Chapter 112

"General, I don't think they will come out of the city to surrender. Why don't we just attack?"

At this time, Xiahou Dun, who was waiting under the city, saw that there had been no response for so long and became somewhat impatient, saying to Cao Cao.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao replied in a calm tone, comforting him:

"Miaocai, no need to worry. There are only four thousand troops in the city, and Wang Fang is dead. I am certain they will come out to surrender!"

As the future Martial Emperor of Great Wei, Cao Cao still possessed this level of insight and foresight.

Sure enough, just as Cao Cao's voice fell, the gates of Heguang City slowly opened, and Zuo Ling was seen walking out with a group of people.

Seeing this scene, Cao Cao could not help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly. It seemed that as he had expected, the garrison of Heguang City had chosen to surrender.

Just as Cao Cao's thoughts were turning, Zuo Ling had already led a group of people to Cao Cao's front.

Looking at Cao Cao, who was surrounded by a group of martial generals, Zuo Ling looked at him respectfully and asked cautiously:

"May I ask if this is General Cao?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao glanced at Zuo Ling, straightened his collar, and said loudly:

"I am Cao Cao. Who are you?"

Hearing that the martial general before him was indeed the commander of the imperial army, Cao Cao, Zuo Ling immediately knelt on the ground and shouted loudly at Cao Cao:

"I am Zuo Ling, deputy commander of the Heguang City garrison. I lead the civil and military officials of Heguang City to surrender to the General. I beg the General to deal with us leniently!"

At this time, the people behind Zuo Ling, seeing his actions, also knelt on the ground and shouted in unison:

"We are willing to surrender to the General, we beg the General to deal with us leniently!"

Seeing Zuo Ling and his men surrender, Cao Cao and the others were full of joy. Xiahou Dun and the others beside him were full of triumph.

Now that Heguang City had surrendered, their mission had been a complete success.

They only needed to arrange the affairs in the city properly before they could return to the capital in triumph.

Cao Cao first stared closely at Zuo Ling and the others, looking at them deeply.

Just as Zuo Ling and the others were terrified and breaking out in cold sweat, unable to hold on any longer, Cao Cao suddenly dismounted.

He came to Zuo Ling, personally helped him up, and showed a face full of smiles:

"Hahaha, General Zuo Ling, please rise quickly!"

"I am grateful that you could lead Heguang City to surrender to the imperial court!"

"How could I blame you!"

After speaking, Cao Cao looked at Zuo Ling with sincerity.

Seeing that Cao Cao had no intention of blaming him and had even personally helped him up,

Zuo Ling was truly moved for a moment.

He was seen with a face full of guilt, choking up as he said to Cao Cao:

"General, I am ashamed!"

"When that scoundrel Wang Fang wanted to resist, I should have stopped him."

Watching Zuo Ling reveal his true feelings, Cao Cao could not help but secretly curl his lips.

He thought to himself: "Damn, this kid is a talent; he's even better at acting than I am."

"We are both thousand-year-old foxes, why play these games!"

However, on the surface, he still greeted him with a smile. Cao Cao said to Zuo Ling with a smile:

"General Zuo Ling is joking. Since you could lead Heguang City to surrender, I will record a great merit for you."

"When we see His Majesty in the future, I will definitely report your contributions to him!"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Ling was overjoyed and said gratefully to Cao Cao:

"This subordinate thanks the General. In the future, whenever the General has need of me, just say the word; I will never shrink back."

After speaking, Zuo Ling made a gesture of invitation to Cao Cao.

Then he said respectfully to Cao Cao: "General, please follow me into the city first."

Seeing this, Cao Cao nodded and said to Zuo Ling with a smile:

"General Zuo, please!"

The group soon arrived at the City Lord's Residence.

Cao Cao took the main seat without hesitation. After sitting down, he said to the people below:

"Cao Ren, you and Yuanrang take the five thousand troops of Heguang City, and after filtering them, incorporate the remaining personnel into our army."

Cao Cao's first order was for Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan to incorporate the surrendered troops of Heguang City.

"This subordinate obeys!"

Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan immediately stepped out and responded respectfully to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao waved his hand slightly at the two, and they immediately left the hall.

Subsequently, Cao Cao looked at Zuo Ling and said to him with a solemn expression:

"General Zuo Ling, I will have to trouble you to cooperate with the reception of our army in the city later."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Ling immediately straightened his body and promised loudly to Cao Cao:

"Please rest assured, General, this subordinate will definitely cooperate with all the Generals to hand over the affairs of the city to you as soon as possible."

Seeing that Zuo Ling was so sensible, Cao Cao nodded at him with satisfaction.

He looked at the others and said in a deep voice:

"All of you, go down and do your jobs to ensure the stability of the city."

"Remember, you must not harm the common people, otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless with military law!"

Cao Cao warned everyone, but his eyes were fixed on Zuo Ling.

Cao Cao knew his own army well, so these words were mainly meant for Zuo Ling to hear.

"This subordinate obeys!"

After Cao Cao's voice fell, the generals immediately responded loudly, especially Zuo Ling, whose expression was quite solemn.

He had also noticed the look Cao Cao gave him just now and understood his meaning.

Seeing that everyone had responded, Cao Cao waved his hand at them.

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

Seeing Cao Cao wave his hand, the generals bowed to him and exited the hall.

"Phew..."

Seeing that everyone had left, Cao Cao let out a long sigh of relief.

After so many days of fighting, he had finally taken all three commanderies of Wudu, Hanyang, and Longxi.

Once the affairs of Heguang City were arranged, he could go and rendezvous with Liu Bian.

"His Majesty is truly amazing!"

"To be honest, this has been the shortest war in history."

"To be able to take the entire Liangzhou region in just about a month."

"This is all because of the martial arts techniques taught by His Majesty."

"With His Majesty's techniques, we people have been able to become so powerful!"

At this moment, Cao Cao could not help but sigh to himself in the hall.

Subsequently, he was seen carefully and slowly taking a crystalline stone from his bosom.

Looking at it, Cao Cao's eyes were full of fervor.

"Hiss..."

"This is the spirit stone that His Majesty spoke of, used to accelerate cultivation!"

"The spiritual energy contained within it is truly vast."

"Just holding it in my hand, I can feel the internal energy in my body becoming active, and the speed of my cultivation technique has also increased."

"It is truly a treasure that can be used for cultivation!"

So this was the spirit stone that Liu Bian had originally bestowed upon everyone.

Since receiving it, Cao Cao had not used the spirit stone to cultivate in order to take these three commanderies as quickly as possible.

Now that the final Heguang City had been successfully taken, it was time for Cao Cao to improve his strength.

He was now on the verge of breaking through to the Postnatal Third Heaven.

This was only because he had been busy most of the time and had not cultivated properly; otherwise, he might have already reached the Postnatal Third Heaven by now.