Chapter 49: Turning the Tide (Part 2)

  Within a few days, Cao Xin's reputation spread throughout Yanzhou and for a time became the most talked-about topic among the common people after meals.

  Everyone says that Lü Bu is the bravest in the world, but he encountered a natural nemesis. Cao Xin, this unknown minor official, made the former suffer consecutive great defeats in just a few days, and even lost several generals, after which they lost several cities, suffering heavy losses.

  At that time, Cao Xin suddenly became a small general rising rapidly, and his momentum was so strong that it overshadowed all the officials in Yanzhou, and in the hearts of the people of Yanzhou, he stood out like a savior.

  At this moment, Puyang City is also like this.

  In a wine shop in the city of Bo, people were seated and drinking, chatting with each other. Most of them were scholars wearing long gowns, looking elegant as if they were still enjoying life in this city that had not yet been affected by the war, indulging in idle talk and romanticizing about the wind and moon.

  However, his words occasionally mentioned the battle of Yanzhou this time.

  "This time in Bo Yang City, being able to hear Cai Boji's lectures on the classics is truly a rare opportunity." A white-robed scholar picked up his wine cup.

  "Not bad, but the battle situation in Yanzhou has been tense recently, and I'm afraid it will soon affect us." Another sour Confucian scholar frowned and said, "I don't know if this academic conference can be held as scheduled."

  It is said that there was a general named Cao Xin under General Cao's command, who seemed to be quite fierce in battle.

  "Hmm... I've also heard that, but Lü Bu's Puyang Wolf Cavalry is famous throughout the land. I don't know if Cao Xing can withstand them."

  "You can't say that, it's said that General Cao Xin is no ordinary person!"

  "Oh?" Hearing the white-clothed scholar speak in a slow and unhurried tone, the crowd around him suddenly became extremely interested, and they all stepped forward to ask questions.

  "Don't be impatient, listen to me slowly...". Seeing the crowd like this, the white-clothed young man suddenly had a proud look on his face. Although he glanced around and lowered his head to whisper to the crowd: "I've also heard that Cao Xin was born with two dragon horns, three heads, six arms, and feet over ten feet wide. His height is almost over 10 zhang (a unit of measurement). I've also heard that General Cao Xin's weapon weighs several thousand catties, not something an ordinary person can match..."

  "Oh! Really?" Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and looked as if they couldn't believe it.

  "Hehehehe..."

  Suddenly, in a corner of the tavern, it seemed that someone had heard the words of the scholar in white. One person burst out laughing and said with some nervousness: "Rumors have been passed down... this has always existed... but who would have thought that such a ridiculous thing would be mistaken for something divine? Laughable... pitiful indeed."

  This is a drunkard, about forty-seven or eight years old. However, he was very unkempt, with a head full of messy hair scattered over his shoulders, and his clothes were even more disheveled. His eyes were dim and his mind was somewhat eccentric, holding a wine jug in his hand, with a strange and peculiar appearance.

  At this moment, these scholars saw the former and showed disdain one after another, "It's that madman again, who has been raving here for several days, really strange."

  "Don't bother with him, don't bother with him, what's the point of bothering with a madman?"

  "He's right, what does he know about state affairs?"

  A barrage of ridicule came, but the madman didn't get angry at all. Instead, he seemed to laugh even more exaggeratedly, his facial expression twisted due to the laughter. He poured a few more mouthfuls of wine into his mouth and said, "When the world is sober I am drunk, when the world is drunk I am sober... Hahaha... Cao Cao is really a useless person..."

  "Sir! This is Bo Yang, you can't speak ill of Lord Cao here......" A waiter rushed over and hastily reminded him.

  But that madman didn't take the hint, instead he wanted to get up, but because of his intoxication, he leaned against the wall behind him and stumbled repeatedly, shouting loudly: "You! What do you know? You don't even know that this time's chaos in Yan Province is all Cao Mengde's fault?"

  The loud voice covered the entire tavern, but as soon as the shopkeeper heard it, he was greatly alarmed and hastily ordered the waiter to drive him away.

  "Hey! What are you going to do? I'm telling you! I am the renowned Cao Song! Cao Cao's father! Hmph!"

  "Get out! Stop being crazy here, scram!"

  He kicked that madman with one foot, and the tavern owner suddenly spat a mouthful of saliva on the madman's head and walked away.

  However, the former seems to be not so concerned, took off the saliva on his head, smelled it, "Stinky! Very stinky! A strong odor! Hehehe...".

  This man was not Cao Song, because Cao Song had already died. However, the madman seemed to have not yet finished speaking, and on the street in front of the wine shop, he continued to roll around, shouting loudly: "Cao Cao's old self-destruction! Attacking Xuzhou is a false revenge for his father, but in reality it is a plot to seize Xuzhou!" With blurry eyes, looking at the passing pedestrians, the madman continued to shout loudly.

  "I have observed the situation in Yanzhou, and among all the heroes, only Cao Xin is a true figure. The rest of the generals are like stray dogs, with petty and trivial strategies!"

  The madman still showed no signs of stopping, and continued in a frenzied tone:

  "Cao, Cao Zao (Cao) is making a move! Cao Xin is trying to stop Cao Zao from attacking Xuzhou! He says... he says that Lü Bu's large army will attack Yanzhou! And there will be Zhang Miao's rebellion! This... this is exactly what I, Jia Wen, and... *hiccup*!" After a hiccup, the madman continued with a drunken gaze: "I've thought of something! You... you guys say... is Cao Xin a person of importance? Am I, Jia Xun... *hiccup*... also a person of importance? *hiccup*!"

  On the street, he shouted loudly, but the pedestrians around him didn't pay attention to him. It was as if they were avoiding his words, and no one cared about what this madman said.

  But he seemed to be unaware of it, and rubbed his drunken eyes, scratching his head.

  Suddenly, he saw a small ant on the ground. The drunkard ran to the ant's side, whispered and muttered: "Actually, I think I'm a talented person... Hehe... I really am a talented person... Hehehe, it's just that these people can't see it, can you see it ~~!?"

  On the other side.

  Saltless City

  "Sir! How's my brother?"

  After a night of surgery, Hua Tuo walked out of the room instantly, wiping off the bloodstains on his hands, and his face revealed a hint of fatigue.

  "Master, can't you speak faster? We're all worried to death!" Zhou Yu and the others had been guarding the door for a whole day and night without even closing their eyes, so how could they not be anxious.

  However, Xu San said at this time: "Brother Zhou, don't be in a hurry, let Mr. drink some water first."

  Hurriedly calling for someone to bring a bowl of water, Liu Yue quickly walked up to Hua Tuo and asked with a different kind of urgency, "Sir, how is the emperor's injury? Is it serious?"

  At this moment, a look of relief simultaneously appeared on the tired face, as if the words that had been pent up in his heart for over a decade were suddenly released. The former immediately burst out laughing and said: "The general is fine! The treatment was very successful! In just a few days, the general will be able to move freely!"

  In an instant, everyone was overjoyed beyond measure.