I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 326 Cao Cao's Choice

Xuchang.

In the north of the city, there are countless towering palaces and pavilions.

If these pavilions were in Chang'an or Luoyang, no one would find them to be in the slightest way wrong.

But when they were placed here, both the people in the city and the true masters of the city felt a great sense of incongruity when they looked at them.

These imperial palaces should not be here.

Just like that emperor, who shouldn't have appeared in Xuchang.

After his routine inspection of the city walls, Cao Cao did not immediately go to his residence. Instead, he stood on the city walls of Xuchang, quietly looking at the palaces to the north.

Cao Cao’s eldest son, Cao Ang, stepped forward and draped a crimson cloak over his father’s shoulders, saying, “Father, be careful not to catch a cold.”

Cao Cao felt the fur of the cloak wrap around his neck, and the soft touch made his mind wander. His gaze towards the palaces to the north gradually became confused.

"Zixiu, have you heard what the officials and nobles in the city have been saying these days?"

"I have never heard of it."

"They say I resemble Dong Zhuo."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang immediately flew into a rage, gripping the sword at his waist: "Who dares to slander my father? Please tell me, and I will capture them immediately!"

Cao Cao smiled calmly and waved his hand dismissively.

“In this city of Xuchang, you can control many things, but you can’t control what people say.”

"No one will remember that if it weren't for Dong Zhuo, the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu would have led their troops to attack the palace, forcing the Ten Attendants to take the emperor out of the palace."

"No one will remember that if it weren't for me, the emperor and his officials would probably have perished in Luoyang long ago, and there probably wouldn't even be any skeletons left."

Cao Cao gazed northward and asked, "Tell me, do the people inside truly desire peace and tranquility, or do they merely crave power and profit?"

Cao Ang dared not answer easily, and after careful consideration, he replied: "Those who have a righteous heart naturally want peace in the world; those who have wicked hearts naturally want to seize power and profit!"

Cao Cao did not respond to Cao Ang, but kept looking at the towering palace.

"The greater good..."

After a long silence, Cao Cao finally uttered those two words with a sigh.

"But who possesses the greater good? The emperor?"

Cao Ang remained silent, not daring to respond.

"If only the emperor could possess righteousness, then he wouldn't have written something like the imperial edict in the belt."

Fortunately, Cao Cao was not discussing with Cao Ang at this time, but was simply asking and answering his own questions, which allowed Cao Ang to escape a disaster.

"If the emperor lacks righteousness, then who does?"

"Wenruo had told me before that Liu Miao was a man of great righteousness."

Cao Cao did not look north, but instead looked south.

To the south, the Yuan army was besieging Xuchang, stretching as far as the eye could see.

For Cao Cao, this was even more true; it was as if only Yuan Shao's army, only enemies, and only defeat remained in the world.

But for some reason, Cao Cao always felt that someone was watching him through these Yuan soldiers, nodding slightly at him.

"Yuan Shao's banner is not here."

Cao Ang, who hadn't been able to interject for a while, quickly nodded: "I went to the South a while ago."

What was Yuan Shao suddenly doing going south?

"This……"

Cao Ang guessed, "They're probably going to block Liu Biaoqi's retreat."

"Does Zixiu think Yuan Shao succeeded?"

"..."

Seeing Cao Ang's uncertain expression, Cao Cao laughed again: "So, Zixiu understands neither Zhongshan nor Yuan Shao." "If Zhongshan has really been defeated by Yuan Shao, then given his personality, it's definitely not in his nature to not make a big fuss; similarly, if Yuan Shao really killed Zhongshan, then even if he can't make it back in time, he will definitely be eager to send Zhongshan's head to me."

Cao Cao's tone was inexplicably excited: "Do you understand?"

Cao Ang was baffled: "Understand what?"

"Zhongshan has not been defeated yet! Yuan Shao has not won yet!"

These days, Cao Cao has been constantly thinking about what Xun Yu had said to him that day.

Would Liu Miao, who was at a complete disadvantage, fight a battle against Yuan Shao?

Will do!

Most definitely!
If Liu Miao saw Yuan Shao's power and dared not fight him, what difference would he make from a coward?
But Cao Cao knew that Liu Miao was definitely not a coward!
Xun Yu was probably telling the truth!
Somewhere in the south, Liu Miao and Yuan Shao had already set up their battle formations, preparing for a decisive battle!
Cao Cao's already sharp eyes narrowed even further into slits.

"I still have a sense of righteousness."

"The great principles of the world are absolutely not in the hands of the emperor alone!"

Cao Cao finally made up his mind!
How many soldiers are still in the city?

"The retreat from Guandu was relatively smooth, and we did not suffer too many losses. Therefore, there are still 20,000 soldiers in the city who are capable of fighting!"

Cao Cao looked down again.

Yuan Shao left approximately 40,000 soldiers here to besiege Xuchang.

Let's give it a shot!
"Zixiu, relay the order to the isolated army!"

"Here!"

"Order Cao Ren to take my banner and make a breakout attempt from the south gate."

"Then order Guan Yu and Yue Jin to each lead 5,000 troops to ambush at the east and west gates."

As Cao Cao's voice grew louder, his hand touched the hilt of the Heaven-Slaying Sword.

"The remaining troops will march with me to the North Gate!"

Upon hearing Cao Cao's instructions, Cao Ang was immediately alarmed: "Father, are you not retreating?"

"Since we haven't been defeated, why talk about retreating?"

Cao Cao drew his long sword, and a sharp edge shot out from his crimson cloak, pointing straight at the imperial palace.

“Zhongshan hastily returned from Hedong and dared to fight Yuan Shao to the death in the Central Plains, let alone me?”

Although Cao Cao did not look down on Liu Miao, he was also confident that he was no less than anyone else in the world!
What Liu Miao did, he will do too!
"Benchu ​​has truly underestimated me."

"You think you can block my path with these worthless scoundrels? Ha!"

Cao Ang understood Cao Cao's fighting spirit at this moment.

He was Cao Cao's eldest son.

Cao Ang was ten years older than his second brother, Cao Pi!
During these ten years, Cao Cao rose from a fugitive to become the "second Dong Zhuo" who held the emperor hostage and commanded the feudal lords!
No one knows better than Cao Ang about the trials and tribulations he has faced along the way!

Since Cao Cao wanted to fight, Cao Ang was naturally ready to fight to the bitter end!

Cao Ang had already brought Cao Cao's warhorse, Jueying, and bowed to the ground.

Cao Cao looked at his eldest son with satisfaction, then stepped on Cao Ang's shoulders and mounted his horse!

"Army attack!"

In Xuchang city, shouts of battle rose into the sky!

The next moment, the south gate burst open! Cao Ren, seemingly a celestial being, carrying Cao Cao's banner, charged out of the city with unparalleled bravery!
Pang Ji and Ju Shou, who were monitoring Xuchang outside the city gate, were initially alarmed upon seeing this, but soon became excited!

"Cao Cao is finally trying to break through!"

"After all this time, the food supplies in Xuchang City should be exhausted!"

"Go and report to Lord Yuan immediately! Tell him that we can kill Cao Cao today, capture Xuchang, and welcome back the Emperor!!"

　After thinking about it, I realize that dragging things out like this isn't good. It's painful for me to write, and it's not comfortable for the readers to read either. Starting tomorrow, I'll start writing long chapters with frequent updates! I'll try to finish this section as quickly as possible!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)