Many people reached the end of their lives, and their weak bodies suddenly improved. They were said to have returned to glory. After Cao Cao summoned his ministers and explained his will, he did not pass away. He held the breath in his chest, as if he was waiting for something.
The officials who came to Luoyang for an audience did not dare to leave, and came to Cao Cao's house every day to say hello.
A few days later, the cronies sent by Cao Cao on the retreat had gathered from various places in Luoyang, bringing back the news that Cao Cao wanted to know.
Cao Cao was greatly influenced by the prophecy of Lantian, and it would be difficult for him to swallow it if he did not arrange it properly. The only important names in the prophecy were Xu Sheng, and the news about Zhou Li was found out, but the other Wuhou, Cao Fang, Cao Mao, and Sun Hao were not found.
people.
Cao Cao then summoned Cao Xiu to his bedside, looked at the Cao family's thousand-mile horse for a long time, and then slowly said: "Wen Lie, I have entrusted the ministers with my descendants a few days ago, but now I have some confidential matters for you to handle.
"
"Your Majesty, please speak." Cao Xiu squatted in front of Cao Cao's bed, staring at him like a child.
Cao Cao said lazily: "The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was originally the best in the world, but last time we encountered Gao Shun's trap, we didn't get much advantage in the end. After you die alone, you first return to Yecheng and settle down with Zixiao."
In response to the situation in Wei, he immediately led his troops back south to Luoyang to garrison and assist Yuan Rang in resisting Guan Yu's northward march."
"General Xiahou will not guard Huainan anymore?" Cao Xiu asked.
Cao Cao shook his head and replied: "Biyan'er can't cross Hefei at all. Let Zixiao defend the Huainan battlefield. He was very familiar with the Huaisi area when he was young. He will definitely have no problem guarding Jiangdong."
I will ask Yuan Rang (Xiahou Dun) to return to Xudu to guard it. You will form a strategic cluster with Xudu, Wancheng, and Luoyang. Just make sure that the existing cities are not lost. There is no need to rush to take back Xiangyang and Fancheng. Remember, remember."
"General, take your orders." Cao Xiu nodded.
Cao Cao grabbed Cao Xiu's hand and whispered: "Sun Quan has a general named Xu Sheng, who is currently the deputy general of Ruxu Governor Zhou Tai. When Wen Lie goes to Yecheng, remember to tell Zi Xiao (Cao Ren) that if he meets this person in Huainan,
You must try your best to kill them..."
Although Cao Xiu didn't understand what he meant, he still nodded in agreement. He remembered that Xu Sheng was almost killed by Zhang Liao in the rebellion when he was in Xiaoyaojin, and he didn't know why Cao Cao acted like this.
"There is another person under Sun Quan, named Zhou Li, whose courtesy name is Ziyu. Although he is only a small captain in Danyang County now, you must not ignore it when you encounter it in the future. You'd better not go to the Huainan battlefield..." Cao Cao also compiled
No good reason.
"Uh...what the king said today is so strange..." Cao Xiu looked confused.
"This is a heavenly secret. You don't need to understand it. Just agree to it." Cao Cao emphasized his tone, indicating that there was no room for doubt.
"Only..." Cao Xiu responded with clasped fists.
Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction, and then continued to add: "Go back to Yecheng and tell Zihuan for Gu Gu, asking him to secretly look for a wise man, his name is Wuhou or Wuhou. This person is closely related to the rise and fall of Wei State. If he can find it, he can
I want to reuse it out of the ordinary, and also ask the Cao family not to use it in the name of Fang, fashionable, or Hao..."
"Uh... I have written it down..." Cao Xiu became more and more confused as he listened, but Cao Cao had to listen to his last words.
"Just write it down so that you can take care of it yourself. Go and call Yuan Rang." Cao Cao waved his hand and ordered.
"Wei." Cao Xiu stood up and retreated.
Not long after, Xiahou Dun came in a hurry after hearing the news. He saw Cao Cao's complexion plummeting, and suddenly a trace of sadness arose in his heart, and he called out the previous title for the first time.
"Mengde..."
"Yuan Rang..."
Cao Cao looked at the man wearing an eyepatch in front of him, who had been following him around since he asked for the Yellow Turban. Compared with Chen Liu's high spirits when he raised his army, those previous years on the battlefield only existed in the memories of the two of them.
As Cao Cao's assistant general, Xiahou Dun defended Cao Cao from swords and arrows. He witnessed Cao Cao's repeated defeats and subsequent victories. It can be said that Xiahou Dun accompanied Cao Cao through the most difficult days.
The friendship goes beyond master and servant, and Cao Cao has absolute trust in Xiahou Dun.
"Gu will die soon, but there is still something top-secret that I can only rest assured if I leave it to you..." Cao Cao held Xiahou Dun's hand tightly.
"Mengde, you said..." Xiahou Dun had tears in his eyes.
"When I was conquering Ruxu, I dreamed of 'Three Horses Feeding Trough' at night. The meaning of this dream was very bad. At that time, I thought that the Ma Teng family in Xiliang wanted to replace Cao Cao, so I deliberately forced Ma Chao to rebel and killed hundreds of Ma Teng's entire family.
Only recently did I realize that three horses are not horses..." Cao Cao shook his head and sighed.
Xiahou Dun knew that Cao Cao believed in ghosts and gods, but what he just said made him confused.
"Mengde, please speak more clearly."
"I got a few prophecies a few days ago, and Yuan asked you to help me read them in detail. It is said that traitors will eventually die, brother forced Cao Zhi to compose poems, Cao Pi deposed Emperor Yan and Liu, Sun Quan surrendered to Wei to accept Jiuxi, Sima Yi feigned illness
Win Cao Shuang, return the Wei Dynasty to the Sima family, and abolish Cao Fang and the Wei family's retribution..." Although the book has been burned, the twelve prophecies have been completely imprinted in Cao Cao's mind, and he picked out a few important ones and said them out.
Xiahou Dun's eyes widened. He swallowed his saliva and said, "Where did this prophecy come from? If it is true, Sima's whole family will be killed..."
Cao Cao nodded to himself, "The first point is to isolate yourself. It is estimated that it will be fulfilled soon. If Zihuan really forces Zijian after he succeeds to the throne, it will be inevitable to kill Sima Yi and his family. I won't trust it if it is left to others.
..”
"Ahem... I will share Meng De's worries... Ahem..." Xiahou Dun's blood suddenly surged, and he covered his chest and coughed continuously, unable to listen.
Cao Cao asked with concern: "Is Yuan Rang feeling unwell?"
"The north wind is blowing tonight, I may have suffered some cold..." Xiahou Dun explained.
"The north wind is blowing?" Cao Cao had some inexplicable premonition in his heart, and he continued to explain uneasily: "Gu has been fighting with the nobles for many years, with Xun Yu in front of him, Zhong Yao and Chen Qun in Xun You's rear, but the trouble has not been solved until now.
Sima Yi and Zi Huan had a close relationship, and the concubine Sima Fu was also a close minister of the prince, so he couldn't kill Sima blatantly. It was best to find a reliable person to compromise, otherwise it would bring trouble to the Xiahou family..."
Xiahou Dun was a little touched. At this time, Cao Cao was still thinking so carefully. He patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Meng De. We will definitely handle it well in the end."
"Yuan Rang must remember that this matter is top secret..."
Before Cao Cao finished speaking, there was a sudden popping sound, and a strong wind blew open the closed window. A burst of cold air poured into the house. Xu Chu hurriedly brought the tiger guards in to block the window.
"Your Majesty, don't be alarmed. The wind is very strong tonight, and someone will come to fix the window by the end of the night." Xu Chu explained with his fists clasped.
Seeing that Xu Chu seemed to have found the answer, Cao Cao quickly asked: "Zhongkang, I have an important decree for you. When the time comes, Yuan Rang will tell you and write it down?"
Xu Chu looked at Cao Cao with a serious face, then looked at Xiahou Dun next to him, and replied sonorously: "I will obey your order."
Xiahou Dun immediately understood and said to himself that Meng De had thought too carefully, but was a little cruel to Xu Chu.
After Cao Cao finished giving his instructions, his pupils suddenly dilated sharply, with a look of horror on his face, and he shouted loudly: "You...you...don't come..."
Xu Chu drew his sword and swung it from side to side, wondering where could there be an assassin in his territory?
When Xiahou Dun saw Cao Cao retreating towards the wall, he immediately rushed to support him and comforted him softly: "Mengde, who is here?"
Chapter completed!