Chapter 33: The Annihilation of Cao Ang's Clan

  In the first year of Chuping, in May, Luo Zheng defeated 3,000 Youyan cavalrymen at Qiao County.

  Sun Jian led his 7,000 infantrymen in a hasty retreat back to Chen County, and never again had the strength to launch an attack.

  At this time, the news of Qiao County being attacked and broken finally reached Hu Lao Guan.

  Yu Province Governor Kong You heard the news and spat out a mouthful of old blood on the spot. He was so furious that he fainted from anger.

  When Jun Zhonglang arrived, he found that Kong Zhi had no breath at all and was actually suffocated to death.

  All the princes gaze at me with their eyes, and all of them are face to face with each other.

  Only Yuan Shu showed a joyful expression, and immediately found an excuse to leave the camp, instructing his confidant to quickly send a message to Yu Province.

  Yuzhou Governor Liu Dai, Xuzhou Governor Tao Qian, Chenliu Taishou Zhang Miao, Jibei Xiang Bao Xin, Dongjun Taishou Qiao Mao, Guangling Taishou Zhang Chao and other princes were afraid that the Western Liang cavalry would invade Xuzhou and Yuzhou, burning, killing and looting in their own territories, all of them had the intention to retreat.

  Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu hastily persuaded him to stay.

  If they retreat at this time, the allied forces of the vassals will become a joke, and the initiator Cao Cao and the alliance leader Yuan Shao will also become the laughing stock of the world. How can they bear to retreat like this? After all, it is not their territory that the Xiliang army has been burning, killing, looting and plundering.

  Yu State, Qiao County.

  Luo Zheng led his troops in pursuit of the Youzhou cavalry, killing them until evening before returning.

  Three thousand Youzhou cavalry were killed in battle, only a few hundred horses scattered and escaped, not a single one was captured.

  This battle not only defeated three thousand Youzhou cavalry but also captured over a thousand war horses, making it a very fruitful victory.

  The great army returned to Qiao County, and Luo Zhen immediately convened a meeting with all the generals.

  Inside the main hall of the Governor's Office, all the Western Liang military officers were flushed with excitement, their faces aglow.

  This time defeated Sun Jian's army and broke three thousand Youyan cavalry, it can be said that they won a complete victory.

  Back in Luoyang, a big military merit is unavoidable.

  Luo Zheng sat in the main seat with a big horse and a golden sword, asking: "How many casualties did the iron armor chain cavalry suffer?"

  A small school replied: "More than 40 riders were killed."

  Luo Zheng's brow furrowed deeply at this time, "The casualties are so great."

  Li Meng said loudly: "General, the iron armor linked horse breaking array is indeed unparalleled in the world, but the war horses are locked with iron chains. If one horse loses its footing, then all the other war horses will be affected. If there are too many horses that lose their footing, then the linked horse formation is in danger."

  Luo Zheng also realized this problem, nodded, "En, let's talk about it later, can the armor be returned?"

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly replied: "General, they have all been withdrawn."

  "That's great!"

  Lu Zheng asked again, "Where is Sun Jian's army now?"

  Hou Jie replied: "We have already retreated back to Chen County."

  Li Meng said: "General, why don't we take advantage of our victory and pursue the attack, defeating Sun Jian's motley army in one fell swoop?"

  Luo Zhen waved his hand, "This time our army has broken through the three thousand Youzhou cavalry, a major threat to our heart, but we have also delayed in Yu Province for some time. Without the three thousand Youzhou cavalry, Sun Jian is no longer a concern. At present, the rebel army from Guandong is attacking Tiger Trap Pass urgently, and our army needs to turn to fight elsewhere as soon as possible, killing Xu, Yan and other places upside down, forcing the lords of Guandong to retreat quickly."

  The crowd of military officers all said in unison: "We are willing to follow General's orders."

  Lu Xun hummed, his eyes gleaming with a murderous intent. He growled: "However, before leaving Yu Province, this general still has one very important thing to do - that is to raze Cao Cao's old home to the ground."

  "Give the order, General!"

  All the military schools are rubbing their fists and wiping their palms, each with an excited look in their eyes.

  Luo Zheng turned his head and asked Captain Hou, "What's been going on at Cao's Fort lately?"

  "Report to the general," replied Captain Ji Hou, "there is no movement at Cao's stronghold."

  "Has anyone left?" Luo Zheng asked again.

  The captain of the vanguard said, "No one has left, but our scouts and local villagers have heard a piece of news that there are still dozens of young people from the Cao family who are wandering outside, unknown where they are, and have not returned to the manor for many years."

  Lu Zheng's eyebrows furrowed at this moment, and he asked in a deep voice, "Have you heard where these young Cao family members are now?"

  The captain of the Xiao people's team said: "I have already sent someone to investigate, but so far there is no news coming back."

  Lu Xun was even more displeased, thinking that if they didn't eradicate the remnants of the Cao family, they would become a great threat in the future. However, since the army had been delayed in Yu Province for too long, it wouldn't be suitable to drag things out any further. After some thought, he resolutely said: "Forget about it, if the young Cao can't be found immediately, then let's just forget about it. Pass down my orders, have the army rush towards Bali Gou Ting, flatten the Cao family stronghold, and leave no one or anything behind."

  "Roger."

  The whole army school quickly got up and loudly responded.

  Bali Gou Pavilion, located twenty miles east of Qiao County.

  The Cao Family Old House, one of the largest and most prominent local families in Zouping County, is located in Bali Gou. The Cao family has been a high-ranking official for generations, with a large family business and many descendants, building a castle covering over 100 hectares of land, with artificial canals dug on the side.

  The Cao family's sons are fond of chivalrous wandering and have a great reputation in the surrounding areas.

  After the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Cao Ren once gathered over a thousand young men and roamed around the area of Yishui to resist bandits and protect his clan's people and property. As the world was gradually falling into chaos, heroes rose up, and powerful families were taking advantage of the situation to recruit private soldiers and expand their forces.

  When Cao Cao called on heroes from all over the world to raise troops and attack Dong, Cao Ren led more than a thousand wandering warriors and his clansmen to join him.

  However, after the Western Liang army arrived at Qiao County, the Cao family's stronghold closed its gates and no longer allowed clan members to go out.

  However, you can avoid the first year of junior high school, but you cannot avoid the 15th year of your life.

  On this day, the Western Liang cavalry still came and surrounded Caojia Fortress.

  The wall of the fort was crowded with people's heads, the Cao family members looked out curiously, their faces filled with shock and unease.

  When Cao Cao raised his army, many young disciples from his clan followed him to fight against Dong Zhuo.

  Nowadays, most of the people left in the village are women, children and the elderly, with few strong men.

  If encountering a small band of robbers or village ruffians, relying on the stronghold would be sufficient.

  But now facing seven thousand fierce Western Liang iron cavalry, how can we resist?

  Just as everyone in the Cao's fortress was in a state of panic, amidst the mournful and stirring sound of the cow horn, Luo Zheng gave an order, and the 7,000 Western Liang iron cavalry immediately launched a massive attack on the low-lying Cao's fortress.

  Xu Chu wore his iron armor and rode his horse to the front of the gate of the fort.

  Dozens of Western Liang soldiers pushed a battering ram forward, charging towards the gate of the fortress with great momentum.

  It crashed three times and still didn't open.

  "Let him through, someone is coming."

  Xu Chu let out a loud roar, turned over and jumped off the horse's back, rushed over at a rapid pace, pulled the battering ram to twenty steps away, shouted loudly, and together with more than thirty Western Liang soldiers, exerted their strength to push the battering ram forward, which ran like flying and directly crashed into the gate of the fort.

  "Boom!"

  With a loud crash, the thick wooden gate of the castle was directly smashed open.

  Splinters flew everywhere, and the fort was filled with intermittent cries of surprise and screams.

  On the wooden door, the Cao family's children were knocked to the ground with their heads cracked and bleeding. Several people even had their brains smashed directly, splashing red and white all over the broken city gate of Kuaiji, the dead bodies were too gruesome to look at, many Cao family members were frightened pale.

  The rammer stuck in the gate tunnel of the fort was quickly pulled out.

  "Kill."

  Luo Zheng took the lead and killed his way over, holding a knife in front of him, leading the charge into the fort.

  Xu Chu took over the reins of his war horse from a nearby soldier and quickly mounted, closely following behind him into the fray.

  The iron hooves are like thunder, and the horses' neighs make people boil.

  The majestic castle under the iron hooves of the Western Xia Iron Cavalry let out a helpless cry.

  Inside the fort, mournful cries and shouts of killing filled the air, shattering the clear blue sky.

  Luo Zheng killed one of Cao's panicked sons with a single slash of his sword and charged forward on horseback.

  The Western Liang Iron Cavalry charged forward with a loud rumble, killing people and horses in the fort, and the Cao family's children who were guarding the gate shouted and fled in all directions, only to regret that their parents had not given birth to two more legs. Their will to resist had already been disintegrated.

  "Pass on our military order, capture Cao Cao's family."

  Luo Zheng killed another Cao family member and then reined in his horse, shouting loudly.

  "The general has given an order to capture Cao Cao's family."

  Seven thousand Western Liang iron cavalry shouted in unison, their voices shaking the fields, while the Cao family members were frightened as if a great disaster was upon them.

  The Cao clan in the fort had nearly a thousand people, but under the iron hooves of the Western Liang cavalry, they were powerless and resembled sheep.

  The battle ended quickly, and apart from those who were killed resisting, hundreds of members of the Cao family were taken alive and herded into a spacious courtyard, including old people, women, and children.

  Each and every one of them was terrified, unable to conceal their fear, bursting into loud wails, trembling with fear.

  In the spacious hall, Luo Zheng sat cross-legged on a case, with dozens of close guards standing solemnly behind him, holding knives.

  "What's going on at Cao Cao's house?"

  Luo Zheng let out a loud roar and his wolf-like gaze fell on the outside.

  A small school rushed in and reported: "General, Cao Cao's family has not been found."

  Luo Zheng's face immediately fell, "What's going on? Did Cao Cao's family sneak away ahead of time?"

  The little school replied: "I have already asked, Cao Cao's family is not in Qiao County."

  "What a disappointment! This time Cao Mengde got off cheaply. Has anyone escaped?"

  The little schoolmaster's face turned red with shame and he said: "One person ran away."

  Luo Zheng's brow furrowed deeply, "What, 7,000 troops attacking and yet there are still people escaping?"

  Next to him, a small school explained: "General, that little guy's martial arts are extremely extraordinary. Although the brothers fought to the death and surrounded him, they were still killed by that little guy and broke through the siege. Qiu Daren was also stabbed with a spear and almost lost his life."

  Luo Zheng glanced at the small school in front of him, and indeed there were still bloodstains seeping from his shoulder blades. His eyebrows finally relaxed, and he waved his hand: "If you're going to run, then just run, hurry up and deal with your injuries, don't cripple your arm."

  Qiu's eyes were filled with gratitude as he backed away.

  "There is a small school that also asks, 'General, how will these remnants of the Cao family be dealt with?'"

  Luo Zheng's gaze fell on those terrified and restless Cao clan members, his face immediately revealing a ruthless expression. He growled: "Kill them all, not even chickens or dogs are to be spared. Especially the men, not one can be let off. As for the women, forget it."

  "Roger."

  Xiao Xiao also smiled and responded with a clang, turned around and left.

  Soon, hundreds of Xiliang soldiers like evil spirits surrounded them, grinning and raising their slaughter knives.

  In the midst of mournful and angry cries, one by one, members of the Cao family fell to the ground in a pool of blood, their eyes frozen in death.

  As for the women, they were roughly dragged aside by the Western Liang soldiers and not killed.

  "Spare him, don't kill my child."

  A woman tightly held a five or six year old boy in her arms, using her body to block the slaughter of the Western Liang soldiers' knives. With a grief-stricken face, she loudly cried out, "Please, I beg of you, don't kill my child! I know where Cao Cao's family is."

  "You wicked person, may you not die a good death."

  As soon as the woman's voice fell, someone in the crowd immediately shouted loudly.

  Going out