Few knew that Cao Cao’s name was not always what it is today. Before he turned fifteen, his name was Cao Man, and the characters “Jili” on the jade pendant were his courtesy name…
At that time, because Cao Cao had accidentally killed someone and was implicated in a homicide case, his father Cao Song, who was then the Grand Herald, pulled strings. It was his cousin Xiahou Yuan who took the blame for him.
To ensure everything was foolproof, Cao Song invited Qiao Xuan to rename Cao Cao.
Cao Song’s original intention was that Cao Cao was born in the year of the sheep, and sheep eat grass. For the sake of finding a place to settle, he thought, “Let’s just call him Cao Cao.” Cao, meaning grass, for stability.
His cousin Xiahou Yuan took the blame for him. Xiahou Yuan’s courtesy name was Miao Cai. So, he decided to give Cao Cao the courtesy name “Miao De,” to remember Xiahou Yuan’s kindness.
Who would have thought that Qiao Xuan, upon hearing this, would laugh and say, “Why ‘Cao Cao’? Let’s call him ‘Cao Cao.’ ‘Cao’ means integrity, control, management, and mastery. It also implies worry and toil, and furthermore, it refers to morality and learning!”
However, Cao Cao’s nature was like fierce flames, and his emotions were like steel. To avoid the risk of recklessness and manipulation, and to compensate for the lack of the virtue of moderation in his temperament, he was given the courtesy name “Meng De”!
It could be said that this jade pendant, engraved with the characters “Jili,” which was in Lu Yu’s hand, recorded a youth named “Cao Man, courtesy name Jili,” who, due to killing someone, was bestowed by Qiao Xuan with the name that would last his entire life and even for a thousand years in later generations – “Cao Cao, Cao Meng De!” Big Wind Novel
The birthmark would not lie!
The wooden tag with his birth date and time would not lie!
And… this deeply symbolic jade pendant would certainly not lie…
Now, Lu Yu’s identity was confirmed and undeniable!
…
After a brief moment of silence…
After putting on his clothes, Cao Cao spoke first.
“Your emerald green jade pendant looks priceless. Does it have any special meaning?” Cao Cao asked, knowing the answer.
“This one…” Lu Yu raised the jade pendant. “This jade pendant is probably a keepsake from my mother. Sister Zhao Ji told me that when they found me fifteen years ago, she asked the neighbors and learned that this jade pendant was given to my mother by my father.
“Alas, only this jade pendant remained… Afterward, my father’s whereabouts became unknown, as if he had abandoned his wife and child… He probably didn’t realize that in times of chaos, such an act was no different from killing my mother and me with his own hands. *Hoo*…”
Lu Yu let out a long sigh at this point.
If there was one thing he absolutely wanted to do after transmigrating to this world, it was to find this “scumbag” and make him pay the price, to vent his anger for himself and his mother.
With this thought… Lu Yu’s tone grew more serious.
“Perhaps with this jade pendant, I can find that ‘faithless father.’ Such a person deserves severe punishment!”
When he mentioned the words “faithless father,” Lu Yu’s tone became even colder, which made Cao Cao feel even more uncomfortable.
Guilt. So much guilt!
Of course, Cao Cao was also relieved that he hadn’t impulsively revealed the truth to Lu Yu. Given Lu Yu’s deeply ingrained beliefs, he likely wouldn’t have spared him, this “scumbag.”
To alleviate Lu Yu’s resentment, it had to be done step by step, little by little. It couldn’t be rushed…
“Oh…” Just then, Lu Yu tapped his forehead and said… “Why am I talking about this with Lord Cao… My faithless father is not a good person either, and there was no need to mention him to Lord Cao.”
“I’m also very fortunate that Sister Zhao Ji adopted and raised me from a young age. Those unpleasant things happened fifteen years ago… It’s my fault for being talkative, why did I mention this to Lord Cao!”
He smiled slightly, as if turning the page. Lu Yu’s memories of that past were very hazy, so he wouldn’t mention it, wouldn’t mention it!
However…
His words, especially the eight characters “faithless father” and “severe punishment,” were like knives, slicing into Cao Cao’s heart.
He should indeed be punished severely…
Shall the father’s future kindness and guilt towards you be the means of atonement and punishment, perhaps?
Speaking of which… he, Cao Cao, should indeed be fortunate!
For fifteen years, Cao Cao had been young, impetuous, and reckless in his actions. He had issued the Five-Colored Great Staff and the Ten Crimes Punishment, offending all the landlords and powerful families in Dunqiu County…
One could tell with their toes how difficult life must have been for this mother and son after he left!
Not to mention the Yellow Turban Rebellion that followed. If it weren’t for a fortunate coincidence, where his mentor and the virtuous sister Zhao Ji happened to be in Dunqiu County, how could Cao Cao have preserved this bloodline!
Furthermore, even though he was taken in by the Cai family, without a father or mother all these years, Lu Yu must have had a very difficult life.
Yet, in such adverse circumstances, Lu Yu could still read thousands of scrolls and have military strategies mastered in his heart. Such perseverance, and the exceptional knowledge and character displayed now, made Cao Cao’s heart tremble incessantly.
He cried out in his heart.
“Yu’er, you are Cao Cao’s eldest son!”
“From now on, I will not allow anyone to bully you, and you will no longer have to live a life of wandering, roughing it, and living under others’ roofs!”
“I want you… I want you to be the most honored person in the Cao camp. I will nurture your own wings, and when your wings are full, it will be the day our father and son acknowledge each other, and you will become the Crown Prince!”
Cao Cao was planning a move, a grand strategy to pave the way for his son and have him inherit the kingdom and the overlordship!
Father and son united, their strength would be unbreakable!
*Hoo*…
Another long sigh.
Cao Cao couldn’t help but place his hand on Lu Yu’s shoulder.
“From today onwards, in the Cao camp, you need not hesitate; you can speak freely…”
“Also, as for family… since you are in the Cao camp, then all the soldiers of the Cao camp, including myself, Cao Cao, are your family!”
Affection… Cao Cao’s face was filled with affection.
His eyes were always gazing at Lu Yu.
So much like… so much like!
The more he gazed, the more he realized that Lu Yu resembled his mother greatly – that delicate, lively woman who had haunted Cao Cao’s dreams and for whom he now felt immense guilt.
And… Lu Yu’s eyes, those deep eyes that seemed as calm as lake water but occasionally flashed with brilliant crystal light!
Sharp yet not overbearing… Isn't this exactly like his own eyes?
The more he looked, the more he liked him, and the more he cherished him…
Of course.
In Lu Yu’s eyes, Cao Cao’s demeanor and gaze were very much in line with his historical image: loving his soldiers as his own children.
It was said that Cao Cao looked at every soldier as if they were his own son, which further demonstrated his love for his soldiers!
This was very much like Cao Cao, ordinary and unremarkable…
However, Lu Yu felt a little uncomfortable being stared at.
Had Old Cao gone a bit overboard with his “love for his soldiers like his own children” this time?
If Liu Bei had used such a gaze to invite Zhuge Liang out of seclusion, Lu Yu mused, Zhuge Liang would surely have felt uneasy; that gaze was piercing!
For a moment, Lu Yu was a bit confused.
The atmosphere here was also a little awkward…
Lu Yu took the initiative to speak.
“Lord Cao, your purpose here is probably not to bathe and anoint ourselves together, is it!”
“Lord Cao is likely here to deal with the rebellion of the three hundred thousand Yellow Turban rebels in Yan Province, right?”
Originally, according to Lu Yu’s plan, such words and questions… should have been asked by Cao Cao himself.
This way, Lu Yu’s replies would appear more impressive, profound, and have the feel of the "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" and the "Longzhong Plan"!
But the key was that Old Cao’s gaze was too unnerving; Lu Yu’s little heart could barely stand this “soul-stirring” gaze…
If he couldn’t pretend to be profound, then now… Lu Yu just wished that Old Cao would act normally sooner!
Otherwise, he would truly regret joining Cao…
“Lord Cao? Lord Cao?”
Seeing Cao Cao still lost in thought, Lu Yu spoke to remind him…
Ah…
This time, Cao Cao’s thoughts finally returned from the heavens.
“What were you just saying? Purpose? What purpose?”
Huh!
Lu Yu was a bit bewildered. So indifferent, so unobservant?
Did Old Cao have no interest in quelling the three hundred thousand Yellow Turban rebels?
What was wrong with him?
What was wrong with Old Cao?
Wake up! This is Yan Province, and you are the Governor of Yan Province. If you don’t handle the issue of the three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans properly, you’ll be in trouble!
Old Cao, you need to get excited!
…
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