Seeing Cao Ang lowering his head and thinking, Sima Yi went straight in and asked: "My lord, there must be a way for the car to reach the mountain. How to retreat the enemy is a secondary matter. The key is to see your mind. Yi wants to know. What if Zhang Liao threatens Meng Degong as a hostage? If so, I don’t know how the Lord will respond. Will he surrender to Kaicheng or fight to the end?”
"This..." Cao Ang said with his eyes wide open. This was also the issue he was most troubled with. In order to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, in order to protect the people of the two counties from the devastation of the war, and in order for himself and his brothers to be reunited with their father. In short, let's start There are too many reasons for the city to surrender. But the intentions of these ministers cannot be ignored. The ministers are following you to make achievements. But the ministers have not surrendered yet. The lord surrendered first. They are the ones who are following you. Years of hard work have gone down the drain. Who would be willing to accept such a result?
Cao Ang didn't know about others, but he knew that people like Sima Yi and Xun Yan would never accept it.
Cao Ang didn't want to tear up the window paper in front of him. He hesitated and said: "This matter is of great importance. You can go down first. Let me think about it carefully..."
Cao Ang neither said to fight nor to surrender. However, his evasive eyes were keenly noticed by Sima Yi.
"As ordered..." Sima Yi retreated calmly. Cao Pi also looked at Cao Ang and followed Sima Yi out without saying anything...
"Master, master..." Cao Pi caught up with Sima Yi from behind. He said angrily: "Master, I can see it. My brother has no guts to fight Zhang Liao. He only wants to be an obedient citizen."
Sima Yi glanced at Cao Pi, shook his head and said, "Second Young Master, please don't say that. My lord hasn't decided yet. You have to give him time to think about such a big matter..."
Cao Pi smiled contemptuously and said: "Think about it. I don't think he has thought about resisting at all. He just wants to live here and hand over the two counties of Huainan and Runan to others."
A bright light flashed in Sima Yi's eyes, but he still said calmly: "Second Young Master, please don't speak nonsense. In fact, even if the Lord surrenders to Zhang Liao, it is excusable. After all, Duke Cao is still in Zhang Liao's hands. If the father asked the son to surrender, . Even if the lord surrenders, he still upholds filial piety. It is reasonable and reasonable..."
"Master, please forgive me for saying this. I still understand my father's character very well. With his character, he would never want to see his inheritance taken away by Zhang Liao. Even if he asked my eldest brother to surrender, he would definitely It was under the coercion of Zhang Liao. It was definitely not his true intention."
"Oh." A hint of appreciation flashed in Sima Yi's eyes.
Cao Pi continued: "My father must have hoped that my eldest brother could keep this inheritance and compete with Zhang Liao. But my eldest brother... is so weak that it really disappoints my father. If it were me, I would never be intimidated by Zhang Liao." His power. Even if his body is broken into pieces, he still has to compete with him."
Sima Yi's face trembled and he looked around and said: "Second Master, be quiet. Be careful that walls have ears..."
Cao Pi said indifferently: "What are you afraid of? Even in front of my eldest brother, I'm not afraid to say it. It's a pity that eldest brother is the master. I'm just a young man. My words have no effect. Master, you..."
Before Cao Pi could continue, Sima Yi interrupted: "Second Young Master is a little impulsive. What should be said and what shouldn't be said? I hope Second Young Master can control his own judgment. It's getting late. Second Young Master should go back and rest first. .In fact, Second Young Master, there is no need to worry. I will come up with countermeasures and convince the lord to deal with Zhang Liao."
"Master..." Cao Pi opened his mouth. Seeing that Sima Yi had already bowed and stood solemnly, Cao Pi could only helplessly shake his head, turned around and left.
Looking at Cao Pi's back, Sima Yi stood there for a long time. In fact, it was not that he didn't understand Cao Pi's thoughts. He knew what Cao Pi wanted to say just now. Cao Cao's sons were all not ordinary people. This second son The young master is extremely smart, capable of martial arts and literature, but his ambition is directly proportional to his talent. He is not satisfied with his status as the second young master at all. He worships himself as his disciple. He just wants to take the title of lord from Cao Ang by relying on the power granted to him by Cao Ang. .
And since he was in elementary school, he hid it very well. I only discovered it after carefully observing him for a long time.
Cao Pi should not be underestimated. Sima Yi also had his own reasons for persuading Cao Pi not to tell the truth. The situation has not really reached that point yet. Corporal Cao Anglixian is a rare wise man who treats others with an open mind. Putting aside Cao Cao's Sima Yi was definitely willing to follow Cao Ang wholeheartedly.
And if he rashly helps Cao Pi seize Cao Ang's position, a turmoil is inevitable. Zhang Liao is already at an absolute disadvantage. By then, the situation will become even more unfavorable.
So Sima Yi wanted to take another look at the situation before making a final conclusion.
It's a pity that the information Xizuo brought back from Hebei was not good. Within a month, Xizuo sent back the news. The imperial court had sent an envoy. He sent his servant Li Li as envoy to Shouchun.
Li Li was once the governor of Jizhou, Han Fu's governor. It didn't take long for him to join Zhang Liao. He was already considered a veteran minister under Zhang Liao. This time, the imperial court sent Li Li as an envoy. This shows that Zhang Liao attached great importance to this trip. He carefully investigated Li Li's situation in every possible way. The purpose of this mission was only reported in two words... top secret.
In fact, there is nothing else to keep secret. At this juncture, Li Li was sent to Shouchun with the intention of recruiting Cao Ang to surrender.
Time was already very tight. Li Li would arrive in Shouchun in less than ten days. However, Sima Yi pressed down the news of Li Li's mission and did not tell Cao Ang. He was also torn between choosing Cao Ang or Cao Pi.
In the end, Sima Yi decided to give Cao Ang another chance...
On this day, Sima Yi went to Cao Ang's house again to ask for an audience. He said: "My lord, according to the spies' report, Zhang Liao has recently been training soldiers and horses in Yingtao and building weapons. It seems that he really has the intention of conquering the south."
"It's true." Cao Ang's expression changed and he asked hurriedly: "The military advisor estimates how many troops Zhang Liao will have when the time comes for the southern expedition. The military advisor must have thought of a plan to retreat the enemy."
Sima Yi had been paying attention to Cao Ang's expression. Hearing this, his face softened and he said: "Zhang Liao already has millions of people under his command. Even if troops need to be divided and guarded everywhere, there is no problem in deploying 300,000 powerful troops."
"Hiss~three hundred thousand..." Cao Ang couldn't help taking a breath when he heard this. He panicked and said, "Please teach me how to defeat the enemy."
"I didn't mention surrender..." Sima Yi thought to himself. Although he had some expectations, the test that followed was the most important.
Sima Yi took a deep breath and asked, "My lord, have you thought about the question I asked a month ago? If Zhang Liao threatens Duke Cao, how should your lord respond?"
Cao Ang lowered his head and said: "This... I'm just busy with political affairs recently. I haven't thought about it. The military advisor is waiting. I will give you a clear answer in the next few days..."
"It seems that..." Sima Yi sighed in his heart and said with a solemn face: "There is one more thing. News came from Hebei. Zhang Liao sent his servant Li Li as an envoy to Shouchun. The carriage could not last more than a month. We will arrive in Shouchun. Does my lord know what Li Li is doing here?"
Cao Ang was startled again. He soon came to his senses. He shook his head and said, "Well, uh... how do I know? I'll tell you later..."
Sima Yi frowned and said, "Why do you pretend to be confused, my lord? It's obvious why Li Li came to Shouchun. Isn't it because he wants to recruit your lord to surrender and conquer the two counties of Huainan and Runan without any bloodshed?"
Cao Ang waved his hand and laughed and said: "What's the matter? I think the military advisor is too worried. The people haven't arrived yet. How can we be so sure? Besides, let me surrender. Zhang Liao thought well. How can I, Cao Ang, do it?" He is such a person without ambition."
Although Cao Ang spoke generously, Sima Yi still caught a dodgey look in his eyes. Sima Yi had already understood Cao Ang's thoughts from this look.
Sima Yi calmly saluted and said: "Okay then. Let's wait until the envoy arrives and see what he says before we discuss it. There is nothing else. I will leave..." After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the room.
Cao Ang kept watching Sima Yi go out. His serious expression relaxed. He was replaced by a strong sense of exhaustion. He murmured to himself: "It seems that everything is going to end. Father..."
Sima Yi returned to his residence and thought for a while. He visited the mansion where Cao Pi lived late at night...
…………
The weather in the twelfth lunar month of winter. On the county boundary between Xiang County of Runan County and Chen County of Chen County, a group of about 500 sergeants were walking slowly on the official road. These sergeants were all infantry, but all wore the same wrought iron heavy armor. Looking at the whole world, only the Jin army can receive such treatment for its infantry. Five hundred sergeants were led by a military sergeant, escorting a car and driving slowly to the southeast.
The military commander, who was wearing a thick cloak and a military uniform, looked at the boundary markers on the roadside. He came back to the carriage and said through the window: "Your Excellency, this is already the boundary of Xiang County. It will be settled when we reach Xiang County." It’s our own territory.”
The car curtain opened. An old man who was already in his fifties but energetic stuck his head out. He looked out the window. His eyes flashed and he said: "Yes. This is already Cao Ang's territory. But it won't take long. Shouchun County in Runan will change its owner."
The general smiled and said: "That's right. Our Jin army is heading towards the front. I wonder who in the world can resist it. If Cao Ang knows how to stay, he should obediently show up Runan and Huainan counties this time. If he dares to resist the heavenly army, then It’s just that he is impatient with life.”
The handsome official said confidently: "I believe Cao Ang will not refuse this time. Before my lord left, he gave me a letter..." At this point, the handsome official paused and the topic changed: "Liu Sima. By the way, this is already here. Even if his spies don't report back, the people we sent to attack the front station should have sent the news. Why hasn't Cao Ang sent someone to greet him?"
As soon as the handsome man finished speaking, there was a sudden sound of horse hoofbeats in front of him. At the intersection in front of him, he saw a group of soldiers and horses carrying the Cao flag approaching.
Sima Liu, surnamed Liu, pointed his finger and said with a smile: "Look, sir. The person to greet you is here..."