Chapter 89 Cao Cao’s slip of the tongue: Why didn’t you use this method earlier?
Outside the city, Cao Cao witnessed the city being broken, and the shock on Liu Bei's face was simply indescribable.

Recalling a few days ago, they tried their best and sent all their soldiers to attack the city, but they couldn't even stand on the city wall for a quarter of an hour.

But today, in just one hour, the city gates were shattered and Xindu was captured. Everything seemed like a dream.

"General, with this method, why didn't you take the city earlier? Why didn't you let our brothers risk their lives to break through?"

When Cao Cao asked this, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei on the side all looked at Ye Feng with suspicion.

Ye Feng frowned and looked at the people present fiercely: "Why, do you doubt that I am trying to eliminate dissidents and preserve my strength?"

Cao Cao, Liu Bei hurriedly shook his head: "Marshal Ye, please don't misunderstand me. We are just confused. Please help us solve the confusion."

Ye Feng pointed at the broken city gate and said, "This is the Three Talents Battle Formation. I learned it from the Yellow Turban Army. This battle formation requires three heavenly generals to donate their lifespans before it can be activated."

"If your majesty was not in poor health and urgently needed a happy event to boost his spirits, how could I be willing to risk my life for my brothers?"

"Now my brothers are desperately trying to break the city, and in your eyes, it has become a matter of course."

"Is this what a gentleman does?"

"I wanted to show my merit for you before. I will report the battle of Xindu to the imperial court. If you are dissatisfied, you can write to the emperor!"

After saying this, Ye Feng turned away with a look of anger on his face.

After a brief silence, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei looked at Cao Cao with complaint: "Brother Meng De, such a mean-spirited person is not the behavior of a gentleman."

"Yide, let's catch up with the Marshal. Instead of explaining, this matter has nothing to do with us!"

Many other captains in the army looked at Cao Cao with disdain and followed Ye Feng without even saying hello.

Cao Cao was left alone, dishevelled in the wind.
The sounds of fighting in the city gradually died down.

Surrounded by a group of officers and soldiers, Ye Feng entered the city and came to the general's mansion.

Looking at the burning fire, he sighed in his heart, but his face showed an extremely anxious expression: "Where is Zhang Bao? Where is Zhang Jiao?"

Zhao Yun, who was directing the firefighting, bowed and said with a guilty look on his face, "We followed Zhang Bao to the general, hoping to catch him in a trap, but as soon as we entered the front yard, flames broke out. More than a hundred soldiers on both sides ignited the kerosene and sulfur that had been prepared long ago, and the fire spread instantly and could not be put out at all."

"I'm afraid Zhang Jue and Zhang Bao will both be buried in the raging fire."

At this point, Zhao Yun knelt on one knee and said, "I have failed to do my job well. Please punish me, General."

Liu Bei, who was catching up from behind, saw this scene and his eyes rolled instantly: "General, we have already confirmed the news that Zhang Jiao is dead. Zhang Bao was hit by your fatal blow on the city wall. Tens of thousands of eyes saw it clearly."

"In addition, Zhang Liang was beheaded outside Guangping City."

"The three traitorous Zhang Jue brothers all died in the name of Marshal Ye. After today, Marshal Ye will become the war god of the Han Dynasty, respected by everyone."

"What's the use of a corpse?"

The other lieutenants also reacted and echoed: "The person died in front of us, what's the point of having a corpse?"

"Zhang Jue, Zhang Bao and others have many loyal followers around them. They are determined to die and set fire. Who can stop them?"

"This has nothing to do with the Marshal's wisdom."

"Yes, yes, no problem, no problem!!"

Accompanied by bursts of hearty flattery, Ye Feng's mouth curled up slightly: "Your words of comfort make me feel at ease."

"Everyone has contributed to the destruction of the city and the extermination of the bandits. I will write down your contributions one by one, and you will be rewarded when you return to the court."

"Now we must first pacify the people and gather the surrendered soldiers."

"Pass on my order. All troops are not allowed to harass the people. Set up patrol teams. Anyone found committing crimes will be killed without mercy!"

"Cremation of corpses to prevent the spread of plague."

After several orders were issued, the generals separated, each of them was full of energy, wishing to do the work of two people. After all, they might not be able to achieve great success, but they could not let go of small achievements.
The night is getting darker.

In the study of a luxurious house.

Ye Feng and Jia Xu sat opposite each other.

"The battle of Jizhou has ended, and we have gained a lot. However, after returning to Luoyang, everything is uncertain."

"Wenhe, what do you think we should do?"

Jia Xu twirled his beard and said with a smile: "According to Zhang Jue and the lord's personal estimation, Liu Hong has less than three months to live at most."

"No matter who becomes emperor, power will be lost and chaos will begin."

"My lord, in addition to secretly accumulating strength, you must also strive for a higher position."

"The higher the position, the more talents can be recruited and the faster the development will be."

"When you go to Luoyang, my lord, in addition to the existing relationship, it would be better for you to contact Liu Hong in person."

"Ok?"

A gleam of light flashed in Ye Feng's eyes: "What do you mean?"

Jia Xu said: "Liu Hong is dying, and if he wants to entrust his son to someone else, he needs someone to take charge of the military power."

"General He Jin was originally his elder brother-in-law, and he promoted him personally."

"It's just that Concubine Wang was poisoned and assassinated by Empress He a few years ago. In addition, Yuan Huai and other noble families were very close to him and even stood together on many issues. As a result, Liu Hong was also worried about He Jin."

"If my prediction is correct, after returning to the capital, these battle-hardened troops that quelled the rebellion will certainly be recalled."

"There are not many people Liu Hong can trust nowadays. If the lord can master this force, he will have an absolute advantage in the upcoming court struggles and pave a more solid path for the future domination of the world."

Ye Feng's expression of approval became even stronger. The judgment of a top strategist was always accurate.

Historically, Liu Hong did integrate the Eight Western Garden Armies before his death and handed them over to his most trusted eunuch general Jian Shuo.

It was a pity that Liu Hong had just died, and the other Xiyuan commanders except Jian Shuo disobeyed his orders. Instead, they joined forces with He Jin to kill Jian Shuo, resulting in the royal family no longer having control over the court.

Later, He Jin was killed, and the eight armies in Xiyuan fought among themselves, which eventually gave Dong Zhuo the advantage, and the royal family became a piece of meat on the chopping board.

Nodding slowly, Ye Feng said, "Wenhe's idea coincides with mine. This time I will only take one battalion of elite troops with me to the capital, and the rest will stay in Jizhou."

"You stay here to help your father accumulate strength in Jizhou and wait for my next order."

Jia Xu nodded, but hesitated for a moment and said, "I am assisting the governor in Jizhou, but who will take care of the night guards?"

"Luoyang is a place where dragons and tigers roam. You need to be careful."

"therefore."

Ye Feng raised the corner of his mouth and clapped his hands: "Come out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Ning, who had a slim figure and full of heroic spirit, walked out from behind the screen.

"Meet Mr. Wenhe!"

Jia Xu naturally recognized Zhang Ning, and a smile appeared on his face: "I admire Miss Ning'er's methods and abilities very much. It is most appropriate for her to ensure the safety of the lord."

"I will entrust everything of the Night Guard to her in the next two days."

Ye Feng shook his head: "She has one copy, and you have one copy, so you can control the overall situation in real time and remind me in time."

"Here!!"

(End of this chapter)