“Lord Lu, stop playing coy. The Son of Heaven and Yang Feng may not, but I, Cao Cao, do. Yuan Shao’s is even longer, haha… If you don’t speak soon, I might start thinking the wrong thing.”
Laughing, Cao Cao continued to question Lu Yu…
He was certain it wasn’t what he was thinking. Did he consider himself beyond reach?
How could he possibly lose to Yuan Shao?
“Lord Cao, it’s not what you’re thinking. Actually… it’s about territory!” Seemingly sensing Cao Cao’s misinterpretation, Lu Yu explained with a smile, “The Son of Heaven and Yang Feng have no territory. Luoyang City, strictly speaking, is a ruin, so it can’t be considered territory.”
“But you, Lord Cao, possess the eight commanderies of Yan Province and the six commanderies of Xu Province. Yuan Shao, moreover, controls the three provinces of Qing, Ji, and Bing, making his territory even larger. If we’re talking about length, his is naturally the longest… However, he’s likely beyond reach this time.”
Oh… so it was about territory?
Haha… Cao Cao laughed.
Indeed, he had thought correctly. During his time at the Imperial Academy, he had compared with Yuan Shao, and his was clearly longer.
As for territory… well, if it was shorter, it was shorter. That wasn’t important.
But… what was the connection between territory and playing with monkeys, ah no… playing with Yang Feng?
Just as this thought arose, Lu Yu’s words continued.
“Lord Cao, consider this: Yang Feng originated from the White Wave Army. I inquired among the Qing Province soldiers!”
“There’s a hierarchy among their Yellow Turban Army. The Yellow Turbans look down on the Black Mountain Army, and the Black Mountain Army looks down on the White Wave Army… For this reason, the Yellow Turban leader Han Xian would not align with Yang Feng!”
“As for the other three warlords, each harbors their own intentions and seeks to gain benefits from the Son of Heaven. Openly and secretly, there will be no shortage of open attacks and hidden ambushes, with inherent friction among them. This can be seen from the slow progress of the Son of Heaven’s return to the east.”
“Their divisions are significant, and conflicts are bound to arise. Each harbors their own schemes. Yang Feng is a special case; he has no familial ties to the Son of Heaven, is a former Liang Province subordinate, and a White Wave leader. Though strong, he is at the bottom of the hierarchy, without allies, and is constantly being ostracized. Yang Feng is actually quite bitter! He needs an external ally! And you, Lord Cao, seem to be precisely the person he can ‘trust’.”
Lu Yu spoke a string of words…
Cao Cao’s eyes widened. While he didn’t know much about Yang Feng, the intelligence reports from his spies seemed to confirm Lu Yu’s words.
He had ample troops, yet was constantly excluded…
This was quite understandable. Because of Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si, the Son of Heaven, the court, and all the noble families looked down upon the Liang Province generals.
Let alone Yang Feng, who was opportunistic, first loyal to the White Wave, then to Dong Zhuo, subsequently to Li Jue, and finally declared loyalty to the Son of Heaven.
His loyalty was as laughable as Lü Bu’s constant changing of adopted fathers!
And considering this, as Lu Yu said, Yang Feng, being ostracized everywhere, was indeed in need of an ally.
Thus… an opportunity presented itself!
You need an ally, Yang Feng, and Cao Cao also needs an ally. However, you need a powerful ally, while Cao Cao needs a stepping stone!
If you have it and I have it, we can be friends!
Thinking of it this way, Cao Cao and Yang Feng were colluding, birds of a feather,呸… should be said they were perfectly matched, a harmonious union!
Hiss…
Thinking this way, Cao Cao’s thoughts seemed to open up at once…
And the most needed breakthrough in this complex situation was suddenly revealed!
Such is the nature of situations. Once a breakthrough is made, subsequent matters become much smoother and easier.
No wonder Yu’er said earlier, “Only by employing vertical and horizontal alliances can the weak defeat the strong.”
This meant he wanted Cao Cao to stir up trouble during the Son of Heaven’s return to the east, and then reap benefits from the chaos.
Heh, it seemed Yu’er was most adept at planning this, and Cao Cao was also very skilled at fishing in troubled waters!
“Lord Lu, you mean I can try to contact Yang Feng first!” Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, his words carrying a tone of meticulous consideration.
“Exactly. Whether what I say is true or false, Lord Cao only needs to send a messenger to contact Yang Feng in advance. As long as Lord Cao lowers his stance, praises Yang Feng highly, promises him the overall control of the court, and vows to be his firm backing, sharing resources and planning great affairs together, Yang Feng will surely be eager to hear it all!”
Speaking of which, Lu Yu smiled slightly. “There’s a saying in the market, though a bit crude, it’s quite fitting for him.”
“What saying?” Cao Cao was curious.
Lu Yu’s lips curved into a smile, and he said, “Put on socks before shoes, be a younger brother before a lord!”
Huo…
At these words, haha… Cao Cao burst into hearty laughter.
Brilliant!
Yu’er’s analogy is brilliant!
What a perfect analogy of putting on socks before shoes, being a younger brother before a lord. To welcome and escort the Son of Heaven, what’s wrong with Cao Cao being a younger brother for now? The time to be a lord will come later!
In this way, as long as he allied with Yang Feng, all the obstacles in the Sili region would be easily overcome to smoothly enter Luoyang…
He could even do so with legitimacy and gain moral support.
With this in mind, Cao Cao was in high spirits, swallowing two dumplings in one gulp. Delicious, truly delicious!
As for after entering Luoyang, the alliance with Yang Feng could be reassessed. If he became disobedient, Cao Cao’s halberds and spears were not for show.
“Hahaha… Lord Lu, you are amazing! Truly amazing!”
Cao Cao couldn’t stop laughing. That was his way; when happy, he would laugh heartily, without any reservation.
Lu Yu also echoed with a smile, “After all, there are no eternal allies in the world, only eternal interests. In the face of interests, why not play with monkeys if we can?”
Cao Cao nodded…
Now that Yang Feng, the strongest of the four forces, was dealt with, what about the other three forces?
Of course, if Cao Cao and Yang Feng joined forces, the other three forces would be insignificant. However, out of caution, Cao Cao dared not be careless. In the current situation, it was best to preserve strength as much as possible. If hard clashes could be avoided, it was best to avoid them.
“Lord Lu, besides Yang Feng, what are your thoughts on the other three forces?”
“Well…” Lu Yu pondered slightly and continued, “If my predictions are correct, it’s one thing if the Son of Heaven doesn’t enter Luoyang. But once he enters Luoyang, the first to clash among the four warlords will surely be Dong Cheng and Han Xian!”
Hmm… this assertion surprised Cao Cao a little.
If uniting with Yang Feng was based on his character and situation, then how could Yu’er analyze that Dong Cheng and Han Xian would clash?
Just as he thought of this, Lu Yu’s voice followed.
“Lord Cao, think about it: what is Han Xian’s background? He is a leader of the Yellow Turban Army, temporarily recruited by the court to escort the Son of Heaven back to Luoyang. What are the Yellow Turbans like? Lord Cao knows best. Under strict military regulations, even Cao Cao’s Qing Province soldiers have lax discipline, often engaging in plundering the populace. Then…”
“Han Xian’s Yellow Turban Army has no restraint of military rules. Upon escorting the Son of Heaven to Luoyang, claiming merit for protecting the emperor, why wouldn’t they act wantonly, disrupt the court, and prey on the common people?”
“But… who is Dong Cheng? He is the current Son of Heaven’s father-in-law, the General of Chariots. It is heard that Consort Dong is quite favored, so he must be dedicated to restoring the Han Dynasty. How could he stand by and watch Han Xian disrupt the imperial court and prey on the populace? Thus, with the intensification of conflict, a clash between them is almost inevitable!”
Huo…
Cao Cao’s eyes widened considerably. He was surprised, not by Dong Cheng and Han Xian clashing, but by Yu’er’s coherent analysis.
He had almost completely grasped the personalities of these warlords!
He had even predicted the actions of their soldiers.
The key was… Yu’er’s words were clear and well-reasoned. No matter how he elaborated, Cao Cao found no fault, making him convinced!
And most importantly…
Cao Cao shrewdly grasped the opportunity within. That’s right… Cao Cao’s western advance to Luoyang, welcoming and escorting the Son of Heaven, was under the banner of restoring the Han Dynasty. Dong Cheng was also restoring the Han Dynasty. On this level, Cao Cao could gain Dong Cheng’s favor and unite with Dong Cheng to directly eliminate Han Xian!
And by doing so, a threat and a hidden danger would be completely removed!
Moreover, for Cao Cao to enter and exit Luoyang with both benevolence and might, he needed a great victory to awe the court and all the warlords, making them realize that Cao Cao was no pushover.
Hahaha…
Perhaps he was once a small rabbit outside Luoyang City, but upon entering Luoyang, he could transform into a fierce tiger!
Although Lu Yu hadn’t spoken, Cao Cao himself had figured this out.
“Hahahaha… Hahahaha!”
Cao Cao’s characteristic laughter echoed again, shaking the roof tiles, causing the tiles in the dining hall not far from the study to tremble slightly.
Cao Hong scratched his head. “What’s wrong with Big Brother? Is he that happy? It’s just eating some dumplings, is it that big a deal…”
His reminder made Xiahou Yuan think of something. “There are two bowls of dumplings left in the pot, but no one is allowed to eat them. Let’s save them for Big Brother or Lord Lu!”
“Hahaha…” Xiahou Dun smiled and patted his cousin. “Second Brother is already full. Saving one bowl for Big Brother is enough. My dear Miaocai, I know you’re still craving them, so I’ll serve you this bowl!”
Heh, being seen through by Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan smiled slightly. Being greedy wasn’t something to be ashamed of!
Besides, these dumplings were truly delicious, he could eat three large bowls!
Outside, as dumplings were being enjoyed heartily, few people noticed that today was the "Frost Descent" solar term mentioned in the *Lüshi Chunqiu*.
As the saying goes, "Cold Dew does not mean cold, but Frost Descent changes the weather…"
Since ancient times, customs during Frost Descent included admiring chrysanthemums, climbing high to gaze into the distance, eating persimmons, and replenishing the body. If conditions allowed, "saltwater in the morning, honeyed soup in the evening" was a secret to good health!
Unfortunately, this "Frost Descent" season was turned into a "Winter Solstice" flavor by these civil and military officials!
…
In the study.
The conversation between Lu Yu and Cao Cao became much more harmonious…
“Lord Cao seems to have figured it out?”
“Dong Cheng and Han Xian can be disregarded!” Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. “Lord Lu, do you believe me when I say I have a hundred ways to kill Han Xian!”
Heh heh…
Lu Yu believed him, and even thought Cao Cao had a thousand ways…
Given Han Xian’s clumsy intelligence, his level was far below Old Cao’s.
Of course, Dong Cheng wasn’t much better!
No matter how friendly Cao Cao appeared with him regarding the welcoming of the Son of Heaven, once they fell out, Old Cao would turn his back and deny them.
“Lord Lu…” Cao Cao took a sip of tea, moistening his throat, and continued, “Now that Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, and Han Xian all have corresponding strategies, it seems… Zhang Yang is missing? When our army employs vertical and horizontal alliances, what should we do if Zhang Yang comes to cause trouble? The spies reported that Zhang Yang has fifty thousand troops!”
Zhang Yang?
To be honest, he was the one Lu Yu considered the least before.
Not that he forgot him, but this fellow… was simply not a threat.
According to historical descriptions of Zhang Yang, his rise to power as a warlord was largely due to luck. In fact… Lu Yu felt he was endowed with some kind of protagonist’s halo of invincibility.
He was once a subordinate of General-in-Chief He Jin, ordered to recruit soldiers in Bing Province, but was captured by the Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu.
Yet, through some miraculous means, he returned with his troops and controlled the strategically vital Henei region.
What dealings he had with the Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, Lu Yu didn't know, but he did know that very early on, before Yuan Shao had even dispatched troops, he had fifty thousand soldiers!
But now, after all these years, he still only had fifty thousand troops. Apart from a single intervention in escorting the Son of Heaven, he had been holed up in Henei for years.
What did this indicate? It indicated that he was timid and fearful, yet ambitious, possessing the desire but not the courage!
If history had followed its original course, he would have been the most likely person to hijack the Son of Heaven from Cao Cao!
Alas… he directly uttered the phrase “Officials from outer regions do not enter the capital,” was enfeoffed as “Grand Marshal,” and immediately withdrew from the center of the power vortex, rolling as far away as possible!
For this reason, Lu Yu had never considered him.
“Lord Cao, actually, this Zhang Yang… Ai ya, how should I put it?” For a moment, Lu Yu didn’t know how to explain.
He was very conflicted.
However… he was also amused. When Zhang Yang was mentioned, Lu Yu couldn’t help but smile, as if wanting to tease him!
History has many such “great figures” who missed their opportunities.
For example, this Zhang Yang. If he hadn’t taken in Lü Bu in the past, Lü Bu would have been long gone. But despite taking him in twice, Lü Bu still slipped away…
Similarly, if he hadn’t allowed Cao Cao to welcome and escort the Son of Heaven, the trajectory of history would have been rewritten.
Of course, these “great figures” were failures, but they were also lovable, because their personality flaws could be infinitely amplified and even exploited by Lu Yu!
Seeing Lu Yu’s expression…
Cao Cao immediately understood most of it. “Lord Lu means this person is not worth worrying about, right?”
“Lord Cao is perceptive.” Lu Yu continued, “According to my understanding of Zhang Yang, this person is timid and fearful, yet ambitious. To deal with him, Lord Cao only needs to welcome the Son of Heaven, then have the Son of Heaven reward his merits, grant him a title and land, and let him roll as far away as possible!”
“If he doesn’t leave, Lord Cao can send someone to tell him that the situation in Luoyang City is very complex, and Zhang Yang cannot grasp it. If Lord Cao had previously defeated Han Xian, then given Zhang Yang’s nature, he would be even less likely to contend with Lord Cao!”
Hearing this, Cao Cao pondered for a moment…
Actually, he also had a general judgment of Zhang Yang, thinking he was merely a defensive ruler like Liu Biao, incapable of causing much trouble. However… hearing Yu’er’s words undoubtedly gave Cao Cao much more confidence.
Cao Cao felt inferior to Yu’er in his insight into human nature and his judgment of the situation.
Not to mention, as the saying goes: The talent of the Hidden Dragon understands the times, and the words of the Hidden Dragon reveal heavenly secrets!
“Haha…”
At this moment, Cao Cao could only laugh heartily. As an old father, what was the greatest joy?
Was it that your son was “outstanding”?
No…
It was that your son was affirmed by the world, universally known as the “Hidden Dragon,” and his words were called “heavenly secrets.” In an instant, Cao Cao showed a fatherly smile.
Of course, Yu’er’s words were still domineering. Four warlords, over a hundred thousand troops, yet in Yu’er’s eyes, they were so insignificant.
“Good, good, good!”
Cao Cao repeatedly uttered the word “good,” feeling immensely gratified.
Speaking of which… it was also quite miraculous.
This bone-chilling weather, this terrifying plague;
The external power struggles of the feudal lords, the covetousness of internal warlords;
And… the previously considered difficulty of marching without a righteous cause, all these constraints on advancing west to Luoyang and welcoming the Son of Heaven, were all resolved by Yu’er today…
How could Cao Cao not be excited, not overjoyed?
“Lord Lu, have some tea to moisten your throat. Your throat must be dry?”
Cao Cao pushed the teacup towards Lu Yu with a smile, full of concern.
He said earnestly, “If this western advance to Luoyang is successful in welcoming the Son of Heaven, Lord Lu, you will be the first to receive merit. At that time, whatever reward or official title you desire, I will beg the Emperor for it on your behalf. Even if you want more troops, as long as I, Cao Cao, have them, I will give them all to you!”
“Also, I have remembered your request for your sister to enter the Imperial Academy. If the Son of Heaven is welcomed, the first decree he issues will certainly be the reconstruction of the Imperial Academy and the re-casting of the Stone Classics!”
He was happy! Yu’er had deployed all the details of the western advance to Luoyang so clearly and transparently. Cao Cao felt as if he had opened his heavenly eyes, as if he was cheating. He was fighting openly!
And with such thorough fighting, Cao Cao felt he was already invincible!
Even, in an instant…
Cao Cao saw the embryonic form of royal hegemony in his eyes, and the ambition to unify the Central Plains, even to unify the northern territories and the entire world.
Floating, Cao Cao felt as if he were floating.
Who knew…
At this moment, a single sentence from Lu Yu sent the previously elated Cao Cao plummeting to the abyss, a deep, pitch-black abyss.
“Lord Cao, you mustn’t get carried away!”
Unlike Cao Cao’s floating demeanor, Lu Yu’s expression was somewhat serious, and his tone was even more meticulous.
“Lord Cao, actually… I have never worried about welcoming the Son of Heaven. Compared to this, if Lord Cao neglects another path, even if the Son of Heaven is welcomed and the court is controlled, the final result could still be ruin and disgrace, death in the capital… or even being treated as the second Dong Zhuo, the second Li Jue, Guo Si! Being attacked by the world!”
Ah…
At these words, Cao Cao was stunned. He instinctively shivered at the back of his head.
Ruin and disgrace?
Death in the capital?
Being attacked by all the feudal lords in the world… this… this… In an instant, because of Lu Yu’s last sentence, Cao Cao broke out in a cold sweat, a sense of dread adding to his demeanor.
…
…