Xu Du Ling.
This official title, in Lu Yu's view, was utterly ridiculous, exceptionally so.
Of course, Cao Cao's intentions were good. The Xu Du Ling held immense power; as the saying goes, a local official holds more sway than one far away...
Within this small territory of Xu Du, regardless of who you were or what backing you possessed.
If you needed something done or had committed a transgression, seeking anyone other than the Xu Du Ling would be fruitless, even approaching Cao Cao himself.
But... Lu Yu desired a life of leisure.
Old Cao, you scoundrel, the Xu Du Ling is an exceedingly busy post! With this time, Lu Yu wanted to go home and play happily with his sister.
Furthermore, considering Old Cao's disposition of wielding heavy punishments in turbulent times, the Xu Du Ling would undoubtedly not be a peacemaker, but most likely a stern judge. How many people would that offend!
Hoo...
Lu Yu let out a breath and repeatedly waved his hands.
"Duke Cao, I cannot take on this Xu Du Ling position... I know my own limitations clearly!"
"To take it a step further... my skin is too thin, and the power of the Xu Du Ling is too great. Today, a noble or aristocrat commits an offense; tomorrow, a meritorious son commits a transgression. They will all come seeking me... I will inevitably be unable to resist these sugar-coated bullets, and I will become corrupt and fall!"
Lu Yu mused, 'Please don't test cadres with this!'
He had poor self-control. Beautiful women, money, and the like... he had absolutely no resistance. If he became Xu Du Ling today, by tomorrow, Old Cao would probably be orchestrating an anti-corruption storm!
Heh...
Cao Cao chuckled. He hadn't expected Yu'er to be so resistant to the title of "Xu Du Ling." He immediately furrowed his brows and retorted, "Lu Gong Cao? What are 'sugar-coated bullets'?"
Uh...
Lu Yu was slightly taken aback. How was he to explain this?
"Duke Cao, these so-called sugar-coated bullets mean that I have weaknesses, and when others know where my weaknesses lie, they attack them..."
"For example, I cannot resist a woman throwing herself into my arms. If... those nobles and aristocrats who have committed offenses use women to tempt me, I will surely be unable to withstand the test. Wouldn't that be letting down Duke Cao's expectations! At that time, my heart would ache terribly!"
Heh heh...
Hearing this, Cao Cao let out a "heh heh."
Yu'er was the first person before him to speak of "a woman throwing herself into his arms" so earnestly.
Heh heh, testing the Xu Du Ling with women? And being unable to withstand the test...
Cao Cao was genuinely amused. He leaned his head closer to Lu Yu and said with a smile.
"Isn't that quite good? Having different beautiful women throw themselves into your arms every day, being a groom every night, wouldn't that be blissful?"
Uh...
Lu Yu paused, then said with a solemn expression, "No, it is very bad. Duke Cao... actually, I have a friend, ah no... actually this friend is me. He and I both have rather weak kidneys, so we must exercise restraint and not indulge in excess."
Pfft...
Cao Cao almost choked with laughter. How old are you? How many times have you even... used them, to already have weak kidneys?
Heh heh... Cao Cao chuckled again!
He felt he was truly drunk. Yu'er... not wanting to be Xu Du Ling is one thing, but the excuses he came up with were so fresh and refined, absolutely perfect... Yu'er was truly perfect.
"Alright..." Cao Cao did not insist. He waved his hand, effectively rejecting his own proposal.
However...
Inevitably, a hint of disappointment flickered in Cao Cao's eyes.
Yu'er not taking the position of Xu Du Ling? Who else could?
Or, more to the point, who would dare to take on the role of Xu Du Ling?
"Alas..." Cao Cao sighed helplessly, shaking his head slightly, feeling troubled.
Lu Yu keenly caught that hint of emotion from Old Cao...
He asked in return, "Duke Cao is troubled by the candidate for Xu Du Ling?"
"You could say that!" Cao Cao did not conceal it, lamenting repeatedly, "These people in Xu Du, some have rendered me great service and have become arrogant; some, relying on their merit as escorts of the Son of Heaven, are haughty and unyielding... others have only recently pledged their allegiance, possessing troops and provisions, how can they possibly regard laws or the common people? In turbulent times, heavy laws must be enforced. If the hand of the Xu Du Ling is unstable, the rear will be difficult to secure, let alone conquer territories!"
Cao Cao's words were quite euphemistic...
To put it plainly, he had already foreseen that the members of the Cao and Xiahou clans, the close confidants of the Son of Heaven, and various factions of influential families and powerful clans, all gathered in Xu Du, would inevitably have disputes and friction with each other, and even come to blows!
Precisely because of Cao Cao's special status, he could not directly intervene in these matters...
Nor could he punish them easily!
And the Xu Du Ling's role was to rectify laws in his stead, to enforce the principle of "heavy punishments in turbulent times."
Yet, finding such an upright and unyielding person was proving to be difficult.
Speaking of which, Cao Cao's brow furrowed heavily...
Alas, sometimes dealing with enemies was simpler. Victory or defeat was commonplace, and killing was as easy as chopping off a head.
But to punish one's own people, and moreover, these people were all intricately connected to Cao Cao. Given Cao Cao's nature of valuing and cherishing talent, he found it difficult to act, and indeed, could not act.
The more he thought about it, the more agitated Cao Cao became...
As he grew and strengthened, these contradictions hidden beneath the surface would manifest one by one.
Back in Yan Province, his associates were more straightforward, and he could turn a blind eye to many matters.
But now... under the Son of Heaven's command, with complex forces at play, many things could not be decided solely by personal preference!
Difficult, truly difficult!
Seeing Cao Cao's agitated state, Lu Yu, to be honest, felt a pang of sympathy.
Of course, was this a problem?
In Lu Yu's opinion... it was not a problem at all...
"Duke Cao... I hear it clearly. In fact... what you need most urgently is a ruthless official!"
Lu Yu directly pointed out the crux of the matter.
Cao Cao raised his eyes, his gaze fixed. His eyes seemed to say – precisely... Yu'er, continue speaking!
Lu Yu's words continued to flow. "This ruthless official must be upright and incorruptible, insensitive to human sentiment, courageous and unafraid to offend others, with a thicker skin than steel. Most importantly, he must be able to withstand the test of women and money!"
"This ruthless official must also not be affiliated with the Cao or Xiahou clans... nor be a close confidant of the Son of Heaven, nor have any background with the powerful families. Only in this way can absolute fairness and impartiality be achieved!"
"Only such a person, appointed as Xu Du Ling, to oversee the Court of Judicial Review, laws, and judgments, and to set some exemplary cases, publicly demonstrating the principle of 'heavy punishments in turbulent times'! This would deter those who are arrogant due to their past merits, making them realize that their past achievements are not a shield for their wrongdoings!"
"In this manner, within two months, all factions within Xu Du will surely become cautious, treating each other with respect, and all potential overt conflicts will be nipped in the bud!"
Lu Yu spoke a great deal in one breath...
Cao Cao listened, feeling as though he hadn't heard enough.
Of course, that wasn't the main point...
The main point was, Yu'er, you've said so much, why don't you recommend someone!
Cao Cao genuinely wanted to know if there was such a ruthless official under his command, one without background, possessing astonishing courage, and being upright and incorruptible!
"Since Lu Gong Cao can speak to this extent, you must already have a suitable candidate in mind, right? Feel free to share it..."
Well...
Subconsciously, Lu Yu's mind recalled some lines of dialogue...
In certain games, a very famous and pretentious ruthless official often says things like this.
— Mercy can be tolerated, but the law cannot!
— Will you confess, or not!
— Severe laws and harsh punishments, to break the courage of the treacherous!
Heh heh...
The ace ruthless official is in position, ready to take flight.
With this thought, Lu Yu directly spoke his name.
— "From Changyi in Shanyang, Man Chong, courtesy name Bo Ning! If Duke Cao appoints this man as Xu Du Ling, the entire Xu Du city will surely adhere to the law, and everyone will feel at ease!"
...
An hour later, Lu Yu walked out of the Grand General's mansion...
Ah no, to be precise, he walked out of the gates of the Ministry of Works mansion. Looking at the stars in the sky, Lu Yu suddenly felt very relaxed.
He had, after all, escaped the "arduous task" of becoming the "Xu Du Ling"!
Being unrestrained was, after all, a good thing!
Of course, Old Cao was also helpless with Lu Yu, temporarily appointing him as the Grand Administrator of the Imperial Academy.
Other matters would be decided after careful consideration.
Very good, very powerful...
Lu Yu liked this official title very much...
First, it was leisurely. Second... in his past life, Lu Yu... was always dominated by those principals and teachers!
...Now, he could finally overthrow the oppressors and become the Grand Administrator of the Imperial Academy of the Han Dynasty, ordering these aspiring scholars around. Just thinking about it brought him a surge of exhilaration!
Morning readings, evening self-study, must be arranged...
Lu Yu mused... Let's do it like the "Five-Year College Entrance Examination, Three-Year Mock Test" style. Whether they can learn true skills is secondary. The most important thing is... educating and nurturing people. Lu Yu would be very happy...
Moreover... rebuilding the Imperial Academy, Sister Zhao Ji would also be very happy, right?
This could be considered... finally fulfilling her deepest wish!
Thinking of this, Lu Yu felt he was very great. His image must have become exceptionally great in Sister Zhao Ji's heart, right?
Of course, Sister Zhao Ji couldn't yet comprehend how great this younger brother Lu Yu truly was...
Speaking of which...
The news of the capital's relocation to Xu Du should have reached Chenliu Commandery by now, right?
Sister Zhao Ji over there, ah no, not just Sister Zhao Ji, but including Old Cao's few wives, General Xiahou's wife, Lady Ding Hui, Lady Ding Xiang, and so on, it seemed... they should be setting off, right?
Thinking of this, Lu Yu suddenly shook his head...
Why would he inexplicably think of Old Cao's wives and Xiahou Yuan's wives?
You damn scoundrel... after interacting with Old Cao for so long, this bad habit passed down from Old Cao's family is contagious!
Indeed, there is only one Cao Cao, but there are thousands upon thousands of Cao traitors!
...
...
Chenliu Commandery, Cao Residence.
"Sister... it's so late, why have you summoned me?"
Ding Xiang appeared at the Cao residence in the middle of the night...
It was her sister, Ding Hui, who had called her over.
At this moment, Ding Hui was still tidying things up, appearing very busy, but her complexion was excellent.
This was already the twentieth-odd day since she had taken Lu Yu's "infertility treatment" prescription.
Her complexion had improved considerably compared to before. Her cheeks were no longer as pale as snow, and had gained a hint of... blush. The most exaggerated aspect was her mood...
She no longer seemed dim and lifeless, nor was she exceptionally aloof, nor did she possess an aura of being untouched by the mortal world.
Instead, she had gained a great deal of approachability. In these past days, she would even proactively converse with the servants, a stark contrast to the Ding Madam of the past who kept everyone at a distance.
And... the most important reason for this change...
Her menstruation had become more regular. To put it simply, her irregular periods had improved... and naturally, her temper had also improved.
Women...
As everyone understands, there are those few days each month when their temper is exceptionally irritable, and they push everyone away coldly. Once those days pass, a certain desire also emerges.
"Help me pack. I plan to set off for Xu Du when dawn breaks..."
Ding Hui instructed Ding Xiang.
Ah... ah...
Ding Xiang was startled, "So... so urgent? My husband specifically mentioned that soldiers would come to pick us up in a few days... Why is Sister so flustured!"
Ding Hui waved her hand. "Who knows when they will come to pick us up? Now... the official road from Chenliu Commandery to Xu Du has been opened. We can travel ourselves. Why do we need an escort of soldiers? Besides... if we really wait twenty days, then... then..."
She was about to say that her menstruation had come again...
But she ultimately did not speak it aloud. To put it plainly, Ding Hui missed men, or rather... she was in heat!
She wanted to ride... ah, to seek out Cao Cao immediately!
In fact, this was very easy to understand...
In the past, Ding Hui could not have children. Although there were no overt issues, she was inevitably subjected to pointed remarks and even criticism in private!
For a woman to be without children in this era was a terrifying thing. Gossip could kill.
The more so, the more she wanted to prove herself. She could do it. But repeated failures had made her disheartened about having children. Coupled with her past unpleasant experiences with Old Cao...
Naturally... she began to distance herself from Old Cao, becoming cold and distant, keeping everyone at arm's length. In reality, wasn't it all about those matters in bed?
But now, things were different...
According to Lu Yu's prescription, after taking these herbs, Ding Hui felt a significant change in her body...
Her menstrual flow had increased significantly, her complexion had become much more rosy, and even the symptoms mentioned in Lu Yu's prescription, such as a sallow complexion, abdominal pain and weakness in the legs, cold pain in the lower abdomen, cold hands and feet, and a pale tongue with a white coating!
These had all been greatly alleviated due to the prescription. The most obvious was her lower abdomen, which now felt very warm... as if there was a ball of fire within, making her feel hot all over!
With such effects, Madam Ding decided to try again...
She was such a strong-willed woman. In her eyes, no matter how powerful Cao Cao was, he was ultimately just her husband, a tool in her eyes. When she needed him, she would ride... ah, she would sleep with him for a night! When she didn't need him, they could treat each other with respect!
And now, Madam Ding very much needed... very much needed Cao Cao, this tool.
"Sister... could you possibly..."
Looking at Ding Hui's expression, even the dullest Ding Xiang could guess what was going on. "You're not calculating the dates to find Brother-in-law... Wait... let little sister calculate... calculate..."
Ding Xiang was counting on her fingers, calculating the time of Sister Ding Hui's last menstruation.
In ancient times, even conception had its techniques. Countless predecessors had summed up their experiences, and many esteemed gynecologists had also mentioned that according to the timing of menstruation, the seven days before and eight days after were the safe periods.
Of course, for Ding Hui, she certainly couldn't engage in such activities during the safe period. But the fertile period only lasted a few days, and if missed, it was gone!
Therefore, even if it was a bit early, she intended to set off for Xu Du first thing in the morning.
She had waited for half a month, and had been taking medicine for over a month!
Ding Hui could no longer suppress the surging emotions within her heart. She had to... she had to go and find her tool... ah, no, she had to go and find Old Cao!
The more she thought about it, the more her desire surged.
To put it bluntly, she could disregard the distinction between嫡 and 庶 (primary and secondary wives/children).
In fact, even if she gave birth to a son now, it would be impossible for him to contend for the position of heir apparent with Cao Ang!
Cao Ang was her adopted son. In terms of lineage, he was considered Cao Cao's legitimate son, and the eldest legitimate son!
It could be said that a new child could not pose a threat to Cao Ang.
But...
What she cared about was the gaze of the world. This world was too unfriendly to a woman who could not bear children.
"Stop talking so much... quickly help your sister pack. We have to leave tomorrow morning." Ding Hui continued to urge.
"Sister... so many things?" Ding Xiang looked at the pile of items in the bedroom...
Women, when going out, are very troublesome. Jewelry, clothes, and incense are needed in large quantities. Unlike men, who just need to carry their heads on their shoulders and go out with money.
"The items can be sent later..." Ding Hui paused slightly. "Regardless, I must go first..."
She had calculated the timing perfectly!
Thirsty... it was like a rutting lioness, always wandering in front of an adult male lion, exposing herself, begging for... well, you know.
Of course, besides thirst, Ding Hui also planned to see Lu Yu.
She needed to inquire about her current physical condition.
This "master of gynecology," rare in this era, was her hope for conceiving a child.
Besides this, Ding Hui had also heard a piece of news: during the campaign against Runan, Ang'er had achieved merit!
Although it was only a minor merit in the Dragon Roar Camp, as a mother, Ding Hui felt greatly comforted...
This was Ang'er's first time on the battlefield, and he had already achieved such merit!
Shouldn't she thank Lu Yu for this, and thank the Dragon Roar Camp?
Thus... all things considered, Ding Hui... was extremely eager to see Lu Yu!
Of course... this eagerness was entirely different from the eagerness to see her tool, Cao Cao. If one were to analyze it carefully, she was more eager to see Cao Cao!
This was an uncontrollable, almost overflowing eagerness for her tool, Cao Cao!
...
...