Cao Hong said disdainfully: "The Sushen people are barbaric and ignorant, using bones and stones as tools. What's the point of talking about them?"
Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Although their military strength is not worth mentioning, this tribe is patient and has great ambitions. In order to make the whole tribe strong, Sushen did not hesitate to offer the immortal grass passed down from generation to generation. With such a determination, even Gou Jian is no more than this, how can he not be feared?"
Cao Hong laughed and said, "Even a powerful army like the Xiongnu has been reduced to ashes. Even a hundred thousand Xianbei soldiers could not defeat the Prime Minister's brilliant strategy. Why do the Prime Minister fear the Sushen people so much?"
Cao Cao sighed, "The value of a person does not lie in his strength, but in his ambition. A person with great ambition may encounter difficulties for a while, but he will eventually soar like a dragon. The same is true for our clan!"
Cao Hong sneered and said, "This Sushen lives with pigs and sheep, and looks like a beast. I can only look down on them like pigs and dogs, so what can I do?"
Cao Cao's eyes were slightly stern, and he said slowly: "Although the Hu people are as strong as tigers and wolves, they aim to occupy the desert. They harass the border only to rob money and food. This is a scabies problem. However, although the Sushen are as weak as pigs and dogs, they want to occupy the Central Plains and intend to migrate the whole tribe. Once they take advantage of us, it will be a pain in the tarsal bones and cause harm for thousands of years."
Cao Hong had never seen Cao Cao so cautious before, so he asked with a serious expression, "Are the Sushen people really such a threat?"
Cao Cao said, "Although the Sushen are not a concern now, their people have always wanted to take over the Central Plains, and they are very patient. The Hu people are weak now, but if they take advantage of the situation and rise up in a few decades, a hundred years, or a thousand years, once there is a change in the Central Plains, they will invade our territory and invade our land. If we don't cut the grass and root it out now, I'm afraid they will take over our nest."
"Your Excellency, that's a good idea!" Cao Hong suddenly realized this truth and said with emotion: "I'm not afraid of thieves stealing, I'm afraid of thieves thinking about it!"
His family was very wealthy at that time, but there was war and thieves were everywhere. Thieves often broke into the house, but he did not care about it. What he was most worried about were the bandits who were secretly coveting his property, so he sent many servants to guard the manor.
Thieves often only dare to come once and then flee after they succeed, but bandits, however, aim to take all his property. Once they get a chance, they will occupy the entire manor, not to mention burning, killing and looting.
Understanding Cao Cao's intention, he clasped his fists and asked, "How should we deal with this Sushen man?"
Cao Cao first asked: "What is the situation in the Central Plains?"
Cao Hong frowned and said, "The prince sent a letter half a month ago. Guan Yu's troops entered the Central Plains. Zhang Liao could not hold out alone. Liu Qi also sent troops to Guanzhong. Sun Quan took the opportunity to attack Xuzhou. There were many battles. Zihuan could not hold out. Please ask the Prime Minister to return to the Central Plains as soon as possible to take charge of the important matters."
"Are Liu Biao and his sons bullying my son because he is so young?" Cao Cao was furious and said in a deep voice, "Quickly exterminate the Sushen clan and prepare to return to the court."
"This..." Cao Hong was shocked and said, "Sushen came to treat the Prime Minister on his own initiative, and suddenly resorted to war. If this gets out, it may affect the Prime Minister's reputation."
Cao Cao stroked his beard and sneered, "Su Shen's treatment of my illness was not only ineffective, but also put my life on the line and made me fall asleep. He must be trying to kill me in the name of treating my illness. How can I let him go?"
"I understand!" Cao Hong finally understood why Cao Cao had been pretending to be asleep. It turned out that he had already planned this. He clasped his fists and strode away.
…
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sky was high and the clouds were light, the river was wide and the wind was calm. Liu Qi's fleet set out from Jiangxia and headed straight for Jianye.
Sun Quan led all the civil and military officials to personally welcome them at the riverside, with flags flying, drums and music playing, and all the officials smiling and bowing to congratulate him.
This was not only because Liu Qi had helped Jiangdong a lot last time, but also because half a month ago Liu Qi recommended Sun Quan as General of Chariots and Cavalry, and appointed him as Governor of Xuzhou, a position that was much higher than before, making him equal to Liu Qi.
This move seems insignificant, but as the son-in-law of Jiangdong, Liu Qi still respects Sun Quan very much. Otherwise, his official position is higher than Sun Quan, which would be embarrassing for everyone in Jiangdong.
Liu Qi came ashore and bowed, and hurriedly advised: "Brother is injured, how dare I trouble you to come and greet me in person?"
Sun Quan smiled cordially and said, "Bo Wei, you are an honored guest. It is even more rare for my little sister to come to visit us, so we should welcome you."
Sun Shangxiang followed behind Liu Qi, dressed in military uniform. Her belly was slightly bulging, and the brocade robe could no longer cover it. She stepped forward to greet him and asked, "How is mother?"
Sun Quan glanced at Sun Shangxiang's abdomen, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he smiled and said, "After a few days of rest, she has improved. Seeing that my little sister is here in person and she is pregnant, she will surely recover."
Sun Shangxiang couldn't wait, so after a quick greeting, she took a carriage back to the city to pay a visit to Wu Guotai.
Sun Quan saw that Liu Qi was guarded by two generals, Zhao Yun and Chen Dao, and there were also two scholars of extraordinary bearing. Zhuge Jin introduced them as the brothers Ma Liang and Ma Su from the Ma family.
Then there was an old man with white hair and a youthful face. He bowed and said, "It has only been ten years since we last met. Do you still remember me, Lord Wu?"
Sun Quan looked at him carefully, and then his eyes widened: "So it's Doctor Hua, my apologies."
Back then, Zhou Tai was seriously injured while trying to save Sun Quan and was in critical condition. Sun Ce asked Yu Fan for treatment, and Yu Fan recommended Hua Tuo. He recovered in a hundred days, which was amazing.
Later, after Sun Ce was injured, Zhou Yu also sent people to look for Hua Tuo everywhere, but there was no news. His hair and beard were gray back then, but now they were as white as snow. He was also wearing the official uniform of a doctor. His demeanor was very different from before, and Sun Quan could not recognize him.
Hua Tuo, now a doctor of medicine, was full of confidence. He clasped his fists and said with a smile, "The general was deeply worried when he heard that you were shot by a poisonous arrow. This time he ordered me to accompany you to examine you. Please don't be shy."
Sun Quan was startled. He did not expect Liu Qi to be so concerned about his injury. He clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your concern, my dear brother. I have seen the skills of the miracle doctor with my own eyes. He will surely be able to cure the disease."
After some greetings, Sun Quan asked Liu Qi to mount his horse, and the two of them rode side by side to Jianye. No one noticed that among the doctors behind Hua Tuo, there was an old man with a goat beard, and that was Yu Fan.
In order to thoroughly investigate the murder of Sun Ce, Yu Fan shaved his beard and changed his appearance to blend into the team and enter Jianye to investigate the conspiracy with Hua Tuo.
After entering the city, he was about to go to the inn to rest when Wu Guotai sent a maid to invite Liu Qi to a banquet at her house and asked Sun Quan to accompany him as a welcome party for her son-in-law.
Liu Qi could not refuse such a kind invitation, and the officials did not dare to stop him. Zhuge Jin accompanied the other entourage to the inn to rest, while Liu Qi took Zhao Yun and Shi A to the palace.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. The weather in the south of the Yangtze River is cooler than when I came here last time. It was already dusk when I arrived at the mansion. A bright moon was hanging in the sky and red lanterns were hung in the courtyard, giving off a festive atmosphere.
A banquet had already been set up in the mansion. Mrs. Wu sat in the main seat, accompanied by Sun Shangxiang and Sun Quan's two wives. Sun Quan and Liu Qi sat on both sides. Although it was a family banquet, not a single relative of Sun Ce was seen.
Liu Qi paid his respects with great ceremony, and after they took their seats, he saw maids bringing in fruits, pastries, and clearly another plate of pineapple cakes. The ones on his table and Sun Quan's table were exactly the same; there was no way to tell the difference.
Wu Guotai smiled and said, "It's rare for Bo Wei to come visit me personally. I've made some cakes over the past few days. I wonder if they were to your taste last time?"