With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 212 is a trap.

"How many men in black are there?" Man Chong asked hurriedly.

"There aren't many people, only about 20 or 10 in each team, totaling about 300 or 400. But these people are very cunning. They act decisively and never linger in battle. Once a battle is over, they immediately move on to the next location," a guard who barely escaped replied, still shaken.

"Only a few hundred people?"

Once Man Chong calmed down a bit, he quickly called Zhang Cheng and Hou Lei over and instructed them, "Each of you lead five hundred elite soldiers to deal with those men in black. Once you encounter them, show no mercy!"

Man Chong was decisive in his actions. He had to quickly suppress the matter and then find out who was involved and settle accounts with them one by one.

It now appears that the fire in the city was not serious; they set it simply to distract themselves.

Man Chong was quite confident in dealing with several hundred men in black.

"Here!"

Zhang Cheng and Hou Lei both accepted the order in unison. Both were captains in the army and were very decisive in their execution.

Xiahou Lan watched from the side, feeling somewhat puzzled; the situation tonight was just too sudden.

Xiahou Lan suddenly remembered something. The night before the emperor set off for Guandu, Zhao Yun had met with him alone and asked him, "If one day a mutiny breaks out in Xuchang, what will you do?"

Without saying a word, Xiahou Lan patted his chest and replied with great enthusiasm, "As a soldier, it is only natural for me to quell the rebellion and kill the traitors."

Zhao Yun said with a smile, "Then you'd better not kill the wrong person."

Zhao Yun didn't offer any further explanation. At that moment, a mutiny indeed broke out in Xuchang, which immediately reminded Xiahou Lan of Zhao Yun's words.

"What exactly did Zilong mean by that?" Xiahou Lan wondered to herself.

"If there's unrest in the city, how could we possibly kill the wrong person?"

Just then, someone else ran in to report, "Those thieves have been shouting the same slogan all night, they said..."

Looking at the cold and murderous Man Chong, the soldier who delivered the message hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Man Chong had also lost his patience and hurriedly asked, "What did they say? Report to me the truth."

"They said...they said...Man Chong rebelled, and we were ordered to kill the traitor." The soldier dared not look Man Chong in the eye and replied hesitantly.

Man Chong was furious. "Outrageous! They've falsely accused me of rebellion! Wait, what did you say? They said they were ordered to kill traitors?"

"Yes, they're shouting it everywhere, and a lot of people have heard it."

Man Chong suddenly grasped a crucial piece of information: these people were either arranged by the emperor or were those who supported the emperor deliberately creating chaos under the guise of slogans.

Man Chong gritted his teeth in anger. Just then, another person ran up and said, "Magistrate, a servant from the Imperial Uncle's family requests an audience."

"Bring people here."

Man Chong felt that a lowly servant would not come to see him for no reason.

A moment later, Qin Qingtong cautiously arrived at the city wall and met Man Chong.

"Greetings, Magistrate."

"Who are you?"

"Reporting to the magistrate, I am the Imperial Brother-in-law... a servant in his household. My name is Qin Qingtong."

Although Man Chong's official position was only that of a county magistrate, he was the county magistrate of Xudu, which was quite extraordinary.

In terms of importance, Man Chong was no less than those regional governors who were sent to remote areas.

Man Chong scrutinized Qin Qingtong with a critical eye. Qin Qingtong had fair skin and a good appearance, and seemed to have the potential to be a kept man.

But Man Chong noticed that his gaze was shifty and his face was cunning. Man Chong had no liking for such a person at all.

Besides, there's a mutiny in Xudu tonight, and many things are waiting for Man Chong to handle; he doesn't have time to waste.

However, based on Manchong's many years of experience in managing the North Temple Prison, it was precisely these kinds of scoundrels who could often provide valuable intelligence, so Manchong still held onto some hope.

He believed that Qin Qingtong would not disappoint him; otherwise, she wouldn't have come to see him in the middle of the night.

Man Chong asked, "What brings you here?"

"Reporting to the magistrate, I secretly ran away from the Imperial Uncle's residence. I overheard the Imperial Uncle and others plotting a coup in Xuchang tonight..."

Who were involved in the conspiracy?

"There are Changshui Colonel Zhong Ji, Consultant Wu Shuo..." Following Jia Xu's instructions, Qin Qingtong revealed the names of Dong Cheng and others.

In any case, whether Dong Cheng and his group are exposed or not, it won't affect the overall situation. In tonight's plan, they are just participants, nothing more.

For these people who have been feeling stifled for years, Liu Xie is simply trying to make Dong Cheng and his group feel relevant tonight.

Qin Qingtong shook his head and said, "It's not just them, there's another person. This person was the one who planned and directed all of this behind the scenes."

"There's another person? Are you talking about His Majesty?" Man Chong asked, his eyes wide.

Faced with such a momentous matter, Man Chong, like Xun Yu, inevitably thought of the emperor.

Qin Qingtong shook his head. "It's not His Majesty, it's someone else. They just said that person is in a secret room and never shows himself."

Man Chong asked in surprise, "What? You mean someone is directing all of this from behind the scenes, and that person is hiding in an underground chamber?"

Just then, someone else ran over, about to report, but Man Chong stopped him by waving his hand.

Qin Qingtong nodded vigorously, saying, "That's right, I heard it all. The Imperial Uncle and the others are all under that person's command. That person is in charge of all matters in Xuchang on behalf of His Majesty."

Man Chong took two steps to Qin Qingtong, grabbed his clothes and pressed him for an answer: "Where is that person now? Where exactly is the secret room? Tell me quickly."

"I overheard that the person is in an underground secret room on East Street in Xudu. There is a secret passage below that room, which allows the Imperial Uncle and his entourage to contact the person at any time."

However, Man Chong still had some questions about Qin Qingtong, so he asked, "Since you are the Imperial Uncle's servant, why did you betray him? Why did you sell out your master?"

Qin Qingtong hurriedly replied, "To be honest, Magistrate, I have been having an affair with the Imperial Uncle's concubine for many days. However, tonight the Imperial Uncle discovered it, arrested me, gave me a severe beating, and tied me up with ropes. I barely managed to escape when no one was looking..."

Qin Qingtong told Man Chong everything he had done, and finally begged Man Chong to speak well of him to Cao Cao and grant Yunying to him.

This whole set of arguments was something Jia Xu had instructed him to do beforehand.

Since Qin Qingtong is a truly despicable person, he must have some ulterior motive to send this message. He harbors resentment towards the emperor's brother-in-law and wants to stay with Yunying forever, which would make him more likely to gain Man Chong's trust.

Man Chong glared at Qin Qingtong with disgust, but in his heart he already believed it.

Man Chong has seen too many petty people. They are greedy for life and afraid of death, and they only care about profit. They are all like this.

Man Chong said sternly, "Take me there immediately. If you can help me find the mastermind in the secret room, I will ask Cao Cao for credit on your behalf."

There was no time to lose; Man Chong had to go and confirm it immediately. He had too many mysteries to unravel.

What exactly is the secret room like? Who is hiding inside, secretly directing everything?

People kept running to report, but Man Chong didn't have time to pay attention. He immediately instructed Xiahou Lan to guard the city gate well, and then left with a group of men.

Because Man Chong had already determined that there were only a few hundred people causing trouble in the city, he did not bring many soldiers, only five hundred men.

Man Chong instinctively focused his attention on guarding the city gate.

As long as we hold the city gates, we don't need to worry too much, no matter how chaotic things are inside the city or how new enemies appear outside.

As for Dong Cheng and his ilk, Man Chong sent two more captains to surround and capture them.

Man Chong has already dispatched four captains, each leading five hundred soldiers, some to deal with the men in black, and others to capture Dong Cheng and his men.

People in the city shouted repeatedly, "Man Chong has rebelled, and we have been ordered to kill the traitor!" Man Chong was furious when he heard this.

He was clearly helping Xiahou Dun defend the city, but he was accused of causing trouble. Anyone would feel upset in that situation.

These people were shouting and yelling everywhere, disturbing the sleeping residents of the city. If they were not suppressed in time, everyone would really think that Man Chong had rebelled.

This is absolutely intolerable to Manchong.

Qin Qingtong led the way, and the group quickly made their way to their destination. As for the fires and fighting in other places, Man Chong could only leave that to others for the time being, as he had to find out who was behind it all.

Qin Qingtong led them to a secluded courtyard on East Street and pointed ahead, saying, "This is it."

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and the steps in front of it were covered with dust and fallen leaves.

Man Chong looked closely and saw that it was an abandoned courtyard. The copper lock on the door was rusted, and there were many mottled cracks on the wooden door.

The more this was the case, the more suspicious Man Chong became.

Since someone is hiding in the shadows and controlling everything, they must find a particularly secluded place that is not easily noticed.

A secluded courtyard is perfect for being both easy to spot and convenient to communicate with others.

As for the rust on the copper lock on the door, it is obvious that someone entered and exited this place not through the main entrance, because there is an underground passage.

Man Chong ordered his men to forcibly open the courtyard gate, and then had Qin Qingtong walk in first before he and his men followed him in.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the night wind howled through it. Many of the old houses made a groaning sound, which sounded rather eerie and terrifying.

Where is the secret room?

Qin Qingtong shook his head. "I heard the Imperial Uncle say that the secret room is in the front hall of this courtyard, but I don't know its exact location."

Man Chong had no choice but to send people to search. He stared at Qin Qingtong for a few more moments, and after thinking about it carefully, he realized it wasn't surprising. It was already quite remarkable that a servant could hear so much important information; it was impossible for him to know everything.

Suddenly, a shout came from the front hall: "Found them!"

Someone discovered a hidden door behind a screen.

Man Chong hurriedly entered the front hall, and sure enough, the hidden door had already been opened. Man Chong instructed, "Wang Dang, take some men in and take a look."

Wang Dang led a few people cautiously into the secret room, while Man Chong waited anxiously outside.

Suddenly, chaos erupted in the courtyard, followed by screams and cries of terror: "There are people up there! There are people on the roof!"

Man Chong hurriedly walked out of the front hall and came to the eaves. Before he even reached the courtyard, he noticed that many people had appeared on the rooftops on the east and west sides.

These people were all carrying crossbows. As soon as they appeared, they decisively fired their arrows without any unnecessary words.

"Oh no, there's an ambush!" Man Chong exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.

The guards in the courtyard ran around like headless flies, frantically searching for a place to hide.

Some people ran towards the eaves, while others rushed into the side rooms on either side.

Whoever stays in the yard becomes a target.

The crossbow bolts were merciless, raining down like hailstones, whistling and swooping as they fell rapidly from the heights, killing one guard after another.

The power of crossbow bolts far surpasses that of bows and arrows; many people were shot through the neck, their powerful penetrating force even carrying them several steps.

The crowd screamed in terror, and people fell to the ground, their bodies convulsing in pain.

Arrows pierced the body, creating bursts of bloody mist. The shrill screams quickly spread throughout the courtyard, shaking the hearts of everyone present.

In just a short time, dozens of people brought by Man Chong were killed or injured, and the number of casualties was still increasing rapidly.

"Ah...ah!"

Suddenly, a shrill scream rang out from the room behind him. Man Chong hurriedly turned around. The sound came from the secret room, and Man Chong also heard the sounds of fighting coming from inside.

The clash of swords was brief and rapid.

Man Chong stood there, not daring to enter the room. After a while, some people appeared in the secret room, but Man Chong could tell at a glance that these were definitely not the people he had brought.

These men, armed with swords and knives, were burly and their weapons splattered with blood. They were expressionless as they opened fire on the guards remaining in the house.

A guard rushed out of the house in a panic, and a moment later, the door was slammed shut.

Screams echoed throughout the room, and the doors and windows were quickly stained red with splattered blood.

Besides the main hall, the scene in the left and right wing rooms was exactly the same, with sounds of fierce fighting also emanating from them.

Man Chong's heart sank. There were ambushes everywhere, on the rooftops and inside the houses.

Man Chong had only focused on finding the secret room, but he didn't expect that it was already a trap.

Despite the ongoing rain of arrows in the courtyard, Man Chong had no choice but to shout decisively, "Charge out immediately and leave this place at once!"

As for Qin Qingtong, who had led the way, he had already hidden himself in the chaos. Man Chong didn't bother with him; he had to leave with his men as soon as possible.

Man Chong managed to gather only two hundred men; he had come with five hundred, but after being ambushed, he suffered heavy casualties.

These two hundred men braved a hail of arrows and charged all the way to the main gate, where another forty or fifty were shot dead.

The power of the crossbow bolts was terrifying; their powerful penetrating force and the sound alone sent chills down one's spine. Man Chong's heart sank completely.

The people who ambushed them must have been highly trained elites; they had a clear division of labor and acted decisively.

With arrows shot from the rooftops and attacks from below, in less than a quarter of an hour, more than half of Man Chong's men were killed or wounded.

(End of this chapter)