Cao Cao is indeed a generation of heroes. Although the 100,000 troops were mobilized by Lu Ning to run around, exhausted and consumed food and supplies, he was also very angry. However, in the face of the overall situation, he could quickly calm his impetuous heart. Once he saw the situation clearly, he could decisively order him to turn back immediately, not everyone could do this, and only heroes like Cao Cao could do it.

After Cao Cao led his army back to Xuchang, he immediately called his senior civil and military officials, Hulao Pass, Shishui Pass, Xingyang City and other guards to the official residence. The whole atmosphere was very depressing and heavy. Old Cao had a serious face and a hidden evil light in his eyes. I guess someone was going to be unlucky, and maybe he would lose his head.

After seeing Lao Cao's expression, no one dared to chew, let alone make any small moves. They were waiting for the storm to come, and some despicable people were waiting to see jokes. This atmosphere was very depressing, and even made people breathless.

Old Cao was cold and frosty, with a cold face, and said in a gloomy voice: "Wang Zhi, Meng Tan, you two talk about how they lost Hulao Pass? Where did the five thousand soldiers in your hands go? How did you organize soldiers to resist the attack of the Big Bear Army?"

When Wang Zhi and Meng Tan heard this, their calves were trembling with fear. They knelt down at Cao Cao in fear, kowtowing constantly, bleeding from their foreheads, and they kowtowed so many times. Cao Cao could only hear in their ears: "What are you wrong? What are you kowtowing, are you going to talk about the situation?"

Wang Zhi, the former chief general of Hulao Pass, stuttered: "Lord, our army has no chance to organize soldiers to resist. That day at the fifth day, the Big Bear Army suddenly rushed into the city. I was still in my dream at that time. Later, the soldiers who escaped said that as early as the Big Bear Army attacked Hulao Pass, Taishici sent hundreds of soldiers of the Brutal Bear Army dressed up as ordinary people and sneaked into the gate. The gate of Hulao Pass was also opened by those spies. Our army had no news or forecast at all, and we were raided."

Meng Tan added: "Lord, we would never have thought that the Big Bear Army would attack Hulao Pass first. There was a 30,000 army of General Xiahou Yuan in front of him. Who knew that the Big Bear Army would attack Hulao Pass directly regardless of the danger of the road to break. Besides, our army has not had any friction with the Big Bear Army, and the two armies have been living in harmony for many years. Who would have thought that the Big Bear would raid on my Hulao Pass? There was no sign of precedence."

After hearing this, Cheng Yu said, "Then have you received the order sent by the lord to send a quick horse?"

After hearing this, Wang Zhi replied: "Mr. Zhongde, what orders did we receive? Before the order was delivered to us, Hulao Pass fell. Besides, we had a trade agreement with Daxiong. The lord made us unable to mess with the merchants in Bingzhou. We dare not care about those spies dressed as Bingzhou merchants. This was the lord's order, and we dared not offend the merchants in Bingzhou."

Meng Tan said: "Lord, Bingzhou merchants have also come in and out of Hulao Pass for so many years. They knew that Big Bear turned against each other when they said they were angry and didn't even inform them. They directly raised the army and came to kill. This is Big Bear's despicable and shameless behavior, and we have difficulties."

Cao Ang said: "What about the five thousand soldiers and horses in your hands?"

Wang Zhi lowered his head and whispered: "Young Master, all five thousand soldiers are finished. We are either captured or beheaded. We both run fast, otherwise we will even lose our lives."

Cao Cao's expression was a little slow. After looking at Wang Zhi and Meng Tan, he said, "Although what you said makes sense, as generals guarding the pass, you have not taken strict precautions. When you lose your troops, you will lose your pass, especially if all five thousand soldiers and horses are destroyed, you will be punished for death, and you will inevitably be punished for life. If you drag on it, each of you will beat thirty batons."

After hearing that Wang Zhi and Meng Tan could save their lives, they immediately kowtowed to Lao Cao and thanked him. Before they finished kowtow, they were dragged down by the Hu Ben guards under Cao Cao's tent and executed. The two were beaten to pieces and shouted non-stop.

Cao Cao said with a gloomy face again: "Qin Qi, how did you lose the Sishui Pass? Where are the five thousand soldiers and horses in your hands now? Could it be that the entire army was captured, right?"

After hearing this, Qin Qi stepped forward and saluted Cao Cao and said, "Lord, when the Big Bear Army came to attack my Sishui Pass, our army was ready and prepared to take various defensive measures. I also tried my best to resist tenaciously, but in the end, the troops were damaged and the pass was lost. I had nothing to say, please punish the lord."

Oh, you made the most tenacious resistance? Lao Cao looked at Qin Qi with his head held high and said lukewarmly: "Then tell everyone about the past? How did you prepare and how did the people in Chengguan be broken?"

Qin Qi said loudly: "Lord, I have not received the order from my lord, but after Hulao Pass was lost, a small number of soldiers fled to Sishui Pass. I learned from the deserters of Hulao Pass that the Big Bear Army had seized Hulao Pass, and the Big Bear Army would definitely continue to advance towards my Sishui Pass. I immediately ordered the closed city gate, only allowed to go out and not allowed to enter, strictly prevent the spies of the Big Bear Army from entering the pass; and sent a large number of explorers to search around. Although I dare not offend them for the Bingzhou merchants in the pass, I also secretly sent troops to monitor the merchants of Bingzhou. Only when they found out that they had any abnormal movements, I would immediately control them. At the same time, I also organized a large number of stones, wooden sticks, tinder oil, bows and arrows to guard the city; I closed five thousand soldiers and immediately entered the state of war."

After hearing this, Cao Cao said, "You did a good job, how could you throw away the Sishui Pass?"

Qin Qi sighed and said with a wry smile: "Lord, the Big Bear Army has gods to help me, so I can beat the Big Bear Army."

After hearing this, Cao Cao said angrily: "Nonsense, how can the gods bless the Big Bear Army? You should explain it to me clearly, otherwise I will make you devilish and confuse the public and cause chaos in the morale of our army. I will use you to behead and show it to the public."

Qin Qi shook her head and said, "Lord, Gao Lan, Han Meng, and only brought seven or eight thousand troops to attack Sishui Pass, their weapons and equipment are too excellent. The bows and arrows in the hands of our soldiers guarding the city have no effect on the Big Bear Army."

Cao Ang asked on behalf of his father: "General Qin Qi, you can say more details, we don't understand."

Qin Qi said: "When the lord, Gao Lan and Han Meng arrived at Sishui Pass, the army did not rest, but immediately entered the siege. They first sent three thousand soldiers of the Rising Bear Army to shoot on our city walls with their crossbow arrows. Their crossbow arrows were too powerful and had a much farther range than our archers. The archers of our army could not shoot at the Big Bear Army soldiers at all, and the soldiers guarding the city on our city walls were indeed baptized by the Rising Bear Army soldiers' crossbow arrows. I lost nearly a thousand soldiers' lives in the first round of shooting."

After hearing this, Xu You asked, "Then what measures have you taken?"

Qin Qi sighed and said, "Our soldiers can't even raise their heads on the city wall. They can only look for female walls to cover and hide in other places. I had no choice but to ask the soldiers to go to the city to find wooden boards, door boards and other things to increase the height of the city wall, and at the same time prevent the Big Bear Army's crossbow arrows. Although wooden boards and door boards and other things to increase the city wall, our soldiers still can't raise their heads. The Big Bear Army's archers are too powerful. As long as our soldiers show their heads, they will be shot and killed immediately."

Xu You said: "General Qin, you should do well, but it is really useless for the crossbow archers, wooden boards, door panels and other things of the Big Bear Army, and the soldiers really can't raise their heads. Yuan Benchu ​​also adopted this method back then, but in the end he could not resist the Big Bear Army's attack."
Chapter completed!