Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 95: Boiling Wine Between Two Groups

How many troops are needed to kill Cao Cao?
Ma Chao himself was not sure how to answer this question.

Although it seemed that he almost defeated Cao Cao, it was only an appearance.

after all…

I still lost.

As for how many soldiers and horses were needed to kill Cao Cao, Xing Daorong's question was really difficult for Ma Chao to answer.

Then he said, "The more the better."

It would be fine if Han Xin said "the more the better" in front of him, but for Ma Chao, it was definitely far from enough.

Xing Daorong knew that Ma Chao was just kidding him, so he laughed back: "General, not only the troops in Hanzhong can attack Cao, but also the troops in Yizhou and Jingzhou with hundreds of thousands can attack Cao!"

"Only...as long as you join us, Mengqi."

It was the first time that Xing Daorong and Ma Chao met, and of course they were not familiar enough to call each other by their courtesy names.

Xing Daorong's address of "Mengqi" was a completely tentative one.

It's probably like when you're on your first date with a girl you like, and you want to hold her hand while crossing the street, but she says she's "afraid it's dangerous to cross the street."

If the other party refuses close contact, there is an immediate way out.

At that moment, Ma Chao rejected Xing Daorong's "intimacy".

But he heard him say: "General Xing, I don't need so many soldiers and horses. I only need the army of Hanzhong to kill Cao Cao and defeat him again. Do you believe me?"

Xing Daorong understood as soon as he heard it.

To put it bluntly, Ma Chao still refuses to accept the result.

He felt that he had been defeated in the previous battle because of a trick played by Cao Cao.

Xing Daorong heard Ma Chao's "heartfelt words" and immediately prescribed the right remedy: "Mengqi, have you forgotten the former Marquis Wen?"

"Wen Hou defeated Cao Cao's Qingzhou troops in Yanzhou, and fought for more than a hundred days in Puyang, but failed to completely kill Cao Cao."

"Meng Qi is brave, but how does he compare to Wen Hou?"

Once Lu Bu was brought up, Ma Chao was completely speechless.

Although he has been dead for many years, who can forget Lu Bu's unrivaled demeanor back then?
What is the final outcome of such a character?

Wasn't it because he was captured by Cao Cao and killed with a single blow?
Thinking of this, Ma Chao stopped drinking.

Xing Daorong knew that what he said hit Ma Chao in the heart, so he struck while the iron was hot: "Cao Cao now controls half of the country. If you want to destroy Cao Cao... or destroy the Cao family, it will not be a matter of a day or a night, and it is certainly not something that can be decided in one battle."

"Only if the uncle of the emperor takes advantage of the two states and the various tribes of Mengqi Xiliang, there will be something to be done."

Ma Chao didn't listen to anything else, but the idea of ​​"annihilating the Cao family" made him particularly excited.

Cao Cao killed two hundred people in his Ma family. Almost the entire family was wiped out. How could he appease the resentment by killing Cao Cao alone?
The only way to take revenge is to destroy the Cao family!
He immediately asked, "General, you said that if we defeat Cao Cao, we can kill the entire Cao family. Is that true?"

Xing Daorong was startled.

I wondered when I had ever said I wanted to kill Cao Cao's entire family?
Even if Cao Cao could be defeated at that time, unless he fought to the last moment, no matter whether it was the Cao family that destroyed Shu or the Sima family that destroyed Wu, in the end they would be reduced to a idle duke.

The Liu family are kind-hearted people, so even if they win in the end, we certainly cannot kill them all.

But even though I know it clearly in my heart, I can't say that.

He just said: "Your family has been dukes for generations, so you know the truth. If you want to destroy the Cao family, how can you do it without destroying Cao Cao first?"

When Ma Chao heard what was said, he knew that what Xing Daorong said was absolutely correct.

But I always feel uncomfortable about having to lower myself like this.

Suddenly, an idea came to his mind and he said, "How about General Xing and I have a competition to see who can take over the three eastern counties first, and then we can talk about this matter?"

The Eastern Three Commanderies refer to the three commanderies east of Hanzhong, namely Fangling, Shangyong and Xicheng. It should be pointed out that Fangling, Shangyong and Xicheng were originally three small border counties of Hanzhong Commandery in Yizhou, and they were not changed from counties to commanderies until the end of the Jian'an period of Emperor Xian of Han.

The reason why the three eastern counties have always been difficult to conquer is also because of their special geographical environment.

It is blocked on all sides by Qinling Mountains, Bashan Mountains, Wudang Mountains and Wushan Mountains, making it a typical place with four barriers.

However, the Han River runs through the territory, and the Nan River, Du River and Jinqian River are connected to the Han River, forming a network-like radiation pattern.

It is surrounded by mountains and has a rugged terrain, but it has well-developed water transportation and frequent exchanges, thus forming three independent counties that are naturally integrated and inseparable.

After Zhang Lu, Zhang Wei and Yang Song were defeated in Nanzheng, they fled to the three eastern counties.

However, the three eastern counties are not ownerless land.

The prefect Fang Ling was Kuai Qi. As can be seen from his name, he was from the Kuai family of Nanjun, Jingzhou.

This is indeed the case. He is the nephew of Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue. The reason why he was able to become the prefect of Fangling was that Liu Biao made him the leader after he attacked Fangling.

In addition, Shangyong and Xicheng have always been in the hands of local tyrants Shen Dan and Shen Yi.

So Zhang Lu went and came back, but he was no longer qualified to be the "big brother".

When Xing Daorong heard Ma Chao say that they wanted to compete to see who could take over the three counties first, he knew in his heart that he was just trying to find a way out.

Thinking that he also wanted to attack the three counties and defend the gates of Yizhou, he immediately shouted: "Okay! Then I will compete with Meng Qi to see who can take the three counties first!"

Ma Chao listened to Xing Daorong's heroic spirit and thought he was not bad either.

He immediately stretched out his palm and shouted, "It's a deal!"

Xing Daorong felt that Ma Chao was quite "stupid". He only talked about competing to see who was faster, but didn't say what to do if he won.

It seems like it's just for the sake of competition.

"Snapped!"

Without any hesitation, Xing Daorong high-fived Ma Chao to reach an agreement.

Seeing this, Ma Chao laughed and said, "Great! Let's drink together today, and tomorrow we will attack the three eastern counties!"

Upon hearing this, Xing Daorong also laughed heartily. The two of them stopped talking about anything else and just drank.

...

"Hey...Major General Guan, what do you think our general and Ma Chao were talking about? Why are they laughing so happily?"

In the distance, Bao Long heard Xing Daorong and Ma Chao laughing, and he was extremely curious.

Guan Ping has always been steady and taciturn, but since he and Bao Long are both deputy generals, it would be bad for him to ignore him.

He replied, "I think he is so happy because he admires the general's bravery and is convinced now."

Bao Long felt that what he said made sense.

But he said: "That's right. This Ma Chao... dared to challenge the general earlier. If the general hadn't shown mercy, he would have been defeated long ago."

Apparently, Bao Long had no idea of ​​his general's abilities.

It's just that Xing Daorong is so famous now, and he indeed looks as brave as Ma Chao, so other people didn't think it was wrong.

They all sighed that the drinking and fighting in front of the battle was also a good story.

Even Huang Zhong sighed: "Alas, I am really not as good as you. Ma Chao has been here for a few days and fought with me twice, but he never said a word."

"When Zi Yu arrived, he was chatting and laughing with Ma Chao. After what happened today, there is no need to worry about Ma Chao's situation."

Bao Long seemed to be quite good at comforting people, and hurriedly said, "General Huang, our general is unique in the world. You can't compare with him."

"But the old general is also very capable. I heard that Ma Chao almost routed Cao Cao's army. It is rare that the old general can defend this place."

Huang Zhong smiled bitterly, thinking that General Bao was not good at comforting people, so it was better not to comfort him.
(End of this chapter)