"I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me."
Lu Bu was not Cao Cao, nor was Chen Gong Cao Cao. Admittedly, on the battlefield and in strategy, they were also extremely ruthless characters, but... they would never lay hands on their loved ones.
In their hearts, they still held a bottom line!
Even though Lu Bu's beloved was Diao Chan, he had always maintained his original intention towards his lawfully wedded wife, Lady Yan.
However, in the face of the larger picture... to establish a father-in-law relationship with Cao Bao, the leader of the Danyang faction of Xuzhou, Lady Yan would have to be inconvenienced for some time.
"Then, as you say, sir, I will hide my wife away for a while, and announce to the outside world that she has met with misfortune. Once Xuzhou is taken, I will bring her back." As the words left his mouth, Lu Bu felt a great sense of relief...
"Good!" Chen Gong nodded...
Alas... he let out a long sigh in his heart. At this moment, he actually admired Cao Cao a little. Being a cold-blooded, ruthless villain... was not as easy as he imagined.
Lu Bu winked at the personal guards beside him. They reined their horses around, knowing perfectly well what to do.
Just then...
"Da da da..."
Not far away, sand and stones flew, and dust filled the sky. A troop of cavalry roared towards them, and in the distance, the three leading figures were particularly conspicuous.
Who else could it be but Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei...
And Lu Bu's messenger, Zhang Liao, was among them... With such a grand arrival at the border of Xuzhou, their purpose could only be one – to welcome Lu Bu!
Hoo...
Lu Bu let out a long breath, another sense of relief washed over him. Finally, he wouldn't have to endure the days of eating on the go and living wherever he roamed.
Similarly, he realized that a new battle had begun, and he had to prepare to gallop forward...
Chen Gong grabbed his arm. "Fengxian, remember, you must be extremely respectful to Liu Bei..."
"Understood." Lu Bu agreed, then immediately dismounted and walked to welcome Liu Bei.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei also dismounted. Lu Bu cupped his fists in a bow, "Lu Bu, a defeated general, pays his respects to the Prefect of Xuzhou City, Liu Xuande!"
"Nonsense, Liu Bei has been looking forward to this for a long time, and finally, Fengxian and Gongtai have arrived." Liu Bei returned the bow. "This reunion today is immensely joyous. Quick... quickly, come with me into the city. I will host a welcoming feast for Marquis Wen and Mr. Chen!"
Liu Bei was acting, putting on a show of eager anticipation for talent;
Lu Bu was also acting, putting on a show of sincere surrender with ulterior motives.
Both of their acting skills were exceptionally superb. They were born actors. If they hadn't been born in this era, they would have surely collaborated to write a monumental work – "An Actor's Self-Cultivation"!
...
...
Yan Province, Puyang City.
Tomorrow, Cao Cao planned to lead his army back to Chenliu Commandery.
The longer the drought lasted, the more worried Cao Cao became.
His current concern was only the cultivation of thousands of mu of rice fields. The dry-land rice and paddy rice promoted by Lu Yu... were the last hope for Yan and Xu provinces after the devastation of July!
And the Taishou River was not far from Chenliu Commandery... Cao Cao would not feel at ease unless he personally saw the paddy rice in the ponds and the dry-land rice on the terraced fields.
Hoo...
In the yamen, through the window, Cao Cao quietly gazed at the sky, his eyes instinctively narrowing, as if entering a meditative state in a brand-new domain.
Feeling the "waves after waves" carried by the wind... these days were exciting and passionate, making him, Cao Cao, enjoy them.
"Tap tap tap..."
Footsteps suddenly echoed, and Cao Cao's eyes snapped open.
"Brother, a carrier pigeon from Xuzhou City!" said Xiahou Yuan, who had just received a letter from Xuzhou. "Lu Bu has arrived in Xuzhou City, and Liu Bei has hosted him warmly... Now, with Xuzhou City, Guangling City, and Lu Bu's troops, Liu Bei has no less than thirty thousand armored soldiers under his command, posing a significant threat to the southeast!"
As he spoke, Xiahou Yuan's brows furrowed deeply, seemingly... quite worried about Liu Bei's growing power.
"Haha, Miaocai? What is there to fear?" Cao Cao was unfazed.
"Brother, you cannot underestimate Liu Bei!" Xiahou Yuan reminded him...
Cao Cao waved his hand. "I have never underestimated Liu Bei. In the past few months, we have fought bloody battles in Xuzhou and Yan provinces, spending hundreds of thousands in grain and provisions. Besides that, if it weren't for Lu Yu, if it weren't for Wen Ruo, I don't know what Yan Province would be called now, or if Cao Cao would be alive or dead? With so much effort, we have only managed to capture four commanderies of Xuzhou."
"But Liu Bei, without lifting a finger, came from Pingyuan with only two thousand soldiers. Now, he has transformed into the ruler of two commanderies, with thirty thousand armored soldiers under him, not to mention formidable generals like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Lu Bu, and strategists like Chen Gong! How can I, Cao Cao, dare to underestimate such a person?"
At this point, Cao Cao paused and sighed, "In my opinion, Liu Bei is outwardly honest but inwardly wicked. He appears to be a benevolent gentleman on the surface, but he is truly wise and feigns foolishness, great pretense and apparent loyalty. He is formidable! Not only do I not dare to underestimate him, but he, in his heart, underestimates me! Haha..."
Even though Cao Cao praised Liu Bei so highly, and even pondered being underestimated by him.
In reality, Cao Cao was always smiling, a smile of ridicule and teasing, and more like a smile at Lu Yu's schemes that Liu Bei would ultimately fall into.
"Brother doesn't underestimate Liu Bei, so why does he keep smiling?" Xiahou Yuan couldn't help but ask.
"Miaocai..." Cao Cao raised his hand and scratched his ear, appearing very relaxed. "Lu Gongcao once told me something that I still find immensely delightful and intoxicating to this day!"
...Just one sentence?
Xiahou Yuan became curious. "Brother? What did Lu Gongcao tell you?"
"Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed, walked closer to Xiahou Yuan, and patted his shoulder. "The water in Xuzhou City is very deep. Liu Bei cannot handle it. Haha... Hahahaha!"
"Let's wait and see. Liu Bei and Lu Bu will continue to stir up trouble. Xuzhou City will surely be a place where one mountain cannot hold two tigers. Liu Bei, Lu Bu... haha..."
"One is greedy and brave, the other is hypocritical and arrogant. They will fight sooner or later. With Yuan Shu also involved, the 'two peaches killing three warriors' scenario will unfold! When they are all weakened by mutual conflict, it will be our turn to scoop them all up! Miaocai, remember these words. These were said by Lu Gongcao and me, Cao Cao together! I guarantee they will come true! Hahaha..."
With unrestrained laughter, Cao Cao laughed heartily.
Xiahou Yuan tapped his forehead.
Reminded by Cao Cao, he recalled a point Lu Yu had mentioned during a council meeting a few days ago...
It seemed that if Lu Bu didn't go to Xuzhou City, it would be fine. But if he really did go, it would be like "three women making a scene."
At that time, Xiahou Yuan was completely bewildered. Now, reflecting on it and combining it with Cao Cao's words, it seemed... he could understand some of it.
But there were too many intricacies involved, and his mind couldn't quite grasp it. He was still somewhat confused... Indeed, these mind-bending matters were not suitable for him!
Compared to this, he, Xiahou Yuan, preferred to gallop on the battlefield, catching the enemy off guard with absolute speed.
"What has Lu Gongcao been doing these past few days?"
Mentioning Lu Yu, Cao Cao curiously inquired further... As a father, wasn't he always concerned about his son's activities?
Xiahou Yuan pondered for a moment and replied, "Today, Sima Xun went to find Lu Gongcao. It seems they are going to discuss future strategic directions together."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately nodded. Both Xun Yu and Lu Yu were meticulous individuals. If the new strategic concepts were not yet finalized, they would not share them with Cao Cao. First discussing a general direction... was very much in line with Xun Yu's way of doing things.
Cao Cao was quite pleased. With Xi Zhicai and Xun You for battle deployment and Lu Yu and Xun Yu for overall strategic assessment, Cao Cao felt inexplicably... incredibly secure, despite the apparent dangers surrounding him!
"By the way..." Xiahou Yuan suddenly remembered a few more points. Something about Lu Yu in recent days had struck him as rather peculiar... "Brother... these past few days, Yuan Rang has been going to see Lu Gongcao..."
...Upon hearing this, Cao Cao turned around. Xiahou Dun going to see Lu Yu, wasn't that perfectly normal?
Lu Yu had saved him in Puyang City and designed the capture of Puyang... He had avenged Xiahou Dun's humiliation. Their relationship was good, and they were close... perfectly normal!
Just as he thought of this, Xiahou Yuan's voice echoed again.
"There's nothing wrong with this. It's just... Yuan Rang has changed his address to Lu Gongcao to 'worthy brother'. I specifically asked Yuan Rang's deputy, only then did I learn... Yuan Rang swore brotherhood with Lu Gongcao three days ago, not seeking to be born in the same year, month, and day, but only to die in the same year, month, and day!"
Ah... ah...
As soon as these words were spoken, Cao Cao was completely stunned...
His eyes widened abruptly, and he swallowed with a "gulp"... a mouthful of saliva.
Bitter, such a bitter taste!
"Gulp..." Another gulp, and this mouthful of saliva was even more bitter.
His Yu'er... had sworn brotherhood with his clan brother, Xiahou Dun...
Cao Cao's heart was instantly overrun by ten thousand alpacas. Damn it... He had just pacified the messy matchmaking of Lady Ding, almost letting his son marry his daughter...
And now, again... again... his son had sworn brotherhood with his clan brother!
He couldn't defend himself, he truly couldn't defend himself!
Suddenly, Cao Cao felt utterly weary. Why... why were people always vying for his Yu'er? At this moment, Cao Cao felt he was truly drunk!
...
The moon rose above the eyebrows.
Puyang City, at an inn near the yamen.
A pot of hot tea and two small bowls were placed on the table. Lu Yu and Xun Yu sat on either side of the table.
"Sima Xun, have some tea!"
Lu Yu proactively poured tea for Xun Yu, filling the cup to about half its capacity, then withdrawing the teapot... As the saying goes, a full cup is for respect, while an overfilled cup is for insult.
Xun Yu was not polite. He slowly picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found it slightly bitter, but... it was very refreshing!
Putting down the teacup, Xun Yu spoke, "Lu Gongcao, congratulations, congratulations..."
"What is there to congratulate?" Lu Yu was bewildered by the question.
Xun Yu stroked his beard and spoke, his eyes filled with a hint of envy. "Lu Gongcao, at such a young age, to be able to swear brotherhood with General Xiahou, isn't that worthy of congratulations?"
This...
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu felt a little dizzy. Swearing brotherhood with Xiahou Dun was not much of a problem, but damn it, almost all of Xiahou Dun's centurions and camp generals had come to toast Lu Yu...
Some were former subordinates, some were current ones. Lu Yu felt his liver had been wounded by the drinking. Swearing brotherhood with others might cost money, but swearing brotherhood with Xiahou Dun cost him his life!
Alas... what a predicament!
"Sima Xun is teasing me..." Lu Yu showed a bitter smile, then replied, "I am only sixteen years old, while General Xiahou is over thirty, right? If we were to follow the oath of 'born in the same year, month, and day, die in the same year, month, and day,' then I would probably have to live twenty years less. What is there to congratulate? Haha..."
Saying this, Lu Yu laughed, and Xun Yu also laughed heartily. "Lu Gongcao, don't say that. Do you know... all the officials and soldiers in our Cao camp envy you? What is General Xiahou's relationship with Duke Cao? To be able to swear brotherhood with him is undoubtedly a royal pardon in the Cao camp!"
Heh heh...
Lu Yu just "heh heh"-ed. If it weren't for Xiahou Dun's influence, he wouldn't have sworn brotherhood with Xiahou Dun. Thinking about it now... his liver hurt!
"Sima Xun has come so late at night, most likely not just to envy me, right? Let me guess..."
Having interacted with Xun Yu numerous times, although there was an age difference between them, their conversations had long since become like those between close friends who could talk about anything.
"Does this even need guessing?" Xun Yu retorted. "Isn't it all written on my face?"
His purpose here was naturally to discuss the Cao camp's next strategic plan, and this... seemed self-evident, no need to guess!
Unexpectedly, Lu Yu shook his head. "It's not that... I guess the next strategic plan, Sima Xun, most likely intends to – welcome the Son of Heaven to command the lords, right?"
Because he was conversing with Xun Yu, Lu Yu deliberately changed "hijack the Son of Heaven" to "welcome the Son of Heaven."
Xun Yu was a staunch loyalist of the Han Dynasty. If these words were spoken to Cao Cao privately, it would directly be "hijacking" the Son of Heaven to command the lords!
Just do it!
It was clear that upon hearing these words, Xun Yu's pupils contracted noticeably, and his eyes showed a trace of surprise.
This idea had been in his mind for a long time, and he had repeatedly pondered and brewed it...
But... clearly... clearly he hadn't told anyone else.
"As expected of Lu Gongcao, what I think in my heart cannot escape your eyes!" Xun Yu exclaimed...
Lu Yu waved his hand. "How could I possibly see what Sima Xun is thinking? It's just... as Duke Cao mentioned, we are currently in Yan and Xu provinces, surrounded by enemies on all sides. The only way to break this deadlock is to hold the Son of Heaven in our hands!"
As soon as these words were spoken...
Xun Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed... Lu Yu and he had indeed thought of the same thing.
However, he did not speak, but let Lu Yu continue. He wanted to hear if Lu Yu's judgment... was exactly the same as his own!
If their thoughts were identical, then the feasibility of this strategy would undoubtedly increase significantly.
Lu Yu's voice followed closely.
"Sima Xun, your talent is immense. As for Confucian doctrines like righteousness, the great way, and great virtue, I shall not elaborate. I will only mention one point, and that is the power of the Son of Heaven!"
Mentioning the Son of Heaven, Lu Yu slowly stood up, cleared his throat, and stood with his hands behind his back.
"The Son of Heaven... this is a supreme existence that has ruled China for hundreds of years!"
"Indeed, he is currently held captive by Li Jue and Guo Si, and his actual power is diminishing! But undeniably, his nominal authority still exists. And this nominal authority... is deeply ingrained in the experiential world of the common people, the gentry, and the high-ranking lords."
"To oppose the lords is to contend for supremacy. Victory and defeat are not unusual. But to oppose the Son of Heaven is to be a traitor. The loser will have their family and possessions completely destroyed!"
"Duke Cao's current strength is not weak, but compared to Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and others... it is far from enough. However... if his strength is combined with the sacred value of the Son of Heaven, which has lasted for hundreds of years, and the two complement each other, even if the lords do not approve of this strategy, then... the scions of noble families will find it difficult to defy this virtue, and the common people will easily follow this trend!"
"To put it plainly, if the Son of Heaven is in Duke Cao's hands, with a single call to arms, the surrounding weak forces will surely submit. Even the larger lords will not dare to easily confront him... let alone actively attack. After all, attacking Duke Cao means opposing the Son of Heaven, which will incur the wrath of the entire world and cause internal disintegration and fragmentation! In this way, as long as the Son of Heaven is in our hands, the four-way battleground where Duke Cao is located will ironically be the safest place in this chaotic era!"
At this point, Lu Yu turned to Xun Yu and asked, "Sima Xun? These simple principles, I can see them, and Sima Xun must also see them. The reason Sima Xun has not proposed this to Duke Cao is only because of his worries and concerns..."
Mentioning this most, most, most crucial point, Lu Yu's eyes suddenly gazed towards the west...
The mountains blocked Lu Yu's sight, but they could not block his and Xun Yu's thoughts!
That was...
A ruined ancient capital, Luoyang;
Before the ancient camel bells on the Silk Road, a simple and ancient city, Chang'an...
And the current Son of Heaven was in Chang'an... He longed to return to Luoyang!
...
...