Chapter 316: Massacre of a City

As Luyang defender Lu Zhao took the lead in changing his troops' flags, a chain reaction was immediately triggered.

The more than a thousand people guarding Ye County were hesitating upon hearing the news, while the Kunyang defenders dozens of miles to the northeast followed suit and changed their flags.

As their retreat route was about to be cut off, the Ye County defenders mutinied, dispersed, and fled back home.

At this moment when the soldiers have no will to fight, if there is no hero who can shout and raise his arms, and military discipline is unable to suppress or deter, then rout becomes inevitable.

In just three or four days, the garrisons of more than a dozen cities west of Yingyin were either defeated, changed their flags, or were dispersed by the county residents and escorted out of the country through negotiations.

Liu Bei's preparations were still a little slow, and he did not expect Cao Cao's collapse would be so rapid, like a mountain collapsing.

Without waiting for Liu Bei's additional troops and officials to move north, Cao Ren sent troops from Yingyin.

Cao Ren was good at using troops swiftly and fiercely, and he was very quick when he was ordered to eliminate Liu Xun.

After Cao Hong's death, the Lujiang troops under Cao Hong were transferred to Cao Ren.

Cao Ren used this group of Lujiang soldiers as the vanguard, deceived Liu Xun's outer sentries, and attacked the central army directly, killing Liu Xun in one fell swoop.

After surrendering the Lujiang soldiers under Liu Xun, Cao Ren executed the remaining officials, soldiers, and servants.

Only then did they return to Xudu and stationed in Yingyin in the west.

After resting for seven or eight days, the area around Wankou began to erode at a rate visible to the naked eye.

There were two things that Cao Ren could not tolerate the most. The first was that his own brother was involved in the attack and burning of the palace, which was a crime that could not be washed away.

Unless the Cao family and the Cao brothers can have the last laugh, Cao Ren and his descendants, as the three clans of Cao Chun, will not escape hunt down and accountability.

The Cao family’s reputation has also been ruined, and it will be difficult for them to gain the trust of those in higher positions in the future.

The second thing is that Yangdi also rebelled. Yangdi was an important county in Yingchuan. It was the seat of government of Yingchuan when the emperor moved east. Its influence was second only to Xudu and Yingyin.

Now Cao Ren could no longer sit still, and when he received the news, he led his troops out of the camp.

Yangdi was a big city, but the soldiers from Yingchuan County that Cao Cao stationed here were from other counties, and among them were also surrendered soldiers, bandits, and the like.

There were only about 500 people in total, and they did not dare to fight with the big families of Yangdi.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, more than 500 people fled out of the city and passed the news to Cao Ren.

Cao Ren dispatched his troops overnight, not giving the Yangdi clan any chance to mobilize and gather their allies.

Before daybreak, Cao Ren's troops attacked from all sides.

Even without decent siege equipment, Cao Ren's siege was a great success thanks to his heavy armor and a force far greater than that of the defenders.

At dawn, Cao's army cleared out the defenders on the city wall.

Cao Ren appeared on the city wall. He looked down at the city. Only sparse lights could provide slight illumination.

Thanks to the spread of the war in Guanzhong, Cao Ren focused on learning, so at this moment he ordered his troops to stay still, treating the wounded while waiting for dawn.

As a hint of orange rose in the eastern sky, Cao Ren raised his hand and stared at the lines on his palm... Did he have the ability to inherit his brother Meng De's legacy?
This is a difficult thing to judge, but he is very clear that he must not lose.

The two brothers must stand back to back, only in this way can they fight their way out.

As Cao Chun grew older, his reputation and influence among traditional nobles also grew.

So after the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao formed the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and transferred Cao Chun to a military position.

It seems that the military power has been increased...but what’s the use of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry’s military power?

However, Cao Chun lost the opportunity to maintain good relations with the group of officials and nobles, blend into them, and improve his family status.

This concerns the development of a family, and it is definitely not something that a Tiger and Leopard Cavalry commander can compensate for.

But Cao Cao has already made this decision, do you dare to resist?

This was a very dangerous signal, and Cao Chun had no choice but to take up the post. From then on, he stayed in the military camp and lost the opportunity to contact and develop with the group of officials.

During the Xu Du Incident, the soldiers of the Dongping Camp led by Cao Chun were the first to attack the palace, making Cao Chun bear the infamy of murdering the emperor.

So how could Cao Ren have no emotions towards Cao Cao?

If there comes a day when they can conquer the world, it will be the time for them brothers to break away from Cao Cao's lineage.

Cao Ren was very clear about this, and Cao Cao probably also had this understanding.

Cao Ren was filled with hatred. He looked down at the city from a high place and saw that there was no one on the streets.

The soldiers on various parts of the city walls have already begun to get ready and can no longer hold back.

Cao Ren observed for a moment and felt that the anger of the soldiers on the city wall had reached its limit, so he shouted: "Massacre the city!" "Commander-in-chief's order, massacre the city!"

"Commander-in-chief's order, massacre the city!"

The two messenger troops went in different directions, both trotting and shouting Cao Ren's military orders.

Yang Di must be slaughtered; Yang Di is worth being slaughtered.

Only by slaughtering Yang Di can the surrounding counties maintain stability and avoid rebellion so quickly.

At the critical moment, the city has been under siege for several years, with no food or fodder and no reinforcements. If you surrender, it would be excusable in Cao Ren's eyes.

Now that the enemy is still thousands of miles away, why are you rushing into rebellion? What is the purpose?
Do you really think you are dead?
Cao Ren issued the order to massacre the city without hesitation and without any guilt. He stood on the parapet and observed the tragic tragedy in the city.

If he fails to do his job well, the future of him and Cao Chun's wife, daughter and family will be even more miserable.

If he had a choice, he would rather send his children to death himself when things failed than let them suffer.

As the sky became completely bright, Cao Ren could see more clearly, and he felt that there was no point in watching.

He returned to the tower to rest, and his subordinates followed him and asked, "Should we circulate the heads to the counties?"

"No, we will build a Jingguan outside the city."

Cao Ren looked at his irritated subordinate and continued, "Now that things have come to this, you and I have no better solution. This is the only way."

The officials were silent. They had few choices but to put down the rebellion.

In the process of suppressing the rebellion, there will inevitably be casualties, the accumulated resentment needs to be vented, and the soldiers under the system of wrong-doing need to be reformed step by step, which all requires adjustment.

If you have enough time, it will just run in naturally.

Now they can only get used to each other through fighting, and this process is bound to be bloody.

Only by resorting to brutal killing methods again can we intimidate the powerful families and tyrants who are becoming more and more daring.

After the officials left, Cao Ren was about to close his eyes and take a nap.

Yesterday was already busy. We had a forced march in the first half of the night, and in the second half we were breaking into the city and controlling the army. These were both very energy-consuming tasks.

Just as Cao Ren felt his eyelids getting heavy and were about to close, another official came with the sound of a crying woman.

When Cao Ren opened his eyes, he saw another official reporting, "General, the soldiers under the city are all grateful for your hard work. This is the sincerity of the soldiers. Why don't you enjoy some first?"

Looking at the two plump little women who were nearly seven feet tall and had slim figures.

Cao Ren felt a little unhappy. He was not like Cao Cao, who was less than six feet tall but only loved women who were over seven feet tall.

Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Cao Ren has been in command of troops for a long time and has become accustomed to maintaining his own image. He no longer cares much about women themselves.

After just a quick glance, Cao Ren said, "I don't like it. Take care of it yourself."

"Yes, I understand."

The clerks bowed repeatedly, cupped their hands and retreated. The guards also escorted the two young women out. They felt they had escaped, relaxed and were about to celebrate.

Unexpectedly, I heard the subordinates say to the guards: "If the governor doesn't want it, who else would dare to take it? It would be better to shoot him and avoid the crime of disrespect."

It was more or less inappropriate to stab them with swords, spears or halberds; it was even more inappropriate to distribute these two young women to other military officers.

Without waiting for the two young women to beg for mercy, they were immediately dragged away by the guards.

They were dragged to the foot of the city and stood in front of the city wall. A dozen of Cao Ren's personal soldiers who were temporarily borrowed drew their bows.

More than ten steps away, the powerful arrow immediately achieved its target.

But Cao Ren, who was in a coma, was having a sweet dream. At that time, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had not yet risen, their father, Cao Chi, the commander of Changshui, had died, and he and his brother had separated.

So Cao Ren traveled between the Yangtze River and the Huai River. Over the next few years, he had thousands of followers and lived a happy life every day.

But since he led the heroes to join Cao Cao in the fight against Dong Zhuo, he has always played the role of a fire-fighting team.

After fighting too many battles of this kind, especially those involving breaking cities and killing people, Cao Ren felt quite depressed.

Only the carefree and unrestrained experiences in his youth in his dreams could help him ease his emotions a little.

As for saving the people, Cao Ren deeply felt that he was not qualified and unworthy.

So when Cao Ren woke up, he was in an exceptionally good mental state.

(End of this chapter)