kingnovel Chapter 1005 Cao Pi is calm and Wei Xu accepts bribes
Chapter 1005 Cao Pi is calm and Wei Xu accepts bribes
Madam Ding, along with Cao Pi and Cao Zhang, slowly walked towards the gate of the mansion. Outside, the group of soldiers were already approaching menacingly, their eyes revealing greed and ferocity, their weapons flashing with a cold light.
Madam Ding stopped, staring coldly at the leading soldier, and demanded loudly, "Who are you? Why are you trespassing into the Sikong Mansion? Aren't you afraid that Prime Minister Cao will come back to punish you?" The leading soldier curled his lips, sneered, and said disdainfully, "Prime Minister Cao? The dynasty has changed in Xudu now, so why are you still talking about Prime Minister Cao? If you know what's good for you, hand over your property quickly, or don't blame us for being rude!"
Cao Pi stepped forward, blocking Madam Ding's way. With a stern look on his face, he shouted, "How dare you! My father treated the people of Xudu with great affection and loyalty, using both kindness and severity. Your reckless actions are no different from those of a shameless bandit!" The soldier, startled by Cao Pi's aura, was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his composure and shouted fiercely, "Stop talking nonsense, brothers! Charge!"
Although Cao Zhang was young and his figure still looked immature, he stepped forward without hesitation. He held a short blade in hand, and despite his small stature, he carried an air of unyielding determination as he stood firmly before Cao Pi.
Cao Pi shouted, "You traitors, stop being so presumptuous! My father dedicated his life to the welfare of the people and served the Han Dynasty with all his might. How dare you act so recklessly and destroy the integrity of an innocent family? The universe is clear and justice is manifest. Don't you fear retribution for such atrocities?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the group of soldiers before him, and sternly declared, "Call your general! I want to know how he governs his army, allowing his men to commit such heinous acts. If you insist on doing this today, how can you withstand the widespread outcry? Aren't you afraid of being cursed for eternity?"
The leading soldier was somewhat bewildered by Cao Pi's barrage of questions, his arrogance dampened somewhat. But he quickly recovered and shouted, "Hmph, stop your boasting! Now that Xu City is in our hands, what else can you do?"
However, Cao Pi remained undaunted and continued his righteous words, "Do you think that just because you've occupied Xudu, you can do whatever you want? There are so many kindhearted and righteous people in the world. How could they tolerate such evil deeds? My father's former subordinates will surely come to our aid, and then you will pay a heavy price for your actions today!"
At this time, the soldiers around heard what Cao Pi said, and they couldn't help but look at each other, feeling a little shaken in their hearts.
At this time, the commander Cao Xing came rushing up from behind. Seeing the tense confrontation, he felt nervous and knew the seriousness of the matter, so he quickly sent someone to report the situation to his superiors.
Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, and dust was flying. Lu Bu and Wang Yun led a group of people and horses to rush over.
Seeing this, Cao Pi did not flinch, but looked directly at Lü Bu and Wang Yun. Wang Yun rode forward, looked at Cao Pi with a haughty expression, and said, "Boy, Xudu is no longer under Cao Cao's control. Why are you putting up this pointless resistance?"
Cao Pi sneered, looked directly at Wang Yun, and said, "I may not know much about politics, but I have heard that true heroes never destroy others' foundations, let alone their families. Now you are allowing your soldiers to plunder my Sikong Mansion. How can this be considered a heroic act? Do you think you can win over the people and secure your position in Xudu by such means?"
Wang Yun frowned slightly, a thought flickering in his eyes. Seeing this, Cao Pi continued, "My father fought his entire life to protect the country and its people, and to safeguard the Han Dynasty. Your actions today will only chill the hearts of the people of Xudu and make you a laughingstock to the world. If you truly aspire to dominate the world, you should demonstrate the demeanor of a king, not attack us women and children."
Wang Yun was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He understood that what Cao Pi said was not entirely unreasonable. If they attacked Cao Cao's family at this time, it would indeed cause many adverse effects, and might even affect the foundation of their rule in Xudu.
Lü Bu, listening to this, grew impatient and shouted, "Humph, why are you nagging this brat? Just take them down!"
Wang Yun raised his hand to stop Lü Bu, then turned to Cao Pi and said, "While there is some truth in what you say, Cao Cao's power is ultimately a threat to us. However, today, in light of your words, I will not touch your families for now. But you must understand that Xudu is no longer what it once was. Do not attempt any further resistance."
Cao Pi bowed and said, "I hope you will keep your word. If you treat the people of Xudu well and refrain from reckless behavior, I believe my father will not easily become your enemy." Lady Ding listened to the conversation between Cao Pi and Wang Yun, feeling somewhat relieved, secretly pleased with Cao Pi's composure. Cao Zhang, on the other hand, gripped his short blade tightly, still keeping a vigilant eye on Lü Bu and the others, his young face filled with determination.
Wang Yun listened to Cao Pi's words, weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided to let them go. He immediately ordered his soldiers to stop looting the families of the remaining Cao soldiers. Mrs. Ding's heart finally settled down, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
For the weathered city of Xudu, such a seismic shift seemed to cause little ripple. The city's veteran officials, having witnessed countless regime changes and power struggles, had long since become numb to the situation. In their eyes, whoever was in charge seemed to be of little consequence. Furthermore, Wang Yun was behind the scenes, diligently cultivating an atmosphere that a new order was about to be established. For their own benefit, these veteran officials were happy to cooperate.
The next morning, the court in Xudu opened as usual. The emperor sat in the hall, his face tinged with excitement. For too long, the emperor had been under Cao Cao's control, like a bird in a cage. Now that Cao Cao's power had been temporarily thwarted in Xudu, he felt as if he had been freed from his constraints, and inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
Under Wang Yun's guidance, the morning court proceeded smoothly. The ministers performed their rituals as if nothing had changed, yet everything seemed brand new. In this delicate state, the atmosphere in Xudu gradually regained its balance and harmony. On the streets, citizens walked as usual, and most shops were open for business. On the surface, the city seemed to have regained its former vitality.
A bitterly cold wind howled past, marking the arrival of December's cold winter and the approach of New Year's Eve. Cao Ang and his men gazed at the falling snowflakes, their hearts aching with anxiety. With no news from Xudu, the safety of their families and the evolving situation weighed heavily on their hearts. They knew time was running out, and every moment of delay could increase the uncertainty in Xudu. So they mobilized their forces and rushed non-stop towards Xiapi.
Xia Pi, a crucial battleground, was now controlled by Lü Bu's trusted general, Wei Xu. Wei Xu was a man of great greed and a love of wine, possessing an insatiable appetite for both gold and fine wine. Upon hearing the news of Lü Bu's resounding victory at Xu Du, he relaxed his guard. He reasoned that Cao Cao, preoccupied with his own affairs, had no energy to care about Xia Pi.
In Xia Pi, Wei Xu reveled in wine and treasures. His tent was filled with rare treasures, and wine jars piled high. He and his generals indulged in revelry, drinking and reveling in pleasure, completely disregarding the city's defenses. Seeing their leader's laxity, the soldiers gradually lost their usual rigor, patrols became lax, and the maintenance of the city's defenses was completely neglected.
Cao Ang's army quietly approached Xia Pi in the snowy wind. Along the way, Cao Ang repeatedly discussed siege strategies with generals Ma Yunlu, Yu Jin, and Le Jin. Scouts continued to bring back news from Xia Pi. Upon learning of Wei Xu's actions, Cao Ang was delighted, believing this was a perfect opportunity.
"This Wei Xu is so greedy for money and loves drinking, and he is also careless. We can take advantage of his weakness." Cao Ang said in the tent, looking at the military map.
Ma Yunlu nodded in agreement and said, "That's right. We can send someone with a large sum of money to sneak into the city and bribe Wei Xu and his cronies. With the help of both inside and outside forces, we will surely be able to capture Xia Pi in one fell swoop."
Yu Jin frowned and said, "Although this plan is good, we must proceed with caution. If it is discovered, it may be dangerous."
Le Jin laughed proudly and said, "What are you afraid of? We can select some smart and capable brothers to handle this matter, and we will definitely succeed. Once the insider is successful, our army will attack the city, and Xia Pi City will be easily captured."
Cao Ang thought for a moment and said, "General Yu is right. We must be cautious in this matter. On the one hand, we should send people to bribe Wei Xu, and on the other hand, we must also be prepared for a strong attack. Even if the internal support fails, we must have enough strength to capture Xia Pi."
After everyone had discussed and decided, they immediately began to act. Cao Ang selected a few alert soldiers, had them carry a large amount of gold and silver treasures, disguised themselves, and sneaked towards Xia Pi City under the cover of night. The main army set up camp not far from Xia Pi City, ready to fight at any moment, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
The disguised soldiers took advantage of the night and crept to the foot of Xia Pi City like ghosts. They looked up and saw that the guards on the city wall were sparse, their necks hunched in the cold wind, and they had obviously lost their usual vigilance.
The leading soldier called out softly to the wall, "Brothers on the wall, could you please help us? We're from Xudu and have something important to discuss with General Wei." The guards on the wall heard the shouting, lazily poked their heads out, and cursed, "What are you yelling about in the middle of the night? We'll talk tomorrow if you have anything to say."
The soldier quickly pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket, waved it, and said, "Brother, this is a small gift. Please let the message go. We have brought something valuable that General Wei has been longing for. If we miss it, General Wei might blame us." The guard's eyes lit up when he saw the silver. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Wait a minute, I'll go and inform him."
Not long after, the guard came back, put down the hanging basket, and said, "The general lets you come up." Several people were secretly happy, and climbed up the city wall along the hanging basket. Under the guidance of the guard, they came to Wei Xu's tent.
Wei Xu, his face flushed with wine, was surrounded by jars of wine. Seeing the men coming in, he asked drunkenly, "Who are you? You said you had something good for me. Where is it?"
The leading soldier hurried forward and said respectfully, "General Wei, we are from Xudu. We are ordered by General Lu to bring you these treasures to reward your contribution to Xia Pi." As he spoke, he signaled his companions to open the package, which was full of gold, silver and jewelry.
Upon seeing all this treasure, Wei Xu sobered up a bit. His eyes lit up, and he eagerly picked up a piece of gold, weighing it in his hands. He laughed and said, "Haha, General Lu is thoughtful. But how's the situation in Xudu?"
The soldiers were well prepared and immediately said, "General Lu has won a great victory in Xudu and now controls the city. However, we have heard that the enemy may attack here. General Lu is worried that you are short of troops, so he has asked us to send you some money and supplies so that you can recruit more soldiers to strengthen the city defenses."
After hearing this, Wei Xu waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Hmph, what can they do to me? However, since General Lu has such intentions, I will defend the city well. You guys will stay with my army and assist me."