After five years of Jian'an, the battle of Guandu, which lasted for more than a year, finally came to fruition, and Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao with fewer enemies. It not only strengthened Cao Cao's strength, but also laid a solid foundation for the complete defeat of Yuan Shao and the unification of the north in the future. Only Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were more powerful in the north, and no one could compete with Cao Cao after that. In addition to winning a big victory, Cao Cao was also demoted to Zhang He, Gao Ran and other generals.

It is now April of the sixth year of Jian'an, and the two armies of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao met Cangting again, and the first battle was without a victory. Cao Cao discussed with the generals the strategy of breaking the formation, Cheng Yu offered a plan to ambush on all sides, persuaded him to retreat on the river, ambushed ten teams, and lured Yuan's army to chase to the river, Cao Cao accepted his plan. The army was divided into ten teams, led by ten main generals, and then the next day, ten teams advanced, ambushed left and right, and prepared for the second interception. Xu Chu of the Chinese army was the vanguard, and in the middle of the night, Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to lead his troops forward, pretending to rob the village. Yuan Shao really led the army to come, and rushed to the river in the morning. Among them, Cao Pi and Cao Zhen led one of the ten teams to join the army and fight a big battle.

The deserted winding mountain road, there are two lines of army Hao Hao soup coming, between the sand and dust, clearly see the "Cao" character banner held high, the army is headed by Cao Pi, Cao Zhen. Rong armored, Cao Pi, who was riding a black horse, kept looking at everything around him with deep eyes, in case of a surprise attack by the enemy. After years of battlefield training, he is more cautious and agile. In the same way, he has faded from the handsomeness of a young man, and has completely become a heroic, calm and silent man.

"Zihuan, take it easy. I'm sure there won't be an ambush here. That Yuan Shao...... Hum! Now it's like ...... What's coming. Cao Zhen frowned and scratched his head.

"A turtle in an urn. They all said that you should read books, but you didn't listen. You can't say the words again, right? Also, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, there is nothing wrong with being cautious. Cao Pi was really funny and helpless in his heart.

"Who says I didn't read? I've read this art of war several times, it's those poems and songs, I really don't know it at all! What Guan Guan dove, in Hezhou Zhou, the fair girl, the gentleman asked for ......" Cao Zhen's poem caused the surrounding soldiers to snicker, Cao Zhen said angrily: "What a laugh!" ”

"It's Guan Guan Ju Dove, in the river island. My Fair Lady, Gentleman. This is the "Guan Ju" (1) of the "Book of Songs", because you are still a wife, you can't even read this. Cao Pi shook his head and sighed.

"What does marrying a wife have to do with poetry? I don't think there's going to be any problem. Speaking of marrying a wife...... Zihuan, you should have reached the age of marrying a wife and having children, when you were in Xudu, Mrs. Bian showed you several innocent girls, many of whom are beautiful and gentle, why are you not satisfied? What kind of woman can get into your Zihuan's eyes? ”

"Zidan, we're here to fight." Cao Pi's expression was serious, and his words were a little more angry. Cao Zhen has been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and his personality is upright, so he naturally can't notice that Cao Pi is changing the topic, let alone Cao Pi's deep struggles and contradictions. Cao Pi thought about fulfilling Mrs. Bian's wish and marrying a woman to enter the Prime Minister's Mansion. Even if he hates Mrs. Bian, in the eyes of everyone, Mrs. Bian is his "biological mother", and he can't let her lose face, otherwise she will have a reputation of "unfilial". When he saw the portraits of those girls, he still thought that he was an impossible person, so he politely declined Mrs. Bian, the war was undecided, and he could not marry a wife and have children. Yes, Cao Pi is running away, planning to use the war to make himself forget that person earlier.

"Of course I know that, but I see you're too nervous, talk about light things to relieve stress. Zihuan, if you are too nervous, you are likely to make a wrong judgment. Cao Zhen tightened the reins in his hand, and the mount under him was closer to Cao Pi, Cao Zhen whispered in Cao Pi's ear: "It is rumored in the army that Yuan Shao has a daughter-in-law who has been reading and learning since childhood, and she is also compatible with Zihuan, but it's a pity." I heard that the prime minister was ...... to her If she attacks Yecheng, then she ......"

"Cao Zidan, since you have said that it is a rumor, where can the gossip be taken seriously? I advise you to talk less and save some strength to go to the battlefield. Cao Pi has always scoffed at these gossips and dismisses them, so he doesn't care about what Cao Zhen says at all.

"If you don't like to hear it, then I won't say it. This time, thanks to Mr. Cheng (2) for offering the plan of 'ambush on all sides', we were able to lead Yuan Shao to dispatch, and now we only owe a big battle, so as to frustrate his spirit and let them have no return! Cao Zhen is full of confidence and full of momentum to fight on the battlefield.

"Really? How do I remember that there was a man who was against it at first, and if I hadn't stopped him repeatedly, that man would have ruined his plan long ago. Zidan, even if we are strong in martial arts, we have enough soldiers and horses. Without far-sighted planning, there is no way to win. I know that you are full of enthusiasm and will fight bravely, but you must not forget why your father recruited the best people from all over the world. ”

"Hehe......" Cao Zhen laughed dryly, scratched his head and said, "It's me who is reckless, thanks to Zihuan." Zihuan, I Cao really admire you, you see that we are the same age, but you are much calmer than me. As you say, I do have shortcomings, and I will listen to the counsellors more often than you did, and stop acting impulsively. Zihuan, if you decide to 'succeed' in the future, you must count me, and I will definitely follow! Cao Zhenzhen praised Cao Pi sincerely, and expressed his sincere follow-up to Cao Pi.

"Zidan, don't talk nonsense." Cao Pi frowned and looked at Cao Zhen, on the surface, it seemed that he was warning Cao Zhen, but in fact, he was very happy in his heart, after all, it was rare to get affirmation and hints from Cao Zhen's mouth to follow. However, Cao Zhen reminded Cao Pi that after the death of Cao Ang, the eldest son of the house, he became the only eldest son of Mrs. Bian in the main room, and his father's favored Cao Chong and Cao Zhi would endanger his status, especially Cao Zhi, who was of the same age, became a thorn in his eye. The former 'revenge of killing his mother' and his father's 'excessive favor' for him, he had to get it back from Mrs. Bian's mother and son little by little, and before taking revenge, he had to find someone to support him to succeed to the throne, and Cao Zhen was one of them.

"Zihuan, Zihuan?" Cao Zhen saw that Cao Pi's eyes were full of murderous energy, and his expression was unnatural, so he couldn't help but be a little worried, he stretched out his hand and shook it in front of Cao Pi's eyes, Cao Pi came back to his senses and replied: "It's okay." ”

I don't know how long later, during the march, Cao Pi heard a weak cry, he grabbed the reins and looked around, and finally saw a thin, tattered woman with a disheveled hair not far away. He asked one of the soldiers to come forward and check what was going on.

"Zihuan, be careful of the other party's deception. Maybe it was sent by Yuan Shao. Cao Zhen drew his sword, and all the soldiers raised their shields and drew their bows, ready for a bloody battle.

"Yuan Shao is not going to use a weak woman as bait, you see her hands, her clothes, every scratch is covered with dust and blood. This kind of embarrassed appearance can't be pretended. ”

Seeing Cao Pi say this, Cao Zhen had no choice but to withdraw the knife and ask everyone to collect the shield and bow. The soldier who checked on the woman came back, walked to Cao Pi's side, and bowed and said, "Hui Gongzi, this woman is indeed weak, she is still conscious, and wants to ask for some dry food and water." was originally to take refuge with the clansmen, but the clansmen drove her out of the house and fled all the way. ”

"Zidan, give me your dry food and water." After Cao Pi listened, he turned his head and asked Cao Zhen.

"Huh? Why me? Cao Zhen reluctantly threw his dry food and water bladder to Cao Pi. Cao Pi took these things, then took out the money bag from his arms and handed them to the soldiers beside him. "Along the way, count you to eat the most, drink the most, if I don't take yours, won't I take mine? You go and tell this woman that displacement is inevitable in troubled times, and let her try to survive. This sword was given to her to protect herself, barren mountains and mountains, and I was afraid that wild beasts would infest. Cao Pi drew his sword from his mount and handed it into the hands of the soldier, who took it and ran to the woman.

"Zihuan, what are you?"

"Odd with occasional kindness?"

"No, I'm afraid that this woman will accidentally fall in love with you, if she is good-looking, what can you do if she looks ugly? Hahahaha......" Cao Zhen laughed heartily, Cao Pi frowned, he planned to ignore Cao Zhen's smirk. Cao Zhen also wanted to laugh a little longer, but the arrival of the "uninvited guest" made it difficult for him to smile.

"Zijian has seen his brother, Brother Zidan. My father asked me to come and help Dezu in the fight. Cao Zhi rode a white horse, and Yang Xiu with a small number of soldiers and horses, chased all the way without stopping, and finally met Cao Pi and Cao Zhen.

"Zijian, this is your first time on the battlefield, everything is subject to military orders, be careful." Facing Cao Zhi who suddenly appeared in front of him, Cao Pi expressed concern, but in fact, he clenched his fists and made a subtle crisp sound. Strictly speaking, Cao Zhi is not officially fighting on the battlefield, but just letting him help. But his father asked him to come to help, and he also asked Yang Xiu to come with him, isn't this a threat? Cao Pi's proud conquest and killing of the enemy suddenly became much smaller, because sooner or later, Cao Zhi would also have countless achievements. Cao Pi looked at Yang Xiu again, and arched his hand: "I hope that Your Excellency will assist Zijian well." ”

Cao Zhi didn't know Cao Pi's thoughts, he was looking forward to the next battle with all his heart, even if he helped, he was also satisfied.

The woman had eaten all the food and water the soldiers had supplied, and she finally had the strength to get up from the ground and stand up again. She picked up the water bladder, the purse, and the sword, wiped the marks from her mouth, and made her way forward, thinking about the past as she went.

"Can you tell me the name of my benefactor?" She asked the soldier in a weak voice.

"You shouldn't have died, I met our son, he is the son of the prime minister, called Cao Pi. He also asked me to pass on a message to you, saying that in troubled times, displacement is inevitable, and that you should try to survive. This sword is given to you to protect yourself, barren mountains and mountains, and I am afraid that wild beasts will infest. ”

Cao Pi ...... The word Zihuan. The sword given by Cao Pi had his name engraved on the scabbard, and she stroked the scabbard and whispered his name.

"I'm going to live. That way, I can see you again. ”

Concentrate:

(1) "National Style, Zhou Nan, Guan Ju" is the first poem in the Book of Songs, the first collection of poetry in ancient China, and is generally regarded as a love song describing the love between men and women. This poem skillfully adopts the expression technique of "xing" in art. In the first chapter, the birds sing in unison, falling in love with each other, and the association of a lady accompanying a gentleman arises. In the following chapters, the act of picking vegetables arouses the protagonist's crazy lovesickness and pursuit of women. The language of the whole poem is beautiful, and he is good at using double voices, overlapping rhymes and overlapping words, which enhances the beauty of the rhyme of the poem and the vividness of writing about human objects and onomatopoeia.

(2) Sir: This refers to an older and learned person. Mr. is a title, which literally means: a person who was born earlier than himself and is older than himself; There is also the meaning of first contact with unfamiliar things, and by extension, the person who comes into contact with unfamiliar things first, so in ancient times, Mr. Others had the meaning of learning from others, and the master was the first, and the teacher meant it. Later, it was extended to a kind of honorific title for people. In the modern context, sir is a term for men.