Chapter 12 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao's Trickster

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Cao Cao cherished Guan Yu's talent and was very kind to him, but Guan Yu was bent on returning to his brother and refused to surrender Cao. After learning that Yuan Shao had sent troops to attack Baima City, Cao Cao listened to Cheng Yu's words and skillfully used a divisive plan, what would Guan Yu, who helped Cao Cao kill the enemy, do?

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Cao Cao treated Guan Yu very kindly, every three days a small feast, five days a big feast, and sent gold and silver, and also sent Aya Luo silk, Guan Yu gave these gifts to the two sisters-in-law to collect. Cao Cao also chose to send ten beautiful women to Guan Yu, and Guan Yu arranged them in the inner courtyard to wait for his sister-in-law, and he greeted him outside the sister-in-law's door every two days: Cao Cao respected him more as a person.

One day, Cao Cao saw that Guan Yu's battle robe was old, so he used his figure to make a new collar and give him a new one. Guan Yu took the new robe and put it on the inside, still wearing the old one on the outside. Cao Cao smiled, "Why should Yun Chang be so frugal?"

Guan Yu said: "I am not frugal, but because the old robe was given by Uncle Liu Huang, I wear it on my body, just like seeing him." I didn't dare to forget the old robe given by my brother because I had the new robe of the prime minister. ”

Cao Cao exclaimed, "Yun Chang is really a righteous person!" But I was really unhappy inside.

Another day, after Cao Cao invited Guan Yu to a banquet, he came out to send him off. He asked, "Why is cloud-length horse so thin?"

Guan Yu said, "My body is too heavy, and the horse can't move, so I am thin."

Cao Cao immediately gave a few words to his retinue. After a while, the entourage brought a horse. I saw that this horse's coat was shiny, and its whole body was like charcoal, very strong. Cao Cao asked, "Does Chief Yun still know this horse?"

Guan Yu took a closer look and said, "Isn't It the Red Rabbit Horse that Lü Bu rode?"

Cao Cao said, "Exactly." After saying that, he gave it to Guan Yu along with the saddle.

Guan Yu took the horse, was overjoyed, and bowed to Cao Cao twice. Cao Cao said, "I have sent beautiful women and golden veils many times, but the general has not bowed down, and today I have seen horses and worshiped twice in a row, how can I be so light on people and noble animals?"

Guan Yu said, "I know that this horse can travel thousands of miles a day, and with it, if I learn the whereabouts of my brother, I will be able to meet on the same day." Cao Cao couldn't help but be stunned, and he really regretted it.

Cao Cao then said to Zhang Liao, "I don't treat Guan Gong thinly, so why does he still have the heart to leave?"

Zhang Liao said, "I'll ask."

Zhang Liao saw Guan Yu and asked, "Isn't it okay to treat your brother as a minister?"

Guan Yu said, "I feel very kind and generous. It's just that although I am here, my heart is thinking of Uncle Huang. ”

Zhang Liao said, "Brother shouldn't be like this. There is no distinction between the light and the heavy, and it is not a hero. Xuande's treatment of his brother may not exceed that of the prime minister, so why does the brother still want to leave?"

Guan Gong said, "I know that Cao Gong treats me very kindly. But I swore to live and die together with Uncle Liu Huang and not to betray. Although I can't stay here, I must repay Cao Gong before I can leave. ”

Zhang Liao said, "If Xuan De has died, where will you find him?"

Guan Yu said, "If my brother is not there, I will not live."

Cao Cao listened to Guan Yu's reply and exclaimed, "Chief Yun has never forgotten the old lord, and he is really a rare righteous warrior in the world!"

Xun Yu said, "Didn't he say that he only went after he repaid his kindness?" Then if the prime minister does not give him the opportunity to repay the favor, he may not go. Cao Cao nodded.

Besides, Liu Bei was at Yuan Shao's place, depressed day and night. Yuan Shao asked, "Why is Xuan De worried?"

Liu Bei said: "The two younger brothers do not know the news, their wives and children have fallen into the hands of Cao Thief, they cannot serve the country at the top, and they cannot protect their families at the bottom, so how can they not be worried?"

Yuan Shao said, "I have long wanted to attack Xu Du: now that the spring is warm, it is just time to send troops." Therefore, he sent the general Yan Liang as the vanguard and led an army to attack the white horse city on the yellow river.

Cao Cao hurriedly summoned his generals and discussed raising troops to resist. Guan Yu came to Xiang mansion and said to Cao Cao, "I heard that Xiang Xiang sent troops, and I am willing to be the vanguard of the front." Cao Cao said, "Don't dare to trouble the general, sooner or later there will be a big event, and I will definitely go to the invitation." Guan Yu had to retreat.

Cao Cao led an army of 150,000 and divided them into three routes. When we arrived at Hakuba City, we were backed by Tushan Zasai. Cao Cao looked at the wilderness of Pingchuan in front of the mountain, and Yan Liang's front troops were 100,000, lined up in a position. Cao Cao was a little frightened, and turned back to Lü Bu's old general Song Xian and said, "You are a member of Lü Bu's fierce generals, and you can fight With Yan Liang today." Song Xian agreed, raised his gun and mounted his horse, and fought with Yan Liang for only three rounds, and Yan Liang raised his knife and fell, beheading Song Xian.

Cao Cao was shocked and said, "What a brave general!" Wei Continued, "Yan Liang killed my companion, and I am willing to take revenge!" Cao Cao agreed. Wei Continued to hold the spear and scolded Yan Liang. Yan Liang did not reply, crossed the horse, split his head with a knife, and split Wei Xu under the horse: Xu Huang rushed up and was also defeated.

Cao Cao folded two times in a row, and his heart was troubled. Cheng Yu said, "I can cut off a good face by one person."

Cao Cao asked busily, "Say quickly, who is it?"

Cheng Yu said, "You must be guan gong!"

Cao Cao sighed, "It's not that I don't want to use him, I'm afraid he'll leave after he makes a meritorious contribution."

Cheng Yu said, "If Liu Bei is here, he will surrender to Yuan Shao." If Yun Chang was sent to break Yuan Shao's army, Yuan Shao would suspect Liu Bei and kill him. Since Liu Bei is dead, where will Yun Chang go? ”

Cao Cao heard the great joy and sent someone to invite Guan Yu. Guan Yu rushed into the inner courtyard to bid farewell to the two sisters-in-law. The two ladies said, "Uncle went out today, so you can take the opportunity to inquire about uncle Huang's news." Guan Yu repeatedly agreed.

Guan Yu took the Green Dragon Sword in his hand, got on the Red Rabbit Horse, and led his entourage straight to the White Horse City. Cao Cao set up a banquet and warmly entertained Guan Yu. He said to Guan Yu, "Yan Lianglian beheaded two of my generals, and he was brave and fierce, and the generals could not resist, so they had to ask the generals to fight." ”

In the drinking room, someone came to report, and Yan Liang came to challenge again. Cao Cao and Guan Yu climbed to the top of Tu Mountain to watch. I saw that the banner of Yan Liang's army under the mountain was clear, the swords and guns were dense, and the strict order was powerful. Cao Cao pointed to a general on horseback under the banner and said to Guan Yu, "That's Yan Liang!" You see, Hebei terracotta horses, how majestic! ”

Guan Yu said, "In my opinion, Yan Liang is like a person who inserts a sign and sells his head, and the Hebei soldiers and horses are just like a group of chickens and dogs!"

Cao Cao said, "Generals should not take the enemy lightly."

Guan Yu stood up and said, "Although I don't have great skill, I would like to go and behead Yan Liang's head to offer the prime minister."

Zhang Liao said, "There is no joke in the army, and the chief of the clouds must not be careless!" Guan Yu rushed to his horse, lifted the Green Dragon Sword upside down, and ran down the mountain. Only to see Guan Yu's eyes widen, his eyebrows straight up, straight into the enemy position.

Guan Yu went straight to Yan Liang. Yan Liang was under the banner, just about to ask, but Guan Yu's red rabbit horse was fast and had already run to the front. Yan Liang was caught off guard and was slashed off his horse by Guan Yu. Guan Yu jumped off the red rabbit horse, cut Yan Liang's head, tied it under the horse's neck, flew onto the horse, and rushed out of the battle. When the Hebei army saw it, it was frightened and routed. The Cao army took advantage of the situation to attack and killed countless Yuan troops.

Guan Yu immediately went up the mountain and dedicated Yan Liang's first rank to Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, "The general is really a god!"

Guan Yu said, "What am I!" My brother Zhang Fei, beheading the head of a general in a million troops, is as easy as probing for things! ”

Cao Cao was horrified, and turned back to the left and right and said: In the future, when you encounter Zhang Yide, you must not take the enemy lightly. Write it under your robe, remember, don't forget. ”

Yan Liang's men fled back in a hurry, and on the way they met Yuan Shao, who reported: "Yan Liang was killed by a warrior with a red face and a long beard and a large knife." Yuan Shao asked in surprise, "Who is this person?"

The counselor frustrated him and said, "This man must be Guan Yunchang, Liu Xuande's younger brother."

Yuan Shao was furious and pointed at Liu Bei and said, "Your brother killed my beloved general, you must be complicit with him, what is the use of keeping you!" Saying that makes people chop Liu Bei.

Liu Bei calmly said: "Ming Gong only listens to one side of the word, so desperate?" I have been separated from them since Xuzhou, and I still don't know if the second brother YunChang is alive or not. Besides, there are many people of the same appearance in the world, are the people with red faces and long beards all cloud chiefs? ”

Yuan Shao was a man without a subjective opinion, and when he heard Liu Bei say this, he rebuked Liu Bei and said, "If you mishear your words, you will be killed by risking killing good people." Still ask liu bei to sit down on the account and discuss Yan Liang's revenge.

At this time, a person under the tent stepped forward and said, "Yan Liang and I are like brothers, and now that we have been killed by Cao Thief, how can I not avenge him?" Liu Bei looked at his person: he was eight feet long and had a face like a badger, and it turned out to be a famous general in Hebei.

Yuan Shao said happily: "Non-literary ugliness cannot repay Yan Liang's revenge!" I will give you 100,000 troops and horses, that is, to cross the Yellow River and hunt down and kill Cao Thief. Liu Bei said to Yuan Shao, "I have received great favor and have no retribution." I want to walk with General Wen, first, to repay Ming Gong's kindness, and second, to listen to the news of Chief Yun. Yuan Shao rejoiced, and Ling Wenqiu and Liu Bei led the front troops together.

Wen Ugly said: "Liu Xuande is a general who has been defeated repeatedly, and he is unfavorable to the army. Since the lord asked him to go, thirty thousand sergeants were given to him as the rear. Therefore, Wen Ugly led 70,000 soldiers first, and Liu Bei led 30,000 people to follow.

Cao Cao saw that Guan Yu had killed Yan Liang, and he became more and more respectful of him, personally representing him in the imperial court. Emperor Xian made Guan Yu the Marquis of Hanshouting and cast a gold seal to give to Guan Gong.

Yuan Shao also sent the general Wen Qiu across the Yellow River and occupied Yanjin. Cao Cao then ordered: "The rear army is the front army, the former army is the rear army, the grain and grass are first, and the army and soldiers are behind, go to meet the Wen ugly." General Lü Qian said, "Grain and grass are in front, what if we encounter the enemy army and are robbed?" Cao Cao said, "I have my own way." Cao Cao's soldiers and horses were advancing, when suddenly a shout of death came from the front army. Cao Cao was in the rear and hurriedly sent someone to investigate. After a while, the spies came to report: "When the Hebei general Wen Ugly arrived, our army threw away the grain and grass and fled in all directions." The rear army is far away from the front army, what to do?" Cao Cao pointed his whip at the southern mountain and said, "Go and hide." So Cao Cao's men and horses rushed up the hill. Cao Cao ordered the sergeant to undress, remove his armor and rest, and told him to scatter the warhorses. When the Wen ugly army arrived, the generals of the Cao army said, "When the thieves arrive, quickly collect the warhorses and return to the White Horse City." Xun You hurriedly stopped and said, "This is to lure the enemy army, how can you retreat?" Cao Cao smiled and gave Xun You a look, and Xun You understood the intention and said no more.

Wen Qiu led the army to seize Cao Cao's grain and grass cart battle, and then rushed to grab the horse, and the Yuan army was in conflict with each other. When Cao Cao saw that the time had come, he ordered his generals to go down the mountain to attack together, and the Wen ugly army was defenseless, and immediately chaos was imminent. The Cao army surrounded him, Wen Ugly stood up and fought alone, and the soldiers trampled on each other. Wen Ugly couldn't stop drinking, so he had to turn his horse and go back.

Cao Cao said to the generals on Tushan Mountain: "Wen Ugly is a famous general in Hebei, who can capture him?" Zhang Liao and Xu Huang leapt out on horseback and shouted, "Wen Ugly Hugh is leaving!"

Wen Qiu looked back and saw that the second general had caught up, so he took a bow and arrow and aimed it at Zhang Liao.

Xu Huang shouted, "Hugh is going to release the arrow!" Zhang Liao lowered his head and ducked, and the hairpin on his helmet had been shot away. Zhang Liao struggled to catch up again, and was shot in the cheek by Wen Ugly again. Wen Ugly returned to the horse to stab, and Xu Huang hurriedly swung a large axe to intercept the fight. Only to see that the army and horses behind Wen Ugly arrived, Xu Huang expected to resist the enemy, and turned the horse back. Wen Ugly chased after it. At the critical juncture, I suddenly saw more than a dozen people riding on horses, led by a red-faced and long-bearded general, holding a green dragon sword, facing Wen Ugly, and shouting: "The thief will not leave!" Wen Ugly hurried to meet the battle. The two fought for less than three rounds, and Wen Ugly saw that Guan Yu was strong in martial arts, and his heart was afraid, so he turned his horse and fled. Guan Yu was fast, catching up from behind, and the knife fell in his hand, cutting Wen Ugly to death.

Cao Cao was on Tushan Mountain, and when he saw Guan Yu cutting down Wen Ugly, he drove his men and horses to chase him down. Most of the soldiers in Hebei fell into the water, and the grain and grass were still retaken by Cao Cao.

When Guan Yu led several cavalry and was slashing east and west, Liu Bei had arrived with 30,000 horses. The front sentry horse probed and reported to Liu Bei: "Today, it is the red-faced and long-haired general who beheaded Wen Ugly!" Liu Bei hurriedly urged the horse to look, only to see that there was a cluster of people and horses on the other side of the river, coming and going like flying, and the flag was written with seven big characters: "Marquis Guan Yunchang of Hanshouting". Liu Bei thought in his heart: "Thank God, it turns out that my brother is indeed here!" Liu Bei saw Guan Yu across the river and was trying to greet him, but the Cao Army brigade came to him, and Liu Bei had to take the troops back.

Yuan Shao took Liu Bei to Guandu and set up camp. Guo Tu and Zhen Pei came to see Yuan Shao and said, "Today it was Guan Yu who killed Wen Ugly again, but Liu Bei pretended not to know." Yuan Shao was furious and scolded, "Liu Bei, you thief!" How dare you!" After a while, Liu Bei came in, and Yuan Shao ordered him to leave: "Push Liu Bei out of the thief for me." Liu Bei asked, "What crime do I have?" Yuan Shao said, "You deliberately asked your brother to kill one of my generals again, and said that he was not guilty?" Liu Bei said, "Please allow me to say a few words, and then execute you with you." Cao Cao was usually wary of me, and now that he knew that I was with you, I was afraid that I would contribute to you, so he deliberately let Yun Chang kill the second general, and it was expected that Ding Gong would be angry when he knew. This is Cao Cao's plan to kill people with a knife! He wanted to borrow your hand to kill me, but he didn't expect you to win the plan. ”

When Yuan Shao heard this, he did not kill Liu Bei, drank back, invited Liu Bei to sit in the tent, and said: "Xuande is right, he almost made me bear the name of harming Xian." Liu Bei said: "Ming Gong's leniency is irreparable. I want to get a confidant to go to see the chief of the clouds with a secret letter, so that he knows that I am with you, and he will surely arrive in the starry night.

How about I ask him to assist Ming Gong and jointly rebuke Cao Cao in order to avenge Yan Liang and Wen Ugly?" Yuan Shao was overjoyed and said, "I have ten times better than Yan Liang and Wen Ugly."

Liu Bei wrote the letter, but no one dared to send it. Yuan Shao ordered him to retreat to Wuyang, camped for tens of miles, and did not move according to the troops. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Huan to lead troops to guard the Guandu Pass, and his own class returned to Xudu, feasted on a feast, and summoned the wen and military officials to celebrate Guan Yunchang's merits.

Suddenly, someone reported that Liu Pei and Gong of the Yellow Turban Army were rebelling in Runan, and Cao Hong could not resist it, so he asked Cao Cao to send reinforcements. Guan Yu listened and asked Cao Cao to fight, going to Runan, to break the enemy.

Wait and read chapter 13 of the Four Great Works "Romance of the Three Kingdoms": The Reunion of the Three Brothers in the Ancient City