Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In the study, Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao, who seemed unaware of the seriousness of the situation. He hesitated for a long time, his mind torn between his conscience and his desires. Finally, he couldn't help but speak: "My lord, do you really think this marriage with Xiliang is a completely good thing?"

Cao Cao was slightly taken aback and said, "At least for now, it solves our urgent need. Ma Chao has always cared about the country and is a man of integrity. If the moment comes when we must fight, then each side will rely on its own strength."

Guo Jia looked worried and said, "My lord, I'm afraid you haven't realized the seriousness of the problem yet."

Cao Cao looked puzzled and asked, "What's so serious? Just tell me."

Guo Jia took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Don't you think the eldest son is somewhat... um, lacking in character? He is indeed very outstanding, both in conduct and talent. However, don't you think he is too upright, lacking some of the qualities that a great leader should have?"

Cao Cao frowned slightly. He had actually noticed this before. To say Cao Ang wasn't like him wasn't entirely true. Cao Ang was just like him in his youth, single-mindedly focused on stabilizing the country and contributing to the nation. Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but smile bitterly. That had been his own thought, too. Back then, he'd only dreamed of having the inscription "Tomb of the Han Dynasty's Western Expedition General Cao Hou" etched on his tombstone after his death. He wasn't as deeply concerned now, grappling with the struggle for supremacy in these troubled times.

After that, Cao Cao said to Guo Jia, "Zixiu is still young. In a few years, when he matures and experiences some setbacks, his personality will naturally change."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia clapped his hands anxiously and said, "My Lord, how can this be easier said than done?"

Cao Cao looked puzzled and looked at Guo Jia in confusion.

Guo Jia hurriedly continued to explain, "Think about it, there are so many princes in the world right now, and you are considered a top force in this situation. Under your protection, who can pose a threat to the eldest son and make him feel truly frustrated?"

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Never mind. Even if Zixiu's personality remains unchanged, I, Cao Cao, have more than just him. The future heir to the family business doesn't necessarily have to be Zixiu; it could be handed over to one of my other sons. Zixiu is a public-spirited man. If he can wholeheartedly assist his brothers, he'll be doing his bit for the family. Even if his brothers can't tolerate him, so what? He still has Ma Chao behind him. As Ma Chao's brother-in-law, Ma Chao won't sit idly by, so naturally, it won't be a problem."

After hearing Cao Cao's words, Guo Jia still felt that the matter of Cao Ang needed to be handled with caution, but since Cao Cao had already made such considerations, he could not say anything more. He said, "My lord, you are a man of foresight. Since you have weighed the pros and cons and made a decision, I will do as you say. However, no matter who will take charge of the family business in the future, the alliance with Xiliang and the war against Yuan Shao are of paramount importance and cannot be lost."

Cao Cao's expression froze, and he nodded. "Of course. While this alliance with Xiliang has alleviated our immediate needs, Yuan Shao is still eyeing us with a fierce vigilance. We must not let our guard down. Immediately urge the soldiers in each battalion to intensify their training, stockpile food, and prepare for a long-term battle. Also, closely monitor the progress of Xiliang's efforts to relieve the siege of Hangu Pass, and keep me informed."

Guo Jia bowed and replied, "Yes, my lord. I will make the arrangements immediately. Regarding the alliance, I will also discuss matters with the relevant generals and advisors to ensure smooth cooperation with Xiliang and to prevent Yuan Shao from taking advantage of the situation."

Cao Cao said, "Okay, I'll leave this matter entirely to you. Also, those sent to Chang'an to assist Zixiu must be loyal, reliable, and resourceful individuals. Instruct them secretly to help Zixiu deal with various matters while remaining cautious and cautious to avoid arousing suspicion from the Western Liang side."

Guo Jia said, "Rest assured, my lord. I will carefully select the right people to convey your message clearly. They will definitely not disappoint you."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, waved his hand, and said, "Go ahead. There are so many things to do, please take care of them." Guo Jia bowed again and took his leave. He hurriedly left the study to carry out the tasks assigned by Cao Cao.

Cao Cao watched Guo Jia's retreating figure, his mind racing. In these turbulent times, the struggle for family inheritance and hegemony intertwined, and every decision hinged on the Cao family's rise and fall. He knew that no matter which son he chose to inherit the family business, he would need to carefully navigate this complex landscape, ensuring the family's foundation was secure and allowing for steady progress in the struggle for world domination. The alliance with Xiliang presented both opportunities and challenges; only by tackling them appropriately could the Cao family secure greater opportunities for development...

Wen Chou and Zhang He had been besieging Hangu Pass for a long time. Although their lord had not yet ordered them to withdraw, their continued siege had left them furious. To capture the pass, they deployed siege equipment such as catapults and siege barriers. However, the garrison led by the brothers Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan remained resolute, repeatedly thwarting their attacks.

Initially, they attacked cities almost daily, but faced with the stubborn resistance of Cao's army, they were forced to change their strategy, later adjusting to an attack every three days, and now every five days. After all, their lord's primary purpose in sending this 100,000-man army wasn't to capture a large number of cities, but to create a deterrent effect. However, as time went on, Wen Chou and Zhang He gradually grew tired.

Zhang He was a straightforward man, and he had long been fuming. He reasoned that if all else failed, they could simply bypass Hangu Pass. While this would take time, it would be preferable to wasting troops and energy here. However, he also knew his lord's strategic deployment had its own implications, and a hasty change in the route would likely disrupt the overall situation. Therefore, he suppressed his frustration.

Wen Chou was equally annoyed. He looked at the Cao army flags flying over Hangu Pass, spat, and cursed, "These Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan are truly despicable. They're like two cowards, stubbornly guarding Hangu Pass and refusing to leave. We have a hundred thousand troops here, and yet we can't do anything to them!"

Zhang He frowned slightly and advised, "General Wen, since the lord has given the order, we should hold our troops for now. Bypassing Hangu Pass is one option, but if Xiahou Dun and his men attack us from behind after we leave, that would be troublesome. Furthermore, we may not fully understand the lord's strategic intentions, so we should proceed with caution."

Wen Chou snorted and said, "Hmph, be cautious! If you keep being so cautious, your morale will be worn out! Look at you, brothers, you're all a bit slacking off now."

Zhang He followed Wen Chou's gaze and saw that the soldiers in the camp had indeed lost their initial high spirits, with many of them showing signs of fatigue. He felt a little worried, knowing that this was not a solution, but he could not think of a better solution.

At this moment, a soldier hurried in to report: "Generals, spies report that the Western Liang army has dispatched troops and is heading towards Hangu Pass. It seems they are here to aid Cao Cao!"

Wen Chou and Zhang He exchanged a glance, both eyes flashing with surprise and solemnity. Wen Chou said, "The Western Liang army? How did they get involved? It seems the situation is about to become even more complicated."

Without delay, the two men quickly reported the Xiliang army's deployment to Guo Tu, who led the central army. Guo Tu, fully aware of the seriousness of this matter, feared no compunction and immediately informed his lord of the news. He analyzed, "We've been besieging Hangu Pass for such a long time. If they had intended to send troops to support us earlier, they would have done so long ago. But they've suddenly sent troops now. In my opinion, this is most likely an alliance between Cao Cao and Xiliang."

After a moment's deliberation, Guo Tu turned to Zhang He and said, "General Zhang He, there's no time to lose. Lead 30,000 men, including 5,000 elite halberd warriors, and deploy them to the distant mountains. This way, we can form a strong defensive position alongside General Wen Chou's forces. If the Western Liang troops truly rush to attack, General Wen Chou will meet them at the front. Then, you can descend from the mountains, catching them off guard and completely destroying them. Even if Cao Cao's forces at Hangu Pass seize the opportunity to attack General Wen Chou, we have your reinforcements to provide a backup. At the very least, we must ensure the safe retreat of these 100,000 men."

When Wen Chou heard this, he was filled with dissatisfaction and shouted, "Run away? Why would we run away? We have a hundred thousand soldiers here, are we still afraid of them?"

Guo Tu hurriedly and patiently explained, "General Wen Chou, you don't know. We, along with this hundred thousand-strong army, have been stationed here for so long, primarily to compel Cao Cao to join us in our fight against Xiliang. But now the situation has suddenly changed, and Xiliang has allied with Cao Cao. If we were to take on both of them, the lord would probably not act rashly. Therefore, it would be best for us to conserve our strength and await the lord's next order."

Although Wen Chou was still resentful, he also understood that what Guo Tu said made sense. He could only snort and say, "Forget it, I'll listen to you for now. But if the Western Liang army dares to underestimate me, I will make sure they never return!"

Zhang He nodded calmly and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Guo. I'll make the arrangements right away. However, we must also be cautious with General Wen Chou and not underestimate the enemy. The Western Liang army is a skilled fighter, so we must proceed with caution."

Wen Chou patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I know what to do. If they dare to come, I will make them feel my power!"

Zhang He immediately assembled 30,000 troops, selected 5,000 of them, and rushed to the distant mountains to deploy their forces. Wen Chou, however, reorganized his forces and strengthened their defenses, anticipating the arrival of the Western Liang army. Guo Tu closely monitored the developments, anxiously awaiting his lord's orders, silently praying that this crisis could be resolved smoothly and that Yuan Shao's grand plan would not be thwarted. Meanwhile, at Hangu Pass, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan observed the unusual movements of Yuan Shao's troops and suspected they might have learned of the Western Liang army's advance. They, too, remained vigilant, further strengthening their defenses in preparation for the impending battle.

At the same time, the Xiliang army led by Wei Yan was rushing towards Hangu Pass at full speed.

Guo Jia, returning to Xudu, knew the crucial battle at Hangu Pass was imminent, so he immediately dispatched a skilled courier to the pass at full speed. The courier galloped along, raising a cloud of dust, and never dared to stop for a moment.