Chapter 64 A Unique Kind of Protection
The dog tightened its grip on my hand slightly.
Just as I was about to speak, a cloud of dust suddenly billowed up in front of me.
"Prime Minister," came the greeting from afar. A horse galloped towards them. It was Xiahou Yuan, followed by several generals, all of whom looked travel-worn.
Cao Cao looked up and saw the group of people dismounting. They all clasped their hands in greeting.
"How is the battle going?" Cao Cao asked calmly, pursing his lips.
"Reporting to the Prime Minister," Xiahou Yuan replied, bowing his head, "Last night's surprise attack caused Liu Bei to abandon the city and flee, his whereabouts unknown."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and looked at Guo Jia, who was standing to the side in a blue robe, with a half-smile. "Where have they gone?"
Guo Jia remained silent, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyes fixed on his nose, his expression calm and composed, showing no sign of unease.
Huh? I was also slightly taken aback and turned to look at Guo Jia. He had clearly reported the battle situation to Cao Cao before, saying, "Last night we launched a surprise attack, and Liu Bei has already surrendered to Yuan Shao, leaving only Guan Yu to guard the city. He has now been captured alive." How come Xiahou Yuan is now saying that Liu Bei's whereabouts are unknown?
Logically speaking, Xiahou Yuan had just returned to camp from the battlefield, and Guo Jia had not participated in the battle. How could they know the outcome of the battle?
He really is a demigod, capable of divination? Uh... he's not just making this up for me, is he...?
He had already defied Cao Cao to help me escape, and now...
I glanced at Cao Cao cautiously; he didn't seem to be angry.
“Yes, Liu Bei’s whereabouts are unknown. Our army has entered the city and the people have been pacified, but…” Xiahou Yuan hesitated slightly.
"But?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Guan Yu broke through the encirclement under cover of night, protecting Liu Bei's family and heading straight for Xiapi, where he is now defending the city to the death."
I felt inexplicably relieved. Guan Yu was indeed Guan Yu; he was no ordinary man. How could such a fierce general surrender so easily?
"Guan Yu..." Cao Cao put his hands behind his back, slightly raised his lips, and after a long while, he slowly spoke, "...He is a fierce general, it's a pity...that he cannot be used by me."
A slight chill ran through me. Was he planning to launch a full-scale attack?
"Such a fierce general..." Cao Cao sighed softly, pursing his lips slightly, "If he cannot be used by me, then let him be destroyed."
“I have met Guan Yu once, and I am willing to go and persuade him to surrender.” A general stepped out from behind Xiahou Yuan.
“Wen Yuan, although you are an old acquaintance of Guan Yu, this man cannot be persuaded with just a few words. Your journey is fraught with danger. If you are not careful, you may be harmed by him.” Xiahou Yuan shook his head, disagreeing.
"Fengxiao." Cao Cao turned around and looked at Guo Jia.
"Yes." Guo Jia nodded.
"You said that Liu Bei had surrendered to Yuan Shao, leaving only Guan Yu to guard the city, and now he has been captured alive..." Cao Cao looked at him and slowly began to speak, "What do you mean by that?"
When Cao Cao said this, everyone was surprised. They all exclaimed "Ah!" and looked at Guo Jia, wondering what their strategist meant by this.
So they've come to interrogate me after all?! I felt nervous and was about to step forward when I saw Guo Jia with his hands behind his back. Beneath his wide sleeves, his long, pale hand waved slightly at me.
Huh? I was taken aback. Was he implying that I shouldn't act rashly?
"Reporting to the Prime Minister," Guo Jia began, "Although the various warlords still occupy their own territories, the overall situation is already clear. Your Excellency holds Yanzhou and parts of Sili, Xuzhou, and Qingzhou, while Yuan Shao holds most of Qing, Ji, and Youzhou, making him the most powerful. Liu Bei has abandoned the city and fled, determined to surrender to Yuan Shao."
His slender frame, a long robe billowing in the wind, delicate features, and calm demeanor allowed him to speak eloquently and offer his opinions on the state of affairs.
"Hmm, it makes sense that Liu Bei surrendered to Yuan Shao, so... what about capturing Guan Yu alive?" Cao Cao nodded with a smile in his eyes. "Fengxiao, do you already have a good plan, hence your confidence?"
Guo Jia laughed, his pale face regaining its color. "You, Prime Minister, know Fengxiao. I have a plan. We can first put Guan Yu in a corner, and then have Wen Yuan persuade him to surrender. It will surely succeed."
"What brilliant plan does Fengxiao have?" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and smiled like a fox.
"Guan Yu possesses unparalleled bravery; we can only outwit him, not force him," Guo Jia said calmly. "In the battle of Xuzhou, many soldiers surrendered. The Prime Minister should select trustworthy surrendered soldiers to enter Xiapi City to meet Guan Yu and ask him to take them in. They can then lie in wait in the city as inside agents. Then, lure Guan Yu out of the city, trick him into going deeper, and use elite troops to cut off his retreat. At that moment, the inside agents lying in wait in Xiapi City will open the city gates, and with the help of both inside and outside, they will force him into a dead end."
I opened my mouth slightly, looking at that thin man standing against the wind, giving one the feeling of "a fairy's sleeves fluttering in the wind." Despite his ethereal appearance, his commanding presence was awe-inspiring; though he looked so pale and gentle, the schemes he uttered sent chills down one's spine.
“Guan Yu prioritizes righteousness above all else. Even if we push him to the brink, he would probably rather die than surrender.” Xiahou Yuan pondered for a moment.
"It is known that Liu Bei has two wives, Lady Gan and Lady Mi, in Xiapi City," Guo Jia said with a smile, speaking slowly and casually, but his clear eyes were full of spirit.
Xiahou Yuan's face lit up with joy. "The strategist is indeed insightful. We captured Xiapi and took the two ladies prisoner. Guan Yu has become sworn brothers with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. Now that he failed to protect his sister-in-law, he must be extremely worried! When the time comes, Wen Yuan can go and persuade him. He will surely be able to submit!"
Cao Cao slowly raised his lips, his dark eyes seemingly able to reflect ink, and in those eyes was admiration, "Liu Bei surrendered to Yuan Shao and captured Guan Yu alive. What Fengxiao said is indeed true."
I stood there, dumbfounded, and for the first time I felt that I was indeed in the Three Kingdoms period, a chaotic era in which heroes vied for power and lords fought for supremacy.
Chaos brings suffering to the people, but it also produces heroes.
On this vast land, who will determine the fate of the world?
What will the situation be like when the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu stand in a tripartite balance of power?
"The strategist's predictions are truly divine; he is indeed a genius!" Dian Wei laughed heartily, his face full of admiration.
Everyone nodded and laughed.
Turning around, Cao Cao looked at me, his eyes filled with an air of domineering confidence.
I instinctively took a step back and remained silent.
The dog stepped forward and stood guard in front of me.
Cao Cao was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.
The dog looked annoyed. "What are you laughing at?"
"I laugh at your futile attempt to stop a chariot. You are overestimating yourself." Cao Cao's eyes were piercing as he spoke bluntly, "Without sufficient strength, do not lightly claim to protect me. Wait until you are fully grown before trying to stop me."
I frowned and took Gou'er's hand. "He's just a child. I don't need anyone's protection." As I spoke, I lowered my head slightly and saw that Gou'er's face showed no embarrassment or anger. He was very calm, and his clear black and white eyes even had a hint of shrewdness.
“Based on that one sentence, you’ll never win my sister’s heart,” Gou’er laughed. “I dare say that.”
Cao Cao stared at him for a long time without saying a word.
In the dead of night, I sat on the edge of the bed, hugging my knees, my mind a jumble of thoughts.
There was a slight sound outside the tent, and someone entered the tent. By the dim moonlight outside the camp, I could make out a tall figure.
Cao Cao.
Almost instinctively, I quickly lay down and pretended to be asleep.
He walked to my bedside, sat down, and then fell silent.
"How long are you going to keep up this act?" He asked softly, his cool hand gently caressing my cheek.
I opened my eyes, sat up backward, and looked at him with some wariness.
"Is staying with me really that bad?"
“This is terrible.” I wrinkled my nose.
"What if I told you that you absolutely must stay by my side?" he asked, looking at me calmly.
"Why me? Why me of all people? Is it just because I share the same name as her? Or because we're from the same place? Or... do we have the same personality?" I gritted my teeth. "You like her that much? If you liked her, why didn't you just take her from me? With the methods you're using against me now, I'm sure you would have succeeded long ago!"
“She’s a beautiful fox, and you’re an impulsive wildcat, capable of baring your teeth and claws,” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly. He raised his hand and gently stroked my chin, mentioning the woman to me for the first time without any hesitation.
"So! Even if it's a stand-in, you've chosen the wrong one!" I shook my head, grinding my teeth.
"You are my woman."
I chuckled. "Why should I?"
His expression was rather unpleasant.
I lay down, turned to my side, with my back to him, and closed my eyes to sleep.
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