Chapter 2 Chapter One

A gorgeous carriage drove through the streets of Xuzhou in the early morning, and the driver was unclear.The red curtains passed by the storefronts of houses and shops like fire, and it was unknown who was sitting inside.Occasionally, vigilant and prying eyes peeped out from the hem of the curtain, which seemed to be the eyes of a girl.Whenever the cavalry of the cavalry of the Cao army patrolling the street is also galloping, the curtains will be closed at once. The heroic young general Cao Pi came galloping on horseback surrounded by all the generals, wearing armor and armor.When they caught up with the red curtain carriage, Cao Pi glanced at the closed red curtain.After chasing him, he glanced back, the red curtain was opened just a crack, he and a pair of eyes met each other for a moment, the curtain of the car was closed suddenly, and Cao Pi rode past quickly.

A team of Cao Pi rushed to a mansion in Xuzhou City. The guards in front of the gate were heavily guarded, and the soldiers were like wolves and tigers.Cao Pi got off his horse, and the guards saluted him.Cao Pi handed over the reins of the horse to the guards, and led the men up the steps hastily.Suddenly there was a whoosh, and a cold light passed by him; he flashed swiftly, and a short arrow was nailed to the doorpost of the gate.Cao Pi hurriedly turned his head and saw the red-curtained carriage speeding past the street behind him.He pointed at the carriage and issued an order: "Chase!" Several soldiers got on their horses and chased after him.Cao Pi stepped forward, stretched out his hand to pull the arrow from the doorpost, and was startled, he didn't expect the arrow to be nailed so deadly.Pulling it out with great force, I found that the shaft of the arrow was tied with a ball of silk scarf. I took it off and opened it, and my face suddenly changed.He scanned the street vigilantly, took the arrow and silk scarf in his hands, and hurriedly strode into Cao Cao's camp.

Cao Cao was sitting in the conference hall listening to the reports of the battle from his staff and generals.The general Xu Chu just stepped back after speaking, and the other general Li Dian came out and said: "Speak to the Prime Minister—" Cao Pi rushed in and threw himself on the ground: "Father, there are assassins!" presented together.Cao Cao took the short arrow and looked at it, then opened the silk scarf, on which were written two big red characters: "Zhu Cao".He held the short arrow and looked around, and asked coldly: "Where is the assassin?" Cao Pi said: "Before I saw it clearly, the arrow shot from behind my son, and when I turned around quickly, I saw a red curtained carriage passing by." However, my son has already sent people to chase after him. Father, it is better for you not to show your face at today’s farewell scene.” Cao Cao snorted, and said in a word-by-word manner: “Xuzhou has taken it. Lu Bu cut it off. You’re done. Yes. The announcement has been issued. Today I will personally lead the army, and Liu Bei and others will make a triumphant return to Xudu. All the people of Xuzhou will see you off in the street. I will not appear, okay? Who will I see off?"

"Father—" Cao Pi still tried to persuade him. Cao Cao waved his hand slightly: "Since ancient times, attacking the heart is the most important thing. Today, a cold arrow can attack Cao Cao's heart better than attacking Cao Cao's army. If I am timid, won't it increase his ambition and destroy my prestige? Besides, assassins If you really want to assassinate, it is not necessary to issue this notice." He twitched the short arrow and silk scarf in his hand, and passed them to the left and right for everyone to see.Cao Pi immediately followed Cao Cao and said: "—I am sending this notice because I definitely don't want to really assassinate." Cao Cao glanced at his son, thought for a while and said, "Okay," and then issued orders to the left and right in a calm voice, "The whole city Search and arrest, every street and alley, all the red curtained carriages including people and carriages were seized. As many as they were seized, they were screened one by one to ensure that everything was safe, and those who missed it would be killed." Responding to orders from left and right: "Yes!" Xu Chu hurried down to make arrangements.Cao Cao went on to say: "For the farewell scene in the lane, we must strengthen our precautions. Of course, the old rules are still tight on the inside and loose on the outside. Our sergeants can also change into civilians and intervene in it." Cao Pi and the generals said: "Don't worry, as long as one person has Even if you raise your hand high, you will catch it immediately." Cao Cao snorted and shook his head: "Tighten the inside and loosen the outside, remember. A peaceful scene is a must." Someone said: "The prime minister might as well wear a helmet. Wearing armor." Cao Cao smiled: "Then there is still a scene of peace? How can you be close to the people? Wearing helmets and armor is your business, and I still dress softly." Cao Pi knelt down on the ground: "Father does not want to wear military uniforms outside, but he can line them with gold. Armor to defend yourself, otherwise, the general will not be able to kneel." Cao Cao smiled: "Okay, Cao Pi, this one is up to you."

Cao Cao stood up, paced around the hall, and said with his hands behind his back: "When Confucius was in distress, he said that the destiny was with him, and no one else could do anything to him. Don't you understand this truth? He said, 'If the destiny is not blessed, it will be fine' , What are you talking about? If the destiny does not protect you, what can you do? But if the destiny protects you, who can harm you? If I obey the destiny, the world will obey me; That's right!" Cao Cao stopped and looked at the two staff members on the left and right: "You two military advisers, big and small, are wise and wise, what can you tell me?" humorous.The two looked at each other with a sense of humility.Cao Cao said: "Guo Jia, the great wise man, tell me first, what else do you need to prepare?"

Guo Jia stood out and said: "Liu Bei has been here for a few days, and Xuzhou's gentry are mostly walking around there. I don't know what's going on." Cao Cao nodded: "Liu Bei has been in Xuzhou for a long time, and he is popular. It wasn't that Lu Bu took Xuzhou back then. , Xuzhou is already his. This time he regained Xuzhou, he has meritorious deeds, so it is inevitable that he will try. I haven’t visited Zheng Kangcheng yet.” Cao Pi interrupted: “Such a pedantic old master, I don’t care.” Cao Cao glanced at Cao Pi dissatisfied: “Listen to the lecture and learn.” Guo Jia said: “No. Zheng Kangcheng’s scholarship And governing the world, people from all walks of life in the government and the public have their disciples. The one who moves the world with martial arts is the lord; the one who controls the world with literature is Zheng Kangcheng."

Cao Cao said: "This man's heart is not with me, Cao Cao, but with Yuan Shao and his like. I don't want to see him, because I don't want to increase his power, but etiquette is essential." Cao Cao turned his head: "Xun You, a little wise man, you now Go and visit him for me. One, to back up generous gifts, and one, to find out the truth." Xun You stood up and saluted: "Observe."