The mention of Yuan Shu and Lü Bu's tumultuous relationship.
It would have to start by analyzing their personalities...
Within Yuan Shu's ranks, Lü Bu was boastful and arrogant, and he had the capital for both "boasting" and "arrogance."
Why?
Because in Lü Bu's eyes, Dong Zhuo had massacred Yuan Shu's entire clan, and Lü Bu had killed Dong Zhuo. This meant... wasn't Lü Bu avenging Yuan Shu? He was Yuan Shu's benefactor!
Yuan Shu, however, did not appreciate it at all. He believed that Lü Bu killing Dong Zhuo was purely due to a momentary lust, and it had nothing to do with avenging Yuan Shu.
He pondered that by taking Lü Bu in and treating him generously, even a dog would understand gratitude.
No matter how one calculated it, Lü Bu was still a fierce general who would undoubtedly be of use in the future struggle for天下 (tianxia - the realm/world)!
Thus...
Yuan Shu treated Lü Bu like a dog, ordering him around;
Lü Bu considered himself Yuan Shu's benefactor, always acting as such, not showing much respect to Yuan Shu, and even failing to restrain his soldiers, leading to military indiscipline and widespread looting in Nanyang.
Yuan Shu, the King of Destruction in Huainan, was naturally displeased. The two sides were at each other's throats, leading to an unpleasant parting.
Neither side gained any glory from this incident, so they tacitly agreed to never speak of it.
If Lu Yu had not brought it up at this moment, no one would have thought... that Yuan Shu and Lü Bu had such grievances and a history.
Of course, it was also fortunate that this story came from Lu Yu's lips, otherwise... relying solely on the words of a mere merchant would lack convincing power.
"Haha... Grand Tutor Lu's certainty suggests it's not baseless!" Cao Cao said with a smile...
Saying this was equivalent to stating that Cao Cao believed him.
Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai nodded slightly...
It didn't matter who Lü Bu pledged allegiance to. If Lü Bu truly joined Yuan Shu, that would be even better!
Considering that the Fangtian Huaji (a halberd) had once beheaded two adoptive fathers, who knew... perhaps in Nanyang, there might be unexpected gains?
But... if he defected to Liu Bei, then...
It might be more troublesome.
"Grand Tutor Lu, what do you think? If Lü Bu and Liu Bei joined forces, what would the situation be like?"
This time, Cao Cao did not ask anyone else but directly questioned Lu Yu...
After all, with the pearls of wisdom preceding it, Lu Yu had previously devised three strategies to secure Xuzhou. Therefore... his understanding of Xuzhou must be far greater than that of others in the yamen, and perhaps he could offer unique insights on this matter!
"This... Lord Cao likely already has the answer. I am shallow in experience; even if I had some insights, how could they compare to Lord Cao's true foresight?"
Lu Yu directly deflected the question back to Cao Cao. He felt that... regarding the matter of Liu Bei and Lü Bu, with Cao Cao's wisdom, he wouldn't fail to grasp it.
Similarly, he had been rather conspicuous enough today. Lu Yu did not wish to continue drawing attention.
In the end, within Cao's camp... he needed to constantly temper himself and consider Cao Cao's suspicions, so as not to make Cao Cao feel that he was too cunning or difficult to control!
"Hahaha."
To his surprise, as soon as Lu Yu spoke, Cao Cao burst into laughter. He immediately retorted, "Grand Tutor Lu? Are you afraid I will be jealous of you?"
Ah... this sudden remark left Lu Yu completely stunned.
Before he could even respond, Cao Cao's voice continued, "Wenruo, Gongda, Zhicai... perhaps you all have similar concerns about Grand Tutor Lu, don't you?"
Another rhetorical question...
This time, it was Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai who were slightly taken aback.
Indeed... examples from past generations showed that as a minister, one could not be too sharp. Lu Yu's deliberate restraint was understandable...
Similarly, among the three of them, who hadn't deliberately tempered their own edges?
"Lord Cao... we..." Xun Yu was about to speak, but Cao Cao interrupted him first.
"In ancient times, lords, overlords, and emperors often grew jealous of talented ministers. However, I, Cao Cao, am telling you today that your worries are unnecessary. I, Cao Cao, will not be jealous of you because I understand your loyalty..."
Speaking to this point, Cao Cao's eyes fell on Lu Yu. "If I were jealous of you, wouldn't I be jealous of myself? Haha... hahahaha..."
His words were full of meaning.
Indeed, what father would be jealous of his son? This solid empire was built for you!
After saying this, Cao Cao raised his hand. "Speak, say whatever you wish. Before me, Cao Cao... you don't need to restrain yourselves. The more illustrious your feathers, the stronger and more formidable my feathers will become, and our Cao army will become even more invincible!"
Whoa...
Cao Cao's impassioned words truly surprised Lu Yu.
He mused that perhaps he was being too cautious.
In fact, within Cao's camp, constantly having to consider things carefully and restrain oneself was exhausting.
Moreover... due to reflex, many unconscious actions overlooked this.
Every night, when Lu Yu reflected on his actions for the day... he would occasionally feel regret, always feeling that some things were done incorrectly, and that perhaps... some actions might make Old Cao overthink things.
This was truly tiring, mentally exhausting.
But in reality, Cao Cao was indeed naturally suspicious, yet he had one great advantage: he trusted those he employed. For example, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, Pang De, and Zhang Liao Zhang Wenyuan...
Given Cao Cao's suspicious nature, how could he entrust them with important responsibilities?
Similarly, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, Pang De, and Zhang Liao did not restrain themselves at every turn; on the contrary, they were sharp and prominent, and Cao Cao had never harbored any doubts about them.
Thinking this way, Lu Yu felt that perhaps he was being too sensitive.
Especially after hearing Cao Cao's words today, Lu Yu felt inexplicably self-reproachful... he had judged Old Cao as too suspicious, when in fact... his suspicion was only directed towards those he did not trust.
With this thought, Lu Yu's lips curved slightly...
Cao Cao keenly noticed this. "Grand Tutor Lu? Why are you smiling?"
Lu Yu cupped his hands. "Lord Cao's words are truly intoxicating!"
"Hahahaha..." Cao Cao laughed, then spread his hands. "Now, can you answer me? If Lü Bu and Liu Bei join forces, what will the situation be like?"
"It will be beneficial to us," Lu Yu replied without hesitation. "If Lü Bu had not gone to Xiapi City, Liu Bei, relying on his charisma and methods, might have been able to stabilize those three factions and maintain the situation for a period. But once Lü Bu arrives, it will be lively..."
Speaking to this point, Lu Yu smiled, a particularly brilliant smile. "Originally, Liu Bei and Yuan Shu were like two tigers fighting. Yuan Shu was stronger, Liu Bei weaker, but it wouldn't be easy for Yuan Shu to swallow Liu Bei. But now? With Lü Bu's entry, it's no longer a fight between two tigers, but three women putting on a show!"
"I imagine that with Liu Bei, Lü Bu, and Yuan Shu—three men with three completely different personalities entangled, each with their own hidden motives and seeking their own advantage... the drama in Xiapi City will be a hundred times more exciting than that of three women!"
Whoa...
Lu Yu's answer made Cao Cao laugh outright.
Three women putting on a show, Liu Bei, Yuan Shu, Lü Bu... three men putting on a show. Interesting, very interesting!
Suddenly, Cao Cao felt that Xiapi City was about to become lively.
Originally, it was a tripartite balance of power between the Danyang faction, the commoner faction, and the scholar faction. Now, with the addition of three more forces...
"Haha."
...Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh out loud, and for a moment, he eagerly anticipated the unfolding stories in Xiapi City.
Of course, Lu Yu, having lived two lives, had undeniable insight into matters like "three women putting on a show."
Often, two girlfriends' conversations would be harmonious.
But once that number reached three or more, the drama of backbiting would be endless. Lu Yu had once seen a dormitory of six girls create seven WeChat groups, with each group gossiping about others... it sounded incredibly stimulating!
And precisely, Liu Bei, Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, plus... the scholar faction, the commoner faction, the Danyang faction... Lu Yu felt that a single Xiapi City could probably accommodate seven "WeChat groups"...
A battle of wits was about to commence!
"Hahaha..."
Not only Cao Cao realized this, but Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai also keenly perceived it...
Lively, indeed, how could it not be exceedingly lively?
In fact... the three of them held an optimistic view of the situation in Xuzhou. Especially Xi Zhicai... given the current overall situation, if he wished, he could devise a hundred strategies to sow discord between Liu Bei, Yuan Shu, and Lü Bu.
Of course, if it were according to Lu Yu's suggestion, there would be no need for provocation at all...
The three of them, or rather... the six of them, were inherently a grand annual drama!
...
With that resolved, this not-so-difficult problem was put aside.
Next came the third issue, which was more crucial than the previous two. If the previous discussions were still focused on solving immediate problems, then this one was about formulating a macro-strategy.
"Everyone, the eight commanderies of Yanzhou and the four commanderies of Xuzhou are now stable. Logically, we should recuperate for a period. However... both Yanzhou and Xuzhou are located in a strategic position of being attacked from all sides!"
"To our north is Yuan Shao of Jizhou. To our west are Li Jue and Guo Si of Guanzhong. To our south are Yuan Shu in the Huaihe region and Liu Biao in the nine prefectures of Jingzhou. To our east are Liu Bei and Lü Bu in Xiapi City... In this situation, our seemingly stable territory could become precarious at any moment. Everyone, what do you think... how should we break this deadlock?"
Cao Cao directly posed the question...
To put it bluntly, where should they strike next?
Cao Cao, well-versed in military strategy, knew that a place attacked from all sides could not be defended. Rather than holding firm, it was better to continue expanding, using offense as defense... And precisely, the choice of the next opponent was extremely important.
Ultimately, Cao Cao now possessed some strength and troops, but... compared to behemoths like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, he was still a step behind.
As the saying goes, "one picks the soft persimmon to crush"? Looking around... it seemed there was no soft persimmon in sight.
This was what troubled and perplexed Cao Cao the most.
Of course...
It wasn't just Cao Cao who was perplexed; this issue puzzled everyone present, including Lu Yu.
Xun Yu's gaze fell upon Lu Yu... their eyes met, and it seemed they exchanged a glance. Then Xun Yu made a gesture, signaling Lu Yu to discuss further after leaving the yamen.
Strictly speaking, Xun Yu had some thoughts. The overall macro-strategy for breaking the deadlock was already taking shape in his mind.
However... its realization depended on certain opportunities, or rather... the cooperation of certain individuals.
This was something he was not confident about!
But "Yinlin" (Hidden Dragon) could reveal heavenly secrets!
Xun Yu didn't need much; he just needed to confirm one matter, which would be enough for him to offer a brilliant strategy for breaking the deadlock in this land besieged from all sides!
Huu...
Seeing that no one responded, Cao Cao sighed softly. Indeed, formulating a grand strategy was related to the future direction of Cao's camp, and it wasn't something that could be decided easily.
Today... Cao Cao had merely brought up the topic. Privately, he would undoubtedly have many detailed discussions with his strategists.
Seeing everyone's solemn expressions, "Haha"... Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh first. "Alright, everyone, think carefully about this topic, and I will discuss it with you in detail in the coming days."
"Yes, sir..." everyone cupped their hands in acknowledgment.
Discussions like this were often the stage for civil officials. While Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Dun were also present, they rarely spoke.
They could handle battles and fighting, but when it came to formulating strategies, undoubtedly... the talents from Yingchuan and Lu Yu were more convincing.
Lu Yu walked out of the yamen.
Xiahou Dun immediately walked up to his side and clapped him heartily on the shoulder.
"You kid, you don't leave your name when you do good deeds?"
Ah... Lu Yu was slightly taken aback. He had initially thought Xiahou Dun would first question him about the broken engagement. Little did he expect that he had overthought it; Xiahou Dun was asking about another matter entirely!
That matter was when Lu Yu, under the pretense of Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun's names, distributed relief funds to the families of Xiahou Dun's deceased soldiers!
Crucially, was this even an issue?
For Lu Yu, who was never short of money, any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem!
"General Xiahou, it wasn't much money... not worth informing you specially about it, lest it seem like I was deliberately seeking credit!"
"Haha..." Xiahou Dun slapped Lu Yu's shoulder heavily again. Lu Yu's shoulder ached so much he almost cursed. "Damn it, my small shoulders can't withstand your soul-crushing blow!"
"Come with me..." Xiahou Dun, without explanation, grabbed Lu Yu and walked out.
Ah... ah...
Lu Yu was startled. A sense of foreboding immediately arose in his mind. He wanted to tell Xiahou Dun... that he had arranged to talk with Commander Xun Sima... so let go of him!
Unfortunately, Xiahou Dun, like an eagle catching a chick, dragged Lu Yu out, giving him no chance to speak.
"Get in the carriage!"
A commanding tone...
"You... what are you doing?" Lu Yu was a bit scared. Xiahou Dun, who had been smiling merrily moments ago, now had a changed expression. Could it be that he was going to settle the score for the broken engagement that Lu Yu had facilitated for Cao Mu?
Lu Yu cried inwardly.
He thought going to the yamen to see Old Cao today was absolutely safe, so he hadn't brought Dian Wei with him. It was over; something big had happened!
"Get in the carriage!" Xiahou Dun, without any explanation, pushed Lu Yu into the carriage as if catching a chick.
Erk... Lu Yu felt like he was being kidnapped.
"Dada-da..."
The sound of horseshoes gradually grew louder, and the carriage moved. Through the window, Lu Yu could still see Xun Yu emerging from the yamen and waving at him. However... the carriage moved very quickly. After turning a corner, Lu Yu could no longer see familiar faces.
And after half an hour, the carriage finally stopped. Xiahou Dun, driving the carriage, pulled Lu Yu out.
This was an open courtyard, and it seemed quite a few people were gathered there, about sixty or seventy... and they all appeared to have some sort of disability!
Lu Yu was utterly bewildered.
What was this all about?
Even if Xiahou Dun wanted to beat him up over the broken engagement, it wasn't necessary... to gather so many people?
His combat power was definitely less than five, he knew that much about himself. So... was it necessary to bring so many people?
Before Lu Yu could speak, Xiahou Dun's words came first, "These are the ones who followed me from Qiao and Pei to defect to Mengde. They are my former comrades, my former brothers, bound by life-and-death friendships!"
Ah... what did that mean?
Lu Yu felt even more disoriented. He had a feeling that Xiahou Dun wasn't very intelligent, but it was difficult to decipher what was going on in his mind.
"General Xiahou... what exactly... do you mean?"
As soon as Lu Yu's voice fell...
Several old soldiers carried a table, and then several other old soldiers placed some dark beef, white horse meat, and burning incense on the table.
This...
A bold thought emerged in Lu Yu's mind. Could it be that Xiahou Dun was going to kill him as a sacrifice?
Just then, a force shoved him abruptly, and Lu Yu knelt on the ground, while Xiahou Dun knelt beside him.
"Please bring forth the Golden Orchid Register!"
Xiahou Dun commanded, and then an old soldier retrieved the Golden Orchid Register and placed it in the center of the table.
In this era, the Golden Orchid Register had only one purpose: to establish brotherhood. Later generations would often use a "statue of Guan Gong" to replace the "Golden Orchid Register"...
However, these seemed unimportant.
At this moment, Xiahou Dun held a stick of incense, bowed after burning it, and then said:
"Xiahou Dun and Lu Yu, although of different surnames, wish to become brothers. From this day forward, we shall unite our hearts to help the distressed and aid the endangered; to report to the state above and bring peace to the common people below. We do not ask to be born in the same year, month, and day, only that we may die in the same year, month, and day. May Heaven and Earth bear witness to our hearts. May those who betray righteousness and forget kindness be struck down by both heaven and man!"
Familiar words... Lu Yu mused, did ancient people all have a set phrase for becoming sworn brothers?
Of course...
As soon as Xiahou Dun uttered these words, Lu Yu completely understood!
He had been forcibly brought here by Xiahou Dun to become sworn brothers.
Damn it... you should have said so earlier!
It truly made Lu Yu break out in a cold sweat. He had thought Xiahou Dun was going to kill him as a sacrifice.
Speaking of which, in the history of the Three Kingdoms period, Lu Yu had only heard of stories in the territory of Eastern Wu... where a large number of women vied for men to marry. He had never heard of someone openly snatching another person to become sworn brothers.
He was enlightened; he was truly enlightened today!
Looking at Xiahou Dun, who was burning incense and praying earnestly beside him, Lu Yu suddenly felt like saying, "It's just becoming sworn brothers, can't you be a bit gentler? I'm still a child!"
...
...
ps:
(If you want to read about the story of many women in Eastern Wu fighting to marry men, I'll add it tomorrow. If you don't want to read it, I won't add it, lest you say I'm padding the word count.)