Chapter 59: The Trend Has Already Gone (Part 1)

  Han Xingping first year, autumn.

  Cao Cao was not really worried about the safety of Puyang City. What he feared most was that after Puyang fell, Lü Bu would advance to Dingtao, occupy Dongping, and cut off the roads to Yuanfu and Mount Tai, thus creating a barrier against danger. Of course, looking at it now, Lü Bu could not stir up any waves, but Cao Cao also did not want to hand over Puyang to others.

  To know that once Lü Bu got Puyang, Cao Cao wanted to take it down again. For a city like Puyang, it would be really difficult to attack within 100 days.

  Compared to the previous worries, at this time, Yanzhou was gradually becoming calm under Xun Yu's command. Xiahou Dun personally led several thousand people to pacify the people's hearts in various places and comfort those county guards, step by step stabilizing the situation.

  Fortunately, due to Cao Xin's clever plan of "Three Caves for the People", Xiahou Dun's pacification work went exceptionally smoothly. A task that would normally take several months was basically completed in just over a dozen days.

  Although the play glosses over Lü Bu and Cao Cao's Battle of Yan Province, this defense of Yan Province actually lasted a whole year.

  Cao Xin's sudden rise to prominence changed the course of this year into a mere month. Within a short period, he consecutively defeated the elite troops of Pingzhou, and at this moment, Cao Xin has the momentum of Tian Dan reclaiming his country and capturing over 70 cities. Or more directly, when Cao Cao regarded Cao Xin as his own Han Xin, Cao Xin had already altered history, but indirectly, his life also became somewhat mysterious and unpredictable.

  But all this is still too early, at least now Puyang is being spread by a wave of excitement.

  Cao Xin's reputation gradually spread to the streets and alleys of Dongjun, and Luoyang was no longer the first place where people talked about Cao Xin. The rumor that Lü Bu wanted to attack Luoyang seemed to have vanished into thin air at this moment, and people seemed to prefer talking about legendary stories...

  Perhaps Cao Xin himself does not know yet, but his experiences over the past few days have slowly begun to spread. Sometimes the world is just so wonderful. Although communication in this era is not very advanced, there are no walls that are completely impermeable. Who has not heard of Cao Xin's name during this period?

  Within a month, Lü Bu's main forces suffered consecutive defeats, beheading over 10,000 enemies. Cao Anmin is indeed a formidable person...

  Puyang Prefecture Government Inner Courtyard.

  Cai Yong was resting in his room, having just finished a morning of lectures on the classics, when he thought about what his students had been discussing among themselves today and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

  "Father, are you referring to the Battle of Wusong a few days ago?" At this time, a gentle and elegant woman in a green dress slowly walked into the room with light steps, smiling softly.

  "Oh? Is it Yan'er......" Cai Yong was taken aback for a moment, and then he saw another little girl jumping behind Cai Yan, who else could it be if not Cai Ting?

  "Dad, Cao Hong is so boring and not fun at all! And he even gave us this broken-down house to live in!" Cai Ting muttered as she entered the house.

  Cai Yong shook his head and sighed, "This is the room that Governor Taishou has specially lent to us. He's always been frugal, so don't be picky. After all, he treats us as honored guests and takes care of everything with great attention. Don't lose your manners..."

  "Pfft! I don't have any!" With a pout on her small mouth, Cai Ting suddenly cooed.

  Helplessly shaking his head again, Cai Yong turned to his eldest daughter and said: "Yan'er, have you heard about the recent battles?"

  "I heard." He nodded slightly, and Cai Yan said at this time: "My daughter also heard from those scholars that it was not long ago that Cao Xin defeated Zhang Liao's 5,000 Yuyun riders with just 1,000 men and took down Wuyan City.

  "Hmm, I've heard that too..." At the same time, he nodded his head. Cai Yong suddenly seemed to have thought of something and couldn't help but look at Cai Yan with a playful smile: "I still remember, you once mentioned Cao Anmin, do you remember?"

  "I remember... I said that this person's appearance is ordinary, but in his heart he hides a clever and sinister plot, he's a frightening person..." Cai Yan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh lightly.

  "Alas..." sighed, "Indeed, I still remember when this person said that Lü Bu would definitely attack Yan Province. I didn't believe it at the time, but sure enough, a battle broke out in just a few days... It seems that Cao Anmin is indeed an extraordinary talent..." As he spoke, Cai Yong couldn't help but look at the other person, and suddenly changed the subject, "You're not interested in Cao Xin, are you?"

  "Father... just joking, I don't know this person at all..." A faint blush flashed across her face, and Cai Yan shook her head with a smile.

  "What Cao Xing Cao Anmin's... Are you guys talking about that bumpkin who cultivates fields?"

  But at this moment, a sentence from Cai Ting suddenly made Cai Yan and others frown.

  "Ting'er, don't talk nonsense."

  "I... I don't know what I'm saying... I was feeling suffocated just now, and when I went out for a walk on the street, I ran into a madman... He even said that he had expected Lü Bu to attack Jiyuan..."

  "A madman?" Cai Yong was taken aback, but couldn't help asking.

  She nodded, Cai Ting didn't know what to say, and continued: "It was right on the main street, don't believe me? You can go see for yourself. He said he knew earlier than Cao Xin that Lü Bu would attack Puyang... It's clear that Cao Xin isn't anything special either..."

  At this moment, on the other side.

  Right at this time, Cai Yong was being told something inexplicable by Cai Ting.

  Ten thousand iron cavalrymen galloped along the small path from Chenliu to Dongjun, with a loud whooshing sound. The first general rode a red horse, holding a spear upright, wearing a suit of ring armor with a beast face helmet, standing proudly in the wind. But it was not the famous Flying General Lü Bu, so who could it be?

  "Halt! There's a village ahead, let's proceed with caution after a short while, don't trample their homes..." Chen Gong shouted as he caught up to Lü Bu on horseback.

  Lü Bu's face flashed with annoyance again, and he said impatiently: "Why is Gongtai being so cautious? A real man dares to act and take responsibility. At this moment, it's crucial to capture Puyang, what's the harm in ignoring other things?"

  "Absolutely not! We must win over the hearts of the people when we first arrive in Yanzhou, reduce taxes and levies, and not harass the common folk. Being sincere to others and putting the people first is what will help our army take down Yanzhou. Without the support of the people, it would be an obstacle for our army!"

  "What a great help to resist the enemy! All are nonsense, I Lü Bu was born outside of the pass, and have gone through hundreds of battles, never relying on any power, what I believe in is only force! With the halberd in hand and the Red Hare horse, how can these petty people stop me?"

  "Lü Bu! Are you still trying to seize the grain?!" Chen Gong suddenly became red-faced and furious, all the anger accumulated over the past few days bursting out.

  However, as soon as this was said, Lü Bu waved his hand and the 10,000 iron cavalry slowed down to a stop.

  At this time, Lü Bu couldn't help but glance at Chen Gong, and instead of getting angry, he looked at Chen's face which was red with rage and burst out laughing: "General, why be so angry? When the time comes to capture Puyang, we'll follow your plan to pacify the people."

  "Alas..." He let out a sigh, and Chen Gong ultimately shook his head. "It can only be this way..."

  What can Chen Gong do now? Facing such a lord, as a military advisor, he can only follow him in every way. Wanting to make Lü Bu truly mature is absolutely not an easy task...

  “——！”

  Suddenly, just as Chen Gong was secretly regretting his decision to follow Lü Bu, a small black dot appeared in the distance on the main road, slowly approaching.

  "My lord!!!!!!"

  A shrill cry suddenly came from afar...