Going inward along the gate of this mansion, unlike the outside of the mansion, the people standing five steps away, one person ten steps away, and one sentry post are all black-armored guards. Their expressions are still indifferent. Standing five steps away is a man.
The black-armored soldiers and guards all had stern faces, standing on the ground like wooden stakes. They looked so chill.
Two rows of armored guards guarded the small front yard. These people all had the dangerous aura left over from the common experience of fighting on the battlefield. This mansion was Cao Cao's temporary command post in Chengshi. These guards
, are all Cao Cao's closest personal guards.
Looking across the front yard of hundreds of people to the main palace behind, a heavy pressure was revealed from top to bottom. Although the door of the front hall was tightly closed at the moment, there was still a tense atmosphere everywhere.
It was paved outside the gate.
However, the tense atmosphere is not only in the front yard. If you are lucky enough to go to the backyard, you will find more black-armored guards, defending the surrounding area impenetrably.
The backyard was deserted compared to the front yard. It became two different worlds. The maids and servants were busy and hurriedly passing through.
"Change the water..." The crisp voice of a maid came from above the small and exquisite pavilion. The servant downstairs hurriedly sent the freshly prepared hot water upstairs, and then quickly retreated. Not long after, another request was heard.
The sound of gauze...
In the side hall on the side, a man in brown clothes was walking back and forth anxiously. This man was about forty years old, with a long face, a tall nose, and a long flowing beard. He looked like a complete Confucian scholar.
But at this moment, his hands were clenched, with cold sweat breaking out in his palms, and his eyes were full of anxiety, losing all of his usual elegance.
This person was Xun Yu, the first counselor under Cao Cao. Xun Yu had not slept for many days, and he looked very haggard. When he looked at the situation in the pavilion again, he let out a long sigh for an unknown number of times.
, and then turned his gaze to the entrance to the front yard on the other side.
"Wen Ruo, don't worry, it should be here soon!"
The voice came from behind Xun Yu. A young man who was slightly younger and slimmer than Xun Yu walked up to Xun Yu, patted his old friend Xun Yu on the shoulder to express comfort, and then followed his gaze.
I looked at the quiet front yard.
It was an unusual person to be able to stay with Xun Yu and live in the backyard of Cao Cao's inner house. He was Xun Yu's good friend and the most admired recent counselor Guo Jia during Cao Cao's eastern expedition to Xuzhou.
Guo Jiaben was stationed in Juancheng by Cao Cao and did not accompany him to Chengshi. However, after the news of Cao Cao's serious injury came back to Juancheng, he was summoned by Xun Yu.
Xun Yu, who was always known for his calmness and calmness, was really not sure that he could control the possible changes this time, so he called his trusted old friend Guo Jia to his side in time, so that he would have someone to talk to in case of trouble.
Even if Xun Yu deliberately concealed the news, the news spread like wildfire in Yanzhou that Cao Cao was seriously injured and that his life was in danger. After Guo Jia, all the prestigious Yanzhou officials stationed in various places came to Chengshi.
Some of these people came here sincerely concerned about Cao Cao's life and death, while others came to see which way the wind was blowing so they could prepare an escape route for themselves.
Xun Yu knew that sooner or later this would not be able to stop the fire, and now they could only pray that their enemies would learn about Cao Cao's illness later. In addition, Xun Yu hoped that Cao Zhizhi would arrive as soon as possible.
"Do you really think that if something happens to the lord, he is the most suitable candidate?" Guo Jia suddenly asked when Xun Yu finished nodding and turned to take his seat.
Xun Yu naturally understood who Guo Jia was referring to by "he". They had discussed this issue more than once. Xun Yu answered affirmatively again: "Only he can control the overall situation. There are many members of the clan around the lord, but
Is there anyone who can grasp the overall situation of Yanzhou?"
After Xun Yu finished speaking, he received a long sigh from Guo Jia, and then said meaningfully: "What about the young master?"
"You are only seven years old. Even with the help of you and me, it is difficult for you to take on a big responsibility. Yanzhou is in a period of chaos, and a wise adult must be in charge of the overall situation, not a child!"
Xun Yu's answer once again made Guo Jia fall into deep thought. After a while, Guo Jia murmured: "If Wen is not afraid of the future, will your decision cause a dispute?"
"I can't control it. Let's take care of the immediate situation first. We'll talk about the future matters later... Moreover, maybe we have all worried too much, and the lord may be fine..." Xun Yu finally finished as if to comfort himself.
Another discussion with Guo Jia.
Just as they stood up and left the side hall again, heading towards the busy pavilion, a small figure rose from the back window of the side hall. After confirming that Xun Yu and others had left, the little figure stood on tiptoes.
, the figure quickly disappeared in the brightly lit backyard of the inner house. It was a child less than four feet tall.
Then, the child appeared in front of a rockery in the backyard. Opposite the rockery, there was already a little boy about the same age as the child, but this little boy was slightly taller than the one just now. I saw this
The little boy listened to the report of the little boy who had just arrived, his handsome face flushed, and he stood there with a sharp sword that fit his height in his hand with hatred written on his face. After listening to the little boy's report, he murmured to himself
: "Xun Yu, Guo Jia, I remember you. Sooner or later, I will make you pay the price for today's decision!"
The person who could say such cruel words at such a young age was none other than the seven-year-old Cao Pi, the eldest son of Cao Cao.
If Cao Zhi were here at this time, he would definitely praise him, "He really has the power of an emperor!"
Unfortunately, there was no Cao family member present in the confinement rockery, only the frightened little Cao Pi boy, the child who eavesdropped in the side hall before. He was also an eight-year-old child.
He doesn't have Cao Pi's precocity and domineering attitude. This is the difference, the difference between a mortal and a future emperor.
Cao Pi glanced at his book boy and saw that his face was pale and his hands were still shaking suddenly. He said to him: "Don't be afraid. From now on, you will do whatever I ask you to do. Do you hear me?"
The little book boy nodded blankly and obeyed: "Yes, eldest son, I understand!"
"Yes!" Cao Pi nodded with satisfaction, then thought of something again, and warned the little book boy: "What you heard from those people today, and what I said, you are not allowed to tell anyone, do you hear me?"
"I heard it!" The little book boy had just finished his promise when he suddenly thought of something and asked Cao Pi cautiously: "Can't Mistress Bian say it too?"
"Of course, I said, it's anyone!" Cao Pi's decisive tone and terrifying eyes once again scared the little book boy to the point of crying.
Cao Pi looked at the cowardly look of the little book boy and said in a soft tone: "I have my own sense of how to deal with myself. For now, I still have to put my father's illness first. I hope my father can survive this. I am still too young and still need to
Father’s protection…”
Just as Cao Pi sighed meaningfully, a discordant sound of a horse neighing in the quiet night sky finally sounded on the street outside the mansion.
"Dede..." The sound of more and more horseshoes woke up many Chengshi residents, and also caused the Yanzhou officials standing at the door of Cao Cao's temporary residence to turn their eyes to the other side of the street leading to the city gate.
One head.
The unexpected sound of horse hooves also made Dian Wei, who was responsible for the security of Cao Cao's mansion, tense up. "The city has already been under curfew. Who dares to roam the streets of Macheng late at night? Is there an emergency military situation? Or is there someone with evil intentions?"
Just as Dian Wei's thoughts flashed through his mind, someone among the officials standing outside the door shouted: "It's General Chariot and Cavalry, it's Caozhou Mu who's here..."
The only person in the world who has the title of general of chariots and cavalry, and the title of governor of a state, is Cao Cao's only younger brother Cao Zhi.
Cao Zhi, day and night, finally arrived at Chengshi today. When Cao Zhifang approached Chengshi, he encountered 50,000 troops and horses led by Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, and Xiahou Dun. They were stationed outside Chengshi City and surrounded Chengshi like an ironclad.
It looks like a barrel, as if facing a formidable enemy.
When Cao Zhi asked Cao Ren in confusion, "Now there is no need for troops in Puyang and other places in Yanzhou to fight the rebels? How come 50,000 troops and horses are concentrated in the small city of Chengshi?"
Cao Ren didn't have time to say anything to Cao Zhixi, so he dragged him into the city. After Cao Zhi entered the city, he saw patrolling soldiers everywhere and watch officials in front of the mansion where Cao Cao stayed, which made him feel excited.
All this made Cao Zhi understand how serious Cao Cao's poor health was. He glanced at Cao Ren, who was frowning, and then at Xun Chen, who accompanied him, and whispered to himself: "It seems
I guessed it was wrong!"
Xun Chen also quickly analyzed the facts he saw and secretly speculated on the results. When he heard Cao Zhi's words, he immediately understood what Cao Zhi said he was wrong about.
As a result, Cao Zhi brought fewer people. Cao Zhi only brought 5,000 troops and horses on this trip. He mainly wanted to check on his elder brother Cao Cao's condition and send Hua Tuo to Cao Cao.
He was really worried about Emperor Xian's side. Although Cao Hong had already gone, it had been a while, but Cao Hong didn't know what he was doing. He just didn't send any news back. Even though the journey was long, it was still too long.
If there is any obstruction, there should be no news back now. Cao Zhi has already vaguely felt that something happened to Emperor Xian in Anyi. But it seems that Cao Zhi cannot stop the change and has no time to stop it.
The second thing Cao Zhi made wrong was that he only brought four people, Xun Chen, Xu Chu, Yue Jin, and Li Dian, with him. Le Jin and Li Dian were originally affiliated with Yanzhou and were under Cao Cao's account. In the early stage, Cao Cao only used it to pacify Cao Zhi.
Chen Guo and Yangzhou Zhiyong, following Cao Zhi back this time, actually just paid them back, allowing Le Jin and Li Dian to return to Cao Cao to resume their lives. After removing these two people, Cao Zhi is now left with Xun Chen, who is both civilized and military.
and Xu Chu.
Xu Chu originally had Yu Lin Zhonglang, who was in charge of the guard camp around Emperor Xian, so he followed Cao Zhi to Anyi. Cao Zhi asked him to take over the post of guard camp beside Emperor Xian, replacing Le Jin's vacancy.