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In the Deputy Prime Minister's Mansion, Cao Pi listened to the report of the Censor Zhou Yuan with a serious expression. There was something wrong with Chang'an's intelligence point, and several intelligence points were captured by the Han army. More than half of the detectives were arrested. Even dozens of detectives they had just sent to Chang'an were arrested by the Han army.

This news made Cao Pi very worried. He didn't know how to explain to his father. It didn't take long for Zhou Yuan to be in charge of the intelligence that this happened, which would definitely make his father angry. Especially when the two countries were preparing for war, Chang'an's intelligence became very important.

Of course, Cao Pi also knew that Zhou Yuan could not blame him for this matter. He could only blame Chang'an for not being secret enough and was discovered by the Han army, but could he say this to his father?

Helplessly, Cao Pi had to say to Zhou Yuan: "The most urgent task now is to build another intelligence point. All the detectives who were not arrested must be recalled to prevent any of them from being rebelled by the Han army and send new detectives to Chang'an. We must hurry up and determine the good candidates today."

Zhou Yuan nodded silently and asked again: "How should I report to Mr. Wei?"

"I will report this matter to you and I will bear the responsibility. Just do the follow-up matters well, and don't worry about other matters."

Zhou Yuan was grateful and bowed to him, "Thank you for your care for me. I will do my best to get the follow-up matters done."

"Go!"

Zhou Yuan bowed and slowly retreated. Cao Pi was the only one left in the room. Cao Pi was walking back and forth in the room with his hands on his back. He was really a little upset. In the past two months, the Han army began to prepare for war. He also received his father's order to prepare war, so he issued an order to each county, requiring each county to prepare supplies.

But the list of materials obtained in various counties today surprised him secretly. The amount of various materials was half less than he estimated in advance. Only then did he realize that they suffered a great loss in the last six months of trade relaxation, and a large amount of materials were bought by the Han Dynasty with money and gold ingots. Although the Yedu market was prosperous, the local area was increasingly withering.

This problem was his responsibility. He discovered it too late. He was worried that he could not report it to his father. But the news that Chang'an intelligence point was caught up in one go came immediately. It was said that disaster never came alone. He didn't dare to face his father.

Cao Pi was in a dilemma. He knew that the current situation was critical, and his father was also very nervous. If he concealed it, it would probably cause trouble, but if he said it, it would also make his father angry.

After hesitating for a long time, Cao Pi decided to report to his father, but he had to hide it in key links and not let his father be disappointed with his ability. Thinking of this, Cao Pi immediately ordered: "Prepare a carriage and go to Tongque Palace!"

Cao Pi got on the carriage, and the carriage quickly drove towards Tongque Palace outside the northern city.

Cao Pi entered the Tongque Palace and unexpectedly met his brother Cao Zhang in front of his father's official room. He seemed to be waiting for his father to meet him. Cao Zhang, like his younger brother Cao Zhi, also fought for a position in the world, but he had no support in Ye and was soon defeated and withdrawn from the world war. However, Cao Zhang gained his father's military trust and allowed him to command 50,000 Youzhou troops to defend the northern border.

In the past two years, Cao Pi has basically not had any entanglements with his brothers and has no contact. Cao Pi did not want to meet Cao Zhang at this time, but since he had no choice but to hide, he had to step forward and smile, "I don't know when will the second brother return to Yedu?"

Cao Zhang glanced at him and said coldly: "Brother is busy investigating the seventh case of Jian'an. How can I think of me?"

Cao Zhang was stubborn in his words, which made Cao Pi suddenly realize that Cao Zhang had a deep friendship with the Xiahou family. After transferring Xiahou Dun, how could Cao Zhang have a good face to him? Cao Pi had to laugh dryly, "My second brother is really good at telling jokes."

Cao Zhang turned his head and ignored him. Cao Pi was secretly annoyed, and he also lowered his face and stopped talking. The two brothers seemed a little embarrassed. At this time, a guard walked out of it and bowed to him and said, "Donald Wei asks Shi and Duke Zhang to enter the house!"

Cao Zhang snorted heavily and quickly walked into his father's study. Cao Pi deliberately slowed down and walked into the room slowly. Sure enough, his father had already started talking to his second brother. Cao Pi bowed to his father and stood aside.

The reason why Cao Cao recalled Yedu was to withdraw 50,000 Youzhou troops back to the Central Plains to defend, but he was a little worried about the border and asked, "What's the situation in the Xianbei side?"

Cao Zhang bowed and said, "Reported to his father, the Xianbei started fighting with the Huns since the beginning of the year, and the two sides won and lost each other. The Huns were at a disadvantage. Last month, the child received news that the Xianbei was preparing for a battle and preparing for a decisive battle with the Huns next spring."

It is almost November now, and the grassland has snowed for the first time. At this time, the nomadic peoples in the grassland will certainly not invade the Central Plains. Cao Cao is also considering the beginning of spring next year. Once Cao Zhang's Youzhou army is transferred back to the Central Plains, the Youzhou will be empty, and the Xianbei will take the opportunity to invade, which makes Cao Cao in a dilemma.

He pondered for a moment and asked again: "Is your intelligence reliable? The Xianbei will fight the Huns next spring."

Cao Zhang understood what his father meant and bowed to him, "Report to my father, the information should be reliable. It was the fur merchant from Nangui who told the child that the child could be sure that the Xianbei people would not take advantage of the situation to attack the Central Plains."

Cao Cao changed his mind and suddenly understood and smiled, "I'm really confused. If the Xianbei people invade the Central Plains, who will defend his homeland? It seems that the Xianbei people will not go south for the time being before the Huns perish."

Cao Cao was relieved and immediately said to his son: "The situation is critical now, and the decisive battle between us and the Han army is about to break out. We are short of troops. I want to transfer the Youzhou army back to Yedu. You have no objection!"

"Children obey his father's orders!"

Cao Cao was very satisfied with his attitude, nodded, turned his eyes to Cao Pi again, and asked with a smile: "What's wrong with Pier?"

At this time, Cao Zhang bowed and said, "If my father had nothing else, the child would give up first."

"You go! Take a break for two days before going back to Youzhou to dispatch troops."

Cao Zhang slowly retreated. Cao Cao saw that the two brothers did not say hello. He was really unhappy and asked, "Have you brothers quarreled?"

"The child and my second brother didn't quarrel, but they didn't see each other for a long time, and they were a little unfamiliar with each other."

"This is not possible. Brothers must be united sincerely. If I die, Cao Wei will rely on your brothers to support him. I have decided to let your brother return to Yedu and be in charge of the rituals and music of the Wei State. Don't make things difficult for him anymore."

Cao Pi's heart was shocked. His father actually wanted to let his brother go back to Yedu and in charge of rituals and music. Although this was just a false position, it was a signal. His father began to prepare to activate his brother again. There was also his second brother, whose 50,000 troops were stationed in Yedu. Who would let him command the command? This was a big problem, otherwise the second brother would easily launch a coup.

Cao Pi became more and more nervous, but forgot that his father was waiting for him to answer the serious matter. Seeing that he was distracted, Cao Cao asked again: "What urgent matter do you have to report to your father?"

Cao Pi reacted and hurriedly bowed and said, "Report to my father, I have received news that the Han army is investigating our detectives in the security face. I am worried that someone has betrayed him and that the Yang Gong incident will happen again, so the child suggests that all the detectives in Chang'an be withdrawn and a group of new people will be replaced."

Cao Cao frowned slightly, "But if a new person is replaced, they have to start over again. Isn't it a bit inappropriate at this critical moment?"

Cao Pi did not dare to tell the truth, so he had to bite the bullet and said, "Your father, if the Chang'an Investigation was controlled by the Han army and sent back fake news, it would probably cause us to suffer even more heavy losses. It was at a critical moment that the child felt the need to change new people and new intelligence points."

Cao Cao felt that what he said was reasonable, so he nodded and said, "Since you think there is no problem, just arrange it! You don't need to report this kind of thing to me anymore."

Cao Pi was secretly happy and quickly agreed. At this time, Cao Cao asked again: "I asked the counties to prepare materials for war last time, how is the progress now?"

Cao Pi's heart that had just been relieved suddenly became hung again. He was very nervous and said according to the countermeasures he had thought in advance: "There are summarizing reports everywhere, but he has not yet arrived at the child, but he is a little worried."

"What are you worried about?" Cao Cao asked in confusion.

"The child is worried that the real situation will be concealed and underreported the quantity of supplies, because in the battle of Hefei, the child found that more than half of the local governments underreported the treasury grain, leaving room for room for us, which finally made us very passive, and the child is worried that the same is true this time."

Cao Cao knew that it was true that it was possible. He pondered for a moment: "Let's do this! Send five censors to inspect various places and urge all counties to check the materials. This matter is very important and must not be ambiguous."

Cao Pi sighed in his heart. Although the hurdle in front of him has passed, the fact that the material shortage will be revealed sooner or later. He really doesn't know how to face his father's reprimand.

Cao Pi left the Tongque Palace with great worries. At this time, Cao Cao's mind was on the defense of the Central Plains. He walked slowly to the sand table with his hands behind his back and stared at the sand table for a long time.

He received a quick report from Yu Jin early this morning, and Liu Jin appeared in Shouchun, which made Cao Cao a little confused. It was normal for Liu Jing to inspect various places to combat preparations, but he did not go to Wancheng, Nanyang to inspect, but came directly to Shouchun. What does this mean? Did Liu Jing decide to make a breakthrough from Shouchun?

If you think about it carefully, there is indeed this possibility. Shouchun is close to the Huaihe River in the north, Xuzhou in the northeast, and Qiao County in the northwest, which happens to be a strategic position that can be attacked and defended. Moreover, the Han navy is strong and can completely go to Qiao County in the north. As long as Qiao County is captured, there will be no danger in defending the entire hinterland of the Central Plains.

More importantly, he deployed a hundred thousand troops on the front line of Xuzhou and Qiao County. Once these 100 thousand troops were defeated, the entire battle situation of Cao Wei would fall into a passive position on the whole line.

Cao Cao secretly made up his mind to consolidate the defenses of Qiao County and Huaibei, and never let the Han army break through here.
Chapter completed!