Chapter 36: Capturing Cao Bao and driving away Tao Qian

  Yu Jin also furrowed his brow and said to Xiahou Dun: "General, I will lead my troops to pursue Tao Qian immediately!"

  He waved his hand slightly, and Xiahou Dun stopped him: "No need, Wen Qian has been gone for a while. Our army only has infantry, and after a night of fierce battle, they are already exhausted. At this time, the roads outside are muddy, and even if we want to pursue, we can't catch up. It's better to stabilize the city instead. This time, many Dan Yang soldiers surrendered, but I don't know how to deal with them." Xiahou Dun sighed helplessly at the end.

  Cao Jun was short of food, and all the generals knew it. Xiahou Dun's words were not entirely unreasonable. Yu Jin smiled slightly and said: "General Yuan Rang, we have already taken Pengcheng, and Tao Gongzi fled in a hurry. The grain and grass inside the city should not have been burned in time. This batch of grain and grass in Pengcheng should be enough for our army to use for a while."

  Xiahou Dun's eyes lit up immediately, and he patted his head, saying: "If Wen didn't remind me, I would have almost forgotten this matter. Let's go, and let's take a look at the grain and fodder in Pengcheng together."

  "Hello!"

  ……

  In the eastern suburbs of Pengcheng, Xiahou Yuan's troops had been lurking in the rain for a night, during which there were continuous thunderstorms. They hid in the forest, but unfortunately, several soldiers were struck by lightning and died on the spot. The surrounding soldiers saw this and were all frightened. If it weren't for Xiahou Yuan's prestige to hold them down, these soldiers would have panicked. No one can defy heaven's will.

  The rain grew heavier, and intense fighting sounds came from the direction of Pengcheng. Hearing this sound, Xiahou Yuan gazed westward, his fists clenched tightly.

  After waiting for about two hours, Xiahou Yuan was getting impatient and thought that the three routes of troops were not advantageous to attack, so he prepared to lead his main force to assist in the battle. At this time, the east gate of Pengcheng suddenly creaked open!

  The city gate opened, and both Xiahou Yuan and his soldiers were overjoyed. Drenched in the cold rain, not a single soldier felt comfortable.

  Xiahou Yuan concentrated his spirit, his eyes fixed intently on the east city gate. Before long, more than a dozen riders galloped out from inside the east city gate. Xiahou Yuan was overjoyed and shouted in a low voice: "Everyone get ready!"

  Cough cough...

  In the torrential rain, the sound of horseshoes gradually became clear, and these more than ten riders were extremely flustered, not coming to explore the road ahead at all, but only constantly urging their horses to gallop.

  In the darkness, Xiahou Yuan gave a few low orders, and then came the soft sounds of "swish swish", but they were quickly drowned out by the sound of the rain, and almost no one noticed.

  It's near!

  As he watched more than a dozen riders gradually approaching, Xiahou Yuan's heart inexplicably tightened. His throat involuntarily let out a low growl: "Ambush!"

  Hiss...

  It was as if it confirmed Xiahou Yuan's words, and suddenly a mournful neighing sound came from the darkness, and at the same time someone exclaimed: "Not good, tripwire!"

  Listening to the sound to identify the location is not a unique skill of Le Jin, someone shouted loudly, Xiahou Yuan knew that the opportunity was not to be missed, and suddenly roared: "Kill!" The whole person was like a fierce tiger rushing out of the gate, holding a long spear and charging straight towards the source of the sound. The Cao army hiding behind also didn't slow down, following closely and killing quickly.

  Cao Jun's momentum was not small, and the more than ten dark horses had all been blocked by the horse-reining rope. Hearing the killing shout, they all exclaimed: "We're done for! There are Cao troops ambushing here!"

  In the darkness, a slightly calmer voice shouted: "Settle down!"

  Rustling... rumbling...

  As soon as the words fell, a sudden clap of thunder flashed across the sky. Under the lightning, those more than ten riders had already seen that they were surrounded by nearly a thousand Cao troops from all sides. The leading general was majestic and powerful, holding a long spear. Those Xu state soldiers all recognized him, it was Xiahou Yuan who launched a surprise attack on Tao Qian under the city this morning!

  Xiahou Yuan merely had the Cao army surround the dozen or so riders and did not hastily give the order to attack, instead gazing with great interest at the person who had just shouted "Stabilize".

  In a flash of lightning, that person clearly saw Xiahoudun had already raised his right hand before falling into darkness, and hastily shouted: "Wait!"

  "What's there to say?" came Xiahoudun's calm voice from the darkness.

  "Some of you were once under Cao Pi's command, now I wish to surrender!"

  Xiahou Yuan had long recognized Cao Jiao, and the reason he didn't rush to kill him was that he wanted to hear what he had to say. The Cao family was a prominent clan in Xuzhou, and Cao Jiao was the head of the Cao family. Before the battle, Xiahou Dun had told Xiahou Yuan about Cao Jiao's mediocrity. People with status but mediocre abilities were more valuable alive than dead.

  "Put down your weapons and tie up your own hands!"

  Before long, a "clang clang" sound came from the darkness.

  ……

  At the same time that Xiahou Yuan was forcing Cao Bao to surrender, a horse-drawn carriage was making its way with difficulty along the muddy road south of the city, accompanied by only a handful of soldiers.

  This chariot was exactly the one that Tao Qian had ridden, used to break through the siege. Only when leaving the Guo Xiang Fu, more than 100 soldiers who had left with him were killed in battle during the breakout.

  Mao Fang sat in the carriage, whipping the war horses ceaselessly. The three war horses kept letting out mournful whinnies, while the remaining few soldiers behind the carriage pushed with all their might, but the carriage wheels were stuck deep in the mud and couldn't be pulled out.

  Zou Fang was frantic, cursing non-stop: "Damn beasts, run faster!" Unfortunately, no matter how much Zou Fang cursed, the war horses just couldn't be driven out.

  Bang...

  "How hateful!" In her excitement, Mei Fang heavily punched the carriage shaft.

  At this moment, Tao Qian in the carriage climbed out and patted Zou Fang's shoulder with one hand, saying: "Zi Fang, let's abandon the carriage and walk."

  Miao Fang heard this and was startled in her heart. She said: "But sir, it's still raining heavily outside. With your body... perhaps..."

  Tao Qian waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, if we're late again, the Cao army will probably catch up with us, let's go."

  "Alright!" Miao Fang responded with a shout, leaping down from the carriage and turning her back to Tao Qian, saying: "Sir, let me carry you on my back." Tao Qian also knew that his own body couldn't run fast, so he could only rely on Miao Fang carrying him. Therefore, without hesitation, he trembled as he climbed onto Miao Fang's back.

  Just as Tao Qian and Mei Fang had just left the carriage and walked a few steps, they heard a clear whinnying sound coming from that direction, and then those soldiers exclaimed: "General, the carriage is out!"

  Meng Fang was overjoyed and turned back to Tao Qian, saying: "Sir, we will return by carriage." After that, he was about to turn around.

  But Tao Qian stopped him, saying: "No! We have delayed too long here. The Cao army can follow the chariot tracks and catch up with us. Let them drive a few horse-drawn carriages southward, while we head east!"

  "Th...this..." Mei Fang hesitated upon hearing this.

  At this time, Tao Qian glared with wide eyes and shouted: "Don't hesitate, do as I say! We're going to Xiaopei!"

  "Xia Yi?" Mei Fang's heart was shocked, and he asked in confusion: "Sir, Yuan Long mentioned before he left that if Pengcheng cannot be defended, we should go to Tancheng..."

  Tao Qian shook his head and said, "This is one time, that is another. The road to Tan City is not short now, I'm afraid that by the time we arrive at Tan City, half of Xuzhou will have fallen. Let's stop talking nonsense and hurry to Xiaopei, we still have a glimmer of hope!"

  "Promise!"

  After a cup of tea, Le Jin led the main force of Cao's army to hurry over. Taking advantage of the slightly brightening sky, they saw that the wheel tracks were heading south. Le Jin hummed softly and beckoned with his hand, shouting: "Tao has escaped to the south, quickly follow me!"

  "Promise!"

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