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

Cao Cao clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Zhongde's words are exactly what I wanted to say! Let's proceed with this plan!"

His gaze swept over all the generals in the tent, finally settling on Xun Hao. His eyes held a hint of a smile and understanding. This was an opportunity for the Xun clan's strategists to offer advice to the newly arrived strategist.

Inside the council hall, as soon as Cao Cao issued his order, his generals responded with a roar, each taking their command and preparing to muster their troops for departure.

Night had fallen, and Puyang was silent.

Xun Hao was organizing books, while Guo Jia leaned against the couch, watching him without saying a word.

The atmosphere inside the room was quiet until Xun Hao placed a scroll of bamboo slips into a wooden box, at which point Guo Jia lazily spoke.

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet." His voice was exceptionally clear in the still night. "During the day, with just a few words, you pushed Cheng Zhongde forward, doing him a huge favor. But... how could you be so certain that I didn't want to step forward and steal the limelight? You just made the decision for me like that?"

Xun Hao paused for a moment. He didn't turn around, but simply said, "Do you want to?"

"Huh?" Guo Jia was taken aback by his question.

"Are you trying to steal the spotlight?" Xun Hao turned around. "Dealing with Guan Hai doesn't require your personal intervention, Guo Fengxiao. Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is utterly pointless."

He walked to the couch, sat down, and looked into Guo Jia's inquisitive eyes. He continued, "Cheng Zhongde is a renowned scholar from Yanzhou. He has just joined our lord and urgently needs a merit to solidify his position and appease the local scholars. By promoting him, you will save face for our lord, gain favor with Cheng Yu, and enjoy peace of mind—a win-win-win situation. Why wouldn't you do this sure-fire deal?"

After listening to Xun Hao's analysis, Guo Jia's usually smiling eyes were now devoid of any smile. He simply stared at Xun Hao silently, making Xun Hao feel uneasy. What was this man thinking now?

"You're absolutely right," Guo Jia finally spoke. "Cheng Zhongde needs credit, our lord needs to appease the people, and I'm happy to have some peace and quiet. That's all true."

He changed the subject, leaning forward slightly and getting closer, his eyes seeming to draw out every thought in Xun Hao's mind. "But you missed the most important point."

"What?" Xun Hao asked instinctively.

"You," Guo Jia drawled, extending a finger and lightly tapping Xun Hao's chest, "couldn't you just say you didn't want me to go to the front lines with the army?"

Xun Hao's breath hitched for a moment. He was so perceptive; did he know something?

Seeing Xun Hao's unusually stunned expression, Guo Jia finally smiled. He straightened up and leaned back on the couch, his posture relaxed, as if his earth-shattering words from just now were merely casual remarks.

"Cheng Zhongde was willing to go on the expedition because he was diligent. As for me," he yawned, "I'm someone who indulges in pleasure and can't endure hardship."

Xun Hao's heartbeat gradually calmed down. He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting ripples in them, and continued the conversation, "What pleasures do you indulge in?"

Guo Jia turned his head, his gaze falling on the small patch of night sky outside the window, his voice as soft as a wisp of smoke: "Being with you is true pleasure."

The room fell silent instantly, with only the occasional soft popping of the lamp wick.

Xun Hao felt as if his heart was being gently squeezed by a warm hand. It didn't hurt, but it was a strange, tight feeling that he couldn't ignore.

In modern society, he was used to all sorts of frivolous remarks and ambiguous hints; those words brushed past his ears like the wind, leaving no trace.

But Guo Jia's simple words stirred up ripples in his heart, disturbing his peace for a long time.

He didn't know how to respond.

Saying "Me too" seemed too frivolous, while saying "thank you" sounded too formal and polite. His mind, which was used to calculating pros and cons, was momentarily stunned.

"Glib-tongued." After a long pause, Xun Hao finally managed to squeeze out these four words, his voice hoarser than he had expected. He stood up, his back to Guo Jia, and began to straighten his clothes, his movements somewhat stiff. Guo Jia watched his back, the corners of his mouth curving into a deeper smile. He didn't speak again, just watched, his eyes filled with a focused determination that Xun Hao couldn't see.

We have to take it slow.

Cheng Yu's plan has been in place for several days, and Cao Ren, Li Dian, and Yue Jin's three armies are approaching Shouzhang from different directions.

Inside Puyang City, everything was being arranged in an orderly manner, awaiting only the success at the front lines, which would allow them to wipe out the main force of the Yellow Turbans in Dongping County in one fell swoop.

When one is full of energy, it's easy to get restless. Xun Hao, having rested well in the past few days, was now fully charged, and his irresistible urge to watch the drama unfold resurfaced. He opened the [Legacy Plan] system, ready to check the real-time battle situation at the Shou Zhang front.

However, the sight he saw made him tense instantly.

Just before Cao Cao's army completed its encirclement, the rebel leader Guan Hai had already sent a trusted messenger who successfully broke through the encirclement and sought help from the leader of another Yellow Turban army in a neighboring county.

The Yellow Turban leader, who had a close personal relationship with Guan Hai, had already mustered his troops and was marching in a grand procession towards Shouzhang.

We must report to our lord immediately! Xun Hao immediately got up and, as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw that Xun You also had a solemn expression.

Gongda is in charge of intelligence on Cao Cao's camp, so perhaps the scouts have already discovered something.

The two exchanged a glance, and before his uncle could ask, Xun You relayed the intelligence: "Half an hour ago, the scouts I sent to the Jibei direction brought back urgent military intelligence. A main force of the Yellow Turban army suddenly left its garrison, and its whereabouts are unknown, but the direction... is likely Shou Zhang."

Cao Cao's main force is currently scattered around Shou Zhang, preparing to encircle the enemy. Once this fresh force arrives, Cao Cao's army will be attacked from both inside and outside, and will be attacked from both sides.

Inside the council hall, Cao Cao was discussing the follow-up matters concerning the pacification of the people with several generals who had remained behind, and the atmosphere was relatively relaxed. When Xun Hao and Xun You barged in with solemn expressions, everyone's laughter and conversation stopped.

"Yanruo, Gongda, what's the matter that you're so panicked?" Cao Cao asked.

Xun You briefly summarized the intelligence gathered by the scouts.

"What?" Xiahou Dun was the first to jump out. "The Yellow Turban Army in Jibei? Haven't they been holed up in the city? How dare they come out?"

"Perhaps they're not going to support Shouzhang," some thought with a glimmer of hope.

While the generals were filled with doubt and uncertainty, Guo Jia chuckled, breaking the silence.

"What's the panic? Whether they're here to rescue us or just passing through, we'll fight the Yellow Turbans eventually. We shouldn't refuse credit that's been handed to us."

His relaxed demeanor had a calming effect.

Xun Hao had completely calmed down by now. He walked to Guo Jia's side, his eyes quickly scanning the map.