plumnovel Chapter 59 Changes in Hanoi
Chapter 59 Changes in Hanoi
Xu Chu observed that this second young master Yuan seemed quite polite and courteous, so he went back to inform him again. "How would Yuan Shao know about me?" Gu Cheng couldn't help but wonder. Mi Huan reminded him, "I heard that Liu Bei fled to Hebei and sought refuge with Yuan Shao. He was probably the one who told Yuan Shao about my husband."
Gu Cheng suddenly realized and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "It seems that we made quite a commotion in Xuzhou this time, alarming our Lord Yuan."
"
"Young Master, shall we meet Yuan Xi or not?" Xu Chu asked again.
Although Gu Cheng disliked Yuan Shao, it wasn't his style to refuse Yuan Xi's polite and courteous attitude. "Very well, invite him in," Gu Cheng said, waving his hand. Xu Chu obeyed and left.
Before long, Yuan Xi entered with his head held high, followed closely by Guo Tu.
"What wind has blown Young Master Yuan to my humble temple? You are truly a rare guest." Gu Cheng greeted him with a smile, showing the courtesy due to a host.
Yuan Xi sized Gu Cheng up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Gu Cheng to be even younger than he'd imagined. "Gu Cheng, my young master wants to see you, and you not only don't greet him personally, but you even dare to make us announce your arrival twice! You have quite the airs!"
Guo Tu, standing to the side, questioned in a sarcastic tone.
Gu Cheng's smile vanished, and he immediately retorted, "And who are you to speak so arrogantly?" "I am Guo Tu from Yingchuan, a strategist under Lord Yuan," Guo Tu introduced himself.
He wore an arrogant expression, seemingly waiting to see Gu Cheng's surprised reaction upon hearing his name. "Guo Tu?" Gu Cheng feigned ignorance, saying, "I've only heard that among Yuan Gong's subordinates, only Ju Shou and Tian Feng possess some wisdom and strategy; as for the rest, they are all just names without substance. I've never heard of them."
Guo Tu, mocked, immediately retorted angrily, "Gu Cheng, you—" "Gongze!" Yuan Xi suddenly interrupted Guo Tu.
Guo Tu swallowed back the dissatisfaction that was about to spill from his mouth, unable to vent it.
Yuan Xi bowed slightly and said, "Young Master Gu is exceptionally wise and resourceful. My father had heard of him from Liu Bei long ago and held him in high regard. When I was sent on a mission to Xuchang, he specifically instructed me to make sure to come and extend my greetings to Young Master Gu."
"It really is Liu Bei..." Gu Cheng sighed inwardly, but then said to himself with a self-deprecating smile, "I am just a simple country bumpkin, how could I have any wisdom? I am truly ashamed that you have to remember me, Lord Yuan."
Yuan Xi was polite on the surface, and he treated him with the same courtesy. After exchanging pleasantries, he invited Yuan Xi to the guest seat and served him fragrant tea.
After the pleasantries, Yuan Xi got straight to the point: "My father greatly admires Young Master Gu's talent. He sent me here to invite you to Hebei to assist him in his great endeavors. I wonder what Young Master Gu's opinion is?"
As he spoke, he picked up the teacup and slowly brought it to his lips, but his gaze secretly drifted towards Gu Cheng, waiting to see the flattered expression he had imagined.
"I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Yuan, but I must decline your offer." Gu Cheng smiled faintly and refused decisively.
Yuan Xi had just brought the teacup to the edge of the table when it trembled slightly, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "He wasn't flattered at all, and even refused my father's offer. Did I hear that right?" Yuan Xi wondered to himself in surprise.
Guo Tu, standing to the side, also changed his expression, shocked by Gu Cheng's answer.
"He had no reason to refuse his father's invitation; he must have been deliberately being reserved, wanting me to invite him again and again, giving him plenty of face..."
After his initial shock, Yuan Xi offered this explanation in his mind.
Suppressing his displeasure, Yuan Xi continued, "Young Master Gu possesses great talent. If he were to go to Hebei, Father would surely give him an important position, allowing him to realize his ambitions and leave his mark on history!"
"I have no great ambitions. I just want to hide in this countryside, drink some wine, bask in the sun, and live a carefree life. I am sorry that I am not worthy of your kindness, Mr. Yuan."
Gu Cheng offered a self-deprecating remark, then politely declined again. Yuan Xi and Guo Tu exchanged a glance, a deep sense of astonishment flashing in their eyes.
This young man from a minor clan has refused to be recruited twice!
Moreover, judging from his tone and expression, it was entirely from the heart, not feigned modesty. Yuan Xi frowned, finally somewhat provoked. Finally somewhat provoked, "Bang!" He slammed the teacup down on the table.
"My Yuan family has produced four generations of high-ranking officials. My father is renowned throughout the land, possessing four provinces and making him the most powerful warlord in the world!" "Looking across the land, countless scholars admire my father and travel thousands of miles to Hebei to serve under him!" "My father has made an exception for you, Young Master Gu, and has condescended to invite you to serve him for the first time. How dare you refuse?" Yuan Xi's face was gloomy, and the arrogance and conceit in his words and actions were finally no longer concealed.
"So many famous scholars have gone blind, wanting to go to Hebei to be buried with your Yuan family. Am I, Gu, going to be blind too?" Gu Cheng took a sip of tea and snorted disdainfully.
Yuan Xi's eyes narrowed, and he flew into a rage, shouting, "Gu Cheng, how dare you curse my Yuan family like this! You have some nerve!" "Curse?" Gu Cheng smiled dismissively.
"Your father, Yuan Shao, even before he gained power, allowed you sons to form factions and engage in open and covert infighting." "Your Yuan family's situation is only superficially prosperous; in reality, it is rotten to the core. If it doesn't perish, it would be an injustice to Heaven. Do I need to curse it?"
Gu Cheng no longer held back and, in a few words, exposed the Yuan family's true intentions.
Yuan Xi's expression changed, and Guo Tu also gasped.
"How could he, hiding in this rural area, know so much about the internal situation of my Yuan family?" A hint of surprise flashed across Yuan Xi's angry eyes. Then, he became even more furious.
"Gu Cheng, stop spouting nonsense! My Yuan family is united as one; when has there ever been internal strife?" "With your utter arrogance, when my father's army marches south, crushes Cao Cao, and besieges Xuchang, aren't you afraid my father will bring down his sword and axe upon you?!"
Yuan Xi completely abandoned all pretense of civility and directly threatened Yuan Xi with his life.
"Destroy Cao Cao, besiege Xuchang, ha ha ha—" Gu Cheng, far from being afraid, burst into laughter, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. Yuan Xi's face darkened further, and he shouted, "Gu Cheng, what's so funny!" The laughter subsided. Gu Cheng slowly sipped his tea and said disdainfully, "You, Yuan family father and son, struggled immensely just to defeat Gongsun Zan, yet you dare to dream of destroying Cao Cao? You're truly arrogant."
Yuan Xi was met with another barrage of sarcastic remarks, which made him so angry that his face turned red and he was furious.
"Cao Cao's troops are less than one-tenth of my Yuan family's. If my Yuan family wants to destroy him, it will be as easy as turning my hand!" "You actually think my Yuan family is arrogant? I think you are just all talk and no action. Your wisdom and knowledge are nothing special!" Yuan Xi was extremely arrogant and conceited.
"Even if the strategist Cao Cao were reborn, or Zhang Liang were to be resurrected, they wouldn't recognize him, yet they dare to dream of destroying my Cao family! How laughable!" Just then, a sarcastic voice rang out from outside the courtyard.
Gu Cheng turned around and saw a familiar figure striding confidently into the courtyard. It was Cao Ang.
Because of their good relationship, Gu Cheng specifically instructed that there was no need to announce the arrival of this young General Wei. "His timing is quite opportune, but why does he refer to himself as 'from the Cao family'?" Gu Cheng's eyes flickered, a sudden premonition creeping in. Yuan Xi glanced sideways and demanded, "And who are you?"
Cao Ang stood in front of him and shouted, "I am Cao Ang, the eldest son of the Minister of Works of the Han Dynasty!" Finally.
Having concealed his identity for so long, he revealed it to Gu Cheng for the first time. In the courtyard, Xu Chu and Mi Huan both paled, their eyes wide with surprise. "What the hell?"
"This kid is actually Cao Ang, Cao Cao's son?" Gu Cheng was also taken aback. Memories swirled in his mind, and all the doubts from the past converged like a whirlpool. Suddenly, all the doubts were explained.
No wonder, he was just a lowly captain, yet he had the well-being of the people at heart and possessed the vision and demeanor of a superior.
Despite his position as a colonel, he could see Cao Cao whenever he wanted, and he was always able to pass on the strategies that Cao Cao had taught him to Cao Cao.
Gu Cheng had some suspicions before, but had not investigated them further.
Looking at it now, he was Cao Cao's son, and even though he was just a lowly soldier, he could still see Cao Cao whenever he wanted. "This Cao Ang, his acting skills are truly remarkable..." Gu Cheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. And at this moment...
Upon learning Cao Ang's identity, Yuan Xi's arrogant and conceited expression instantly turned into embarrassment. This was Xuchang, Cao family territory.
Even if you look down on Cao Cao, to openly say on his territory, in front of his son, that wiping out the Cao family would be as easy as turning your hand is just asking for a beating.
"Ahem." Yuan Xi coughed lightly a few times, cupped his hands and smiled awkwardly, "So you are the eldest son of Lord Cao, it's a pleasure to meet you." Cao Ang, however, disdained to be polite with him and said coldly, "Yuan Xi, go back and tell your father, Yuan Benchu, that my father is a great ruler of our time, and even Young Master Gu is unwilling to serve him, let alone your father, a mediocre ruler who only seeks fame and reputation!"
Yuan Xi's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected Cao Ang to speak so disrespectfully to Yuan Shao. "Cao Ang, how dare you—" "My lord!"
He was about to rebuke Guo Tu when Guo Tu nudged his arm and gave him a look that told him to hold back. Yuan Xi swallowed back the angry words that were on the tip of his tongue.
"Furthermore, your father, Yuan Shao, wants to forcibly bring the Emperor to Ye City. Go back and tell him to give up on that idea as well; my father will never allow the Emperor to be brought to power!"
"Your Yuan family controls four provinces and has a strong army, but my Cao family is not afraid of you either. Go back to Hebei and tell Yuan Shao that if he has the guts, let him march south. My father will make sure he never returns and regrets it too late."
Cao Ang spoke with boldness and fearlessness, his words seeming like a direct declaration of war against the Yuan family. Yuan Xi's eyes widened in shock, thinking, "He actually dares to turn against my Yuan family? Could it be that he and his son think they have the confidence to challenge my Yuan family just because they have this Gu fellow's assistance?"
After the initial shock, Yuan Xi took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Very well, Cao Mengde's son is indeed arrogant!" Yuan Xi said sarcastically, sneering, "Don't worry, I will definitely convey your words to my father. When my Yuan family's army besieges Xuchang one day, I hope that Cao Mengde's eldest son will still be as arrogant as he is today!"
That's all.
Yuan Xi glared at Gu Cheng again: "Gu Liheng, I'll ask you one last time, what exactly—" "Don't say 'last time'." Gu Cheng waved his hand to interrupt, saying dismissively, "Wasn't I clear enough? I have no intention of going to Hebei to be buried with you and your son. Zhongkang, see the guest out!"
He lazily sat back in his rocking chair and sipped his fragrant tea as if no one else was around. Xu Chu glared at him and gestured for him to continue.
"Fine, Gu Cheng, remember what you said today, or you'll regret it later!" Yuan Xi glared at him fiercely, flicked her sleeves, and stormed off. Only after Yuan Xi left did the tense atmosphere in the courtyard ease.
Cao Ang sat down next to Gu Cheng and said apologetically, "Young Master Gu, I didn't mean to hide my identity. I have my own reasons."
"General Wei, no, it should be the eldest son." Gu Cheng gave him a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Your acting skills are truly Oscar-worthy. I really should give you an award."
"Best Actor?"
"An award...an award?" Cao Ang looked blank. Mi Huan smiled and said, "Young Master, my husband is probably praising you. You acted so well that even my husband didn't recognize you."
Cao Ang suddenly realized his mistake, and a deep sense of guilt welled up on his face. He stood up abruptly, straightened his clothes, and looked apologetic.
"I originally wanted to tell Brother Gu my true identity, but after learning that Brother Gu only wanted to live in seclusion and had no interest in fame and fortune, I was afraid that he would deliberately avoid me after learning that I was the son of Cao Mengde. So I could no longer ask Brother Gu for advice."
"That's why I had to keep it a secret from Brother Gu all this time, and dared not reveal my true identity to you. I really had my reasons. However, I have deceived Brother Gu after all, and a mistake is a mistake. I hope Brother Gu will be magnanimous and forgive me." He sincerely apologized and bowed deeply to Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng's eyes flickered, but he did not expect Cao Ang to perform such a grand ceremony.
"His reasoning is not entirely untenable."
"For someone of his status to be so humble, his magnanimity far surpasses that of Yuan Xi." "Cao Cao's son is indeed far superior to Yuan Shao!"
Gu Cheng sighed inwardly.
He wasn't a petty person; Cao Ang had apologized so humbly and sincerely, how could he possibly hold a grudge? "Alright, alright." Gu Cheng waved his hand and handed him a cup of fragrant tea: "You've said so much, you must be thirsty. Come, come, try some of my freshly brewed tea." These words and actions clearly indicated that he had forgiven him.
Cao Ang breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. He took the teacup with a smile and praised the tea before even taking a sip. "Good tea!" he said. "Young Master, you've kept it a secret for so long. Why did you suddenly reveal your identity today? It wasn't just to spite Yuan Xi, was it?" Gu Cheng saw through his scheme.
Cao Ang then remembered the real reason he had come here.
He put down his cup and bowed again: "After much deliberation, I still wish to invite Brother Gu to come out of seclusion and assist my father in achieving great things. Since that is the case, I must invite you in my true identity to show my sincerity."
Gu Cheng frowned, thinking to himself that he had just expected this.
He revealed his identity, saying it was to show his sincerity. However, there was also an intention to use his status as the eldest son of the Cao family to make him hesitate and not be able to refuse.
"Well, as you know me, young master, all I want is fine wine and beautiful women, a carefree life in seclusion. Asking me to become an official is really asking too much of me..."
Gu Cheng rubbed his forehead with his fingertips, looking troubled.
Cao Ang said solemnly, "I know this puts Brother Gu in a difficult position, but please consider the well-being of all people!" "The world, the well-being of all people." Gu Cheng shook his head and sighed, then said with a wry smile, "Young Master, I'm not that noble. You're putting such a big label on me; my body can't bear it."
Cao Ang grew anxious and hurriedly tried to persuade him again.
Gu Cheng waved his hand, "Alright, young master, don't say anymore. Can I think about it first?" Think about it? That meant he was giving in and there was room for negotiation!
Cao Ang was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Of course, no rush, Brother Gu, take your time to consider it." "At least I've managed to appease him for now..." Gu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly remembered something and asked warily, "Young Master, you didn't tell your father, Lord Cao, everything about me, did you?"
"Of course not."
Cao Ang immediately denied it, saying solemnly, "I promised Brother Gu, and I will keep my promise. I have never mentioned Brother Gu's name to my father." "That's good, that's good." Gu Cheng thought to himself that this young master Cao was easy to fool, but if it were Cao Cao, it would be much harder to deal with him. Cao Ang didn't dare to disturb him too much, so he asked Gu Cheng to consider it at his leisure. After chatting for a few more minutes, he got up to take his leave. "I never expected that this person would actually be Cao Cao's eldest son."
"Now that he has revealed his identity, it seems he is determined to ask his husband to come out of seclusion. If his husband still refuses, I'm afraid he will have to ask Cao Cao to come out of seclusion next."
Mi Huan sighed and lamented. "Please send Cao Cao!"
These five words reminded Gu Cheng, sending a chill down his spine.
"I don't believe you! You didn't mention me to Cao Cao? I don't believe you!" Gu Cheng muttered to himself, already planning where to hide. "Looks like I can't stay in Xudu any longer. I need to get out of here for a few days and hide from them..." Just then, a system notification sounded. "Ding, seclusion mission triggered, one month time limit." A flash of light appeared before his eyes.
The three cities of Pingxian, Changshe, and Mayi came into view. Gu Cheng's eyes lit up.
This is a perfect opportunity to escape Cao Cao and also receive a reward along the way. Changshe is near Xuchang, so hiding there is pointless.
Mayi is far away in Yanmen Commandery, and is currently under the control of the Xiongnu. Such a treacherous place is naturally not a place to go. Ping County is north of Luoyang, on the south bank of the Yellow River, facing Henan Commandery across the river. Although it is also within Cao Cao's territory, it is at least far enough away from Xuchang.
"Yes, we'll go to Ping County!" Gu Cheng had made up his mind, so he said, "Huan'er, quickly go and tell Madam and the others to pack their things. I'm preparing for a long trip!"
Mi Huan dared not ask any more questions and hurried off to make preparations.
Upon hearing the news, Cao Jie rushed over and asked, "My husband only returned from Xuzhou two months ago. Why are you going on another long journey? What business is it this time?"
"This time it's not for business, it's to go away and hide for a couple of days," Gu Cheng said. "Hide for two days? Hide from whom?" Cao Jie asked, her almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion.
Gu Cheng sighed, "Of course, we're avoiding that eldest son of the Cao family." Upon hearing this, Cao Jie's heart skipped a beat.
"Madam, you would never guess that the young General Wei is actually Cao Mengde's eldest son, Cao Ang." "He just admitted it here and even asked me to serve in his office to assist his father." "How could I agree to that? That's why I have to get away from Xuchang as soon as possible and hide from the Cao family father and son." Gu Cheng explained the reason.
Cao Jie suddenly realized what was happening, and her delicate brows furrowed. She secretly resented her elder brother for revealing his identity without prior notice.
"One is your father-in-law, and the other is your brother-in-law. Where can you hide?" Cao Jie thought bitterly, and this complaint was almost out of his mouth.
After calming down a bit, she could only feign shock and say, "Is that so? That young General Wei is actually Cao Cao's eldest son?" "Indeed, who would have thought that kid's acting skills are so superb!" After sighing, Gu Cheng said, "This time, only Zhongkang will accompany us for protection. You don't need to come along. I'll leave Youping to guard the house."
"My husband isn't taking us with him?" Cao Jie couldn't help but ask.
"Our Gu family business is, after all, on Cao Cao's territory. I only want to live a secluded and carefree life, but I don't want to offend Cao Cao."
"If my whole family leaves, wouldn't Cao Mengde misunderstand and think that I, Gu Cheng, am going to flee with my family to join Yuan Shao?"
"I'll leave under the pretext of business to avoid trouble. You can stay in Xuchang. Given my relationship with that young master Cao, he certainly won't dare to make things difficult for you. It's a win-win situation."
Gu Cheng's analysis involved weighing various factors.
Cao Jie understood his intention, hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "Husband, since the eldest son of the Cao family has extended such a warm invitation, have you truly not considered serving as an official to assist Lord Cao?"
"Well..."
Gu Cheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let me think about it first."
Cao Jie had expected Gu Cheng to reject the idea outright, but to her surprise, his answer was "I'll think about it." This meant that he had softened his stance slightly, and there was a possibility that he would take up an official post. Cao Jie was secretly delighted and said, "In that case, I'll leave everything to my husband's arrangements." That very night, under the protection of Xu Chu and more than forty guards, Gu Cheng left Xudu and headed north.
Xudu, the Sima family's villa.
As evening fell, a carriage pulled up at the back gate. Cao Pi jumped down first, glanced around to make sure no one was in the alleys, and then helped Lady Bian down. The mother and son quietly entered the mansion. "Yi greets the Lady and the Second Prince." In the backyard, Sima Yi, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly bowed deeply to greet them respectfully.
Lady Bian smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Zhongda, you're too kind. Let's talk inside." Sima Yi then invited the two of them into the inner hall, where the door was tightly closed.
"Zhongda, you and Pi'er are close friends, so you're practically family." "I've always known you're resourceful and wise. I've come today precisely because there's something I'd like to hear your opinion on." Lady Bian sipped her tea, speaking calmly. "I am but a mediocre person, Madam, you flatter me." After a moment of self-deprecation, Sima Yi smiled and said, "However, if Madam has any difficulties, please speak frankly. Though I am not talented, I can still offer my humble assistance."
Madam Bian nodded slightly and said, "You must have heard the rumors about the extraordinary hermit behind my husband, Zhongda."
"Although I am in Hanoi, I have heard of him. It is said that Cao Cao was involved in the destruction of Zhang Xiu and the killing of Yuan Shu. Cao Cao's previous eastern expedition to Xuzhou was also able to achieve a swift victory thanks to the secret assistance of this extraordinary person."
Sima Yi nodded. Bian Fu glanced at Cao Pi.
Cao Bu interrupted, saying, "After much effort, I finally discovered that this extraordinary recluse is most likely named Gu Cheng." "Gu Cheng?" Sima Yi looked blank and shook his head, saying, "Forgive my ignorance, but among all the famous scholars in the world, I have never heard of such a talent." "This person is merely a member of a minor clan in Xu County, who has lived in seclusion in the countryside for many years, leading a life as plain as water. Of course, Zhongda, you have never heard of him."
Cao Pi laughed.
Sima Yi's eyes flashed with surprise, and he exclaimed, "Such a prodigy is lurking in the countryside?" Cao Bu sighed, "Indeed, I never expected that such an ordinary person could be comparable to a reincarnation of a strategist." "If that's the case," he said, "with Gu Cheng as your advisor, Cao Cao will have no problem pacifying the world. It's truly a joyous occasion!"
Sima Yi clicked his tongue in amazement.
"happy event?"
Madam Bian gave a cold laugh. "Zhongda probably doesn't know yet, but Cao Ang seems to have a close relationship with this Gu Cheng. His several attempts to help my husband gain merit may have been orchestrated by this man behind the scenes."
Upon hearing this, Sima Yi's brows furrowed.
He rolled his eyes slightly and lowered his voice, saying, "Judging from this, it's highly likely that this Gu Cheng has already been won over by Young Master Zixiu, which seems to be somewhat disadvantageous for the Second Young Master."
"This is what's troubling me, which is why I wanted to hear your insightful opinion, Zhongda." After her preamble, Lady Bian finally revealed her true intention. Sima Yi stroked his chin, his brows furrowed, and remained silent.
After a long silence, he asked again, "So, where is this Gu Cheng now?"
"According to our informants, this person has just left Xuchang and seems to be heading north towards Luoyang. We don't know what his purpose is."
Cao Pi hurriedly replied.
Sima Yi glanced at Lady Bian, discreetly observing her expression and trying to fathom her thoughts. "If I'm not mistaken, Lady Bian already has an idea in mind, but it's inconvenient for her to do it, so she wants me to do it for her," Sima Yi asked tentatively.
Lady Bian's eyes widened slightly, and she smiled and praised, "My son often praises Zhongda for his extraordinary wisdom, and it is indeed true." Then she changed the subject.
Madam Bian's face turned cold: "This man is so intelligent that he is almost demonic. If he is used by Cao Ang, no one will be able to shake him in the future. For my son and me, it would be a real blessing if such a person disappeared from the world."
"I understand what Madam means."
Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "Madam, rest assured. I have a swordsman named Wang Yue by my side. With him on the case, he will surely be able to fulfill your wishes."
"Wang Yue, is he the legendary number one swordsman in the world?" Cao Pi asked with surprise.
"Second Young Master is indeed knowledgeable and experienced. Yes, it is indeed this person," Sima Yi flattered. Cao Bu nodded and smiled, "If this Wang Yue takes action, then Mother and I can rest assured." Lady Bian's face also showed satisfaction, and she raised her cup, saying, "Zhongda, I'm sorry to trouble you with this matter. If it succeeds, I will not forget your favor."
"Madam, you flatter me." Sima Yi looked flustered and quickly bowed, raising his cup. "Since I am friends with the Second Young Master, it is my duty to do my best for him and you."
Lady Bian smiled and praised, "Zhongda, you are indeed a clever and kind young man. I dare say you will have a bright future!"
A meaningful laugh echoed in the secret room.
The inner hall of the Sikong Mansion.
"Zixiu, you didn't hear wrong, did you? Your brother-in-law really said he'd consider it?" Cao Cao asked excitedly. Cao Ang nodded and smiled, "He said it himself, how could I have misheard?"
"Excellent, excellent, very good!" Cao Cao slammed his hand on the table and stood up, smiling with satisfaction. "Your brother-in-law can finally breathe a sigh of relief and say he'll think about it. Now we have hope!" Overjoyed, he immediately ordered his treasured Dukang wine to be brought out so he could have a few drinks with his son. Just then...
Dian Wei entered and reported, "Minister, our secret agents have sent word that the young master left the Gu family overnight and headed north towards Luoyang."
Cao Cao and his son's expressions changed.
"That's strange. I just met my brother-in-law, and I didn't see any indication that he was planning to go on a long trip." Cao Ang said, looking puzzled.
Cao Cao suddenly realized something and sighed bitterly, "Your brother-in-law is probably afraid that I will force him too much, so he went out to hide from us."
Cao Ang suddenly realized and couldn't help but sigh, "My brother-in-law is really something. We're all family. He can run away on the first day of the month, but can he really run away on the fifteenth?"
Cao Cao was also helpless, so he instructed Cao Ang to take troops to protect Gu Cheng. At this moment.
Guo Jia rushed in, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the Minister of Works, an urgent report comes from the north: there has been a disturbance in Hanoi Commandery!"
"Kawachi County?"
"Didn't Zhang Yang, the governor of Hanoi, send someone to submit a memorial, wanting to submit to Father?" Cao Ang asked.
Guo Jia frowned and said, "It was because of this incident that Zhang Yang was killed by his subordinate Yang Chou, who in turn was placed under the control of Sui Gu. Now, Hanoi has fallen into this man's hands."
Cao Ang's expression changed, and he couldn't help but look at Cao Cao.
Cao Cao asked in a deep voice, "Does this Sui Gu intend to submit to Yuan Shao?" "The Minister of Works is right."
Guo Jia nodded and said, "After Sui Gu seized power, he wiped out all the generals in the Hanoi army who were inclined to submit to the court, and has already sent people north to establish friendly relations with Yuan Shao!"
Anger flared in Cao Cao's eyes.
Cao Ang said urgently, "Father, south of the Yellow River in Hanoi Commandery is Luoyang, and west of Jiguan Pass is Hedong Commandery. If Yuan Shao gains control of this commandery, a decisive battle between the north and south will soon ensue, and the situation will become even more unfavorable for us."
"How could I not know!" Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia and said in a deep voice, "Fengxiao, what do you think?"
Guo Jia smiled and said, "Yuan Shao is good at planning but indecisive and slow to react. Minister of Works, you only need to quickly send an elite force into Hanoi, defeat Sui Gu, and take Hanoi into your hands. By the time Yuan Shao reacts, it will be too late."
Cao Cao nodded slightly. At this moment...
Cao Ang suddenly stood up and said with great emotion, "Father, I am willing to lead the army north to take Hanoi County for you!" Looking at his son who volunteered, Cao Cao's eyes flashed with admiration.
"Sui Gu is a mediocre general. With Zixiu's strength, he should be able to handle him. It's time for him to lead the army on his own and gain experience."
"My son-in-law is currently hiding in Luoyang, which is separated from Hanoi by the Yellow River. If Zixiu leads troops there, he can protect my son-in-law from a distance." Cao Cao weighed the pros and cons and made a decision in his heart.
He readily agreed, saying, "Very well, Zixiu, your courage is commendable. I will give you five thousand elite troops, and have Fengxiao and Zilong assist you to quickly take Hanoi County!"
"Yes, sir!"
Sizhou, the Governor of Henan.
On the mountain road south of Dagu Pass, a convoy of carriages was slowly making its way. Gu Cheng lay leisurely in the carriage, drinking wine from a gourd and enjoying the mountain scenery.
"Young master, once we pass through this Dagu Pass, we will enter the territory of Luoyang. Forty li further north from Luoyang is Ping County," Xu Chu said, pointing ahead.
Gu Cheng nodded and smiled, "We're not in a hurry. Let the brothers walk slowly, consider it a leisurely stroll." "Yes, sir!" Xu Chu accepted the order, but couldn't help asking, "Young master, even if you want to avoid Cao Cao and his son, why do you insist on going to Ping County? Is there some hidden reason behind it?"
"What secret could there be? I just randomly picked a spot on the map," Gu Cheng replied dismissively. "Just randomly picked a spot?" Xu Chu's eyes widened in disbelief, thinking to himself, "With your wisdom, young master, how could you make such a casual decision? There must be a deeper meaning, but I'm just too foolish to think of it..."
Just then, the troops in front suddenly stopped.
Xu Chu craned his neck and scanned the road ahead, only to see a gray-robed man standing with his sword drawn, blocking their path. Xu Chu frowned and shouted, "Protect the young master!" At the command, the Gu family guards around him drew their swords. Xu Chu strode forward, brandishing his sword, and shouted, "Who are you, daring to block our way?" The gray-robed man coldly replied, "I'm here to take your young master's life!" Gu Cheng's eyes lit up. Good heavens, this is an assassin.
And he dared to assassinate him all by himself. Gu Cheng, however, became interested. He sat up straight and said loudly, "You've got quite the nerve. Do you have the guts to state your name?" "I am Wang Yue!" the gray-robed man announced, slowly drawing his long sword. "Wang Yue?" Gu Cheng sneered, "We don't seem to have any grudges. If I'm not mistaken, you must be acting on someone's behalf. Can you tell me who hates me so much?"
"You've offended so many people, there are plenty who want to kill you!" Wang Yue raised his longsword, the blade slowly pointing at Gu Cheng.
Gu Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "What you say makes sense. Even Yuan Shao has his eye on me. I'm afraid that even if I wanted to live in seclusion, I wouldn't be able to."
The conversation turned.
A cold glint flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes. He waved his hand and said, "Zhong Kang, since he refuses to talk, capture him alive and torture him severely." Wang Yue's brows furrowed. Gu Cheng's tone clearly showed that he regarded him as nothing, as if capturing him was an easy task. He was enraged.
"Gu Cheng, you underestimate me, the number one swordsman in the world. You'll regret it!" Before he could finish speaking, Wang Yue leaped forward and pounced on Gu Cheng. "You think you can hurt my young master? You're courting death!" Xu Chu roared, his elephant-trunk saber flashing out like lightning.
His martial arts skills were unparalleled; this slash was as swift as the wind, its force overwhelming. "Whoosh!"
Xu Chu's sweeping strike missed its target, actually hitting the afterimage. *Crack!*
A large tree by the roadside was instantly snapped in two and fell to the ground. "This guy's movements are incredibly fast!" Xu Chu's expression remained unchanged, but he was immediately taken aback. The next instant, the sound of wind being cut through the air rang out behind him.
Xu Chu suddenly turned around and was shocked to see that Wang Yue had already attacked him from behind. A sharp arrow whistled through the air.
Xu Chu had no time to think and swung his elephant-trunk saber in a backhand motion. A strange light flashed in Wang Yue's eyes. He hadn't expected that this guard beside Gu Cheng would be so skilled in martial arts, able to keep up with his movements. He sheathed his sword halfway through the attack, turned around, and disappeared in an instant.
Xu Chu's sword slashed through the air, and with a "boom," he cleaved a large tree in two.
Immediately afterwards, Wang Yue appeared like a ghost, suddenly appearing in front of him and then flashing behind him, sword shadows attacking from all directions.
Xu Chu was enveloped by the sword curtain, and despite his martial arts skills, he was unable to defeat him and could only adopt a defensive stance. "This fellow's martial arts are far inferior to Zhong Kang's, but his movement and swordsmanship are extremely fast, making him truly suitable to be a swordsman." Gu Cheng saw through Wang Yue's strength and said loudly, "Zhong Kang, don't rush, he's just fast. Just keep at it with him and see how long he can keep jumping around."
"He actually saw through the secrets of my swordsmanship. Could it be that this person also understands swordsmanship?" Wang Yue was secretly surprised. Then, a ferocious look flashed across his face.
Gu Cheng's words reminded him that the true objective of this battle was to take Gu Cheng's life. If that was the case, why bother fighting Xu Chu? Wang Yue's thoughts shifted, and he suddenly broke away from Xu Chu, rushing straight towards Gu Cheng.
"Protect the young master!" Xu Chu shouted urgently, leaping after him. The Gu family guards immediately stepped in front of Gu Cheng.
However, Wang Yue's movements were simply too fast. He darted left and right like a ghost, passing through the guards in the blink of an eye. "Gu Cheng, prepare to die!" he roared, leaping onto the carriage, his long sword aimed straight for Gu Cheng's heart. Mid-air, a cold, confident smile played on his lips. The next instant, the sword struck. "Clang!" A crisp, sharp sound echoed through the forest. The sword, however, failed to pierce Gu Cheng.
"Armor! He's wearing inner armor under his robes?"
"Impossible! My sword can pierce an iron shield. Even if he has armor, there's no way it wouldn't be able to penetrate it!" Wang Yue was horrified and froze in front of Gu Cheng.
"Dragon Scale Armor, capable of withstanding three fatal threats. This reward has truly come in handy; it's a genuine protective artifact," Gu Cheng thought to himself, a cold smile spreading across his face. *Whoosh!*
The sword at his waist was drawn, and the Azure Lotus Sword Technique was unleashed, a strike as swift as lightning. Wang Yue was momentarily stunned and lost his focus; by the time he tried to dodge, it was too late. "Crack!" A tearing sound rang out, and blood splattered. Wang Yue, sword and all, fell to the ground. Gu Cheng had severed his wrist with a single sword strike.
A scream rang out as Wang Yue clutched his severed hand and collapsed from the carriage. Xu Chu, standing a few steps away, was stunned and forgot to step forward. Gu Cheng sheathed his blood-stained sword and shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Seize this bastard!" Xu Chu then reacted, rushing forward and taking Wang Yue down. "Young Master, what kind of armor are you wearing underneath? Even his sharp sword couldn't pierce it?"
"And another thing, the sword technique you used to cut off his arm just now was incredibly exquisite. You didn't know swordsmanship, did you?" Xu Chu asked a series of questions as he tied up Wang Yue.
Gu Cheng didn't explain, but said, "Don't ask so many questions now. This guy is yours to interrogate properly. I want to see who wants my life so badly!"
"Gu Cheng, you're dreaming! I will never confess! Just kill me!" Wang Yue, lying on the ground, shouted hoarsely and angrily. Gu Cheng sneered, "Very well, then I'll see how stubborn you really are." So, Gu Cheng ordered the carriage to stop.
Xu Chu hung Wang Yue from a tree and began to torture him using every means at his disposal. Gu Cheng, on the other hand, sat idly to the side, sipping his wine and admiring Xu Chu's methods.
He had to admit that Xu Chu was indeed terrifying when he got ruthless. After several rounds of torture, Wang Yue was unrecognizable, with not a single intact part of his body.
"I confess, I confess, please stop torturing me..." Wang Yue finally couldn't hold on any longer and begged for mercy. Gu Cheng raised his hand, and Xu Chu stopped.
"Just confess already, why suffer so much pain for nothing?" Gu Cheng said sarcastically, then demanded, "Speak, who exactly entrusted you with this?" "Sima Yi, I was entrusted by Sima Yi of Hanoi to take your life!" Wang Yue, barely breathing, gave the name. "Sima Yi?"
"That old tortoise, I don't remember ever provoking him. Why would he want to kill me?" Gu Cheng muttered to himself, a look of confusion in his eyes.