Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Qingzhou's administrative center was Linzi.

The moonlight outside the window was thick, and all was silent.

Cao Cao sat on the couch, expressionless, looking out the window, his eyes occasionally revealing a hint of sorrow and determination.

Thus, Cao Cao sat quietly until dawn before slightly closing his eyes.

However, Cao Cao had not even rested for half an hour in his half-asleep state when the door was suddenly knocked, startling Cao Cao to sit up straight, his hand subconsciously pressing on the hilt of the sword beside the couch.

"Lord, Gongzi Ang, Dispatcher Xun, Chief Clerk Yang, Attendant Xu, and others have arrived."

Dian Wei's somewhat muffled voice entered, which allowed Cao Cao to relax a little.

Immediately, Cao Cao, with a hoarse voice, feigned the tone of someone just awakened from a long sleep and replied.

"I will get up now."

Following that, Cao Cao ordered a few favored and plump maids in the mansion to enter and help him wash up. After tidying his clothes, Cao Cao, under Dian Wei's protection, walked somewhat hastily towards the council hall in the front yard.

At this moment, in the council hall, many people were already seated.

Besides Cao Ang, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, Xun You, and other confidants of Cao Cao's group, there were also two quite conspicuous outside officials, Xu You and Yang Hong.

"I overslept for a moment, I apologize for keeping you all waiting."

The moment Cao Cao stepped into the council hall, he proactively explained to Xu You and Yang Hong.

This made Xu You, whose expression was not very good, soften his expression slightly, but his words still couldn't hide his contempt as he said.

"Aman, why are you still acting so recklessly like you did when you were young, even delaying important matters?"

Aman?

This nickname, spoken so casually by Xu You at this moment, was undoubtedly a mockery.

This made Cao Ang, Xun Yu, and others sitting in the hall look slightly displeased.

Cao Cao, however, smiled freely and replied.

"Brother Ziyuan is absolutely right. It's just that life is short, and one should sing while drinking. It's inevitable that I indulged in a few more cups last night and slept a little longer. Please forgive me, please forgive me."

Having received Cao Cao's repeated apologies, Xu You finally stopped pursuing the matter with a smug look.

After Cao Cao took his seat, Xu You waved his hand and said.

"Whether Aman oversleeps or not, I shouldn't have asked too much, but Aman mentioned yesterday that there was something to discuss. Can you give us an answer today?"

"Indeed."

Yang Hong, who came as Yuan Shu's envoy, also spoke up at this moment.

"Marquis Wushuang has already agreed, and we ask Duke Cao to quickly give us an answer as well, so as not to delay important matters."

Cao Cao's expression did not change, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, but the expressions on the faces of the others in the council hall were full of dissatisfaction.

Even Xun Yu, who was known for his gentlemanly reputation, said in a deep voice.

"You two want my lord to send troops to defend against Xu Province, and even borrow 30,000 troops to help Yuan Gonglu attack Yan Province, but only promise half a commandery's worth of land. I'm afraid that's a bit too much."

"Bang!"

Cheng Yu even slammed the table, jumping up and cursing.

"Are you two's faces comparable to the Hulao Pass? My lord is not a subordinate of Yuan Benchu. How can you two have the face to say such shameless words?"

Cao Ang also said with a沉着 face. "My father is the Lord of Qing Province, how dare you deceive him like this?"

Listening to the questions, Xu You still raised his chin, and said dismissively.

"So, does Aman mean to reject my lord's good intentions?"

These words were almost a blatant threat.

Currently, Cao Cao, who was in Qing Province, was in a very awkward situation. To the north was Ji Province, to the south was Xu Province, and to the west was Yan Province.

His territory was separated from Yuan Shao's by a river, and Qing Province was barren.

Although Yuan Shao's focus was now on You Province in the north and Bing Province in the west, once Yuan Shao was angered, and Yuan Shao mobilized the troops from Ji and Bing Provinces to the south, Qing Province would be almost defenseless.

The strategy that Xun Yu had made for Cao Cao could not be said to be unfeasible, but the changes in reality caught Xun Yu somewhat off guard.

Yuan Shu was almost completely annihilated in Jing Province and was no longer able to go south;

In addition, the reversal of the Battle of Jieqiao allowed Yuan Shao to sweep across Ji and Bing Provinces in an instant.

As a result, neither Lu Bu nor Cao Cao had the opportunity to compete for Yan Province. The two Yuans first set their sights on Yan Province, and even sent envoys at the same time, requesting Cao Cao to send troops to defend against Xu Province and lend troops to Yuan Shu.

Cao Cao knew very well that if Yan Province was captured by Yuan Shu, he would be trapped in Qing Province.

At the same time, Cao Cao also knew that this was a test from the Yuan family, to confirm whether Cao Cao was willing to submit to the Yuan family.

Once Cao Cao refused, or even showed a posture of wanting to compete for Yan Province, he would immediately be attacked by the Yuan family.

Now, Yuan Shao dominates Hebei, and the Battle of Jieqiao has shaken the world. He is also allied with Yuan Shu, facing Yan Province across the river. Xu You is not afraid that Cao Cao will not cooperate.

Cao Cao's situation, such wise men as Xun Yu were naturally clear about, and they also understood that Cao Cao did not have many chips to face such behemoths as the two Yuans at this moment.

However, when Lu Bu abandoned Yan Province, he at least took the populous Nanyang Commandery as a condition.

Xu You and Yang Hong came to Qing Province and proposed extremely harsh conditions. Not only did Cao Cao have to defend against Xu Province for Yuan Shu, but he also had to lend troops to Yuan Shu to attack Yan Province.

What's the difference between Cao Cao pursuing the beauty, Cao Cao organizing the wedding for the beauty, and Yuan Shu finally sending her into the bridal chamber?

It's simply too deceiving!

Just when Cao Ang, who had a straightforward personality, was about to get up and completely tear his face with Xu You, Cao Cao suddenly got up and said with a smile.

"Yuan Benchu, who is he? My own brother! Since this is Benchu's intention, how can I, Cao Cao, refuse? A mere 30,000 troops, no problem."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the council hall was shocked.

Cao Ang subconsciously got up and tried to dissuade him. "Father, this..."

Before Cao Ang could speak, Cao Cao waved his hand to interrupt him.

"Don't say more. Benchu and I are brothers. In the past, Benchu took care of me and helped me a lot. Now that the Yuan family is temporarily short of troops, lending 30,000 troops is only a matter of course."

At this moment, even Xu You was a little unbelievable.

After all, Xu You had raised the "price" so high, originally with the intention of asking for the sky-high price and settling for a lower price on the spot.

The bottom line of the two Yuans was to ensure that Cao Cao did not interfere in the affairs of Yan Province, and it would be best to assist the two Yuans in defending against the Xu Province direction, so as to prevent Liu Bei from sending troops to enter Yan Province through Xu Province to obstruct the Yuan family.

What Xu You never expected was that Cao Cao, calling him brother at every turn, actually agreed so readily to the matter of borrowing 30,000 troops.

"Aman, is this true?" Xu You blurted out in pursuit.

Cao Cao frowned slightly and said.

"Even farmers know that brothers don't distinguish between each other, and I and Yuan Benchu have been friends for so many years. To put it simply, they are all fucking brothers. How can a mere 30,000 troops be a joke?" (End of this chapter)