The strong man in coarse linen was carrying a bundle of firewood and a hatchet hung around his waist. He walked in the mountainous area on the bank of the Qingshui River south of Wancheng. The mountains in the south were graceful and steep. The strong man walked through the winding and slender mountain road, wiped the sweat from his face, and at the end of his eyes, the "jade belt" spanning from afar slowly flowed.

Occasionally, when I saw smoke rising in the village on the river bank, I smiled unconsciously, and after applying sweat, I accelerated my pace and headed towards the hut with the curling green smoke.

The wind was strong on the river bank, and the sound of the waves slapped on the river bank became clearer. The direction of the strong man walking, the low thatched hut was tied in front of the door to form the shape of a small courtyard. Several hens were digging the soil inside. A petite and well-proportioned girl squatted on the other side of the fence and used a short hoe to cultivate a small field.

When wiping the sweat on the forehead, outside the fence, the strong man had already been returned by firewood. The girl put down the hoe, got up and ran to help her brother take off the firewood. Before she could hold it firmly, she fell to the ground, her slender arms were trembling slightly. She felt a little embarrassed, "It was a little sour, but I didn't hold it firmly."

"You are working alone, where is he?" The strong man threw the hatchet onto the pile of firewood. The girl there hurriedly took out a piece of dry thing from her pocket and handed it over. The former was not polite and stuffed it into her mouth, and rinsed it with a bowl of cold water.

“Fishing by the river…”

The girl looked very ordinary, but she smiled and looked very nicely. She pointed to the direction of the boat on the river bank, and looked at the sky again, "Brother, go find him, Yunniang entered the house and made a fire."

As he said that, he picked up a few scattered firewood from the ground and ran into the house, sat in front of the earthen stove, and soon the smoke from the cooking stove floated out of the roof. The strong man with a broken wrist looked at the river bank, where the water was rippling, undulating and flowing southward, converging to the Yangtze River. The rolling waves pounced on the wooden stakes nailed into the water, and the wooden boards covered on them, and walked around with ease. The man who had enough strength to pull the fishing net up from the water, panting and checking the fish and shrimps in the net.

However, nothing was found.

He took a breath and sat down suddenly, looking at the shimmering river surface. In this kind of farmer environment, he was adapting little by little. When he was surging his heart to go to the northern grassland to kill the barbarians, Cao Ang came here like this. However, since the Wancheng Incident, his scars have caused him to be confused for a long time. After he was healed, he often sat on the stones by the river for a whole day. Looking at the sunrise and the sunset, the days became peaceful and peaceful, just like all the golden swords and iron horses that have appeared, people and things are just dreams.

Only the mother who raised him in the family was concerned about it, and perhaps... the shrill battle in Liaodong, and countless shouts continued.

He looked at the undulating river water, and he was so shocked that he even saw a figure coming from behind him. He stood behind him without even notice. When the other party's voice sounded, Cao Ang suddenly turned around and was a big man named Wu'an.

The other party came over and sat down next to him.

"Your letter has been sent out, but a few days ago, the caravan returned halfway and returned the letter. I heard that it was not peaceful in Taihang. Yuan Shao, Jizhou, was attacking Shangdang County, and the business road was no longer open."

In the setting sun, Wu An took out the silk piece from his arms and handed it to Cao Ang beside him. He reached out and patted the other party's back, but laughed again: "But I heard that your father and Gongsun Zhi fought a victory in Xuzhou and destroyed Lu Bu. You must know that he is Lu Bu, a very powerful person."

Cao Ang pinched Su Bo and smiled: "Captain Gongsun is also very powerful. He can easily grasp the opponent's weakness when using troops. Whether it is against the Xiongnu, Xianbei, or against Yuan Shao on the grassland, you can see the opponent's weakness and kill one blow."

"Now it's time to call the governor." Wu An said, "...... Now everyone in the world knows this. You are still here. Zi Xiu, don't you want to go back? It just so happens that the governor Gongsun is also in Xudu. He really doesn't want to go back to the Cao family, so he might as well go back to the north with Governor Gongsun."

"I really don't want to go back at home. I'm a person who has died once. I can see some things clearly. I don't want to bleed at home anymore, but my mother..."

After a pause, Cao Ang took a deep breath, picked up a stone and threw it into the water, splashing it, "...I just miss my mother in my heart. If she knew I was dead, she would definitely be heartbroken...I want to go back and see her."

"Then you should go back!"

Wu An patted his shoulder, then stood up and looked at the setting sun, "You are not like Yunniang and I. If my mother were still there, she would have gone back to serve and guard her."

Next to him, Cao Ang also stood up with a hesitant expression: "If I leave, what will you and Yunniang do?"

"I? I am a rude man, and I am still worried about you. I'm afraid I'm reluctant to give up Yun Niang!"

Looking at the young man with a slightly red face, Wu An suddenly laughed and turned around. A beautiful figure stood there, with a pretty figure crawling on his face, as if it was blending with the red afterglow. The girl shyly lowered her head and pinched the corner of her clothes, "...I'm here to call you back for dinner... I didn't... I never thought about eavesdropping..."

The words were soft and the sound of mosquitoes was soft. After saying that, he covered his face and turned around and ran back.

It was getting dark, and stars spread across the night sky. In this hut on the river bank, the three of them were eating in silence and embarrassment. The words at dusk made the girl's head still lower. With the sound of chopsticks clamping, she suddenly whispered: "You...you are leaving."

After a while, Cao Ang, opposite, stopped chopsticks, and after a huh, the room fell into silence again. Wu An, who was sandwiched in the middle, looked at the couple left and right, and simply stopped his actions, "I can't make a fuss for a long time. I'm worried for you!"

"Just like this, let's go together. Since Zixiu went back to see his mother, you girl didn't need to look depressed." The rough man patted the table and looked at them from side to side, "How is it?! I have a good idea!"

The girl was thin-skinned and glanced at the man opposite her, bit her lower lip lightly, and said nothing. Cao Ang raised his hand: "But it depends on his brother."

"Hahaha, then let's do it like this. In two days, we will clean up and go north to Yuzhou."

"Um."

Yunniang nodded with a red face, and the stars outside the window blinked. She looked out through the open window. The night became so charming and warm. On this night, someone was also looking at the stars in the sky. Jia Xu stood in the attic. Finally, someone couldn't help but speak: "Military advisor, what should we do next? To form an alliance with Liu Biao to fight against Cao Cao, or to join forces with Yuan Shu?"

The figure behind the fence was still motionless. After a while, a voice sounded softly: "Are you satisfied with such a life?"

Jia Xu turned around and looked at Zhang Xiu behind him, as if he could see through other people's thoughts.

Zhang Xiu turned his gaze away, turned his head, and then shook it again: "Of course I was not satisfied, so I joined forces with Liu Biao, but I became a guardian for someone else."

"The lord is not the one who achieves hegemony." The scholar smiled happily, "Cao Cao and Gongsun Zhi have now wiped out Xuzhou, and will soon go south to avenge the loss of their son in Wancheng. Combined with Liu Biao, Yuan Shu is actually the worst strategy. They are not the opponents of these two people. Now the plan is to break good birds and trees, and good ministers choose their masters and surrender to Prime Minister Cao."

"...what?!" Zhang Xiu stood up in shock.

“This is a good retreat.”

Jia Xu turned around and looked at the sky outside, "I was waiting for Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to face off. This excellent opportunity. With Nanyang County's timely help, he would definitely be very happy and grateful. Naturally, I would be as stable as Mount Tai in Cao's camp. Unfortunately, Xuzhou was wiped out so quickly, which was beyond my expectations. Now I can't wait for the opportunity for the battle between Yuan and Cao. I can only do one thing and come to help me in time."

"What's the matter?"

"It's summer, mosquitoes are growing... It's a good time." Jia Xu seemed to remember the chaotic years in Chang'an, and his voice murmured.

It made Zhang Xiu feel numb on his scalp.

***************

After dawn, Yuzhou and Xudu.

The city became restless in the morning light, and the vast army was winding out of the city. Today, when the emperor, Prime Minister Cao Cao, the governor of the northern region, went out to hunt Xutian, a large number of officials and soldiers were accompanied by the flags, and the flags were stroking for miles in the gentle wind.
Chapter completed!