Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 491 Test the waters

When Xing Daorong in Chang'an received the news, he was at a loss for a moment!

After all, Chang'an and Yecheng are thousands of miles apart. Even if I want to, I can't save them.

However, according to what was said in the letter, although the Xun family was destroyed, no one died.

As long as people are alive, there is hope of life.

But now that I have heard about these things, I have to talk to Xun Ya about it.

Although Xing Daorong did not feel any pressure about these things, he was afraid that there might be misunderstandings during the word of mouth, so he gave the letter directly to Xun Ya to read.

When Xun Ya saw that his own family had suffered such a disaster because of him, his face suddenly changed.

But he said: "I left alone, it has nothing to do with my family!"

"This matter must have been a false accusation!"

"But it was me who ruined the family!"

Xing Daorong could see through it.

There was really no need for Xun Ya to lie in front of him. When he said this, it seemed like he really walked out alone.

As for others, although they may not want to see the Xun family doing well, if it is a false accusation, let alone whether the truth will be revealed if the matter is investigated further, the Xun family has not been as powerful as it was in the past since the deaths of Xun Yu and Xun You. Why must they target someone?

This incident was most likely directed and acted by Cao Pi himself.

Seeing Xun Ya blaming himself, Xing Daorong could not help but comfort him and said, "Master Xun, don't blame yourself. This is mostly Cao Pi's way of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. He deliberately attacked your Xun family."

"It's just that he found an excuse for you to escape."

"If you are a benevolent king, considering the kindness of your Xun family in the past, you will certainly not let the young master escape."

"It is only a cruel ruler like Cao that is like this."

After hearing this, Xun Ya felt a little better.

After all, the tragedy of the Xun family's demise was caused by someone taking the blame.

After calming down a bit, Xun Ya bowed to Xing Daorong and said, "General! Please save our Xun family!"

Originally, the Xun family had nothing to do with Xing Daorong.

But since Zhong Yao had sent the letter and Xun Ya had knelt down in front of him and begged, he had to save him.

So Xing Daorong responded without any hesitation: "Don't worry, Master Xun, since you have surrendered to Chang'an, your family's affairs are my business!"

Xun Ya was isolated and helpless at the moment. Hearing what Xing Daorong said, he felt it was like the words of a brother, very considerate, so he immediately bowed down and said, "Thank you, General! I am deeply grateful. I will serve you wholeheartedly in the future. I will repay your kindness with my death!"

Xing Daorong could feel Xun Ya's sincerity, so he patted him on the shoulder and said nothing more.

He just pulled Xun Ya up, thought for a while before saying: "Fortunately for you, Cao Pi didn't really want to cause bloodshed in your family."

"Your family was exiled from Yecheng. I guess they are going to a more difficult place further north."

"Although I will certainly suffer, at least my life is saved."

"As long as we get rid of the Cao family, you can go to the north to pick up your family."

Xun Ya also knew that it was unlikely for Xing Daorong to interfere in the affairs of Yecheng at the moment.

Even if you really want to rescue them, it's impossible for you to go into Yecheng alone to pick them up!

Besides, as Xing Daorong said, his life is not in danger at the moment.

Life is not as good as before, but there is still some hope.

…Xing Daorong received Zhong Yao’s letter, so of course it couldn’t just talk about the Xun family.

The letter also explained in detail the return of Zhang He and Xu Huang, as well as the recruitment of Wei Feng.

Xing Daorong felt somewhat relieved to see that Zhong Yao was doing a pretty good job in Yecheng.

Although it will take several months for the army to move again in order to coordinate with Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang, as a general, Xing Daorong still has considerable freedom in military power.

In particular, Liu Bei repeatedly told Xing Daorong that if he felt there was an opportunity, he could act expediently, and he naturally could not just sit and wait.

at the moment
After Xing Daorong received this letter, he wanted to test the waters.

He wanted to test whether Cao Pi's internal situation was really in chaos and he could not even organize effective resistance when facing his attack.

And his goal is the key to entering the Central Plains - Hangu Pass!
Hangu Pass is located on the plateau in the west, faces a steep ravine in the east, connects to the Qinling Mountains in the south, and blocks the Yellow River in the north.

Because it is located on the "Ancient Road between the Two Capitals", close to the bank of the Yellow River, and located in a valley, it is as deep and dangerous as a box, so it is called Hangu Pass.

There are no particularly important towns between Tongguan and Hanguguan, but after passing Hanguguan, you will reach the vast Central Plains.

If Xing Daorong wants to go east, he has to pass Hangu Pass.

Therefore, this place will be fought sooner or later. If Xing Daorong wants to test the waters, he can only do so at Hangu Pass.

He immediately raised an army of 5,000, with Bao Long, Zhou Tai, Ma Chao and other generals accompanying him, while Zhang Liao, Jiang Qin and Pang De stayed behind to guard Chang'an, and then headed east.

This arrangement touched the two people deeply.

One of them is naturally Zhang Liao.

It goes without saying how important Chang'an is. I am a surrendered general of Cao Wei, and not only have I not made any contributions, but Xing Daorong has entrusted me with important matters of the post, which shows that he trusts me very much.

A scholar dies for a confidant.

Since Xing Daorong trusted him so much, Zhang Liao naturally could not let him down.

Although he is not good at expressing himself, he remembers everything clearly in his heart.

The second is Xun Ya.

I thought Xing Daorong was anxious to save the Xun family, so he sent troops in a hurry.

The two were grateful, and Xing Daorong gained some fame.

Xing Daorong did trust Zhang Liao, but he was not completely without any defense. People like Jiang Qin and Pang De were able to restrain Zhang Liao at critical moments.

As for going to Hangu Pass in person, it is also necessary.

As a general, one should know both himself and the enemy. Xing Daorong had only heard of the great reputation of Hangu Pass for a long time, but he had never been there before. Naturally, he wanted to come and take a look in person.

Speaking of which, Hangu Pass is not only a strategic location, but also the birthplace of Taoism.

Hangu Pass is the sacred place where the great thinker and philosopher Laozi wrote the Tao Te Ching, the pioneering work of the Taoist school, and the birthplace of Taoist culture.

But in this time of war, even if Taoists wanted to come here to get some spiritual energy, they probably couldn't do so.

Hangu Pass is very important, and Cao Pi naturally knows it.

This is a thoroughfare that leads to Chang'an in the west and Luoyang in the east. It is the intersection of Henan culture and Qin and Jin culture. It has been a strategic fortress that has witnessed wars and battles for thousands of years. How could Cao Pi not send a general to guard it?

It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that there’s no one around!

Besides, with the previous experience of Sima Yi, Cao Pi also lacked trust in outsiders.

Therefore, the one guarding Hangu Pass this time is Cao Pi’s brother, Cao Zhang!
(End of this chapter)