Chapter 3313 Undercurrents Surge, Two Sentences and One Word

Chapter 3312 Undercurrents, two sentences and one word

"What? !" Cao Pi slapped the table, "What do you mean you can't find it? This thief army can go to heaven? !"

After dawn, Yecheng seemed to wake up from a nightmare, and then entered a new nightmare.

The traces of Wei Yan's army disappeared 20 or 30 miles away from the city!

Cao Pi stared.

But not only ordinary soldiers said so, but also Cao's guards said so, which made Cao Pi feel like he had eaten a mouthful of Oli Ge, unable to swallow it or spit it out.

Wu Zhi watched from the side, scanning the faces of several officers, and felt a little bit worried.

Cao Pi's current position as the prince has been shaken.

Although Cao Pi was not injured, the damage in Yecheng was not serious. The only thing that was seriously damaged was the workshop, but the attitude of the people towards Cao Pi had obviously changed quietly.

No way.

I don't know.

I haven't seen it.

I don't know.

Such and so on, became the best excuses for subordinates to perfunctorily deal with things.

In fact, the words reported by these subordinates also showed certain meanings. Just like saying that there is no trace of Wei Yan and others, Wu Zhi believes that this is not a lie, but is there really no way to find them? Obviously not, but Cao Pi must stand up and point out the direction.

Because Cao Pi is a "leader", when subordinates encounter "difficulties", there must be a clear direction, not vague, nor can it be said that there is no goal at all, allowing subordinates to test at will.

Wei Yan's traces disappeared, and someone must have helped to eliminate the traces. There are many ways, the simplest is a vehicle...

But this involves more and bigger problems.

So it is normal that the soldiers "can't find it".

And Cao Pi obviously hasn't woken up yet...

Of course, it can also be said that Cao Pi is still young now, but who makes him the prince?

As a child of an ordinary family, Cao Pi can be ignorant of strategy, human feelings, and not good at anything at this age. He can go with the flow and live one day at a time, but he is the prince.

Last night, Cao Pi's shortcomings were fully exposed.

In terms of strategy, he lacked strategy and quick wit.

In terms of bravery, he lacked blood and energy, let alone martial arts.

Now that there is a problem, the most important thing is to solve the problem first. How to solve the problem inside the city and how to deal with the problem outside the city, instead of staring at Wei Yan's whereabouts...

Now even the decisiveness has problems...

Wu Zhi is really too lazy to talk.

However, the person who "rescues" Cao Pi has come.

"Mrs. Bian is here!"

Outside the gate, a servant shouted loudly.

Cao Pi was stunned, and his face showed some embarrassment and helplessness, and a little embarrassed that he was caught by his parents playing with his mobile phone and tablet, but in the end he lowered his head and went out...

...

...

The afterglow of the evening fell on the Cao army camp.

It seemed that a bright red wound had been cracked on the horizon, and the flowing blood was stained between the tents and people in the camp.

This color has a bleak golden color, like the mottled color of a statue after fading.

Cao Pi encountered problems, and there were also problems in Cao Jun’s camp.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed. The soldiers in the camp were still busy, and their figures were hurried, constantly shuttling between various areas. Either carrying food or wiping weapons, everyone was preparing for the upcoming battle.

But if you look carefully, you will find that their faces are more or less confused...

As the sunset sank into the mountains little by little, the night gradually enveloped the camp.

The light of the bonfire and torches gradually formed a contrast between movement and stillness in the starry sky.

The false banner of righteousness will eventually be lowered, and the oath without heart will also appear pale in the face of reality.

Before the war began, it was for the justice of the world, for the peace of the world, for the great Han Dynasty, and for the emperor to conquer the four directions...

Anyway, it's all right, but now, the confusion and helplessness gradually revealed by the Cao army soldiers are not only because of the upcoming battle, but also because of the unknown outcome of the war, the fragility of life, and the longing for home. These soldiers, wearing armor and holding sharp blades, should have carried the honor of the country and the expectations of their families, and then became more determined, but they suddenly found that some things were not as advertised by Shandong when they went to war.

Lies are lies after all.

No matter how exquisite and clever the lies are, they will eventually be exposed one day.

And the more exquisite the lies are, the uglier they will be when they are exposed.

It's okay during the day, but at night, the camp will inevitably reveal the fragility under the surface of the usual days.

The military schools and generals under Cao Cao also more or less sensed this atmosphere. They walked in the military camp, trying to inspire the morale of Cao's soldiers with firm words and inspiring speeches. But this is an emotion that can only be truly dispelled by time and victory...

And time and victory happen to be what Cao's army lacks the most at the moment.

So old classmate Cao is very troubled.

But soon, news that will make him more troubled and even distressed will follow...

The great general of the Han cavalry is obviously bullying the short legs of the prime minister, but Prime Minister Cao can do nothing about it.

So, in this quiet and tense atmosphere, Lao Cao has been thinking about every detail of the decisive battle and pondering every turning point of decision-making in the past few days. How to use limited resources and troops to deploy the most perfect strategy to deal with various possible variables. Every possible offensive route and every enemy deployment must have a clear image and countermeasure in his mind, so as not to be in a hurry and exhausted.

In military terms, Cao Cao's ability in this aspect is undoubtedly very strong. He not only has a keen insight into intelligence, but also has a precise grasp of timing.

But he also has something that he can never see and grasp...

Time seems to solidify in this intensive thinking, until a slight breeze blows a corner of the tent, and Cao Cao slowly returns to reality from his meditation.

The sound of hurried footsteps came, and Cao Cao raised his head slightly.

The soldiers on duty outside the big tent whispered, "People from Zhongtiao Mountain are coming, urgent military information."

Cao Cao's face changed under the oil lamp, and then gradually calmed down, "Pass it on. 』

Looking at the pale Zhongtiaoshan messenger, Cao Cao's cheeks suddenly trembled, and an ominous premonition suddenly surged in his heart. His expression was slightly tense and solemn, as if he had foreseen the upcoming bad news.

He slowly stretched out his arm and took the sealed urgent report from the guard.

The surface of the sealed bamboo tube was a little rough, and the wax even spread to the bamboo tube, so that under the light, it looked like a lump of half-coagulated blood flowing down the bamboo tube.

At this moment, the air in the entire tent seemed to solidify, and the passage of time became unusually slow.

Cao Cao looked at the bamboo tube in his hand steadily. In his heart, he seemed extremely reluctant to open this urgent report.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the fluctuations in his heart, then broke the wax seal, pulled out the towel inside, and slowly unfolded it.

As the towel was fully unfolded, a few lines of handwriting came into Cao Cao's eyes.

Each word was clear and cold.

It was like a needle piercing Cao Cao's pupils, and it was also like a heavy hammer hitting his heart.

Guo Jia, his most trusted counselor, had died of illness.

Cao Cao's hands could not help but tremble.

He lowered his head deeply, and the blue veins on the back of his hand twisted and squirmed in the light, like a greedy insect gnawing at something.

Feng Xiao was finally gone.

A few days ago, Cao Cao seemed to have this premonition. After receiving Lu Chang's report that Guo Jia was seriously ill, he hurriedly sent people to greet him, but these slightly pale greetings could not dispel the disease or change his fate.

The messenger from Zhongtiao Mountain, who bowed his head and knelt on the ground, seemed to feel this oppressive terror and could not help but tremble slightly.

Cao Cao raised his head, and his eyes revealed a crazy and bloodthirsty look.

At this moment, the guards on the side trembled in their hearts and immediately put their hands on the hilt of the knife.

As long as Cao Cao gave an order, he would drag the unfortunate messenger down and chop him to death.

Cao Cao's eyes fell on the messenger, and he saw the helmet and armor on his body still covered with mud and dust under the light. He turned the order on his lips and said, "Take him away... and keep him under strict supervision."

The guard was a little surprised, but soon followed Cao Cao's order and took the messenger who kowtowed to thank him away.

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The words on the scarf pierced Cao Cao's defense like a sharp sword, hitting the softest part of his heart, but Cao Cao still maintained his strength.

Guo Jia's departure, for Cao Cao, was not only the loss of a think tank, but also the loss of a comrade-in-arms and close friend for many years. The time they spent together, the hardships they experienced together, and the countless strategies they planned together, all turned into nothingness at this moment.

The attendant received the order and left the tent, leaving Cao Cao alone to face this sudden blow.

Cao Cao looked at the empty tent. It seemed that only at this moment did he feel the painful loneliness, like a piercing pain.

In this Han Dynasty, Guo Jia was the only one who truly "understood" Cao Cao...

Even Xun Yu didn't "understand".

It was late at night, and the flickering light of the oil lamp cast Cao Cao's long shadow on the heavy military map.

On the military map, every ink mark was like a scar.

He stared at the logo representing the cavalry.

Cao Cao slid his fingers slowly on the military map. Although his movements were gentle, every movement seemed to carry a heavy weight. He was not fighting for Shandong, or not all for Shandong. Before, it was for himself, to win. Now, it is added with other emotions, and it is also to win.

The chosen paths are different...

His path, Guo Jia's path, and the path of the cavalry.

They are always different.

Only by winning can he prove that his own path and Guo Jia's path are correct.

He slowly walked outside the tent and opened the door curtain. A cold wind blew in his face, making his robe rustle.

'Prime Minister...'

The guards outside the tent hurriedly greeted him.

Cao Cao waved his hand, signaling them to leave, and then he did not walk far, but just stood outside the tent and looked up at the starry sky.

In the vast night sky, the stars were dotted, shining with a cold and distant light.

Cao Cao's eyes were roaming in the galaxy, as if he was looking for the meteor that disappeared at that moment. Under the starry sky, he longed to find that familiar soul and to have a little more light of hope in the night.

However, the vastness and silence of the starry sky only made him feel more lonely and lost.

The night wind whistled, blowing the banners on the banners and sweeping through every corner of the military camp, but it could not blow away the sorrow and pain that shrouded Cao Cao's heart.

After a while, Cao Cao exhaled a long breath, the pain in his eyes gradually faded, and he regained his usual perseverance and determination.

He knew that he was not qualified to continue to be sad.

He turned back to the big tent, and after pondering for a moment, he picked up the pen and issued an order to strengthen the security of the camp.

Guo Jia's matter cannot be passed on for the time being.

『Come here! 』

Cao Cao couldn't help it after all, and ordered the unlucky messenger to be killed.

After all, only the dead can keep secrets.

Even if this secret is only temporary, for the sake of the overall situation, the sacrifice of some individuals is inevitable.

After the turnaround, give the soldier double the compensation.

After Cao Cao waited for the attendants to leave, he picked up the towel again and carefully read it word by word, trying to figure out the two sentences and one word that Guo Jia left before his death.

『骠士, similar to Qin? 』

Cao Cao murmured and repeated.

It is almost obvious that the 骠奇 now has the power of the Former Qin. Why does Guo Jia emphasize it again? The 骠士 sit in Guanzhong, herds horses in the north, and controls Sichuan and Shu. It is almost the same as the Qin Dynasty, no, even more brutal than the Qin Dynasty...

Wait!

Cao Cao suddenly frowned, and repeated these four words back and forth several times, and then gently patted the table, 『So that's it, "similar" to Qin! The 骠 riding is similar to Qin but not Qin! '

Originally, most people in Shandong thought that the Hussars were a copy of the Former Qin, with a fierce army and this and that. As a result, Guo Jia said that the Hussars were just "similar" to the Qin, not a simple repetition of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin, as a powerful country in history, was famous for its unique political system, military strength and cultural characteristics. The Qin Dynasty also left a deep impression on Shandong, so that when the Qin Dynasty was mentioned, it was a change of color. But Guo Jia said that the Hussars were just "similar", which means that the Hussars did have similarities with the Former Qin in some aspects, perhaps in terms of governance, organizational structure or external expansion strategy. However, Guo Jia may want to express that although the Hussars had these similarities with the Former Qin, they were different from the Former Qin in essence, origin or other key aspects.

This was originally a huge trap in thinking.

Until this moment, Cao Cao finally understood that their strategic direction before the war had finally deviated seriously because of this trap in thinking. Previously in Shandong, because of the slander and habitual criticism of the cavalry, there was always a feeling that Guanzhong was full of harsh policies and the people under the cavalry were living in dire straits, both in the official and the folk.

This kind of speech was said so many times that even the original maker of the speech believed it...

So even when Cao Cao marched into Hedong, he thought that the nobles and people in Hedong should immediately welcome the king's army with baskets and pots, put order, abandon darkness and join the light, stand by the official road with tears in their eyes, waving small flags, and shouting "Dear ones, you are finally here... "

The result was that they were slapped in the face.

The reason is that the cavalry is just a "type", after all, it is not really a replica of the Qin Dynasty.

So if the cavalry is still regarded as the Former Qin, and the means and methods used to deal with the Former Qin are used to make trouble, then it will inevitably be like the current Hedong, making the whole thing seem to be right and wrong, neither up nor down.

This is not to say that Cao Cao is stupid, nor that Guo Jia is stupid, but a pit in thinking.

It's like saying that China is rich and the dynasty is the Celestial Empire every day. At the beginning, it may be to boost people's morale and unite morale, but in the end, after saying it too much, people really think that China is rich and the Celestial Empire is superior. Then, when they are finally pinned to the ground and kicked by monkeys, chickens, dogs, pigs and cows, the morale of the people is really broken, and it has not been completely cleaned up for a hundred years.

Since the cavalry is not the "Former Qin", it naturally cannot use the "anti-Qin" method, so what should be done?

Guo Jia gave the second sentence.

"Victory or defeat is not about the outside, but about the inside."

Cao Cao took a deep breath and frowned.

He realized that Guo Jia might have thought about these two sentences for a long time, but he had never said them.

Maybe it was hard to say, or maybe there was some other reason, so he didn't say it until the moment of death.

This sentence seems to be talking about how to deal with the cavalry, but thinking about it the other way around, can it also be the best summary of Cao Cao's current situation?

Yes, Cao Cao had already sensed that he would lose, but he had been unwilling to face it, let alone admit it. Now that Guo Jia was dying, he was speaking out.

However, if it was just a summary, it would be underestimated.

Did Guo Jia mean to say...

Cao Cao frowned.

He had actually discussed his original plan with Guo Jia.

Cao Cao wanted to eliminate some of the population pressure in Shandong, because Shandong was suffering from a severe drought, and a large number of laborers had been withdrawn before, so drought was inevitable. Appropriately reducing some population and reducing the pressure on food and grass would make the court less embarrassed.

This is one of the benefits. On the other hand, Cao Cao believed that the people of Shandong had never been under a relatively large external threat. He was often the one who was bearing the pressure, and now he should share the pressure with the people of Shandong behind him...

In addition, there is another hidden factor, which is to bury human lives in Fei Qian's hands, and then as long as the propaganda is proper, the people of Shandong can hate Fei Qian like the people of Xuzhou hate Cao Cao.

But now it seems that these problems are all "external" means.

So, if it is a real "internal" tactic, what is it?

Cao Cao focused on the last word Guo Jia said, "day".

"Day" what?

Weather?

Time?

The world?

Heaven and earth?

Son of Heaven?

Angel?

Natural disaster?

Heaven...

There are too many possibilities.

As he was thinking, Cao Cao's brows suddenly jumped.

Cao Cao suddenly thought of something.