In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

Afternoon, in the main hall.

Zhao Yu slumped onto the cushion.

Holding a cup of cold tea in my hands,

The table in front of him was piled high with the purchase invoices that Hongxiu had just delivered.

He looked at the strings of numbers on the bill and felt his heart bleeding.

In truth, to be honest,

Is Zhao Yu poor now?

Not poor at all.

In this Han Dynasty, Zhao Yu's current identities are: General of the Garrison, Marquis of Bingjing Pavilion (a title with a fief), Chief Secretary to the Chancellor (a high-ranking and powerful civil official), plus a vague but intimidating title of "Great Han Angel."

Oh, and there's also the captain of the security team for the Prime Minister's residence.

Just the combined salaries of these positions...

It must be at least two thousand shi (a unit of dry measure).

In addition to saving Cao Cao earlier,

Cao Cao would often bestow rewards upon him whenever he had free time, making him undoubtedly the most eligible bachelor in Xuchang.

but!

The problem is not whether or not there is money.

The key question is—whose money is being spent?

Think about Zhao Yu, and his lifestyle after rescuing Cao Cao from the Battle of Red Cliffs.

The house in the mansion was a gift from Cao Cao.

The servants and maids in the mansion were officially registered under the logistics department of the Prime Minister's mansion, and their salaries were paid by Cao Cao.

The two Western Region dancers (Adele and Liu Wan) in the mansion were sent by Cao Pi, that fool, to win him over.

Forced by Zhao Yu's tyranny, even the monthly allowance for rouge was delivered to Cao Pi's residence on time.

As for meals?

Zhao Yu rarely ate at home before. He would either eat at the Prime Minister's canteen, or at Cao Jie's place next door, or at the very least, spend a little money to eat at a restaurant.

In summary, Zhao Yu has been in Xuchang for quite some time...

Personal expenses are very small.

His money only goes in and never goes out; it's like a piggy bank.

Zhao Yu doesn't love money.

If you love money so much, you didn't need to distribute all the money you found in Shuxian County to the people.

I brought it back and put it at home a long time ago.

After all, it was he who discovered it. If he really wanted to keep it all for himself, Cao Cao might even wholeheartedly agree.

After all, in Cao Cao's mind, if Zhao Yu married Cao Jie in the future, wouldn't he still belong to the Cao family?

But now, things have changed.

These more than one hundred people can be considered Zhao Yu's "private property".

No longer within anyone's staff.

"Hongxiu buys vegetables... thirty taels."

"Green Waist bought fabric to make team uniforms... fifty taels."

"Sun Shangxiang fried the kitchen repair fee... two hundred taels."

"This doesn't even include their monthly allowance, or even their dowries when they get married..."

Zhao Yu picked up the abacus and started tapping away rapidly.

Finally, a mournful wail was let out.

"This is going to take away my life savings!"

"Do you know how hard it is for me to save up for my wife? These hundred mouths are going to eat my entire savings for my funeral!"

This shift from luxury to frugality distressed Zhao Yu.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Zhao Yu slammed the abacus on the table.

"I, Zhao Yu, will eat anything in my life, but I can't stand being taken advantage of!"

"We absolutely need to find an investor!"

The butler did come in.

"Master! Master! The Prime Minister has arrived! And Lord Xun, General Xu... they've all arrived!"

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up.

Is this for real?

"Quick! Spread all these bills out! Make them stand out! Make them look even worse!"

"Also, go tell Sun Shangxiang to stop square dancing and bring people out to 'entertain guests' instead."

……

A moment later,

Cao Cao, with his hands behind his back and a pigeon-toed gait, walked into the Zhao residence.

Behind him followed Xun Yu, the "head steward."

And Xu Chu.

Cao Cao was indeed in a good mood today.

From any perspective,

At least since the last time the bricks were thrown, I haven't heard the morning exercises again.

Subduing those shrewish women from Jiangdong and making them obedient is a success in itself.

"Wenruo (Xun Yu), look."

Zhao Yu looked at the female soldiers chatting around the stove in the courtyard and smiled:

"I was originally worried that Zhao Yu wouldn't be able to control Sun Jian's daughter, but now it seems that I was overthinking it."

"That kid's got some skills."

Xun Yu also smiled and said:

"Zhao Changshi's actions are often unexpected, yet they are in line with the great principles."

"To be able to turn these hundred elite Jiangdong soldiers into mere puppets is truly a brilliant move."

Seeing Cao Cao enter, the group of girls remained calm. Hongxiu took the lead and stood up, bowing in greeting.

"Greetings, Prime Minister Cao!"

"Very well! No need for formalities!"

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the main hall.

Zhao Yu was already waiting.

He clutched the stack of bills tightly in his hand.

"Your subject Zhao Yu greets the Prime Minister."

He bowed.

It feels like I haven't eaten for three days.

"Oh? What happened?"

Cao Cao looked him over.

"These women are beautiful, but you should be careful. Why do you look so pale?"

Xu Chu chuckled to himself:

"Prime Minister, don't bother guessing. He was definitely... you know... by those women."

"More than a hundred of them! Even I, Old Xu, would go weak in the knees."

"Get out of here! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Zhao Yu glared at Xu Chu.

If you dare to say another word, I'll lift you up high in the air.

Then he turned to look at Cao Cao.

He handed the bill in his hand to Cao Cao.

"Prime Minister! You must do me justice!"

"Your humble servant... Your humble servant is poor!"

"poverty?"

Cao Cao took the bill, glanced at it casually, and found it somewhat amusing.

"You're a well-known wealthy family in Xuchang, how could this little bit of money for groceries bankrupt you?"

"Prime Minister, you are unaware of this!"

Zhao Yu began his performance.

"In the past, I only had to eat my fill, and my whole family wasn't hungry."

"The expenses of the mansion are all paid by the government."

But now... these more than a hundred mouths need to eat meat, drink alcohol, and wear fine silks and satins!

When they get married, won't they need a bride price? The dowry Shangxiang brought from Jiangdong won't be enough.

"They can only last a few months at most! Perhaps in three months, I'll be leading them to beg for food outside the Prime Minister's residence!"

"Prime Minister, you're the one who told me to keep this person. Those tributes all belong to the Han Dynasty, and I'm too embarrassed to pick them up. Why don't you just take him in?"

Cao Cao couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw Zhao Yu's miserly behavior.

He knows Zhao Yu too well.

This kid isn't short of money.

He had also heard about what happened in Jiangdong and Shuxian.

He was so good to the people!

How is that possible?

There's probably a gap between them, and he's not used to it.

However, Cao Cao came today specifically for this matter.

Cao Cao rolled up the account book.

He casually tossed it to Xun Yu behind him.

"Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu, when are you going to get rid of this petty habit of yours?"

"A dignified general of a garrison, crying poverty to me over a few hundred taels of silver—aren't you ashamed?"

"It's better to lose face than to lose money; there are plenty of other things you need money for."

"Alright!"

"Stop pretending with me, I understand what you mean."

Sun Shangxiang might also be behind the house.

Cao Cao didn't elaborate.

These more than one hundred women are the best form of publicity.

Sun Shangxiang had just married Liu Bei when she divorced him and came to Zhao Yu with her dowry and guards.

This shows that the two of them are simply not a good match.

This shows whether the people's hearts are with Liu Bei or not! It shows that following Liu Bei has no future; one can only weave straw sandals.

Only by following Cao Cao (and Zhao Yu) can you get meat to eat!