After Cao Zhang said these words, he turned to look at Xu Shu and Sima Lang: "Yuanzhi, Boda, what suggestions and ideas do you have?"
Sima Lang had just become an official, and he was involved in the dispute between the Cao brothers. He was already in a bit of a mess. He couldn't figure out what to do. He could only shake his head in embarrassment: "Young Master, please forgive me for involving Sikong and your family affairs. I really don’t dare to speak nonsense.”
"I have an old father at home, and my younger brothers are still young and need more care from me. I really don't dare to make him angry. If you feel that I am useless, I am willing to resign and go home." Sima Lang expressed his thoughts and concerns Say it directly.
Cao Zhang knew that Sima Lang had concerns. The battle between him and Cao Pi for the heir apparent was already bloody at the beginning, and no one could predict what the outcome would be.
Sima Lang had not been following him for long, and he had not yet fully established feelings and loyalty. At this time, it was too late for him to avoid him, and he would not dare to offer advice.
It's just that he can honestly speak his inner thoughts, and he can be regarded as an open and honest gentleman.
Cao Zhang didn't make it difficult for him, and just nodded: "I completely understand Boda's concerns. Don't put too much pressure on you. You just need to do your job well. As for the relationship between our brothers in the court, I won’t arrange for you to participate in the fight, so just feel free to do it.”
Sima Lang didn't expect Cao Zhang to be so open-minded, so he immediately stood up and thanked him: "Thank you, Master, for your understanding."
Cao Zhang waved his hand to indicate that he could sit down safely, and then turned to look at Xu Shu, who had been mumbling in silence: "Yuan Zhi, do you also have concerns?"
When Xu Shu heard Cao Zhang's question, he quickly stood up and responded: "Since Xu Shu agreed to serve the young master, he will naturally do his best and will not care about anything else. What's more, to realize the young master's grand plan and great achievements, obtaining the position of the heir is the prerequisite, how can I not try my best? Help the young master succeed."
Xu Shu's words showed his loyalty and dispelled Cao Zhang's worries.
"My subordinates have been silent just now. They were just thinking about the young master's problem and how we should deal with it next." Xu Shu explained to Cao Zhang.
"Then what did you think of?" Cao Zhang looked at Xu Shu expectantly.
Although he already had some ideas in his mind, he still hoped to hear the opinions of a top counselor like Xu Shu first.
Xu Shu looked at Cao Zhang deeply and said in a deep voice: "Master, we might as well put ourselves in his shoes and think about it. If you were Cao Pi and both operations ended in failure, what would you do next?"
Cao Zhang was slightly startled by Xu Shu's words. He had only thought about how to deal with it, and indeed he had not thought about what Cao Pi would do next.
Cao Zhang calmed down and thought about Xu Shu's question seriously, analyzing it based on what he knew about Cao Pi's character.
After two consecutive failures, Cao Pi will definitely be more careful in the future, and the possibility of sending another assassin should be very small; the probability of success of secretly poisoning is low, and he probably will not use it; now that he is in the limelight in front of Cao Cao, he wants to blame him. It is impossible for Cao Cao to take action...
Cao Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up and he looked at Xu Shu and said, "Yuan Zhi, I already have the answer. Why don't we two write down our answers and see if we think the same thing?"
Xu Shu also became interested and nodded lightly.
The two walked to the desk together, picked up pens and bamboo sticks, turned their backs and wrote down their thoughts.
Xiahou Ba and Sima Lang both looked at the two of them curiously, wondering what they would write down.
After they both finished writing, they turned around together and showed the bamboo sticks in their hands.
Four pairs of eyes looked at the two bamboo sticks together, and the same two words were written on them: external force!
Cao Zhang and Xu Shu smiled at each other, obviously pleased with each other's tacit understanding.
"Ziwen, Yuanzhi, what exactly is this external force you are talking about? Why can't I understand it at all?!" Xiahou Ba asked the two of them anxiously.
"We are surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides, and war is about to break out. There is a possibility of going to war at any time. Cao Pi knows that I am brave, so he only needs to unite some clan generals and recommend me to lead the army in front of my father. My father will not refuse!"
"When we get to the battlefield, the sword has no eyes, and there are dangers everywhere. If Cao Pi is secretly working, and informs the enemy of our army's military situation, he can use the hands of foreign enemies to eradicate me!" Cao Zhang told Xiahou Ba in detail his guess. Explained.
"I see. Now that we have guessed what he was thinking, it will be easier to deal with. Then we can just find a way to shirk it." Xiahou Ba suggested to Cao Zhang.
"No, not only do you want to go, but you also have to strive to become a general!" Xu Shu put forward the opposite opinion at this time.
"Yuan Zhi, are you crazy? You know they want to kill Ziwen, but you still let him go to the battlefield and become a general!? Doesn't this mean he is going to die!?" Xiahou Ba became anxious and shouted loudly.
"Zhong Quan, don't be impatient. Let Yuan Zhi finish what he has to say first. He must have his own intentions in arranging this." Cao Zhang stopped Xiahou Ba and motioned for Xu Shu to continue.
Xu Shu continued calmly: "Wealth and honor are sought in danger. Laozi also says: Misfortune lies where blessings depend; blessing lies where misfortune lies. These blessings and misfortunes are mutual transformations and have no permanent shape."
"Before the hunt, I suggested to the young master that we should try to keep a low profile and do more practical things. But obviously, even if we keep a low profile, the other party will still take action, so we will simply change our strategy and show our abilities in front of Sikong in a high profile."
Cao Zhang frowned and nodded thoughtfully: "You mean, if there is an invasion from a foreign enemy, I will work hard to win the position of general, lead the troops into battle, win a victory, and show our military ability and command. Ability, so as to gain an advantage in the competition for the crown prince, right?"
"But you didn't say that Cao Pi and the others would betray our military intelligence. How could Ziwen win if he becomes the general?" Xiahou Ba said anxiously.
Cao Zhang had already thought of a countermeasure at this time and said with a smile: "If they hadn't betrayed their military intelligence, maybe I wouldn't have been able to win. With them providing their military intelligence, it would be difficult for me not to win."
Xu Shu stroked his beard and nodded slightly: "Young master is right, when the time comes, we only need to make a plan, so why worry about being victorious if we lay out doubts?"
A firm light flashed in Cao Zhang's eyes, and he said approvingly: "Although Yuan Zhi's plan is a bit risky, it does have the unexpected result of killing two birds with one stone. Being able to establish military exploits and control greater military power in a short period of time is also the most powerful one. Fight back.”
"However, it is not enough to build military merit. We also need enough financial resources to win over all parties." After Cao Zhang finished speaking, he turned around and picked up the bamboo slips that Xia Houjuan had collected and handed them to Sima Lang, "Boda, now we have Take a look at an opportunity for the Sima family to make a fortune."
Sima Lang was slightly stunned after hearing Cao Zhang's words, but he still reached out to take the bamboo slips, unfolded them and read them carefully.
Xu Shu and Xia Houba didn't know what was written on the bamboo slips Cao Zhang gave Sima Lang, but judging from his solemn expression, they guessed that it must be something extremely confidential.
After Sima Lang read it carefully, he put down the bamboo slips, looked at Cao Zhang in astonishment and said, "Master, are you going to leave this matter to the Sima family?"
"Yes, do you think the Sima family is capable of completing it?!" Cao Zhang asked seriously.
"The Sima family once opened a bookstore and papermaking workshop in their hometown in Wen County, and have relevant experience. I can go back and discuss with my father, and then transfer craftsmen from my hometown to Xudu and arrange for the craftsmen to try the methods written by the master." Sima Lang responded with some excitement.
"Okay, if you can succeed in the experiment, this business will definitely be very profitable. With this money, it will be much easier for us to do things in the future. Your Sima family has done a great job, and I will give 20% of the profits to Sima family, what do you think?" Cao Zhang asked.
Sima Lang was overjoyed when he heard Cao Zhang's words. He knew that this was already a great reward and nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Master! Master treats the Sima family so well. Our Sima family will swear to be loyal to you to the death and share your worries!"
Xu Shu and Xia Houba listened to the conversation between the two, and both looked surprised. They could not guess what Cao Zhang wrote on the bamboo slips for Sima Lang that could bring such a huge profit...
