What Xun You said is not unreasonable, Li Ru must have been greatly hit in his heart after Dong Zhuo's demise, and he will be cautious and cautious if he votes for a new master.

Cao Cao's eyes swam and said: "If it's true, then it's easy to do, Gongda has worked hard all the way, let's go down and rest early, I have a certain number in my heart." ”

Hearing this, Xun Yu got up and said goodbye, after all, he had been in the dust all the way, and after drinking some wine, his head did hurt a little and he needed to rest.

After Xun You left, Cao Cao thought for a moment, and also rested by himself.

And Li Ru, who was sent back to the tent, after making sure that the soldiers were gone, slowly opened his eyes, and his eyes were also shining, obviously pretending to be drunk.

After years of seclusion, Li Ru has long been tired of living a dull life, and he is also very satisfied with Cao Cao's performance today, so he will say the situation he calculated.

At the banquet, Li Ru was also quite satisfied with Cao Cao's performance, knowing that he had successfully shown his value, and then he just had to wait patiently.

……

…………

After a night's rest, Cao Cao drove his army early in the morning and hurried to Wancheng, lest Zhang Xiu suddenly regret it.

When the sun had set in mid-sky, Cao Cao finally led his army to Wancheng, and Zhang Xiu got the news early in the morning and led the civil and military forces to wait at the city gate.

After a surrender ceremony, Wancheng was officially included in Cao Cao's rule.

And Cao Cao is also generous, everything is done according to Zhang Xiu's requirements, and he is not as carried away as history.

After a few days of handover, after confirming the officials of Wancheng, Cao Cao discussed with Zhang Xiu, transferred 20,000 defenders of Wancheng, promised the post of general Yangwu, and left in a mighty manner.

After taking Wancheng without blood, Cao Cao's power has grown, but compared with Li Huiyi, it is still weaker.

In order to complete the planning purpose in a stable manner, Cao Cao sent people to negotiate with Liu Bei, and the two parties formed a temporary alliance to jointly resist Li Huiyi.

And after months of waiting, the envoy to Xiliang also came back and brought the envoy of Ma Teng, his eldest son Ma Chao.

Upon hearing this news, Liu Xie immediately summoned Cao Cao to come and summon Ma Chao with him.

In the backyard of the palace, Liu Xie and Cao Cao were sitting and waiting, and it didn't take long to see a man with good facial features and masculinity all over his body, walking quickly under the leadership of the eunuch.

"Ma Chao and Ma Mengqi, the sons of General Andy, have seen Your Majesty and Prime Minister Cao Cheng."

Liu Xie said with a serious face: "Get up, General Andy is in good health, why don't you come in person?" ”

Ma Chao stood up, his eyes glanced at Liu Xie, and saw that it was a teenager, and he was a little underestimated in his heart, but he couldn't help but be surprised when he saw Cao Cao's sharp eyes on the side.

"Back to Your Majesty, my father is busy with official business, I can't come in person, the special ministers have come to show their loyalty, the Ma family has been stationed on the frontier for generations, if I return to the dynasty as an official, I am afraid that I will live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."

Ma Chao's meaning is very simple, that is, the Ma family does not want to enter the court as an official, but can send his son as a hostage, which has shown his loyalty.

Liu Xie raised his eyebrows and said: "It's a good thing to be an official in the court, why does Ma Aiqing refuse?" ”

Ma Chao said without being arrogant or humble: "The minister's father is a military general, if he is not stationed on the frontier, I am afraid that he will not be able to exert his own ability, and I hope that His Majesty will take back the holy order." ”

Liu Xie didn't give up and said: "Ma Aiqing's talent can be reused there, as long as he comes to Xuchang, he will be given the position of the third duke." ”

Sangong, putting it in the past, is indeed very tempting, but now, it is just a name, and it is not comparable to the great history of the frontier with heavy troops.

Ma Chao replied: "The size of the official position, the minister's father doesn't care, he just wants to do his last meager strength for the Han, even if he is a partial general on the battlefield." ”

It is useless to promise official positions, it seems that when Ma Chao came, he was explained, Liu Xie looked at Cao Cao helplessly.

Receiving a look for help, Cao Cao opened his mouth and said, "What is Meng Qi's position this year, where is he now?" ”

Hearing Cao Cao's inquiry, Ma Chao was stunned and didn't understand what it meant, but he still replied respectfully: "Nineteen years old, now in the position of a partial general." ”

"Hmm." Cao Cao nodded and said: "So young, he is a partial general, it seems that he has great talent, and it is not impossible to take over the position of Shoucheng." ”

Hearing this, Ma Chao was shocked, if his father entered the court as an official, he could naturally take over his father's position, and he would no longer be restricted by his father in the army.

Ma Chao's face was moved, but he said modestly: "Prime Minister Cao Cheng's words are serious, and the minister is still young, so I am afraid that he will not be able to take over the overall situation." ”

Cao Cao smiled and said: "No, no, no, my appearance is the same age as you, and I am already an official in the court, and Meng Qi should be okay." ”

"If Meng Qi agrees, His Majesty will issue an edict to officially appoint you as the pastor of Xiliang, command the various departments of Xiliang, and then summon your father to come to Xuchang for appointment."

Cao Cao's trick of drawing salary from the bottom of the kettle can make the young Ma Chao excited.

Bringing Xiliang's various departments under his command is Ma Chao's dream since he was a child, and now this dream is within reach, making him lose his mind.

Ma Chao asked seriously: "What the prime minister said is true, not a joke?" ”

Cao Cao nodded and said, "If Meng Qi doesn't believe it, can you ask Your Majesty?" ”

When Ma Chao heard this, he cast a hot gaze at Liu Xie, wanting to hear an affirmative answer.

Seeing Cao Cao's words, Ma Chao's firmness collapsed, and Liu Xie was also very impressed in his heart. "The prime minister's words are the meaning of the widow, although General Ma can rest assured."

Hearing the answer, Ma Chao was overjoyed and said, "If this is the case, the minister can go back and negotiate with his father, and try to live up to the good intentions of His Majesty and the Prime Minister." ”

Seeing that the matter was almost reached, Liu Xie was no longer in such a hurry, and said slowly: "Okay, then we will hold a banquet in the palace today to entertain General Ma." ”

Ma Chao saluted and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, the ministers will definitely sweep away the princes of Xiliang for the Han Dynasty." ”

"Okay, General Ma will go down and rest first." Liu Xie ordered someone to take Ma Chao away, turned his head to Cao Cao and asked: "Although Ma Teng is here, but this Ma Chao is also a person who is not easy to control, what good way does the prime minister have?" ”

Cao Cao replied: "Your Majesty, Ma Teng is scheming and calculating, and Ma Chao is young and vigorous, and the roles of the two in Xiliang are completely different. ”

"Ma Chao has great power, and he has been appointed by His Majesty, and he will definitely start a war in Xiliang, and he has sought to spread his prestige.

At that time, the forces of all parties will fight, and the strength will be weakened, and when we send troops, we can easily take the entire Xiliang. ”

Cao Cao's idea was good, but for Liu Xie, it was not what he wanted.

What Liu Xie wants is for Ma Teng to lead some soldiers and horses to come and add some weight to himself.

However, the matter has come to this point, and Liu Xie is not easy to say anything, after all, Cao Cao's policy is for the sake of the overall situation.

Liu Xie nodded and said: "The prime minister sits on the mountain and watches the tiger fight, which is really good, in this way, the three states of the Han Dynasty will return to the imperial power, the peace of the world is just around the corner, and the widow can face the ancestors and ancestors." ”