HLnovel Chapter 456: A Battle of Wits with Cao Cao's Four Evils? Ma Dai Examines Ma Chao's Wounds!
Chapter 456: A Battle of Wits with Cao Cao's Four Evils? Ma Dai Examines Ma Chao's Wounds!
In Chang'an City
Yan Xing was brought before Cao Cao with his hands bound.
"Yan Xing, are you willing to submit to me, Cao?"
Cao Cao extended an invitation to Yan Xing.
But his eyes sparkled, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
"I am willing to serve Minister Cao!"
Yan Xing did not hesitate at all and chose to surrender immediately.
Su Yu and the four scourges of Cao Cao's camp watched this scene with great interest.
There's no doubt about Yan Xing's loyalty to Cao Cao; it was practically nonexistent!
However, Cao Cao recruited Yan Xing at this time not so that Yan Xing would serve him sincerely, but to further pacify Liangzhou.
"Erlai, take General Yan to rest."
"Yes."
Dian Wei immediately accepted the order.
Yan Xing looked surprised, and a sense of despair rose in his heart.
Cao Cao merely went through the motions of recruiting him, without giving him any important positions, which undoubtedly meant he intended to sideline him.
For a wealthy man, that's the best outcome.
But Yan Xing is not old; he is at the age to make achievements and establish his career. How could he be willing to stop here?
Furthermore.
Having tasted the sweetness of being a lord, Yan Xing simply could not tolerate the feeling of being subservient to others!
……
After Yan left, Cheng Yu said half-jokingly:
"My lord, this lad is quite cunning; he doesn't seem to be truly surrendering."
Cao Cao laughed and said:
“Zhongde, although I am eager for talent, I am not so desperate as to be indiscriminate in my choices.”
"Let this kid do his thing. Go easy on him, don't kill him before Liangzhou is pacified."
"Here."
Cheng Yu instantly understood Cao Cao's meaning.
Indeed, now that they've entered Cao Cao's camp, a den of dragons and tigers, no matter how much trouble Yan Xing can cause, he's just a plaything for Cao Cao's four scourges to pass the time.
……
Immediately afterwards, Cao Cao met with Ma Teng and Pang De.
Although this was the first time Cao Cao had met Ma Teng, the two had exchanged many letters in the past.
Therefore, it would be incorrect to say that the two were not familiar with each other at all.
This feels more like an online friend meeting up.
"Ma Shoucheng pays his respects to Lord Sikong."
Ma Teng respectfully bowed to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao waved his hand, gesturing for Ma Teng to sit down beside him.
"Brother Shoucheng, how have you been?"
“Ma Chao is Ma Chao, and you are you.”
"Cao will not hold a grudge against Brother Shoucheng because of Ma Chao's matter."
Ma Teng looked grateful:
"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Sikong."
"Lord Sikong, I have a request that I cannot refuse."
"Oh? Brother Shoucheng, please tell me quickly, what exactly is it?"
Ma Teng sighed and told Cao Cao about Ma Yunlu's disappearance.
Nobody knows where Ma Yunlu is now.
The only thing that can be confirmed is that Ma Yunlu was rescued by Ma Teng's trusted men and is probably still alive.
But it is said that Ma Chao's rebellious son later sent people to hunt down and kill Ma Yunlu.
Ma Yunlu's situation is probably not very good.
"Please rest assured, Brother Shoucheng, I will definitely find your daughter for you."
Cao Cao understood that Ma Yunlu was Ma Teng's only surviving child.
Finding Ma Yunlu would truly put Ma Teng at ease.
Ma Teng had been in Liangzhou for so many years, so he had some connections.
This is of great benefit to Cao Cao's consolidation of Liangzhou.
After recounting the story of Ma Yunlu, Ma Teng formally recommended Pang De to Cao Cao.
In the previous Battle of Pubanjin, Pound had already demonstrated his extraordinary combat abilities.
Cao Cao was deeply impressed by this and immediately promoted Pang De and rewarded him with a lot of gold and jewels.
Pang Deshi was determined to serve Cao Cao wholeheartedly and expand the territory he had just met.
……
the other side
After several days of wandering, Ma Chao and Ma Dai, leading their defeated troops, finally landed south of Jieting.
To avoid being ambushed by Cao Cao's army, Ma Chao sent scouts in advance by light boat to check for any potential ambushes.
Only after learning that there was no ambush did Ma Chao dare to land safely.
"Damn Pound! How dare he betray me, the general!"
"This general wants him dead!"
Ma Chao's eyes flashed with a fierce light.
His hatred for Pound had reached an unprecedented extreme.
Ma Dai bowed and said with a forced smile:
"Brother, don't worry. That scoundrel Pound is just throwing caution to the wind."
"Once we return to Wuwei, we will wipe out all the families of those traitors as a warning to others!"
Ma Chao waved his hand:
"Ma Dai, your methods are still too immature."
“Killing those family members will only make those traitors even angrier.”
"This general will bestow their families as rewards upon the warriors of the Qiang, Di, and Jie tribes!"
"That would be the real humiliation!"
A deep sense of admiration appeared in Ma Dai's eyes.
His gaze toward Ma Chao was filled with even greater longing.
My brother is so handsome!
Ruthless and heartless, disregarding even one's own family—this is the kind of older brother he has always dreamed of!
Ma Chao seemed to sense Ma Dai's strange gaze and turned his head to say:
"Does this general have something on him?"
Ma Dai quickly shook his head:
"Nothing."
Ma Chao clicked his tongue in confusion:
"Then why have you been staring at me like that?"
Ma Dai, quick-witted, cupped his hands and said:
"Brother, you've been working hard all night. I'd like to give you a back massage and a shoulder rub."
Ma Chao, without suspicion, nodded and said:
"You're right. My back was injured a bit before. Please apply some medicine for me later."
Ma Dai's breathing became much more rapid instantly.
Is this...is this something he can do for his brother?
……
Wuwei area
Xiahou Yuan, Zhao Yun, and Cao Chun were like three sharp knives, slaughtering the Qiang, Di, and Jie people who tried to resist within the city.
Now they finally know what kind of abstract thing Ma Chao really is!
After Ma Chao led his troops to join the allied forces, Wuwei City was almost entirely dominated by the Qiang, Di, and Jie people.
The Han Chinese people became the targets of bullying.
How could Xiahou Yuan, Zhao Yun, and Cao Chun possibly tolerate this?
Every single one of them who dares to resist, kill them all.
Those who did not resist, those who knelt and surrendered, were arrested and forced into labor.
In this respect, the Qiang, Di, and Jie peoples were not as aware as the Southern Xiongnu.
With Huchuquan, the great Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, as a model, they have become high-quality laborers renowned throughout the Han Dynasty!
Meanwhile, the Qiang, Di, and Jie tribes dared to bully and oppress the Han people.
It's truly hateful.
After killing several garrison generals arranged by Ma Chao, Xiahou Yuan entered the city lord's mansion and began using Wuwei as a base to attack other cities in Liangzhou.
Xiahou's westward expedition, his name of "Tiger's March in Guanzhong" will soon spread throughout the entire Liangzhou!
……