In Chenliu, Cao Cao suddenly felt a strange unease. He had been discussing the following year's governance with Xun Yu and the others when this feeling struck him, leaving him momentarily distracted.
"Lord?" Xun Yu inquired softly.
"I don't know why, but I'm feeling uneasy," Cao Cao replied, frowning at Xun Yu.
Just then, a voice from outside announced, "Urgent report from Taishan!"
Cao Cao stood up abruptly, his body swaying slightly.
"Read it!" Xun Yu, seeing Cao Cao's expression and recalling that Zhicai had recently coughed up blood, felt a chill. His face turned pale, but he maintained his composure as he ordered the messenger to continue.
"Chen Changshi reports that Military Adviser Xi has once again vomited blood and fallen unconscious," the messenger announced. Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's small frame trembled slightly. "Zhicai…"
"Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of Hua Yuanhua from Qiao County, the injury has been stabilized, but it will require a long period of recuperation before recovery," the messenger continued, just as tears were about to fall from Cao Cao's eyes, taking a sudden turn in his report.
"Couldn't you have said that all in one breath?" Xiahou Yuan, who had been tense from the initial news, scolded the messenger. Xun Yu was an indispensable figure for Cao Cao's camp, and the initial news had everyone on edge. The unexpected turn left them all relieved, prompting Xiahou Yuan to scold the messenger half-heartedly, mingling his words with a sense of gratitude.
"So, Zhicai's condition has stabilized?" Cao Cao asked, letting out a breath.
"Military Adviser Xi's condition has been stabilized by Doctor Hua. He woke up not long ago, but Doctor Hua has advised against any strenuous activities or travel in the near future," the messenger, clearly a sharp individual, likely given specific instructions by Chen Qun, explained.
"How skilled is Doctor Hua?" Cao Cao inquired further.
"Lord, Doctor Hua Tuo's medical skills are unparalleled in the world, beyond comparison. With Doctor Hua by his side, Zhicai will not suffer any further harm, and previous injuries may even be healed," Cheng Yu, well-versed in the strange and remarkable figures of the world, explained.
"Good, good," Cao Cao said, finally reassured. "I will personally write a letter to Liu Xuande, asking him to take good care of Zhicai."
Cao Cao, feeling that his earlier unease must have been related to Xi Zhicai, now that he knew his adviser was safe, felt much more at ease.
After most of the civil and military officials had left, Cao Cao kept Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, and Zaozhi behind.
"Tell me the truth. What's really happening with Zhicai? He's never been like this before. Why did he insist on going to Taishan?" Cao Cao's sharp gaze swept over the remaining advisers.
"Lord, this matter concerns Zhicai's spiritual gift…" Xun Yu sighed and revealed everything. As he explained, Cao Cao listened in astonishment. It turned out that every top strategist had a spiritual gift, a fact that Zhicai had risked his health to uncover by going to Taishan.
"Alas, it's because I'm too weak. If I were stronger, Zhicai wouldn't have to do such things! When he returns, I must warn him not to do this again!" Cao Cao sighed, feeling a deep sense of guilt for what his adviser had endured on his behalf.
"Lord, we suspect that Zhicai's spiritual gift allows him to sense others' spiritual gifts. However, he may not fully understand his own. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a condition. After all, he's used our spiritual gifts before without issue, but ever since he arrived in Taishan, things have gone wrong. It seems he knows others but not himself," Xun Yu speculated.
"It seems that's the case," Cheng Yu agreed. "By rights, Wenruo's gift should be among the strongest, yet Zhicai has used it without problems. But after going to Taishan, things have gone awry. It must be a case of knowing others but not oneself."
Cao Cao sighed. "In that case, I'll write to him and advise him to stop probing into others' spiritual gifts, just to be safe."
"There's not much else we can do," Cheng Yu lamented. "If we could uncover their spiritual gifts, it would make dealing with them so much easier. What a pity."
"Zaozhi, how is next year's preparation for the military farming coming along?" Cao Cao asked, turning his attention to Zaozhi.
"We're short on oxen, but the wastelands throughout Yanzhou have been cleared. By next spring, we can begin planting. If all goes well, we should be able to harvest five million hu of grain," Zaozhi replied calmly. Although the previous year's farming efforts had been hampered by the Yellow Turbans, they had still produced some results. That partial yield had helped sustain Cao Cao's army through several weeks of fighting.
"How did Liu Xuande acquire so many oxen?" Cao Cao asked curiously. Both he and Liu Bei were not wealthy, so how did Liu Bei manage to obtain such a large number of oxen?
"I don't know, but I've sent people to investigate," Zaozhi responded calmly. Though he was a low-key figure, Zaozhi's importance to Cao Cao was no less than that of the two Xuns, and he had the authority to deploy resources accordingly.
"Good," Cao Cao nodded. "Wenruo, any new intelligence from Yuan Chang in Chang'an?"
"Liangzhou's Ma Teng and Han Sui have raised an army of 100,000 to suppress the rebels," Xun Yu replied with a neutral expression. In his view, Ma Teng and Han Sui were rebels themselves, and their actions were hardly about restoring order.
"Is there an opportunity for us?" Cao Cao asked, his face lighting up as he turned to Xun Yu. He was particularly eager to acquire the Xiliang cavalry.
"The timing isn't right. If I'm correct, Ma Teng and Han Sui will likely be defeated. Even if by some chance they win, it will only spread the chaos from Xiliang to Yongzhou, which won't be good for the Emperor," Xun Yu shook his head. He saw the situation clearly: Ma Teng and Han Sui's forces were large, but they lacked unified command, a fatal flaw against the experienced and well-led forces of Dong Zhuo's former generals. In Xun Yu's view, their chances of victory were slim.
"What a shame. Such elite troops, and they're not mine to command," Cao Cao sighed, frustrated by his current lack of cavalry.
"Lord, please endure for a little while longer," the taciturn Xun You finally spoke. "Yuan Chang has his plans. Li Jue and Guo Si are no match for him."
Hearing this, Cao Cao felt reassured. Zhong Yao, a devoted admirer of Cai Yong, had, after much coaxing from Xun Yu and the others, quietly aligned himself with Cao Cao. Whenever he could, he would subtly stir up trouble between Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji, gradually sowing discord among Dong Zhuo's former followers. Although their bonds, forged in the crucible of battle, were strong, the seeds of doubt had already been planted.