Xiao Pei City, wind whistling and cranes crying.
"Where is the long-eared fellow?"
Lu Bu, astride Red Hare, galloped to the city wall and roared towards it, his entire demeanor radiating anger.
"Liu Bei is here. May I ask General Feng Xian, why have you brought your army?" Liu Bei responded from the city wall, attempting to find the last sliver of room for maneuver.
"Hmph, Cao Cao sent a letter to Hao Meng, which I intercepted. The letter clearly stated that you are in league with the villain Cao to plot against me, Lu Bu!"
Lu Bu's eyes blazed, and the Fang Tian Hua Ji, forged from fine steel, pointed directly towards the city wall. The edge of the halberd gleamed with a chilling light!
"General, you must be mistaken. Liu Bei will only work together with you, to fight the enemy and protect Xiao Pei City. I would never collude with Cao Cao to plot against your territory. If you were to perish, where would Liu Bei stand? How could I do such a foolish thing?"
Liu Bei responded again...
"Hahaha..." Lu Bu laughed heartily, "Long-eared fellow, stop your honeyed words. You assisted Cao Cao in attacking Yuan Shu and managed to escape unscathed. Hmph, don't think I don't know what you are plotting! I treated you well, yet you betrayed me!"
"Long-eared fellow, you appear honest and kind, but your heart is filled with deceit. Open the city gates quickly, and I shall spare your life! Otherwise, once the city falls, I shall leave no one, old or young, alive!"
With such words exchanged, the negotiations had effectively broken down. There was no longer any room for turning back.
Liu Bei's face darkened.
"Brother, do not fear him!" Zhang Fei hefted his Serpent Spear. "Our Xiao Pei City has me... Brother, watch closely, let me take three thousand elite riders to fight this scoundrel!"
With that, Zhang Fei prepared to muster his troops and march out of the city.
"Do not move!" Liu Bei quickly shouted, "Lu Bu's forces are too strong, we cannot sally forth to engage him!"
"My Lord, the only course of action now is to request aid from Cao Cao," Mi Zhu said beside him, his brow furrowed and his expression extremely grim.
*Hoo...*
Hearing this, Liu Bei let out a long sigh.
Tragic. What is tragedy? He, Liu Bei, was the very embodiment of tragedy!
He knew perfectly well that this was Cao Cao's scheme, yet in the end, he still had to beg Cao Cao for help, giving Cao Cao a valid reason to march and handing over Xiao Pei...
No... handing over Xiapi City, Guangling City, and even Lu Bu's head on a silver platter!
Ultimately... ultimately, the Central Plains would fall into Cao Cao's hands.
Thinking of this, Liu Bei's face darkened!
Why? Why?
From the moment he stepped into this chaotic era, Liu Bei had no patron, no territory, no help... He could only rely on "benevolence and righteousness" to establish himself in the world, but what did benevolence and righteousness bring him in the end?
It meant that even the last city of Xiao Pei could not be protected, his dreams and hopes were entirely surrendered, and he was the blade to others' chopping block.
Was he wrong? Was his path wrong?
But even if it was wrong, then... where was the mistake?
Why?
Cao Cao, a scheming hero? Why was it that his army grew larger with every battle, that every city he captured was taken with effortless ease, that he even effortlessly possessed the Central Plains? Compared to Cao Cao... where did he, Liu Bei, fall short?
*Hoo...* He sighed long and deep again.
Liu Bei's brows knitted in a stern expression.
He shouted, "Where is Mi Fang?"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Before Lu Bu's encirclement is complete, you must lead troops to break out. It is too late for me to write a letter, so you must hurry to Xuchang City and request aid from Cao Cao. Furthermore, when you pass by Yun Chang's camp, tell him to hold his ground and await reinforcements, and under no circumstances should he send troops to aid Pei City before Cao's army arrives!"
Liu Bei's words were earnest and profound, but beneath his calm demeanor, his heart was already at the breaking point.
"Understood!"
Mi Fang agreed and immediately mustered troops to break out.
In the end... in the end, he was taking the path of seeking help from Cao Cao?
...
...
Xuchang City, Scribe's Manor.
Today was a specially chosen auspicious day. Originally, according to Lu Yu's plan, it was better to act than to choose a date; Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao would enter the Scribe's Manor, pick any day to serve tea, and just go through the motions...
But unfortunately, Cai Zhaoji was rather particular.
Even as a concubine, she was a concubine married by Brother Yu, not snatched away, so it was natural to choose an auspicious day and follow all the relevant customs.
This was to give the girls a sense of belonging when marrying into a prominent family, as if they were the mistresses of the Scribe's Manor.
And today, Double Eleven, was a good day.
However, she wondered what Brother Yu had been busy with these past few days. He hadn't returned to the manor for three or four days? Cai Zhaoji was busy with the ceremony and couldn't spare him any attention.
"Junior Sister, congratulations, congratulations!"
A strong and robust voice echoed from outside the door...
The tea-serving ceremony for Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao was about to begin in half an hour. Now, some friends who were close to Cai Zhaoji were arriving to offer their congratulations. This "congratulations" was from Zhong Yao.
Speaking of which, Zhong Yao, as a lecturer at the Imperial Academy, was nominally a subordinate of the two directors, Cai Yan and Lu Yu.
Coupled with Zhong Yao's master-disciple relationship with Cai Yong and his sworn brotherhood with Cai Zhaoji, it was only natural and proper for him to come and celebrate.
"So it's Senior Brother Zhong."
Cai Zhaoji gracefully rose...
She saw that behind Zhong Yao, servants were holding two plaques. One was inscribed with the words "Little Bridge, Flowing Water," and the other was inscribed with "On the Other Side of the Water." It was clear that these were gifts from Zhong Yao, the great calligrapher – plaques for the rooms and pavilions of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.
Speaking of which, after Zhang Zhi, the ancestor of cursive script in the Han Dynasty, the three most famous great calligraphers were Cai Yong, Cai Zhaoji, and Zhong Yao!
It could be said that their cursive script reached the pinnacle of perfection in this era, and it was extremely precious.
These two plaques, written by Zhong Yao!
These mere eight characters were something that countless wealthy families' daughters could not obtain.
"Senior Brother Zhong, your Feibai script already possesses ninety percent of Father's divine charm!" Cai Zhaoji smiled charmingly, looking at the two plaques before her and praising him.
Feibai script, also known as "cursive seal script," was a style of calligraphy with a unique writing method. It was inspired by Cai Yong's observation of a craftsman dipping his brush in lime water to paint a palace wall outside the Hongdu Academy.
He thus created this "calligraphy style that had streaks of white showing through the strokes" – Feibai script!
This style of calligraphy was extremely difficult to master, yet it was quite popular throughout the Han Dynasty!
Now, it seemed that Zhong Yao's brushstrokes were subtly showing signs of surpassing Cai Zhaoji.
"Not at all... my brushwork is still a far cry from Junior Sister's," Zhong Yao waved his hand. In front of his junior sister, the preeminent talented woman of the era, Cai Yan, he always appeared exceptionally humble. "As long as Junior Sister likes it, it's fine. After all, they are concubines of the Scribe's Manor, and these are plaques for their pavilions; they cannot lack grandeur."
Zhong Yao stroked his beard and said with a smile.
Although he was over forty, the terms "senior brother" and "junior sister" sounded perfectly natural.
Just then...
*Tap, tap, tap...*
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed.
"Mr. Zhong, we've found you..."
Several eunuchs hurried in from outside the door, panting. It was clear that they had put in considerable effort to find Zhong Yao.
This...
Before Zhong Yao could react, the eunuch took an imperial edict from his sleeve.
"Mr. Zhong, please accept the decree..."
As he spoke, the eunuch slowly read out the contents of the edict, which were none other than those previously instructed by Cao Cao.
Appointing Zhong Yao as Palace Attendant and Colonel of Sili, with the authority to command all armies in Guanzhong!
Hearing the initial part, Cai Zhaoji and Zhong Yao showed no significant change in their expressions.
A Palace Attendant was a palace official under the "Minor Treasurer," one of the Nine Ministers, directly assigned by the emperor to a scattered position without much power!
However, the Colonel of Sili was not simple; he was in charge of the soldiers and officers of Sili. Cao Song and Sima Fang had both held this position in the past. The power of this position was roughly equivalent to that of a provincial police chief in later generations...
And what surprised Zhong Yao the most was – holding imperial authority to command all armies in Guanzhong!
Holding imperial authority was equivalent to inspecting the localities on behalf of the emperor, and to local officials and generals, it was like an imperial envoy in later generations.
And commanding all armies in Guanzhong, this...
Wasn't this clearly telling Zhong Yao to go to Guanzhong to appease the Guanzhong lords such as Han Sui and Ma Teng?
Thinking of this, Zhong Yao's brow tightened. Fortunately, he was a great calligrapher and maintained his composure... he remained unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. If it were someone else, hearing about going to the tiger's den of Guanzhong, they might break out in a cold sweat.
But...
He was just a lecturer at the Imperial Academy, how could he suddenly rise so high and be entrusted with such an important task?
Zhong Yao's eyes subconsciously narrowed, his mind filled with question marks.
Cai Zhaoji was also very surprised. She quickly asked, "Esteemed messenger, is this imperial edict truly from His Majesty?"
She knew her senior brother too well. He was just a scholar, capable of teaching calligraphy to imperial students, but going to the warlord-infested tiger's den of Guanzhong, where her senior brother knew no martial arts? Wasn't this asking to be eaten by wolves and tigers until not even bones were left?
"Miss Cai Yan..." The eunuch turned his head to face Cai Yan, his tone becoming even more humble.
One must know that this young lady's younger brother, Lu Yu, the Scribe Lu, was someone that both the Cao camp and the Han court vied for. Even with a hundred and twenty percent courage, he wouldn't dare offend Miss Cai Yan!
The eunuch bowed, his waist bent like an arched bridge. "Miss, you might not know this yet, but Mr. Zhong... ah no, Commander Zhong, was recommended by our Scribe Lu! Scribe Lu has an eye for talent, and anyone he recommends? Is there any who is mediocre?"
"Oh, and Scribe Lu also asked me to bring a brocade pouch to Mr. Zhong. Scribe Lu instructed that when Mr. Zhong arrives in Guanzhong, he should open it then, as it contains a surprise!"
As he spoke, the eunuch took out a red brocade pouch from his embrace and handed it to Zhong Yao.
The brocade pouch was light, but to Zhong Yao, it seemed very heavy.
This...
This time, not only Zhong Yao was stunned, but even Cai Zhaoji was stunned. She looked back at Zhong Yao and saw that he also looked at her with confusion.
It was as if he was asking the soul's three questions – Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?
Cai Zhaoji shook her head. She, as an elder sister, could not understand at all what her brother Yu was thinking.
"Then... what about my Brother Yu?" Cai Zhaoji continued, "He hasn't returned to the manor for three consecutive days? Where has he been all this time?"
*Mmm...*
As these words left her lips, the eunuch's eyes darted around, his expression showing a hint of surprise.
"Does Miss Zhaoji not know this?"
He scratched his head and said loudly, "Young Master Lu has gone with Commander Cao to campaign in Xuzhou. He departed three days ago. It is said that he only gave the soldiers three hours to prepare and left that very day, which was quite urgent! As for anything else... this humble servant does not know."
Ah...
First, there was a faint exclamation.
Then, with a "clatter," the "brush" Cai Zhaoji was holding fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
Instantly, her attention shifted entirely from Zhong Yao to her brother.
"It's... it's like this again," Cai Zhaoji murmured to herself. "Every time like this, when he goes on a long trip, doesn't even say... doesn't even say a word of greeting?"
Seeing Cai Zhaoji's expression change drastically, the maidservant attending her hurriedly asked, "Cai... Miss Cai, are we still... still serving tea? The auspicious time... the auspicious time has arrived!"
*Hoo...*
Letting out a soft sigh, Cai Zhaoji helplessly spread her hands. "Serving tea, of course, we must serve tea. With Brother Yu absent, it's not me, the elder sister, who is wronged. It is precisely these two young ladies, who have just entered the Scribe's Manor and now have to stay alone in their rooms for a while!"
Speaking of this, Cai Zhaoji bit her red lips, seemingly angry on behalf of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao...
In fact, she was still angry at herself, angry at her brother!
"Alas, with Brother Yu absent, I, as the elder sister, can only, can only serve them on your behalf!"
With this thought in mind...
Cai Zhaoji raised her eyes. First, she looked at Zhong Yao. "Senior Brother, since it is my brother's recommendation, I presume... there must be something my brother values in you, something that allows you to complete this task in Guanzhong. Then I will trouble Senior Brother to go to that dangerous place in Guanzhong. Please be careful!"
"Oh..." Zhong Yao cupped his hands. "I still haven't thanked Scribe Lu for his recommendation and support!"
These words were spoken from the bottom of Zhong Yao's heart.
Despite being a great calligrapher, he loved excitement throughout his life. When he had previously shuttled between Li Jue, Guo Si, and the Han court, that kind of excitement was something he yearned for.
Now, going to the tiger's den of Guanzhong, was there anything more challenging and exciting than this?
Zhong Yao eagerly desired it!
After discussing Zhong Yao's matter.
Cai Zhaoji then turned her gaze to the maidservants. "Are the plain gauze shirts that I prepared for my sisters Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao ready?"
"They are ready!" the maidservant quickly replied.
Plain gauze shirts were extremely precious women's garments in the Han Dynasty, known for being as thin as cicada wings and as light as smoke and mist. To put it bluntly, they were sheer.
Of course, Cai Zhaoji didn't care whether Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao liked these plain gauze shirts!
But once this pair of sisters wore them, Brother Yu would surely like them, and that was enough.
It's just a pity...
The plain gauze shirts were ready, the beauties were ready, but only... the male master had slipped away. It was a pity, not only a pity, but also infuriating!
This Brother Yu was becoming more and more outrageous.
...
...
On the official road from Xuchang City to Xiapi City.
*"Da da da..."*
The sound of warhorse hooves echoed continuously.
Even with travel day and night, it was still a bit rushed to make it by November 11th, the time of Lu Bu's surprise attack on Xiao Pei.
However, it was still acceptable.
Liu Bei was not that much of a weakling, and Lu Bu was not so powerful that he could swallow Liu Bei in a single day.
The current situation was just right. Lu Bu and Liu Bei were locked in a strategic stalemate. Lu Bu had attacked the city several times but had not captured Xiao Pei. Both sides had suffered heavy losses.
And all of this, in Cao Cao's eyes... was a welcome sight.
The carriage was somewhat bumpy, but Cao Cao and Lu Yu were still chatting and laughing, talking freely about something.
"Scribe Lu, you mentioned earlier that Lu Bu would inevitably be estranged from his followers. From what do you see this?"
Cao Cao inquired of Lu Yu...
Lu Yu replied with a smile, "Commander Cao likely does not yet know of an incident that recently occurred between Lu Bu and his subordinates?"
"It concerns a portion of wine and meat, yet this very portion of wine and meat is enough to cause Lu Bu's generals to be alienated from him!"
*Mmm...*
A portion of wine and meat? Alienation!
With this topic brought up, Cao Cao became curious. "Scribe Lu, please explain in detail how this portion of wine and meat caused Lu Bu to be alienated from his generals?"
This...
Lu Yu blinked his eyes and explained carefully. "Among Lu Bu's eight brave generals, there was a subordinate named Hou Cheng. A retainer of Hou Cheng stole fifteen of his warhorses and intended to present them to Liu Bei, defecting to Liu Bei. Hou Cheng discovered this and immediately pursued them, recovering both the man and the warhorses!"
Hey... isn't this a good thing?
It seems like a normal occurrence, doesn't it?
Soldiers are the iron fortress, while generals are like flowing water... soldiers betraying is not a big deal, is it?
Cao Cao slightly raised his eyes. Before he could ponder further, Lu Yu's voice continued, and the story had only just begun.
"The horses were lost and then recovered. No matter how you look at it, this should be a joyous occasion. All the soldiers went to congratulate Hou Cheng. To thank everyone for their good intentions, Hou Cheng had to host a banquet with wine and food! But unfortunately, due to insufficient grain supply in Xiapi City, Lu Bu had issued a ban on alcohol!"
This...
Cao Cao seemed to have caught a hint of the meaning.
And Lu Yu's words continued. "Everyone's good intentions could not be ignored, and the alcohol ban could not be violated. Hou Cheng was in a dilemma, so he came up with a plan. He personally brought five dou of wine and half a pig to visit Lu Bu, and prepared a large number of excuses, saying that it was thanks to the Marquis's divine might that he recovered the lost horses, and everyone had come to celebrate. However, everyone dared not drink, so they offered the most mellow wine to the most admired general first!"
Hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes twinkled. "If this matter happened to me, I would have generously allowed Hou Cheng this one time. It wouldn't be drinking every day, and it was understandable. It wouldn't be a big deal!"
Cao Cao's tone was quite heroic.
Indeed, he was uncompromising in major matters, but he never made a fuss about minor ones.
This matter could hardly be considered a major issue, could it?
Who would have thought...
Lu Yu's next words directly astonished Cao Cao.
"Commander Cao's way of handling it is very appropriate!"
"But Lu Bu, hehe... Commander Cao, why don't you guess how Lu Bu handled this matter? If you were to speak of it in detail, it would make one laugh their teeth out!"
"Lu Bu seems to be extremely skilled at—digging his own grave!"
...
...