[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

When Cao Cao received this letter, he was stationing troops in Liyang, planning to march into Yuan's city.These days, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were almost defeated under Cao Cao's onslaught. The two heirs of Yuan Shao almost fled to the inner city with their tails between their legs.Cao Cao will take the opportunity to conquer Yuan Jun's last barrier at the moment when the morale of the army is high.

When he received a letter from Xun Yu, he first recalled the recent march and formation, then the food and grass, and finally thought that something might have happened in Xuchang.

After Cao Cao read the letter, he first frowned and then showed his face.Then he got up and walked a few steps in the tent, and finally frowned again.

Looking at his appearance, Guo Jia already understood the content of Xun Yu's letter in his heart.

Cao Cao came back to his senses, and seeing Guo Jia's composed appearance, he couldn't help laughing and said, "Wen Ruo said in the letter, if you can guess Guo Fengxiao, Gu will give you another good wine."

Guo Jia and Xun Yu made a bet earlier, but they lost for a year.But in this world, nature is hard to change, so Guo Jia couldn't help but find a way to drink some wine.So he made a bet with Cao Cao that if he won, he would be able to drink on the same day, and if he lost, he would not drink for an extended day.Later, if you win, you can get ten years of fine wine in Cao Cao's family, and if you lose, it will be extended for one month.

Now Cao Cao owes Guo Jia three altars of fine wine, and Guo Jia's ban on drinking has been extended to the next year.

In fact, those that Guo Jia lost were not impossible to win.But since he won Cao Cao's wine, he would naturally lose.

——If you want to drink good wine, there is always a price to pay.

It's just that Cao Cao didn't bet against him recently, and Guo Jia only sighed at Yue Chang.

Guo Jia's eyes brightened, "Is this true?"

Cao Cao seemed displeased and said, "Since when does Gu's words stop talking?"

Guo Jia's eyes became brighter.

He thought for a moment, then Shi Shiran said, "Wen Ruo's letter must be about something important to discuss."

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows, indicating that he was talking nonsense.

Guo Jia poured Cao Cao a cup of hot tea, and then poured himself a cup: "Now our army is stronger than Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang's soldiers and horses, and the morale of the army is stable. These few battles are even more overwhelming, so Wen Ruo is definitely not worried about these things."

Cao Cao drank the tea and nodded slightly.

"Now Liu Bei is attached to Liu Biao, and Liu Biao is guarding Jingzhou, Sun Quan is about to stabilize Jiangdong, and Emperor Xian is guarding the palace safely for the Lord, so Xuchang will be fine."

"good."

Guo Jia smiled leisurely: "Since it's not the problem of the army's soldiers and horses, nor is it the problem of Xuchang, then once the cold winter comes, the only big problem for our army is food and grass."

Cao Cao stroked his beard, and the smile deepened in his eyes.

"But compared to the battle of Guandu two years ago, our army is not short of food and grass, and it will be more than enough to last until spring. Looking at the expression of the Lord, there is both approval and regret. Therefore, Wen Ruo's letter must be to persuade the Lord After conquering Yuancheng, immediately lead the army back to Xu. Let Tan and Shang fight each other, and our army will enjoy the success."

Cao Cao sighed: "The two of you really have the same heart! Since you guessed the content of Wen Ruo's letter, you think so too, right?"

Guo Jia smiled and did not answer.

Cao Cao read the letter again, focusing on the theory that "when two tigers fight, one will die and the other will be injured". He turned to Guo Jia and said, "Now our army is very powerful. If we conquer Yuancheng alone, we will lead the army back. It caused the dissatisfaction of the soldiers!"

Guo Jiadan said: "If you can conquer Yizhou with the least cost, why would you be dissatisfied?"

Cao Cao closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said: "How can they really fight like you said?"

"The rift between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan stems from Yuan Gong's love for Yuan Shang, who made Yuan Shang his heir, but Yuan Tan refused to accept it. This cannot be resolved easily. In the end, only one of Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan was defeated and died." Guo Jia said. Jiao smiled as before, and his face was as calm and clear as ever. "Now that the lord is attacking with a strong army, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang are fighting together because of fear, not because they have let go of their prejudice and resentment towards each other. Once the lord leads the army back, and they are sure that the lord will not attack them for the time being, they will naturally As Wen Ruo said, when two tigers fight, one will die and the other will be injured."

Cao Cao frowned.

He is still worried about the current momentum in the Israeli army, if he returns to Xuchang, everyone will naturally be dissatisfied.

Guo Jia seemed to see through Cao Cao's annoyance, so he only smiled lightly and said, "But Feng Xiao and Wen Ruo have the same views, but there are some differences."

"Oh?"

"Feng Xiao believes that the lord can attack the inner city and then defeat Yuan Tan to weaken his strength, and then stay behind the scenes and watch the battle between the two."

Cao Cao nodded knowingly: "If our army breaks through the inner city, Tan Shang will definitely retreat to Yecheng. This time alone, he wants to take Yecheng."

"Yecheng belongs to the lord, but it's just a search for something."

Cao Cao sighed: "You mean to guard Li Yang alone, and then go back to Xu Chang to see them fight on their own?"

Guo Jia bowed and saluted: "Master Mingjian."

Cao Cao thought for a while, and then said: "What if they don't believe in Gu and refuse to fight?"

"My lord can convince them."

"Oh?"

Guo Jia said leisurely, "For example, Liu Biao finally couldn't bear it anymore and attacked the lord secretly."

Cao Cao suddenly raised his head.He stared at Guo Jia closely, and finally smiled and said: "Well, you Guo Fengxiao, it seems that you have been alone in this pot of good wine for ten years, and you are determined to get it!"

Guo Jia closed his eyes and smiled lightly.

This year's heavy snow finally came late, and some ordinary people in Xuchang and even the surrounding area once again fell into the predicament of food shortage.

The little beggar woke up after five days in a coma.

When he woke up, Cao Zhi had fully understood the situation on the surface.The little beggar's previous condition was the same as what he said.Later, Cao Chong captured the evil trafficker, and their dozen or so children were either slaves or handmaidens, or adopted by others.

He had better luck and was adopted by a childless couple in a small village.The husband and wife's family is not rich, and it is not good for him. They only ensure that he has enough food.However, in the past two years, the husband and wife died of the cold one after another. After the remaining food in the family was divided up by his distant relatives, he was kicked out.Even if they use all means, they will eventually return to the same begging life as before.

Cao Zhi first asked him how he felt with concern, seeing that his face was touched, he was noncommittal.

When the name was mentioned, Wang Qi stared at the little beggar's face and said calmly: "You and I are predestined, would you like to be my godson?"

The little beggar trembled all over.

He seemed to recall the horrible scene of begging under the hands of his first adoptive father in the past, and his expression was a little panicked for a moment.But seeing Wang Qi's expressionless face and no evil thoughts in his eyes, he lowered his head eagerly: "Little, little, listen to the young master..."

The weirdness in Cao Zhi's eyes was fleeting, and then he said with a gentle smile, "It's okay, as long as you want to recognize the teacher as a godfather, that's it."

I was moved by the tearful little beggar again.

The godfather didn't recognize it, so the name still needs to be taken.Cao Zhi looked at the almost impeccable expression on his face, and said calmly: "I see that you are smart, so from today on, you can use the word "Min". Before you recognize your godfather, we will call you Amin."

Amin struggled to get up, and kowtowed to Cao Zhi on the bed: "Amin has met the young master and Mr. Wang."

Cao Zhi smiled deeper.

These days, Cao Zhi's focus was on discussing with Wang Qi about the way to do business and how to avoid risks. He raised all possible dangers before sending Wang Qi away.

After Wang Qi left, this empty home was obviously not suitable for people to live in.

Cao Zhi was preoccupied, so he took a piece of paper and wrote down a long list of simplified characters, Arabic numerals and some mathematical symbols in his mind. After Amin memorized them for a while, he asked him to write these words with his uninjured right hand. Inexplicable stuff.

Then Cao Zhi looked at all the crooked but correct things, and couldn't help sighing.

——It seems that this person is really extraordinary, at least in terms of memory, everything will be discussed after he recovers from his injuries.

It's just that people with unknown origins cannot be taken back to the mansion, so Cao Zhi asked a servant to take him home, gave some grain and asked his family to take care of him, and by the way, he also got the family's gratitude.

Cao Zhi has always been gentle with others, never showing a condescending expression, which naturally won the favor of many people.In fact, in the chaotic world of heavy taxes and heavy punishment, as long as the masters are kind to the slaves, and occasionally generously give small rewards, most of the slaves will feel that the master is kind, and then they are willing to follow the slaves for the rest of their lives.

Therefore, after four years of subtle influence, Cao Zhi also gained the loyalty of several young servants invisibly.

However, with Cao Zhi's low-key behavior, it is well known that the most benevolent person in the mansion is not him, but Cao Chong.

Probably because of the reason that he was called an elephant that day, Cao Chongzhi's intelligence and his usual modesty towards others are already a model child prodigy in the eyes of everyone.When the wives in the Cao Mansion's courtyard taught their sons who did not improve, they would sigh in a vague way: "Look at your sixth brother Cao Chong, if you are as smart as him, mother will be relieved!"

Cao Zhi heard about it a little bit.

This is all too normal.Mothers always want their children to be like potential dragons, so they ask them to learn from the better dragon ahead. Unexpectedly, when the children are ignorant, they subconsciously know dignity and jealousy, which eventually makes these children resent Cao Chong even more.

Fortunately, the Bian family never cared about Cao Chong, and only indifferently asked about his study with Cao Pi, praised or admonished him lightly.

At the close of November, Cao Zhi was finally free.

After having dinner at Bian's place, and chatting with her for a while, he and Cao Pi went back to their room to rest.

When he went out, a thin crescent moon had hung in the east.At the end of the field of vision, the sky is blurred and the stars are twinkling.

It would have been a very beautiful night if it hadn't been so cold.

Cao Zhi was held by Cao Pi with one hand, while raising his head slightly to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sky.He always felt that such a clean night sky is rarely seen in later generations, and now he can feast his eyes here.

Cao Pi walked beside him without speaking.

In fact, he hadn't had a good talk with Cao Zhi for a long time.

He slowed down his pace, and stared at his younger brother who was still only up to his chest through the color of the snow.

Nearly 12 years old, his five sense organs have all grown.His skin is very fair, his eyes are very dark, and there are edges and corners in his delicacy and elegance.The future is neither too pretty nor forced.

——In less than five years, it must be very dazzling.

Thinking of this, Cao Pi couldn't express what he felt for a moment: "What was the fourth brother doing a few days ago?"

Although Cao Zhi didn't come to ask himself about any problems in the past this year, he spent the longest time with him.However, Cao Zhi has not only stopped looking for him in the past month, but also hastily traveled, sometimes rushing back to his yard without even saying a word to him.

Cao Pi was not very happy.

But he is an elder brother, how could an elder brother be angry with his younger brother for these trivial matters?Therefore, he kept holding back, until Cao Zhi didn't seem to be busy today, so he opened his mouth casually.

Cao Zhi blinked.

He quickly made up the reason, and even smiled impeccably: "A few days ago, Mr. Zhi wanted to write an article. It just involved some things that Zhi had never learned. These days, he is studying hard."

Cao Pi frowned: "You have just finished studying "The Book of Songs", and the teacher assigns difficult homework?"

Cao Zhi sighed.

In fact, this sentence is not wrong. The homework assigned by Yang Xiu is always weird. Although he struggles, he can finish it within the deadline.

I don't know if Yang Xiu really knew him so well or if he bumped into him by mistake.

Seeing Cao Zhi's expression, Cao Pi felt amused.He patted Cao Zhi's head, and said calmly: "Second brother thought you fell in love with a certain little girl, and I miss you all day and don't have time to talk to second brother."

"……what?"

Cao Zhi's eyes widened, his expression a little funny.

——He is only 12 years old, could he be so precocious?

Cao Pi flicked his nose, and his smile was extremely relaxed: "Okay, second brother is just joking. Let's have a good talk with second brother tonight."

"Okay. Should I go to the second elder brother's courtyard or the planting courtyard?"

"random."

"..." Is it really okay to be random?

In the first half of the month, there was no need to attend classes as usual.Cao Zhi routinely sent the gift Bian prepared for him to Yang Xiu's home, and also wished his teacher and teacher a New Year greeting.

Yang Xiu and his son are still playing chess.

Cao Zhi is also used to such indifferent treatment.After they finished playing a game, they had some words with Yang Biao, then got up to leave, and their behavior became more and more cautious.

Yang Biao watched Cao Zhi leave before turning to stare at Yang Xiu.

After being imprisoned by Cao Cao for a few nights, his hair gradually turned gray, and it is as white as snow today.He also knew that he would do nothing in his life, and the only thing he could look forward to was his son.Suo Xing Yang Xiu has always been something to be proud of, no matter in the past or in the future.

So even if Yang Xiu joined Cao Ying, he never worried.

Yang Biao stared at it for a while, then said calmly: "I heard that you embezzled new grain from Biezhuang a few days ago."

Yang Xiu snapped his fingertips.

He narrowed his pupils slightly, as if he could still see the appearance of the cunning young man bowing to beg sincerely, slightly hooked the corners of his lips: "Yes."

Yang Biao sighed: "My father believes in you, so I don't ask about this matter. As long as Dezu always remembers that you and I are Hanchens, that's fine."

Yang Xiu concealed the fluctuation in his eyes, and said almost firmly: "My son, always remember."

A few days ago, Cao Zhi received another letter.

——The word "again" always gave him an ominous premonition.

This is still a letter from the military adviser Guo Jia.In the letter, the Master Military Adviser did not say as much as he said in the previous year, but simply wished him a new year, greeted his teacher Yang Xiu, and finally wrote lightly that the front line is in good condition, and the army will be brought back soon.

I am hereby writing to you, and I wonder if the Fourth Young Master has prepared fine wine to welcome Jia back?

"..."

Cao Zhi looked at the content that was extremely similar to a year ago, and finally caressed the letter paper and smiled without saying a word.

In the spring and February of the eighth year of Jian'an, Wang Qi returned from Jiangdong.Although the business bartering this time does not mean a full harvest, it is also within the expected range of Cao Zhi.

At the same time, Cao Cao attacked Yuan's city and defeated Yuan's soldiers, and Tan Shang fled by night.In the fourth month of Xia, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Tan in Yecheng.At this moment, news of Liu Biao's surprise attack came.Cao Cao immediately led the army back to Xuchang, leaving Jiaxin to station troops in Liyang.