Ziwu Valley.

Fa Zheng grabbed the saddle tightly and looked at the canyon beside him from time to time. The plank road was narrow, with a cliff almost wiping his shoulders on one side, and a canyon more than ten feet deep on the other side. It was winter, and the stream was shallow, and countless rocks stood among them. If you jumped down, you would fall seriously if you didn't die.

Jump down so as not to be humiliated. A voice kept echoing in Fazheng's mind. He wanted to kick the horse and rush down countless times. As long as he rushed down, everything would be over. He didn't have to face Cao Cao's punishment or contempt from Chen Gong and others. From the meeting until now, Chen Gong has never said a word to him. The look he looked at him was like looking at a dead fish.

This is just the beginning. When he returns to Hanzhong, he has to face Xu You, who has a more perverse personality. When he returns to Chengdu, he has to face Xin Ping, who has long been disagreeing with him, and even Peng, who has always regarded him as his opponent. After thinking about it, he can't think of anyone else who can understand him.

Even Mengda probably only has sympathy and mercy. However, whether it is sympathy or mercy, it is not what he wants. He only wants revenge. Only revenge can avenge shame and bring everything he wants.

Fa Zheng tilted his head and looked at the stream moving forward in the rocks. He was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, his mount stopped. Fa Zheng was startled and quickly withdrew his gaze. Then he realized that Cao Cao had got off the horse at some point, instead of the guard who led his horse for him, holding the reins in his hands, and quietly looked at him.

"Xiaozhi, the plank road is dangerous and you can't be distracted."

Fa Zheng was stunned, then reacted, quickly got off his horse, came to Cao Cao, bowed and bowed. Cao Cao handed the reins of the horse to the guards, turned around and walked with his hands behind his back. Fa Zheng followed closely behind Cao Cao.

"Xiaozhi, thank you for your hard work over the past year."

"King, I..." Fa Zheng's nose was sore and he almost burst into tears. This year was hard work, but he was defeated. Not only did Yang Xiu run away, but Chang'an was gone, and even Mrs. Bian and the two princes were kidnapped. Along the way, he wanted to apologize but didn't know how to apologize.

"Are you familiar with Jia Xu?"

"I know a little bit." Fa Zheng thought for a while, then said: "I have neglected my duty and didn't know that Jia Xu was in Chang'an, and he took advantage of the loophole."

Cao Cao smiled. "Gu and Jia Xu have been colleagues for several years. To be honest, they didn't see that he had such a method back then. I heard that Sun Ce personally rushed to Hedong to meet him, but Gu still felt that Sun Ce was making a big deal. Now he finally knows that when it comes to knowing people, Sun Ce is the best in the world, and you and I are not as good as you."

Fa Zheng was both relieved and ashamed when he heard this. What was relieved was that Cao Cao did not blame him, but instead comforted him. What was shameful was that he neglected this point. Even if he didn't know Jia Xu's methods, he should understand Sun Ce's wisdom of knowing people. Sun Ce traveled thousands of miles to Hedong to meet Jia Xu, which proved that Jia Xu was not an ordinary person, and he should pay more attention to Jia Xu.

"I have no eyes and have let down the king's trust."

"Victory and defeat are common in military affairs, and filial piety and integrity do not have to be cared about." Cao Cao turned around and patted Fazheng on the shoulder. "Speaking of this, it is not you who have no eyes, but me. Your strengths are set up in front of the two armies, and it is not such a situation of intrigue. Whether it is the cunning old ministers of aristocratic families, or Yang Xiu and Jia Xu who have made many tricks, they are not the same as you."

Fa Zheng kept silent. Cao Cao's words were soft and strong, and he would not have the chance to undertake such a task in the future. He could only be a military advisor and assist Cao Cao in fighting in all directions. He was mentally prepared for this. Cao Cao came from Chengdu in person and brought Chen Gong with him. This meaning was already very obvious. Now it was confirmed by Cao Cao in person.

"Tell me, what should we do next to support the court and leave a glimmer of hope for the Han Dynasty."

Fa Zheng calmed down his mind and forced himself to calm down. Cao Cao gave him the opportunity, and he must seize this opportunity firmly, otherwise he would not even be able to protect his military advisor, and he would have no future in Shu Kingdom. "King, half of those who traveled a hundred miles were half ninety. Although Sun Ce had half of the world and occupied most of the fertile land, he could not get the advantage of the territory. If he advances, he attacked hard, and retreated, he had no danger to defend. He could only wait for heavy troops, which was difficult for a long time. At present, it is advisable to use defense instead of attacking, consume his spirit, wait for his strength to become in chaos, and then take another fatal blow."

Cao Cao nodded but said nothing.

Fa Zheng continued: "At the end of last year, Sun Ce raided northern Hebei. At that time, the king of Zhongshan Liu Bei was attacking Yecheng and sent Guan Yu to help, but was defeated by Sun Ce. Liu Bei was in a mess and retreated into Hanoi. He sent Sima Yi to Guanzhong to contact him. I promised him to the land of Hanoi. Now it seems that I was in a traitor at that time, so I should let him retreat to Hedong or enter Bingzhou. Liu Bei persisted in Bingzhou for one more day, and our Shu Kingdom would have more chances."

"Why did you know that there was today? It was not appropriate to break up with the people of Liangzhou. Your decision cannot be wrong." Cao Cao paused and said, "Although Liu Bei was in a position to advance and retreat, he was an indomitable hero. If he was allowed to enter Hedong or Bingzhou, it would be unfavorable to me. But the situation is different now, it is a different matter. Xiaozhi, Liu Bei still has the ability to advance to Hedong, Bingzhou now?"

"Are the king familiar with Feng Ji?"

Cao Cao nodded. Feng Ji followed Yuan Shao very early. In a sense, they were colleagues, but Feng Ji was a famous scholar and looked down on him, so the two did not have much interaction. In fact, not only Feng Ji, but also Yuan Shao's famous scholars were similar, and only a few people could look down on him. When Cao Cao thought of He, he felt a little disappointed. He heard that He lived in seclusion in Nanyang, so he sent someone to look for him, but he couldn't find him. He was obviously hiding from him.

"Where is Sima Yi?"

Cao Cao retracted his mind and shook his head. "I know he is the second son of Sima Jiangong, the former Jingzhao Yin, but he is young and has no contact with me. I am more familiar with his brother Sima Lang. You have contacted him, how about it?"

"The person is smart and cunning, and the most important thing is that he is unwilling to be lonely and has great ambitions." Fa Zheng told the story of Sima Yi running for Liu Bei, especially Sima Yi wanted to be at the best of both worlds. Not only did he try to get in touch with Yang Xiu, but he also wanted to take the initiative to ask for advice. He just hid Yang Xiu's story that Sima Yi had a wolf-like look.

After hearing this, Cao Cao pondered for a moment. "This Sima Yi is a useful person. Keep in touch with him and strive to form an alliance with Liu Bei and fight against the domineering Wu together."

"Here." Fa Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. Cao Cao handed over this task to him, convinced him that he still trusted him at the moment, and there would be no crisis for the time being.

As the two were talking, someone came to report from behind. A man named Liu Ba came up and said he wanted to serve the eldest son of the emperor. Cao Cao exchanged glances with Fa Zheng and laughed. It seemed that the eldest son of the emperor was still useful. Even Liu Ba was chasing him, and there would definitely be other people in the future.

"Please!"

Sima Yi sat in the study, bent his waist, squinted his eyes, and looked at the brilliant sunshine outside the window in a daze.

He waited in Chang'an for two days, but before Yang Xiu or others, he felt a little disappointed and even annoyed. Yang Xiu relied on his identity and looked down on the Sima family of Hanoi at all. He would rather visit Zhao Yunyi's martial arts man than come to see him.

"Same kind are inferior to each other." Sima Yi sighed softly.

"Brother, who are you like?" Sima Fu appeared at the door and looked at Sima Yi with a smile.

"Who else?" Sima Yi said angrily: "Aren't you waiting too?"

"Brother, don't wait." Sima Fu walked to Sima Yi and sat down, picked up a book on the desk and flipped it out, and threw it on the desk. "I heard from someone that Yang Xiu said you have the appearance of a wolf Gu. The reason why Fa Zheng did not come is because of this."

When Sima Yi heard this, his eyes twitched, and then he calmed down again. "Who did you hear?"

"Everything is spreading, and the source cannot be found."

Sima Yi raised his head and pondered for a long time before suddenly laughing. He laughed happily and even clapped his hands. "It turns out that there is someone outside the human body. Yang Xiu thought he was smart, but he didn't expect that he would be tricked into his palm."

Sima Fu was a little strange. "Brother, what you mean is... This is not what Yang Xiu said, but someone deliberately slandered him and blamed him?"

"It should be what Yang Xiu said, but it was also a slander. Some people don't want Yang Xiu to be too proud." Sima Yi leaned on the shore with a smile on his lips. "It seems that we can't stay in Chang'an, clean up and go back to Hanoi."

Sima Fu was confused, but he couldn't ask again. He knew the temper of this brother. If he didn't want to say it himself, he couldn't ask, so he could only think about it slowly. He discussed it with Sima Yi, then got up and asked his father Sima Fang for instructions.

Sima Yi sat alone in the study, and the smile on his face gradually dissipated.

Sima Fang was also watching the changes in Chang'an. When he learned that someone had spread the story of Sima Yi having the appearance of a wolf Gu, he couldn't help but sigh. Although he didn't know who was spreading it and what purpose it was, he also knew one thing that Sima Yi had no point in staying in Chang'an. Regardless of whether the appearance of a wolf Gu is the appearance of a treacherous minister, it was certain that someone wanted to drive Sima Yi away. If he didn't leave at this time, the other party would naturally have more intense means.

Sima Fang asked Sima Yi to leave Chang'an and return to Hanoi, and he and Sima Fu remained behind. He had been an official in the court for many years and had some old friends. As long as he was not out of standards, his life would be safe. The world is three parts, and the Wu Kingdom is the strongest, and the Sima family must make plans. Sima Zhi alone is not enough.

Sima Yi was very decisive and left Chang'an City at will, and rushed forward with a fast horse and a starry night. Before he arrived in Pubanjin, he caught up with Pei Qian and Wei Ji who left Chang'an on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Seeing Sima Yi coming, Pei Qian and Wei Ji were surprised.

"Where Zhongda wants to go?"

Sima Yi smiled slightly. "You two knowingly asked, I naturally went back to Hanoi to serve the King of Zhongshan. I would like to ask you where you want to go, return to your hometown to live in seclusion, and never ask about the world from now on?"

Pei Qian and Wei Ji looked at each other and smiled. "Is Zhongda here to be a lobbyist?"

"That depends on whether you two have confidence." Sima Yi laughed. "It is natural for human beings to seek profit and avoid harm. Now that Wu is in great power, the King of Wu's military command is invincible. Those who can be defeated repeatedly like the King of Zhongshan are not discouraged. After all, the few who fail to return are still the ones who fail."
Chapter completed!