When Cao Zhi raised his eyes to look at that person, it was none other than his younger brother Cao Chong.

According to reason, Cao Chong, who was fourteen years old, should have died last year, but maybe it was the butterfly effect, or maybe it was because Zhang Zhongjing lived in Xu Capital to recuperate for him over the years, although Cao Chong's body was still slightly tired, but he survived by bumps.

Now that Cao Cao is dead, Cao Zhi is in a high position, and he attaches great importance to a cadre of brothers, especially Cao Chong, who has been known as a prodigy since he was a child, Cao Zhi is the same as Cao Cao, he loves and cherishes it very much, and this time he was specially brought to the front line to participate in negotiations, just to let him broaden his horizons and gain a long insight.

"Cangshu ......" Cao Zhi touched his chin, and turned his eyes to look at the people around him, his eyes full of inquiry.

Over there, Jia Xu understood what he meant, touched the white beard on his chin, and said slowly: "Gongzi Cangshu is smart and smart, and he is young, he is not an important person in Yuan Shang's heart, and he can even ignore it. ”

Cao Zhi thought for a while, and said in a deep sense of Jia Xu's words: "This is reasonable, Cangshu, I will send five hundred elites to escort you back to Xudu, ostensibly in the name of your illness, but in fact, Zhuo You lead this army of soldiers and horses to chase the Son of Heaven, be sure to bring it back to Xudu, you may be able to do it?" ”

Cao Chong arched his hand and said: "Fourth brother, since the death of my father, among our brothers, except for the third brother who went into battle to assist the elder brother, the rest, the second brother resigned and did not ask about the affairs of the world, the fifth brother was not in good health and could not manage the government, and the remaining brothers were all young and could not help the elder brother at all, and now the entire Cao family affairs all fall on you, the fourth brother!" The younger brother felt very uneasy in his heart, something big happened to Xu Du today, and the younger brother just took this opportunity to help you share your worries, and it can be regarded as doing something for the Cao family! ”

Cao Zhi stood up, walked to Cao Chong's side and touched his head. said in a low voice: "Good brother, you are really sensible, and it's good!" It's up to you this time, I sent Huhou's widow Xu Yi and Duwei Dianman to protect you to chase you, these two are the fierce generals after Wei Xu Chu, and my Cao family has a deep relationship, you have to make good use of it, do you know the way? ”

When Cao Chong heard this, he was happy and happy, and his little face was flushed. It's very cute.

"Fourth brother, don't worry, the younger brother will definitely live up to your high expectations!"

*************************

Cao Zhi's brothers worked together to face difficulties together, and the Yuan family was also a brother on the side, not falling behind the Cao family.

Yuan Shang thought about it, both sides of this negotiation brought elite soldiers, but whenever there is any trouble, it is a situation where the two sides are on fire.

Now there are a lot of big things to do in Hebei, and Yuan Shang doesn't want to fight Cao Zhi because of an unwarranted thing behind Cao Zhi for the time being. Doing it before figuring out what was going on behind Cao Zhi was not in line with Yuan Shang's personality.

So, if you say anything, you have to send a smart and infamous person to Zhongzhou to investigate!

In this way, it can not only prepare for the next move, but also not easily arouse Cao Zhi's detection.

Who should this choose for the right person?

Yuan Shang thought about it. In the end, the choice fell on his younger brother Yuan Mai and Deng Chang's son Deng Ai.

The two children have just joined the army, they are young and not very famous, and they are just available!

After deciding this matter, Yuan Shang personally went to the camp where the two boys rested. Tell them about how the mission works and what they need to pay attention to.

The two boys are close friends, and they have the friendship of classmates, so they entered the barracks. Or live in the same tent.

came to the camp where the two boys lived, and found that Yuan Mai was not there, and only Deng Ai was sitting in the house reading.

For Yuan Shang, Xiao Deng Ai still respects him very much. Perhaps in his eyes, Yuan Shang may be more admired by him than his father Deng Chang.

Seeing Yuan Shang come in, Deng Ai hurriedly got up from the ground collapse and respectfully saluted, "Uncle Yuan...... Uncle, you- you're here. ”

In fact, Deng Ai and Yuan Mai have been studying and having fun together all these years, and they are considered peers, so it stands to reason that they should also follow Yuan Mai to manage Yuan Shang and call him 'brother', but Yuan Shang said that he didn't want to leave Deng Chang a generation, so he forced Deng Ai to call him uncle.

To be honest, just because of Deng Ai's voice, the seniority of Yuan Jun's camp was quite messed up.

Deng Chang, Tian Feng, Fu Zhu and other older generation of Hebei staff are commensurate with their peers.

And this generation of old ministers are also the same generation as the dead Yuan Shao, so all the ministers in Hebei are now Yuan Shang's uncles and Yuan Shang's eldest brothers!

And when Deng Chang Lao'er was in Zhongzhou, he was half the father-in-law of the mute girl Xiahou Juan, and Xiahou Juan was called sisters with Zhen Mi, Lu Lingqi and others......

So strictly speaking, Yuan Shang is now married to three ladies, and she is also his niece! And Xiahou Juan's uncle Xiahou Yuan can be regarded as Yuan Shang's eldest brother.

At the beginning, after Yuan Shangsuan understood this relative's account, he went to Xiahou Yuan, who was captured alive and scattered in Yecheng, and kindly reminded him that he had another layer of intimacy with him, and proposed that from the next day onwards, he would call Xiahou Yuan his father-in-law on the first three or five days of each month, and he would be called the eldest brother on the two days and four or six days.

After listening to Yuan Shang's suggestion, Xiahou Yuan looked very calm, smiled slightly, didn't say a word, got up directly and went to the back hall, and when he was young, he took out a thigh-thick stick, and politely and enthusiastically asked Yuan Shang to get out.

Speaking of which, calling his father-in-law Taishan the eldest brother, taking advantage of the father-in-law, is there such an unreliable bastard in this world?

…………

"Xiao Ai doesn't have to be formal."

Seeing that Deng Ai was very respectful, Yuan Shang smiled and asked him to get up, then glanced at the book in his hand, and said with a smile: "Is it "Spring and Autumn"? ”

Deng Ai's face turned red and nodded: "Yes." ”

Yuan Shang found a puff mat in the tent and sat down, and said, "I can't see it, your taste is similar to Guan Yu." ”

Deng Ai shook his head when he heard this, and said: "I, how can I—how dare I compare with General Guan, General Guan, General Guan—to be a god of the world, a god general, a hero to the world, although, although I am the right person in Hebei, the opponent, but I, I still respect him, he is very respectful." ”

Yuan Shang smiled slightly and said, "Deng Ai, in fact, I haven't asked you, do you have ambitions in your heart?" What do you want to do in the future? ”

Deng Ai thought for a while and said, "Willing, willing to be a general!" ”

Yuan Shang smiled and said, "For what?" ”

Deng Ai's face suddenly showed a look of fascination. Dao: "For the generals, the upper knowledge of astronomy, the lower knowledge of the geographical advantage, the middle of the people." For the generals, the shawl is sharp, the first soldier, regardless of difficulties, the reward must be done, and the punishment must be believed. For the generals, the merit is returned to the public. Reward for soldiers, for generals, ruthless law enforcement, law-abiding first, good way to govern soldiers, lead the army in a good way, inspire morale, inspire people, so that soldiers know that they are willing to fight to the death once they die, and they will not retreat in the face of difficulties. For the general to recognize talents, use talents, and make good friends. Do the right thing, collect the hearts of the people, reorganize the hearts of the army, and understand the righteousness. Palm the world...... This is exactly what I want most in life! ”

Maybe it was because he was too excited, or maybe these words often entwined in Deng Ai's heart, and Deng Ai didn't stammer.

After hearing this, Yuan Shang's eyes were slightly raised. I feel very relieved.

Originally, I was a little worried that this little bastard who was messing with Yuan Mai had gone a fork in the road and became the same unobtrusive as his father, but the facts in front of me proved it. This kid is still very ambitious.

Good shallots are still good shallots, not bad!

Yuan Shang nodded with a smile and said: "Xiao Ai, you are very ambitious and driven, Uncle Yuan will definitely help you complete your dreams, but everything has to have a process, if you want to be a general in command of the three armies, you must first hone your skills and increase your combat experience...... Now, there's such an opportunity! ”

Deng Ai's eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurriedly said: "Uncle Yuan-uncle, please command, command." ”

Yuan Shang said with a smile: "I want you and Yuan Mai to lead five hundred elite soldiers to secretly cross the river and help me investigate the situation behind Cao Zhi." ”

When Deng Ai heard this, his spirit was shocked, and he said: "What happened in the Central Plains? ”

Yuan Shang nodded and said: "There should be, but our spies in Xudu can't send back the news at present, and we can't transfer troops and heavy generals at will during the negotiation, so I remembered you and Yuan Mai, the two of you will lead five hundred soldiers tomorrow, and Yan Yuan and Wen Tu together, secretly go to Pingqiu and go to Zhongzhou to investigate, but you can't fight with the local guards, just need to understand the situation and go back, I have my own dispatch on this side, do you know the way?" ”

When Deng Ai heard this, he seemed to be a little disappointed, and said, "It's just, it's just probe, probe?" ”

Yuan Shang said with a smile: "Knowing oneself and knowing that the other side will win all battles, intelligence information is the first important task of the general, if you can't even do this well, you won't have the qualifications to be a general, do you understand?" ”

Deng Ai thought for a while, nodded and said, "Ming-understood!" Yuan, Uncle Yuan, rest assured, I-I will not disgrace and dishonor my mission! ”

Yuan Shang nodded with satisfaction, and suddenly changed his words: "What about Yuan Mai?" Why didn't you see him? Where did you go? ”

Deng Ai glanced around and said, "Say, say that I am going to the Ziyou Village next to the camp, to play, calculate the time, it's time to come back!" ”

As he was talking, he heard Yuan Mai's brisk footsteps and shouts in the distance outside the tent.

"Deng Ai, Deng Ai! Where are you? I am back! Quick, come with me! ”

Deng Ai stood up and shouted out of the tent in confusion: "I, I'm in the tent—inside the tent!" It's—it's so late—it's late, what's—what's going on? ”

When the words fell, I saw that the curtain of the tent was lifted by Yuan Mai, and the round head of the tiger fell into the eyes of Yuan Shang and Deng Ai in the tent.

"Stinky boy, don't be afraid to suffocate yourself if you don't move the place for a day, follow me to Ziyou Village, I found a particularly beautiful little widow in that village today, let's go peek at her and wash ......"

Before he finished speaking, Yuan Mai suddenly found that in addition to Deng Ai in the tent, there was also Yuan Shang with a frosty face, looking at him coldly, Yuan Mai's tongue was knotted, and he almost didn't choke on himself, thanks to his still a little witty, he hurriedly changed his words after coughing twice, and stammered: "Wash, wash clothes!" ”

Deng Ai was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then cautiously turned his head to look at Yuan Shang.

Yuan Shang sneered, strode forward, grabbed Yuan Mai's ear, and said with a sneer: "Washing clothes? Okay, stinky boy, I'm getting more and more growing, this nonsense will come as soon as you open your mouth, don't make a hit, please tell my brother, whose little lady washes clothes, and you have to bother Yuan Sigongzi to run all the way over to take a look? Well? ”

Yuan Mai's face was bitter, and he grinned and said, "Third brother, I was wrong, let me go!" ”

Yuan Shang snorted coldly, let go of his hand, and then said angrily at Yuan Mai and Deng Ai: "Don't mess around, you two hurry up to find Yan Yuan and Wen Tu, prepare to go to Zhongzhou, and then dare to cause trouble, see that your brother will not hammer you to death...... What are you doing in a daze, go quickly! ”

Yuan Mai shrank his neck in fright, not understanding what Yuan Shang said.

However, Deng Ai's eyes were sharp, he grabbed Yuan Mai, went straight out of the tent, and ran out of Lu to find Yan Yuan and Wen Tu.

Yuan Shang glared at the backs of the two little ghosts, snorted coldly, and then said to the outside of the tent: "Who escorted the fourth prince to Ziyou Village just now?" Let me in! ”

Outside the tent, a military guard hurriedly entered, sweating profusely and asking Yuan Shang to say guiltily: "Lord Qiqi, it is his subordinates who protect the fourth prince!" ”

Yuan Shang glanced at him nonchalantly: "Where has the fourth prince been in the village, do you know the way?" ”

"My subordinates have been accompanying the fourth son, and they all know the way."

Yuan Shang hesitated for a moment, then changed his tone and said in a low voice: "You go find Sima Yi and Deng Chang and help me bring a message to them." ”

The guard didn't know why, raised his head and said, "What does the lord want his subordinates to bring?" ”

Yuan Shang raised his head, looked at the sky outside the tent, and said in a quiet tone: "It's late, the night is approaching, the army is stable, Yuan is empty and boring, and wants to do something elegant...... Clothes. ”

Guard: "............"

******************************

The next day, Yuan Mai and Deng Ai led Yan Liang and Wen Tu to Zhongzhou with five hundred elites to do the task assigned by Yuan Shang.

The group went to Pingqiu and crossed the Yellow River.

After coming to the border of Henan, Deng Ai immediately took ten cavalry scouts first, and first went to Xudu to inquire about the news.

Yuan Mai sat on the horse, rubbed his nose, and sighed: "Xu Du has something, if we can't even send our elite sentinels, then it must be a lockdown!" The official news is not clear, we are here now, what can we gain? ”

Deng Ai thought for a while and said: "Even if it is Xu Dufeng-Closed City, but Cao Zhi will definitely have a move there, I, we will not be busy going first, and then, again, this hold, while looking at Xu Du's things, on the other hand, again, again, and then looking at Cao Zhi's actions, I believe that there will be, there will be gains." ”

Behind the two boys, Yan Yuan and Wen Tu couldn't help but nod their heads when they heard this, and secretly said that although Deng Ai was a stammer, he was careful and shrewd, and he was really amazing, and he had two hits.

Sure enough, within a few days, the scout did bring back a strange piece of news.

Just when the second junior general left the white horse, Cao Zhi's side, his younger brother Cao Chong suddenly fell ill because of his weak body, so he sent troops back to Xu Capital to recuperate.

This was not a big deal, and Yuan Shang and the other ministers didn't care much about it after they knew about it.

However, after Cao rushed into the boundary of Yanzhou, he did not return to Xudu, but led a group of soldiers and horses to the east, I don't know what it means.

After Deng Ai learned the news, he frowned and pondered for a long time, and said: "Cao Chong doesn't go back to Xudu, but instead - he is going east, and he must be instructed by Cao Zhi!" He must be going, going to do something important! ”

Yuan Mai thought for a moment when he heard this, and said, "Then do you want to report this news to the third brother?" ”

Deng Ai said: "When, of course, but the matter has not yet been figured out - let's send someone to report while sending someone to report back, and at the same time go east and east along the estuary, track down Cao Chong, and see what he is going to do and what he is going to do!" (To be continued......)