[Three Kingdoms] Carnival

In the winter of the 16th year of Jian'an, Queen Fu died.The emperor mourned for a long time and came to the funeral in person.Respected his stepfather Fu Wansihou, with three thousand pieces of white yue and two thousand pieces of miscellaneous silk, he resigned after finishing the count.In December, Kong Gui plotted to assassinate Zhonggong, sentenced him to abandon the city, and joined Yang Qiu in the tribe of barbarians.Ma Teng of Xiliang submitted a plea for guilt, and asked him to live in Yecheng. The emperor was kind-hearted and felt his sincerity, so he did not add any crime. Live in Yecheng together.

With the issuance of an imperial edict, the assassination of the queen seems to have been settled. However, anyone who has some political sensitivity can smell a bit weird, and those who know the inside story of the matter find it even more unbelievable.In the case of Fuhou, the emperor's intention to kill Cao Cao was undoubtedly revealed, but Cao Cao, who had already obtained evidence of Fuhou's collusion with Xiliang, neither killed Fushi completely, nor took the opportunity to clean up Xu. In the imperial court, Cao Cao did not move any of the officials who could be "inserted" in the court by Fuhou. Even the guards in the palace were still led by Fuhou's younger brother Fu Kang, as if he didn't care about it at all. hidden dangers.

What does Cao Cao intend to do?Everyone is guessing.The idea of ​​returning power to the Han Dynasty was rejected as soon as it came out. No one believed that Cao Cao would still be willing to hand over his power at this point.Scratching his ears and racking his brains, in the end, he could only be sure that Cao Cao's move must be to catch a big fish with a long line. When the time is right, he will wipe out the remaining power of the Han Dynasty and completely clear away the obstacles to ascending to the Great Treasure.However, when everyone was thinking about what Cao Cao's next plan would be, they learned that Cao Cao, who almost let everyone go, accused his two sons' confidantes and staff of colluding with Xiliang. prison.

Reminiscent of Cao Cao's respect for Cao Zhi and his indifference to his eldest son some time ago, they finally figured out some clues.This family matter is unstable, let alone state affairs, and the imprisonment of Sima Yi and Yang Xiu seems to be the final test for Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.Now that this is over, the candidate for the heir will definitely be decided, and the position of the crown prince will not be far away.

"It's not an heir, but an assistant minister." Guo Yi said bluntly, "Since the prime minister has made the second son his heir before, it will not change. Imprisoning Sima Yi and Yang Xiu can only target the second son." The person himself. I heard that the two of them have been escorted to Xudu, and the fourth son directly followed him on horseback." After a pause, there was a bit of doubt in his eyes that matched his age, "But why did the prime minister do this? How to do it?" The two courtiers, if they like it, they will stay, and if they abandon it, they will kill them, why bother so much.

Jia Xu is not surprised that Guo Yi can think of this layer. In fact, with Guo Yi's precocity and intelligence, it is strange that he can't see through the ingenuity.Following the next move on the chessboard, he patiently explained to Guo Yi: "Yang Xiu is more wise but less wise, and Sima Yi is deep in scheme but weak in love. It's a pity for the two of them to abandon them, and if they stay, there may be future troubles. Presumably the prime minister also I am hesitating, so I have to test this matter to make a decision."

"But why is the Prime Minister in such a hurry?" Guo Yi seemed to be out of his mind on the chess game, and quickly dropped a move, and said, "Kong Gui has secret contacts with the staff of the Prime Minister's Mansion, which will definitely come to light. The future is long, and the Prime Minister doesn't have to take it." This matter should be the beginning."

"Because, it's too late." Jia Xu slowly put down the chess pieces, his gaze gradually faded away, "Heirs and ministers, we must make a decision as soon as possible. Winter is coming, and there is not enough time."

Guo Yi frowned slightly, and followed suit: "Why is there not enough time?"

"...Have you ever thought about going to Xiliang with the old man and General Zhang in the next spring?"

"Sir!" Guo Yi's voice became louder, revealing the urgency that was well hidden, "Don't change the subject, after all—"

"Xiliang plains are vast, and the scenery is completely different from that of the Central Plains. Wait—"

"Father and Prime Minister, what are they going to do?!"

The last sentence Guo Yi almost yelled out, which forced Jia Xu to be taken aback for a while, before he sighed softly and dropped the unfinished words together with the chess pieces: "We will come back when the war in the Central Plains subsides." .”

"Sir," Guo Yi took a deep breath, "You promised me that as long as I win a game with you, you must tell me everything!"

"Then did you win?"

Guo Yi quickly picked up the chess piece, and without hesitation, it landed on the eye of the chess piece that he had planned for a long time.

The outcome was really decided.

Jia Xu went through the chess game carefully and carefully, deduced again and again, and finally determined that no matter how he solves the chess, Guo Yi can at least beat him.Even if Guo Jia and Jia Xu played chess, it was extremely difficult to force Jia Xu to this situation.The reason is that Jia Xu was absent-minded in the first place, and Guo Yi's deliberate disguise just now made him mistakenly think that Guo Yi's mind was not on this chess game long ago.

But he didn't expect that the little fox had already made up his mind to ask for the truth by winning this game of chess.The sound of the east and the west, the odd and the false, do not seek the outcome of the chess game, but seek the hearts of the players.Guo Yi is so proficient at such a young age, the day when he grows up is really immeasurable.

Jia Xu's thoughtfulness fell into the anxious Guo Yi's eyes, and he became thinking about how to reject his questioning.His heart was broken, and he pressed on step by step: "From the very beginning, something was wrong. After the First World War in Jingzhou, no one in the world has the strength to compete with the prime minister. Even if the remnants of Xiliang are not cleared, even if the empress With careful consideration, even if the prime minister and his father don't want to start another war, they don't have to spend half a year setting up this exit, let alone let his father go into danger. In fact, the queen can do it in the deep palace.

That step is clearly—"

"Hush." ​​Jia Xu put a finger on Guo Yi's mouth and stopped his words, "You don't have to say everything."

Guo Yi was stunned for a few seconds: "Sir, I just want to know what father is doing. Is it..." His eyes gradually turned red. "Do you want to go again like four years ago when you knew you were going to die?! Are you going to leave me alone again?! Otherwise, why would he entrust me to you? Why did you say you wanted to take me with you?" Go to Xiliang..."

In the end, Guo Yi's eyes filled with tears.No matter how smart and precocious he is praised, he is still just a kid in his early ten years old after all.In other words, it is precisely because he is a child who is too precocious that he can feel that the seemingly calm mountain and rain are about to come, and he will be even more frightened and at a loss, persistently asking his elders for affirmation s answer.

"Many people think that your father is omnipotent, that there is nothing in the world that he cannot solve." After a long time, Jia Xu said slowly, "But in fact, there are too many things that he cannot achieve. For example, he even A qualified father can't do it."

"But I don't blame him!" Guo Yi hurriedly said, "He doesn't need to teach me anything, he doesn't need to care about my daily life, and he doesn't even need to come to see me often! As long as he is here, it's fine. In this way, he Can't do it?"

"...He has tried his best." The illness in the dungeon of Yecheng, the ups and downs on the journey to Xudu, and the torture in prison at the end.He made the bet on himself, and he really had nothing to do, "But in the end, he was still at the end of his rope."

No matter how romantic and romantic it looks on the surface, Jia Xu knows that Guo Jia is the same kind of person as him.Naturally, it is very cool.They all see clearly that it's not the cannibalism of the world today, but the cannibalism of the world, the wars are raging, the powers and schemes are attacking, the people are in dire straits, and the people are mourning all over the world. It can enter their eyes and ears, but it is rare for a sound to enter their hearts. .The difference is that Jia Xu was happy to play the "chaotic" world in exchange for high-ranking officials and generous salary, while Guo Jia left a drop of red blood on the tip of his heart, not for the common people, not for the country, but only for the three points. The heroic spirit of spirits, willing to believe in illusions that have been seen through and are no longer worthless.

He is born with a cold nature, so once he is determined, there will be no stumbling blocks for human relations, kinship, etiquette and legal responsibilities; Go forward with your hands, even if it is the end, it is also the way back.

"The old man is tired, let's come here today."

"gentlemen!"

"Go." Jia Xu waved his hand, leaving no hope for Guo Yi.There is endless tiredness in his brows, "I will tell you when the first heavy snow falls this year."

At that time, when the dust settles, he will know what choices those people made.

In the whole world, all living beings are still a group of fools who are deceived by illusions.

However, because of Guo Jia, for a moment, he suddenly became envious.

Very envious.

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Following behind Xiahou Dun, Cao Zhi felt uneasy.It has been three days since he chased Xu Du, no matter how much he wrote to request, Cao Cao refused to see him because he said he was busy with business.I went to ask Guo Jia, but I was stopped before I reached the entrance of the hospital. The Prime Minister Dao ordered that no one should disturb Mr. Guo while he was recuperating.Even Xun Yu, who is usually the gentlest, just shook his head after hearing him talk about the situation, expressing his helplessness.With no help from all parties, Cao Zhi finally made up his mind to take the risk, and went to the prison to rescue Yang Xiu without telling Cao Cao, so that Yang Xiu could at least save his life, and spend his life incognito.

But Yang Xiu refused.

A proud person can accept losing, but will never allow himself to escape.Cao Zhi persuaded Yang Xiu that as long as he kept his life, the future would be long, and Yang Xiu advised Cao Zhi to leave quickly, rather than lose Cao Cao's favor by breaking his wrists.When neither of the two convinced the other, Xiahou Dun had already come to the prison and was ordered by Cao Cao to take Cao Zhi to see him.

Father will be furious?Will he be extremely disappointed?Or will Dezu be put to death even more because of this?Cao Zhi thought about all kinds of possibilities in his mind, but the last one was the only one that worried him enough.At this time, Xiahou Dun suddenly stopped.They have reached the front of the house.

"Uncle Dun..."

"Go in, your father is waiting for you."

Cao Zhi hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded resolutely and walked in.

The hall is as simple as ever, except for the necessary tables, there are only a few plain screens that separate the inside and the outside.There is no incense, and there are several pots of stoves in the four corners of the room, which can barely maintain the sporadic warmth in the room.When Cao Zhi walked in, Cao Cao was reviewing official documents, and there were several hills of wooden slips piled up on and beside the case.Occasionally, when the wind blows in, the flames of the candlesticks will flicker, and Cao Cao's face will also be bright and dark, making people uncertain whether he is happy or angry.

"Father, Zhi is here."

"En." Cao Cao only responded lightly, without raising his head, his eyes were always on the official document.

The more Cao Cao was like this, the more disturbed Cao Zhi felt, even more disturbed than Cao Cao getting angry at him.He stood there stiffly, bewildered.

The silence lasted for a long time, or maybe it was only a short while later, Cao Cao finally raised his head slightly and glanced at Cao Zhi: "You tried so hard to see Gu, but now that you see him, why don't you speak?"

Cao Zhi's heart stagnates.It turned out that my father knew everything!

He knew very well that although Cao Cao refused to see him, his every move in Xudu was monitored by octopuses, and he would not be able to hide from Cao Cao's eyes that he secretly went to prison to rescue Yang Xiu.The reason why he still did it was to let Cao Cao know. Later, out of anger and disappointment, Cao Cao would call him to question him.In this way, he could finally see his father and intercede for Yang Xiu in person.

But he didn't expect that not only his every move could not avoid his father, but even the plan in his heart was as simple as a child's play in front of his father.

But in any case, he has indeed seen Cao Cao.

But Cao Zhi lifted his robe and knelt down on the ground: "Father, please let Yang Xiu go! Zhi is willing to bear all his guilt!"

"I ask you alone, do Kong Gui and Yang Xiu really have correspondence?"

"Yes."

"Is the leak in the letter related to confidential matters?"

"Yes……"

"That being the case, killing Yang Xiu alone is based on the national law." Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhi with deeper eyes, "Even so, you still want to intercede for him?"

"Father is Rong Zhi!" Cao Zhi kowtowed deeply to Cao Cao, "Yang Xiu had a relationship with Kong Gui because his father valued Kong Gui at that time, and he hoped that through Kong Gui, Zhi could win his father's favor. I don't know that Kong Gui actually has the heart of treason. Although he is at fault, according to the law of the Han Dynasty, the crime does not deserve death. Besides..." Cao Zhi paused.If there was still room, he would never plead with Cao Cao with the following words, but Yang Xiu's life was at stake, and he only had this hole card left.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed down, and his voice calmed down a lot: "Father, Zhi knows that your heir is always only the second elder brother. The importance you paid to Zhi when you were in Jingzhou and after you came back was just to use Zhi to stimulate the second brother. , let him dare not relax at all times, and become a person who can truly take on his father's great cause. Zhi knows his father's good intentions, but... It's just that Zhi and his second brother and mother are compatriots. Always sad."

The scene when Guo Jia talked with him alone in Jingzhou came to his mind.He was very happy to hear that his father had decided to choose Cao Pi as his heir, because he knew too well how much the second brother wanted to get this position, not only for the future and fortune, but also for the affirmation of his father contained in it.But soon he was told that the current Cao Pi is still enough to take on the heavy responsibility, so he needs to pretend to be interested in the position of heir, and force Cao Pi to grow into a truly qualified heir in the competition.Since that day, for more than a year, he has not been able to be as close as before with Cao Pi. Seeing Cao Pi look at him from surprise to doubt, from doubt to guard, to alienation and even hostility , his heart ached badly, but there was no one to tell.

Sooner or later, Cao Pi will inherit the great cause, and Cao Zhi, the loser in the fight for the position of heir, will be guarded for life at least, and his life is at stake.The more powerful the family, the more cruel and merciless, from the moment the plan started, he was ready to be abandoned.In order to have a real heir to his father's great cause, he doesn't care about his life or his future. He just thinks of Cao Pi's indifferent appearance in the future. After all, he will still be sad.

"Zhi is his father's son. It is Zhi's duty to obey his father's orders. Zhi shouldn't ask his father for anything." Cao Zhi slowly closed his eyes halfway to cover the pain in his eyes, "but please His father, Rong Zhi, was ignorant once. I hope that his father will see his dedication and spare Yang Xiu's life. As long as his father is willing to forgive him, Zhi is willing to depose himself as a common man after his second brother inherits his father's great career, and never return to him for the rest of his life. towards."

After finishing speaking, he kowtowed to Cao Cao three times and couldn't stand up.

There was a bit of surprise in Cao Cao's eyes. I don't know if it was because his son was transparent about fame and wealth, or because Cao Zhi cared more about Yang Xiu than he imagined.As far as he knew, although Yang Xiu helped Cao Zhi do a lot of things, and at the same time caused many troubles for Cao Zhi because of his own cleverness, but until now, Cao Zhi was still willing to give up and take Yang Xiu's life.

He sighed secretly, stood up and walked to the hall, knelt down and helped Cao Zhi up himself, and sat down on the side table.

"Father?" Cao Zhi looked at Cao Cao suspiciously.Cao Cao was mentally prepared to get angry, refuse, and reprimand him, but he was as calm as he is now, even with a hint of kindness, but Cao Zhi really couldn't figure it out.

"Gu has thought about establishing Zihuan as his heir. But Zihuan's performance has really disappointed Gu." Cao Cao said in a deep voice, "Since you have been with Gu to assist in political affairs, your talent has been alone. You can see it all in your eyes. And what you said just now shows your courage and determination in the face of the big situation."

The more Cao Cao said, the more surprised Cao Zhi's expression became, but there was no trace of joy.

"But Yang Xiu's intentions are not righteous. Given time, he will become proud of being favored and will be difficult for you to use. Therefore, Zijian, as long as you stop pleading for Yang Xiu, I will not only find another intelligent person whose character is far better than yours. His staff will also—"

I saw Cao Cao raised his phoenix eyes, staring closely at Cao Zhi,

"Also, make you his heir. Everything that Gu has now will be yours."

There was a thunderous bang in Cao Zhi's ear, which was the sound of his heart beating wildly. The meaning of the word "heir" is too heavy, the army that sweeps the world, the power that overturns the clouds, the honor above ten thousand people, and even... the ninety-five supreme position.No wonder the group of people who are not the heirs of Cao Cao fought their heads over this. As long as they can get a little bit of it, it is also a meritorious deed from the dragon, and they can also ascend to heaven.And everything that everyone has worked so hard to fight for is now in front of Cao Zhi's eyes, one step away.

Just a nod of his head.

"Father, Zhi..."

"There is one more thing I want to tell you." Cao Cao seemed to know what Cao Zhi wanted to say, and interrupted him in advance, "I wanted to kill Yang Xiu because he colluded with Kong Gui. I killed Sima Yi because He colluded with Kong Gui. You and I already know what the former is asking for. And the latter, do you know?"

Cao Zhi shook his head.But in fact, he could vaguely guess some.Yang Xiu once told him that Kong Gui and Sima Yi conspired to have a big banquet at Tongque Terrace, the day the queen was killed, and blame him for the disaster.But it is not known whether it is true or not due to the solar eclipse that did not appear and the subsequent series of changes.He knew that Cao Cao must have found something when he said that, but he still had a little luck, thinking that maybe what Cao Cao knew was just some clues, and he was just testing him by saying so, so he kept silent .

I don't know if Cao Cao has seen through Cao Zhi's thoughts, he sighed deeply, and said: "I have investigated, and on the day of the Tongque Terrace banquet, Zihuan's robe was specially made of flammable cotton material. Cheng Cheng, the person who made the clothes was once a servant of the Yang family, and the person who poured wine for Zihuan at the banquet that day was a servant who has followed you for many years.

Sima Yi pretended to conspire with Kong Gui to blame you for the solar eclipse, but in fact he must have used Kong Gui's hand to make Zihuan an ominous person who was responsible for the solar eclipse that day.Gu Su doesn't believe in celestial phenomena and disasters, so he will order a thorough investigation. In the end, he will be able to find out what Yang Xiu and Kong Gui did, and you will also be accused of murdering your brother.

Zihuan has murderous intentions for you.Now that you know this, think carefully about how to answer Gu. "

Cao Zhi's face was already pale, and his heart seemed to be grabbed by something suddenly, and the pain was severe.

Even if he can let go of his glory, wealth, fame and future, can he still let go of his life?Now that Cao Cao is still alive, Cao Pi has already murdered him. When Cao Pi inherits everything in the future, how can he still have a foothold?

Even if it's for self-preservation——