In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

Ma Teng left happily.

in the hall.

Silence returned.

The smile on Cao Cao's face.

It dissipated.

Instead, an undisguised murderous intent emerged.

He walked back to the desk.

Pick up the vermilion pen.

On the map.

The location of "Xiliang".

He drew a sharp cross on it.

"Zhao Yu".

Cao Cao spoke.

Zhao Yu stepped forward.

"exist."

"Look."

Cao Cao pointed to the outside.

"What a fine pot."

"It's dark and big."

"It's perfect for taking the blame for 'forcing Xiliang to rebel'."

Zhao Yu remained silent.

It seems the Prime Minister wasn't drunk that night, or perhaps he was just going along with it.

He deliberately delivered the letter to Ma Chao.

System Analysis:

Cao Cao's true intentions:

1. Place Ma Teng under house arrest as a hostage. Even if you lose, you'll still have something to say.

2. Cut off the connection between the Xiliang army and Ma Teng, thus confirming the rumor that "Ma Teng is dead/humiliated".

3. Provoking Ma Chao was the first act of initiating the war, thus gaining the moral high ground for sending troops.

4. Completely annihilate the Western Liang warlords, once and for all.

Zhao Yu exhaled a breath of stale air, his tone calm:

"Prime Minister, you just promised him that you wouldn't kill Ma Chao."

"Yes, I did promise."

"Ma Chao definitely can't be killed. I'm counting on him to help me stabilize Xiliang in the future."

"If he couldn't think straight and committed suicide, was trampled to death by the mutinous troops, or something else happened..."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"That's fate, destiny."

6.

They completely absolved themselves of responsibility.

Cao Cao looked up at the crowd below.

"Xiliang is my greatest concern."

"Han Sui and Ma Teng, with their own armies, acted independently and obeyed orders but not summons."

"I've wanted to deal with them for a long time."

"It's just that we've been lacking an explanation."

"Now it's all right."

"A letter home."

"A bowl of chili oil."

"That silly boy just delivered himself right to our doorstep."

"This is fate."

"Heaven will restore the Han dynasty."

Cao Cao picked up the helmet next to him.

Put it on.

"Send the order to the three armies."

"Let's leave tonight."

"This battle."

"I will demonstrate the might of the Han army."

"I want the whole world to know."

"The iron cavalry of Xiliang stand before me."

"They're nothing but lambs to the slaughter!"

Zhao Yu looked at Cao Cao.

I'll see who says Cao Cao was without strategy from now on.

Turning hands is a cloud, covering hands is rain.

Ma Teng thought it was a misunderstanding.

Ma Chao thought it was a deep-seated hatred.

In Cao Cao's eyes, however, all of this was just a game of chess.

That letter stained with red oil.

Perhaps it was a misunderstanding at first.

But from the moment Cao Cao deliberately pressed his handprint on it...

The game has already begun.

Cao Cao handed Ma Chao a knife, instructing him to commit suicide.

"promise!!!"

Everyone responded with a "Yes, sir."

Everyone went down to prepare.

No fruit.

Zhao Yu could only light a candle for Ma Chao in his heart.

Poor child.

You think you're here to save your father?

in fact.

You're just here to get yourself killed.

And your father.

I'm in the kitchen, humming a little tune, making your favorite soup.

This messed-up, chaotic world.

This absurd fate.

……

It was already late at night.

late at night.

The moon was half-hidden by dark clouds.

At Zhao Yu's residence.

He was packing his bags.

As the Marquis of Guannei of the Han Dynasty and the captain of the inner palace security, it was his duty to accompany the army on expeditions.

But in the package he had prepared, there was medicine for wounds.

Several sets of underwear to change into.

leftover,

They are red square bricks.

butter.

Solidified butter.

There was also a large bag of seasonings.

This is Zhao Yu's logistical support.

I specifically got it from Ma Teng.

Even the leader couldn't help but comment:

Host, are you going to war or to have a picnic?

Zhao Yu stuffed the last packet of seasoning into the crevice.

He clapped his hands.

"You don't understand, do you?"

"What does war depend on? Morale."

"Eating a hot and spicy hot pot in the freezing cold boosts morale by 100."

"Eating a bite of dry rations as hard as a rock reduces morale by 50."

"This is a tactical weapon."

As he was talking to himself, the door was pushed open.

Zhao Yu turned around.

Not the delicate, pampered second young lady who usually wears silk.

Instead, it is a...

"Female General".

Cao Jie.

She tied her long hair up high in a small ponytail.

He was wearing a leather armor that was clearly a size too big (which he had snatched from Cao Pi).

A short sword hung at his waist.

He was also wearing that red cloak.

It was a bit abrupt.

It's also a bit fierce.

But more than anything, it's a kind of stubbornness that wants to prove something.

She stood at the door.

He was panting.

"A female general."

"Are they going to perform in a play?"

"Where is this from? Mulan going to war in her father's place?"

Cao Jie glared at him.

What is Mulan? A flower?

He strode in.

The leather armor rubbed together, making a sound.

"Shut up."

"I want to be with you, to fight the enemy and serve our country together."

Zhao Yu continued to tie the package.

He didn't even look up.

Forget it.

"This is war, not an autumn outing."

"Dead people are ugly."

"Broken arms and legs, intestines spilling out onto the ground."

"And there's nowhere to shower, nowhere to comb your hair, and you have to sleep outdoors in the wind."

"Are you going to be Ma Chao's side dish with your delicate skin and tender flesh?"

Cao Jie bit her lip.

He walked up to Zhao Yu.

It blocked his light.

"I'm not afraid."

"I can ride a horse."

"I can also shoot arrows."

"I can... I can grill meat for you too."

Zhao Yu stopped what he was doing.

Reach out.

He tapped her on her somewhat comical leather armor.

"Thump!"

"Crispy skin, not even worthy of being called a healer."

"A soldier from Xiliang can pierce you through with a single spear thrust."

"So, should I protect your father or you?"

"Stay obediently in Xudu."

"Feed the rabbits for me."

"That's a 'big pancake,' and if you get thin from starvation, you'll be the one held responsible."

Cao Jie's facade as a "female general" shattered just like that.

She knew she couldn't go.

She knew Zhao Yu was doing it for her own good.

But she just felt uncomfortable.

Was Ma Chao of Xiliang even human?

Isn't that a mad dog?

I heard that he also wants to eat his father's flesh and sleep covered with his father's skin.

How can a person be so wicked?

If Zhao Yu goes, what if...?

"Take it."

Cao Jie took something out of his pocket.

It was stuffed into Zhao Yu's hand.

The movements were very rough.

Zhao Yu lowered his head.

There was a brocade pouch in my hand.

It exudes a faint orchid fragrance.

just,

The workmanship is a bit rough.

The stitches were crooked and uneven.

There are two...unidentified creatures embroidered on it.

It was all gray and dusty.

They were still splashing around in the water.

Zhao Yu smiled.

His smile is so irritating.

"Second Miss".

"What is this?"

"Secret stash of money? Are you worried I'll go hungry on the way?"

"But what is this embroidery?"

"Two...ducks that were run over by a carriage?"

"Still a wild duck? It's quite plump, perfect for braising."

"Duck? Shut up!"

Cao Jie was furious.

He kicked Zhao Yu in the shin.

"Those are lovebirds!"

"Lovebirds!!"

"You piece of wood with no aesthetic sense!"

"oh."

Zhao Yu held up the sachet.

I looked at it in the candlelight.

"Birds."

"She has a rather unique appearance."

"It has a very... wild beauty."

"Give it back to me!"

Cao Jie was filled with shame and indignation, and reached out to snatch it.

She embroidered this after staying up for three nights in a row.

My hands were riddled with thorns.

As a result, he was called a duck.

Zhao Yu raised his hand.

They dodged it.

"Once something is given away, there's no reason to take it back."

"A duck it is then."

"It's perfect for warding off evil spirits."