A thousand armored soldiers, all performing a military salute in unison.
What?
Lu Yu was a little bewildered. Cai Zhaoji was even more so. What were they doing? If they weren't in Chenliu Commandery, Cai Zhaoji would have suspected they'd run into a bandit group.
Just then.
A young general stepped forward. "Your subordinate pays his respects to Young Master Lu Yu, and Miss Cai Yan..."
"On Duke Cao's behalf, your subordinate and over a thousand elite cavalry under my command will from this day forth obey the commands of Miss Cai Yan and Young Master Lu Yu, willing to go through fire and water without hesitation."
Was that... Cao Xiu?
Under the moonlight, Lu Yu could clearly see the young general's face. Though they had only met once, Lu Yu recognized him instantly as Cao Xiu.
Unlike last time in the Duke's mansion courtyard, where Cao Xiu was arrogant and ostentatious, practically broadcasting his "unwillingness and reluctance" to guard the mansion…
Why was he so humble and respectful today?
Wait a minute?
What did Cao Xiu just say? Lu Yu suddenly realized – from this day forward, over a thousand elite cavalry would only obey the commands of Sister Zhaoji and him, Lu Yu?
Did… Old Cao just grant him a thousand cavalrymen?
"My heavens…"
Lu Yu couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Old Cao only had a little over three thousand cavalrymen in total, and he was handing over a thousand to him with one gesture? What a generous move!
Instantly, Lu Yu's impression of Cao Cao flipped again. So… Old Cao was preparing a grand gift for him here!
Just as he was thinking this…
Cao Xiu's words continued.
"Duke Cao has ordered that the residence next to the Yamen on Chenliu Commandery's East Street be gifted to Young Master Lu Yu. Servants, maids… Duke Cao had me arrange everything long ago!"
"Furthermore, within the mansion, there are countless amounts of gold and fine silks for Miss Cai Yan and Young Master Lu Yu's daily use!"
Hey! Oh! Wow!
For a fleeting moment, Lu Yu felt like he had been allocated a courtyard house in Beijing's Second Ring Road!
This was the path to prosperity, wealth, and a comfortable life!
…
…
The Chenliu Commandery Yamen. The night was deep, but the main hall was still brightly lit.
Cao Cao was finalizing the details of accepting the surrender of the Yellow Turban Army with Cao Hong and Cao Ren…
Just as Lu Yu had planned, Cao Cao decided to select the strong men among them to form the Qingzhou Army. The Qingzhou Army valued quality over quantity. As for the other surrendered soldiers and their families, they would be arranged to work the fields.
"Brother, just as Young Master Lu Yu mentioned."
Cao Ren spoke carefully. "For years, the land has been ravaged by war. Most of the wastelands in Yanzhou have long since become ownerless. With just a decree, these wastelands can be reclaimed by the government and cultivated."
"As for farming tools and oxen, I have also sent people to investigate. The Yellow Turban Army does indeed possess a large number of farming tools and thousands of oxen. Some of these oxen were seized after they captured government offices, while others belonged to farmers themselves. This way, cultivating the land will truly save a considerable sum of money!"
Cao Ren slowly recounted the intelligence he had gathered…
"Just implement it as Lu Yu said this morning…" Cao Cao ordered after a brief consideration. "Starting tomorrow, these wastelands will be opened up for cultivation and reclaimed by the government. After officially accepting the Yellow Turban Army's surrender, they will be distributed to them in turn, ensuring that those who till the land own it!"
"Also, the grand strategy of 'acting on behalf of the Son of Heaven to order the vassals' is very important. Tomorrow, we will dispatch an envoy to Chang'an to declare our stance to the imperial court. In addition, send another team to escort Bian Rang to Chang'an…"
"Yes…" Cao Ren's eyes darted, and he immediately accepted the order.
He mused that with Bian Rang's sharp tongue, it was likely that as soon as he reached Chang'an, he would be sliced into pieces by the Xiliang army within a few hours!
The strategy for sending an envoy to Chang'an, proposed by Lu Yu, was indeed a case of killing two birds with one stone, achieving two objectives with one action.
After discussing these two matters…
*Yawn…*
Cao Cao let out a heavy yawn. After traveling all the way, and then facing the joint condemnation from the clans and renowned scholars in Chenliu Commandery, he had been working non-stop for a day and was also quite tired.
"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw and rest. We won't have an easy few days ahead of us!"
"Brother, I…" Clearly, Cao Cao wanted to rest, but Cao Hong still had something on his mind.
"Zilian, speak your mind freely." Cao Hong had given his warhorse to Cao Cao during the battle of Xingyang in the past.
With regard to Cao Cao, Cao Hong was the relative he was most grateful to among his cousins.
At this moment, it was evident that Cao Hong's expression was not good, as if someone had touched his money.
"Brother, I think… even though Lu Yu has contributed, he doesn't deserve such a massive reward! A thousand elite cavalry, and… that grand residence next to the Yamen!"
His eyes gleamed when he mentioned the grand residence.
Indeed, the thousand Qiaopei elite cavalry, Brother Cao Cao had unhesitatingly assigned them all to Lu Yu. This point could be set aside for now.
However… the fact that Brother Cao Cao had also bestowed a mansion adjacent to the Chenliu Commandery Yamen upon him was deeply meaningful!
One must know that this was the residence closest to the Yamen, almost separated by a single wall from where Brother Cao Cao worked.
The reason Cao Cao had not demolished it was partly due to his usual frugality and dislike for extravagance, and partly because all his cousins speculated that it was being reserved as a residence for his future eldest son, Cao Ang.
This would allow Cao Cao to guide and teach this legitimate eldest son from close proximity…
But… to their utter surprise, this "number one" mansion in Chenliu Commandery had now been gifted to this young man named Lu Yu.
While he had indeed made significant contributions, this reward, in Cao Hong's opinion, was ultimately too generous.
…
In fact, it was only Cao Hong who noticed these minute details.
This was related to his personality. Although he was wealthy from a young age, rich people were often stingy and calculated every penny… Moreover, he had specifically requested that mansion from Brother Cao Cao before but was refused!
Now it was being given to an "outsider"!
How could he be satisfied?
So that was the reason…
"Haha…"
Cao Cao laughed heartily.
He naturally couldn't reveal Lu Yu's identity to them. After all, Cao Cao had not formally married Lu Yu's mother, and Lu Yu's status was not considered noble.
If it were according to ancestral rules, Yu'er… would not even have the qualification to compete for the position of heir apparent.
However… Lu Yu was too outstanding, and Cao Cao felt too guilty towards him and his mother.
If possible, Cao Cao was willing to help him cultivate a powerful personal force within the Cao camp.
With the support of this force, the moment his identity became clear, he would have the qualification to compete for the heir apparent.
For this true eldest son, Cao Cao was indeed making painstaking efforts…
It's just that the intricate details in this matter couldn't be explained to outsiders.
"Zilian…" Cao Cao patted Cao Hong's shoulder. "Trust your elder brother, and trust this young man named Lu Yu. In the future, he will bring more and greater surprises to me, to you, and to the young men of Qiaopei. Haha, he definitely will!"
With these words, Cao Cao patted Cao Hong's shoulder again and slowly walked out of the main hall.
Facing the cold night wind, Cao Cao shivered. Suddenly, he remembered two things.
First, he had promised to "plant seeds" tonight. It was already so late, should he plant them or not? If he planted them… what if he was too exhausted tomorrow to accept the Yellow Turbans' surrender and had to lean against the wall?
Second, regarding the mansion on Yu'er's side… he had only focused on arranging maids and servants there… and had forgotten to arrange concubine maids.
*Hiss…*
Cao Cao took a deep breath. Yu'er was his true eldest son. If he had descendants, the Cao family could continue for another generation!
This was something Cao Cao valued greatly!
Cao Cao recalled that when he was young… his grandfather Cao Teng told him about his father Cao Song!
The sage, though learned, was completely ignorant of human relations. He had been married for six years before he understood the intimate affairs between men and women!
To put it plainly, his grandfather Cao Teng was in the palace when he was young, and no one had taught him, nor had they paid attention to this adopted son!
Such a tragedy must not be repeated.
"Someone," Cao Cao called out.
"Duke Cao!" Several guards hurried over.
"Tomorrow, go to the East Market and select some young women with attractive appearances to serve as concubine maids."
"Oh…" The guards immediately understood. "Are they to be sent to Young Master Ang?"
Subconsciously, the guards assumed Cao Cao was selecting concubine maids for Cao Ang…
This was common in ancient times. Any young man from a noble family would have two or three concubine maids by the age of fifteen to teach them new techniques.
"No!" Cao Cao waved his hand. "Send them all next door. All these concubine maids are to be handed over to Miss Cai Yan. If Miss Cai Yan is not satisfied, then send them to Ang'er!"
Uh…
The guards were stunned. Next door? Wasn't that the mansion Duke Cao had just bestowed upon Young Master Lu Yu?
Even as concubine maids, they were to be sent to Young Master Lu Yu's residence first?
The key point was… only if they were unsatisfied would they be… sent back to Young Master Cao Ang!
This…
The guards were momentarily bewildered. For a moment, they even doubted whether their Lord Cao Cao was truly the biological father of the eldest son Cao Ang!
Was there such a close paternal relationship?
…
…
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