Three Kingdoms: A wise grandson, Cao Wei can last for three generations!

Cao Rui thought for a moment and replied, "It's worth it. Knowing he's a wolf is better than not knowing."

Cao Cao laughed and threw the chess piece back into the chess basket.

"You know he's a wolf, so what?"

"Then..." Cao Rui said carefully, "either kill him or tie him up tightly."

Cao Cao looked at him with a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Did your master teach you to say that, or did you come up with it yourself?"

"It's half and half," Cao Rui answered honestly. "My teacher taught me that one must see through people. But how to handle it is up to me."

Cao Cao nodded, stood up, and walked to the window.

"I've heard of Sima Yi before. His father, Sima Fang, recommended me for the civil service examination back then. In a way, he's the son of my benefactor."

Cao Rui remained silent, waiting for what would follow.

"But I've also heard of his hawk-like gaze and wolf-like demeanor." Cao Cao turned to look at Cao Rui. "Today we've tested it out, and it's true."

"So, what does Grandfather plan to do?"

Cao Cao paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Deal with? Why do we need to deal with it?"

Cao Rui was stunned.

Cao Cao walked over and sat down opposite him.

"Rui'er, remember this—few capable people are easy to deal with. Sima Yi is capable and ambitious; this is his flaw, but also his value."

If you want to use him, you have to be able to tolerate his flaws. If you want to kill him, you have to be able to bear the consequences.

Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully.

"So, is Grandfather planning to use him?"

Cao Cao nodded: "Use him. But use him carefully. Let him do things, but don't give him military power. Let him offer advice, but don't let him take charge on his own. Let him feel that he has a chance, but he'll always fall just short."

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't this exactly what Jia Xu meant by "leaving a way out to prevent a retreat"?

"Grandpa is brilliant."

Cao Cao smiled and reached out to rub his head.

"Alright, go back now. Tomorrow, talk to your master about this and see what he says."

Cao Rui nodded, then rose to take his leave.

Stepping out of the study, it was already evening. The setting sun bathed the eaves of the Prime Minister's residence in gold, and several servants moved about in the corridor, preparing to light the lamps.

As Cao Rui was walking out, he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

"Young master."

Cao Rui turned around and saw that it was Yang Xiu.

He stood at the other end of the corridor, smiling as he looked at Cao Rui.

"Mr. Yang, is there something you need?"

Yang Xiu walked over, stopped in front of him, and looked down at him.

"During the banquet today, you kept looking at me. I'd like to ask, what did you notice?"

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat. This Yang Xiu has sharp eyes.

He feigned innocence, saying, "Mr. Yang is an interesting speaker; I enjoy listening to him."

Yang Xiu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Interesting? Is what I'm saying really interesting?"

Cao Rui nodded: "Interesting. Dreaming of a butterfly can make one forget one's worries, and dissecting an ox can save one's life—these are not words that ordinary people can utter."

Yang Xiu's smile faltered for a moment, and a hint of seriousness appeared in his gaze as he looked at Cao Rui.

"Is the young master seven years old this year?"

"Seven years old."

Yang Xiu nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

"It's not easy for a seven-year-old to understand this." He cupped his hands in greeting. "Please take your leave, young master."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Cao Rui watched his retreating figure and silently made a mental note of it.

Yang Xiu was an outwardly intelligent and sharp-tongued man. Such people are useful, but they are also prone to causing trouble.

Back home, Cao Rui recounted the day's events to Zhen Mi—of course, omitting the part about his eagle-like gaze and wolfish shrewdness.

After listening, Zhen Mi sighed.

"Your grandfather is treating you like an adult."

Cao Rui leaned against her and said, "Mother, I don't want to be an adult. I want to stay a child forever and stay with you every day."

Zhen Mi smiled and reached out to tap his nose.

"You're good at saying nice things. You're even better at sweet-talking than your father."

Cao Rui chuckled but didn't reply.

The next day, Cao Rui went to Jia Xu's residence on time.

After listening to his retelling, Jia Xu squinted and thought for a long time before suddenly smiling.

"Your grandfather is using Sima Yi as a tool."

"Used as a weapon?"

"That's right." Jia Xu picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and said, "A knife can kill, but it can also injure the user. It all depends on who wields it. If your grandfather thinks he can handle it, then let him wield it."

Cao Rui thought for a moment and asked, "Do you think Grandfather can hold on to this?"

Jia Xu glanced at him, but instead of answering directly, he asked, "What do you think?"

Cao Rui paused for a moment, then said, "If my grandfather were here, I could hold on. If my grandfather were gone..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Jia Xu nodded and took another sip of wine.

"Then let your grandfather live a few more years."

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat. These words were loaded with meaning.

"What you mean, sir..."

Jia Xu waved his hand, interrupting him.

"I didn't say anything. Figure it out yourself."

Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully.

After leaving Jia Xu's residence, Cao Rui went to Pang Tong's place.

Pang Tong hadn't drunk any alcohol today and was unusually sober. He was playing with the dog that Cao Zhi had given him in the courtyard—of course, it was brought over by Cao Rui.

"Sir, why are you playing with the dog?"

Pang Tong didn't even turn his head: "This dog is interesting. It's more honest than a person; if you feed it, it'll be friendly. Unlike some people, no matter how much you give them, you can't get them to be loyal."

Cao Rui knew who he was talking about, but didn't reply.

Pang Tong played with the dog for a while, then suddenly asked, "I heard your grandfather tested Sima Yi yesterday?"

Cao Rui nodded.

"What did you find out?"

Cao Rui recounted the story of the eagle's gaze and the wolf's look.

After listening, Pang Tong remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed.

"The wolf-like gaze... I've heard of that. Back in Jingzhou, Mr. Shui Jing once mentioned it to me—'Anyone with this look is no ordinary person.'"

"Mr. Shui Jing?"

"Sima Hui. He is the same Mr. Shui Jing who proposed that 'possessing either the Crouching Dragon or the Young Phoenix is ​​enough to bring peace to the world.'"

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat. Sima Hui, that was a very important person.

"What did he say?"

Pang Tong thought for a moment and then said, "He said that Sima Yi is a man of great talent, but also a great threat. If used well, he can be a minister who brings prosperity to the country; if used poorly, he can be a traitor who brings chaos to the country."

Cao Rui fell silent. His words were similar to those of Jia Xu.

"So, sir, how do you think it should be used?"

Pang Tong shook his head: "I don't know. You should ask your master about this. I only teach you how to write articles, not how to play mind games."

Cao Rui laughed: "Sir, aren't you playing mind games?"

Pang Tong glared at him: "I'm judging people, not playing mind games."

Cao Rui suppressed a laugh and remained silent.

At the Prime Minister's residence, Cao Cao summoned Xun Yu alone.

"My lord, a few days ago you mentioned the matter of establishing an heir. I have thought about it for a long time, and today I will show you the heir chosen by Fengxiao back then."

As he spoke, Cao Cao took out a wooden box containing two bamboo slips.

As Cao Cao touched the bamboo slip bearing Guo Jia's handwriting, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved: "The ink remains, but the man is gone. Alas, Fengxiao!"