The Hundred Crafts course was never a wasted effort.
Among the imperial students, it wasn't just Cao Cao who benefited greatly from the "Hundred Crafts course." For instance, Cao Cao's classmate Hu Mu Ban was enthusiastic about weaving baskets. Though he never quite grasped the warp and weft, always skipping threads, he found joy in it.
Yuan Shu, on the other hand, was skilled at weaving mats. He often derided Liu Bei as someone who sold straw sandals, a key reason being his belief that Liu Bei's mats were crude and unworthy of refined company.
Yuan Shu's own mats were different. He would treasure them, sitting on them as if they were a prize...
Even now, he retained a deep fondness for the weaving crafts. Whether at home or at war, he felt an urge to practice it whenever he had free time; without it, he felt restless.
Even the silk-bordered bamboo mat he slept on in his final moments was his own handiwork.
(This mat is still in a museum today... woven by Yuan Shu himself.)
Of course, the purpose of the Imperial Academy offering the Hundred Crafts course was not for students to become actual carpenters or stonemasons. While it gave them a basic understanding, preventing them from being easily deceived, its main aim was to prevent these arrogant and self-important imperial students from looking down on ordinary people with practical skills.
And this was precisely what Cao Cao grasped...
Looking back at Cao Cao's rise to power, his ability to identify and utilize talent was exceptional. He ensured the right people were in the right positions, whether it was for agriculture and water conservancy, forging, construction, or sericulture.
Many officials in these fields were former artisans, often holding high positions in Cao Cao's camp, which further illustrated Cao Cao's respect for them.
The fundamental reason for this was Cao Cao's personal experience in auditing these Hundred Crafts courses.
Lady Ding summarized these points and recounted them to Cao Mu.
It was only then that Cao Mu realized how naive and childish her original thoughts had been...
Lu Yu was right; if one understood none of these fundamental skills, how could they interact with artisans or coordinate their deployment?
And Lu Yu's words – "The heavens have their seasons, the earth its qi, materials their beauty, and craftsmanship its skill..."
Before, she had dismissed them as paradoxes. Now, upon closer reflection, Cao Mu found them profound and expansive.
Lady Ding continued speaking.
"Your father once said that if he had the chance to attend the Imperial Academy again, he would certainly choose to study more 'Hundred Crafts' courses. Each course is crucial for military campaigns and governing prefectures today, especially..."
Lady Ding paused. Cao Mu's curiosity was fully piqued. She eagerly asked, "Especially what?"
"Forging..." Lady Ding replied truthfully.
Indeed, Cao Cao's greatest regret was not delving deeper into the Hundred Crafts course on Forging.
After all, with a piece of celestial iron that fell from the sky, he had collaborated with artisans to successfully forge two weapons, Yi Tian and Qing Gang, capable of slicing through iron and cleaving stone...
But the reason why this falling celestial iron possessed such sharpness remained a mystery. Cao Cao was extremely interested in this. He only lamented his lack of knowledge in the fundamentals of the Hundred Crafts' Forging.
Imagine, if there were a large quantity of weapons forged from such celestial iron, capable of cleaving stone and slicing through iron, wouldn't Cao's army be invincible?
"Forging, you say?" Cao Mu gritted her teeth, her red lips bitten.
At this moment, not only she, but also Lu Yu, had captured her intense interest.
However much she had resisted and disliked him before, she was now filled with curiosity.
Speaking of which, who wouldn't be interested in a young man who understood strategy, orchestrated grand schemes, and possessed insightful knowledge of the Hundred Crafts?
"Mother, I know what I need to do..."
Cao Mu's sudden statement startled Lady Ding.
"You..."
"Mother, in a few days I will visit Cai Mansion again. I want to study the 'Foundry' course from the Hundred Crafts," Cao Mu declared with determination.
"But... why would a girl like you study foundry?" Lady Ding questioned.
Cao Mu smiled. "Didn't Mother just say that learning doesn't mean mastering? To have a rough understanding, to appreciate the hardships of artisans, is enough!"
As she spoke, the corners of Cao Mu's lips curved upward, and her gloomy mood instantly brightened.
For a moment, she found herself eagerly anticipating tomorrow... eagerly anticipating meeting that young master, Lu Yu, who evoked so much curiosity, interest, and a growing fascination!
He was... captivating!
...
...
"My elder brother is above."
In a side room of the Cai Mansion in Chenliu Commandery, this was Zhuge Jun's room. As dusk fell, Zhuge Jun, under candlelight, was writing a family letter to his second brother, the true Kongming.
Through several days of observation, Zhuge Jun felt that neither Cai Yan nor Lu Yu treated him as an outsider.
Despite his own dullness, Cai Yan and Lu Yu patiently taught him much knowledge. Cai Yan mostly taught poetry, books, and etiquette, while Lu Yu taught more about military strategy.
What was different was that Zhuge Jun, who couldn't understand the Art of War, Master Wu's Art of War, Wei Liaozi, or the Ghost Valley military treatise, could surprisingly understand the "Thirty-Six Stratagems" provided by Lu Yu.
The text was simple and easy to understand, and the examples were vivid and engaging. He could quickly grasp the principles and strategies. While not yet thoroughly integrated, at the very least... Zhuge Jun felt he was improving daily.
In his view, Lu Yu and Cai Zhaoji were like parents to a child, constantly imparting more knowledge to the dull him.
Even his elder brother Zhuge Jin, second brother Zhuge Liang, and uncle Zhuge Xuan had never done this.
For a moment, Zhuge Jun felt that this place wasn't bad at all...
This Cai Mansion felt like his own home, and Master Cai Yan and Master Lu Yu were like his family.
And the most astonishing aspect was the trust.
The people in the Cai Mansion treated Zhuge Jun as one of their own, never restricting his freedom. They even gave him money regularly, allowing him to spend it as he pleased...
In short, Zhuge Jun experienced a warmth he had never felt even in the Zhuge family residence in Langya Commandery.
As for this letter, there was no need to mention it; he could send it to whomever he wished without any obstruction or suspicion.
Of course...
Zhuge Jun could not fully comprehend the reason behind Lu Yu's well-intentioned efforts towards him.
After all, in Lu Yu's eyes, this was Zhuge Liang! Nurturing him well meant having assistance in governing the country in the future!
And help in waging war!
Even if his own training couldn't match that of Master Shui Jing, at the very least, with Zhuge Liang's foundation, writing a fiery address or engaging in debates should be manageable, given his articulate tongue.
Of course, perhaps due to late development, the current "Zhuge Liang," in Lu Yu's eyes, was still some distance from truly awakening.
*Hoo...*
Zhuge Jun exhaled lightly, gazing at the four characters "My elder brother is above" on the first vertical line of the bamboo slip.
For a moment, he didn't know what to write.
He was the most dull among the Zhuge brothers and always poor at speaking. If he merely said his brother was well, it would be cliché. It would be better to write down what was truly on his mind.
He began to write...
"My brother once said that Yanzhou is a land of four-way conflict, where warlords vie for supremacy; it is not a good place. Furthermore, it is bound to face crisis soon, and the situation is uncertain."
"Recently, Yanzhou has faced numerous incidents. External invasions threaten its very survival. This humble brother initially believed Yanzhou would fall into turmoil and crisis as my brother predicted. However, due to a young man named Lu Yu, Zhang Miao was captured, Lu Bu was defeated, Guo Gong repelled, and Zhuxian stabilized. Yanzhou has now turned peril from danger."
"This humble brother currently resides in Lu Yu's mansion. Because I used my brother's name, they have shown me great care. Everything here is well for this humble brother. Thinking back, my brother's assertion of Yanzhou as a land of four-way conflict may not prove true. With Lu Yu here, perhaps Yanzhou will become the most peaceful prefecture in the land. My brother and my two elder sisters might as well come here to escape the chaos and disaster..."
*Hoo...* He let out a long sigh.
After writing these words, Zhuge Jun felt much more at ease.
He deliberately did not shy away from the words because he could sense Lu Yu's trust in him, and at the same time... he also trusted everyone in this mansion implicitly.
The Zhuge family were originally wealthy merchants from Xuzhou, and they had shops in Chenliu Commandery. Sending this letter was not difficult...
But... Zhuge Jun felt something was still missing from this letter.
Yes... the Hundred Crafts!
The theory of the Hundred Crafts mentioned by young master Lu Yu that day made Zhuge Jun's eyes light up. It seemed... the last time someone placed such importance on the knowledge of the Hundred Crafts was his second brother, Zhuge Kongming!
With this thought...
Zhuge Jun hurried to add another line to the letter.
"Several days ago, I studied with young master Lu in the study. He mentioned the theory of 'Hundred Crafts': 'The heavens have their seasons, the earth its qi, materials their beauty, and craftsmanship its skill.' When these four are coordinated, the equipment is excellent... This humble brother found it enlightening, and his discourse and knowledge deeply impressed me. If my brother were truly here, I believe he would have become his bosom friend, forging an unbreakable bond!"
Having written this, Zhuge Jun slowly closed the bamboo slip... He would give it to his own shop in the East Market tomorrow morning.
He assumed... his second brother Kongming would see it soon, wouldn't he?
Thinking of this, Zhuge Jun nodded slightly. For a moment, he himself was unsure whether it was right or wrong to come to Yanzhou for his second brother...
If... if his second brother were here today, then perhaps... it would be a completely new story.
And if, in the future, he and his second brother Kongming found themselves on opposing sides, then... what choice would he make? At least... he, Zhuge Jun, would definitely not abandon Lu Yu or the female teacher.
...
...
Xuzhou, Pengcheng.
The great battle between the attacking and defending forces had reached its conclusion. Counting the troops, Cao's army had suffered minimal losses.
Of course, this was largely thanks to the covert support from the major clans within Pengcheng and the goodwill of the populace.
Cao Cao now stood on the city wall, feeling the breeze and enjoying everything around him.
"My Lord, it has been confirmed that Liu Bei's contingent of over two thousand men did not participate in the city's defense. Instead, they held the East Gate and retreated towards Xiapi City along with the Danyang troops," Xi Zhi Cai reported the scout's intelligence to Cao Cao.
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao nodded.
"This Liu Bei is not simple!"
He did not often praise people, but Liu Bei's actions compelled Cao Cao to take notice. Without expending a single soldier, he had gained an immense favor from the Danyang troops; it showed some capability.
Similarly, this made Cao Cao even more suspicious of Liu Bei's motives for coming to the rescue of Xuzhou.
"My Lord, next..." Xi Zhi Cai intended to offer a reminder.
"Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed, interrupting him. "Zhi Cai, I know what you are about to say..."
With this in mind, Cao Cao immediately ordered his subordinates, "Transmit the order immediately. Just as with Dongguan City, Langya Commandery, and Donghai Commandery previously, open the granaries and distribute grain. Set up porridge stalls at each city gate to provide porridge daily to relieve the impoverished populace. Furthermore, our soldiers are forbidden from looting the property of the people or trampling on their fields and grain."
Here, Cao Cao paused, his tone growing more serious. "In addition, any houses destroyed or burned during the siege will be compensated doubly. Clans that assisted Cao's army will receive separate rewards. As for the common people who helped us, select unclaimed arable land and grant it to them."
The generous policies were as consistent as ever, following the usual three points mentioned by Lu Yu – punish only the ringleaders, treat the populace well, and prioritize psychological warfare. Cao Cao was now playing the "setting up a wooden post as a promise" tactic with ever-increasing skill.
"Yes..." Several trusted guards received the orders and went to arrange them...
"Hahaha..." Xi Zhi Cai chuckled. "I thought my Lord would offer slightly fewer rewards, but I did not expect the rewards for the people and clans of Pengcheng to exceed previous levels."
Cao Cao turned around and smiled at Xi Zhi Cai. "This is nothing, merely some money and grain. Our objective is the entirety of Xuzhou, and the stability of its populace is paramount..."
As he spoke, Cao Cao noticed that Xi Zhi Cai's sock ties had come undone and proactively crouched down, reaching out to tie them for him...
Ancient shoes did not have laces, but socks had long ties. Sometimes, they would easily come undone if one wasn't careful.
"My Lord..." Xi Zhi Cai intended to crouch down. How could a lord tie the sock ties for his subordinate?
"Do not move..." Cao Cao instructed. As he spoke, he quickly tied them... and stood up with a laugh. "Zhi Cai, your contributions to the Xuzhou campaign reaching this point are also invaluable..."
"I dare not," Xi Zhi Cai replied with cupped hands.
"What is your credit is yours," Cao Cao patted his shoulder. "Of course, besides your merits, do you know what else is being spread in the army..."
This...
Xi Zhi Cai's eyes darted around. "Does my Lord mean 'Lu Yu's Three Strategies Secure Xuzhou'?"
"Hahaha..." Upon hearing this, Cao Cao burst into laughter. "Indeed, if Xuzhou can be taken, you and Lu Yu are both first in merit. He excels at psychological tactics, and you are skilled in strategy. Complementing each other, you are invincible under heaven!"
As he spoke, Cao Cao strode grandly across the city wall...
Xi Zhi Cai savored Cao Cao's words. Yes, he excelled in strategy, and a strategist who excels in attacking strategy achieves victory without fail. As for Lu Yu... he was skilled at psychological warfare, attacking the enemy's mind, a more formidable method than attacking strategy.
Haha... he let out a faint smile.
Xi Zhi Cai shook his head with a smile. If Cao Cao had placed him on par with Lu Yu... two months ago, he would have been quite dismissive. But now... Xi Zhi Cai felt that he was the one who was reaching up.
In terms of vision, he and Lu Yu were on different levels.
However, having witnessed Lu Yu's strategy of "attacking the enemy's mind" and his brilliant plan to pacify Yanzhou, and considering his age, a bold idea had been brewing in Xi Zhi Cai's mind for a long time.
At this moment, he felt an urge to speak his mind...
"My Lord..."
Xi Zhi Cai hurried to catch up with Cao Cao.
"Is there something else?" Cao Cao paused.
"My Lord, I have a guess, but I don't know if I should speak it..." Xi Zhi Cai said.
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly. He seemed to have guessed something and asked in return, "Is it about Lu Yu?"
"Yes..." Xi Zhi Cai nodded and then stated directly, "Lu Yu was fifteen last year, and is sixteen this year... I recall last year, Yin Lin finally..."
"Shush..." Before Xi Zhi Cai could finish speaking, Cao Cao covered his mouth with one hand and made a "shush" gesture with the other. He looked left and right, ensuring no one was paying attention, then whispered, "To see clearly does not mean to speak it all. I already knew."
With that, Cao Cao spread his legs and pointed to his feet. "Zhi Cai, do you know... why a person's feet are always whiter than their face?"
"Why?" Xi Zhi Cai asked curiously.
"Hahaha..." Cao Cao chuckled and whispered, "Because they are always hidden... If they were revealed, they would quickly become darker than the face! Haha... Hahaha..."
With these words, Cao Cao ran off laughing. At this moment, he no longer resembled a mighty and imposing hero; he was clearly a child who enjoyed himself and had not grown up!
Of course, Xi Zhi Cai had no idea that he was merely on the second level, while Cao Cao was already on the fifth.
Lu Yu's identity was not merely hidden... Shush... it was not just this one aspect.
He was also "Er'er," Cao's eldest son! And this... was what truly comforted Cao Cao.
...
While walking quickly, Cao Cao continued to give orders.
"Rest for a day, and tomorrow we march for Xiapi City!"
Amidst the wind, Cao Cao's voice was extremely penetrating. And carried by the wind, this sentence reached every corner, allowing everyone to feel Cao Cao's excitement, exhilaration, and joyous mood at this moment.
Indeed, Pengcheng had fallen, the gates to Xiapi City were now open, and Xuzhou... Tao Qian, it was time for the final decisive battle!
...
...