldiers and horses, and our army has 250,000 troops. We have surrounded him on all sides. I know a little about the supplies in Chenliu City. To supply 150,000 troops, the food and grass can only last for half a month at most. Even if I can't capture the city, I am 100% sure that I can hold the camps on all sides. If I am trapped for half a month, then even if Gao Shun has a hundred tricks, what can he do?"

When Chen Gong heard what he said, his face darkened again: "Since you have doubts, why should I say more? Goodbye."

After saying this, he stood up and was about to leave, but Cao Cao hurried forward to hold him back.

"Cao made a mistake, please don't blame me, I believe everything you said, please help me."

Chen Gong finally calmed down and sat down again.

Cao Cao personally poured him a bowl of water and handed it to him with both hands.

"Come on, Gongtai, I just made you very angry. You said so many things. You must be thirsty. Drink a bowl first."

Chen Gong couldn't help but laugh and cry when he saw his expression change so quickly. He took it and drank it all in one gulp.

Then, he slowly spoke: "Since I left Luoyang that day, I rushed back to Yanzhou overnight, and then went to Dongjun to pick up my family. My wife is from Jinan, Qingzhou, so I took my parents, wife and children to Jinan to settle down."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "No wonder. After you left, I ordered that your family should be treated well and not be neglected. However, a few days later, I received a report that your mansion had been deserted. I thought at that time that you must have secretly taken them away."

Chen Gong's eyes became much kinder: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, sir."

He paused and continued, "Two months ago, my mother passed away. I was so grief-stricken that I went out to travel and ended up in Taiyuan..."

He was halfway through his words when Cao Cao was startled: "Your mother passed away? Oh, it's all Cao's fault. I must have angered Gongtai that day and caused him to take his family away overnight. After all the hassles along the way, your mother is ill. When this matter is settled, I will definitely go to her grave to pay my respects."

Chen Gong looked a little sad, and sighed: "It's the time, it's fate, I can't blame others, it's because I'm an unfilial son that I'm in this situation, that's it, let's not talk about it. When I was having dinner at Minghe Restaurant in Jinyang City, I heard a middle-aged man dressed as a businessman talking with a young man, and they mentioned the whereabouts of the emperor."

"Minghe Restaurant? Cao knows. It is a restaurant run by the Zhen family in Jinyang City. The name was originally proposed by Liu He, Minghe Restaurant. Later, Liu He was crowned emperor, and to avoid the taboo, the name was changed to Minghe."

"Yes, my lord, you are indeed knowledgeable and well-informed." Chen Gong praised Cao Cao, which made him very pleased.

"When I listened carefully, I realized that the two people were Chen Qing, a businessman from Xuzhou, and the son of his old friend He Chang. They came from Yunhai County with a few followers."

After Chen Gong said this, Cao Cao's expression became a little serious.

"Chen Qing? He Chang? I've heard of these two people before. When Liu He built Yunhai County, one of them contributed money and the other contributed labor. They made great contributions and were later conferred titles by Liu He. Chen Qing's son seemed to be named Chen Lie. In just a few years, he actually became a commander of a region. Humph, a mere lowly merchant was promoted and given such important positions and titles. This is really a violation of social order and absurdity that will be remembered for generations to come."

Chen Gong was somewhat noncommittal about what he said, but he didn't say anything. He had been through thick and thin with Cao Cao for many years, so he naturally knew his character. This man was magnanimous and broad-minded. There were many ordinary farmers among his generals in the army, and he had never been jealous of them.

However, among the civil servants in various places in Yanzhou and the advisers in Cao's camp, all of them were born into noble families and there was not a single one from a poor family. When he was the prefect of Dongjun, his family background alone was considered the lowest among the local officials in Yanzhou. Even so, his Dongjun Chen family could be considered a middle-class noble family in Dongjun.

As for traveling merchants and actors, Cao Cao despised them even more, so Chen Gong was expecting him to react like this.

Cao Cao seemed to realize that he had digressed and asked hurriedly, "What did those two talk about?"

Chen Gong sighed slightly: "These two people said that they saw a person on the border between Yunhai County and Shang County the day before..."

Cao Cao almost put his ear to Chen Gong's face and asked, "Who?"

Chen Gong looked at him and said word by word: "Son of Heaven, Liu He."

(End of this chapter)