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When Nanyang was lost, the news of Cao Chun's death in the Qingshui River spread to Chang'an. First, Xiahou Yuan was killed in Qishan, and then Cao Chun died. They were all Cao Cao's closest relatives and his most trusted right-hand man.

Moreover, Nanyang is the gate of the Central Plains. The fall of Nanyang means that the gate of the Central Plains is opened. A series of heavy blows made Cao Cao unable to withstand it and finally fell ill.

Staff member Dong Zhao came to the ward with concern and saw Xu Chu standing in front of the door. He waved to Xu Chu and the two walked aside.

"How is the Prime Minister's situation?" Dong Zhao asked in a low voice.

Dong Zhao was originally Yuan Shao's adviser. He defected to Cao Cao because he was suspicious of Yuan Shao. He was deeply trusted by Cao Cao, but he was mainly in the inner but not the outer, so he was not as famous as Guo Jia and Xun Yu. However, he participated in the planning of many major political events, such as welcoming the Han Emperor to Xuchang, such as Cao Cao's title of Duke of Wei, receiving Jiuxi, etc. These were Dong Zhao's suggestions, and his opinions were highly valued by Cao Cao.

Xu Chu naturally knew this, and he shook his head and said, "After the Battle of Chibi, the Prime Minister's body began to decline, year by year, year by year, he was in pain in his heart when Miaocai died last time, and he was depressed and unable to reduce emissions. This time, General Cao Chun's death made him unable to withstand the blow again. Sir, I am really worried."

"What do you think of a military doctor?"

"The military doctor said that the prime minister's body is weak and has a serious illness. His physical illness can be cured, but his heart disease is difficult to treat."

Dong Zhao nodded silently, "I'll go and persuade the Prime Minister."

Dong Zhao entered Cao Cao's ward. The fire brazier was lit in the ward. It was very warm. He just half-tugged the curtain, and the light was slightly dim. Cao Zhi stood aside with his hands hanging down. Two concubines were serving Cao Cao to drink medicine. Cao Cao had a white towel on his head, a wide robe, a pale face, and a very bad complexion. When he saw Dong Zhao coming in, he smiled and nodded, "Gong Ren is here."

Dong Zhao bowed and bowed, "I came to visit the Prime Minister."

"Thank you Gongren for your concern."

Cao Cao said to Cao Zhi again: "My son greets Mr. Dong for his father."

Cao Zhi hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "Sir, please sit down."

Dong Zhao nodded with a smile and sat down next to him. Cao Cao said to two concubines again, "You guys go back."

The two concubines slowly retreated, and Cao Cao gave Cao Zhi another wink. Cao Zhi understood and bowed to Dong Zhao, and then retreated. When they all left, Cao Cao sighed: "Gong Ren, I'm afraid I can't last long."

Dong Zhao was so scared that he leaned over and kowtowed repeatedly, "The Prime Minister must not say this, I hope the Prime Minister will take care of him."

Cao Cao smiled bitterly, "I know my own body and I often fall ill. This time I have been serious. I even feel that my life is about to pass away. Gong Ren, this feeling makes me very sad."

Dong Zhao gritted his teeth and said, "The Prime Minister is not a physical problem, but a heart disease. If the heart disease goes away, the Prime Minister will be healthier than anyone else."

"This is at the root of the point."

Cao Cao sighed softly, "My heart disease is Liu Jing, but the root cause of this disease is not easy to get rid of."

Dong Zhao was silent. He was really hard to answer this question. Cao Cao looked at him for a while and asked, "Tell me the truth, what do you think of Liu Jing's capture of Longxi?"

Dong Zhao lowered his head, shook his head again and said, "I can't say anything about it."

"I have to say it even if it's hard to say it, I have to listen to the truth."

"The Prime Minister should not go to Longxi for the opinion of the empress."

This is a very implicit hint that Cao Cao may not be able to save Longxi. Cao Cao understood his hint and asked for a moment of silence: "Why do you say that?"

"Prime Minister think about it, Liu Jing's attack on Longxi is almost the same year, and he is more successful every time. The food problem that affects his northern expedition has been solved. Now he has taken down Shangfang Valley, and his troops have entered the Wei River and captured Ji County. It is only a matter of time."

Cao Cao was sad, and he sighed and said, "I let this person go with just a moment of thought, but now he has become my gravedigger. This is God's arrangement and my life."

"The Prime Minister is not in good health and will naturally feel very stressed. When the Prime Minister is healthy, Liu Jing's threat is nothing at that time. The Prime Minister no longer has to be worried about the past."

"Maybe you're right."

Cao Cao remembered something and pondered for a moment: "Last time Gongren advised me to join the King of Wei. I have repeatedly considered it during this period. I feel that joining the King of Wei is not urgent. It is the most urgent thing to determine the next life first. I want to hear Gongren's opinion."

Dong Zhao's heart skipped. How did he answer this question? From the bottom of his heart, he supported Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi was generous to others, not as mean and vicious as Cao Pi. It was just that Cao Pi obviously gained the upper hand in the struggle for the world. The Prime Minister has already appointed him as Deputy Prime Minister and in charge of government affairs. This is actually entrusting the State of Wei to him. At this time, Dong Zhao made his statement, isn't it just to put him on the fire?

Cao Cao smiled and said, "I have heard from people that Gongren is more supportive of Zhier. Why? Has the idea changed now?"

"Weichen really supports Zhigong, but Zhigong has insufficient experience. This is his obvious weakness, and many people have this."

Before Dong Zhao finished speaking, Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "I know he is not experienced enough, and this is not a big problem. I just want to know why you support your husband and not your elder brother."

Dong Zhao actually heard from Cao Cao that there was not enough experience and there was no big problem, which made Dong Zhao see a glimmer of hope. From Cao Cao's tone, it seemed that Zhigong might also inherit the position of the world. He said carefully: "I support Zhigong because he is generous and kind."

"What you mean is that your elder brother is not generous enough or kind enough, right?"

Dong Zhao didn't say anything, which means he agreed to Cao Cao's meaning. Cao Pi was not just not generous and kind enough, but was simply vicious. Cao Cao nodded, "I understand Gongren's meaning, you go back."

"There is a retreat"

Dong Zhao got up and slowly retreated, Cao Cao lay down again. At this time, Cao Zhi walked in again and asked with concern: "Does Father want to rest?"

"Zhier, the issue of being a father. If one day a father is not alive, and you will give Wei Kingdom to you, how do you plan to deal with Liu Jing?"

Cao Zhi was so scared that he knelt down, "Why did my father say this?"

Cao Cao said impatiently: "People always die. Liu Jing is ten years younger than me, so he will naturally die behind me. I will ask you, if you are the Lord of Wei, how can you deal with him?"

"Children are not good at military affairs, but they can use famous generals and ministers, such as Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Zhang He, Xun You, Dong Zhao and other ministers, and give them full power."

Cao Cao half-stood and looked at Cao Zhi with sharp eyes and asked, "How do you know that they are reliable and they are all outsiders? If they surrender to Liu Jing for the sake of their own family interests, wouldn't the hundreds of thousands of troops be completely finished?"

Cao Zhi bit his lip tightly and said, "Children treat each other with sincerity and exchange heart for heart. I believe they will not betray them, just like my father trusts Military Advisor Xun."

Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhi for a while, then slowly lay down, "I want to sleep for a while for my father, please step down."

Cao Zhi retreated. Cao Cao stared at the roof for a while and took out a letter from the jade box next to him. This was the quick letter sent by Xiahou Dun today. Cao Cao slowly opened the letter and saw that the letter read: Xun You did not have any letters with Xun Yu, and all the brothers used to use the troops knew about it. It was all right. From the moment, Xun You had no dissatisfaction...

Cao Cao slowly closed his eyes, his heart filled with great loss.

The queen of heaven, Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren to lead 50,000 troops to station Wuguan, and appointed Cao Zhi as the general of the Western Expedition to take charge of Guanzhong, and ordered Dong Zhao and Zhong Yao to assist him. He took advantage of his illness to recover and set off for Xuchang. Nanyang was lost, and the most threat was Xuchang. Cao Cao could not take into account the battle situation in Longxi and went to Xuchang to take charge.

Liu Jing had returned to Chengdu a month ago. The Han army was divided into two groups. One was led by Zhao Yun and the other was led by Huang Zhong and the other was led by 80,000 troops in Qibei Fort.

It is gradually December, and it is the coldest time of the year. Two heavy snowfalls in Longxi, the Wei River is frozen, and there is a world of ice and snow between heaven and earth. The war has stopped. The troops on both sides are waiting in the cold winter, waiting for the beginning of spring next year.

...........

Winter goes and spring comes, and time gradually reaches the spring of the 18th year of Jian'an. The mountains are thawing, the ice and snow melt water, the streams are gurgling, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, and the scene is full of vitality. But for Jicheng, the arrival of spring means that a new battle is about to begin.

Junyi, a soldier walked into the room with a letter carefully and gently pushed Xun You who was sleeping on the table, "Military advisor, wake up."

Xun You sat up, and the blanket on his body fell down. He quickly grabbed it and asked tiredly, "When is it?"

"Military advisor, it's already dawn."

Xun You nodded. The sky was already bright. He felt a pain in his head, so he stood up and stretched his waist long, pushed open the window, and suddenly a large area of ​​sunlight shone into the room, a fresh and cold air hit his face, and Xun You was filled with energy.

"Military advisor, you have your letter," the soldier reminded him.

Xun You then noticed a letter on the table. He walked over and picked it up. He was stunned. It turned out to be a letter written by Xun Jie. He waved his hand and said, "You go back."

The soldier lit the brazier and stepped back. Xun You opened the letter and read it carefully. His brows gradually frowned. The letter said that their father was in Wancheng. His father Xun Yu was treated by the famous doctor Zhang Zhongjing, and his health gradually improved. Some Chen Ke who had been many years also gradually eliminated, so that he would not worry about it.

Although it was just a few trivial matters, Xun You still read a lot of profound meanings from it. Wancheng had been occupied by the Han army and became part of Jingzhou. Why didn't Xun Yu leave the letter and say that they had also gone to Xiangyang to visit his old friends in Longzhong? This shows that Xun Yu was not restricted from freedom, but he didn't want to leave Wancheng.

Moreover, Zhang Ji is a doctor in Nanjun, and he needs to teach thousands of his younger brothers. He is very busy. Without Liu Jing's face, how could Zhang Ji make a special trip to Wancheng to treat Xun Yu?

Xun You put down his letter and was really worried. He knew that Xun Zhi went to Xiangyang for an exam and was admitted to an official. This was acquiesced by Xun Yu in advance. Xun Yu had already begun to favor Liu Jing. Of course, Xun You knew why his uncle made such a choice, but he was really disappointed with Liu Xie and was determined to hope that Liu Jing could revive the Han Dynasty.
Chapter completed!