Tian Yan

Sima Yi returned to the banquet in good spirits, found his own seat, poured himself a glass of wine and walked in front of Ma Chao.

Seeing that he didn't even sell Xun Yu's face, everyone couldn't help observing Cao Cao's face quietly.Cao Cao squinted his eyes and just smiled, but he couldn't tell people whether he was happy or angry.

Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, then raised the corner of his mouth: "I don't know if this gentleman is..."

Sima Yi nodded slightly: "Compiled in Xia Tai Academy, Sima Yi."

"Oh..." Ma Chao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I have heard that His Majesty is proficient in poetry and prose. Now that I see it, I don't forget to bring my refined scholars with me even when I go on tour."

Ma Teng coughed, but Ma Chao didn't seem to notice, and filled up the wine bowl in front of him: "Mr. Sima, please."

However, Sima Yi raised his hand and pressed the edge of the wine bowl: "I have also heard that Xiliang knights are fond of spirits, and they never use wine bottles. Since I am here to toast, then I have to do as the Romans do, right?"

Ma Chao stared at Sima Yi for a moment, the man in front of him looked fair and weak, only those eyes made him stop.

The firelight reflected in those eyes, there was none of the flattery, aloofness, or ambition outlined in the imagination, just a pair of pure eyes, without the slightest emotion leaking out.

Or, there was no emotion at all, to this glass of wine, to him, to this room full of people.

Ma Chao beckoned, and immediately an attendant brought an empty wine bowl, he took it with his own hands, and poured a bowl for Sima Yi.

"Sir, if you can do this bowl without pouring it, I, Ma Mengqi, will take my brothers and punish each one for the blind man who didn't know Taishan just now, how about it!"

As soon as these words came out, the banquet was silent, dozens of pairs of eyes looked over, and Cao Cao also sat up straight.

"Okay." Sima Yi smiled slightly, and took the wine bowl.

The wine is clear, but the taste is extremely strong, just one smell, and the smell of wine penetrates into the lungs along the nasal cavity.

This was the wine that Ma Chao and the others drank, and it was indeed different from what they had at the table.

Xun Yu also came in from the outside at this time, seeing this posture, his face froze, he sat down on the mat calmly, and whispered something to the entourage standing beside him.

"Please." Sima Yi held up the bowl, and everyone saw that his Adam's apple was up and down, and the wine did not leak a single drop.

After drinking, Sima Yi lifted the bottom of the bowl with a smile: "Good wine."

Ma Chao saw that his complexion did not change a little, and even the wine-like blush on his face disappeared, so he couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay! I, Ma Mengqi, will do what I say, and I will punish myself!"

"Punish yourself with an altar!" Everyone in the Xiliang tribe was also bold, and they all picked up the altar.

A servant wanted to help Sima Yi, but Cao Cao raised his hand to stop him. Sima Yi walked slowly back to his seat and sat upright.

Xun Yu glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and saw that he seemed to be fine except that his back was a little straight.

People who drink too much, if the wine is good, as long as they don't open their mouths to talk and don't fall asleep, they will generally not be noticed.

It seems that because Sima Yi can't drink enough, he still has a lot of research on how to slap a swollen face to pretend to be fat.

The tent door was opened, and the maids carrying soup tripods came in one after another.

"Lotus root needs a lot of water, and it's not easy to grow in Xuchang, so there are only these left this year." Cao Cao sighed with a smile, "Pork ribs and lotus root soup, I'm afraid it will be difficult to drink again in the future."

Everyone immediately sat upright. Wei Guogang lost Jingzhou, the gateway to the Yangtze River Basin. Cao Cao used lotus roots to lead to the defeat of Chibi. Now it's time to talk about business.

"Boom-"

The attendant serving Sima Yi's food immediately knelt down and kowtowed like garlic: "Damn the small ones, damn the small ones..."

Sima Yi turned his eyes with difficulty, only to see that his portion of soup had been spilled, dripping down the edge of the table and onto the skirt of his shirt.

The hot feeling came more slowly, so Sima Yi stood up: "Your Majesty, I'm going to change clothes."

Cao Cao nodded, Sima Yi then turned around and stepped out of the tent step by step.Cao Cao waited for the curtain behind Sima Yi to fall before he spoke again: "After all, lotus roots are not food, and there is no pity to discard them. The Hexi Corridor is a fertile place. I have seen many places with lush water and grass, but they are all deserted. It's really a pity..."

As the cold wind blew outside the tent, Sima Yi finally couldn't stand upright. He stumbled and walked a few steps, turned to the back of the tent, and then slid and sat down against a tree.

His stomach was already churning, and Sima Yi struggled to sit up on his knees, so he didn't vomit all over his body.

A pungent smell of alcohol irritated his stomach, which hadn't calmed down yet, but he couldn't vomit anything. Sima Yi tried his best to adjust his breathing, and stood up while supporting the tree trunk.

"Drink some water."

The sudden voice made Sima Yi's back stiffen, and when he turned around, he saw Ma Chao holding a water bag and handing it to him.

"Maybe I got sick from eating..." Sima Yi took the water bag and rinsed his mouth, "Why doesn't the little general discuss important matters in the tent?"

Ma Chao raised his eyebrows: "You know a lot, but you actually know that what His Majesty wants to discuss is a big matter?"

Sima Yi secretly thought that something was wrong, and he should say less after drinking: "I guess, if the little general is fine, I'm going to change clothes."

"Please," Ma Chao smiled narrowly, "Since Mr. is unwell, should I take Mr. back and ask a medical officer to take a look?"

Sima Yi lowered his eyes: "No need."

"Then sir, go slowly."

Ma Chao stood there for a moment, and endured the moment when the alcohol was at its peak, and the jar of spirits really made him a little bit too much.

This guy, who obviously drinks very little, insists on trying to be brave in front of everyone. I really don't know why.

What's even more rare is that this is the first time he has seen such a strong person, as if the thin body contained bones made of iron.

Such a person, why did he make a special trip to toast him with a glass of wine?Is it just to earn back the face of being ridiculed?

Ma Chao shook his head, why think so much, he is just a small person.

"Your Majesty doesn't know. Although these areas have not been reclaimed, they all grow pastures. If they are reclaimed as good fields, how should our cavalry be supported?"

Cao Cao rubbed his hands and turned to Xun Yu: "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Xun Yu got up: "I think that we can reclaim farmland near the river and cultivate pasture in areas with relatively little water, so that we can do both without delay."

"Marten, what do you think?"

Ma Teng was a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, Xiliang has always lived as a nomad, if you farm..."

"It doesn't matter!" Cao Cao waved his hand, "After the Battle of Chibi, both Xiliang and the Central Plains need to recuperate. You don't have to worry about farming, just continue training your cavalry."

Ma Teng laughed apologetically: "Your Majesty said that farming is a good thing. But it's late at night, why don't we discuss it in detail tomorrow..."

"What you said is true, then... let's go!" Cao Cao nodded.

"My minister retire."

Sima Yi lay on the couch for an unknown amount of time, and his stomach finally stopped cramping.As soon as the body was relaxed, the exhaustion surged up like a tide, dragging the remaining bit of consciousness to float up and down.

"Why did he sleep on my bed!"

Someone was talking loudly in his ear, as if he was quite angry.

"Ch..."

"Prime Minister, there are not many guards here. They have been transferred outside His Majesty's camp tonight. No one stopped him, so he..."

Xun Yu covered his nose in disgust, and walked out of his tent with his hands.

"Wen Ruo, why don't you rest!"

Xun Yu had a serious face: "Your Majesty, you can see for yourself."

Cao Cao poked his head around and laughed. Xun Yu is a bit of a clean freak. Even if he carried this treasure away immediately, he probably wouldn't lie on that couch again tonight.

"Come come come..."

Xun Yu was dragged all the way by Cao Cao and entered the tent of the Chinese army: "It's just right, I have something to ask you."

"Ma Teng is definitely not willing to let the imperial court's influence penetrate into Xiliang. I have already thought about it. Their excuse tomorrow is nothing more than..."

"It's not this," Cao Cao looked serious, and reached out to hold Xun Yu's hand, "You have been abnormal these days, but I don't know if I should be happy."

Xun Yu froze for a moment, but he didn't withdraw his hand, he just sighed softly.

"For so many years, you have always looked down on the things around you, but you only got angry with Sima Yi, which made me see a little bit of your petty nature back then."

"Is Your Majesty blaming the minister for his small belly?" Xun Yu lowered his eyes.

Cao Cao played with Xun Yu's fingers one by one: "That's how you are. You obviously don't like him, but you deliberately let Tang Ding be overturned to help him out."

"How can I blame you for being like this?"

Xun Yu raised the corners of his mouth and smiled, and slowly pulled his finger back: "Your Majesty is thinking too much, and this minister is doing it for His Majesty's face. Although Sima Yi is shallow, he managed to temporarily bluff those arrogant Xiliang people."

"Hehe," Cao Cao shook Xun Yu's shoulder, "What's wrong with you, you have such a big opinion on Sima Yi, did he provoke you?"

Xun Yu turned his head slightly, the lights were flickering, casting shadows on his deep-lined face: "Your Majesty, in my heart, there are some people who can never be replaced."

Cao Cao's face darkened: "Wen Ruo, what about you? You said that I have tarnished the past with him, but what do you mean by being indifferent to me all these years!"

Xun Yu froze for a moment, then fell silent.

"I have lost Fengxiao, I thought that at least I still have you...but you seem to have died with him! Do you still have me in your heart!"

Cao Cao lost his composure for the first time, and the dead silence that had been buried in his heart for six years was suddenly broken. He did not know when he stood up from the couch, and stared down at Xun Yu's eyes.

Still with the familiar clear eyes, his figure was reflected in the pupils.Cao Cao didn't know if there was still a place for him in his heart hidden behind his eyes.

"His Majesty!"

Seeing Cao Cao approaching step by step, Xun Yu leaned back, but Cao Cao grabbed his shoulder: "Are you afraid of me? Why are you afraid of me?"

Xun Yu shook his head, biting his lips so tightly that they turned pale.

Cao Cao stared at him for a moment, and finally let go of his grip first.

"I thought that Feng Xiao could see my thoughts the best, and you would never misread me. Now it seems that I am all wrong, all wrong..."

The corner of Xun Yu's mouth twitched. Seeing Cao Cao turn around, his back, which used to be tall and straight, was a little slumped.

"In these years, when have I ever forced you..." Cao Cao seemed very tired, and walked to the door step by step, "The bedding on the couch has just been replaced with a new one, so you can rest here."

"Then His Majesty..."

Cao Cao waved his hand, opened the curtain and walked out without saying anything.

Xun Yu noticed that in Cao Cao's words just now, he did not call himself "Zhen".

An emperor's untimely fragility can't erase anything. When the sun rises tomorrow, the country that belongs to him will still be as clear as ever.

So what is the use of asking this question now?

Moreover, the answer, even he himself does not know.

"Feng Xiao, it's all because of you..."

But there is a question in my heart, is this really the case?Over the past few years, he has overcome all difficulties and helped Cao Cao stabilize the country, but why has he never seen Guo Jia, even in his dreams?

Even Guo Jia's appearance is gradually blurred in memory.

It was as if a huge boulder was pressing on his chest, and he couldn't breathe.The royal couch was covered with brand new fox fur cushions, Xun Yu bent down little by little, the blood churning in his chest was forced to hold back, and he fell headlong, his brows still frowning tightly in his sleep.

After sleeping in the middle of the night, Sima Yi suddenly opened his eyelids.

This is not his tent, the smell of incense lingers in his nostrils, and even the number of lamps in the tent is much higher than the specification he used.

"Oh my God..." No need to guess, he knew that this was Xun Yu's tent, what kind of evil did he do to offend this god again unintentionally.

Before he had time to tidy up his clothes, Sima Yi ran out quickly, looked around, and made sure that Xun Yu was not waiting for him to ask his teacher to inquire about his crimes, so he quickly gathered his clothes and put them into his tent.

Someone was sitting in the shadows, Sima Yi turned a corner and almost bumped into it, almost screaming.

"Your Majesty, why are you here late at night..."

Cao Cao tilted his head slightly, unable to see his expression clearly in the dark: "Why are you up?"

It wasn't a question, so Sima Yi didn't answer, but just sat down beside Cao Cao.

Accustomed to Sima Yi's cautiousness, Cao Cao was a little surprised by such a bold move for the first time, but he didn't feel presumptuous.

"I have to rush to make amends to the prime minister, so I can't sleep." Even so, Sima Yi still sat firmly, showing no sign of being in a hurry.

Cao Cao didn't pierce, and the two sat quietly for a while.

"Zhongda, what do you think of me?"

The night wind on the Gobi was very cool, swirling around the skirts and trouser legs of the two of them.Sima Yi's shoulders twitched and he sneezed loudly.

There were rustling sounds behind him, Sima Yi turned his head, and saw Cao Cao took off his cloak, but paused, and didn't put it on him immediately.

But it was only for a moment, and the next moment Cao Cao seemed to sigh softly, and put the cloak on Sima Yi, wrapping him tightly.

"Answer me."

Sima Yi looked at Cao Cao, the moon just came out of the thick clouds, and the clear light shone in Cao Cao's eyes, and the stars were shining brightly.

That was the only light in the dark night.

"Your Majesty is the only person in my heart who can end this troubled world, and he is also the person I most admire."

"I am a hero, and stand on my own in the Han Dynasty, are you not afraid of me?"

Sima Yi shrank his body into the red cloak: "I'm not afraid, Your Majesty has been in love with the old man for many years, and he would never do anything unfeeling."

"You dare to say anything." Cao Cao suddenly smiled, "Admiration... I know that many people hate me, or fear me, and envy me, but this is the first time I hear someone say they admire me."

"A high mountain looks up to you, and a scenery keeps you going. This is not the same as envy." Cao Cao stroked Sima Yi's cheek, "Do you want to be like me one day?"