"Prime Minister Cao was ordered by the emperor to conquer Hebei. He first defeated the rebel Yuan Shang in the Yellow River, and now besieged him in Yecheng. The city was broken in an instant." Cao Pi said, "But it is heard that the general wants to raise troops to rescue him. Yuan Shang and Prime Minister Cao didn't know if there was any improper etiquette that offended the general's Huwei, so he came to the general to ask the general for crimes, please calm down the general's anger; secondly, he should clarify his interests to the general to avoid the general's mistake."
"Whether I should raise troops to rescue Yuan Shang is my own business. I have already thought about the stakes very clearly, so I don't have to worry about it..."
"I'm afraid the general's thinking is not clear enough." Cao Pi interrupted Zhang Yan and said loudly.
"Oh?" Zhang Yan smiled, "Then you have to listen to the master's remarks."
"General Zhang, one life, one life, one autumn, I want to ask you, what is the purpose of living this life alone?" Cao Pi said.
"According to my humble opinion, there are only two ways to live in this world, one for fame and the other for profit, but no matter what you live for, you will never escape death in the end." Zhang Yan smiled faintly, and then said: " Mr. Cao, everyone has different perceptions of life. It is difficult to reach a conclusion even if it takes three days and nights to argue with him. Today I’m going to listen to the young master’s high-level views on the current situation, not the so-called great principles of life. If If the son has something to say, he can only waste your and my time."
"General Zhang is really quick to talk, so I won't be scribbling anymore." Cao Pi stepped forward and raised his voice: "General Zhang, a man who was born in troubled times, should carry a three-foot sword and make an immortal meritorious reputation. For future generations to pay their respects. In terms of today’s current affairs, if the general helps Prime Minister Cao, he is a loyal minister to help the great man and destroy the rebels, and he will be able to pass on his fame in history and be famous for generations; if the general helps Yuan Shang, he is against the heavenly soldiers and does not respect the emperor. It is inevitable that the fate of the opposing ministers will be written in the history pen, which will be stinking for thousands of years! General Zhang, the historian writes like inscriptions and stones, once a conclusion is made, and it is difficult to modify. This eternal theory is now determined by the general's thought, and it is absolutely not trivial. The general considered carefully, and be cautious!"
"Now the Han Dynasty is declining, the emperor is incompetent, and the political situation in the world is unpredictable. The son said this to bully our country folks because of their shallow knowledge." Zhang Yan smiled coldly: "Although I am stupid, I am quite knowledgeable. A hero in the world. Looking down, Prime Minister Cao is probably not a loyal and filial son."
Zhang Yan certainly knows that Cao Cao is a Han thief.
Cao Pi was taken aback for a moment, and smiled with his palms: "General Zhang is really straightforward, but since entering the city, it seems that he has never praised my father as a loyal and filial son in front of the general, right?"
Zhang Yan laughed loudly: "I am not a loyal minister and a filial son, but he came to persuade me to do something about a loyal minister and filial son. Prime Minister Cao is very clever with this calculation!"
Cao Pi shook his head: "It's just about getting what we need. My father and I hope that the general can also be smarter in abacus."
"Well, since Prime Minister Cao has become the father of the son again in the eyes of the son, I want to ask again, is the son here for state affairs or family affairs?"
"As the power of the next day is in my father's hands, isn't the next family affairs the state affairs?" Cao Pi smiled proudly, took a step forward, and stared at Zhang Yan with piercing eyes: "General Zhang is an ally that my father really wants to get acquainted with. , I also made a special trip to form an alliance next time. When I came, my father asked me to explain one thing to the general: those who can cooperate with us in this troubled world are the heroes of the world! The general is not willing to stay in Jinyang forever. I’ve been carrying the name of the Yellow Turban Rebellion Party, but I’m still alive, right? I can promise to the general on behalf of my father, as long as the general is willing to send troops to help this time, the old things will be wiped out. In the future, wherever the Cao flag is flying, there will be a general. A place!"
Zhang Yan tilted her head and looked at Cao Pi, who was full of confidence, and began to ponder. Zhang Yan was silent for a long time, stood up and walked down the hall, stretched out a hand like a knife, made a slash on Cao Pi's neck, and sighed: "The tiger father has no dogs. The son is so young, he has such determination and courage. , I am consciously frightened and at a loss when facing the son, so how can I dare to be an enemy of Prime Minister Cao?"
"So, General Zhang is willing to form an alliance with us?" Cao Pi said happily.
"However, my army must be controlled by me." Zhang Yan said helplessly.
"This is easy to say"
……
Ten days later, Zhang Yan dedicated all her sites in Bingzhou to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was very happy and named Zhang Yan as General Pingbei and Hou An Guoting. However, Cao Cao knew that Zhang Yan's surrender was forced, and he might attack him suddenly as soon as Zhang Xiu had the opportunity. Therefore, Cao Cao was very worried about Zhang Yan. After all, Zhang Yan had more than tens of thousands of capable soldiers.
Cao Cao thought to himself that he couldn't get away for a while in Hebei, but Liu Xun took the opportunity to continuously attack the city and land. It is better to take advantage of Liu Xun's time to take advantage of Jingzhou, let Zhang Yan attack Jingzhou. Even if it fails to succeed, Zhang Yan and the Han army will suffer both defeats, and a large amount of the strength of Zhang Yan and the Han army will be consumed.
So Cao Cao dispatched Zhang Yan to attack Jingzhou. Zhang Yan was grateful to Cao Cao for making her official title, and also wanted to repay Cao Cao's kindness, so he took his orders happily.
Below Yecheng, Cao Cao, Jia Xu and Guo Jia stood side by side, looking at the towering walls of Yecheng.
"When is the lord planning to attack the city?"
Cao Cao shook his head and said thoughtfully: "Not yet time..."
"Are you waiting for an opportunity?" Guo Jia said thoughtfully.
"I haven't summoned you for such a long time, but you still guessed my mind." Cao Cao put his hand behind his back, nodded and said, "It's just that you can see God's meaning this time."
"God's meaning?" Although Guo Jia asked, he didn't seem surprised to get such an answer.
"I spent countless amounts of money and food, and led a large army to gather under the city of Yecheng, but I have been waiting for the meaning of God. If the scholars in Xudu learn about it, I am afraid that I will secretly laugh in my stomach? "
"The lord is a hero in troubled times, does he believe in the fate?"
"Destiny?" Cao Cao laughed coldly. "The chaos in the world is a great opportunity for heroes to make contributions. If there is a ambition to turn the world, even if it is to turn things around, it will not hesitate to turn things around, no matter how destiny controls!
"I said the lord is not a fool who likes daydreaming."
Cao Cao was silent for a while: "Although I don't believe in destiny and don't respect ghosts and gods, I still want to thank God for allowing Zihuan to return safely. Otherwise, I really don't know how to explain to his mother when I go back."
"Second Young Master Cao Pi is honest and modest, but this time he was able to show such a heroic demeanor when he persuaded Zhang Yan to surrender, and he was quite admired by him."
"Fengxiao, are you more admired or surprised?" Cao Cao raised his eyebrows.
Guo Jia laughed: "I can't hide anything from the lord. To be honest, there are more surprises than admiration."
"Yeah." Cao Cao sighed, "I almost don't recognize Pi'er. In this chaotic world, will everyone fall into it?"
"Lord, I'm afraid the fall is a bit exaggerated. Looking down, the second son has grown up." Jia Xu complimented.
"That's right, but I still hope that he can maintain a heart of innocence." Cao Cao smiled bitterly. "His father has been regarded by the world as a treacherous minister who tried to steal magical weapons. I don't want him to walk here again. Way."
Cao Cao took a deep breath: "If the destiny is mine, I would be the King of Zhou Wen."
"Isn't the lord not believing in the destiny? Someone must inherit the lord's great cause!" Jia Xu said hurriedly.
"Although I don't believe it, everyone in the world believes it." Cao Cao spread his hands, "If I don't pretend to be destiny, wouldn't it seem too uncomfortable."
Guo Jia and Jia Xu both laughed, but they saw Cao Cao staring into the distance again. A strand of gray hair was released from the shackles of the headband and floated in the turbulent wind. They were shocked and stood there. The lord in front of him is also slowly getting old.
Cao Cao came back to his senses and saw that Guo Jia and Jia Xu both stared at him blankly, and laughed in a low voice, "You guys, do you think I'm old?"
After Cao Cao saw through their minds, Jia Xu and Guo Jia were a little flustered, but they nodded subconsciously.
"Where can there be people who are not old?" Cao Cao's voice was faint, with a different kind of desolation and loneliness, "I always think of the days when I failed to assassinate Dong Zhuo and fled back to Chen Liu in a hurry. That was the time of my life. In the darkest time, I couldn't believe anyone, no one could believe it, I can only rely on myself for everything..."
"But the lord survived after all."
"Yes, things in the world are so magical. You will never know the result until the last moment." Cao Cao closed his eyes. "I have been thinking about what I was doing at the time. Zhao, even united with 18 princes to ask Dong together. Looking at today, ten years later, I have been regarded as the second Dong Zhuo by the people of the world. At this time, will there be a young man who is also hesitating? The future is bleak, but unwilling to be lonely, want to achieve a world-shattering career?"
Guo Jiasi pondered for a long time and whispered: "Master, offensively ask, did you raise troops for your own ambitions?"
Cao Cao was silent for a long time: "It wasn't at first. I was just to save the Han Dynasty. But when I took the position of the prime minister and took over the power of life and death, I gradually lost my original intention. I only wished to inherit my rights. People, don’t be swallowed up by the evil thoughts in people’s hearts. I am also afraid that Pi'er will lose her heart."
Cao Cao, Guo Jia and Jia Xu didn't speak anymore, just stood there quietly. The last sunset cast a huge shadow of Yecheng on them. Gradually, the surroundings became dark, and everything fell into darkness.
Three days later, the pattering Xia Yu landed without warning. Cao Cao moved a stool and sat at the door of the tent, and reached out to catch the rain from the sky: "Unexpectedly, Hebei is also like the south, and Xia Yu will never end when it rains. "
Cao Pi stood behind his father, bowed and said, "Father, now the sergeants are all in the water, exhausted, what should we do next?" Cao Pi's heart was full of questions.