The Three Kingdoms: Rise to Power Starting with Intercepting Liu Bei

Meanwhile, Cao Cao, filled with anxiety, changed locations several times to evade pursuit as dawn broke. He then exchanged clothes with a beggar, changed into them, and escaped the city.

The soldiers guarding the city gates did not recognize Cao Cao, thus allowing this biggest escapee to slip through their net.

After escaping the city, Cao Cao did not go to the camp where his three thousand guards were stationed to check the situation. Instead, he went to the remote countryside to hide from the pursuers and find a way to save energy to travel to Shang County and Wuguan to seek help.

Around 7 a.m., Cao Cao, who had been busy on his journey, arrived at a farmhouse in the countryside. There was only a peasant woman of about forty years old in the house, but no sign of the male owner.

Cao Cao was spotted by the peasant woman inside the house as soon as he entered the courtyard. She rushed out and was startled to see Cao Cao dressed as a beggar. She quickly picked up the iron hoe lying in the yard and asked in a trembling voice:

"Who are you? What do you want?"

It seems that as long as Cao Cao didn't reveal his origins, the peasant woman might kill him with a single hoe.

After all, who wouldn't be afraid if a man dressed as a beggar suddenly barged into their yard early in the morning?

"Grandma, please don't be impulsive. I'm not a bad person. I was on my way to Chang'an to sell grain, but I didn't expect that my grain would be intercepted by bandits when I passed through Jiangxia County. I've been fleeing and ended up here."

"I hope you can help me find a way to travel that saves me time. I have a family heirloom jade pendant here; if you can help me find a tool, I'm willing to trade it for it!"

Cao Cao took out a blank jade pendant that he always wore and made a sincere request.

It wasn't that Cao Cao was kind-hearted and dared not kill, but rather that he had traveled such a long distance that he was already exhausted and had very little strength left. If it weren't for his strong will to survive, he probably would have already collapsed from exhaustion.

These days, it's difficult to even kill a chicken, let alone a human.

"This~~~~"

After hearing Cao Cao's words, the peasant woman relaxed her guard slightly, but she still held onto her iron hoe, her hesitant gaze suggesting she was considering whether or not to help Cao Cao.

"Grandma, please help me. This jade pendant can be exchanged for dozens of bushels of grain. If you can help me find a means of transportation, it's yours."

Seeing the peasant woman's hesitation, Cao Cao talked about the benefits of the deal, trying to get her to do him a favor.

"My family only has one donkey cart, which is our main means of transportation. If you don't mind, I can sell it to you!"

Seeing the jade pendant in Cao Cao's hand and hearing what Cao Cao had just said, the peasant woman was finally moved and offered to exchange her donkey cart for the jade pendant.

"Okay, okay, I don't mind, this is fine. Also, could you give me some dry food and water? I'm starving!"

Upon hearing that there was a donkey cart, Cao Cao was delighted. As long as there was a labor-saving means of transportation, he wouldn't be picky.

"Okay, I'll go get you some wheat cakes right away. You can rest for a bit!"

The peasant woman quickly put down her hoe, turned around, and went into the house to prepare dry rations for Cao Cao.

Not long after, Cao Cao set off in a dilapidated donkey cart, carrying a few wheat cakes and a jar of water.

With the donkey cart, Cao Cao's travel speed increased considerably. In addition, the few dry and unpalatable wheat cakes gradually restored his strength, and he continued his journey through the countryside.

After traveling for four or five days, they finally encountered Cao Ren's army, which had come to reinforce them, on the official road.

"Rumble~~~ Rumble~~~"

Looking at the dust billowing in the distance and the ground trembling beneath his feet, Cao Cao slowly lowered his whip to the old donkey.

"It's Cao Ren~~~~ Hahaha~~~, they've finally arrived!"

Cao Cao stood on the donkey cart, and a glimmer of light finally flashed in his tired and dull eyes. Looking at the faintly discernible Cao banner in the distance, Cao Cao immediately laughed heartily, and the fatigue of the past few days was swept away at this moment.

"Cao Ren~~Cao Ren, I'm here~~~ I'm here!"

I'm currently reading Chapter 95 of the novel "Cao Cao Escapes Death, Liu Biao Reclaims Nanyang Commandery!" on Cola Novels, completely engrossed in it.

Cao Cao waved his hands vigorously and shouted loudly, trying to make the approaching army notice him.

Cao Ren, who was galloping away on horseback in the distance, heard someone raising their arms and shouting ahead. He was startled. Why did that voice sound so much like his lord's? As he pondered this, his army arrived in front of Cao Cao.

Cao Ren, who was reining in his horse, saw Cao Cao, who was driving a donkey cart alone and was dressed in rags, and quickly dismounted and went to the donkey cart, exclaiming in surprise:

"My lord, it's you! I never expected you to be alive!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was taken aback at first, but then he noticed something amiss with Cao Ren and his army. Everyone was wearing white mourning clothes, and Cao Ren was even dressed in mourning attire, as if they were mourning his own death.

"Heh, I survived a close call, but everyone else is dead!"

Cao Cao replied coldly, then seemed to have thought of something:

Cao Cao, who was always suspicious, had a hint of doubt at this moment.

"My lord, this is a report from several of your imperial guards who escaped. They rode out on horseback the night the ambush occurred and rushed back to report."

"I received the news the day before yesterday, and yesterday I made all the necessary preparations and personally led my cavalry here!"

Cao Ren cupped his hands in explanation.

"I see!"

Cao Cao nodded, his doubts completely vanishing at that moment.

"Cao Ren, depart for Nanyang Commandery! I want Zhang Xiu to die a gruesome death!"

Cao Cao gave a vicious order: Now that we have reinforcements, it's time to take revenge.

"Here you go!"

················

Just two days after Zhang Xiu set up the Feast at Hongmen to ambush and kill Cao Cao, Liu Biao, the highest leader of Jingzhou, who was far away in Nanjun, also learned of the news.

"What did you say?"

Inside the governor's mansion in Jingzhou, Liu Biao looked up at Cai Mao, who was reporting the news to him, his eyes revealing a hint of disbelief.

"My lord, a scout reports that Zhang Xiu recently inflicted a heavy defeat on Cao Cao in Xin County. His general Dian Wei, strategist Guo Jia, as well as his son Cao Ang and nephew Cao Anmin were all killed. Cao Cao's whereabouts and fate are unknown."

Cai Mao repeated it again.

"Then...what about Zhang Xiu and the others? How could he have the guts? That's Cao Cao!"

After hearing this, Liu Biao was stunned for a long time before he could process this earth-shattering news. He then inquired about Zhang Xiu's situation.

"Zhang Xiu and his men left Xin County the next afternoon, and we haven't heard from them yet. However, his main force is still here, which is really puzzling."

When Cai Mao heard about Zhang Xiu and his men's actions, he pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure out what Zhang Xiu was up to, leaving his main force behind while disappearing without a trace.

"It's gone~~~~~"

Liu Biao muttered to himself, but in his heart he was trying to figure out why, and in the end he still couldn't understand what Zhang Xiu was doing.

"Since Zhang Xiu has disappeared, we should take back Nanyang Commandery. I speculate that Cao Cao is very likely still alive. If he is still alive, he will definitely take the opportunity to occupy Nanyang Commandery."

"Cai Mao, I hereby order you to lead 30,000 elite troops and set off immediately to recapture Nanyang Commandery. Any later and it will be too late!"

"Nanyang Commandery is geographically very important and must not be allowed to fall into Cao Cao's hands. Furthermore, I will have Huang Zu keep an eye on Yuan Shu's movements to prevent him from launching an attack!"

After a long while, Liu Biao gave Cai Mao the following order.

He wanted to take advantage of the time difference before Cao Cao could react, to bring Nanyang Commandery back under his control, and to mobilize all of Cai Mao's mobile forces.

"Here you go!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Mao dared not delay for a moment and immediately accepted the order and left.