Cao Zhen, whose surname was Qin, and his father Qin Shao was a good friend of Cao Cao. He followed Cao Cao in the army and made many contributions to Cao Cao. He later died on the battlefield. In order to take care of Qin Shao's family, Cao Cao recognized Qin Shao's son as his adopted son.
That is Cao Zhen.
Speaking of Cao Zhen, he is not entirely a descendant of the Cao family, but Cao Cao's favor and trust in Cao Zhen is no less than any of his sons. He even gave Cao Zhen the responsibility of managing the imperial army around him. And Cao Zhen did not disappoint Cao Cao's expectations.
They all performed their duties loyally, and Cao Zhen also turned a blind eye to the competition among several princes, becoming one of the few important ministers who could maintain a neutral position.
As the commander of the Forbidden Army, and with the favor and trust of his lord, it stands to reason that Cao Zhen should have everything going smoothly in this East County city, with nothing to worry about. However, in the past few days, Cao Zhen has been going deep into the city, hiding in his own house.
No one was seen in the mansion, and even the people in Cao Zhen's mansion didn't know why.
In the study room of Cao Zhen's mansion, Cao Zhen sat on his knees in front of the table, holding a pen in his hand and writing a big word "Wei" on a piece of snow-white brocade on the table. After writing, Cao Zhen sighed and wrote
He threw the brush on the table and ignored the splash of ink that ruined the calligraphy he had just written. He stood up and walked straight to the window, staring at the scenery outside the window in a daze.
"General!" After a long time, a voice came from outside the room, but it was a sergeant from Cao Zhen's house. He cupped his fists and said to Cao Zhen, "General! Mr. Xu Shuxu is asking to see you! He said he has important matters to discuss with the general!"
"Xu Shu?" Cao Zhen turned around, his eyes flashed with light. After a moment of silence, he nodded and said, "Welcome him into the house and send him to the small hall to receive him well. I will be here soon!"
"Here!" After listening to Cao Zhen's instructions, the sergeant immediately walked backwards and left. Cao Zhen's face was uncertain, and finally he breathed a sigh of relief and murmured to himself: "Forget it! What is supposed to come will come after all.
!”
In the most remote small hall of Cao Zhen's mansion, Xu Shu, who was led here by the sergeant, simply knelt down on a seat in Chapter 1 and closed his eyes to rest. When Cao Zhen came to the small hall, Xu Shu seemed to be predicting the future. Cao Zhen
As soon as he stepped into the small hall, his eyes opened. Looking at Cao Zhen, Xu Shu said with a smile on his face: "General Zidan!"
There are many children of the Cao family and Xiahou family in Dongjun City. It is difficult to tell who is who if they call each other by their surnames. Therefore, these younger Cao family members will call each other by their cousins directly, which also seems to be close.
Cao Zhen stepped forward, cupped his fists and saluted Xu Shu, and said, "It is Zi Dan's good fortune that Mr. Xu is coming to my mansion! It is Zi Dan's fault that he failed to greet you from far away, and instead troubled Mr. Xu to wait for a long time!"
"Haha!" Cao Zhen said politely, and Xu Shu also had a smile on his face. After the two exchanged greetings, they took their seats separately. After taking their seats, Xu Shu was not in a hurry to express his intention. He just smiled and asked: "Zi
General Dan is the commander of the imperial army. At this time, he should be staying at the Marquis of Wei Mansion, but now he is staying at home. Could it be that the general is feeling unwell?"
As soon as Xu Shu's words came out, Cao Zhen's face froze, and his smile became a little ugly. After a while, he said awkwardly: "Well, cough! I caught a cold today, and I am indeed feeling a little unwell!"
"Oh?" Xu Shu's eyes lit up, and the smile on his face flashed away, but he sighed and said: "My lord has been in poor health these days! General Xiahou Yuan defeated Youzhou, and General Cao Ren was in Nan
It’s hard to predict the fortunes of the day, and now even General Zidan is infected with the cold! Alas! Could it be that God really wants to destroy me, Cao Wei?"
"Huh?" After hearing Xu Shu's words, Cao Zhen immediately showed a surprised expression on his face, and hurriedly asked: "What did Mr. Xu just say? Is there any problem with Uncle Ren's expedition to Nanton this time?"
"Uh!" Xu Shu had a troubled expression on his face. He hesitated for a moment, and finally he seemed to have made up his mind and said: "The information I just got from Man Boning said that it was a man who had been dormant in Hangu Pass for a long time.
Gao Shun suddenly left Hangu Pass with the trapped camp and rushed towards Yuzhou! According to my judgment, Gao Shun's target this time is probably General Cao Ren's southern expedition! I'm afraid General Cao Ren is really in trouble this time.
Too little!"
"What!" When Cao Zhen heard the news, he stopped pretending to be sick and stood up in a flash, exclaiming: "Is this happening? How should the lord respond? Have reinforcements been sent?"
Xu Shu was overjoyed, but his face was so bitter that the juice was almost squeezed out, and he said: "Master? We can't even see the lord now. How can we tell the lord about this? Let alone let the lord do it.
Decision made! Alas! Originally, I planned to rely on General Zidan’s imperial army to send this information to the Marquis of Wei Mansion so that the lord could respond as soon as possible, but now that General Zidan is unwell, we naturally don’t dare to bother the general anymore! Look.
Come on, we have to find another way!"
"Ahem!" When Xu Shu said this, Cao Zhen remembered that he had been pretending to be sick just now. His face suddenly turned red and he coughed a few more times before sitting down with a complicated look on his face. After thinking about it again and again, he decided
He couldn't help but said: "Sir, this matter cannot be delayed! If something happens to the Southern Expedition Army again, it will be a huge blow to Cao Wei!"
"I know it too!" Xu Shu spread his hands to the side and said helplessly: "But now the eldest son has given an order that no one is allowed to enter the Marquis of Wei Mansion. We have no way to meet the lord! Without the lord's order, what can we do?
Can you order the army to rush to rescue?"
What Xu Shu said was reasonable and reasonable, but Cao Zhen was speechless. After a long while, Cao Zhen asked again: "Then, has Mr. Xu ever gone to see the second young master? Maybe after the second young master knows about this, he will find a way to inform the lord.
Woolen cloth!"
When Cao Zhen said this, Xu Shu's eyes flashed with light! The order to seal off the Marquis of Wei Mansion was apparently issued by Cao Ang, but Cao Zhen proposed to go to Cao Pi! It seems that Cao Zhen must have known something.
That’s why! And from another perspective, this matter must
However, it was inseparable from Cao Pi! But Xu Shu soon regained his previous helpless expression and said: "I think so too, but I visited all the princes' mansions and was told that all the princes have been connected to the Wei Dynasty."
The Marquis Mansion has not come out until now, and the Second Young Master is no exception!"
"How is that possible?" Cao Zhen exclaimed again. This time he was even more surprised than before, and even a little excited! Immediately, Cao Zhen walked quickly to Xu Shu, stared at Xu Shu closely and shouted:
"Master Xu! Are you sure? All the young masters have been recruited into the Weihou Mansion and have not come out yet?"
"Huh?" Xu Shu really didn't understand the meaning of Cao Zhen's words this time. He hesitated for a moment and then said truthfully: "That's true. Before, Man Boning specially visited all the princes' mansions and got the same answer.
Yes, a few days ago, the young masters received secret orders from the lord and went to the Weihou Mansion, but they have not returned yet! If the general does not believe it, he can recruit Man Boning to come and confront him, or the general can go to the princes' mansions in person to ask!"
Cao Zhen's eyes widened and he stared at Xu Shu's expression. Finally, he was sure that Xu Shu had not lied to him. Immediately, Cao Zhen's face turned pale, and he took several steps back, but he bumped into the low table behind him.
, almost fell down
After a while, Cao Zhen's face turned red again, with anger flashing in his eyes. He raised his fist and hit the low table hard, smashing the low table into pieces! Cao Zhen roared:
"Sima Yi! How dare you bully me!"
"Sima Yi!" As soon as Cao Zhen said Sima Yi's name, Xu Shu's face changed. He didn't care about acting with Cao Zhen anymore. He quickly stood up and asked Cao Zhen: "General Zidan! What's going on with this matter?
What does Sima Zhongda have to do with it?"
It is not unreasonable for Xu Shuhui to do this. Although Sima Yi's several plans for Cao Cao in the past few years ended in failure, it does not mean that Sima Yi is not good at resourcefulness! Xu Shu knew very well that Sima Yi was definitely no less capable.
Be wise to yourself! The previous failures can only be said to be God's will and have nothing to do with Sima Yi's resourcefulness. But compared with Sima Yi and Xu Shu, there is a huge difference, that is ambition! Xu Shu knows it very well.
, Sima Yi’s wild
His heart is much bigger than his own, and he will never be willing to be under him for a long time. He will always want to seize the position of Xu Shu, the number one counselor of Cao Wei! However, the failure of several previous plans has made Sima Yi further away from this position.
Coming further and further away, obviously
Sima Yi has given up on taking the right path, but is using other dark means to achieve his goals! As for the methods used by a wise man like Sima Yi, even Xu Shu must be careful to avoid falling into his trap.
trap!
Cao Zhen no longer concealed anything, and said to Xu Shu: "Master Xu! I'm telling you the truth! Ten days ago, Sima Yi came to me with the lord's token, saying that he was ordered by the lord to command the imperial army.
command authority
Hand it over! Although I didn't believe what he said, but he had the lord's token in his hand, and I had to obey! On the next day, I went to the Weihou Mansion in person to meet the lord, but I was stopped by the sergeant.
Can’t make it to the inner courtyard!”
As Cao Zhen narrated, Xu Shu nodded one after another. Cao Zhen's experience was similar to that of Man Chong before, but what he said before made Xu Shu frown. He didn't expect that even the imperial army had fallen into Sima Yi's hands! Although the number of the imperial army in the city was not high,
There are many, but it is the most well-equipped among the Cao Wei army.
Liang's army was much more powerful than the defenders of Dongjun. Xu Shu's original plan to come to Cao Zhen was to rely on the forbidden army under Cao Zhen's control to forcefully break through the Weihou Mansion's blockade. But now it seems that Sima Yi has already
Thinking of this, the matter becomes more and more complicated!