“Who is it?” Xiahou Yuan asked curiously.
Lu Yu smiled faintly, and in his mind, he pictured a heroic figure with a long beard, a poker face, a green hat, who always liked to read the Spring and Autumn Annals at night until his eyes were damaged!
With this thought, Lu Yu spoke his name directly.
“Guan Yu!”
Ah… this…
Xiahou Yuan was taken aback. Guan Yu? On what grounds? Because his beard was long? Because he liked wearing a green hat?
It should be known that hearts are made of flesh and blood; they are meant to be reasonable.
For the feat of flooding and drowning forty-five thousand Yuan troops, this immense contribution, Lu Yu did not let the Dragon Swift Camp monopolize it. In fact… Lu Yu ceded this merit to the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, to Xiahou Yuan, Cao Chun…
The more Lu Yu acted this way, the more Xiahou Yuan felt compelled to return the greatest merit to Lu Yu!
But… Guan Yu? What did he do?
He didn’t dig canals at the Bian River, nor did he fight on the battlefield! On what grounds?
“Director Lu, this…”
Xiahou Yuan tried to ask for details, but to his surprise… Lu Yu waved his hand. “General Xiahou, please don’t ask further. This matter is of great consequence!”
Indeed, it was of great consequence…
Besides the current critical event that would decide the dominion of the world – the Battle of Guandu…
The most important was the plan for “Lady Gan to run away with the ball”… Liu Bei’s plan to have a green hat!
Even…
If one looked at it from a long-term perspective, this matter was even bigger… and infinitely so.
After all, Yuan Shao was merely an early-game hero… Liu Bei was the true late-game contender.
To prepare for this,
Guan Yu’s previous achievements were not enough; he needed to be credited with a major accomplishment. Without this major accomplishment, he wouldn’t be enfeoffed as the smallest Marquis of Ting! How else could he resign? If he didn’t resign… how could he elope with Lady Gan? And how would Liu Bei help Old Cao raise a son!
Imagine, even if Liu Bei ran fast and Lu Yu couldn’t catch him.
What if he fled to Yizhou?
When Cao’s army arrived, Liu Adou… ah, no, precisely “Cao” Adou would directly make a move from the rear, open the city gates, present the seal and census records to Cao Cao with cupped hands, and utter a phrase.
“Father, you’ve finally arrived. Your son has waited for you very arduously!”
With such a statement, all the frontline soldiers would be in utter ruin!
This scene was too beautiful to imagine…
Thinking of this, Lu Yu smacked his lips.
Of course, to realize this beautiful scenario, Lu Yu’s efforts alone were not enough. The one who should contribute the most was Old Cao. Could Old Cao’s “seed” make Lady Gan’s belly have an extra ball!
This was a story of “probability”!
Lu Yu pondered…
He had been away from Xudu City for more than two months. Had Old Cao finished his business? If he had finished… then whether Lady Gan had her period would be crucial!
With this thought, Lu Yu continued, “General Xiahou, don’t forget… Liu Bei is still with Yuan Shao, isn’t he? If Yuan Shao knew it was Guan Yu who flooded the Seven Armies, ah no… it was Guan Yu who flooded Yuan’s army, then Yuan Shao’s attitude towards Liu Bei… would be…”
Lu Yu was unaware that Liu Bei had already left Yuan’s camp.
As for Xiahou Yuan… a casual explanation was enough to deceive him!
But this random explanation, in fact, made Xiahou Yuan’s heart tremble, and in an instant, he understood.
Brilliant… Lu Yu’s stratagem was brilliant.
Given Yuan Shao’s petty nature, if he heard it was Guan Yu who flooded Yuan’s army… then… Liu Bei would have a dagger hanging over his head!
“This stratagem of using a borrowed knife to kill is truly brilliant. As expected of Director Lu; your thoughts and considerations are beyond our reach!”
Xiahou Yuan stroked his beard and smiled. “It’s just that Director Lu has to be wronged… the primary credit for this battle will not go to Director Lu, but to Guan Yu!”
“General Xiahou, you know me.” Lu Yu said with a relaxed smile, waving his hand. “I regard fame and fortune as fleeting clouds! As the saying goes – I fear no cloud obscuring my vision!”
Speaking of this…
Lu Yu, Xiahou Yuan, and Xu Shu… the three of them looked at each other, and all laughed heartily.
This sentence, “I fear no cloud obscuring my vision”…
Some saw the second layer;
Some saw the fourth layer;
But… undoubtedly, Lu Yu remained the one in the “stratosphere”!
…
…
Xudu City, the Imperial Palace, the Chongde Hall.
Standing before the gate of this magnificent palace, Cao Cao suddenly felt a momentary daze, as if something had happened.
Speaking of which…
His spirits had not been good these past few days.
Almost every night… Lady Gan would secretly come to the Grand Commandant’s mansion.
Still arranged by the Tiger Guards, she entered through the back door, spent the night, and left through the back door the next morning!
It seemed that Lady Gan’s dependence on Cao Cao was growing stronger.
However…
Coming softly, leaving softly…
Lady Gan could wave her sleeves and go home to sleep all day, recuperating her energy… but Cao Cao still had to handle a pile of military and state affairs during the day, making him appear somewhat tired!
Moreover, Yuan Shao’s army of four hundred and fifty thousand marching south was no trivial matter. Although Cao Cao had anticipated Lu Yu’s retreat with the populace to Guandu.
But… battlefields were ever-changing. If Guandu were to suffer a setback, the situation would instantly reverse.
Hoo…
Cao Cao let out a long sigh. His heart was weary, and he was not at ease!
Even…
Cao Cao had originally planned to capture Lady Gan and then proceed with the conquest of “Lady Mi.” But so far… he hadn’t had the energy for it! He still needed time, and without compromising his ambiguous relationship with Lady Gan, he also needed to capture Lady Mi’s heart. Cao Cao had to learn how to be a time management master!
It was strange, he was a legendary hunter of married women. When he actually treated conquering married women as a task, he felt a little guilty.
It was for this reason…
He treated Lady Gan with even greater care!
Men understand…
Often, men who cheat outside become more caring towards their wives when they return home. This is due to guilt and remorse.
“Grand Commandant Cao…”
At this moment, a voice called out.
Without turning around, Cao Cao recognized it as Xun Yu’s voice…
“Lord Ling Xun, you are very early!”
Cao Cao said with emotion.
Xun Yu paused slightly and replied with a smile, “It’s not early anymore. Grand Commandant Cao would usually go to the study an hour earlier to read, and then come for the morning court! During this process, his complexion was rosy… conversely, during this period, Grand Commandant Cao’s face appears very haggard. It seems that you are truly tired from day and night labor, so you should pay attention to rest!”
Heh heh…
Hearing this, Cao Cao chuckled!
Pay attention to rest, it sounds simple, but… while others slept in bed, he, Cao Cao, had to… alas, for Yu’er’s plan, for the great cause, he was sacrificing his old back!
“I, Cao Cao, am destined to have a busy life. Earlier generations plant trees, and later generations enjoy the shade! Ah… ha ha!”
“Lord Ling Xun, come, you and I shall enter the hall together.”
Cao Cao took Xun Yu’s hand and they stepped into the Chongde Hall…
At this moment, Xun Yu’s eyes darted. This phrase, “earlier generations plant trees, and later generations enjoy the shade,” made him ponder a deeper meaning. If Cao Cao was the planter of trees, then… who would enjoy the shade?
“Thump thump…”
Entering the Chongde Hall…
It was the time for the morning court, and the hall was already filled with officials…
Members of the Xiahou and Cao clans, such as Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Cao Hong, held important positions and naturally had their places in the court.
Various advisors and strategists like Xi Zhicai, Xun You, and Jia Xu… were also present;
In addition, generals like Xu Huang, Yu Jin, and Shi Huan, as well as civil officials like Mao Jie, Dong He, and Kong Rong, would also attend… Of course, there were also a large number of Han officials!
The Chongde Hall in the Imperial Palace was vast, yet it was filled with people…
Of course…
This was a routine court session, and not so many people normally participated…
But the first and fifteenth days were special, a tradition passed down from the Han Dynasty. In Xudu City, all officials above three hundred shi were required to attend!
However, the topics of discussion at the recent morning courts always involved the front-line situation, the deployment of troops and grain from various prefectures and counties, and the attitudes of various lords towards the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan!
It could be said that Lu Yu was fighting Yuan Shao at the front line…
But in this court, the Emperor and the officials were fighting countless imaginary enemies, with no rest in fighting!
And the biggest topic today was – Yanjin!
Lu Yu’s abandonment of resistance and retreat from Yanjin to Guandu had caused a storm in the court!
Led by Kong Rong, a group of Han officials openly stated that all the grain consumed and the troops transported to the front line were not for Lu Yu to abandon resistance…
First, Layang was abandoned;
Then Baima was abandoned, and now even Yanjin was abandoned.
Therefore…
The only thing that could stop Yuan’s army from marching south was Guandu.
This was equivalent to leaving no room for maneuver!
If Guandu were to suffer a setback, then Yuan’s army would march directly towards Xudu. This was an army of four hundred and fifty thousand. That would truly be the imminent collapse of the situation, the downfall of the dynasty!
“The Book of Changes states: When a state has the Way, it remains unyielding; when a state has no Way, it remains unyielding even unto death!”
Kong Rong was expounding his great principles. “Cao Situ’s troops are adhering to His Majesty’s great Way, exterminating rebels for the Emperor, and are an army of righteousness!”
“The rebels are aggressive, and Cao Situ should confront them head-on, without compromise… but Yuan Shao is advancing step by step, and Lu Situ at the front line is repeatedly retreating. Where is the appearance of an army of righteousness? If people did not know, they would think that Yuan Shao was the one adhering to the Emperor’s great Way, and Cao Situ was fleeing at the sight of him!”
As he spoke, many civil officials nodded in agreement!
Cao Cao, however, frowned, feeling a headache…
How could Kong Rong understand military strategy? If he truly understood military strategy… he wouldn’t have been unable to defend even a single Beihai, first being defeated by the Yellow Turban rebels and then thoroughly routed by Yuan Tan!
He was merely a weakling with a combat power of five!
How could he be qualified to comment on the front-line battles? To comment on Yu’er’s strategy?
Cao Cao did not refute Kong Rong’s words. It was impossible to explain clearly.
Even if it could be explained, Cao Cao would not say a word; he could not expose Yu’er’s scheme!
But Cao Cao remained silent…
The Han officials, on the other hand, were emboldened and continued to sing dirges.
– “Does Your Majesty know that although Yuan Shao has dispatched an army of four hundred and fifty thousand southward, his four provinces of Qing, You, Ji, and Bing combined have over four hundred thousand men? How can such a formidable force be stopped? Your Majesty… it is best to seek peace, to beg for peace!”
– “Your Majesty… after Yanjin comes Guandu. A few days ago, there was heavy rain… it is expected that Yuan’s army has halted their advance, and is preparing for action. Yesterday, the weather cleared, and surely… Yuan Shao will forcibly attack Guandu. Your Majesty… Your Majesty must make plans early!”
– “Your Majesty, in my opinion… that Director Lu is just a little bit clever. In terms of commanding troops, he is an absolute layman! Earlier, he defeated Yan Liang and executed Wen Chou, with continuous reports of victory. But looking at the map, Layang on the north bank of the Yellow River is gone, Baima on the south bank of the Yellow River is gone. Now… Director Lu is retreating with the populace to Guandu? The front line has always reported victories, but… as the war has progressed from the north bank of the Yellow River to the south bank, and with the next great victory, will Yuan’s army be at the gates of Xudu City!”
– “Your Majesty, in my opinion… Yuan Shao will surely win this battle! Cao Situ will likely fail!”
Singing doom…
The Han officials, not knowing who instructed them, began to sing doom and spread various negative sentiments!
And this timing was just right. Cao Cao could not arbitrarily execute court officials at the juncture of Cao and Yuan’s decisive battle, as this would put him at a disadvantage in terms of righteousness!
It would also cause more internal chaos…
The Emperor sitting on the dragon throne also looked displeased…
Because these Han officials’ confrontation with Cao Cao and Lu Yu was not his deployment. To be precise, this matter had nothing to do with the Han court!
Although Cao Cao was not a good person… but… but Yuan Shao, in Emperor Liu Xie’s eyes, might not be inferior to Cao Cao!
Of course…
This was not important!
What was important was that Emperor Liu Xie was very worried that Cao Cao would think he was the instigator, and thus turn his attention to him, the precarious Emperor!
It should be known that this was not a small matter…
If this decadent and pessimistic sentiment in the morning court spread out from Xudu City, it would be a fatal blow to the morale of the soldiers defending in the prefectures of Si, Xu, Yan, and Yu! It would be a great destruction to the hearts of the people in the Central Plains!
Hoo…
Xun Yu sensed the escalating tension in the court and vaguely recalled something.
Recently…
In some intercepted letters from Yuan’s camp, it was mentioned.
A large number of court officials and civil and military officials from the Cao clan group were secretly corresponding with Yuan Shao, colluding with each other!
If… this were true!
Then…
The spread of negative and decadent sentiments in this court session was deliberately done by these colluders with Yuan Shao… Their goal was definitely not just the imperial court; they would definitely use this court… to further spread this negative, impending disaster sentiment throughout the Central Plains.
At that time, more local officials and local generals would secretly correspond with Yuan Shao.
This…
Xun Yu’s gaze was sharp.
His considerations were even deeper. When he realized this, he understood…
Although this seemed like a small interlude, if not handled carefully, it might shake the very foundations of the Central Plains!
This was Yuan Shao using the court officials to “attack the hearts”!
Whether for Yuan Shao or for Grand Commandant Cao, if the hearts of the people were lost, the army would be difficult to lead!
On the other hand, Cao Cao…
Despite the increasing number of court officials spreading these negative sentiments, his expression remained as usual… neither happy nor sad, his eyes deep and calm… there wasn’t a trace of “fear”!
Cao Cao knew best the thoughts of these people and who their behind-the-scenes instigators were!
Fearless… What a fearless attitude, but Cao Cao’s heart had already formed four big words – settling accounts after the autumn!
Of course…
Weren’t these people attacking Yu’er’s repeated abandonment of cities?
Singing mournful songs about Yu’er retreating with the populace to Guandu…
“Heh heh!”
Thinking of this, Cao Cao felt like laughing…
Because these people understood nothing!
Compared to verbal debates? He, Cao Cao, was waiting for facts, facts that were more eloquent than words… to quell the rumors and gossip within and outside the court.
“Why isn’t Grand Commandant Cao speaking?” The State Father Fu Wan spoke.
At that moment, all eyes turned to Cao Cao.
In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that at this moment… especially after Lu Yu abandoned Yanjin, more than half of the court officials were trying to contact Yuan Shao in secret!
This was to leave a fallback for themselves… Da Feng Novel Network.
Two battles won, a hundred thousand enemy troops killed, yet three cities lost!
No matter who heard this “report of victory,” they would inevitably associate Cao Cao and Lu Yu with “stubborn defiance” and “falsifying military reports.”
Even, they had prepared a large amount of rhetoric, ready to debate with Cao Cao today.
Who would have thought…
They were like punching cotton; Cao Cao simply did not engage with their words.
“Say what? Like you, singing dirges?”
“Hahahaha…”
Cao Cao laughed.
“We are willing to hear Grand Commandant Cao’s high opinion…” A group of court officials bowed to Cao Cao.
“Do you truly wish to hear my high opinion?” Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed…
“Naturally!”
“Hahahaha…” Receiving an affirmative answer, Cao Cao suddenly stepped forward. He turned around, facing the assembled officials, with his back to the Emperor.
“This is what you wanted to hear from me!”
“Alright, from now on, no one is allowed to leave this Chongde Hall… The last urgent dispatch from Guandu was from the evening before yesterday. Calculating the time, the urgent report for today should arrive soon!”
“Why don’t you all wait here with me and see if today’s urgent report is of victory or defeat!”
Thump thump!
Thump thump!
Cao Cao turned around and walked to the Emperor’s side. His eyes were extremely profound, and then… he asked a question.
“Director Lu retreated with the populace to Guandu. This action… Your Majesty? Do you think… it is good? Or not?”
Domineering!
Cao Cao’s tone, demeanor, and actions could only be described as “domineering.” This domineering attitude was built on his unwavering confidence in Yu’er!
At the same time.
“Thump thump thump…”
Outside the Chongde Hall, countless footsteps echoed…
The assembled court officials all looked towards the main entrance.
“It’s the Tiger Guards…”
“Why are the Tiger Guards here?”
“In this situation, how dare Cao Cao…”
Low murmurs were incessant… and the Tiger Guards had already secured all the exits of the Chongde Hall, not to mention the officials, not even a fly could get out.
Heh heh…
How could Cao Cao not know the selfish intentions of these fence-sitters? How could he not be prepared!
His kidneys were a bit weak, and his waist was a bit worn out.
But… his heart was clear!
“Hahahaha…”
Confident laughter echoed through the Chongde Hall.
Before the Emperor could reply, Cao Cao suddenly turned and faced the assembled court officials. He didn’t speak, but his eyes seemed to convey his thoughts.
– If you want to play, then… I, Cao Cao, will play with you until the end!
No!
This statement was not right.
It should be – If you want to play, then Cao Cao and Cao Yu! We, this father and son duo of the Cao family! Will play with you until the end!
…
…