Enemies meet on a narrow road

The once prosperous capital of Xiapi was now in dilapidated condition.

After the floods receded, only ruins were left in many places, especially in slum areas, which were almost wiped out by the floods, and cold dead bodies could be seen everywhere.

Chen Qun is so unlucky!

After returning from Guangling, he was forcibly recruited to work in Xiapi.

Although he was unwilling to do so, he finally took up the post because he wanted to be supported by his father. Unexpectedly, he encountered this battle just a few days after he took up the job... So, after the city was broken, Chen Qun, as an assistant official, did not wait.

He fled into the inner city and was captured by Cao Jun who entered the city.

Although the weather was cold, Mr. Cao did not dare to feel tired.

After entering the city, he immediately ordered people to consolidate Xiapi City, bury the dead bodies, and clean up the ruins of the ruins. The weather was so cold and wet. Cao Jun was not willing to suffer such hardship, so he took the captured soldiers and subordinates.

Pi officials rushed to the streets to clean up the debris.

It was just dawn, and it was so cold that even wearing thick clothes could not stop shivering.

Chen Qun, who had suffered such suffering, was driven into a long street, carrying a big broom and cleaning the street with a sad face.

When Cao Peng and three others passed by, Chen Qun was being scolded by two Cao Peng soldiers. When he saw Cao Peng, he felt like the sun had cleared from the clouds and couldn't help but shout loudly.

Cao Peng followed the voice and almost didn't recognize Chen Qun.

It's a pity that the elegant and distinguished man in those days is now in rags and looks miserable.

Therefore, a person relies on his clothes and a horse relies on his saddle. No matter how good his temperament is, if he puts on dirty clothes, he will lose his temperament.

Cao Peng couldn't help but laugh, and as soon as he got off his horse, Zhao Yebai rushed forward.

"Brother, how could we end up in such a miserable state?"

Chen Qun's face was dirty and he smiled bitterly and said, "It's hard to explain in just one sentence."

The soldiers responsible for guarding Chen Qun's work were from Xiahou Dun's tribe. They knew Cao Peng, and they also heard that after his food and grass were robbed, this guy did not hesitate to block Liu Bei's camp in order to seek justice for his tribe. For a man

The generals who are willing to stand up for justice for their tribe are respected by the soldiers. Although Cao Peng is not very old, there are people in his family... It is said that he is a partner with Guo Ming Tinghou and the Protector General Cao Hong, and opened a casino in Luoyang

, Jin Jin fights for gold; he is also sworn brother with Cao Zhen, a son of Cao Cao's family, and one of the dignified Xiaobayi. Guo Jiaxunyou, the counselor around Cao Cao, seems to be very caring for this young man.

To value.

In addition, he was also the savior of Dian Wei, the general of the Tiger Guard.

His father is the supervisor of Zhuye in the Shaofu, and his brother-in-law is the magistrate of Haixi County... Nowadays, all the food and grass for Cao's army are provided by Haixi County.

Such status cannot be tolerated by the soldiers.

Two strong and powerful soldiers stepped forward and said, "I have seen Cao Sima, General Dian Lang, and General Xu Lang in my humble position."

"You are……"

"We are Hou Buqu of Gao'an Township."

The Marquis of Gao'an Township is Xiahou Dun.

In the second year of Xingping, Xiahou Dun became the prefect of Chenliu and was named General Jianwu and Marquis of Gao'an Township. In the first year of Jian'an, he moved to Yin, Henan, retaining the title of general and title.

Cao Peng heard this and did not dare to neglect it.

He knew that Xiahou Dun was also a very famous and powerful person in the Cao Wei Group.

At least for now, Xiahou Dun is more reused by Cao Cao than Cao Hong. Therefore, even if Cao Peng hooked up with Cao Hong, he would not dare to neglect Xiahou Dun's plot.

"This is Chen Qun and Chen Changwen, a famous scholar in Yingchuan. He is the grandson of Chen Shi in Yingchuan. How can you let him do such a vulgar thing?"

"ah?"

The two soldiers were startled when they heard this and looked towards Chen Qun.

All I saw was that Chen Qun was wearing a wrinkled gown, with his neck curled up and his hands in his sleeves. How could he look like a celebrity at all? Cao Peng glanced at Chen Qun and couldn't help but laugh. He and Dianman Xu Yi got off their horses and came to the rescue*

He put on his black body robe and put it on Chen Qun.

"I took this person away... Please tell the Marquis of Gao'an Township that there are many famous people in Xuzhou, please do an inventory.

Don't do anything that is disgraceful and cause trouble. By the way, in such a cold weather, prepare some hot porridge and water for them, so as not to ruin Sikong's reputation."

"Here!" the two soldiers responded quickly: "I'll tell the superior about this."

Cao Peng put his arm on Chen Qun's shoulder, chuckled, and said as he walked: "Okay, okay, brother, you too... If you don't tell me your name, how will they know who you are? Duke Cao is sending troops this time.

, there are too many things to worry about, you are just trying to save face and suffer the consequences."

Chen Qun snorted a few times and then smiled.

Dianman and Xu Yi followed behind. They were not familiar with Chen Qun, but they had heard of Chen Shi's name. Knowing that Chen Qun was Chen Shi's grandson, they couldn't help but feel awe. The two of them walked behind, and they didn't know what to do.

When they woke up, the group arrived outside the gate of the camp where Cao Hong was stationed.

"Cao Sima, general invites you!"

A black-clothed guard ran over and bowed in salute.

"Rhode, what are your orders, General?"

"It's not a big deal. Sikong sent an order and ordered us to besiege the inner city and not attack. So the general asked Cao Sima to discuss the matter of guarding."

This black body guard is Cao Hong's personal follower.

A native of Qiao County, he was once a tenant of the Cao family. Later, Cao Hong raised troops to support Cao Cao, and Rhodes followed Cao Hong. Thinking that there were a large number of local brave men, there are not many left now. Therefore, Cao Hong valued Rhodes very much.

Many things were arranged by Rhodes.

Cao Peng and Rhodes had a good relationship and had a personal friendship.

He nodded and said to Chen Qun: "Chang Wen, then I will ask you to rest in my tent first, drink some porridge water, take a hot bath, and change clothes. After I have finished discussing with the general, I will introduce you...

…With his long writing and great talent, he will surely be valued by Cao Sikong.”

Chen Qun said fiercely: "Add some dogwood to the porridge water."

Cornus officinalis, also known as Yuejiao, grows in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui areas, and is also known as Ai Zi. It has a fragrant taste and is not a genus of orchid and osmanthus. The fruit is very pungent and can be eaten. The stems and leaves can be used as medicine, and their functions are to warm the stomach and dry dampness. The leaves of Cornus officinalis can also be used for treatment.

For infectious diseases such as cholera, the roots can kill insects...

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was no such food as chili pepper, and people mostly used dogwood to enhance the flavor.

This plant is very common in Xuzhou. It mostly grows in ravines, beside streams or on humid hillsides. It can be seen everywhere outside Xiapi City.

So it is not difficult to find dogwood in Xiapi.

Cao Peng put his arm on Chen Qun's shoulder and couldn't help laughing: "Chang Wen, I think you're not too cold, otherwise you wouldn't have so many requests."

Chen Qun hummed twice and couldn't help but laugh!

Cao Peng asked Gan Ning to take Chen Qun back to the military tent to rest. Cao Peng and Dianman Xu Yi followed Rhodes and strode to Cao Hong's residence.

Cao Hong's camp was located at the east gate of the inner city.

This is also the residence of wealthy families in Xiapi. Cao Hong lives in the mansion of a local wealthy family. It covers a large area, with nine in and nine out.

There are horse stakes on both sides of the red lacquer gate, and there are guards on duty.

When Cao Peng arrived, he saw a chubby middle-aged man coming out. There was a flattering smile on his round face.

The middle-aged man saw Cao Peng and said hello quickly.

However, Cao Peng didn't pay attention to the other party. Instead, he looked directly over the middle-aged man's shoulder and stared at the two strong men behind him. One of them had obvious scars on his face, and he seemed familiar.

When the man passed by, he suddenly called out to him.

"May I have your name?"

Cao Peng looked at the strong man with scars on his face and asked in a deep voice.

A doorman at the door, who was also Cao Hong's subordinate, said quickly: "Cao Sima is asking you something, why don't you answer it quickly?"

It seems that this servant must have received a lot of benefits, and he pointed out Cao Peng's identity and official position in one sentence. He meant well, but he didn't expect that the strong man shivered, his eyes wandered, and he lowered his head.

, Nuonuo didn't speak, which made Cao Peng even more confused.

"Ah, the villain Zhou Yan..."

"I didn't ask you, shut up!"

Cao Peng's eyes widened, and Zhou Yan immediately dared not say anything.

The Cao Peng of today is not the Cao Peng who came out of Xudu back then.

After a year of training, he has traveled all over the country (Huainan has been there, Jiangdong has also been there). Especially after the Battle of Quyang, Cao Peng would inadvertently have a murderous spirit in his movements. That was not just one or two.

The temperament that can be condensed by one person, Cao Peng was in Quyang, and the Xiapi soldiers who died in his hands were not a hundred, but sixty or seventy. Most people cannot bear that kind of momentum.

"Villain..."

The scar-faced man spoke.

But before he could finish speaking, Cao Peng pointed at him and couldn't help but laugh.

"I remembered... I planned to take care of you later, but I didn't expect you to show up to me by yourself. Your surname is Zhou, right?"
To be continued...