If You Leave, It Will Be Like Cutting Off One of My Father's Arms!

Elsewhere, after taking his leave of Cao Cao, Qin Tian walked toward his tent with a grim expression.

By his reckoning, this was already the eleventh year since he had crossed over.

He had never imagined he would come to this point!

That was right—Qin Tian was a transmigrator from eighteen hundred years in the future.

Eleven years ago, he had transmigrated to the late Eastern Han, becoming a poor scholar of the same name and appearance.

At the time, the original owner of this body was only fifteen years old. His family was impoverished, with only an old servant at his side.

Since information was so limited in the late Han, it had taken Qin Tian more than a month just to figure out what era he was in.

And once he understood the historical context, Qin Tian had become even more despairing.

In the late Eastern Han, aristocratic clans were gradually rising, leaving no room at all for scholars from humble families.

Moreover, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had already passed, Emperor Ling was nearing death, and the common people's last path to advancement had been cut off.

Thus, at the age of fifteen, Qin Tian had resolutely left home to seek learning far and wide.

In the end, he arrived in Lujiang and became Cai Yong's disciple.

After studying for three years, Cai Yong was summoned to court. Valuing Qin Tian's abilities, he had intended to bring him along to the capital.

Yet Qin Tian had resolutely joined Cao Cao's service, becoming Cao Cao's only strategist at the time.

Thanks to his foreknowledge and the insights of more than two thousand years, he repeatedly distinguished himself and earned Cao Cao's deep regard.

But as Cao Cao's status gradually rose, the rift between them had only grown wider!

The first incident had been Cao Cao's attack on Xuzhou. Even though Qin Tian had saved Cao Song's life, Cao Cao had still intended to massacre the city.

After Qin Tian stopped him several times, he had angrily left the army and returned to Yanzhou.

Later, Cao Cao personally came to apologize and swore never to slaughter innocents indiscriminately again. Only then had the matter passed.

Then, the following year, Cao Cao wanted to kill Bian Rang. Qin Tian advised him that killing Bian Rang would bring great disaster, but Cao Cao refused to listen, ultimately leading Chen Gong to rebel.

Although Qin Tian had turned the tide and minimized the effects of Lu Bu's raid on Yanzhou,

the incident had ultimately caused Cao Cao to never again trust outsiders.

Naturally, that included him—a strategist from a humble family with a different surname.

Finally, the last straw that broke the camel's back was Xi Zhicai's premature death!

Cao Cao had lost not only a close friend, but also the last adviser with whom he could speak openly.

Compared with Xi Zhicai, Qin Tian, a strategist who had joined midway, now appeared to stand alone at the top!

Even after Xun Yu recommended Guo Jia, Cao Cao still did not dare wholly trust him.

Looking back, Qin Tian did not know where things had gone wrong.

From beginning to end, he had never harbored any disloyal intentions.

Yet he and Cao Cao had drifted farther and farther apart, until they had reached this point.

But Cao Cao's words just now had made him understand.

Perhaps he and Cao Cao had never truly been of the same kind!

Cao Cao could live just as well without him.

Yet Qin Tian's actions had indeed posed a threat to Cao Cao's rule.

In other words, it was time for him to leave!

That only strengthened his resolve. Since there was no point in staying, he might as well leave now!

With that thought, Qin Tian arrived at his tent.

The moment he arrived, a young man dressed in armor emerged from behind the tent and respectfully bowed to Qin Tian.

"Sir, was Father willing to see you?"

This man was Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang—and also Qin Tian's disciple.

Though they were not far apart in age, Cao Ang had always treated him with the courtesy due a student, speaking with utmost respect.

Looking at Cao Ang's youthful face, a trace of sorrow flashed through Qin Tian's eyes.

If there was one person he could not bear to leave behind, it was this little brother who had spent so many years with him.

How could he not know of Cao Cao's suspicions toward him?

In the past, he could simply have protected himself by saying nothing.

But he could not bring himself to abandon this disciple!

It would have been one thing if you, Old Cao, merely liked other men's wives. But you spend every day enjoying yourself in your command tent—do you know your son is about to die?

At times, he truly wanted to give up and think, If you, Cao Cao, do not care, why should I?

But every time Cao Ang called him "Sir" with such warmth, Qin Tian simply could not bear to watch him die!

And that was precisely the problem. The terrible thing about the Battle of Wan City was that it was entirely an open scheme!

There was simply no way for outsiders to counter the plan devised by that old scheming bastard Jia Xu!

First, he had Zhang Xiu pretend to submit. Then, using the excuse of guarding against deserters, he obtained weapons and moved his troops into the camp by the Yu River!

Once the rebellion began, Zhang Xiu would be able to attack Cao Cao's central army directly!

This was not something that could be resolved through advance preparations!

The only way was to make Cao Cao come to his senses and move the main camp.

But now, Cao Cao was immersed in the obedient atmosphere Jia Xu had created and could not even listen to Qin Tian's words!

If Cao Cao did not move the camp, Zhang Xiu could directly threaten him.

Once Cao Cao was threatened, the entire camp would fall into chaos!

As a filial son, Cao Ang's first reaction would certainly be to save Cao Cao!

That meant Cao Ang would have virtually no chance of escaping this deathtrap!

Therefore, as Qin Tian looked at Cao Ang now, his heart truly ached.

It was the anguish of knowing that the person before him might die, yet being unable to save him.

Amid his tangled emotions, he shook his head and walked into the tent without a word.

The moment Cao Ang saw this, he knew something had happened to Qin Tian. He hurriedly followed him inside and said indignantly, "Sir, do not worry. I will go to Father's tent at once, kill that wicked woman, and persuade Father to move the camp!"

Yet as he spoke, Qin Tian merely packed his belongings in silence.

Seeing this, Cao Ang grew anxious and hastily grabbed Qin Tian. "Sir, what is the meaning of this? Why will you not answer me?"

Caught by him, Qin Tian helplessly raised his head and sighed. "I have said all there is to say. What use is there in saying more?"

"If Zixiu will listen to me, quickly summon Yu Jin. I have an important task for him."

Seeing that Qin Tian's expression was wrong, Cao Ang refused to let go and pleaded earnestly, "If Sir wishes to see General Yu Jin, this disciple will naturally go summon him on your behalf!"

"But if Sir has an important matter to attend to, why are you packing your belongings?"

"Could it be that my father said something cruel to wound Sir again? Please tell me plainly!"

Seeing Cao Ang's sharpness, Qin Tian sighed again. In his eyes, Cao Ang was absolutely a qualified heir.

He was mild-tempered yet decisive, perceptive, and skilled at noticing details.

Moreover, he had served in the army since childhood and possessed excellent physical strength.

If he had inherited Cao Cao's title, how could the Sima Clan possibly have had a chance to usurp power?

It was only a pity that he would die here in Wan City, leaving no later story for him.

After considering it for a while, Qin Tian decided to speak frankly.

"Lord Cao does not believe me and has long become wary of me. Just now, I told him Zhang Xiu would rebel, but Lord Cao accused me of disrupting army morale."

"By my judgment, Zhang Xiu will certainly rebel tonight, and our army will surely be defeated. Even if we suppress the uprising, Lord Cao will certainly use disrupting army morale and provoking Zhang Xiu into rebellion as excuses to eliminate me!"

"Since Lord Cao cannot tolerate me, Qin Tian should naturally leave."

"Only, I pity the young lord's filial heart. I wished to warn Yu Jin to protect the young lord's life!"

"Once everything has been arranged, Qin Tian will resign and depart, never again adding to Lord Cao's troubles!"

Upon hearing Qin Tian's words, Cao Ang's body trembled. He froze where he stood and muttered, "Sir wishes to resign and leave?"

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Qin Tian's hand. "If Sir leaves, it will be like cutting off one of my father's arms! I beg Sir to think carefully before acting!"