After leaving Sikong Mansion, Cao Zhang told Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru to go back first to make preparations before the departure, and he went straight back to the mansion and ordered his subordinates to quickly gather all his subordinates.

It didn't take long for Xu Shu, Sima Lang, Xiahou Ba, Xu Huang and Li Jin to gather in the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have just returned from Sikong Mansion. According to the military intelligence report, Li Dao raised an army of 50,000 and had already killed Luoyang. I have made a military order to my father, leading 10,000 soldiers and horses from my headquarters to fight to meet the enemy, recover Chang'an within 100 days, and kill Li Dao! ”

Cao Zhang's tone was calm and announced to everyone the results of the upcoming expedition.

Everyone was surprised when they heard Cao Zhang's words, even Xu Shu, who had foreseen that he would fight, changed color slightly, after all, the news came too quickly, much earlier than he expected.

"Ziwen, just our headquarters of 10,000 soldiers and horses, 50,000 people, and we have to recover Chang'an within 100 days, you are boasting too much about Haikou, can you do it?" Xiahou Ba asked worriedly.

Cao Zhang responded with a serious face: "There is nothing that can't be done, it must be done!" This is the first battle I led alone, if I don't make a name for myself, how can I get military merit and prestige?! ”

"What I want is to win more with less, thunder attack, and become famous in one battle, I want everyone in the world to know how powerful I am Cao Zhang!" Cao Zhang's determination to win is categorically expressed!

"The lord is right, this is our first battle, we must play prestige and momentum!" Xu Shu echoed Cao Zhang's words.

"Okay, since you have faith, we will follow your lead, obey your command, and strive to win!" Seeing that Cao Zhang and Xu Shu both said this, Xiahou Ba also aroused his arrogance and agreed loudly.

Xu Huang also stepped forward: "The last general is willing to be the vanguard and kill the enemy!" ”

Cao Zhang looked at the two of them and nodded with satisfaction and smiled: "Zhongquan, Gongming, it's a good thing that your heart is high, but don't worry." First go back to the barracks to reorganize the soldiers and horses, dispatch grain and grass, and prepare ordnance! ”

"Since we are going all out to win this battle, all logistical guarantees must be sufficient and complete, and there must be no negligence! I'll give you ten days to prepare, and we'll be on time after that!" Cao Zhang gave instructions to the two.

"Ten days?" Xiahou Ba's eyes widened in astonishment, "Ziwen, didn't we set a military order to destroy the enemy in 100 days, and it took ten days to prepare ordnance materials?" Isn't it too long!? ”

"Sharpen the knife and cut the wood, the preparation is sufficient, and you will not be overstretched when you fight, you are not afraid!" Cao Zhang responded confidently.

"Gongming, you specially made a banner and wrote the four big words 'defeat the enemy'! I want to spread the day of our expedition, I want to make a big fanfare, so that all the people in Xu Du know that on the day when I Cao Zhang leads the troops to go out, I must make enough momentum! Go ahead! Cao Zhang instructed Xu Huang.

"Whoa!" Xu Huang and Xiahou Ba took the order together, turned around and walked out.

"Season, how are your injuries?" Cao Zhang turned his head to look at Li Jin and asked.

Li Jin twisted his arm vigorously a few times, waving his injured arm, showing Cao Zhang that his body was fine.

Cao Zhang gave an order to Li Jin: "Okay, season, I will give you a privilege, allow you to select a hundred people from the soldiers and horses in the headquarters, and you must have good skills and enough loyalty, and you will personally lead the training to form my personal guard team to protect my safety!" ”

Since we are going to the battlefield, we will inevitably encounter all kinds of dangers. Who knows if Cao Pi will make small moves behind his back again, he must take precautions in advance, and he can't make such a low-level mistake as having only Li Jin to protect him alone.

Li Jin bowed his hand, and after accepting Cao Zhang's instructions, he also turned around and left.

Sima Lang looked at Cao Zhang with a sad face, and said worriedly: "Childe, our Cao Gong paper and "Thousand Character Text" have just been prepared for sale, and you are going to go on the expedition, this is ......"

Cao Zhang hurriedly comforted Sima Lang: "Don't worry, Boda didn't have time to inform you in a hurry before, I have already found my father and obtained his approval to sell Cao Gong Paper." ”

"Xun Lingjun also promised to publish "Thousand Character Text" in his name, and the four major families joined in to help promote it together, with their support behind it, there will be no problem."

Sima Lang listened to Cao Zhang's words, and then he was a little relieved.

"Boda, this time you go to Li Dao, don't go, stay in Xudu, and go all out to carry out sales work. We will use a lot of money in the future, and since my father and the four major families have also joined, we need to let them see the profits as soon as possible, so please leave this matter to you! ”

"In addition, our expedition and subsequent transportation of grain and grass materials will also have Labda. Whether you can win this battle smoothly or not, your role is crucial! Cao Zhang's expression was solemn and explained to Sima Lang.

Sima Lang also responded to Cao Zhang with a solemn expression: "Don't worry, Childe, Sima Lang will do his best to ensure the logistics supply of sales and Childe's expedition!" ”

"Boda, you have a lot of affairs, don't work too hard alone, your two younger brothers Zhongda and Shuda (Sima Fu's words) are all usable talents, you can let them cooperate with you to do things."

Cao Zhang hoped to get Sima Yi's help, so naturally he would not let go of this opportunity to win over and explained to Sima Lang.

Sima Lang also understood that Cao Zhang was giving his two younger brothers a chance, and nodded gratefully: "Gongzi Xie is compassionate, and the lower officials know." ”

Cao Zhang nodded, signaling that Sima Lang could leave, Sima Lang bowed and bowed and withdrew, leaving only Cao Zhang and Xu Shu in the room.

"Gongzi arranged for the two generals Xiahou Ba and Xu Huang to spend ten days preparing military supplies, and they also had to publicize the time of the expedition with great fanfare, there must be another deep meaning behind it, right?" Xu Shu asked.

Cao Zhang responded with a smile: "Yuan Zhiya, who knows me!" On this expedition, in addition to our headquarters, Cao Pi also specially recommended Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru to his father to join the army, you should understand the meaning, right? ”

Xu Shu nodded: "Let them monitor Gongzi, keep abreast of the deployment and military situation of our army, and report to him so that they can notify Li Dao and strike at our army!" ”

"That's right, if he's planted such eyeliner, how can I not take advantage of it? I just want to make a high-profile gesture now, and let them pass on the news of our slow dispatch to Li Dao as soon as possible! Cao Zhang told Xu Shu about his plans.

Xu Shu nodded knowingly: "When Li Wei gets the news, he thinks that the son has not yet sent troops and is far away, so he will relax his vigilance!" Childe can secretly arrange for our cavalry to be dispatched, use our new equipment to march quickly, and launch a surprise attack to inflict heavy damage on Li Dao! ”

"It is precisely this intention, now that no one knows that I have a new type of cavalry, I will give full play to their role to the extreme, and strive to fight a battle to make Li Dao's heart cold, so that I can have a chance to realize the plan of breaking the enemy in a hundred days and recovering Chang'an!" Cao Zhang said ambitiously.

Xu Shu exclaimed: "Childe's plan is very exquisite, it should be the thirty-six plans to hide from the sky and cross the sea, right?" ”

After Cao Zhang got Xu Shu, he hoped that he could serve him wholeheartedly, and he had no reservations about him, and gave him a copy of the thirty-six strategies for study, so Xu Shu could accurately say Cao Zhang's strategy.

Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu and nodded slightly, the two looked at each other and smiled, both looking forward to the success of the strategy in a few days and the heavy damage to Li Wei......

As night fell, a crescent moon hung in the sky.

In the hall of Cao Pi's mansion, the lights are bright, and a banquet is being held.

Cao Pi sat in the middle of the main seat, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu sat in his left hand position, and in the right hand position were Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru brothers.

After the two of them packed up their belongings for the expedition, they came to Cao Pi's mansion, thanked him and took his leave.

"Brother Zihuan, thank you for recommending my two brothers in front of Sikong today, and giving us this opportunity to go out to practice." Xiahou Shang took the lead in raising a glass to pay tribute to Cao Pi.

Xiahou Ru also raised his glass: "The younger brother must do his best to help Brother Ziwen defeat Li Dao and live up to the kindness of his brother's recommendation." ”

Cao Zhen, who was sitting opposite the two, heard Xiahou Ru's words, his face changed slightly, and he was about to speak.

Cao Xiu, who was beside him, noticed it, and hurriedly reached out and dragged him, shaking his head and signaling him not to say much, but Cao Zhen had no choice but to hold back.

Cao Pi was also very unhappy when he heard Xiahou Ru say that he would try his best to help Cao Zhang win, but he was deep in the city, but he was quiet, and raised his glass with a smile: "Don't be polite, two virtuous brothers, you are all-round in civil and military affairs, you should have served the country a long time ago, and I also hope that you can make contributions as soon as possible." Foolish brother is here to help you fight this time, and you will succeed immediately, do it! ”

Everyone raised their glasses together, and then drank them all.

After Cao Pi put down the wine glass, he made a concerned look and instructed: "Although the two virtuous brothers are very comparable, after all, it is the first time to go to the battlefield, although Ziwen has participated in the battle, as the commander, it is also the first time. Be careful, and don't be greedy! ”

Xiahou Shang said gratefully: "Thank you Brother Zihuan for your concern, we know it in our hearts, and we will definitely try our best to advise Ziwen to be careful." ”

Cao Pi listened to Xiahou Shang's response, but he stopped talking, put down the wine glass in his hand, and sighed softly.

Xiahou Ru saw Cao Pi sighing, and asked suspiciously: "Why is my brother sighing?" But if you have any troubles, you might as well say it and see if the younger brother can share the worries of the elder brother? ”

Xiahou Shang also echoed and said, "Yes, brother." ”

Cao Pi listened to the words of the two, but he was even more depressed, he just bowed his head and said nothing, and then he shed tears of resentment.

Brother Xiahou became more and more puzzled, and anxiously asked, "What's wrong with my brother?" ”

Cao Pi just bowed his head and said nothing, covering his face with his sleeves to wipe his tears, but secretly glanced at Cao Xiu on the side.

Cao Xiu understood, and hurriedly stood up for Cao Pi and said: "The two virtuous brothers don't know, Zihuan's heart really hides too much unspeakable depression......"

"Sikong didn't like Zihuan since he was a child, you all know it, right?" Cao Xiu deliberately guided the Xiahou brothers.

Cao Cao doesn't like Cao Pi and prefers Cao Zhi, they are all unabashedly exposed, and the Xiahou brothers, as the children of the clan, naturally know very well, but when they saw Cao Pi in tears, they didn't know how to persuade them, so they could only nod their heads.

"The two brothers Zixiu and Ziqi passed away one after another, and Zihuan became Sikong's eldest son. Li Dao invaded the realm, and it was only right for Zihuan to lead the troops to fight. But he knew that Sikong didn't like him, and he was afraid that he would be reprimanded if he took the initiative to ask for his life, so he had to recommend Ziwen instead. Cao Xiu made a gesture of understanding Cao Pi and explained for him.

"Wen Lie, you can't say that. Ziwencai, martial arts and courage are all above me, and I have no intention of competing with him. Only by leading the troops into battle can he truly share his father's worries and quell the chaos for the court! I also hope from the bottom of my heart that Ziwen can be victorious! Cao Pi hurriedly straightened up to "clarify" himself.

"Listen, this is the real filial son, the real open-minded!" Cao Zhen had already understood that Cao Pi and Cao Xiu were cooperating to show the Xiahou brothers at this time, and hurriedly agreed.

"Yes, yes, Brother Zihuan's filial piety can be learned from heaven and earth, and we all see it in our eyes." Xiahou Ru echoed and said.

"Brother, don't worry, see people's hearts over time, one day, Sikong will definitely understand brother's filial piety and change his attitude towards you." Xiahou Shang thought that Cao Pi was bored and unhappy because he was not valued by Cao Cao, so he hurriedly opened his mouth to comfort him.

"Alas, I don't care about my father's attitude towards me, my annoyance is that as an elder brother, I want to care about Ziwen, but I am afraid that he will misunderstand. The brothers of the same mother, estranged from each other, this is what hurts me the most. Cao Pi felt that the time was ripe and began to lead the topic to Cao Zhang.

"Brother, where did you start with this?" Xiahou didn't understand what Cao Pi meant, and asked.

"On the day of Brother Ziqi's death, his subordinates, together with the princess's guards and internal supervisors, framed Ziwen. I was overlooked, and I was saddened by my brother's death, so I tried my best to impeach Ziwen in front of my father. ”

"Fortunately, Ziwen is smart, found a loophole, and proved his innocence, so that he didn't cause a big disaster, otherwise I would have regretted it for the rest of my life!"

"After this incident, I wanted to apologize to Ziwen several times, although he didn't say anything on the surface, I understood that he must have a grudge against me in his heart."

"Today, Ziwen asked for orders to fight, made a military order to break the enemy in 100 days, and even refused Guo's military advisor's help, although it was out of self-confidence, but it also showed a young madness."

"I had the heart to remind him that his arrogant army would be defeated, and I was afraid that he would have a grudge against me, so not only did I not listen, but I deliberately disobeyed, which was counterproductive. After thinking about it, I strongly recommended the two virtuous brothers to follow, hoping that at the critical moment, I could give Ziwen some care. ”

Cao Pi made a look of brotherhood, but was misunderstood by Cao Zhang, and performed vigorously in front of the Xiahou brothers.

"We are deeply touched by my brother's hard work, please rest assured, we will do our best to ensure the safety of Brother Ziwen." Xiahou Shang hurriedly made a promise.

"It's just that the two brothers are also new to the battlefield after all, and their experience is limited. I have a reluctant request for my brother, and I hope you can agree. Seeing that the time was ripe, Cao Pi began to further implement his plan.

"If my brother has any orders, please feel free to say them." Xiahou Ru hurriedly said.

"I've arranged for a crony to accompany you on the expedition. Brother Wei hopes that you can draw four to eight maps of the march and camp at any time, and give them to my cronies, who will send them back to Xudu in the starry night. ”

"I will secretly ask the uncles and elders of the clan to check, if I find anything wrong, I will give feedback and remind you in time to ensure your safety, I don't know what the two brothers think?" Cao Pi said to the two.

"My brother has worked hard for the sake of Ziwen and us, how can we have opinions? Everything is arranged by my brother! Xiahou Shang agreed.

"That's right, we must also look for a suitable opportunity to inform Brother Ziwen of my brother's hard work, so that your brothers can reconcile as soon as possible." Xiahou Ru also hurriedly expressed his position.

Cao Xiu heard the words of the two, and hurriedly interjected to persuade: "No, by all means, two virtuous brothers." ”

Xiahou still looked at Cao Xiu puzzled: "Why?" ”

"Think about it, Ziwen has just become the commander, and he is so high-spirited that even Guo Junshi wants to follow, but he sternly refuses, how can he accept our accusations against his marching deployment in secret?"

"If the two brothers tell him about our arrangement, instead of being moved, he will blame the two brothers for their troubles and cause discord between you, wouldn't it be counterproductive?"

"I only did this to make the three of you brothers safe, and I didn't deliberately buy it in front of Ziwen, so don't let Ziwen know, just act in secret." Cao Pi explained to the two.

"It's still the elder brother who is thoughtful, then we will follow the elder brother's arrangement!" After listening to this, Xiahou Shang nodded again and again, and Xiahou Ru also agreed.

Seeing that the two agreed, Cao Pi immediately slapped his palms twice and beckoned outward.

Shi A walked in from outside, came to Cao Pi and bowed respectfully: "Meet the son!" ”

"Two virtuous brothers, this is my swordsmanship teacher Shi A, this person has superb swordsmanship and extraordinary martial arts, let him go out with the two of them, not only to secretly protect them, but also to pass the military information back to Luoyang at any time. Shi A, come and meet the two Xiahou sons! Cao Pi introduced Shi A's situation to the Xiahou brothers, and then beckoned him to come forward and salute.

"Meet the two sons! The villain will definitely protect the two sons with all his might! Shi A turned around and saluted Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru.

The two nodded: "It's hard!" ”

Cao Pi picked up the wine glass, got up and walked to Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru: "Two virtuous brothers, don't live up to the trust of your brother, and use this glass of wine for your brother to do something heroic!" ”

"Brother, don't worry!" Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru toasted together in response.

Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu also stood up, and everyone raised their glasses and drank them all.

"Two virtuous brothers, it's not too early, and I won't keep you much for my brother, please go back and rest as soon as possible, prepare for the expedition, and wait for your triumphant return for my brother." Cao Pi put down his wine glass and said to the Xiahou brothers.

Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ru met, bid farewell to Cao Pi and others, and left with Shi A.

Cao Pi motioned with his eyes to Cao Zhen to send the two out for him, and only he and Cao Xiu were left in the hall.

"Zihuan, today's play is performed well, the two brothers Xiahou, unconsciously, will help us make great things. You're really clever at that. Cao Xiu exclaimed in a low voice, and then said with a sly smile, "I have good news to congratulate you on your success." ”

"What's the good news?" Cao Pi asked suspiciously.

"The details of the girl you asked me to check for you last time have already been checked. Her name is Guo Zhao, and her father is an old friend of Jingzhao Yin Sima Fang. Guo Zhao's parents have both passed away and he is currently staying at Sima's house. ”

"She was uneven on the streets of Changshe, and had a conflict with Dong Cheng's nephew, but it was Cao Zhang who saved her, and the two met because of this." Cao Xiu informed Cao Pi of the results of his listening.

Cao Pi's eyes lit up instantly after hearing this: "I see, it's ......"

"Zihuan, isn't the Sima family in charge of Cao Gong's paper and the sale of "Thousand Character Text", we can take the opportunity to buy paper......" Cao Xiu stopped in the middle of speaking, with a wicked smile on his face.

Cao Pi looked at Cao Xiu and nodded slightly, thinking that he had the opportunity to contact Guo Zhao, and a rare smile appeared on his face......