The Peach Garden Oath of Brotherhood among Heroes (part 5)

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The next day, Xuande and Zou Jing led the troops to attack, and the rebels pursued them. As they passed the mountains, the ambush troops attacked from both sides, and Xuande's troops turned back to fight. The rebels were defeated and fled to Qingzhou. Governor Gong Jing led the militia to assist, and the rebels were defeated, lifting the siege of Qingzhou. Xuande was praised as a hero, and the troops celebrated.

After the victory, Xuande said, "I heard that General Lu Zhi is fighting the rebel leader Zhang Jiao at Guangzong. I once studied under Lu Zhi and wish to assist him." Zou Jing led the troops back, and Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei took five hundred troops to Guangzong. They met Lu Zhi's camp and explained their intentions. Lu Zhi was delighted and kept them by his side.

At that time, Zhang Jiao had 150,000 troops, and Lu Zhi had 50,000, fighting at Guangzong. Lu Zhi said to Xuande, "I am besieging the rebels here. Zhang Jiao's brothers, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, are fighting Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun at Yingchuan. You can take your troops and an additional thousand government troops to Yingchuan to gather information and assist in the battle." Xuande accepted the order and marched to Yingchuan.

At Yingchuan, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were fighting the rebels. The rebels were losing and retreated to Changshe, where they built camps with grass. Song and Jun planned to use fire to attack. They ordered each soldier to carry a bundle of grass and hide. That night, a strong wind arose, and at the second watch, they set the grass on fire and attacked the rebel camp. The flames filled the sky, and the rebels fled in panic.

At dawn, Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao led the remaining troops to escape. They were intercepted by a red-flagged army led by a general seven feet tall, with narrow eyes and a long beard, named Cao Cao, styled Mengde. Cao's father, Cao Song, was adopted by the eunuch Cao Teng and took the surname Cao. Cao Song had a son named Cao Cao, nicknamed A-man, also called Jili. Cao Cao loved hunting, singing, and dancing, and was cunning and resourceful. His uncle once complained about him to Cao Song, who scolded Cao Cao. Cao Cao pretended to have a stroke, fooling his uncle and father. Cao Song believed him, and his uncle's complaints were ignored. Cao Cao indulged in his ways. A man named Qiao Xuan said, "The world will be in chaos, and only a talented person can save it. That person is you." He Yong of Nanyang said, "The Han dynasty will fall, and the person to save the world is you." Xu Shao of Runan, known for his insight, was asked by Cao Cao, "What kind of person am I?" Xu Shao replied, "You are a capable minister in times of peace, but a treacherous hero in times of chaos." Cao Cao was delighted. At twenty, he was recommended as filial and honest, became a court official, and was appointed as the North District Commander of Luoyang. He set up ten colored rods at the city gates and punished violators, regardless of their status. The eunuch Jian Shuo's uncle was caught and punished, earning Cao Cao a reputation for strictness. He later became the magistrate of Dunqiu. When the Yellow Turban rebellion began, he was appointed as a cavalry commander, leading five thousand troops to Yingchuan. He intercepted Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, killing over ten thousand rebels and capturing many flags, drums, and horses. Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao escaped. Cao Cao met Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun and then pursued the rebels.

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