"My daughter is good, my daughter is good!"
Cao Cao's devilish laughter echoed, shaking the rubble and leaving the guards outside puzzled…
What? What's going on? Has Cao Sikong gone mad again?
Xun You understood Cao Cao's joy the best. Who wouldn't be happy?
This was heaven-sent for Cao Sikong, heaven-sent for Lu Yu!
Ah, no…
Heaven-sent for Cao Yu!
Wasn't this daughter born to Lady Ding the one to smooth the path for the eldest son's promotion?
Now, the eldest son becoming the heir apparent would be a clear path!
"Congratulations, Cao Sikong, on the birth of your precious daughter!"
Xun You cupped his fists in congratulation.
Cao Cao couldn't stop laughing. He reached out and patted Xun You's shoulder. "Gongda, since the Battle of Guandu, today is the happiest I've ever been! Haha…"
The devilish laughter continued.
Xun You chuckled along…
It was Xu Chu, however, whose eyes fixed on a point, paused, and then said, "Cao Sikong? Actually… besides the baby girl, there's also a baby boy!"
Ah…
The laughter abruptly stopped…
In an instant, Cao Cao's expression froze, like a fossil trapped in amber.
Xun You's face also changed drastically. A boy… a boy? What was going on? How could there be another boy? Could it be… twins?
Before Cao Cao and Xun You could react, Xu Chu continued speaking.
"However, this boy belongs to Lady Dingxiang… General Xiahou has a son! Born almost simultaneously with Madam…"
Uh…
Dingxiang? General Xiahou Yuan's wife?
So, it was Ding Xiang, Ding Hui's younger sister, who had given birth.
A deep breath…
Indeed, a deep breath!
Whew… Cao Cao and Xun You let out a sigh of relief. Good heavens, they were startled!
Of course, Ding Xiang giving birth to a son still stirred Cao Cao's emotions, but it was only a stir, not enough to freeze his expression like before.
Ding Xiang was Cao Cao's first love, his dream girl… For so many years, under Cao Cao's witness, she had given birth to sons like Xiahou Heng, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Wei, Xiahou Cheng, and Xiahou Rong!
Counting them, all these years… Ding Xiang was either giving birth or on the way to giving birth! The Xiahou family was truly blessed…
It was just…
This Xu Zhongkang, speaking only half the story, almost scared them to death!
"Cough, cough…"
Cao Cao coughed to mask his embarrassment.
"This is already Ding Xiang's seventh son, isn't it?" Cao Cao sighed.
Actually, including this newborn, it was six…
But in his early years, when chaos struck his hometown, Xiahou Yuan abandoned his young son due to famine, choosing instead to raise the orphaned daughter of his deceased brother. Therefore… Cao Cao knew that Ding Xiang had given birth to seven sons in total!
If one, two, or three were boys, it wouldn't be much…
But every single one was a boy…
It had to be said, Xiahou Yuan's lineage was truly powerful!
"Ha… haha…" Xun You also chuckled awkwardly. "Who would have thought that the Xiahou family, so loyal and righteous, would have all sons? It's truly enviable!"
"Indeed!" Cao Cao nodded. "Myaisai has been by my side since he was young. He even took the blame for me once and went to prison. Maisai and Ding Xiang are a match made in heaven, with prosperous offspring. I am happy for him! Happy!"
Uh…
As these words left his mouth, Xun You didn't think much of it, but Xu Chu found it a little confusing.
Just now, when talking about Cao Sikong's principal wife, it was "daughter is good, daughter is good." But when it came to Xiahou Maisai's wife, it was sons that were enviable.
This… in the end, are boys good, or are girls good?
The pure-hearted Xu Chu naturally didn't understand the relationship between legitimate sons, eldest sons, and heirs apparent… He only felt that Cao Sikong and Military Advisor Xun were a bit "double-standard," truly… old double-standard dogs!
Just then.
"Report, Cao Sikong, urgent report…"
A soldier from the elite guards approached the door and reported.
This voice shattered the profound meaning of the study room!
This elite guard had rushed from the banks of the Yellow River. Just moments ago, he had received two messages from scouts almost simultaneously and had not dared to delay, rushing back immediately. He appeared somewhat breathless.
"Enter… and report," Cao Cao called out.
The elite guard truthfully said, "Two urgent reports. The first is that four hundred thousand Yuan soldiers have reached the outskirts of Liyang City, only to be shot back by Yuan Shao's order. They are now retreating!"
Hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes suddenly widened, a sharp glint flashing. It was as expected, and also double happiness… Haha!
The elite guard's voice continued, "Besides this, an operative has sent an urgent dispatch stating that Yuan Shao's three sons, Yuan Shao, Yuan Tan, and Yuan Xi, have recruited another troop of over two hundred thousand from Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Youzhou respectively! It is heard that this is the last of the northern forces!"
Hmm…
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes narrowed instantly.
He and Yu'er had both predicted that Yuan Shao would not give up easily and would surely make a comeback, but… they came back so quickly!
Slightly surprised, Cao Cao's expression became slightly solemn.
But then, he smiled. Smiling, he turned to look at Xun You.
"Gongda, did you hear that? These two hundred thousand troops are all that Yuan Benchu has left."
"Haha!" Xun You also laughed heartily, but this laughter carried a hint of mockery, a touch of playfulness… "Despite four hundred thousand Yuan troops returning north, Yuan Shao actually met them with arrows! Yet, he exhausted his last reserves to gather two hundred thousand troops. Heh heh, neglecting the root for the branches, seeking the distant and ignoring the near, putting the cart before the horse!"
Xun You shook his head, lamenting repeatedly, truly a pig-like opponent!
"Haha, well said, neglecting the root for the branches, seeking the distant and ignoring the near, putting the cart before the horse!" Cao Cao repeated, then turned around, his eyebrows slightly raised. "This is indeed my good elder brother Yuan Benchu! Haha… However, his nature has been completely grasped by Yu'er."
Speaking of this, his gaze fell upon the map hanging on the study room wall. He drew his sword and traced a line across the border of Hebei, then to the Yellow River, then to Liyang City, then to Baima, then to Yanjin, then to Guandu, and finally… to Pingqiu in the distance!
This place, Pingqiu, was also known as Cangting…
Cao Cao's sword rested on the dot marking Pingqiu. He raised his head, as if seeing the turbulent winds and thunder of this place.
"Yuan Shao has only two paths to march south. Last time, Yuan Benchu pressed down with his army and launched a swift frontal attack on Guandu… This time, he will surely launch a flank attack, using Pingqiu as a springboard to capture Chenliu!"
Hearing this, Xun You nodded.
"My thoughts align with those of Cao Sikong… I surmise that this time Yuan Shao will be slightly 'smarter' and naturally will change a bit. As the saying goes, a good horse doesn't eat from the same grass it has already left!"
Heh heh…
Slightly smarter, a good horse doesn't eat from the same grass it has already left, haha!
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao laughed.
In fact, in his heart, he had compared himself with Yuan Shao countless times.
But no matter when he compared them, Cao Cao's conclusion was always the same:
— In terms of strategy and resourcefulness, three Yuan Benchus combined could not match one Cao Cao!
Similarly…
— Three sons of Yuan Benchu combined could not even match one strand of hair of Cao Cao's son!
Heh heh…
The winds and thunder would converge here, at Pingqiu, at Cangting!
However…
Cao Cao's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Defeating Yuan Shao was easy, but there was a huge prerequisite, and that was…
"Gongda? What do you think are the odds of victory between me and Yuan Benchu in the next battle?"
This…
Xun You's eyes flickered, but soon, his gaze settled, and he truthfully replied, "That depends on whether Cao Gong's grain and provisions are sufficient!"
"What do you mean?" Cao Cao continued to ask.
"If the grain and provisions are sufficient, then Cao Gong will surely win this battle. But if the grain and provisions are insufficient, then… regardless of whether this battle happens or not, Cao Sikong will be defeated!"
Heh…
Well said, "If grain and provisions are sufficient, victory is assured; if insufficient, defeat is inevitable!"
Excellent insight!
Cao Cao nodded with a smile. Xun You had thought of the same thing.
However… Xun You had only seen the first layer and had not seen the most crucial layer.
"Gongda, listen carefully. I, Cao Cao, predict that our army will surely win this battle!"
Cao Cao's tone was exceptionally firm…
"Why?" Xun You asked, slightly surprised.
Cao Cao's sword suddenly drew a line on the map towards Xuzhou. His tone became even more certain and confident.
— "Because the one arranging our grain and provisions is Yu'er! He is the future heir apparent of our Cao Camp!"
— "My Yu'er will not disappoint me, Cao Cao!"
— "Gongda, we only need to focus on preparing for battle… and leave the rest to Yu'er!"
After these words were spoken!
For some reason, Xun You felt his confidence surge!
Confidence overflowed!
It seemed that no matter what, as long as Lu Yu's name was involved, as long as this name of Lu Yu was linked to the eldest son of the Cao Camp, everything would be resolved with ease.
Gu Wu </span>…
…
Xudu City, Baima Marquis's Mansion!
It had been a long time since the plaque of the Situ Mansion was replaced with "Baima Marquis's Mansion."
However, the male master of this Baima Marquis's Mansion—Lu Yu, the Marquis of Baima County—had not yet returned.
For Cai Zhaoji, she would occasionally gaze at the sky through the window, inevitably feeling a bit of petulance towards this younger brother. After so long, did he not even have time to return?
Recently, Cai Zhaoji even heard that her Yu brother had voluntarily requested to go to Xuzhou to procure grain. This ungrateful child, didn't he know to make a detour to see his elder sister?
And see his disciples who had just achieved merit?
"Alas…"
Cai Zhaoji sighed.
As her Yu brother grew older, a feeling of "a sister worrying about her brother traveling far away" would arise in her heart, and this feeling was growing stronger.
Speaking of which, Cai Zhaoji was quite busy managing the Imperial Academy, which allowed her to shift some of her thoughts of her Yu brother, making her less worried.
But Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were miserable…
How long had they been married into the Marquis's Mansion? And they had been left alone for so long.
Empty, lonely, cold…
Especially Xiao Qiao… She kept a large number of "perch" in the pond in the Marquis's Mansion, and every day she would pout and scold these "perch"…
— "Little perch, little perch, you ungrateful things… Don't you know to come back just once? My sister and I are so… so…"
— "Hmph, little perch, little perch, if you're not obedient, I'll stew all of you today! So you'll be upside down!"
Biting her red lips, Xiao Qiao looked exactly like a resentful young woman locked in a cold palace!
As for… what position "upside down" was?
It was meant to be understood, not spoken!
Da Qiao managed the internal affairs of the Baima Marquis's Mansion, sharing some of the burden with Sister Zhaoji. However, recently… a girl from the Xiahou family would often visit, sometimes bringing freshly picked fruits, saying it was thanks… but Da Qiao didn't know what they were thanking her for.
One day, the Imperial Academy was on holiday.
Under the scorching sun, a group of scholars came to visit Cai Zhaoji… When she went out to greet them, Cai Zhaoji realized that the visitor this time was actually the esteemed Zheng Xuan.
No, to be precise, it was the current "Chief Editor" of Xudu City—Zheng Xuan!
The newspaper had long since been published.
The newspaper's development had been quite successful, of course, thanks to Old Master Cao Song's financial support, and not to mention Zheng Xuan's status among scholars, literati, and Confucian scholars throughout the land.
It could be said that branches of the newspaper office had been established in various prefectures and counties of the Central Plains, responsible for printing the newspapers separately.
Of course… the printing scale was not yet large…
From beginning to end, the newspaper issued by the newspaper office was only that one edition, which listed "Ten Crimes of Yuan Shao," "On Four Victories," and "On Ten Victories and Ten Defeats"!
Of course, that newspaper was published very successfully; it had stripped Yuan Shao bare, leaving only the color of his underwear unknown!
It turned out that the Yuan clan, with its four generations of officials, was indeed so outwardly golden and inwardly rotten!
"Chief Cai, I trust you are well…"
Upon seeing Cai Yan, Zheng Xuan appeared very courteous…
It should be known that not many people could make Zheng Xuan courteous; even Cai Yan's father, Cai Yong, was not qualified enough in the past.
Zheng Xuan's attitude towards her was full of—the sister's status is due to her brother's prestige.
"It's Mr. Zheng. If Mr. Zheng wished to see me, you could have simply sent someone to inform me. Why… why come in person? This… this is truly…"
Before Cai Zhaoji could finish speaking.
Zheng Xuan waved his long sleeve. "It's fine. I come to visit Chief Cai, and Chief Cai comes to visit me. In essence, it's the same. Miss Cai manages the Imperial Academy, and I manage the newspaper office. Our goals are the same: to guide the scholars of the world and to let us literati seek welfare for the common people. Why then must we pay attention to these illusory rules and etiquette?"
As expected of a sage!
With one sentence, he almost reached the level of philosophy!
When the height rises, the vision also rises!
"Mr. Zheng's teachings, Cai Yan accepts them! Mr. Zheng's visit to our Baima Marquis's Mansion is an honor!"
Cai Zhaoji waved her sleeve and invited Zheng Xuan and the scholars into the mansion. However… Cai Yan keenly noticed a familiar young man in Zheng Xuan's entourage.
Cao Cao's fourth son—Cao Zhi!
Whew…
Cai Zhaoji noticed him, and he also noticed Cai Zhaoji. The latter slightly bowed, a gesture of a junior to an elder. Cai Zhaoji, amidst her surprise, still smiled calmly and returned the bow with a serene demeanor.
For a moment, she pondered that this visit from the sage Zheng Xuan must be for something important.
…
Several tables, a few bowls of tea.
Everyone knelt on the tatami mats in the main hall of the Baima Marquis's Mansion.
Cai Zhaoji knelt in the main seat, with Zheng Xuan to her left, followed by Cao Zhi. Clearly… Cao Zhi held a high status among these scholars!
Zheng Xuan spoke first…
"A monk at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang once told me a saying: 'One does not visit the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason!'"
"Today, we are here for three matters?"
Three matters?
Cai Zhaoji was stunned. "May I know what three matters Mr. Zheng refers to?"
"First…" Zheng Xuan said directly. "Papermaking, printing, and the newspaper office… They have been promoted for so long, and their immense potential is clearly seen by all scholars and literati! The first matter I am here for is to bring a group of scholars to thank Chief Cai Yan and Chief Lu… no, I should change my address to Marquis Lu!"
Thanks…
For papermaking and printing?
Cai Zhaoji was slightly taken aback. Just as she was about to speak… Zheng Xuan's voice sounded again.
"Second, the first issue of the newspaper, centered around Yuan Shao and the Battle of Guandu, has been distributed throughout the Central Plains. For the second issue… I plan to focus on Lu Yu, presenting his deeds in the newspaper for people across the Great Han's nine provinces to see, to witness such an inspirational and outstanding young man! An outstanding role model! And to give scholars, literati… and the common people a spiritual anchor, a goal in their hearts, a living hope!"
This…
Cai Zhaoji's eyes suddenly widened. No one knew the power of this newspaper better than she did. Once this newspaper detailing her Yu brother's deeds was distributed, her Yu brother would truly become "famous"!
"Extremely famous"…
And… would he be deified?
Cai Zhaoji's brow furrowed slightly.
Zheng Xuan's goal was for the benefit of all people, so of course, he could say and do so, but… as her Yu brother's sister, Cai Zhaoji had to carefully consider the consequences of doing so.
Wouldn't it be… "The tall tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind"?
"Mr. Zheng, regarding this proposal, please allow me to consult with my Yu brother before making a decision?"
Cai Zhaoji said.
"That's fine!" Zheng Xuan nodded, but then added, "I know what Chief Cai is concerned about. But… the common people are already suffering so much in this chaotic world. Since we are making this newspaper and publishing this newspaper, shouldn't we bring them some new hope?"
"Lu Yu's name is hope, it is a beam of light that millions of common people can see and touch in the darkness and confusion…"
The power of a role model is infinite.
Zheng Xuan's consideration was likely from this perspective. It was time to establish a "visible and tangible" role model in this chaotic world, using the power of the role model to guide scholars and Confucian scholars step by step towards realizing their ideals of benefiting the world!
Just as he, Zheng Xuan, had been in seclusion in Donglai for these years… silently cultivating young saplings, with disciples spread far and wide… contributing his part to the world and the changes in this world!
"Mr. Zheng's words, Cai Yan accepts them…" Cai Zhaoji slowly stood up and bowed to Zheng Xuan.
As she bowed, she thought of something else.
"Ah, I forgot. I haven't thanked Mr. Zheng for bestowing a 'courtesy name' upon my Yu brother?"
Cai Zhaoji slowly took out a piece of white paper from her sleeve and unfolded it… It was written with two characters—"Ziyu!"
— Zi, a graceful gentleman, gentle as jade!
— Yu, universe, cosmos!
— Ziyu, a graceful gentleman whose limits are the universe and the cosmos!
"Mr. Zheng, please do not blame us. My Yu brother has never returned since he went to Guandu… His coming-of-age ceremony has been delayed, and the ritual of bestowing a courtesy name has also been postponed."
Cai Zhaoji continued, "But my brother and I specifically discussed it. This 'Ziyu' as a courtesy name, the name is good, and the meaning is also good… it is most suitable. Cai Yan will take this opportunity to thank Mr. Zheng."
Saying this, Cai Zhaoji bowed gracefully again.
Speaking of which…
Regarding the courtesy name "Ziyu" bestowed by Zheng Xuan, Cai Zhaoji dared not make the decision alone. Moreover, such a bestowment could not be done without consulting her Yu brother, so she had to ask her brother, Cao Cao.
Cao Cao pondered for a long time, remained silent for a long time, and finally uttered six or seven "good" sounds.
Clearly, Cao Cao was very satisfied with this name!
Of course, Cai Zhaoji did not know Cao Cao's thoughts…
Cao Ang's courtesy name was Ziyou… "You" means "joy of drinking wine," implying leniency and assistance… Translated, it means a graceful gentleman who can help others and finds joy in helping them.
Cao Pi's courtesy name was Zihuan. "Huan" refers to a wooden pillar standing by the city walls, palaces, official residences, tombs, or post stations.
In names, it also has the meaning of powerful and robust, and talented. Therefore, many people like to choose courtesy names such as "Kai Huan, Ji Huan, Yuan Huan, Chong Huan, Yi Huan, Yi Huan, Cai Huan!"
Of course, while "Huan" is a good character, it is too mediocre…
For Lu Yu… Ah, no, for Cao Yu's courtesy name, Cao Cao was extremely attentive.
The most important thing was that Yu'er was too outstanding, too exceptional. What kind of words could match him?
Yu… universe, cosmos!
This character is good… extremely good!
Cao Yu, courtesy name "Ziyu," a gentleman whose destiny is to soar through the sky, with the universe and cosmos as his limit!
Satisfied, Cao Cao was extremely pleased with these two characters, "Ziyu."
…
…