The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

"No," Xun Hao shook his head and looked at his elder brother, "elder brother is too conspicuous. He will attract attention as soon as he enters Luoyang. This matter requires someone who can keep a low profile and adapt to changing circumstances."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll go." Xun Hao had already made up his mind; there was no one more suitable than himself. "Are you crazy?" Guo Jia, hearing of the changes in Luoyang, was worried about his friend and rushed over, only to hear that Xun Hao was also going to take the risk. "With your body that gets out of breath after just a few steps, you'll be buried halfway to Luoyang."

The journey from Yingchuan to Luoyang was long and fraught with danger, not to mention the arduous task of rescuing someone right under Dong Zhuo's nose. The hardships and perils involved were unimaginable. With Xun Hao's physique, he would likely have collapsed before even reaching Luoyang.

Xun Hao did not answer immediately, but turned to Xun Kun: "Father, this matter must be handled by me personally. I have placed some pieces in Luoyang, and only I can manipulate them. Moreover..."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, I must go. My brother is going for the greater good of our nation. I am going for my brother. None of the men of the Xun family are cowards."

These words resonated deeply, leaving Xun Kun and Xun Chen speechless. Looking at their younger brother (son), so frail yet so resolute, they were filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"Nonsense!" Xun Kun finally couldn't bear it anymore. "Your body..."

"I know my own limits when it comes to my body." Xun Hao had calculated that if he used it sparingly with the battery fully charged, Yuan Shao could escape right under Dong Zhuo's nose, and Cao Cao could escape too. There was no reason why he, his brother, and his nephew couldn't escape.

For some reason, looking into Xun Hao's clear and determined eyes, Guo Jia felt a surge of crazy impulse to go into danger with him.

"Uncle Xun, please stop trying to persuade him. Once Ahao has made up his mind, not even ten oxen could pull him back. If he wants to go, I'll go with him. I promise I'll bring him back safe and sound. If he's missing a single hair, I'll give you my head in return."

"No." He looked at Guo Jia. "This matter has nothing to do with you."

Guo Jia seemed not to understand the refusal in his words, and instead moved even closer, his peach blossom eyes curving into a beautiful arc: "How could it be unrelated to me? Wenruo is also my good friend. How could I sit idly by when a friend is in trouble? Besides..."

He drawled, looking Xun Hao up and down, his tone laced with a hint of frivolous teasing: "Looking like you, I'm afraid you'll be blown over by some gust of wind before you even leave Yingchuan. At that point, forget about saving Wenruo, you won't even be able to save yourself!"

These were harsh words, but Xun Hao didn't even lift an eyelid.

He knew Guo Jia's temperament well; arguing with him was the most futile thing in the world. He simply turned to Xun Kun and spoke again, "Father, I am enough."

Xun Kun looked at his youngest son's stubborn face, then at Guo Jia beside him who had an "I absolutely have to go" look on his face, and his mind was in turmoil. Of course, he didn't want Xun Hao to take such a huge risk, but now that Xun Yu was imprisoned, Xun Hao wanted to go and rescue him, and he couldn't stop him.

"Ah Hao," Xun Chen spoke up from the side, his voice hoarse, "Fengxiao is right. How can we be at ease if you travel alone? With him by your side, at least... at least there will be someone to look after you on the road."

Xun Hao's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at his elder brother's words. He needed Guo Jia, but not under these circumstances.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

There's no need for Guo Jia to accompany me into danger.

"I told you, I'm alone..."

"Uncle Xun, please let him come with me." Guo Jia interrupted Xun Hao directly. He put away his nonchalant demeanor, bowed deeply to Xun Kun, and his expression was more serious than ever before.

Xun Hao's heart sank as well. He looked at Guo Jia's profile; the corners of his mouth, which were usually always smiling, were now tightly pursed, revealing an undeniable determination.

"Why must you do this?" Xun Hao's voice was low, only the two of them could hear. "This is not Yangdi. There are no members of your clan here, only my brother. You don't need to..."

Guo Jia turned his head and looked directly into his eyes. "Dong Zhuo's wreaking havoc in the capital is a spectacle that happens only once in a century. I've long wanted to see it for myself. You're just a burden I brought along along the way."

These words finally left Xun Hao speechless.

He knew that Guo Jia had made up his mind. And he could find no reason to refuse, whether out of reason or out of his own hidden selfish motives.

Finally, Xun Kun sighed and made his decision: "Very well. Fengxiao, I'll leave Ahao in your care."

Once the decision was made, the Xun family immediately began operating with unprecedented efficiency.

A "caravan" of fifty elite soldiers quickly assembled. These men were the best of the Xun family's private army, each capable of taking on ten men, and all skilled in disguise and stealth. Ostensibly, they were guards escorting the two young masters to Nanyang to visit relatives, but in reality, they were on the edge of a dangerous trap.

On the eve of their departure, Xun Hao's courtyard was brightly lit.

Guo Jia was squatting on the ground, carefully inspecting his luggage. He checked everything, from changes of clothes to medicine, dry rations, and several poisoned hidden arrows.

"I said, are you really not going to reconsider?" Xun Hao stuffed a bottle of wound medicine into his bundle and asked without looking up.

"I, Guo Fengxiao, never change my mind once I've made a decision. Also, put this on." He tossed the cloak to Xun Hao. "Don't take it off on the road."

Xun Hao obediently accepted it, letting Guo Jia wrap him up like a rice dumpling.

The next day, before dawn, the convoy quietly drove out of Yingchuan City.

To avoid being seen by Dong Zhuo's army, they did not take the official road, but instead chose a more remote and rugged path.

Xun Hao discovered that he was carsick. He had Ma Heng improve the furniture and modify the siege and defense equipment, but he forgot to ask him to install shock absorbers on the carriage!

"If you feel unwell, lean on me and sleep for a while." Guo Jia pulled him into his arms, letting him lean on his shoulder, and then took out a candied fruit wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and put it into his mouth.

The sweet taste melted in my mouth, suppressing the churning stomach.

He enjoyed this "feeding" with a clear conscience. To maximize the effect, he even shrank closer to Guo Jia and pretended to be even weaker.

This "caravan" was well disguised. Although they encountered several groups of soldiers who came to check them along the way, the guard leader managed to get rid of them with a few pieces of silver.

However, when they reached a ferry crossing a hundred miles from Luoyang, they encountered trouble.

This is a vital passage into the Sili region, heavily guarded. Banners flutter on the high stockade walls, and Xiliang soldiers, wielding long halberds, fiercely scan anyone attempting to cross the river.

The leading garrison commander was a burly man with a thick beard and a menacing expression. He carried a ring-pommel sword at his waist.