In Lu Yu's memory…
In his previous life, in 2022, the Year of the Tiger, overnight… the image of the "Leopard King" suddenly went viral online.
This so-called "Leopard King" was the "Leopard Demon" from Journey to the West, who was pinned to the ground and beaten by Sun Wukong!
Of course…
His ultimate fate was to be killed by Zhu Bajie with his nine-toothed rake, having no powerful backer.
The reason for his virality was that the words "Leopard King" sounded like "money explosion" in Chinese, and everyone wanted to get rich in 2022.
With such a beautiful aspiration, they all changed their social media avatars to this "Leopard Demon"!
Their goal… was to get incredibly rich in 2022, just like all you esteemed readers!
Of course…
This beautiful aspiration of "getting rich overnight" had nothing to do with Lu Yu's insistence on keeping Yan Liang's head!
The reason why Lu Yu had repeatedly exhorted them to spare Yan Liang before Zhang Liao and Cao Xiu went on campaign was precisely because… Lu Yu had an enterprise-level understanding of Journey to the West.
Let's think about it, Monkey King is awesome, right?
When you think of Monkey King, don't you always picture epic scenes like "Eat my lao sun's staff!"? On the journey to obtain the scriptures, the demons killed by Sun Wukong could pile up into a small mountain!
But in reality, in the entire Journey to the West, Sun Wukong personally killed only one demon on the journey. Including those killed by Zhu Bajie and the others, the number of demons killed was still very few!
For example… Black Bear Demon, wasn't he let go out of respect for Guanyin?
Golden Horn and Silver Horn, weren't they also let go out of respect for Taishang Laojun?
And the Great Roc, who almost injured Monkey King in front of Tathagata!
Not to mention the Yellow Robe Monster was rescued by an immortal, the Inspiration King was rescued by Guanyin, and the Yellow Wind Monster was rescued by the Bodhisattva Lingji!
All in all… Sun Wukong only killed one demon with his staff – the White Bone Demon.
Then, adding the Leopard Demon, the Jade-faced Fox, the Scorpion Demon, etc., who were killed by Zhu Bajie…
These unfortunate demons shared a common characteristic: they had no background, no team, and no seniority!
In this era, such people would be considered to come from humble origins, with no backing, no status, no family connections… killing ten thousand such individuals would not cause any trouble.
But… Yan Liang was different. His family was a prestigious lineage in Jizhou – the Yan clan!
In Lu Yu's memory…
Ancient texts recorded that after Cao Cao pacified the north, there were frequent rebellions, and these were related to the prominent families of Jizhou!
Considering Yan Liang's special status…
Therefore, Lu Yu decided to be cautious and capture him alive… it was best not to kill him!
As for Wen Chou, that guy… he was originally a mountain bandit and a robber. Such people were similar to the "White Bone Demon" or the "Leopard Demon." Monkey King could kill them with a single blow without any future worries!
—The monkey, suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years, finally understood many principles of how to conduct oneself in society!
Lu Yu, who had an enterprise-level understanding of Journey to the West, naturally also grasped this.
A war might seem brutal, but in reality… whether a defeated general can survive depends more on interpersonal relationships and the influence behind him!
"Mr. Xu is exceptionally wise, but when it comes to principles of conduct, Mr. Xu is far behind…" Thinking of this, Lu Yu said with a smile…
Principles of conduct?
Xu Shu paused slightly and looked at Lu Yu curiously. "I wonder what Mr. Lu means by principles of conduct?"
"Haha…" Lu Yu let out a hearty laugh. "Our Great Han is a society based on human relationships. Before killing someone, we have to see if they have anyone behind them. How much trouble will killing them cause? Keeping them involves weighing the pros and cons!"
Hmm…
Xu Shu still scratched his head, unable to fully understand. He was worst at this matter of conduct.
Lu Yu, however, beckoned.
"Mr. Xu, today… I will explain it to you in detail! Which generals can be killed, and which generals should be kept? This is a profound subject!"
Lu Yu blinked his eyes…
A sharp glint flashed in his pupils. In fact… he was thinking that at the White Horse Fortress, a slaughter might have already begun!
…
…
Along the Yellow River, at the White Horse Fortress!
"Hiss…"
Eight hundred horses neighed to the sky. Guan Yu charged at the forefront, with the rest following closely behind!
"Dada-da…"
The familiar sound of hooves echoed again, as if striking the same beat, producing a sound… like thunder, like lightning, striking fear into the hearts of every enemy!
What does cavalry charge rely on?
It relies on an indomitable spirit and an overwhelming pressure…
These sound easy to say, but to achieve them requires countless hours of training… and the mutual trust and tacit understanding among the soldiers!
At this moment…
A mere eight hundred cavalry, their hooves sounded like several thousand, even… charging back and forth in this enemy formation of tens of thousands, as if in an empty realm!
Just this aura alone was enough to make onlookers gasp in admiration!
"A mere target for slaughter!"
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade descended from above… the momentum, carrying the force of splitting mountains and breaking the earth, roared down, causing the expressions of countless Yuan soldiers to freeze suddenly!
—A mere target for slaughter…
After "Lu Bu" perished at Bai Men Lou, Guan Yu saw everyone as a target for slaughter!
Fortunately, Yan Liang reacted quickly enough…
Upon seeing the enemy's surprise attack, he immediately donned his armor, mounted his horse… as his guards handed him his weapons, Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade was already upon him!
"Clang…"
"Clang clang clang!"
Yan Liang's great saber blocked the edge of Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade!
A brilliantly dazzling spark erupted between heaven and earth!
Guan Yu's strength was immense, but Yan Liang's strength was not small either. This saber strike—the Green Dragon Crescent Blade against Yan Liang's long-handled saber—was a direct confrontation, resulting in an even match.
Hoo…
During the exchange, Yan Liang exhaled a long breath. Only he knew how perilous that saber strike had been!
Just a tiny bit…
It was truly just a tiny bit!
If Guan Yu's horse had been a fraction faster, if his guard had handed him that long-handled saber a moment later, Yan Liang might have already become a soul lost to the blade of this bearded general!
Hmm…
Guan Yu was also a bit surprised. Clearly… Yan Liang was a bit stronger than he had imagined, at least much stronger than Hua Xiong!
But… this was only the first saber strike!
Whoosh…
Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade shifted from a downward chop to a horizontal sweep… with a sideways motion, like a "bear's paw" or a "whirlwind." Guan Yu's first three saber strikes were progressively more powerful, with the second strike being more than double the power of the first!
"A soul lost to the blade!"
Accompanied by a cold utterance… the second saber strike appeared before Yan Liang!
"Hmph, underestimating me!"
At this moment, Yan Liang was not afraid at all. His long-handled saber also swept horizontally, matching the "horizontal sweep" with a "horizontal sweep!"
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade moved from east to west, and the long-handled saber moved from west to east. Even more dazzling sparks collided under the vast sky.
As the sparks died down, Guan Yu and Yan Liang both leaned back, their horses reeling backward under the immense force, respectively.
Guan Yu's horse retreated two steps, while Yan Liang's horse retreated three steps!
Hoo…
The second round of engagement exceeded the expectations of both men!
Guan Yu did not expect that the enemy general Yan Liang under the canopy umbrella was so formidable!
Yan Liang also did not expect that this bearded great man possessed such immense strength!
"Not bad…"
Guan Yu lightly murmured. This time, the edge of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade scraped against the ground… for his third strike, he intended to use the "dragging saber…"
"Giddy up!"
Reining in his warhorse with one hand, Guan Yu's attack continued!
The edge of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade collided with the ground, making a "squealing" sound. Due to its extreme speed, it even ignited sparks on the ground!
The third saber strike…
Guan Yu had unleashed his full power in terms of both strength and speed!
It would not be easy to withstand this saber strike!
A chilling killing intent emanated, and Yan Liang instinctively raised his long-handled saber, deciding to risk it all… what else could he do at this point but fight to the death?
Immediately…
He also went all out, thrusting his long-handled saber forward!
This was a "spear" technique, the "spear thrust" method. Yan Liang's sister had sent him a letter from Tong Yuan containing martial arts techniques, including this "spear thrust" method, which Yan Liang had integrated…
For the third saber strike… he chose to avoid Guan Yu's sharp edge and not engage in a head-on collision…
This was a mutually destructive tactic!
Hoo…
"Foolish!"
Guan Yu was truly resolute. Even facing Yan Liang's suicidal attack, he did not retract his saber… he continued his offense. He had always been a proud person. Was it about speed?
No one in this world was faster with their blade than Guan Yu!
"Bang…"
"Clang clang clang…"
The sound of colliding weapons echoed…
But it was not the sound of Yan Liang's long-handled saber meeting the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, but rather a spear and a halberd respectively rubbing and colliding with these two great sabers!
—"General Guan…"
—"Commander Lu has ordered that Yan Liang… must be taken alive!"
It turned out that Zhang Liao's crescent halberd blocked Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, while Cao Xiu's spear also blocked Yan Liang's attack with his long-handled saber.
"Alive?"
Guan Yu was slightly stunned.
He knew clearly that Yan Liang's martial skills were not weak… capturing such an opponent alive would be much more difficult than killing him!
Similarly, Yan Liang was also stunned…
He felt greatly insulted!
He, Yan Liang, the clan leader of the renowned Yan clan of Hebei, one of the Twin Heroes of Hebei, one of the Four Pillars of Hebei, was today being spoken of as someone to be captured alive? This was an utter disgrace!
"I am Yan Liang, the foremost general of Hebei! Who has such blind audacity to speak of capturing me alive?"
As he spoke… Yan Liang swung his great saber, this time… in his fury, he chopped towards Zhang Liao…
Guan Yu was about to raise his saber…
Zhang Liao waved his hand, signaling… "Yun Chang, your Green Dragon Crescent Blade excels at killing, while my crescent halberd is better suited for capturing!"
Saying this…
Before Guan Yu could swing his saber, Zhang Liao's crescent halberd clashed fiercely with Yan Liang's long-handled saber in mid-air, emitting even more brilliant sparks. And… under everyone's astonished gaze.
The sharp edge of the crescent halberd cleaved downwards…
"Crack…"
Yan Liang's long-handled saber was completely shattered!
"This…"
Yan Liang's eyes widened, and before he could even express his surprise, Zhang Liao's crescent halberd was already at his neck!
In one move, with just one move, Zhang Liao captured the foremost general Yan Liang, right before Guan Yu's astonished eyes!
"Good… good halberd!"
At this moment, even Guan Yu… his eternally stoic face had suddenly changed, his entire cheek turning ashen pale, his expression one of disbelief.
He… he, Guan Yu, who couldn't dismount Yan Liang with three saber strikes… was actually captured by Zhang Liao in one round.
And it was captured in such a manner… with his weapon shattered, leaving him no room to resist!
This…
This…
Guan Yu's eyes widened. He had heard… that the Dragon Riders' forging workshop could forge divine weapons and sharp blades, where the fine steel war halberds could cut iron like mud and break stone and gold. At that time, Guan Yu was merely curious, but now… this was beyond mere curiosity.
Yan Liang, before Zhang Wen Yuan's fine steel forged crescent halberd, had no power to resist!
What… what kind of weapon could increase a person's combat power to such a degree?
Of course…
Guan Yu did not know that Yan Liang, in his rage, was fighting with brute force, while Zhang Liao, possessing this fine steel forged crescent halberd, was least afraid of a test of strength…
Young Master Lu had specifically mentioned… that the effect of force is reciprocal!
Under the action of two immense forces, how could fine iron stand against fine steel? Being shattered into pieces was almost a certainty!
Thinking about it this way, Yan Liang… was indeed very foolish and naive!
"General Yan Liang, my young master is very interested in you. Would you mind taking a trip to the Dragon Riders' camp!"
Zhang Liao's voice transmitted coldly…
Hoo…
Yan Liang looked up, still not understanding what had just happened!
This… this…
Before he could speak.
"Come, bind him!"
The armored soldiers of the Dragon Riders tied Yan Liang up completely.
And Zhang Liao, with a smile, took off Yan Liang's helmet, tied it to his crescent halberd, and then… pushed Yan Liang onto a high spot.
He shouted loudly:
—"The enemy general Yan Liang has been captured!"
—"Those who lay down their weapons will not be killed!"
This caused the Yuan army, already in a state of collapse, to instantly begin laying down their weapons and abandoning resistance. This sentiment quickly spread and expanded…
Apart from the over ten thousand Yuan soldiers who fled in panic upon seeing the unfavorable situation, many Yuan soldiers chose to surrender!
The siege of White Horse… was resolved overnight!
And here…
Guan Yu, Guan Yun Chang, was still shaken. Since witnessing the power of Zhang Liao's fine steel war halberd, his eyes had been fixed on the war halberds of every Dragon Rider soldier…
The pride in his bones was being further ignited!
If… if this divine weapon could truly cut iron like mud? Then… then even the most superb martial arts skills? What… what meaning did they still hold?
"Alas…"
With a long sigh, Guan Yu felt a sense of emotion, both for Cao Cao's good fortune and for the misfortune of the lords of the world!
Only by joining Cao Cao's army could he witness these incredible aspects within Cao Cao's camp and truly appreciate that Cao Cao's growth and expansion over the years were by no means accidental!
…
…
In Xu Du city, a seemingly quite affluent mansion.
"Father… Mother… why have you come?"
A woman with exceptionally fair skin and exquisite beauty widened her eyes instantly… looking at the direction of the mansion gate with immense surprise.
And at this moment, an elderly couple entered the mansion.
"Mei'er, finally… finally, we see you!"
The middle-aged man seemed quite excited.
The middle-aged woman's eyes were filled with tears, and she embraced the fair-skinned woman… hot tears immediately pooling at the corners of both women's eyes…
This fair-skinned, beautiful woman was Liu Bei's primary wife – Lady Gan!
Her given name was Mei…
Legend had it that Lady Gan Mei, from a very young age, was told by a fortune-teller that she would surely have a noble status when she grew up, and that her status could be so noble as to reside in the imperial palace!
Isn't this a "princess"?
Therefore… the entire Gan family placed great hopes on this daughter…
But… time passed.
When Mei Gan was eighteen, she was favored by Liu Bei, who was stationed in Xiapi, and married as his primary wife!
At that time…
Liu Bei once summoned Lady Gan to his inner chamber behind a gauze curtain. Then, looking in from outside the room, Lady Gan appeared like frost and snow illuminated by the bright moonlight!
Later, Liu Bei even pulled a scandalous stunt, holding this flawless Lady Mei Gan in one arm while playing with a three-foot-tall white jade beauty, which was… utterly despicable!
Of course, all this was not important.
What was important was… that the person before Lady Gan was not her biological parents from Xiapi, but who else could it be?
"Father… Mother… you… you…"
Mei Gan saw her parents and was so excited that she didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Alas…" Her father sighed. "Ever since… ever since you married that Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, you haven't had a single good day. Our family has also been living in constant anxiety… What kind of family have you married into!"
It was not surprising that Mei Gan's father spoke like this.
Fathers are often the most doting on their daughters…
Hearing his daughter repeatedly abandoned by Liu Bei, from being captured by Lu Bu to being captured by Cao Cao… Liu Bei fled swiftly, but what about his daughter? Had he ever considered the difficult situation his daughter was in?
Every time he thought of this…
Mei Gan's father was filled with rage!
"Father, let's not talk about that anymore… Are you… are you doing well?"
"Good, good!" Mother said tearfully. "Your damned husband only knew how to flee. If not for… if not for Commander Cao putting aside past grievances and sending people to take good care of us, giving us land, and providing us with food, your father and mother would have starved to death. How could… how could we be here to see you?"
With a runny nose and tears streaming,
Mei Gan's mother tearfully recounted their experiences over the past few years.
"Cough, cough…"
At this moment, a rough cough was heard.
"Thump, thump…"
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a man appeared in the room.
Lady Gan looked towards the sound, and the person who appeared was none other than Cao Cao!
This…
Lady Gan felt an instinctive fear! She subconsciously covered her chest with her hands…
Who would have thought…
Cao Cao stopped his steps three steps away from her. He smiled and recited, "Madam, do not be afraid. I know you are alone and helpless in Xu Du city, and now that Yun Chang is away on campaign, you must be even more fearful and anxious…"
"My heart aches for you, so I inquired about your parents. It turns out they still live in Xiapi city, so I sent people to bring them here… to reunite with you!"
Having said this, Cao Cao smiled again. "Seeing this scene of family reunion, it is not in vain that I, Cao Cao, acted 'unnecessarily.' Alright, Madam, you can reunite with your family. Cao Cao will take his leave now!"
After these words…
Cao Cao politely bowed to Lady Gan in farewell, and then… strode away.
The entire process was that of a courteous gentleman… magnanimous and grand!
And Mei Gan's parents exchanged a glance…
Timely adding a sentence.
"Alas… when it comes to character, when it comes to talent, even a hundred Liu Xuande cannot match one ten-thousandth of Commander Cao!"
"If… if our son-in-law were… were Commander Cao, how wonderful that would be!"
This sentence was spoken with such naturalness…
It made Lady Gan's heart flutter!
But… little did she know!
—Capturing the hearts of married women, Cao Cao is a professional!
As for… capturing Lady Gan's heart, the first and foremost step was to make her let down her guard.
And… Lady Gan's parents were the easiest breakthrough point.
Cao Cao was very professional at this!
Besides, which parents do not want to rely on their daughter to rise to prominence?
Which parents do not want their daughter to escape from hardship!
Once Lady Gan's parents were won over, everything would naturally fall into place!
"Heh heh…"
Leaving the mansion gate, Cao Cao let out a faint smile, his mood exceptionally bright.
You must know…
Not everyone is qualified to be called a "Cao Thief"!
Without the necessary skill, wanting to be a Cao Thief… is still a long way off!
…
…