Hiss…
A flicker of doubt crossed Cao Ren’s eyes.
“You’re flipping through ‘The Art of War’ so quickly, can you even understand it?”
His tone was gentle, his gaze lingering, as if anticipating Lu Yu’s answer.
“Of course I can understand it…” Lu Yu chuckled.
‘The Art of War’ in this era might be an obscure military textbook, but for Lu Yu, who had transmigrated from before, he had read ‘The Art of War’ with at least eleven commentators.
The most famous was Cao Cao.
Besides him, there were Li Quan, a general of the Shence Army during the Tang Dynasty, the great poet Du Mu, and his maternal grandfather Du You, and so on… countless others.
Among them, Du Mu even argued with Cao Cao, saying his annotations were inaccurate and misled people!
Having read so many versions of the annotations…
When it came to ‘The Art of War’, Lu Yu could be considered to have an enterprise-level understanding. If it was purely theoretical, no one in this era could match him.
Seeing Lu Yu so full of confidence…
Cao Ren casually pointed to the first passage of ‘The Art of War’ and said loudly, “War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a path to survival or ruin. It must be studied with care. Hence, the art of war embraces five constant factors, to be consulted in their effects, and from which their predictions will be derived. These are: the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline.”
“Can you explain the concepts of the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline mentioned in this passage?”
When Cao Ren first studied ‘The Art of War’, he was stumped by the five dimensions of victory—the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline. It took him three months, and only with his elder brother Cao Cao’s explanation did he vaguely grasp it.
In his opinion, the Lu Yu before him had no good teacher like his elder brother, and he had skimmed through it so quickly, how could he possibly comprehend the principles within!
“Well…” Lu Yu’s eyes twinkled. After a moment of thought, he immediately replied in a clear voice, “The Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline are the five dimensions of victory proposed in ‘The Art of War’.”
“To explain them in detail, we need to illustrate them with actual cases. Have you heard the story of Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times from the battlefield?”
Hmm… retreating three times?
Cao Ren was stunned. It wasn’t that he was shocked by the young man’s quoting of classics, but rather… when his elder brother Cao Cao explained it to him, he seemed to have used the story of Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times!
It had been a long time, and Cao Ren’s memory wasn't very good, so he couldn’t recall it clearly!
In any case, Cao Ren felt a bit more anticipation and curiosity towards Lu Yu.
“Tell me in detail.”
Cao Ren gestured for Lu Yu to continue speaking…
At this moment, Lu Yu’s voice followed.
“First, let’s talk about ‘the Way’. In the story of ‘retreating three times,’ Duke Wen of Jin kept his promise, voluntarily retreated ninety li, and gained the upper hand in righteousness and reputation, earning the support of public opinion from various countries. This is victory from ‘the Way’!”
“As for ‘Heaven’ and ‘Earth,’ Duke Wen of Jin retreated to ‘Chengpu,’ which was close to his own country and far from the enemy’s. Due to the climate and the journey, his country’s supplies were continuous, while the enemy’s supplies were meager. Moreover, the Jin army was more familiar with the terrain here, while the Chu army was less familiar… Therefore, in terms of ‘Heaven’ and ‘Earth,’ Duke Wen of Jin was already in an invincible position!”
“As for the last two, ‘the Commander’ and ‘Discipline,’ the commander dispatched by the State of Chu was incompetent, while the generals under Duke Wen of Jin, such as Xian Zhen, Hu Yan, and Zhao Shuai, were all wise and courageous. The methods of leading troops were clearly different. The Chu army could only advance by formation, while the Jin army often won by surprise… This is the essence of ‘The Art of War’.”
Speaking fluently, with logic and evidence, his words were sonorous.
Lu Yu’s words stunned Cao Ren and his adjutants beside him!
A stunned incomprehension!
The Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline.
Advancing by formation and winning by surprise.
Could a fifteen-year-old youth comprehend this?
Even if he had been reading military books since childhood, his experience would not be enough for him to have such insight!
The most shaken among them was Cao Ren.
It wasn’t that he was shocked by the young man’s comprehensive understanding of ‘The Art of War,’ but rather that his interpretation and the examples he cited felt familiar to Cao Ren, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint whether they were right or wrong.
He definitely heard his elder brother talk about the story of “Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times”…
He also seemed to have some impression of “advancing by formation and winning by surprise.”
However, hearing it spoken so fluently by a teenage boy always felt a bit “unreal”!
This…
“General Cao? Is he correct?”
The adjutants looked at Cao Ren with expectant eyes.
Cao Ren shrugged his shoulders… “I… I don’t know!”
‘The Art of War’… Cao Ren’s studies were superficial; how could he dare to judge Lu Yu’s interpretation!
“This… I’m afraid only my elder brother can judge!”
“Then… should we inform Lord Cao?” a deputy suggested.
A fifteen-year-old who could interpret ‘The Art of War’ had appeared in the Qiao Pei camp.
Cao Cao had issued an order to recruit talent, and here he was, within reach.
This matter was too significant!
“Elder brother is currently campaigning against rebels in the territory of Yan Province and is probably not at the yamen…” Cao Ren frowned.
However, he suddenly thought of something. “You… immediately report to General Xiahou. If Miaocai is here, he will definitely be able to judge accurately!”
Miaocai was Xiahou Yuan’s courtesy name…
When Cao Cao was instructing them on ‘The Art of War,’ Xiahou Yuan was present along with Cao Ren, and Xiahou Yuan had listened more attentively and remembered more clearly.
Cao Ren thought of this and hurriedly ordered, “Miaocai is nearby. You go and invite him immediately…”
…
The sound of horses’ hooves echoed. Before long, Xiahou Yuan and his guards rushed over.
“Zixiao? Why did you summon me so urgently?”
“Don’t say anything more…” Cao Ren pulled Xiahou Yuan over and eagerly asked, “Quickly explain, how should we understand the five dimensions of victory, ‘the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline,’ that elder brother mentioned when he taught us ‘The Art of War’ back then?”
‘The Art of War’?
Hearing this, Xiahou Yuan was stunned at first.
However, when he heard “the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline,” Xiahou Yuan immediately recalled the content, especially the five dimensions of victory, which left a deep impression!
Seeing Xiahou Yuan still in a daze… Cao Ren urged him on.
“Miaocai, don’t stall, speak quickly!”
“Zixiao, have you forgotten so quickly? The story of ‘Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times,’ which elder brother specifically cited as an example when explaining ‘The Art of War’?”
Uh…
As soon as these words were spoken.
Cao Ren didn't react much, but the faces of his adjutants all stiffened.
Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times… Wasn’t that exactly what the fifteen-year-old Lu Yu had just explained?
Before they could recover from their shock, Xiahou Yuan slowly began to speak, and his interpretation of ‘the Way, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and Discipline’ in ‘The Art of War’ was exactly the same as Lu Yu’s.
Even more so… Xiahou Yuan’s explanation was more general, while Lu Yu’s interpretation was more detailed and comprehensive!
Uh…
This…
They had no idea that Lu Yu’s interpretation was based on later interpretations, and Cao Cao’s annotations of ‘The Art of War’.
For a moment…
Cao Ren and the adjutants fell into a brief astonishment.
It seemed that this young man was not reading a heavenly book; he could truly understand ‘The Art of War’. If that was the case… then his skimming of other military books was probably also…
Thinking of this, Cao Ren’s lips curved slightly.
He found him, he found him…
The intelligent, gifted young man that elder brother was looking for, the talented reserve for the Cao camp’s strategy, wasn't this him?
Moreover, this young man… didn’t need to be painstakingly cultivated; he could be used immediately!
Wait…
Cao Ren suddenly thought of something.
Didn’t this Lu Yu seem to be Cai Zhaoji’s brother?
His surname is Lu… so he wasn’t her biological brother!
Then the question arises, this fifteen-year-old young man? Who exactly is he? And who are his parents?
…
…