“Haha…” Chen Gong smiled faintly and said loudly. “Now that Yanzhou’s troops are elite and provisions are ample, we have no chance of resisting head-on. However… what if Cao Cao’s main force is drawn away, and he loses the hearts of Yanzhou’s clans?”
“Drawn away?” Lü Bu was startled…
“Exactly. If Cao Cao leads his troops to attack Xuzhou, Yanzhou will inevitably be empty,” Chen Gong continued…
Uh… Lü Bu had a feeling.
Either his intelligence was completely insufficient, or… Chen Gong was talking nonsense!
Cao Cao had finally stabilized the situation. At this time, even a fool would know to conserve strength. Why would he take the initiative to attack?
“Sir? Are you perhaps muddled by haste?” Lü Bu asked in return.
“Muddled? Haha, I have never been clearer than I am now!” Chen Gong waved his hand, smiling, and continued to explain, “Under normal circumstances, Cao Cao would naturally not attack Xuzhou. But what if Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, and Cao Cao’s brother, Cao De, die at the hands of Tao Qian, the Governor of Xuzhou?”
This…
Lü Bu scratched his head. “Sir, your words are even more perplexing. Although Tao Qian belongs to Yuan Shu’s faction, he has always adhered to the principle of ‘offend not, and I shall not offend.’ Why would he provoke Cao Cao?”
“Haha…” Chen Gong laughed heartily. “This is even simpler. We can make Cao Cao offend Tao Qian…”
“Fengxian, you probably don’t know yet? Among the envoys Cao Cao sent to the imperial court is a renowned scholar from Yanzhou, named ‘Bian Rang’! This person has close ties with the Yanzhou clans and is also on very good terms with Tao Qian, the Governor of Xuzhou. If we disguise ourselves as Cao Cao’s subordinates and kill him… and then spread the news…”
Uh…
With Chen Gong’s words going this far, even Lü Bu, whose mind was as foggy as a marsh, could grasp the connection.
At this moment, Chen Gong’s words continued.
“By disguising ourselves as Cao Cao’s subordinates and killing Bian Rang, Cao Cao will lose the hearts of Yanzhou’s clans, and Tao Qian, the Governor of Xuzhou, will surely become Cao Cao’s enemy. And Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, happens to be in Xuzhou… on his territory, under Tao Qian’s jurisdiction!”
“Even if Tao Qian is a good-tempered man, he won’t stand idly by when a close friend is wrongfully killed. His anger will naturally be directed at Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song. If we make a move at this time and Cao Song meets with an accident… Cao Cao will undoubtedly lead his troops to crusade, regardless of the cost, and then… our opportunity will come!”
Hoo… Lü Bu exhaled a long breath.
At this moment, he was stunned.
One breath, two breaths… a full ten breaths later, Lü Bu’s eyes widened abruptly!
And in his heart, there were only four words: This plan is feasible!
Kill Bian Rang and frame Cao Cao, causing Cao Cao to incur the wrath of the masses;
Either through Tao Qian’s hand, or by our own hands, kill Cao Song… to further provoke Cao Cao’s fury, allowing us to benefit from their conflict!
In an instant, Lü Bu’s mind became clear.
Brilliant!
Chen Gongtai’s strategy of framing others and using others to kill was so subtle yet so deadly effective!
This Chen Gongtai truly lived up to his reputation as Lü Bu’s strategist!
With this thought, Lü Bu cupped his hands and bowed.
“Sir, you are truly talented… I shall arrange it immediately and ensure that Bian Rang dies a spectacular death, known to all under heaven!”
“This matter is entrusted to Lord Wen!”
Chen Gong replied, then stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing, a sharp glint suddenly appearing in his pupils, like a needle concealed in a pouch.
…
…
Yanzhou, Shouzhang County.
One winter passed, and Cheng Yu remained in this small county town, serving as the humble Magistrate of Shouzhang.
Of course, he was unaware that a few months prior, his act of sun-drying human jerky had been discovered by some scholars and reported to Cao Cao, who was determined to punish him severely. However, this matter was ultimately suppressed by Cao Cao.
Nonetheless… this incident had disrupted Cao Cao’s original plans.
The document appointing Cheng Yu as a Cavalry Commander and assigning him to the Dragon Soaring Cavalry, which had just been issued, was recalled by Cao Cao.
It was not until today, when winter had passed and spring arrived, with all things reviving… Yanzhou’s granaries were abundant, and Cheng Yu’s “trivial past matters” were gradually forgotten.
And at this moment, the transfer document, delayed for several months, began its journey once more.
However, Cheng Yu’s mood today was somewhat complicated.
He could understand Cao Cao’s past praise for him, but… he also knew the burdens and difficulties Cao Cao faced in governing a province.
It seemed that an official like himself, with a “previous record,” would find it difficult to be accepted by the Yanzhou clans, let alone be entrusted with important responsibilities.
It appeared that his ideals and ambitions could only be buried in this small county town of Shouzhang.
What’s more, he could be dismissed at any moment, as the act of “eating human flesh” had indeed generated a significant amount of animosity.
Finally, the document arrived…
The document he had waited for all winter had arrived.
But… to his surprise, he was not dismissed. Instead, he was… promoted to Cavalry Commander and joined the Dragon Soaring Cavalry…
“Dragon Soaring Cavalry?” Cheng Yu murmured to himself. “It seems… to be Lu Yu’s thousand-man cavalry unit, led by General Cao Xiu!”
He recalled some information about the Dragon Soaring Cavalry…
It seemed that Lord Cao attached great importance to the Dragon Soaring Cavalry, and many weapons and armor forged from fine steel were preferentially sent to them!
Cheng Yu suddenly felt, could it be… that he was being promoted?
The crucial point was, had his previous reckless “feat” just been buried like this?
Silently and without a trace?
Cao Hong was the one who came to Shouzhang County to deliver the appointment document to Cheng Yu. After reading the appointment, Cao Hong gave Cheng Yu a strange look…
Cheng Yu immediately understood. General Cao Hong… subordinates usually had to show some deference when meeting him.
At once…
He took out a bag of five-zhu coins and handed it to Cao Hong. “General Cao, thank you for your hard work. This is a small token of my appreciation.”
“What do you mean? What do you mean by this?” Cao Hong pushed it back, completely refusing. “Who do you take me for? Am I that kind of person? Take it, take it…”
Uh…
Cheng Yu was a little bewildered. He felt Cao Hong was joking.
Everyone in Cao’s camp knew that if anyone said “Cao Hong is not greedy,” it would surely be a great joke.
Wait…
Cheng Yu suddenly thought of something. It must be that Cao Hong felt the amount was too small. He quickly took another bag of five-zhu coins from the room and handed both bags to Cao Hong again.
Now, his position was awkward. Although his past actions were well-intentioned, they were easily attacked.
Although he disdained private exchanges in officialdom, it was a last resort to protect himself.
“What’s wrong with you? I said I don’t want it, and I don’t want it…” Cao Hong flicked his sleeves. “I am a man of integrity, not the person you imagine!” As he spoke, Cao Hong put his hands into his sleeves, making it clear that he would not extend his hand, and Cheng Yu could not give it to him!
Uh… Cheng Yu felt that the world had gone mad.
Cao Hong was no longer greedy for money. Damn it, in a single winter, everything had changed!
“General Cao… this…” Cheng Yu frowned…
“Haha…” But at this moment, Cao Hong burst out laughing, patting Cheng Yu on the shoulder. “Sima Cheng, do you know… what Young Master Lu Yu wants you to do when you go to the Dragon Soaring Cavalry?”
Uh… what?
Cavalry Commander… this military position was roughly equivalent to an advisor, wasn’t it? If he were an advisor, Cheng Yu felt he was more than capable.
“Am I to advise Young Master Lu?” Cheng Yu immediately asked in return.
“Lu Yu’s brain… doesn’t need your advice!” Cao Hong waved his hand and said meaningfully, “Sima Cheng, I didn’t realize it before. When did you get on good terms with that kid Lu Yu? You’re going to rise from now on! When that time comes, don’t forget your old brother!”
Saying that, Cao Hong took out a bag of gold from his bosom and stuffed it into Cheng Yu’s hand!
What… what was going on?
Cao Hong was actually giving away money?
Wait, what did he just say?
Rise? Going to rise? Which rise… as in “rise to prominence”? Cheng Yu couldn’t help but start imagining things…
Of course, at this moment, he didn’t know that the Chinese language was profound and extensive. The word “发” (fā) not only meant prosperity but also had a most important interpretation: to excavate! Thus, the term “发丘中郎将” (fāqiū zhōnglángjiàng) and “发丘令” (fāqiū lìng)!
Lu Yu intended to give the name “Ghost’s Bane” to Cheng Yu…
Hu Bayi’s ancestor must have the surname “Cheng”!
…
…