Within the "Flowing Water" pavilion in the Ministry of Agriculture, a place named Xiao Qiao’s courtyard.
Morning…
The first ray of sunlight pierced through the window. Lu Yu rubbed his groggy eyes and woke from his dream. Gazing at the slightly disheveled bed, he smiled faintly.
One great battle had just concluded, and another was already looming.
Next, it was time to muster troops… and march to Wancheng.
A decisive battle against Zhang Xiu, a game of chess against Jia Xu!
Just then, a high-pitched, intense, and roaring melody of a zither echoed, as if tearing through the sky, sounding the trumpet of dawn, much like the prelude to a great battle.
Lu Yu was slightly taken aback…
This zither music? What was going on?
Xiao Qiao had already risen and was adorning herself before a bronze mirror, seemingly intending to greet her husband's sleepy eyes with her most beautiful appearance and her most vibrant spirit.
However…
It was clear that she, too, was captivated by the urgent, high-pitched music.
Soon, however, she noticed the footsteps behind her.
“Husband, you’re awake?”
Xiao Qiao rose from before the bronze mirror and went to help Lu Yu straighten his clothes.
This was… the custom.
In ancient times… the status of the male master was extremely high, especially between a master and his concubines. Acts like tidying clothes were certainly meant to be completed with the help of the woman.
This was why they said men in ancient times were akin to emperors.
“Who is playing the zither?” Lu Yu asked curiously…
In the past, the mornings at the Situ Mansion also carried the sound of the zither. However, the Jiao Wei Qin usually played light and joyful melodies. Lu Yu was very familiar with that sound; it was played by the delicate hands of Sister Zhao Ji. But… today…
This zither music felt rather strange!
It was as if it was intentionally venting pent-up emotions.
“I was just wondering too, but… a maidservant reported that it's Sister Zhao Ji and Miss Diao Chan playing together. Last night, they had a long talk, discussing zither techniques and music theory. Because it was late, they feared disturbing Husband, so they played very softly and slowly. This morning is different, the tone has become increasingly soaring, making one’s blood boil!”
Indeed.
Just as Xiao Qiao said, listening to this melody gave one a feeling of being energized.
Lu Yu’s mind was filled with slogans like “working people, the soul of working people, working people are superior.” He mused that under this music, he could subconsciously chant it ten times; it was extremely brainwashing.
However…
What surprised him was that he only knew Diao Chan was skilled in dancing; this was the first time he'd heard that Diao Chan could play the zither.
It seemed Wang Yun, his old classmate, must have put in a great deal of effort to cultivate such a talented girl, adept in both song and dance!
If this were before his transmigration, she would be infinitely superior to those vase-like actresses and female streamers who only knew how to strike seductive poses.
Don't mention it…
With this passionate zither music, Lu Yu felt a surge of energy throughout his body.
For a moment, he considered having another… no, he decided to quickly muster the troops and march to Wancheng!
“Let’s go, I’m going on a long journey!”
Lu Yu gently stroked Xiao Qiao’s three thousand strands of black hair, as if tidying her long locks, and spoke immediately.
Ah… ah…
Xiao Qiao was startled. Husband had just forgiven her, and now… he was leaving so abruptly?
“Husband…”
“I’ll be back soon,” Lu Yu smiled slightly, tapping Xiao Qiao’s nose with his index finger. “Be good at home, listen to Zhao Ji, and listen to your sister. If you have any conflict with anyone, don’t apologize, just wait for me to return.”
“Also, Diao Chan in the courtyard behind us has just entered the mansion. Xu Du is an unfamiliar place, so you should occasionally go keep her company, as if looking after her for me!”
This…
Xiao Qiao’s eyes blinked repeatedly.
These were not the main points; the main point was…
“Husband, you’re leaving… does Sister Zhao Ji know? Sister Zhao Ji specifically took leave from the Imperial Academy just to spend time with Husband?”
Heh heh…
Hearing this, Lu Yu chuckled.
“Most likely, Sister Zhao Ji already knows? Look at how wild the zither music is; she’s angry with me. Tell her later. Oh, and convey to Sister Zhao Ji that the Yue Dan Ping next month is extremely important, so she should prepare well.”
When he mentioned this last point, Lu Yu’s tone became exceptionally serious.
Normally, the Yue Dan Ping was a trap…
It seemed that presiding over the Yue Dan Ping was not so important.
But…
From the perspective of public opinion, the Yue Dan Ping was exceptionally crucial.
One must know that controlling public opinion could elevate a hero overnight or destroy one overnight.
As the saying goes, he who controls public opinion controls the world.
Therefore…
In Lu Yu’s view, the Yue Dan Ping should not only continue but should be a resounding success. It seemed that Zhao Ji, as the host, was destined to rise to prominence and soar upwards!
With this thought, Lu Yu winked at Xiao Qiao again.
Then, he strode out.
Dian Wei and a contingent of the Dragon Cavalcade knights were already waiting outside the mansion gate.
Mounting their horses, their hoofbeats echoed, and a group of them galloped away.
…
…
At noon, dust billowed from the southern part of Xu Du City as countless armored soldiers rapidly assembled.
The flying banners with the characters "Cao," "Tiger," "Leopard," and the black banner with the characters "Dragon Cavalcade" fluttered in the strong wind, appearing before everyone's eyes.
Various armors stood in ranks;
The bloodstains on those armors, impossible to wash clean, appeared dreadfully crimson.
There were also charging steeds and countless spears and war halberds. They appeared before everyone, striking awe into the hearts of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and countless officials.
The mobilization of the three armies to attack Zhang Xiu in Wancheng was a military order issued an hour ago.
It was also the news that the Son of Heaven and the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers had only just received.
No one could have imagined that the Cao army would march out again immediately after their victorious return.
Even more unexpected was the swift reaction of Lu Yu’s Dragon Cavalcade, who immediately declared their participation in the campaign against the rebels…
It was akin to the confrontation between the Situ and Sikong on the battlefield, vying for merit.
This caused Emperor Liu Xie, Empress Fu Shou, Uncle Fu Ding, and Father-in-law Fu Wan’s eyes to narrow, wondering who would rejoice and who would grieve in this battle.
Of course, Cao Cao's expedition… was a godsend opportunity for them.
Finally, they could act freely and meticulously plan the assassination attempt during the Yue Dan Ping a month later.
However…
What they were most concerned about was whether the Cao army would return within a month. Would Cao Cao return?
If the Cao army could not complete the conquest of Wancheng, their plans would be in vain.
The good news was…
Lu Yu and the Dragon Cavalcade’s participation in this military action undoubtedly eased everyone’s minds. Perhaps… Duke Situ Lu was ensuring a timely return from this battle!
The army did not delay, galloping southwest. Wancheng, lying close by, was only over two hundred li from Xu Du City; a day and a night would be enough to reach it.
This timing was perfect!
…
In the central army, on a five-horse carriage.
After leaving Xu Du City for a long time, Cao Cao finally invited Lu Yu into the carriage. He personally poured three cups of tea and commented with great interest.
“Acting is not easy!”
Lu Yu accepted a cup of tea and took a sip. “Acting is indeed arduous, but in less than a month, Xu Du City will be settled. Once Xu Du City is settled, the world will follow.”
Lu Yu’s eyes narrowed, and his tone was exceptionally confident.
The world?
Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed. When the word "world" was mentioned, a sense of melancholy stirred in his heart. He stroked his beard and asked again, “Let’s not talk about the world for now. The immediate priority is Wancheng. How can the battle for Wancheng be won within a month?”
This…
Lu Yu pondered for a moment, then replied with his usual confidence, “If Duke Cao is self-disciplined, perhaps… the battle for Wancheng can be won without a single soldier being shed. By then, Duke Cao will gain a skilled general and a strategist!”
Strategist?
These two words invigorated Cao Cao. Someone whom Yu’er would refer to as a "strategist" was of great interest to Cao Cao.
“Haha…” Cao Cao asked with a laugh, “The skilled general is likely the spear king of the north, Zhang Xiu. As for the strategist, is it the man behind the curtain in the painting drawn by Yu’er? Who is he?”
Curiosity was written all over Cao Cao’s face.
“Gulp…” Lu Yu took a sip of tea and then asked, “What do you think of the talented men from Yingchuan, Xi Zhicai and Xun You, Duke Cao?”
Cao Cao replied truthfully, “These two are my Fan Li and Zhang Liang!”
Lu Yu continued to ask, “Then, what do you think of Li Ru, who served under Dong Zhuo in the past, Duke Cao?”
Li Ru?
Recalling the name, Cao Cao’s expression suddenly changed.
At that moment, he remembered the eighteen lords who marched against Dong. Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang to the ground and moved the capital to Chang’an. Among the Guandong lords, only he, Cao Cao, led troops in pursuit. He eventually fell prey to Li Ru’s scheme and was ambushed at Xingyang City, suffering a great defeat at the hands of Xu Rong, losing almost all his strength!
If not for this defeat, why would he have defected to Yuan Shao and willingly guarded the southern gate for Yuan Shao, acting as a watchdog?
Fortunately… with Yu’er’s guidance, he was able to establish himself in Yan Province, marking the beginning of Cao Cao’s hegemony!
And throughout this process, wasn't it this Li Ru who caused him the most severe defeat?
“Li Ru, undeniably, he is a formidable strategist who kept the eighteen lords at bay. With a small trick, he neutralized the eighteen allied forces. If the rebellious Dong Zhuo had not been infatuated with beauty, or if it were not for this Li Ru alone… the current situation of the world might have completely reversed.”
Cao Cao held Li Ru in extremely high regard…
Of course, Cao Cao never begrudged praise for his enemies.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yu shook his head, “This strategist also served under Dong Zhongying, but he is far superior to Li Ru?”
Hoo…
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was stunned. A strategist in the Xiliang army stronger than Li Ru?
Before he could ask, Lu Yu continued, “However, his characteristics are extremely distinct. First, he fears death. Second, he is good at deception and is a rare talent in sophistry. Third, his mind is extremely meticulous, and he is excellent at discerning the situation and understanding human hearts!”
Huo…
Hearing this, Cao Cao shivered. In the current world? Was there such a person?
Fearing death and being good at sophistry were acceptable, but when it came to meticulousness, discerning the situation, and understanding human hearts, could anyone compare to Yu’er?
Moreover, this "strategist" was recommended by Yu’er, making the value immeasurable.
But…
Cao Cao seemed to have thought of something.
He continued to ask, “This is not right! If it is as Duke Lu mentioned, that he discerns the situation and understands human hearts, then… under the current circumstances, shouldn’t he have joined Yuan Shao, or perhaps myself, Cao Cao? Why would he defect to Zhang Xiu, a relatively unknown figure? Isn’t this abandoning the root for the branches?”
Cao Cao was extremely curious about this point. The smarter one was, the clearer one could see the current situation.
There would inevitably be a battle between Cao and Yuan, and one of them would dominate the Central Plains and the northern regions of the Han Dynasty, holding nine of the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty!
Would intelligent people abandon the root for the branches and join other lords?
No, absolutely not!
With this thought, Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at Lu Yu curiously.
Lu Yu’s mouth uttered only two words: —
— “Value!”
Seeing that Cao Cao could not understand immediately, Lu Yu elaborated.
“Duke Cao should also remember that after Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun briefly controlled the court. Under normal circumstances, at that critical juncture… the Xiliang army was leaderless, and Wang Yun had the peerless warrior Lü Bu. Stabilizing the court and even clearing out the remnants of the Xiliang forces would not be a problem. But precisely… it was the strategy of this Jia Xu that caused Li Jue and Guo Si to counterattack Chang’an, and with a single stratagem, they defeated Lü Bu and seized the Son of Heaven in one fell swoop, regaining paramount power. This is sufficient proof of this person’s strategy!”
“Similarly, he saw through Li Jue and Guo Si’s eventual animosity. Therefore, he left when the Xiliang army was at its peak. This sufficiently demonstrates this person’s ability to assess the situation and his keen insight into the times.”
“Afterward, he defected to Duan Wei, then to Zhang Xiu. He never defected to the major lords because he saw that the major lords had numerous advisors around them, and it would take too long to gradually grow into a core advisory group. Therefore, he chose smaller lords as a stepping stone to increase his value!”
After Lu Yu explained it this way, Cao Cao’s eyes darted.
If it were as Yu’er said, then Jia Xu was indeed interesting.
Not only was he interesting, but he was also very similar to Yu’er. Both were timid, both were so wise, possessing terrifying foresight and astonishing insight.
Speaking of value, one must mention that in the Han Dynasty, there were only a few ways to increase one’s value.
Either one earned military merits step by step, like Lu Yu;
Or one defeated a formidable enemy, like Lu Xun and Jia Xu in history… the former burned seven hundred li of continuous camps, while the latter almost caused Cao Cao’s death in Wancheng, thereby gaining fame overnight;
Besides these, there was only the last method, like Jiang Taigong and Zhuge Liang in history…
The former, Jiang Taigong fishing, waiting for those willing to take the bait; the latter, having earned the reputation of the Sleeping Dragon, lived in seclusion in Zhuge’s hut… waiting for someone to visit him three times. Once he emerged, his value naturally increased a hundredfold, securing his position as the chief advisor.
However…
Among these three methods of increasing value, especially Jia Xu's, it required strength and, more importantly, opportunity.
“Haha, Jia Xu serves as an advisor under Zhang Xiu? But he is just an ordinary advisor; how can he increase his value?” Cao Cao asked curiously.
“By defeating Duke Cao,” Lu Yu said with a smile. “Only by defeating Duke Cao and hurting Duke Cao deeply will he become famous overnight and truly be reused by Duke Cao when he eventually defects to Duke Cao!”
“Similarly, he also accurately assessed Duke Cao’s character. To achieve great things, Duke Cao will not hold grudges or seek personal revenge! Therefore, in this battle… Jia Xu is going all out!”
Heh…
He had seen through his, Cao Cao’s, thoughts?
Hiss, Cao Cao took a deep breath. He hadn’t expected that, besides Yu’er, there was someone else in the world who could so thoroughly understand his thoughts.
To build his reputation under Zhang Xiu, using it as a stepping stone.
In the future… when joining Cao’s camp, he would directly skip the initial steps and enter the core advisory group of Cao’s camp!
Brilliant, brilliant!
However…
Wancheng only had a mere thirty thousand cavalry? Cao Cao was leading an army of one hundred thousand troops on this expedition. How could Jia Xu so easily defeat Cao Cao? And build his reputation was even more difficult!
Before Cao Cao could ask further.
Lu Yu’s voice continued.
“Zhang Xiu, the spear king of the north, trusts this Jia Xu immensely. With someone like him, he will definitely not confront Duke Cao head-on. Most likely, he will persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender the city!”
“Precisely… the most dangerous place is often when things are most glorious. If Zhang Xiu surrenders the city, then every move will be fraught with peril, and every step will be a kill. Duke Cao must resist the temptation and remain vigilant at all times. This Jia Xu, Jia Wenhe, is cunning!”
“Of course, if Duke Cao can subdue this person, and subdue him completely, then he will be an invincible sword of strategy. At that time, Duke Cao will have Jia Xu, Xun You, Xi Zhicai… and they will cooperate with each other, complementing each other, and can truly unify the world!”
Lu Yu’s words became more serious with each sentence. By the end, both his eyes and his words were exceptionally serious.
Huo…
Unify the world?
Cao Cao’s heart stirred, but then, he laughed heartily.
Perhaps, as Yu’er said, Jia Xu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai could help him, Cao Cao, in his great undertaking!
But, when it came to unifying the world, Cao Cao’s greatest trust was still in you, Yu’er!
With this thought, Cao Cao’s gaze towards Lu Yu deepened.
At this moment…
Lu Yu made a rather bold suggestion: “Duke Cao, if you trust me, how about I secretly command this battle?”
Hoo…
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was first stunned, then gave a faint smile. In his heart, he thought – your father has long thought of this!
However, his expression remained impassive.
“Since Duke Situ Lu wishes to command, then you shall command this battle. From myself, Cao Cao, down to the lowest soldier, all will obey your orders!”
In Cao Cao’s opinion, this was… Yu’er’s first true command in battle.
It was also a battle that would showcase Yu’er’s command talent to all the court officials and Cao’s civil and military officials. Cao Cao attached great importance to it.
However…
As soon as the command authority was handed over.
Lu Yu immediately issued his first order.
—“Duke Cao, Lu Yu dares to issue the first military order?”
“What military order?” Cao Cao asked curiously.
— “Within this five-horse carriage, Duke Cao, draw the Yi Tian Sword now and strike me!”
What?
Cao Cao was stunned. So overbearing?
The first order? And it's for the father to strike the son? This…
“Duke Cao said it himself, from Duke Cao down to the lowest soldier, all obey my orders…” Lu Yu blinked, and by the end, when his eyes opened, they were exceptionally deep.
For a moment, Cao Cao seemed to understand, and for a moment, he seemed not to understand.
In short… he would not dwell on it.
“Swoosh!”
The Yi Tian Sword was drawn, and indeed, a father-son brawl was about to unfold within this five-horse carriage!
— This is very important for conquering Wancheng!
— Similarly, this is even more important for the situation in Xu Du City!
…
…