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

Just as Xiahou Dun was about to give the order, a dozen or so men dressed in plain clothes suddenly rushed out from an inconspicuous alley. When they saw Xun You, they immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Mr. Gongda, we have been waiting here for a long time on the orders of Young Master Yanruo!"

This group of people were the intelligence agents that Xun Hao had previously planted in Luoyang.

Before Xun You could ask any further questions, they dragged out several strange devices made of long bamboo poles and leather bags from the depths of the alley.

The leader quickly explained, "This object is called a 'Water Dragon,' made by Master Ma Heng based on your drawings, young master. It can draw water to put out fires!"

Several intelligence officers skillfully lowered one end of the "water dragon" into a nearby well and a water vat, while the others worked together to push the lever. Soon, streams of water gushed out from the other end of the bamboo pipe.

Although this simple water dragon could not extinguish the raging fire, it was able to forcefully carve out a wet passage in the flames, suppressing the fire leading to the side wall of the library.

Xiahou Dun was overjoyed at the sight and immediately dispatched his soldiers to help draw water. At the same time, he ordered another group of men to use giant logs to smash the water-soaked wall under the cover of the water trail.

"boom!"

"boom!"

The sound of giant logs crashing against the wall, amidst the crackling of the flames, was like the resounding beat of war drums, striking the hearts of everyone present.

Inside the carriage outside the city, Xun Hao's body trembled violently, and a mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes red.

"Yanruo!" Guo Jia hugged him tightly, his voice changing.

Xun Hao's vision was already blurred, and all he could hear was Guo Jia's anxious shouts and his own violent heartbeat. He managed a weak laugh and spoke haltingly in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Fengxiao... I think... I saw the Imperial Seal..."

Guo Jia's arms were like iron hoops, tightly holding the trembling body in his embrace. The blood Xun Hao coughed up was warm and pungent, staining Guo Jia's moon-white sleeves red and burning his eyes as well.

"Yanruo!"

Guo Jia's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, almost stopping its beating. He checked Xun Hao's pulse; the faint beat was like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment. He had never felt so powerless and terrified. Even when facing a thousand armies, he could still talk and laugh with ease, but at this moment, it felt as if he were holding his entire world in his arms.

"Hold on!" Guo Jia's voice trembled without him even realizing it. He ripped open a hidden compartment in the carriage and rummaged through it to find all sorts of precious medicinal herbs that Xun Hao had prepared. Regardless of whether the herbs would clash, he picked out the most valuable old ginseng roots, crushed them, and stuffed them into Xun Hao's mouth.

Inside Luoyang City, in the Lantai Stone Chamber.

"Boom!"

With a dull thud, the water-soaked courtyard wall finally succumbed to the repeated impacts of the giant log, collapsing inward and creating a huge gap.

Flames and thick smoke billowed out, and the heat was intense.

"Rush!"

Cao Ren took the lead, using his shield to protect his face, and was the first to step over the ruins.

Xun You followed closely behind.

The scene inside the stone chamber terrified him. The surrounding wooden structures were burning, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of burning bamboo slips and silk. Countless bookshelves had collapsed, and those classic texts, which carried centuries of Chinese wisdom, were curling and carbonizing in the flames.

"Careful! Be careful, everyone!" Xun You commanded hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot. Ignoring the choking smoke, he personally and carefully took down bundles of heavy bamboo slips from a relatively intact bookshelf. The bamboo slips were scalding hot to the touch, as if still carrying the warmth of flames.

Under his command, the soldiers braved the danger of the roof beams collapsing at any moment, and worked hard to pass scrolls of books out of the sea of ​​fire.

While clearing away a collapsed bookshelf in an inner room, a Cao army captain tripped over something. He bent down and brushed aside the ashes and wood scraps, discovering a hidden compartment in the corner, its color slightly different from the surrounding stone bricks. A thought struck him; he used his scabbard to pry open the stone slab. Inside, instead of the gold and silver treasures he had expected, was only a beautifully carved box made of Phoebe zhennan wood, covered in a thick layer of dust.

The box was heavy and had an antique design. The captain knew it was no ordinary item and dared not act on his own. He immediately carried the box through the thick smoke and found Xun You, who was directing the rescue efforts.

"Mr. Gongda, look at this!"

Xun You was carefully rolling up a precious silk map when he heard this. He turned around and took the wooden box. He brushed away the dust, and his fingers touched the cool copper clasp on the lid. His heart skipped a beat. He opened the lid; there was no dazzling gold light, nor any glittering jewels.

Inside the box, a jade seal lay quietly.

The jade is warm and lustrous, gleaming softly in the firelight. There is a chip in the upper corner of the seal, which has been repaired with gold. Turning it over, eight ancient seal characters are engraved on the bottom.

Xun You's gaze fell on those eight characters, and his breath suddenly stopped.

By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous.

The Imperial Seal of the State!

He felt the wooden box in his hands suddenly become incredibly heavy. Almost reflexively, he slammed the lid shut, clutched it tightly to his chest, and turned his back so no one could see the expression on his face.

The combined wealth of all of Luoyang probably couldn't compare to the burning passion of this small jade seal. It represented glory, power, and, more importantly, a death knell!

A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind: if ambitious figures like Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu were to find out that this item was here, they would likely turn their weapons against him immediately, not to rescue the book, but to kill and seize the treasure! At that time, their small team would be torn to shreds in an instant.

Outside the city, inside the carriage.

The military doctor had just finished administering acupuncture to Xun Hao and stepped aside with a solemn expression.

Guo Jia held Xun Hao's hand; that hand was still icy cold.

Xun Hao coughed violently, "Fengxiao..." He gripped Guo Jia's hand tightly, his nails digging into the other's flesh.

"I'm here." Guo Jia leaned down and put his ear close to his lips.

In Xun Hao's mind, knowledge of modern history and the scenes he had just seen through the "Legacy Plan" were intertwined wildly.

Sun Jian's acquisition of the imperial seal sowed the seeds of his own demise.

Yuan Shu's declaration of himself as emperor made him a laughingstock.

The value of this jade seal is far less than that of the scrolls that are being salvaged.

Books are the torch of civilization.

The imperial seal, however, is the poison of ambition.

An idea took clear shape in his chaotic thoughts.

Let it go back to where it "should" be.

Sun Jian needed it to exchange for troops from Yuan Shu and to stir up trouble in Jingzhou.

Yuan Shu needed it to satisfy his foolish ambition and to hasten his own demise.

This imperial seal must not remain in Cao Cao's hands.

Not at least not now.

Guo Jia hugged him tightly, and Xun Hao felt the rapidly depleted energy slowly recover. The military doctor watched from the side, marveling at the effects of the century-old ginseng, thinking that it was indeed worthy of the Xun family of Yingchuan.

"Go and tell Gongda to throw the imperial seal into the dry well behind the palace."