Cao Cao is older, his body is not as tough as before, and he often suffers from headaches, and his physical condition is worrying.

Rao is so, Cao Cao still maintains an optimistic attitude.

During this time, Cao Cao's subordinates were arguing endlessly, and even Guo Jia was a little hesitant.

Yuan Shao's death is definitely not a good thing for the Yuan Cao Alliance, but this is not an opportunity.

If Cao Cao can send troops to eliminate the Yuan clan in one fell swoop when the Yuan clan is in succession, then Cao Cao will have the power of five and a half states.

Five and a half states, and a few wealthy state towns, would be terrifying just to think about.

However, Chen Xuhu is in Guanzhong, and there are many generals under his command, how can he sit back and watch Cao Cao annex Jizhou?

What's more, although Yuan Shao died, Jizhou is still full of talents, and the foundation is not damaged, even if Cao Cao tries his best, he can't easily eliminate Yuan Tan.

At this time, it has reached the turning point of the Cao family, and once the choice is wrong, I am afraid that it will fall into a situation from which it will never recover.

Therefore, whether it is Guo Fengxiao, who is full of wisdom, or Cao Mengde, a generation of heroes, they are all a little hesitant at this time.

"Stomp, stomp."

At this moment, a rush of footsteps came, interrupting Cao Cao, who was pondering.

"Zhongkang, what's going on?"

Seeing Xu Chu's strong body, Cao Cao couldn't help asking.

Xu Chu said angrily: "My lord, the King of Qin sent an envoy over and brought the edict of the Son of Heaven. ”

Hearing this, Cao Cao stood up suddenly, with a look of surprise on his face, and then straightened his clothes and walked out the door.

In the chamber of the Qi Palace, Cao Cao had just entered the door when he saw a green-shirted scribe.

After seeing this person, Cao Cao rubbed his eyes vigorously, and then said with some surprise: "Are you, Gongren?" ”

Dong Zhao looked at Cao Cao, who was not very tall, and when he saw the white hair on his temples, he remembered Cao Cao's demeanor when he was young, and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"Zhao has seen King Qi."

Cao Cao immediately laughed out loud when he heard this, hurriedly stepped forward to hold Dong Zhao's arm, and said, "I never thought that King Qin really sent Gongren here this time." ”

"You and I haven't seen each other for nearly twenty years."

Dong Zhao's face showed a look of memory, and then said: "To be exact, it should be nineteen years." ”

Speaking of this, Dong Zhao couldn't help but sigh: "The King of Qi was just the Taishou of Dongjun at the beginning, and he never thought that now he has become a powerful prince, and he is the respect of the King of Qi. ”

When Yuan Shao occupied Jizhou and was still at war with Gongsun Zhan, Cao Cao was still the only one who looked at Yuan Shao.

At that time, Dong Zhao had already worked under Yuan Shao, so he naturally met Cao Cao, the two had talked privately, and Dong Zhao also admired Cao Cao very much.

Nearly 20 years have passed in the blink of an eye, and when Dong Zhao met Cao Cao again, he had a feeling that things were wrong.

Cao Cao heard Dong Zhao's words, but he shook his head and said: "Dividing one side and entering the king of Qi is not necessarily more pleasant than meeting Gongren again." ”

Cao Cao's face was sincere, and his tone was also very sincere, even if Dong Zhao had experienced many ups and downs, he was also a little moved in his heart at this time.

With a look of nostalgia in his eyes, Dong Zhao looked at Cao Cao's white hair on his temples and said: "King Qi was heroic and full of pride at the beginning, but now he has also given birth to gorgeous hair, and time waits for no one." ”

Cao Cao was also a little distracted, and sighed: "Yes, time is like flowing water, and it will never return." ”

The two chatted for a while, and Cao Cao suddenly said: "In the past, I was very reluctant to meet Gongren, but I valued Gongren very much at the beginning, and I was not good at interfering. ”

"Gongren came to Xuzhou today, I don't know if you are willing to help me achieve a great cause?"

After speaking, Cao Cao stared at Dong Zhao with burning eyes, his eyes full of expectation.

Dong Zhao didn't expect that Cao Cao would actually recruit him, and he immediately felt a little stunned, but fortunately, he was very outstanding in qi cultivation skills, and he quickly reacted, so he didn't lose his temper.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Dong Zhao said: "King Qi is very loving, Zhao is ashamed of it, and he is also very grateful. ”

"But King Qin regards me as his heart, how can I turn my back on the Lord and defect to the King of Qi, don't mention this matter to the King of Qi in the future!"

Although Cao Cao knew that the possibility of being able to recruit Dong Zhao was very small, but he was directly rejected by Dong Zhao, and Cao Cao still felt a little lost in his heart.

Fortunately, Cao Cao was not very human, so he hurriedly sorted out his mood, and then said: "Gongren came to Xuzhou this time, why did he come to Xuzhou?" ”

Dong Zhao sat up straight and said, "The foreign minister came here this time for two things. ”

"First, Your Majesty remembered King Qi's crusade against Dong Zhuo, appointed me as an angel, and specially came to canonize King Qi as the pastor of Jizhou."

Cao Cao's eyes flashed when he heard this, and then he smiled and said nothing.

Dong Zhao continued: "Second, my lord has been friends with the king of Qi for a long time, and often sighs that the king of Qi is a hero in the world, and wants to join forces with the king of Qi to jointly support the Han family. ”

"Now that Yuan Benchu has died, it is difficult for Yuan Tan Huangkou to become a big thing, if the King of Qi and my lord join forces to go on a northern expedition, then Yanzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou will all become the things in the bag of the King of Qi."

"At that time, wouldn't it be nice for the King of Qi and my lord to share the Yuan family's inheritance equally?"

When Cao Cao heard this, his eyes burst with light.

He is an ambitious person, and after hearing that Yuan Shao died, although he was a little sad, he did not have the intention of annexing Yuan Tan.

It's just that Chen Xu is eyeing him next to him, which makes Cao Cao dare not make the slightest move.

Therefore, hearing Dong Zhao say this, Cao Cao was also a little moved.

It's just that Cao Cao was originally a resourceful person, and when he thought about it, he knew the trap, and he couldn't help but feel awe-inspiring in his heart.

With a chuckle, Cao Cao said: "Thank you Your Majesty for your kindness, but these two things are not trivial, and I still have to discuss with my subordinate Wu before I can give Gongren an answer." ”

Dong Zhao also knew that this matter was not small, and he immediately did not force Cao Cao, the two chatted again for a while, and Dong Zhao returned to the post house to rest.

As for Cao Cao, he quickly gathered his subordinates to discuss major matters.

When Xiahoudun heard the news that Chen Xu wanted to form an alliance with his family and annex Yuan Tan together, he was immediately overjoyed and said: "If you don't take it, you will be blamed for it." ”

"Since there is no Chen Wenzhao to worry about, why don't you lead the Northern Expedition as soon as possible?"

"As long as I can occupy more territory of the Yuan Clan, even if Chen Wenzhao is powerful, I don't have to look at his face in the future!"

Xiahoudun's words were recognized by many generals, and they all asked for war and wanted to serve as the vanguard of the Northern Expedition.

Looking at the excited generals, Cao Cao frowned slightly.

At this moment, Xun Yu suddenly spoke: "This matter needs to be carefully considered, and you can't act rashly." ”

If pies fall from the sky, there must be traps on the ground.

Although there are many strategists in Xuzhou, there are many differences on whether to turn their faces with Yuan Tan.

But when Chen Xu stepped in, they all became cautious, afraid of falling for Chen Xu's tricks.

Xun Yu has a very high reputation in Xuzhou, so when the generals heard his words, they immediately fell silent and put their eyes on him.

When Cao Cao heard Xun Yu's words, a look of appreciation flashed in his eyes, and then he asked, "Wen Ruo has any ideas, but it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

Xun Yu was still the same gentle and elegant appearance, he bowed slightly to Cao Cao, and then said: "Have you ever remembered why you wanted to unite the rest of the princes to resist Chen Wenzhao in the first place? ”

Cao Cao thought about it for a while, and then said: "Chen Wenzhao's power is too strong, if the princes do not unite, they will definitely be attacked one by one. ”

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Xun Yu's face, and he continued: "In that case, how could the lord now think of abandoning the covenant and attacking Jizhou instead? ”

Cao Cao couldn't help but suffocate when he heard this.

Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao's face and said, "The lord doesn't know what he thinks, but although Yuan Benchu has passed away, Jizhou's strength is still not much better than the lord's tolerance. ”

"Betraying the covenant and using sword soldiers in vain, not only is it impossible to eliminate Yuan Tan, but it is very likely that he will switch to Chen Wenzhao and attack the lord together."

When Cao Cao heard this, he was shocked in his heart, and he felt cold sweat on his back.

The temptation to seize the Yuan family's foundation is indeed very great, and even makes many people lose their minds.

Even Guo Jia did not have the intention of sending troops to the Northern Expedition, not that he couldn't see the hidden worries, but now that the Cao Group wants to develop, there is only one way left for the Northern Expedition.

But the Northern Expedition to attack Yuan Tan also means that you are alive or dead.

In the big war, either Cao Cao eliminated Yuan Tan and his power swelled sharply, or Yuan Tan took refuge in Chen Xu, and the two eliminated Cao Cao.

As for Dong Zhao's statement, Chen Xu will form an alliance with Cao Cao to attack Yuan Tan, and then divide the Yuan family's foundation equally, but no one will believe it.

Opportunities and crises always coexist, Cao Cao thought about it for a long time, but he didn't make up his mind what to do.

Reason told Cao Cao that the alliance between Cao and Yuan must not be separated by Chen Xu; But his ambition kept persuading himself, Northern Expedition, Northern Expedition, Northern Expedition.

Cao Cao is almost sixty years old, and in this era, sixty is already considered a long life.

Cao Cao's health is getting worse and worse, if he does not send troops to attack Jizhou this time, he doesn't know if he will have a chance to expand his power again in his lifetime.

There was also silence in the council hall, even if Cao Cao's command was full of talents, but in the face of such a difficult choice, it was not easy for them to make up their minds.

"Do you do everything to fight once, or do you maintain the status quo and hinder Chen Wenzhao?"

Cao Cao, who has always been very decisive, has never been able to make up his mind, and his advisers also know the stakes and do not dare to speak easily.

At this moment, a guard walked in, took out a letter, and hurriedly handed it to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao took the letter, and after reading the contents, his face immediately changed.

Seeing this, Guo Jia hurriedly asked, "Lord, but what happened?" ”

Cao Cao took a deep breath and said, "Sun Zhongmou reneged on the covenant and allied with Chen Wenzhao, and the two sides sent troops to attack Jingzhou together. ”

Cao Cao's words exploded in the conference hall like a thunderbolt from the blue.

Someone immediately said: "If Chen Sun forms an alliance, Jingzhou will be in danger, and if Jingzhou is destroyed, even if the lord takes Jizhou, he will not be the opponent of the two princes." ”

This sudden news completely shattered everyone's illusion of annexing Jizhou.

Cao Cao immediately made a decision and shouted: "Jizhou will always be our ally, and we will mention the Northern Expedition again!" ”