Wu Shuo, the speaker of the council, led the guards of Jin Yue, and soon arrived at Xu Duwei's station.

Xu Duwei's residence was originally the prison of Xu County. Since the emperor moved, the houses in the city have suddenly become tense, and Xu Duling can only make an official of this level simple because of his ugliness, and build a brick and wooden house in front of the prison. People who work here can often hear the cries and howls of the prisoners next door.

I don't know if it's an illusion, as soon as Wu Shuo stepped into this room, he felt cold all over his body, as if there were countless pairs of eyes peeping at him in the darkness around him. He settled down, took a deep breath, and a voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "Wu Yilang, don't come to harm?" ”

Immediately, Wu Shuo saw the ominous face of Xi Zhicai, but Wu Shuo didn't want to deal with Xi Zhicai: he knew this guy's wrist very well, so he didn't greet politely, picked up the edict in his hand and said: "I was ordered by the Son of Heaven to come to rectify Xu Duwei, I don't know where Lord Cao is?" ”

Xi Zhicai is only Jing'an Cao's merit, although Cao Cao is extremely important to him, but his official position is not high. What's more, this Xu Duwei is not under his command at all, what is he doing here?

"Wu Yilang is hard, and his humble position is here." A clear voice came, and Wu Shuo finally saw Cao Tai. In fact, this was also the first time he saw Cao Ren's eldest son.

However, at the first time, Wu Shuo had a very uneasy feeling about this Cao Tai: it was not that Cao Tai was too ugly, but he didn't seem to be Xu Duling at all.

Cao Tai in front of him is a beautiful young man of seventeen or eighteen years old, he has a handsome face that completely reverses yin and yang, its existence seems to be a mockery of creation, when you see this face, you will sigh unconsciously - this, how can it be a man?

But the more this is the case, the more uneasy Wu Shuo becomes, looking at Cao Tai's smiling face and plain silk clothes, Wu Shuo can imagine how this young man tortures those enemies with his enthusiasm for himself - this is a hot-hearted and cold-faced character, and he is not yet the age of a weak crown!

After settling down, Wu Shuo involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "I was ordered to come to rectify the guards of Xudu. I hope Lord Cao can cooperate. ”

Cao Tai bowed his head and said respectfully: "The imperial court orders should be obeyed." He slowly raised his eyes, and the two of them looked at each other, tacitly acknowledging each other.

At this time, Xi Zhicai on the side also got up and said with a smile: "Since Wu Yilang has something to do, and the matter with General Cao has been completed, I won't bother." ”

After that, he went straight away, and what seemed to be left for Wu Shuo was that harmless smile.

However, Wu Shuo, who came with enthusiasm, couldn't help but smile with some disgust after suddenly seeing these two ominous smiles. However, in the face of Cao Tai's enthusiasm, he had to also pull out a fake smile, but in his heart, he began to think about it.

The imperial court of Xu Du was in a delicate and awkward position: no one would take the orders issued by the emperor seriously, but no one would openly refuse to carry them out. How to deal with the imperial court's edict depends entirely on the political trade-offs and wrestling of various forces.

For example, when the emperor appointed Yuan Shao as a lieutenant, Yuan Shao would flatly refuse and denounce Cao Cao for being ungrateful; It wasn't until the imperial court changed his tune and named him a general that he turned his anger into joy and happily "thanked God".

Now the imperial power department took the initiative to invite Xu Duwei to join the main guard, which was actually a retreat to the Cao family. Since Shang Shutai acquiesced to this practice, Cao Tai naturally did not need to disobey orders - but it did not mean that he obediently obeyed orders, after all, although the official position was promoted, Xu Duwei was transferred to the guard, and his strength was weakened. Cao Tai belongs to the bright rise and dark fall, whether he agrees or not, it is difficult to say.

And if he wants to refuse, he is quite particular about the proportions.

Therefore, Wu Shuo did not speak again, but just observed behind Cao Tai. The row of officials of Xu Duwei behind him seemed to have received a notice to greet the envoys of the Son of Heaven here. But whether intentionally or not, these officials were all old and frail, and they were in the twilight, and none of the officers who were feared in the dark night appeared.

I don't know if this is a show of weakness or a demonstration. Or is Cao Tai faintly telling him that Xu Duwei is no longer capable of being available?

Sure enough, after Wu Shuo was silent for a while, Cao Tai had already taken out a roster from his arms and handed it to him.

"Since Xu Duwei eliminated the task of assassination, there are only 2,000 city guards left and 86 prisoners. I don't know how Wu Yilang plans to start? ”

It seems that the other party is prepared, Wu Shuo sighed secretly: The task of assassination can be said to have never been in the hands of Xu Duling. In the past, it was the Coiled Snake Battalion that was in charge and was attached to Xu Duling. Later, when Jing'an Cao was established, the function of assassination was completely separated, and at the same time, after Xu Duling lost this important function, there was naturally not much left.

Wu Shuo understood what Cao Tai meant, and it seemed that Cao Tai didn't want to accept the edict easily. However, this was also expected by Yang Biao, so Wu Shuo didn't take the booklet, and pushed it with a smile: "Since Lord Cao made Xu Ling, he has made remarkable achievements, and the athletes under his command are like fingers and have their own laws, so how can I be vain." ”

The two fought quietly for a round, testing each other's bottom line and guts.

Wu Shuo did not accept the roster, which was a vague indication that he had no intention of using imperial power to force Cao Tai. This is very good, after Cao Tai smiled again, his face became a little really enthusiastic: "But the emperor's order is difficult to disobey, if Lord Wu does not transfer some personnel, then how can he complete the emperor's order?" ”

Hearing this, Wu Shuo ordered the twenty Jinyue guards to leave the room and wait at the door. Seeing this, Cao Tai also waved away the officials behind him. At this time, Wu Shuo really laughed and said, "Actually, Xu Duwei has Master Cao here, why do you need to rectify it." On the contrary, it is the unfinished waste of the guards, which is really clumsy. He grabbed Cao Tai's sleeve and deliberately lowered his voice: "Xun Lingjun means, rectifying Xu Duwei is just making a show, in fact, he wants to borrow Cao Gongzi's means to temper and temper Su Wei." ”

Although this rectification was proposed by Dong Cheng and promoted by Sanqing, it could not be realized without Xun Shangshu's acquiescence. Wu Shuo deliberately proposed Xun Yu to come, hoping to be more convincing.

But Wu Shuo didn't expect that Cao Tai would actually speak: "Lord Wu, let me tell you clearly." The struggle of the later generation of the Cao family was very fierce. I wanted to go to the battlefield to make a contribution, but I was trapped here, and even though I worked hard, I didn't get any credit. And now, you're going to take away so many of my men at once, how can I do it? ”

"Hey, why don't you understand Cao Gongzi so much?" To Cao Tai's surprise, Wu Shuo laughed when he heard this, and said, "How can Gongzi Cao be so ignorant of the overall situation? Xu Duwei is currently an important force guarding Xu Du, and now that the emperor's order has been issued, you naturally have to obey the order. But the emperor also said in the order, transfer General Niu Jin into the guard, you explain the situation, then how can General Cao Ren bring more people into Xudu, in this way, you only need to let Ling Zun give General Niu a hint, then General Niu's subordinates, how can they not listen to Cao Gongzi's orders? ”

"This ...... I'm afraid something is wrong, right? ”

"Naturally, if the name is not right, it is not good. However, it is also a fact that Xu Duling has a heavy responsibility and a lack of manpower. Why don't you follow the emperor's order today, and then wait for Your Majesty's condition to improve, and then write to Your Majesty to enrich General Niu Jin's guards Xu Du Ling? ”

Cao Tai looked at Wu Shuo, and his face still showed a look of distrust. From this, Wu Shuo further said: "That's it, it's no wonder that Ling Zun brought too many people and horses with him on the previous expedition. At this time, I wrote a recital and asked His Majesty to agree to General Cao Ren's transfer of 2,000 soldiers and horses back to Xudu. 500 people filled the guard, and 1,500 people replenished the deficit of Xu Duwei, how about it? ”

"That's exactly what I said, so please trouble Lord Wu to write." As he spoke, Cao Tai took out the paper and ink that had been prepared a long time ago, and looked at Wu Shuo with a bright smile. And Wu Shuo also shook his head helplessly, put pen to paper, and soon wrote a letter for Cao Tai to see.

After that, things were much easier, Wu Shuo picked up Xu Duwei's roster, selected a thousand people, and left satisfied. It's just that no one knows that when he left, he had an uncontrollable smile on his face.

And Cao Tai also showed an indescribable smile on his face after Wu Shuo left. Until a voice rang out behind him:

"Cao Gongzi, his acting skills are getting more and more exquisite."

"If it weren't for the guidance of the drama master, how could the fish be willing to bite the hook?" Cao Tai turned around, and sure enough, he saw a calm face before he went and returned, or rather, he never left at all.