About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 2 Meeting My Old Self at Midnight in Luoyang

Suddenly, there was a sound of guards in the watchtower beating drums.

The snow accumulated on the eaves fell down in surprise, and drizzled onto the bluestone road.

The lights in the streets of the northern city went out one after another.

Only the lantern in the night watchman's hand remained, flickering unpredictably like a firefly in the cold fog.

Suddenly, there was a thunderous sound of hooves, crushing the cold branches and dead leaves, and startled the night watchman on the street corner so much that he dodged with his gong in hand.

In the distance, I saw a red-lacquered chariot coming at a gust of wind. The gilded black bird pattern on the shaft was bathed in the moonlight, yet it was cold.

The driver swung the whip, the wheels rolled over the ice puddles, and the long whip made a sound as it broke through the air.

The car was filled with the smell of alcohol, and a bare-chested old man was seen lifting the curtain to reveal his face, with a sable fur coat covering his face.

It was Jian Shuo's uncle, Jian Tu.

……

“Stop!”

I saw a young man riding his horse across the street.

He was not tall and his face was not handsome, but he had broad shoulders and a straight back, and his eyes were bright.

There is an imposing aura hidden in it, just like a dragon or a tiger lying dormant.

The young man grabbed the reins of the horse, turned over and landed, slamming the five-colored stick in his hand heavily on the bluestone slab.

With a "bang", sparks flew everywhere, leaving several tiny streaks of light in the night sky.

The horse was suddenly frightened by this, and immediately raised its head and neighed, with its front hooves raised into the air.

The driver hurriedly tightened the reins, but the shaft could not withstand the force and cracked into several small cracks.

Jian Tu coughed lightly a few times and looked at the young man. The smell of alcohol mixed with the fishy smell of fox fur hit him in the face.

"Who are you, boy? How dare you stop my carriage?"

When he saw the seal on the boy's waist, his drunken eyes narrowed into two slits:
"Ah! A mere Northern Lieutenant, you dare to control me?"

After saying this, he fiercely kicked the driver on the back:
"If you don't move the car, watch out!"

The young man's brows furrowed suddenly. "You have violated the prohibition of walking at night. According to the law, you should be beaten to death."

Jian Tu stumbled off the car and pointed at the young man angrily:

"Boy, do you know my nephew Jian Shuo..."

Before he could finish his words, he suddenly saw a flash before his eyes and saw a five-colored stick sweeping towards him with the sound of wind.

The crisp sound broke the night, the horse neighed and ran to the side of the road, and the cart overturned with a loud bang.

……

In the shadows at the alley entrance, "Ma Yuanyi" stood with his hands behind his back, watching this scene.

The young man quickly put away his stick and shouted loudly:
"Left and right! Capture this beast!"

The official responded and wanted to step forward, but looked hesitant.

Jian Tu became even more arrogant upon seeing this:
"I dare not!"

The young man sneered and took off the seal around his waist:

"Even if Jian Shuo were here in person today, he wouldn't be able to save you!"

The five-colored stick fell like a meteor and hit Jian Tu hard.

Although Jian Tu grimaced in pain, he still remained stubborn:

"How dare you hurt others? My nephew will teach you a lesson..."

Before he could finish his words, the tip of the stick was already at his throat.

The young man's palms trembled slightly, not out of fear, but out of anger.

This was the third time he had encountered a powerful person breaking the law after taking office for more than a month. The previous two times were both left unresolved because of the handwritten letters from the eunuchs.

If we retreat at this moment, this five-colored stick that symbolizes the law will become a mere decoration.

One stick, two sticks... screams echoed in the quiet streets.

"Wait a minute!"

Just as the stick was about to fall again, a low shout came from the alley entrance.

Suddenly a figure walked out, and half of a clearly defined face was reflected in the firelight.

It was "Ma Yuanyi" dressed as a Taoist priest.

The boy turned around and looked in the direction of the sound.

Wait until you get closer.

The moonlight was reflected on the Taoist priest's face, making his eyebrows sharp and sharp, and the corners of his eyes showed a sense of vicissitudes of life, which was not what a young man should have.

The young man examined it with a stick, unable to figure out its origin, so he had no choice but to strike first.

"Curfew has arrived, why are you staying here?"

While chuckling, "Ma Yuanyi" looked at his still young self, and suddenly a childish thought came to his mind:

"Meng De?"

The young man was stunned and was about to answer when Jian Tu cried for help.

Does Jian Tu know the alchemist in front of him?

Changing his mind, the young man shouted sternly:
"Who are you?"

The alchemist had the air of a hermit:
"I am Ma Yuanyi."

The young man sneered and waved his hand to order his subordinates:

"Don't be so mysterious! Luoyang has strict laws. Anyone who dares to break the curfew will be arrested!"

The Taoist priest smiled and said:

"You dare not."

The young man's eyes were like torches, and his eyes and eyebrows were full of sharp intentions:
"Since I have been awarded the seal of the Northern Commander, I shall abide by the laws of the Han Dynasty. What is there to fear? Even if the nobles protect me, what will become of it?"

Just as the official was about to step forward, the Taoist priest remained calm and took out something from his bosom.

"Captain Cao, please take a closer look."

The Taoist priest smiled, holding a jade pendant carved with a dragon, which glowed warmly in the twilight.

"This is a token bestowed by His Majesty himself, allowing me to act as I see fit."

The boy's pupils suddenly shrank, and the dragon pattern was imprinted in his eyes.

Although he was proud, he knew that seeing the emperor's token was like seeing the emperor's face. Seeing this, the officials did not dare to be disrespectful. They all knelt on one knee and the clash of weapons sounded like rings.

The young man stared at the jade pendant and saw that the handle of the five-colored stick had left a deep red mark on his palm.

After thinking for a moment, he bowed deeply:
"May I ask, sir, what is your wish with this token?"

The Taoist smiled even more deeply, and gently stroked the jade pendant, slowly and steadily:

"Captain Cao, excuse me. Your Majesty is concerned for the safety of Luoyang and has sent me on your behalf to conduct an inspection... I hope you will be lenient with me regarding tonight's matter."

After saying this, he raised his hand and motioned for the young man to stand up.

The young man slowly stood up straight, with doubts in his heart, but he didn't dare show it on his face.

How dare you forge a token of trust under the feet of the Emperor of Luoyang?
Besides, there is no need to take such a big risk just to save Jian Tu.

This was the Han system. If one disobeyed it, it would be a challenge to the majesty of heaven and the crime would be unforgivable.

The young man clasped his fists, his tone filled with reluctance:

"Since you were sent by Your Majesty, why did you allow this beast to break the law?"

Jian Tu, who was listening, became impatient and climbed up, clutching his ribs.

"Don't talk too much to this brat!"

The Taoist priest suddenly flicked his sleeves, and the jade sword came out of its sheath three inches long. The cold light was so strong that Jian Tu fell silent immediately.

"Mr. Jian is drunk."

……

In his previous life, he rode his horse and led the crowd out of the Northern Weifu Yamen, and encountered Jian Tu who was drunk and broke the curfew, so he raised his stick and beat him down.

Little did he know that this blow shattered not only Jian Tu's arrogance...

And the longing deep in my heart.

After that, he was exiled to Dunqiu, where he lived a life of hardships and hardships, and gradually became a Han traitor ridiculed by the world.

In the 25th year of Jian'an, he looked back at the setting sun in Luojing for the last time, his body filled with old age and unfinished dreams.

"Han's General Cao Hou of the Western Expedition..."

Recalling the past, Xu Chu asked him with a smile why he always hung a map of the Western Regions.

Little did people know that there was once a young man who had the ambition to conquer the Wolf and the Lair.

However, the muddy current of the aristocratic families, carrying with them the twilight of the Han Dynasty, eventually turned that burning fire into ashes.

Although he still has some flame left in his declining years, he is imprisoned and has no control over his actions.

Today I am blessed by God to be back in this world.

The Han Dynasty...why does it need the King of Wei who is held hostage by the aristocratic families?

And the "Cao Cao" in the third year of Xiping had an ambition as bright as the rising sun.

Tonight, let Cao Cao, who is possessed by Liu Fang's body, protect this flame with his own hands.

Let the evening breeze of Luoyang not extinguish the young man’s enthusiasm again.

……

The Taoist priest looked back at the young man, his eyes full of meaning but without showing any emotion.

The young man stared into his eyes and suddenly realized something:
If this Taoist priest really wanted to protect Jian Tu, he could have just revealed his identity and stopped him. However, he allowed himself to break the shaft of the carriage with his stick and whip the powerful and influential people, and he appeared at the critical moment to save the situation.

A whisper broke the boy's thoughts.

"Someone uses you as a knife and wants to test whether the knife is sharp."

The young man seemed to be thinking about something, then changed his mind and placed the five-colored stick across Jian Tu's neck:

"Once the law is established, it should be applied equally to everyone. Even if Your Majesty is present in person, the law must be followed."

The Taoist priest laughed and clapped his hands. He walked up to the young man and asked, "Have you ever thought about..."

"The Champion Marquis was granted the title of Wolf's Lair, not because of his bravery alone, but because he had Wei Zifu as his empress, Wei Qing as his general, and Emperor Wu behind him!"

The young man was shocked and asked in a low voice:

"Who is this gentleman?"

"Your Majesty will know that the Northern Commander is impartial in his duties."

The Taoist priest gently touched his shoulder and spoke softly and in a low voice:
"After tonight's work is over, I will go to the government office after three o'clock in the morning to answer your questions."

Before the boy could react, the alchemist turned and walked into the shadows.

The night drum urges the night to come, and the wide sleeves brush past the old tree at the entrance of the alley, startling the frost flowers that fall from the branches.

The moon was setting in the east, and by the end of the third year of Xiping, snow had arrived, covering the walls of Luoyang Palace.

Note:

①The “two Cao Caos” in this chapter.

Because many people have mentioned this, I would like to talk about it.

The young man is a passionate and future-oriented "Cao Cao", a rough jade that has not yet been polished by the times during the Xiping period.

The alchemist is the reborn "Cao Cao", "Ma Yuanyi", and Liu Fang, but not completely. This requires a reconstruction process.

② Another poem by Cao Cao: "Song of the Grassland"

On the one hand, it describes the situation at the end of the Han Dynasty.

On the other hand, it can be regarded as adding some embellishment to Cao Cao.

Written in the sixth year of Zhongping, which was 189 AD.

Cao Cao pursued Dong Zhuo alone and escaped death. The coalition forces split and the prelude began.

There are righteous men in Guandong who raise an army to fight against the villains.

In the early days, the meeting took place in Mengjin, but his heart was in Xianyang.

The army’s combined strength was not unified, and they hesitated and marched in a line like geese.

Snobbery makes people fight, and then they kill each other.

The title of Huainan’s younger brother was engraved in the north.

Lice and fleas grow on armor, and thousands of people die.

White bones are exposed in the wild, and no rooster crows for thousands of miles.

If one out of a hundred people dies, the thought of it will break one’s heart.



(End of this chapter)