Chapter Eighteen: The Rogue Guo Jia

  "Bang! Mr. Feng Xiao, it's your turn."

  "Huh? How can this be? Don't count it, don't count it... This move doesn't count, let's try again!"

  "Mr. Filial Piety, how can you do this? You said it was a good thing to have no regrets about having children... How many times is this now?"

  "Fourth Master, it's not the first time, just let Jia take this step again. At most, Jia will say in front of Master that Fourth Master, your homework is done very well, how about..."

  Needless to say, in the entire Cao camp, only Cao Zhi and Guo Jia could speak like this. However, since that day when he received Cao Cao's order, Guo Jia came to Cao Zhi's tent from dawn till dusk, entwining him in a game of chess. Cao Cao and others were busy preparing for the expedition and had no time to bother with the two of them.

  Cao Zhi was originally delighted that Guo Jia had come to find him, after all, he was a famous genius in history. Cao Zhi still hoped to get along well with him and learn some skills from him. Who knew that this Guo Jia turned out to be a chess idiot, facing Cao Zhi's super-era checkers moves, Guo Jia tried every means to learn them.

  The two were fine at first, but as they played on, Guo Jia realized that Cao Zhi's moves were different every time. Every time he thought he had learned the full range of his opponent's techniques, Cao Zhi would use a new method to defeat him. After a while, he began to get frustrated and started to cheat. Moreover, there were many ways to cheat, and facing a five-year-old child, he used all his tricks, bringing out the most cunning strategies. And what he did today, flattering Cao Zhi in front of Cao Cao, was already the lowest level of cheating. But this was only the first game between the two, and Guo Jia had already resorted to this tactic. Cao Zhi couldn't help but secretly curse: "This rascal, not only is his chess bad, but his character is also despicable!"

  Although Guo Jiqi's chess skills are poor, Cao Zhi did not dare to refuse him. If he were to offend this eccentric genius and make him unhappy, he would likely fall into his trap and suffer. Cao Zhi had already learned a lesson from this experience and naturally did not want to try again. This was also the reason why Guo Jiqi was fearless. However, it could be said that Cao Zhi was extremely honored to have sparked such great interest in this eccentric genius, although he did not appreciate this honor at present.

  Just as Cao Zhi was hesitating, looking gloomy, and about to respond to Guo Jia's rebuke, several people suddenly burst in from outside. Before Cao Zhi could see clearly who they were, he heard one of them shout: "You scoundrel, Guo Fengxiao! Yan and Gong Da are working themselves to death, and you still have the leisure to play chess here?"

  Guo Jia listened and didn't even raise an eyebrow, saying to himself: "Zi Yang and Gong Da are capable of hard work, I am also following the military order of our lord, keeping a close eye on the four princes."

  Mao Jing, who had entered together with them, shook his head and said: "I previously heard Wen Ruo say that Feng Xiao was a bit lazy, but I didn't believe it. Now it seems that Wen Ruo is a humble gentleman, and he has already been lenient in his words towards Feng Xiao."

  Xun Yu, who had always been straightforward, also couldn't bear the sight of Guo Jia bullying a child. He nodded slightly and agreed: "What Xiaoxian said is right, Xiao Shu is indeed being lenient with his words. In my opinion, Fengxiao is not only lazy but also likes to create trouble for others when he has nothing better to do, and then watches from the side as others are exhausted by the things he created."

  As soon as Xun Yu's words fell, the four eyes in the tent were focused on him, and then Cao Zhi, Liu Ye, and Mao Jie cast their eyes on Guo Jia. Although no one spoke, the meaning was very clear, as if they were saying: "Guo Gongxiao, you rascal, this time you're in trouble, provoking even honest people to anger." Their eyes were filled with schadenfreude.

  However, in the face of these three gazes, Guo Jia was unflappable and completely ignored them. Instead, he picked up a feather fan that had been placed on the ground and shook it vigorously, saying calmly: "Gong Da, you can't blame me for this. As an advisor, my duty is to provide ideas for my lord, and I am only following orders."

  Liu Ye saw Xun You's eyes flickering and knew that he was about to erupt, secretly thinking: "Guo Langzi, you're in trouble this time."

  At this time, Cao Zhi, who was watching the play on the side, feared that the world would not be chaotic enough and said in his crisp and tender voice: "Mr. Fengxiao, it's your turn, hurry up and make a move."

  Guo Jia listened, his eyes refocusing on the chessboard as he pondered the moves. Due to a moment of regret, Guo Jia quickly picked up a black piece. Just as he was about to make his move, Cao Zhi's mouth curled into a faint smile and he suddenly spoke up: "Actually, Mr. Gongda is also a strategist."

  Kuo Chia's spirit was now concentrated on the chessboard, and upon hearing this, he instinctively smiled lightly, a captivating smile rising at the corner of his mouth. He shook his feather fan and said with a leisurely tone: "Those who are capable have to work harder, after all..."

  "Guo Fengxiao!"

  Upon hearing Xun You's loud shout, Guo Jia was startled and the chess piece slipped from his hand onto the board. In his heart, he secretly thought: "I'm done for... I fell into that little scoundrel's trap!"

  Before Guo Jia could react, Xun Yu had already grabbed the back of his collar and said: "You rogue, last time you came up with a plan to have someone disguised as a Buddhist monk to carry out a surprise attack. You only think about using your mouth to come up with schemes, but don't know how difficult it is to pretend to be those Buddhist monks without being recognized..."

  Upon hearing Xun Yu's verbal barrage, Guo Jia's gaze shifted to Cao Zhi, who was covering his mouth and chuckling on the side. He thought to himself: "I didn't expect this kid to be so sinister and calculating towards me, you little brat just wait!"

  Looking back at Cao Zhi's vicious expression, Guo Jia smiled apologetically to Xun Yu: "Your Excellency's image is important, don't be rough, if outsiders see it, it will tarnish your reputation..."

  "Uh..." was reminded by Guo Jia, Xun Yu only realized that he was indeed a bit excited. So he loosened his grip on the back of Guo Jia's collar, hummed softly, and then adjusted his appearance beside him.

  Liu Ye and Mao Jin had already gathered together, Mao Jin pinched the short beard under his chin, smiled lowly at Liu Ye and said: "Zi Yang, in my opinion, the only one who can make you so flustered is Feng Xiao."

  Liu Ye nodded in agreement: "Haoxian's insight is indeed high!"

  Cao Zhi had already noticed Guo Jia's vicious expression just now, and knew that he was isolated and helpless, and might be toyed with by this rogue. With a sudden thought, he immediately decided to join the two men who were gloating over his misfortune, forming an alliance of three people. Cao Zhi picked up a white piece from the table and slapped it onto the chessboard, laughing loudly: "Mr. Fengxiao, your big dragon has been slaughtered by me again! You won't want to take back your move this time, will you?"

  "...". The crowd heard Cao Zhi's words and hastily shifted their gaze to the chessboard, and indeed saw that among the black and white pieces, the black piece's large dragon had been cut off at the waist by a white piece.

  However, everyone's attention was no longer here, but on Cao Zhi's words. Liu Ye and Mao Jie shook their heads at the same time, and Liu Ye said in a low voice: "I didn't expect that Fengxiao and Fourth Master would repeatedly regret during the game of Go, it's shameful, really shameful... If this matter gets out, what will happen, Brother Xiaoxian?"

  Mao Jing smiled in her heart and then pretended to sigh, saying: "Zi Yang, you understand."

  Xun Yu had already tidied up his appearance and was gazing steadily at Guo Jia, saying: "Fengxiao, we're busy to the point of being unable to open our mouths outside, so don't bully Fourth Master any further. Come with me."

  Xun Yu's expression was calm, but Guo Jia knew that if he didn't agree, this honest man would get angry and things wouldn't go well for him. He could only sigh weakly and say, "Alas...Jia is born to suffer." As soon as he spoke, the four people present looked at him with disdain again, and Guo Jia quickly touched his nose and stopped talking.

  But thinking that he was being calculated by Cao Zhi, he would end up like this, his eyes rolled over and looked at Cao Zhi with ill intentions.

  Feeling Guo Jia's gaze, Cao Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself: "This is not good, this rogue wants revenge!"