The moon hung high, a reflection in the water.
After Guan Yu and Zhang Fei departed, Liu Bei was led by Lady Gan into a side chamber.
The room was decorated with exquisite elegance…
“My lord…” Lady Gan’s voice was soft, yet her heart held an unyielding resolve.
“Madam, you have suffered this past year.”
As he spoke, tears welled in Liu Bei’s eyes, a practiced maneuver of his, using tears to capture hearts.
Seeing these tears…
Lady Gan’s disdain, resentment, and contempt for Liu Bei grew even stronger!
She despised this man who only knew how to talk, who abandoned his wife and fled when faced with trouble… No, in Lady Gan’s heart, Liu Bei was not even worthy of being called a man. Was he not a man, lacking responsibility?
Thinking this…
She outwardly appeased Liu Bei. “My husband, you have also suffered this past year…”
With a heart that had drifted away, yet with her refined upbringing…
“Madam…” Liu Bei felt a surge of emotion.
Lady Gan was his principal wife, and the status of a principal wife… could not be compared to that of a concubine. She held weight in Liu Bei’s heart.
With a flick of his long sleeve, Liu Bei extinguished the red candle.
However…
Escaping Liu Bei’s gaze, tears streamed down Lady Gan’s cheeks. She looked at the bright moon outside the window, her mind conjuring the image of that man, the one who was beneath one but above ten thousand… yet always whispered in her ear. She couldn’t help but shudder.
Then, her heart softly murmured, “If love between two people lasts for a long time, what is the difference between day and night!”
The night deepened… and eventually, all was silent, save for the sound of soldiers’ footsteps outside the mountain stronghold and the shouts of the two uncles as they drank heartily.
At this moment…
Lady Gan felt as if she had crossed worlds. She had left a realm of tenderness and entered a land of wolves and tigers… She was undertaking a terrifying mission among tigers and leopards!
If this mission succeeded, not only she… but also the child in her belly would be granted titles of nobility!
…
…
Late night, at the Guandu military camp, the central command tent.
The perimeter was jointly guarded by the Huben Army and the Long Xiao Battalion, standing with imposing solemnity…
Such defenses meant not even a fly could enter.
Within, a map was spread across a desk, the same one Lu Yu had marked numerous times. However… compared to last time, Lu Yu had made many new annotations on the crucial location of “Wuchao.”
Standing on either side of the map were Cao Cao and Lu Yu.
“Since the siege engines destroyed Yuan’s arrow towers last time, the Yuan army retreated ten li and has made no move for over ten days. It is truly bizarre…”
Cao Cao remarked, looking at the map.
Lu Yu nodded. “Indeed, the calm is too uncanny…”
In fact, according to ancient texts and records of the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao’s actions were typically limited to three tactics: the wooden arrow towers, digging tunnels, and intercepting supplies.
But now…
The first tactic had been deployed, and Yuan Shao remained silent!
To prevent Yuan Shao’s tunnel warfare, Lu Yu had already prepared a large number of dogs.
Dogs have extremely high alertness. If there were any movements underground, they would notice.
In addition to this, there were conventional methods mentioned in Mozi – digging deep pits along the walls, placing large jars in the pits, covering the jars with leather, and then having people listen carefully. If the enemy dug tunnels, the sounds would be heard!
Unfortunately…
Yuan Shao was not playing by the rules. He hadn’t employed this tactic!
“Sir Cao, vigilance against tunnels and supply routes must not be relaxed…” Lu Yu’s tone was quite serious.
“Naturally,” Cao Cao’s tone was very gentle. Looking at his son’s pensive expression, he felt a pang of heartache…
Yu’er had been in Guandu for nearly half a year, and his face showed it; he was truly tired, weary from the heart!
“Yu… ah, Minister Lu, where will the turning point appear?”
Cao Cao frowned, looking at the map, his gaze unconsciously stopping at the location of Wuchao.
Yu’er had marked it too many times.
Just then.
“Report…”
A shout, and Xu Chu entered the tent. “Some scouts and outriders request an audience with Minister Lu!”
Hearing this, Cao Cao looked back at Lu Yu.
Lu Yu explained, “These are the scouts I dispatched. Because Yuan’s army has erected so many watchtowers, gathering intelligence has become extremely difficult… but… we need to keep our eyes open from Yanjin to Guandu!”
Upon saying this, Lu Yu respectfully said to Xu Chu, “General Xu, please bring them in.”
A short while later…
A group of scouts, covered in dust, entered.
Lu Yu and Cao Cao sat on wooden stools.
“After ten days of scouting, did you discover anything near Wuchao?”
Lu Yu gestured for the scouts to report.
A scout stepped forward first. “I went over the mountains behind Wuchao and saw a large number of troops within Wuchao, perhaps tens of thousands…”
The second scout reported, “I secretly infiltrated the entrance of the Wuchao Valley. Just as Commander Lu predicted, the Yuan army has transported a vast amount of grain into Wuchao, likely hundreds of thousands of piculs… And every three days, this grain is transported out, directly to Yuan’s camp. Apart from this location, there is no other place from which supplies are sent to Yuan’s camp!”
The third scout continued, “I infiltrated Wuchao Valley via the waterway. Not only were there troops, but also over fifty granaries. I counted them one by one and can confirm that Yuan’s army’s two million piculs of grain are all stored here.”
The scouts reported in turn.
Lu Yu’s hand lightly tapped the table. He did not show overt satisfaction, but rather ordered, “Scout again! Thoroughly investigate Wuchao and its surroundings.”
As these words left his mouth…
The scouts exchanged a knowing glance towards Cao Cao.
Previously, when Cao Cao was not present, they naturally obeyed Lu Yu. But now… with Cao Cao present, then…
Before they could speak,
Cao Cao’s words came out, “What Minister Lu intends is my intention. Do as he says!”
The scouts exclaimed, “Yes!”
Immediately, they quickly exited the tent…
Under the moonlight, amidst the candlelight, within the tent…
Only Cao Cao and Lu Yu remained.
At this moment, Lu Yu took out a brush. He held it and drew a line across Yuan Shao’s camp at Guandu, then across Yanjin, and finally softly placed a dot on Wuchao.
He looked up… as if seeing the dangers here.
“Two million piculs of grain, so easily discovered by us, is truly too strange, isn’t it?”
He seemed to be asking Cao Cao, or perhaps talking to himself.
Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed.
“Strange, indeed very strange… a grain storage location, with so many watchtowers. It’s not just difficult to infiltrate using various methods, but even to approach is arduous! Why would Yuan Shao expose this grain storage location?”
Before coming to Guandu, Xun Yu had specifically told Cao Cao that in terms of grain supply, Cao’s camp was not a match for Yuan’s camp, and… the turning point of the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan would appear in matters of grain!
Cao Cao held great faith in Xun Yu’s words.
And Yuan Shao’s two million piculs of grain, this was his advantage, and also his disadvantage!
Yet, now… Yuan Shao had exposed this two million piculs of grain, and Cao Cao truly dared not act rashly.
Not only he, but Cao Cao could see that Yu’er also dared not.
The situation had become inexplicably strange.
Whoosh…
Lu Yu’s eyes remained narrowed, still contemplating the map.
One breath, two breaths!
Ten breaths, twenty breaths!
Lu Yu shook his head, “There is still too little intelligence. We cannot act rashly…”
Cao Cao nodded, “Continuing to stalemate might not be a bad thing! It’s just…”
Cao Cao wanted to mention the quantity of grain, but the words stopped at his lips.
Of course, Lu Yu knew well Cao Cao’s dire situation regarding grain.
Over the years…
While Lu Yu had earned Cao Cao a large number of soldiers, he could not escape a significant problem: that of food and fodder… According to the current military and civilian land cultivation, there was still a huge deficit in food among the three armies.
Half a year…
According to Old Master Cao Song, Cao’s grain could last at most half a year.
Whoosh.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu sighed, “Don’t worry, Minister Cao, a turning point will definitely appear. There will definitely be a pair of eyes to light up the unseen darkness for us!”
As he finished speaking.
Lu Yu’s mind conjured the image of a man.
A man who was exceptionally patient, and extremely capable!
He… he must be able to do it!
His actions would surely bring a clear, bright pair of eyes to Cao’s camp.
…
…
Ji Province, Ye City!
Deep in the night, in an unremarkable tavern.
“I killed someone!”
Sima Yi slipped in through the back door and whispered the sentence to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was one of their own, Lu Yu’s informant hidden in Ji Province. Of course, these people had a common name – “comrades”!
“Killed someone?” The shopkeeper was startled, hurriedly pulling Sima Yi into the back hall, and then… opened the door to the wine cellar, entering the underground secret room.
Gu Yan </span> Immediately, in the dead of night, waiters ran out of the tavern.
They purposefully headed towards some residences.
Shortly thereafter.
Five or six men entered the secret room in turns…
Some were dressed in scholar’s robes, some looked like butchers, one wore a brothel owner's hat, and another man had a knife at his waist; he was an officer under Shen Pei, the Magistrate of Ye City!
Sima Yi was not unfamiliar with these people. He had met them all before entering the Xu residence to carry out his mission.
Now, seeing that enough people had gathered, the tavern shopkeeper spoke.
“Everyone, Zhongda has killed someone… on the fourth floor of the Ruyi Tavern. By tomorrow, it will surely make the Xu family suspicious!”
As he spoke, his mind was blank.
The man with the knife spoke first, “I heard from the waiter that it was a sudden incident, and Zhongda did not anticipate it… However, what should be done with the deceased?”
Hearing this, Sima Yi exhaled and said, “I have already hidden the body. Perhaps it can be concealed for a while, but… if Xu Yuan wakes up and cannot find that trusted steward, he will surely be suspicious! We need to immediately plan for what comes next!”
While saying the first half, Sima Yi still felt a bit guilty.
But in the latter half… his tone became much more resolute.
“Zhongda’s tone suggests he has a plan, doesn’t it?” The tavern shopkeeper quickly asked.
Sima Yi nodded.
“Let’s not talk about that yet. I have already located the black ledger… it is placed in a private room on the fourth floor of the Ruyi Tower. Since the person has already been killed… why not…”
Sima Yi motioned for everyone to gather around.
He was a meticulous person, and also someone who was good at seizing opportunities.
Everyone worried about the situation being exposed…
But only he realized that it was time to cast the net, time to hunt!
Sima Yi spoke slowly, his soft whispers reaching everyone’s ears.
Initially…
Everyone listened nonchalantly, but as the plan unfolded, everyone’s eyes suddenly widened, and their faces showed four characters: complete confidence!
…
The next day, at dawn.
Ye City government office.
“Thump thump thump… thump thump thump…” hurried footsteps echoed.
“Report… report…”
A sword-bearing guard rushed to the pavilion where Shen Pei resided… “Master Shen, something is wrong! The official seal of the government office… the official seal is lost!”
What?
Upon hearing this, Shen Pei leaped out of bed like a carp, quickly pushing open the door.
“The official seal? How could the official seal be lost?”
He looked astonished…
The sword-bearing guard repeatedly shook his head, “Yesterday, yesterday, I clearly followed Master Shen and sent the official seal into the treasury. But… but when the treasury was opened today, there were signs that the sandalwood box had been tampered with, and the seal… the seal was also lost.”
“What?”
Shen Pei’s eyes widened considerably.
As the Magistrate of Ye City, his temperament was very similar to that of Man Chong, the Magistrate of Xu Du. He strictly adhered to laws and regulations and could not tolerate any dirt, which had earned him many enemies…
And the loss of the seal of Xu Du, if investigated closely, was a capital offense.
This was actually easy to understand.
Damn it… you, a Magistrate of Ye City who held significant power and was responsible for the security of Ye City, couldn’t even prevent your own seal from being stolen. How poor was Ye City’s security? Who could still trust you?
This matter was too big…
It could be said to be a chain reaction. Most importantly, Shen Pei could not afford to lose face!
“Investigate… Investigate for me!”
Shen Pei roared…
Instantly, the entire government office area was filled with fear. Furthermore… an investigation inside and outside the government treasury revealed… that the tiles on the eaves of the treasury had been disturbed.
This indicated… there was a thief, who had entered the government office through the eaves and stolen the seal of the Magistrate of Ye City!
“There was a thief, was there? Hmph… there are footprints on the bricks and tiles, so follow the footprints and pursue them!”
Shen Pei’s expression was extremely serious. He led a group of yamen runners along the footprints, and the footprints finally led to the Ruyi Tower!
That’s right, the largest inn in Ye City, the Xu family’s property – the Ruyi Tower!
“Master Shen, this Ruyi Tower belongs to Advisor Xu You’s inn… If we barge in rashly, perhaps Advisor Xu You… will not be pleased to explain!” The sword-bearing guard added fuel to the fire at the opportune moment.
Xu You?
Shen Pei hadn’t felt anything initially, but upon hearing the name “Xu You,” his eyes immediately narrowed.
He and Xu You had always been at odds…
In the past, when he failed his mission to Xiliang, Xu You had spoken ill of him to their lord Yuan Shao on numerous occasions. Furthermore, Shen Pei had been investigating… evidence of the Xu family’s favoritism and embezzlement of military funds. In essence… the two sides were like fire and water.
If it were the property of another family, Shen Pei might have given them some face, but… the Xu family? That… would be a completely new story. Old grudges and new ones would be settled together!
“Shang Yang’s reforms once stated – the prince breaks the law the same as the common people! What are you all standing around for? Search! Not a single room shall be spared!”
“Yes…”
Upon hearing Shen Pei’s command, the sword-bearing guard was the first to charge in, followed by countless other yamen runners.
In an instant, the entire Ruyi Tower descended into chaos…
…
On the first floor lobby of the Ruyi Tower.
When Shen Pei entered, more than twenty yamen runners had already rushed upstairs.
They kicked open the doors of room after room, searching them one by one.
Xu Yuan came downstairs in a panic. Clearly… he was still drunk from yesterday, and his steps were somewhat unsteady, but seeing… the rough actions of the yamen runners, he immediately sobered up.
“Master Shen, what… what are you doing?”
He pointed at Shen Pei’s nose and roared…
In terms of status, his uncle Xu You was a favored official of Yuan Shao, and not someone that a mere Shen Pei could compare to.
“The Ruyi Tower is a den of iniquity, and I, this official, am here to search it? What… do you dare to stop me?”
Shen Pei was not afraid at all, and he tilted his head, intending to go upstairs…
“You…” Xu Yuan immediately blocked him… “Master Shen is disrespecting my uncle. My uncle is on the front lines strategizing for Lord Yuan, and you… you actually…”
“Move aside!” Shen Pei shoved Xu Yuan aside and started up the stairs.
“I… I will write a letter to Lord Yuan, telling him that Master Shen is… is bullying people with his authority!” Xu Yuan shouted loudly…
Shen Pei remained indifferent.
Who would have thought… at this moment.
“Report…”
The sword-bearing guard reported, “A corpse was found in a private room on the fourth floor. In the corpse’s embrace… was, was the seal of the Magistrate of Ye City!”
As soon as these words were spoken…
Shen Pei was startled, and Xu Yuan was also startled. How… how could there be a corpse on the fourth floor? And how could the seal be in the corpse’s embrace?
“Hmph…”
Shen Pei gave Xu Yuan a cold glare. “It seems the Ruyi Tower is more than just a den of iniquity; it’s also involved in a homicide!”
Thump thump…
As he spoke, Shen Pei walked upstairs!
Xu Yuan quickly snapped out of his shock, but then a greater shock appeared before his eyes.
Fourth floor?
That… isn’t that where all of the Xu family’s account books are kept?
This… this…
In an instant, cold sweat poured down Xu Yuan’s back, and large beads of sweat slid down his forehead…
After all, given the Xu family’s current status, a death in the Ruyi Tower was not a big deal. Similarly, finding the seal in the Ruyi Tower was not a big deal. Xu Yuan had ten thousand ways to clear himself of suspicion.
But… but the fourth floor, where… where those account books were stored, they were… they were…
Those books recorded every instance of the Xu family’s embezzlement of military funds, every bribe, every act of personal enrichment. If these accounts fell into Shen Pei’s hands, and he reported them to Yuan Shao… then… even ten Xu families would be ruined!
“Master Shen… Master Shen…”
Xu Yuan scrambled and chased after him…
Shen Pei kicked him away, and gave him a cold glare. “Young Master Xu, I advise you not to act rashly. If you obstruct official duties, this official can execute you on the spot!”
Whoa…
Xu Yuan’s entire head was spinning. He… he didn’t know why… why after getting drunk yesterday, today when he opened his eyes, it had… it had become like this!
It’s over, the Xu family is finished!
While he was lost in thought…
Shen Pei had already entered the fourth floor, entered that secret room…
Here, a corpse, a seal, and a thick stack of accounts, already spread open, “long awaited”!
Whoosh…
Seeing this scene, Shen Pei exhaled.
After all…
Before entering this room, he was only interested in the seal and the corpse…
But after entering, the corners of his mouth immediately turned up. For a moment, he became extremely interested in the ledgers filled with the Xu family’s accounts.
Intensely interested!
Heh heh…
The Xu family’s Ruyi Tower, the theft of the government seal, the homicide… Heh heh, compared to these, discovering these “long-awaited” ledgers was a blessing in disguise, a hidden gem.
…
…