"Whoosh!"
An arrow embedded itself in the stone steps…
In terms of distance, this arrow from Dawn was not enough to reach Cao Cao's position, but even as it pierced the stone steps a *zhang* in front of him, it still startled his mount, Jueying.
Cao Cao tightened the reins, calming his horse, and looked up towards the city wall.
"Who are you?"
"I am Qin Yilu, a subordinate general under the Marquis of Lu!" a voice boomed from the city wall…
As expected, it was Qin Yilu!
Not far away, Lu Yu, amidst the army formation, heard clearly.
This name, he was familiar with it.
This was a man known as the "Number One Cuckold in the Three Kingdoms";
This was a man known as the "Number One Coward in the Three Kingdoms";
Legend had it, he had a beautiful wife, surnamed Du, who seemed to have had some unclear past with Guan Yu!
According to reliable records in ancient texts, Guan Yu only ever pleaded for this one woman from Cao Cao in his life, and Cao Cao had readily agreed.
But… who would have thought.
After the capture of Xiapi city, Cao Cao’s eyes turned green and gleamed when he saw Lady Du.
He could no longer remember his promise to Guan Yu and immediately took Lady Du for himself…
Guan Yu was reduced to a mere background prop.
Legend also had it that before Cao Cao and Guan Yu, this Lady Du had also been involved with Lu Bu, what a terrifying woman…
This not only reminded Lu Yu of the "Kardashian" family in his past life, whose mere presence in a woman's skirt was enough to disrupt the world.
Of course, none of this was important.
What was important was… Cao Cao not only occupied Lady Du, but he also took Qin Yilu as a general and adopted Qin Yilu's son, Qin Lang, as his godson!
This… besides marveling at how messy that circle was, Lu Yu was very curious about the psychological shadow area of General Qin Yilu, the cuckold.
However…
It now seemed that such a spineless fellow dared to openly draw his bow and shoot arrows at Old Cao?
This showed that before he became spineless, he had also resisted and struggled…
Men, before they go soft, they all had their hard moments. It was just that due to the accumulation of years and certain reasons, many men, even if they wanted to be hard, couldn't, and so… they chose to lie flat, let whatever happens happen!
Isn't there a saying – to have a smooth life, you need a little green in your life!
Thinking of this, Lu Yu shook his head slightly, and a hint of "pity" entered his gaze as he looked at Qin Yilu!
Lu Yu even felt a surge of emotion.
There were many such people in his past life: strong on the internet, but timid in reality. When it came to online bullying, they were more ferocious than anyone, but when it came to real-life resistance, their trembling bodies were very honest!
He figured Qin Yilu was precisely this type of person.
And now, this would be his final struggle and counterattack before accepting his fate and becoming a soft egg.
Once he truly broke through this city wall, he wouldn't even be able to be hard if he wanted to!
"Sigh…"
With a faint sigh, Lu Yu shook his head again, muttering to himself…
"Qin Yilu, oh Qin Yilu, your wife is still your wife, but… she won't be your wife for long. Alas… your ineffective resistance and choice to lie flat, this is a sad story!"
Meanwhile… Lu Yu was lost in his thoughts.
Down below the city wall, Cao Cao's expression changed drastically.
Seeing that Lu Bu was about to surrender, the atmosphere was suddenly ruined.
"Marquis Wen, quickly return to the city. Do not fall for this Cao贼's treacherous scheme."
Qin Yilu's voice continued, his tone even higher… "This Cao贼, every time he breaks a city, he takes the wives and daughters of his defeated generals… such shameless behavior is unique among the lords of this era. Marquis, do you want to lose your wife and concubines! To become a laughingstock?"
On the surface, it sounded like he was advising Lu Bu.
But in reality, Qin Yilu was advising himself.
He had always been a timid and cowardly person, but across this ten-zhang high city wall, this ten-zhang deep moat, and concerning his own heavenly beautiful wife, Qin Yilu kept telling himself – be brave, don't back down… Stay steady, we can win!
Of course, his words still stirred infinite emotions in Lu Bu's heart.
Lu Bu was an extreme opportunist and egoist. Driven by self-interest, he could accept surrendering to Cao Cao, but he could not accept his wife and daughters being occupied by Cao Cao. Yuan Shu and He Jin were vivid examples!
How could the golden-purple crown adorned with three prongs and his hair, on Lu Bu's head, turn green?
"Cao Mengde, give up this idea. I will not surrender!" Lu Bu pointed his Fangtian Huaji at Cao Cao… "We'll meet on the battlefield!"
The inverse scale…
Lu Bu's inverse scale was Diao Chan, Lu Lingqi, Ling Ju… as long as it involved his wife and daughters, there was no room for negotiation!
Heh…
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. As expected, the negotiation had broken down?
Speaking of which, the current situation was all planned by Yu'er from the start!
Originally, this negotiation was not meant to directly persuade Lu Bu to surrender, but rather to let Cao Cao's words, Cao Cao's appreciation and fondness for Lu Bu's subordinates, enter Xiapi city. This way… the next step could be carried out, the sequential stratagem had just begun!
However…
In Cao Cao's eyes, the duck that was about to be cooked had flown away, which was a bit of a shame.
This Qin Yilu was truly hateful, ruining the plan. Cao Cao was a vindictive person. His wife and daughters? Heh… suddenly, Cao Cao became interested in Qin Yilu's wife and daughters.
In the Cao army formation…
Zhang Fei, riding a black horse, scratched his head.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, why do I feel like this fellow named Qin has something to say between the lines? Lu Bu's wife isn't his wife, why is he in such a hurry?"
"Heh heh…" Liu Bei chuckled lightly. "I was just thinking about this. Clearly, Lu Bu was tempted. According to reason, his generals on the city wall should have been more tempted. How could Qin Yilu point an arrow at Cao Cao like this?"
Although he said this, Liu Bei was actually quite happy.
If Lu Bu surrendered, that would be terrible!
Cao Cao wouldn't need to flood Xiapi, then… wouldn't his plan of practicing benevolence and winning people's hearts be stillborn?
Now, thankfully…
If Xiapi city had to be captured, Liu Bei hoped that Cao Cao would lose popular support!
Unexpectedly, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei spoke without thinking, but Guan Yu heard with intent. Uncharacteristically, his eternally unchanging poker face became tightly knit.
He muttered…
"Qin Yilu, Lady Du…"
For a moment, he thought of a certain unbearable period when he was guarding the gatehouse in Jieliang County, Hedong Commandery.
At that time, Guan Yu was not yet called Guan Yunchang; he was Guan Changsheng…
– Guan Changsheng, a native of Jieliang, Hedong!
At that time, he encountered a woman named "Dujuan," who was beautiful and stunning…
It was because of her… that young Guan Changsheng felt love for the first time in his life!
When Guan Changsheng killed someone and committed a crime back then, it was for her. He fled Jieliang Commandery and changed his name to Guan Yunchang, also for her.
And… many years later!
When Guan Yu went to search for "Dujuan's" whereabouts again, the news he received was that there was no longer Dujuan, only Qin Yilu's beloved wife, the heavenly beautiful – Lady Du!
And now…
Hearing that Lu Bu's subordinate on the city wall claimed to be Qin Yilu, how could Guan Yu not feel a stir in his heart?
Lady Du, no… Dujuan, she… she was actually inside Xiapi city.
Guan Yu's eyes narrowed, the feelings that had slumbered for decades suddenly bloomed!
He was lost in his thoughts, wishing he could break through the city immediately and see the girl he longed for.
Others might not understand, but only Guan Yu could understand Qin Yilu!
Presumably… Lady Du, she… she was still as captivating and irresistible, wasn't she?
"Second Brother, your expression is not right!"
Zhang Fei glanced at Guan Yu's pale face, which was not flushed at all, and found it very strange… extremely strange.
In his impression, this was the first time he had seen Guan Yu make such an expression.
Reminded by Zhang Fei, Liu Bei also noticed.
While others would blush when thinking of women, Guan Yu's face was always flushed. When he thought of women, his face turned ashen as paper!
"Second Brother, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Unwell…
Of course, there was a place that was unwell, but how could Guan Yu explain such a thing to outsiders?
"Big Brother, Third Brother, I am fine. You guys listen quickly, Cao Cao is speaking…"
He changed the awkward topic.
Indeed, before Guan Yu's words even fell, Cao Cao's shout had already sounded.
"Fengxian, no one is thinking about your wife and daughters."
"What your subordinate general says is all nonsense! Untrustworthy!"
"I and you, below Xiapi city, by the Sishui River, have sworn brotherhood. Since your wife is my sister-in-law, how could I, Cao Cao, commit such a heinous act!"
"Cao Mengde, I know very well what kind of person you are, and everyone in the world knows it." Lu Bu's eyes turned cold, his tone particularly sharp. "There's no point in saying more. If you have the ability, come and attack the city!"
Saying this, Lu Bu reined in his warhorse and prepared to return.
"Are you really not going to talk anymore?"
Cao Cao was still shouting.
"Da da…" The hooves of Red Hare were already ringing, and Lu Bu didn't look back.
"Alright, then I'll have no choice but to dig open the Sishui River and flood your Xiapi city! Let your peerless flying general become a fish or shrimp in the water!" Cao Cao's voice amplified again.
Coincidentally, it was this very sentence that made Lu Bu stop Red Hare.
He turned his head again. "Cao Cao, what did you say? What Sishui? What flooding?"
"Haha, I said… I want to dig open the Sishui River and flood your Xiapi city."
Cao Cao shouted, "Haven't you noticed? What have my Cao army been doing recently? I've been digging trenches! Digging trenches connecting the moat of Xiapi city to the Sishui River. Now that heavy rain is coming, as long as I open the sluice gates, the floods will surge, no matter how brave you, Lu Bu, are? You will inevitably become fish and shrimp in the water!"
"However, I am concerned about the people of Xiapi city! Concerned about these generals under your command! If I open the sluice gates, who knows how many houses the floods will destroy? How many lives will be drowned! I, Cao Cao, am not a good person, but I don't want to involve innocent soldiers and civilians in the war between you and me!"
Having said this, Cao Cao paused, seemingly deliberately leaving time for Lu Bu to ponder!
After a moment, he continued shouting, "But if you insist on going your own way, then to protect the lives of my soldiers, I can only reluctantly open the sluice gates and release the water! At that time, it will not be me, Cao Cao, who harms all the city's people and your generals, but you, Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian! You will be the sinner of Xiapi city!"
A long speech, delivered from Cao Cao's mouth, with resonant words and a low tone.
It stirred the hearts of almost all the soldiers on Xiapi city's walls.
They suddenly realized a serious problem…
So, so Cao Cao had already secured victory. This meant that no matter what they did, they had already lost, lost completely, and lost to the core.
Then? Did the current resistance still have meaning?
Did they really want to, for Lu Bu's obsession, pay the price of flooding Xiapi, pay the price of countless lives being innocently killed?
With a speech, with a proactive confession, and the excuse of being forced to "flood the city," the morale of all the defenders changed, and more people leaned towards Cao Cao's side.
"You…" Lu Bu threw his Fangtian Huaji, pointing at Cao Cao. "You…"
He seemed to have many things to say, but these words, upon reaching his lips, became mute.
Speechless, he didn't know how to speak.
"Hmph… Hmph…"
With a cold snort, Lu Bu dejectedly retreated back into Xiapi city.
Cao Cao's eyes slanted slightly. He glanced at the guards on the city wall. Very good, Cao Cao nodded inwardly. From the expressions on these guards' faces, Cao Cao could judge that Yu'er's plan was going smoothly!
The Eight Valiant Generals and the Bingzhou Wolf Riders' hearts had begun to waver!
The opportunity to exploit this weakness had arrived!
With this thought, Cao Cao also reined in his warhorse and calmly retreated into the main army formation. As he passed Lu Yu, he couldn't help but stop. Their eyes met, and they understood each other.
This conversation had been fruitful. The next step depended on Chen Deng and Yang Xiu in the city.
Meanwhile…
Cao Cao was in high spirits.
On the other side, Liu Bei's face changed drastically.
Being adept at mind manipulation, how could he not see that Cao Cao was attacking their minds?
Attacking the enemy's mind, what a brilliant stratagem of attacking the enemy's mind.
Liu Bei's eyes looked in Lu Yu's direction.
He muttered to himself, this time it was probably the "Hidden Dragon's" stratagem, wasn't it?
Shifting the blame, what a sincere and earnest speech. Clearly, it was Cao Cao who wanted to flood Xiapi, and it should be Cao Cao who lost popular support, but now, if Lu Bu doesn't surrender, then Lu Bu will be the one losing popular support!
Flooding the city… this blame was also successfully shifted to Lu Bu.
But what was even more terrifying was not this.
Liu Bei immediately grasped the core of Hidden Dragon's plan.
His eyes narrowed tightly, and his mood became even more tense. It was likely that in a few days, a mutiny would break out within the city, and on some quiet evening, the city gates would be opened.
Flooding the city, heh, where was the need for flooding the city!
Words can be terrifying, hearts can be terrifying. As long as the people of Xiapi city and the Bingzhou Wolf Riders' hearts turned to Cao, even if Lu Bu didn't surrender, would he still have any say in the matter?
… Before the floods could surge, Xiapi city would likely have already submitted to Cao Cao.
It's over, Liu Bei's plan to win over hearts had ended before it even began.
Thinking of this, even the usually stoic Liu Bei, at this moment, had furrowed brows and a face as sour as a bitter gourd. Looking at Lu Yu again, his gaze was filled with worry…
Pity, sorrow, lamentation!
"Big Brother…" Zhang Fei noticed Liu Bei's face again. He felt like he had a terrible day today. First, Second Brother was strange, and now Big Brother's expression was also so strange?
Could this "strangeness" be contagious?
Zhang Fei quickly spoke, "Big Brother, why is your expression not right? Today is really bizarre!"
"Cough cough…" Coughing twice in succession, Liu Bei choked out, "Third Brother, I'm fine. I… I'm very good! Very good…"
Good?
Not good at all. He felt like Cao Cao… no, to be precise, Lu Yu was scraping his heart!
One cut, another cut, it hurt a lot!
Guan Yu merely glanced at Liu Bei lightly, then lowered his head slightly. He also had something on his mind, the matter of Lady Du!
Among these three brothers, only the simple-minded Zhang Fei was truly cheerful and open!
…
…
Xiapi city, the wind rustled the grass, and the matter of flooding mentioned by Cao Cao had cast a heavy shadow over the entire city.
At this time, Lu Bu should have organized the defenders to make thorough preparations.
Boats, sandbags… etc.!
Water and fire are merciless, these… though perhaps not effective, were better than nothing.
But at this critical juncture, Ling Ju fell ill, and Diao Chan also fell ill…
Perhaps it was due to the fright from last night, or perhaps the weather suddenly turned cold with whistling winds, Ling Ju cried incessantly, and her forehead was a little hot.
This was not a severe illness, but it caused Diao Chan's delicate eyebrows to knit. She had been by her daughter's side for a day and a night. Seemingly due to extreme fatigue, Diao Chan also coughed repeatedly!
Countless physicians took careful care, but… it seemed that Ling Ju's fever showed no sign of subsiding, and instead, Diao Chan's cough grew heavier.
"Ju'er, how could Ju'er be so ill? Where are the physicians? Why… why is her forehead still so hot!"
The two-year-old Ling Ju was almost Lu Bu's darling.
Looking at her crying face, looking at Diao Chan's pale face and tearful appearance, Lu Bu could only roar, venting his anger onto these "incompetent" physicians!
"General, please don't… don't blame these physicians." Diao Chan repeatedly pacified him. "They… *cough cough*… they have done their best. Ju'er, Ju'er will be alright."
"It's all my fault…" Lu Bu recalled last night, clenching his fists. "It's all my fault for frightening Ju'er! My fault for implicating Ju'er. If… if I were not incompetent and unable to repel Cao's army, why would you mothers and daughters suffer such fright, and why would Ju'er suffer such great pain!"
"General, don't say that." Diao Chan, her eyes filled with tears, her heart concerned for her daughter's safety, still tried to calm herself and repeatedly advised, "If it weren't for General… then where would Diao Chan and Ju'er be! Ju'er will be fine, I will be fine, and Xiapi city will be fine, won't it, General?"
Cough cough cough…
With repeated light coughs, Diao Chan's cough grew more violent, but… besides Ling Ju, she seemed to have other concerns. She bit her lip and tried to speak:
"General… now… now there are rumors and gossip throughout the city. Everyone says that because of the General, Xiapi city will suffer flooding. General… now, now you should go and stabilize the morale of the people. Here… I am here, I am here, *cough cough cough*… don't delay important matters, General, you go! Go! *Cough cough cough*…"
Perhaps because she spoke too hastily, Diao Chan couldn't help but cough again.
Seeing that Diao Chan's illness was worsening, Lu Bu's mood became even heavier.
"Physicians, physicians…"
With a fierce roar, Lu Bu's emotions were entirely occupied by this mother and daughter.
Outside the Yamen gate…
"Eldest Miss, please quickly persuade the Lord." Zhang Liao's expression was exceptionally grim. "Seeing that the sky is about to rain, the entire city's military and civilians have completely descended into chaos. Lord… if the Lord doesn't go and preside over the overall situation, I fear… I fear that the entire populace of Xiapi city will mutiny."
Zhang Liao's tone was urgent, and his heart was in his throat.
The current situation in Xiapi city was extremely precarious. If he hadn't had his confidants firmly guard all the city gates, I fear countless soldiers and civilians would have fled the city, even… offering surrender!
This was a time of life and death!
"What Wen Yuan said is right!" Gao Shun also echoed. He wanted to help Zhang Liao, but in fact, the Vanguard Camp was not under his command. Although… he could forcibly dispatch them with his past prestige, that would be tantamount to betraying Lu Bu!
Therefore, at this moment, Gao Shun could only place all his hopes on his female disciple, Lu Lingqi.
"Ling Qi, if you don't immediately go and stabilize the situation within the city, I fear… I fear that some malicious individuals will open the city gates and welcome Cao Cao into the city. By then, it will be… it will be all over!"
This…
Hearing this, Lu Lingqi's heart was also in her throat.
However…
"My father's temperament is like this. If Xiao Niang and my sister are in trouble, his heart is completely in a mess. How can he preside over the overall situation?"
Lu Lingqi bit her lips tightly…
She was thinking, thinking who else besides her father could turn the tide? Who could quell the rebellion within the city?
Master Chen?
That's right… Master Chen could!
Immediately, Chen Deng's name appeared in Lu Lingqi's mind.
Chen Deng was from a prestigious and influential family in Xiapi city and had always been beloved by the people. If he were to step forward… surely, surely he could quell the rebellion.
"General Zhang, Master Gao… please wait for me for a moment. I will go… I will go to the Chen residence, I will invite Master Chen to preside over the situation!"
Having said this…
Tap tap tap.
Lu Lingqi walked quickly towards the Chen residence, and at this moment, dark clouds gathered… "Drip, drip," a rain that was both reasonable and expected began to fall!
Rumble… rumble…
Thunder rumbled, emitting golden light, and the undercurrents of Xiapi city began to surge at this very moment!
…
…