Chapter 292 The Butcher Ma won this battle

"What?" Chen Dao said in surprise, "Traveling to Liu Biao, that waste? It's not a dead end in the end!"

"That's what happened in the future." Chen Ji said, "At least now, we two brothers can only have a way out if we defect to Liu Biao."

Chen Dao said: "But I think I should still defect to the horse butcher!"

Chen Ji said: "Third brother!?"

Chen Dao said: "Although the butcher Ma has a bad reputation, it is because he once was a Yellow Turban thief and led 800 bandits to attack Luoyang; the butcher Ma is indeed notorious, and his hands are covered with blood, but it is the blood of the Hu people, not the Han people!"

"Ma Butcher Ma is a real general. He killed Hu with one piece of paper and killed all the Huns and Xianbei people who had been suffering from the Han Dynasty's frontier for hundreds of years. The army surrendered to the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions!"

"The former famous Han general Wei Qing and Huo Qubing are just like this."

"It is true that Ma Butcher killed Duan Wei, the prefect of Wudu, and Li Gui, the prefect of Nanyang, on the excuse. But that was because Duan Wei, Li Gui was unrighteous, and Ma Butcher was unkind. If any Guandong warlord was in the position of Ma Butcher, Duan Wei and Li Gui would be in trouble!"

Chen Ji looked at Chen Dao in surprise and said in a deep voice: "Third brother, do you really think so?"

Chen Dao nodded heavily.

"I understand." Chen Ji nodded sadly and said, "Third brother, you can go to join the horse butcher, but the eldest brother can't."

Chen Dao said anxiously: "Why?"

Chen Ji said tragically: "Because my elder brother, like Ma Butcher, was once a warlord who dominated the other side! And you are just a military general, and you are a very brave general. Although Ma Butcher's rule is wide, his generals are extremely scarce. Now it is time to use people, and the third brother will be highly valued at this time."

"If the third brother can achieve success in the future, he will shine on the Chen family's family, and the eldest brother and the ancestors of the Chen family will be able to keep their eyes closed with a smile."

"Brother!" Chen Dao faintly heard Chen Ji's voice and said anxiously, "Brother, what do you mean?"

"It's not interesting." Chen Ji clarified his clothes and said solemnly, "The so-called "no long-term plan for a person must have immediate worries. The second brother has already died in the battlefield. If the eldest brother has another fault, the hope of our Chen family's revival will be all about you, the third brother! Third brother, don't let your eldest brother down."

Chen Dao said: "Brother, you?"

"Don't worry, third brother, brother doesn't want to die so early!" Chen Ji said, "Don't do anything, you and my brothers will go their separate ways tomorrow. Third brother, you go to join the horse butcher, and eldest brother will join Liu Biao. Then you and my brother will meet on the battlefield. Third brother, don't show mercy."

Chen Dao said in a sarcastic manner: "What are you saying? Since the elder brother insists on going to join Liu Biao, I should follow you."

Chen Ji shook his head and said, "No, you and my brothers can't go together!"

"Why?"

"For the sake of the continuation of the Chen family's incense, it is too risky to only bet on Liu Biao!" Chen Ji said coldly, "If the third brother does not follow, you and my brother will be disgraceful from today and will be strangers from now on."

"Brother!"

Chen Dao looked miserable and knelt on the ground.

Chen Ji made up his clothes and turned around and left, ignoring Chen Dao who was kneeling down.

The next day, Cao's army camp.

Cao Cao asked Cao Ren: "Zixiao, are everything ready?"

Cao Ren said: "Don't worry, lord, all the ambushers are ready. If the Liang army dares to pursue them, they will definitely teach them that they will never return."

"Yes." Cao Cao nodded, "I ordered the entire army to have spearmen in front, the baggage is in the middle, the archers and heavy armored infantry are cut off, Zihe led two thousand cavalry to go to the two wings, and be prepared for the attack of the Liang army's iron cavalry at any time. The entire army maintains combat formation and retreats slowly, and do not lose its own position."

"Affect the order."

Cao Ren responded to the promise and took the order and left.

Cao Ren had just left, and a figure flashed outside the tent. Liu Ye had already stepped in and said to Cao Cao: "Lord, just gave me a detailed return. Chen Ji, the prefect of Nanyang, led three thousand Nanyang troops from Wancheng to Xinye early this morning. His brother Chen Dao led two thousand troops to Wancheng and still stationed in Wancheng."

"Also, just now, the Jingzhou army led by Liu Pan and Cai Mao have left Zhuyang and are advancing towards Xinye day and night. The five thousand elite troops led by the pioneer general Huang Zhong are less than fifty miles away from Xinye!"

"oh?"

Cao Cao's face changed and he exchanged glances with Guo Jia, and a trace of haze rose in his eyes.

Guo Jia thought for a moment and said softly: "Chen Ji suddenly led his army to Xinye, and Liu Biao's army also left Zhuyang and went to Xinye at this time. This is definitely not a coincidence! Could it be that... Chen Ji has already tied the line with Liu Biao and wants to betray his lord and surrender to Liu Biao?"

Xun You said with concern: "Nanyang Army headed south and Jingzhou Army headed north. Xinye, the two armies chose to converge, happened to be stuck on the way our army retreated to Yingchuan. Chen Ji and Liu Biao's actions were very suspicious. If they joined forces with Liang Jun, Ma Butcher, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"This is not the case." Cao Cao shook his head, "Liu Biao and Chen Ji are not going to fight against me, but~~ The original minister of Nanyang County can be given to Liu Biao, but Chen Ji's five thousand Nanyang Army's true ministers must be! These are five thousand elite soldiers who can conquer battles, and you must not give up Liu Biao for nothing."

"Report~~" Cao Cao finished speaking, Cao An suddenly stepped into the tent and said quickly, "Uncle, my nephew caught a spy while patrolling outside the tent. His behavior was very suspicious. My nephew did not dare to deal with it without authorization. He lent him to the big tent to ask his uncle to leave it."

"Yes." Cao Cao nodded happily, "Come on."

Cao An turned around and waved his hand and shouted: "Come in!"

Amid the footsteps, two Cao soldiers had already escorted a thin man into the tent. The man looked shining with his eyes. He saw Cao Cao standing in the tent and knelt on the ground and shouted: "Prime Minister, please spare me. The villain is not a spy. Misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding."

"Well." Cao Cao's little eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light and he whispered, "Who are you and why do you know the true nature?"

The man said, "The villain is the housekeeper of the Nanyang Chief Secretary Jin Shang's mansion. He met the prime minister at the prefect Chen's mansion, so you know it."

"Oh, are you Mr. Jin Shang's housekeeper?"

“That’s right.”

"So you came to deliver the letter on the order of Lord Jin Shang?"

"My master is worried that the letter will fall into Chen Ji's hands, so he only ordered the villain to send a message."

"speak."

"Yes." The man gasped and said, "My master ordered the villain to come to the Prime Minister's camp all night to tell the Prime Minister a big event. Nanyang prefect Chen Ji would betray the Prime Minister and surrender to Jingzhou. Liu Biao! Chen Ji led his army south, and Liu Biao sent troops to support him, and the two armies gathered in Xinye."

Cao Cao looked back at Guo Jia and said in a deep voice: "What else did Lord Jin Shang say?"

The man said: "Nanyang is the strategic impetus for the court to defend against horse butchers. We must not let Chen Jihu do anything wrong and present Nanyang to Liu Biao. My master also said that as long as the prime minister sends someone to Chen Ji's army to hold accountable, everything will be arranged by my master at that time. Chen Ji will not escape from the palm of my master."

"Um."

Cao Cao fell into deep thought when he heard this and remained silent.

Xun You took a step closer and said with Cao Cao's ears: "Of the 5,000 remaining Nanyang soldiers under Chen Ji, three thousand were the remaining soldiers brought by Jin Shang from Shouchun. The current signs indicate that Chen Ji and Chen Dao's brothers have turned against each other. The two thousand Nanyang direct descendants led by Chen Dao have controlled Wancheng, but their intentions are unclear. Chen Ji was forced to lead the three thousand Shouchun old troops brought by Jin Shang to Xinye to join Liu Biao."

"Yes." Cao Cao nodded, turned his gaze to Liu Ye, and said in a deep voice, "Zi Yang."

Liu Ye took a step forward, bowed to the end and said loudly: "Here."

Cao Cao said: "You can go to Chen Ji Camp with this gentleman."

"Affect the order."

Liu Ye took the order and left.

Cao Cao said to Guo Jia again: "With the filial piety, I will send someone to Wancheng. On behalf of the original minister, I will order Chen Dao to be the general of the Hu Ben and the commander of the commander of the Dongjun! He must understand that the butcher who betrayed the horse and Liu Biao will not have a good end. Only by being loyal to the original minister and being loyal to the court will he have a bright future!"

Guo Jia bowed and said respectfully: "Receive the order, I will do it now."

Outside Rang County, Liang Army camp.

Jia Xu reached out and lifted the cowhide curtain of Ma Yue's large tent, and walked into the large tent. Ma Yue, who was facing the curtain, turned around and said to Jia Xu: "Wenhe, has the Cao army begun to retreat?"

"The retreat has begun." Jia Xu said, "but the Cao army is very vigilant and the formation is also maintained very rigorous. When the central army in Rang County retreated, the left and right camps remained unmoved and always maintained a high degree of vigilance. I personally think that the retreat of Cao army is completely unscathed and is simply impeccable!"

"Hmph." Ma Yue sneered, "This is also expected. Cao Aman likes to intercept people in his life, so how could he leave a flaw for our army to hunt down?"

Jia Xu said: "Lord, there is something quite strange."

Ma Yue said, "What's the matter?"

Jia Xu said: "I wrote back secret reports from Wancheng. Last night, Nanyang Prefect Chen Ji had a big fight with his brother Chen Dao. This morning, Chen Ji led three thousand troops out of Wancheng to the south and headed straight to Xinye! What is puzzling is that the Jingzhou army, which has been entrenched in Zhuyang, suddenly rushed north last night and rushed to Xinye."

"Oh, what happened?" Ma Yue frowned and thought for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "Is it possible that Chen Ji wanted to rebel against Liu Biao, but Chen Dao refused, so his brother turned against him?"

"It's very likely!" Jia Xu said, "My lord, have you sent someone to Wancheng to contact Chen Dao? Although Chen Dao's Nanyang army was defeated in the Battle of Danshui, this person's military use is still quite commendable, and he can be said to be a rare general. At present, the defeat of Cao's army is inevitable. If Chen Dao is wise enough, he should choose to serve the lord instead of resisting stubbornly and seeking death."

"Yes." Ma Yue nodded, "You can let Ziyan go to Wancheng to try it."

"Abide by the order." Jia Xu said happily, "Xu will go find Zi Yan."

late at night.

On both sides of the official road from Wancheng to Xinye, three thousand Nanyang troops set up camps along the mountains and rivers. Outside the village, the flames were blazing, and the soldiers patrolling were endless. The central army's tent was brighter and there was a bright light. Chen Jizheng was at his desk to read military books.

Amid the light footsteps, a figure outside the tent flashed, and Jin Shang and Liu Ye had already entered together.

"Shi Jin Changshi? Mr. Liu Ye?"

Chen Ji looked up slightly, his expression calm and composed.

Jin Shang looked gloomy and silent, but Liu Ye stepped forward and bowed respectfully, and said loudly: "See Lord Governor."

Chen Ji waved his hand and said calmly: "Forget it."

Liu Ye said: "I have something unknown below. I would like to ask for advice?"

Chen Ji said: "Please speak."

Liu Ye said: "Sir, I am not in Wancheng, why did you lead your army to Xinye Station?"

Chen Ji's eyes suddenly became cold and he responded lightly: "Why did I send troops? It seems that the sir has no right to ask?"

Liu Ye bowed his hand to the south and said solemnly: "Does Prime Minister Cao have no right to ask?"

Chen Ji smiled slightly and suddenly turned to Jin Shang and said, "Shi Jin, there is no need to hide the swords, axes and knives hidden outside the tent, so that they can break the tent and enter."

Jin Shang's face changed drastically and he said in a lost voice: "Mr. Chen?"
To be continued...