Caoren grabbed Lu Yu's arm as if he were too excited.
"Kid, come with me to the Chenliu Commandery Yamen, I'll take you to see big brother..."
While the capital of Yan Province was Juancheng, Chenliu Commandery was more important geographically.
Moreover, Cao Song had bought a luxurious mansion in Chenliu Commandery, so Cao Cao's office was located there.
As soon as this was said, all the deputy generals' eyes showed envy.
Everyone knew very well why Cao Ren had come to the Qiaopei Legion.
To select an astute and insightful young man, personally trained by Cao Cao, as a reserve talent for strategy within the Cao camp, perhaps a pillar of the state who could be relied upon in the future!
It could be said that becoming a disciple of Cao Cao was an opportunity for a meteoric rise within the Cao camp.
Now, this opportunity had been given to an ordinary young master, who wouldn't be envious?
It was just...
Lu Yu seemed to show no deference to Cao Ren, "General, please let go. I'm not going! Where my sister is, that's where I'll be! Let alone meeting Duke Cao? I wouldn't go even if I were to meet the Son of Heaven!"
His words were firm.
Before Cao Ren could let go, Lu Yu began to struggle violently. However, how could his thin arms and legs break free from Cao Ren's palm!
Even so, he started to struggle desperately, his entire demeanor showing utter resistance.
"Zixiao? You should let him go first... what he said makes sense," Xiahou Yuan advised repeatedly. "Even if you want to recruit him for big brother, shouldn't you get Miss Cai Yan's consent first?"
Uh...
It seemed to make sense. Cao Ren quickly let go, having been too engrossed in his excitement and forgetting this crucial point.
It was rather inappropriate for a burly man like him to grab a slender young gentleman so forcefully.
"Miaocai is right. I was too abrupt. Kid, I apologize to you. Don't mind it!"
"By the way, where is Miss Cai Yan? Let's go pay our respects to this talented woman first." Cao Ren looked somewhat embarrassed...
"She's in the military camp." Xiahou Yuan beckoned and immediately instructed a deputy general, "You, go quickly and invite Miss Cai Yan. Be polite!"
"Yes..." The two deputy generals took their orders, specifically removing their heavy armor before gracefully heading out.
After giving the instructions, Xiahou Yuan gestured, "Zixiao, why don't you take young master Lu to the main tent to wait for his sister?"
And so, they entered the main tent.
Lu Yu also tidied up the bamboo slips beside him, and under Xiahou Yuan's instruction, someone naturally helped him move them into the main tent.
At this moment...
No one noticed, but Lu Yu's lips curved subtly, as if a faint smile had bloomed.
He murmured in his heart:
"Sister Zhaoji, we are not coming to the Cao camp to live under someone else's roof. Good days are coming!"
...
...
In the military camp.
There was a simple tent in the logistics department!
A woman was inside, cleaning the strings of her zither and countless bamboo slips and ancient books.
The woman was in her prime, her slender waist of a willow's embrace revealing her delicate and fragile form, yet her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, as if she could see through everything.
She was Cai Yan, Cai Zhaoji. Following her younger brother Lu Yu's suggestion, they had traveled to Yan Province three months ago and sought refuge with their brother Cao Cao.
Speaking of which, Cao Cao had treated the siblings well. They had food and a place to live, which was far better than those refugees...
However, the current Cao Cao was facing both internal and external troubles and could barely protect himself, let alone allow his siblings to live a prosperous life.
But it was still good...
It was ultimately better than wandering aimlessly.
"We must conceal Lu Yu's identity as 'Hidden Dragon', otherwise, both my brother and younger brother will become targets..."
"But... if we really conceal it, how can we help big brother? How can we allow my younger brother to live a better life?"
Murmuring, a touch of sadness welled up in Cai Zhaoji's heart.
She was indeed a talented woman of her time, with exceptional achievements in poetry and song, but she was not a woman skilled at handling interpersonal relationships.
But...
"Lu Yu is only fifteen years old. This is the age for growing and developing."
"I must find a way to let him eat more minced meat so that his cheeks won't be sallow... and his bones will be stronger. I wonder if it would be too much to ask big brother for this."
According to Cai Zhaoji's thinking, Cao Cao, facing internal and external troubles, could barely feed himself, so how could he specially prepare minced meat for Lu Yu?
With this thought, Cai Zhaoji looked around at the bamboo slips in the dilapidated tent.
"If there's no other way, I'll have to sell these bamboo slips to buy some meat. No matter what, I can't let Lu Yu's growth be delayed!"
Most of these bamboo slips were Cai Zhaoji's favorite books, and of course, there were also military books that Lu Yu liked.
Cai Zhaoji possessed the ability to remember anything at a glance. Since her younger brother Lu Yu liked to read, she copied all over three thousand volumes of books from her father's study and let her brother study them.
In her opinion, Lu Yu's ability to understand the current situation, devise perfect strategies, and even be praised as "Hidden Dragon" was partly due to these ancient texts and documents.
However, if she truly had to sell them, Cai Zhaoji felt a sense of reluctance.
Those who were devoted to books found it most difficult to part with them!
"Alas..."
With a faint sigh, Cai Zhaoji looked up at the window. "Lu Yu has his own ideas, and his sister cannot influence them, but... as for growing, you must listen to your sister! Even if we have defected to the Cao camp, there are still many places where money is needed!"
Touching the few Wuzhu coins left in her pocket, Cai Zhaoji couldn't help but sigh again.
In times of war... it was not easy for women, especially virtuous ones, to earn money!
Just as she thought this.
"Miss Cai Yan, Miss Cai Yan..."
"Are you here?"
A hurried shout came from outside the rundown tent. It was the voice of a deputy general of the Qiaopei Legion, whom Cai Zhaoji was familiar with.
However... this sudden voice made her a little nervous.
"I... I..."
Before she could speak, two deputy generals had already barged into her tent.
"You... what do you want?" Cai Zhaoji was terrified. After all, this was a military camp. Even with the protection of her brother Cao Cao, who knew... if some scoundrels had ulterior motives.
"Miss Cai Yan, don't be afraid... we've come specifically to invite you! Hurry and come with us to the main tent!"
"The main tent? But... but?"
"No more 'buts'!" The deputy waved his hand. "General Cao Ren and General Xiahou Yuan specifically want to see you..."
Two generals?
Cai Zhaoji became even more frightened!
Speaking of which, in the three months she had been in the Cao camp, she had only met her brother Cao Cao once. Apart from that, the highest-ranking official she had seen was the deputy general before her.
The situation in Yan Province was precarious and life-threatening. Even those close to her brother Cao Cao, who would pay attention to her, the daughter of an old friend?
Summoning her specially? How could that be?
Could it be? Had her younger brother Lu Yu caused trouble?
Caused immense trouble?
Once this thought arose, Cai Zhaoji became flustered. "Okay, okay... I... I'll go with you!"
Agreeing, Cai Zhaoji quickly followed the deputy generals towards the main tent.
...
...