Chapter 39: The Meeting of Heroes

  Just as Cao Cao was hesitating in surprise, a swift and urgent footstep sounded, and a small military officer rushed into the dense forest like flying legs.

  "My lord, something terrible has happened."

  The scout officer knelt down and said in a loud voice, "Our scout officer found out the news early this morning that last night the Xiliang rebel army passed through Xuchang and gathered a large number of fishing boats at Shouping Town. They crossed Dongping Lake overnight and rushed to Fan County."

  "What?"

  Cao Cao was taken aback and asked in a stern voice: "Is this true?"

  "Absolutely no falsehoods," said General Xiao hastily, "I have already investigated thoroughly."

  "Damn it, damn it."

  Cao Cao swung his arm with great force, and said with a hint of frustration: "This cunning Luo Zhenxiao has made my 5,000-strong army wait here for half a day. Hmph! If I don't eliminate this villain, he will surely become a great threat to me in the future!"

  At this point, he suddenly changed his face and exclaimed: "Not good, Qiao Hu is in danger!"

  Cao Ren's expression changed as he said, "If Jia Xu loses, then the Western Liang rebels will head south again and there will be no more passes to block them. Although there are still 8,000 troops under General Bao in Shouyang, once they cross the Pu River, the Central Plains will be a flat plain, and the Western Liang rebels are all cavalry, with no heavy equipment, so they can abandon the official road and rush south, and when that happens, our army will find it difficult to block them again."

  Cao Cao grasped his wrist and said, "The main road to Dongping is flat and even, with no dangerous passes or narrow paths along the way. I originally thought that Luo Zhen would definitely head south from here to Yu Province, but unfortunately, Qiao Mao was incompetent and was led by the nose by Luo Zhen, causing my plan to fail."

  Xiahou Dun said, "There are Gong Sunzhan and Bao Daren besieging the north bank of the Puhe River. Luo Zhenxiao wants to take a small path to cross the Puhe River and head south, but it's not that easy. Why don't we mobilize the entire army to rush to Fan County? Perhaps the situation hasn't deteriorated to the point of no return, and there's still an opportunity."

  Cao Cao said: "What Yuan Rang said is quite right, it can only be like this."

  Fan County, great fire soaring into the sky, mournful cries filling the earth.

  Qiao Man was ambushed and defeated, and the Western Liang army took advantage of the situation to capture Fan County, plundering the wealthy and powerful in the city.

  Last night, they made a forced crossing of Dongping Lake and killed their way back to Fan County. The 4,000 soldiers slept for less than an hour and then fought again for half a day. Although they were exhilarated by their consecutive victories, their fatigue was unstoppable. After breaking through Fan County, they all took the opportunity to rest.

  Luo Zhen had slept for less than two hours when he was woken up by Xu Chu.

  At this time, the sky was getting late. After the personal soldier presented the cool water, he hastily washed his face and went to the county government's main hall to convene a meeting with the military officers to discuss matters.

  Qiao Zhen was killed, and his 8,000-strong army was almost annihilated, but the situation still did not allow for complacency.

  Since the lords of Guandong retreated from the Tiger Trap Pass, according to Cao Cao's plan to divide and intercept the enemy, the various armies quickly caught up with the 4,000 Western Liang cavalry who were burning, killing, and looting in the territory of Yan Province. According to Cao Cao's plan, the central army tightly guarded the passes and did not engage in a fierce battle with the Western Liang army, so as not to be defeated separately. They waited for the encirclement to form before gathering their forces to attack and annihilate them.

  If Li Meng and Wang Fang had not led the 3,000 cavalry to Xuzhou, Luo Zheng would have already led his army across the river to the north and entered Jizhou.

  In the territory of Yanzhou and among various lords, the purpose was to gain time for Li Meng and Wang Fang's 3,000-strong army to march north.

  Fortunately, the Eastern warlords lacked cavalry, and the only cavalry, Gong Sunzan's three thousand personal guards, were also defeated by Luo Zhen in Jie County with iron armor and linked horses, so although the Eastern rebels were numerous, they could never block the four thousand Western Liang iron cavalry.

  Luo Zhen chewed on the hot donkey meat and asked: "Where is Cao Cao's army now?"

  The captain of the vanguard replied: "We have already reached twenty miles south of Fan County and will arrive before nightfall."

  Luo Zhen asked again, "Where are the large armies of Yuan Shao, Bao Xin, Gongsun Zan and Liu Dai?"

  "The General of the Vanguard, Bo Hou, replied: 'The great armies of Bao Xin and Sun Gongzi are still on the north bank of the Pu River, Yuan Shao's great army is at She Qiu, and Liu Dai's great army is stationed ten miles east of Puyang at Wang Cheng. Each holds a strategic position, and there is no movement.'"

  Luo Zhen swallowed the last mouthful of donkey meat, wiped his mouth and burst out laughing: "Cao Mengde thought he could ambush me in Dongping, but I wouldn't let him have his way. He must be furious after our army killed a few of his men, haha!"

  The crowd of military schools also burst out laughing, feeling a great sense of relief and excitement.

  Although I was once proud of being a general of Xiliang, I have never fought such a thrilling and refreshing battle.

  Since Luo Zhen led the army, every battle was won, and the victory was thrilling, how could it not inspire the soldiers?

  There is a small school road: "General, Cao Cao's army has come from afar and is exhausted. Why don't we take advantage of the situation and send troops to defeat them?"

  Luo Zheng said in a deep voice, "Cao Cao's schemes are numerous and varied. He can't be compared to that useless thing Qiao Mao. Since our army entered Yanzhou and fought with various lords, although we made Cao Cao suffer several setbacks, when did we ever truly make him feel pain?"

  "This..."

  The little schoolmaster scratched his head, speechless.

  Cao Pi is indeed difficult to deal with, and cannot be compared to the likes of Qiao Mao.

  Since invading Yan Province, the Western Liang army had clashed with Cao's forces twice. Each time the Western Liang army launched a surprise attack, Cao Cao would choose high ground to set up camp and defend himself, deploying multiple layers of traps and caltrops around the perimeter of his main camp, and using baggage carts to form a defensive array.

  If the Western Liang Iron Cavalry wants to launch a strong attack, even if they can defeat Cao's army, they will still have to pay a heavy price.

  Luo Zheng said coldly: "Keep a close eye on this general, as soon as Cao's army arrives, report to me immediately."

  "Roger."

  The captain of the Xi Hou team hastily responded and retreated into the formation.

  Luo Zhen asked again, "Is there any news about Li Meng and Wang Fang's army?"

  The captain of the Hou team had no choice but to get up again and replied: "There is still no news coming."

  As soon as the words fell, a scout rushed in from outside the hall, kneeling down to report: "Reporting to the general, I met Li Meng and Wang Fang's scouts near Gucheng. The two generals' army has already passed through Ningyang."

  Luo Zheng immediately lifted his spirits and said: "Good, quickly dispatch a fast horse to order Li Meng and Wang Fang to lead the army to arrive at Cangting by tomorrow sunset, and join forces with the general's army to cross the river and head north to Ji Province."

  "Roger."

  Marquis Hou's soldier responded with a single word and immediately stood up and retreated.

  Luo Zhen shouted: "Where is Chen Tong?"

  Chen Tong hastily turned out from behind and said loudly: "What are your orders, General?"

  "Order you to lead five hundred cavalry, escort Mr. Xun Yu and his wife and children, tonight hurry to the Cangting Ferry crossing river north, and collect large and small boats, for the army to cross the river, do not make mistakes."

  "Yes, sir."

  Chen Tong hastily received the order and went to the camp to inspect the troops.

  Luo Zheng waved his hand and shouted: "Everyone disperse and prepare, we will set out northward at dawn tomorrow."

  "Roger."

  The crowd of military schools responded in unison and stood up to leave.

  As the sun was about to set, Cao Cao finally led his army of 5,000 soldiers to Fan County.

  However, the final result made this generation's hero so depressed that he wanted to vomit blood.

  Qiao Mian's army was defeated and his whereabouts were unknown, and even Lianfan County was lost.

  The aristocratic families in the city were heavily killed and wounded under the slaughter of the Western Liang army, and the mournful cries filled the fields.

  Cao Cao sent out scouts to explore the surrounding area within a radius of twenty miles, while ordering his main force to set up camp in a high location. He then took Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and several other generals from his clan to personally scout out the enemy situation near Fan County.

  The sun sets in the west, and the evening glow is like a fire.

  Cao Cao, under the escort of Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Cao Hong and more than a dozen horsemen, reined in his horse at the south gate of Fan County, carefully observing, and indeed saw on a large flag on the city wall, a " Luo" character that stood out particularly prominently.

  "Lu Zhēn Xiǎo ér."

  Cao Cao saw this " Luo" character and suddenly gnashed his teeth in hatred, his eyes almost spouting fire.

  Although he had met with the Western Liang army several times before, Luo Zheng and Cao Cao had never met in person.

  Cao Cao's clan was exterminated, leaving only a group of women and children. His old father was also killed by Luo Zhen. With such a deep-seated hatred, how could he not gnash his teeth? The others, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Cao Chun, were all filled with murderous intent.

  "Where is Luo Zheng's little one?"

  Cao Cao slowly rode his horse forward a few steps and shouted loudly.

  The Western Liang soldiers in the city immediately became agitated and cursed incessantly.

  Before long, a majestic figure of Xiliang Wu general appeared on the city wall, it was Luo Zheng.

  "Ts'ao Ah-tan!"

  Luo Zheng recognized Cao Cao at a glance and shouted loudly.

  Since arriving in the late Han Dynasty's chaotic world, I've clashed with him several times. Today, I finally met Cao Cao, this unparalleled hero, face to face.

  Lu Zheng's emotions were quite complex, with excitement and euphoria, but not a hint of fear. There was only an unspoken sense of heroism and an inexplicable burning desire to fight.

  It is indeed true that kings, princes and generals are made, not born!

  Born in this chaotic world, everyone has the strength to strive for the top and compete for power.

  Cao Cao is indeed a brilliant and ambitious man, but he's not some kind of three-headed six-armed monster, what can't be defeated?

  Even if I die a hundred times on the battlefield, what regret is there?

  Luo Zheng has already died once, what is there to fear about life and death?

  To be able to share the same stage with a legendary hero like Cao Cao is thrilling just thinking about it.

  "Ruo Zheng Xiao Er!"

  "Cao Cao gnashed his teeth and cursed loudly: 'You destroyed my clan, murdered my old father. This blood feud cannot be shared under the same sky. I will surely swallow you whole, skin you alive, exterminate your nine generations, dig up your ancestral grave to vent the hatred in my heart.'"

  Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Cao Hong and Cao Chun also shouted and cursed, with a fierce killing intent.

  "Ha! You treacherous subject, Cao Pi, you enjoy the emperor's salary but do not think of repaying the country. Instead, you gather a crowd to plot against the imperial court. This is a crime that everyone can punish, and the law cannot tolerate it. I will exterminate your clan, kill your father, and eliminate the evil for the country. If you do not repent, I will definitely exterminate all those with the surname Cao in the world, making your Cao family extinct."

  "A commoner, I will never let you off easily."

  Cao Cao was so angry that he burst out cursing loudly, his lungs almost exploding with rage.

  Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and others were drinking and scolding when they suddenly heard a loud explosion. They saw the south gate of Fan County open wide, and a group of Western Liang iron cavalry rushed out, led by a general like an iron tower, riding his horse horizontally with his sword, rushing straight towards Cao Cao.

  This man is none other than Xu Chu, known as the Tiger Fool.

  Xiahou Dun had clashed with this man before and deeply knew Xu Chu's bravery, which could not be matched by force.