"The floating light follows the day; the rippling shadows follow the waves." [Lingaotai]
The two walked one behind the other, stopping and walking in the small courtyard. Cao Cao clasped his hands behind his back and squinted his eyes to patrol among the ruins. It was like a villager who had left many years ago revisiting his hometown and looking for old traces.
But this was the first time for Cao Cao to come here, and he seemed to be deliberately looking for something: "My younger brother Cao De has been docile, obedient, and lovable since he was a child. He also looks like Aweng. Aweng likes him very much, even if
He is just a concubine's bastard, and he likes him as if he were his legitimate son."
Cao Cao chuckled lightly, walked to a wall, and stood in front of a patch of grass, with a look of reminiscence on his face: "The last time I saw him was in the second and third years of Zhongping. I saw that the imperial court was unruly.
Then he told me he was sick and returned to his hometown and built a house outside the city. He often came to see me outside the city to accompany me to study and hunt. At that time, he was half a head taller than me." He stretched out his hand and gestured in the air, his tone full of excitement.
He expressed his nostalgia and reluctance: "He was a good brother, who kept filial piety, knew benevolence and righteousness, and was determined to follow me on the battlefield to kill the enemy. Later, I was recruited by the imperial court as a captain in the Dian Army. I told him to take good care of his father. When he was old enough,
I found another job for him. Unexpectedly...after that time, we became brothers forever."
Xi Zhicai did not expect that Cao Cao's relationship with his younger brother Cao De was even deeper than the relationship with his father Cao Song. Cao Cao's sad look in front of him was a bit stronger than when he recalled Cao Song just now. Perhaps Cao Cao, who had lacked his father's love since childhood, was very sad.
Do you envy his younger brother Cao De? But now that one died in a cage and the other soared in the sky, Cao Cao should be relieved no matter how emotional he was: "Mr. Cao doesn't have to be like this. Everyone has their own destiny. I heard that the young master fought bravely to stop the enemy that night.
, to protect our ancestors from fleeing, so they killed the enemy. He can be called a filial martyr, and if Cao Gong is interested, he can ask the imperial court to honor him one day."
He deliberately brought the topic back to the court. Cao Cao listened and said lightly: "This is a matter for the future."
Xi Zhicai felt a little sad. Cao Cao never expressed any opinion on Xun Yu's secret attempt to push him to the court and act as a loyal dog to the emperor. Now after hearing Cao Cao's words, he had some understanding. Cao Cao was back then.
He worked hard to win his father's favor, but he didn't know at that time that if he didn't like it, he just didn't like it. No matter how hard he worked to become outstanding, his father would still favor the youngest son. He placed it between the imperial court and Cao Cao.
Likewise, as long as the court, that is, the emperor, has a bad opinion of Cao Cao, no matter how hard Xun Yu and others work, the final outcome may not be satisfactory.
Even if you are exempted from all sins due to meritorious service and can enter the court, do you know what your future situation will be like?
This was Cao Cao's concern, and everything Xun Yu and the others did had already been tried when Cao Cao was still a child who wanted to please his father.
In Xi Zhicai's view, how to try to please his 'father' is what Xun Yu and others are willing to do, and how to find out whether he is valued in the eyes of his 'father' and whether it is worth it.
His own admiration is what Cao Cao desperately wants to know right now. Xi Zhi thought about it for a while, and vaguely understood Cao Cao's deeper intention of attacking Xuzhou when he was calm and rational, so as to give the court a handle on him.
That's why Zhou Huan, Wang Duan and others went out as envoys two years ago to express their attitude on behalf of the imperial court, which brought this matter to a successful conclusion.
Thinking of this, the next words are easy to say: "This time Ming Gong sent his army to Xuzhou to resolve the chaos in Xuzhou and to restore peace to the common people in Xuzhou. The last time he attacked Xuzhou was because of his father's hatred. This time he entered Xuzhou because of his father's hatred.
For the sake of the people, as long as we work hard to build momentum, won't the common people of Xuzhou forget their grudges and remember their kindness? Seeing the power of the Ming Dynasty, why wouldn't the imperial court entrust him with the affairs of the East?"
"In matters in the East, I don't dare to respect the former general." Cao Cao stared at the green grass in front of him and whispered: "In this battle of Xuzhou, whether the court wants to keep me, Cao Mengde, depends on Liu Ai and Tian Chou.
How did they mobilize their troops? And Yuan Benchu..." At this point, his voice became even lower, almost making Xi Zhicai unable to hear: "Whether I tolerate him or not depends on how he responds."
"My Lord, I would like to see you." Cao Cao prepared the possible attitudes of the court and the Yuan family. This time he really decided which side to serve. In Xi Zhicai's view, the final choice must be unquestionable.
.
Cao Cao said nothing more, turned around and walked back the way he came. Xi Zhicai followed behind. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly seemed to find something in front of him. When Cao Cao wasn't paying attention, he took his sword and went into the weeds.
After digging around, weeds half as tall as a man covered a hole. The hole was so narrow that it could only allow ordinary foxes and dogs to pass through. At first, Xi Zhicai was still confused that Cao Cao was looking for something like this after searching endlessly for a long time.
It was a stupid hole, but in an instant, he understood.
Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, got stuck in this cave while escaping and died here in an extremely aggrieved and humiliating way.
This is the person Cao Cao desperately wanted to be recognized and valued when he was young!
Xi Zhicai suddenly realized that maybe Cao Cao didn't envy Cao De at all, or maybe... he had never understood Cao Cao's true thoughts.
Time passed quickly. After a period of rest, Lu Bu ignored the dissuasion of Langxie Xiang Yinde and the warning of the royal family, joined forces with Chang Xi and others, and first went south to capture Ju County, the former capital of Langxie Kingdom, and then sent his army.
Go south, capture Yangdu, and advance to Kaiyang, the capital of the country.
The Langye Kingdom was in danger, so Kaiyang ordered Xiao Jian to venture out of the city to see Zang Ba, the captain of the Huaiyi School, and personally persuaded him: "Xuzhou is the place under the rule of the late emperor Tao Gong. The general is deeply protected by Tao Gong, and his support is safe."
How can I sit back and watch Xuzhou being invaded by outsiders without asking anything? Although my king has no virtue in the country, since he succeeded to the throne, he has continuously provided food and gifts to the generals and never treated him harshly. Now that the power of Langye country is exhausted, I
The king couldn't bear to see the Li people suffer, so he sent me to implore the general to use the plan of the Li people in Xuzhou and intercede with Chang Xi, Sun Guan and others to think of the people!"
His words immediately put the "great righteousness" of protecting the people above the "small righteousness" between Zang Ba, Chang Xi, Sun Guan and others. This immediately convinced people who had always been "upright and right"
Zang Ba.
Zang Ba was in a dilemma, and he was angry at Sun Guan and others for fighting without warning. At this time, he said without hesitation: "In line with your highness's trust, Ba has been ordered by the imperial court to Anjilang."
Evil, I will live up to my trust and protect the common people! However, although Chang Xi and others have raised troops, they are still my friends. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I really do not want to fight with them. This time I want to send someone to intercede first, and then
I hope His Highness will be considerate when discussing war matters."
Xiao Jianben did not place all his hopes on Zang Ba. He pretended to be thoughtful, nodded and replied: "The general is loyal and righteous, I admire you, and everything will come to your benefit, general."