Bai Xiaowen wasn't the only one who turned around. Even Xun was curious.
Xun was very good at reading people's expressions. He could tell from Bai Xiaowen's expression that he wasn't lying. This meant that the fire in Xudu wasn't set by the Youzhou army.
Furthermore, Bai Xiaowen didn't have a reason to do so.
Since Xun himself didn't give the order to set the fire, who did it?
The people who were escorted up were more than a dozen men dressed in servant uniforms. All of them had panicked looks on their faces.
"Where is the fire?" Bai Xiaowen asked.
A Youzhou soldier replied, "Young Master, it's said to be Xudu's granary."
"Oh." Bai Xiaowen stared at the servants. "Who ordered you to set the granary on fire?"
Although the servants were cowering, they lowered their heads and didn't say anything.
"Hmph, even if you don't say anything, I can still find out." Bai Xiaowen said sternly. "Kill these people."
Xudu had just fallen. It was time to kill people to establish their might and use severe punishments to instill fear in people's hearts. Otherwise, the internal situation wouldn't be stable. Even if Bai Xiaowen had twenty thousand soldiers, he might not be able to defend Xudu for twelve hours. This was a requirement of the Hero Side Mission.
However, at the back of the group, a child who was being held by the back of his neck struggled and jumped out. "I was the one who set the fire."
This child's clothes were luxurious and inlaid with gold and jade. It was obvious that he wasn't from an ordinary family.
Bai Xiaowen didn't even need to use Insight to know who this child was. However, he still had to say, "Who are you? Don't cause trouble here."
The child wasn't afraid and said loudly, "My father is Prime Minister Cao. I am Cao Chong. I gave the order to set the granary on fire. Don't take your anger out on others."
"Cao Cao's fifth son." Bai Xiaowen smiled. "Interesting. Why would you want to set the granary on fire? This is your own family's food."
Cao Chong said.
"You look like you have a lot of people, but you're actually a lone army. Furthermore, you're lightly armed, so you definitely didn't bring much food. Our Yuzhou has two counties, four countries, and ninety-seven cities. When they hear that Xudu has fallen, they will definitely send reinforcements. "
"If we leave you the granary, you can rely on Xudu's strong defense. If you burn the provisions, you will definitely abandon the city and flee. At that time, you will be like a bird in a cage, unable to escape even if you have wings! "
Now, the soldiers of the four realms of Yuzhou all moved out upon hearing the news. Xudu was deep in enemy territory. If Bai Xiaowen led the twenty thousand Youzhou soldiers to abandon the city and flee, they would most likely be intercepted by the Yuzhou soldiers or even the Guandu Cao soldiers. But if they had to defend the city, they would have no provisions to support them.
Cao Chong's analogy of a bird in a cage was very appropriate.
"Young Master, be careful with your words." Xun Wei was afraid that Bai Xiaowen would kill Cao Chong in a fit of anger, so he waved his hand and shook his head, trying to dissuade him.
Bai Xiaowen laughed and said, "Lord Xun, you're underestimating me, Yuan Xi. A real man is born in this world, he should establish himself with benevolence and faith, educate with righteousness and reason, pacify the country with military strategy, and establish the country with martial arts. Why would they kill a child just because he has a special aptitude? "
Xun's expression relaxed.
Bai Xiaowen looked at Cao Chong in admiration, "To have such knowledge at such a young age, it is indeed rare. Unfortunately, showing off your intelligence like a peacock spreading its tail, but you don't know that showing off your feathers and causing others to be jealous is the path to death. Unlike your brother, who looks mediocre on the outside but is actually very patient. "
Cao Pi's expression was terrified, and his head lowered even more.
Bai Xiaowen walked in front of Cao Pi. Seeing a girl dressed in silk standing behind Cao Pi, he opened his mouth and asked, "Who is this?"
Cao Pi lowered his head and said, "This is … this is my wife, Ren Shi."
Bai Xiaowen felt emotional. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Xi's wife, Zhen Mi, was taken away by Cao Pi. The current situation had turned around.
However, Bai Xiaowen only lamented for a moment. He would not have a bad taste in his heart because of this and insist on snatching Ren Shi away from Cao Pi.
Firstly, in front of Xun and the many scholars of the prime minister's manor, Bai Xiaowen had to be righteous, and his reputation could not be destroyed. Only then could he become the leader of a faction and gather talents.
Secondly, Ren Shi's appearance was average. Compared to Zhen Mi, it was like comparing chaff to wine. There was no comparison.
Soon, a winged cavalry came to report that Bai Sanniang's general, Cecilia, had already killed the Cao Army's guards and occupied the palace. She asked Yuan Xi to quickly go and meet the emperor.
Xun looked over.
Bai Xiaowen nodded and said, "I will go and meet the emperor. As for here, tie up the four sons of Cao Pi and take them away. "
Xun hurriedly said, "Young master, in a battle between two armies, not harming family members is the way of the benevolent. Moreover, you have already promised not to harm Cao Chong's life. "
Xun was speaking the truth. The wise lords of the Three Kingdoms era, after conquering a city, would generally treat the enemy's family members well. As the saying goes, leave a way out so that you can meet again in the future. For example, when Lu Bu conquered Xu Province, he even sent people to protect Liu Bei's family.
In any situation, there was no need to leave a way out. When the enemy died and the forces under him scattered, he could naturally deal with them as he pleased. There was no need to worry about falling out with him.
The current Cao Cao still had the Guandu Army and was strong. It was far from the time when the tree would fall. There was no harm in treating his family members well, and it could even give him a good reputation.
Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "Xun Lingjun is right. Although Cao Cao is a Han thief, I will not disturb his family members. I will also send people to guard the gate of the prime minister's residence and not let troops in. However, his four sons cannot be treated the same. I need to bring them with me to be at ease. "
Xun Moran and Bai Xiaowen were right. Cao Cao's four sons were not easy to deal with. Even the youngest, Cao Chong, had the quick thinking to burn the granary and break the Youzhou army's defensive path. Of course, they could not let any of them go.
Bai Xiaowen said, "I will go and meet the emperor now. Xun Lingjun and the other officials of the prime minister's residence, please sit here and do not move. If the soldiers under my command misunderstood and fled, it would be a regretful matter. "
Bai Xiaowen ordered two elite lieutenants to lead five hundred troops to guard the people present. "If anyone escapes, kill them immediately."
After arranging everything, Bai Xiaowen brought the rest of the soldiers to escort Cao Pi and the other three out of the prime minister's residence.
However, Bai Xiaowen did not rush to the palace right away. Instead, he led the army to clear out the remaining areas of Xudu, focusing on military discipline.
As for the old and weak soldiers who surrendered, they were all chained up and spared from death. As for those who resisted, they were all killed.
Not long later, the battle in the alleys of Xudu came to an end. The twenty thousand troops from Youzhou occupied the various main streets of Xudu. Those officials and nobles all closed their doors, afraid that they would be wiped out.
Bai Xiaowen naturally could not allow the soldiers to loot. One must know that looting would destroy the homes of the officials and the reputation of the Yuan family. This would only make Cao Cao happy.
After the situation stabilized, Bai Xiaowen strictly enforced military discipline and rushed to the palace.
Eye of Evolution
Eye of Evolution
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