"Can't you put in a bit more effort? I haven't had my fill yet!"
Dian Wei's shout stunned Cao Ren. Was this guy truly that formidable?
Of course, alongside his astonishment, his fighting spirit was reignited.
His expression became animated. Dian Wei, a single man, was fighting off over a dozen opponents, and seemingly with ease, his face exuding a powerful declaration: "I can take on a hundred!"
Such martial prowess deeply moved Cao Ren.
For a fleeting moment, he felt that Lu Yu's two thousand taels of gold were incredibly well-spent to procure such a "fierce general" from Zhang Miao's camp. It was an unbelievable bargain!
At this instant, Cao Ren felt an inexplicable surge of strength. He raised his long spear once more.
"Hahaha! Yuan Shu only sent a bunch of mere chickens and dogs? They think they can intercept us? Haha... Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!"
This...
Ji Ling frowned. Amateurs watched the spectacle, while insiders understood the details. Once an expert made a move, their skill was immediately apparent.
Didn't everyone have some self-awareness? The strength and martial skill of this dark, burly man were such that even three Ji Lings combined wouldn't be his match.
Clearly, with him present, the mission to intercept Cao Song was impossible.
"Retreat, retreat..." Ji Ling immediately shouted, making a decisive decision to withdraw.
Dian Wei didn't pursue. After Ji Ling fled in disarray, he dismounted, pulled Cao Ren to his feet, and helped Cao Song up.
"My young master said to ensure your safety. Get on the horse... I'll escort you on foot!"
My young master?
Cao Song hadn't quite processed this yet. "The young master mentioned by the warrior is?"
"Oh... my young master's surname is Lu, and his given name is Yu!" Dian Wei introduced himself. When mentioning Lu Yu, his tone shifted from the previous sternness, becoming considerably softer.
"Lu... Lu Yu? Is... is it him?" Cao Song immediately recalled Cao Ren mentioning Lu Yu earlier.
Wasn't he the young man who proposed the concept of "possessing jade brings guilt," accurately predicting this disaster?
Impressive indeed...
"Young Master Lu Yu is... is my benefactor, Cao Song!" Cao Song sighed, silently etching this name into his heart, to be remembered forever.
"Old Master, please mount the horse quickly..." Cao Ren urged, worried about further ambushes. The urgent priority was to return to Yanzhou swiftly; any delay could lead to unforeseen complications. "There's a wine shop about five li ahead. We can purchase two fine horses there..."
Hearing this, Dian Wei nodded respectfully and helped Cao Song onto the horse.
Dian Wei still treated with due courtesy the person Young Master Lu Yu wished to protect.
Thus, under Dian Wei's escort, the group of four proceeded with unburdened confidence along the dark official road...
At this moment, with the rustling of wind and the startled cries of birds, it was the "scoundrels" lurking in the grass who were instead filled with unease.
...
"General Zhang, they... they're getting away. Aren't we going to intercept them?"
From the grass, a black-clad assassin reminded Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao lowered his crescent halberd, let out a sigh, and shook his head. "Even if all of us here were tied together, we wouldn't be a match for this dark, burly man!"
Zhang Liao, with his exceptional eyesight, could generally gauge an opponent's level after a few exchanges.
Although he had trained in martial arts since childhood and had years of experience defending against the Xianbei invaders at Yanmen Pass, he could clearly sense that even if he and the black-clad leader from before were combined, they wouldn't be a match for this burly man. Much less the minor soldiers... they weren't even worth a single punch from him. It was better to avoid humiliation and exposure than to attempt the impossible.
Under these circumstances, intercepting Cao Song was no longer feasible.
"Forget it, let's retreat..." Zhang Liao commanded. "We are not his match..."
Saying this, Zhang Liao sighed again. "General Lu might have found his rival!"
Clearly, Zhang Liao had equated the martial skill of this dark, burly man to that of Lu Bu. The existence of such a formidable figure in Cao's camp seemed like misfortune.
The moonlight dappled through the trees...
The Nanyang army and the Bingzhou Wolf Riders retreated in disarray. Only Dian Wei's group marched on with an unassailable stride, seemingly oblivious to consequences.
However, whether intentionally or not...
News of Cao Song's rescue did not spread. Instead, the message that reached Chenliu Commandery was that Zhang Kai had committed murder and robbery, and the entire Cao family had perished in Langya Commandery.
This news threw Cao's camp into utter chaos!
...
Yanzhou, Chenliu Commandery, Yamen.
Cao Cao bowed his head, silent, his face devoid of any expression. The surrounding generals stood before him, shouting incessantly.
"Please, my Lord, issue an order. With just three thousand elite soldiers, I can flatten Wufeng Mountain within five days."
"I guarantee to capture Zhang Kai alive... and present his head as an offering to the spirit of Old Master Cao!"
"And me... I'll lead the charge!"
Xiahou Dun, Yue Jin, Cao Hong, and others volunteered their services.
Just moments ago, the news of Xuzhou General Zhang Kai intercepting Cao Song's convoy had spread like wildfire. Over a hundred carts of gold, silver, and valuables had been plundered, the entire Cao family had met their demise in Langya, and the culprit, Zhang Kai, was brazenly hiding in Wufeng Mountain!
"Wait a moment, everyone..." At this juncture, Xun Yu spoke up. "Generals, why do you seek to attack Wufeng Mountain? While the murderer of Old Master Cao is indeed the bandit Zhang Kai, who is the true instigator? It is Tao Qian of Xuzhou City."
This was about perspective, about the bigger picture. The hatred was immediately directed towards Tao Qian.
Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and the other military men saw only the immediate hatred. Xun Yu, however, looked further ahead, seeing Xuzhou and the entire realm.
As Xun Yu spoke, everyone paused... Just then, Xun Yu's voice continued.
"My Lord has suffered such a great tragedy and is heartbroken. Could you all withdraw for now and allow my Lord some quiet contemplation!"
Xun Yu, as a separate division commander and a highly valued subordinate of Cao Cao, held a special position within Cao's camp. His words often represented Cao Cao's intentions.
Therefore, upon hearing this, all the generals cupped their hands in salute and withdrew, leaving the yamen to Cao Cao and Xun Yu to discuss how to avenge Old Master Cao.
After everyone had departed...
Xun Yu cupped his hands and approached Cao Cao, lowering his voice deliberately. "Firstly, I mourn with my Lord. Secondly, I offer my congratulations!"
At these words, Cao Cao's bowed head shot up abruptly. "Wenruo, what nonsense are you speaking? My father has just been murdered by Zhang Kai, what reason do I have to rejoice?"
As he spoke, Cao Cao stood up abruptly, slamming his fist onto the desk. The most tragic aspect was not the occurrence of the calamity, but the fact that it had been... it had been foretold by Yu, yet... yet it ultimately could not be prevented.
The sense of "powerlessness" and "frustration" that arose from this was ten times more agonizing than the death of a loved one.
Cao Cao's mood was truly somber.
"Within fortune lies misfortune, and within misfortune lies fortune!" Xun Yu's voice remained low. "Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; great things can be anticipated!"
At these words, Cao Cao's eyes widened.
He was intelligent enough to understand Xun Yu's meaning perfectly. Fortune and misfortune intertwined, great things could be anticipated. The misfortune was naturally the tragic deaths of his father and brother, while the fortune was that he, Cao Cao, finally had the most justifiable excuse to attack Xuzhou!
After all, Yanzhou was currently well-provisioned with troops and provisions. What Cao Cao desired was territory, more territory. Xuzhou was not only a granary but also strategically positioned, bordering Ji, Qing, Yan, Yu, and Yang prefectures. It offered advantages for offense and defense, making it, without exaggeration, a crucial strategic location.
Cao Cao had long coveted it.
His eyes narrowed, Cao Cao looked up at Xun Yu and uttered three words: "Elaborate!"
...
...