My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 180: Rather kill the king than let him go! Liu Xie: Tell Uncle Xuande that he can be the emperor himself!

Cao Pi drew his sword and ran away.

"Wait a minute!"

Sima Yi stepped forward to stop him and asked:
"Prince Zihuan, which direction do you plan to lead your troops in pursuit?"

Cao Pi was startled and looked at Wu Zhi:

"You just said, which gate did the emperor escape from?"

Wu Zhi hurriedly said, "My lord, the emperor escaped from the south gate, and Master Zijian and his men are pursuing him southward!"

Cao Pi rolled his eyes and said:

"Jingzhou is in the south. The emperor must want to flee southwards through Ye County and head towards Nanyang. I will naturally pursue him in the direction of Ye County."

Sima Yi said nothing, but asked Zhu Shao to bring the map and spread it out in front of him.

Cao Pi couldn't understand what Sima Yi meant, and was extremely anxious. He thought that if he delayed any longer, the emperor would have been caught by Cao Zhi.

Sima Yi raised the corner of his mouth and pointed with a sneer:
"I suspect the emperor must have contacted Liu Bei before fleeing. Xiao He would likely send light cavalry to sneak near Xudu to escort the emperor south to Jingzhou."

"Everyone knows that the shortest route to Nanyang is the Ye County Avenue. Our army's pursuit direction will definitely be in this direction."

"The emperor can't possibly be walking fast with his children. If he takes this route, we'll easily catch up with him. How could Xiao He, with his intelligence, not know this?"

"So I predict he will do the opposite, having the emperor pretend to head south, but actually feint west, making a big detour from Luyang to Nanyang."

"Prince Zihuan, you should pursue westward!"

Cao Pi's eyes lit up as he scanned the map. He laughed and patted Sima Yi:

"Zhongda, oh Zhongda, you are truly my Cao Pi's Zhang Liang. In my opinion, even if Guo Fengxiao were to be resurrected, his wisdom and strategy would be far inferior to yours."

"You are right. The Emperor will flee westwards, and I will pursue him westwards!"

Cao Pi immediately put on armor and took up his sword, and ordered Wu Zhi to gather hundreds of personal guards. They rushed out of Xu Du and pursued the enemy to the west.

...

Ten miles west of Xudu.

Hundreds of "rebels", under the command of Han officials such as Wei Huang and Geng Ji, were surrounding several imperial chariots and escorting Liu Xie and his family at a rapid pace.

"Five miles further west is the Ying River. Xiao Bowen has already dispatched eight hundred light cavalry to meet Your Majesty on the west bank of the Ying River for his southern hunt. As long as we cross the Ying River, Your Majesty will abandon his chariot and switch horses and head south. Cao's army will never catch up with us."

Inside the imperial carriage, Kong Rong, with a relaxed smile on his face, was comforting the emperor, whose fists were still clenched tightly.

From the moment he stepped out of the palace, Liu Xie's nerves were on edge. He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingertips dug into his palms, oozing blood, but he never loosened his fists.

He knew very well that today's escape represented a complete break with Cao Cao and was a desperate attempt on his part.

If he fails, when Cao Cao returns, he will be greeted with severe punishment like thunder and rain.

The bloody scene of the last failed Yidaizhao incident is still vivid in our minds.

Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Zhong Ji and other loyal ministers were all exterminated by Cao Cao.

The pregnant Concubine Dong could not escape the disaster and was strangled to death by Cao Cao's order.

Cao Cao's brutal and bloody revenge made him shrouded in fear for several years, and he was awakened by nightmares countless nights.

How could he not be worried after completely breaking up with Cao Cao today?

Only after hearing Kong Rong's comforting words did Liu Xie's tense nerves gradually relax and his fists slowly loosened.

Looking back in the direction of Xudu, there was no sign of Cao's pursuing troops. All signs indicated that this mutiny and escape seemed to have been successful.

"I have escaped, I have finally escaped from the clutches of Cao Cao, I am free, I am free..."

Liu Xie was ecstatic and felt relieved, and the curve of his mouth could no longer be suppressed.

At this moment, the emperor was like a bird that had escaped from a cage, feeling extremely happy both physically and mentally. If he had not been concerned about Kong Rong being by his side and had not wanted to maintain his image as an emperor, he would have burst into laughter long ago.

After taking a few deep breaths, Liu Xie suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and turned his gaze from Xudu to Jingzhou.

"Mr. Kong, how would my uncle treat me?"

Liu Xie calmed down, and a hint of worry appeared in his tone.

Kong Rong could understand the implication of Liu Xie's words, which was that he was worried that Liu Bei would be the second Cao Cao.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. Lord Xuande is a benevolent and righteous gentleman, and he is also your Majesty's uncle. Based on Rong's understanding of him, he will certainly respect and honor your Majesty, and will never become another Cao Cao!"

Kong Rong made a firm assurance, and his eyes and tone showed absolute trust.

Liu Xie nodded slightly, feeling more confident.

After coughing twice, Liu Xie asked in a tentative tone:

"Then, according to Mr. Kong, if I were to follow Emperor Gaozu's example and personally lead the army to defeat Cao Cao, would my uncle, Emperor Xuande, support me?"

What Liu Xie meant was naturally that he wanted to ask Kong Rong whether Liu Bei would allow him to take control of the military power again.

Kong Rong, however, did not carefully consider the hidden meaning of Liu Xie's words, and without thinking, he advised:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. That thief Cao is a master of military strategy. Looking across the land, no one can rival him except Lord Xuande."

"Even if Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, if we face Cao Cao on the battlefield, I believe you will be defeated without a doubt, and only the loss of soldiers will be in vain."

"Leading the army to fight the bandits is something that should be left to Lord Xuande. As the Son of Heaven, Your Majesty should stay in the capital and ensure that Lord Xuande has no worries."

Liu Xie swallowed and frowned slightly.

He still had some self-awareness and knew that his military strategy was far inferior to Cao Cao, let alone Liu Bei.

But Kong Rong was too straightforward. Although what he said was the truth, it was so blunt that it made him feel uncomfortable.

The key point is that Kong Rong didn't grasp the key point.

The key point is not whether he can command troops, but whether Liu Bei is willing to give him military power and allow him to command the troops.

"Your Majesty, please listen to what I have to say from the bottom of my heart."

"When Your Majesty ascended the throne, you inherited a Han Dynasty that was falling apart and full of bandits. It can be said that you were appointed in times of crisis and faced great difficulties."

"I believe that regardless of whether Your Majesty personally led the troops to wipe out the rebels and restore the Han Dynasty to its former glory, Your Majesty can be called the Lord of Restoration, comparable to Emperor Guangwu."

"As long as the Han Dynasty can be revived, Your Majesty, why should you worry about those meaningless and empty names?"

Kong Rong spoke earnestly and earnestly to Liu Xie, pouring out his innermost thoughts.

Liu Xie fell silent, his eyes surging like waves, as if he had realized something.

"Cao's army is chasing us! Cao's army is catching up!"

Outside the imperial carriage, the screams of soldiers suddenly rang out.

Liu Xie, who was deep in thought, shuddered, his face suddenly changed, and he quickly looked behind him.

really.

Dust and fog were flying on the road behind them. Hundreds of fully armed Cao's cavalrymen had been chasing them at lightning speed without them knowing when.

"Kong Qing, why did Cao's army chase us here?"

Liu Xie was suddenly confused and looked at Kong Rong in shock.

Kong Rong was also extremely surprised and puzzled.

According to the pre-planned plan, after leaving Xudu, they split into two teams and headed south towards Ye County to attract pursuers.

Their team unexpectedly headed west and took a detour towards Luyang.

According to the plan, shouldn't Cao's army be led to the southern road in a swarm? How did they chase to the west?
"I don't understand why. Could it be that Xun Wenruo saw through our deceptive tactics?"

"But Xun Wenruo also has his heart set on the Han Dynasty. Even if he knew Your Majesty was heading west, he shouldn't have pointed it out, right?"

Kong Rong's forehead was covered with sweat, and he was still full of doubts. While the emperor and his minister were puzzled, hundreds of Cao's cavalrymen were already rolling in.

Kong Rong had to calm down and comforted him:

"We are not far from the Ying River. Given the speed of Cao's pursuit, we still have a chance to cross the river in time. As long as we cross the river and meet up with Lord Xuande's reinforcements, we won't be afraid of these pursuers."

"Don't panic, Your Majesty. We still have a chance!"

After hearing Kong Rong's comfort, Liu Xie finally breathed a sigh of relief, sat down again, and tried his best to maintain the composure that an emperor should have.

"Ancestors of the Han Dynasty, if you believe that I, Liu Xie, am worthy of being the leader of the restoration, then please bless me and help me survive this disaster..."

Liu Xie closed his eyes and prayed silently in his heart.

A hundred steps away.

Cao Pi was galloping on his horse, leading hundreds of his personal guards, and chasing them madly.

When Cao Pi saw the emperor's sedan chair appear in front of him, ecstasy immediately welled up in his eyes.

"Sima Zhongda is truly a prophet. Liu Xie is indeed fleeing westward. This must be God's help, helping me become the heir to the Cao family!"

Cao Pi raised the corner of his mouth, and immediately urged his guards to chase after him with whips madly.

However, the people fleeing in front soon discovered the pursuers behind them and began to run wildly at full speed.

Although Cao Pi and his pursuers were closing the distance between them, the process was very slow.

"The Ying River is not far ahead. According to Zhongda's calculations, the troops Liu Bei sent to support us should be on the west bank of the Ying River."

"If I continue to chase him this way, I'm afraid the emperor will have already escaped across the Ying River before I can catch up. How can I possibly catch up with him then?"

"No, we absolutely cannot let the emperor escape the Yingshui River..."

Cao Pi's eyes rolled a few times, and suddenly a cold and fierce light flashed in his eyes.

After a slight hesitation, he grabbed the bow and arrow and wanted to order his guards to shoot arrows.

Only in this way will there be a chance to shoot the horses in the imperial chariot and keep the emperor.

"Let me—"

Cao Pi swallowed the words back before he could finish his words.

Arrows have no eyes. If they are shot randomly, what if they accidentally hurt the emperor?
His only purpose in this trip was to pursue the emperor and get the most important bargaining chip in the fight for the throne of the Cao family.

If one accidentally injures or even kills the emperor, wouldn't the merit turn into a sin?

Can he bear the blame for regicide?
Cao Pi hesitated.

But if he didn't shoot the arrow, would he just watch the emperor escape and ascend to heaven right under his nose?

How should I explain to Cao Cao after returning to Xu Du?
Instead of getting any credit, he might be blamed by Cao Cao for his incompetence. He might even be taken advantage of by Cao Zhi and his gang and be blamed for letting the emperor escape.

In this case, wouldn't it be a huge loss, not just a gain?

Cao Pi rolled his eyes a few times, his gaze shot towards Wu Zhi beside him, and he shouted:
"Wu Zhi, why did my Cao family raise you? It's only for today's matter!"

"If the emperor escapes, both you and I will be blamed. Why don't you take action?"

Wu Zhi's heart was shocked.

Although Cao Pi did not say it explicitly, how could he not hear the implication in his words?

This means he has to take the lead and give orders to shoot arrows at the fleeing troops in front!

Shooting an arrow could potentially injure the emperor, and Wu Zhi knew the risks involved.

However, he came from a humble background, and it was thanks to the support of Cao Cao and the favor of Cao Pi that he was able to hold his current official position.

It is not an exaggeration for Cao Pi to say that it was the Cao family that raised him.

Now that he is needed to step forward and help Cao Pi share his worries, how can he hesitate?

Thinking of this, Wu Zhi gritted his teeth and shouted:

"Everyone, listen up! Shoot your arrows! We must keep the emperor alive no matter what!"

After saying that, Wu Zhi bent his bow and shot the first arrow.

Seeing this, hundreds of guards had no choice but to draw their bows and shoot arrows.

Sharp arrows whizzed up like raindrops and shot towards the troops in front.

Wei Huang and others had never expected that the pursuing Cao army would dare to disregard the lives of the emperor and empress and shoot arrows openly without restraint.

They were caught off guard and shot down in an instant, with countless people being shot down and screams suddenly rang out.

Inside the imperial carriage.

Liu Xie, who was praying with his eyes closed, heard screams outside the car. He thought that Cao's army had caught up with him, and his face changed.

He suddenly opened his eyes and pushed open the car door without thinking, wanting to see what was going on.

"Your Majesty, you cannot—"

When Kong Rong wanted to stop him, the car door had already been pushed open by Liu Xie.

"Whoosh-"

A sharp arrow came towards him.

With a scream, Liu Xie fell on his back.

"His Majesty!"

Kong Rong screamed and risked his life to rush over and close the car door. When he looked back at Liu Xie, he was horrified.

The arrow was so powerful that it pierced Liu Xie's chest.

With such a fatal injury, even if a god came, it would be difficult to save Liu Xie!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty~~"

Kong Rong was frightened and heartbroken. He supported Liu Xie's body and was at a loss for what to do for a moment.

Liu Xie raised his head with difficulty, took a look at the wound on his chest, and knew that he would not survive.

"I was ultimately unable to escape the clutches of Cao Cao, and was ultimately not destined to be the ruler of a revived China..."

Blood gushed out of Liu Xie's mouth and he let out a sad and bitter sigh.

"Your Majesty, I failed to protect you. I am guilty of your Majesty and of the Han Dynasty..."

Kong Rong was in tears and blamed himself in disbelief.

Liu Xie did not blame him, but said weakly:
"This is my fate. It has nothing to do with you, Kong Qing. I don't have time. I have a will for my uncle..."

Kong Rong suddenly reacted, and hurriedly tore off a corner of his clothes and held it in front of Liu Xie with both hands.

Liu Xie dipped his hand in blood and tremblingly wrote: Appoint my uncle Liu Bei as the general and assist Jiyin King Liu Xi in inheriting the throne...

Kong Rong quickly realized that Liu Xie knew that his time was running out, and before his death he wanted to entrust his only son Liu Xi to Liu Bei to succeed to the throne and complete his unfinished task of reviving the Han Dynasty.

"The Prince of Jiyin is only five years old. How can he shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and with the protection of the Han ancestors, you will surely be able to turn this crisis into safety, surely..."

Kong Rong knew that he was deceiving himself and could not continue speaking at the end.

Liu Xie tightly grasped Kong Rong's hand and, with his last breath, said:
"Mr. Kong, you must survive and see Uncle Xuande..."

"Tell him that his talent is ten times greater than mine, and he will surely defeat Cao Cao and restore the Han Dynasty!"

"If Liu Xi can be assisted, then assist him. If he is mediocre and incompetent, then he can become the emperor himself!"

"As long as the Han Dynasty survives, and as long as the vast land of China remains under the Liu family name, I will rest in peace in my grave."

(End of this chapter)