Three Kingdoms: Madam, I am a decent person

Chapter 727 Cao Cao's Panic and Man Chong
Meanwhile, Cao Cao, accompanied by Xu Chu, rushed back to the Sikong Mansion.

Not long after he arrived, Man Chong, the magistrate of Xudu and commander of the Imperial Academy, also arrived.

Cao Cao said urgently, "Bo Ning, keep a close eye on the court lately."

"Don't alert the enemy."

“Members of the school affairs office were dispatched throughout Xuanquan to inspect all correspondence.”

“Any official’s or anyone’s letter must be intercepted, sent to me, inspected, and then returned.”

"During this period, no one else may know about it."

Man Chong looked at Cao Cao with suspicion.

This is a major operation.

This is something I've never done before.

Man Chong asked in confusion, "My lord, what has happened? Why are all officials being investigated?"

"If this were to be discovered by officials and their descendants in the future, the consequences would be unimaginable. Your reputation would be completely ruined, my lord."

Cao Cao plopped down and covered his face with his hands.

He didn't want to either.

Really.

However, since moving to Xudu, this is the first time he has felt terrified.

Just now at the Ministry of Personnel, when Kong Rong was criticizing him, not a single other official stood up to support him.

Even Xun You and Cheng Yu didn't have it!
Kong Rong's words made him even more terrified.

He had a feeling that the situation was about to get out of control.

But thinking about it, it's not surprising.

Five hundred thousand troops!
A total of 500,000 troops were mobilized at once!

It was that kid personally in charge.

That kid isn't Yuan Shao; he wouldn't look down on people.

Even at Hangu Pass, that kid had him completely under his thumb. In the past few years, that kid had guarded against him like a thief.

Over the past few years, whenever he confronted that kid, he always ended up getting the short end of the stick.

That kid is not only cautious himself, but he also has countless capable ministers under his command.

People like Ju Shou, Tian Feng, Chen Gong, Xin Pi, and Xun Chen.

Of Yuan Shao's military generals, apart from a few who died, such as Wen Chou who committed suicide, the rest were still alive.

Moreover, that kid dispatched five cavalry units this time!
Among these five cavalry units were two heavy cavalry units: Gao Shun's Trapped Camp and Xu Rong's Flying Bear Army.

Cao Cao was trembling slightly.

Although he spoke righteously and eloquently at the Ministry of Personnel just now.

However, he knew better than anyone that this time the other party was serious.

I had clearly prepared for more than two years.

It is clear that the connection between Sili and Liangzhou has been established.

With the assistance of the warlords of Guanzhong, Mingming trained the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and possessed nearly 20,000 Guanzhong cavalry.

But why do I feel so uneasy in the face of the military strength that kid announced?

After covering his face for a while, Cao Cao finally raised his head and looked at Man Chong with bloodshot eyes, saying, "My good son-in-law is going to raise an army of 500,000 to attack."

"Among them were five cavalry units, totaling nearly ten thousand men."

"The number of soldiers in battle reached as many as 100,000."

"The Ministry of Personnel is already bustling with noise."

“Those people are already showing signs of slipping out of control.”

"It is I who am supporting them."

“These past few years, it was clearly me, Cao Cao, who supported them.”

"They are clearly my most capable subordinates."

“Now, faced with a simple number from my good son-in-law, these people are showing signs of betraying me.”

Cao Cao suddenly stood up and roared angrily, "How can a person be so shameless!"

"How could you be so ungrateful!"

"Without me, Cao Cao, they would be nowhere to be found right now!"

"Without me, Cao Cao, who knows how many people would have claimed the title of king or emperor by now?"

"Now that we are facing an enemy attack, we clearly have such great strength, yet they are thinking of betraying us!" Man Chong looked at Cao Cao as if he had gone mad, his eyes wide with disbelief.

An army of 500,000?
These 500,000 troops, just standing there, were enough to make people feel suffocated with despair!

Has Hebei become this powerful?
The intelligence we've gathered in the last two years is completely inaccurate!
Although I had considered the strength of Hebei, I never imagined it would be this strong!
However, Man Chong quickly came to her senses.

Others might panic, but he wouldn't.

He is the magistrate of Xudu, the commander of the Imperial Academy, and controls the safety of Xudu.

If he panics, this place will immediately turn into hell.

Assassinations and defections are everywhere.

As a general whom Cao Cao had promoted step by step, his only thought for Cao Cao was: to follow him to the death.

Taking a deep breath to suppress her inner turmoil, Man Chong said, "My lord, this is not the end."

"Emperor Gaozu was demoted to Bashu, but he defeated Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, which led to the glorious 400-year reign of the Han Dynasty."

"The ancestors of the Qin state were herders of horses for the Zhou emperor, but they eventually rose to the top."

"Not to mention, our strength is far greater than that of Emperor Gaozu and the ancestors of the Qin state at that time."

"In the past two years, my lord, you have also made many achievements, and our strength has greatly increased."

"If war is only about surface-level numbers, then what is the point of fighting for the world?"

"Just show the numbers."

"Also, my lord, it was not that I meant to praise you."

"Has my lord forgotten the Battle of Kuangting, where my lord's mere tens of thousands of troops chased Yuan Shu's 600,000-strong army for sixty li?"

"My lord, I'd like to make a bet."

Pointing to his neck, Man Chong laughed and said, "I bet that in this great battle, my lord will win a great victory, then sweep across the land and become king."

"I'll use my life."

"If I win, I want the position of prefect, or any prefect position."

"If I lose, I will offer up this head."

Man Chong raised an eyebrow and said, "My lord, as you know, I love gambling, and I often win big."

"My lord, do you dare to gamble with me?"

"The position of a prefect is not a big deal for our lord."

"My lord, please don't be stingy."

Cao Cao gradually calmed down.

Looking at Man Chong, Cao Cao's expression softened considerably.

After a long silence, Cao Cao said in a hoarse voice, "Bo Ning, from the first moment I saw you, I knew that you were a person of great potential."

"I've watched you climb to your current position step by step."

"I, Cao Cao, have always believed in the principle of 'I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.'"

"This time, I'm willing to take a gamble on you."

"If we can overcome this difficulty, Bo Ning, you will be appointed Governor of Yu Province."

Man Chong and Cao Cao looked at each other, but neither of them spoke.

After a long while, Man Chong knelt down on one knee and said, "Thank you, my lord!"

Cao Cao helped Man Chong to his feet and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your help during this time."

"I need to prepare for the uprising and I don't have time to spare."

Man Chong nodded emphatically, then turned and left.

Cao Cao stood there, staring blankly at Man Chong's departing figure.

For some reason, he saw a hint of loneliness and dejection in Man Chong's back.

This Man Chong, whom I promoted to the position of Xudu Magistrate, is known for his bloodthirstiness and ruthlessness.

Why could I see these things from his back?
Cao Cao shook his head, forcing himself not to think about these things.

At this critical moment, mobilizing a large army to prepare for battle is the real priority.

Fortunately, he had just returned from his campaign against Ma Chao, and his 70,000-strong army was still stationed in Xuchang.

Next, we need to mobilize the troops, arrange for the soldiers to go to war, and arrange for the transportation of supplies.

Then head straight north to confront that kid.

(End of this chapter)