Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 416: Sending a letter, the chess player

Xiahou, who had been smiling, suddenly froze on his face, and then anger gradually filled his eyes.

"You must be part of the success? Ha, what a joke. You have been crushed to ashes. Who would still remember that there was a spy like you? How about we make a deal? As long as you tell me three names, I will guarantee that you can survive and live a life of wealth and honor. You can continue to sit on the position of captain, and I will also promote you to a higher rank. How about that?"

Xiahou Dun had a hypocritical smile on his face as he stared at Wang Zhao, as if waiting for his answer. Wang Zhao just sneered at the generous conditions offered by Xiahou Dun and did not answer his question. Then he spat in front of him.

"You kill me."

After hearing Wang Zhao's words, Xiahou Dun showed a trace of surprise on his face, but he quickly concealed it.

"Why? What makes you so loyal to Liu Bei? You are even willing to sacrifice your own life. If you die, what will happen to your parents and family? What makes you so willing?"

Wang Zhao raised his head, as if he was recalling something or thinking about something. After a long time, he spoke.

"Parents? Family? I have no parents and family. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, many heroes emerged among the princes. Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Yuan Shao established his own regime, and there were countless upheavals. My parents and family died in the turbulent times."

Wang Zhao stopped standing and sat down cross-legged and continued to tell the story.

"We live in a small village, there is no important place nearby, and there is no gold or silver treasure, but someone still came with his army and set fire to our village. The villagers were also slaughtered. My family members died one by one in front of me, and I was powerless to do anything."

At this point, two tears rolled down Wang Zhao's face, but he suddenly laughed.

"Just when it was almost my turn, suddenly an army descended from the sky and came to our place. They killed all the troops that man brought. Then, I will never forget that scene. A man came to me and stretched out his hand to me. That man came in the sunset and pulled me out of hell and let me stand in the sun again."

At this moment, Wang Zhao's face was filled with a bright smile.

"From that day on, I made up my mind to follow him to fight, even if it meant death. However, I was too stupid and was not as good as the new recruits on the battlefield. So when I learned that someone was needed to join Cao's army, I recommended myself and came here to do my part for my lord."

After he finished speaking, Wang Zhao looked up to the sky, closed his eyes, and quietly waited for death to come. However, the expected death did not come, and what came instead was Cao Cao's voice.

"Since you are so loyal, Liu Bei must value you very much. Lock him up and provide him with good food and drink. Then send a letter to Liu Bei and tell him that we will uncover all the spies planted in Yuzhou and Silizhou one by one. Also, what is his name?"

"Wang Zhao."

Xiahou Dun said softly.

"Oh, yes, Wang Zhao, tell Liu Bei that you can exchange one life for two hundred fine horses. Wang Zhao is loyal and devoted. Five hundred Xiliang top-grade horses, not a single hair less."

"You're dreaming!"

When Wang Zhao heard that Cao Cao wanted to use him to threaten Liu Bei, he roared, pulled out a dagger from his waist, and stabbed towards his neck. Xiahou Dun, who was standing next to him, was quick-witted and grabbed Wang Zhao's wrist. No matter how hard Wang Zhao tried, the dagger could not move forward even an inch.

Xiahou Dun's big hand swept over, pulled the dagger out of Wang Zhao's hand and threw it aside. Cao Cao sneered, turned and left, his voice echoing above the school platform.

"Find all the spies for me. All of them! Not a single one can be left behind!"

Xun Yu followed closely behind Cao Cao and left. Cao Cao sneered. He was originally planning to kill these spies to vent his anger, but after Xun Yu's reminder, he came up with this move. This move was so cruel that Liu Bei was in a dilemma.

If he agreed to exchange these spies for Xiliang's top-grade war horses, it would be a huge expense. Several of Xiliang's top ranches could only raise a few thousand top-grade war horses a year, and the entire Xiliang could only produce 20,000 top-grade horses a year at most. As of now, Cao Cao has captured four people and killed two. According to the price just now, this is 700 horses.

These seven hundred men can fully arm the General of the Fa Qiu and the Captain of the Mojin Army. By then, the combat effectiveness of the two already highly powerful arms can be further enhanced.

Moreover, as far as we can see now, there are definitely more than just these few spies. Cao Cao guessed that there should still be several people in the baggage camp alone. However, Cao Cao is not worried. As long as they have had any contact with Liu Bei and as long as they are in Xuzhou City, Cao Cao is confident that he can find them.

As for Sili Prefecture, the purge had also begun, but Cao Cao had no expectations for that place. There were very few garrisons in Sili Prefecture, and there were no generals stationed in Sili Prefecture. It was a place that military strategists did not fight for. If the previous capital had not been in Sili Prefecture, and Sili Prefecture was where the dragon vein was, Cao Cao had never given up on this place, just to allow the General of the Fa Qiu and the Captain of the Mojin Sect to play their roles.

Cao Cao believed that as long as he could capture enough spies, he would have won the battle, because no matter whether Gu Rubing rescued him or not, Cao Cao would be the ultimate winner.

If Gu Rubing is rescued, he will be exchanged for Xiliang's top-grade war horses, two hundred horses for one life, while Wang Zhao's reputation is more expensive, so five hundred horses are needed.

If Gu Rubing did not rescue him, it would be even better news for Cao Cao. The spy he sent out was caught, and his lord was indifferent. If this matter got out, Gu Rubing would have no chance of survival, and the virtuous image he had worked so hard to build would collapse.

Therefore, no matter whether Gu Rubing was rescued or not, Cao Cao would make a profit, it was just a matter of how much profit. Wang Zhao heard the threat in Cao Cao's words, so he wanted to commit suicide with a knife. He did not want to leave any trouble for Gu Rubing. But after all, he was just a small scout and had not yet been transferred to a roving crossbow captain. His combat power was not high. How could he compare with Xiahou Dun? Xiahou Dun directly took the dagger from his hand, preventing him from committing suicide.

"Oh, don't waste your energy. How can the lord still remember a nobody like me? Five hundred first-class war horses? Not to mention five hundred, I can't even match five or one. Don't waste your energy!"

Wang Zhao shouted loudly in the direction where Cao Cao left, while Xiahou Dun smiled sinisterly behind Wang Zhao.

"The more you say this, the more it means that you and Liu Bei are definitely not just a lord and subordinate relationship. You must have another relationship. That's why you are afraid. You are afraid that we will use your life to make a deal with Liu Bei. Hahahaha, your acting is so poor, so poor that people can see through it at a glance."

Xiahou Dun looked at the struggling Wang Zhao and continued to try to break down Wang Zhao's defenses from within his heart.

"Or maybe you are right. Liu Bei doesn't even know you, let alone remember you, so naturally he wouldn't take out his most treasured Xiliang top-grade warhorse." Faced with Xiahou Dun's provocation and discord, Wang Zhao did nothing. He just stared blankly in the direction where Cao Cao left.

Looking at Wang Zhao who was finally on the verge of collapse, Xiahou Dun laughed unscrupulously.

“Hahahaha, where are your lofty ambitions just now? Hahaha, I still prefer you the way you are now.”

Three days later, Gu Rubing in Qingzhou received a letter from Cao Cao. Gu Rubing didn't take it seriously at first. What could Cao Cao say at this time?
But after he opened the envelope, he immediately stood up. Zhuge Liang, who was sitting opposite him and playing chess, looked at Gu Rubing with some confusion. Gu Rubing took a deep breath and handed the letter in his hand to Zhuge Liang. After Zhuge Liang took it, his expression became extremely solemn.

"What does the Prime Minister think?"

Gu Rubing's expression was equally solemn. He sat back beside the chessboard, holding a black chess piece in his hand and striking it on the board. His heart was shrouded in gloom. He had never imagined that Cao Cao could uncover all the secret lines in Sili Prefecture and Yuzhou in such a short time.

"Cao Cao only mentioned four names in the letter. My Lord, do you remember these four people?"

Although Zhuge Liang looked solemn, he still helped Gu Rubing to sort out his thoughts first. Liu Bei thought about it for a while.

"This Wang Zhao, as I remember, was a young man we rescued. Since then, he has followed us in our battles. When we established the scout team, he took the initiative to apply to join. He is a good candidate for a scout. I have some impression of the other two as well."

Gu Rubing pointed to the three names on the letter and said that those who could be sent to be spies, especially those to Cao Cao, were all, without exception, elites among scouts. Some were good at fighting, some were good at disguise, and some had all kinds of unique skills. Each one of them was one in a thousand or ten thousand, so Cao Cao had some impression of them. However, he had no impression of the last name at all.

"It's possible that they were new soldiers. I don't have much impression of them, but it's impossible for new soldiers to be sent to Cao Cao."

"You can call Ziyi over to ask him."

Zhuge Liang picked up a white chess piece and placed it on the chessboard. The chess game, which was originally in Gu Rubing's advantage, suddenly became Zhuge Liang's advantage. Although the advantage was not big, there was a slight chance of a comeback.

The chessboard at this moment is exactly like Gu Rubing and Cao Cao at this moment. Gu Rubing plays black and Cao Cao plays white. Before this, Gu Rubing had the advantage, but because of the difference of one piece, plus the previous efforts of the white piece, there is a hint of dragon slaying at this moment. As long as the white piece makes a few more moves like this, the black piece will be doomed, and this chess game is exactly the same as the situation of Cao Cao and Gu Rubing at the moment.

"Ah."

Gu Rubing nodded, and then sent someone to call Taishi Ci over. Taishi Ci was more knowledgeable and confident about scout matters, and soon, Taishi Ci arrived here.

"My Lord, what can I do for you?"

Seeing that Gu Rubing and Zhuge Liang both had solemn expressions, Taishi Ci's intuition told him that something must have happened.

"Ziyi, sit down."

Gu Rubing invited Taishi Ci to sit down, and after Taishi Ci sat down, Gu Rubing handed the letter to Taishi Ci. While Taishi Ci was reading it, Gu Rubing told Taishi Ci his doubts. After listening, Taishi Ci shook his head firmly.

"My lord, there is absolutely no such person among my scouts. As for sending him to be Cao Cao's spy, it is absolutely impossible. Those who went to Cao Cao were all brothers I personally selected. Even if they were caught, they would never betray other people."

After getting Taishi Ci's affirmative answer, Zhuge Liang and Gu Rubing both fell into deep thought, but Zhuge Liang quickly found the loophole.

"Since Ziyi has already said that there is absolutely no such person sent to Cao Cao, there is only one possibility."

"What's possible?"

"The three people who were captured did not expose Feng directly, but indirectly. The clues that led to their indirect exposure also pointed to this person. So Cao Cao and his men mistakenly thought that this person was also sent by us. Therefore, it can be concluded that Cao Cao has only captured these three colleagues. It is not like what he said in the letter that he has already caught the handle and can uproot it. This is just Cao Cao threatening the lord."

After listening to Zhuge Liang's analysis, Gu Rubing felt relieved a little. If he was uprooted, Gu Rubing would not be able to bear the loss.

"That's good. According to what the Prime Minister said, there shouldn't be any problems with other people, right?"

"We can't say for sure that they haven't been exposed, so my lord, you should still think about how to deal with it."

"Don't think about it, Prime Minister. If they are all caught, they will definitely be replaced, even if there is only one person caught."

Gu Rubing did not hesitate at all. After sending them to the corresponding places, he did not give them any support, not even the most basic gold and silver. However, many of them still took high positions, provided a lot of useful information, and played a huge role in the war.

Even if he didn't, Gu Rubing would still save them. The attribute of virtue, while providing him with a huge attribute bonus, also made his character closer and closer to Liu Bei. Under such circumstances, Liu Bei would never neglect his subordinates, and Gu Rubing would naturally not do the same.

"That's good."

Zhuge Liang smiled knowingly. Although this deal was not cost-effective no matter how you calculated it, they both knew in their hearts that they had to make the change no matter what. Gu Rubing looked at the chessboard, thinking about where to make the next move, but his hands were slow to make a move. At the critical moment, Zhuge Liang made a move, and Gu Rubing did not hesitate to make his move.

It was this move that made the balance, which had originally tilted towards Zhuge Liang, tilt again towards Gu Rubing. Just like the decision made by Gu Rubing, the situation between himself and Cao Cao was reversed again.

At this moment, the two of them are like two chess players, interpreting the changes in the world situation on the chessboard.

(End of this chapter)