Three Kingdoms' Great Agent

  Two figures walked slowly forward in the wind and rain.

  The old woman glanced at the carriage not far away from her with a slanted eye, shook her head slightly, and walked while muttering to herself: "Son, it's all because of me that you're suffering like this. If I weren't this old woman, you wouldn't have suffered such great hardships." She paused for a moment, turned her head to see the young man with a face full of rainwater and drenched clothes, his eyes filled with kindness yet also containing unspoken bitterness.

  She repeatedly advised the young man to move his bamboo umbrella so that he wouldn't get rained on, but her advice was to no avail.

  Having this good son, I am both delighted and distressed in my heart.

  The young man smiled, wiping the rain from his face with a relaxed expression. "Don't worry, Mother, I'm strong and healthy, it doesn't bother me at all. This hot day's rain is actually enjoyable, refreshing and comfortable."

  "Nonsense, who enjoys getting rained on?"

  The old woman glared at the young man, and immediately, the young man nodded in agreement.

  The young man took a deep breath and said: "It's also because I'm useless, making my mother suffer with me."

  The old woman's face showed a proud expression, and she said disdainfully: "Who dares to say that my son is incompetent? I, an old woman, would fight with him to the death. My son achieved success at a young age, becoming the Gong Cao of Jingzhao Prefecture at 20 years old, and concurrently serving as the County Magistrate of Zheng County. Who has such ability like my son? Not long after taking office, he was again promoted through the filial piety and integrity system, becoming the Han Zhong Fu Cheng. In all the places where he worked, everyone praised him, everyone admired and respected him."

  The young man shook his head and said, "Mother, those are all things of the past."

  The old woman disagreed even more, saying loudly: "What's past is past! No one can deny it."

  The young man smiled and didn't respond.

  The old woman suddenly changed her tone and said: "As a filial son like you, even if I die soon, it's worth it. But there's one thing that's hard to accept - at the age of 26 or 27, because of my burden, you still haven't married. Once we settle down in Liaodong, you must marry and have children to carry on the Du family line. Only then can I close my eyes and go see your father."

  "Mother at ease, son will naturally follow."

  A look of embarrassment flashed across the young man's face, his family situation was not easy!

  "Achoo!!"

  The young man suddenly let out a sneeze, his nose turned sour, and a small amount of clear nasal mucus flowed out. His body suddenly felt a chill, and he couldn't help but shiver all over. But the strong wind and heavy rain washed away the snot on his face in an instant.

  The old woman's face showed a worried look, and she hastily said: "Is it because of the cold wind? Alas, I told you to hold the umbrella yourself. The old lady won't live for much longer, what's the point of taking care of me... Quick, quick, you hold the umbrella to block the rain..."

  This made the old woman anxious.

  Old Du's family has only this one child, if he gets sick it will be a big problem.

  The young man's expression was calm and composed, his hand holding the umbrella didn't move at all, continuing to hold the umbrella for the old woman. "Don't worry, Mother, I just have an itchy nose, nothing serious. Let's keep walking and see if there are any villages ahead where we can take shelter from the rain."

  The old woman knew her son was stubborn and stopped persuading him, trying to speed up their pace instead.

  "Wait for two people!"

  A crisp sound echoes in the rain.

  The old woman didn't hear the voice, but the young man heard it clearly. After seeing the person approaching, he carefully supported the old woman and stopped, then looked at Xiaohao, who was wearing a raincoat and a conical hat, and asked: "Young brother, what's the matter with you stopping me?"

  Xiao Hao smiled and said, "The heavy rain is not conducive to traveling. My young master invites you two to take shelter in the carriage and wait for the rain to stop before continuing on your journey."

  The young man's face showed gratitude and he hastily said: "Thank you, little brother, please!"

  Xiao Hao led the young man and the old woman to the carriage where Guo Yu and Princess Guo were sitting. Xiao Hao waved his hand and said, "This young master, this carriage is for female relatives to ride in. It's good that Grandma has someone to accompany her."

  The young man was deeply moved and said: "Brother is so considerate, I'm extremely grateful."

  At this moment, the young man helped the old woman onto the horse-drawn carriage.

  He saw that the two little girls were sitting in the carriage, and he felt even more at ease. When he arrived at Wang Lei's carriage, the young man put away his bamboo umbrella, sat on the carriage shaft to squeeze out the rainwater from his clothes, and then got into the carriage. Compared to outside the carriage, the inside of the carriage had a warm atmosphere, and he couldn't help but let out a sneeze, apologizing: "The sudden rain came too quickly, my clothes are not tidy, I hope you can forgive me for being rude."

  The old man still closed his eyes and meditated, seemingly unaware of the arrival of the visitor.

  Wang Lei gently shook his head and smiled: "Sir, your filial piety is so great that it touches the heavens and moves the earth, making people admire you." Although the person in front of him was disheveled due to the heavy rain, he had a heroic air about him, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding an elegant and refined demeanor that Wang Lei couldn't imitate.

  So Wang Wei respectfully addressed him as "Mr."

  The visitor's face turned cold, and Wang Lei took out a set of clothes. "Sir, you're soaked to the bone. Continuing to wear wet clothes will inevitably lead to catching a cold. My clothes are too big and won't fit you, so I can only offer you Grandfather's clothes to change into. I hope you don't mind."

  The young man took the clothes and shook his head repeatedly, saying: "Sir, you have given me a place to avoid the rain, which is already a great kindness. Now you are giving me a set of clothes, truly a compassionate heart. I am Du Qi from under the capital, thank you sir for your help."

  Wang Lei was taken aback and asked tentatively: "But isn't Du Ke also a Marquis?"

  Du Qi was taken aback and said: "Does the young master know me?"

  Wang Lei's eyes were filled with a warm smile as he said slowly and calmly, "As the descendant of Duke Du Bo, you have exceptional talent, your filial piety moves heaven, and your name is renowned throughout the land. I am somewhat familiar with this."

  Historical records show that Du Gui was also known as Bo Hou, a native of Duling in Jingzhao.

  Du Gui was 20 years old when he started his official career, serving as the Gong Cao of Jingzhao County and concurrently as the county magistrate of Xingyang. He was later promoted to be the Fu Cheng of Hanzhong Prefecture. After surrendering to Cao Cao, Du Gui served as the Si Kong Si Zhi, Hu Qiang Jiao Wei, and Xi Ping Tai Shou, before being transferred to be the He Dong Tai Shou. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi, Du Gui was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fengle Ting, and rose to the position of Shangshu Puye. Unfortunately, he died in office at the age of 62.

  Xu Shu, a strategist under Cao Cao, praised him as "brave enough to face great difficulties". Chen Shou, the author of Records of the Three Kingdoms, also recorded: "Xu was in Hedong for sixteen years and was always the best in the world."

  His talent is outstanding and can be called a sage.

  Such a person who is crucial at a critical moment, Wang Lei's memory of him is particularly deep.

  Old Master Du opened his sleepy eyes, and a hint of sharpness flashed in them.

  This kid knows the person in front of him again.

  Du Gui smiled awkwardly, clasped his fists and said: "I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself in front of you, my actions are not worth mentioning." But on Du Gui's face, a hint of pride appeared, his ancestors Du Zhou and Du Yannian were famous figures recorded in the "Records of the Grand Historian" and "Book of Later Han", with illustrious names. It was precisely because of this that Wang Lei called him a noble descendant, which coincidentally made Du Gui feel good.

  By the time of Du Qi's father's generation, the Du family no longer had anyone serving as officials and had become an ordinary household. Du Qi's mother passed away early, and his father remarried a cruel stepmother. Not long after, Du Qi's biological father passed away, and the stepmother was vicious, making things difficult for young Du Qi in every way, forcing him to do all sorts of dirty and hard work, suffering under his stepmother's bullying. In such an environment, not only did Du Qi not harbor resentment, but he became even more filial.

  Time passed and Du Qi finally moved his mother-in-law, with a harmonious family where the mother was kind and the son was filial.

  Du Ke started his career at the age of 20, serving as a Gong Cao in Jingzhao Prefecture and later as the magistrate of Zheng County. He was then promoted to be the Han Zhong Fu Cheng. Due to the outbreak of war, Du Ke resigned from office and left Hanzhong with his mother, planning to take refuge in Liaodong.

  Update 1