Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

With Zhou Yu's promise, Cao Ang finally felt relieved—his mission to Wujun had been successfully completed. He and Ma Yunlu departed together. The sun was shining brightly outside the tent, casting a warm glow on the air. Ma Yunlu looked at Ma Yue, who was playing and chasing Sun Shao not far away. A flicker of reluctance crossed his eyes, but he knew it would be safer for the child to stay here. Ultimately, he suppressed his urge to take Ma Yue with him.

Cao Ang straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Zhou Yu. "I'm deeply grateful for your care and attention, Gongjin, for bothering me for so long. Upon returning to camp, I will inform my father of our agreement today and await our joint efforts someday."

Zhou Yu raised his hand to support them, his eyes fixed on the attendants behind them, ready to go. He suddenly smiled and said, "Wait a minute, Zixiu. When you return, attacking Shouchun will undoubtedly be a tough battle. Shouchun is adjacent to the Huai River, and the waterway is particularly important. If you encounter difficulties, just send a message and I will dispatch the navy to help."

Cao Ang was overjoyed when these words came out, and his solemn expression was even more excited. "Are you serious, Gongjin? If we can get the navy's help, the battle of Shouchun will be even more powerful! On behalf of the officers and soldiers in the army, Cao Ang thanks Gongjin for his kindness!"

Ma Yunlu couldn't help but look up, and looked at Zhou Yu with a little more respect - this man not only has foresight, but also has the courage to help in times of need, no wonder he can gain a firm foothold in Jiangdong.

Zhou Yu waved his hand and said with a smile, "Since we have already agreed to travel together, a little help is not worth mentioning. Take care on your journey. I will wait for good news in Jiangdong."

Cao Ang and Ma Yunlu bowed again, then turned and set off on their return journey with their entourage. Ma Yue seemed to sense something and stopped to look back. Ma Yunlu waved back. Only after the small figure disappeared around the corner did he mount his horse and ride alongside Cao Ang. The road ahead was long, but this promise gave them a sense of certainty.

Cao Ang, exhausted and exhausted, hurried back to Qiao County, refusing to delay even a moment. Upon entering his home, he sensed a different atmosphere. The servants walked slowly, their expressions solemn. Upon closer inquiry, he learned that Cao Cao's headaches had recurred, and were worse than usual, often causing him to suffer from the pain all night long.

Upon hearing Cao Ang's return, Cao Cao, despite his illness, summoned him to his study. Cao Cao, lying on the couch, looked haggard, with a lingering sweat on his forehead. Seeing Cao Ang enter, he managed to muster a bit of energy and asked in a hoarse voice, "Zixiu, how was Zhou Yu's attitude this time?"

Cao Ang bowed and recounted his mission to Jiangdong in detail, from Zhou Yu's banquet to their discussions on the general situation. He concealed nothing. When he reached a moving point, he elaborated on Zhou Yu's remarks on the ills of aristocratic families, detailing the failure of Emperor Ling's checks and balances strategy, the harmful effects of the entrenched aristocratic families, and Zhou Yu's long-term vision of "enlightening the people and equalizing land ownership." His account was clear and coherent.

Finally, Cao Ang looked at his father, his eyes filled with determination. "Father, while Zhou Yu's words have their own perspective, they also reveal the root cause of the chaos in the world. If we can break the monopoly of the aristocratic families, allow the poor to have a way out, and ensure the people's safety, then the world will be truly peaceful. I believe this should be the goal of our generation."

The study was silent for a moment. Cao Cao closed his eyes, his fingers tapping gently on the edge of the couch, as if digesting the words. After a long moment, he slowly opened his eyes. Though his eyes held the fatigue of illness, they also held a deeper light of thought. "Zhou Yu... is a man of profound insights. If you can bring back these insights, this trip will not be in vain."

Cao Ang looked at the new white hair on his father's temples. The anxiety between his brows subsided a little, but his tone still carried the sharpness of youth: "Father, the remnants of Lü Bu in Xuzhou are ready to make a move, and the grain route in Shouchun is also unstable. In my opinion, we should decide on a direction as soon as possible."

Cao Cao leaned on the couch, his fingertips slowly stroking the military token on the table. He coughed twice before catching his breath. His voice was hoarse from illness: "Ang'er, you've been riding non-stop for three days all the way back from Shouchun. Your eye sockets are sunken. Go back to camp and rest for a day." He looked up at Cao Ang, his eyes filled with care and calmness. "These things cannot be decided in a short time. I'll summon Xun You, Cheng Yu and others to come here tomorrow. I'll discuss it in detail and then tell you."

Cao Ang looked at his father's hands, which were still trembling slightly under the thick fur coat. His nose felt sore and he bowed and replied, "Yes, father. Then you should rest early. Keep the medicine warm and remember to drink it." After that, he tucked the corner of the quilt beside his father's couch and tiptoed out.

As Cao Ang closed the door softly, a figure emerged from behind the screen. Guo Jia, fanning himself, shuffled gently to Cao Cao's side, his clothes still damp with the coolness of the night dew. Cao Cao rubbed his brow, gazing out the window at the dark night. A subtle hint of worry lingered in his voice, "Fengxiao, you've been with Ang'er for a long time. What do you think of this child's character now?"

Guo Jia put away his folding fan, tapped the ribs lightly with his fingertips, and mused, "The eldest son has a virtuous character, unparalleled talent, and a straightforward demeanor in his dealings with others. He's a rare talent. But..." He changed the subject, his tone growing more serious. "Back in Chang'an, he had frequent contact with that Li Ru, and his thinking has become tinged with pedantic ideas. Now that he's in Jiangdong, Zhou Yu is so eloquent, and who knows how much he's been secretly fed with the idea of ​​'benevolence first'. In my opinion, someone is deliberately trying to lead him down the path of 'womanly kindness'."

Cao Cao sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair, his knuckles resting on his forehead. "Yes, this child... you say he has such a heart. If he only wanted to be a loyal minister and a good general, upholding the reputation of a noble family, it would be safe. But he is the eldest son of our Cao family. The burdens he will shoulder in the future are not something that can be described by the word 'safe'." He paused, a stern look flashing in his eyes. "If he wants to become a hegemon, he is so soft-hearted, lacking the ruthlessness and determination, and will suffer a great loss sooner or later."

Guo Jia looked at the newly gray hairs on Cao Cao's temples and said slowly, "My lord, there's no need to worry too much. The eldest son is simply unseasoned. Once he truly experiences the bloodshed of troubled times, he'll understand that relying solely on 'benevolence' won't protect those we want to protect, much less the entire world."

Cao Cao was silent for a long time, his knuckles scraping against the table. Finally, he nodded slowly, his tone shrouded in an inextricable melancholy: "Maybe..."

He gazed at the map spread out on the table, his fingers unconsciously tracing the borders of Yanzhou and Yuzhou. That was his only remaining foundation, as thin as a sheet of window paper in these chaotic times. "A son who is not like his father is the sorrow of both fathers. If he were to learn from me, speaking one way to one man and another to another, forging his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood..." A low sigh rolled through his throat. "Can he really withstand the swordplay of this chaotic world?"

Guo Jia lowered his gaze, listening. He saw his lord's fingertips resting heavily on Jizhou, Yuan Shao's heartland, like a dormant beast. "Last time, if Yuan Shao hadn't retreated, we would have been prisoners long ago," Cao Cao's voice suddenly became hoarse. "We can barely hold onto this little fortune, let alone Ma Chao in Xiliang..."

He raised his hand to press against his throbbing temple, the dull pain of his headache returning. "There are more heroes in the world than just Yuan Shao and Ma Chao. Sun Ce of Jiangdong may be dead, but Zhou Yu is still here. Liu Biao of Jingzhou may seem foolish, but he also controls the natural defenses of the Yangtze and Han Rivers. Liu Zhang of Yizhou may be weak, but the roads to Shu are difficult to travel, easy to defend but hard to attack..."

The states and counties on the map were densely packed, like an overwhelming net, each shrouded in murderous intent. Cao Cao closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the sharpness faded, replaced by a weary relief. "Perhaps... becoming a duke and inheriting the family line would be a good thing. At least it would allow him to live in peace, guarding the Cao family's bloodline, without having to be suffocated by the chess game of the world like I am every night."

The wind outside the tent grew stronger, blowing the military flags up and making fluttering sounds, as if mocking this moment of retreat, or whimpering for the struggle in this troubled world.

Guo Jia clenched his folding fan so hard that the bone of the fan hurt his palm. He took a step forward, his voice filled with urgency, "My lord! What does a momentary success or failure mean? When you failed to defeat Dong Zhuo and were defeated in Xingyang, didn't you manage to make a comeback with only a few thousand remaining soldiers? Could your lofty ambitions be worn down by a single confrontation? We can only start over. Let's slowly make plans. One day, we will conquer Hebei and sweep across the land!"

Cao Cao gave a wry smile and raised his hand to press against his throbbing forehead, fine beads of cold sweat seeping through his fingers. "If it were just a matter of winning or losing, I wouldn't be afraid. But this disease..." He let out a suppressed groan of pain, "When it strikes, my mind is like a tangled mess. All my plans and plots are gone. All that's left is a pain in my temples like needles pricking me. I wish I could bang my head against a pillar. If one day I suddenly have a flare-up in front of the army..."

"My Lord!" Guo Jia interrupted abruptly, bowing and speaking firmly, "Though there are few renowned doctors in the world, there are some! I will immediately send someone to seek out the likes of Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing. They must have a way to alleviate your headache! You are the chosen lord by heaven, how can you let this little ailment dampen your spirit?"

Cao Cao waved his hand, the fatigue in his eyes almost overflowing. "Hey, Fengxiao, there's no need to persuade me. This disease has plagued me for years, I know it well." He looked at the candlelight on the table and lowered his voice. "You've been tired all day, too. Rest early. Gather everyone tomorrow and discuss the matter of sending troops in detail."

Guo Jia looked at the hair on his lord's temples that was wet with cold sweat, his lips moved, and finally turned into a sigh, and he bowed and replied: "Yes, lord, please go to bed early." After that, he slowly retreated. The moment he closed the door, he heard a suppressed groan from inside the tent, and his heart sank - the storm of this troubled world finally weighed on his lord's shoulders first.

The candlelight within the tent gradually dimmed, casting Cao Cao's shadow on the tent wall, flickering, a perfect reflection of his turbulent emotions. After Guo Jia left, the silence grew thicker, leaving only his own heavy breathing, intertwined with the dull ache of his head.

He knew Cao Ang too well. His literary talents were evident in his ability to discern the rise and fall of dynasties from the classics; his military prowess, honed by years of military service, had already honed his courage and insight; and his generosity, his generosity, earned him the trust of his subordinates—with such qualities, he was undoubtedly the most suitable of his sons to inherit his legacy. Yet, the child possessed an almost stubborn stubbornness in his bones, like an unpolished jade, with sharp edges and corners, yet lacking the resilience and ruthlessness essential to a ruler.