"Money, my money!" Xiahou Mao screamed as the warehouse on the left caught fire. All his banknotes were stored there.
"Young master, hurry up, Guan Yu is here!" The attendant took Xiahou Mi out.
"The Dragon Head Stone must be taken with you!" Xiahou Mi pointed at the box and shouted.
Two men stepped forward and lifted the box, and everyone hurried out. There was thick smoke and fire everywhere, and they could vaguely hear shouts and screams. Some people were running for their lives, while others were still robbing frantically, carrying large and small bags.
A cavalry unit passed through the streets and the servants were horrified. They dropped their boxes and ran away. Xiahou Mao was so angry that he cursed loudly, but he could do nothing. He turned to the most prosperous back street and saw that all the buildings and shops on both sides were on fire.
Everyone left the city amid the smoke and fire. Cao Tai organized the remaining soldiers and met Xiahou Mao. He stamped his feet and said, "This time we have angered the people in the city and brought Guan Yu in. All our efforts have been wasted. What should we do now?"
Xiahou Mao was in a daze. He looked back at the fire, looking dazed and dejected. Suddenly he burst into laughter.
Cao Tai was surprised and asked, "Brother Zilin, are you okay?"
Xiahou Mao pointed at the highest flame and laughed, "Burned... All burned, Hanyuan Bank was also burned, Liu Qi lost more than me, hahahaha..."
Cao Tai sighed, "Now is not the time to worry about gains and losses. Guan Yu will catch up soon. Let's go!"
"It's over, all my money is gone..." Xiahou Mao suddenly burst into tears again, and climbed onto the horse while crying. Cao's army retreated in a panic.
At this time, Guan Yu had already entered the government office and sat on the commander's seat. He neither ordered people to put out the fire nor went to chase after Xiahou Mi.
Zhou Cang said anxiously, "If you don't send troops, Xiahou Mao will run away."
Guan Yu stroked his beard and said, "Let him go, he is a scoundrel!"
Zhou Cang said angrily: "Xiahou Mao's words are outrageous and insult the Lord. I will cut him into pieces."
Guan Yu stroked his beard and smiled, "A tiger won't fight a dog, so why should we care about him?"
At this moment, Guan Ping came in and reported: "Father, why didn't you send an order to put out the fire?"
Guan Yu snorted slightly: "The fire in my heart has not yet subsided, so let it burn for a while."
Guan Ping said anxiously: "If we burn Ye County again, it will be reduced to ashes. There are many properties of the eldest sons here."
"Let him go!" Guan Yu slowly stood up and said with emotion: "If a man cannot leave his name in history, everything will be just like a passing cloud."
Zhou Cang was full of doubts: "Is the anger in your heart gone or not?"
Guan Yu laughed and said, "Haven't you heard that water benefits all things without competing with them, so no one can compete with it?"
Guan Ping frowned and said, "There doesn't seem to be such a saying in the Spring and Autumn Period."
Guan Yu walked to the door, his battle robe blew up by the night wind, and he said in a clear voice: "Since Kong Ming gave me three volumes of the Tao Te Ching last year, I have learned that the highest good is like water, that a good warrior is not violent, and that a good warrior is not angry. This makes me feel deeply moved."
Guan Ping and Zhou Cang looked at each other in shock. Is this still the intimidating Marquis of Han Shou Ting
At dawn, Zhang Liao led 5,000 cavalrymen to Ye County, hoping to take the city. However, he was surprised when he approached the city.
All around Ye County, there were tents everywhere, with soldiers and horses standing in solemn formation. Guan Yu rode out and stood in front of the formation, while Zhuge Liang stood on the top of the city wall, waving a feather fan. Overnight, the city had become the front camp.
Guan Yu stroked his beard and glanced at the Cao army who were in a state of shock. He said in a clear voice: "Wenyuan, are you well?"
Zhang Liao was filled with doubt and uncertainty. He clasped his fists and said, "It has been several years since we last met in Xuchang. Your Excellency is still as majestic as ever!"
Guan Yu laughed loudly and said in a deep voice: "Since you knew I was here, why did you invade?"
"This..." Zhang Liao clasped his fists and said, "I heard that someone looted Ye County, so I came here to quell the rebellion. Since you have arrived first, I will take my leave now."
Guan Yu said in a deep voice: "Xiahou Dun is a bad father. The young boy is so arrogant. Bring Xiahou Mao to make amends immediately. Otherwise, I will kill him even if I have to traverse the Central Plains to avenge my hatred!"
Zhang Liao was shocked and said, "Your Excellency is a man of great prestige throughout the world. Why would you bother to argue with a youngster?"
Guan Yu was furious and said, "You, a young man, have slandered me. If I do not punish you, will you not be laughed at by the world? For the sake of our past friendship, I will not fight with you. You must hand over the person within three days, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless."
Seeing that the enemy was powerful, Zhang Liao did not dare to delay. He bid farewell to Guan Yu and led his troops to flee far away, and immediately ordered to strengthen the defense at the border.
At the same time, he sent people to inform Xuchang that the army of Jingzhou was dispatched, and Guan Yu used the excuse of sending troops, and it was very likely that he would march into the Central Plains, so preparations needed to be made early.
Xiahou Mao returned to Xuchang overnight. He was shocked and angry at seeing his years of hard work go down the drain. He was also mocked by his two brothers and treated coldly by his wife. He fell ill and never recovered.
Upon hearing the news, Cao Pi took Xiahou Mao home and ordered a doctor to examine him. Without Xiahou Mao's help in the past few years, Cao Pi would not have been appreciated by Cao Cao so quickly. After becoming the Duke of Wei, he would not have been directly designated as the crown prince.
Outsiders all talked about Xiahou Mao as a spoiled brat who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun and was good for nothing, but Cao Pi knew that he had made great contributions to the Cao family in recent years and had endured humiliation and hardship without any complaints.
That day, things finally got better. Xiahou Mao lay on the bed, looking at the roof and muttering, "Autumn, autumn again, everything is empty..."
I remember the first time I went to Xiangyang, it was also in autumn when I encountered a strong wind on the Xiangjiang River. The boat sank and I almost lost my life. The fisherman once said: Spring dreams and autumn farts are all in vain.
In the past few years, he had been able to call the shots in Ye County and had enjoyed great glory, but it really seemed like a dream. He became so disheartened that he took down the sword from his bedside table and prepared to commit suicide.
Xiahou Ba happened to come to visit, and he quickly grabbed him and shouted, "Zilin, a real man should wield a three-foot sword to make achievements and gain fame. If you commit suicide at the slightest setback, how can you still be worthy of being my Xiahou disciple?"
"Second brother..." Xiahou Mao's eyes were dull, "I have nothing now, my career is unfinished, I have no family to go back to, and I am already as depressed as a dead man."
Xiahou Ba said, "Do you still remember the time when we swore to avenge our humiliation by the Xiang River? In the past two years, I have been practicing martial arts and Ziming has been studying the art of war, all for the sake of fame. Although you have failed in your business, your contributions are still there. The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince know this very well, otherwise how could they have taken you to their mansion to look after you?"
"Alas—" Xiahou Mao sighed bitterly, looked at the houses around him, and said with a wry smile: "At this point, I am alone, what else can I do?"
Xiahou Badao said, "I came here today to discuss this matter with you. A great war is about to break out in the Central Plains. Guanzhong is urgently seeking help, and Huainan is raising troops. People are needed everywhere. As long as you cheer up, with my courage and your wisdom, we can work together to achieve success."
Xiahou Mao was startled and asked in confusion: "You two have learned something, but I am useless and have never led an army. Why do you need to bring me along as a burden?"
Xiahou Ba sighed, "Brother, you don't know. Although Ziming and I are willing to lead the army, we don't have enough prestige, and Zihuan is worried about letting us go out alone. He has always spoken highly of you and has high hopes for you. As long as you cheer up and take the initiative to share his worries, you will definitely be valued by the prince and it is not impossible for you to take charge of the army."
"Really?" Xiahou Mao's eyes lit up, then he frowned and said, "Can I... do it?"
Xiahou Ba said: "You just need to take charge and plan the troops, and I will assist you two!"
"It seems that I can't escape the fate of being a descendant of a general!" Xiahou took a deep breath and laughed: "Brothers are united, one is a scholar and the other is a warrior, why worry about not accomplishing great things?"