“Dian Duwei, could you do me a favor?” Lu Yu’s eyes settled, and he immediately gave an order…
“What is it?” Dian Wei asked, cupping his fists.
In truth, despite his fearsome appearance… Dian Wei was a rather thin-skinned man. He was feeling quite displeased. He had accepted two thousand gold from young master Lu Yu and become a Captain of the Dragon Soaring Camp, but in his opinion, he hadn’t done anything. This wasn’t even a pledge of loyalty, let alone a meritorious deed!
He felt a little uncomfortable, and now… upon hearing Lu Yu’s dispatch, he became eager to prove himself.
“I will assign you over ten knights. You will lead them to secretly infiltrate Langya Commandery in Xuzhou, escorting the convoy of the old master Cao along the way…”
Lu Yu’s words continued to pour out.
Cao Song’s situation was difficult. Escorting him with a large contingent of armored soldiers into Xuzhou was clearly impossible. A small number of elites might not be enough for protection.
Considering this, Dian Wei was the most suitable candidate. This fellow… as long as his weapons weren’t stolen, he could handle one or two hundred men without much trouble.
As for Zhang Kai and the like, Dian Wei estimated he could fight ten of them!
“My lord, rest assured, Dian Wei will not fail this mission!”
Dian Wei agreed. Cao Xiu was there to fetch him a fine steed. Before long, the sound of “dada da…” horse hooves echoed. Led by Dian Wei, over ten riders galloped away, disappearing at the end of the official road.
Hoo…
Lu Yu let out a long breath, murmuring to himself, “Cao Song, Cao Song, your fate is tied to the shifting tides of the times. I hope… Dian Wei can arrive in time.” Da Feng Xiao Shuo
There was still a slight knot of worry in Lu Yu’s heart.
As the saying goes—Man proposes, Heaven disposes!
…
…
Xuzhou, Langya Commandery.
Cao Song’s convoy had been traveling for a day. Over a hundred carts laden with gold, silver, and jewels moved along majestically!
Along the way, they were escorted by General Zhang Kai’s troops, dispatched by Tao Qian. It seemed the journey had been quite peaceful. They were about to leave the boundaries of Langya Commandery.
The entire caravan was now resting at the foot of a mountain, planning to set off again in an hour. General Zhang Kai had appeared very enthusiastic along the route, constantly asking Cao Song questions, seemingly having gained his full trust.
However, during this rest stop… Cao Ren, leading five or six knights, arrived, panting and covered in dust…
This trip was a seven-hundred-mile urgent dispatch. Each of them had ridden two horses to death before reaching their destination. They looked utterly exhausted!
But upon seeing hundreds of carts loaded with gold, silver, and jade ready to depart, Cao Ren unconsciously swallowed. He understood even more profoundly the words Lu Yu had mentioned about “possessing jade invites trouble”—this “jade” was truly wealth enough to rival a nation!
…
“Old Master, heed my words… do not flaunt your wealth when traveling. Showing off will lead to financial ruin. Now, with over a hundred carts of gold, silver, and jewels, you are bound to attract covetous eyes of villains…”
This was already the umpteenth time Cao Ren had earnestly advised him. “Moreover, my elder brother repeatedly instructed, ‘Possessing jade invites trouble, possessing jade invites trouble’…”
Hmm… possessing jade invites trouble?
Cao Song’s footsteps paused slightly, and he pondered for a moment, but then he quickly shook his head. “Mengde is still too cautious. Aren’t we? Isn’t the Xuzhou Governor Tao Qian providing the senior general to escort us along the way? Who would dare rob my wealth? Wouldn’t that be confronting Governor Tao of Xuzhou?”
“Furthermore, Tao Qian served in the same court as me in the past, we were colleagues… Now, he wishes to foster a good relationship with my son. How could he dare to dispatch someone to abduct me?”
As these words left his mouth…
“Exactly, exactly,” Cao De, standing beside him, nodded repeatedly. He was Cao Song’s second son, Cao Cao’s younger brother. Having been surrounded by immense wealth since childhood, he was reluctant to give up this vast fortune if it truly meant, as Cao Ren suggested, abandoning it.
Besides, to be so hesitant because of the saying “possessing jade invites trouble”… this was not the way their Cao family conducted themselves. In short, Cao De felt his elder brother was making a mountain out of a molehill this time…
“Old Master, young master De, now is not the time for impetuousness. My elder brother’s repeated instructions were to abandon the gold and valuables and proceed to Yanzhou alone. Naturally, he has his reasons!” Cao Ren was still trying to persuade him.
Cao Song’s eyes darted around. Old men, after all, tended to be somewhat indecisive.
However, Cao De’s tone was particularly firm. “Zixiao… do you know? How much gold and silver? How much jewelry is in our convoy? How much grain can we exchange for this by selling it?”
Cao De said with great earnestness, “You surely don’t know. Our more than a hundred carts of gold, silver, and valuables are enough to exchange for hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain. How can we just abandon it? Moreover… the one who proposed this strategy to my elder brother is merely a young master? He’s not ‘Hidden Dragon,’ what kind of insight can he have? How can his words be taken seriously? This talk of ‘possessing jade invites trouble’ is just excessive worry, mere wishful thinking!”
Cao De’s words were well-reasoned and logical, leaving Cao Ren momentarily at a loss for words.
Cao Ren felt a bit embarrassed…
It seemed… he couldn’t convince them.
Having reached this point, it was likely that Old Master Cao Song and young master Cao De were determined to follow the original plan to Yanzhou, having made up their minds.
However…
Cao Ren frowned, muttering to himself. Military orders must be obeyed, and his elder brother’s orders were even more so. Without further ado, Cao Ren grabbed Old Master Cao Song and pulled him onto his horse.
“Zixiao, what… what are you doing?” Cao Song exclaimed in surprise.
“Zixiao, quickly put grandpa down! Why do you and elder brother believe a boy who is barely over ten years old, but not believe me!”
Cao De blocked Cao Ren’s horse.
“I don’t care whose words!” Cao Ren’s tone became stern. “But what my elder brother commanded, even if it offends Old Master, I, Cao Ren, will do it! Old Master Cao cannot travel with the convoy!”
His words were firm and left no room for doubt.
This was Cao Ren’s way; as long as it was his elder brother’s command, he would obey it unconditionally and with all his might.
“De’er, forget it, let’s listen to Zixiao,” Cao Song compromised unwillingly. “I will ride ahead with Zixiao. I will entrust these carts to you. You need not worry; Miaocai has already led troops to the border of Yanzhou to meet us, and Governor Tao of Xuzhou’s senior general will escort our convoy safely along the way!”
Saying this, Cao Song turned to ask Cao Ren, “Zixiao, Old Master will accompany you to Yanzhou first. We can wait for my brother De’s convoy at the border, alright?”
“That would be best!” Cao Ren agreed and was about to take Cao Song away.
But at this moment…
Suddenly, fire erupted from all sides near the large tent at the foot of the mountain. Countless fire arrows were shot from all directions. In an instant… more than ten servants of the Cao manor were struck by arrows and died…
“Assassins…”
General Zhang Kai of Xuzhou shouted loudly, then drew his saber and pierced the abdomen of the Cao manor’s steward with a single stroke!
The steward’s eyes were wide open, unable to rest even in death.
Why was General Zhang Kai shouting about assassins, yet striking him? Why, just a moment ago, was he a chatting brother, and now he drew his sharp saber!
Thud… thud…
Countless servants and family members of the Cao manor fell in pools of blood. The entire scene was grim and terrifying… as if the mountain valley was playing a funeral dirge leading to hell.
And at this very moment, Cao Song, Cao De… and even Cao Ren were all stunned!
Especially Cao De, looking at the flames all around and listening to the dying cries, his legs went weak, and an unknown liquid instantly soaked his crotch!
Then, with a “pat,” he fell to the ground. Only now did he realize that the prediction of that… young boy, and the command of his elder brother Cao Cao, were not unfounded.
The story of “attracting great disaster” due to “possessing jade invites trouble” was unfolding.
…
…