Outside Xiangyang City, by the Jing River, in a stone pavilion.
A seductive woman with a slightly bulging belly faced a handsome scholar.
From a distance, though their conversation was unclear, the young master’s confident demeanor and the woman’s luminous, jade-like skin hinted at an exciting clash of equals.
Yang Xiu chuckled. "It's not just my master who knows Madam's situation; that Zhuge Kongming also knows... and has already sent someone to contact you!"
"You don't need me to tell you their objective, Madam can also understand: it is to welcome Liu Qi as the Lord of Jingzhou! But if Liu Qi becomes the Lord of Jingzhou, how will Madam position herself? How will the Cai family position themselves? In contrast, the King of Wei is different. If Jingzhou belongs to the King of Wei, then Madam's eldest son will be the Lord of Jingzhou, and Madam's unborn child will be the son of the King of Wei!"
Yang Xiu spoke with full confidence.
Evidently, Madam Cai’s eyes became more distant. He smiled faintly, "It seems you haven't given me a choice!"
She disliked this feeling, this feeling of being suppressed by a young gentleman.
Of course...
It was not Yang Xiu who was suppressing her, but behind Yang Xiu, Lu Ziyu, who was strategizing everything!
Psychological warfare...
This was psychological warfare aimed directly at her.
"This is Madam's best choice!" Yang Xiu said again. "Madam Cai offering Jingzhou to the Prime Minister has three benefits! The first is what I just mentioned: Madam's eldest son becomes the Lord of Jingzhou, Madam will become the King of Wei's consort, and Madam's second son will be the King of Wei's son. This... needs no further explanation, does it?"
"The Prime Minister has many beautiful women around him who are married, and the Prime Minister treats their sons as his own! Before there was Lady Yin and He Yan, and later Lady Du and Qin Lang. Does Madam not wish for the unborn child to have a father who treats him as his own?"
Madam Cai smiled, "You said three points, this is the first! What are the remaining two?"
"The second..." Yang Xiu continued, "The Cai clan is the foremost prominent family in Jingzhou. But if Madam compromises with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, then... the four clans of 'Pang, Ma, Xiang, Xi' who are close to Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang will rise to prominence, soaring to the top, and replace the Cai family's position in Jingzhou!"
"Neither Madam nor General Cai would wish to see this scene, right? But if Madam Cai offers Jingzhou to the King of Wei, then the Cai family will remain the top esteemed family in Jingzhou. 'Pang, Ma, Xiang, Xi' will surely flee this place with Liu Bei. At that time, which family in all of Jingzhou can compare with the Cai family?"
Hiss...
Madam Cai gasped. Clearly, this matter concerned the family's honor, and she was moved.
Just as Yang Xiu said...
Because of the "Three Mutual Laws" and the "Abolition of Governors and Establishment of Shepherd-Officials," local powerful clans could not become local prefects. Therefore... clans had only one direction: to find a powerful patron and bind themselves deeply with them.
Madam Cai becoming the King of Wei's consort?
This was the deepest form of binding!
Moreover, the King of Wei, Cao Cao, was renowned far and wide, how could he be compared to that old drunkard Liu Biao?
Madam Cai's heart did not reject this.
It was precisely because of this that Madam Cai became somewhat interested.
But... she still wanted to hear the third point!
"Young Master Yang, please continue..."
"The third!" Yang Xiu said solemnly. "The third is, if Madam Cai defects to the King of Wei, then both my Master Lu and the Dragon Soaring Camp will be Madam's friends. Master Lu's Xioshi Prefecture monitors all officials, and any speech unfavorable to Madam Cai will be immediately stifled in its cradle!"
"The public opinion at that time will be more lenient towards Madam. If needed, we can even use newspapers to enhance Madam's and Young Master Liu Cong's reputation! This is just one benefit. Becoming my master's friend brings many benefits, but becoming my master's enemy... then, whether it is Madam Cai or the Cai family... both will..."
Boom...
Instantly, Madam Cai's brow knitted.
She felt greatly threatened, yet also heard immense temptation.
She disliked this feeling of both reward and pressure, but at this moment, she found herself powerless.
Lu Ziyu...
Heh heh, just as this Yang Xiu said, in this era, if one can be his friend, one should never be his enemy. His psychological warfare was truly terrifying, guessing people's thoughts perfectly and calculating them thoroughly!
After a moment of contemplation...
Madam Cai bit her red lip tightly. She exhaled, then spoke.
"Young Master Yang, it seems... you've learned a lot of psychological warfare techniques from your Master?"
"Madam flatters me..." Yang Xiu slightly cupped his hands, displaying a terrifying composure and humility. "Rather than saying I learned psychological warfare techniques from my master, it's more accurate to say... I learned to maintain a clear mind at all times, and the way of dealing with people!"
"Heh..." Madam Cai smiled faintly and sat on the stone stool in the pavilion, showing no hint of joy or anger. "You are very capable. Your master must be even more so. However... how can this Madam believe your words?"
"This..." Yang Xiu was stunned. He didn't know how to respond to Madam Cai's question!
Madam Cai continued, "Hearing you speak, it seems the King of Wei will take me as his consort, and treat my unborn child as his own. But these words are ultimately from Young Master Yang and your Master Lu. I am not a three-year-old child who believes anything anyone says! If I do not hear the King of Wei's personal promise, this Madam will never surrender the city."
This...
Yang Xiu's eyes blinked.
Logically speaking, this was indeed a difficult matter. Madam Cai wanted to hear the King of Wei's personal promise, and... how could that be simple?
But precisely...
Master had specifically mentioned this point in the letter he sent.
Or rather, Master Lu had foreseen this.
Immediately...
Yang Xiu raised his eyes and said with certainty.
"I can promise you on behalf of my master, and arrange for Madam to meet the King of Wei..."
"What?" Madam Cai did not expect Yang Xiu to agree so readily. She asked in astonishment, "How can the King of Wei meet Madam? The Jing River lies in between, as does the city of Xinye, controlled by Liu Xuande, who proclaims 'We will not stand with the Han traitor'! Could it be... could it be that the King of Wei can fly over?"
Heh...
Hearing this, Yang Xiu chuckled.
He smiled slightly, "Although I don't know what Master plans to do, it's possible the King of Wei can truly descend from the heavens! Or, I can help Madam here, allowing Madam to fly to meet the King of Wei!"
Ah... Ah...
Madam Cai was taken aback. She hadn't expected Yang Xiu to take such a casual remark seriously.
...
...
Luoyang City, Wei King's Palace.
Sima Yi, unaware of the reason, was brought to the Wei King's Palace by Xu Chu. Seeing the warriors outside the palace, each holding halberds, their armor and the glint of their halberds sent a slight premonition of something ominous through him.
At this moment, Cao Cao was discussing matters with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and others.
Xiahou Dun said, "If we wait for Ziyu's navy to finish training, it's unknown how long that will take. Why don't I lead the army south first, capture Xinye, and take that big-eared scoundrel alive? That would open a gap for our southward advance into Jingzhou!"
Upon hearing this...
Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and others all agreed.
Speaking of which, Xinye's location was special; it was north of the Jing River and hardly required a navy. Capturing it first as a base would be good.
However...
"Enough, enough!" Cao Cao waved his hand displeasurably. "All of you are more anxious than I am. Go down, the matter of marching south to Xinye is temporarily not up for discussion."
This...
Xiahou Dun and the others exchanged glances and withdrew dejectedly. Seeing Sima Yi outside the door, Xiahou Dun even glanced at him and muttered, "Why are people from the Xioshi Prefecture here?"
"If anyone should come, it should be Ziyu!"
Sima Yi lowered his head, remaining still. He also didn't know why he was here.
Just then, the guards outside the Wei King's Palace shouted.
"The King of Wei summons Sima Yi!"
Sima Yi entered the hall with his head lowered and bowed to Cao Cao, "Xioshi Prefecture's Sima Yi pays respects to the Prime Minister!"
He kept his head down, looking at his feet. He only heard Cao Cao's imposing voice, seemingly from all directions, "I hear you have the appearance of an eagle gazing and a wolf turning its head. Raise your head and let me have a look!"
Sima Yi carefully raised his head and met Cao Cao's smile.
A hint of fear arose in his heart, and he instinctively lowered his head again. Cao Cao seemed to be carefully scrutinizing Sima Yi, smiling without speaking. In the oppressive silence, only Sima Yi's nervous breathing could be heard.
"Turn around!"
Cao Cao commanded.
Sima Yi took a deep breath, and reluctantly turned around slowly. Cao Cao scrutinized him, his deep voice following,
"I wish to transfer you to serve in the Wei King's Palace, are you willing?"
Sima Yi turned back and knelt on the ground. "I am still a person of the Xioshi Prefecture, and I have not committed any fault. If I were to enter the Wei King's Palace, I fear I would find it difficult to explain to my esteemed master! Since my master established his office, I have always served him. If I were to change allegiance, I would also feel reluctant!"
"Is that so!" Cao Cao murmured. "It seems Ziyu treats you well!"
"Marquis Baima's kindness to me is as great as a mountain... Your subordinate..." Sima Yi's words trailed off inexplicably at the end.
Cao Cao, however, finished for him, "You mean to say, this subordinate cannot bear to betray him, right?"
Uh...
Sima Yi felt as if his throat was blocked, not knowing what to say.
However, Cao Cao seemed quite satisfied with his response.
"You may go."
"Yes!" Sima Yi breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Cao Cao. "Your subordinate takes his leave!"
He slowly retreated. As he turned to leave the door, Cao Cao suddenly raised his hand and overturned the inkstone. The inkstone fell to the ground and shattered. Sima Yi, startled by the sound, suddenly turned back. Cao Cao's eyes suddenly widened, radiating a golden light!
"As expected, as expected, it is the appearance of an eagle gazing and a wolf turning its head!"
Sima Yi, terrified, quickly retreated.
After Sima Yi had gone far, Xu Chu walked to Cao Cao's side.
"Your Majesty, are you testing him?"
"I had another dream of the three horses eating the trough last night!" Cao Cao's eyes gradually narrowed, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"But... Sima Yi is the Crown Prince's man!" Xu Chu reminded him.
Whoosh...
At this moment, Cao Cao suddenly drew his sword and cleaved the table in front of him.
His tone became even colder.
"Precisely because he is Yu'er's man, Sima Yi is even more dangerous to Great Wei!"
Every word, every sentence, was chillingly cold, as if immersed in ice for a thousand years!
Just then.
-- "Marquis Baima arrives!"
The guards outside announced. Cao Cao and Xu Chu raised their heads simultaneously. The sword was sheathed, and Xu Chu hid the broken table as if nothing had happened.
And outside the door...
Lu Yu happened to encounter Sima Yi.
"Zhongda? Why are you here?"
"Mas... Master..."
Sima Yi appeared somewhat nervous and embarrassed! "The King of Wei summoned me, so... I came!"
"Is everything alright?" Lu Yu asked, seeing Sima Yi's ashen face.
"Everything is fine..." Sima Yi replied truthfully, "The King of Wei intends to promote me and wants to recruit me into the Wei King's Palace. However... I am reluctant to leave the Xioshi Prefecture, so I declined."
"Is that so..." Lu Yu's eyes rolled. He suddenly remembered something. "It's good that you're not going to the Wei King's Palace. You and the King of Wei..."
He paused mid-sentence and retracted the rest of his words.
Since nothing had happened, there was no need to mention it.
Of course...
What he wanted to say was that you and the King of Wei have a conflicting destiny!
It's best to see each other less!
A minor interlude, Sima Yi withdrew from the Wei King's Palace, still feeling shaken.
Lu Yu entered. Cao Cao knelt in the main seat and gestured for him to sit.
In Cao Cao's eyes...
The suggestions of Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan about marching south into Jingzhou were not the optimal solutions.
The true strategy for acquiring Jingzhou lay within Yu'er's chessboard.
Acquiring Jingzhou without bloodshed!
...
...
Three days later, at the Dragon Soaring Camp's barracks outside Luoyang, there was an extremely vast plain.
At this moment, Cao Cao stood in this location, with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, Cao Ren, and a group of clan brothers standing beside him.
At this moment... everyone was staring at a hot air balloon as it ascended into the sky.
Their hearts were filled with immense shock!
Speaking of which, as the King of Wei and a series of meritorious officials from Qiao and Pei, they had seen too many ingenious and peculiar items. However, many of these were showy and of little practical use when implemented!
But... this hot air balloon was entirely different.
Cao Cao and his clan cousins watched as Liu Ye and Zhuge Jun flew into the sky, entering the clouds.
From a sphere, they became a dot, and finally disappeared into the clouds.
This...
Was too shocking!
"Father, look quickly, they've really gone up!" Cao Mu pointed at the hot air balloon disappearing into the clouds and said to his father, Cao Cao, "This hot air balloon can fly in the air for six or seven hours. It can even fly from Luoyang City to Xudu City, taking only two hours."
"Is it safe?" Cao Cao was more concerned about the safety of the hot air balloon.
Cao Mu continued to explain, "It's very safe. Now... my husband's workshop has assembled a flight team. The three completed hot air balloons have flown back and forth countless times without a single accident!"
Cao Cao let out a sigh of relief.
"So that's how it is... so that's how it is!"
As everyone knew...
Three days ago, he and Yu'er had talked in the Wei King's Palace, and the main topic of discussion had naturally been the southward march into Jingzhou.
Yu'er had proposed the final strategy.
That was, Madam Cai had agreed that as long as she could meet Cao Cao and receive his personal promise, then... she would offer the nine commanderies of Jingzhou!
In other words, currently... the only thing blocking Cao Cao and Jingzhou was this single meeting!
And precisely, this was not easily resolved.
It was the same old topic, meeting each other? How to meet? Could it be... flying over?
At that time, Cao Cao was still at a loss...
Lu Yu had asked him to come to the Dragon Soaring Camp three days later, and then he had come, and then, the dignified King of Wei had been stunned into a daze!
"I've only heard of Mohist flying machines like mechanical birds that can fly, and they are indeed miraculous. I never imagined that today... Ziyu, Zhuge Jun, and Duke Liu, the three of them have also accomplished such a magnificent feat!"
Hoo...
Cao Cao let out a long sigh, his eyes narrowed.
He lowered his head and asked Lu Yu, who was not far away, "Can I fly up and try it?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Chu wanted to intervene.
"Your Majesty..."
Clearly, he still felt that flying so high was dangerous. What if he fell down? This was no joke.
"Hahahaha..." Cao Cao waved his hand. "Can Duke Liu and the workshop's Steward Zhuge fly? Why can't I? Ziyu, you can make arrangements."
"Alright..." Lu Yu smiled slightly. "In that case, to ensure everything is foolproof, after Duke Liu comes down, let him pilot the hot air balloon, and I will fly with the King of Wei."
"Hahahaha..." Upon hearing this, Cao Cao laughed heartily. "That would be best!"
Not long after... the hot air balloon descended.
Upon hearing that King Wei Cao Cao wanted to ride this hot air balloon, Liu Ye and Zhuge Jun dared not be negligent. First, they explained the precautions and procedures in detail.
Then, they guided Lu Yu and Cao Cao into the wicker basket.
Liu Ye asked Cao Cao, "Your Majesty? It is ready, and we can take off at any time."
"Fly!"
Cao Cao immediately ordered...
Liu Ye waved to the artisans. An artisan untied the mooring ropes, and the balloon slowly lifted off!
Cao Cao felt his body unsteady and held onto the edge of the wicker basket. At first, he couldn't adapt, but soon, he could try to stick his head out. He found himself flying higher and higher, the people on the ground becoming smaller and smaller, until finally... they were almost invisible. The only visible things were the magnificent palaces of Luoyang City, but slowly... the palaces also became invisible. The flying sphere ascended at an extremely rapid pace, about to enter the clouds.
Feeling the strong winds around...
Cao Cao experienced a moment of enlightenment for the first time. This feeling of overlooking all the mountains was too wonderful.
The vast land, this vast land belonging to him, King Wei Cao Cao, was all within his sight. This feeling... stirred his heart intensely!
"Your Majesty, if you feel cold, there are blankets in the basket..." Liu Ye reminded him, "If you are hungry, there is also dried yellow croaker jerky and water in this basket!"
Evidently... having flown many times, Liu Ye was already proficient. He knew what to prepare and what not to prepare.
Cao Cao, however, didn't have the time to cover himself with a blanket or eat jerky...
He couldn't bear to close his eyes. He wanted to gaze at the land he had conquered for a longer time.
"Ziyu..."
"Your Majesty!"
Due to the strong airflow at high altitudes, dialogue had to be shouted.
Cao Cao shouted, "Can we see Jingzhou from here? Can we see Xiangyang!"
"It's too far, we can't see!" Lu Yu replied, "However, if we take off from Nanyang, we might be able to see all of Jingzhou!"
"Oh..." Cao Cao nodded.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, as if he had made an extremely bold decision.
-- "Ziyu, there's no need to bring Madam Cai here. I will personally go to Jingzhou in this hot air balloon!"
Ah... Ah...
Even Lu Yu was surprised by Cao Cao's boldness!
That was enemy territory!
According to his plan, he had intended to send Yang Xiu to persuade Madam Cai and use the hot air balloon to escort Madam Cai to Wancheng!
But... Cao Cao's remark was a bit...
Lu Yu clicked his tongue, unsure how to respond.
"Hahahaha..." Cao Cao laughed heartily. "If I don't even have this much daring? Then how will Madam Cai offer the nine commanderies of Jingxiang for me!"
"I have taken countless risks in my life. How can this situation be more dangerous than Guandu? How can it be more dangerous than all the feudal lords forming a coalition to attack my Cao Mengde!"
Speaking of this...
Cao Cao paused. "I would rather betray the world than betray a woman, especially another man's woman!"
Uh...
Upon uttering these words.
Lu Yu was stunned. As expected, the spirit of the treacherous Cao lives on forever!
...
...