I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 415 Cao Cao: Let's go through fire and water!

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's back was immediately soaked with sweat!

His eyelids began to twitch as he looked left and right, afraid of seeing the gleaming sharpness!
Cao Cao finally panicked!
The last time he felt so threatened was when Dong Zhuo was in power and he fled Luoyang.

At that time, the whole world was our enemy! The rustling of grass and trees seemed to conceal soldiers within; the sound of the wind seemed to indicate a butcher was about to slaughter us!

From all directions, in the vastness of the universe, all are enemies!

The sky is pressing down, and it has sharp spikes on it.

The ground rolled up, and hidden inside were sharp blades!

The slightest carelessness could lead to certain death!
Cao Cao thought he would never experience that suffocating feeling again in his life.

But at this moment, Cao Cao felt like he couldn't breathe.

What did Yuan Shao mean by saying that?
Can't do it?
What does this mean? Is it a test?
Or is it just a matter of eliminating one's own narrative?

Cao Cao did not understand.

So much so that, at this crucial moment when he should have spoken, Cao Cao became mute and was unable to utter a word for a time.

Yuan Shao had also been keeping a close eye on Cao Cao.

At this moment, Cao Cao's muscles and bones became extremely stiff, and he stood there like a wooden sculpture, as if everything that happened had nothing to do with him.

"Mengde, we're getting old."

Yuan Shao's words still conveyed a sense of weariness, but Cao Cao did not believe a single word Yuan Shao said!

Yes!

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Cao Cao slowly unearthed countless fragments of his memory about Yuan Shao, piecing together the most authentic Yuan Shao.

Outstanding.

Yingjie.

arrogant.

conceited.

cunning.

hypocritical.

……

These things were pieced together slowly to gradually reveal the shape of Yuan Shao.

But this absolutely does not include "letting go" or "cowardice"!
Just like his brother Yuan Shu!
Although the two brothers seemed to have very different personalities, Cao Cao, as their mutual friend, knew that the two brothers were still similar in some ways at heart.

Therefore, Cao Cao did not believe that Yuan Shao had come to him to submit!

Cao Cao thought of Liu Bei, with whom he had shared wine and green plums, and so he followed Liu Bei's example, regaining his composure and looking at Yuan Shao.

Upon this glance, Cao Cao could see that Yuan Shao's eyes, though seemingly calm on the surface, were actually burning with intense rage!

Cao Cao reassured him, "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life. After defeating Liu Miao and pacifying the world, you will be a figure like Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Shizu of Han! Both of them were blessed by Heaven, let alone Your Majesty?"

The melancholy in Yuan Shao's eyes seemed to lessen somewhat: "Mengde, do you also believe in fate?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao gave a wry smile: "At this point, it's no longer up to me whether I believe it or not."

"Back then, I was the first to bring the emperor out, but the emperor refused to submit to me and was instead harmed by me... In the dark, I'm afraid it was fate."

"As for Liu Miao, he was able to recover something as valuable as the Imperial Seal of the State. Even when Qin Shi Huang renamed Jinling to Moling, he couldn't suppress the imperial aura and forcibly prolong the life of the Han Dynasty. If I were to say that I don't believe in destiny, I would be deceiving myself."

In terms of ability, Cao Cao was confident that he was the strongest.

But luck was never on his side, so his current state of distress was genuine.

Yuan Shao, on the other hand, had been observing Cao Cao's every move from beginning to end.

Observe Cao Cao's brow, observe the beads of sweat on Cao Cao's forehead, observe the corners of Cao Cao's eyes, observe the temples of Cao Cao...

But when Yuan Shao saw the few strands of white hair at his temples, he finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze.

Perhaps his relationship with Cao Cao should never have been like this from beginning to end.

"Mengde, I remember when you were young, you told me your wishes. But I wonder if you still remember them now?"

Cao Cao's body trembled, but after a long while he lowered his head, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes turned into relief.

"He then desired to serve the country by punishing the rebels and to be ennobled as a marquis and appointed as General Who Conquers the West, so that he could inscribe on his tombstone, 'Tomb of the late General Who Conquers the West, Marquis Cao of the Han Dynasty.'"

……

I can't remember when I said that.

I can no longer remember my state of mind when I said those words.

He couldn't even remember the scene in which he said those words.

But Cao Cao could never forget this.

As the sun set, the last orange-red rays shone on the mottled tombstone. There weren't many people around—just Ding Shi, Bian Shi, Zixiu, and Zihuan—standing at the grave, clutching their armor and holding their swords, chanting "Summoning the Soul," hoping he could come back for one last look before departing peacefully.

"Now, you can no longer be the Great General Who Conquers the West."

Yuan Shao's sigh shattered Cao Cao's illusions and pierced his spirit, jolting him awake!

"But it's still possible for him to be the General Who Conquers the West for the Great Zhao."

Yuan Shao's words made Cao Cao raise his head again, but he was also somewhat taken aback.

"Regarding the matter in Guanzhong, my assessment is the same as Mengde's. It seems that Liu Miao's actions were a spur-of-the-moment decision to cause trouble, and not a genuine intention to fight a decisive battle in Guanzhong."

“Even so, the situation in Guanzhong is far too complicated. Especially since Ma Teng and Liu Miao were old friends, if the Western Liang forces were to occupy Guanzhong, it would be a real problem.” “Therefore, I want you to go to Guanzhong and guard the western frontier for me!”

"Moreover, once the Central Plains are pacified and the country is restored, I will need you to help me quell the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou, reopen the ancient Silk Road, and rebuild the Protectorate of the Western Regions."

"I can help you, I can help you become a true General Who Conquers the West!"

……

Cao Cao could not believe what he was hearing.

Yuan Shao actually wants him to go to Guanzhong?
Yuan Shao actually dared to send him to Guanzhong?
What is this? Another test?
Although some of the forces currently existing in Guanzhong are indeed remnants of Cao Cao's army, Cao Cao does not believe that this alone will convince Yuan Shao to let him go to Guanzhong!

Cao Cao dared not agree.

He brought up Yuan Tan again: "I still prefer to stay in Ye City!"

"As for the matter of Guanzhong, it can be handled by the King of Qin..."

"Xiansi doesn't have time."

Yuan Shao's words interrupted Cao Cao's thoughts, but also made Cao Cao even more confused.

Yuan Tan doesn't have time? Then what is he doing?
At this point, what else could they be doing? They must be preparing for war with Liu Miao.

But what does this have to do with activating yourself?
In a daze, the image of Yuan Shao that Cao Cao had just reconstructed reappeared.

Always aloof and superior, always believing that everything is under their control.

So it seems that placing him in Guanzhong is also within his grasp?
But why?
What made Yuan Shao think he wouldn't rebel?
family?

No.

Cao Cao really liked one of Liu Bei's sayings—

"Brothers are like hands and feet, women are like clothes."

Cao Cao knew that his mere family members could not restrain him, and Yuan Shao probably knew it too.

If that's the case, then there's only one possibility!
After piecing together the recent intelligence, Cao Cao roughly pieced together the truth behind Yuan Shao's willingness to let him go to Guanzhong.

Because Yuan Shao was certain that he would not lose the war against Liu Miao!
In this future war, Yuan Shao will surely be the victor! And Yuan Shao will ultimately be the one to pacify the world!

If Yuan Shao had truly defeated Liu Miao and pacified the world, would Cao Cao, even if he were in Guanzhong, have any intention of rebelling?

Once you understand all this, in an instant, all friendship and trust vanish.

Cao Cao confirmed it: Yuan Shao was still the same Yuan Shao.

He cannot trust himself, just as he cannot trust himself.

Among feudal lords of their caliber, trust is as thin and laughable as a bubble.

Yuan Shao was always arrogant, believing that he would definitely defeat Liu Miao in this battle and pacify the world!

By then, what will Cao Cao be? Just an ant that can be crushed with a flick of the wrist...

Having thought all this through, Cao Cao was finally certain that he had figured out Yuan Shao's intentions.

"If Your Majesty insists that I go to Guanzhong, then I will certainly go through fire and water for Your Majesty without hesitation!"

Cao Cao took the gamble!
He gambled that everything was exactly as he had guessed.

Yuan Shao did these things not just to test him!
A combination of kindness and severity is needed; this should be a warning!
Otherwise, if he missed this opportunity, Cao Cao felt he would never have another chance!

"Good! Since Mengde has agreed, I can rest assured about the matter in Guanzhong."

As Yuan Shao's voice fell, the huge weight in Cao Cao's heart was lifted.

The bet was right!
Just as Yuan Shao was certain, Cao Cao had not forgotten his original aspirations.

Cao Cao was equally certain that Yuan Shao was still the same arrogant Yuan Shao, and that Yuan Shao would not change because of his claim to the throne, illness, or old age!

Yuan Shao immediately ordered that Cao Cao be appointed as General Who Conquers the West.

At the same time, Cao Cao was also assigned two deputy generals and a strategist.

Contrary to Cao Cao's expectations, Yuan Shao did not return the people of Cao Cao and Xiahou to him, but instead kept them in Ye City as hostages.

Yuan Shao sent two people: Yue Jin and Yu Jin.

Compared to Yue Jin's joy at finally being able to fight alongside Cao Cao again, Yu Jin could not lift his head when facing Cao Cao.

When Yuan Shao led his army south, all the other generals under Cao Cao held their ground, but Cao Cao, who was stationed in Dongjun, chose to surrender, leading to the fall of half of the Central Plains battlefield.

If it weren't for Xu Sheng suddenly appearing under Liu Miao's command, the battle situation would probably be very different today.

Yu Jin dared not look at Cao Cao.

He even wished that Cao Cao could draw his sword and kill him right now!

But what awaited him in the end was a heavy punch from Cao Cao, who had already put on that golden armor and red robe again!
Yu Jin stared in astonishment at his chest, then looked up at Cao Cao in disbelief.

"Wen Ze, why is a man so pretentious!"

The strategist Guo Jia, who had come along, nodded in agreement: "Back then, how many people dared to say they were confident? If it weren't for Zhongshan blocking Yuan Shao at Kunyang, the world would probably be completely under Yuan Shao's control by now!"

"Later, when Xuchang fell, we learned that many officials had long been in cahoots with Yuan Shao, and none of them were generals!"

Cao Cao and Yu Jin nodded slightly, then Cao Cao put his Yitian back on his saddle, mounted Jueying, and looked westward with imposing grandeur.

"In this battle, I will first test whether Zhongshan's sword is still sharp!"

"If he can't even match my sharpness, how can he compete with Yuan Shao in swordsmanship?"

(End of this chapter)