Chapter 43: The Swindling Group's First Move

  Chen Liu's Wei family is not the same as the Hedong Wei family, they just share the same surname. The Hedong Wei family, also known as the Anyi Wei family, was a prominent aristocratic clan in the late Eastern Han dynasty. It's possible that many people don't know about them, but they produced a famous figure - Cai Wenji's husband, Wei Zhongdao. He died young and didn't even make it to their wedding chamber, truly the greatest tragedy of all time!

  The Wei family of Chenliu was naturally inferior to the Wei family of Hedong, as they were merchants and far from being a match for the Wei family of Hedong in terms of status. However, in terms of wealth, the Wei family of Chenliu could leave the Wei family of Hedong far behind. Although they couldn't be considered one of the largest merchant families of the Eastern Han, not being a match for the Mi family of Xuzhou or the Zhen family of Jizhou, the Wei family of Chenliu could still rank among the top after these two families.

  He is absolutely a super-rich man with millions of dollars, and getting his help will definitely make Cao Cao's early career much easier. Wei Hong, on the other hand, firmly expressed his attitude as soon as he came.

  "Long live the lord!", Cao Cao was overjoyed and hastily said, "I dare not, I dare not!" Li Yu casually added a sentence: "I don't know why Lord Wei didn't choose that Yuan Shao as his lord? He is a fourth-generation nobleman with three public offices, isn't he?"

  Li Yu was afraid that Wei Hong was sent by others as a mole, this person should have been hanged, but now because of his own existence, he disrupted the history. Li Yu was happy on one hand and feared on the other. He was happy that: Wei Zhi defected to Cao Cao's side, increasing Cao's actual power, so the Cao group could have the capital to contend for the world;

  What he fears is that history will change because of Li Yu's constant changes, and Li Yu deeply knows that he relies on history to make a living. If this continues, something big will happen sooner or later. Now he worries whether Wei Zhi's surrender is sincere or not.

  "Not bad! Yuan Benchu is indeed formidable, but as a merchant, we prefer to provide charcoal in snowy weather rather than add flowers to brocade. What do you think, sir?" Wei Hong knew that Li Yu had influence over Cao Cao and didn't dare to be slow;

  Li Yu nodded secretly and exchanged a smile with Cao Cao, who was worried about persuading Zhang Miao, but had few chips in his hand. Wei Hong's arrival was indeed a great help; "Huaide is just straightforward, come on! Come on! ", Cao Cao beckoned to Wei Hong

  "Pffft! ——", Li Yu burst out laughing, tears almost streaming down his face. Nima! Wei Hong's name he had never heard before, and it was actually called ——"Wang Cai!"

  "Why is the master laughing?", Wei Hong and Cao Cao were puzzled, Li Yu couldn't help but laugh: "Hmmm... I'm laughing, Wei Gong has arrived, our great plan can be achieved!", "What great plan? Wang Cai is willing to serve his lord!", Wei Hong said with a serious face;

  “Cough, cough...”, Li Yu covered his mouth to prevent himself from bursting out laughing. People of the late Eastern Han dynasty would not understand the mind of a 21st-century scoundrel! Wei Hong originally served under Zhang Miao and also provided financial support to Cao Cao. Now he decided to fully support Cao Cao, which could be considered as betraying Zhang Miao. This time, letting him help deal with Zhang Miao was also an act of betraying one's lord for personal gain;

  "My master is thinking of finding a place to settle down, and we have decided to kill Zhang Miao! Take his Chenliu City! I wonder if Lord Wei Hong can be our inside helper?" Li Yu gave Cao Cao a wink, they had an unspoken understanding, their hearts beating as one.

  Cao Cao naturally understood Li Yu's meaning, this was another test. If Wei Hong agreed readily, such a person would be used and then discarded after being utilized, for someone who betrays their lord to gain favor can betray once and may do so again, so he had to guard against it; if Wei Hong did not agree, it proved that this man was worthy of good treatment, and future benefits would not be lacking to him.

  Wei Hong shook his head without hesitation: "I co-financed Zhang Miao and our lord to start the army, but I have always followed Zhang Miao, he can also be considered my old master. If I kill him, I will feel uneasy in my heart. If I don't assist our lord, it's hard to show loyalty. Between these two difficulties, Wei Hong cannot choose, willing to die to apologize!", after speaking, he suddenly drew his sword and wanted to commit suicide!

  This frightened Li Yu and Cao Cao, Cao Cao hastily took down the sword, and Li Yu also stepped forward to pay his respects: "It's all because of Huai De's mistake, he shouldn't have tried to test Wei Gong, Wei Gong is loyal and righteous, a model for us! I beg for forgiveness!", Now Wei Hong understood, this was just a test after all!

  He was also a seasoned veteran and naturally knew how to handle things, so he immediately helped Li Yu up: "Sir, your worries are not unreasonable, why mention forgiving crimes?"

  At this moment, joy is overflowing.

  "Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao, the brothers, are timid and afraid of trouble, without virtue, talent or ability, but they have Chenliu City to rely on. Lord Cao humbled himself to serve the villain, single-handedly stabbed Dong, although unsuccessful, yet famous overseas, calling on various lords to form an alliance, issuing a manifesto to punish the villain, making every effort to maintain the stability of the alliance, repeatedly showing off his extraordinary skills, why not use them? Alone in pursuing Dong Zhuo, though defeated, still glorious, now there is no place to rely on. Those lords are all self-interested and unrighteous, they do not tolerate our lord! Alas! Resentful! Pitiful!" Li Yu sighed at the banquet;

  "Alas! What's the point of speaking such depressing words, sir? It's indeed fate. I, Cao Cao, am not worthy of owning that land. Although I'm a General who has fought bravely, I was self-proclaimed by the allied army. Originally, I was just a cavalry captain, and after being castrated... Alas..." Cao Cao also sighed;

  Wei Hong was a clever person, how could he not understand the meaning of these two people? This was to make him think of a way, but he thought and thought, only Chenliu City was the most suitable place for Cao Cao, and their Wei family also had a say there, this was forcing him!

  "My lord, let me try! If it doesn't work out, kill them!" Li Yu's face was filled with murderous intent. "No! How can I do such an unjust thing? Zhang Yan is my old friend, even if he refuses, it's fate, how can I kill him?"

  These two men, one playing the red role and the other playing the white role, confused Wei Hong. Upon inquiry, it turned out that they wanted to persuade Zhang Miao to surrender to Cao Cao.

  "Wei Hong also thought the plan was feasible, but didn't know how Lord Cao would deal with Zhang Miao and his brother. Wei Hong was finally moved by Cao's pitiful appearance, and he couldn't bear to hurt him either; 'Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao are also my old friends, how can I harm them?!' Cao said with great righteousness."

  Under the persuasion of these two men, he decided to return to Chenliu to gather some aristocratic families to support Cao Cao. After Wei Hong left, Cao Cao and Li Yu exchanged a smile;

  "In that case, I should go too! My lord......", Li Yu looked at Cao Cao with a face full of expectation.

  "Huh?"

  "It's done... isn't it? Just showing off a bit?" Li Yu rubbed his thumb and index finger together.

  "Ah! ——", Cao Cao patted his forehead: "Someone, bring the ointment over, sir's finger hurts, no need to bother, now sir can apply it!", Cao Cao naturally didn't understand, mistakenly thinking Li Yu's hand hurt;

  "Uh..." Li Yu was stunned, he could only thicken his skin: "I mean, the matter is done, isn't there a bonus?", Cao Cao didn't understand, "Reward?", Cao Cao continued to be puzzled, "Reward?", This time Cao Cao understood;

  "Ah ha! This thing!", Cao Cao suddenly realized, under Li Yu's great expectation, Cao Cao spread his hands: "None!", then laughed loudly with a mischievous tone. He knew Li Yu would handle the matter perfectly and wouldn't be dissatisfied. He also knew Li Yu wasn't someone who loved money like his life, so he made a joke.

  Looking at the robust man standing beside him, Li Yu said dejectedly: "Let's go! The bonus is hopeless. People often say that bosses are all like Harpagon, too stingy!"

  "Who is Ge Langtai?" Di Wei suddenly asked.

  Li Yu almost tripped and turned back to yell: "When did you learn to be like Cao Ren! You're a problematic baby!"

  It so happened that Cao Ren came in and hastily asked: "Who is this Problem Child?"

  Li Yu's face turned black, and against the dark background, he crouched in a corner with his back to the two of them, drawing circles on the ground with his hand: "I'll curse you by drawing these circles!"