Cao Cao stood in the middle of the court, tilting his head and looking at the bright moon in the sky.

Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and there are fifteen days left to go until the New Year. This is the last Full Moon of the year, and possibly the last Full Moon of his life.

He didn't know exactly what was happening outside the city, but he could feel the morale of the soldiers outside the city change. First, the patrol officers who were originally perfunctory are now full of energy and very vigilant; Second, the shouts during training in the camp were more neat and majestic than a few days ago.

Walking on the frost and ice, the leaves fall and know the autumn, from these subtle details, he smelled a strong sense of crisis.

Today is the last day of the three-day appointment with Xi Zhicai, but Xi Zhicai has no shadow at all. Cao Anmin muttered in front of him several times, saying that Xi Zhicai was a liar who cheated him out of a sum of money, and he had already fled and would not show up again at all. But he disagreed, and he was willing to believe Xi Zhicai, even though they had just met.

But some people are born friends and know it as soon as they meet.

There was a soft sound behind him, and Cao Cao's back tightened, but he didn't turn around, but just moved his hand closer to the long knife on his waist. He lowered his head, taking advantage of that moment, the corner of his eye glanced at the northwest corner, and there were only a few plum trees in the entire courtyard, which were blooming fragrantly. If someone wants to get into the yard while it's dark, that's the only possibility.

"It smells so good!" One sighed softly. "Doesn't the general want to smell it at all?"

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned around, opened his arms, strode up to meet him, and laughed. "Drama, it's really you, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Xi Zhicai opened his arms, shook Cao Cao's arms, looked at each other and smiled. "General, I shouldn't have missed the appointment, right?"

"No, no, it came at the right time."

Cao Cao dragged Xi Zhicai to the hall and loudly beckoned people to serve wine and food. Cao Anmin heard the sound and was taken aback when he saw Xi Zhicai appear beside Cao Cao. He was Cao Cao's guard, knowing that this courtyard seemed to be peaceful, but secretly there were at least twenty guards to protect it, and it was impossible for anyone to appear in front of Cao Cao quietly. How did this drama do it?

Although Cao Anmin had a stomach full of questions, he didn't dare to ask, so he had to arrange wine and food. Cao Cao invited Xi Zhicai to sit at the table, and the two staggered their cups and drank a few glasses in a row. Xi Zhicai drank a few large glasses of wine in one go, and then put down the wine glass, wiped his mouth with the corner of his sleeve, and slapped the case hard.

"General, guess what I saw?"

Cao Cao tugged at his beard and muttered: "From Wuguan, it can't be reinforcements, it can only be a messenger." I don't know if I'm right? ”

"Yes, but do you know who the messenger is?"

Cao Cao's eyes flashed, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, but he shook his head again. "I can't guess that."

"When the general sees it, he must know it." Xi Zhicai crooked his mouth. "Chen Liumingshi, Cai Yong, Cai Bojie."

"Mr. Bojo?" Cao Cao was stunned. "So, this is sent by Dong Zhuo, and Yuan Shu and Dong Zhuo want to form an alliance?"

Xi Zhicai didn't speak, squinted at Cao Cao, scooped up a glass of wine again, held it in his hand, and tasted it slowly.

Cao Cao's eyes rolled and he thought for a while. "No, I'm afraid there's another mystery here. Although Mr. Bo Jiao is a celebrity recruited by Dong Zhuo, he will not help and abuse him. It looks like he is here to bridge the wall of the Yuan brothers. ”

Xi Zhicai put down his wine glass. "I don't know very well why Cai Bojiao came, and I don't care, but I noticed one thing, he left in a hurry. Two days away, he arrived in one day. Less than a day after he entered the camp, I saw some people leaving Yuan Shu's camp, and more than a dozen craftsmen rushed to the direction of Wuguan, hurrying around. ”

Cao Cao's eyes froze, and then he was overjoyed, moved to Xi Zhicai's side, and stared at Xi Zhicai. "Really?"

Xi Zhicai smiled at the corner of his mouth and nodded solemnly. "I pretended to be a homeless man, lay outside the Jinyang Pavilion for a long time, and saw that the group of people had dinner and then set off to leave, a group of more than 200 people, only 17 craftsmen, but those people were very polite to these craftsmen, especially to the young craftsmen led by them, they must be called Mr. Mo, very respectful. The young man surnamed Mo was peaceful, as if he was used to it. General, is there a master surnamed Mo under Yuan Shu's account? ”

Cao Cao shook his head and said nothing. After several envoys, especially Cai Maolai, he knew that Sun Ce had a Huang Chengyan who was proficient in wood, but Huang Chengyan was middle-aged, and it could not be Mr. Mo as Xi Zhicai said. However, he can confirm one thing that the envoy has arrived at Yuan Shu's camp, but Yuan Shu has sent highly skilled craftsmen to the direction of Wuguan, most likely to strengthen the city defense of Wuguan.

In other words, there may be a threat in the direction of Chang'an, and Yuan Shu is about to face a situation of internal and external troubles. It's definitely good news for him.

"Zhicai, you are a meritorious person, I want to toast you again."

Cao Cao raised his glass and laughed out loud. Xi Zhicai also raised his wine glass, touched it with Cao Cao, drank it all, and then said: "General, although there may be a change in Wuguan, the specific situation is not clear. Since the general is familiar with Cai Bojiao, why don't you meet with him and find out a little bit about the situation from him? ”

Cao Cao nodded again and again, and the more he remembered that he was happy. Xi Zhicai looked at him, paused for a moment, and then said, "There is another news." ”

Cao Cao was taken aback, and hurriedly put away his smile and listened attentively.

"Yuan Shu distributed the stolen good land of the family to the captured tribes."

"Smack!" As soon as Cao Cao's hand was released, the wine glass fell to the ground and shattered. Cao Cao's face changed for a moment, and he shook his head with a wry smile. "This Yuan Highway can really do anything. If they come, these families will be of little use. ”

"That's right, General, let them out of the city, and keep them for nothing. Let them out of the city, reunite them with their families, and see what Yuan Highway does with them. Kill, stir up the wrath of the people. If you don't kill, you will become a trouble. ”

Cao Cao glanced at Xi Zhi for a moment and laughed loudly.

Cao Cao immediately invited Zong Cheng and earnestly invited Zong Cheng to go out of the city, and he wanted to meet with Cai Yong to discuss negotiations. In order to show sincerity, as long as Cai Yong enters the city, he is willing to let the family out of the city and let them go back to their manor, so as not to be afraid in the city.

Although Zong Cheng felt that Cao Cao had bad intentions, he also wanted to take this opportunity to save some people. Yuan Shu is sending people to attack the manor, and many people are worried about their families and want to go out of the city to understand the situation, but Cao Cao is watching closely, and they can't go. Now that Cao Cao is willing to release people, of course he is happy to see it.

Zong Cheng came to Yuan Shu's camp again to convey Cao Cao's opinion. As soon as he finished speaking, before Yuan Shu could speak, Yan Xiang objected.

"It's okay to release people, but let our family members go first."

Zong Cheng sneered. "Yan Jun, I'm afraid I can't help you. Cao Mengde has already sent his son away, and he is determined to live and die with Wancheng, he doesn't care how many people die. But can General Yuan watch his subordinates' families being killed, and can he stand out from all the families in Nanyang? ”

As he was talking, Sun Ce walked in, and when he heard what Zong Cheng said, he couldn't help but sneer. "Zongjun, before you left the city, did Cao Cao tell you the truth? You don't even understand what the situation is, you dare to make threats here, who do you want to scare? ”