The tide of battle has become more and more troublesome.

But he can't stop, and he can't retreat!

This long and painful journey is like climbing in the wind and snow, and only by finally climbing to the top of the mountain can we obtain the fruits of blood and pain.

But the journey was too long and too painful.

Even Cao Cao, who was stoic and far beyond ordinary people, was seized by pain at that moment.

Although I often criticize you for being too naïve, I have to admit that even if you have far more power than ordinary people, this journey is still not easy. 】

【…… Are you complimenting me? 】

You can take it as a compliment," said Black Blade, "You have stood up for your beliefs, your moral code, and put them into practice, these seemingly stupid actions are not actually stupid, they have accumulated more prestige for you than you can imagine, and even broke through the established boundaries of the world's perception of men and women, you should be proud. 】

The work of cleaning up the entire camp was handed over to Tai Shici, and the task of dealing with the Qingzhou messenger was handed over to Xu Shu, Cao Chunran or not, she didn't know, and she didn't care.

She walked slowly back to the back tent, and ordered no one to come in, and sat down on her marching couch.

She didn't feel any pride or pride, she just felt tired.

But Blackblade didn't seem tired, and its voice still sounded in her head very clearly and steadily.

Do you have any thoughts on the fame you have earned? 】

【…… Idea? She thought slowly, "What do you think?" 】

You are a military general. 】

[Not bad.] 】

[Not princes. 】

[Not bad.] 】

[But you have the prestige of a prince, and you have never made it useful to you, don't you think it's a waste?] 】

She felt that the Black Blade seemed to be persuading her, or possibly inducing her, but her mind was a little sluggish and she couldn't react very sharply.

So the black blade waited, and then spoke again.

[I've heard the saying, 'If you're a businessman, you should always follow the rules when doing business.' ’】

[That's good.] She agreed.

['—except for the last one.] ’】

Someone suddenly stepped forward beside him, which made Cao Cao quickly sober up, but he quickly realized that no one dared to trespass like this—except Guo Jia.

The young man frowned slightly, but his eyes still seemed to be looking at him with a smile.

"My lord?"

He let out an "um".

Yanzhou was in danger, but the situation no longer allowed him to withdraw his troops.

He had to kill the messenger and stop the rumors from circulating in the army.

He had to win this battle.

His horse's hooves trampled on the fields of Xuzhou, the soft soil was still the same as it had been harvested not long ago, and if he bent down to pick it up, he could find one or two ears of wheat.

The people wept and dug up the river that was about to flood their fields, and their eyes were about to bleed, and then the people who wept were quietly dragged away and never returned.

So now, when he stood on the bank of the river, and looked around at the rest of the people, they bowed their heads carefully, and no one dared to look at him.

No one can guarantee what kind of hateful eyes they will look at him when they raise their heads.

But how so?

Cao Cao's gaze swept over them and fell on this land that he was obsessed with wanting to rule and save—he had already done everything he could, everything he could try, everything he had tried!

When the big man was still the big man in his heart, he wanted to be an official who was not afraid of power, and he paid the price;

When the Han Dynasty fell and the Son of Heaven was covered with dust, he fought alone, wanting to turn the tide, and he also paid the price;

He formed an alliance with Yuan Shao, incorporated Qingzhou soldiers, attacked Tao Qian, and although he was brutal in battle, as long as it was a land under his rule, he would always do his best to govern - he had this world in his heart! He vowed to give the world back a clean peace!

…… So, how did you come to such a desperate situation?

Cao Cao exhaled softly, he had a lot to do, such as further refining the battle plan in his mind, such as continuing to transfer his troops and horses, such as he needed to write a letter to Ben Chu, and be sincere.

His mind had calmed down from that moment of pain and hesitation, and had reverted to this cold and calm military commander.

But he still reached out and tightened his grip.

It's not winter yet, but it's already so cold.

Lu Hangyu stretched out his hand and slowly pulled the quilt at the foot of the bed.

It was a little cold in the tent, maybe she should raise a brazier.

But compared to such a late autumn morning, the unfinished meaning of the black blade's words made her feel more biting cold.

This war is like a high mountain, and her rush along the way, the battles along the way, the scars and pain along the way, are the price she paid when she climbed up.

So what reward does she get?

There is no doubt that the main guild is very grateful to her, and the second master and the third master will also be grateful to her, as well as General Zilong, Mr. Jian Yong, Mi Zhu and Chen Deng, and ......

There are also the people of Xuzhou, who will be grateful and welcome her into the city with tears of happiness.

After this battle, maybe the court will also give her a reward, the kind stamped with the seal of the court.

But is that enough? Will this be enough to compensate for the hard work along the way? Is it enough to compensate her soldiers for the blood and fire they have endured? Will it be enough to compensate her for the pain of abandoning her home?

No, not enough—Blackblade hinted at her.

So, could she seek some rewards on her own?

For example, she could walk a little slower, a little slower, until the fall of Xiapi City, until Cao Cao killed Liu Bei.

She can defeat Cao Cao under the banner of avenging the Lord - she has divine weapons and magical powers, and there is no sub-person in the world, this is what she should do!

If both Cao Cao and Liu Bei died in this war, she could take the opportunity to develop her own power until Yan, Xu, Qing, Yu, and part of Yangzhou were in her pocket.

What is the reward on the top of the mountain, shrouded in brilliance?

In this moment, she finally became clear.

——The treasure that was finally revealed in the dazzling brilliance was the jade throne of the co-lord of the world.

When Tian Yu took Chang Feng up to the city wall, Lu Bai hurriedly stood up.

But she was still careful when she stood up, not forgetting to look out.

She sat in the open space behind the women's wall, maintaining the crossbow machine with several female soldiers from the women's battalion.

This is a giant crossbow designed by Mr. Zhuge Xiao, which is comparable to a ten-stone strong crossbow and can penetrate cowhide, so it is very suitable for killing and injuring the besieging party when the ladder cart is approaching.

Yuan Tan attacked for several days in a row, but failed to take half of the advantage, so he had to turn from attack to defense, concentrating on being more patient with the defenders in the city.

But even so, he still did not forget to order the archers to climb the ladder cart to detect the situation in the city, but he also had to shoot a few arrows by the way.

…… This is not a clever siege tactic, but more like a venting of resentment.

Therefore, the defenders of the city could not help but suspect that you had really angered him.

But Chang Xuan's focus was not on this, he was curious about the crossbow machines and wanted to see them with his own eyes.

"With this, I think you can keep it for at least three months!"

"Even if we can keep it for a year," Tian Yu smiled quietly, "but we don't need to keep it that long." ”

This sentence had a little effect on the bearded middle-aged man.

He withdrew his gaze from the delicate crossbow machines and looked him up and down, a little hesitant, a little hesitant.

"If my brother has any advice, he can talk about it."

"Do you believe she'll come back?"

If he couldn't repel Cao Cao, or if he repelled Cao Cao, what kind of dissent did Lu Lian have...... What will happen?

Tian Yu was stunned for a moment, but he was not angered by Chang Xuan's words at all, let alone swayed by him.

"I believe her," said the young general, who had a temperament more like a scribe but was dressed in military uniform, standing at the head of the theater city, "she will definitely return." ”

If I get the Jade Throne," she asked, "What will I leave behind?" 】

【…… What? 】

[I thought about it carefully, if I really wanted to do this, I would definitely break with Guan Yu. 】

[That's good.] 】

[If Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and those generals are still alive, I must kill them, their loyalty has been given to Liu Bei, and I can't offer a price to buy them. 】

[Yes,] said Blackblade, "But you don't lack them either, you have a group of people around you." 】

[When I went from a simple, well-known military general to a conspirator, are you sure I still have so many supporters? She asked, "Can I convince Chen Deng?" Won't Tian Yu be disappointed in me? There is also Kong Rong, Zhuge Xuan...... Do I still want to kill Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and Chen Dao, I still have to ......]

[A purge is necessary,] The black blade is still very peaceful, [You exchanged your allegiance to Liu Bei for the first pot of gold, this is the price you have to pay, but that's all. 】

[If I hadn't chosen a lord to serve in the first place, I wouldn't have been able to accumulate such connections and fame, and now I repay him with betrayal, and I will pay more than that. 】

【…… What else do you need to give? 】

【…… You know. 】

If someone close to the sages betrays her sovereign and builds her regime on lies and blood, what price does she need to pay to make it solid??

She no longer trusts her courtiers, because everyone no longer reveres her character, they come only for profit, and she must satisfy them with profit!

As her empire grows larger, so do the benefits she needs to relinquish, and if it weren't for the power in her hands, it would have to be squeezed from the lower strata, the lower strata.

What kind of people will my people rule? A pack of hyenas attracted by blood and profit? 】

[They're all different from you, aren't they?] The voice of the black blade became very gentle, [You were born strong, why should you care about their life or death? 】

"So, even if I don't care if they live or die," she asked, "What can I leave in the history books when my reign is over?" 】

[You shouldn't think about the opinions of future generations, haven't you never thought of making yourself a sage? 】

…… That's actually true.