Chapter Twelve: The Lord's Intentions

  In the summer of 194 AD, in the first year of Xīng Píng

  Tao Qian's subordinate, Zhang Kai, killed Cao Song, the father of Yan Province Governor Cao Cao. In the same month, Yuan Shao refused to send troops to assist Tao Qian and remained inactive. The city of Xu Chang issued a proclamation, hanging white silk banners throughout the city, with civil and military officials all wearing mourning attire to bid farewell to Old Master Cao.

  "Father! I am unfilial! Letting Father die at the hands of Tao Qian's old man! My heart aches!"

  Standing expressionless in front of the coffin, I don't know if it's because of numbness or something else, looking at the huge empty coffin in the center of the hall, with a white flag hanging from the sail, Cao Cao was wailing loudly on one side, but his face didn't show any expression.

  "Brother, I'm so sorry..." Meanwhile, behind him, Cao De was overcome with grief, and he knelt down on the ground with a "thud", lamenting to himself: "Cao De knows that brother is now heartbroken, but things have come to this point and cannot be undone."

  However, Cao Cao did not heed the other's words and instead remained cold-faced and wept: "Father! Ah Man is unfilial! Ah Man is incompetent! As a result, Father died in a foreign land, and his son is heartbroken!"

  At this time, seeing Cao Cao completely ignoring Cao De, Guo Jia, who had been silently observing the former's expression on one side, was surprised in his heart because Cao Cao stood in front of the coffin and faced away from Cao De, so Cao De did not see Cao Cao's expression, but Guo Jia saw it clearly.

  "It seems... Master has changed."

  Guo Jia carefully approached Cao De and whispered: "Lord Zhong, the lord is deeply grieved now. Why don't you go back first and let him calm down?"

  Cao De was in grief when he suddenly heard Guo Jia's words and nodded his head with a heavy heart, "Alright, I'll...take my leave first."

  "Be careful, sir..."

  When Cao De walked out of the hall, Guo Jia immediately waved his hand, indicating that the soldiers in the house should retreat.

  Waiting until there was no one in the house, Guo Jia suddenly rushed to Cao Cao's side, knelt down and shouted: "Congratulations, my lord!"

  His body shook violently, Cao Cao's face was expressionless as he shouted the dirge, but when he suddenly heard the latter's words, a strange smile flashed across his face, and yet his tone was still sorrowful: "Fengxiao, what do you mean? My father has just died at the hands of Tao Qian, how can I be happy...?"

  At this time, Guo Jia was still prostrate on the ground, but he didn't move at all, not even lifting his head. However, his tone was even more high-pitched, and he shouted loudly from the ground: "The lord has always had great ambitions. Now that Tao Qian's general killed Cao's old lady, although it is detestable, this is also a heaven-sent opportunity to attack Xuzhou. The lord holds 100,000 elite troops in his hands, and can take revenge for his father at the same time. At that time, all heroes under the sky will have nothing to say. This is truly a gift from heaven to the lord!"

  For a long time, no one spoke. Cao Cao had already turned around coldly and looked at Guo Jia who was kowtowing on the ground. He had stopped his lamentation for some time and suddenly gazed out of the window at the sky. His face, which had been expressionless, suddenly broke into a strange smile as he said: "Only Fuxi understands me..."

  As he spoke, he quickly walked to the front of Guo Jia, and helped him up with one hand. Cao Cao stroked his hand, saying somewhat emotionally: "Actually, when I woke up from my coma, I already understood."

  He suddenly raised his voice and said loudly: "I am Cao Cao, who is he? A man who has achieved the ambition of hegemony. If I achieve hegemony, I will do what others cannot or dare not do! After my coma, I realized that I don't need to be sad for my father's death, but rather take advantage of the opportunity to consolidate my hegemony!"

  "Filial piety... from now on, you must assist me well."

  At this moment, Guo Jia's face suddenly lit up with great joy, and he responded: "Your Excellency is wise! I am willing to dedicate my life to serve you, to be loyal and devoted until death..."

  "Haha, good! Very good, I have filial piety, why worry that great things won't be accomplished." He helped the other person up again, Cao Cao said with a pleased expression.

  At this time, Guo Jia smiled and said: "My lord, the military strength of Xuzhou is weak and insufficient, with less than 30,000 troops. This time we will definitely be able to capture it easily."

  "Yes, what Filial Piety said is absolutely right. Tomorrow, I will gather all the generals and lead 100,000 elite soldiers to attack Xuzhou immediately!"

  "Your Majesty is wise!"

  "My lord, you mustn't!"

  Two voices responded, one high and one low. The lower voice was Guo Jia's, but the loud shout came from outside the house.

  In an instant, the two saw a young man who looked like a bodyguard approaching the entrance, dusty and solemn, if not Cao Anmin, then who else?

  "Is that Anmin? Haha, isn't this Anmin?" Just then, he saw the approaching figure was Cao Anmin. Cao Cao was overjoyed and laughed as he spoke to him: "Anmin has achieved great merit in this battle against Rencheng! I was just about to reward you."

  "Please, Your Excellency, recall the order to attack the city!" Pu Tong knelt down on the ground, but Cao Anmin ignored his words and shouted loudly.

  However, Cao Cao and Guo Jia were now staring at each other in dismay, unsure of what to do. After a long while, Cao Cao was the first to react, pretending not to understand and asking: "What does this mean, Anmin? Are you blaming me for underestimating you? In that case, I, Cao Cao, will apologize to you."

  "No." A hint of disappointment flashed across his face, but Cao Anmin stopped Cao Cao from helping him up with both hands. He asked in a low voice: "My lord, do you want to attack Xuzhou immediately?"

  Cao Cao was already displeased with Cao Anmin's actions, and upon hearing this, he understood even more clearly. He snorted coldly in his heart, but on the surface, he suddenly burst out laughing and said: "It is only natural. Now that the old man is dead, our grief is of no use. My mind is made up. Tomorrow, I will gather 100,000 elite troops to attack Xuzhou's Xiaopei and capture Tao Qian."

  When he heard this, Cao Anmin was shocked in his heart. He knew that historically, Cao Cao's trip not only ended in failure but also led to the invasion of Yan Province by Lü Bu and Zhang Miao.

  Cao Anmin hastily said, "My lord, you absolutely cannot! My lord has led the entire army out this time, and the military strength of Yan Province must be empty. If Lü Bu comes to attack, then Yan Province will surely be in chaos!"

  "Don't worry, people! Lü Bu is a brave but brainless child. Such a reckless man would never dare to attack Puyang." Cao Cao's face also showed a hint of anger at this moment, and he coldly snorted.

  At this moment, Guo Jia was also secretly sizing up Cao Anmin, as if he too was weighing his words.

  "But at this time, Cao Anmin continued: 'My lord, who can predict the affairs of the world? How can you be certain that Lü Bu will not come to attack? If my lord leads a large army of 100,000 to attack Xuzhou now, then the troops in Yanzhou will be less than 30,000 and scattered all over. If Chenliu Governor Zhang Miao rebels and Lü Bu leads his 30,000 elite cavalry through Chenliu to attack Puyang, once Lü Bu's army opens the gates of Yanzhou, then my lord's foundation built up over the years will be destroyed in an instant...'"

  A sudden look of surprise flashed across his face, and it was Cao Cao's third time hearing the name Zhang Miao from someone else's mouth. Under great shock, he looked at the person in front of him, who was neither Guo Jia nor Xun Yu...

  But it was his own nephew, whom he had loved and spoiled since childhood, Cao Xin, Cao Anmin.

  However, perhaps still unwilling to let go of such a great opportunity, Cao Cao shook his head and said: "What you say is reasonable, Anmin, but I will still attack Xuzhou, don't say anything more..."

  "My lord, please reconsider..." Cao Anmin was unwilling for history to repeat itself, but he wanted to refute.

  But then he heard Cao Cao's even more impatient words.

  "My mind is made up, you don't need to say more!"

  “…………”

  "Alright, since you congratulated Cao Ang on his victory in Rencheng, I will appoint you as the Colonel of Agriculture. You don't have to go to attack Xuzhou, and it's just right that various places in Yanzhou are about to collect taxes, so you can set off in these few days..."

  His expression turned gloomy, Cao Anmin suddenly understood and could only kneel deeply, uttering a "yes" before turning around and leaving.

  But halfway through, he sighed and turned back: "Return to Master, the collected taxes, what should be bought?"

  Hearing his words, Cao Cao impatiently said: "Lack what? Just buy what!"

  Once again "no", Cao Anmin immediately fell and left the hall.

  Only Guo Jia and Cao Cao were left, silently watching the defeated Northern Army in the distance.

  However, after a while, Cao Cao suddenly turned to Guo Jia beside him and asked: "Fengxiao, what do you think of this Xing nephew?"

  Guo Jia smiled and replied, "Cao Zhen's young master has great talent, but unfortunately he doesn't know how to observe the subtleties of language. However, if you look at his strategic thinking, it is not inferior to mine."

  As soon as the words fell, Cao Cao did not speak immediately, but slowly walked to the door and looked at the distant back shadow outside the house, and let out a light sigh.

  He nodded immediately.

  "Alas, it seems we underestimated him from the start."

  *

  P.S: Please collect it yay yay yay yay!!!!!!!