Seeing Cai Zhaoji bite her lip, Cao Ren mistook it for excessive emotion.
After all, who wouldn't be moved by such a thing?
It should be known that in the Han Dynasty, following the regular procedures, for a young man to stand out and become a local official, the first steps were seeking education, seeking appraisal, filial piety and incorruptibility, and so on.
Besides these, family background and connections were even more indispensable...
For example, in "seeking education," one had to become a disciple of a renowned scholar and receive his recommendation.
In the past, Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei both went to "Gou Shi Mountain" to study under Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi recommended Gongsun Zan, who had no noble background but had a father-in-law who was a prefect, to the imperial court. As for Liu Bei, lacking background and connections, he could only wait and see.
Then there was "seeking appraisal." The most trusted source at the time was the Yue Dan Ping. Regardless of who it was, once appraised, their value would increase a hundredfold, spreading through the populace. The saying, "those praised rise like dragons ascending, those criticized fall into abysses," was precisely this principle.
Those "virtuous talents of noble character" were naturally more easily promoted to official positions through the system of recommendation.
However, in this current chaotic era, the imperial court itself is in peril, how could it have the leisure to promote talent?
Precisely for this reason, approaching Cao Cao, becoming his disciple, and then gradually participating in the major and minor affairs of Yan Province, eventually taking charge independently and being granted an official position, was a dream for many!
Would Cai Zhaoji and Lu Yu refuse?
Obviously not!
The temptation of this "step-by-step ascent to heaven" was undeniably great!
"Miss Cai Yan, Young Master Lu Yu, if there are no issues, then let us depart immediately for the Chenliu Commandery Office!"
As Cao Ren said this, he suddenly remembered something. "Right, Miaocai... do we have any larger carriages here?"
"Miss Cai Yan and Young Master Lu Yu likely cannot ride horses..."
"This..." Xiahou Yuan frowned. "Elder Brother requisitioned all carriages to 'escort military provisions' when he went to fight the Yellow Turbans. Where would we have any carriages in the Qiao Pei military camp?"
During the Yan Province period, Cao Cao was actually quite poor. He didn't have much grain and fodder initially, but to deceive the Yellow Turban rebels and boost morale, he deliberately requisitioned carriages to feign an abundance of provisions... thus amplifying his reputation.
Precisely for this reason, there were truly no carriages in the Qiao Pei military camp.
This...
Cao Ren frowned. Could it be that he would have Lu Yu and Miss Cai walk or ride to Chenliu Commandery?
Lu Yu wouldn't mind the bumpy journey, but could Miss Cai endure it?
"I remember that Lord Wei Hong's estate is nearby. Miaocai, send someone to borrow a carriage from him?"
Wei Hong was the wealthiest man in Chenliu. When Cao Cao raised his army in Chenliu in the past, he had received immense support and help from Wei Hong. Therefore, now that Cao Cao had taken control of Yan Province, Wei Hong also, as hoped, became the foremost merchant in Yan Province, achieving success in both official and commercial circles, holding a very high status.
"I'll send someone right away." Xiahou Yuan nodded and immediately instructed a deputy to go to Wei Hong's estate.
Of course...
Neither Cao Ren nor Xiahou Yuan knew that Wei Hong had once met "Yin Lin."
As a descendant of Marquis Lie Wei Qing, and as a renowned merchant in Chenliu Commandery, two years prior, Wei Hong had intended to purchase a residence in Luoyang and settle in the capital. Coincidentally, he met the "Yin Lin" siblings who were traveling south to find their relatives.
He gifted the siblings a considerable sum for their travels, and Yin Lin's reciprocation was sixteen characters—"Luoyang will be in chaos, merchants will suffer, destitute and penniless, life and death uncertain!"
At that time, Wei Hong was skeptical. Out of his caution as a merchant, he decided to wait.
But not long after, Dong Zhuo confiscated the property of wealthy families in Luoyang and even set fire to the imperial capital, causing widespread devastation and corpses everywhere, leaving the ancient capital in ruins.
Every time Wei Hong recalled this, he felt a pang of lingering fear.
If he had settled in Luoyang at that time, even with ten thousand guan of wealth, wouldn't it all... fall into the hands of villains, with life and death uncertain! Wasn't this proof of Yin Lin's prediction!
Without exaggeration, Yin Lin's mere sixteen characters were a life-saving grace to him, Wei Hong!
Afterward... Wei Hong tried to find news of "Yin Lin" again, attempting to repay his kindness, but... where could he find any news of Yin Lin?
Later, he heard that Cao Cao had been guided by "Yin Lin" to take charge of Yan Province. Wei Hong then spared no expense in his financial support, considering it his fulfillment of "gratitude" to Yin Lin.
Unexpectedly, this action allowed him to ascend into Yan Province's scholar circle, greatly enhancing his reputation.
...
Near the Qiao Pei military camp, at Wei Mansion's estate.
"Borrow a carriage?" Wei Hong stroked his beard, his brows furrowed. "Who is so noble? Requiring General Cao and General Xiahou to prepare a carriage to welcome them?"
"It is Miss Cai Yan and her brother," the deputy reported truthfully. "This younger brother is extraordinary. At fifteen, he is already intimately familiar with and has mastered the 'Art of War.' He has heard that Cai Yong possesses many books in his collection, and he has read as many as are in the collection, and remembered them! He is a strategist that Lord Cao is desperately seeking!"
"What?" Wei Hong was astonished. How could he not believe it?
Since entering the scholar circle, to cultivate an elegant demeanor, he also often read military books. Naturally, he had read the "Art of War." Let alone understanding it...
If no one explained it, he couldn't even read it smoothly, let alone achieve mastery!
How could a fifteen-year-old youth, without battlefield experience or having commanded troops, possibly understand this profound and obscure military strategy?
It sounded somewhat far-fetched!
"General Cao Ren and General Xiahou Yuan might have only a partial understanding of the 'Art of War.' How can they judge that this young man is intimately familiar with it?" Wei Hong waved his hand. "There are many in the marketplace who impersonate 'Yin Lin' to swindle money, but this is the first time someone is impersonating mastery of the 'Art of War' to try and join our Yan Province's high-ranking officials."
Speaking of which, "Come here..." Wei Hong called his servants. "Prepare a carriage. Whether it's true or false, let me verify it!"
Upon saying this, Wei Hong suddenly remembered something. "Right, Xun Wenruo and Xun Gongda, who are visiting today, should also be brought along. From their conversations, they seem to be intimately familiar with military strategy... Before recommending them to Lord Cao, let's ask them to help verify the true caliber of this fifteen-year-old youth."
With that said, servants prepared a carriage and went to invite Xun Yu and Xun You.
It should be mentioned that the uncle and nephew duo, Xun Yu and Xun You, came because of the 'Order for Seeking Talents' issued by Cao Cao. Today, they had specifically visited Wei Hong, the richest man and renowned scholar in Chenliu Commandery, to gather information. Unexpectedly, they were roped into verifying the authenticity of a fifteen-year-old youth's talent!
Xun Yu and Xun You sat in a carriage, conversing about something along the way.
"Uncle," the elder Xun You called Xun Yu, who was several years younger, "Uncle." "Do you think a fifteen-year-old youth can truly grasp the essence of the 'Art of War'? Also... Cai Residence's collection has three thousand volumes. Can he truly remember all these volumes by heart?"
"Gongda, let's not talk about that young man first," Xun Yu narrowed his eyes. "Let me ask you, do you know Cao Cao? Do you know when he completed his commentary on the 'Art of War'? And when did he gain a deeper understanding of this strategy?"
Hiss... this...
Even without knowing Cao Cao's connection to this fifteen-year-old youth.
But Xun You was eager to know!
In this world, the first person to comment on the 'Art of War', what did he experience!
That is to say, how was the Cao Cao they were about to pledge allegiance to forged?
...
...