My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

"Whoosh~~"

An arrow pierced the air, knocking one of his personal guards to the ground.

Blood splattered all over Cao Tai's face.

"Retreat! Retreat to Luoyang! The entire army retreats to Luoyang!"

Cao Tai's composure crumbled instantly. He cried out in panic, turned his horse around, and fled.

With their commander fleeing, the morale of the more than a thousand Wei soldiers collapsed, and they scattered like ants fleeing a broken nest.

Guan Xing, wielding a Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), led his Mo Dao army in a fierce battle, cutting deep into the heart of Mengjin.

Hundreds of warships on the river rushed into the ferry one after another, and tens of thousands of Chu soldiers swarmed ashore.

One after another, flags bearing the character "Chu" rose above Mengjin Ferry...

Ahead, Cao Tai, like a frightened bird, was still fleeing frantically with his head down.

Luoyang City is only a dozen or so miles away from Mengjin Ferry. Cao Pi, Hao Zhao, and more than 5,000 garrison troops are stationed in the city.

As long as he escapes back to Luoyang, he can save his life and then send someone on horseback to his father Cao Ren in Xingyang to warn him.

Cao Tai pondered this in his heart, and only when he looked back and saw that the Chu army was not chasing after him did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Strange, why would the Chu army appear at Mengjin? It's truly unbelievable..."

Just as he was muttering to himself, a deafening sound of the sky collapsing and the earth splitting apart occurred diagonally in his direction.

Cao Tai looked back and gasped.

A troop of Chu cavalry, moving with lightning speed, ambushed and attacked from the side.

The leading general was none other than Zhang Liao.

How could Xiao He possibly allow the ferry guards to escape back and warn Luoyang?

He needed to delay the Wei army's realization as much as possible so that he could calmly deploy his troops.

Therefore, when the main force landed at Mengjin, Zhang Liao's cavalry had already landed downstream ahead of time and intercepted and scattered the enemy army south of Mengjin.

"Follow me, and kill the traitors!"

Zhang Liao let out a fierce roar and charged into the fleeing soldiers.

With a swift stroke of the sword, the Wei soldiers were cut down like weeds.

The Tiger Cavalry swept past behind them, instantly scattering hundreds of fleeing soldiers.

"Zhang... Liao?"

Cao Tai recognized Zhang Liao for a moment and was so startled that he almost slipped off his riding whip.

As a former official of the Cao family, how could Cao Tai not know how powerful Zhang Liao was?

With his limited abilities, it was uncertain whether he could even withstand a single blow from Zhang Liao's blade.

"Damn it, I actually ran into this traitor!"

Cao Tai could only lament his misfortune inwardly, desperately whipping his warhorse in an attempt to escape.

It's too late.

Zhang Liao had already located him amidst the chaos of battle.

The eldest son of the General of Chariots and Cavalry of Wei...this is a fat fish!
It's a credit delivered right to our doorstep.

How could you miss it!

Zhang Liao was greatly encouraged and shouted:
"Cao Tai, you scoundrel, where do you think you're going!"

One man on horseback, treading a blood-soaked path, charged straight at Cao Tai.

Cao Tai dared not fight, and could only order his personal guards to step forward and block Zhang Liao.

Although the dozen or so guards were filled with fear, they dared not disobey and had no choice but to muster their courage and rush towards Zhang Liao.

They're just chickens and dogs, nothing more than offering themselves up for execution.

Zhang Liao, his warhorse unstoppable, brandished his long sword wildly, instantly cutting down all the guards who tried to block his way.

next moment.

Zhang Liao, bursting through the blood mist, stood like a black iron tower, blocking Cao Tai's path.

The blood-red blade in his hand flashed like lightning, slashing diagonally towards him.

Cao Tai's eyes widened, and with nowhere to dodge, he could only grit his teeth and raise his sword to defend himself.

Unfortunately, he was too weak.

Before the sword was even drawn, Zhang Liao's blade was already upon them.

"Crack!"

Cao Tai's wrist was severed with a snap.

A pig-like scream rang out, and the second-generation scion of the Cao family clutched his severed wrist and collapsed from his horse.

Cao Tai, who had just landed, was in excruciating pain and rolled around on the ground.

"Cao Zixiao is also a master of martial arts, but I never expected him to have such a useless son. He is truly a tiger father and a dog son."

Zhang Liao scoffed and ordered his men to tie up Cao Tai and hand him over to Xiao He for punishment.

The elite troops dismounted and rushed forward, binding Cao Tai tightly.

"Zhang Liao, you traitor, how dare you hurt me like this!!"

"My father will not let you get away with this, he will not let you get away with this!"

Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, this pampered second-generation member of the Cao family lost his temper and began to hurl insults at Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao frowned and swung his long sword backhand.

"boom!"

The blade slammed heavily into Cao Tai's face.

Another scream sounded.

Cao Taiya had several teeth smashed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The world spun before his eyes, and he almost passed out.

With that slash, Cao Tai fainted on the spot, unable to utter another word.

Zhang Liao then took the large fish and the heads of several hundred Wei soldiers and led his army back to Mengjin Ferry.

At this time, all five hundred-plus warships at Mengjin Ferry had landed.

More than 50,000 Chu troops have basically all landed and are already cleaning up the battlefield.

Under the protection of Guan Yinping and his personal guards, Xiao He disembarked from the flagship and landed on the south bank. "Reporting to my brother-in-law... Grand Commandant, our army has captured Mengjin Ferry and annihilated the defending troops on the ferry."

"Grand Commandant, you are truly a master strategist! The Wei army was indeed completely unprepared. Your plan has succeeded!"

Guan Xing, the brother-in-law, came excitedly to report his success.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Liao also rode back and dismounted.

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, Liao has annihilated the remaining troops who fled south and captured Cao Ren's son, Cao Tai, alive. Please, Grand Commandant, decide on his fate!"

Zhang Liao reported his military achievements and waved to someone behind him.

The soldiers dragged Cao Tai forward and forced him to kneel before Xiao He.

Xiao He glanced down and saw that Cao Tai had lost an arm, half of his face was mangled, and several of his teeth were broken; he was a pitiful sight.

"Cao Tai, Cao Ren's son, right? I remember you were one of the Wei generals who dug the Ji River back then, right?"

Xiao He looked down at the mutilated body, a chill creeping into his eyes.

Cao Tai's pain had subsided, and he was now somewhat lucid. He knelt before Xiao He, feeling both ashamed and fearful.

He felt ashamed and indignant that, as the son of General Cao Ren and a member of the Cao family, he was now a prisoner, kneeling humiliatingly before Xiao He.

Fear stemmed from his anxiety, wondering how Xiao He would deal with him.

Faced with Xiao He's questioning, he lowered his head and stammered, not daring to respond.

If they remain silent, it's taken as a tacit agreement.

Xiao He waved his hand and said sternly:

"Drag this traitor away and execute him. Send his head to Luoyang to intimidate the enemy!"

Cao Tai was shocked and his knees buckled, causing him to collapse to his knees on the ground.

He originally thought that, given his status as Cao Ren's son, and since he had already been captured, the enemy would surely regard him as a valuable commodity and spare his life.

Unexpectedly, Xiao He in front of him was so ruthless and decisive that he actually wanted to kill him directly.

"Grand Commandant Xiao, please have mercy! I am willing to surrender to the Great Chu! I am willing to follow the example of my elder brother, Cao Zhi, and submit to the Great Chu!"

Cao Tai's spirit collapsed instantly, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Xiao He remained unmoved, merely waving his hand indifferently.

If Cao Tai had surrendered before Cao Cao dug up the Ji River and flooded hundreds of thousands of people in Yanzhou, Xiao He would have shown mercy and sent him to Liu Bei for disposal.

But it's different now.

Cao Cao's heinous act of digging up the Ji River had thoroughly enraged Liu Bei.

Before this Northern Expedition, Liu Bei had issued an edict that any members of the Cao and Xiahou clans who were defeated, captured, or surrendered should not be accepted, but should all be killed.

Moreover, according to intelligence, Cao Tai also led troops to participate in the digging of the Ji River.

How can I not kill him!

Guan Yinping waved her hand, and her personal guards rushed forward and dragged Cao Tai away.

"Grand Commandant Xiao, please have mercy! I was only acting under orders. I have always been on good terms with Brother Zijian. Please, for Brother Zijian's sake, spare my life!"

In his terror, Cao Tai completely revealed his cowardly nature as a spoiled brat, crying and begging for mercy.

The guards showed no mercy, dragging him to the shore and beheading him.

The pleading stopped abruptly.

Cao Ren's son was beheaded.

Xiao He then ordered several prisoners to take Cao Tai's head back to Luoyang, giving Cao Pi, Hao Zhao, and the Luoyang garrison a small shock.

"Grand Commandant Xiao, our 50,000 troops have now landed in Henan Province. Please give us your orders on how to proceed!"

Zhang Liao readily volunteered.

Gan Ning, Ding Feng, Guan Xing, and other generals were all eager to fight and their killing intent was not yet exhausted.

"Zhang Wenyuan, listen to my command. I order you to immediately lead 7,000 infantry and cavalry eastward day and night to Hulao Pass. You must take Hulao Pass before Cao Ren's reinforcements arrive and block the passage east of Luoyang."

"Gan Xingba, listen to my command. I order you to lead 7,000 elite troops westward and strike directly at Hangu Pass. You must seize the pass within a day and cut off the Wei army's advance into Luoyang from Guanzhong."

"Ding Chengyuan, I hereby order you to lead 5,000 naval troops to guard Mengjin Ferry, patrol the Yellow River, and ensure the safety of our army's rear."

"Send another messenger to Dagu Pass to report the victory to the King, saying that we have successfully landed at Mengjin and will immediately besiege Luoyang. Please lead your army to launch a fierce attack on the three passes!"

"Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Guanqiu Jian, you shall each lead the main force and follow me to besiege Luoyang."

Xiao He issued several orders in succession.

All the generals readily accepted the order.

Therefore, Generals Zhang Liao and Gan Ning led their troops separately, one heading west and the other east, heading straight for Hangu Pass and Hulao Pass.

Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, and others led more than 30,000 main forces to set off from Mengjin and head towards Luoyang City, which was ten miles away.

Xiao He also mounted his horse, ready to set off.

As dawn broke and the sun rose in the east, both banks of the Yellow River were clearly visible.

As Xiao He looked back at the army, his gaze inadvertently drifted to the opposite bank.

Suddenly, he thought of something, reined in his horse, and stared thoughtfully at the north bank.

"There are no major Wei troops in Hanoi County on the other side. Husband, do you intend to take advantage of this situation to send troops across the river and take Hanoi County as well?"

Guan Yinping guessed this as she watched her husband staring intently at the opposite bank.

Xiao He withdrew his thoughts and smiled:
"Our current task is to concentrate our forces and recapture Luoyang."

"Although the Wei army in Hanoi Commandery is small, it is currently like a chicken rib, and there is no need to waste troops to attack it. Even if we take it, we may not be able to hold it."

Guan Yinping said "Oh," but asked, puzzled:

"Then why are you staring at the opposite bank like that, my husband?"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao He's eyes, and he gave a cold laugh:
"Although Hanoi is a bit of a chore, it's still quite tasty. Even if it's not worth making a big fuss about, it's still necessary to send a small team there."

Guan Yinping was stunned, her expression blank, completely unable to understand what her husband meant.

"Deng Ai!"

Xiao He's cold laugh vanished, and he suddenly shouted.

Deng Ai was taken aback, and quickly spurred his horse forward.

Xiao He's eyes flashed with killing intent as he pointed towards the north bank and shouted:

"The ancestral home of the Sima clan is in Wen County, Henan. I order you to lead eight hundred light cavalry across the river and launch a surprise attack on Wen County, wiping out the entire Sima clan!" (End of Chapter)