"Lord Cao, how could I possibly fathom your thoughts?"
Lu Yu shook his head slightly, feigning difficulty.
What was this all about, a secret shrouded more deeply than a Lantern Festival riddle? The atmosphere felt strangely intoxicating.
"Open it and you shall know," Cao Cao gestured to the first memorial. Lu Yu slowly unfurled it and began to read.
The moment he started reading, Lu Yu's eyes widened in surprise.
Cao Cao… was he planning to reestablish the Imperial Academy?
Remarkable.
Lu Yu's gaze narrowed. He murmured to himself, "Old Cao… you're truly something."
Lu Yu had been so overwhelmed with his own affairs that he had almost forgotten about his sister's situation.
To think that Old Cao remembered! Truly, Old Cao was exceptionally thoughtful.
"Lord Cao…" Lu Yu started to rise, intending to bow deeply to Cao Cao as thanks on behalf of Zhaoji.
However, Cao Cao had anticipated Lu Yu's action. His hand pressed down on Lu Yu's shoulder, preventing him from standing.
"Hahaha…"
Cao Cao chuckled incessantly. "Calm yourself, Lu Gongcao. Why are you so flustered today? This is unlike you…"
"Lu Gongcao, who meticulously planned every action and detail during the Emperor's escort, leaving no stone unturned… what is happening now? It is merely the reestablishment of the Imperial Academy, something I had already promised you. Why such uncharacteristic agitation?"
Humph.
Lu Yu found himself unable to rise under Cao Cao's arm.
This made him realize… he was still the same weakling with a fighting power of five. Facing Cao Cao's hand, he had absolutely no ability to resist.
"Ahem…"
With a light cough, Lu Yu replied with a smile, "I am simply overcome with joy… happy for my sister, and happy for you, Lord Cao!"
Hmm…
Happy for him, Cao Cao?
Cao Cao was momentarily taken aback. While he could understand being happy for his sister, why would Lu Yu be happy for him?
It couldn't be mere sentiment, could it?
Before Cao Cao could ask, Lu Yu continued:
"Lord Cao likely knows that the Han Dynasty has endured several purges known as the Partisan Prohibitions, during which the Imperial Academy repeatedly fell into disuse. Yet, thanks to the perseverance of many great scholars, the Imperial Academy was restarted time and again."
"Twenty-five years ago, 'Young Master Qiao' penned a lengthy essay, 'Guo Ben Lun' (On the Foundation of the State), detailing the then-current state of the Imperial Academy. He also expounded, with his unique perspective, on how education was crucial for the strength of the court and the future of the nation."
"The Great Han Empire faces enemies on all sides and has always been a land of many hardships. If the people are not strong, they will inevitably be invaded and harmed by foreign peoples. To strengthen the nation, the first priority must be to 'strengthen the nation through talent,' and within that, education is the bedrock of national strength!"
The "Young Master Qiao" Lu Yu mentioned was Qiao Xuan, the former head of the Imperial Academy.
Strictly speaking, he was also Cao Cao's benefactor.
The characters in Cao Cao's given name, "Cao," and his courtesy name, "Mengde," were both bestowed by Qiao Xuan at the request of Cao Song!
Even the renowned scholar Cai Yong was an instructor under him.
At this moment, Lu Yu's mention of Qiao Xuan's "Guo Ben Lun" undoubtedly revitalized Cao Cao.
Lu Yu paused before continuing, "Twenty-five years ago, Young Master Qiao's 'Guo Ben Lun' argued that education was the method to strengthen the nation. To this day, this theory remains applicable to you, Lord Cao."
"Indeed, under your command, Lord Cao, there are the talented scholars of Yingchuan and the valiant warriors of Qiao and Pei… seemingly a plethora of talent. However, the hidden danger lies in the gap between generations!"
"The current world is fragmented, with lords embroiled in conflict… this cannot be conquered in a short time! Will the scholars of Yingchuan, the warriors of Qiao and Pei… even you, Lord Cao, not grow old one day? Must you, twenty or thirty years from now, still charge into battle and fight enemies to the death? In other words… if, by then, the Cao camp has capable and outstanding talents, will you, Lord Cao, still have to personally handle everything?"
Whoosh…
Hearing this, Cao Cao let out a long sigh.
If Lu Yu hadn't said it, Cao Cao wouldn't have realized he was already over forty!
Within ten years, he would reach the age of "knowing destiny."
Within twenty years, he would reach the age of "no longer being perplexed."
What would the Cao camp be like then? And what would the world look like then?
Yu'er's vision is so far-reaching! He can see twenty years into the future with a single glance.
Certainly, he, Cao Cao, his generals and strategists… are all valiant, fearless, and brimming with strategic acumen…
But… for how long can everyone maintain their peak?
Let alone thirty years, even after more than ten years, would Cao Cao still be the same as he is now? Would the members of the Cao and Xiahou clans, the descendants of meritorious officials, achieve what they have now…
Undoubtedly…
This was a huge question mark!
The reason for this was that amidst constant campaigns, neither Cao Cao nor his clan brothers and Yingchuan talents had the time to cultivate the younger generation!
The generational gap seemed… seemed to have become an issue that required serious attention.
And the Imperial Academy…
"Swish" – a flicker of green light emanated from Cao Cao's eyes.
The Imperial Academy, yes, the Imperial Academy!
Why was he, Cao Cao, outstanding? Why was Xun You outstanding?
Even… Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao… why could they occupy their respective territories? Perhaps it was related to their family background, but could it be unrelated to the cultivation provided by the Imperial Academy?
Graduating from the Imperial Academy, Cao Cao best understood what it had brought him.
Before entering the Imperial Academy, he was still a wild youth, but after graduating… he was already taking the common people of the world as his responsibility, feeling compassion for their suffering, able to analyze societal ills, and even daring to say "no" to evil forces!
In this light, formal, theoretical cultivation of future talents was crucial, and indeed, an urgent matter.
Whoosh…
Cao Cao sighed again and then declared loudly, "Lu Gongcao, I understand what you mean… you want the younger generation of the Cao and Xiahou families to study at the Imperial Academy, is that it?"
"Not just the Cao and Xiahou families!"
Lu Yu replied without hesitation, "All the dukes and marquises of the Han, the clans, and even a few outstanding commoners can enroll in the Imperial Academy!"
"The studies at the Imperial Academy will only last four years. Upon graduation, they will have acquired their skills and can join your ranks, Lord Cao, serving as civil officials to govern prefectures and counties, or as military officers to lead troops. In this way… the Cao camp will have an inexhaustible supply of talent, a level of talent that other lords can only dream of!"
The reason Lu Yu said this…
Was because he knew that Cao Cao was a man who eagerly sought talent, a fact evident from the countless 'Talent Recruitment Edicts' he issued throughout his life.
However… rather than seeking talent, it was better to cultivate it oneself.
Lu Yu had no doubt that if Sister Zhaoji taught poetry and etiquette, Xun Yu taught governance, Xun You taught strategy, Dian Wei taught martial arts…
Even if "Zhuge Kongming" taught them oil pressing, and Cao Mu taught them forging…
With all trades learned and all flowers blooming, everyone's strengths could be unearthed.
Such talent cultivation would be immensely beneficial to the future Cao camp, wouldn't it?
Clearly, Cao Cao could grasp this point!
His eyes narrowed slightly…
With Yu'er's suggestion, he suddenly felt it had a certain resonance.
In fact, he thought of another aspect!
The sons and daughters of all the officials and noble families entering the Imperial Academy, and the heads of the Imperial Academy would be Yu'er and Cai Yan!
In this way…
Yu'er could legitimately gain more support from these aristocratic families, which in the future… when designating him as the heir apparent, would be an immense advantage!
In the Han Dynasty, people… especially scholars, greatly valued their teachers.
Just like Cao Cao, why did he respect Qiao Xuan and Cai Yong so much throughout his life…
It was all because they had taught him before; the grace of a teacher was as vast as the sea!
Thinking of Yu'er and the Imperial Academy in this light, Cao Cao suddenly felt that reestablishing the Imperial Academy was a brilliant move, brilliantly conceived!
"Hahaha…"
Cao Cao immediately laughed heartily. He took back the first memorial and, with bold strokes, added a line of small seal script after the memorial requesting the reestablishment of the Imperial Academy:
—Memorializing Cai Yan as Doctor of the College of Classics and Head of Imperial Academy Teaching;
—Memorializing Lu Yu as Head of Imperial Academy Administration.
Of course, strictly speaking, as a woman, Cai Yan might not be suitable to be a Doctor of the College of Classics and Head of Teaching.
But… Cai Yan's father was Cai Yong, who was the leader of the literati and had provided considerable care for the Emperor during his time in Chang'an. Cai Yan was also hailed as a talented woman of the realm. Currently, there was no one more suitable to be the head!
Cao Cao was confident that once this memorial was presented, neither the Emperor nor the officials would object.
Seeing this, Lu Yu nodded slightly…
He mused to himself that Old Cao had finally seen the light.
However… Lu Yu had no idea that Old Cao hadn't just seen the light; Old Cao was showing "filial piety" as a father. Cao Cao himself didn't know if his son was "filial" yet!
"Alright!"
After finishing the writing, Cao Cao reread the memorial and then said earnestly:
"Lu Gongcao, after this memorial regarding the Imperial Academy is presented to the Emperor tomorrow, it will be entirely entrusted to you and my virtuous sister Zhaoji."
Cao Cao's tone was quite meticulous. "There are numerous matters involved, including the teachers of the Imperial Academy, the students, the construction of the academy, and the re-establishment of the stone classics. These will all be your responsibility. If you need any assistance, you and virtuous sister Zhaoji can approach me at any time!"
"I believe that not only I, Cao Cao, but even His Majesty will place great expectations on the Imperial Academy!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu quickly clasped his hands in a bow.
"Thank you, Lord Cao… Lu Yu and my sister will surely not fail in our mission!"
The matter of the Imperial Academy was settled…
However… another memorial still lay before Lu Yu.
Cao Cao's gaze shifted to this memorial.
"Aren't you curious about this memorial, Lu Gongcao?"
"This…" Lu Yu smiled faintly and replied truthfully. "I presume this is the memorial you will present to the Emperor tomorrow to commend those who have rendered meritorious service?"
Cao Cao nodded…
Actually, he was slightly surprised. Normally, when commending meritorious officials… especially for someone like Lu Yu who had made significant contributions, Lu Yu should be overjoyed. Yet… he seemed strangely calm.
Was this a disdain for fame and fortune?
"Lu Gongcao does not seem very excited…" Cao Cao asked directly. "Could it be that you have no interest in high office in the Han court?"
"Oh…" Lu Yu scratched his head. "Reporting to Lord Cao, truthfully… I know my own capabilities best. At most, I have many clever ideas. As for rendering merit, I am far inferior to the generals and strategists of the Dragon Conqueror Camp, nor am I compared to your clan brothers and the talents of Yingchuan…"
"I happened to encounter General Cao Xiu, Commander Cheng, and General Huang just outside the manor. I was just about to thank you, Lord Cao, for their rewards!"
At this point, Lu Yu respectfully clasped his hands and bowed.
"Hahaha…" Cao Cao laughed. "Do not be so modest. The smooth progress of this westward march to Luoyang would not have been possible without your 'cleverness.' You have made great contributions to escorting the Emperor, so do not belittle yourself."
Speaking of which, Cao Cao unfolded the memorial.
In the first column, the name of the person with the greatest merit was Lu Yu's.
However, this sentence was only half-finished – "Your subject requests to memorialize Lu Yu as…"
Blank… The column for official title was still blank.
"Hahaha…" Cao Cao explained with a laugh. "Tell me, what official position do you desire? As long as you dare to say it, I dare to write it! Choose from the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers!"
Whoa…
This was asking Lu Yu to pick his own official position?
One should know that according to the official system of the Han Dynasty, in terms of status, below the Son of Heaven were the Grand General, followed by the Grand Tutor…
Then came the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers. The Three Dukes included the "Minister of Works" who managed civil affairs, the "Minister of Agriculture" who managed water and soil, and the "Minister of War" who managed military affairs…
And the Nine Ministers were even more detailed…
Grand Herald, Palace Grandee, Commandant of the Guards, Master of the Imperial Stud, Minister of Justice, Grand Courtier, Minister of the Imperial Clan, Minister of Finance, and Master of the Household!
Among them…
The Grand Herald managed ancestral temples and rituals, holding the highest position among the Nine Ministers;
The Palace Grandee supervised internal court affairs;
The Commandant of the Guards was responsible for guarding the imperial palace;
The Master of the Imperial Stud managed the emperor's chariots, horses, and horse husbandry;
The Minister of Justice handled judicial matters;
The Grand Courtier managed affairs concerning vassal states and feudal lords;
The Minister of the Imperial Clan managed matters related to the royal family; the Master of the Household managed the emperor's private wealth and daily affairs;
The Minister of Finance was responsible for the finances and agricultural administration of the Great Han Empire!
Cao Cao narrowed the scope to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers… these were truly high-ranking positions!
Lu Yu's eyes darted about, and momentarily, various official titles and duties swirled before his eyes.
Instantly, he felt dizzy. If he were truly asked to choose, he wouldn't know what to pick… each position seemed not to be idle!
"Ahem…"
With a light cough, Lu Yu said, "Lord Cao, before I choose an official position… may I first recommend two individuals?"
Changing the subject, Lu Yu intended to take a breather.
The main reason was that it was difficult to choose an official position. He needed to consider carefully which position had high status, and which position allowed him to slack off during work… without having to work overtime.
Speaking of which, Lu Yu was not someone with lofty ideals. Striving his whole life until the end… wasn't it all the same in the end?
Zhou Shuren told him – one must know how to lie flat!
Once one has figured it out, it's best to live each day happily.
"Recommend two individuals?"
… Hearing this, Cao Cao slapped his forehead. He suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, it was my oversight. I was just wondering who was forgotten in this memorial. With your reminder, I recall that Xu Chu, the righteous man from Runan Prefecture, and Xu Huang, the Grand General under Commander Yang Feng, were indeed forgotten in the memorial."
Speaking of which, Cao Cao nodded slightly. He was not unfamiliar with these two names.
Upon casual inquiry, one would know that both Xu Chu and Xu Huang were formidable individuals, the kind who possessed the might of ten thousand men! These were the generals Cao Cao favored most!
Alas… how could he have forgotten them?
"Xu Huang Xu Gongming and Xu Chu Xu Zhongkang. I have heard of both these individuals. They are exceptionally skilled in martial arts and are well-regarded among the common people as loyal and righteous individuals."
Cao Cao continued to remind him, "However, Xu Gongming and Xu Huang were both persuaded to surrender by Commander Cheng of your Dragon Conqueror Camp. Lu Gongcao, do you not intend to keep them within the Dragon Conqueror Camp?"
Cao Cao once again displayed his "fatherly affection." His son had achieved so many accomplishments, and when thinking of capable generals, his first thought was naturally of his son.
In this regard, Cao Cao was quite magnanimous.
"No…" Lu Yu hurriedly waved his hands. "Xu Gongming and Xu Zhongkang, both possess the might of ten thousand men. If they were in the Dragon Conqueror Camp, their abilities might not be fully utilized…"
"Therefore, I wish to request Lord Cao to establish a sixth camp in addition to the five existing camps, with Xu Huang Xu Gongming appointed as the commander!"
The sixth camp…
This was what Lu Yu had decided after much deliberation to request for Xu Huang.
In Lu Yu's opinion, Xu Huang was different from pure warriors like Dian Wei and Xu Chu…
Xu Chu and Dian Wei might possess great martial arts, but in terms of command ability, they were somewhat lacking. It was fitting to incorporate Xu Chu and Dian Wei into the Dragon Conqueror Camp, as it could best compensate for their shortcomings.
But Xu Huang was different… in terms of command, perhaps even three Cao Xius could not match one Xu Huang.
Keeping him in the Dragon Conqueror Camp would be a waste of his talents…
Moreover, although Cao Cao had repeatedly stated that he would not be suspicious of Lu Yu, Lu Yu still felt uneasy!
If all formidable individuals were placed in the Dragon Conqueror Camp, even if Cao Cao was not suspicious now, what about the future? In Lu Yu's view, his Dragon Conqueror Camp must never become a threat in Old Cao's mind.
This balance had to be maintained…
There was already Huang Zhong. Xu Huang… it was best to give him to Old Cao!
Even if you take a step back…
In Lu Yu's memory, in several major battles that Cao Cao would face in the future, such as Guandu, Chibi, and Dingjunshan… Xu Huang played a crucial role in them, making him the most suitable to independently command an army!
This…
Lu Yu's words somewhat surprised Cao Cao.
… He was slightly taken aback. He never expected Yu'er to value Xu Huang so highly and recommend him.
As a surrendered general, to directly appoint him as the commander of the sixth camp… this…
Cao Cao's eyes blinked a few times as he carefully pondered.
However, in the end, he nodded. "As Lu Gongcao suggested, Xu Huang will be appointed as General of the West, commanding the former Yang Feng troops, and will serve as the commander of the sixth camp!"
After all, it was Lu Yu's recommendation…
It was also a faction of Cao Cao's that was outside the established structure, considered a favor from Cao Cao to Lu Yu.
Of course, Cao Cao did not place too much importance on this force, only feeling that it would be helpful for Yu'er's plan to become the heir apparent…
However, how could he know how incredibly formidable and impressive this sixth camp led by Xu Huang would be!
"Many thanks, Lord Cao…" Lu Yu clasped his hands.
Cao Cao then pressed further, "Xu Gongming and his troops have been settled. I heard that Xu Zhongkang also has five hundred fellow villagers under his command. How do you plan to arrange these troops, Lu Gongcao?"
Since Lu Yu was proactively requesting official positions for them, Cao Cao decided not to speak first and see what Lu Yu's intentions were.
However…
Cao Cao had heard about Xu Chu and his five hundred villagers.
He heard that these five hundred men were all robust and strong, with wrists as thick as the thighs of a seasoned soldier.
Their combat power was off the charts!
"Your Lordship Cao's camp seems to be lacking a contingent of imperial guards. In my opinion, these five hundred villagers are most suitable."
Lu Yu blurted out directly…
Ah… ah…
Cao Cao was stunned. He was bewildered!
Xu Chu and these five hundred villagers had just surrendered, and he wanted to assign them to guard Cao Cao's safety?
Had Yu'er gone mad?
He was "fatherly affectionate," but Yu'er was utterly unrelated to "filial piety"!
Having five hundred unfamiliar villagers protect him, Cao Cao, was this protection or a plot to harm him?
"Lu Gongcao…" Cao Cao was about to refuse.
Who would have thought…
The next sentence from Lu Yu completely reversed Cao Cao's thoughts.
With just that one sentence, Cao Cao suddenly felt that Xu Chu and the five hundred villagers were truly… incredibly appealing!
…
…