“Mengde, speak your mind. There’s no need to beat around the bush, it’s not like you.”
Lu Bu looked towards Cao Cao…
Cao Cao gazed back at him, but his expression turned considerably more serious, his tone gaining a touch of meticulousness.
“You must know that Lu Yu’s marriage is not a simple matter. It’s easy for a woman to be brought into the Ministry of Agriculture, but if she is to be ‘wed’ into the Ministry of Agriculture, that is a different story entirely.”
As Cao Cao spoke…
Lu Bu’s eyes narrowed. So that was it.
As the saying goes, ‘marry a wife,’ ‘take a concubine’… Cao Cao’s meaning was clear. If he wanted Lu Lingqi to be the mistress of the Ministry of Agriculture, it seemed… he would be the first to disagree!
Of course, a match in social standing has always been the case, let alone for the current Grand Minister of Agriculture, commander of the Dragon Cavalry, and Cao Cao’s most trusted Lu Yu!
Lu Bu naturally wanted his daughter, Lu Lingqi, to be “wed” into the Ministry of Agriculture.
Admittedly, Lu Lingqi was not without her backing. Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, the Trapped Formation, the Bingzhou troops – these were all her support. Even the Taishan Army and Zang Ba might very well become her support in the future.
But it seemed that even with all of these considered, Lu Lingqi still had a slight sense of reaching too high!
Lu Yu was not merely a name; he was the Hidden Dragon, the one who helped Cao Cao ascend to dominate the Central Plains. To say nothing of others, just considering the lineage of the Cao and Xiahou families, how much higher were they than the Lu family!
Cao Cao trusted Lu Yu so much, believed in the Hidden Dragon so much!
If he said… he didn’t consider Lu Yu as family, to be blunt, Cao Cao might have long ago decided that Lu Yu was his son-in-law?
No matter how high Lu Lingqi’s social standing, it wouldn’t be higher than a daughter of the Cao family, right?
Once, a spy had reported that Cao Cao’s eldest daughter, Cao Mu, was very close to Lu Yu, and the two of them even managed the forge together.
It was said that Cao Mu was obedient to Lu Yu in everything!
Thinking of this, Lu Bu’s eyes narrowed, and he sighed.
“Brother Mengde seems to have already made arrangements; you’ve long planned to snatch me as your son-in-law!”
“No!” Cao Cao waved his hand. “Fengxian, you misunderstand. I tell you frankly, Lu Yu has no interest in Mu’er, nor can he have any. It’s just that in terms of social standing, your daughter Lu Lingqi is still a step behind. Without needing Mu’er, even the legitimate daughters of the Xiahou family or the Xun family would be superior to Lu Lingqi!”
Cao Cao paused here. After all, he was talking about his own son. A marriage arranged by parents and a matchmaker was not something any casual woman could be.
He had already spoken quite tactfully…
Lu Lingqi was more than just a little bit behind.
Cao Cao was essentially giving Lu Bu a reminder.
“This is your heartfelt advice, Mengde brother,” Lu Bu retorted, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.
“No, Fengxian, I am telling you that the mistress of the Ministry of Agriculture requires not only talent and reputation but more importantly, a prominent lineage! Family merit!”
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, and his next words were even more earnest. “I am reminding you that your daughter’s social standing, lineage, and family merit are not reliant on Zhang Liao or Gao Shun, nor on the Trapped Formation or the Bingzhou Wolf Riders. If you compare them, no matter how you compare them, you cannot match the Xiahou clan, nor my Cao clan!”
“Whether your daughter is brought into the Ministry of Agriculture or wed into it does not depend on others; it depends on you, Lu Bu! It depends on your glorious military achievements! I am not saying this to threaten you; on the contrary, I am telling you that you are no longer just a shadow. Your actions in Bingzhou, the merit you establish in the future, will be your daughter’s most reliable support, her most generous dowry! Do you understand what I, Cao Cao, am saying!”
Ho…
Cao Cao had said a great deal, but every word resonated with Lu Bu, each one striking him profoundly.
Heh heh…
Lu Bu smiled. Having experienced life and death, he now saw many things with greater foresight and clarity.
Cao Cao was trying to provoke him, and this provocation was ten times more effective than any ‘poison’ in controlling him!
“Mengde, you are still the same ‘openly villainous’ man,” Lu Bu said with a smile, looking up. “However, this provocation is quite clumsy; I can see through it at a glance.”
Seeing it had come to this, Lu Bu paused and continued. “Fortunately, you are quite accurate in your judgment of people. For my daughter, even knowing this is provocation, I, Lu Bu, am willing to give it a try. If my journey to Bingzhou yields any merit, let it be considered my daughter’s dowry!”
“Haha, even if my daughter is brought into the Ministry of Agriculture, what does it matter? As long as the ‘dowry’ I bring to Lingqi is sufficiently generous, who in the entire Ministry of Agriculture would dare to look down on Lingqi?”
This was true enlightenment…
Lu Bu’s emotional intelligence had suddenly soared. People grow, and during this period, Lu Bu’s growth had been more fierce and dramatic.
This was growth that spanned life and death.
This…
Being so directly exposed, Cao Cao felt quite awkward. He had intended to offer a perfunctory reply.
Who would have thought that Lu Bu would directly bid farewell?
“Alright, Cao Mengde, let’s end our conversation here! You and I may not see eye to eye, but we’ve talked so much; it’s enough!”
With that, Lu Bu patted Cao Cao’s shoulder meaningfully.
“I’m leaving. Farewell, Brother Mengde. We shall never meet again!”
Saying this, Lu Bu strode with the bearing of a dragon, returned to his Red Hare horse, and mounted it…
“Get along, get along…”
With a neigh from Red Hare, the sound of hoofbeats echoed, and Lu Bu galloped away, followed by the Dragon Cavalry riders.
Only Yang Xiu, walking at the rear, remembered to cup his hands in a salute to Cao Cao before quickly reining in his warhorse and rushing off.
Hoo…
Gazing at Lu Bu’s retreating back, at the entire troop.
Cao Cao was filled with emotion.
It seemed his provocation had been seen through, yet it had still worked. This time, with Yu as bait and Lu Lingqi as bait, Lu Bu would surely give his all!
Haha…
He chuckled with a sense of wistful amusement!
Cao Cao felt that Lu Bu was right; he was indeed an openly villainous man!
He had finally resolved one matter that had been weighing on his mind.
Cao Cao’s mood brightened considerably. He turned his gaze westward.
Tomorrow they would return to the capital in triumph. Next… would it be Zhang Xiu in Wancheng?
Wait…
There seemed to be a missing piece.
According to Yu’er’s plan, it was not yet time to deal with Zhang Xiu, who was “lying beside the bed.” Now, there was an even nearer and more dangerous “enemy” that had bared its bloody maw!
Hoo…
He sighed again, Cao Cao narrowing his eyes, murmuring to himself.
Tomorrow…
Heading west all the way back to Xuchang, he wondered how much undercurrent would surge beneath the calm surface of Xuchang city?
– The storm was coming again!
– This time, the whirlpool would be turbulent! Blood would be spilled! A crimson tide.
…
…
At the Dragon Cavalry camp.
It was now divided into three parts. The original Dragon Cavalry riders were in the South Camp, the three hundred Bingzhou Wolf Riders in the North Camp, and the Trapped Formation in the West Camp.
At this very moment…
In the West Camp, Gao Shun, who was bandaging and examining his wounds in his tent, was disturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps outside.
Instinctively, he got up immediately, quickly donned his heavy armor, and stepped out of the tent.
“What is happening that causes such a commotion?” Gao Shun asked.
The Trapped Formation was always disciplined. Even when faced with an enemy attack, they would first form ranks to meet the enemy. Such panic… this was the first time in Gao Shun’s memory.
“Reporting to the General…” a personal guard immediately reported. “It’s… it’s Commander Lu who has sent people to transport grain. The brothers of the Dragon Cavalry have delivered enough for our seven hundred men.”
Hoo…
Grain? Was that all?
Hadn’t they sent it before?
Gao Shun frowned. “It’s just the delivery of grain, why are you all so excited? What will people think if this gets out? Have you never seen the world before?”
Gao Shun’s tone was particularly stern. He had only just joined the Dragon Cavalry and had not yet made an impression on Commander Lu. If they were to make such a mess of distributing grain, wouldn’t it make the Dragon Cavalry brothers, and Commander Lu, look down on their Trapped Formation?
Just as he was about to reprimand them…
– Anyone causing a disturbance will receive ten military staff blows.
But the personal guard’s voice sounded again. “General, it’s not what you think. It’s just… there’s too much grain delivered!”
Too much? Too much grain?
Gao Shun instinctively asked, “No matter how much there is, there’s no need to panic! Is our Trapped Formation so inexperienced? Heh, tell me, I’d like to hear how much there is?”
Uh…
The personal guard paused slightly, then reported truthfully, “There are seventy shi of grain, forty sheep, and… thirty-five shi of fruits and vegetables!”
What?
Gao Shun was stunned, his eyes filled with surprise.
One must know that in the conversion of the Han Dynasty’s measurement units, one shi was approximately sixty catties!
So… seventy shi of grain meant over four thousand catties of grain;
Thirty-five shi of fruits and vegetables meant over two thousand catties of fruits and vegetables;
And… forty sheep. If each sheep weighed one hundred catties, that would be a full four thousand catties.
The key… it wasn’t about the quantity.
It was… so lavish! Grain, fruits and vegetables… especially meat, all complete. In this era, for soldiers to eat meat, it would only be at victory celebrations; it was impossible in daily life!
Of course… for the Trapped Formation!
This was no longer about meat. Just the quantity of grain and fruits and vegetables was something they could not have enjoyed under Lu Bu’s command.
Not only rich, but abundant…
If grain was distributed every ten days, this quantity was enough for the brothers to eat their fill, not only fill their stomachs but eat very well!
Hoo…
Gao Shun exhaled deeply. No wonder the brothers of the Trapped Formation were so excited and agitated.
In the past, they would go hungry one meal and full the next. When had they ever seen so much grain?
“Tell the centurions to calculate carefully, and according to the ten-day ration, distribute it daily per ‘shi,’ without any deductions!”
Gao Shun immediately gave the order.
The Trapped Formation, like other military units, ate as a unit of “shi” during normal training or when on campaign.
Every few days, the corresponding shi-leader would be given grain for ten people. They would set up cooking fires and manage their own meals, so… when on campaign, one out of every ten armored soldiers would carry a large black pot, ready to cook at any time!
Who would have thought…
After Gao Shun’s order, the personal guard beside him was stunned and did not immediately pass on the message.
Gao Shun, who had been in a good mood,’s expression darkened again.
“What, are you ignoring my words?”
With a cold snort…
The personal guard came back to his senses. “No… I dare not! It’s… it’s…”
The personal guard stammered for a long time. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but as if too excited, he swallowed them back again and again.
Finally, he calmed his agitated heart and said, “General, you misunderstand. This… this military grain is not for ten days, but… but for three days.”
What?
As soon as he heard this, Gao Shun was completely bewildered.
Three days’ worth?
So much?
One must know that if grain, meat, and vegetables were all calculated, it would be nearly ten thousand catties!
Their Trapped Formation was only seven hundred armored soldiers. Could they eat ten thousand catties of grain in three days?
Were they gluttons?
Could they eat that much?
This ration, in the past, not to mention ten days, even twenty days… the soldiers would have been overjoyed.
“Clarify what you’re saying,” Gao Shun urgently asked…
“General Cao Xiu of the Dragon Cavalry specifically mentioned… the Dragon Cavalry has a military regulation regarding meals.”
The personal guard’s words were hesitant.
This matter, let alone General Gao Shun, even he felt continuous astonishment when he first heard General Cao Xiu’s words!
It was just outrageous!
“The military regulations state that every Dragon Cavalry soldier must be guaranteed two catties of grain, one catty of meat, and one catty of vegetables and fruits per person per day!”
“If even one soldier lacks an ounce of grain or meat, the squad leader will be held accountable! If all one hundred men are short, the centurion will be held accountable! If a thousand men are like this, then the flag-bearer will be held accountable!”
Uh…
Hearing this, Gao Shun gasped, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Does the Dragon Cavalry have a mine?
How dare they arrange meals like this?
Although Gao Shun had heard of the abundance of the Dragon Cavalry’s meals before, hearing the daily fixed rations for each person still shocked him!
The expenditure for such military provisions was terrifying.
As a general, Gao Shun was very sensitive to military grain. He immediately asked again.
“That’s still not right!” Gao Shun’s eyes darted around. “Even according to military regulations, with two catties of grain, one catty of meat, and one catty of vegetables and fruits per person, our three-day ration for seven hundred men should be eight thousand catties, but how is it ten thousand catties now!”
This…
The personal guard immediately replied, “General Cao Xiu also mentioned this. The weight of the forty sheep needs to exclude the blood, so an additional two thousand catties were calculated. General Cao Xiu also said… if any of the Trapped Formation soldiers do not eat enough, they have more there. Commander Lu’s set quantity is the minimum standard. For example… Commander Dian, he eats more than ten catties a day, and the Dragon Cavalry supplies him fully, without any deductions!”
Uh…
Uh…
Hearing this, Gao Shun’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. He felt like he had eaten enough for the day.
These military orders, just hearing them, made him feel full!
No wonder the Dragon Cavalry soldiers could fight so well. He originally thought it was due to the divine weapons and armor. Now it seemed it was an overwhelming advantage in strength!
With such meals, the muscles that grew were strong muscles, converted into terrifying strength!
No wonder the Dragon Cavalry soldiers all looked broad-shouldered and exceptionally robust. Coupled with such training and diet, it was no wonder they were robust!
Heh heh…
Gao Shun smiled. He finally understood why the Dragon Cavalry could shake the world and echo throughout the nine provinces! This was not by chance, nor was it due to the sharpness of their weapons; it was inevitable!
Too young, he, Gao Shun, was still too young!
But…
The problem arose.
Such enormous expenditure? How much money would it take? And how could money be easily allocated from above?
Based on his past experience, requesting military grain from the army camp was often a great difficulty!
But as soon as he thought of this.
Gao Shun suddenly tapped his forehead.
Wait…
How could he forget this? Commander Lu was the Grand Minister of Agriculture of the Han Dynasty. The Grand Minister of Agriculture was one of the Nine Ministers, and besides managing the agricultural affairs of the Han Dynasty, he was also in charge of the Han Dynasty’s granaries and treasuries!
That is to say, the money and grain of the entire Cao camp were under the control of Young Master Lu. As for who he allocated the grain to, that was endless and inexhaustible!
Uh… In an instant, he, Gao Shun, felt like he was worrying about nothing.
What he considered a difficult matter, Commander Lu could easily resolve.
It was extraordinary…
Truly extraordinary!
“Cough cough…”
With a light cough, Gao Shun tried to calm his surging emotions.
For some reason, this strong and resolute man’s heart felt a little touched, and his eyes inexplicably welled up with tears. This was… very inexplicable!
Even Gao Shun himself didn’t know. He was always loyal, and he valued the seven hundred brothers of the Trapped Formation more than anything else.
In times of chaos, what was the original intention of the soldiers? What were the brothers fighting north and south, with their lives on the line, fighting for?
Was it not just to eat their fill? To wear warm clothes?
And now…
He seemed to be able to feel the satisfaction of his brothers!
Drip! Splash!
Uncommonly, Gao Shun shed a tear. The tear fell to the ground and quickly dried in the wind, leaving no trace.
Gao Shun wiped his face. He was a man who disliked showing his emotions.
But…
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t help himself!
His expression was extremely strange… it was as if he were crying, yet also smiling, but the smile seemed uglier than the tears.
Finally…
Amidst the dripping tears, amidst the smiles and cries, he spoke.
His voice trembled slightly, as he laboriously squeezed out a line from his slightly hoarse throat.
– “To be a soldier under Commander Lu, to join the Dragon Cavalry, we… we seven hundred brothers have come to the right place. We… have come to the right place!”
Soldiers in times of chaos, just like ordinary people in times of chaos, what they sought was only to eat their fill, to wear good clothes!
Whoever could achieve this, they would fight for them.
And Commander Lu had undoubtedly achieved these things to the utmost!
Hoo…
Gao Shun sighed again. He was never good with words, so he couldn’t say anything moving.
“We’ve come to the right place! We’ve come to the right place!” was all he could repeat…
Of course, he had truly come to the right place!
“General seems… to be crying?”
The personal guard noticed that Gao Shun’s expression was not quite right and asked.
“Nonsense!” Gao Shun roared. “Men shed blood but not tears. Moreover, with so much grain delivered, I should be happy, not crying!”
Speaking of this, Gao Shun’s tone became even more emphatic, as if to conceal his agitated heart!
After all…
All this goodness was sought for them by General Lu.
They ate this food with immense satisfaction and happiness, but… someone was always carrying the burden for them!
“Lead the way, take me to inspect the grain, to thank General Cao Xiu, to thank Commander Lu, and also to thank…”
He couldn’t utter the last name!
But his eyes welled up with tears again!
Drip! Splash! Drip! Splash!
The tears that fell to the ground quickly dried in the wind, but the agitation in his heart could not be calmed for a long time!
…
…