On the official road from Chenliu Commandery to Shou Zhang County.
A cavalry escort of five hundred men protected countless grain carts. Some commoners gazed at the grain on the carts, sighing repeatedly. Where did so much grain come from? Ten carts, twenty carts, fifty carts… this was far too much!
They marveled that this grain was likely enough to keep the people of a county from gnawing on tree bark for a time.
The leader of this grain transport was Cao Xiu, acting on Lu Yu's orders to lead his brothers in delivering grain to Shou Zhang County, where Cheng Yu was stationed.
The purpose, Lu Yu wished to befriend Cheng Yu.
Of course, Cao Xiu was also curious. Who exactly was this Cheng Yu? To make Mister Lu Yu proactively want to befriend him, he must possess something extraordinary!
Speaking of which, transporting grain was a thankless task that soldiers generally disliked.
It wasn't a great accomplishment, and if it caused delays, there was the risk of losing one's head.
But who would have thought that upon hearing it was Lu Yu's order, over a thousand horsemen were eager to go, vying with each other.
Broadly speaking, it was a military order; obeying orders was military discipline.
More personally, Lu Yu ensured they ate their fill, four catties of grain a day. The primordial power within them couldn't be suppressed, their bodies were full of energy, and they felt restless…
If they only trained in the military camp, they felt they were letting Lu Yu down, letting the full meals they ate daily down. Wasn't it natural for them to rush forward and serve their young master!
Gazing at the knights who were brimming with energy, treating grain delivery as if it were a battle, Cao Xiu felt greatly gratified.
Mister Lu Yu was still so brilliant. This order of four catties of grain a day… he realized he was still on the first level, while Mister Lu Yu was on the fifth!
It was only a two-day journey. The grain reached the Shou Zhang County granary. Cao Xiu intended to meet Cheng Yu directly.
However, upon hearing from the quartermaster that the Shou Zhang Magistrate, Cheng Yu, was not at his yamen, Cao Xiu simply ordered his men to stack the grain into the granary… waiting for Cheng Yu's return to give him a surprise.
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At this time, Cheng Yu was in distress. He was in a valley outside Shou Zhang County.
Beside him were his trusted confidants. Before him lay many starved citizens… A nauseating smell faintly wafted through the air.
"Alas…"
With a faint, long sigh, Cheng Yu lamented helplessly.
According to Cheng Yu's plan, he intended to cut open these dead bodies, sun-dry them into jerky, and by means of cannibalism, help Cao Cao overcome the current crisis.
But… as he was about to implement it, Cheng Yu's heart couldn't help but feel a wave of hesitation.
Humanity, if it were to be completely extinguished, would require a period of complex ideological struggle. Cheng Yu was a "wolf-like demon" indeed, but he was also a Confucian scholar. Facing something as against natural law as eating human flesh, his heart was filled with trepidation.
After a long while, he spoke to the confidant beside him.
"Later, divide these corpses into small pieces, sun-dry them, and mix them into ordinary grain. Add a small amount first, and once the soldiers get used to it, gradually add more. This way, it won't be easily detected, and the soldiers won't feel uneasy!"
As Cheng Yu's words left his mouth, the confidant also let out a long sigh.
"Magistrate Cheng, Yan Province is short of grain… even Lord Cao is helpless. Why did Magistrate Cheng volunteer to collect grain? Especially… in this manner."
"Hoo… times of crisis call for extraordinary measures, and extraordinary people must achieve extraordinary feats," Cheng Yu sighed.
He was one of the few in this era who could truly understand Cao Cao.
Recommended by Xun Yu, he met Cao Cao. After a conversation, he understood the ambition of this man before him. He was deeply attracted… He wished to follow Cao Cao's path to realize his ideals and achieve great accomplishments!
And facing the current emptiness of grain, all officials in Yan Province were at a loss. If he didn't step forward to help "that man," who else could?
Even if it were through such a heinous method.
Even if… it meant Cheng Yu's reputation would be ruined.
Looking at the confidant before him, seeing the hesitation flash in his eyes, Cheng Yu patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, the whole of Yan Province knows I am collecting grain. For these past few days, I have filled the granary with straw as a substitute for grain. The soldiers all believe I have truly collected grain and will not suspect this meat jerky!"
"But…" the confidant's brows furrowed deeply. "Paper cannot always hide fire. What if… what if it's discovered? Magistrate Cheng's lifelong reputation would be… would be ruined…"
"Hahahaha…" Hearing this, Cheng Yu flung his sleeves. "If it is discovered, then it depends on Lord Cao. If he needs a scapegoat to quell the soldiers' anger, then push me out. At least it's better than so many people starving to death…"
"As long as we can survive until next year's harvest, it will be worth my head. Haha, I only hope that Lord Cao will take care of my wife and daughters!"
Although he spoke this way, Cheng Yu was too astute. No one understood Cao Cao better than him!
Passing through the famine with dried human flesh sounded terrifying, but in reality, Cao Cao would not only not punish him, but consider it a great achievement. How could Cao Cao, who was bent on great deeds, care about such minor details?
What's more, Xun Yu, who had repeatedly advised him against it, had not sent any more letters of dissuasion in the past few days. It was likely that Xun Yu had also realized the urgency and critical nature of the situation… It was truly a case of "a general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers"!
"Stop dawdling, hurry, hurry, hurry, do what you need to do!" Cheng Yu urged the confidant. The confidant, as if having gone through a final mental struggle, strode towards the pile of corpses.
Just then.
Another confidant ran over hurriedly, his face showing alarm.
"Magistrate Cheng, Lord Cao… Lord Cao has arrived. He arrived in our Shou Zhang County this morning. He… he did not go to the yamen, but instead… went directly to the granary!"
Hoo… the granary?
As these two words escaped his lips, Cheng Yu froze. Why had Cao Cao gone to the granary? That granary was a place he absolutely could not go. Others might not know, but he knew best that it was all straw inside. If there were an inspection of the granary, the entire army would know that Cheng Yu had not collected any grain, and even worse… his plan, all his painstaking efforts, would be in vain, and Yan Province would fall into complete famine!
"Ma… quickly prepare a horse!"
Cheng Yu's brows furrowed. He immediately shouted and spurred his horse towards the granary.
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Yan Province, Shou Zhang County, in front of the granary.
Gazing at the vast grain convoy before him, with countless grains being transported into the granary, Cao Cao couldn't help but stop and exclaim, "Zhongde (Cheng Yu's courtesy name) is truly a talent!"
Cao Cao's heart was filled with immense joy. Cheng Yu had voluntarily offered to collect grain for Yan Province. He heard that the Shou Zhang County granary had been filled in just a few days! Cao Cao felt this matter was somewhat miraculous. To be blunt, he simply didn't believe it and had specifically rushed to Shou Zhang County to see.
He hadn't expected anything upon arrival, but seeing it here, Cao Cao was repeatedly shocked and dumbfounded.
He didn't rush into the granary. Instead, he stayed on the outskirts, just watching cartloads of grain being moved in. Cao Cao mentally calculated that the grain moved in just within this hour was enough for ten thousand men to eat for more than half a month!
Cheng Yu, impressive!
He repeatedly exclaimed in his heart, Cao Cao pondered how Cheng Yu had achieved this.
When it came to collecting grain, Cao Cao himself had aged prematurely and was still at a loss. Yet, Cheng Yu was able to collect it. A talent! Our Cao camp needs such talents!
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