Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 165 I'll take a loss, I'll just have Xu Gongming.
Yang Biao, unable to bear Cao Cao's constant tantalization, finally asked directly, "We are trapped in Chang'an and are completely cut off from news. Mengde, why don't you just tell us the truth!"

Cao Cao nodded slightly, no longer keeping him in suspense, and said, "Back then, Lü Bu wanted to take advantage of my eastern expedition to launch a surprise attack on my Yan Province."

Fortunately, Zi'an and my strategists devised a plan to lure the enemy deep into our territory, which thwarted Lü Bu's plot.

At that time, Lü Bu personally led a large army to the walls of Juancheng. It was Zi'an, Zilong, and Dian Wei who joined forces to fight Lü Bu in a duel beneath the city walls and defeated him!

These words shocked everyone and caused an uproar.

"Did he really defeat Lü Bu in a duel?" Everyone was shocked.

Before everyone could recover from their surprise, Cao Cao dropped another bombshell, saying, "Zian not only defeated Lü Bu, but also inflicted a major defeat on Yuan Shu at Puyang."

Even the Battle of Xuzhou was successful because of his strategy of treating the people well.

Upon hearing this, Cao Yan calmed down and thought to himself, "Old Cao must have some ulterior motive for praising me so highly in front of the emperor."

As expected, before the emperor could ask any questions, Cao Cao continued to boast: "Since Zian joined me in raising an army, he has saved me from danger many times. He is resourceful and brave, with flawless strategies. He has never suffered a defeat in leading troops into battle, and his strategies have brought prosperity and flourishing to Yanzhou!"

"Does such a person really exist in this world?" The crowd couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Cao Cao said with a serious expression, "He can bring peace to the world with his pen and conquer the world on horseback. This is Cao Zi'an!"

"Such a great talent is only a prefect of a commandery, which is really a waste of his abilities..." Liu Xie murmured to himself, already shocked by Cao Yan's illustrious military achievements.

Yang Biao had already guessed Cao Cao's intentions and thought to himself, "He wants to ask His Majesty for an official position for his brother..." However, he then thought, "After all, they are his own brothers, so it is not unreasonable for him to ask for an official position. But is this boasting a bit too much?"

Liu Xie, thinking that he would have to rely on Cao Cao in the future, gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao! Appoint Cao Cao as Minister of Works, concurrently General of the Vanguard, and promote him to the title of Marquis of Feiting. Grant him the power to act as an imperial envoy and to establish his own government. He can appoint his own officials and appoint his own subordinates and will not use his name when receiving salutations."

Cao Yan was appointed General of the Rear, enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingyang, and granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor and to establish his own government. His rank was equivalent to the Three Dukes, and he had the power to appoint and dismiss officials within his government.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Cao Cao and Cao Yan bowed to Liu Xie in gratitude.

The official positions have been given; now it's up to you Cao brothers to put on a show.

Cao Yan had been put in a difficult position by Cao Cao and the emperor, and had no choice but to bow and say, "Your Majesty, we will immediately send troops to meet the Xiliang army!"

Cao Yan led his troops out to war, while Cao Cao, along with Dong Cheng and others, led several hundred guards to protect the emperor in the city.

But before leaving, Cao Yan suddenly turned around and asked Liu Xie, "Your Majesty, I wish to find two people to assist me."

Liu Xie blinked and asked curiously, "Whom are you looking for?"

"I wonder if Mr. Xun You, the Master Xun Gongda, and General Xu Huang, the Master Xu Gongming, are in the city?" Cao Yan asked.

Since everyone is hoping for my victory, it shouldn't be too much to ask for two more people, right?
Liu Xie knew Xun You's name, but did not know where he was now.

As for Xu Huang, he seemed to have never heard of that name before...

Yang Biao did know Xun You's whereabouts, but Xun You had already left Chang'an.

He said to Cao Yan, "When Dong Zhuo was killed, Xun Gongda had already resigned from his post and returned to his hometown."

"I see, what a pity." Cao Yan knew Xun You's whereabouts, of course. He asked this question only to give Cao Cao an explanation.

Yang Biao didn't know who Xu Huang was, so he asked the others, "Does anyone know Xu Huang, Xu Gongming?"

"Xu Huang is Yang Feng's subordinate, and has been leading soldiers to protect His Majesty's safety." At this moment, Dong Cheng suddenly spoke up, but he felt a little disdainful, thinking to himself, "Xu Gongming has protected you all this way, and you don't even know his name..."

"But I wonder how General Hou came to know of Xu Huang's name?" Yang Biao asked again.

“I learned from the prisoners that Xu Gongming was a loyal and righteous man,” Cao Yan explained.

"I see." Dong Cheng nodded and said, "I will send someone to find Gongming immediately."

"Thank you very much, General Dong." Cao Yan said with a smile, but secretly he was overjoyed: "Another famous general is mine!"

After Cao Cao, Cao Yan, and Zhao Yun left the main hall, Cao Cao, unable to contain his curiosity, asked Cao Yan, "Leaving aside Xun Gongda for now, Xu Huang must be a rare talent for you to have him on your mind, right?"

Throughout history, Xu Huang followed Cao Cao in his campaigns across the country, making countless contributions to the establishment of the Cao Wei dynasty. His illustrious achievements were well-deserved.

After a moment's thought, Cao Yan succinctly concluded: "Xu Huang has the style of Zhou Yafu."

"Has the style of Zhou Yafu? That's quite a high compliment!" Cao Cao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he said in a low voice.

"Since we've borrowed him this time, let's try not to return him, shall we?" Cao Cao suggested, patting Cao Yan on the shoulder.

Cao Yan looked at Cao Cao with surprise and asked, "Brother, why are you thinking of returning it?"

You want to spit out the meat you've already eaten?
Zhao Yun nodded slightly and said, "This is indeed the style of the Prefect. It seems that the household will soon have another addition to the family."

Cao Yan rolled his eyes at Zhao Yun.

Cao Cao remained silent for a long time before finally bowing to Cao Yan and saying, "I was being presumptuous, brother."

Cao Yan nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight towards the direction of his own army.

Cao Cao, Cao Yan, and Zhao Yun left Luoyang City, where 30,000 troops had been waiting for them for a long time.

Xiahou Lan, Chen Dao, and other generals came before Cao Cao and Cao Yan, and bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, my lord! Greetings, my lord!"

"Excellent! The troops are well-disciplined and their morale is high." Cao Cao nodded in satisfaction and said, "In the next battle, our army will surely be victorious!"

"My lord, who are we fighting this time?" Xiahou Lan asked.

"The Xiliang army!" Cao Cao replied.

"The Xiliang Army?!" Xiahou Lan, Chen Dao, and the others exchanged glances, then their fighting spirit ignited. "Great! More merits are being delivered to our doorstep!"

Cao Cao pointed at Cao Yan and said, "This battle will still be under the sole command of Zi'an. You must cooperate fully!"

"Your humble servant obeys!" the crowd replied in unison.

……

An Yi City lacks defensive supplies. Rather than engaging in close combat with the enemy on the city walls, it would be better to go out and meet the enemy in battle. This way, they can maximize the advantages of their well-organized and highly trained army.

After Cao's army had set up their battle formation below the city, Xu Huang also arrived with a hundred personal guards to report for duty.

The guards led Xu Huang and the others to Cao Yan.

"Greetings, General Hou!" Xu Huang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in salute.

Cao Yan stepped forward to help Xu Huang up, and said with a smile, "Gongming, please rise. From now on, we are family, so there is no need for such formalities."

Xu Huang hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I ask, General, what is General Yang like now...?"

"Yang Feng was defeated and fled; his whereabouts are unknown," Cao Yan reported truthfully.

"Alas..." Xu Huang sighed and said, "This humble general once advised General Yang to serve Cao Cao, but he coveted the power by the emperor's side. Now he has ended up in defeat and fleeing. It is truly his own fault."

"Gongming has foresight and wisdom." Cao Yan said with a smile, "For now, you will serve as my personal guard. After we return to the army, you can form your own troops."

"Your humble servant obeys!" Xu Huang clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

He had no complaints, because he had seen that Cao Cao's army was well-organized and well-trained, and he knew that only generals familiar with them could bring out their greatest fighting power.

The thought of having such an elite retinue in the future filled Xu Huang with excitement.

(End of this chapter)