In Xudu in August, the heat waves were slightly reduced. Golden clouds appeared in the sky. Birds flapped their wings and drew a long track, spreading through the rows of palaces and houses below, landing on the treetops between the green garden courtyards. A yellow leaf fell down in a slight vibration and drifted onto the gravel-paved path.

There was a step passing by and the voice was heard.

"I have said that the Prime Minister is both civil and military, how can Yuan Shao compare with the Prime Minister? Even if he gives him 200,000 troops, he can't even pass the Yellow River. It's not that I'm talking too much, and the Prime Minister works hard and has great contributions, so he should not do everything himself. The Han Dynasty will have more places to rely on the Prime Minister's efforts in the future."

Xu Chu, who was walking at the end, heard the words of the emperor wearing a black dragon pattern in front of him and snorted in his nose. At this time, another slightly shorter figure, standing shoulder to shoulder with Liu Xie, looked up at the golden clouds in the sky: "Your Majesty's words, I feel that it is worth it." Cao Cao said with a smile, pointing at the sunset behind the clouds in the sky, "Does the sun that is about to go down the mountain look like our great man? Now everyone respects the Han court. In fact, there is a mess outside. Your Majesty, the sun sets, and it will rise again tomorrow, but the great man sets, how should we get up?"

"I really don't know this. Now that the Han Dynasty is shaking, I often sit in the palace and don't know what's happening outside. It's hard to answer the Prime Minister's words for a while."

This emperor has been well-off for many years, and has a calm temperament. He doesn't seem panic with Cao Cao, who is walking side by side. He just has a little unnatural smile on his face, "What should the Prime Minister think?"

Cao Cao stopped and looked back at him, made a call, and the two walked slowly forward side by side again.

"The largest princes in the world are except for Ma Teng, Han Sui, Han Sui, Han Zhong, Zhang Lu, Sun Ce, Jiangdong, and Shi Family are also from the south to the sea. Yizhou and Jingzhou are all relatives of His Majesty, but don't think they are easy to get along with. Your Majesty is young, but they are the oldest, how can this throne not covet..."

While speaking, they had already walked to a rockery pool. The two stopped by the water and looked at the sparkling water surface. Cao Cao's tone became serious: "... Yuan Shao died in the north, but Gongsun Zhi and Gongsun Kang were entrenched in the north. The two joined forces to fight. If they really wanted to fight, it would be a tough battle. I was also unsure of it."

"Well, Gongsun Zhi is really so powerful?"

This time, Cao Cao did not respond to his words. He turned his head slightly and looked at Liu Xie, who had a beard on his chin and a little tender face. Suddenly he thought that the real emperor was not dead. After a moment, he slowly turned around and left with his hands. As he stepped on, his voice gradually became cold: "Actually, the wolf in the north is not sure. Your Majesty, sit well in this seat, ask for women, and ask for strange things. You can carry the sun down... But in the battle of Guandu, how many people jumped around and secretly talked with Yuan Shao. I have a account here. Your Majesty, don't let Cao down."

As the sun sets, golden light shines on the walking back, and the sound is still coming: "Otherwise, if I start to take action, it will be bad."

After saying that, Liu Xie had left here, "Prime Minister! Prime Minister!" shouted a few times. When the other party's back disappeared, his face gradually restrained, and his robe sleeves flicked and turned toward the harem. He was actually prepared for Cao Cao's previous words. He had already adapted to the life in the palace for seven or eight years.

"Go to Baizifang, I want to see the queen." He whispered to a close confidant beside him, then crossed the stone steps and walked into the palace.

On the other hand, after Cao Cao met Liu Xie, he did not stay in the palace for much time. He led Xu Chu and other guards straight out of the imperial city and drove back to the mansion. On the way, there were several groups of people who wanted to meet, but he waved to refuse to see him.

After fighting Yuan Shao, he had not been at peace for a day. First, Xiahou Dun said that he saw a person who was very similar to Zi Xiuchang. Later, his wife Ding and Bian had disputes from time to time, which made the house uneasy. Even Cao Pi, who was thirteen years old, could not stand it and moved to the side courtyard a little further away.

When he walked into the backyard, he saw Bian coming towards him with a long skirt. Cao Cao thought he was here to welcome him, but after approaching him, he left angrily and returned to his room. He turned around and looked at the open door on the side of the main room, and turned around and left.

"Ha..." Cao Cao sighed. Since Ding returned from his parents' home, he has seemed to have changed in the past few years. Although he was virtuous in the past, he was targeting Bian everywhere. He was still good at home. If he went out, he would be shocked every step of the way.

After abandoning the idea of ​​returning to the back house to avoid troubles, Cao Cao returned to the study room in the front yard. As soon as he sat down, a servant said outside the door: "Guo Jijiu asked for a meeting."

"Well, let him come over."

The golden sunlight shone through the window frame and shone on the ground. Guo Jia, who was already thirty, walked in with a smile, without restraint, and sat down at the table near the first place. When Cao Cao ordered people to pour wine, he looked at the other party: "Isn't Fengxiao playing chess with Jiangdong Zhou Yu? Why did you come to the mansion to ask for wine when you have time?"

Guo Jia picked up Jue and took a sip: "Sun Ce's bravery is a man, but he didn't know how to be wary of the assassin, which made Jia fail in the long-term operation. However, he still knew from the Lujiang side that Sun Ce wanted to attack Xu Du in the battle between the lord and Yuan Shao, and was disturbed by the assassin. In addition, the battle of Guandu ended so quickly that his idea stopped. But Zhou Yu was a little difficult to deal with, but unfortunately I couldn't go to Lujiang to fight him in person, which is a pity."

"It's rare to praise Fengxiao like this. I think Zhou Yu is also a great man." Cao Cao touched the wine stain on his big beard and laughed: "Sun Cecheng's father is brave and reckless, so Zhou Yu can't take care of everything around him. If Fengxiao wants to get rid of him, it's just a matter of time. But at the moment, Fengxiao hasn't said what he has to do to find me."

"Jia comes here, naturally, she is worried about the lord." Guo Jia also laughed, raised the wine and toasted her first, and then put it down: "In the past few days after the lord came back, his eyebrows were bleak, and he was furious in the court. In fact, he was just worried about the wolf in the north."

Cao Cao lowered his face and nodded: "What are the plans for Fengxiao to teach me?"

"If you want to fight, why do you need to ask Jia?" The young man on the other side paused, and saw Cao Cao above frowning slightly, and a smile appeared on his face: "The lord and Governor Gongsun met in times of trouble, and have been helping each other for several years. Although they were united for Yuan Shao, they felt uncomfortable after a day of war. But the lord must also understand the principle of going in the opposite direction. The two families, one in the south and one in the north, will fight sooner or later."

"How could I not know what Fengxiao said?"

"So... I still have to do it."

Cao Cao looked at him silently, and understood that the other party came over to make him make this decision. He pinched Jue's fingers unknowingly and nodded: "I know, take Qingzhou first and Jizhou before talking about this matter. However, strictly prevent Gongsun Zhi from using cavalry to harass and attack. Once he becomes an enemy, he will do whatever he wants."

"Jia came here this time to recommend someone to the lord. He has been here for several years and has not made any plans or plans. Now it is time for him to do his best."

"Which Fengxiao is talking about Jia Wenhe?" When the wine was put down and ripples were rippling, Cao Cao pondered for a moment: "Fengxiao must preside over the affairs of Jiangdong. Wenruo is good at strategizing and good at military affairs. It seems that this person can only use it for conspirators. It's better, go over and take care of him, but you should keep an eye on this person."

"Now Jia will say goodbye first."

Soon, the young man left the study. Cao Cao put down the wine and looked at the mottled spots shining on the ground through the window lattice. Since Xingyi's army attacked Dong, his old friends have disappeared one by one. Zhang Miao betrayed and killed by him. Yuan Shu was forced to commit suicide. Yuan Shao followed in the footsteps. Only Xu You, who is still alive, and the age-lost friends who are far away in the north, are now at the point of fighting.

"Stand to this point... I'm really alone..."

He suddenly roared and grabbed Jiu Jue. The moment the wine spread, he smashed it on the ground. At this moment, the closed door creaked and pushed it away. His little feet stepped in and walked past Jue, who was still spinning on the ground. His little body quickly ran towards Cao Cao, who was waving his wide sleeves, raised his little face and blinked his big round eyes, "Dad, are you angry?"

"Yes, daddy is angry." Cao Cao stroked the child's head.

The little man grabbed Cao Cao's beard and rolled it on his fingers, sitting on his strange face to make his father laugh, but his tone was quite old: "Mother said, if you are unhappy, you will cry. That's how I am. After crying, you will feel comfortable."

"Haha... Chong'er is considerate."

Cao Cao held the little man in his arms and sat on his lap. "It's a pity that my father can't cry, and he can't cry casually in the future. He should be brave like his uncles and uncles, and don't be afraid of his enemies no matter how vicious they are."

"Yes!" Cao Chong pecked his little head and agreed with what his father said seriously.

Outside, the sky gradually subsided, and spots of lights rose in the city. The carriages passed the streets to the remote corner of the city. They stopped at the entrance of a small courtyard, got out of the carriage and walked in.

The lights were swaying, and the middle-aged scholar sitting behind several desks looked through the classics, without looking at the young man sitting opposite him. The room was quiet, with only the slight sound of the bamboo slips turning. After a long time, the scholar stood up and put the bamboo slips he had finished reading back on the shelf, this time there was a sound.

"Planning to Gongsun Zhi? If you don't go, don't go! You have old friends with him, maybe you still have nostalgia. If Xu did this, he might lose his life on the bed one day... I'd better ask someone else for filial piety."

He called for a servant and waved: "Send out the guests."

"...If the white wolf doesn't die, it will be safe anywhere, and he will hold a grudge."

Amid the clearly extinct fire, the figure walking away stopped, looked at the night outside, and fell silent.

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

A night passed, the new sun rose, and went thousands of miles north. On the winding official road, caravans could occasionally be seen carrying goods. Outside Juyong Pass, four women dressed simply or had patches, holding knives, walked through the carriages waiting to check the goods in front, looking at the towering pass walls ahead, and widened their eyes.

"The Chief of Imperial... This is Juyong Pass. I heard in the palace that Governor Gongsun spent two or three years to build a pass in Jundu Mountain. I didn't expect to see it with my own eyes, so majestic."

"...Yes, I heard that there is another...the Imperial Chief in Yanmen County. You said he wanted money or not, and he had no one at that time. How did he build it?"

A woman in a slim dress was carrying a knife behind her. At this time, she was also raising her head and looking at the huge pass that stretched for more than ten miles. A faint blush appeared on her face. She turned her head, her long hair was shaking behind her head, and the corners of her mouth were curved: "That's the man I like, how could she be so incompetent?"

"...Let's go! Let's enter the pass."
Chapter completed!