He lashed his horse with the whip and cursed through clenched teeth, “Damn it.
I rushed as hard as I could, and I was still one step too late.
That monster’s scheme succeeded after all.” “Damn it, damn it…” The generals around him all stamped their feet and cried out in frustration.
Cao Ren, however, was stunned and shouted, “Your Majesty, what exactly is going on?
How did that man Zhang Liao appear west of Hulao Pass and suddenly seize the pass?” Cao Cao let out a weak, exhausted sigh and glanced at Jia Xu.
Jia Xu gave a bitter sigh and could only explain the entire chain of events.
Only then did Cao Ren finally understand, and he sucked in a cold breath.
“That big-eared thief actually went by water along the Yellow River, crossed seven hundred li through the interior of our Yan Province, and went straight to attack Luoyang?
This plan truly has never been heard of before, not in ancient times or now.
This…
this…” Cao Ren was so shaken that he could hardly speak.
A bitter smile appeared on Jia Xu’s lips, and he sighed helplessly.
“This plan truly is without precedent, but Xiao He is also a strategist without precedent.
In the end, we have once again been made fools of by him.” Cao Ren inhaled sharply and fell silent in shock.
At that moment, Jia Xu was the first to recover.
Cupping his hands, he said, “Your Majesty, now is not the time for regret.
I believe we must lead the army straight to Hulao Pass at once.
If we are fortunate, we may still be able to retake Hulao Pass before Zhang Liao secures a firm foothold.” “Only then will we have a chance to relieve Luoyang.
Otherwise, if our army is blocked east of Hulao Pass, then Luoyang will become an isolated city.
Once it falls, the consequences will be disastrous, and Wei’s entire position in Henan will collapse.” “Cao Pi and Son of Heaven are also in Luoyang.
If they both fall into Liu Bei’s hands…” Before Jia Xu could finish, Cao Cao shuddered and shouted, “Then what are we waiting for?
Entire army, obey my command.
Advance west at once and retake Hulao Pass!” Cao Cao did not dare delay.
He combined his forces with Cao Ren’s troops, nearly sixty thousand men in all, and hurried toward Hulao Pass at forced-march speed.
Hulao Pass was very close to Xingyang, and after marching through the night, they arrived beneath the pass city at dawn the next morning.
By then, seven thousand soldiers of Chu Army were already waiting on the walls, fully prepared for battle.
Cao Cao did not even dare let his troops rest for a moment and immediately ordered the whole army to form ranks and prepare to attack Hulao Pass at once.
“Pass the order, the whole army…” Cao Cao had just raised his horsewhip and was about to give the command to attack when a shrill cry cut him off.
“Report, urgent news from Luoyang!” A rider rolled off his horse, dropped to his knees, and shouted, “Your Majesty, urgent report from Luoyang.
Chu Army has broken through Mengjin, killed General Cao Tai, and sent his head into Luoyang as a warning.” “Cao Pi escorted Son of Heaven out of the city and planned to cross the Yellow River northward to flee to Henei, but they were intercepted by Chu Army on the way.
Son of Heaven has already been killed by Chu Army, and Cao Pi is now missing, dead or alive.” Cao Cao’s raised whip froze in midair.
Liu Bei was genuinely shocked.
Even Zhuge Liang’s expression changed.
Liu Bei had lived in Jing Province for many years, and he had not spent those years idly.
He had befriended many notable men of Jingxiang, including quite a few high officials in the provincial government.
With Zhuge Liang as his strategist and Zhuge Liang’s wide network in Xiangyang, news as significant as Liu Biao’s death should have reached them at once.
Yet even they had heard nothing.
So how had this young man, who claimed he had lived in seclusion in the mountains and had never stepped outside, learned of it?
“We have received no news of Liu Biao’s death, nor have we heard that Liu Cong has succeeded him.” “Mr.
Xiao, how can you be so certain?” Zhuge Liang stopped waving his feather fan and drew his brows together as he asked the question on Liu Bei’s behalf.
Seeing the confusion in Liu Bei’s eyes, Xiao He sighed inwardly.
This future Emperor Zhaolie of Han still had no idea that the darkest moment of his life was about to begin.
The people of Jing Province, who had enjoyed more than ten years of peace, were also about to be trampled beneath the iron cavalry of the Cao family.
On the road south to Jiangling, the troops Liu Bei had worked so hard to gather would be crushed by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Lady Mi would die in the chaos of battle.
At the battle of Changban Slope, Liu Bei would come within a hair of death and barely survive.
The hundred thousand people of Xiangyang who fled south with him would also be cut down by the Cao cavalry until the roads ran red.
Guan Yinping had saved his life, and that was no different from Liu Bei saving him.
How could he fail to repay a debt like that?
If he could warn Liu Bei in time and help him avoid this disaster, that would count as repayment.
Besides, he had no status here and knew no one, so for now he could only follow Liu Bei and make a living.
If Liu Bei fell into trouble and he stood by without acting, that would be shameful enough.
And if he fled south with Liu Bei, there was no guarantee he would survive the fighting himself.
Whether for public reasons or private ones, he had to act.
Having made up his mind, he spoke.
“I naturally have my own methods.
Governor Liu need not ask how I learned it.” “I can also tell Governor Liu that those two, Cai and Kuai, will not only set up Liu Cong as the new lord of Jing Province.
They will also urge Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao.” “If my guess is correct, within a few days Liu Cong will send someone here to inform Governor Liu of his decision to submit to Cao.” Xiao He dropped a shocking piece of news.
The room fell silent for a breath, then his words struck like thunder.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei all changed color.
Zhuge Liang’s feather fan trembled, and even Guan Yinping went pale with shock.
“Mr.
Xiao, are you saying that my nephew Liu Cong would truly hand over the foundation Jingsheng built with such effort to that traitor Cao?” Liu Bei blurted it out, disbelief written all over his face.
Xiao He was not surprised by the reaction.
Jing Province had a population of a million and an army of a hundred thousand armored men.
It also had fierce generals like Wen Pin and Huang Zhong, and Liu Biao had ruled Jingxiang for ten years, so the people still felt gratitude toward him and his sons.
With such strength, even if they feared Cao Cao, they should not have feared him so much that they surrendered without firing a single shot.
No matter how useless Liu Cong might be, could he really be that bad?
So of course Liu Bei found it hard to believe.
Xiao He knew that none of them truly believed him yet.