Chapter Sixteen: The Arrival of Evil from Ancient Times

  Yanzhou East County, 50 miles east of Puyang City.

  On a flat ground with a favorable terrain, a not-so-large camp was quietly situated here. Judging from the layout of the camp, it seemed that they had not been stationed here for long. However, at this juncture when Cao Cao was attacking Xuzhou, having such a large number of troops stationed near Puyang was indeed suspicious.

  At this moment, there are about 2,000 people and horses in the camp, all of whom are infantrymen. In the center of the camp, some siege engines such as battering rams and giant logs were placed. Although these soldiers were all wearing uniforms of the Qingzhou army, in fact, no one could tell who was who.

  "Hey! Ugly Han! What did you mean by saying that Taishou is a great man? Why did he call us to rush here day and night to set up camp?"

  At this moment in the camp, four or five soldiers sat around the corner of the tent, chatting lazily.

  At this time, one of the tall and thin soldiers said to the exceptionally sturdy and ugly man beside him.

  Upon closer inspection of the ugly Han, although his appearance was extremely ugly, his physique was enormous, even more robust than several soldiers put together. Sitting among this group of people, the soldier called Ugly Han resembled a giant mountain, with a height of at least over ten feet tall, and from afar, he was very eye-catching.

  If Cao Xin saw this person now, he would definitely be surprised that the other party was more than twice as strong as Zhou Dan. Zhou Dan's figure was already frightening enough, but in front of this person, it could only be considered a miniature version.

  "I don't know."

  At this time, he casually responded with a grunt. The ugly man didn't seem to want to bother with the other person either, and continued to gnaw on the dry rations in his hand, as if he hadn't eaten anything for several days.

  "Hey! I'm telling you, you ugly fellow, you can eat a lot, can't you? This dry ration of yours won't be stolen from the quartermaster again, will it...?"

  "Shut up! Keep your voice down." The tall and thin soldier, nicknamed Ugly Han, immediately looked around nervously, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he continued in a hushed tone to the soldiers beside him, "From now on, don't speak carelessly. If they find out, it's a military offense!"

  "Do you know who's still sneaking food?"

  "Grandma's, eating a few pieces of cake is nothing. I joined the army just to eat my fill. Even if it were the King of Heaven himself, I'd still take it without hesitation!" As he spoke, he stuffed another palm-sized dry pancake into his mouth, devouring it like a tiger competing for food, that was one wolfish gulp.

  "What a weirdo..." As he shook his head, the tall and thin man from earlier was eating like a starving ghost, and then whispered to the soldier next to him: "Don't you think that Taishou-dono is acting strange this time?"

  "I'm telling you, Liu Er! What's it to you, a small soldier like you? We're just a few soldiers in charge of firewood, not some kind of emperor. Do you have the authority?" At this time, another soldier spoke up.

  "Get out! Are those who manage firewood not soldiers? Don't forget we're also wearing military uniforms." Liu Er suddenly said in anger.

  Another soldier nearby also shook his head and said, "We don't have any weapons anyway. Besides, fighting is not our business... We just take care of gathering firewood for the cooks to make food and warm themselves up, and that's all we need to worry about."

  "What you said is not right, I heard that the governor's this time out of the army..." Liu Er said here, first glanced around, seeing no one noticed himself, and lowered his voice: "I heard that Governor Zhang Miao is planning to rebel. Colluding with Lü Bu to attack our Yan State, this time out of the army is just a prelude to ambush here, waiting for an opportunity to attack Puyang!"

  "Nonsense! With only 2,000 men, how can we possibly take down Puyang? Stop talking nonsense, Liu Er!" The soldier from earlier said disdainfully.

  "You're stupid! At this moment, the lord has withdrawn most of the troops from Yanzhou and led a large army to attack Xuzhou. The military strength in Yanzhou is already empty! It's said that Puyang City only has less than 5,000 people, and I also heard that Cao Xin, a typical farmer officer under the lord, strongly advised the lord not to attack Xuzhou, saying that Governor Zhang Miao would unite with Lü Bu to attack Puyang! Look! Our troops are just the vanguard army. Once Lü Bu's 30,000-strong army arrives, Puyang will be lost!"

  "I don't believe it."

  "I don't believe it either."

  Seeing those soldiers hesitating, Liu Er suddenly turned to the ugly fellow beside him and said: "What did you say?"

  But the other party continued to take out dry food from their bosom, gobbling it down while mumbling: "I don't care... who rebels... as long as I have something to eat!"

  Many soldiers saw this and shook their heads in unison with a helpless expression.

  "How did this gate flag fall down! Quick! You... you, hurry up and put it back up!"

  At this moment, in the center of the camp not far away, a middle-aged man with a stout figure and a military uniform suddenly saw a flagpole on the ground and immediately shouted loudly.

  The surrounding soldiers saw this and didn't dare hesitate, a dozen or so people were immediately shouted over by the general to help set up the flag.

  However, because the gate flag was too large, everyone couldn't move it half a step in half a day. A small soldier walked up to the general and said, "General Zhao, this flag is too long and big, we really can't lift it up, please forgive us."

  "What!?" As soon as he heard the other party's words, this middle-aged general was even more furious in his heart. He immediately kicked the other party with a fierce kick and shouted angrily at the surrounding soldiers:

  "A bunch of good-for-nothings! Can't even put up a flag! What use are you people?"

  "Is there anything to eat?"

  Just as the general's words had fallen, in a corner not far away, that ugly fellow suddenly stood up, walked over slowly, still eating his pancake, and asked.

  As he saw that ugly man walk in, the middle-aged martial general suddenly felt a great mountain rushing towards him, but it was secretly shocking in his heart, and he involuntarily retreated several steps.

  However, he seemed to feel that it was not proper. The middle-aged martial arts general suddenly straightened his waist and reluctantly replied: "You pick up this flag, whatever you want to eat, just say so."

  Without hesitation, the ugly man nodded his head and said, "It's settled."

  He didn't even bother with the other party and walked straight up to the flag, saying to a nearby soldier, "You all step aside."

  Many soldiers were surprised, but they all wanted to see the other side make a fool of themselves. After all, this tooth gate flag weighs as much as 500 catties, and more than a dozen people can't lift it up. How could a clown do it?

  However, just as everyone was secretly laughing, the ugly man suddenly let out a loud roar, his right hand tightly grasping the flagpole, using all his might with one arm, the veins on his arm suddenly bulging out, and the muscles on his hand, like huge rocks, also bulged out violently. Immediately afterwards, he let out another loud shout, and the originally motionless toothed banner suddenly stood upright.

  With one hand, he effortlessly lifted such a massive object. In an instant, everyone was shocked.

  "Cheers!" The toothed banner was erected in the center of the camp, and the ugly man roared again.

  But at this moment, it suddenly awakened everyone.

  At this time, the military commander walked up to the ugly man and asked with a lingering fear: "You... what's your surname and name?"

  The big man didn't pay attention to him either, patted his somewhat muddy hands and said two words in a careless tone.

  "Thank you."

  *

  On the other hand, in Xichang City, at the Cai's residence.

  After seeing off Cao Xin and Zhou Yu, Cai Yong sat alone in the hall, thinking about something, shaking his head from time to time, nodding from time to time, and frowning again.

  At this moment, a refined and elegant woman walked out of the room with gentle steps, walked to Cai Yong's side, saw him bowing his head, looking somewhat worried, but slightly raised an eyebrow and said: "Father, are you thinking about something?"

  Cai Yong was taken aback, looked up and saw that the newcomer was his own daughter Cai Yan, who smiled wryly and said: "My child, what kind of person is this Cao Zhi after all."

  Cai Yan heard from her father that Cao Xin was his son, and the other party also smiled with a raised eyebrow: "Father, don't blame me, I was just watching everything in front of the door earlier."

  "Huh? ... Then in your opinion, can Cao Xing's words be trusted? Is Cao Cao really a reliable person?"

  Cai Yan walked into the pavilion, but didn't immediately respond. Instead, she gazed in the direction of the hall outside where the previous person had left, and stood with a slight bow. Suddenly, she smiled coyly and said: "As for what Cao Xin said, I don't believe it, but I do find Cao Xin himself quite interesting."

  At this time, Cai Yong also nodded and said: "That's right. From his words, he has a style of a great master. Just like what he just said, 'Before the world worries, worry; after the world is happy, be happy.' This sentence is unheard of, but it is a wise saying."

  At this time, Cai Yan also smiled lightly and nodded in agreement with the other's words. Suddenly, as if thinking of something, her eyebrows furrowed and she said: "Father, have you heard about Cao Xin advising Cao Cao?"

  "I've heard that before, didn't General Cao say so? Cao Xin once suggested to Cao Cao that if the main army attacks Xuzhou, Lü Bu will definitely come to attack. However, I think Cao Xin is overthinking this time."

  "But Father, last time Cao Xin said that Cao Taigong would definitely be killed by Tao Qian when he went to Xuzhou. At that time, all the people in the city laughed at him for being too foolish. But in the end, it was actually fulfilled by Cao Xin's words. This person seems ordinary on the surface, but is actually a terrifying figure with deep strategies. I am really curious about this person."

  At the same time, Cai Yong nodded and said: "But this time... we still have to go to Puyang, just hope that this time, it's not being deceived by Cao Xing again..."

  “……”

  *

  PS: New author's new book is a tough journey, begging for one recommendation ticket, just one... Is it okay?

  ;