Cao Mao sneezed several times in succession.
He rubbed his nose and looked toward Yang Hu nearby.
At that moment, Cao Mao stood outside Taiji Hall, watching the armored guards coming and going as Yang Hu directed them.
The once-silent Imperial Palace now rang with the clatter of armor.
Man Changwu stood to one side, watching the scene before him solemnly.
Cao Mao looked at the large man who so closely resembled his father and grandfather. Man Changwu did not possess Man Chong's talents, but when it came to faithfully carrying out his duties, few under Cao Mao could match him.
Cao Mao trusted him a great deal.
"Master Man, from today onward, remain here on guard. Do not let anyone enter the hall."
"And do not let anyone inside the hall reveal my whereabouts."
Cao Mao gave his instructions, and Man Changwu naturally accepted his orders at once.
This time, Cao Mao was leaving the Imperial Palace-and even Luoyang itself. Sima Zhao's troops were currently deployed in Wude, Huai County, Yewang, and other county towns in Henei Commandery.
Sima Zhao himself was in Zhou County, where Yewang and Huai County met, while Cao Mao's destination was Wen County, southwest of Zhou County.
Because of Cheng Cui's faulty intelligence, Sima Zhao had kept adjusting his position, moving farther and farther forward.
Zhong Hui had analyzed Sima Zhao's thinking. He probably intended to use the troops in Yewang as his main attacking force, driving straight toward Yinping, while he himself would cut off the gateway between Henan Commandery and the Central Plains. Hence these deployments.
Sima Zhao's current deployment offered the best opportunity.
If the troops in Yewang marched south, numerous obstacles would spring up along the route straight to Sima Zhao. If Sima Zhao moved south, getting him back to