In Nanpi City of Bohai Commandery, Cao Cao had never left. It wasn't because Cao Cao enjoyed the prosperity of Nanpi City, nor was it because Cao Cao missed his close friend, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Benchu. It wasn't because he was worried about the Ferocious Cavalry and Great Halberd Warriors.
There were two reasons why Cao Cao stayed in Nanpi City. The first reason was that the three hundred thousand strong army was slowly returning to Yan Province. Not only did he have to think about how to set up the defenses in Yan Province, he also had to think about who should stay and who should go back.
Now that the north had been pacified, the south was bound to be the main battlefield. Those who stayed wouldn't have a big battle to fight. Without a battle, they wouldn't have any merits. Moreover, Hebei had to be garrisoned. After all, it was the border of the Great Han Dynasty.
In this way, Cao Cao had a headache. It wasn't good to leave anyone behind, but it was even worse if he didn't. It wouldn't be good if he sent all his elites to the Central Plains. After all, the border was also very important. He had to leave a general who could take charge of a region. Cao Cao had a lot of unruly people under his command. Therefore, Cao Cao had a headache.
Another thing was the thing left behind by Yuan Shao. That's right. Cao Cao released the people of Nanpi City and Wen Chou because of the thing left behind by Yuan Shao.
Where was Yuan Shao's former headquarters? It was in Bohai Commandery. In Bohai Commandery, there were things left behind by Yuan Shao. A crafty rabbit has three burrows. Yuan Shao also thought that he would lose, so he left a way out for himself in Nanpi City.
Cao Cao almost dug three feet into the ground in Nanpi City, but there was no movement. However, Cao Cao didn't give up because this thing really existed. Yuan Shao didn't need to lie to Cao Cao after his death because he knew Cao Cao's character. Once Cao Cao found out that he was fooled, there was a 99% chance that he would settle accounts.
Because of this, Cao Cao stayed in Nanpi City to guard against the Sun family of Duke Liaodong. But now it seemed that the eldest son of the Gongsun family was very smart and accepted Old Cao's olive branch very cooperatively. He Ping was the first nail sent by Cao Cao to enter Liaodong. With the first nail, there would be a second one. Gradually, Liaodong would be surnamed Cao.
"Is there any news about He Ping?" Cao Cao asked Cheng Yu.
"Yes!" Cheng Yu nodded. Cheng Yu also stayed in Nanpi City. After Cao Cao left Guo Jia's side, Cheng Yu slowly became the chief counselor.
"Governor He Ping sent a letter saying that Gongsun Kang seemed to be very cooperative with Milord's arrangement. He didn't complain at all and was even happy!" Cheng Yu reported to Cao Cao.
"Good!" Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction. This Gongsun Kang still gave him face! Naturally, Cao Cao wouldn't treat him too badly. After Liaodong was settled, he could let the Sun family go to Xu Du and become a rich man. As for becoming an official? Hehe, Cao Cao wouldn't let a family that was once his enemy continue to develop. It was good enough that they were still alive.
This was also for their sake. Otherwise, some people would have improper thoughts.
"But it seems that Wuwei General Gongsun Du is not satisfied!" Cheng Yu said.
"That Gongsun Du!" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. Someone like Gongsun Kang is easy to deal with. Isn't it just for fame? Cao Cao can trick people like this into becoming fools. He can make them sell themselves and still count the money for him.
For example, Zhang Miao and Bao Xin were fools. They were tricked by Cao Cao and lost their money. In the end, it was too late to react.
However, an old fox like Gongsun Du couldn't be dealt with like this. Only an experienced hunter could deal with an old fox. Otherwise, not only would you not be able to catch the old fox, but you might also get yourself into trouble.
When Cao Cao wanted to subdue Gongsun Du, he threw away the appointment seal given by Cao Cao. He disdained to be the King of Liaodong. Now that the Yuan family was finished, the shield in front of Liaodong was gone. This old fox immediately changed his allegiance. Not only did he surrender to Cao Cao, but he also took the risk of offending Cao Cao with Yangzhou's new armor to please Cao Cao.
Such an old fox was very difficult to deal with.
Even Cao Cao was frowning. He didn't know whether to fight or not. If he fought, this Liaodong Gongsun Kang could be said to be obedient to Cao Cao. If he killed such an obedient dog, it would make the other dogs bitterly disappointed. Some of the dogs that wanted to join Cao Cao's army would be scared away.
Therefore, Cao Cao was very annoyed. However, if he didn't fight Liaodong, with the old fox Gongsun Du, Cao Cao was afraid that once Cao Cao left Nanpi, the army would relax in Nanpi, or the situation in the Central Plains would change. This docile dog would immediately become a ferocious wolf.
Cao Cao regretted accepting the armor from Liaodong. If he had known this would happen, he would have directly attacked Liaodong with 300,000 troops.
"My Lord, He Ping also sent good news!" Cheng Yu continued, "I'm afraid that Gongsun Du won't appear!"
"Won't appear?" Cao Cao was a little confused.
"Gongsun Kang is now in charge of Liaodong General's Mansion!"
"Huh?" Cao Cao was even more confused.
"Prefect He Ping sent a letter saying that Gongsun Du might have been killed by Gongsun Kang!" Cheng Yu said to Cao Cao.
"What!" Cao Cao's eyes widened, "Is this true?"
"Prefect He Ping just speculated and heard it from the mouth of one of Gongsun Du's personal guards!" The personal guard Cheng Yu mentioned was Wei Kang, who almost died in the hands of Gongsun Kang. On one hand, he didn't want to live such a life anymore, so he complained about Gongsun Kang. On the other hand, He Ping was there, so he immediately flirted with Gongsun Kang and often went to Gongsun Kang's house as a guest. That was where the news came from.
"Gongsun Du's personal guard?" Cao Cao stood up and walked around. Cao Cao was a very suspicious person. When he didn't believe it, he wouldn't believe it even if he was beaten to death. Now, he was showing his suspicion because this news came from Gongsun Du's personal guard.
Although this was the convenience of being in a favorable position and could deepen the credibility of the news, it was also possible that this was part of Gongsun Du's plan. After all, Gongsun Du was an old fox. Not only that, he was also Gongsun Du's personal guard, a trusted aide. How could it be so easy to instigate a rebellion?
Cheng Yu looked at Cao Cao. He also knew that his lord's suspicion was back. "My lord, this Wei Kang almost died in the hands of Gongsun Kang. That's why Prefect He Ping contacted him!"
"Died in the hands of Gongsun Kang?" Cao Cao didn't know the details. Cheng Yu immediately told Cao Cao about Wei Kang and Gongsun Kang.
"Gongsun Kang wants to kill Wei Kang?" Cao Cao was a bit convinced. If it was a matter of life and death, Wei Kang might really betray Cao Cao. However, Cao Cao still couldn't make up his mind. If Gongsun Du died, then Cao Cao could have Gongsun Kang take the Sun family and leave Liaodong. If Gongsun Du didn't die, then this was a trap. Once Cao Cao's army was stationed in Liaodong, or if Cao Cao wrote a letter to Gongsun Kang, exposing Cao Cao's ugly table manners, he would really become a joke.
"My lord, it's better to let Prefect He Ping inquire more!" Cheng Yu knew that Cao Cao still couldn't make up his mind. Cheng Yu also began to think about Guo Jia. When Guo Jia was still alive, Cheng Yu was jealous. This was because Guo Jia was younger than him, but he was more talented than him. Therefore, Cheng Yu was a bit unconvinced. But now, it seemed that it was better for Guo Jia to be here. This way, Guo Jia would be able to make up his mind.
"Good!" Cao Cao still agreed to this idea. "Zhongde, you still have to worry about Nanpi City!" Yuan Shao had buried a lot of money in Nanpi City. It was at least a million.
"Yes!" Cheng Yu nodded. "My lord, what about Yangzhou's army?" He Ping's letter also mentioned that Yangzhou's army had sent troops to Liaodong.
His Highness the King Of Shu is not sending troops to Liaodong, but to me, Cao Cao, and even to the whole world! " Cao Cao also knew that Liaodong had become an example to Yangzhou, so Yangzhou will definitely go all out.
"My lord, Liaodong doesn't seem to be doing well!" Cheng Yu asked Cao Cao. Yangzhou's army was like a hot knife through butter in Liaodong. Liaodong's three famous generals, An Yixuan, Mo Ran, and Tuo Bahai, had all lost to Yangzhou's army. Now, Liaodong had begun to mobilize their troops to fight against Yangzhou's army!
"Fight, fight well!" As Cao Cao thought about it, he laughed out loud.
"Huh?" Cheng Yu was a little stunned. After all, Liaodong was one of his allies now.
"Zhongde, what do you think will happen if Liaodong's army wins against Yangzhou's army?" Cao Cao looked at his advisor with a smile.
"Liaodong's army wins?" Cheng Yu pondered. If Liaodong's army won, then Yangzhou's plan to show their strength would fail. In this way, some of the fence-sitters might really turn to Cao Cao. In this way, Yangzhou would lose face, and Cao Cao would benefit. This was only one of the reasons. If His Highness the King Of Shu was angry and wanted to fight, using Yangzhou's army to exhaust Liaodong was also a good thing. This was called killing with a borrowed knife!
"But my lord, what if Liaodong's Gongsun Kang can't hold on?" If Liaodong's Gongsun Du was really killed by Liu Mang, then it would be a big joke. Yangzhou's King Of Shu, Liu Mang, would become famous, and those fence-sitters might waver again.
"Can't hold on? That's even better!" Cao Cao was now worried about not having an excuse to send troops to Liaodong. If Liaodong's army couldn't hold on, would they wait for death? Of course not. Naturally, they would ask for help from Cao Cao. After all, being a dog under Cao Cao was better than being killed by Yangzhou's King Of Shu, Liu Mang. In this way, Cao Cao would have an excuse to send troops to Liaodong.
It was easy to send them off personally, but difficult to do so.
"My lord is wise!"
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