Chapter 43: The Eve of the Storm!

  "De Zhu, gently, gently, Father's wound hurts a lot!"

  "Father? Why won't you let the maid serve you? Do I have to personally apply medicine to your wound?"

  "De Zu, you are cleverer than others, but only have petty cleverness. Why would I be caught by Cao Cao?"

  Yang Xiu thought for a moment and said: "We have a marital relationship with the Yuan family, and it's natural that we are suspected by Cao Cao."

  "Think carefully about the situation when I was caught!"

  Yang Xiu began to recall the scene at that time. Yuan Shu's usurpation was something the Yang family knew about relatively early, because Yuan Shu and Yang Yi were in frequent correspondence. However, Yang Yi disapproved of Yuan Shu's actions, so he kept their exchange of letters a secret.

  When Cao sent someone to capture Yang Bi, it was very strange. He brought a letter written by Yuan Shu to Cao. What's strange is not that someone reported it, but how did such an important item as the letter end up in Cao's hands?

  "Does Father mean there's a traitor in our manor?"

  "De Zu, Cao will certainly send someone to spy on us, but what about Yuan Gonglu? Does he have anyone here with him? That's the key."

  Yang Xiu suddenly realized that Cao was using people to monitor the officials, this is certain. However, it's not necessarily Cao's men who intercepted the letter, there's a high possibility that Yuan Shu slandered Yang Bi and pulled the Yang family into the water as part of his strategy, this is the key point for the Yang family to defend against.

  "Father, I understand! Tomorrow, I will go and investigate the people in the mansion!"

  "Dezu, you have great talent and are wiser than others, but remember that extremes will always revert to the opposite, excessive cleverness is not desirable, from now on you should be more restrained."

  "Yes, Father!"

  Yang Biao and his son were having a secret conversation in the government office, while Liu Bei's mansion was filled with music and dance.

  "Zi Zhong? How is the green onion that Xuande cultivated himself? Can it enter Zi Zhong's mouth?"

  "Big brother, your dish is really delicious!" Zhang Fei took another bite and ate a big mouthful of the green vegetables.

  Liu Bei is having a dinner party in his mansion, the dishes are mostly grown by Liu Bei himself, and also obtained from hunting and fishing outside. The Liu Mansion has been lively every night for several days, and the spies monitoring Liu Bei are already too tired to keep up. Is Liu Bei going to rebel? Guo and Cheng gentlemen have overthought it!

  The lights in the Liu mansion gradually went out, and the scouts also returned to base. As usual, Liu Bei and others were drunk and sleeping in the main hall. The scouts had sent people to confirm several times, all with the same result.

  About an hour later, in the pitch-black Liu mansion hall, "Zi Zhong, Gong You?"

  "My lord!"

  In the pitch-black hall, one couldn't see their fingers when stretching out their hand, only revealing three rows of pearly white teeth.

  "Has Cao's man left?"

  "Yes, milord, rest assured, we've been observing for a long time and it's safe now!"

  "Alright, Zizhong, Gongyu, Cao is preparing to attack Yuan Shu. Let me follow the army, what do you two think?"

  "Your Excellency, Cao Cao's foundation is in Yan Province. It won't be easy to shake it. If we go somewhere else, perhaps there will be a glimmer of hope."

  "What does 'Zi Zhong' mean?"

  "My lord, Cao Cao's expedition against Yuan Shu this time will surely result in a great battle. As long as my lord fights with all his might, Cao Cao will certainly reward him generously, and when the time comes, my lord will have his chance."

  Liu Bei stroked his beard and nodded, saying: "Let's follow Zi Zhong's plan!"

  "We are all grain transport teams, transporting grain for the people, fighting against Yuan Shu, fighting against Yuan Shu!"

  Cao Cao ordered Lü Bu to work with Xu Huang to transport grain and fodder. As the saying goes, "The three armies do not move without grain and fodder", calculating the supply and demand of grain and fodder is very important. Lü Bu was mainly responsible for checking and recording the grain and fodder, which was a piece of cake for Lü Bu who had modern mathematical knowledge.

  After finishing the inventory of grain and fodder, Lü Rui rode his own small horse (this was a good horse, Cao Ang's Jueying breed, Xiao Jueying, with a decent speed, symmetrical body, shiny black coat, handsome!) and headed to Chenjun with Xu Huang. Along the way, nothing out of the ordinary happened, and they arrived in Chenjun safely.

  "See the master!" Hehe, on the battlefield, one still has to call him "master", not in the Si Kong Fu, Zhong Fu can't be called anymore, and Lü Rui's age is already twelve years old, considered a big boy!

  Cao nodded and said: "General Xu and Colonel Lü are tired, let's go down and rest first!"

  "Awesome!" Huh? Lü Shangjun? It's a bit twisted, but Shangjun? From now on, the youngest Shangjun in Great Wei will be me! Twelve years old, although I won't be like Gan Luo being enfeoffed as a noble, having a Shangjun isn't bad either!

  Lü Bu ate something in the military camp and returned to the main account. As a participant, he also had to listen to military affairs. "Hehe, Master, disciple is here!" Seeing Guo Jia in the account, Lü Bu naturally leaned over, mainly because there were snacks in front of Guo Jia, which was Lü Bu's favorite!

  "Don't finish off all my things, these were bestowed upon me by our master, leave some!"

  "Come on, Master! You're so petty? I've already returned the permit, and I'm willing to compensate you double!"

  "Lord Cao, the vanguard of Yuan's army has been defeated by us, please move your troops!"

  Isn't it? This isn't Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, when did Cao Cao become Lord Cao? Such respect? Right, how did the two of them end up sacrificing themselves for Old Cao? Where did Liu Bei go?

  Cao looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and said: "General Guan, General Zhang, you have worked hard. The two of you go rest first, the Imperial Chancellor will reward you himself!"

  "Thank you, Lord Cao!" With that, the two men bowed and withdrew.

  It's too weird! Zhang Fei and Guan Yu serving under Cao Cao? This is a bit of a reversal of the three views, isn't it? Unacceptable! There must be some hidden plot. Thinking of this, Lü Rui asked: "Master, who are they?"

  Guo Jia glanced at Lü Yi and said, "Lü'er, Liu Bei's three brothers have been the vanguard of the main force since they entered Chen Commandery. They have achieved many military merits, as if to gain the trust of our lord?"

  Listening to Guo Jia's uncertain tone, Lü Bu also felt strange. Liu Bei wants to gain Cao Cao's trust? This behavior is a bit bizarre!

  Lü Bu looked at the main account and asked: "Master, where did Liu Bei go?"

  Guo Jia shook his head and said: "I'm not clear. Half a month ago, Liu Bei led his personal troops to pursue the remnants of Yuan Shu's army, but I don't know where they are now."

  What? Liu Bei has disappeared? What's going on?

  Just as Lü Bu was deep in thought, a blood-soaked Liu Bei burst in and saluted with his fist: "Lord Cao!"

  Everyone was stunned, and Cao went forward to help Liu Bei up, saying: "Why are you like this, Xuande?"

  After that, Liu Bei told his experience. After chasing the remnants of Yuan Shu's army into Yuzhou, he encountered a group of Yellow Turban remnants. Liu Bei led his men to fight against the Yellow Turbans and it took half a month to annihilate them before returning to the main camp with his troops.

  Cao Cao was overjoyed after hearing this, and praised Liu Bei as a loyal and brave warrior. He personally offered wine to Liu Bei. Lü Bu looked at Liu Bei, feeling that there was something strange about him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. With doubts in his mind, he kept a close eye on Liu Bei.

  The Battle of Chen Guan ended soon, and Cao Cao rewarded Liu Bei's meritorious service by appointing him as the Governor of Yu Province and ordering him to garrison at Pei County. Meanwhile, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang because his scouts reported that Zhang Yang in Wan City was making suspicious movements.

  Lü Bu monitored Liu Bei for a long time, but didn't find anything. He followed Cao Cao back to Xuchang and prepared for the upcoming war, the Battle of Wan City, which was crucial for Cao Cao!