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

Cao Cao's withdrawal caused a great commotion. When Cai Mao's spies learned that Cao Cao had actually taken the initiative to withdraw his troops, they quickly informed Cai Mao, who had fled to Wancheng, of this news.

Cai Mao was terrified to learn that Cao Cao had actually withdrawn his troops. Although he was puzzled, he still sent out the troops from Wancheng and then sent someone to Liu Biao to request reinforcements in case Cao Cao launched a surprise attack.

After a two-week march, Cao Cao finally returned to Chang'an with his men and personally presided over the funeral of Guo Jia and others a few days later.

In November, Chang'an was shrouded in a light drizzle and the weather was getting colder, casting a hazy veil over a gently sloping mountain forest outside the city.

Cao Cao, along with a group of civil and military officials, dressed in white mourning clothes, braved the rain to bid farewell to Guo Jia and others.

Gazing at the four newly erected graves before him, Cao Cao's eyes filled with tears as he stood there silently for a long time.

"My lord, let's begin!"

As the chosen time arrived, Xun Yu quickly stepped forward and whispered something in Cao Cao's ear.

"start!"

Cao Cao slowly uttered a few words and waved his hand to signal the start of the funeral ceremony.

The musicians who were waiting nearby saw Cao Cao's gesture and began to play funeral music.

Amidst solemn and respectful funeral music, numerous civil and military officials paid their respects and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of Cao Ang and others who died in battle in Nanyang, bowing in homage.

Finally, Cao Cao slowly poured a pot of wine before the graves of the four men, choking back tears as he whispered his sorrowful feelings:

"Fengxiao, Ang'er, rest in peace. If it weren't for you, how could I, Cao Mengde, have survived? Rest assured, I will avenge you and use their heads to appease your spirits in heaven!"

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's wife, Lady Ding, was weeping uncontrollably. When she heard that Cao Ang had died in battle in Nanyang County, she felt as if the sky had fallen and immediately tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, her maidservant discovered her in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Ang'er, how could you just leave like this? How am I going to explain this to your mother?"

Madam Ding cried so hard it was heartbreaking, she almost fainted, and her maidservants held her tightly to prevent her from collapsing.

Cao Ang's birth mother, Liu, died early, and it was Lady Ding who raised him single-handedly, pouring so much effort into him and giving him ample love and education. Now, how could Lady Ding, an elderly woman, bear such a heavy blow as to bury her son?

"Madam, please accept my deepest condolences. I believe Ang'er, even in heaven, would not want to see you so heartbroken!"

Hearing Lady Ding's heart-wrenching cries, Cao Cao came to her side and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.

"It's all your fault~~~, why did you take Ang'er to such a dangerous place for training?"

"How can I face my deceased sister Liu?"

"Waaaaahh ...

Upon hearing Cao Cao's words of comfort, Lady Ding immediately turned her attention to him, striking his chest heavily with her own hands as if she wanted to tear him to pieces.

Cao Cao could only silently endure Lady Ding's punches and constantly try to calm her down.

The surrounding civil and military officials dared not step forward to offer any advice, after all, they all knew that Madam Ding had raised Cao Ang as her own son, and now that he was dead, anyone would feel the same way.

After an unknown amount of time, Madam Ding gradually stopped crying and fainted from the stress of exhaustion.

············

While Cao Cao was presiding over the funeral of Guo Jia and others with a heavy heart, Qin Xuan met Zhang Xiu and others in Xiaopei.

With the intelligence support of the Black Ice Guard, Qin Xuan learned that Zhang Xiu and his group were about to arrive in Xuzhou. He went to Xiaopei to personally welcome them and also summoned Duan Wei, a general of the Xiliang Army, to welcome them together.

Outside Xiaopei City, Qin Xuan, Duan Wei, and others were waiting outside the city early in the morning. The latest information from the scouts showed that they were less than ten miles away from Xiaopei.

My lord,

Did you really convince Zhang Xiu?

Duan Wei, standing beside Qin Xuan, still felt it was all a bit unreal. When he learned that Qin Xuan had persuaded Zhang Xiu to surrender in Xuzhou, his first reaction was that Qin Xuan was deceiving him. After all, Zhang Xiu was not someone who was easily persuaded, and he was very ambitious.

But seeing Qin Xuan's serious expression, Duan Wei felt that Qin Xuan was not joking with him.

"It wasn't me who persuaded Zhang Xiu, but Jia Xu who did it!" Qin Xuan then explained the whole story to Duan Wei:

"Ever since Cao Cao occupied the Sili region, Nanyang County has become a piece of fat meat in his mouth. Naturally, I cannot sit idly by and let Cao Cao grow stronger."

"After learning that Zhang Xiu had a force of Xiliang troops in Nanyang Commandery, I sent Jia Xu on a trip there. I didn't expect him to actually persuade Zhang Xiu!"

What Qin Xuan didn't tell Duan Wei was that he also took this opportunity to cause Cao Cao to lose two of his most capable civil and military officials, thus weakening the overall strength of Cao Cao's group.

"I see!" Duan Wei nodded and muttered to himself. If that's the case, then it makes sense that Jia Xu was so eloquent that he could persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender.

Soon after, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, attracting the attention of Qin Xuan and his companion.

Before long, a group of people dressed as commoners appeared in their sight, with a few people riding warhorses slowly at the head.

"They're here!"

When Qin Xuan saw Zhang Xiu and his group arrive, he immediately called Duan Wei, who was standing nearby, to come forward and greet them.

"General Zhang Xiu, welcome to join my Xuzhou. From now on, we are all one family." Qin Xuan arrived not far from Zhang Xiu and happily welcomed him to join the family.

Sitting on his horse, Zhang Xiu saw a handsome young man approaching and Duan Wei, whom he had met several times before, behind him, and knew that the person in front of him was Qin Xuan.

Before Jia Xu could remind him, he quickly dismounted, cupped his hands in return, and said, flattered, "I am flattered."

"Thank you so much, my lord, for personally welcoming me out of the city. I, Zhang Xiu, am utterly unworthy of such hospitality. From this day forward, I will go through fire and water, even unto death, without hesitation!"

The fact that Qin Xuan personally came out of the city to welcome him was something Zhang Xiu had never expected and dared not even dream of. This completely dispelled the last trace of worry in Zhang Xiu's heart, and he resolved to be loyal to Qin Xuan to the death from then on.

There is an old saying that goes, "Treat me with the courtesy due to a scholar, and I will repay him with the courtesy due to a scholar."

Since Qin Xuan values ​​me so highly, I will definitely repay him with my actions.

"Excellent! With General Zhang assisting me, what great things cannot be accomplished!"

"Please follow me into the city; I have already ordered a welcoming banquet to be prepared!"

Hearing Zhang Xiu's words of loyalty, Qin Xuan was overjoyed. This was truly an all-around capable general.

Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but he was also unparalleled in political wisdom and loyalty. Otherwise, Cao Cao would not have suffered such a great loss at the hands of Zhang Xiu in history, and why would he have later relied on him so much?

After all, Cao Cao was extremely suspicious.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Zhang Xiu bowed and thanked him.

Then, accompanied by Qin Xuan, they entered Xiaopei City.

Inside the Xiaopei government office, candlelight blazed and the aroma of wine filled the air as Qin Xuan and his entourage of civil and military officials raised their cups in celebration of Zhang Xiu's joining the government.

In order to ensure Zhang Xiu's unwavering loyalty, Qin Xuan immediately appointed Zhang Xiu as the governor of Guangling and ordered him to lead troops to garrison Guangling.

Zhang Liao, the original garrison commander of Guangling, was transferred to Qingzhou to strengthen the military presence in the Qingzhou direction.

Qin Xuan did this for two main reasons. First, to prevent Duan Wei and Zhang Xiu from forming factions, he assigned them to the north and south respectively, thus reducing their interaction.

Secondly, it would make Zhang Xiu feel that he values ​​him highly, and that he can be entrusted with important responsibilities so soon after joining Zhang Xiu's side.

After all, the position of Prefect of Guangling was no small matter; it was the highest-ranking local administrative and military official.

Moreover, Zhang Xiu was the first civil and military official under Qin Xuan to receive such treatment. Others were only in charge of military or administrative affairs, and none of them were in charge of both.