The sky full of fire swallowed up the entire Dongjiang Tower. Sima Yi, Sima Lang and others stood in front of the fire, watching Sima Fu give up his desire to survive and turn to the fire.

But what they didn't know was that it was not only Guo Huai and others who were staring at all in secret. Li Jin and Zhong Yu were also observing secretly. When they found that Sima Fu was already in the sea of ​​fire, Li Jin jumped into the burning Dongjiang Tower. When he jumped to the second floor, he found that Sima Fu, who was leaning against the stone pillar, had lost consciousness, because he was burned by the flames and even suffered burns of varying degrees. After seeing this, Li Jin carried Sima Fu behind him and left the fire before the Dongjiang Tower completely collapsed.

Later, under Zhong Yu's arrangement, Sima Fu temporarily cultivated the Yang family in the south city of Mount Tai. Because his burns were too serious, Zhong Yu had to ask Hua Tuo to come and treat him.

With Hua Tuo's superb medical skills, Sima Fu's injuries were well controlled. He suggested that he should hurry up and perform skin graft and other related repair surgery on him. The first skin graft surgery was very successful, but unfortunately, Hua Tuo was killed for refusing Cao Cao's recruitment before he could perform the second time on Sima Fu.

During this period, Sima Fu gradually regained consciousness. When he found out that he was still living in this world, he immediately became excited and wanted to die. Finally, he was persuaded by Zhong Yu and Liu She to redeem Sima Yi alive.

Soon the Battle of Red Cliff broke out, and Sima Yi was plotted against by Liu Xie and "Liu Ji" during the war, and the mission was hanging on the line. At this time, the sheep who took over Hua Tuo had completed the second stage of skin grafting surgery.

In order to ensure that Sima Yi could survive, Zhong Yu specially arranged for Yang Jian to go to Lukou to treat Sima Yi first, while Sima Fu stayed in place under the protection of Li Jin for a while. After Sima Yi escaped from danger, Yang Jian returned to Sima Fu's place and completed the final work of dismantling the bandages and sutures. Two months later, Sima Fu's injuries were basically completely restored.

Originally, Sima Fu planned to go to Lukou with Zhong Yu and Cheng Wu, but when he thought that he wanted to kill Sima Yi, he failed to muster up the courage out of guilt. In the end, he decided to stay in Nancheng to learn the method of crossbow from Li Jin. Because of his extraordinary talent, he had already practiced the archery technique of passing through Yang in a very short period of time.

The person who helped Xun Yun escape when he was hunted was Sima Fu.

"It's a pity that my elder brother has already gone to serve as the governor of Yanzhou. Otherwise, he would be very happy if he knew you were still alive."

At this time, Sima Yi seemed to have completely forgotten the fact that Sima Fu and "Liu Ji" had joined forces with him behind his back, but Sima Fu seemed very ashamed:

"Short after we returned to Wen County from Liyang, 'Liu Ji' found me and told you the truth about the past between you. Under his instigation, he thought that you would bring great disaster to our Sima family. He promised me that all actions were to protect the Sima family, so that I would join them. But later I found that his revenge was far more than brother Zhong, and their methods were becoming more and more cruel and ruthless. I originally thought that everything I did was right, but in the end I found that I had just made his pawn for nothing..."

Sima Yi patted Sima Fu's shoulder and said, "Shuda, no matter what happens in the future, I will always be Sima Yi and your brother forever. This will never change at any time or anywhere."

While deeply moved by this, Sima Fu also remembered the purpose of his return:

"By the way, my second brother, have you had any abnormalities recently or have you ever contacted with some suspicious people?"<

Although I thought Sima Fu's problem was strange, Sima Yi remembered Cai Yan's reminder to him when he was leaving, and carefully recalled all the details related to Zhang Chunhua recently, but he did not find anything suspicious.

"What happened? Why do you seem to have focused on Chunhua recently?"

Zhong Yu didn't want to tell this, but he was worried that if Sima Yi didn't explain it, it would be very bad, so he told the truth:

"Zhang Kai, who was entrusted by my brother to kill Zhang Wang's family, is still alive..."

This sentence is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Sima Yi, because he knew that if Zhang Kai was still alive, it would be a loophole for Chunhua that would never be able to plug the tragic past.

But he was surprised too early now, and Xun Yun's next words made him feel the urgency and seriousness of the situation:<

"What's worse is that we found out that Zhang Kai was still alive and wanted to catch him, so Shuda and I went to visit and follow him some time ago. Unexpectedly, Guo Huai was taking the lead, which means that Zhang Kai is now in the hands of 'Liu Ji'."

Sima Fu said to Sima Yi:<

"The former maid named Ying'er was sent by Cao Cao to monitor you. They also knew about this matter, so he issued an order to me to use the deep feelings between Ying'er and second sister-in-law for you to lure her into killing. As a result, the second sister-in-law killed Ying'er to protect you. Once a killing incident occurs, there will be an extremely bad start. If the second sister-in-law knows what happened back then, there will be a big trouble in the Sima family."

It was already late at night when Sima Fu put on his veil and left. Sima Yi returned to the bedroom and saw Zhang Chunhua holding the sleeping Sima Shi in his arms while pushing Sima Zhao in the wooden shaker with his hands, looking quite tired.

Seeing that Sima Yi was back, Zhang Chunhua smiled and stretched out his index finger and pressed it on his lips to suggest that Sima Yi should not make a sound.

Sima Yi understood this. He deliberately closed the door with the least sound, and then walked to the wooden shaking bed with a slight finger. Seeing his two lively and cute sons, he remembered what happened during the day again, so the smile on his face gradually faded.

Zhang Chunhua saw that her husband seemed to have something to worry about, so he asked in a low voice:<

"What happened? Why do you look worried?"<

Sima Yi shook his head and smiled reluctantly: "It's nothing, maybe it's because he's too tired during this period..."<

Seeing that her husband's face could be hidden but still had clues of sorrow, Zhang Chunhua turned around and gently placed Sima Shi in his arms on the bed, then covered the bedding and reached out to pull Sima Yi to the edge of the bed.

Although he was tired of taking care of his two sons during the day, Zhang Chunhua didn't care about stretching out his hands to help Sima Yi pinch his shoulders and comfort him and said:

"You are not the only counselor around the Prime Minister. If you can do something without participating in it, try to let Zitong and Mr. Wenhui and others do it. After all, you only have one mind. If you are so tired, I don't have the extra energy to serve you."

Listening to Zhang Chunhua's jokes made Sima Yi laugh. He reached out and patted Zhang Chunhua's back of his hand that was pressed on his shoulder:<

"Don't worry, I know it."

Although he said this, Sima Yi had no direction to himself, Zhang Chunhua, and the entire Sima family...

In September 212 AD (the seventeenth year of Jian'an), Sun Quan followed the plan of his adviser Zhang Hong to move the capital from Wuxian to Moling and established a stone city for defense. At the same time, he changed Moling to Jianye. In the same month, the military general Lu Meng offered a plan to build a dock in Ruxukou to serve as a solid fortress on the bank of the river. Sun Quan agreed and immediately began to implement it.

After the news reached Yecheng, Cao Cao was furious. He pointed to Sun Quan's change of Moling to Jianye and said to the civil and military officials and generals standing in the hall: "Sun Quan actually changed Moling to Jianye, which shows that his intention was very clear, that is, he wanted to make achievements. He moved the capital to the south bank of the Yangtze River and built a city and dock, which shows that he intended to plan for me."

Seeing this, Cao Hong said, "Prime Minister, Sun Quan was proud of the victory of Chibi and did not take you and the court seriously. Today's move is tantamount to demonstrating to you. If you do not attack, your prestige will be greatly damaged."

Cao Zhi also agreed with this, but Cao Pi expressed his objection on the spot:

"Father, judging from the previous few attacks on Jiangdong, we have not yet defeated the possibility of Sun Quan occupying Yangzhou. Jiangdong is currently united as a rock. If we go south in vain, it will not only cause huge losses, but will also affect our strategy of moving westward. Please think twice."<

Seeing this, Cao Zhi retorted: "Brother's words are too ambitious to others. There are countless civil and military officials under his father's command. From your point of view, the monarchs and ministers of the Eastern Wu are determined to be able to be destroyed. Are we just a mess of sand?"

The debate became more and more intense, and Cao Cao finally slapped the table:<

"Stop quarrel! I have decided. Since Sun Quan has started to provoke me, if he doesn't respond, he will really let Sun Zhongmou, a yellow-mou, look down on me!"

In the end, Cao Cao believed that the civil strife proposed by Jia Xu in the west had not yet achieved results, and there might be risks in advancing west rashly, so he ordered the soldiers of Runan to attack Ruxuwu and advance to Jianye.

Sima Yi, Jiang Ji and others present did not express their attitude because they were smart people. They knew that Cao Cao had made a decision and could not change it at will. In addition, the military generals led by Cao Hong saw that the strategy of advancing west had not made any progress. They had no choice but to make a decision and encouraged Cao Cao to send troops south.

In Sima Yi's opinion, the most irreversible thing was Cao Cao's mentality. Cao Cao had failed to fight against Eastern Wu before, but now he was naturally furious in the face of Sun Quan's strategic provocation. Even if he expected that this time he would not succeed, no one could persuade him, so it would be better to stand aside and avoid causing trouble.

Cao Cao was far more concerned than the Southern Expedition to Eastern Wu. The matter of promoting the title of the Duke that Dong Zhao had mentioned before was also concerned about Cao Cao. After making a strategic plan to "set the west for a while and rushing the south", Cao Cao found Sima Yi, Chen Qun and others to discuss the matter of the Duke.

However, what Cao Cao did not expect was that Chen Qun's opinion was not to let Cao Cao be conferred the title of Duke:

"Now with the prime minister's merits and prestige, it should not be limited to small things like the promotion of the Duke."<

"Oh?"<

Chen Qun's words aroused Cao Cao's interest: "What does the long article mean?"<

Chen Qun bowed and replied: "The Chief is quite in the throne of the Ninth Five to shock the world!"

For Cao Cao, Chen Qun's words were like a heavy hammer ringing an ancient bell. While deeply shocked by it, he turned his eyes to Sima Yi who was silent aside:

"What is Zhongda's opinion?"<

Sima Yi was silent for a while and replied, "It is a matter of time before the Han Dynasty was in danger until it overturned. I also agree with Mr. Changwen's suggestion, but the pace should not be too fast. Although Sun Quan in the east, Liu Bei in the south, Ma Chao, Zhang Lu in the west and other people were not as strong as you, please think that Dong Zhuo was attacked by more than a dozen princes just by controlling His Majesty. And now the momentum of Liu Bei and Sun Quan is on the rise. If you become emperor at this moment, you will definitely make them one."<

After saying that, Sima Yi persuaded Cao Cao and said, "It is feasible to ask the court to grant the duke the moment."

After this conversation, Cao Cao saw that Sima Yi and Chen Qun supported themselves to become emperor deep in their hearts, but Cao Cao was not as far as he thought. Finally, he agreed to let Dong Zhao go to Xu Du and ask the emperor for a report and entrust him to Duke Wei.

Just in case, he specifically instructed Dong Zhao to consult Xun Yu's suggestions before submitting the memorial.

As a result, after reading Dong Zhao's statement, Xun Yu immediately understood that this was Cao Cao's instruction. He naturally disagreed in his heart. However, he deliberately pretended to be Dong Zhao and others' private actions to scold them, and secretly warned Cao Cao not to step further.

After receiving the reply, Cao Cao's only patience with Xun Yu was exhausted. He took advantage of the opportunity when the army was actively preparing to move south and took advantage of the situation to transfer Xun Yu as a famous general working in Qiao County and left him in the army.

Later, Cao Cao gave Xun Yu several empty positions and ordered him to go south with the army, which was actually kicking Xun Yu out of the core of the political circle. Xun Yu already knew this. After the army arrived in Shouchun, he was completely ill and was completely ill.

Xun Yun, who was in Yecheng, learned about it, although he did not look too worried on the surface, he was extremely anxious inside, so he became distracted during the negotiations with Sima Yi and others several times.

Sima Yi saw Xun Yun’s thoughts and said to him: “Go.”

After obtaining permission, Xun Yun immediately drove away to Shouchun. When he arrived at Xun Yu's sickbed, Xun Yu was already dying.

Looking at his father who was pale and almost dying, Xun Yun's heart was extremely complicated. He rarely performed his filial piety as his eldest son all year round. Today, he couldn't help but blame himself when he saw his father's desolate land. But he didn't want Xun Yu to worry about him before he died. He deliberately held back his tears and pretended to be the same as usual. He walked to the bedside with a forced smile and said:

"I could walk or jump when I met you last time. What's wrong with this today?"

Seeing that the eldest son who had been away for several years had returned, Xun Yun slowly stretched out his hand and held Xun Yun's right hand:<

"You are finally back... If it's a little later, I'm afraid I won't see you anymore..."

When Xun Yun heard this, he felt his heart being pulled suddenly, and the tears that he had been holding back almost burst out. He pretended to be sand and entered his eyes and stretched out his hand to wipe the tears away, and continued to smile and said, "What are you saying? No one will not get sick when you are at your age. I think you will be better in two days. Don't think about it."

At this time, Xun Yu pointed to the food box on the table not far away and said to Xun Yun:

"Now, the Prime Minister and I are no longer the relationship between the monarch and the ministers. I have not changed... But he has changed... Maybe it's because he is too naive to be a father. Once a person has great power, how many people can remain unchanged?"

After saying that, Xun Yu's tears couldn't stop flowing, his eyes full of despair and helplessness:<

"It's a pity that there are too few people in the world who are loyal to the Han Dynasty like Mr. Hui and Kong Rong. Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and our prime ministers all launched wars for themselves. As a result, the Han Dynasty's country has not been many years..."

Xun Yu, a generation of talent who recommended Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia and other first-class talents to Cao Cao, and helped Cao Cao to the peak of power, passed away with infinite sorrow and melancholy.

Perhaps he was so stuffy that he had not been able to vent his feelings for too long, or he didn't want his father to see his sad and crying. Until the moment Xun Yu closed his eyes, Xun Yun, who could smile even in danger of life, could no longer bear it. He lay on Xun Yu's body and burst into tears.

After wiping away the tears, Xun Yun stood up and walked to the table where the food box was placed. Seeing that the food box was empty and there was nothing, he immediately understood who gave it to him and what the meaning contained in it was.

When hearing about Xun Yu's death, this was a great shock to Sima Yi. He knew that the path he was going to take was the same as Xun Yu at the time, and he devoted himself to the peak of power. However, what he knew more was that the path he and Xun Yu would take would inevitably have forks after this.

Standing on the Yecheng city tower, he reached out and picked up the wine pot placed on the city wall and poured sake into the wine bottle placed next to it. Then he picked up the wine bottle and looked at the direction of Shouchun where Xun Yu died:<
Chapter completed!