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This was the second time Cao Hong was ordered to guard Nanyang. During the first time, during the guard Nanyang, Cao Hong lost Wancheng because he led his army to raid Nanyang, and was criticized by Cao Cao. Despite this, Cao Cao finally appointed Cao Hong to guard Nanyang.

After learning from the first lesson, Cao Hong humbly sought a plan to defend Nanyang. Cheng Yu taught him the plan. The first is to strictly prohibit outsiders from entering and leaving Wancheng at will, the second is to strictly prevent insiders and pay attention to the every move of the Nanyang family. The first is to strengthen the city defense and eliminate all loopholes in the city defense.

Cao Hong thus strictly implemented the strategy taught by Cheng Yu. He moved the Wancheng market outside the city and strictly prohibited foreign merchants from entering the city. Even those who come to search for relatives and friends must strictly check and register.

The second is to impose a curfew. After dark, all shops and taverns in Wancheng must be closed, and ordinary people are not allowed to go to the streets. No matter what their identity is, people who violate the curfew will be warned for the first time, and they will be executed for the second time.

As for strictly preventing inner ghosts, Cao Hong mainly monitored the eighteen major families in Nanyang, especially the prominent families in Wancheng, the Deng family, Zhang family and Huang family. Cao Hong sent people to closely monitor them.

Although most families in Nanyang County expressed their support for the Cao army, Cao Hong did not believe their sincerity. He knew very well that most of the famous families in the world supported the Han Kingdom in Chang'an. In his opinion, the Wancheng clans were just fence-bearers.

As for the great noble family in Wancheng, Cao Hong was even more alert. Deng Yi was once a high-ranking official in Jingzhou, and his son was also valued in the Han Dynasty. The Zhang family, due to Zhang Ji, had a deep relationship with Jingzhou.

As for the Huang family, let alone, although Huang Chengyan mainly supported Jiaozhou because of Zhuge Liang, another important figure in the Huang family, Huang Zhong, was the first military figure in the Han army.

It is precisely because of these reasons that although Cao Hong appeared to have a friendship with the prominent family, he secretly sent people to closely monitor the big family.

A few days ago, Cao Hong received an urgent order from Cao Cao from Hefei, asking him to organize civilians to transport 100,000 stones of grain from Ye County to Hefei to prepare for war. Cao Hong did not dare to neglect and immediately organized 20,000 civilians from Ye, Jin, Kunyang, Luyang and Duyang to transport military rations to Hefei.

On the other hand, when Ye County was sent to Hefei, Cao Hong was worried that Nanyang would lack food. He specially summoned several large-scale landlords to talk to the government a few days ago, hoping that they could take the initiative to sell grain to the government to maintain Nanyang's grain storage.

That night, Cao Hong wrote a letter to Cao Cao in his study to report to Cao Cao about the situation in Nanyang. According to the latest information he received, the Han army had launched a large increase in troops towards Tongguan, which might be to attack Luoyang. In addition, Xiangfan's recruited troops are temporarily stable, but Xiangyang has implemented martial law and strictly inspected pedestrians entering and leaving, which shows that the battle of Hefei has affected Xiangyang.

Just then, there was a sound of footsteps outside, and only Jia Kui's voice came from the courtyard, "General Lian, I'm afraid the situation has changed."

Jia Kui served as the governor of Yuzhou. At that time, Cao Hong was in charge of Runan's military. Although Mao Jie impeached Cao Hong for selling Yellow Turban prisoners of war without authorization, he defended Cao Hong, believing that although Cao Hong was guilty of selling prisoners of war in private, he was a meritorious in saving the population, and eventually saved Cao Hong from being punished.

Jia Kui and Cao Hong’s personal relationship was pretty good. At that time, Cao Hong’s daughter married Xun Can and became a wife, and was a matchmaker for Jia Kui. Cao Cao also learned from the past lessons and tried his best to be in harmony with the generals and ministers, so he appointed Jia Kui as the guardian of Nanyang and also served as Cao Hong’s military advisor.

Cao Hong was shocked, put down his pen and stood up and asked, "What's the situation changing?"

Jia Kui looked grim and said anxiously: "I just received a message from Feige from Wuguan. A Han army of tens of thousands of people had just passed Wuguan."

The news surprised Cao Hong and asked quickly: "Didn't it mean that the Han army has launched a large increase in troops to Tongguan?"

"This must be Liu Jing's secret plan for Chen Cang. He openly launched a large-scale increase in troops to Tongguan, but in fact he secretly sent troops to Wuguan, preparing to attack Nanyang."

"But"

Cao Hong really wondered, "Why did the Han army attack Nanyang?"

Jia Kui sneered and said, "It's very simple. In order to open up the Nanxiang Pass, the materials from Guanzhong can be directly connected to the Han River through Dan Water and transported to the Hefei front line, and no longer traveled to Hanzhong or Bashu, and conquered Nanyang. At the same time, it also gave Xiangyang a barrier to prevent us from attacking Xiangfan from the western front and breaking the siege of Hefei."

Cao Hong couldn't speak for a long time, and his heart was already in chaos. He didn't know what to do for a moment. Jia Kui reminded him again: "Lian must report to Duke Wei immediately, and at the same time, he ordered troops from all over Nanyang to gather in Wancheng urgently."

A sentence reminded Cao Hong that the letter he wrote to Cao Cao was fortunately not sent out, but at this time he did not care about writing the letter and immediately ordered his personal soldiers: "So quickly send my urgent order and order the garrisons in Ye County, Nanxiang and Yuyang to retreat to Wancheng immediately."

After arranging the withdrawal of the army, Cao Hong bowed to Jia Kui and said, "Thank you, Mr., for telling me. In addition, the civil affairs department should also ask Mr. to do an emergency response."

At this moment, a personal soldier walked forward quickly and whispered to Cao Hong. Cao Hong was slightly stunned, "Is the news reliable?"

"It's really reliable, someone has witnessed it."

Jia Kui next to him asked, "General, what happened?"

"The soldiers sent to monitor the Deng family discovered Deng Yichang Deng Hong."

Jia Kui frowned, "Is it the Deng family brother who served as the magistrate of Chang'an County?"

"It's this person"

Jia Kui pondered for a moment and said, "Deng Hong is back at this sensitive time, I'm afraid there is no intention. General should not be careless."

Cao Hong sneered and said, "Since the Deng family wants to take the initiative to take the lead, I might as well help him."

After saying that, he shouted sternly: "Click on the five brothers and follow me to the Deng family."

Jia Kui was startled and quickly reminded Cao Hong, "General, the Deng family has a great influence, so you should not be reckless."

"Sir, don't worry, I have my own sense of responsibility." Cao Hong said a word and turned around and walked out quickly.

Jia Kui was very worried when the Han army was about to arrive, so he hurried to the county yamen.

Deng's Mansion is located in the north of the city. It is a huge house covering an area of ​​10 to 50 acres. The Deng family's seven houses. Except for the houses not in Wancheng, nearly two people live in the other four houses.

At night, Deng Yizheng and his son Deng Hong talked about the situation in the Han Dynasty in detail. Ren Ping and forty Eagle Strike Army had taken advantage of the opportunity to deliver food to get into the city and temporarily lived in another house in the Deng family. Deng Yi was more concerned about the situation in the Han Dynasty and must ask his son's situation clearly.

"Father, the Han Dynasty is indeed very exciting and makes people see the future. I am not saying that the officials are so honest. I have also met corrupt officials. But in general, the Han Dynasty has a spirit of upward progress from top to bottom. In the past, the Han Dynasty's lifeless and drooling state was completely impossible to see in it. It is actually a new dynasty about to be established, full of vitality and hope, especially the people have placed the hope of a happy life on King Liu Jing of Han, which has given him a lofty prestige in the Han Dynasty."

Deng Yi nodded and sighed, "After many years ago, just after Liu Jing arrived in Jingzhou, I found that Liu Jingsheng's nephew was extraordinary and far stronger than Liu Qi and Liu Cong. Unfortunately, I did not go to Jiangxia because of a short time, but returned to Nanyang. Otherwise, the achievements of the Deng family would be limitless today."

This is something that Deng Yi has always been worried about. He had obviously helped Liu Jing and could have gone to Jiangxia to serve as chief minister, but he gave up going to Jiangxia by magic. Later, when Liu Jing unified Jingzhou and invited him to Jingzhou again to serve as a different position, he suffered a stroke and was paralyzed again.

Losing the opportunity to work with Liu Jing is the biggest regret in Deng Yi's life. He can only rely on his hopes, hoping that Liu Jing can give Er or the Deng family another chance in view of his secret help from Jingzhou.

Fortunately, my son did not disappoint him and had been promoted to Chang'an County Magistrate, equivalent to the position of county magistrate. In a few years, my son would have hope to be promoted to guard, which would make him full of expectations for the future of the Deng family.

At this time, Deng Hong whispered again: "Does my father still remember the Chaisang Tao family?"

Deng Yi nodded, "Of course I remember that Tao Lie was appointed as the governor of Nanyang County and had a good relationship with your grandfather. The two families often had contacts, but the Tao family did have great luck. They married their daughter to Liu Jing early, and the Tao family would undoubtedly become the first relative of the foreign country."

Speaking of this, Deng Yi couldn't help but ask strangely: "Why did my son suddenly mention the Tao family?"

Deng Hong stuttered: "The child knows Tao Han's eldest daughter, and she is quite affectionate with the child."

Deng Yi was stunned for a moment, and after a long time of reaction, he asked uneasy: "You mean, you want to marry the daughter of the Tao family."

Deng Hong nodded, "I don't know what my father intended."

The son actually wanted to marry the daughter of the Tao family. Although Deng Yi just said that the Deng family had a friendship with the Tao family, and said that the Tao family had a great fortune and would become the first relative of the foreign country, Deng Yi was very reluctant to marry the Tao family. The Deng family was the first family in Nanyang, so how could he marry the merchant family? Besides, he was the daughter of the Tao Sheng clan’s brother.

Deng Yi's face immediately sank, and he shook his head without hesitation: "I don't agree with this marriage."

"But the child has married the daughter of the Tao family."

Deng Hong stuttered and told the truth. Deng Yi was as if he was struck by lightning. He was stunned for a long time before slamming the table and shouting: "Rebellious, why don't you tell me such a big thing?"

Deng Hong knelt down, "Don't calm down. The child came this time to report this matter to his father."

"You're going to piss me off."

Deng Yi slapped the table repeatedly, but Mu Yichengzhou came back to report, so angry that he almost vomited blood.

At this moment, the housekeeper rushed up the steps in a panic and reported: "Master, something is not good. Cao Hong led the army to surround our mansion. He was outside the gate and asked the master to go out to explain."

This sudden news was like a basin of cold water, which immediately extinguished Deng Yi's agitatedness. Although it made him angry, Cao Hong's arrival made him feel nervous. Could it be that Cao Hong knew that he had secretly helped the Han army?

Deng Yi glared fiercely and said, "It seems that your trouble is coming. Cao Hong comes to the door and there will be no good things. If he asks you, you will say that you will come home for the marriage and don't say anything else."

"The boy knows it"
Chapter completed!