A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

After Wei Xuejiang's family gave the secret medicine to the princes, everyone quickly carried Cao Zhi to the medical room.

Then Cao Cao watched helplessly as Wei Xue drove a steel nail as long as his arm into Cao Zhi's body.

If it weren't for his trust in Wei Xue, he would never have believed that this was treatment.

This is clearly murder, and torture to death.

After sending the people away to recuperate, Wei Xue had the black bear that Cao Ang had hunted brought in, and together with many medical practitioners, they used the black bear to practice dissection.

At the same time, check whether the black bear has been given any drugs.

While examining the black bear's stomach, Wei Xue discovered something unusual and immediately sent someone to inform Cao Cao, as well as Man Chong, so that Man Chong could investigate in this direction.

After being suppressed by warlords such as Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shao, the powerful families have become very shrewd and their methods are extremely sophisticated. They would never take action themselves.

They are often just middlemen, passing through several hands, so even if Man Chong investigates, he can't trace it back to them.

"Zixiu, who do you think is the mastermind behind this?"

In Cao Cao's study, there were only Cao Cao and Cao Ang.

Cao Ang touched the wounds on his body, his eyes sharp.

"According to Uncle Wei, someone poisoned the food of these wild beasts during transportation."

"The Imperial Censor investigated in this direction and only found a few remnants of the previous dynasty?"

"That's right, hehe, remnants of the previous dynasty."

"How many years has the Han Dynasty been gone? How can there still be remnants of the former dynasty with such deep power to sneak through layers of checkpoints and deliver medicine into the belly of a ferocious beast?"

"Will it be possible one day to slip through all the checkpoints and get the medicine into our stomachs?"

Although Cao Cao was smiling, it was a forced smile, and coupled with his dark face, it made him appear somewhat sinister and terrifying.

"Guess who did it?"

"The powerful families want to interfere in the struggle for the throne!"

"Moreover, they must have sabotaged each other, which is why all of us brothers were seriously injured."

Cao Ang thought about it again and again, but couldn't find any evidence from the clues.

Ultimately, on Lu Xun's advice, they disregarded facts and evidence, relying on intuition to deduce who would benefit the most.

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with approval; he thought so too.

He knew the nature of the aristocratic families all too well. It was nothing more than a strategy devised by the aristocratic families who supported the other princes. Each aristocratic family had its own little schemes, and they were all trying to outmaneuver each other, which led to the current situation.

"Zixiu, you must remember this: powerful families can be relied upon, but not trusted."

"Only by enlightening the people and promoting capable officials from among the common people can we eliminate the existence of such powerful clans."

"Your subject understands."

Cao Ang nodded, feeling somewhat excited. Cao Cao's words implied that he was being taught as if Cao Cao were the next emperor.

"Once you and your brothers have recovered from your injuries, I will issue an edict to appoint you as the Crown Prince and have you take the Duke of Yan as your teacher."

"After you ascend the throne, you will recognize your master's merit in promoting improved breeds and bestow upon him the title of king. From you onward, the Wei family will be kings for generations to come."

"The Wei family's ties with the previous dynasty are too strong. We must make the Wei family have a deeper affection for the Great Qian Dynasty. Before I pass away, I will try my best to make an alliance with the Wei family: Cao will not betray Wei, and Wei will not betray Cao."

"Father, will the Wei family agree? After all, the Wei family's status is now above the royal family, extremely transcendent."

Cao Ang asked in confusion.

Cao Cao stood up and went to the window, gazing at the sky.

"I don't know either."

"After the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, I sent people to various overseas countries to gather information."

"After 200 years of development, each of those vassal states had become quite powerful. In order to destroy the Sasanian Empire, many vassal states, after retaining some troops for self-defense, mobilized an army of more than 300 million to conquer the Sasanian Empire."

"Now there are several more warlords, including Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian. Consider the status of the Wei family in the Han Dynasty."

"It's terrifying to think about. I have no doubt that if the Wei family were to raise a rallying cry, they could directly control over 400 million troops!"

"Fortunately, the Wei family holds a superior position and looks down on the royal family's status."

Cao Cao gave a bitter laugh. The dynasty he had built with all his heart and soul was actually looked down upon by others.

"From the moment the Great Qian was established, the Wei family's plan was completed, completely severing ties with the Han Dynasty and becoming an existence above the royal family."

"For thousands of years afterward, dynasties rose and fell, rivers changed course, but the Wei family remained above all others, enduring through the ages."

"Zixiu, remember this: we must both utilize and guard against the Wei family. Even if this defense is futile and a waste of resources, we cannot stop."

"Remember this, remember this."

……

Even Man Chong couldn't uncover the mastermind behind those white gloves. Cao Cao, having calmed down, didn't blame them, but simply ordered the execution of their entire clan.

Once the brothers had recovered from their injuries, Cao Cao officially issued an edict, appointing his eldest son Cao Ang as Crown Prince and Wei Lu, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Although Cao Ang's position as crown prince was secured, Cao Pi was still unwilling to accept it.

After realizing the underhanded tactics of his brothers, Cao Ang easily subdued the simple-minded Cao Zhang.

Although Cao Zhi's life was saved and his leg was saved, he was left with a chronic illness and became somewhat lame.

This meant that he was no longer entitled to the supreme throne.

The forces behind Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi partially sided with Cao Ang, thus mitigating their losses in time.

Many others, unwilling to accept defeat, joined Cao Pi's ranks, intending to support Cao Pi in his competition with Cao Ang.

"Fourth brother, have you thought it through?"

At the city gate of Luoyang, Cao Zhi sat in a sedan chair, bidding farewell to Cao Ang.

"I have thought it through. It was only after this injury that I truly understood my own heart. I will travel far and wide, see all the beautiful scenery in the world, taste all the fine wines, and leave behind many popular poems and songs, so as not to waste my talents."

Cao Zhi's eyes were clear and insightful, reflecting the vicissitudes of life. When he was lying in bed, he kept thinking about why he didn't travel around this beautiful land when he was still able to walk.

His leg was later healed, but he became a cripple. The more a person lacks something, the more they yearn for it.

So he made up his mind to leave Luoyang and get away from this place of intrigue and backstabbing.

A man should roam the world, with the sky as his roof and the earth as his bed, going wherever he pleases.

Staying in Luoyang City for so long confines one's vision and experience to this small city, which is a waste of the talent that God gave him.

Isn't this a betrayal of God?!

"Since you've made up your mind, Fourth Brother, I won't try to persuade you anymore. I wish you a safe journey, may you travel across mountains and rivers, and return still a young man."

"Once I leave, I probably won't be coming back."

"If one day my life comes to an end, wherever I go, wherever I am buried, all the green mountains under heaven will be the same!"

"I also need to trouble my elder brother to offer incense on behalf of his unfilial younger brother every year."