The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

When that time comes, Cao Cao will be able to raise the banner of righteousness and march westward in the name of a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty.

Welcoming the Emperor!

Cao Cao's blood was boiling.

Xun Yu looked at Guo Jia with a complex expression; this was exactly what he wanted to do. It had to be admitted that, in terms of strategic insight, this prodigal son was unparalleled.

"good!"

Cao Cao slammed his hand on the table, the sound of which abruptly silenced the murmurs in the room.

"Fengxiao's plan can bring peace to the world! Since Fengxiao has offered this plan, let's not trouble ourselves with two masters. I'm entrusting the mission to Chang'an to you as well!"

Guo Jia's smile froze.

Go to Chang'an? A round trip, with the travel delays and the time spent dealing with people in Chang'an, would take at least several months.

He almost instinctively wanted to refuse.

However, before he could formulate his explanation, Cao Cao continued, "Looking across my army, besides Fengxiao, only... Yanruo has any connection with Wang Situ. If it weren't for a truly unavoidable situation, I wouldn't have wanted Fengxiao to be away for so long."

Cao Cao turned his gaze to Xun Hao, with a hint of regret.

"If Yanruo's health hadn't been so frail that he couldn't withstand the long journey, I wouldn't have let Fengxiao take the risk alone."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xun Hao stepped out from behind Guo Jia. "My lord, Hao wishes to accompany Brother Fengxiao."

The entire room was astonished!

Xun Yu abruptly stood up from his seat, exclaiming, "Yanruo, this is ridiculous! Don't you know your own health? The journey to Chang'an is long and fraught with bandits; this is no child's play!"

Guo Jia also snapped out of his daze, grabbed Xun Hao's wrist, and lowered his voice, his tone more urgent than ever before: "You stay!"

Xun Hao ignored them and calmly looked at Cao Cao in the main seat, stating his reasons.

"My lord, elder brother, Brother Fengxiao, I did not act on impulse."

"Firstly, I was also involved in the assassination plot against Dong Zhuo. Minister Wang knows me, and my presence here will strengthen our old friendship and increase his trust in me."

"Secondly, the situation in Chang'an is turbulent and unpredictable. Li Jue and Guo Si's armies are pressing in, and there are undercurrents within the city. Every additional person means an extra pair of eyes and another person plotting. I am familiar with Brother Fengxiao, and we cooperate seamlessly, so we can support each other."

He paused for a moment, then threw out his most crucial trump card.

"Thirdly, my ability to deduce may allow me to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune at crucial moments."

Sun Jian's death still resonates in our ears! Xun Hao's words are not without reason.

Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia, then at Xun Hao—both of them! His two most trusted strategists were going to Chang'an!

How could he feel at ease?

But Xun Hao's reasons were too compelling for him to refuse. Double insurance was always safer than going it alone. Besides, there was that unfathomable ability of "deduction"...

"No! My lord, Yanruo is frail; it's absolutely impossible! Jia alone is enough for the trip to Chang'an!"

Guo Jia would rather endure months of lovesickness himself than let Xun Hao take such a risk.

"Brother Fengxiao," Xun Hao turned to look at him, his gaze clear and firm, "Can Chang'an now be more dangerous than Luoyang was in the past?"

Looking at the two men facing off below, Cao Cao had already made up his mind. He slapped his thigh and stood up from his seat.

"Alright! It's settled then! Yanruo and Fengxiao will serve as envoys together to Chang'an!"

He paced back and forth. "But safety is of utmost importance! You two are my right and left arms, Cao Mengde's right and left arms. The loss of either of you would be an unbearable pain for me!"

His gaze swept over the generals below: "I need a bodyguard, a peerless warrior capable of taking on a hundred, no, a thousand! To protect my two great strategists!"

Xiahou Dun spoke in a deep, gruff voice, "My lord, this humble general is willing to go!"

"You're not up to the task!" Cao Cao refused without hesitation. "You are a great general, and you should guard this region for me."

Xun You pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke up: "My lord, I have just remembered someone."

"Who?"

"Zhang Miao, the Prefect of Chenliu, had a bodyguard named Dian Wei, a native of Jiwu in Chenliu. This man possessed extraordinary strength and martial arts skills, with the courage of ten thousand men. It is said that he once avenged a friend by killing someone in the bustling marketplace. Hundreds of people chased after him, yet not one dared to approach him!"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up: "Such a fierce warrior?!"

"If our lord can obtain this man, then the safety of our two strategists will be assured!"

"Excellent!" Cao Cao made a decisive decision. "I will immediately write a letter to Zhang Mengzhuo to borrow someone! No, I will invite him! I will personally go and invite this brave man!"

The matter was settled.

After the meeting, Xun Yu walked ahead without saying a word, his face ashen.

Guo Jia and Xun Hao followed behind, neither daring to speak.

Back at the entrance of Xun Hao's courtyard, Xun Yu finally stopped. He turned around and stared intently at Guo Jia, his gaze as if he wanted to pierce two holes in him.

"Guo, Feng, Xiao!" He squeezed out these three words through gritted teeth, one word at a time.

"Brother Wenruo..." Guo Jia knew he was in the wrong, so he gave a dry laugh.

"Starting tomorrow, at dawn, I'll be waiting for you at the martial arts training ground in the backyard of the government office," Xun Yu said coldly.

"Huh?" Guo Jia was taken aback. "What are you going to the training ground for?"

"What for?" Xun Yu sneered, "To practice our skills!"

Guo Jia: "..."

He felt that the next two weeks of his life would be shrouded in darkness.

The next day, before dawn.

On the training ground, Guo Jia's pig-like screams echoed.

"Brother Wenruo! Xun Wenruo! You're settling a personal score while on duty!"

Guo Jia gripped a heavy wooden sword, feeling as if his arm no longer belonged to him. He was panting heavily, his body drenched in sweat, and his hair was disheveled and plastered to his forehead. He was no longer the dashing and debonair man he usually was.

Xun Yu remained expressionless, holding a bamboo stick, and mercilessly struck him on his improper posture.

"Stand up straight! Use your wrists! Is your waist made of noodles?!"

"I...I'm a strategist! I rely on my brains!"

"Smack!" Another smack.

"Go tell the King of Hell when your brains are splattered out!" Xun Yu's voice was devoid of any warmth.

Cao Cao arrived from nearby upon hearing the news, only to be met with this "tragic" scene.

He winced with heartache and rushed forward, crying, "Wenruo! Wenruo! Go easy on him! Fengxiao is weak; what if you ruin him?"

Xun Yu stopped what he was doing, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Cao Cao, and said calmly, "Don't worry, my lord, he's tough and won't die."

He glanced at Xun Hao, who was handing Guo Jia water and wiping his sweat, his eyes growing colder.

"And he deserves it."

Three days later, Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, personally escorted Dian Wei to Puyang.

This man was burly and had a dark complexion. Standing there, he resembled an iron tower, exuding an aura of fierce courage. A pair of large iron halberds hung at his waist, their weight evident from their design alone.

On the training ground, Xiahou Dun was the first to lose his composure. He shouldered his spear, looked Dian Wei up and down, and said in a deep voice, "You're Dian Wei? I've heard you're very strong?"