Chapter 13: Losing

After taking the medicine porridge, Cao Pi said a while to Cao Cao, and then said goodbye. Cao Zhen had already received the order and was waiting for five hundred elite leopard cavalry. Next to him was a man nearly nine feet tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a twisted beard, wide and round waist, and he looked like a powerful person of Kong Wu. When he saw Cao Pi staggering out, he quickly took a step forward, stretched out his thick arms, and carried Cao Pi into the car as if he was holding a baby.

Cao Pi smiled, he sat in the car and said to Cao Zhen: "This hero is..."

Cao Zhen smiled, but there was no trace of happiness on his face. He handed the reins to the strong man and climbed onto the carriage himself: "He is my personal guard, named Wang Shuang, with his name Ziquan, and his martial arts skills are very good. He has been with me for more than ten years."

Cao Pi looked at Cao Zhen in a strange way, and nodded at Wang Shuang with a smile. Wang Shuang was flattered, smiled with a big mouth, turned around and waved his hand. The five hundred leopard cavalry divided into two rows, sandwiching Cao Pi's convoy, and slowly started.

Cao Pi lifted up the car curtain and looked at the orderly and cold-faced iron-blooded knight outside with a little excitement. He felt a sense of pride. He admired it for a long time before putting down the car curtain. He turned around and looked at Cao Zhen with a frustrated expression and smiled: "Why, Zidan, don't want to follow me? Look at your sad face. I tell you, I envy Cang Shu for the two hundred tiger soldiers for a day or two. I didn't expect that I had five hundred personal guards today, and it was your leopard cavalry."

Cao Zhen grinned, but didn't laugh out loud. He glanced at Cao Pi, wanted to speak, and clenched his beard on his lips and said, "Zihuan, does anyone know what you informed me?"

Cao Pi slowly came to his senses. He put away his smile, lowered his voice and said, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Cao Zhen's eyes flashed, and his two fingers twisted a yellow beard on his lips, and he slowly said, "I am Sima, the leopard cavalry. Although I am just a Sima, I have two thousand leopard cavalry under my command, and I also receive the general's salary..."

"So you are worried about this?" Cao Pi laughed softly: "Are you really, are you still afraid of not having money with me? I'm so much money I've managed to scare you..."

"Zihuan--" Cao Zhen shouted and interrupted Cao Pi's words. Cao Pi looked at him in confusion. Cao Zhen said with some amusement: "Do you think I'm worried about money?"

"Isn't it?" Cao Pi laughed, but looking at Cao Zhen's face, it seemed that he had guessed wrong again. He thought about it and felt that a confidant like Cao Zhen would not show off his face for a general's salary. He suddenly remembered what Cao Zhen said just now, and became suspicious, and hesitated and said: "Only you, I, Bo Ren and the other two know about this. Could it be that some news has been leaked?"

"I don't know." Cao Zhen shook his head with a dark face: "Think about it, there is only one thing I am by the Prime Minister. Now that I follow you, it is impossible for me to approach the Prime Minister again. That thing... there is no hope at all."

Cao Pi was stunned, his scalp numb, and he looked timidly at the water pavilion in the middle of the Xuanwu Pond Lake, pressing the sound low, almost impossible to even hear it himself, and there was a hint of fear in his voice: "You mean..." He didn't dare to say anything further, pointed at the back with his finger, his face turned a little pale, and a layer of fine beads of sweat emerged from his forehead.

"I don't know." Cao Zhen sighed, shook his head, looking unsure: "I just think there is a possibility, but there is no evidence to confirm it. In short, be careful. What's wrong with you going to see the Prime Minister?"

"No." Cao Pi thought carefully, raised his sleeves and wiped his sweat. "The Prime Minister asked about the war situation in Liaodong, and then... asked me to go to Xu County to ask the emperor for the imperial edict, and sent envoys to the Xiongnu and Xianbei. He also approved my request and sent the thief Cao Luzi family in my mansion to serve as an envoy, and then... and asked me to be careful and specially prepared medicinal porridge... the others, the others were arranged for you and the Five Hundred Leopard Cavalry to give me."

"Medicinal Porridge?" Cao Zhen frowned and thought for a while, shook his head and smacked his lips and said, "Is it...Is it that I am suspicious?"

"What did you say?" Cao Pi was a little impatient.

"Oh." Cao Zhen came back from his thoughts and quickly explained: "I think it's strange. If you want to send five hundred leopard cavalry to follow you, at least one military marquis would be enough. Why would you let me lead the team yourself and lead me? Why would you only send five hundred people? Even if you can't let all the leopard cavalry follow you, you have to send at least one thousand people? Why is there only five hundred people? I'm worried, would the prime minister discover something and take this opportunity to drive me out of the tiger leopard cavalry?"

"Probably not?" Cao Pi was also a little stunned. He thought about the situation of meeting Cao Cao today from beginning to end, but did not see any suspiciousness. With Cao Cao's personality, if he discovered that he had any thoughts in secret, he would not be so amiable. He has grown up so old, and since he remembered, he has rarely seen Cao Cao treat him so well.

"I hope so." Cao Zhen shook his head: "When I come back, I will know if I can go back to the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. By the way, Zihuan, Boren is not very polite to my sister. My sister just gave birth to a son and daughter for him, and he was thinking about marrying a concubine."

"Is this happening?" Cao Pi was surprised.

"Not." Cao Zhen responded angrily.

"Don't worry, I'll handle this matter." Cao Pi patted Cao Zhen's shoulder and advised: "But, everything will be said after the major matter is settled. Nothing matter is important at the moment." He looked around and leaned into Cao Zhen's ear and said: "I heard from the Prime Minister himself that his health is not in good condition."

Cao Zhen glanced at Cao Pi in surprise and didn't say anything for a long time. Cao Pi chuckled proudly and picked the corners of his eyes.

Cao Pi returned to Yecheng and returned to the mansion. Zhen Mi brought his son Cao Rui and Queen Guo and other concubines to greet each other. Cao Pi was in a good mood and joked for a while. He spent a while of dinner, sat together and talked for a while. After dinner, he looked at Zhen Mi and several concubines with a slightly red face. He felt moved. He was about to leave them to be intimate, but remembered what Cao Zhen said, and the warmth that had just appeared faded. He raised his hand and covered his mouth and yawned and said, "I've been on the way for two days. I'm quite sleepy. You guys should also rest. I'm going to Xu County tomorrow. Do you have any items you want to bring?"

When several women heard this, they felt disappointed in words. They quietly looked at others and stood up to leave. Cao Pi sat without moving, watching the servants packing up the leftovers on the table and each retreated. After a while, Queen Guo walked in with a tea tray and snuggled up next to Cao Pi. She held her wide sleeves in one hand and poured a cup of tea with the other. The hot tea water flowed out of the spout, and a fragrance spread with the heat, making people feel refreshed.

Cao Pi raised his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes happily. He reached out to wrap his hand around Queen Guo's slender waist, enjoying the feeling of a god comfortably. Queen Guo smiled slightly, didn't say anything, picked up the teacup and gave it to her mouth to taste it, and then delivered it to Cao Pi's mouth: "Husband, you can drink it."

Cao Pi took her hand and took a sip. He laughed while shouting, "Cang Shu is so capable. The tea he made tastes fragrant. It's such a pity."

"Since you are so capable, what a pity?" Queen Guo laughed softly.

Cao Pi smiled and did not answer her words. He hugged Queen Guo, buried his head in her hair, put his head in her ears, and told her everything about what she encountered today in a voice that only Queen Guo could hear.

"Queen, what do you think about father and Kurasu?"

"What are you thinking? My husband clearly knows, why do you still ask me a wife?" Queen Guo's ears were blown by the heat emitted by Cao Pi for a long time, her cheeks were red, and her eyes were like silk to look at Cao Pi.

"You are my military advisor." Cao Pi smiled softly and said, "I always feel uneasy if I don't listen to your opinions. Tell me, is it possible that Zidan is worried about?"

Queen Guo used her slender white fingers to slim and slim hair to scatter a long strand of hair scattered from her forehead. She pursed her lips and thought for a while, blinked her eyes and smiled: "In my opinion, the problem that Cao Sima is worried about is certainly not something out of nothing..."

"You too..." Cao Pi raised his head and his smile was a little stiff.

"Don't be anxious." Queen Guo raised her fingers and placed them on Cao Pi's lips, and smiled charmingly: "It's not too late to wait until I finish talking."

Cao Pi also felt that he was a little out of control and smiled awkwardly, saying, "I'm a little anxious, please continue."

"I think what Cao Sima said should be taken as a possibility, but from the current perspective, the possibility is not very high. I think it is strange that why Mr. Cang Shu proposed this idea is more suspicious." Queen Guo blinked at Cao Pi, seemingly confused: "Even if he really has the idea of ​​bringing peace for all ages, he should not have to propose it to the Prime Minister. Although his husband has won the support of the gentry in Guandong, he has not completely gained the upper hand. Mr. Cang Shu should be pleased by the Prime Minister at this time. Once he inherits the throne, he can do whatever he wants in the future after the Prime Minister a hundred years."

"Maybe... he was confused, otherwise I wouldn't have a chance." Cao Pi laughed.

"Do you think Mr. Cang Shu is the kind of person who is confused?" Queen Guo burst out laughing.

Cao Pi turned his eyes and raised his head from Queen Guo's ear and stared at Queen Guo in a daze: "Then why do you say it is for?"

Queen Guo sat up from Cao Pi's arms, twisted her belt with her hands, tilted her head, her eyes shining, and her neat teeth bit her lips, and a look that only a girl could have in her meditation showed. Cao Pi was a little stunned for a moment, and he reached out and took Queen Guo's hand and gently squeezed. Queen Guo smiled.

"Husband..." Queen Guo chuckled softly and thoughtfully said, "What kind of mentality do you think the Prime Minister will have now?"

"Prime Minister?" Cao Pi thought for a while and said slowly: "He should hesitate between being a loyal minister and a founding king."

"I think so too." Queen Guo's speech speed gradually increased: "The Cao family was deeply favored by the emperor. The Prime Minister spent his youth in Luoyang. During those decades, there must be few people in the world who had the idea of ​​replacing it. Although the Han Dynasty was already in turmoil, it was still as inviolable as the huge Luoyang City. It was normal for the Prime Minister to live in that environment. He was very close to those party members when he was young, especially He Boqiu."

Cao Pi did not say anything. Queen Guo glanced at him and continued, "I have been to Luoyang. Although Luoyang is broken, his grand manner still makes people dare not look down on it. You can imagine how majestic Luoyang was back then. My husband must have been very weak in his impression of Luoyang, so naturally he no longer had the feeling of oppression from the roots of the prime minister."

Cao Pi laughed when he heard this: "What you said makes sense, but not all. Although what I remember is just the broken Luoyang, even if Luoyang is broken, the atmosphere still fascinates me. I have seen the emperor, but... Humph, I think the emperor does not have the kind of demeanor that matches Luoyang City." He stood up and said with some arrogance: "He is even less worthy of the imperial palace in Luoyang City."

Queen Guo smiled faintly, and she stretched out her hand to stroke the collar of Cao Pi's chest: "This is the difference between husband and prime minister."

"You're right." Cao Pi nodded, but curled his lips, and looked down upon it very disdain: "My family has reached this point. He has even made a king of a different surname. Do you still want to retreat? Can you still retreat? If you really want to be a loyal minister, why should you be the king of a different surname? You might as well abandon your official position and retire, and retire after success and fame. Even if you are killed by the emperor, you can still leave your name in history. Maybe one day you can posthumously give me a posthumous posthumous title."

Queen Guo laughed silently.

"Cang Shu was so stupid that he would have such thoughts. I really doubt whether he was from my Cao family. Isn't this pushing my Cao family into the fire pit? If the emperor gained power, he would let my Cao family go and let my father go, the king of a different surname? It goes without saying that it is too far away. Just say that Emperor Xiaoming of Xianzong was as wise as Emperor Xiaoming of Xianzong. Didn't he even kill his brother King Chu? The Liu family didn't even let his own family go, how could he let my Cao family go? There was never a trace of family affection in the royal affairs." Cao Pi said, suddenly thinking of his own family, his mind was shaking, and he said to himself, "Yes, royal affairs really can't tolerate any family affection. They want to seek death, but I can't follow them to give up the wealth they have won, and sacrifice their lives in vain, and be a loyal minister who died in vain in prison.

"My husband, the Prime Minister's idea must be a little different from that of Mr. Cang Shu. Otherwise, he would not hesitate. With the power of your brothers, even if the emperor has any ideas, the disaster will not be enough. He can feel at ease to let Mr. Cang Shu Shi Wei. He was hesitating, obviously he did not have complete confidence in Mr. Cang Shu, but he had a trace of luck. He hoped that Mr. Cang Shu could have the best of both worlds, not only to preserve the glory and wealth of the Cao family, but also to keep him famous as a loyal minister in history. Therefore, he wanted to give Mr. Cang Shu a chance before he passed away."

"A bullshit opportunity." Cao Pi sneered: "If you stop breaking, you will suffer from chaos."

"Husband is wise, but you can't make a decision on behalf of the Prime Minister." Queen Guo covered her mouth and smiled softly, her eyes narrowed and curved like two crescent moons, exuding cunning, like a fox that has become a thousand-year-old spirit: "Of course, you can push it."

Cao Pi looked at her and smiled.

Cao Pi and Queen Guo discussed for the middle of the night. They were so passionate that they couldn't help but get crazy. The next day, he was still a little groggy on the way to Xu County. Fortunately, in order to pretend to be sick, he didn't ride a horse, so he could still take a rest on the carriage. At the same time, he thought about how Xu County should act to make Lao Cao give up. The convoy did not walk fast. It took six days for more than 700 miles. At noon on the seventh day, he rushed to the west of Yanshi and stopped in the civic town twenty miles east and west, preparing to follow the north bank of Yangqu and the southern foot of Beimang Mountain to the north gate of Luoyang. Cao Pi got off the car and stood by Yangqu, looking at the Beimang Mountain that stretched hundreds of miles east and west, thinking about the Han royal tombs on Beimang Mountain that had been dug by Dong Zhuo, and he smiled.

"Zihuan, take a break and you will enter Luoyang City soon. We must be more energetic and not lose the face of the tiger and leopard cavalry." Cao Zhen wiped his sweat and walked over with great strides. The tall and mighty Wang Shuang stood quietly not far away, paying attention to the surrounding environment with his duty.

"Of course, we must enter Luoyang City majestic." Cao Pi smiled.

"Hehehe..." Cao Zhen smiled and pointed to the west and said, "From here to the west, it is Hongchi. Do you think Cang Shu would be stationed in Hongchi if he transferred the navy here?"

Cao Pi shook his head: "Who knows, his thoughts are so strange that I can't guess thoroughly." He suddenly remembered something, turned his head and asked, "Zi Dan, what's the name here? I remember there is a corpse in his name?"

"No, this place is called Zixiang. It is said that Tian Heng was here. I can't say it's the place where we are standing." Cao Zhen laughed and seemed to feel a little funny. He looked around at the terrain here, but he didn't see Cao Pi's face a little bad: "The terrain here is flat, and fighting is the best place for cavalry charges. No wonder Dong Zhuo had to send Xu Rong, the most capable of defending Xingyang when facing the Guandong Alliance Army. If he really wanted to enter the pass, there was no danger to defend."

Cao Pi frowned unhappily and said, "Zi Dan, let's go. This place name is so unlucky. I always feel a little uncomfortable. I feel that something is going to happen, and it is a bad thing."

Cao Zhen looked at Cao Pi with a strange look and grinned. He was about to laugh at Cao Pi, but when he thought that although he had a good relationship with him, he couldn't be too casual. This person is a revenge person. Don't offend him accidentally. Now he won't do anything to you when he can use you now, but it would be strange if he really wants to be the emperor in the future. He suddenly became aware of his vigilance and hurriedly came forward with Xiao to help Cao Pi get into the car.

Cao Pi stepped onto the car, but suddenly stopped. He held the car and listened with his ears, turned his head and looked east. Cao Zhen looked at him in surprise, and turned his head to look, but saw a horse running towards the end of the official road, and the knight was lying on the horse's back, and there was almost no figure.

"It's a war horse." Cao Pi suddenly said, standing on the car, straightening his body, putting his hand on the awning, and looking at it, the more he looked, his brows became tighter. In a short while, one person and one horse ran to his eyes. The dusty knight strangled the war horse. The sweaty war horse circled manialy, and the horse's hooves pedaled into dust. The knight on the horse's back shouted loudly: "Is it Mr. Cao, General Zhendong in front?"

Cao Zhen was stunned for a moment, and looked back at Cao Pi. Cao Pi narrowed his eyes, closed his mouth tightly, staring at the knight without saying a word. Cao Zhen waved his hand quickly, and Wang Shuang stepped forward and responded: "That's right, who are you?"

The knight turned over and dismounted, and almost fell to the ground with a staggering stagger. He got up with his hands and feet, ran to Cao Pi in two steps in three steps, knelt down on one leg, took out a letter from his arms and handed it with both hands.

Cao Pi stretched out his hand and glanced at the envelope. The words on it were straight and clumsy, which were exactly Guo Biao's handwriting. He took a breath, paused with his hand that reached mid-air, and then grabbed the letter and opened it. His hand trembled a little, and he tore off a corner of the envelope. He opened the envelope, and he glanced quickly, his eyes immediately glared, and his face turned ashen.

"Zihuan?" Cao Zhen felt something was wrong and immediately came to him and shouted softly.

"Zi Dan, set off immediately." Cao Pi glanced around and then ordered softly. He kicked the knight with his boot tip and asked in a deep voice: "Do you meet other people on the way you come?"

"No, I didn't talk to anyone along the way." The Knight replied.

"That's good. You go down and eat something, follow me, and you can go back after I write a reply."

"Here." The knight responded, and then followed the people to have dinner. Cao Pi arranged a convoy to continue moving forward. He called Cao Zhen to the car, shook his letter in front of Cao Zhen and gritted his teeth and said, "Zang Ba, Sun Guan's navy was defeated, Sun Guan, who was escorting the baggage, was killed in battle, and the baggage was lost."

"Ah?" Cao Zhen screamed in shock. Although he knew that there must be big news, he did not expect that it was a defeat. But why did the military newspaper not use the official documents used by the military newspaper?

"Speak quietly." Cao Pi glared at him, frowned and his face was ferocious.

"How could it be..." Cao Zhen quickly lowered his voice and asked in disbelief: "Zang Ba's Qingxu Shui Master has nearly 20,000 people, and he is not a novice, so how could he... be defeated by Gongsun Kang?"

"It was not that he was defeated by Gongsun Kang, but that he encountered the sea tide. Sun Guan's troops were blown to Sanshan Island and met a group of pirates of unknown origin. The baggage was robbed. Sun Guan was killed in battle. Zang Ba lost his baggage and did not dare to go deeper. He had to defend Dazhu City and request instructions for the next action." Cao Pi shook his head and continued: "Zhang Gongcao and Liang's military advisor were afraid of affecting the morale of the army, so they did not use the military report to pass it to the Prime Minister's Mansion, but first notified me with a fast horse."

Cao Zhen took a breath. These people were too brave and dared to conceal military information. Although there were not many soldiers who had lost this time, Sun Guan, who died in battle, was the governor of Qingzhou and a senior official. Although Cao Cao might have been looking forward to his death for a long time, I believe Cao Cao would not like to conceal military information like this. He raised his head and looked at Cao Pi. Cao Pi looked at him fiercely, without blinking.

"I..." Cao Zhen felt a little dry and swallowed for a long time before continuing: "A small setback is inevitable. This is not a human mistake, it is God's will...well, this is an accident."

"Hmph." Cao Pi snorted, leaned back in the carriage, and thought for a moment: "The soldiers' losses are not big. As long as they replenish their food and supplies, the original combat mission can be completed. Qingzhou is still sufficient, so there should be no problem in replenishing Zang Ba's losses. Damn, there are pirates of unknown origin in Jiaozhou, why are there pirates in Liaodong? "
Chapter completed!