Cao Mao felt not the slightest anger at these words. Similar things had happened many times already.
They used every possible means to evade it. He had already received many reports, yet unexpectedly, some fish had still slipped through the net.
Cao Mao looked at Zhang Hua. Knowing what to do, Zhang Hua turned and left.
"Elder Brother! These people are truly hateful!"
Cao Qi was furious now, clenching his fists as though he meant to charge those people with the beating he had just received.
Yet Cao Mao asked calmly, "Isn't this how those people have always behaved?"
No one else could get a word into the brothers' conversation. They could only lower their heads and tremble.
Cao Mao paid Cao Qi no further attention, instead examining the few people behind him.
He attached considerable importance to these men.
"Shu Jinen... you have considerable talent. Unfortunately, you spend your days fooling around with the King of Donghai, and have never managed to put it to use."
"How about this? You needn't remain in Luoyang any longer."
At these words, despair immediately appeared on Shu Jinen's face.
Cao Qi turned pale with alarm and was just about to speak when Cao Mao continued, "Go to Liangzhou. Ma Long happens to have too many places under his charge and is finding his strength unequal to the task. Go serve under him as his deputy general."
"Although Ma Long is young, he is highly skilled in the art of war. You have talent, too. If you can learn even half of what he knows, you will accomplish great things."
Shu Jinen raised his head again.
He had thought the emperor was preparing to exile him.
Instead, was he being given an official post outright?
Of course he knew who Ma Long was.