In Xiapi City, at the Chen Residence.
Yang Xiu strode into the main hall of the Chen residence, holding a bowl of medicine. From some unknown time, all of Lu Bu's spies within the Chen residence had been withdrawn. Whether it was due to Lu Bu's trust in Chen Deng, or because disaster was imminent, these spies had gone to seek new prospects!
"Dezu, you've finally arrived…"
Upon seeing Yang Xiu, Chen Deng propped himself up. Due to several days of recuperation, his parasitic illness had greatly improved. He continued to lie in bed to deceive the public, allowing him to meet with Yang Xiu daily.
"Yuanlong…" Yang Xiu's tone was unusually solemn today. He walked up to Chen Deng and said, "Young Master Lu is making his move!"
"To divert the Si River and flood Xiapi City?" Chen Deng's brows furrowed, and he immediately asked.
However, as he uttered this question, his expression turned extremely grim.
As the former Commander of Agriculture in Xuzhou, others might not have understood the purpose of Cao Cao's army digging trenches. But Chen Deng, with a single glance, understood. This was to flood Xiapi, turning Lu Bu into a fish or shrimp in the water!
But…
This would be a great hardship for the common people of Xiapi City.
Chen Deng's face was exceptionally pallid. He had always been someone who cared deeply for the welfare of the people.
"No…" Yang Xiu waved his hand. "Initially, I also thought Young Master Lu intended to divert the Si River to flood Xiapi City. I didn't expect his goal to be otherwise!"
Hmm…
Hearing this, Chen Deng's eyes widened abruptly. "Then what?"
Yang Xiu beckoned, "Yuanlong, lean closer. I will explain it to you in detail! Not only must you participate in this action, but also…"
Under the quiet night sky, a moment of stillness!
A gentle breeze brushed by, the moonlight was clear and bright. Under the overcast weather, the premonition of impending wind and rain became increasingly evident. Within this pavilion of the Chen residence, faint sounds could be heard, like the chirping of insects, the croaking of frogs, and the calls of birds!
Everything was so serene, and beneath all this serenity, undercurrents were surging!
…
Xiapi City, the heavily guarded administrative office.
In the rear chamber of the back hall…
Lu Bu felt a headache. The memories of Chen Gong and their past experiences repeatedly flashed through his mind.
Each day, each moment.
How highly he had once valued Chen Gong, and how heartbroken he was now…
He had treated Chen Gong as his strategist, obeying his every plan. But in the end… in the end, he had been repaid with his "betrayal"!
With a "bang," Lu Bu slammed his fist heavily onto the desk.
"Damn it… damn it!"
Lu Bu said coldly, his mood exceptionally agitated.
And just then.
"Waa waa ya ya…" The crying of a little girl suddenly rang out. It turned out that Lu Bu's voice had been too loud, too resounding, scaring Lingju, who had already fallen asleep in the room.
"Waa waa waa…"
His little daughter's cries immediately made Lu Bu flustered.
"Hush, hush…" Diao Chan quickly picked up her daughter, pacing back and forth, as if to lull her back to sleep with this gentle sway.
These cries made Lu Bu's heart melt. "It's my fault, my fault… it's all my fault for being too loud and scaring Ju'er."
Diao Chan's exquisite face pouted slightly, and she said with a hint of melancholy, "Even if the General has something on his mind, you shouldn't scare Ju'er!"
*Phew*…
Lu Bu let out a long sigh. He wanted to help, to lend a hand, but asking this world-renowned fierce general to coax a baby, he didn't even know where to begin.
After a long silence, only the soft murmurs of "Hush, hush" from Diao Chan's pearly teeth could be heard.
Besides that, there were also the faint "thump, thump" sounds of her light steps as she moved.
Finally… Lingju fell asleep again. For a woman, the process of lulling a child to sleep was not easy.
"Be careful, Ju'er sleeps lightly. Walk slowly…" Diao Chan handed Lingju to a maidservant, giving her a subtle wink. The maidservant, understanding, quickly carried Lingju out of the pavilion, leaving this space for Lu Bu and Diao Chan.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
After confirming Lingju had been carried away, Diao Chan turned around and gracefully walked up to Lu Bu.
"General? Are you angry about Mr. Chen's matter?"
The news that Chen Gong was a traitor had spread like wildfire throughout the city. Diao Chan had naturally heard of it.
"Alas…" Hearing Diao Chan's question, Lu Bu let out a long sigh. "I didn't expect it would reach your ears. Who could have imagined Chen Gong would be such a villain with hidden intentions? From the very beginning, I… I was schemed against by him and Cao Cao!"
"Does the General perhaps misunderstand Mr. Chen?" Diao Chan blinked her large eyes. "Although… he is proud, uncooperative with many generals, and has even betrayed his lord before, but… if you say he harbored malicious intent when he was devising strategies for the General, then… I wouldn't believe it!"
What Diao Chan said was quite fair.
Chen Gong might be betraying Lu Bu under duress now, but… in the past, his schemes for Lu Bu did not seem to be fake!
Diao Chan continued, "Husband should really have a good talk with him; perhaps it would resolve the knot in your heart!"
Hearing this… Lu Bu shook his head.
"This knot may never be untied. Chen Gong is too arrogant; he doesn't put anyone in his eyes, including me, Lu Bu! He actually called me a brute, arrogant! Utterly arrogant!"
Recalling Chen Gong's words, Lu Bu's eyes narrowed tightly, his anger burning.
"Then what about the General? Isn't the General also arrogant?" Diao Chan said, trying to comfort him. "I, for one, think that the most arrogant person in this world is the General."
"General, think about it. Xiapi City is now under siege. Besides Mr. Chen, who else… who else can resolve this crisis?"
*Phew*…
Lu Bu exhaled lightly and closed his eyes. "Even if I open the city gates and surrender, I will never use Chen Gong again. It's just… it's just that I worry, I worry…"
What Lu Bu wanted to say was, he worried only for you, Diao Chan…
Who in the world didn't know that Cao Cao had a penchant for other men's wives!
When he attacked Yuan Shu, he took Yuan Shu's wife. He also forcibly took Lady Yin, the daughter-in-law of He Jin. It was rumored… he had also seen Diao Chan in the Situ's mansion… and had long coveted his beloved concubine. If… if he broke through the city, would he let Diao Chan go?
This was Lu Bu's greatest concern.
He had always been a family man, a man who doted on his wife. He wanted to protect his wife, even if he died in battle, so that his wife could live a good life. Yet, he could not tolerate Cao Cao's peculiar obsession. Lu Bu, unparalleled in his life, how could he wear the green hat?
Just then, Diao Chan's gentle and slow voice was heard again.
"Husband… isn't it over yet? Hold on, hold on a little longer… perhaps… perhaps there will be a turn of events?"
"If… if the situation becomes unavoidable, then Diao Chan guarantees to Husband that Diao Chan will absolutely not… live alone!"
*Phew*…
At this dawn, before the first light of day, no words could be more touching, no words could more genuinely stir a heart-warming feeling than Diao Chan's voice.
"Chan'er!" Lu Bu's eyes were filled with affection.
Everything was unspoken!
Everything also seemed predestined. In Lu Bu's eyes, the most correct thing he had done in his life was to kill that villain Dong Zhuo for Diao Chan!
If he had another chance, he would do the same.
If that day could come again, he would still deeply love Diao Chan!
Just then…
The sound of hurried footsteps was heard from outside the gate, followed immediately by Gao Shun's voice – "Marquis Wen… Cao Cao's army has moved! They are standing ready outside the city gates!"
Whoa…
This sentence directly made Lu Bu's eyes widen abruptly, and it cast a heavy shadow upon his heart.
They moved? They moved?
What was Cao Cao planning?
…
…
Outside Xiapi City, Cao Cao's army stood in formation. It seemed like tens of thousands of troops, but in reality, there was no sign of an attack!
Instead, a single person on horseback was slowly approaching the moat of Xiapi City.
A horse, entirely black, recognized by everyone in Cao's camp, this was Cao Cao's mount – the Jueying warhorse.
Legend had it that when it ran, even its shadow could not keep up.
And who else could be riding the horse but Cao Cao himself!
As dawn was just breaking, Cao Cao stood on the opposite bank of the moat. He was waiting, waiting for someone's arrival!
"Clang…"
The city gate opened, but the drawbridge was not lowered.
A person on horseback also appeared before everyone's eyes. However, this horse was much more imposing than Cao Cao's Jueying. Its entire body was the color of blazing coals, without a single mixed hair. It neighed and roared, as if about to soar into the sea. Anyone who saw it would instinctively recite – the sweat-blooded steed!
And its name was known to the world – Red Hare!
Red Hare among horses, Lu Bu among men. Who else could have ridden out of the city on Red Hare but Lu Bu himself!
Just then…
"Fengxian, a pleasure, a pleasure!" Cao Cao's voice was already heard.
"Mengde, the last time we met was at the Wen family garden in Luoyang City! It's truly been many years!" Lu Bu's voice was exceptionally loud. Even facing hundreds of thousands of Cao Cao's troops, he remained arrogant and showed no hint of timidity!
And the Wen family garden he mentioned was the "Wen Mingyuan" of the Northern Palace in Luoyang, where Dong Zhuo had carried out the matter of deposing and establishing emperors!
"Indeed!" Cao Cao said with a smile. "You and I meet again after a long absence, and it feels exceptionally warm!"
"Hmph…" Lu Bu snorted coldly. "Cao Mengde, to tell you the truth, I have already imprisoned Chen Gong, the spy you planted beside me. And my Xiapi City has fifty thousand Wolf Cavalry and a hundred days' worth of grain reserves!"
"As you can see, this Xiapi City, it is nine feet high, six feet thick, surrounded by the Si River on three sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack!"
Lu Bu's tone grew louder and louder with each sentence.
Although the fifty thousand Wolf Cavalry was a slight exaggeration, Cao Cao did not mind at all.
"Fengxian, I am not here today to listen to you say these things!" Cao Cao shouted with a smile. "I have come to catch up with you, my old friend!"
Over here…
Cao Cao and Lu Bu began to converse.
But in Cao Cao's camp, Liu Bei's eyes narrowed. He couldn't understand what medicine Cao Cao was selling in his gourd. The trenches had been dug so well, just waiting for a heavy rain to break open the Si River and flood Xiapi City. At that time, no matter how unparalleled Lu Bu was, he could not escape becoming a fish or shrimp in the water.
Why… were they talking here, wasting time?
Of course, what worried Liu Bei the most was that Lu Bu must not be persuaded to surrender!
If Cao Cao breached the Si River and flooded Xiapi City, then… the common people would suffer immensely, and in the future… this resentment would inevitably be directed towards Cao Cao.
And if he, Liu Bei, were to exert all his strength to rescue the people, he might gain great virtue and fame, which would lay the groundwork for his future comeback!
Indeed, just as Liu Bei thought!
If it followed the original course of history, Liu Bei would indeed find an opportunity, escape to Xiapi City, and make a comeback…
The reason for this was that Cao Cao's massacre and flooding of Xiapi had alienated the populace!
Liu Bei could easily control this place… adding many variables for Cao Cao!
However…
Now… Cao Cao's actions had deviated greatly from history. With the so-called butterfly effect, the allegiance of the people of Xuzhou was still uncertain!
"Second brother, what do you think Cao Cao is doing?"
Liu Bei actively asked Guan Yu beside him.
Before Guan Yu could reply, Zhang Fei blurted out, "What else could he be doing? Trying to persuade this three-surname slave to surrender! Lu Bu's original surname was Lu, then Ding, then Dong, and now Cao. It's nothing surprising; I'm already used to it."
Heh…
Zhang Fei's words, though crude, were not unreasonable!
Guan Yu nodded slightly. "Third brother is right. Lu Bu has recognized foster fathers more than once or twice. However… whether Cao Cao dares to be Lu Bu's foster father is another matter entirely!"
*Phew*…
Hearing this, Liu Bei let out a sigh. Deep down, he really didn't want Lu Bu to surrender to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was already troublesome enough, not to mention the help of the Hidden Dragon Lu Yu. If Lu Bu were added, then he, Liu Bei, might truly have no hope of a comeback!
But… how to get rid of Lu Bu?
Liu Bei's expression remained the same, but his heart began to pound incessantly!
Just then…
"Haha? Catching up?" Lu Bu's voice was heard again.
"Yes, to be honest with you." Cao Cao said with a smile. "Among the lords of the world, I fear no one except you, Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian. Among the lords of the world, I respect no one except the Eight Valiant Generals under your command, and the tens of thousands of Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry under your command."
Having said this, Cao Cao raised his eyes.
Indeed, many armored soldiers on the city wall had poked their heads out. It was obvious they had heard Cao Cao shouting these words at the top of his lungs and felt some unidentifiable relief and excitement.
And Cao Cao's words continued.
"Hahaha, in a word, I am both respectful and fearful of you, Lu Bu, and your generals!"
"Really?" Lu Bu's lips curved slightly. Being praised by Cao Cao like this, he indeed felt a little puffed up.
However… how could he know that Cao Cao's words were not spoken to him?
These were spoken by Cao Cao through his dialogue with him, to the Eight Valiant Generals, and to the tens of thousands of Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry!
This was what Lu Yu had proposed – the new psychological warfare hidden beneath the surface!
"Hahahaha, when has Cao Cao ever spoken falsely?"
Cao Cao continued to shout with a smile. "Think about it, ever since Dong Zhuo entered the capital, the heroes have been vying for power. Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, and I, Cao Cao, have successively established our own territories and become overlords. Yet, no one has been able to truly unify the realm! Why? Is it not because of you, Lu Fengxian, and your brave soldiers?"
"When you assisted Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo could dominate the capital. When you assisted Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu dared to proclaim himself emperor. When you assisted Liu Bei, you didn't even need to draw a sword; with just an arrow shot at the辕门 (Yuanmen), you could quell a crisis and bring peace with a single arrow!"
"You, Lu Fengxian, your Eight Valiant Generals, your tens of thousands of Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, are not merely famous in name! It is only you who have made me, Cao Cao, feel what it is to be unparalleled! What it is to be invincible in the world!"
You…
Cao Cao spared no praise for "you." He deliberately emphasized "you," not "him." This point was particularly significant.
With Lu Bu's intelligence, he would not grasp this layer. Currently, he was still completely unaware.
Of course…
With this speech…
Lu Yu in Cao Cao's camp heard it clearly. It was so overly affectionate that he didn't want to listen.
"Old Cao, Old Cao, that's enough…"
Lu Yu muttered quietly.
He pondered that yesterday Old Cao had asked him how to make the Eight Valiant Generals and the Bingzhou soldiers see his overtures of goodwill, to see his sincerity hidden beneath his disguise. In essence, it was one sentence: how to act?
Lu Yu's answer was also incisive – Old Cao, just act a little!
As an actor of "Oscar" caliber, Old Cao was beyond reproach in this regard, and Lu Yu had nothing more to teach!
And just then… Cao Cao's voice rose again.
– "From this, it can be seen! As long as the General, the Eight Valiant Generals, and the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry are willing to lend me, Cao Cao, a hand, then Cao Cao's great cause will surely succeed!"
– "Alas… over these years, your generals and cavalry have followed you on expeditions and campaigns, their positions unstable, eating when hungry, leaving when full, jumping back and forth among various lords!"
– "When others took you in, you in turn took their cities. When others wanted to kill you, relying on your bravery and the bravery of your Eight Valiant Generals and Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, they could not defeat you, and in the end, they were killed by you. Tell me, am I, Cao Cao, right! Haha…"
– "So… after much thought, rather than you and your soldiers suffering hardship, having inconsistent meals, and having no sense of belonging, and having to fight me, Cao Cao, to the death, resulting in mutual destruction! It would be better for me to take a risk. You join me. Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan feared you, were wary of you, but I do not fear you! Nor will I be wary of you! As long as we two join forces, as long as your Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry and my Qingzhou troops, and my Tiger and Leopard Cavalry join forces, and oh yes, join forces with the Dragon Cavalry, then the world will be within our grasp!"
Having said this, Cao Cao's tone became increasingly earnest.
– "Fengxian, listen carefully. I plan to hand over all the troops to you, including the Dragon Cavalry. You will be the Grand Marshal of the Three Armies, campaigning south and north, and I will provide you with provisions, military equipment, and yes, my most resourceful Lu Yu to devise strategies for you!"
– "I, Cao Cao, am not good at fighting battles, but you and Lu Yu are a combination of martial prowess and literary talent, one unparalleled, one with perfect foresight. Coupled with my Cao Cao's greatest strength, which is assisting the skilled warriors and assisting the strategists. In this way, you, your Eight Valiant Generals, and your tens of thousands of Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry will be stable! You will not have to live a life of constant worry every day, will you?"
"To be honest, with such troops as yours, I, Cao Cao, am not afraid at all, because you have no food! You have to rely on me for provisions. How can I worry about you rebelling, how can I worry about repeating the mistakes of Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan? Hahaha… Fengxian, come, bring your soldiers and join me, Cao Cao! Let us work together to seek the world!"
With these words spoken.
Cao Cao's eyes suddenly opened, his face filled with longing.
Not to mention…
Cao Cao's words truly moved Lu Bu.
Not only did he move, but the Eight Valiant Generals and the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry behind him on the city wall… everyone was moved!
The treasure was laid out before them…
The Yellow Turban Army of Yanzhou in the past was rebellious, living in the open, spurned by the world!
But after joining Cao Cao's camp, they transformed into Qingzhou soldiers. Not only were the lives of their families secured, but even every soldier became a soldier of the court!
Let alone achieving merit, at the very least they were official soldiers. When the common people discussed it, they would praise them repeatedly!
And now they…
And in the current situation, shouldn't they emulate the Yellow Turban Army of Yanzhou, join Cao Cao's camp, and wash away the infamy of rebels?
Coupled with Cao Cao's appreciation for them in his words.
It could be said that, except for Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and a few other generals, most of the generals were moved!
This was the life they yearned for!
"Cao Mengde, your words are very beautiful…" Lu Bu replied with a smile. "If Dong Zhuo had handed over his troops to me back then, he would have become emperor long ago!"
It was obvious that Lu Bu had become conceited…
Lu Yu saw it clearly and felt helpless, muttering inwardly, Could it be… he was overthinking this time?
Judging by the situation, Lu Bu was very likely to surrender directly!
This was a joyous occasion for all parties!
Where would the subsequent actions be?
"Yes, yes, yes… haha." Cao Cao continued to act wildly, continuing to employ his psychological tactics. "Dong Zhuo was foolish and did not recognize the General's value, but I, Cao Cao, am wise! No one in the world understands the General better than I do!"
"Fengxian, let us make peace! Ah… right here beneath the city gates, beside the Si River, let us swear a blood pact, slaughter a horse as a vow, and become brothers, what do you say?"
Hearing this, Lu Yu's lips curved upward. Judging by the momentum, he was about to agree.
Who would have thought that at this moment.
With a "whoosh," an arrow, like the breaking dawn, carrying a sharp gust of wind, shot towards Cao Cao!
"General, do not listen to Cao Aman's ghost talk! Has the General forgotten… the plight of Yuan Shu's wife and He Jin's daughter-in-law?"
The one who shot the arrow from the city wall, the one who shouted, was not one of the Eight Valiant Generals…
But a distinguished-looking man. Of course, his name was not important.
What was important was that the beauty of his wife was no less than that of Diao Chan!
Cao the villain loved other men's wives. He had a beauty at home. Others could surrender, but how could he dare to surrender? If he surrendered, his head would surely be covered in a vast expanse of green!
…
…