Chapter 9

Cao Shuo and two guards escorted Cao Cao, walking swiftly along the way.

They encountered some of Zhang Xiu's troops along the way.

Due to wearing the enemy's armor, most of the Zhang Xiu troops they met just passed by. Occasionally, two teams would come up to talk, merely asking if they had seen Cao Cao. Under Cao Shuo's responses, they didn't suspect them.

Each time they encountered enemy troops, Cao Shuo could answer fluently. Although Cao Cao didn't speak, his expression showed that he was highly appreciative.

As they moved further away from Wan City, the number of Zhang Xiu's troops they encountered decreased.

Feeling safer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Cao Cao asked Cao Shuo, "With Zhang Xiu's rebellion, the defenses in Wan City must be tight. How did you escape?"

While protecting Cao Cao's escape, Cao Shuo hadn't mentioned how he escaped from Wan City.

Only when Cao Cao asked did he say, "Zhang Xiu indeed planned to kill me first. Fortunately, he sent many people to chase and block me, otherwise, it would have been hard to escape from the city."

Looking at him in surprise, Cao Cao asked, "More people chasing and blocking you made it easier to escape?"

Cao Shuo said, "If he hadn't sent so many people, where would I have gotten their armor? Without this disguise, escaping from Wan City would have been as difficult as ascending to the sky."

Cao Shuo had been physically weak since childhood. Before coming to Wan City, he had never left Lady Bian's side.

Facing such a predicament for the first time, he not only didn't panic but successfully escaped from Wan City and even rescued Cao Cao along the way.

Staring at Cao Shuo for a moment, Cao Cao didn't say more.

The group continued forward.

Cao Shuo said, "Father, there's something I don't know if I should say."

"Speak!"

"Before I met you, I encountered my elder brother," Cao Shuo said.

"Where is he?" Mentioning Cao Ang, Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he asked urgently.

Cao Shuo lowered his head and said to Cao Cao, "My elder brother blocked the enemy. I didn't recognize him from behind. By the time I realized it was him, he had already fallen in battle."

Upon hearing that Cao Ang had died in battle, Cao Cao was stunned.

Though he didn't speak, his eyes glistened with tears.

"Father, please take care," Cao Shuo said. "When we return to the army, I am willing to lead troops back to Wan City to avenge my elder brother!"

Cao Cao waved his hand, suppressing the pain of losing his beloved son. "Our army has just suffered a defeat, and the morale of the troops is low. Even if we return, we won't gain much advantage."

"Are we just going to let my elder brother die in vain?" Cao Shuo asked.

He didn't have much affection for Cao Ang, but he knew that Cao Cao valued loyalty and brotherhood.

By volunteering to lead troops back to Wan City to avenge Cao Ang, he showed Cao Cao that he valued brotherhood, which would benefit him in the future.

"Your body is weak," Cao Cao said. "When we return to the army, you need to rest and recuperate. The campaign against Zhang Xiu will happen, but not now."

On the way out of Wan City, Cao Shuo had already felt the limitations of his weak body.

If it weren't for the killing skills he learned in the army, with his small frame, he wouldn't stand a chance in a direct confrontation with even a regular soldier.

To survive in a chaotic world, this couldn't continue!

As they were walking, a group of people appeared ahead.

Only a few dozen people were coming towards them.

They were all cavalry and wore Cao's army armor.

Seeing this group, Cao Shuo instructed the guards, "Raise a white cloth and tell them Father is here!"

The group of cavalry coming towards them also saw them.

The Cao army on horseback all drew their bows and arrows.

One of the guards following Cao Shuo tore a strip of white cloth from his inner clothing and waved it as he ran towards the Cao army.

As the guard ran, the Cao army aimed their arrows at him.

"Don't shoot!" The guard shouted, waving the white cloth. "Lord Cao is here!"

Hearing that Lord Cao was there, the Cao army looked at their general.

The general raised his hand, and the Cao army lowered their bows.

Stopping his horse behind Cao Cao, Cao Shuo saw the guard turn and point towards them.

Soon, the general led a few soldiers galloping over, while the others waited in place.

As he approached, the general recognized Cao Cao and quickly dismounted, running over.

Seeing this general, Cao Cao smiled and asked, "Mancheng, how are the troops?"

The general running over wasn't as imposing as Dian Wei, with a hint of scholarly air in his features.

He was none other than Li Dian, who had followed Cao Cao since the recruitment in Chenliu.

Bowing deeply, Li Dian said, "I am late, and Lord Cao has suffered!"

"Fortunately, I have Shuo. Otherwise, I would have been harmed by the villains," Cao Cao said.

First, Li Dian bowed to Cao Shuo and said, "Thank you, Second Prince!"

Cao Shuo returned the bow and said, "As a son, protecting my father is my duty. I dare not say it is hard work!"

After Li Dian and Cao Shuo exchanged pleasantries, Cao Cao asked, "How are the troops?"

Li Dian said, "Zhang Xiu's sudden attack threw the troops into disarray. It took a long time for me and several generals to gather over two thousand men."

"This failure is all my fault," Cao Cao sighed. "If I hadn't been tempted by Zou's beauty, none of this would have happened!"

"Lord Cao, there's no need to blame yourself," Li Dian said. "Zhang Xiu had intentions to rebel. Even if Lord Cao did nothing, he would have rebelled!"

Li Dian's words were meant to comfort Cao Cao.

Cao Cao, of course, knew this.

He didn't dwell on it and asked Li Dian, "Where are the troops stationed?"

"Just a short distance ahead," Li Dian said, pointing back. "We didn't dare to withdraw without seeing Lord Cao."

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go back to the camp," Cao Cao said, waving his hand.

Li Dian and Cao Shuo accompanied Cao Cao on either side, while the others surrounded them, heading towards the camp.

After walking about six or seven li, Cao Shuo saw a camp ahead.

Compared to the camp Cao Cao had set up outside Wan City, this one was much smaller.

The Cao army had suffered a major defeat, and the morale of the troops was low, making the camp seem lifeless.

"Lord Cao has returned!" A Cao army soldier galloped out from a distance, shouting as he rode.

The lifeless camp immediately came to life.

Many Cao army soldiers ran out of their tents, and the generals came out to greet Cao Cao, bowing to him.

Cao Cao first greeted the generals and then said to Cao Shuo, "You must be tired. Go back to the camp and rest. I'll call you if there's anything."

"Father, you must also be tired from the journey. Don't overwork yourself!" Cao Shuo said.

Cao Cao nodded.

Entering the camp, the generals escorted Cao Cao, while Cao Shuo, with two guards, followed an officer to the tent prepared for him.

At the tent, the two guards were about to leave when Cao Shuo asked, "Are there any stonemasons and carpenters in the camp?"

"What do you need stonemasons and carpenters for, Prince?" one of them asked.

PS: Important Notice: This book is purely fictional. "The Rogue Soldier King" is not based on "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Many of the events in the book are fabricated by the author. Readers who are overly concerned with historical accuracy should proceed with caution.

New book uploaded, making a statement in advance. Although I know that historical accuracy enthusiasts always have a point, I just want to express my attitude—those who don't genuinely like this book and are just here to find faults, feel free to do as you please, criticize as you like, and have your fun. I need to write updates for those who truly enjoy this book, and I don't have time to waste on things that make me uncomfortable.

Finally, thank you to all the brothers and sisters who like Wei Yan and this book. With your support, my new book will be even more exciting!

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