Watching Sister Zhao Ji in such a state of worried confusion...
Lu Yu felt inexplicably relieved. There was no one better than a sister in this world!
A certain celebrity once said – when you're out and about, it's brothers who can give you a hand, but it's likely only a sister who can help you a few times.
Celebrities always speak with exceptional wisdom.
Immediately, Lu Yu smiled and replied, "Sister Zhao Ji, there's no need to worry..."
"Dealing with a mere 'Bian Rang' is not something that requires your intervention. If a truly formidable opponent appears next time, then you can help me engage in eloquent debate, and it won't be too late!"
"You, my little brother..." Cai Zhao Ji lightly tapped Lu Yu's forehead with her delicate fingers, her expression immediately softening considerably. "Are you truly not being bullied? Bian Rang's eloquence is no simple matter!"
Uh...
Lu Yu scratched his head. "Sister, I'm actually more concerned about 'Bian Rang's' safety right now? I reckon he's not far from 'liang liang' (coolness, slang for death)..."
Lu Yu preferred using "liang liang" instead of words like "death." Cai Zhao Ji was no stranger to this.
But... her little brother Lu Yu was actually worried about his safety?
She had heard from the Wei household that the two of them were locked in a fierce confrontation in the yamen, neither willing to back down.
"It's good that you're alright. As for whether he's 'liang liang' or not, I don't care at all," Cai Zhao Ji took out a food box from the carriage. "It's been a whole morning, you must be hungry by now. Shall we go back to the mansion to eat, or eat in the carriage?"
Come to think of it, now that Cai Zhao Ji mentioned the food box, Lu Yu was indeed hungry...
Smelling the aroma emanating from the food box, it was most likely Sister Zhao Ji's cooking.
Lu Yu distinctly remembered that when he was younger, Sister Zhao Ji always fed him. Back then, Lu Yu's little hands were always restless, inadvertently brushing against places they shouldn't.
As he grew up, he lost the protection of childhood innocence and also lost many privileges.
*Cough cough...*
What was he thinking...
Lu Yu coughed lightly, "Sister Zhao Ji... how about we still..."
He had intended to say they should go back to the mansion to eat, as eating with his sister was the happiest thing. But... before he could speak.
"Young Master Lu Yu..." Cao Ren walked over gracefully, smiling as he approached. When he reached Lu Yu, he noticed Cai Zhao Ji standing with her back to him...
"Ah, Miss Cai Yan is here as well. It seems... Miss Cai Yan is worried about this younger brother of yours, hahaha..." Cao Ren's words carried a hint of sourness.
Speaking of which, who wouldn't envy having such a sister?
"General Cao, it is you. This humble girl greets General Cao." Cai Zhao Ji bowed gracefully...
Cao Ren was an old acquaintance. Unlike their previous encounter in the military camp, Cai Zhao Ji was much more poised and dignified this time. Was this a case of "a sister's status elevated by her brother's merit"?
"Miss Cai Yan, there's no need for such formality. I just heard that your younger brother made quite a splash in the yamen today!"
Cao Ren's eyes turned towards Lu Yu... "The renowned Bian Rang possesses a mouth that even my elder brother, Cao Cao, finds somewhat daunting. Yet, you, your younger brother, managed to render him utterly speechless. Even without witnessing it firsthand, just hearing about it makes my heart surge with excitement."
It wasn't without reason that Cao Ren spoke this way...
Despite the outward calm between the soldiers of Qiao Pei and the clans and renowned scholars of Yan Province, there was a deep-seated animosity between them.
One was Cao Cao's shadow guard, and the other was a local power player in Yan Province. They were secretly vying against each other!
This time, Lu Yu's words had completely silenced Bian Rang, publicly dealing a heavy blow to these Yan Province clans and scholars.
Behind the scenes, by spearheading the strategy to accept the surrender of the Yellow Turbans, Lu Yu directly propelled Cao Cao's influence to new heights, eliminating the need to consider the opinions of these "pedantic scholars" when making decisions. It was a brilliant two-pronged attack, undeniably impressive and insightful!
Most of the time, he felt as though he was on the first level, able to see the second, while his elder brother Cao Cao and Lu Yu were already at the topmost level.
At this moment, Cao Ren's admiration for Lu Yu was from the bottom of his heart, deep and profound.
He was utterly awestruck.
"General Cao, you haven't come all this way just to praise me, have you?" Lu Yu scratched his head. To be praised by Cao Ren like this made him feel a bit embarrassed.
His skin was still too thin. He needed to practice this more in the future.
"Hahaha... nothing escapes your notice." Cao Ren chuckled. "Elder brother is waiting for you in his study at the yamen. Today's council meeting began with accepting the Yellow Turban surrender. The details of this matter still require meticulous planning, and your presence, Young Master Lu, is indispensable!"
Oh...
Lu Yu suddenly understood. So, Old Cao wanted to see him.
"General Cao, it's been a whole morning, and my younger brother hasn't eaten anything. Perhaps... let him..."
Compared to meeting Cao Cao, Cai Zhao Ji was more concerned about Lu Yu's health. At fifteen, he was in a growth spurt, and he couldn't afford to miss meals.
"Elder brother has thought of that too," Cao Ren waved his hand. "Elder brother has prepared some food in the study. He wouldn't bear to let your brother go hungry!"
Speaking of which, Cao Ren continued with a smile, "Since Miss Cai Yan is here, why not join us? I believe elder brother also has something to say to Miss Cai Yan."
The reason for saying this... Cao Ren had caught wind of some things.
The effectiveness of the guerrilla warfare was outstanding.
The necessity of accepting the Yellow Turban surrender was undeniable.
The secret deployments to counterbalance the Yan Province clans and scholars – the contributions from all these matters, which one did not have Lu Yu's shadow in it? For this, elder brother Cao Cao intended to reward him handsomely.
Of course, with elder brother's methods, rewarding Lu Yu was a standard procedure. However, bypassing Lu Yu and generously bestowing rewards upon his sister, Cai Zhao Ji, would be even more effective and would make Lu Yu feel genuinely grateful.
In terms of clear rewards and punishments, Cao Cao was indeed quite capable in this regard.
"Sister Zhao Ji, why don't we go to the study?" Lu Yu smiled and gently tugged at Cai Zhao Ji's delicate arm.
Cai Zhao Ji nodded, not forgetting to instruct, "Little brother, when you're before Elder Brother Cao, you must behave properly..."
Hahaha...
As these words escaped her, Cao Ren burst into laughter. Behave properly? Was that necessary? Especially with such a heaven-blessed genius, what harm would it do even if he didn't behave properly?
Now, it wasn't just Cao Cao; Cao Ren found that he was also "extremely fond" of this Lu Yu!
...
Chenliu Commandery, Yamen, Study.
"Cultivate agriculture to accumulate military provisions!"
"Well said, 'Cultivate agriculture to accumulate military provisions!'" Cao Cao was still marveling, still savoring Lu Yu's words...
These seven short characters had truly resolved the major problem of accepting the Yellow Turban surrender, and the more he pondered them, the more profound they became.
At the same time, a guard announced... "The two Mr. Xuns have arrived!"
It turned out that Cao Cao had not only sent Cao Ren to invite Lu Yu but had also invited Xun Yu and Xun You, two talented individuals from Yingchuan.
The few puzzle pieces proposed by Lu Yu were about to be assembled...
The Qiao Pei warriors, the Yingchuan talents, the common Yellow Turbans!
Today, he would discuss the current situation and future strategies with Lu Yu and the two Yingchuan talents.
"Wenruo, Gongda..."
Upon seeing Xun Yu and Xun You enter the study, Cao Cao quickly went to greet them. He took Xun Yu's hand and said, "After the surrender of the three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans, our Cao camp is in dire need of a chief strategist who can devise plans within the command tent and achieve victory a thousand miles away. Here... he has arrived!"
Cao Cao's intention was to have Xun Yu serve as the chief strategist. After all, in their past conversations, Cao Cao had likened him to the strategist sage Zhang Liang, making him his counselor was a natural fit!
But...
Just because Cao Cao thought so didn't mean Xun Yu lacked self-awareness.
In an organization, there could be many strategists, but there could only be one chief strategist... or rather, one supreme advisor!
He needed to consolidate opinions from all parties and exchange views with the commander to formulate battle plans, oversee the overall situation, and most importantly, possess exceptional on-the-spot adaptability.
In this regard, let alone Xun Yu himself, even his nephew Xun You, who was ten times more familiar with military tactics, could not fulfill this role!
On-the-spot adaptability was not a trivial matter; one misstep could doom tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of soldiers.
"Lord Cao..."
Xun Yu immediately shook his head. "Yesterday, Young Master Lu Yu also mentioned this position of Cao Cao's chief strategist."
"He saw through it clearly, discerning at a glance that neither Gongda nor I are the most suitable candidates for this 'supreme advisor' role!"
Hoo... Not suitable?
Cao Cao was taken aback. He hadn't expected Xun Yu to decline, and moreover... Yu'er had already foreseen their uncle and nephew's unsuitability?
So... the question arises?
If neither Xun Yu nor Xun You is qualified, who can assume the role of chief strategist in Cao's camp?
...
...