Xu Chu and Zhao Yun fought for seventy or eighty years, but there was still no winner. Cao Cao saw that Xu Chu always defended less and attacked more, and was worried about his losses, so he offered gold and retreated his troops.
Zhao Yun also retreated to the main formation. This was the first time Liu Qi saw him sweating profusely. In the past, when he came back from fighting, his face was not red and he was out of breath.
"This big fat guy is interesting!" Gan Ning curled his lips and was eager to give it a try.
Liu Qi said: "Xu Chu is as brave as Dian Wei. If we encounter him in the future, we must not underestimate him."
Zhang Fei laughed and said: "Even if Dian Wei comes, I will fight him, let me go and fight again!"
Liu Qi nodded slightly, Zhang Fei rode out of the battle, and shouted: "Zhang Yide from Yan is here, who dares to fight to the death?"
Cao Cao looked at Zhang Fei and saw that his voice was like a huge thunder and his momentum was like a galloping horse. He sighed: "I once heard Yun Chang say: Among millions of troops, Yide takes the head of the general, just like picking out objects from a bag. This man is not as brave as Guan Yu. Don’t go to war!”
Cao Cao's army was shaken, and no one responded. Cao Cao sighed secretly and withdrew his troops back to camp.
Looking at the surrounding hills and mountains, it reminded me of the scene during the conquest of Wancheng. He looked up to the sky and sighed: "If Dian Wei is here, why should he be afraid of Guan Zhang?"
After the troops returned to camp, Cao Cao discussed with Xun You and Cheng Yu how to defeat the enemy. Cheng Yu stroked his beard and said: "Zhao Fan is timid and does not dare to raise troops. Sun Quan is watching from across the river, intending to reap the benefits. Once Liu Qi is defeated, Jingzhou will be in chaos."
Xun You nodded and said: "Sun Quan will not send troops, but Liu Qi can fight with all his strength. Zhou Yu will manage a hundred thousand naval troops in Chaisang. When Jingzhou's troops are exhausted, he can go up the river and take advantage of various places along the river."
Cao Cao slapped the case and said angrily: "You dare to take advantage of me?"
Xun You smiled and said: "Prime Minister, don't worry. Although Soochow is protected by rivers, it can only defend the land south of the Yangtze River. Once it crosses the river and lands on the shore, it will be like a fish out of water. There is no need to worry."
"What Gongda said is so true!" Cao Cao laughed and said, "When I defeat Liu Qi, take Jingzhou, and follow the river to the east of the Yangtze River, Sun Quan won't have to worry about it!"
Xun You said: "Liu Qi has all Liu Bei's civil and military forces, as well as Jingzhou's troops and horses. His power has been established and cannot be defeated. We should use tactics to defeat him."
When it comes to the countermeasures at hand, the three of them are at a loss. Liu Qi occupies a favorable location, and Zhang Shouying has another Zhao Yun. He has well-equipped soldiers and seems to have no flaws. They can only wait for the opportunity.
For two days in a row, Cao Cao tried hard to think of any countermeasures, but Cao Cao had another headache and was in agony in the tent.
In the evening, Cao Chun suddenly came over with joy and reported: "Prime Minister, I visited an immortal who has a miraculous medicine that can cure the disease until it lasts. It is far better than Hua Tuo."
"Oh?" Cao Cao sat up despite his headache and ordered him to be brought in.
Then I saw an old Taoist with white hair and a clear face walking in. His Taoist robe was slightly worn, he was carrying a gourd wooden sword and holding a whisk in his hand, which looked a bit cynical.
The old Taoist said: "Zuo Ci from Lujiang is here to see the Prime Minister."
Cao Cao looked at the visitor and asked, "Do you have any magic pill that can cure head ailments?"
Zuo Ci smiled and said: "The poor Taoist is refining elixirs in the mountains, which can only cure the diseases of the people. The prime minister is a noble person, so the elixirs are useless."
Cao Cao's face suddenly darkened. Cao Chun was shocked and angry. He pointed at Zuo Ci and shouted: "You just said clearly that it can be cured, why did you change your words again?"
Zuo Ci stroked his beard and smiled and said: "The prime minister's disease cannot be cured by elixirs. He needs to take Wushi Powder to slowly cure it."
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly: "What is Five Stone Powder?"
Zuo Ci said: "This recipe was passed down from the ancient Qin Dynasty. It is made from cinnabar, realgar, alum, zengqing, and cishi. After taking it, it can cure diseases and strengthen the body. It not only makes the gods cheerful, but also helps the dragon yang."
"Oh?" Cao Cao's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he leaned forward and asked, "Does it have a miraculous effect?"
Zuo Ci nodded and said: "Three doses will take effect, but the refining of this medicine is very time-consuming, and the proportion will fail if you are not careful, so the price..."
Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "If you can cure the disease and strengthen the body, even a thousand gold coins will not be worth it."
But Zuo Ci shook his head and said: "I am a poor person, so what is the use of money? If I can exchange this medicine for a promise from the Prime Minister, that will be enough!"
Cao Cao said: "Tell me and listen."
Zuo Ci said: "The poor Taoist looks at the appearance of the prime minister. There have been disasters of water and fire recently. The south belongs to fire. It is not suitable for the prime minister to send troops to the south. It is better to retreat early."
"How dare you!" Cao Cao was furious and shouted: "Our military aircraft is a major matter, how can we allow you to talk nonsense? Are you a lobbyist for Liu Qi?"
Zuo Ci sighed: "Since Dong Zhuo's rebellion, the world has been in chaos, and all life in the nine states has been devastated. Only Jingzhou has preserved a piece of pure land. The prime minister should assist the emperor with benevolence..."
"How outrageous!" Cao Cao interrupted Zuo Ci and said in a deep voice: "If you sneak into the military camp to be a lobbyist in the name of treating illnesses, do you know that our military law is ruthless?"
Cao Chun drew his sword and shouted: "Old Taoist, if you dare to play tricks on me, you really don't know whether to live or die."
"It is true that a poor man can cure diseases, and it is also true that he can give a face to the prime minister..."
Zuo Ci shook his head helplessly, took off his luggage from behind, took out a yellow cloth bag, and said: "Here are five pairs of five-stone powder. The prime minister will take three pairs and the head disease will heal on its own. If there is no curative effect, I am willing to donate my head." .”
Cao Chun opened the package and saw five small paper packets inside. The paper packets contained golden powder with a faint medicinal smell.
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the paper bag and pondered for a moment, then ordered: "Please take a dose first, Taoist Priest!"
Zuo Ci hurriedly said: "Prime Minister, this medicine is extremely valuable, how can we waste it? I don't need to..."
Cao Chun had already understood, and Zuo Ci had just spoken arrogantly and was angry in his heart. He immediately asked someone to catch Zuo Ci, forcefully drank the packet of medicinal powder, and took him to a nearby tent to rest.
After dark, Cao Chun came to report. Zuo Ci's face was rosy and he didn't even feel drunk after drinking a jar of wine.
Cao Cao then asked: "Where did Zihe find this person?"
"Zuo Ci was actually recommended by He Yan!" Cao Chun replied truthfully: "Zuo Ci is his teacher, and He Yan's disease was cured by taking Wu Shi Powder! Hearing that the prime minister had a headache and Hua Tuo was not in the city, he secretly recommended him To me."
"My son has some filial piety!" Cao Cao finally showed a smile, rubbed his head that hurt like needles, and motioned to Cao Chun to take a pair.
He Yan was the grandson of General He Jin. His father died young. Cao Cao took his mother Yin as his concubine and adopted He Yan. When he became an adult, he married his daughter to him.
He Yan was an intelligent man, but he did not know the classics. He liked the learning of Lao and Zhuang. He was in poor health due to his addiction to sensuality. Although his daughter complained many times, Cao Cao did not take it seriously. On the contrary, he loved her very much because he was a member of the same way.
After Cao Cao took the potion, he lay on the bed for a quarter of an hour when he felt his body begin to feel hot, spreading from his chest to his limbs. As Zuo Ci said, he felt cheerful and his whole body felt indescribably comfortable.
Not only the headache was greatly relieved, but also the soreness and pain in the waist and back disappeared, especially in the abdomen, which was very hot and spread to the perineum point, like a spring breeze that awakens the stinging insects, with a faint tendency of eruption.
Half an hour later, Cao Cao was sweating profusely. He looked down and saw that the quilt between his legs was bulging like a tent, and his eyes widened.
He shook his head again. Although there was still a dull pain, it was no longer uncomfortable. He stood up and laughed and said, "The fruit is a fairy medicine. With Zuo Ci here, why do you need Hua Tuo?"
Cao Chun heard the sound and entered the tent. Seeing that Cao Cao was also rosy and radiant, he was surprised and said: "Congratulations, Prime Minister!"
Cao Cao wiped his sweat and said with a proud smile: "Find two prostitutes tomorrow!"
