Chapter 15: Cao and Zhang form an alliance through marriage, Xuchang is in turmoil!

  "General Cao Ren requests an audience, sir!" a soldier from Wan City reported to Zhang Liao.

  "Yes, General Cao, please wait in the main hall, I'll be right there!"

  "Yes, General!"

  "Wen He and Cao Ren have come here, what is their purpose?" Zhang Xiu asked Jia Xu.

  Jia Xu cupped his hands and said: "I report to the General, this is a good thing. It means that Cao has already agreed to take Zou Shi as his wife and sent Cao Ren to announce it. He is willing to accept the General's surrender!"

  "Will Cao really surrender willingly? If I go to Xuchang, won't I be...?" Zhang Liao made a throat-slitting gesture after finishing speaking.

  "Hahaha!" Jia Yu heard Zhang Hua's words and burst out laughing loudly.

  "General, Cao Gong is in Xudu serving the Emperor with imperial orders, how could he do such a thing? General, you went to Xudu to surrender to the court, holding great righteousness, would Cao Gong dare to harm you?"

  "Hmm, then General went to Xudu, should...?"

  "General, Cao Gong is the most powerful man of the current era. Now that Zou Shi is about to become Cao Gong's wife, Jia Xu advises you, General, that once you arrive at Xudu, you will have to surrender to both Han and Cao!"

  "Going back to Han again and then going back to Cao?"

  "Not bad, General, you were once a hero with great ambitions, but if you harbor any treacherous thoughts in Xudu, it would be a crime punishable by the extinction of your entire clan... I implore you to think thrice!"

  "Ah...?" A little embarrassed that her thoughts had been seen through by Jia Yu, Zhang Xiang's face turned slightly red.

  "General, now you are the son of Zou's family. After entering the mansion, you are just Cao Gong's nominal son. If you serve Cao with loyalty, you will surely get wealth and honor for your whole family!"

  "Good! General Zhang will heed Wen He's words and surrender the city to Cao. I will serve Cao with loyalty." Zhang Xiu slapped his thigh and stood up.

  "General, you're brilliant!"

  "Wenhe bids farewell to General!" After finishing speaking, Jia Xu kneeled down and made a big bow to Zhang Xiu.

  "Wenhe, what's going on with you...?"

  "General, after entering Xuchang, relying on my humble abilities, Cao Gong will surely summon me to the mansion. I bid you farewell, General!"

  "Alas, Wenhe is a great talent. My uncle and I knew early on that we couldn't keep him here. We hope he can make the most of his abilities at the Caiyun Prefecture..." Zhang Xiang said with a tinge of sadness.

  "Thank you, General!"

  Zhang Hua and Cao Ren met, discussed the specific matters, arranged for Cao Ren to stay at the post station, and three days later brought Wen Wu and the army to Xudu.

  "Gong Da? When will Zhang Xiu's army arrive?" Cao led the civil and military officials to welcome Zhang Xiu outside the city of Xu Du.

  "My lord, according to the scout's report, Zhang Xiu's large army has already crossed the River Xu and should arrive soon."

  "Hmm!" Cao nodded his head.

  "Hah...hah, it's getting late!" Lü Rui rubbed his own nose. Where was Zhang Xiang? He had already waited for an hour. Old Cao, if you want to win people over, there's no need to put on such a show. Arriving a little earlier would be better! An hour is too long!

  Just as Lü Bu was getting impatient, Zhang Liao's troops finally appeared in the distance, and soon a fully armed Zhang Liao arrived at the west gate of Xuchang.

  "Zhang Xiu pays his respects to Lord Cao!" Zhang Xiu dismounted his horse and paid homage as soon as he saw Cao.

  "General Zhang, please get up quickly, I have been waiting for a long time!" Cao hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhang Chao up.

  "Thank you, Sir Sikong!" Zhang Hua bowed with his fist in return.

  "Good! General Zhang will follow me into the city, and I will host a banquet to welcome him!" After finishing speaking, Cao led Zhang's hand into Xuchang City, with the rest of the officials and military officers following behind.

  "See Lord Sikong!" In the evening, Cao held a dinner party at the Sikong Mansion for Zhang Chao.

  "Everyone, get up!" Cao patted his hand, signaling everyone to rise.

  "Thank you, Sir!"

  "Today, Japan's Si Kong is hosting a banquet for General Zhang Heng, thanking everyone for coming. Please invite General Zhang Heng!"

  "Please welcome General Zhang Xiu!" The housekeeper shouted loudly, and Zhang Xiu appeared on stage in casual clothes.

  "Zhang Xiu pays his respects to Lord Cai!"

  "General Zhang needn't be too polite, this banquet is a private gathering, General Zhang can call me by my style name!"

  "Zhang Hua did not dare, and still addressed Lord Cao as 'Duke Cao'!"

  "Alright, General Zhang, please take your seat!"

  Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao finished their dinner and began to enjoy the singing and dancing. A dance piece came to an end.

  Cao Cao looked at Zhang Liao and asked: "General Zhang, what's this dance tune?"

  "Magnificent and moving, there are many singing girls in the Weiyuan Mansion! The Sikuang Mansion is indeed a place where dragons and tigers lie hidden!"

  "General Zhang was polite, and Zhai Gong met with General Zhang as if they had known each other for a long time. They regretted not meeting earlier. Zhai Gong had an idea in his mind, but he didn't know whether General Zhang would agree to it."

  "Sir, you must be joking. If there's something that needs to be done, please let me know and I'll do my best to accomplish it."

  "General Zhang will definitely make it happen!"

  "I've heard that General Zhang has a daughter and a son?"

  "That's right! In Mr. Siku's household, sons are superior and daughters inferior!"

  "Does General Cao ask about my children...?" Zhang Xiu looked at Cao with a bewildered expression, wondering why he was asking about his children.

  "General Zhang, Cao has a son named Jian, who is now of marriageable age. Cao wants to form an alliance with the General through the union of their children. I wonder if the General would be willing..."

  "What...?" Zhang Xiu was stunned, Cao Cao wants to form an alliance through marriage? He had thought that Cao Cao's intention of winning him over was just to grant him a title and reward him with wealth, but in the end it turned out to be forming an alliance through marriage?

  "Director Cao is showing you favor, how can you possibly refuse?" Zhang Liao also wasn't a fool, Old Cao has taken a liking to you, aren't you going to go along with it?

  "Congratulations to Sir Cao on getting a wonderful daughter-in-law!"

  "Good! Good! Rui'er, invite Jun'er out and meet Father-in-law!"

  "Yes, Uncle!" Lü Rui nodded and went down to invite Cao Jun.

  Cao Jun and Zhang Liao then exchanged courtesies, and Zhang Liao was very pleased. Cao let Cao Jun stay under Zhang Liao's seat to pour wine for him.

  Cao Jun had just appeared when Zou Shi followed closely behind.

  "Mrs. Zou is here!" The butler shouted loudly, and Mrs. Zou walked out with the support of her maid.

  "See Sir Cao!"

  "Take a seat!"

  "Thank you, Sir!"

  Seeing Zou's arrival, Zhang Xiu felt a bit awkward and hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should pay his respects.

  "Cough, cough!" Jia Yu hastily coughed twice. Zhang Huan looked at Jia Yu and knew that he was reminding himself that Zou Shi was now equivalent to his own mother!

  "My child pays respects to her mother. Mother has been in Xudu for a long time, and my child has missed you so much!" Zhang Xiang said, performing a filial piety ritual towards Zou Shi.

  "Sun'er Zhang Quan has seen his grandmother!" Zhang Xiang's son also paid respects to Mrs. Zou!

  Everyone saw Zhang Xiu giving a courtesy to Zou Shi and couldn't help but hold back their laughter. What's with these three people? Mother, son, grandson? It's too ridiculous!

  Seeing Zhang Xiu's embarrassed expression, Cao Cao finally revealed a smile and said a few words to mediate the situation, allowing the banquet to continue.

  At night, most people in the Cao Mansion had gone to bed early due to the banquet. Lü Bu was very alert and was studying the celestial phenomena in the courtyard. Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace, Emperor Xian of Han was listening to Dong Cheng's secret report. Dong Cheng was passionately recounting the meeting between Cao Cao and Zhang Yang to Liu Xie, occasionally using gestures.

  Liu Xie listened to Dong Cheng's description, his face becoming increasingly unsightly. He slammed the table and rebuked: "Zhang Yi...! Actually formed a marital alliance with Cao Cao, even became Cao Cao's fake son, without considering his age?"

  Looking at the teacup that was knocked to the ground by Emperor Xian's long sleeves, Dong Cheng clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Cao now controls the imperial court, we should not act rashly!"

  "What's going on, Dong Cheng? Am I supposed to endure this...? Wasn't Zhang Yang's arrival supposed to be an opportunity? But where is the opportunity now?" Liu Xie glared at Dong Cheng in anger. He had originally thought that he could take advantage of the relationship between Zhang Yang and Cao Cao to regain power, but now everything had failed!

  "What...? Forgive me, Your Majesty, I am incompetent!" Dong Cheng only nodded his head and knelt down.

  "Alas, Guozhong......? I'm not blaming you, it's just that my mood is not clear."

  "Your Majesty, I am deeply worried, please take care of your dragon body!"

  Liu Xie sat back on the dragon throne, nodded and said: "National General, how is the preparation for the bloody edict going?"

  "Your Majesty, this matter is proceeding very smoothly. The imperial edict has been drafted and only needs Your Majesty's signature in blood. I will deliver the letter for you to punish the rebels!"

  "Alright, good, very good, thank you for your hard work, go ahead!"

  "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

  After Dong Cheng withdrew, Emperor Xian asked the eunuchs beside him: "Do you think Zhang Yang is truly loyal to Cao Cao?"

  One heart, Liu Xie's newly appointed personal eunuch, was new to the palace, and had a lot of wisdom. Liu Xie had a discerning eye for talent and recruited him to follow himself.

  "One heartedly, he cupped his hands and said: 'Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking bluntly. Zhang Liao has indeed truly surrendered to Cao Cao this time. Cao Cao's skill in handling people is far superior to yours!'"

  "Alas, Ah Xin, tell me, how is Cao stronger than me?"

  "Your Majesty should not have treated Lord Dong that way earlier. Lord Dong has worked hard for Your Majesty, with both toil and achievement, yet instead of being praised, he was rebuked, which is truly unjust!"

  "How can Cao be more brilliant than I?"

  "Earlier, Lord Dong explicitly stated that at the Cao family banquet, they would first welcome Zhang Hua's daughter with a warm reception and form an alliance through marriage, and then Zou Shi would pay his respects. This move elevated Your Majesty's prestige greatly!"

  "The young lady's family, the family of her husband, first stabilizes Zhang Lu's heart with gentle words, then uses the Zhōu family to meet and strike at Zhang Lu. First raising and then suppressing, one tightens and then loosens, the art of controlling people can be seen as brilliant!"

  "Cao...? Still quite capable!" Liu Xie thought of his past dealings with Cao and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

  "Your Majesty...?"

  "With one heart, you said the matter of the blood edict will it succeed or not?"

  "This... I dare not say for certain... is this a plan devised by Your Majesty?"

  "Without your reminder, I might not have thought of it!"

  "It's just a temporary luck for a small person!" Liu Xie smiled and looked at him with a chuckle.

  "Alright, be careful, go down now, I am also tired!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  Yi Xin returned to his own room, gazing at the sky and letting out a cold laugh. At this moment, Yi Xin's voice was that of a majestic man!

  "The Great Han's aura has not dissipated yet...?! Your Majesty's imperial star is still shining so brightly...?! But with your intelligence, it's impossible!"

  The courtyard of the Si Kong Fu, Lü Rui's residence. Lü Rui is also gazing at the starry sky, heh heh, it's too beautiful! So many stars shining in the sky, truly a place where talented people gather, a hundred wonders and strange phenomena? Indeed useful, astrology isn't just talk!

  "Huh......? What is this......? A hidden dragon star.......? Another hidden dragon star?"

  "This one is Liu Bei's, this one is Zhongfu's, this one is Cao Ang's, this one is Xiao Pizi's, this one is Xiao Chongchong's... ...and there's still one more? Could it be that Xu Du still has the potential to become an emperor...?" Lu Rui was stunned and felt a little uneasy in his heart. Who exactly... ...was the Hidden Dragon Star?