[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

The north gate of Xiangyang is very close.This ancient city just stood quietly not far away, waiting for their arrival.

The first [-] soldiers came forward on horseback, and suddenly there was a shrill neighing from the horses, but these horses accidentally jumped or fell into the ravine.

Only then did they see clearly that the layer of thin grass on the ground turned out to be a gully three feet deep and three feet wide.And the people in front didn't know when, more than a hundred war horses fell into a ravine again.The most disgusting thing is that once the war horse just falls into these ravines, there is nowhere to turn around, and it is impossible to jump up at all.

Zhao Yun took a deep breath.

It is impossible for these ravines to be dug now, so Cao Zhi should not have discovered them.Zhao Yun waited for a while, and ordered to abandon the horses stuck in it, and ordered people to clear the trap ahead and move on.

When he stood in front of the city wall, what greeted him was a rain of arrows!

Zhao Yun's pupils shrank for a moment.

He already understood that the other party had discovered them and set up traps waiting for them.Now the fog is shrouded, but the roles have been reversed—they are in the light, and the defenders of Xiangyang are in the dark!

He violently raised the spear in his hand, and the dancing ground was airtight.As far as he knew, there were at most one or two thousand crossbowmen in the city, and there were not enough arrows to stop them from being numerous!Before the expedition, Zhuge Liang's exhortation "We must capture Xiangyang as quickly as possible" was still in his ears, so he ordered people to continue to attack, one smashed the door, and the other ordered people to climb along the city wall with rope ladders.

But for some reason, the ground and the city wall were covered with a thick layer of ice. Soldiers kept slipping and falling, and the city wall could not be climbed at all.

They came here in a hurry, and it was impossible to bring siege equipment.Therefore, only the simplest method can be used.

The arrows above were still continuing, and there was a sudden sound of fighting from the east!When Zhao Yun set up his defensive formation, there was another commotion in the west.

The morale of the army has dropped!

Cao Zhi stood on the city wall, smelling the increasingly intense smell of blood, and slowly exhaled.

On the sixth day of December, this was destined to be the night of the killing.

In the 16th year of Jian'an, Zhuge Liang sent Zhao Yun to raid Xiangyang to no avail.Before long, Liu Gui's troops went to Jiameng to fight Liu Bei.Most of Liu Bei's soldiers were killed or injured, and they guarded Jiameng.

Sun Quan marched north to Guangling, and Cao Cao retreated to Xiangyang.He ordered Zhongyou to lead [-] troops to Jiameng, and then ordered Zhang Liao to lead the troops back to the army and march eastward from Xiangyang.

When Liu Zhang heard that Cao Cao was retreating, he vomited blood again.

Even if the doctor rescued him, the spirit of the whole person is not as good as before.

He was played by Liu Bei first, and then by Cao Cao.The emperor's edict has not yet come down, and Liu Zhang finally understands that this edict will never come.

When Cao Cao retreated, there was no displeasure or anger towards Sun Quan.

On the contrary, he was very happy.

Because he received the news that Pang Tong, another important figure under Liu Bei, was shot in the chest by a stray arrow five days ago and died!

Cao Ying will never forget Pang Tong.This person sneaked into Cao Ying before the Chibi War, and recommended Cao Cao that all the ships could be linked together with iron chains, making it difficult for them to escape when they were attacked by fire.Therefore, the death of Pang Tong was a great joy to Cao Ying.

Cao Cao even heard that Liu Bei almost went crazy when Pang Tong died.He murmured dumbly for a long time, "Return my military division, return my military division", and then suddenly came out of the tent and shouted hoarsely to the north, crying, "Cao Cao!—I, Liu Bei, am still alive, and I vow to be an enemy of Cao Cao!" "Han Thieves and thieves are not at odds, and Wang Ye is not partial to peace——!"

Cao Cao laughed.

"Han thieves are not at odds, and Wang Ye is not partial? Hahaha!" He looked to the west, and there were snowflakes spinning and falling.He stretched out his hand to catch a snowflake, which almost instantly melted into water droplets in the palm of his hand.He mocked softly: "Liu Xuande, Liu Xuande, I have been waiting for you for so many years...... You could have come long ago!"

After he finished speaking, he raised his troops and went east.He still has to do a play, and then he plans to watch something good.

As a late bystander, Sun Quan was not eligible to participate in this game.Now that the initiative is in the hands of Cao Cao, Sun Quan's role is definitely not to take advantage of Liu Bei's crisis and let Cao Cao go to attack Jiangdong to take Jiangdong, but that if Liu Bei really takes Yizhou, Sun Quan will never stop.

Now that Sun Quan has participated, he is absolutely unwilling to return empty-handed.If Liu Bei can't take Yizhou in the future, he will have to die. Cao Cao will naturally order the garrison Zhong Yao to march into Yizhou; if Liu Bei wins Yizhou, then Sun Quan will never be happy.

Once Sun Quan is unhappy, he must cede Liu Bei's Jingzhou territory to him.And even if Liu Bei wins, his vitality will be seriously injured. Even if he joins forces with Sun Quan, he will not be his opponent of Cao Cao ten years later.

Either way, it's a great pleasure!

In the first month of the spring of the 17th year of Jian'an, Liu Bei went east to make peace with Zhuge Liang.Liu Bei returned to Jingzhou, and after February he went west to conquer Liu Zhang.

In the second month of spring, Cao Cao and Sun Quan met in Lujiang.In the early water battle, Cao Cao was at a disadvantage, so he led his army back to Ye.

When everyone returned to Yecheng, it was already an evening in March.

When Cao Zhi passed through Luoyang with his army earlier, he met two talented brothers named Ying Ju and Ying Zhu.The two came here for fame, and after Cao Zhi had a deep talk with them, his thoughts on them and his views on the present world were quite consistent.So when they parted, he wrote poems for them.

"Stepping up to Beimanban, looking at Luoyang Mountain in the distance. Luoyang is so lonely, the palace is completely burned... I think I live in a normal place, and I can't speak because of my anger."

The two brothers went back happily, and Cao Zhi also went back to think about how to use these two good scribes.

Now the person who came to greet them was naturally Cao Pi, but when he turned around, he glanced at himself meaningfully.

The three Cao Zhi brothers went to visit the Bian family first as usual.After talking with his mother, Cao Zhi got a piece of news that made him unable to respond any more.

——His wife, Cui Shi, is pregnant in August.

Cao Pi already knew about it, and when he heard Bian's words, he realized that Cao Zhi was still being kept from it.He raised his eyebrows to look at Cao Zhi, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, fourth brother."

Cao Zhang thumped Cao Zhi's shoulder heavily, and said happily: "Congratulations, fourth child, you can finally be a father too! Hurry up and let your wife give birth to a strong chubby baby, and let my brother and I Come teach them martial arts!"

Cao Zhi was woken up from his stupor, and subconsciously showed a stiff smile: "Hehe, I can finally be a father... Yes, I am finally going to be a father..."

Seeing this, Cao Pi frowned slightly.

The three went out, and Cao Zhi slowly walked back to his courtyard.He walked so slowly that almost everyone could see that he was absent-minded and in a trance.

Cao Pi walked side by side with him, seeing Cao Zhi almost tripped over the stone steps, he reached out to support him, sighed and said, "Why does fourth brother look unhappy?"

Cao Zhi's eyes flickered: "No, my brother is very happy."

Cao Pi's eyes darkened slightly.

He smiled lightly: "Speaking of which, when Rui'er was born, my brother was caught off guard just like you."

Cao Zhi pulled out a not-so-good-looking smile.

Not long after Cao Pi supported him, he sent him to the courtyard, and said softly in the manner of an elder brother: "The fourth sibling is waiting for you, you should go into the house quickly."

After finishing speaking, he stood with his hands behind his back and stared at him with a smile.

Before Cao Zhi entered the house, he waved away many servants.Through the wide open window, he saw Mrs. Cui was sewing some children's shoes and clothes in the room.He stood for a while, staring at her stomach for a long time with slightly disbelieving eyes.

His mind was in a mess.

In the past, Cao Cao asked him to marry the Cui family, but he did not refuse.Because on the one hand, he has no reason to refuse, and on the other hand, even if he refuses, it is impossible for him not to marry all year round.

After he got married, he stayed with Cui Shi all day long, not only trying to forget, but also trying to transfer his feelings.But in the end, he was not only at a loss, but also made him miss that person more and more.

Only then did he realize that liking doesn't mean that you can forget it when you want to. It turns out that liking means that the more you want to forget, the more unforgettable it will be.

Cao Zhi pressed his forehead.Then he straightened his expression and pushed the door open.

Seeing Cao Zhi's return, he hurriedly got up to greet him.He went out with the army last September.Calculating the time, Cui Shi has been pregnant for eight months.Cao Zhi looked at her in a daze as she walked towards him with her back supported and her big belly straight. He hurriedly came to his senses and went up to help her, and helped her back to the seat: "Don't move, just sit still."

Cui smiled sweetly and said: "The concubine is not tired, and the husband can also sit."

She was originally a delicate and beautiful girl, but now, although she is a little fatter, her complexion is fairer and more tender.Her whole body seemed to have a maternal aura, and she looked more and more gentle.

Cao Zhi was silent for a while.

Or feeling a little embarrassed, he got up and poured a cup of hot water for Cui Shi: "Aren't you thirsty, drink some water."

Cui took the teacup and smiled slightly.

Because of Cui's pregnancy or guilt, Cao Zhi rejected many invitations and stopped going out, and resumed life after marriage for more than a month, staying with Cui at home.

After Yang Xiu found out, he laughed at Cao Zhi as usual.He told Guo Jia about it, and the latter smiled slightly without saying a word.

In April of the 17th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang, and Cao Zhi followed.

When he left to bid farewell to Mrs. Bian, Mrs. Bian said angrily, "Fourth Cao, you left for eight months, and in August there was only one letter to your wife! I scolded you as early as the day you came back! Now that you are not an official in the court, why are you as busy as your second brother? Your daughter-in-law is about to give birth, why don't you accompany her?"

Cao Zhi's eyes flashed, and he smiled apologetically for a while.

Cui glanced at him, disappointed in her heart, but smiled on her face: "Uncle once taught my son that a man should put his career first. Mother, so it doesn't matter."

Mrs. Bian patted her hand and sighed: "My mother knows all about the hard work of being pregnant for ten months! You are so sensible, it makes my mother feel distressed!"

Cui's smile deepened.There was a strong sense of emotion on her face, and after all, she leaned on Bian's shoulder and said softly: "If a mother loves others, my son will not want him to love him."

Mrs. Bian was finally amused by her, and nodded her nose: "You, the fourth child will be spoiled by you for the rest of his life!"

When leaving, Cao Zhi finally couldn't help but said to her: "...I'm sorry."

Cui's whole body stiffened.She said, "Sorry for what?"

Cao Zhi's eyes flickered.

What are you sorry for?

Is it because I am sorry for being indifferent to you in the past, or because I am sorry that his liking for another person cannot be transferred to you, or because I am sorry that you are a rare and good woman, but you have to be let down by me?

Cao Zhi was tired and closed his eyes.

Choi is very, very good.But Cao Zhi was still unwilling to give up on that person.

...the one who has been chasing for so long and still can't look at him even now.

Cui stared blankly at his tired face.After a while, she organized her words and said slowly: "Actually, the moment I saw my husband, he was not only drunk, but also vaguely called someone's name. I know that there is someone in my husband's heart." .”

Cao Zhi's pupils shrank suddenly.

He narrowed his eyes and said lightly, "Do you still remember whose name I called?"

Cui smiled and said, "I didn't hear clearly."

Cao Zhi paused, stared at her for a long time, and then said: "So?"

"So, the concubine also told herself: Since you are married to your husband, don't be jealous, don't be afraid, and don't expect extravagantly." Cui continued: "So the husband wants to leave, and the concubine wants to keep the husband. , and will never intervene. On the contrary, no matter what decision the husband makes, the concubine will support it."

Cao Zhi's face was finally moved.

He seemed to be meeting this smart and kind woman for the first time, carefully

In fact, Cao Zhi didn't reject women at all. Even if Fang was at a loss when he got married, he treated Cui very well.But this kind of kindness is by no means liking, but a bit like guilt.

Cui Shi understands all this.

"The concubine does not blame her husband," perhaps because Cao Zhi's gaze was too focused, which caused her to have a little illusion, and her face was stained a little crimson.She said like this, no matter whether she was bitter in her heart or didn't care, her face was impeccably gentle and gentle, "Actually, when I said these words, I was just thinking, maybe I don't fight or complain. On the contrary, I can remember my concubine for a lifetime."

Cao Zhi was silent for a long time.

He finally leaned over and hugged Cui Shi, and said softly: "Since I married you, this life is my responsibility. Cao Zhi will never shirk or forget. You...don't worry."

In mid-April, everyone returned to Xuchang.

Soon, the emperor ordered Cao Cao not to call his name when he paid homage to the audience, not to walk away when he entered the court, and to walk up to the hall with a sword, just like the old story of Xiao He when the emperor Gaozu.

At that time, all the officials complimented, but only Xun Yu said: "The prime minister originally promoted righteous soldiers to rein in the country. He should uphold the sincerity of loyalty and the truth of retreat; a gentleman loves others with virtue, which is not appropriate."

As soon as the words fell, the hall that was originally like a busy city was instantly dead silent.

Cao Cao stared at Xun Yu indifferently, speechless for a long time.

When the court came down that day, Cao Cao held Xun Yu's hand and walked forward step by step.The two walked very slowly, and even the people who followed behind them also slowed down.

Xun Yu was old and could hardly walk anymore.But Cao Cao is in good health, and even goes out all year round, so he will never walk as slowly as he does.

Over the years, he has rarely held his hand and walked forward together.Today is probably just the last time.

It suddenly occurred to him that many years ago they were also struggling like this.He first defected to Cao Cao, and after a deep talk with him, Cao Cao was overjoyed, and even said "Xun Yu, my son's house" to the left and right.

——How happy was Cao Cao at that time, and how satisfied was he at that time?

But he has never forgotten that at the end of history, it was Liu Bang who killed all the heroes in the past.Only Zhang Liang retreated behind the scenes to avoid the end of being driven out.

But he, Xun Yu, how could he retreat?

Many years ago, the Han Dynasty declined, and Dong Zhuo was in chaos, so all the heroes in the world came together to compete for the Central Plains.However, most of them are just doing it for their own selfish desires. Even overthrowing Dong Zhuo is just the first step in plotting to usurp the dynasty...

How can the Han dynasty not be easy to master?

He has been under Yuan Shao's command, he has sought out Han Fu, and finally he chose Cao Cao, the unworldly hero!

Then, as long as 30 years of dedicated assistance.

In the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao conquered Tao Qian, and he tried his best to maintain the supply of food and grass; Zhang Wren rebelled, and he led the army to defend Cao Cao's camp; A large amount of food, grass and ordnance are needed to meet the urgent needs...

He and Cao Cao shared weal and woe and shared joys and sorrows.There have been disagreements, but they have always been connected with each other.Cao Cao even sighed jokingly, "Xun Yu, Xun Yu, how can you figure out my heart so thoroughly? If you are gone one day, who will understand my thoughts?"

They are friends, confidants, and brothers.

But he has forgotten that he is even more of a monarch and minister.

Xun Yu wanted to restore the order of the world with the help of Cao Cao, and wanted to restore the rule of the Han Dynasty.So he offered a plan to order Cao Cao to "welcome the emperor in Xuchang" and "serve the emperor so that he will not be a minister".He never imagined that Cao Cao had already changed to want to establish another dynasty, another order!

So his strategy back then really became "holding the emperor to order the princes".

Is he wrong?

Was his ideal wrong?Are there no more heroes in the world to help the Han Dynasty?Or once these heroes are at the peak of power, they will be attracted by the prosperity and intoxication of this world, thus losing their hearts?

Xun Yu didn't know.

His hands were trembling, and so was his heart.

Cao Cao squeezed his wrist tightly, but sighed jokingly as before, and said: "Xun Yu, Xun Yu, you have been with me for more than 30 years. I have such affection for you. I didn't expect that today, you How dare you disobey me like that."

In the past Cao Cao once said, if you are gone, who else can understand my thoughts; now Cao Cao said, I have such affection for you, how dare you disobey me like this.

Xun Yu patrolled the surroundings almost numbly and stiffly. It was still this familiar capital, this familiar palace, this familiar person, and this familiar tone...

But Cao Cao today is no longer the Cao Cao of the past.

People are different, things are different!

Xun Yu didn't answer for a long time.

Cao Cao sighed again.He patted Xun Yu's hand and ordered someone to send him back.Then he turned around, got into the carriage and went home.

Cao Zhi was still standing there.

He watched Xun Yu slowly turn around and look back at the bustling palace behind him, his eyes were gradually covered with an expression that looked like pain, sadness, despair, but more like bewilderment, so he wanted to go to him and say some comforting words .But just as he took a step, someone grabbed his wrist.

He turned around and saw that the person pulling him was actually Guo Jia.His heart skipped a beat, and he only asked tentatively, "Sir?"

Guo Jia did not agree.

He let go of Cao Zhi's wrist, took two steps forward and said to Xun Yu, "It's been a long time since we've had a drink together, let's have a drink."

It took Xun Yu a long time to react, and he nodded slowly.

Guo Jia and Xun Yu have also left.Cao Zhi watched their carriage disappear before looking away.

Then, he saw Yang Xiu was standing beside him.

Yang Xiu stood side by side with him, and said with a smile, "This carriage is so beautiful, did it attract the eyes of the fourth son of the Cao family?"

Cao Zhi nodded and said, "That's right, the students haven't seen such a beautiful carriage for a long time."

Yang Xiu heard it and sneered.He said: "Is the fourth son implying that your own carriage is not magnificent enough? Or tell the prime minister another day as a teacher, asking him to make a new carriage for the fourth son?"

Cao Zhi's heart was still a little heavy, and he didn't have any intention of joking.He smiled compensatingly, and walked back together with Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiudao: "You came forward just now, did you want to comfort Lord Xun Ling?"

Cao Zhi nodded slightly.

Yang Xiu hooked the corners of his lips, and there was an inexplicable sarcasm in his eyes: "Actually, I am very curious about what the fourth son wants to comfort Mr. Xun Ling."

He still remembered that Cao Cao killed Kong Rong four years ago. When he asked Cao Zhi, what Cao Zhi said was that he strongly supported Cao Cao.It was also at that time that he finally saw the nature of his student.

Now that Xun Yu is about to step into the footsteps of Kong Rong, what will Cao Zhi want to comfort Xun Yu?

Yang Xiu flicked his sleeves, and said calmly: "Should I tell him that your father's enlistment is imperative, let him see it more; or say something against his will to make him happy for a while?"

Cao Zhi "uh" for a long time, and finally shut up.

Yang Xiu sneered: "Yes, fortunately Fengxiao stopped you, otherwise it's hard to say what kind of persuasion Jun Xun Ling would be like!"

Cao Zhi's melancholy disappeared, and he said helplessly: "The students found that Mr. seems to like to see students get frustrated."

When Yang Xiu heard it, he bent his eyes and smiled.

He was not a handsome person, but he had a pair of beautiful eyes for no reason.The eyeliner is narrow and long, and the corners of the eyes have a romantic and ironic charm.He turned his head to look at Cao Zhi, and said with a smile, "It's been so many years, and you didn't find out until now?"

Cao Zhi became more and more helpless.

Hundreds of years ago, Confucius said, "When one's body is upright, one does not follow orders; if one's body is not upright, one does not obey orders."When Cao Zhi said this, it was only to let Yang Xiu find out that what he had done was quite inconsistent with the way of being a teacher respected by the world, so he might stop teasing him like this in the future.

Of course, if Yang Xiu could feel a little guilty and make it up to him, he wouldn't really mind.

Unfortunately……

Yang Xiu sighed, and suddenly changed his tone: "Actually, I don't even want to be a teacher."

Cao Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth: "Huh?"

"In fact, I also feel that this is really bad for you. But I don't know why when I see you happy and happy, I feel an unspeakable bitterness in my heart-on the contrary, I feel more uncomfortable when I see you. The heart of a teacher But it's smoother!"

Cao Zhi looked at him in disbelief, never expecting him to say such shameless words!

Yang Xiu didn't seem to see him.

Not only was he unmoved, but he continued to sigh: "In the past ten years as a teacher, I have also tried to teach others, but I didn't feel like when I faced the fourth son. Why is this? After more than ten years of meditation as a teacher, at this time At this moment, I suddenly understand!"

He paused, held Cao Zhi's hand and said solemnly: "Actually, the one who has the problem is never the teacher, but the fourth son! If the fourth son is always miserable, I will be happy!"

Cao Zhi's forehead twitched violently.

But seeing Yang Xiu put his hand behind his back happily, he left with a big smile.

The next day, it rained heavily in Xuchang.

The weather in Xuchang at the end of May is very changeable.This rain came just right after the sweltering heat.

The faces of the people in Xuchang were a little bit happy, but the Cao Mansion was still dull.

Perhaps because of Xun Yu's objection, Cao Cao has been unhappy these days.He was not happy, and many people were not happy because of it.

Cao Zhang didn't dare to go out without permission to ride horses and shoot arrows, which made Cao Cao unhappy, so he often nestled in Cao Zhi's courtyard and played chess with him.

When the two of you came and went happily, Luo Ping entered the door in a panic, and even his voice changed: "Young Master, Young Master, it's not good!"

Cao Zhi paused with his hands in the air, frowned and said, "What happened?"

Luo Ping took a breath, and said hastily: "The news came from Ye City that Mrs. Cui had a difficult labor and gave birth to a young son last night, and passed away!"