[Three Kingdoms] Carnival

At the end of summer, the cicadas climbed to the highest branches of the trees, spread their thin wings, and chirped tirelessly in the mottled sunlight.Suddenly, the north wind blew up, the chilling cicadas fell silent, fell to the ground and died.

Running over the body of the cicada, Xu You pushed open the closed door in excitement, and the cold wind howled in instantly.Immediately afterwards, behind the screen embroidered with desolate snow and plum blossoms, there was another startling coughing sound.

"Who opened the door without authorization?!" Cao Cao turned his head angrily.After discovering that it was Xu You, the scowl did not decrease a bit.The undisguised coldness and murderous intent in those tall phoenix eyes made the original smile on Xu You's face gradually fade away.He stopped a few steps away from Cao Cao, not daring to go any further.

If he didn't still have a sliver of reason, under Cao Cao's cold gaze, Xu You felt that he had listened to his instinctive scream and fled for the door.

"Ahem... Minggong, no." Guo Jia, who was covered with a thick quilt, frowned, endured the pain in his chest, secretly grabbed Cao Cao's cuff, and shook his head slightly at Cao Cao.

Patting the back of the man's hand with his backhand, Cao Cao stuffed Guo Jia's hand back into the quilt, tucked it back up, and said softly, "Don't worry, Feng Xiao, I understand." After speaking, he looked at Xu You again, his expression seemed genuine. The tone was much more relaxed than before, "Ziyuan, why are you here?"

Xu You swallowed secretly, paused and paused, and then he could speak, but he didn't have the excitement of rushing into the door just now, only the embarrassment after being frightened: "Ah Man, You just came to tell you , that...Yuan Shao's family members were all captured, and Prince Pi led troops to guard them in the Yuan Mansion....Also, the daughter-in-law of Yuan Shao's second son is the Zhen family who is rumored to be the most beautiful country. Do you want to marry you? go together……"

As a good friend of Cao Cao for many years, he naturally knew Cao Cao's love for beautiful women.Today, I rushed to find Cao Cao, and it was also the purpose of letting Cao Cao accept the Zhen family as soon as possible, so as to curry favor with Cao Cao.But now, he stopped talking embarrassingly.He clearly felt that if he said one more word at this time, he would definitely be decapitated.

Cao Cao wanted to kill him, even though Cao Cao's expression could barely be called gentle at this time, but Xu You knew that Cao Cao really wanted to kill him.

After all, rationality was no match for instinct. Xu You did not wait for Cao Cao to answer, and apologized repeatedly while bowing: "You know it's not the right time to come, so I will leave." After speaking, he immediately left the room in small steps.When going out of the house, gusts of cold wind leaked in from the opened door again, so excited Guo Jia couldn't help coughing again.

"It has been delayed for a long time, the wind and heat have penetrated into the chest and lungs, I'm afraid it's..." The military doctor who had been in the house for a long time before Xu You entered the house, took the pulse for so long, and finally came to a conclusion cautiously:

"My lord, what Guo Jijiu suffers from is probably... tuberculosis."

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of Cao Cao and Guo Jia changed instantly.The difference is that Guo Jia quickly recovered his smile, while Cao Cao was used to seeing each other again, but he couldn't even pretend to be calm.

"Reporting to my lord, Guo Jijiu's disease is really difficult to cure with certain medical skills. I also ask my lord to immediately invite the genius doctor Hua to the army. Maybe there is still Jijiu..." The military doctor really couldn't say the last few words.He is a doctor, and he is more aware of the horror of tuberculosis than Cao Cao and Guo Jia.

At first, he started to lose weight and cough, and then he started to lose energy, lethargy, lack of food, and chest pain. Finally, his condition gradually deteriorated, the frequency of coughing increased, and he began to cough up dirty blood in his lungs.The more frightening thing about tuberculosis is that there is currently no prescription that can really cure it.Most of the patients tend to drink a large amount of decoction while losing weight without any improvement, and finally suffer from tuberculosis to death.

Hua Tuo is a doctor, not a fairy, and he really dare not promise whether he can cure the tuberculosis that makes all the doctors have headaches.

"Gu knows, you step back."

Cao Cao waved the military doctor to leave, and called the soldiers to repair the book and return to Xudu, so Hua Tuo immediately went north to Yecheng.

When the soldiers were ordered to retreat, he turned to look at Guo Jia again, and found that Guo Jia had already closed his eyes against him.

Cao Cao didn't know if it was because Guo Jia's eyes were always burning like light that he never noticed that after the day when the city was flooded with water, Guo Jia's appearance became increasingly sick.At this time, the light in the pupils was covered by the closed eyelids, the high cheekbones, the thin and sunken cheeks, and the tiredness condensed between the lightly furrowed brows suddenly became so conspicuous, and it hurt instantly broke Cao Cao's heart.

He couldn't help raising his hand to caress Guo Jia's side face.

When did his filial piety start, and it turned into what it is today.It made him feel once again that no matter how hard he tried to keep him, the only thing he could grasp in the palm of his hand was a wisp of smoke.

When the wind blows, it dissipates.

Guo Jia had just leaned on Cao Cao's shoulder and closed his eyes to rest for a while because of his lack of energy, but he didn't really fall asleep. As soon as he felt the rough touch on his cheek, he immediately opened his eyes. smile.He raised his hand and grabbed Cao Cao's hand caressing the side of his face, staring at a pair of phoenix eyes, evoking a faint smile, and said softly:

"Don't worry, Minggong, Jia won't just fall asleep like this.

Although tuberculosis is difficult to cure, it is by no means a terminal disease, and many people have been cured throughout the history.This is just a doctor, there are still famous doctors in the world, not to mention, didn't Duke Ming ask someone to call Hua Tuo to come to Yecheng?

Jia is still waiting for Minggong to wipe out these unworthy sons of the Yuan family before heading south to Jingzhou.So, don't worry, Minggong, Jiahui will listen to the doctor, take medicine, rest, and he will recover soon. "

After Guo Jia said so much, Cao Cao, who still couldn't say anything, raised his eyebrows.He looked at Guo Jia with more and more pity in his eyes.Guo Jia's words just now were clearly supposed to be his words to comfort Guo Jia, but now Guo Jia used them to comfort him first, as if the one suffering from tuberculosis is not Guo Jia, but Cao Cao.

He suddenly wanted to hug Guo Jia.

However, as soon as his arm touched Guo Jia's body, Guo Jia suddenly turned to one side, covered his chest, bent down and coughed violently.The rapid cough sounded like a knife being stabbed into Cao Cao's heart, and the blood was filled with pain.

It seemed like a long, long time before the coughing finally stopped.Guo Jia just took the hand covering his mouth away from his lips.

In the palm of the exhibition, there are dark red blood stains, and the desolate ones are like the flowers of the other shore that separate life and death.

"By the way, Jia has heard about the Zhen family that Xu Ziyuan came to tell Duke Ming about just now. I heard that she was born with a natural beauty and national beauty, and she is even more beautiful than Feiyan Hede. Minggong really... Are you really not going to take a look?" When he said the last sentence, there was a faint pain in his chest, and Guo Jia had to pause, pursing his lips to suppress the discomfort before he could continue.

How could Cao Cao fail to see Guo Jia's movements at such a close distance.It's just that Guo Jia deliberately changed the topic now, just to dilute the depressing atmosphere and make him no longer worried.Therefore, even if Cao Cao saw it, he had no choice but to change the topic according to Guo Jia's words, so as not to break Guo Jia's good intentions: "It's a pleasure to watch a stunning beauty. The family members of the Yuan family will be locked up in the Yuan Mansion in the north of the city anyway, so there is no need to rush at this time. Wait a few days after Fengxiao and feel better, go and have a look with Gutong."

"My fair lady, a gentleman is so sweet. Jia...cough cough... Jia can't wait." Guo Jia still couldn't hold back, coughing a little, "However, wouldn't it be nice to save such a beauty for Yuan Xi to be a widow in the future? It's a pity. It's better..." A pair of bright eyes, full of narrow eyes, fell on Cao Cao's face.

"Stop messing around." Cao Cao looked at the person and said helplessly, "Then Mrs. Zhen is only old enough to be her grandfather."

"Haha, Jia didn't say that he wanted to persuade Ming Gong to accept the Zhen family, Ming Gong's lust has been exposed." Guo Jia laughed enough, and then gradually became serious, "Jia means that Mr. Pi is getting older and older. Long, it's time to get a wife."

"Let Pi'er take a married woman as his wife?" Cao Cao frowned slightly, "It would be too wronged for him."

"Jia asked Minggong, now that Yecheng is broken, Minggong...cough cough...does Minggong have any plans to move the Sikong Mansion to Yecheng?"

"...No mistake, Gu really has such a plan."

At the end of the fourth year of Jian'an, after the incident of Xu Du's clothes and belts, although Xu Du's dissidents were removed in sevens and eighties.However, those old officials who prided themselves on conspiracy but were still foolishly loyal to the Han Dynasty were not really touched, and Cao Cao was unwilling to do anything to them.But after all, there is only one Xudu, some people are loyal to the Han Dynasty, and some people work for the Sikong Mansion, there will never be less friction between them.Moreover, the most important thing is that Xu Du is Cao Cao's rear area. Because of the embarrassment of the emperor, Cao Cao doesn't even have the ability to completely avoid the fire in the backyard.

Therefore, after the city of Yecheng was broken, or in other words, after the incident of Yidai Zhao, Cao Cao had a plan to move Sikong Mansion out of Xudu.Perhaps the Han family still has loyalty and faith to him, but as pragmatic as he is, they have to find some capital for themselves that can really be used to protect themselves in the future.

"That's it." Guo Jia continued, "However, once Duke Ming moves the Sikong Mansion to Yecheng, people will surely fall under the pretext that Duke Ming wants to develop his own power so that he can replace the Han Dynasty one day in the future. Minggong... cough cough... If Minggong wants to avoid suspicion, the best way is to make Mr. Pi take Zhen as his wife."

Zhen is the wife of Yuan Tan, a woman who has been married, and Cao Pi is Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Cao's inevitable heir according to the rules of etiquette.If Cao Cao really wanted to stand on his own in place of the Han Dynasty and ascend the throne as emperor, he would definitely not marry such a woman for his eldest son, who would be difficult for his mother to honor the world.

In fact, with Cao Cao's current strength, he still has the intention of "avoiding suspicion" towards the Han Dynasty, which is obviously more out of feelings than interests.Therefore, deep in Guo Jia's heart, he really hoped that Cao Cao could reject this proposal.Because that shows that Cao Cao finally has the heart to go further.

However, after listening to Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao thought about it, but he thought it was true: "If that's the case, then let Pi'er marry the Zhen family. Zhen's beauty is extraordinary, and Pi'er should also like her."

"One more thing, Jia wants to remind...cough cough...Minggong. Minggong wants to kill Xu You, it doesn't matter, but you must first appoint Qing, You, Ji, and four prefectures as officials, and then kill Xu You, In case you lose your mind."

"Xu You is just a clown Liang, when will I kill him..." Suddenly, Cao Cao remembered something, stopped talking, frowned and looked at Guo Jiadao, "The doctor said you should take a good rest, why do you keep bringing up these trivial matters?" ? It’s enough to leave this kind of thing to Gu.”

"Jia eats Minggong's salary, drinks Minggong's wine, and enjoys Minggong's beauty. You have to be in his position and seek his political affairs." Guo Jia said with a wink and a smile, "Besides, Minggong Didn't you find out, when Jia mentioned these serious things, his coughing became much less. Maybe Jia and others are not..."

As a result, before he could finish speaking, Guo Jia suddenly lowered his head and coughed violently.When the cough faded away and he raised his head again, his handsome and thin face was even paler than before.

"It was just the last time." Cao Cao held Guo Jia's cold blood-stained hand in his palm with distress, "From now until you recover completely, no matter whether it is government affairs or military affairs, it has nothing to do with you. You Eat the salary that I give you, drink the fine wine that I give you, dominate my heart, there is only one task that I give you."

The forced face and laughter that lasted for so long just now, but at this moment, Cao Cao still couldn't suppress the sourness in his heart, and hugged Guo Jia into his arms, ignoring the pain from his bones,

"I only want you, get well soon."

Five days later, Hua Tuo hurried to Yecheng after riding five fast horses to death.After diagnosing Guo Jia, he came to the same conclusion of "consumption" as the previous military doctor.But compared to the pessimism of the military doctor, Hua Tuo at least gave Guo Jia and Cao Cao hope.According to Guo Jia's current situation, if he takes medicine on time, stays away from affairs and wars, and spends four or five years to rest quietly, he may still recover.

Hearing Hua Tuo's words, Cao Cao was overjoyed, and immediately, as he said that day, assigned all the affairs that Guo Jia was originally in charge of to others.And Guo Jia is also very obedient, taking medicine on time every day, taking more rest every day, whether he is basking in the sun in the courtyard and reading some leisurely books every day, or visiting the streets of Yecheng, which is gradually recovering from prosperity, whether Cao Cao is going to conquer Yuan Tan Yuanshang still discusses the government affairs of Yecheng, and Guo Jia will not participate at all.Except that no matter how busy Cao Cao was every three days, he would take time to see him and ask him about his health, everything seemed to be back to before he joined Cao Ying, and his life was boring and leisurely.

After recuperating in this way, although the tuberculosis has not shown any signs of getting better after pouring countless decoctions, the condition has not deteriorated for at least three years.A life is precarious, but it is still in Guo Jia's hands for sure.

Until the autumn of the 12th year of Jian'an, the chirping of the chilling cicadas became hoarse again.

Prior to this, Yuan Shao's eldest son, Yuan Tan, had died on the battlefield under Cao Cao's continuous conquest year after year. However, the two brothers, Yuan Xi, the second son, and Yuan Shang, the younger son, were surrounded by Cao Cao's heavy nets. He fled to the north and defected to Tadun, King Wuhuan of Western Liao who was close to the Yuan family.

Since the first year of Jian'an, Wuhuan has successively removed more than [-] people from the Central Plains, coupled with Yuan Shao's intentional win-win and connivance, the strength of the Wuhuan clan is enough to threaten the Central Plains, and now, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have fled to him.Once Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang are completely united with Wuhuan, Taton will inevitably lead an army south under the banner of avenging the Yuan family, causing the north to experience another disaster.

However, Wuhuan is far to the north of the desert, the journey is far away, and the road is bumpy; plus Liu Biao is watching Jingzhou, once the army goes to Wuhuan, there is no guarantee that Liu Biao will not take advantage of the vacancy and send his troops north.At that time, the land in the north is still undecided, and there is no way back to the south, not to mention the world, it may be difficult to save your life.

Whether to levy or not, there are endless debates in the chamber, but the opposing opinions always prevail.Cao Cao sat behind the main case, rubbing his aching head, enduring the noise in front of him.Even though he already had a conclusion in his mind, if everyone under his account opposed the Northern Expedition to Wuhuan, he would not be able to act arbitrarily.The Northern Expedition to Wuhuan is already a dangerous move. If there is no support from the crowd and the morale of the army is unstable, it will definitely be defeated before the battle.

He subconsciously looked at the empty bamboo mat on one side.If he had encountered the situation before him before, the man in green shirt who should have been sitting at the table at this moment would have understood him, stood up long ago, tried his best to reject all opinions for him, held the blame, said a few words, Make a plan for the world.

Suddenly, there was the sound of the door being pushed open, and a gust of cold wind blew in from outside the hall, rustling to the bone.Cao Cao frowned and looked, but saw a slim figure standing in the moonlight with a smile on the wide open doorway.The still howling cold wind blew up the green shirt and long hair that was almost loose on the person's body, and melted into the black night, like an illusion or a fairy.Looking across the hall full of lights, people will also take advantage of the north wind, wear this clear light, turn into clouds and smoke, and melt into the vast night.

For the first second, Cao Cao thought he was seeing hallucinations.

In the second second, Cao Cao wished that what he saw was just an illusion.

He stepped into the noisy meeting hall, and amidst the noise that weakened because of his arrival, dressed in coolness and moonlight, like a martyr, he firmly followed the established trajectory of destiny, one step at a time, and walked towards Cao Cao:

"Duke Ming, please immediately mobilize and reorganize the army, and march north to Wuhuan!"