Three Kingdoms: Madam, I am a decent person

Chapter 274 Meeting Cao Cao for the first time
After Zhang Sui escorted Emperor Liu Xie, Empress Fu Shou, and Concubine Dong to land at Hongnong Port, he immediately ordered 500 Tiger Guards to clear part of the battlefield and provide a foothold for Emperor Liu Xie, Empress Fu Shou, Concubine Dong, and all civil and military officials.

Zhang Sui's 1,000 cavalrymen guarded the surrounding areas.

The battle continues.

However, the sounds of fighting gradually faded away.

After nearly an incense stick of time, the sound of fighting completely faded away.

Emperor Liu Xie stood in the crowd with a look of high spirits.

All the civil and military officials were smiling happily.

The concubines also breathed a sigh of relief.

This river crossing was something they had never dared to imagine before.

Some people even burst into tears when they thought about the last time they crossed the river and saw fighting everywhere.

Zhang Sui continued to send people to explore the battle situation ahead.

Half an hour later, upon learning that the armies of Li Jue and Guo Si were completely defeated and all the enemy troops near Hongnong Port had been eliminated, Zhang Sui led a thousand cavalrymen, accompanied by the Emperor Liu Xie, Empress Fu Shou, Concubine Dong and all the civil and military officials, and marched towards Hangu Pass.

Along the way, Emperor Liu Xie and all the civil and military officials were extremely excited.

Some officials even began to chant poetry.

At noon, Zhang Sui's 1,000 cavalrymen finally stopped.

Emperor Liu Xie wanted to wait for the army to return and personally welcome Cao Cao and others.

Zhang Sui had no choice but to set up camp.

It was not until dusk that Xu Rong, Dong Cheng, Zhang Ji, Yang Feng, the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu, Qu Bei and other talents led the army back.

Emperor Liu Xie greeted them at the outermost part of the camp.

Less than half an hour after Xu Rong, Dong Cheng, Zhang Ji, Yang Feng, Qu Bei and others returned, when night fell, thousands of troops arrived from the west.

At the front of the army, dozens of riders gathered under a flag.

Emperor Liu Xie hurriedly asked Zhang Sui to escort him to greet him.

The two sides are getting closer.

Finally, Zhang Sui and others saw clearly the personnel under the commander's command.

Xiahou Lan was also following Zhang Sui and Emperor Liu Xie at this time.

Pointing to a middle-aged man less than 1.6 meters tall, wearing armor and with a sword on his waist, Xiahou Lan smiled and said to Emperor Liu Xie: "Your Majesty, that is Cao Gong, the governor of Yanzhou!"

Emperor Liu Xie hurriedly rode his horse forward and galloped over.

Zhang Sui led everyone to follow behind.

Looking at the thin body of the middle-aged man under the commander's command, Zhang Sui had a strange expression on his face.

Is this Cao Cao?
It is truly “concentration and essence”!
When people are recorded in history books, they will be praised for anything worthy of praise in their appearance.

Like Zhou Yu’s “beautiful appearance”.

Zhuge Liang was "eight feet tall and had a very majestic appearance."

Sun Ce’s “beautiful appearance and funny words”.

Yuan Shao’s “majestic appearance”.

Liu Bei was "seven feet and five inches tall, with shoulders hanging down, hands reaching past his knees, eyes that could reach his ears, a jade-like face, and lips as white as if painted with rouge."

The only thing is that there is no description of Cao Cao's appearance.

Now it seems no wonder.

It’s really hard to describe the appearance of Cao Cao.

But this just proves the saying: Don't judge a book by its cover; don't judge the ocean by its depth.

The two sides met and stopped.

Cao Cao quickly dismounted his horse, and walked quickly to the emperor Liu Xie, saluted and said, "Your Majesty, I am Cao Cao, and I pay my respects to you!"

Emperor Liu Xie looked Cao Cao up and down with a smile on his face, personally helped Cao Cao up and said, "Lord Cao is truly a capable minister of the Han Dynasty!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Cao Cao's wrist, pulled him in front of Zhang Sui and said, "Come here, my dear Lord Cao, let me meet you."

"This is Lord Zhang, now serving as General of the Central Army and Marquis of Xinchengting." "This time we were able to defeat the rebels including Li Jue and Guo Si, all thanks to the two of you!"

Cao Cao and Zhang Sui looked at each other.

Although this was the first time Cao Cao met Zhang Sui, he had already heard of Zhang Sui from Xi Zhicai and Xiahou Lan before.

Although Zhang Sui was a junior, Cao Cao still bowed respectfully and said, "General Zhang!"

Zhang Sui returned the greeting and said, "Lord Cao!"

Emperor Liu Xie then grabbed Cao Cao's wrist with his left hand and Zhang Sui's wrist with his right hand, and led them to the camp, saying, "Come, come, I have already had a banquet prepared in advance."

"Although it's a little crude, the necessary ceremony still has to be performed."

Seeing this, Li Ru asked Xu Rong to command Cao Cao's troops to set up camp.

Xu Rong responded and walked towards the soldiers who had surrounded Cao Cao before.

Among this group of people there is Xi Zhicai.

A circle of people surrounded Xi Zhicai, talking and laughing.

Xu Rong's approach made the group of people stop instantly.

One of the sturdy men in his thirties saw Xu Rong and wiped his eyes.

After seeing Xu Rong's appearance clearly, the strong man asked with a trembling voice: "You, you are General Xu Rong?"

The strong man was named Cao Hong, and he was Cao Cao's cousin.

In the past, eleven princes took Yuan Shao as their leader to fight against the traitor Dong Zhuo.

As a result, the coalition was formed, but the various forces did not move at all.

In a rage, Cao Cao led his troops to hunt down Dong Zhuo, but was ambushed by Xu Rong, the then General of the Central Army, and his entire army was almost wiped out!
At that time, Cao Cao's generals Bao Tao and Wei Zi were all killed in the battle.

Cao Hong was also with Cao Cao at the time and witnessed with his own eyes that Cao Cao was almost killed by Xu Rong.

Cao Hong risked his life and gave his warhorse to Cao Cao. He was beaten dozens of times along the way and his body was covered in blood, but he was lucky enough to protect Cao Cao and escape.

Afterwards, Cao Cao was completely disappointed with the coalition forces and no longer confronted Dong Zhuo.

But I didn’t expect that I would see Xu Rong today!

Cao Hong felt his hair stand on end!
Behind Cao Hong, several generals were also startled.

Xiahou Lan and Xi Zhicai looked at each other, both somewhat confused.

When they joined Cao Cao, Cao Cao had already experienced this battle, and many generals kept silent about it!

Xu Rong did not know Cao Hong and others.

However, seeing how vigilant they were, Xu Rong also guessed something.

He fought Cao Cao only once, and that time he almost killed Cao Cao.

I guess these people were witnesses at that time.

Xu Rong bowed and said, "We were enemies in the past, but now I am just a subordinate of General Zhang."

"I have been ordered to lead the generals to set up camp in the designated area."

Xi Zhicai coughed a few times and said to Cao Hong and others, "Let's not talk about the past anymore."

"Now, everyone is a general under the emperor."

"Arrange the stationing matters so that we can meet His Majesty early."

Seeing what Xi Zhicai said, Cao Hong and others had no choice but to obey Xu Rong's arrangements and lead the army away.

Xi Zhicai and Xiahou Lan watched the generals follow Xu Rong away, and looked at the nervous looks the generals gave Xu Rong, and both fell into deep thought.

Xi Zhicai looked at Xiahou Lan and said, "I know Xu Rong. He was the General of the Central Army under Dong Zhuo and the former cavalry commander. When did such a capable person become a subordinate of Zhang Sui?"

Xia Houlan scratched his head and said, "I don't know about this."

However, Xiahou Lan was also quite shocked.

Such a great man actually turned out to be Zhang Sui’s man!
He somewhat understood why Zhao Yun broke his promise, served under Yuan Shao, and became Zhang Sui's brother.

(End of this chapter)